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This story will follow Radha and an array of folktales I myself have grown up listening to. Some of it is in the scriptures, the rest a mix of folktale and my imagination.
Thank you! 😃
Prologue
The night sighed chills. The month of Aghrayana as usual made the stars twinkle in the icy sky. Most of trees lay bare, and those that still breathed trembled under the scorching gaze of Chandra, the sneakiest of the Gods. Radha felt like cursing. "Look!" She hissed at Vishakha, "Look at the shameless moon staring at me! He has neither pity nor remorse, I'm afraid." Her eyes were red and swollen, her yellow garments in disarray. Her friends had long given up consoling her. They now only awaited the arrival of Him.
Right then, Lalita burst into the cabin like an unstopping draught, and began to shake Radha and point hastily to the door behind her. She herself trembled, her eyes glistening. In those dewy orbs Radha seemed to find new life. Before they heard or spoke, the door had slid open and let through itself, Radha's lifeline- her Krishna. As if on cue, Lalita and Vishakha immediately stood up and left.
Smiling briefly, Krishna came closer and embraced Radha. Having controlled herself for this long, she could not hold it in any longer. Embracing Krishna even tightly she began to sob again. "There, there," Krishna consoled her as he stroked her hair, "It's not like it matters though is it?"
Springing up, Radha immediately pushed Krishna back, her eyes flashing dangerously, "Okay, so tomorrow I'm getting married to a random man from a random village and you don't even care!" She started sobbing even harder as she finished. Krishna looked troubled now, "I definitely did not mean it that way, stop crying Radha, and you too will realize!" Radha pushed him again, this time off their bed, "I don't care how you'll do it Mohan, but you better get the wedding called off tomorrow! I'm warning you, or else I'll jump straight into the fire like Devi Maa Sati!" Krishna nodded weakly, "Radha, it's not like I love having to see you marry another person, but you know our fate, right, don't you?" Radha stared at him in incredulity, "It's hard, but all the same, I'd like you to have a social standing when I'm gone!"
Radha shook her head slowly; wiping a tear from her cheek she spoke, "They say you're the ocean of kindness but they don't know you, Shyam! In reality you're the cruelest person I've known. You care about nothing and and no one!" She had probably hoped to bring Krishna to his senses with the arrows of her words but Krishna just shook his head, "Never had a choice, Priye." He smiled sadly.
---
The night collapsed into a hazy morning. Everyone walked around rubbing and blowing into their palms. In the villages of Barsana and Vrindavan however floated in the fragrance of enthusiasm. The biggest marriage of the season was finally happening. The princess of Barsana was getting married to Ayan, the prince of Jarat. Radha's friends were sorry to see her go, and so were the young men of Barsana who had spent many a sleepless night dreaming about the charming Radha and now secretly seethed.
Even in her despair Radha was forced to smile and laugh as her cousins, unaware of her plight, chattered away, teasing her while adorning her with the best of jewels.
All through the day, Radha had caught his gaze many times, and for the first time in her life she found, bewildered, that she couldn't read him. Was he sad? Angry? Or just desperate to get the day over with?
He seemed as chirpy as ever. Laughing and joking. Though frivolous and outspoken, Brishbhaanu and Kirtida couldn't help but trust Krishna. After all, the lad got twice the work done in half the time, and yet he kept the mood of farewell as far as possible.
Kirtida had tried following Krishna around for some time, but gave up considering her age and his speed. Brishbhaanu and she had been terrified until the morning, what with all of the relatives coming in- gossip after all, spread faster than a forest-fire! To their relief Krishna kept his distance from the women in general, greeting and serving the guests only.
---
Yashoda smiled brightly as she adjusted some of Radha's jewellery. There was only about an hour left for the wedding. She couldn't understand why Kirtida had insisted that she stay. "Big day, hmm?" She asked softly. Radha seemed to break out of a trance, "Y-yes." She answered. Yashoda couldn't understand herself; she ought to be happy but a strange emptiness seemed to engulf her by the passing moment. Now that she reflected, every aspect of this wedding seemed forced, pretentious.
Waving away the strange thought Yashoda brought back her mind to the present and focused instead on Radha's ever-so-happy glow. Did even that glow seem dimmed? Well, of course, she thought, the girl is to leave her home forever in a few hours' time, who'd be happy about that?!
---
At last, it was time. Hearing the heralding drums Yashoda rushed outside to have a glimpse of the arriving party. Radha rushed to the balcony, looking here and there. Would he not come? Not even now? Not once before the disaster? Suddenly she saw him, lying on a low-branch of the ashoka tree. No flute in his hand. She couldn't see his face though, she guessed he wasn't laughing. "Now, now, is it befitting of the coveted princess of Barsana to stare out of the window at this time of the day, my dear?" Radha jumped at the voice of her mother. Obviously she knew what Radha sought in the bloodied evening sky.
The time for the marriage had been fixed at Godhuli- the juncture of day and night. The union of fair and dark, joy and despair, Radha and Krishna. Sighing, Radha lowered her eyes. She just wished everything would not remind her of Krishna.
At this moment did see him. Right behind her husband. Krishna held the man with the utmost care and led him slowly. That's how you held me, she said in her mind, seething even in despair. I see you in everything, Priye, his eyes seemed to say.
Index
Prologue - above
Part 1 - pg 3
Part 2 - pg 6
Real Estate
