14-year-old Aanya ran through the streets of Ullal, wiping her tears furiously. Her mother had decided to go back to her job as an army medic. The teen was worried as her mother was the best thing in her life and she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. Her father had died serving the army when she was 5, like his older brother. She could not bear to lose her mom too.
She ended up at a tiny obscure library at the edge of town. It was rundown in the front, but when she went in, a blast of warm air hit her face. She looked around the surprisingly well-furnished place. There were candles lit around the room, casting just enough light for people to read, but not so much that it would blind them like some fluorescent lights. There were rows and rows of bookshelves filled with a plethora of books. Fiction, fantasy, drama, romance, old books and new ones, colorful and grey ones. It was like a book explosion inside.
She looked around and found a head peeking out from under a table. “Hello miss?” She called out questioningly. The person got up and Aanya’s eyes widened in surprise. The woman in front had an ethereal look around her, with her soft caramel-coloured curls cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her large almond-shaped green eyes set in a soft heart-shaped face.
“Hello.” She said with a bright smile, her white teeth shining against her tanned face. Her voice was very soothing, flowing over her and making her relax despite herself.
”H..Hi.” Aanya stuttered out. “I just. Um… stumbled upon this place and thought to check it out. I’m sorry for intruding on you. I’ll just leave now.” She said awkwardly. She moved back into a table and a stack of books fell off it.
“Oh god! I’m so sorry!”, she squeaked out, her face burning with mortification. The woman laughed, a sound which sounded like wind chimes and soothed her frayed nerves.
“It’s quite all right. I’ve been meaning to put those books away but was procrastinating anyways.” She replied. She spoke slowly, as if English was not her first language and had a rather lilting and enchanting accent.
“Why were you crying?” She asked curiously when she noticed the dried tear tracks.
“Oh, it’s….um…. it’s nothing.” Aanya replied quickly as she wiped off any stray tears, knowing better than to tell a stranger about her life.
“Worried about telling a stranger huh?” The woman asked, correctly guessing her thoughts. “Smart. My name is Marissa and I love helping people find their way when they are lost. Now that you know my name, it is only fair that I know yours. Come sit.” Aanya still felt a bit wary, but she did what she asked.
“I’m Aanya.” She said hesitantly.
“You’re still wary.” The woman noted sadly. “There is no need to be. Just think of me as a confidante. I don’t have a reason to repeat your secrets to people.”
Aanya mulled it over. “Alright.” She relented. After taking a breath, and wondering about her sanity, she told Marissa everything.
“Hmm….Interesting.” Marissa said once Aanya stopped.
Marissa smiled and said,”Say, do you like reading books?”.
Aanya blinked, a bit thrown by the abrupt question, then nodded.
“Excellent!” Marissa said beaming at the girl. “It has been a long time since I met an avid book reader. You are an avid one are you not?” She asked a bit suspiciously.
“I am yeah.”
“Excellent!” Marissa said again, gracefully getting out of her seat. “Follow me please!” She said hurrying down an aisle, her skirt swishing around her legs, changing colors like the sea.
Aanya normally had more sense than this, but she did as she was asked and followed the eccentric woman.
“Where is it?” She muttered out loud, throwing an apologetic glance toward the girl.
“Just give me a minute, would you? I am really muddle headed sometimes. It is one of my faults.”
“Ah, here it is!” She said with satisfaction, pulling a dusty book out of the shelf. “Tell me dear, what do you know about the female leaders and freedom fighters?” She asked.
“Um..not much. There aren’t many of them highlighted in history, right?” said Aanya.
Marissa nodded sadly. “History has rarely treated women kindly. But I have travelled long and far to collect accurate accounts of their stories. I think this story will let you inside your mother’s mind and help you understand her decision.” Aanya looked at her skeptically but took it. “I can’t pay for this right now.” She said apologetically.
Marissa giggled. “Don’t be silly. I gave it to you to help you. That is more than enough payment for me. Now let’s read it shall we?” she said, handing her a dark green book with a picture of a graceful dark-haired woman on a horse on the top with Rani Abbakka Chowta written above it.
