The signboard at Dholavira!

Three women were busy in hairdressing each other with the latest style which was trending like hashtags these days in Harappa. The same unique style we have seen in the Dutches, real or fake black hair stretched over a frame of bamboo or other material,painted fan-shaped headdresses, it takes time and effort or practice to be perfected. 

Oh comb it again. She ordered the other girl who was combing her own as well as Dhanis very long hair. They were preparing for the party, kind of Princes swember! Although all of them had dreams and ideas about their dream guys or prince charmings. He must be tall enough to cross at least the main drains! 

River Indus of Sindh or hind was a provider as well as a destroyer in the areas it travelled during it's long journey. It's used to change it's course in time like every other rivers. In order to save the people from storms, they have built an incredible water management system and hydraulic engineering that contains at least 16 reservoirs and an elaborate systems of drains and sewers.

Rain was a sparse commodity though in the desert of Kuchh! They offered special prayers for the skies to bring clouds and rains upon them. They take it among the blessings and offered things by sending offerings in the river Indus or making sacrifices.

 In the citadel area there is an intricate network of storm water drains, all connected to an arterial one and furnished with slopes, steps, cascades, manholes (air ducts / water relief ducts), paved flooring and capstones. The main drains were high enough for a tall man to walk through easily. The rainwater collected through these drains was stored in yet another reservoir that was carved out in the western half of the citadel. Altogether the reservoirs have an area of about 10 hectares, or 10 percent of the area within the walls. This fabulous system made it possible for the Dholavirans to thrive in their desert home.

They have been preparing for the occasion since several days, like buying special masks made of terracotta,small and has two holes on each side of the face that would have allowed it to be attached to a puppet or worn, possibly as an amulet or as a symbolic mask. The combination of different animal features creates the effect of a fierce composite animal.Not that they were going through Coronavirus attack at that time, but it's the traditional masks and bring good omens.

Dhani chose the best design. This mask clearly has a feline face with an open mouth with exposed fangs, a beard, small round ears, and upright bovine horns.

Loosely included under the rubric of terracotta "figurines" are the terracotta masks found at some Harappan great Bazar.

They all had already taken bath together with every other young girls in Dholavira in Kachch district, in the great hammam or bath hall at Mound F at Harappa. Just like the "granary" at Mohenjo-daro. They had enjoyed the bath session thoroughly and felt more bubbly and youthful and fresh after taking bath.

 Cleanliness was part of their tradition, most probably even religion! A long cultural sequence, worthy of documenting a period of over 1,500 years; they were proud of their first world planned state with highest level of living facilities available in the whole world. A meticulous and mathematically precise city plan; Monumental architecture, etc. The granary stood on the steep verge of the citadel at Mohenjo-daro and at the western end of its north side was a recessed unloading bay.

The great bath at Mohenjo-daro at dawn and in context. Surrounded by a brick colonnade, it measures approximately 12 meters north-south and 7 meters wide, with a maximum depth of 2.4 meters. In the background is a massive brick structure with narrow passages that was first identified as a hammam or hot-air bath, and later as the state granary!

Finally the hair looked beautifully set and girls looked satisfied. So they tried the finest necklaces from Mohenjo-daro. Dhani chose one with 10 light-green jade beads, Chandra choose one with seven pendants of agate-jasper. Raakhi weared aunicorn amulet-type seal, chained around her neck.Once the jewelry was set on their beautiful young bodies from head to toes, the ladies left the dressing room..

They sat on the big cart reigned by a pair of oxen and with wooden wheels like chariot, driven by Bhunbus, a young and healthy farmer who later minded his fields of crops with same cart and oxen. So cart was still loaded with some fruits on the grass, which the girls picked up and started playing with and throwing in the air as well as on each other, laughing casually. There was spring in their flexible bodies as they jumped in the cart but stopped as there was a danger of their hairdress getting disturbed by the movement. 

As they moved closer to the city gates they saw the sign board. A large wooden "signboard" just outside the north entrance to the citadel. This is actually one of the longest Indus inscriptions known. There are 10 symbols in the panel, each one is about 37 centimetres high and the board on which the letters were inscribed appears to have been about 3 meters long. One of the symbols is repeated 4 times. The symbols are made of white gypsum used like mosaic tiles, attached to a wooden background.They know how to read it and what it said.# An ancient script or saying of wisdom and protection for the people of Dholavira.#It was a spectacularly large inscription made of 10 unusually big Indus signs” which were inlaid on a wooden board. The signs were made of thoroughly baked gypsum.

Finally they reached the stadium with unique funerary/sepulchral architecture.The discovery of a sandstone quarry from where sandstone was excavated, converted into huge architectural members and even exported to sites such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, several hundred kilometres away, Dhani had visited several times with her family as they had relatives across the borders of the cities.

 It's terraced stands were full of people of the city. They were wearing Ajruks around them, with typical blue and red prints or chaapa on them, another traditional dress of Indus valley. Orders were placed from all over the world and Ajruks were in high demand since long time. They exported things like Ajruks, paan leaves, special Multani blue pottery to Mecadonia, Anthens, Undulusia, all of Europe, Marakesh, Hubsha, Egypt etc in Africa and also to Arabia through Arabian sea. The business was flourishing and nation was getting more and more wealthy and healthy.

