Rukmini and Satyabhama were strolling through the royal gardens of Indraprastha, admiring the full blooms on each of the carefully trimmed bushes. They were visiting their darling sister-in-law Subhadra, a year after her marriage, and also their dear sakhi Panchaali, the Queen of Indraprastha. Subhadra was now pregnant, and her doting brothers and their wives came to pamper her before taking her back to Dwaraka for the birth.
"That Prativindhya is such a solemn and polite young man, just like his father," Rukmini remarked with a smile, "He will make a good ruler of Indraprastha one day."
"Yes didi, you are right," Satyabhama chuckled, "But I also think he has a streak of my sakhi Panchali's naughtiness. He hides it well."
"Well, if anyone should see it, it is you," Rukmini rolled her eyes good-naturedly. She bent down to pick a rose off the bush and inhaled its sweet fragrance.
"Where is Panchali now?" she asked.
"Rajkumar Arjun teasingly asked our Subhadre if she could see her toes over her big stomach, and the poor girl ran off crying. Panchali is now berating him for his insensitive words. You know how protective she is of Subhadra," Satyabhama smirked.
"Men," Rukmini shook her head with a small laugh. "I remember how much grief you gave our Arya when you were carrying Bhanu. Good lord! I never knew anyone could reduce Dwarakadheesh himself to tears."
"You yourself were no sweetling when you were carrying Pradymna, didi," Satyabhama retorted teasingly, "You sent Arya off in the wee hours of the morning to satisfy your cravings."
"Hmph!" was the only answer she received.
They walked further into the garden and sat down on the grass behind a cluster of trees, well hidden from view. The ambiance of Indraprastha was very pleasant. The Pandavas had done well. They finally achieved a sense of peace and happiness after many turbulent years.
"Yes, I heard she has her husband waiting on her hand and foot!" came a shrill feminine voice a little way off.
"How shocking!" said another voice, this one too belonged to a woman.
Rukmini and Satyabhama exchanged glances and peered through the trees. A small group of women were standing together gossiping about something - or someone.
"She may be a queen now, but she should not forget her origins!" the first lady sniffed disdainfully, "She is merely the daughter of Dwaraka's royal treasurer, while the other queens are at least princesses by birth! I heard she treats them quite ill."
Satyabhama gasped softly and Rukmini frowned with displeasure.
"Has temper tantrums that set the maids scurrying," one of the ladies sniggered.
"Did you hear that she even sold her husband?"
"She did?"
"Indeed! She sold him to Sage Narada himself, and it is only due to Rani Rukmini's devotion that Dwarakadheesh was saved."
"She thought she could buy her husband with wealth!"
"I heard she fights like a man! It is quite scandalous, I tell you."
"Such arrogance for being so beautiful! What is the use of good looks, I tell you, when your heart is not in the right place?"
Satyabhama was quite pale by now, pale with indignation and guilt both. She had still not forgiven herself for the tulabharam their Lord had undergone to be won back by his wives.
But Rukmini had heard enough. She could not bear the ignorant ramblings of a few gossiping women who knew nothing about what they were talking.
Placing a hand on Satyabhama's arm reassuringly, Rukmini stood up and made her presence known to the group of ladies, all of whom stopped talking and gaped at her with shock.
"Pranaam Maharani," they mumbled with guilt written on their faces.
Rukmini nodded at their greeting and crossed her arms with displeasure.
"I am not pleased with what I heard," she said, "Such ill words spoken about my own sister!"
"Forgive us, Maharani, but have we spoken wrong?" one of the bolder ladies asked her. "We are only repeating the stories we heard."
"Yes, stories," Rukmini said firmly, "Ladies, do you think it is right to believe hearsay, and also to pass it on to others without verifying its truth? How could you think such information could be true about one of Dwarakadheesh's own queens?"
"She is your co-wife, Maharani, and yet you are defending her like she is dear to you," one of the ladies said with confusion. "How can you have such amiable feelings for a woman who is competing for your husband's attention, particularly a woman who is so possessive?"
"Yes, my Bhama is possessive," Rukmini said fondly, "She is possessive of not just my Lord, but everyone in the family. She is fiercely protective of us and would lay down her life for any of us, if only we ask it of her. Can you find such a woman anywhere? She loves with a fierceness, and she also fights for what's right. She is a very passionate woman, but her intentions are as pure as a lotus flower."
The ladies were entranced by Rukmini's description of Satyabhama, while the latter looked at her with tears in her eyes, touched by her sister's defense of her.
"You all think Satyabhama sold our Lord to Sage Narada?" Rukmini asked them with amusement, "Let me break your misconception at once. Our Lord can neither be sold nor owned by anyone. No one possesses him, so no one can sell him. The tulaabharam was a leela driven by leeladhar himself, to teach humanity that devotion transcends wealth. My Bhama played her part, just as I played mine. We all have virtues and we all have vices. When we turn our mind to the Lord, he will break our vices in the form of divine plays, and that is what Govind did with my Bhama. She is pure of mind, pure of spirit. Do not ever speak ill of her again."
"Forgive us, Maharani," the women apologized contritely, "We never knew Rani Satyabhama was so dear to you."
"She is my sister, my Shakti. She is my other half," Rukmini said fondly, "Without her I an incomplete. She is the Bhudevi to my Shridevi. By disrespecting her, you are not honoring me. If you are my devotee, you will not hurt my Bhama. Understand?"
"Yes," the ladies bowed to her before scurrying away.
"Oh didi," Satyabhama hugged Rukmini tightly, "You are so good to me. I do not deserve it!"
"You deserve this and so much more," Rukmini hugged her back affectionately. "Hopefully now, people will respect you for the wonderful woman you are. Now come, let us go find Govind."
"He will be quite entertained to hear that his timid little Rukmini turned into a sherni for her Bhama," Satyabhama giggled.
"I am not timid," Rukmini rolled her eyes, though a smile played on her lips.
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