The melodious tunes of the flute were soft and mesmerizing. When Krishna suddenly disappeared from the floral trove, they started searching for him in the surrounding shrubs and bowers! Unable to find him, they started behaving in a strange manner. They asked the trees, plants, and brooks in the garden whether they have seen their Krishna? Unable to get an answer from them, they asked each other about the whereabouts of Krishna!
"Vakula Malika, tell me again what our Krishna told you in the evening?"
"Tonight when the moon spreads his light and hugs all the floral creepers with his simmering rays, he asked me to come here for the Raas Leela."
"Whose footsteps are those, someone is running on the wet grass; check girls... check once!"
"Madhavi ... See that side, there ...there behind that bush...see, a cloud is roaming on the ground!"
Chorus continued, "Never heard about a cloud dancing on the ground in the Sarad Ritu full moon night! Are you daydreaming in midnight, maiden? Ha Ha Ha!"
Radha continued, "Krishna, please come to us with your enchanting tunes by pressing your lips on that flute with passion! See... all the peacocks are spreading their iridescent feathers and the peahens are drinking the tears of the dancing peacocks to procreate, please do come quickly to bring back the smiles on our faces."
Chorus said, " Are we not the peahens who have come running to see this wondrous dancer? Yes, we are ...yes we are!"
A maiden murmured dreamily, "Krishna, the moonlight is drenching the jasmine creeper there indicating there is love in the air in this cloudless night. Each bush and shrubbery is quivering with tender feelings with that delicate touch of that melody. From the distance, the trees were silhouetted against the deep velvety sky. See Krishna, how we are searching for you with tears in our eyes!! "
The night spread its eyes to far off places to search for Krishna, but alas, it was difficult for the dark night to search for him who is also dark in colour!
Many assumptions...oscillating thoughts were in Radha's mind, her yearning for him didn't allow her to stand at one place, she ran towards the river Yamuna and started recollecting his words and deeds. The agony in waiting gripped her.
When suddenly the rivers heard the resonating tunes of His flute, their conjugal feelings were aroused causing their flow to become disrupted and their agitated waters turned into whirlpools! The floral creepers nearby heard Krishna's flute and lost their balance in that awesomeness and fell on the ground.
Radha ran towards the melody in search of Krishna where every tree and bush was in full bloom. Every bower and arbor was eager to hide Krishna to tease his Radha!
Radha was asking the jasmine bush, "Have you seen my Krishna who knows how to mesmerize young hearts with his melodious tunes?"
The bush blushed a bit and said, "How do I know? I am busy teaching my buds how to bloom to adorn Krishna's Gale Ka Haar [ neck garland ] while preparing myself to rest on his chest!!"
Radha ran towards the Vakula tree and asked, "You are tall and large, can you see farther and tell me if you can see my Krishna anywhere?"
The Vakula tree had gone pink which reflected on its budding leaves and it whispered into her ear like a fragrant breeze, "See girl! I am yet to recover from his fond hug, what a naughty boy he is... hugged me gleefully and kissed on my trunk but said I am going to meet my Radha tonight!"
Radha then approached the Yamuna River. She sat on its bank and asked the river, " You are the mother of this nature, please tell me, where is my Krishna?"
The river quivered through its wavelets and said, "What to say Radha? While passing through this place, he checked his smiling reflection in my flow to set the peacock feather on His head, I lost my heart to that young lad's smile, since then unknowingly running to nowhere to control my resonating vibrations!"
Radha was stranded there, still searching for her Krishna with her wide eyes open, thinking about him. Somehow time passed...After an interminable eon of timelessness, a mysterious flutter in her heart, caused her to awaken from the reverie. Radha lifted her head and listened.
What did she hear? What was that sound? A whisper? A humming? A lilting musical note? That familiar mellifluous voice!"Was it the sound of my Krishna's voice... calling me?"
