[ALĀP — whisper over drone (free, before tāla)] (whisper) Strange sky— barest black, darker than dreamless sleep; void-scape, Sithic abyss… Squelch of dry-rot underfoot. A single bell answers. STHĀYĪ (MUKHDA) — enter Ektāl That white point—needle through shade— (not Magnus’ light) My eyes would sharpen… no, it closes— not a wink, but closer still. Wind-glass hum surrounds; I breathe on Ma, and wait beneath its longing. ANTARĀ 1 — world reveals Dawn barges in on nothing’s edge: trees like polished black, cold-sheen leaves; beasts with glowing gaze, undecided shape— their stare, a breeze from hollow sockets, raising prey-sense through my skin. I count these beats to keep from running. BRIDGE (FX only, no second singer) FX (insectoid trill, low-passed): tsss… rrr… thrrumm… Ashimasi (soft): Who speaks? What tongue? FX (sub-bass breath): …ba…da…u… Bansuri answers with a kan from Sa to Ma. ANTARĀ 2 — the star devours Nearer, nearer—its breath is hot-cold; it eats the dark, shows bone through dun-flesh; lantern-joints arise and burn at seams— yet flesh resists the melt of meaning. I hold to Ma, I fall to Sa. SARGAM TAG (optional, Bhimpalasi pakad) ni S g m — m P ni S — | S ni D P m g R S (soft taan back to Ma) ANTARĀ 3 — the curling flight Closer than thought—are you watching me? Where have you gone? White cinders rain— you stretch in rivulets, molten paths; you beckon: follow. Why would I dare? Follow you—where? (count the twelve; return to one.) CODA — the copper gate And there— a gate: tarnished green, like sunlit glass. It waits— for me. (tihāī on Ma→Sa; dissolve to drone.)