Aanya narrowed her eyes at the excitement in Marissa’s voice but did as she asked. But when she opened the book, a bright golden light engulfed her. She only had enough time to say, “What the f-?” before she felt her body dissolve into air and get sucked into the book.
“What is going on?” Aanya spoke out loud to herself as she got up and angrily dusted her jeans off.
“This is what I get for trusting a stranger.” Aanya felt a hand grip her shoulder and she instinctively judo flipped the person who it belonged to. She heard a half-grunt, half-laugh and she looked down at the person and felt her anger flare inside her chest when she saw who it was.
“You!” She growled at Marissa who was currently sprawled at her feet.
“Me.” Marissa agreed with amusement lacing her tone, something that just served to anger Aanya more.
“Explain, now!” Aanya growled.
Marissa sighed and got up in the most non-threatening way she could. “You are not the first person who stumbled into my library feeling lost, unsafe, and confused. I have used my books to give them ways that they can cope with or understand their problems by using examples from real life. I wanted to do the same for you.”
“Well, I don’t want your help! I never asked for it and I want to go back home to my mother again.” Aanya said angrily.
“I am sorry you feel that way darling but once you come here, that is, the realm of stories, you can’t leave until you solve all your conflicted feelings about your mother leaving.”
Aanya wanted to argue and demand Marissa to let her go, but she could tell that she was sincere and wanted to genuinely help her.
“Fine.” She said but made herself clear that she was doing it out of necessity only. “Excellent. Come on now!” Marissa trilled happily as she started walking into a doorway that appeared out of nowhere. Aanya rolled her eyes but went after her anyway.
“Whoa!” She said as she walked into the place. “How is this even possible?” She thought to herself as she looked around the place. It had small huts and big mansions, and bullock carts carrying hay. When she turned back, she saw a huge palace that towered over her head. It had swirls of colours and there were people with different types of clothes moving around.
“What is this place?” She asked, turning back to Marissa. The woman smiled slightly at the wonderment in her tone.
“This is Ullal.”
“What?” Aanya shrieked.
Marissa grinned. “Not Ullal from our time. Ullal from the time of a very brave and courageous Rani.”
“Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi?” Aanya asked. She had heard only about that particular Rani in her history books.
“No dear child. Rani Abbakka of Ullal.”
“Oh.” She replied dumbly.
“Rani Abbakka was at war with the Portuguese for around four decades. And each time they attacked, she managed to repel them.”
“That is amazing. Why have I never heard of her?”
“Alas, she is ignored in favour of the more well told stories. Your people used to preserve her story through songs and other folklore, but these practices have been disintegrating over time.”
Aanya frowned. If the Rani was as great as Marissa said, then she deserves to be remembered.
“I’ll find out her story and tell everyone.” She thought. “No good person deserves to be forgotten.” With that goal in mind, she followed Marissa into the fort.
They stopped in a beautiful room with a regal looking woman in bed with a cute child in her arms.
“Is that..?” She trailed off but Marissa understood.
“Yes, The future queen of Ullal and the king’s sister and her mother Hiriya Abbakka.”
Hiriya Abbakka kissed her daughter on her forehead. “You shall be a generous and just person who will never be afraid to fight for what is right my daughter.” She murmured against her skin.
“ The Chowtas were a matrilineal dynasty. That is why Abbakka is next in line for the throne.” Marissa explained, but Aanya barely heard her because she felt tears prick her eyes as she remembered her mother saying something of that sort to her many times. Is that why she wanted to go back to the army? Before she could contemplate on this, the scene switched, going dark before opening back to beautiful green plain and a young girl standing there with her bow drawn taunt, the same girl riding a horse, holding a sword in a defensive position, and then a flurry of images with a young good-looking woman with dark skin and eyes that seemed to hold endless courage and wisdom, sitting on a throne with the poised grace only one of true royalty can hold as she listened to a dispute and as she sat at an intricately carved wooden table with scrolls stretched out in front of her, talking to the well-dressed men in the room, not even slightly looking like she didn’t belong. She was wearing simple villagers clothes, nothing like the ones one would expect royalty to wear. She was well trained in archery, cavalry, diplomacy, military strategies, sword fighting, and other stuff that the people of that time needed to be a good ruler. There was no one in the city who could match her in warfare and military science. Add that to her charm and her looks, and you get one of the greatest queens to ever live.
