Chapter 8

Krishna rose from the ground and sat beside her. He held her shoulders and smiled at her. There is no Radha and Krishna, there is only Radhakrishna... one being... the reflection of the other. Just like the moon smiles at itself on water, he smiled at her watching his reflection in her wet eyes.

She continued, "The world needs a preacher at this crucial juncture. Now the Divine Self is here to define dharma and show them the right path. Tell them to give a chance to peace, if still, they want to annihilate themselves in the fire of lust and greed for supremacy, then assist dharma and do the needful justice. I am a cowherd maiden without any worldly knowledge. How can I advise you, Krishna? Still, tempted to tell, you are the embodiment of Truth, Knowledge, and Bliss. You hold your Sudarshan to punish the sin, you are capable of winning any dispute. You are ruling this world with your divine compassion. You are engrossed in the welfare of humans. You are the splendor of this universe and the conqueror of the enemies. You are the absolute truth, the limitless. You are the shore of the ocean of problems, the quintessence of all the sacred Vedas! What to say, Krishna, this mankind is blessed by your presence on this earth." 

"Radha, now the time has come to move from here, to teach humanity about the fundamental duties of an ideal man, the dharma-artha-kama-moksha, i. e, righteousness, prosperity, desire, and salvation. I have to go Radha, send your Krishna with your assuring smile."

"Yes, Krishna, how can I deny? You are on a mission now, a mere visitor for your Radha." Her ardent desire for their liaison in her downcast glance and the visibly excruciating and unbearable pain at the approaching separation were evident.

 Radha rested her head on his chest and said, "When you are not with me, I don't even exist. The time we were separated may be moments for you, but for me, it spans ages. In your hugs, I used to see all my memories flourish, now where can I store the memories of my past?? How can I bear this impending separation Krishna?"

Suddenly, a radiant thought of hope along with a dazzling sparkle appeared in Radha's eyes. She made an attempt to convince Him saying, "Oh Krishna, you are divine, you can do anything! Then why don't you erase our separation from my life and add impartible closeness with me? " 

Radha was brainy and incisive, hence she controlled her emotions and words. Still, the eagerness to avert their separation was clearly visible in her deep dark eyes.

"Radha whatsoever is meant to happen, will happen. Our cycle of union, disunion, and then again this union, all are inevitable. Everything always happens according to fate. Sometimes we feel dejected, but it is just a matter of time, we will unite soon in another sphere." 

Radha stood with a strained silence in her crestfallen state.

Watching her like that caused intense pain in each cell of His body, the pain that Radha possibly felt. He put her hand on His chest and said, "It's our fate Radha, I am hiding behind fate which kept us separate. What to do Radha, your Krishna is duty-bound now," His voice was choking.

"From the moment I heard your gentle steps, and that melodious call of my name left your lips, I knew it was you, Krishna! You have finally arrived for me, like an unannounced divine blessing! Now again you are going away from me, how can I bear this pain?  My dear traveler of an imaginary landscape, please wait for a minute, don't sing a melodious song with elation, time is in slumber at present, don't disturb it, let it rest for a while until our meeting is over! I made a garland with my hopes, weaved it with my dreams, to adorn you with my love, Krishna. The sky and the river with inquisitive glances are watching us! Let me make a chain with the stars to adorn it on your chest, Krishna, please wait for a while."

 "Why with stars, Radha? Your smiles are the most beautiful gems glittering on the sky of love, gift me those, I will hide those in my embrace!"

"Krishna, let others sing of morals and ethics with unkindly words and demean me for my love. Let them paint shadows on imaginary lines. When you were yet to be born, I was there waiting for you, and after that small stint of our dancing with glee in the meadows under the moonlight, I was with you to melt in that symphony, then all of a sudden, you left me behind. Let me live in the shade of your eternal love. Krishna, let us admit impediments. I know the worth of your love which was unknown to anyone unto eternity. Let us bear this separation, when humanity is on the verge of doom and looking at you for sacrifice, you have to go to uplift virtues. I know Krishna, you already prepared Draupadi for the final act, and now I am sending you with my faith as a cushion under your feet, with a soothing balm of memories on our burning hearts. Come into my hands once, I want you for me for only a moment in this never-ending time's unstoppable journey. Draw strength from your Radha who is living only for you! I am gifting my Krishna as a preacher to this world now. Teach virtues to mankind, Mukunda. The world has to save itself from the flames of war, it is waiting to breathe again in your bright rays of kindness, the world is seeking your guidance. Decide the fate of sinners with a stern act and define the Karma theory for future generations."

She knew that she would never see him again.  And he was aware of that. They wished that time would freeze for a while, but time is just like fate, will move on its defined, relentless path.

 "I don't cry because we've been separated by distance. As long as we share the same sky we're together, Krishna!"

"I wake up with your name on my lips every morning, Radha. The delicate strands of love will keep us together even when we are far apart. It is time for me to leave, to do what I am destined to do, to make changes and sacrifices that are necessary. Don't think that I am going far away from you, I am carrying you with me in my heart. Space and Time started playing a dual game between them."

Krishna started walking towards the chariot. Radha closed her eyes, unable to watch him going far away from her. The sky and the stream were watching the divine interaction with the utmost reverence. The breeze and the trees that followed their conversation were confused and asked each other ---who was the biggest loser? Radha or Krishna? The flowing Yamuna told the wading shadows of the sky that both are blessed, on receiving each other's precious love. No one knew how long they have to wait to meet again in this illusory world in their earthly life!

 Radha and Krishna are just ripples and their love is like a perennial river, eternal and infinite. [1224 Words]

Viswasruti2019-03-16 10:45:54