Gajavadha and Ekanto

In the forest Kaalaranya between the outstretched arms of time lived a happy kingdom of birds and beasts. Some lived by the morning sun thriving in its light and some by the night scented flowers and the far moon. Kaalaranya was ruled by the Simha family of Lions for many centuries and all its kings were known to have been proud and strong and fierce. But there was a time when there ruled a certain king called Gajavadha Simha who was prouder, stronger and fiercer than all the rest and died a strange death.

This is a story of that very Gajavadha.

When Gajavadha was so young that stretching his head he only reached his father's knees, the king brought home a little black wolf from a hunting trip. The little wolf was named Ekanto and he grew up with Gajavadha as a brother. They went to their first hunt together and fought their first battle side by side. So the raw years of their lives melted in the fierce desires of their heart and the day of Gajavadha being crowned the king soon dawned. That morning the old king took Ekanto into his dark cave and seated him in a corner. Far behind fell a shaft of light from a slim opening on the roof. The old king sat in it for the very last time. He bent his head thoughtfully and blinked his old eyes thrice, then sighing said
- Ekanto, today Gajavadha shall sit on the warm throne of this cave. And he shall be king. I'll be leaving for the cold days of my life till my flesh leaves me picked free by loving vultures and my bones dry on a far off land of strangers"

Ekanto started and spoke in a deep

The flowers of bouganvelia

They unfold in gentle shades,
Carmine, yellow and white,
They fold lightly in the light,
Oh the flowers of Bouganvelia!

They are no flowers.
They are leaves outgrown,
And one day I shall strew them
These not flowers of Bouganvelia
On your threshold,
And away you shall see when you walk,
And away you shall walk when you see them.