Suddenly the scene changed again, this time to what seemed like a lavish wedding. She saw the Rani dressed up in a beautiful silk saree, golden jewellery adorning her neck and biceps, bells from her anklets ringing in the air that was filled with celebration at their beloved princess’ marriage. She stood next to a handsome man who also had a regal air around him.
“This is her wedding day.” Aanya realised. Marissa gave her an appraising look. “Exactly. Though it wasn’t exactly a happy one.”
The scenes changed to the two people yelling at each other. Then the man stormed out of the palace angrily. “Who is he?” She asked. “The king of Bangher or I guess you would know it better as Mangalore. His name is Lakshmappa Bangaraja. Abbakka’s uncle, Thirumala Raya III, arranged this marriage for her before his death. She and their three children stayed at the palace even when they were married because she was the ruler of Ullal.”
“Why did he do that?”
“It was a strategic marriage. Mangalore was a powerful place, and would have made a great ally.”
The scene changed to three children running around the palace, dressed up in some fancy clothes and they had bright smiles on their cute faces as their parents looked on fondly.
“What happened to them? They seem fine here.”
“To understand this we will have to go back a little.”
Everything went black and then got thrown in sharp focus again. This time, the scene showed a battleground. There were people holding swords, spears and shields, riding horses and elephants. There were fires everywhere and blood flowing from wounded bodies, or worse, even dead ones. It was a horrifying sight. There were bodies piling up on both sides, hacked to pieces or beheaded. She felt sick. Is this what her mother wanted to go back to?
“This is not what your mother wants you to see.” Marissa murmured. “THIS is what she wants to do.” She said as the scene blurred slightly until they were standing in front of some makeshift beds with people lying on them. There were flies flying around their festering wounds as the healers tried desperately to heal these people with their limited medical resources. “She wants to bring people back to their families. She wants them to feel the elation of seeing their family members safe. She wants them to feel what she never got to feel.” Aanya was openly weeping at that, mourning for a father and an uncle, both of whom she barely remembers.
Marissa placed a gentle hand on the girl and steered her away. “Come on Aanya, there is a lot to see and hear.”
Aanya let herself get steered away and decided to concentrate on Marissa’s motherly tone.
“In 1526, the Portuguese captured the Mangalore port. This was the battle that happened a few years before the annexation. It was after this that they turned their eye on Ullal which had a flourishing trade under Hiriya Abbakka’s watchful eye. She managed to keep them at bay for as long as she could. But she wasn’t getting any younger and was soon bedridden.”
The scene changed back to the bedroom that they had seen when they first arrived, except instead of the beautiful and strong queen there was a frail old woman, and another strong and beautiful woman next to her, holding her hand softly.
“Let me help you, my daughter. I cannot lie here helpless while the Portuguese try to take away our beautiful land.”
“Hush mother.” The young woman scolded softly. “It does not do for a queen like you to fret over this during this time. You must not tire yourself with these thoughts. I am here, and rest is not in the cards for me until I have driven them out of the west-coast.”
“But you have your kids to take care of. A fun life ahead of you. I don’t want you to spend your life fighting wars”
“If a war is worth fighting, then I will fight it. Yes, my kids will miss me and I will miss them. But I will be going to war so that no other kid in my kingdom misses their parents.”
“Then go my child. May you succeed where I have failed.” Abbakka kissed her mother on the forehead and marched out with purpose in her step and determination shining in her dark eyes.
“Do you see the similarities between the queen and your mother?”
When Aanya gave a noncommittal shrug Marissa said, “They both want what is best for their people, even if it means a few sacrifices.” She blinked, realising that Marissa was right. Marissa wanted to help the girl process everything but knew that it was something she had to do herself.
She made the scene change to a past time when Hiriya Abbakka was the queen. It was the courtroom where a messenger had arrived. “This is the defeat of Hiriya Abbakka.” Marissa said. “She had refused to pay taxes to the Portugese.”
