Ascent

She is terrified of stairs – it is almost a phobia, or maybe more than a phobia. She imagines a game of Snakes and Ladders concealed behind the scene and awaits a roll of dice to throw her off.

She thought she had aced the political and satirical game, and then the unthinkable happened. A roll of political dice, and then, that falling off the ladder from the topmost row. She could see it happen again and again. It had happened centuries ago.

The spirits in the Palace of Illusions speak to her – “You had a saviour at that stage, Draupadi! You won’t find him today. Go back! The light you see at the other end is an illusion. You will never reach there. The stairs are controlled by powerful vested interests. They won’t allow your ascent to success.”

She is determined this time around. She will make it.