Rishbala SS: Upakhyana..Last part Pg12 - Page 3

Next morning the royal entourage left the palace with the princess in an ornate palanquin. Rishabh was on his horse, leading the way. The temple they were heading was quite far from Vishishthapur. They would have to cross two villages, a forest, and a river and finally would reach the foot of the small hillock on top of which the temple was located. It would take more than a day to reach without any hindrance on the way. Rishabh did not want to delay the journey unnecessarily, with so many women in the group. So he instructed the soldiers and the palanquin bearers to proceed with a faster pace. As he instructed his subordinates and invigilated from front to back of the procession, he heard whispers and muffled laughter from the palanquins carrying the sakhis. He tried not to pay any heed, but once when their conversation was audible enough, he turned red in embarrassment. They were talking about him only, the way he moved around on his horse, how he commanded the soldiers, and mostly about his sculpted muscles which were barely covered by the uttariya and the armour.

The entourage stopped for rest after crossing the first village. Ishaani brought water and light food for the princess who sat reclined against a cushion within the palanquin. "What are the girls talking and laughing about? What is so exciting going around which I did not notice?" asked Madhurya while quenching her thirst. "Nothing special, they are just drooling over Rishabh. You know how frivolous they are." Madhurya, being the sole child, and recipient of all best things for herself always, was never keen to share anything she laid her eyes on. This information riled her enough to regret bringing the horde of these useless sakhiyas for the trip with her. But she was too canny to show her genitive self; "The suraksha adhipati is new to this place. Ask him to stay near my palanquin as I have to give him certain instructions with regard to the journey." Ishaani could not think of any such special information which the princess would know more than the soldiers or their commander, for that matter. But keeping her doubt to herself, she conveyed the message to Rishabh.

Rishabh was already flustered with the company of too many women around himself, when he learnt about the princess' dictate. Grudgingly, he moved near the princess's palanquin and resumed the journey. But after sometime he felt much relaxed, as the princess was not passing on any instruction as expected, instead he was far from the audibility of the flippant remarks from the other girls. By late afternoon, they reached the forest. Rishabh commanded the men to move more briskly so that they could reach the river bank no later than the evening. The forest was not much dense, and the sunlight played hide and seek within the overhead cover of foliage. After a long stretch of shadow suddenly a strong ray of sun struck Rishabh's eyes and he grimaced, shifting his gaze down to avoid it. And he noticed two soft pink feet, adorned with heavily jeweled anklets peeking through the netted curtains covering the palanquin side-doors. He did not know that such trivial things like a woman's feet could capture his imagination and mould it into fantasies of the wildest nature. His musing was interrupted by the tinkling of the anklets. Rishabh, realizing his over-audacious slip of mind, alerted and rebuked himself in mind for such a folly.

The forest thinned out and they reached the broad sand bank of the river. The river was not much wide and there were big sandbars strewn within its course. It was quite late in the evening by then, and every member of the travelling group was fatigued. The broad sand bank provided a firm ground to set up the tents for the resting people. The soldiers were to encircle the area keeping a gap with the centrally placed tents for the women folk.

Inside Madhurya's tent, a bustle was going on among the sakhis, some of whom were preparing her bed, some attending to her tired limbs, and others changing her into lighter outfit for sleeping. "Tomorrow early morning I will be leaving for the temple. This time I do not want any of you to accompany me; stay here and take rest." "But my princess, you will have to cross the river in a boat and then climb those 700 steps up to the temple, so will you be able to manage that on your own?" enquired a sakhi with deepest concern. "Certainly the boatman will be of more use while crossing the river than any of you here. And for the steps, every year I climb them, I do not remember you people carrying myself up to the temple ever before." The sakhis exchanged looks between them, and immediately understood something must have been very wrong to annoy their princess, which they could not comprehend. Without wording anymore, they retired for the day in no time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MwxmR5K-58

Madhurya woke up very early in the morning. The eastern horizon was yet to be brightened up by the emerging sun. She quietly gathered her clothes and walked out of her tent. The river water was cold, but she did not hesitate before entering into waist deep water. The water droplets ran down her silky white skin as she splashed them over her head. The serenity of the morning hour had its infectious effect on her mind. As she finished her bath, she heard a faint melody floating all over the air surrounding her and she looked around to locate its source. Adorning herself with a pita-varna (yellow-colour) plain saree and the flower ornaments for the occasion, she stepped towards the direction the faint voice was coming from. She walked some distance from the outer periphery of their camp along the river bank and the melody grew stronger. It was a male voice rendering the raaga Ahir Bhairav (an early morning raga) in the most entrancing manner she had heard ever. On coming closer, she discovered it was Rishabh, singing with his eyes closed, body sitting upright, one hand placed on one knee and the other moving with the bends and flows of his musical notes. She walked up even closer, and in her amazement she found that the whole atmosphere around them had assumed a divine calmness in sync with the music.

