Radha Krishna OS – Mujh mein tubasa!
It was early at dawn. A younggirl was roaming in the beautifully colourful garden near the village ofBarsana, plucking some colourful flowers for the aashadhi pooja. A soft breezefelt soothing as she was humming when the dark sky started turning orange whilefirst rays of sun fell on her beautiful face.
Serene!
The word would fall from anyone’smouth who would witness such a blissful sight. Her sakhis or friends gatheredclose as the sun started to turn greyish orange and then grey as the dark greyclouds covered the sky with moist wind that started blowing fast as a fainttune of flute was heard from a far. Radha’s feet stopped as she froze to thespot.
Her doe shaped kohl smudged eyeswent wide, as if in some daze, her orange dupatta flew aimlessly in the air.She looked nothing but a statue as her golden blouse complimented orangeghaghra with golden lace as her golden mojris stood fixed to the ground. Herfloral earrings were swinging on her ears as she looked cute in that floralmaangtika and bangles.
“Radha, where are you so lost?Come on” Her sakhi asked confused yet concerned looking at that frozen trancestate of their sakhi “It seems it’ll rain soon”
“Woh dhun…” Radha could manage tosay this much as
“Dhun? Hume koi dhun nahi sunaide rahi Radha.” She was clueless. Before they could say much first drops ofrain fell on them.
“Kya?” She asked her browsfurrowed in confusion as they shuddered in sudden chill. A bright lighteningshone in the sky just as the flute stopped. If they would have been at theirhome, this would have seemed beautiful but amidst this part of forest garden,in this dark they were a little intimidated.
They were hurrying, almost aboutto reach the entrance of their village, when it started properly raining,drenching them head to toe.
Just as they reached the safezone, a loud, clear and beautifully happy tune of flute resounded. Speed ofrain fasted with raindrops got heavier. As if playing with the weather andRadha’s mind, the flute moved high toned and changed the tune as if callingRadha to itself.
Her friends rushed to theirhouses quickly. But Radha, Radha was drenched in the melody, she could not carefor the rain, she could not think her family will get worried, she just couldnot ignore the tune, she could not bear to stand on the spot, she could notstop herself from going towards the place, from where this sound was coming.
In a reflex, she just ran. Herflower basket dropped from her hand as she started running to the tune.
“RADHA?” Her sakhis and thevillagers present there shouted together, surprised to see her dash towards theforest again.
The thunder of clouds volunteeredto play the part of drums, lightening gave the special effects, downpoursturned torrents gave the background score, wind and tree leaves gave the fillereffects, her anklets made the tinkling sound and the flute bound all of thenature to dance on its tune.
An unknown smile played onRadha’s restless face as she was running breathless in the forest. There wasdefinitely something in her that got connected to the tune in very firstinstant. The melody was getting louder and clearer, she was coming close to herpursuit. In the trance she lost her balance, her foot twisted in a twig and shefell on the ground. The tune stopped abruptly, so did the rain.
Radha came to her senses at therustling sound came from the bushes near her. She had lost her track. Closingher eyes, she prayed to Narayan, when pushing the bushes aside her baba reachedher with few of the villagers, long wood sticks in hand.
“Radha?” Her father askedrelieved on seeing her, “Tum thik ho?” but concerned as she was on the ground.
“Baba?” Hearing his voice evenshe got happy and stood up, “Baba, who dhun…” and hugged him running. She explainedwhy she was there, in such state, shivering as she was all wet due to runningin such heavy rain.
“Konsi dhun?” her father, who wasthe Mukhiya of Barsana, the village head, Vrishbhanji asked dismissing the talk“Ghar chalo, aise bimaar pad jaogi.”
*
Next day few villagers brought afamily to the mukhiya house. Vrishbhanji grinned happily to see Nandlal andfamily at his doorstep. Two old friends hugged each other, as their wivesKirtida and Yashoda hugged as well. Behind two boys were smiling, when Radhacame down to greet the guests. Boys touched Vrishbhanji’s feet, while theirparents introduced them.
“Yeh bada Balram aur yeh chhota -natkhat Krishna” Yashoda smiled.
