THE CURSE OF THE BLACK DRAGON

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in China, there lived a king, let’s call him Zhengyang, and his beautiful queen, Ronghui. They were well loved by their people for they were both just and kind. The kingdom had no quarrels with anyone and lived a peaceful, prosperous life. The people were happy and content.

 

One fine day, Zhengyang and Ronghui decided to inspect the northernmost city of Hanlin. The city was built on the steep, snow-covered mountains. The houses had low, sloping roofs of mountain shale rocks. The city was famous for its lanterns, moon candy and the mysterious blue lake in the middle of the pine forest. 

 

Zhengyang and Ronghui were accompanied by many of their ministers, and a huge retinue of servants and concubines. The royal procession inched its way up the mountain. Zhengyang rode a horse, and Ronghui was carried in a closed palanquin over the high mountains. Suddenly, Zhengyang's horse went berserk. It galloped into the forest lining the path and was soon lost to sight. 

 

The general ordered a few of the soldiers to dash after the king and the others to guard the queen. Meanwhile, Zhengyang had reached a clearing in the forest. He stopped his horse on the banks of an oval lake which lay shimmering in the slanting sunlight. The waters looked deep, black and mysterious. Little waves danced on the surface though there was no breeze. It seemed as if the lake was breathing and alive. Just then, Zhengyang saw a girl step out of the forest with a pitcher in her hand. She stopped and looked at Zhengyang. “Who are you?” asked Zhengyang. “I am the maiden of the lake, Lady Hu Ling. Why are you here? Don’t you know this lake is forbidden to others?” 

 

Zhengyang bowed with perfect courtesy and said, “Dear Lady, I was not aware of this, but my horse dragged me here. If you can help me get back, I will be grateful.” Before Hu Ling could say anything, there was a huge, earth-shattering roar which made the mountains all around quake. Lady Hu Ling dropped to her knees and said, “My brother is awake. I must go. Hide here for some time. I will come back and help you soon but on no account show yourself to my brother.” Saying that, she pushed Zhengyang into a cave nearby. Sitting down nearby, she started roasting meat.

 

The black lake bubbled and boiled. Its oily waters seethed and from within its depths rose a black dragon. It was as huge as a mountain and just as hard. Its obsidian black scales glittered and glimmered with an unholy fire. Its golden-red eyes blazed and its nose twitched as it sniffed the air. “I smell a man. Who is it? Step forward and face me or else I will hound you to the end of the earth.”

 

“Brother,” called Hu Ling, “There is nobody here. It must be this delicious piece of meat that I am roasting for you. Come, you must be hungry. See, I made lots of meat for you. Come here and have some.” The Black dragon gave a long searching look all around but he could not find anyone. It clambered out of the lake and stalked to the fire. Hu Ling set the meat before him in a pile and the dragon attacked it with great appetite. “You are a good cook, Hu Ling, but now I am sleepy.” The black dragon slumped to the lake and quietly slid under the water. Soon all was still and calm.

 

Zhengyang stepped out of the cave. Hu Ling said, “I will help you get back but you have to take me with you. I can not remain here, taking care of the black dragon. Please, I beg you, take me with you.” Zhengyang looked at the black lake and said, “Won’t the dragon rise if I take you away with me?” Hu Ling said, “I gave him a strong sleeping drug in his food. He will sleep for ages, but we must go away as soon as we can.” Zhengyang agreed. Hu Ling picked up a vial and took some water from the black lake. Then she picked a few stones from around the lake and a few leaves from the pines growing tall at the tip of the lake.  

 

Zhengyang was confused, but he did not ask more. He saddled the horse and put Hu Ling in the front, gathered the reins and put the horse to a gallop. Soon, with Hu Ling giving directions, Zhengyang came into the town of Hanlin. He rode to the imperial house and dismounted. The guards quickly opened the gates and Zhengyang strode in with Hu Ling trailing behind. 

 

The imperial house was thrown into chaos as news spread of Zhengyang’s return. Ronghui, who had fallen ill, stumbled into the garden and flung herself at Zhengyang, crying aloud. Every servant, maid, soldier, and guard rushed into the compound to look at their master and kowtow before him. Hanlin had been looking morose and sad but the news of his arrival spread on the wind, and the town threw off its sad look and preened as a newlywed bride. The lanterns which had been quiet flared into life. The music which had been stifled rose up in a crescendo. Everywhere you looked, the town and the people could not help smiling. Their king had returned.

