Chapter 2

Entry for Round ----2 prompt 11. Radha's Thoughts. Radha's Thoughts: I couldn't even say a proper goodbye to him when he went away to save his biological parents. There wasn't a day I haven't thought about him. The melodious tunes from his flute still make me alive. Then one fine day, I see him again...my Krishna. ***********

His Quest for Her Acceptance

Just like the arc of a rainbow makes the sky shine after the rain, Radha wore her hopes for him as a crown and initiated an unspoken soliloquy with the floral bushes, sharing her memories with nature, while her soul was trying to hide her pain...

"All of a sudden, why do you want to marry me, Krishna?" With a perky smile, she had asked Krishna that day! He wanted to remind her of their eternal oneness at that moment!

"Radha, I attended a relative's marriage today. When I asked Maa why they are marrying, she told me if they marry, then they will be able to live together forever and will be able to meet the needs of each other!

"Forever? I questioned, and Maa assured me, yes forever! Radha...please, let us marry to live together forever." Radha was trying hard to hide her titters, which were spilling out from the corners of her lips, like a sparkling star's twinkle on the mirror!

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

"Why is it not acceptable, Radha? See, Lord Shiva had two wives, Mata Parvathi and Ganga. I heard that story from Maa ...and King Dasaratha had three wives. Don't you know those stories? If a man can have many wives, then why can't a woman have many husbands?" There was childlike mischief in his words, but it was a prophet's defining moment!

She caressed his curly hair and then tried to explain, "It is acceptable only to Divine Gods and mighty Kings! Not to a normal girl like your Radha!"

"Then I will become a God and a King so that I can marry you," he persisted with a glint of excitement in his eyes!

It was a moment of sublime ecstasy...though their relationship was astral and divine, which didn't require any societal acceptance to tie them in a matrimonial bond!

Cultural restraint has its tales of wisdom and morality. Radha tried to make him realize the prevailing norms of that time, " You are a God to us as our savior and the sovereign of this entire universe, already a ruler of our hearts! A woman is allowed to marry only one person. So I can't marry you, my dear infinite lover!"

Like the wavering light from the wick in its saucer of oil, the moonlight on his face made him look somber and contemplative!

If a man can love many women, why can't a woman do the same? That was this divine being's question... Radha witnessed a determined Krishna, who was redefining many societal norms since his childhood in a sagacious manner, who was trying to curb many retrograde rules which were prevalent at that time. Today, he wanted to get a clarification from Radha... still, he was in an arguing mood!

"Is he seeking my approval," Radha wondered, "or is he searching for the truth that lies hidden in a woman's heart, hoping to justify a decision that the world may never accept?"

She fell silent.

Society was not a stagnant entity; it was forever evolving. Every age shaped its own values, its own ideals, and its own Yuga Dharma. Human relationships, too, had to evolve in harmony with the ethos of their time.

She looked into Krishna's eyes. In their unfathomable depths, she saw neither hesitation nor remorse, but an unwavering resolve—as though he wished to redefine the very meaning of human relationships.

"Is he trying to usher in a new social order," she thought, "one in which a woman is free to choose the course of her own life, to claim what her heart truly desires, and to walk with her head held high in dignity and self-respect? Is he dreaming of a world where a maiden has the right to choose her own life partner, and where her choice is honoured rather than questioned?"

The thought stirred something deep within her. Perhaps Krishna's vision reached far beyond the conventions of their age. Perhaps he was not merely challenging society; he was sowing the seeds of a future that humanity would understand only centuries later.

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

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

"What?? Is my Krishna marrying? Whom? When? Who told you, girls?"

"My husband reached home this morning from Dwaraka, he told me! Your Krishna abducted the princess of Vidarbha, who requested him to take her away from her kingdom to marry her. Last evening, the bride and groom reached Dwaraka. Tomorrow is their marriage!" Megha answered.

She was befuddled; for a while, silence ruled the surroundings. One by one, the maidens slipped from there, watching Radha in her startled, benumbed state!

