Thus began my wandering over skies and centuries. First of all I realized that I ‘became’ all sexual urge, the passion of its fragrance, the very pull. I did not mind this in itself, for as an Apsara I know the pleasures of the Gods beggar the imagination of the most voluptuous and the most perverse of mortals. Why, I remember the time – and it wasn’t even the best—when I was turned into an octopus-like creature, every inch of my skin covered with scented sexual suckers and…. But let me not detract from my story. Cast out from Heaven I apprehended the full import of Lord Indra’s Curse. On earth, the free erotic play that was customary with the Gods had lost much of its charm, its mutual delights. Instead the dark, violent side of passion gained prominence, raked as if with its talons. Whenever I spotted a man lacking in tenderness The Curse came into play, so I believed. Like an automate or a zombie rising, my transparent bells would start tinkling in his heart; my invisible feet would start pulsing their rhythms through his blood…
Thus it happened that a zillion crimes against women went unpunished for the blame was solely placed on me: Menaka was goading them on, glittering, Menaka, the rampant desire that sings in every body, was egging them on… But pause for a moment and think of me. As the erotic impulse descended into that of assault there was no escape for me screaming soundlessly, trapped within the violator’s body, pounding to be free. You hadn’t thought of me, had you?