”Your Majesty! Fourteen Portuguese warships have been sighted heading to Mangalore!”
“They might make Mangalore their headquarters then attack us, Your Majesty. If they do that, there is a very slim chance that our forces can withstand their attack.” A well-dressed minister said.
“They have reacted exactly as I expected my ministers. We have true warriors with us. We will not wait for them to attack us. If they want a fight, then we’ll take the fight to them. We will take them by surprise tonight!” Hiriya Abbakka said in such a confident voice that you just had to believe her. That was part of what made her such a good leader. The scene switched to ships from Ullal’s port, with warships from Ullal sailing to intercept the Portuguese ones.
“Hiriya Abbakka also accompanied them on the ships. They spotted the enemy ships that were anchored there. Ullal’s archers were ready with their fire tipped arrows.” Marissa said, the scene going along with her words.
“Fire!” The general yelled. The soldiers fired their arrows. They were incidentally fire-tipped ones that set fire to the Portuguese’s ships. “Hiriya Abbakka was the last person known to use Agnivana against the Portuguese. Agnivana means using fire-tipped arrows by the way.” Marissa narrated.
The Portuguese ships went up in flames. “Everyone had been dancing and drinking on those ships and it was an easy victory.”
The queen declared to the joyous crowd, “They will take some time to regroup and get reinforcements.”
“They underestimated the Portuguese.” Marissa told her softly as the scene went back to the front of the Ullal fort with more fires and bodies. “They got their reinforcements from Goa and it was Ullal’s turn to get surprised.As you can see, they easily laid siege to Ullal rather easily.” The scene changed back to the courtroom, where Hiriya was signing a paper and a smug Portuguese man was standing next to her. “We agree to pay annual tribute to the Portuguese and we will not trade with foreign countries.” Hiriya Abbakka said, her eyes flashing with contempt.
“The queen took her regret and shame to her deathbed. She explained all this to her beloved daughter right before she breathed her last. This was the main reason Abbakka decided to revolt against the Portuguese.”
“To avenge her mother and fulfil her wishes?” Aanya guessed.
“Right.” Said Marissa.
“But how does this answer my question? Don’t get me wrong, it is very interesting.”
“We’re getting to that.” The setting switched back to before the former king stormed out. “I will not pay tribute to the Portuguese. Spices and clothes won’t be sold to them either.” Abbakka told her husband.
“Isn’t that a rather rash decision my dear?” said Lakshmappa Bangaraja.
“This is after Abbakka’s coronation.” Said Marissa.
“The king tried to change her mind because the Portuguese might think he was in league with her and attack Bangadi. He even tried to remind her of her mother’s failure in revolting.
“But he failed.” Guessed Aanya.
“He did. Him reminding her was actually just the push she needed.”
Marissa giggled. Aanya grinned.
“Their only advantage is their fort in Mangalore.” Abbakka started. “Mangalore is just across the river Netravati. They might use the fort to attack. Why don’t you make them forfeit the fort?”
“I cannot. Mangalore may be a part of Bangadi, where I reign, but I know my limits-and the strength of the Portuguese!” Lakshmappa said angrily.
“You are afraid of them my lord. But I refuse to be cowed by them.”
The king opened his mouth to speak, but their daughter came in. “Mother,” she started in her melodious voice. “I want to visit the Lokeshwar temple.”
“But the temple is in Mangalore my dear!”
“So what, mother? Mangalore belongs to my father and the Portuguese barricade themselves in the fort on the seashore.”
“And they are my friends!” Lakshmappa butted in.
“But not mine.” Abbakka argued.
“Mother, are you reluctant because the Portuguese scare you?”
“I am not afraid of them.” The older woman stated stubbornly. “You may leave tomorrow.”
The princess smiled to herself having got her way, she walked away.
“We need to find her a good husband.” Abbakka said.
“I already have one. My nephew! He is the heir to my throne after all!” He boasted.
“That spineless scoundrel! Absolutely not! My daughter will marry a man of character.”
“Abbakka, you have no respect for my kinsmen and I. I will never step in your kingdom again!”
