Chapter 8: Asking For An Acceptance!

Asking For An Acceptance!

The sky is thick with clouds; the riverbank is dark with the tall trees.

A wounded heart heals with time, yet it never forgets. It seals the memories of the beloved within itself, drawing comfort from the very love that once caused its deepest pain.

There has not been a single day that Radha has not waited for Him. With every breath that she has drawn, she has taken His name.

"What a sublime peace bathes this evening Krishna! When doves murmured on boughs and breeze sighed in sprigs, if waves gurgled in the pond and distant woodwind sounded musical, every murmur deceives me into believing you have returned. Every distant melody sounds like your call. Thinking you arrived, hearing your call, I looked all around with brimming eyes. Don't leave me anymore Krishna, even for a moment, lest this exultant heart will break!"

The cowherd maidens are watching her with suppressed smiles. It's an everyday ritual for them. The flowing water, the swaying waves, the moving breeze with the burden of those floral fragrances, all know her pain and longing for her Krishna!"

Krishna, your thoughts are paving the stairway to the stars, celestial light beckons me when I see you in front of me, though it is illusory!

Is not the sky itself an illusion? Yet within that illusion shine the stars, the Sun, the Moon, and drifting clouds. So too, though you stand far beyond my reach, I still behold your smile in the stars, your tenderness in the moonlight, your courage in the blazing sun. Come to me, Krishna, walking upon the clouds....or at least smile through the ripples of Yamuna.

Radha sat there under the tree on the river bank seeking peace in solitude. She realized that her Krishna is a king now with many worldly responsibilities, she heard the stories of his association with the Hasthinapur princes, the Pandavas, and their changing status day by day. Meanwhile, Krishna fought many battles and expanded the territory of his kingdom. Shifted his base from Mathura to Dwaraka. He was the guiding force to the Yadava clan now ... .shown his opulence to the Mathura and Dwaraka people.

"It was very vivid to my mind, Krishna; still I remembered that evening's conversation with you while swaying on that floral creeper's swing! When I was watching your image on the gyrating wavelets of River Yamuna, you suddenly asked me "Radha, let us marry... now itself, under the moon and stars as witnesses," with a garland in your hands! Your words rendered me speechless !--She was reliving that moment!

"All of a sudden, why did this idea touch your heart my little Krishna?" With a fond smile, she asked him!

He wanted to remind her of their eternal oneness at that moment! Krishna explained to her today!

"I've attended a marriage in our village. When I asked why they were marrying? Dada told me that if they marry, then they will be able to live together forever and will be able to meet the requirements of each other! " Forever? I questioned. He assured me, "Yes, Krishna forever! Radha... let us marry and live for each other forever!"

Radha tried to suppress her laughter, but it escaped through the corners of her lips, sparkling in her eyes like starlight dancing upon the still water.

"Ohh ... my dear eternal lover, what to say! It is not acceptable to this world! Society will never accept our out-of-world relationship! They will demean me; I am already married and living with my family in my house."

"Why is it not acceptable, Radha? See, Shiva has two wives, Parvati and Ganga, I heard that story from Maa. And Ayodhya King Dasarath had 3 wives. Don't you know those stories? If a man can have many wives, then why can't a woman have many husbands!"-- A childish desire in his words, but it's a prophet's defining moment!

She caressed his hair and kissed him on the forehead. Then, with a smile, she tried to explain --- "Such liberties belong only to gods and mighty kings, Krishna...not to an ordinary cowherd woman like your Radha."

"Then I will become a God and a King so that I can marry you "!-- A spark in his eyes!

An undefinable aesthetic ecstasy--although, their relationship is neither amorous nor clandestine but astral and pure divine love which does not require any moral acceptance to tie them in with matrimonial rituals!

Cultural restraint has its tales of wisdom and morality. Radha tried to make him realize the prevailing norms at that time ---

"You are a God to us, our savior Krishna, and the sovereign of this entire universe, a ruler of our hearts! A woman is allowed to marry only one person in her lifetime. So I can't marry you, my dear infinite lover! "

Like the wavering light from the wick in its saucer of oil, the moonlight fell on his face, making him look as somber as it always was.

If a man can love many women, why can't a woman do the same? That is this Kid's question --- Radha witnessed a determined Krishna sitting near her, who is redefining many societal norms since his childhood in a sagacious manner, trying to curb many retrograde rules which are prevalent at that time. Today he wants to get clarification from Radha. Still, he was in an arguing mood!

Is he asking for my acceptance or searching for truth in a woman's heart about his unacceptable decision? Radha slipped into deep thoughts! Was this merely the stubbornness of a child—or the first spark of a revolution? Society changes only when someone dares to question its oldest certainties. Perhaps Krishna was planting such a question today.

She looked deeply into his eyes; she saw a resolution there in those deep eyes to give a new definition to human relationships!

What is this kid going to do, or rather define, in the future? Is he trying to introduce a new norm, a refreshing society where a woman will get whatever she wants and hold her head high with self-respect, with full freedom?

Is he going to put a new norm in front of mankind? Does he want to give free will to the girl to select her partner?--

A seed was planted in the mind of Krishna at that moment. Perhaps Krishna had already understood a truth that the world had not yet been ready for: the love that possesses a power greater than conquest. A warrior might submit to no king, yet willingly surrender before the silent strength of a woman who loved him.

By making a woman a binding factor in society, she will take care of the interests of not only her man but also the interests of society as a whole! Radha is thinking about the atrociously suppressing status of women in society and realizes that this enthusiastic kid is trying to define new norms now!

In the society at that time, Princesses were sometimes granted the privilege of choosing their husbands in a svayamvara. But such freedom belonged only to royal daughters. Village girls like Radha accepted the husband chosen for them, without question.

Suddenly she was back in the normal world with the chatter of the maidens while dipping the pots into the river for filling water. On their way back, they came near her to share a word with her.

"Radha! Did you get the invitation from your Krishna for his marriage?"

"What, Krishna... marrying?" The words barely escaped her lips.

"My husband came home from Dwaraka; he told me, --your Krishna abducted the princess of Vidarbha on her request! She loved him and wanted to marry him, and she sent a request to him to take her away from her kingdom to marry her. Today, in the evening, the bride and groom will reach Dwaraka. Tomorrow is the marriage!"-- A lady answered.

Silence started ruling the surroundings. One by one the maids slipped from there watching Radha in her startled state!

A rumble of thunder in the sky... lightning flashed in the eyes of maidens and the darkness spread its wings there. The maidens informed her that Yashoda is distributing sweetmeats to the passers-by to celebrate the good news.

That gnawing pain in her heart made her restless and unknowingly she started walking towards Nand's house!

A maid with a message walked towards her, Radha looked at her questioningly.

Yashoda called you immediately!

What for? Is there any news ?'

"Erm ... A messenger has arrived from Dwaraka... from Krishna's palace. Before returning, he wishes to meet you.

To be continued ...

Viswasruti2020-11-01 17:20:31