Those Stories- An OS thread on anything mythology- Upd 12/11 - Page 3

HER FIRSTBORN

"This first son of ours, my love, will be called Yudhisthira, meaning the one who is steady even during war'. He will be filled with Dharma and wisdom, and will be the guide to many a person. He is the first son of Pandu, the first Pandava. He is the first Kaunteya, the son of Kunti, said Maharaja Pandu, cradling the happily gurgling baby, and cooing with all the fatherly love he had in him. He didn't notice the dark shadow that crossed his wife's face when he had said first Kaunteya.

Kunti rocked baby Yudhisthira to sleep on her lap, as her mind went back to what her Lord had said.

He will be the first Kaunteya'

"But he isn't, whispered Kunti, to the little son on her lap, who was looking at her like he knew all she said.

"You aren't the first Kaunteya. You are the second, she told the baby in her arms.

Her heart twisted painfully, as she thought of the son of Surya Deva, the baby who had come with Divine armour and earrings, the one she had let float on the Ganga, scared of the society and the state of her own reputation. Scared that she won't get married to anyone because of this. Dhatri's words had haunted her, and thus she was going to do something she didn't quite want to do. She had always known that was by far the biggest mistake in her life, and she knew it will always haunt her.

Kunti rocked the baby, who was surprisingly calm and happy. He was simply squirming in her arms, eyes wide, as if to say, Maa, don't worry. I am fine'. Kunti felt her heart breaking. This baby will not be able to call her Maa. She couldn't hear him call her Maa. She would get to see him take his first steps, and play with bows and arrows, swords when he was young. She wouldn't be able to feed him with her own hands, and sing lullabies to him, rocking him to sleep. She won't watch him grow up into a fine warrior, and she won't get to see him married. She won't be able to play with her grandchildren...

"Pritha, stop, she chided herself. "Do not get too deep. Don't get too attached. You are going to do something you will regret in the future. But, you have to do it. How can you have a son before marriage?

Yet when she looked at the little face, all she felt was maternal love and deep sorrow, for separating from a child is the most difficult for a mother. And here she was, about to send her child on a basket on the River Ganga.

Forcing back the tears that wanted to fall, she gently placed the child, who was shining like the Sun, with the Divine armour and earrings, his eyes wide and black, staring at her with a look that almost broke her heart, on the hand-woven basket. She swamped him with the blankets in the basket, covering him protectively. She memorised his little face, his baby nose, his pink lips and his wide eyes, storing him in mind. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, and slowly placed the basket on the river, praying to Ganga and to Surya Deva, as well as to Lord Vishnu, requesting them to take care of her son, and to keep him happy and safe.

As she watched the basket floating, she felt tears run down her cheeks, and she broke down, as she watched the basket carrying her first son float on the river Ganga. She had had only a day with her new born son, and she had had to send him away. That too, in the way she had.

Kunti blinked back tears as she rocked Yudhisthira. She would shower all the love on this baby and the others who will be born in the future! All the maternal love that she had for her first son, will be kept deep in her heart, and she will let it out to her other children, every time she did feel the need to. However, somewhere deep down, she knew that, the deepest part of the love for her first child will always be kept there, till she encounters him, if she ever does. Then, she would let that love wash over her, and protect him from it. For now, she had her first son to nurse and take care of!

THEIR LIGHT

Thunder rumbled loudly, as the lightning flashed across the dark sky majestically. The rain clouds, accumulated in grey masses, joining together, causing something akin to a rain flood. The sound of the droplets of water were so loud that it seemed like drums were being beaten, using the Earth as the surface.

The cows would have lush green pasture', he thought absently, his mind thinking about the beautiful little boy, whose skin was as dark as the raging sky outside, and of the boy, who was as fair as milk itself. His little Kanha and Rama! How he missed them! It was Krishna's birthday, and the entire Vrindavan had celebrated it, imagining the two brothers amidst them.

"Arya! Arya!

Yashoda's voice jerked Nanda back to reality.

"Yashoda, what happened?, asked he, concern dancing in his countenance.

"Nothing Arya. I finished my work, and came to find you. I didn't expect to find you deep in thought, said Yashoda, softly.

"I couldn't help it, Priye. The sky outside is reminding me of many things, said Nandarai.

"What are they?, asked Yashoda, gently taking him by the hand, and seating him on the couch. She seated herself to his left, and looked at him expectantly.

"The storm brewing outside reminded me of my close friend, Vasudeva, said Nanda, softly. "Of that night when our daughter was born, the same night Kanha came to us

"Tell me Swami?, asked Yashoda, tears shining in her eyes.

Nanda thought back to that day, his eyes glazed with remembrance.

Nanda gazed at the Yamuna, dismayed. How would Vasudeva cross the heavy flooding and make his way to this side? He had been woken up by a Divine voice, which asked him to wait for Vasudeva at the banks of Yamuna. How will his dear friend leave prison and come? His Yashoda had just given birth to a baby girl, and he didn't want to leave her side. But the voice was so compelling that he had to go. Something big was about to happen.

