For The Earth Prologue 2- Chapter 1- 27/1/17 - Page 31

THE BEST GROOM

Dharani opened her eyes, only to see herself in the most beautiful garden ever. Her sharp eyes roved all over, her mind quickly registering the very essence of Prakriti. Where was s... Kailash! She was in Kailash. But what was she doing here? And she was in spirit form as well.

"Child"

Her eyes turned to look at the most beautiful woman ever there. She was dusky, shining like gold, beauty in its very form. Fish-like eyes, beautiful and round stood She, Jagadambe. Mata. Ma. Her Ma.

"Ma?"

"It is me child. Come, we have no time to waste"

"Ma, what is going on? Is Swami okay?", asked Dharani.

"Not exactly. He has been a little anguished since you fainted", said Ma Bhavani.

"But He is... oh. The human side of Him", said Dharani.

"Yes. His human side can only see that His wife hurt", said Ma Parvati.

"I will go to Him. Where is He?", asked Dharani, though knowing where He would be.

"With Swami. Come", said Tripurasundari, walking towards a dense part of the grove. Dharani followed her, worried.

"Here child"

She was led into a beautiful grove, and there, she saw her Lord. He was sitting majestically, yet He looked disturbed. There was more to this than her fainting. She knew it.

"Swami", she whispered.

His eyes met hers.

Dharani woke up to people shaking her. Her eyes met the concerned eyes of her grandmother.

"What happened? Are you sick?", asked her grandmother.

"Just tired Patti", said Dharani.

"Are you sure?", asked her grandmother.

"I am Patti", said Dharani. "Let me sleep for a short while? I have to start studying soon"

"Go ahead", said her grandmother, smiling and walking out.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Dharani flipped on her bed, and gasped. In front of her was a peacock feather, and instantly she knew that a short while ago, it sat on her Lord's crown. She took the peacock feather, and holding it to her heart, drifted off to sleep.

In Ksheer Sagar...

"Narayana", said Mahadeva.

"It will be. Dharani will meet my human form very soon", said MahaVishnu.

"Soon in the sense?", asked Lord Shiva.

"As soon as his freedom, in a sense is achieved", said Lord Narayana.

"And as soon as she does the duties she must", said Lord Shiva.

"No, that part had to change due to the accelerated word game", said Lord Narayana. "And also, her reason changed, just as we hoped it would"

"Ah it did", said Lord Shiva. "But the other thing..."

"Is a definite", said the Lord, tears in His eyes. "Not just that, the other three things also. Only the path has to be chosen"

The two Lords smiled painfully at each other. Destiny was written.

Dharani sighed in relief. She was done with the two subjects she failed in. She had studied both, and written them fully, to her mother's satisfaction. For once. And now, she had the time for her competitive exams. Finally! Her dream seemed closer at hand. And her Amma was in a weirdly good mood.

"Dharani!"

Dharani walked to where her mother was, hoping she wasn't in trouble.

Apparently she wasn't. Her mother needed her help for something. It did feel good for once to not be yelled at. Dharani went about doing the work she was assigned, singing happily under her breath.

That evening...

"You know Dharani?", said Radhika.

"Amma?", asked Dharani.

"You know, Shobana and Shekhar's second son Vikram is coming to Chennai", said Radhika. "And I want you to put your best behavior"

"When is this?", asked Dharani.

"In a couple of months", said Radhika.

"Amma, tell me that a couple of months from now", said Dharani.

"Don't get cheeky Dharani", warned her mother. "You know that your grandmother and I want you to marry Vikram a few years down the line"

"And I would marry him why exactly?", asked Dharani.

"You said we could choose your groom. Plus, Shobhana aunty also wants it", said Radhika.

"I didn't say that. I said that when the time comes, we will all look, but I will make the final choice. Anyway, Lord Krishna will not let me marry just anyone", said Dharani.

"Vikram is more of a someone than you are", said Radhika. "He is a doctor"

"Studying for one", said Dharani. "While that is indeed commendable, especially the fact that he is doing it in USA, and I admire his dedication to his chosen profession, that alone cannot be a deciding factor for any marriage"

"H is a well-mannered and handsome boy", said Radhika.

"That also doesn't endear the alliance Amma", said Dharani, silently thinking, My Arya's perfection is too high, in all ways, be it Narayana, Krishna or Raghuveer'

"Then what does?", asked Radhika.

"That is for me to know and you to realize later on", said Dharani, hoping her mother would stop talking about the alliance.

"Will you listen to us and meet him?", asked Radhika.

"You won't give me a choice. He will anyway visit. I will meet him then. But Amma, the final choice of groom is in my hands. I do want you three to love the groom I choose for myself", said Dharani, silently adding, You can't dispute that the Lord is the best groom'

"That is fine. We won't compel you to marry anyone unless you approve. Especially after what happened to Saranya", said Radhika.

"Thank you Amma", said Dharani, smiling and walking off.

Radhika watched her daughter, her mind thinking of the million things people had said about her.

Miles and miles away, in the city of Bangalore...

He took in the surroundings of his room.

This was it. The room he had spent endless hours in, cooped up, either reading novels or studying, he was going to say goodbye to. He had already taken the job in Chennai, travelling back and forth like a mad man, settling things here and running for his job there. He now had to find an apartment to live in in Chennai. He was exhausted, but he knew that only a couple of weeks more, and then he could settle everything here and start relaxing in Chennai. Right now, he lived out of a suitcase. It was a good idea that business ideas were forming his head now. He just had to make a couple of sharp decisions, and then his business will start. Promoting it will endear people to it, quality will bring people to it, irrespective of promotion.

He smiled. His smile lit up the entire room, his face glowing like the sun and the moon in various angles. His keen, lotus-like eyes looked around the room one last time, his perfect chin jutting out firmly. His cheekbones, neither too high, nor too low, added shape to his already perfect face, his lips were red like lotus petals. He was well built, and tall. His dark skin added to his charm, and made him look Divine.

"Shyam!"

"Bhai!"

"Bhaiya!"

Shyam smiled. His family was calling him. Turning his eyes to see his siblings, he smiled, shining in splendor like Lord Vishnu Himself.