Funnily enough the answer to the last two is no.
The yakas in Mythil's world are different to the ones you hear about in folktales. I like to think that they have evolved to be able to live among humans, mostly undetected.
But I've given them a history that you won't find in folklore. It's to do with portals and other worlds... But for more you'd need to read the book.
I must say I'm really impressed by the way you have woven the yakas into the story. They never lost their credibililty. I almost disagree with you because your yakas for me are rooted in the long-ago childhood stories of yakas living among us undetected, about the "yakku gas nagina welaawa" (ie when its high noon even devils seek shelter), their fondness for oily food and warding them off with pieces of iron. And then in the story they become wonderfully individual characters who enter Mythil's world so naturally -- the terrifying Aunty Bhishani (a pun on Bheeshanaya:D!), the boy yaka Asiri who evokes our sympathy more than fear, topped by the wonderful Bahirawaya's character, one of the most feared supernatural creatures in folklore, here no less powerful but disarming, self-deprecatory and providing some of the most unexpected bits of humour in the story. I really hope we get to meet Asiri and the Bahirawaya again in a sequel, Prashani. All the best to your wonderful imagination.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Dinali.
ReplyDeleteI think the yakas in folktales are much more blood thirsty. I remember seeing paintings of them with blood and froth dripping from their over-sized canine-like teeth. They usually haunt lonely areas in hopes of catching a solitary human victim.
The yakas in Mythil's world can be as predatory but they've evolved. They are now clever enough to live among humans in crowded cities and they have agendas that don't include drinking human blood, but are just as diabolical!
Hi Prashani, good to hear from you. Yes you're right of course, the 'real' yakas are much more bloodthirsty. And they are far more bestial too, with the canine teeth and all that black body hair, whereas the yakas that Mythil meets are thinking yakas -- they scheme and plot, and perhaps are more malevolent. But the best part for me is how the humans upset Mythil more than the yakas themselves. Aunty Nilmini with her pseudo psychology (and her unfinished certificate course! :D) for example. He's convinced she's a yaka for good reason, she is yaka-like and emotionally destructive with her misplaced concern. And I always felt that Mythil was far more scared of the possibility of his parents divorcing than the prospect of facing the yakas. Very telling.
ReplyDeleteYes - that's about the gist of it! :-)
ReplyDelete