Little Inklings 2023

POLLUNA’S REVENGE By: Esha Nagalla ’29 It was a calm breezy day and Shiva was happily meditating on Mt. Kailash (his mountain abode). Mt. Kailash was a majestic mountain whose peak scraped the clouds. “Shiva, Shiva!” Parvati (his wife) exclaimed. Something bad has happened in heaven. “What happened Parvati?” Shiva inquired. “A demon has ambushed the gods in heaven. He is demanding to see you and will not leave until you come. You have to do something!” Parvati pleaded. A month ago, a young man had come from the far stretches of India to visit Mt. Kailash in search of Shiva. Once the man climbed the treacherous trail that led to the zenith of the mountain, he fell before the feet of Shiva. “Oh great Shiva, my name is Kohil.” “Hello Kohil, what brings you here?” Shiva enquired. “O lord Shiva, will you help me become the smartest man in the world?” he implored. “It is impossible for me to control your fate. Success only comes from the effort within,” Shiva replied. “No, I will not accept this answer. You will pay for this Shiva!” Kohil yelled, leaving Shiva in deep thought. As soon as Shiva heard the news from Parvati he was astonished. He rushed to heaven on his trusty bull Nandi. He skidded to a halt at the gates of heaven for they were guarded with big, burly, monstrous, trolls. “You shall go no further!” the larger one of the two announced. Shiva remained calm and opened his third eye. At once the monsters shattered like glass. Shiva charged through the gates and in the center of the court stood Polluna. Polluna was a big and bulky troll with fangs emerging from his bloodthirsty mouth. His hairy green body emanating deadly poisonous gasses, was a horrific sight. “Hello there Shiva, remember me?” Polluna enquired. “I do not remember you,” Shiva replied. “I was the man who came to you with a minor request to make me the smartest in the world, and you turned me down,” Polluna stated. “Yes, Kohil, right? I do remember now. I thought that you were a nice lad,” Shiva stated. “Not anymore. I have transformed into a demon,” Polluna said. “I order you to stop all this commotion!” Shiva commanded. “Never!” Polluna shouted. Polluna blew a blast of hot polluted air, but Shiva deflected it with a gush of frigid water. The problem was that every time Polluna got hurt, he grew stronger. Shiva soon realized that he could not harm Polluna and had to think of a sly way to annihilate him. “Polluna, I am impressed with your ability to fight and will grant your wish. On one condition though, you shall come for dinner with me and Parvati,” Shiva stated. With those words, Polluna calmed down and said, “I knew you would relent. I will come to your abode for dinner.” Shiva then disappeared and teleported back to Mt. Kailash. When Polluna arrived at Mt. Kailash, he was welcomed by Shiva and Parvati. Shiva offered food to Polluna that was full of the poison Halahala, churned from the ocean of milk. As soon as the food touched Polluna’s lips, he evaporated like water vapor on a hot day. Though Shiva saved the world from the immediate threat of Polluna, Polluna’s spirit lives on, slowly vanquishing mankind in the form of pollution. Now it is up to us to conquer Polluna’s spirit. 10