Week 6 Story Lab: Microfiction: Snatch and Grab

Snatch and Grab

    B went searching for women he felt would be worthy of being married to his brother. His first stop was a gathering of the royal families at the city center. He drove around and noticed three beautiful princesses that were talking to each other. B immediately stopped his van, shot the nearby bodyguards, and instructed the princesses to get in his van. He escaped during the chaos and confusion. He then arrived at his brother's house and let him have his pick.

Van by Albert (November 2014). Source: Flickr

Opportunity

B saw the princesses. B took the princesses.

Author's Note

    My stories are based on the Mahabharata PDE. At one point in the story, Bhisma kidnapped three princesses for his half brother Vichitravirya so that he could continue the blood line. They eventually let one of the princesses go because she was already in love with another king. I tried to take a modern approach, hence the van and shooting. 

Bibliography

"Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition" by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

1-10

    Vyasa authored the Mahabharata and told it to Ganesha who would only write it down if his pen would not stop. One day two children, one boy and one girl, were born in a river and a fisherman got them out, so he showed the king. The king took the boy and left the girl to the fisherman and his wife. The girls name was Satyavati. Vyasa was born on an island, he arranged the Vedas, and is Sat's son. Ganga married a king and drowned 7 children, but left the 8th one, Devavrata/Bhishma with the virtues of the Vasus, when the king yelled at her and she departed. Satyavati married the king, and she had two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chit died after waging war for 3 years, so Bhishma took over since Vich was still a kid. Bhisma killed many and kidnapped 3 princesses to become brides for Vich. Amba left to be with her king, but was rejected by him too so she went AWOL. Shiva then met with her and wanted revenge on Bhishma and Shiva said she will slay him. She entered a fire to be reborn into a man to slay Bhishma. Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born, the blind and the pale one respectively. Pandu was a warrior and leader. Karna was born, and became a mighty bowman after being put in a basket and sent downriver. Pandu died after hugging his favorite wife as was foretold by a "deer" he hunted.

Bhishma fight in Swayamvara by Ramnadayandatta Shastri Pandey (1968). Source: Wikimedia

11-20

    Dhritarashtra had now taken over the throne. Duryodhana, his son, was born and was evil but he could not kill him. Duryodhana tried to poison and drown Bhima. However, he was not destined to die and reached the underworld, where he was given strength and returned to his world. Drona and Drupada were once friends who grew apart and Drupada renounced Drona when they met again. Drona then trained the princes with weapons. Ekalavya wanted to be trained by Drona and cut his thumb off to show his dedication. There was a combat contest and Karna showed in the evening and challenged Arjuna. Duryodhana and Karna teamed up against Arjuna, Drona, and Bhishma. However, battle was avoided when Bhima came and spoke to them. Drona then had his warriors, the Pandavas and Kauravas, attack Drupada's kingdom. They managed to capture Drupada, and he agreed to be Drona's friend and keep half of his kingdom. Prince Duryodhana then convinced his father to build a wooden building to kill his cousins and Queen Kunti so he could take over.

Bibliography

"Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition" by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.