A roar of thunder in the sky... lightning flashed in the eyes of maidens. They informed her that Yashoda is distributing sweetmeats, celebrating the good news.

The 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.

"Yashoda called you immediately! Someone is waiting for you there!"

"What for? Is there any news?"

"A pleasant surprise is waiting for you, Radha! Come fast!"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "What? Is Krishna coming to meet me before his marriage?"

The maid already disappeared into thin air, far away from her sight!

She was walking along the river's winding bank all alone!

She crossed the deep shadows of the tree-lined pathway. The sighing grass beneath her feet whispered like the yearning heartbeats of a lovelorn maiden. The air was saturated with the intoxicating fragrance of flowering trees. Their branches swayed gracefully, as though choreographed by the wind into a perfect rhythm on that serene late morning.

As she walked towards Nanda's house, Radha found herself reliving her last conversation with Krishna before he had departed for Mathura. He had told her that the time had come to leave behind his Vilasa Bhumi—the land of joy and love—and step into his Karma Bhumi—the land of duty. The world was slipping into chaos, and he had to rescue it from the darkness of adharma.

"Radha," he had said softly, "my quest is calling me. A duty-bound Krishna now marches towards Mathura, leaving behind, for you alone, the tender image of your lover. As the eternal symbol of our love, I shall wear the peacock feather on my crown. Whenever moonlit nights remind me of our gentle walks and the soothing peace I found beside you, I shall lift my bansuri to my lips. Its music will carry the echo of your words, your laughter, and your love. These two—the peacock feather and the flute—shall remain with your Krishna until his very last breath.

"Radha... preserve that tender lover within your heart with the same warmth with which you have cherished him until now. One day, when my journey is complete, I shall return in search of my true self....only to lose myself once again in your enchanting embrace. Bless me, Radha."

"How can a heap of sorrow bless you, Krishna?" she had whispered.

"I seek strength from the boundless ocean of your love. From this day onward, love shall become the path through which we meet....not merely in this world, but in another realm. Empowered by your love, I shall establish a universal bond among all beings. Radha, bless me to lead that divine mission."

"How can your devotee bless her own God, Krishna? To live away from you is certain death for your Radha. I shall become like a flower plucked from its branch, drifting upon the waters without destination or purpose. You are taking my very life away with you. Yet my love will always protect you and guide your every step. Go, fulfill your duty. Your Radha gifts her Krishna to the universe."

Before the tears could escape her eyes, she gently closed them, imprisoning within their darkness the image of Krishna—etched so deeply into her soul that neither time nor separation could ever erase it.

As she hurried towards Nanda's house, wrapped in those cherished memories, Vandana stopped her.

"Radha, have you seen that man from Dwaraka? He looks so much like our Kanha, yet there is no mischief in his smile. He is calm and composed, almost like a sage. And... there is no morpankh adorning his crown. Has our Krishna changed, or is he someone else?"

Before Radha could respond, Madhavi added eagerly,

"Radha, I also saw a young woman with a serene smile seated beside him in the chariot. Everyone is anxious to catch a glimpse of that royal couple."

Their words deepened Radha's uncertainty. A faint frown creased her forehead as she instinctively quickened her pace.

No... she thought. My Krishna would never allow even the gentlest breeze to disturb the peacock feather, the sacred symbol of our love.

Perplexed and restless, Radha reached Nanda's house and halted at its threshold.

There, standing in the courtyard, was the magnificent princely chariot.

She recognized it instantly.

It was the very chariot that had carried Krishna away from her all those years ago.

As though they had recognized her, the horses pawed the ground and tossed their heads, their gentle neighs breaking the stillness.

A tender smile flickered across Radha's lips. She stepped forward, caressed the silky muzzle of one of the horses, and whispered,

"You must have carried Krishna across countless lands. Tell me... while these wheels rolled over distant roads, did he ever remember me? Did he ever speak my name during those endless journeys?"