Rishabh was so lost in his worship of music that he did not realize the presence of another human being so close to him. As he finished his song and opened his eyes, he petrified seeing the epitome of piety clad in a yellow garment, standing in front of his eyes. For a moment he saw a flash of appreciation and reverence in those pair of beautiful doe-eyes. But soon it was changed into an impish look, when she uttered, "So our vikranta (courageous) protector knows to manoeuvre his voice as easily as his sword. I am impressed!" Rishabh did not know whether to take that as a compliment or yet another sarcasm on his manliness. He stood up and lowered his head asking, "Is there anything I can do, princess?" "Yes, I have to reach the temple for the puja. There is a boatman waiting at the bank to help cross the river. You will accompany me to the temple." "And your sakhis? Aren't they supposed to accompany you?" "The king appointed you for my security, not my sakhis. Now hurry up, I do not have the whole day for this puja." Rishabh silently crossed her and led her way to the boat.

Rishabh and Madhurya got on the boat and the boatman started rowing. The sun had just peeped in from the east. The cold morning breeze played with Madhurya's hair and the curly locks fell on her eyes, covering her vision. She could not raise her hand to manage the frizzy hairs as she was holding the heavy puja thali. Rishabh noticed her discomfort and as he was about to touch her locks and put them behind her ears, he stopped midway and pulled back his hand. Madhurya was finding it really difficult to understand Rishabh's nature. She was always used to men fawning over to get her attention. Noble men like Abhimanas would be ready to barter their hands or legs in exchange of an opportunity to be physically so close to her. But Rishabh would always restrict and withdraw himself from her ethereal beauty. Was she not beautiful enough for him? Rishabh's withdrawal annoyed her even more.

They crossed the river and reached the other bank. The steps to the temple started from a small distance ahead. Rishabh turned to Madhurya and asked, "Princess, if you do not mind, can I hold your puja thali as you climb up the steps?" Madhurya glowered at him and replied, "I may not be having big muscles like you, but I possess enough strength to carry on with this. You keep your chivalry to yourself. You may need it in case of any unforeseen onslaught," and started walking up the steps. Rishabh was dumbfounded at her rudeness. The gentler and more courteous he was trying to be with her, the more she was retorting with venom. Baffled with his situation he silently followed her to the temple.

They had already crossed over 400 steps. In spite of her declaration on her strength, Madhurya's stamina was giving up. The steps were quite steep and uneven. Added to it, the sun was glowing brighter, heating up the climate. Madhurya started panting and stopped after every few steps to catch her breath. Rishabh could see her unease but did not want to offer any help without being asked for. After covering 50 more steps, suddenly Madhurya's foot got tangled at the fall of her saree and she was about to trip over, when Rishabh grasped her from behind and snatched away the thali from her hand. "Why are you being this arrogant? Why can't you accept the fact that you need help to perform this feat of climbing 700 steps up to the temple?" Rishabh did not realize that in excitement he had clenched her arm so hard that it almost hurt her. "How dare you touch me without my permission? Leave my hand I say! I will die before taking any help from an overbearing man like you," and tried to free her hand from his clutch. "I am being overbearing? Have you lost it completely princess? I have been trying to be as polite and assistive as possible, but you keep on stabbing me with your insensitive words. I had the idea that royal people possess courteous demeanor, but your treatment towards me suggests that you people do not even consider your subjects as human beings!" For the first time in her life Madhurya was at a loss of words. This was too humiliating for her to accept from anyone. Rishabh too realized his effrontery but could not think of any way to take back his words. Both of them silently climbed the remaining steps while taking moments of rests in between and reached the top.

Madhu performed her puja with the priest while Rishabh waited outside the temple keeping a vigilant watch around. As the puja was completed, the priest called him to take the tika on his forehead and offered him the prasad. Madhurya looked unusually quiet and lost in her thoughts. Taking blessings from the priest, they left the temple and began their walk down the hill. As they were coming down the steps, Madhurya stepped on a pebble and twisted her ankle. She grimaced with the searing pain but refused to take Rishabh's hand as he offered her to get up. Rishabh had had enough of her stubbornness and seeing her in so much pain, lifted her up on his hands. "What do you think you are doing? Do you know you can be executed for manhandling the princess like this?" "I do not mind being executed for helping an injured princess. Your feet are already sore and swollen. Do not worry princess; I will not let people see you in this position. I will put you down before we reach the river bank." No matter how much displeasure she expressed, she was thankful to him for saving herself from further pain. But her transcendence stopped her from wording her gratitude.