With that Lakshmappa Bangaraja stormed away from the palace.
“Oh! That’s why you showed me all that!” Aanya said.
“Yes, but there is more.” Marissa replied.
“The king was hellbent on getting his daughter married to his nephew.”
“Which, by the way, eww!” Aanya interrupted as she scrunched her nose.
Marissa smiled. “They didn’t exactly have the same mindset as us, but yes, eww. And moving on from it, the main reason for it was that Ullal would have been annexed by Bangadi. So he decided to kidnap his daughter while she was in the temple.” She rushed on, noticing Aanya opening her mouth.
The princess left for Mangalore, unaware of her father’s plans. In the temple, she prayed to the lord to help her mother in her conquest. As she came out a bunch of people surrounded her. It was the King and his men. The king ordered his soldiers to get his daughter to him.
“Come with us my princess, it is your father’s wish. Please don’t utter a cry.”a soldier said.
“I will not bow down to brute force, not even from my father.” The princess replied haughtily, just as the sound of horses could be heard.
“It’s soldiers from Ullal!” someone shouted.
They quickly defeated the armed men and saved the princess. “The queen sent them to protect her from the Portuguese, but she was very surprised to know that it was her husband’s men that were the threat.” Marissa informed her.
So Abbakka also always thought of the safety of her daughter, even though she was running a kingdom, thought Aanya. I am sure my mom also always thinks of me. Even though she is at a war. This pleased Aanya.
“Abbakka quickly married her daughter off to a noble prince. The wedding was celebrated with great pomp and all the kings from neighbouring places, except Lakshmappa, attended it. Abbakka tried to get the other kings to form an alliance against the Portuguese with her after the wedding, but they rebuked her efforts, saying that it would be too hard.That just strengthened her resolve. She knew it would be harder to fight them alone. But she knew that she would fight them. Not doing so was not an option for her.”
They moved back to the ruined part of the fort. There were people rebuilding it. Then there were some people building ships now, and some others were talking to the queen, telling her that they can set sail to Arabia.
The scene switched to the queen sitting with who looked like an envoy from some country, then to a Portuguese envoy standing in front of her. “The first man was an envoy from Kozhikode. Zamorin, the ruler, wanted to send his ships with hers to Arabia. The second was an envoy of the Portuguese. He was sent to remind her to pay the annual tribute and that trading with foreign countries will be treated like an act of hostility. She replied with, well:”If the only reason for your visit is to utter threats, then you are at the wrong place.” Abbakka informed him. “We are a sovereign country. We don’t pay tribute to the Portuguese, and we certainly don’t take orders from you!”
“Your majesty, you will come to regret your stand.” The envoy informed her.
“The elders were resentful of her decision, but she was unmindful of it.” Marissa said. “The ships set sail the next day. Abbakka herself saw them off. She promised herself and her mother that this was just the beginning and that the end will be soon to follow. The ships reached the port of Arabia and sold the spices and cloth at a huge profit, and promised the Arabs that, if god willing, they would visit soon, much to their delight. They headed back not long after.”
“Let me guess, something went wrong.” Aanya asked sarcastically.
Marissa gave her a bemused smile. “Yes, the Portuguese ships blocked their way. Before the Indian soldiers could react, the Portuguese swung into their ships. A fierce battle was fought. The leader of Abbakka’s fleet made a quick decision to let the other ships flee while his ship held them off. The other ships reached Ullal and informed Abbakka of the injustice. The Rani was obviously enraged at this development and sent an envoy to tell the Portuguese so.”
“What would that change?” Aanya asked her curiously.
“Watch.” Marissa replied, waving her hand to the scene in front of her. A person who Aanya guessed was the envoy stood in front of the Portuguese. “That person is Ribero, the Portuguese commander.” Marissa said, pointing to a dark-haired well-dressed man. “I have a message from the Queen of Ullal.” The envoy announced. “Her majesty views the attack on our ship as an act of piracy and wants the ship you captured to be released and a compensation of one thousand gold coins for the soldiers killed at sea.”