The name echoed in her ears asshe whispered “Krishnnn”
He stopped for a moment as shesaid his name for the first time. Sinking the feel, a content bright smileappeared on his face, his deep ocean green eyes twinkled as he turned slowly toface the owner of that voice.
“Aur yeh hamari putri Radha” Kirtidasmiled back.
“Radhe” He whispered her name inhis mind that too echoed in her ears, fixing her to the spot.
Eyes met as the outer worldseemed blurred. He was wearing a yellow pitambar (dhoti), purple khes (upperbody shrug), few jewellery, flowery yellow turban but what caught her eyes wasa peacock feather that was placed in his dark curly hair.
He had such a stunningpersonality that can make anyone fall for him in a moment. He kept staring athis reflection in her black eyes, while she just got lost in his deep oceangreen eyes. Moments passed in frenzy as they felt some unknown bond pullingthem towards each other. They were snapped out of their eye-lock, as rest ofthem proceeded to have some food.
“Yeh tujhe ho kya raha hai?”Tapping her forehead a little, she went ahead, mentally scolding her mind tofocus.
*
The pooja went very well at theNarayan mandir at the centre of the village. Entire village was present there,along with the new family that transferred here from Gokul for business purpose.Pooja ended with aarti in a melodious voice of Radha as the main pandit ofvillage performed aarti.
Radha was distributing prasadwhen Balram dau, the elder brother joined other boys of the village and startedplaying drum to welcome the rain. Radha joined her friends dancing happily asfew boys joined them as well. To her surprise, Krishna jumped and took thecentre, dancing gorgeously. Radha – Krishna danced perfectly complimenting eachother as people could not take their eyes off the celebration.
They were dancing in a flow, whenclouds covered the sky again. Drizzles started as few people startedsafeguarding themselves from getting wet, few settled under shelters. Krishna elopedwhile youngsters danced their heart out welcoming the rain. Radha was havingfun, dancing with her friends when a soft tune of flute caught her attention.
Her feet stopped midway as shetwirled and stayed in that position only. An unknown warm? feeling curled up her heart as longing filled her eyes. Shecouldn't control herself as her feet unconsciously started drowning in themelody yet again and she advanced towards the tune.
This time step at a time, thetune changed the tone to match the anxiousness of its devotee. Rainwater fellevenly as if calculating every drops clouds dropped. This time real drums anddancing streaks complimented the flute as Radha ran upwards the temple steps insearch of a person who played this mesmerizing flute. She reached the garbhgruha when the loud and alluring tune stopped.
Coming out of her haze she rangthe bell as if asking her Narayan whatwas happening to her whenever she heard this tune. What was that, that pulledher towards it? Why she couldn’t just let go? Why she couldn’t stop herselfwhenever she heard this tune? Why she can’t get this tune out of her mind? Andwhat was that when she saw Krishna? Now who is he? Why she saw his facewhenever she closed her eyes? She had numerous questions in her mind. Hereyes glistened asking what her words could not.
Folding her hands for prayer shewhispered “He Narayan! Mujhe uttar do”
*
“Mujhe uttar do Kanha” Balram daudemanded from Krishna.
“Kyun bholi-bhali Radha ko satarahe ho?” Dau could not understand what was running in his younger brother’smind.
Radha had lost certain parts of hermemories due to an unfortunate mishap. Memories of her love. Memories of herKrishna. Business expansion and all were just excuses, their main purpose toshift to Barsana was Radha. Radha loved him playing his flute, specially thistune.
“Kabhi Krishna banke samne aajate ho, kabhi yeh dhun… Tumhe kya lagta hai, yeh sab karoge to who tumhe yaadkarne ki koshish karegi?” Dau questioned.
“Nahi” He smiled, confusing Dau“Main to chahta hoon, who mujhe bhulane ki koshish kare.”
He put his flute back in hiswaistband adding “Kyunki kisiko jitna hum bhulane ki koshish karte hai, woh aurbhi adhik use yaad aata hai”
He did not want to torment Radhaby forcing her to remember anything. All that mattered to him was love. Whichhe was sure, he can make Radha fall for him, all over again.
*
Next few days passed easily.Balram and Krishna were happily welcomed in the group. Krishna was happier thatthey got to spend so much time together. But Radha was in a different zonealtogether. She found an elder brother in Balram, so she started calling himDau as well. But Krishna? Her equation with him was wondersome.
