Sri Radhakrsna's leela - Part III - Completed on Page 48 - Page 10

Let Radha be always showering her most required divine grace upon us... so that we will always be immersed in bhakti! (And then automatically Krishna will bless... so Radhe! Please remember us also!)

Kirtida put her hands on her hips.

"Yes madam, what do you want?"

"Madam? Ma, are you dreaming?"

"No madam, I am very much awake. Just a little angry that you didn't tell me before pushing off somewhere. And I am sure Abhimanyu and his family will understand their would-be bride's wanderings..."

"Ma, I can't understand what are you saying! What is this about Abhimanyu and his family?"

"Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you that Abhimanyu and his family had come last night to discuss about the marriage. And since Your Majesty was not present, your father and I had to fix it ourselves. We fixed it for next week."

"You WHAT?!!!"

"Don't use that tone with me, young lady! Do you realise how worried you make us, running off like that every night? Yesterday we were shamed by Abhimanyu, when he told us of your, ah, little stroll into the forest. What do you think you were doing?"

"But ma-"

"And Shridama, that boy too! 'She has gone to Lalita's Kunja Ma! And told me not to let anyone meet her!' And just then Abhimanyu said that he saw you running into the forest, your attire in a disarray! You have let down our reputation! Why were you running like a maniac into the forest, Your Majesty?"

"No Ma, it was-"

"That's it! You are grounded until your marriage next Purnima!"

"Next Purnima?!" Radha said, aghast.

"Yes. Any words of wisdom?"

***

Radha sat on her bed, weeping. Her marriage had been fixed with that ghastly gopa, Abhimanyu! What was she to do? She was also not allowed to leave the house! And poor Shridama, he too had been punished because of her! No going to the pastures with Krsna! He had to help his father in his daily work! All because of her foolish act! Why hadn't she used her magic?!

She broke down.

What is happening Krsna? Why are you alienating me from you?! I surely cannot disobey Ma's orders! And now I have lost her trust also!

"Anyayamu seyakura, Rama, Nannu Anyunika Joodakura Nayeda (Anyayamu Seyakura)!"

"Enno thappulu Gala Varini! Rajanyu neevu brochinavu kanu kanu, Anyayamu seyakura, Krsna?!"

She discarded her finery in a corner of the room and sobbed.

(Readers can hear this song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e51sCub-9MA and get the lyrics here: http://sahityam.net/w/index.php/Anyayamu)

***

Vishakha entered Radha's room. It was in a mess. All the decorative items such as kumkuma, chandana, vibhuti etc. were lying uncared for. Radha's jewellery was cast in a corner, and she was lying motionless on the bed. The window was open. Just then Vishakha got the shock of her life. From under Radha's sari, a snake crept out and slithered out of the window! Vishakha instantly checked Radha's foot, and saw two bloodstained marks, as if two pins had been pricked on her foot. Her moonlike face showed no signs of consciousness. Vishakha screamed and ran to Kirtida.

"Kirtida Ma!!" she cried, "Radha has been bitten by a snake! She is - she is unconscious!!" And Vishakha burst into tears. Kirtida was horrified. She rushed to the house of the nearby doctor and rushed him into Radha's room. He checked Radha's pulse, and tried to cure her, but he was totally stumped. "I do not understand this! These are not the symptoms of any snake poison I know! Her pulse is slow! I have no cure for her. Forgive me." He slowly got up and left.

Kirtida was in agony. All because of her stupidity! "Oh Radhe Radhe!" she wailed. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. She ran to the door and opened it.

***

A dark and beautiful lady stood at the door with a bag of herbs in her hand. She folded her hands and bowed to Kirtida. "I am Vidyavali, the royal physician of the queens of Mathura. I was told by the local vaidya that your daughter has been bitten by a snake. I have come to offer her the cure."

Kirtida sobbed and said, "Oh divine lady! You are like a Goddess for us! Please cure my daughter! I shall ever be indebted to you!" She ushered Vidyavali in. Vidyavali checked Radha. She turned gravely to Kirtida. "I am afraid that this is more complicated than I expected! Please leave me alone to attend to Radha. Do not disturb me until I come out of this room."

Kirtida was very anguished, but she slowly closed the door of the room. Vidyavali's painful expression disappeared. "Vasuki has done his work extremely well! Radhe? Wake up!"

And with his touch, Radha's consciousness returned to her. She awoke and beheld the dark figure sitting next to her. He was wearing a peacock feather, but.. was that a sari?

"Krsna?!!! You have come here?! Oh, rejoice! You have finally come!"

Krsna laughed. "You don't know how much pains I take to visit you! Why, this dress," he pointed at his sari, "was difficult enough to wear without letting the cloth fly in the air!" He closed his eyes, and immediately the sari was replaced by Krsna's normal clothes.

Radha was confused. "First of all, how did you come here? And why were you wearing this sari?!"

Krsna took Radha's hand. "Its a long story, my love..."