Excitement was in the air! They loved games of all kinds.But the girls loved to play dice and dancing, but it was not yet started as everyone was waiting for the Prince. So they started playing with dice. Dicing was a common game at Mohenjo-daro is proved by the number of pieces that have been found. In all cases they are made of pottery and are usually cubical, ranging in size from 1.2 by 1.2 by 1.2 inches to 1.5 by 1.5 by 15 inches. Other young people also joined them to play with the famous cubical die with 1 to 6 dots of Harappa.Although results always created tensions afterwards and was a source of fighting among the friends.

Dhani showed off her knowledge as usual on others by explaining: You know, many such dice are also found at Mohenjo-daro. The dice of Mohenjo-daro are not marked in the same way as to-day, i.e. so that the sum of the points on any two opposite sides amounts to seven.Others rolled their eyes as usual!

Finally the music started as few young and old guys started playing drums by drumsticks and some others with their palms. 

The Prince s beautiful chariot had arrived with much fan fair around the stadium. It was adorned with brocade seats and a golden umbrella was upon it to protect the Prince from sunlight.

Prince Kesri descended from the chariot with a jump and there was a roar of welcoming celebrations there. Girls sighed with desire and few swoon on him. Everyone loved him no doubt. As the royal family had managed the city systems so well and to the banks of the river Indus, the valley was bursting with and was a symbol of prosperity and a center of arts, architecture and their unique culture.

They wore their masks back and started dancing in the part of the ground set for cultural development. Prince had also joined them wearing a mask, so no one could recognize him. 

It was mendatory for all the young girls to attend the party so he could select and decide his future queen among them. 

It looked like a carnival with fruit and food stalls and other entertainments going on in the pindals there. Wine stalls were also there. It attracted wide attention. Wine and fruits were delivered to the Prince in silver vessels before he joined the dancing. So he was in mood. The sun had set till now. Everyone was dancing and drinking and the festivities were in full bloom.Moon was rising now. The night was young like the Prince and Dhani. Someone else replaced the guy in front of Dhani and started dancing with her. His face was masked but a fragrance of musk and oils was around him and making Dhani dizzy with his touch. It didn't happen before with anyone else dancing with her. His palms were very soft and his moves were perfect and practiced unlike otherKachchiis around Dholavira. 

You eyes are smiling so much What is the grief you are hiding behind? The guy with lion shaped mask asked sweetly and poetically.

Who are you? She asked back, moving in his arms like a doll.

I can ask the same question, my dear doe!His melodious voice and loving style made her shy of him.

Their eyes were intertwined just like their bodies were during dance moves. They could feel each other and it felt breathtakingly romantic under the full moon. He took her hand and went to the corner where there was no rush of people or sounds. Slowly he unwrapped her mask and got dumbfounded on seeing her beauty.

He bent to kiss her but she ran away from him and he followed her like crazy. There was puppet show going on at the stage in the middle of the amphitheater. They stopped there to see it. Puppets were made of terracotta "figurines as well, with threads attached to them going upwards to the top from where they were controlled by humans. Just like what happens in humans as well!

It was some romantic comedy going on and finally the puppet carved like a bride hugged the other one. Dhani threw glances at the aromatic guy who followed her here and he looked back at her with mesmerized eyes.

Although other girls had lovers since early age, Dhani was too proud of herself and was still untouched and uninterested in anyone around the city. On the other hand the guy next to her got amazed on her shyness and got even more attracted to her. They were literally in love at first sight, although she had not yet seen his face. 

Working out exit strategies first is your way of staying put, my lady! He said and she got nervous again.

Suddenly she saw Chandra searching for her and whistled, so they finally found each other and went back.Who is he? Chandra whispered in her ears and she looked back at the guy who was still following them.How would I know! Dhani whispered back, moving faster..On their way back, when they reached near the stage, Dhani suddenly saw up where the threads were going. She saw a goon-like guy with big mustaches and a beard stretching an arrow from the bow in his hand. To her surprise the arrow was targeted at the aromatic guy behind her. She turned fast and bumped into him forcefully and both of them fell down due to impact. The arrow moved straight up to the other guy at the drum set and with a loud shout he fell down. The music stopped and there was a chaotic frenzy around the stadium. Every one tried to run to the gates of the ground.The killer was arrested instantly by the royal force on duty there.

The aromatic guy and Dhani helped each other and somehow managed to get up and Dhani, Raakhi, Chandra and the guy also ran to the doors and out of the stadium.

Dhani jumped on her cart along with Chandra, so he followed them too. Their driver stretched the riegns and the cart moved fast at the fine streets of Dholavira. They reached the city gates where the sign board was hanging. She looked at her lover and he unwrapped his mask then.To their surprise he was the Prince!

Your Majesty, why are you following us! Chandra asked in astonishment. Dhani bites her lower lip in embarrassment. He recited the letters on the signboard as if casually reading it:

Love is the only weapon that can save the world!

They have finally solved the mystery of the signboard as well as their lives. The symbol of great Indus valley civilization which had revolutionised the world. And will remain alive in times to come in future.