The boat ride back to the camp was unusually silent. Both their minds were stirred by the accusations they thrust on each other and the sudden physical proximity they experienced. On reaching the camp, the sakhis came and helped the princess to reach her tent and started treating her wounded ankle. Rishabh sent a message to the princess (through Ishaani) if she was comfortable enough to start with the return journey that day, as he wanted to take her back to the palace as soon as possible and get her treated by the royal vaidya (doctor). The princess sent back her consent and without further delay they commenced the return journey.

After returning to the palace, and making sure that the princess was being taken care of by the doctor, Rishabh went to the king to express his apology in failing to keep the princess' well-being during the trip. "How is she? Has she been injured severely?" enquired the king. "She is being treated by the doctor at this moment, Your Majesty." "Do not take all blame on yourself my boy. Princess Madhurya may be delicate, but she needs to inure herself with the hardships of life. A life cannot be a bed of roses forever."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ewGufVao5A

Rishabh was doing his night time surveillance around the palace before the night guards took over their duty. After being convinced with the interior, he went out in the gardens to have a last round before retiring to his bed. The sky was clear and borne a bright glow from the full-moon. Rishabh looked up at the sky to see the moon once before getting inside, when he caught sight of the princess sitting on the window looking pensive. He could not help admiring the glow on her face rendered by the moon light contrasted by the dark cascade of her curly hair surrounding her face. Had he been too rude to her in the morning? Would she ever forgive him for his audaciousness? As if under a spell, he approached beneath her window and realized Madhurya staring back at him. She did not look surprised or disappointed to see him there, but her eyes spoke of an intense pain, the pain inflicted by him. Rishabh did not know what clouded his reasoning, and he climbed up the stairs to the balcony leading to the princess' room. Madhurya stood there shocked to see him approaching her. She turned to go but Rishabh held her hand and pulled her closer. Madhurya was dismayed as she bumped on his hard chest. Rishabh gazed in her eyes, which were drowning him completely in their unfathomable depth. Madhurya could perceive the raw passion in him but did not want to surrender herself in it, not yet. Rishabh's trance was broken by the laughter of the sakhis in the adjoining room. He freed the princess and knelt down at her feet and whispered, "I am sorry princess, and I do not know what possessed my mind that I behaved in such unacceptable manner. I will resign from this duty and leave this kingdom forever. I promise you will never see my face again." Saying so, he left the room through the balcony leaving the flummoxed princess alone.

Next morning Rishabh was summoned by the king to the court. Did anybody see him entering the princess' room at night? Did she complain about his impropriety to the king? Doubtlessly he deserved to be punished, so he was ready to accept any penalty he would face. "Good morning Your Majesty." "Rishabh, I have something very important to discuss with you," said the king and guided him to another room where the Mahamantri and Senapati were waiting. "Rishabh, there have been few stray incidents in the kingdom which indicate that one of our neighbouring kingdoms is planning an invasion soon. I trust our army and the way they have been trained and led by Senapati Giriraj. But you, being his able successor, have to take up additional responsibilities. You have to take the charge of Deputy General, as Giriraj may need assistance in due course of time. You will have to gather some smart and efficient soldiers from the army and train them as our royal spies, who will keep extra watch on the proceedings within and outside the kingdom. You being their leader will be answerable directly to me. I do not want this to be leaked out of this room, as I do not want the people of this kingdom to panic unnecessarily. Be alert and inform immediately if you notice something wrong." The discussion went on for some more time and by the end Rishabh had already prepared himself to take up his new duty and responsibility to his homeland. He immediately checked with the battalions and decided on the six finest and most trusted men for the espionage. He also went ahead to check the army inventory and the preparedness in case of a sudden attack.

All these took the whole day and by the time he came back to the palace to ensure its well being he met Ishaani who seemed to have been waiting for him. "The princess wanted to see you but I was told you have been busy with the king's men since the morning," stated Ishaani. "Yes, I was occupied with something important. Is there anything urgent?" asked Rishabh. "She did not tell me. But has asked you to report as soon as you reach the palace," and gestured to follow her to the princess' room.