 

Ronghui kept holding his hand as she asked about his whereabouts. Everyone hung on his words as Zhengyang told his adventure. Then, he introduced Hu Ling as his saviour. Ronghui hugged her and, with tears in her eyes, called Hu Ling her sister. Zhengyang asked Ronghui to consent to keeping Hu Ling as his second consort. Ronghui consented, though she would have preferred keeping him away from Hu Ling.

 

After a few days, the royal procession decided to go back to the capital. Ronghui and Hu Ling stepped into the close carriage and the entourage inched down the mountain. Longbei, the capital, had been decorated grandly and its citizens lined the grand road. The golden dragons on the gate had been polished till they shone in the wintry sun. The trees were laden with honeysuckle flowers and the air was heavy with scents of flowers, fried food and fireworks. 

 

Ronghui welcomed Hu Ling officially and placed her in the North Pavilion. However, something was wrong with her. Ronghui felt as if she was being sidetracked. Her position as the chief queen was in danger, she felt. Hu Ling was aware of her thoughts and sought to calm her down but Ronghui kept that canker in her heart and it slowly gnawed deep and spread its poison. One day, when Zhengyang was busy with court affairs in his study, a maid rushed in and said that Ronghui had been poisoned by Hu Ling. Zhengyang rushed to the central palace. Ronghui was on her bed, looking haggard and worn. Her face looked thin and her fingers looked stiff. 

 

The physician attending her took Zhengyang aside and said, “Your Majesty, the queen is not well. She is stressed and has not been eating well. I think you need to be with her to ease her mind. Do not upset her, but be gentle.” Zhengyang sat down next to Ronghui and gently asked her, “Why are you sad? Tell me, I will do anything to see the smile on your face.” Ronghui had been waiting just for that. She looked up and with tears trembling on her eyelashes, she said, “I feel as if I have lost you to Hu Ling. I am not happy with her being here. I wish she would leave us.” 

 

Zhengyang was deeply shocked and upset at Ronghui. “Have you forgotten that she saved me from the black dragon? Where will she go? I have given her my word that she will be safe here now you want me to go back on my promise.” Ronghui started crying. She gulped and with tears in her eyes and voice, said, “You don’t love me anymore. I would rather die.”

 

Hu Ling had heard all this commotion. She stepped into the palace and bowed her head and said, “Please do not fight over me. There is a small little house on the edge of the city where no one goes. If it is fine with the queen, I will stay there.” Zhengyang looked shocked but he couldn’t do anything. He just looked at Ronghui and said, “ I hope you get well soon and see the error of your judgement. Hu Ling is willing to go away, so I will let her go.” Saying that, Zhengyang walked out of the compound. 

 

Hu Ling picked up her satchel and, with one maid, walked out of the palace to go live in that tiny house, overlooking the river. The house had been a fine palace in times long gone but now it looked old, damp and weary. Hu Ling and her maid decided to turn the house into a more comfortable place. They worked day and night and slowly the house grew warm and inviting. Hu Ling planted the seeds that she had got from home and placed the rocks in an ornamental garden. In the evening, strains of guzheng drifted over the moonlit waters into the ears of Zhengyang.

 

Ronghui had got what she wanted but still that restless, clawing feeling in her heart kept growing.She had always been a warm, generous, beautiful person but now she was completely changed. Gone were her warm smiles and winsome ways. Now , she was intensely moody, snappy and angry. Her lustrous hair was stringy, dry and fierce. Her eyes, which always had a twinkle in them, glowed red and angry. It seemed as if her skin was getting darker, her bones fragile and sharp as a knife. Her clothes hung loosely on her and she who had been kind-hearted, grew morose, vengeful and vindictive.

 

Zhengyang was at his wits end. Nothing that he did calmed Ronghui. There were days when he did not step into the central palace. Rumours about the palace and Ronghui reached Hu Ling. She gathered her courage and her satchel with the vial of black water and walked into the palace. Zhengyang was in his study when Hu Ling knocked. She said without wasting any time, “I must meet Ronghui. There is something wrong with her. I think I know what the problem is. I have the means to cure it but you will have to come with me and hold her while I prepare the medicine.” 

 

Zhengyang took her to the central palace. The palace looked as if it had been stripped to its bare bones. There was a thick, cloying smell around the compound. The garden looked unkempt and so did the main halls. There was no incense burning, no silk carpets or curtains. It was cold, dreary and damp. Ronghui sat at her table looking fragile and lost. She looked up and for a moment, there was a spark of memory there but soon her eyes glowed red. A shadow of the dragon flickered in her eyes as she looked at Hu Ling.

