Rajnish (Clips for Me)

RED PANDA ENDING:1

It was clear that Rajnish cared not (nor knew not) whether the *REDPANDA* was a rare and fine creature among our people or if it were just a common rodent. That was the first time any of us had seen that soon-to-be trademark smile on his face--the twinkling in his eyes that shimmered unnaturally bright, as though he were trying to outshine Chandra's light. But at the same time, it was a perfectly natural and pure look, as though all men on earth smiled in just the same way. His delight surfaced as he petted the copper fur of the rare animal. The two were never seen apart. 2

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LESSONS: 4

Every moment of his life was spent in the room--the one with walls of red lilies, so bright one had to squint as he entered. The walls were lined with ornaments of gold and fine jewels, half of which I could not name, let alone hope to own. As noon evenly struck, his tutor arrived, and in a few maticulously numbered hours, he left. But Rajnish still remained. 5

One or two of us from time to time would peak into the window from the ground to see if the boy still lived. And every time we looked, we could see nothing but a taste of the new blood-red walls. Shadows stretched out into the open air, and we dared to assume he was alive. 6

His mother Padma brought him meals when the morning light arose, hit its highest poitn, and fell into the earth, carefully on the same moment every time. From day to day, there were packages sent in, and on fewer occasions, packages and letters sent out. But Rajnish still remained. 7

The gossip loving women would not give up their fantasies of demons or spirits emprisoning him in there. Many wondered if he was one of Andhaka's fallen army. 8

One of the young women Ankita spent the morning looking high and low for something tall and sturdy to stand upon. All of us who were engrossed in our own tasks, ignored her selfish scurries, continuing on with our lives. 9

In an hour's time, we heard the mutterings of several women. Sure enough, there was Ankita, in the arms of a shivering tree, some of the female servants nervously watching her and calling her from below. "The boy is cursed," she muttered, squinting to the now distant window, "He cannot still be among the living," 10

A younger servant girl held up an unusual black hollow rod, a sort of expensive bamboo stick with glass ends. Surely it was master Rama's. Ankita quickly took it in her hands, holding up the larger end to her eye, and then the smaller, looking out towards the distant window. The crowd jumped as they noticed her strong flinch. 11

She turned to us, the back to her sight. Another woman nimbly climbed up the tree to join Ankita, snatched the odd laquer bamboo stick, and took a look for herself. "He is perfectly well," she bluntly stated, and the crowds quickly scattered back to daily routine. 12

It was said that whenever a glimpse of the mysterious young Rajnish /was/ caught, he had a head buried in piles of scrolls and papers. Once, a paper fluttered from his open window to the ground, covered in blind scrawls that were supposed to be sanskrit, we determined. 13

Months upon months followed in this way until it became natural. He was of the elite--the chosen. Perhaps that was just how the chosen lived. 14

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