Madhurya had been very agitated from the morning. Her sakhis did not know the cause, but had to bear the brunt of her foul mood. As Rishabh entered her room with Ishaani, Madhurya instructed everyone else including Ishaani to leave the room. Once in their privacy, she asked, "So you decided to stay back?" Rishabh knew this was leading to his promise that he made last night. He bent his head and replied, "Yes princess. There are certain duties to this kingdom which I cannot escape from. I will try to fulfill them and as promised, will try my best so that you do not have to see me." "And how do you think you will escape my eyes and yet perform the suraksha adhipati's role in this palace?" Rishabh knew he had no plausible answer to this question and doubted his decision of taking up the new military role. Madhurya was fuming with anger; her eyes were brimming with tear and hands clasped tight. She hated Rishabh, because never before any man had perturbed her like this. She wanted him to leave forever, but the thought itself chocked her with emotions she had never been aware before. "Go away, I do not want to see your face again!" and threw a metal hairpin at him that she got in her grasp. It hit Rishabh on his forehead and blood oozed out. Rishabh was totally dumbstruck with this assault and humiliation and stormed out of the room when two hands from the back grasped him tightly. He felt her tears on his back but did not know how to react to her impulsive actions. He slowly turned to the princess, who was weeping out uncontrollably. "Princess, if I have hurt you then punish me, but do not shed your tears like this. I am a mere subject to your authority.." "Why do you torture me like this? Why did you come so close if you were to go away forever?" sobbed Madhurya while touching his wounded forehead. Rishabh for the first time saw the lonely and vulnerable child residing within the tough and arrogant facade the princess assumed for the world around her. His hands instinctively covered her in a protective embrace and she buried her face in his chest. The silence of the night continued the conversation on behalf of their disheveled emotions.

Next morning Ishaani came to Rishabh with a peacock feather in her hand. She had a naughty smile on her face which made Rishabh blush and smile in return. She had been with the princess from their infancy; and could perceive the essence of every unspoken word from a look at the princess' face. "The princess sent you this gift," and handed him the feather. He looked at it and before he could ask, Ishaani said, "Tonight come to the royal ghat by the river. A boat will be waiting for you. The princess will be waiting for you."

Every prahar (1/8^th of a day) seemed like a year to Rishabh that day. After his session with the soldiers was over, he hurried to freshen up and reached the royal ghat. It was dusk and the western horizon was donning a dusty crimson colour, fading into a deeper shade of grayish blue. A beautiful boat decorated with diyas (lamp) and flowers was waiting for him. Ishaani was waiting in the boat with two other sakhis. She came up to Rishabh and said, "So Shyam, are you ready to meet your Radha at the Rasa Lila?" Before he could ask anything, Ishaani blindfolded him and led him to the boat. Rishabh smiled and followed her without questioning.

As the boat moved ahead, cutting through the waves, Rishabh felt a sacred bliss in this mystical journey to his newfound love. He started singing a song and the sakhis followed him with equal felicity.

Jo afsaane dil ne buni, unko koi dil hi sune

Hum haule haule pyar ki dhundli fizaaon me aye

Gahre gahre hai khwaab ki neeli ghataon ke saaye

Hum tum dono khoye khoye

Saapne dekhe jaage soye

Gumsum hairan..

The boat reached the destination and Ishaani opened the blindfold from Rishabh's eyes. What he saw was unbelievable. The forest was all decorated with myriads of diyas and flowers strewn all over the place. All the sakhis were smiling and dancing Manipuri Nritya (a dance form of Manipur) with a divine music that filled the atmosphere; and they were dancing in a circle around a big dolika (swing) adorned with garlands.

Yeh jo zindagi hai koi dastaan hai

Kab hoga kya yeh khabar kaha hai

Yeh jo zindagi hai koi kaarwah hai

Kaha jaayegi yeh khabar kaha hai

Rishabh was overwhelmed with a feeling of admiration and rapture. He searched for Madhurya and found her standing by the swing, looking ethereal in a white costume, embellished with numerous flowers from head to toe. She looked so divine that Rishabh doubted for a moment before touching her hand. A wave of emotion took over Madhurya's inner self and she joined the ecstatic dance of love with her sakhis and expressed her feelings while singing along.

Behti hai chingariya jaise sar se pao tak nas nas me

Halka halka hosh hai lekin kuchh bhi nahi ab mere bas me

Mere ang ang me bechaini bijli banke lehraye

Ek meethe meethe dard ka badal tan mann par chhaye

Saanse uljhe dhadke yeh dil

Jaane kaise meri mushkil

Hoke aasaan..

Rishabh and Madhurya sat on the swing, holding their hands and lost in each other's eyes. The night passed like a whole lifetime of love for them, with the merry sakhis performing the dance of divine love as the sole witness.