A Better Grave

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#JulyWritingEvent 2

I clearly remember that day in 1780. Boom! The entire ammunition depot of the British was on fire. Flames leapt up to the sky but no greater than what burned in my heart. All of them rejoiced. Even I did! For the martyrdom of my close friend who achieved this feat being a human bomb.

I reclaimed my land thereafter and became the queen. Many kings, freedom fighters congratulated me as the first queen to fight the British. But I never took pride and plotted my revenge. I formed a women’s only army and fought the British till my death in 1796.

But I don’t feel dead….

I saw and felt exhilaration of freedom.  I screamed hoarse “Jai Hind!” when our Indian flag flew victoriously on 15th August 1947. Pity! No one came forward to share this joy with me. I shall lie among the unsung heroes.

Maybe, centuries have gone by.

But where is the freedom we got? People are bound by unnecessary rudiments and superstitions.

While I was in Delhi, I casually entered a palatial house. I saw a well-dressed man hitting a woman. She was pushed to a corner with a crying baby in her arms. I waited till the man walked out. I could sense the situation.

I went up to her and said, “Can’t you fight for your right, you educated fool! Have you read about Velu Nachiyar, Rani Jhansi and other women who fought till their death for India’s freedom?

She looked all over the place, alarmed. I floated out, to a better grave.

Author’s Note: This is a fictional account based on the greatest women freedom fighter- Velu Nachiyar, also called ‘Veeramangai’, the 18th century queen from Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu who fought against the British and recaptured her kingdom. She is widely known as the first queen to put up a resistance against the colonial power, even before the Rani of Jhansi.

Word Count (only story)-250 words.