UP FROM THE SOUTH- TRAILER

 My name is Ajunmani. I am the oldest man alive. I was born years before the Britishers came.

I am the immediate younger brother to the Way and I was the reason for the death of my Father. But, long before he died, I was given a scepter. A scepter made of wood, bronze and copper.

 Along with the scepter came a mandate to protect that very staff with my dear life. I saw all of that as traditional nonsense.

*****

I can still hear the cry in my ears.

The women's wailings seem to be unable to clear from my mind.

It was war and simultaneously wasn't.

When the head the sick, the body cannot but stay sick.

How could the king have been kidnapped.

Who's going to pay the ransom?

*****

I was already senescent with more experiences than those I see around. But, they were ready to take my life; everyone of them.

I knew some of them, I had once preached to them about the only Way to the Father.

"They are at the gate!" Geena said after peeping through the window.

"Father, should I call fire on them." A six years old boy asked with his chest forward and his hands akimbo.

I wanted to shake my head, but just then, I heard heavy knocks at the main door.

"Father, they are climbing over the electric fence..." Davis screamed.

"Power it!!!!"

*****

They were authoritarian. They had come to take over our nation for their own selfish interest and we were ready to fight back.

I was the youngest in the troop yet was the one everyone looked up to.

"I, Ajunmani order you to attack!"

Immediately, the cannon crackers were allowed to shoot the Britishers at random.

I stood on a cliff and watched with joy how the round shots brought down some of the British armies.

I enjoyed being the son of the devil. But, it had its disadvantages.

As I backed the British soldiers to leave, they fired.