Location: Abhimanyu's home
Months had passed since her "marriage" with Abhimanyu. She was no longer free to come and go whenever she pleased. She was bound by her mother in law, Jatila, and sister in law, Kutila.
Therefore, when Vasanta season approached, and Shridama told her about Krsna's plan of another Rasa festival, her heart leapt with joy! Once more, they would enjoy their divine dance, on the banks of the Yamuna! Once more, would the night be filled with divinity! They were all going to be transported to Goloka once more! But... how?
Being closely watched by Kutila and Jatila, Radha could no more walk out of the house than she could go hug Krsna in the open. So, how was she going to escape? She passed on this message to her brother, and asked him to find a solution quickly.
***Location: Kokilavana
"Krsna!"
"Did she jump with joy?" Krsna asked with a grin.
"No, she is confused."
"Confused?"
"Well, obviously, you know how suspicious Jatila Mami can get. She asked - hmm.. actually, she demanded a solution from you, as to how to escape."
"Do me a favour. Ask your sister why does she have a Chaya Radha with her, if she is not going to use it."
"Chaya Radha will take her place. She wants to know how to escape, unnoticed.."
"Ah." said Krsna.
"Hm.." said Krsna.
"Idea!" exclaimed Krsna. "Tell Lalita to call Radha, saying that Abhimanyu is calling her to her Nikunja. Meanwhile, we can convince Jatila that the real Abhimanyu is actually me disguised as Abhimanyu. How is that?"
Shridama blinked. "Repeat?"
***"What do you want, Lalita?" asked Jatila sternly.
"Pranam, Mami. Bhrata Abhimanyu has called Radha to her Nikunja -"
"Why does my son need to go to her Nikunja to talk to her? Why can't he come home?"
"Oh that! Well Mami," Lalita dropped her voice to a whisper, "Bhrata said that he saw that thief Krsna coming disguised as Abhimanyu, and so to prevent Radha from meeting him, he wants to take her to her Nikunja."
Jatila fell for it. "Radha!" she called. "Your husband is calling you to your Nikunja! Leave at once!"
She muttered under her breath. "Krsna.. coming as my son, indeed, I shall give him a good thrashing once he comes here!"
Radha was enthralled. In a trice, she had run out of the house, and pulling Lalita, run off to her Nikunja. "Oh Lalita! Lalita, you did it! You tricked her!!" she laughed with joy.
Once they reached her Nikunja, where all her sakhis had already gathered, she started decorating it beautifully. Not one corner was left untouched. Everywhere, flowers were blooming, and the birds were happily twittering. All the sakhis were ornamenting themselves with flowers and decorating their eyes with kajal, and applying the pink shell's powder on their faces. They were all exhilarated to be meeting Krsna, and forgot about everything else!
Meanwhile, in Chandravali's Nikunja, the same thing was happening. The gopikas were excitedly chatting about meeting Krsna, and once more dancing the divine Rasa dance!
***As the night approached, and the full moon was slowly rising into the sky, Radha became anxious. Where was her Krsna? He should have begun playing her flute by now! What was he doing?
"When will you come, oh Krsna!" she whispered with virahavedana, or the pangs of separation.
As the sun set completely, and the moon rose into the sky, Radha was filled with worry. Would her Krsna come? Would he come to accept this bhakta of his? What should she whisper, what should she call out, so that he would come? Should she say Krsna, or Govinda, or Kanha? Or should she just sit here waiting, for his footsteps, to gladden her heart?
"Enna sholli Azhaittal Varuvayo! Eliyen Enranai, Inidu aatkolla!"
"What should I say, oh Krsna, so that you will come?! To protect me, to accept me, your simple devotee, what should I say, oh Krsna!" Radha sang, her voice filled with love and separation.
"Please come Krsna, to gladden our hearts, to dispel our sorrow, to please our souls!!
(This song, Enna Solli Azhaittal Varuvaayo, is in ragam Kanada.
Radha waited. As the night grew, even her sakhis were getting agitated.
They looked at each others' faces. Where was their Krsna?
Just then, they heard the sounds of a flute. They all turned excitedly in the direction of the flute! Butalong with that, they could hear another sound... the.. the jigling of several anklet bells! The Rasa Mahotsava had started! The shocked gopis looked at one another. Where? Without them? How?
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Debate Mansion
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Real Estate
Arjun
