Satyawati -11

11. Santanu, the Maharaja When father started to speak It was as if he knew my answer. I was already well beyond The temptations of worldly pleasures. But then he tried to reason 'We cannot live in this country After having refused the king And earned his displeasure. 'Having said that, Santanu Sure, was not a bad groom True, he was married once And has a grown up son. 'But, unlike many kings He was a man of one woman He had married Ganga, a lady Of noble lineage, the Deva clan. 'After a quarrel, Ganga left him Leaving their young son Devabrata with him But Santanu never married again.' But I did not wish to have The company of a man any more Quite confident I were To live a life of my own. Santanu was at our doorstep Next morning, once again- Proof enough of his love for me I was at loss for words to refuse him. To my own astonishment And of father, I blurted out 'I agree, but give me word that Our son would succeed you as king'. Shocked, the king almost fainted For he loved Devabrata His son, the crown prince More than himself. He called him Gangadutta, Gift of Ganga, So he remembered her Every time he addressed their son. I still remember the king Leaving our hut, his head hung With unsteady steps Tears flowing incessantly. I smiled myself Having defeated the power In its own game For the first time ever. Oblivious of his love for his son, I thought he lost his balance, Losing his game first time ever As an avid hunter, which he was. I never desired the kingdom, Just wished to ward off his advances.