His eyes widened, as he saw the river parting fully, leaving dry land in the centre, as he watched his friend Vasudeva walk toward him, a basket on his head, with a bright light protecting him. It almost looked like it was a hooded snake. Nanda blinked, and he lost sight of what the white light represented.

"Nanda, my friend

Vasudeva's hoarse voice made Nanda blink at his friend, before embracing him, careful not to crush the basket Vasudeva was holding to his chest.

"Nanda, this is my son, whispered Vasudeva, placing the basket in Nanda's hands. Nanda met Lotus eyes, as a heavy surge of paternal love ran all over him, making him want to protect the little baby.

"And the rest was history. Vasudeva gave Kanha to us, and took our daughter with him, said Nanda, softly.

"And Kanha became Nandalaal and Yashoda's Kanha, said Yashoda, smiling nostalgically. "The second I saw Him, I lost my heart to Him

Lotus eyes, dark skin, perfectly chiselled features. How were they all present in an infant? That too, an infant born the day before? Yashoda lost her heart, as the captivating eyes of the baby looked into hers, melting her heart, and making her feel like the most blessed mother in the world.

"He was the light in our darkness, the ray of hope in our despair, said Nanda. "His coming made everything in life auspicious, and following Him, Mahalakshmi came to us too

"Literally and figuratively, said Yashoda, thinking of Radha and the flourishing prosperity of Gokuldham and Vrindavan.

"Exactly, said Nanda, smiling. "He and Rama filled our lives, devoid of children previously

"Their tinkling anklets, mischievous laughter and childish arguments were always the soul of our lives, said Yashoda. "I am sure that both of them simply staged their arguments, to entertain Rohini and I

Yashoda's smile became wistful, as she thought of Rohini and the relationship they shared. Being Nanda's sister, Rohini was one of the closest sisters Yashoda has ever had. And though she had met Devaki only a few times, her heart always understood Devaki's agony, having gone through something similar herself.

"You miss Rohini, said Nanda, softly.

"I do. She sends me letters all the time, you know that. But it is not the same as seeing her, whispered Yashoda, softly.

"I know. I miss her too. However, after a long separation, she is going back to Vasudeva. Let them be happy now, said Nanda.

"They are. Rohini wrote to me about Subhadra, said Yashoda. "She looks like a mixture of Kanha and Rama, and they dote on her

"How will they not? They always wanted a younger sister, said Nanda.

"And that younger sister will be their precious gem, said Yashoda. "I can visualise the two of them as elder brothers

"They will adore her, said Nanda. "Do you remember Kanha's second birthday?

"Who can forget? He fussed to eat anything till Rama fed Him makhan. Then He happily ate everything, said Yashoda.

"Their bonding is Divine, said Nanda. "I have never seen anything like that. The only bonding that seems to match them is that of Lords Rama and Lakshmana

"Maybe that is who they are, said Yashoda. "They could be the reincarnations of Lords Rama and Lakshmana. Their behaviour certainly shows that

"The only difference is, our Rama is more like Lakshmana, and Kanha is more like Rama, said Nanda.

"Remember Nath? Both of them used to play act, with Kanha as Lord Rama, Rama as Lord Lakshmana, and Radha as Sita, said Yashoda. Both of them smiled at the other, remembering the Rama Navami the two brothers had enacted on Krishna's seventh birthday.

"Swami, with their leave, everything has become desolate, said Yashoda. "I want my two babies back, and I want them to sleep with their heads on my lap, like they always used to

"Yashoda, I understand how you feel. But then, said Nandarai.

"Devaki has never had them with her when they were children. She gave up everything for them, along with her Lord. It is her time to celebrate with them, said Yashoda.

"It is. You always tell me that every time I think of our two sons coming back to us, said Nanda.

"Maiya! Baba!

Two cheerful voices sounded, causing the couple to blink in confusion and surprise, as their parental instincts told them that the voices belonged to their Kanha and Rama alone.

"Maiyaaa! Babbaaa!

The voices now dragged the aa', and the sound of tinkling anklets made Nanda and Yashoda get up from their place and rush to the inner chambers from where the sound was coming.

"Maiya! Baba!

Both of them gasped at the sight in front of them. Five-year-old Balarama and four-year-old Krishna were mock wrestling with each other, and they both looked up innocently at Yashoda and Nanda, whose jaws almost hit the floor.

"Maiya, Baba! Kanha and I wanted to sleep on your laps today, said Balarama, pouting cutely.

"We did. It is, after all, my birthday, said Krishna, grinning and jumping into Nanda's arms. Yashoda scooped up Balarama, and both smiling, sat on the bed, humming lullabies for the two of them, neither questioning the presence of the boys, knowing that it was indeed the said boys who had made it happen.

At Dwaraka...

Krishna and Balarama smiled at each other. They had given their Maiya and Baba what they wanted, as they lay their heads on their Maa, Maiya and Pitaji's laps, even as elsewhere in the same palace, they were with their wives.