The Triumph of a Queen

Chapter 11

The next day started early..

The campus was bustling from early morning.. their senior most batch is leaving after completing their training..  they would be entering  a new phase of life soon.. when the seniors are bidding adeu , a new batch would be joining..

Banu was busy in helping arrange the entrance when Avanthi came..

"Did you see Rukmani di or Sathya di.." she enquired looking around

Banu shrugged her shoulders for that..

"They are missing .., Guruma had asked them to get ready as message had arrived from Vidharbha , informing that they would be here early morning to take di.."

"You searched them everywhere..??"

"Yes.." Suddenly Avanthi remembered something

"I know where they are.." From her smile itself Banu also got the clue..

Both of them rushed to the place where they were sure to find them..

Their footsteps halted at the gate of a temple adjacent to their campus premise.. there was a wall and a gate between the two..

The gate was open and two pairs of footwears were outside that.. Leaving their footwears  outside the gate, Banu and Avanthi entered..

At the centre of the compound was a raised marble platform, on which stood the statue of a lady clad in a saree, she was void of any kind of jwellery , she was adorned with a flower garland around her neck, a pair of earrings and a pair of armlets and bangles on each of her hands..., made of dark red flowers..  her long heavy hair was open.. Both her hair and saree were sculpted in a  way that it seemed as if they have been let free and can't be controlled anymore.. Her body was made of pure white marble while her saree had a reddish tint.. There were numerous rocks of different sizes , at her feet.. One of her foot was raised a bit to avoid a rock while the other was fixed on the ground.. like it wasn't an easy task for her to stand in between all these rocks and the pointed edges of these stones are hurting her.. if looked closely , you could find that her foot was a slight red as if they are wounded.. one of her hands held a red flower near her bosom ... Her face was the most mysterious.., it was beautiful and round like the full moon with a strange calmness.. neither her face nor her eyes which were like the petals of a lotus , held any kind of emotion.., it was just expressionless.. her gaze was on an another statue.., On an another raised marble platform , was a majestic throne surrounded by many snakes , at the head of the throne was the heads of four elephants facing the four different directions.. On the throne sat a lady in her all glory.. her body was adorned by different jwelleries and on her head was a heavy crown.., her right leg was tucked under the other.., she had four hands.. Her three hands were occupied with a bowl, a water vessel and a pomegranate respectively.., her free hand was forwarded to the other lady.. as if calling her.. even though she herself had a powerful aura, her face had a soothing aura... it had the calmness of a mother who would provide strength and support to her child by her mere presence.. 

The white walls surrounding the area had the cravings of many humans, spirits ,birds and ape-men .., above the humans , on the clouds, were Gods showering flowers...

This serene and sacred place was the Sita Samahit Sthal, where Devi Sita entered the earth with her mother, Devi Bhoomi..

For Rukmani and Sathya, it's a place which was close to their hearts ..they had an  emotional attachment to it.... 

Like they guessed, they found both the princesses sitting quietly on the stone platform circling the big old banyan tree on one corner ..

"Rukmani, I just want to say one thing.., it's your self respect which is the most important.. don't sacrifice it for anything. Your life depends upon the choices you make and don't let anyone take you for granted and always keep the reins of your life in your hands itself.. " 

Sathya paused and looked at the sky and then to the three people who had been listening to her intently.. 

"It's not only for Rukmani, but you two should also keep all this in your hearts.. everything is grey ,just the proportion of black and white varies.."

The three could only nod to all this..

"And Rukmani , eat your food properly , take good rest and don't take unnecessary stress, look after yourself .. don't neglet your health" Sathya said sternly..

"Ok , Mata Sathyabhama.." Rukmani couldn't hold her laugh anymore..

"Come let's go.." 

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Soon it was informed that troops from Vidarbha , Kashi and Dwaraka are there to take their respective princesses... 

This made all the six pairs of eyes fill.. they have stayed together for years now and had created a bond from heart .. but now they have to go in different directions and weren't even sure when they could meet again..

"Don't get into any trouble.. we wouldn't be there to save you.." Supriya advised ..

"Write letters often.." Badhra requested Sathya.. The girls in the kanyakul could only receive letters sent by their respective families.. As Sathya is a close acquaintance of the Dwaraka royal family, she could sent letters through them to Badhra..

"We would not be able to attend your weddings.., but all our prayers and wishes will be with you always." Banu wished.. It was another rule that , the girls staying in the kanyakul could only attend the functions in their family.. So Banu and Avanthi can attend only Supriya's wedding while Bhadrae can attend only Sathya's and Rukmani's wedding..

"Sathya, please give this to him.." Rukmani forwarded a golden pouch to Sathya.. they already knew what it was.. in it was a scroll for Sree Krishna,  it had her feelings and request to take her with him..
This wasn't the first time she is sending letters to him. Initially she was disappointed when she didn't receive any reply but then Badhrae informed her of Vasudev's condition when he receives her letters, he would be smiling just looking at the scrolls and can't even sleep properly that day. She also told that the letters are stored in a special box which is placed in his puja room.

 Badra also gave Sathya a golden coloured bag which was embroidered with beautiful and colourful designs..

"It's what you asked for.." 

All of them hugged each other before the three left with their troops .. 

Sathya's uncle, Prasena had came to take her, from Vidharaba , one of Rukmani's brother, Rukmabahu and from Kashi , Supriya's brother Sathyasen had arrived.. 

They waited there till the chariots had crossed their line of sight before going inside.

So that was the nineteenth chapter..
The senior girls have left..
What do you think will happen next..??
The Sita Samadhi stal is located in between Varanasi and Prayagaraj in Uttar Pradesh..
I haven't visited the place but have seen it in articles and photos.. I have made some changes for convenience.
Stay tuned to know more...
I wrote this chapter on Women's day (coincidence) but couldn't publish it then.. I think the day had influenced me to write the small speech by Sathya.

Please vote if you liked and don't hesitate to comment your views.. both negative and positive comments would be accepted (gladly..)

P.S- This book is influenced by the Indian epic Mahabarath.., but not entirely based on it ..

Stay safe and healthy :)..