Krishnatmika Rukmini

Chapter 11 - Oh Lord

Two days... Long enough for someone who is waiting, to be frustrated to the core. It's been nearly two days since Sunanda has left Vidarbha.

Rukmini sat on the bed after the slumberless night. She looked around, her heart still bearing the pain as she heard the rush going on outside. Why will there not be rush? Afterall it her supposed wedding day. She felt weak even to get up from the bed. A reply is all what she's waiting for, but yet she believed in her Love, her Krishna... He wouldn't betray her. The devotion she have taken care of all these years certainly wouldn't go waste.

"Rajkumari..." Mayurika entered opening the door followed by Sudhavati and Charurekha. They came and sit on the bed uttering no word as they knew the mind of Rukmini very well. Rukmini looked at them, not even a slight smile adorning her beautiful face.

Wedding, which was supposed to be the most beautiful day of her life has turned into an indescribable agony.

"Rajkumari, there is no point in sitting idle here. Your brother won't let you get away from this marriage. Please get up and get ready, for no one knows what's written in our destiny. What if the one you are waiting for finally arrives?" Charurekha said with a tint of hope in her words.

Rukmini pondered on it for a while. Certainly, her Mukunda would come for her. Taking her tired body out of the bed and settling her lotus feet on the floor, she proceeded to freshen up.

The whole palace was being decorated for the arrival of the groom. The palace walls decorated with new silk drapes over which variety of fragrant flowers were hanged in hundreds. The little diyas giving a certain kind of divinity to the atmosphere as it lit all around the palace. Rose petals adorning the floors with its smoothness. It felt like a whole festival was going to happen in Vidarbha though their princess's wedding is not less than a festival itself.

As everyone became busy in their own duties, Rukmini was taken to the snangraha as it was filled with the fragrance of sandal, turmeric and other healthy natural substances. Absent-mindedly, Rukmini went deeper into the water standing motionless as the maids helped her in getting bathed. The specially made oils and pastes applied to her body imparted their benefits on to her with no greed. After the long time spent in the snangraha, she was taken back into the room as she got draped into the beautiful red sari and made to sit infront of the huge mirror.

Her sakhis started adorning her with all the types of jewellery available as she sat there not uttering a word but just staring at her own reflection. She herself could feel the change the recent events have brought in her as she felt it extremely difficult to even smile.

She sat there cladded in the heavy red sari embedded with jewels and gold embroidery. Adorned with shining golden jewellery which covered her chest, her beautiful hands filled with beautiful red and gold bangles, her Lotus feet decorated with the golden anklet which makes jingling sound on the slightest move, earrings which almost touch her shoulders, maang tikka hanging on her forehead which has a big red bindi, but none which could compete with the natural radiant glow her face possessed. Afterall, she was the Vaikunthavasini Vishnupriya Devi Shree lakshmi herself, who was the epitome of all the fortunes.

"It is said that a girl looks the most beautiful and prettiest on her wedding day, but you my princess looks out of the world" Sudhavati said while putting the long red dupatta over Rukmini's head covering her long silky hair which was held up with the help of jewels and fragrant flowers. Rukmini smiled slightly on Sudhavati's remark.

Standing up and gazing at her reflection one last time, she left the room taking one last look as she knew that she would never return to this place ever in her life, this very place where millions of memories of her resides, some with her parents, some with her brothers, and some alone. Some joyous, some grief, while others melancholy.

Letting out a long sighs as she feels completely numb due to the increasing grief, she walked with her sakhis and entered her father's chamber where he was getting ready to meet the guests.

Seeing his daughter dressed as the bride, his heart wept as he knew that after today, everything would be different. His mind wandered to the day of his little girl's birth as he chuckled. Rukmini looked at her father, her face screaming helplessness.

Walking forward, Bhishmaka unable to keep in the guilt, said "Putrii... I hope you will forgive this old father of yours. I couldn't fulfill your wish..." His voice broke in the middle.

Rukmini, felt a complete shock on seeing her father so vulnerable, her father who has always supported her in every decision, who was the pillar of her life and due to whom she has been formed into a strong and independent personality.

"No... Pitashree.. I..." Rukmini moved forward and fell on Bhishmaka's legs as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew how hard it's for her father to go against her wishes and she knew that he is being torn apart internally in between all this adverse situation.

Making Rukmini stand up, he shakes his head in no. Rukmini, like a little child hugged her father tightly.

"Pitashree, do not ever frame yourself for my grief, ever. You have given me the best life I could ever had. And please... do not worry about me. I am strong enough to handle myself and the situation." Rukmini pacified her father in between her sobs.

Bhishmaka nods as he blinks his tears away, hugging back his daughter. Rukmini felt safe as she knew, for a child, it's parents' arms are the most protective shield ever.

Breaking the hug, Bhishmaka walked towards the cupboard as he took a safeguarded box. Coming back and handing the box to Rukmini he hurried out after saying just one phrase "From your mother."

Rukmini looked at the leaving form of her father as she slowly opened the box to reveal a simple beautiful chain, silver in color, glowing in the touch of the sunrays.

She remembered how it was her mother's most favourite piece of jewelry, the most simplest yet glowing and beautiful, just like her inner persona. Taking the chain in her hand, she placed it close to her heart as the moments she spent with her mother flashed before her eyes.

Mayurika entered as she saw Rukmini again on the verge of tears. Unable to see more of it she interrupted, her voice monotonous "Its time to go to the temple."

Rukmini nodded and went out of the large chamber along with Mayurika. Taking the large pooja thali, she proceeded for the temple,escorted by number of maids and guards. The presence of these many people tensed her.

Walking, into the temple, she instructed everyone to just stay outside as she felt the need to be alone. She sighed as she reached near the decorated idol and plopped on to the floor.

She joined her palms, her eyes closed, did Naamasmaran and like how the tradition demands, did the pooja of the Goddess Girija.

At the same time, the citizens of Vidarbha looked at this charming personality who have entered into their land, standing on his chariot. peacock feather on his mukut swaying with the rhythm of the wind and the flute tucked into the yellow robes proudly.

★★★

I am extremely sorry for being absent for these many days... I'm trying my best to concentrate on the classes n obviously the amount of things to do have doubled n on top of tht, 2 weeks of offline class after all these months of relaxation have totally drained my energy...

Hope you'll like this chapter and don't forget to vote...
Lots of love to all of you...❤️❤️❤️❤️