CHAPTER NINETEEN
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The handsome, young man looked at the expanse of Dwarika from a cliff. The morning dew had just settled and the sun had lazily emerged casting its gold rays on sleepy Dwarika. The beautiful peacock feather in his crown swayed happily in the cold breeze. He played with his baansuri fondly and smiled.
Dwarika general noticed him and smilingly came to greet him. The general's warm greeting were however, returned with a hard slap across his face with the baansuri. Scared and confused, the general ran back to the Dwarika palace.
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Balrama was worried about his younger brother Krishna. The ever funny, mischievous Kanha had gone nutty. Krishna was very short tempered for last few days and was less than respectful and tactful to members in the court. Balrama chose to look the other way. He loved his brother.
The Dwarika general informed him about the assault. The general's face was swollen and lips were bleeding. Balrama clenched his fists.The muscles in his toned body tightened. The attack on the general was a serious offense and could not be condoned.
It was punishable only by death. Balrama was duty bound. He picked up his axe reluctantly, looked at his dear brother's portrait, shook his head and walked with heavy heart towards his chariot.
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Rukmini was non-plussed when she was informed that Balrama had headed to the cliff with axe. She knew that Balrama could be provoked easily and was prone to act without thinking.
"What if he kills...NO.. Its inconceivable." She prayed Lord Vishnu. She had to act fast.
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Lord Vishnu yawned agape yet again. He was slouching on the SheshNaaga and pointing to grumpy and tired Devi Laxmi few more tender spots missed while massaging his feet.He saw Balrama heading angrily towards the cliff to meet the smiling perpetrator with baansuri and looked questioningly at Shesha. Balrama was afterall Shesha's avatar.
Five headed Shesha plunged his heads deep in the KsheerSagar in shame to avoid his master's gaze.
Lord Vishnu was quite pleased with Shesha's previous avatar of obedient and loyal Laxman and had rewarded Shesha with extra vacation days away from laborious, mundane job of carrying earth on his head.
His latest avatar of Balrama had turned into a liability for Shesha.
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Balrama jumped off his chariot, wielded his axe violently in air and rushed to wipe smirk off the baansuri dhaari.
"Napunsak shows off his axe. Go and plough the Napunsak fields, you imbecile." Baansuridhari, Napunsak expert roared.
"No bhrata. Please spare him. He is my target." Krishna arrived in nick of time, tried to stop angry Balrama from behind.
Krishna was unusually touchy and irascible since suffering from flu for last couple of days. Each of his wives insisted to take care of him and forced 16000 doses of medicine down his throat. No wonder he had lost mental poise.
He was not at all happy when Rukmini dragged him out of the bed and sent after Balrama. She knew that her husband was the chosen one to slay his cousin and did not want Balrama to claim his glory.
"Krishna, How is your flu ? Why are you out of bed ? I am mad at this idiot. The general went to welcome him and he beat him for no reason.""That general was Napunsak."
"Shut up. But Kanha, your portrait reminded me of your right over his life. Hence I was reluctant to come here to begin with." Balrama said sadly.
"Cowards.. Fight with me. I came alone to challenge you." Shishupal removed feather from his crown and threw it challengingly at them. Krishna could not help but marvel at Shishupal's colossal feat to mouth entire gibberish without single utter of his pet word.
"Bade Bhrata, please ignore this idiot for me and honour my promise. Dont worry, I am keeping tab on his sins." Kanha in a hoarse voice, still recovering from flu.
"Napunsaks are afraid of me. Haha." Shishupal reached for another feather and realised that he was carrying only single one and threw baansuri instead on the floor. He determined to wear a belt of peacock feathers in future so as not to run out of ammunition.
"You must be tired and hungry. Come with us in our chariot and have some food." Krishna invited Shishupal in a bored voice.
"Sure. I am famished. This Napunsak accepts your lunch offer." Demented Shishupal threw his crown on the floor as a signal to Krishna to add to his sin count and followed Krishna.
He decided to irritate Krishna with his dancing but fell woefully short in his signature step without his baansuri , his most important prop.
Shishupal continued with his derogatory remarks and threw his belonging with each remark to emphasize an insult and to ensure that dull Krishna did not take it as a complement.
Annoyed duo brothers stuffed ears with cotton balls and sat patiently. By the time they reached Dwarika palace Shishupal was quiet as he had thrown away everything on his person and now he was more scantily dressed than Duryodhana before Gandhari when she blessed him with her divine sight.
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SheshNaag who was suffocating under water, was atlast relieved.His foolhardy avatar did not kill Shishupal and anger his master Lord Vishnu whose avatar was supposed to finish the job.
Shesha happily came out of water and shook his head vigorously to dry. The water splashed over his master and disturbed his sleep. Lord Vishnu half opened his eyes and looked at SheshNaag with annoyance.
SheshNaag took a deep breath and once again submerged his heads underwater in shame.
Did it manage to put you on wrong track for a while ?
Edited by Cotswolds - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Kumkum Bhagya
