What lies beneath

                        Boom! Boom! Boom! The drums rang out. Who could have ever thought drums could be melodious! And that soul stirring voice singing a ballad about the heroic escapades of the famous knights and lords of the Castle… casting a magical spell on one and all as they approached the old, ramparts, sentinels of the verdant countryside for hundreds of years now!

Rani was mesmerised! Prashant soon caught up with her as he lovingly caressed her shoulders and remarked, “Let’s explore the dungeons!” Looking into his twinkling brown eyes, she wondered once again what a lucky girl she was to be his wife. “Lets!”

Walking through the huge arch, set in stones piled up centuries ago, she said, “Wonder what tales these stones would narrate if they could speak? What all they must have witnessed!” “ Great imagination! I am sure historians have already interviewed them. Ha! Ha! Ha!”

The powder blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds, languorously sailing seemingly stirred by the breeze which wafted on the white daisies and the yellow daffodils carpeting the edges of the gurgling brook. Actually, she just wanted to soak in the sun in the cold English weather deceptively beautiful under the open skies.

On sighting the board “Dungeons this way” they took off in that direction. As they stepped into the old building, a cold draught swirled around! The absence of the sunlight crept onto them in cold icy swathes, and the darkness rendered them nearly blind. Their fellow tourists had all taken off in different directions since they had been given limited time to report back to their Tourist bus. Gingerly stepping on to the stony steps, they descended below. Rani whispered, “Its dark and eerie!” “ Don’t tell me the fiery Ms Rani is scared of old dungeons!” he said in mock sarcasm. “Not at all,” said she. And as they stepped further, they spotted a burning torch, replicating the feel of the bygone era. Feeling much better they quickened their steps in that direction. There were small cells, with iron manacles, and metallic chains, booms, spears, and other things that looked pointy, sharp, and able to cause great pain, which they would have to refer on Google to understand their functioning. A foul smell seemed to hang permanently. Suddenly a silent dark shadow swooped down at them and they both shrieked, “AAAAAAHHHHHH!” who shrieked louder they didn’t wait to argue but just grabbed each other’s hand, turned around and sprinted as fast as they could. They could now hear faint moans, as if someone was in great pain, “Ohhhhh” “Aaah” “Nooooo” or was it a whole lot of people! Sweat was trickling down their faces and their heartbeat was in zone 5! A flame flickered at some distance in the right. Without slowing their pace, they bounded towards it…. A faint eerie laugh now followed them. A maniacal ring was discerned. The two just broke into Ganesha mantra! Recalling the Lord who was the remover of all obstacles. As they edged closer to the flame, the black shadow sweeping on them seemed to multiply! “C’mon Rani!” And then they heard their names in an incredulous voice, “Mr and Mrs Prashant?” It was their guide from the bus.

“Ah the honeymooners are enjoying the special effects in the dungeons!” he cackled naughtily! Were they glad there was no sun beneath?

Out in the sun, Rani could not stop wondering about the horrors and pain inflicted on the people beneath the Lords, trapped beneath the castle.

If what lies beneath is not at peace,it can shake the foundations and topple it down, as history pointed out!