Finally, her sleepless eyes looked down due to shyness because of his delicate touch on her shoulder from behind! She wished to express her anger, "But what shall I do? How shall I behave, till now I never have shown my anger to him? If I show my anger, will he try to pacify me?" Nonplussed, she did not know how to receive him. When he actually arrived, it was an occasion of rejoicing. The reverberation of that sound shook her world until the sound emerged as audible words. "Radha, I am here, within your heart. Why are you searching here and there for your Krishna? You have only to look within to find me."
Love came to her like a warm wave, completely unbidden, unsought. Bliss and happiness crashed the shores of her being like tidal waves that rocked her, and she delighted in the thought of his embrace.
She asked him coyly, "Krishna, tell me once, who has lent shyness to these pair of eyes which forgot to sleep now? I want to know, who is the reason for that glow on my cheeks? I am dedicating my joy of watching the first-morning ray to you, my smile while watching that moonlit night is also yours, all that is mine is yours now Krishna! Now I can see your love in the rainbow colors, please paint those colors on my dreams, I want to see you in all those beautiful hues! Now I know, there is not much difference between that blue cloud and this peacock feather, one is a devotion and the other is adoration. They are inseparable like you and me!!"
Suddenly Radha came back to the normal world where everyone was watching the dance drama that afternoon.
"Radha, your eyes are reflecting a few memories of your Krishna, what are those recollections which made you feel shy all of a sudden?", asked Hari Chandana in a teasing tone.
Radha gripped her hand and said, "When his smile is reflecting in every flower and its fragrance here, then why do I have to search for him in my memories? If you want to know my thoughts at this moment, go and ask the swaying flowers for the touch of that honey bees in the floral trove!"
"We know Radha, the slipping smiles from your crimson lips are revealing many hidden stories you both wrote passionately on your hearts in the past!" Vakula smirked
"The smile is His gift and the lips are the mere tools to carry those messages! Why I have to live in the past whereas each and every moment of my life is brimming with his ruminations?" questioned Radha.
"Is there any future for your expectations, Radha? He married thousands of women and forgot you long back! Are you not a loser?" Vishnu Vandana probed.
"His presence in my heart is the only future this Radha carries with her throughout her life!" A sudden pause ...no words were exchanged but the pantomime of silence had conveyed the full import of a thousand words!!
The other women tried to stop Vandana from teasing Radha further.
Radha silenced the ladies by waving her hand and she glanced at Vandana from the corner of her eyes and said," Yes, our Krishna married many maidens because they loved him and asked him to love them back! He reciprocated the love in the case of his Ashtabharyas. He never married any maiden forcefully! He always fulfilled the prayers of his devotees, blessed with affection. If he accepts with one hand, he gifts with a thousand. His love and kindness are vast! He married many of them to protect them from the societal probe, for safeguarding the honor of those women who stayed as captives at Narakasur's palace. War treats women as property, but Krishna treated them as an honour of this universe!"
Radha sat there immersed in His thoughts. Her long black hair was flowing like a floating dark cloud. She wore no jewelry other than earrings, there was an unpretentious charm surrounding her.
Suddenly she smiled thoughtfully, " Winning over a woman with might is not a real victory, Vandana, by losing yourself in front of your girl, that is the only way to win in the world of love. That is what Krishna taught us when he was here with us."
After the performance, Yashoda invited all of them to the feast.
They all sat under the Peepal tree which gave a temporary respite to them from the midday sun! From a far off place, a bird droned. The river was flowing like a slice of mellow harmony, flowing like time, always onward, always towards its destiny like human lives.
Radha was sitting with Yashoda and watching the maidens in animated discussions among themselves! All of a sudden, Hari Chandana asked Radha, " Radha do you know what happened to Kuru Kulvadhu Draupadi? Born from a sacred fire, Draupadi seemed to be walking through the fire throughout her life. She was married off to the five Pandavas. She was anointed as queen, but very soon was put as a stake during a dice game and was lost. Unaware of all the happenings in the dice game, it was suddenly announced to Draupadi, that she had become a maid and now she had to follow the orders of her new master Duryodhan! He asked his brother Dussasan to drag her to the court and then ordered him to disrobe her in the presence of the elder royals, in front of her own husbands, in the full view of the people in the royal court. What a sin, what an indignity it was for a woman! How could all these Gods keep silent at this inhuman act?"
