CHANCES
Dharani woke up, a smile on her lips, a blush on her fair face, making her look endearing. Her happiness knew no bounds. That dream had made her so happy. Her Lord had made her wish come true.
"Dharani!"
Her mother's irritated voice splashed cold water on her fantasy and woke her up completely. Reluctantly stopping the goofy grin spreading on her face, she composed herself, adopting a poker face, though her heart was filled with much joy.
"Amma?", asked Dharani.
"Get up, you idiot. Don't be so lazy. As if failing isn't enough", said Radhika, walking away.
Dharani sighed. Looks like her dreams were crushed. Her mother was back to her cribbing self. Oh well! Happy morning indeed!
"I don't know what I did to have you. You are a curse. You are a curse that God has given me", said Radhika.
Dharani went numb. All this because of marks? Marks matter that much that one's own daughter becomes a curse?
Swami, why was I born here, of all places?', asked Dharani, praying for an answer.
To teach the world unconditional love, faith and compassion, as well as patience and tolerance', came the melodious reply in her head.
Am I a curse?', asked Dharani, heartbroken.
Never love. You are the gift I gave your parents, yet your mother calls you a curse. Hmm'
His voice was eerily calm. Dharani could feel His anger.
Shantakaram, calm down', she instantly said.
Love, Karma will come back in circles. What she says to you will hurt her in the future. That Karma is attached for everybody, be it you or me', said Lord Krishna. The time for the world to understand that even Narayana can have feelings has come'
Suddenly, it started raining heavily outside. Lightning struck, thunder rumbled. Her Lord was angry. Very angry.
Pran Nath. The world cannot take your anger. Please calm down', prayed Dharani. Pa, Pa, you are Mahadev. Please calm Swami down'
Child'
Her Ma's voice she heard.
Your Pa is angry as well, as am I. I am controlling myself for them', said Ma Parvati. You have to calm Him down'
I will Ma'
Dharani closed her eyes, chanting Narayana's names, praying to Him to calm down.
In Ksheer Sagar...
MahaVishnu sat on Seshanaag, furious. The atrocities on the Earth were angering Him. He knew that this was meant to happen, that this was the Kaliyuga. He also couldn't believe that Radhika had called His Dharani a curse. Dharani was anything but a curse. Dharani was the Earth. She was Sita, Bhama, Andal, Alamelu, Radhey. How can Radhika say that? But then again, Radhika seemed to ignore the signs that He had kept right in front of her. She preaches devotion to Hanuman, but she herself has no clue who her daughter is.
Swami!'
Dharani's voice calmed Him down a little.
Swami, shaant. Don't get angry. You always tell me that the time for my or your fury has not come yet. Please calm down. When the time comes, both you and I know that you will unleash your fury. Whatever their mistakes, every human on Earth is our child. We can't unleash our anger that easily on them. You always tell me that second chances, third chances, many chances are to be given. Please don't be angry'
Dharani's loving prayer calmed Him down. Only Bhudevi could say something like that.
The thunderstorm that was brewing suddenly stopped. It was still raining heavily, but Dharani knew that the rain would stop quickly. Her Lord had calmed down, for now. She prayed and prayed that the atrocities would stop, but she knew it was pointless. She lived in the Kaliyuga, the age of darkness. This Yuga was meant to see the downs of society, though there will be bright spots here and there. Her heart despaired at the thought of the destruction, but she steeled herself. This was not the time to be soft. This was the time to be hard and realize that mistakes made will get punishment. And yet, every human deserves chances before they get punished for their misdeeds. Didn't her Lord Himself give Shishupal a hundred chances before killing him? Dharani heaved a heavy sigh. She knew the time was nearing. She closed her eyes and prayed to MahaVishnu for the will to accept what is to come.
Mrinalini was exhausted. Too much of work to do all the time. How much of scuba diving type studying should she do? She just wanted a break and have the time to write, considering all the ideas that had popped on her head. That's how she had met Dharani, Pravha and Janani. They all wrote on a writer's forum, and they met due to their love for the same things and for mythology. Dharani was the sister/Bhabhi/mother, Janani was the cool big sister, and Pravha was her. She was Pravha. Her equation with Pravha seemed to be equal to that of Shridevi and Bhudevi. One cannot do without the other. She felt the same about her and Pravha. Like they needed each other to complete the entire circle. Talking about circles, she knew that Dharani was the top of the circle, with Govind. Then came the others. But the wind, she pondered. Who is the wind?
Dharani felt sluggish. Her entire body felt heavy, and she felt like something was going to happen. Her limbs hurt, her arms felt injured. She felt like an entire weight was placed on her. She sat down on a chair, feeling dizzy.
"As Dharani, the Earth's complete pain you will start feeling. But that will happen only when you accept that you are the Earth Herself", said Lord Vishnu to Dharaa.
Dharani's body trembled, her chest heaved. She felt like everything was turning black. She could see spots in front of her face. Getting up, she walked, very shakily, to her bed.
Before collapsing on the bed, she screamed a single word.
"SWAMIII!"
In Ksheer Sagar...
"No! Dharani!"
Lord Vishnu's anguish was obvious, Mahadev and Devi Parvati both held Him on either side, both with tears in their eyes.
Arjun