When Nanda noticed Radha standing at the entrance, he beckoned her inside to introduce the visitors.

"Radha," he said warmly, "this is Uddhava, Kanha's cousin and dearest friend, much like Arjuna, the Pandava prince. While Arjuna is the son of Kunti, Vasudeva's sister, Uddhava is the son of Devabhaga, Vasudeva's brother. He was born and raised in Mathura and studied with our Kanha at Sage Sandipani's Ashram. And this is his wife, Ujjwala. Devaki has sent them to invite all of us to Krishna's wedding."

Turning towards the royal couple, Nanda continued with unmistakable pride in his voice.

"This is our Radha—Krishna's childhood companion. When Kanha was born, she was already a nine-year-old girl, married into the family of one of our friends and living nearby. They grew up together. They played, they danced, they quarrelled, and they laughed. She cared for him like no one else and taught him the little worldly wisdom we villagers possessed.

"We are simple cowherds. What do we know of the Vedas or the science of warfare? We had no idea that he was a prince. We raised him as one among us. He roamed the pastures with the cowherd boys, played with the Gopikas, and became the heart of our little world. In those days, he was the leader of our village children. My Kanha was everyone's darling. With that mischievous, playful, all-knowing smile, he filled our lives with joy. Wherever he was, life itself became a celebration."

With childlike delight, Nanda began recounting Krishna's playful exploits, his laughter carrying the warmth of memories that had never faded.

Radha silently watched the royal couple, like the radiant sun gazing upon the shimmering reflections of its own light.

Only then did Uddhava understand why the eager milkmaids had mistaken him for Krishna.

His eyes rested upon Radha, and he stood transfixed.

There was an indescribable majesty about her. The hidden flame of her love seemed to illumine everything around her. A soft, divine radiance shone from her face, not the brilliance born of youthful beauty, but the quiet splendour of a soul consumed by love. Her serenity was far more profound than her grace. One could easily perceive the glow upon her face, yet only a discerning heart could sense the unfathomable stillness that lay beneath it.

Uddhava had seen queens adorned with jewels and princesses celebrated for their beauty, but never had he encountered a woman whose very presence seemed to dissolve the boundary between the human and the divine.

She did not appear to be one of Brahma's whimsical creations fashioned in a moment of artistic delight. Rather, she seemed to have been created when the Creator himself was immersed in the deepest trance of self-realization.

His thoughts drifted to Krishna's parting instructions before their departure from Dwaraka.

"First, meet my Maa and Baba," Krishna had said. "Hand over the gifts and sweets to be shared among the villagers. But do not speak of my wealth, my kingdom, or my royal splendour before them."

Then, after a thoughtful pause, he had added,

"Go and meet my Gopikas, the wealthiest souls in this world, for they possess the treasure of selfless devotion. Their love has made them richer than kings."

His voice had softened still further.

"And then... meet my Radha."

"She is the one who opened the gates of this world for me, not merely to live in it, but to explain it, to reveal the meaning of selfless love, and, through that love, to free humanity from sin and suffering."

"When you speak with her, be careful. Never tell her of my struggles. She already knows them all. Simply tell her that her Krishna is busy untangling the countless worldly attachments of mankind."

As Uddhava looked at Radha, he realized that her boundless love for Krishna had transformed her eyes into orbs of living fire. It was not merely beauty that shone from them, but an inner illumination born of unwavering devotion—a radiance that made her presence unforgettable.

Beside him, Ujjwala gazed at Radha in silent wonder.

Her hair is like the wind... untamed and free. Her eyes are like the night... deep, tranquil, and unfathomable. She is unlike anyone I have ever seen. There is something profoundly divine about her.

Radha looked at Uddhava only once and quietly concluded,

"Vandana was right. He resembles my Krishna... except for the peacock feather and the immeasurable love my Krishna carries in his heart for his Radha."