They would fight on anything andeverything. He would tease her, she would scold him, that had become routine.But lately, she started liking it. When they became friends was unknown tothem. Anything and everything related to him would amaze her. She could not gether eyes off Krishna. The way he talked, the way he walked, whatever he did.His silliest pranks to his serious actions, she just felt drawn to him,uncontrolled. Her heart would skip a beat or two whenever he smiled that heartmelting smile.
On one such evening all thechildren were playing, when it started raining. They sat making Banana leavesas shield on their head, two in each large leaf. They were gossiping andgiggling, when Krishna asked Radha to take a gift.
“Kheer!” Radha exclaimed indelight, as he handed her a clay pot full of porridge. Her happiness reachedher eyes as Krishna made something for her, for the first time. Or was it a first time? That day she atethe entire pot of Kheer alone.
If he made her favourite dish,so, she should make his favourite one in return, right? So, she decided to makeMakkhan.
She woke up early next day beforedawn and started preparing butter. Few drops of perspiration rolled down on herforehead as she got exhausted mid-way. Just as she was about to doze off, asoft breeze brought a freshening melody to her. Her eyes went wide open as shesmiled acknowledging the tune.
It seemed like the owner of thatflute was may be her fan, who always played the tune that would help her. Asoft drizzling reached the ground, as fresh smell of wet soil spread across.Yeah, right. His flute brought rain. She sniffed it smiling, wiping sweat fromher forehead with the corner of her dupatta and with uplifted spirit, she continuedher process.
All the youngsters were havingfun at Ghat, in the water of river Yamuna. Radha and Krishna were sitting onthe steps, a little far from them as she wanted to give him a return gift.
“Maakhan!” She smiled happy athis childlike enthusiasm.
“How do you know, that butter ismy favourite?” He asked her in a husky soft voice, that left her wondering. She never asked him, how did she know?
Thinking to herself, she went totheir other friends, lost. Krishna could not see her, this lost and cluelessall the time. He felt a little guilty. He decided to express what he was hidingall this while. So, he did, what he did the best.
All of a sudden wind changed itsspeed and direction, clouds came running above them, leaves started rustling,their clothes started to fly and cling… Radha knew this feel, she knew thisambiance. She knew it was him, the one she always was seeking. The one herheart could not get over and here it was Krishna, his mind could not get overof. The internal emotional struggle made Radha stop and turn as the fluteplayed the tune she was longing for. Her heart beats went heavy and fast at theanticipation.
“Krishnn” She whispered exhaling.
He turned playing flute, eyestwinkling, all smiles, his morpankh dancing in the air.
“Toh yeh dhun… yeh hawa… yehVarsha… yeh sab tumhari maya hai?”
With every word she stepped downa step.
“Kab se?” She was on the verge ofcrying, on the verge of getting answers.
“Hamesha se” He stopped playingand answered looking straight into her black eyes.
“Main tumse prem karta hoonRadhe” a wave came in the river water as his ocean green eyes sparkled with somany emotions. The words echoed in her mind as she closed her eyes, sittingdown on the last step. She grew silent, making him worried.
“Radhe” Unsure, he put his handon her shoulder lightly. “Radhe”
She opened her eyes smiling astears could not wait in her eyes any longer.
“Aur yaha main itni uljhan meinthi. Ke kaise aur kabse tum mere liye itne khas ban gaye…” He sat beside her onthe step as she said holding his hand “Ke pata nahi kaise aur kabse main tumseprem karne lagi…”
A happy tear escaped his eyes aswell as he got to hear this from the love of his life. She wiped his tear as hereyes fell on her reflection in the water. Krishna was there in her reflectionand she was his reflection.
“Mujh mein tum basti ho Radha” Hesaid as she picked the pot of butter, tasted it and fed him with her hand
“Aur mujh mein tum” He at thesweetest butter in the long time. Feeling content he closed his eyes savouringit, as a happy tear rolled down his cheek again.
Witnessing this beautiful union,as if clouds did a happy dance as droplets ran to the earth to meet them. Sherested her head on his shoulder as he picked up his flute, playing the mostromantic tune ever.
Radhe Radhe!
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Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
1 years ago
Very cute and lovely OS, I liked it.