For The Earth Prologue 2- Chapter 1- 27/1/17 - Page 21

REFLECTION

Dharani slowly got up, and stared at her reflection on the mirror. She lightly touched the cuts on her face and arms. Some cuts were superficial, most were very deep, she noted. Feeling her legs hurt, she looked at her legs, and saw that there were scratches and cuts everywhere, again. Why these cuts? What do they mean? Was it due to her being the Earth? Does being the Earth have anything to do with this? Her instinct told her this was about that. That her being the Earth is the reason why all these cuts and wounds.

"The hurt of the Earth, both physical and emotional, all translate into physical signs"

Hearing her Lord's voice, she turned, to meet His sad eyes.

"You have come into who you are, love. You had to realize the complete pain", said Lord Krishna. "It is not just you. Any hurt that any human takes on this Bhu Loka, it always hits me as a physical blow"

"You too, Swami?", asked Dharani, tears forming her eyes.

"Why are you crying?", asked He, wiping her tears.

"My pain doesn't matter. But you being in pain matters to me", said Dharani, tears welling in her eyes.

"Don't cry, my Mrignayani", said Shri Krishna, wiping her tears. "Your tears hurt me"

"And yours hurt me", said Dharani, even as she stopped herself from crying.

"It is a cycle, for the Earth and Sky alone know the true extent of it", said Krishna, a little sadly.

Dharani nodded.

"The wounds can be seen only by you, my love. None else can. Maya will be used to cover them up", said Shri Krishna.

"Humans never break from the illusion of Maya, my Lord. That is why they think reality in actuality is real", said Dharani.

"Exactly, love. Which is why you will be cloaked by Mayaa's Maya, and thus no one can see the wounds", said the Lord.

"Ji Swami", said Dharani, smiling at Him.

The two of them stood like that, staring at each other, forgetting the existence of everything else.

Dharani rushed into the house, more popularly called the place by her and Pragati. Her dancing time had gotten delayed, resulting in her being late for her bus to college. She had to split into auto and bus.

She rushed all around the house, collecting all the things she needed, grateful for the fact that she had showered in the morning itself.

"Dharani! Do you always have to be late for everything?", asked Radhika.

"Radha aunty wanted me to do something more Amma", said Dharani, eating the papaya laid for her for breakfast.

"You should have told her", said Radhika.

"She knows Amma. I can't simply speak against my teacher like that", said Dharani.

"You can only do that to your mother", said Radhika, angrily turning back to her food.

What happened now?', thought Dharani. Who did wh.. oh!'

Her mother was glaring daggers at the cook, who seemed to have come later than usual. And of course Dharani was the guinea pig who would get screamed at for anything bad that comes her mother's way. She sighed. Typical morning at the place!

Dharani loved walking. Walking soothed her, and calmed her in a way that nothing else would have. Nothing disturbed her when she was walking among Nature. Nature was her protector, along with the Lord. Nature loved her. Now it all made sense.

Dharani laughed with her friends as they walked in the zoo, holding hands as instructed by their teacher. At five years old, Dharani was already an enthusiastic girl, bubbling with the energy so essential to learn. Her friendliness and outgoing attitude was extended not just to humans, but also to animals and wildlife. Her smile and eyes were so genuine, that even the bitterest person in the world will melt seeing her loving face.

On that particular day, an emu had been let loose in the zoo. There was all sorts of craziness, what with the zookeepers running here and there, trying to find the emu and control the running kiwi.

Dharani, who usually was obedient, decided to not be obedient, and slowly, slyly stalked towards where she knew the emu was. She could understand the poor bird's feelings. After being kept in an enclosure, a restricted area, any animal would be yearning for their freedom. Animals are extremely intelligent, and can be emotional as well.

She went to the place where the emu was running in the wild, ignoring all the warnings she was hearing. The emu, angry someone was in it's area, turned to angrily glare at Dharani. Seeing her lovely face, the emu stared at her, blinking. The calm emu was now led to the enclosure by the zookeepers, though Dharani accompanied them, almost saying sorry to the bird for its restrictions.

She had gotten yelled at like crazy for that, but it didn't matter to her, for at least the emu knew that there was someone who cared. Her parents had been furious when they found out, but they couldn't do anything, for she didn't have a scratch on her, or any mental trauma.

She didn't like zoos for the very reason that animals are being kept in an enclosure, against the rules of Prakriti. Nothing should go against the rules of Prakriti. Prakriti must exist, along with Sanskriti for the world to co-exist peacefully. But that simply wasn't happening. Due to it being Kali Yuga, man was trying to repress Prakriti, not knowing that Prakriti can never be repressed, and that She is simply letting them use Her for she loves them as a mother loves her child.

Her cell phone interrupted her. When she saw it was her mother, she sighed. Goodbye solitude!

Mrinalini sighed. She didn't know what to think, she didn't know what to feel. She didn't know anything anymore. Well, all she knew was Govind. Govind was her comfort, her solace, the one person who she knew wouldn't let her down or judge her. Govind always supported her, and brought her back when she was low. He was her sakha, her brother. The one person who loved her for all that she was, who didn't keep seeing faults in her. And now, Govind had given her someone to talk to.

Dharani. Mrinalini called her Bhabhs, Bhabhi as and when she wished. Dharani was an amazing person, who gave her the answers when Govind didn't. Or maybe Govind wanted her to turn to Dharani, and hence didn't tell her. Dharani gave her a sort of calmness with her words and her affection. Mrinalini always thought that she and Dharani would be close, but to be this close? She hadn't imagined.

She sighed at looked at the Govind murti. He almost seemed to be grinning!

Govind, you natkhat, what are you planning?', asked Mili silently, affection shining in her eyes for Him.