Jatayu was the most magnificent man I had ever met. He was extremely good-looking, with a rugged quality, tall with a lean face and reasonably well-built. He must have been in his late 30s. A thin streak of white hair went from his left temple all the way back, where he had tied his hair with a piece of braided string. He walked with such an assured gait, you could easily mistake him for a prince. The first time I saw him, he was performing in the marketplace.
He had a unique act. A small ber was kept on a raised dias, about as high as my waist. Jatayu was dressed like a bird of prey. He had painted his face as the bird's face and his dress was a collage of cloth strips that made the bird's wings and feathers. He was dancing around the dias, using his wings to good advantage. He would jump, roll, fly like he were a real bird of prey. And suddenly he stopped. He went to the dias and picked up the ber. He held it high for all of us to see. There was a collective gasp.
The ber was punctured throughout with very fine black needles. This was the real act. While we were engrossed in Jatayu's dance, he was shooting these needles out. We couldn't see him doing it because the motion of his hands was obscured by his wings. All at once, the audience broke into applause. Jatayu folded his hands and indicated the collection plate, requesting the audience for his reward. We were so mesmerised by what he had done that the plate was soon full. Jatayu collected the money and went off whistling.
I saw him again later that day at the archery competition. He was competing as well. I wondered what other tricks he had hidden in his wings, the wings that he was still wearing. Everyone around was amused by Jatayu's get-up at the games and he earned a lot of ribbing.
The first round was the practice round. We were lined up in front of targets. Jatayu was allotted the target beside mine. He was not using any bow. I really looked forward to his shot. I saw Ram, Lakshman and the other brothers some targets away. I had entered the game as Dharti, not as Sita. I had also covered my face for added protection. But I caught Ram's eye and he smiled.
We mounted our bows. As one, we shot. I was more interested in Jatayu's shot than my own. So I didn't even check my target to see how my aim had been. My attention rushed to Jatayu's target. There, right in the center, was a black needle sticking out.
After the practice shot, the competition started in earnest. Each challenge was tougher than the last. Ultimately there were only a handful of contestants left. Luckily I was still in the game. My practice shot had been slightly off-target. But having satisfied my curiosity about Jatayu's shooting, I focussed all my attention onto my own bow. My subsequent shots had all hit the target dead-on.
For the past three rounds, the only contestants were Ram, Jatayu and myself. A huge crowd had gathered around us, cheering us on. There were various members of the royal family, a lot of important members of the king's court and hundreds of city-folk watching us in anticipation. Some of the other archers who were no longer in the game were also there.
The bell rang to end the day's games just as the last round was being announced. That was good. I could do with some more practice. It would be tough to beat these two. The Games Committee was infamous for the devilish tests it devised for the final rounds of the warrior games. Last year the contestants were blind-folded for the deciding shot.
I caught up with Ram and Lakshman as they were leaving the ground. As usual, Lakshman and I started right off on the question top-most in our minds.
"Wasn't he amazing?", Lakshman gushed.
Ram gave a dry smile. "Dare I pretend that you are talking about me?"
"Oh you are always awesome!", Lakshman teased him,"But did you see the way that feathered guy was shooing?!"
"It was as if he wasn't even moving a finger while shooting out his needles!"
"You were there?!" Lakshman asked with an innocent baby face.
"Mitr, you are looking at tomorrow's winner!"
We walked back, talking and laughing all the way.
At the palace gates, we saw Jatayu again.
"Oh, did I mention I invited Jatayu to have dinner with us?", Ram said.
"You did?! That is great!", said Lakshman.
"Well I thought it would be good to know more about such a skilled warrior or artist, whatever you wish to call him. But now, looking at the hero-worship in both your eyes, I think perhaps I made a mistake", Ram teased.
"What! Are you jealous?!", I laughed.
"Of course I am! Not just my baby brother but my wife also seem to be smitten by the great Jatayu. Who bothers about poor Ram now!"
"Hey! I am not a baby!"
"So you accept that you are in love with him!", Ram said, running away from Lakshman. Lakshman ran after him, blushing scarlet. They fell on the grass laughing, Lakshman on top of Ram, trying to push grass into his mouth. I too jumped down beside them, clutching my sides. It was a good day.
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