“What?!” Ribero shouted. “How dare she demand compensation! Get away with you, if you value your life!” He shouted at the envoy.
As the envoy walked away, Ribero continued barking orders. “Train the cannons on Ullal at once!”
The sound of the fired cannons startled Aanya and she jumped. “The queen quickly made arrangements for a military expedition against the Portuguese. The sailors from Kozhikode who had not left yet told her that they wanted to help her as her brave soldiers had fought to protect them so they wanted to return the favour, an act that she appreciated very much.”
“The Portuguese would have easily seen them right?” Aanya questioned, wondering about the merits of the attack. “Well yes, but Abbakka knew that it was time for her to stop playing from the shadows. They fired at them, fast and hard, but the brave soldiers of Ullal defied the incessant firing and rode towards the fort and successfully scaled it. They unlocked the gates from the inside and Abbakka’s soldiers stormed in. The Portuguese soldiers surrendered after a futile attempt to stop them and Ribero escaped with his life.”
“Unfortunately.” Aanya muttered, making Marissa giggle.
“Agreed. The soldiers took their gold as compensation for the lives lost during the attack at the sea. They carried their considerable amount back to Ullal.” Marissa said. Aanya watched in awe as the scenes played out.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. “What happened to Ribero?” She asked. “You said he escaped. There is no way he let this slight to him and the Portuguese go.” “Right you are again. He instead brought the news about the fall of Fort Mangalore to the Portuguese governor of Goa, who reacted rather sharply.” Aanya saw another Portuguese man scolding the soldiers that escaped. Then it switched back to the front of Ullal’s fort. “That is the Portuguese fort. They were being led by Coutinho, Goa’s governor, and they laid siege to the fort. But our dauntless Rani addressed her men.”
“My brave soldiers, let this be the day the war is decided. Let us fight with all our strength and defeat these foreigners once and for all.” Abbakka said, somehow being heard above the notice of the crowd. “Victory to Rani Abbakka! Victory to Ullal!” The soldiers cheered. They threw upon the gates as Abbakka led her men to battle. Urged on by their queen’s anger, the soldiers fought bravely and relentlessly. “Four days this went on. The Portuguese suffered losses that had never been seen before. They knew that they were being overwhelmed so they beat a hasty retreat with their tail between their legs.”
Aanya giggled at the wording. “They never troubled Ullal again.” Marissa finished. “The end.” Aanya said a little sadly.
“The end.” Marissa agreed. “Now do you understand why your mother wants to be an army medic again?” Aanya nodded.
“She wants to do good things for her people and to give them the happiness of getting their family members back, like she never did. She wants to fulfil her dream of doing her part to help her beloved country, like Abbakka.” Aanya said. Marissa nodded. “Wars are fought by fools. But we need to protect our country. And we need to help the people in need. Sometimes it means making some sacrifices, but that might be the need of the hour. And it takes a brave woman like your mother to make that choice and a brave kid like you to support that choice. This is what makes our world beautiful”, she said.
“I’m never going to see you again, am I?” Aanya asked the older woman.
She shook her head, making her curls bounce around. “No, you’re not.” Aanya suddenly threw her hands around Marissa’s middle.
“Thank you.” She said, her voice a little muffled as her face was buried in her dress. “You’re welcome.” Was the last thing Aanya heard, just before the ground spun under her feet and she ended up on the road where she had first seen the library, except there was no building now.
“Aanya!” She heard her mother scream.
“Here!” She yelled back, just as she got smothered by her mother’s body. “Oh my darling! Are you ok?” She heard her ask.
“I’m fine mom, seriously.”
“I’m so sorry darling. I’ll tell the army that I won’t…”
“No.” Aanya cut her off. Noticing her mom’s quizzical look, she hastened to answer.
“I just needed to take a walk and clear my head. I understand why you want to go. I don’t want you to stop your dreams on my account.”
“When did you grow up so fast?” Her mother said, sniffling as she gathered her daughter’s face in her arms.
Aanya merely smiled and mentally thanked Marissa and Abakka for helping her. And she could’ve sworn that she heard a couple of voices reply, “That was all you.”
-C.N. Dhriti