Gagan Sundari added, "When Mata Kunti had asked Arjun whatever he got as alms that day to share it with his brothers, she had unknowingly put Draupadi in a dilemma, consequently, she had to marry all the five Pandav princes. When she was silent for this proposal, then our Krishna convinced Draupadi to go with that proposal. Later, Sage Vyas and Narad Muni supported this decision! How could a woman be attached to multiple men in such a besmirched way, what a sin it was! One can imagine the psychological trauma that a young girl would face, at least initially, when she had to share her tender moments with five different men. But no one understood a woman's gentle feelings, the voice of women was always suppressed. See now, how she was insulted in that court! She expressed her anger and questioned the silence of those wise men!"
A woman with a curious frown asked, "Do you know Dhaatri? Our Krishna supported this marriage in everyone's presence. Did anyone hear it ever? A woman marrying five men? "
Radha heard her words on Krishna with a thoughtful silence and her question regarding his approval for Draupadi's much-debated marriage.
"Sundari, they are the rulers and rule makers, all are wise with Godly traces, who are we to question their decisions?" Vakula tried to explain that the issue wasn't an ordinary one!
"...but our Kanha is a path maker, always supports dharma. How he supported this?" another inquisitive maiden interrupted her.
The old man who wrote the dance drama 'Radha Madhav' and was sitting there silently till now, said with a stern voice, "Look, girls! What do you know about Puranas and past stories of humanity? Such marriages happened earlier too with the approval of the sages and royals, and I heard that many learned persons accepted it and both sides of the families consented to it. Who are we to criticize now, after all these years? There must be a wider concept behind that which must be beyond our perception, it is a well-conceptualized polity. And mind you, it doesn't have any discernible effect on the organized society."
"We know that you are a learned person, Kaka, we are not questioning the Vedic dharmas and Puranas, but we are asking whether anyone asked Draupadi what was her opinion prior to her marriage and what she felt after that insult in the Raj Sabha? Was there anyone to console her after that unspeakable disgrace? Why did they insult a woman in such a heinous manner and why every learned person there kept quiet? Only Krishna rushed to rescue her. In the end, Gandhari who shared her husband's debility and pain of blindness by tying her eyes with a piece of cloth, came running to rescue her Kulvadhu. Also, regarding her marriage too, we are wondering how our Krishna advised Raj Mata Kunti to accept and convinced King Drupad to move forward to accept that unique marriage," argued Vishnu Vandana.
As the conversation progressed, their interpolations moved more and more towards a woman and her freedom in those long discussions.
Madhavi mockingly questioned the maidens, " How many of us would love and be loved by Him when our Krishna was here with us! If that is acceptable, then why are we discussing a woman who ritualistically married the Pandava princes in front of the sages and seers?" She asked them to stop discussing the royal families' decisions!
Radha urged them to understand the issue by saying, "There is always a greater purpose to everything our Krishna does Chandana!"
Yashoda was listening to these words silently with a frown on her face. All of a sudden Vakula answered with a stern look "Are you questioning Krishna's decision now? Tell me, girl, how many times you left your husband and household chores behind and ran into the hands of Krishna to dance with him? Many times you left the riverbank last, to spend more time with Krishna than us!! Isn't it true Sundari? That time you didn't remember these rules of conduct for a woman? "
Madhavi tried to divert the topic by asking Radha, "We heard that our Kanha has saved Draupadi's modesty and honor in the Kuru Sabha. After the dice game in which Pandavas lost everything, including their wife, which consequently lead to Panchali's disrobing in the royal court, in that crucial moment, we heard that she prayed for Krishna and he saved her from disgrace."
With a proud smile, Yashoda said, "Earlier you all were complaining against my Kanha for stealing your clothes [5000 words, 2nd Milestone] when you were bathing in the river, see, my son is a savior of a girl's honor, he is not a thief or anything, he is the protector!"
