Part 2
Radha and Krishna settled down on the ghat with the river carefully splashing past their feet. "So, " breaking the silence Krishna spoke with a smile, "How's marriage suiting you then?"
"Why, I hoped you'd ask." She snapped. Pulling her close, Krishna said, "I know it's hard for you, and me. All the same, the Radha I've known, the one who came to see me today, is way too strong for these puny barricades. Now aren't you?" Radha shrugged. Seeing her unconvinced Krishna continued, "Now see I might have killed dozens of demons but I would never have had the courage to give up so much and for so long!" Radha shook her head with a blossoming smile, "You'll never give up this trick, will you?" "Not till it stops working!" Krishna grinned unabashedly.
---
When Radha returned to her home, she found her mother-in-law waiting for her by the door. Instead of the usual nod Jatila smiled at her and beckoned her inside. Pulling down the veil further she followed. Entering the inner sanctum of the house, she found a group of ladies sitting around. Kutila sat in a corner with her friends, gossiping. Suddenly Radha found herself led away from Jatila by two veiled woman. Looking back, she found Jatila smiling indulgently. Sighing in relief, she let the women direct her towards Kutila's room.
Seating Radha on the bed, the women quickly bolted the door and lowered the shades on the window. Securing the room thus, they finally lifted their veils and Radha gasped in surprize. One of them was her best friend Lalita. With her, was Radha's cousin Chandravali. With the initial shock wearing off, Radha smiled and embraced them both. Radha asked how they both managed to enter. This house did not encourage young brides having friends over. Radha soon learned that both of them were married shortly after Radha. Incidentally, their mothers-in-law were friends and hence the visit.
"So, how's the adulteress doing?" Lalita asked teasingly. "Shame on you!" Radha scolded her, "It just sounds worse when you say it like that!" Lalita giggled silently and fell quiet. Chandravali looked bemused, "But why do you need that? Aren't you afraid of going to hell?" "I was at first, but I think I'm over it now." Radha looked down coyly. Lifting her face Chandravali said, "I can't believe the pious little Radha would fall to this!" Radha felt a current of fear, she clasped both the hands of Chandravali and pleaded with her to keep her secret. Chandravali smirked, "I won't but on one condition. I want to see the man that dragged you down!" Radha opened her mouth to object to this description of her Lord, but stopped short. She could see something else...Radha saw before her eyes, the young girl of about fourteen. She ran across a paddy field followed closely by eight more girls of about the same age.
"All hail our Radha rani!" One said. "All eyes to the unearthly lock of cloudy hair!" Said another. "Has anyone ever seen such a golden complexion?!" "Is there anything redder than the lotus of her palms and soles?!" "Vidhaata, the creator himself must have fallen in awe of his skills whn he created our Radha, which is why she has no companions in beauty!" " Yes, my dear! The vidhaata must have been so shocked at his own prowess that he forgot to limit her good qualities even!"
Amidst the pleasing chatter, the girls had almost reached the river bank. The place was almost empty except for a few cowherds running after their wards. Radha stopped her friends, and whispered to them, "Have you seen these boys before?" Chitra, the most informed of them promptly said, "These are the boys from Vrindavan! Don't you remember, they moved in just a few days back." Lowering her voice further, she continued, "I've heard their leader is very handsome! Won't you give him a whirl?" Vishakha nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, I'm not that kind of a girl. You know me!" Said Radha. "Oh please don't be a spoilsport now!" Complained Lalita. "Please let's go see his at least." Rangadevi batted her eyelids at Radha. Giving in, Radha sent Champaklata, a renowned debater to judge the situation and make it favourable.
Radha waited with her friends at a distance as Champaklata jogged off towards the boys. In spite of herself, Radha kept looking over the bushes at the group. "I don't see anyone as special as that!" Suddenly, Radha shook her head, "Oh no, what are we doing here?! Aren't we well-bred unmarried girls?! Is it at all like us to stare at random boys in this way? Come on, let's leave!" Just then, like the full moon from behind a cloud, came he.
Pitch dark and sweating head-to-toe, the boy seemed to be laughing loudly at something. A lone peacock feather fluttered on his turban which also seemed to be half-made. He raised his hand in their direction. He seemed to be pointing at them. Champaklata beat down his hand but was laughing. Realizing he'd seen them, the girls all ran back. All of them, but Radha. She still stood at her place staring at the boy. Lalita who had run back for her, stared at her amazement. "Told you!" She whispered into Radha's ear. Seeming to break out of a trance Radha gulped, "What do you mean?! He's not different? Just as same. Just like the others. Lets go now. I've had enough for today!"
The next morning, at their bathing ghat, the girls cornered Radha. They had all heard of her trance the previous day. Everyone teased her about being fickle and some lectured on waiting before falling in love even though she vehemently denied anything of the sort. Only Chitra gave her an understanding nod.
Later that day, as they returned from the temple, Chitra pulled her aside and said, "Radhe, I'm well-versed in the science of the future. Trust me, he will come to you!" Shrugging it off, Radha said, "I too think he will- the way he stared at me! But you'd think a good man would have some shame! Staring at an well-bred woman!" Ignoring the rest, Chitra trudged on, "Oh but you'll have to put in some effort too!" "No way! What will my parents say if they knew I'm even listening to such an advice?! Oh Chitra, you just keep me away from that boy, you understand! I want to keep up my honour forever, and being around him just messes me up beyond my control!" Chitra nodded and smiled, but in her mind she had a different plan.
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