Understanding that the women would be more at ease among themselves, Uddhava gently signalled to his wife to accompany Radha inside. The Gopikas followed them with eager curiosity.

As they walked together, Ujjwala found herself astonished by the openness of the Vraja maidens. Having grown up amidst the rigid decorum of royal households, she had learned that a woman's deepest emotions were meant to remain carefully veiled. Yet these simple cowherd girls openly teased one another about their love for Krishna, laughing without the slightest hesitation.

Sensing her unspoken bewilderment, Radha smiled gently.

"For us, the universe itself is the embodiment of love. Everything is born from love and ultimately returns to it. We are children of nature. Our hearts are as transparent as the sky reflected in the clear waters of the Yamuna. Our love for Krishna is innate; it was never bound by customs or restrained by social conventions. Over time, that love has ripened into devotion. Our lives flow freely, just like Mother Yamuna herself."

Ujjwala was startled.

How did she read my thoughts without a single word being spoken?

Watching Radha, she remembered Krishna's parting words.

"My Radha is the other half of my being....the half I left behind in Vraja. She is my past, the very force that shaped me and prepared me for everything that lay ahead."

"She is my Sakhi."

"Along the banks of the Yamuna, she would walk through the stillness of the night in search of me. We were two souls in communion, not bound by convention, nor burdened by the hierarchies in which I now find myself imprisoned. Ours has always been an eternal quest."

Then Krishna had smiled softly.

"Listen to her carefully, Ujjwala. When you return, tell me every word she speaks. Remember, she already knows much before it is spoken. She seldom reveals her emotions, yet the occasional smile that blossoms upon her face has the power to illuminate the entire world. That is the true beauty of my Radha."

When they entered into the house, they found Yashoda joyfully offering sweets and fruits to the Brahmins and neighbours.

Seeing Ujjwala, she welcomed her with a warm embrace before turning affectionately towards Radha.

"Did you receive the invitation to Krishna's wedding? Our Krishna is marrying a princess named Rukmini at her request. All of Dwaraka is celebrating! We are the last ones to hear the news! I am told the bride and groom reached the palace only yesterday evening, and tomorrow the wedding will take place."

As Radha looked at Yashoda, she sensed an inexplicable ache hidden beneath the mother's cheerful smile.

Suddenly, Yashoda became lost in her own imagination.

"My son is so handsome, Radha... so irresistibly charming. I wonder if Devaki will place a little black dot on his cheek to protect him from the evil eye."

A mother's concern overflowed through her words.

"And he will wear that magnificent crown with the peacock feather upon it. When the bride places the varmala around his neck, my Kanha will have to bow his head before her. Tell me, will he do it gracefully... or will he play one of his mischievous tricks even there?"

She laughed softly, completely absorbed in the bliss of imagining her son's wedding.

Ujjwala watched both Yashoda and Radha with profound reverence.

Then she spoke gently.

"Everything happened so suddenly. No one in Dwaraka knew until Krishna himself brought Princess Rukmini to the palace. There was scarcely any time to make preparations. Mata Devaki deeply wished to come personally and invite all of you, but circumstances did not permit it. In a single day, the entire city transformed itself into a bride to celebrate Krishna's wedding.

"On our return journey, we must also visit several hermitages to invite the revered sages to bless the couple. Therefore, we seek your permission to leave early."

Yashoda nodded with understanding.

Then, quite unexpectedly, she turned towards Radha.

"Devaki has invited all of us. But you know me, I cannot leave this house now. So I am sending my jewelry as a gift for my daughter-in-law. And for my Kanha..." Her eyes sparkled with maternal affection. "He always loved the milk of our black cow. I am sending that very cow to him so that the taste of his childhood may never leave him."

She smiled at the gathered Gopikas.

"Our girls have chosen such lovely gifts for him."

Then, looking directly into Radha's eyes, she asked with innocent simplicity,

"And you, Radha... what are you sending to your Krishna?"

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Viswasruti2019-01-30 11:10:17