Viswasruti2019-02-16 07:30:34
The promo was a perfect prompt for me to write something in my ishtyle! ...
Amidst the tumultuous storm of a high-stakes trial, Anushka Raisinghani, a ...
Comments (10)
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sagarvandana @sagarvandana
5 years ago
one of the best stories I've ever read on Radha and Krishna. Radha's waiting for Krishna you described very well. The Dance drama was excellently written . The discussion about Draupadi and her life is conceptualized well. Waiting to read the next part.
Madhuri @Viswasruti
+ 15
5 years ago
Riya , how lucky I am, without asketh, many blessings in my gift box !! . Thank you, Riya for your love and kind words for me and for my story .My friends are my strength because they are always there for me , and my weakness too , because I prefer to be a slave to all my good friends.
Madhuri @Viswasruti
+ 15
5 years ago
Vibha, how lucky I am , for getting a pat on my back by one of the best editing experts in the country today, a person of a high caliber. Loved your critical appraisal regarding my storytelling style and the good words for my obsession regarding woman empowerment. In our Epics, Sita , Draupadi, and Radha were emerged as strong characters, shown their mettle while facing difficult situations on many occasions. How can I express my happiness for your presence here in mere words except hugging you with gratitude ?!!
Avyakta @Avyakta
5 years ago
Madhuri, what to say about your writing style, it is purely a lyrical verse, while reading, the flow is smooth and the emotions are countless, your narrative has the power to carry your readers with you to show them those exotic natural scenes in person! You are interweaving many incidents of Radha and Krishna's life in the forms of dance drama and through narrating Uddhava's recollections. That added special beauty to the story. Great work Madhu didi , waiting for the next chapter.
Madhuri @Viswasruti
+ 15
5 years ago
I always love your friendly nature, coming here to boost my writing spirit. Thanks once again.
Viswasruti2019-02-18 07:45:28
Madhuri @Viswasruti
+ 15
5 years ago
Thank you Aarti for these encouraging words I was apprehensive while posting it , it is lengthy but was unable to stop myself because the demand is such and the eagerness to share my every thought with my readers is enormous. Thanks once again for liking my narrative.
riya_ss9 @riya_ss9
5 years ago
Madi, first Congrats. Very beautiful, emotionally gripping. You are a fantastic writer, the description of each scene is so dreamy. Keep up the good job . Will wait for the next.
vibha @vibraj
+ 6
5 years ago
Omg Madi, this is like an epic, such an erudite treatise! Read it in rapt interest, loved everything about it, the flow of the narrative, the lateral movement of the plot, the sub plots exquisitely inserted so flawlessly to read like a simple whole, the emotions and imagery evoked, all make a siege on the senses!Adored the dance drama sequence and the way Draupadi's angst was subtly woven in, it was so natural as it is a Krishna story and yet you did not stray from the underlying theme of Radha's pining for Krishna. Her conversation with nature and their response is really spellbinding! And most of all encore to you on persistently highlighting the theme of women's plight and emancipation in all your chapters, nothing fictional, these stories were true in our epics and also so relevant today!Wonderful, way to go, girl, waiting for more, simply love the holistic touch you lend to your stories!
vibraj2019-02-16 21:16:39
Aarti @TheSilverDoe
5 years ago
Madhuri di . Again very very beautiful chapters.Radha's painful longing made my eyes wet. I loved the festival part. Especially the play. It was so beautiful . Radha asking flowers,trees and river about Krishna and all of them are lost in the love for Krishna was so beautifully. Description of Draupadi is perfect. I always love the friendship between her and Krishna. Keep it up Di
Madhuri @Viswasruti
+ 15
5 years ago
With a swirl of emotions, Radha stared at the maidens for a probing moment! After a brief pause, the luminosity of a smile dawned on her lips. Continued on Page 8 for round 4 --
Viswasruti2019-03-15 07:49:24