 

Hu Ling stepped forward without any fear and sprinkled the water from the black lake on Ronghui. Ronghui screamed and fell back, fainting in the chair. Hu Ling called the chief maid and asked her, “Did anyone come here when Ronghui was distressed? Did he or she give any drug, talisman or token to her?” The maid looked terrified but she said, “Yes, there was an old fakir who had come to Hanlin on the day of our departure. He gave Ronghui a talisman wrapped in a black cloth to keep with her always.” “Where is it? Go and get it here,” commanded Hu Ling. The maid scampered and searched the entire palace. They found the token under Ronghui’s bed. 

 

Hu Ling took the token and unwrapped it. It was a black jade dragon. The dragon looked as if it was alive and breathing. Hu Ling looked at it and said, “Brother, it was wrong of you to target Ronghui. I did not want to stay with you anymore so I left. You should have directed your anger at me.” Saying that, Hu Ling asked her maid to open the rosewood box from her satchel. She picked up the red silk cloth and tied the jade dragon in it tightly. Then she sprinkled water on it and put it inside the box. She put that box in a red silk pouch and put black chains on it. “Zhengyang, please bury this box in a desolate area where no one comes and goes. Bury it deep and plant this dragon eye flower tree on top of it.”

 

Zhengyang did all that. Hu Ling stayed with Ronghui through the night as she burned with fever. Ronghui kept tossing and turning through the night but as dawn approached, her fever broke. She opened her eyes. They still looked red but no dragon remained in their depths. She looked calmer and happier than before. She clasped Hu Ling to her chest and said tearfully, “Please forgive me. I don’t know what happened. I was angry with Zhengyang and felt as if he had stopped loving me but it had nothing to do with you. I am sorry. Will you come back, please? I will make amends. You are my sister and I will be happy to share my life with you.”

 

Hu Ling clasped Ronghui and said, “Do not worry so. I knew something was wrong but I couldn't help you then. I am just glad we can finally be together.”

 

Yes, things are looking up now. The kingdom is growing strong and prosperous and the Royal family is happy as well.

 1

ख़्वाहिश

मन की अनकही आवाज़ है ख़्वाहिश।

आसमान पर पाँव रख
उड़ जाने की तमन्ना है ख़्वाहिश।

सपनों की सीमाएँ लाँघ,
दुनिया से परे
अपना एक जहाँ बसाने की चाह है ख़्वाहिश।

समुद्र के ज्वार-सी बेचैन,
क्षितिज-सी अनंत है ख़्वाहिश।

चाँद की शीतल अग्नि में जलकर,
अँधेरे को चीरती
एक रोशनी की लौ है ख़्वाहिश।

ख़्वाहिश तो हर मन में होती है।

कुछ आकार ले लेती हैं, और कुछ
मन के दरवाज़े तक आकर
चुपचाप लौट जाती हैं।

ख़्वाहिशें तो हज़ारों हैं,
पर उन्हें जीने के लिए
एक ज़िंदगी काफ़ी नहीं।

2

ख़्वाहिश

साँसों के साथ ही
हर एक मन में कई ख़्वाहिशें बस जाती हैं।

पालने में झूलते बच्चे की चाह—
कैसे कर दुनिया अपनी मुट्ठी में बंद कर लूँ।

बस्ते के बोझ तले कैद ख़्वाहिश की—
कैसे कर पेड़ों संग झूम जाऊँ।

बहते झरने की ख़्वाहिश—
कैसे कर समुंदर में मिल जाऊँ।

पतंग की ख़्वाहिश—
कैसे कर आसमान से टकरा जाऊँ।

फूलों की ख़्वाहिश—
कैसे कर सुगंध बन फैल जाऊँ।

हर ख़्वाहिश एक सपना है,
जो कहता है—
बस यहीं तक नहीं,
चलो, आगे बढ़ो।
अभी तो मंज़िलें और हैं,
रास्ते भी और।

थककर बैठ जाओ अगर,
दबी ख़्वाहिशें मन को कचोट लेंगी।
आँसू बन आँखों से बहेंगे,
और भीग जाएगा दामन।

ख़्वाहिशें कभी ख़त्म नहीं होतीं।
इसीलिए तो मन ज़िंदा रहता है।

मार दो अगर हर ख़्वाहिश को,
साँस लेकर भी
साँस नहीं आती।