The Crocodile

I used to be beautiful; I used to be one of the most gorgeous goddesses around. Men would swoon for me and give into temptations. They would turn their focus from meditation to me. Maybe that is my fatal flaw, but it is just how my girls and I were. That was all before the curse, however. Now I am damned to a life of swamp servitude as a crocodile. I feel misunderstood. I do not wish to harm anyone, but everyone assumes that my goal is to swallow them whole.

My cure came to me in the form of prince Arjuna. I was cursed to one hundred years of living as a crocodile, which is no way to truly live. Everyone deemed me a man-eating crocodile, which I guess is not unfair. It is just not very becoming. But when Prince Arjuna came near, and I heard his men's warnings, I knew it was my time to strike. The prince dove confidently into my waters. I had no time to waste. I meant him no harm. I did not bite onto his leg to attack him. I just knew this was my only way out.

I lunged as fast as possible up to his long legs and bit his ankle as gentle as a crocodile can. I know I cannot let go. If I do he will leave and never return. As soon as I latched on, I knew I could not let go no matter the cost. I wished there was another way. I did not like scaring people like that. A girl was desperate though, you know?

I gave him a good fight, but it seemed that he was giving up and giving in.

"No!" I remember thinking to myself. "He cannot give up now! I need you to get me to shore, NOW!"

Something overcame him, and although I did not know what, he got a burst of inspiration. He let out a yell, and with all his might he kicked himself steadily to shore. Although it was not without a fight. He was going for blood.

"Stop!" I tried to yell out. I am sure it sounded like a loud grunt. I was a massive crocodile, after all.

"You are hurting me! I mean no harm! This is the only way!" I thrashed around as I tried to get myself loose from his grasp. I knew this was the only way to return to my natural state.

With all of the remaining strength he had Prince Arjuna flung my body to the dry shore.

"Yes!"

My words transformed from a low howling crocodile into the goddess I once was.

I knew the men could hear me as my body changed into the woman I was supposed to be. I was gleaming with excitement. The curse had been lifted! I could not help but laugh. That was the only reaction I knew for the occasion.

I went on to explain, "I used to be a lovely sea-nymph, but I was cursed to roam the swamp as an alligator for a hundred years unless you could come to relieve me of my curse. I am sorry for the scare, but the only way to reverse my state was for you to drag me to shore."

The men looked frightened, but they had seen this before. The rest of the Apsaras were saved as well once I explained my case. Prince Arjuna wasted no time saving the rest once he knew it was safe. Of course, I had a little bit of convincing to do, but convincing is an Apsaras strong suit.

And so that is where the story ends. A the end of the day everyone is fine. Everyone got to go home to their loved ones, and I can begin seducing men once again.

Author's Note:

I was inspired by Arjuna and the Apsaras because it is such an odd curse. The original story of Arjuna and the Apsaras is told from the perspective of Arjuna, where he thinks he is going to succumb to an alligator attack. I wanted to write from the perspective of one of the Apsaras because they are seemingly dangerous but in reality, they are just misunderstood. The original story focuses on Arjuna's fear and confusion, whereas my version sees the excitement that one of the Apsaras feels when she realizes her curse is about to be lifted. One of the biggest struggles I have in my writing is including true dialogue so I wanted to make sure I was challenging myself this time around.

Story Source: Arjuna and the Apsaras

Image information: A statue of an Apsara holding a bird in her hands from Baitala Deula.