SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 2 - TANGLES OF HATRED

Attraction filled with affection

1.  Attraction filled with affection
"Priyankara, today we have to go for a walk in the Krida-Sundar Park. You will accompany me, okay? We will leave in the evening. I am getting ready, even you get ready," Princess Kusumavali informed her maid, Priyankara.
Priyankara said in a soft voice, "Yes, mistress. I will be ready. And I will also call for the chariot."
"Oh dear, Priyankara! How many times have I told you that when both of us are alone, do not call me mistress. Do you have any issue in calling me Kusum?"
"But."
"No but. You have to call me Kusum only!"
"Okay, it was my mistake, mis.... No, no, Kusum. From now onwards, I will call you Kusum.”
"Okay, I am forgiving you this time."
Priyankara left the room. Kusumavali went for a bath. Since morning, her mind was filled with indescribable bliss. Flowers of unknown happiness were blooming in her heart.
In the morning, she spent an hour playing the veena. Then she painted for almost three hours. Colours and paintbrushes were the center of her interests. In the afternoon, she gossiped and discussed on various topics with her friends.
In the evening, she thought of going to a huge garden located outside the city. She wished to go alone but according to the dignity of the royal family, she couldn't. So, she asked her personal maid and friend to accompany her.
After taking a shower, she entered the dressing room. She applied saffron and sandalwood cream on her face, kajal in her eyes and lipstick on her lips. Then she tied her jet black hair. She inserted precious gem-studded rings in her fingers, a priceless anklet on her feet and a sparkling necklace around her neck. She wore a pale pink coloured blouse and a purple scarf over it. Then she adorned her hair with fragrant juhi flowers. Watching herself in the full-sized mirror, she danced with joy. She was proud of her beauty.
Wonderful appearance and desirable looks, as if heavenly angels had descended on earth.
When she came outside, Priyankara stood there staring at her. Stepping ahead slowly, she looked at Kusumavali. A sky of wonder came down in Priyankara’s eyes and her face lit up.
“Oh Kusum! You are looking so attractive today. Seems like you'll need to tie a small knife on your waist to protect yourself; who knows, a mighty prince may kidnap you.”
"Shut up, you talkative! You don’t need to worry about me. Look at this knife. I do worry about myself, understood?” Kusumavali removed the knife which she had kept behind her waist, showed it to Priyankara and then hid it again.
Holding Priyankara’s hand, she came out of the room. The chariot was ready outside the palace.
Both the friends sat inside the chariot.
The driver turned the chariot towards the Krida Sundar Park.
***
It was a pleasant day of spring.
A colony of honeybees were humming around the branches of mango trees in the garden. Swinging on the branches of Ashoka trees, the cuckoos were singing in such a melodious tone that pleased young hearts. The kinshuk flowers gave an illusion of fire in the forest. Nature’s empire was all around!
The chariot stopped at the entrance of the garden.
Kusumavali got down from the chariot with Priyankara.
Both of them entered the garden. The sunflowers of the garden fascinated Kusumavali. Strolling in the garden, the two friends sat in the beautiful pavilion.
Priyankara asked Kusumavali, “Kusum, does Cupid also come here to enjoy with his wife? Truly, there won’t be any other park in the state as beautiful and attractive as this one.”
“You are right, Priya. During midnight, when no one is around, heavenly gods and angels might be descending here to enjoy the beauty of this garden.”
Priyankara’s eyes were wandering all around the park. The shelter of nature, the beauty of flowering plants, the dense grove of trees were all satisfying the mind. Suddenly, her eyes went on a handsome young man. She caught Kusumavali’s attention by pressing her hand. The young man was walking slowly in his own world.
Priyankara whispered in Kusumavali’s ears, “Do you know him? He is Prince Singh, son of King Purushdutt!”
“Oh, is he Prince Singh? Come on Priya, let’s leave from here." Kusumavali was about to stand when Priyankara pulled her back.
“Are you crazy? We can’t leave like this! We should greet the prince. What if he sees us going away like this? What will he think? King Laxmikant's daughter has no etiquettes at all. Let the prince come here.”
Kusumavali kept staring at Prince Singh, without blinking her eyes.
• Face with an ocean of beauty
• Big eyes like the sky
• Lips like petal of rose
• Hair like dense black clouds
• A necklace of precious stones swinging around the neck
• Expensive white clothes
• Yellow-coloured upper clothing
• Energetic body like the rising sun
• Broad chest
• Strong arms
Forgetting dignity, Kusumavali kept gazing at the prince. She had seen such a handsome man for the first time. On seeing him, the prince became an idol in the temple of her mind.
Prince Singh came near the pavilion.
Priyankara said, “Princess, welcome the Prince."
Kusumavali said in a trembling voice, "You only welcome him, Priya. My heart is thumping and eyes are lowering with shyness. It would have been good if you had allowed me to run away from here!”
Priyankara stood up all of a sudden. She greeted the prince and said, "O bachelor Cupid, you’re welcome. King Laxmikant’s daughter, Kusumavali's maid and friend welcomes you. Please have a seat.”
A mischievous smile emerged on the prince’s face.
Replying to Priyankara, he said, "I was a bachelor for so long but atleast not now.” He said while looking affectionately towards Kusumavali.
Kusumavali tried to look at the prince secretly. His bright face had turned red due to blushing.
Priyankara pointed at Kusumavali and said, "She is Kusumavali, the daughter of your maternal uncle King Laxmikant and maternal aunt Queen Muktavali.”
Kusumavali got goosebumps. The fragrance of happiness was all over her body. But she was unable to express her feelings. The dignity of the royal family was restricting her. She looked at Priyankara but she was shamelessly chit-chatting with the prince. She had great interest in gossiping.
A mature man came and stood outside the pavilion. He peeped inside – the princess was looking at Singh shyly. Pleasure emerged on the man’s face. He thought, ‘If destiny is in favour, then Cupid has arrived for his lover.’
That man was actually the chief servant of the queen’s chamber of King Laxmikant’s palace. Queen Muktavali herself had sent him. Entering the pavilion, he greeted the prince.
Then he looked at Kusumavali and said, "The queen was saying that you have been in the garden for so long, you might be tired. Therefore, she has asked you to return to the palace.”
Kusumavali stood up quickly and said, “Yes, I am coming now.” Saying this, she looked at the Prince as if she was asking  for permission to leave. The prince also looked at her with charming eyes. Their eyes met. As their eyes met, flowers of affection bloomed in the plant of their hearts and a series of desire began.
She left the park hurriedly with Priyankara. Sitting in the chariot, they left for the palace.
* * *
This is the story of western Mahavideh Kshetra of Jambudvip. Uncountable years passed. A lot of things flew away with the passage of time. Whatever remained, became a story by being captured in the prison of memories.
There was a city name Jaipur which was very rich and graceful.
The king of Jaipur was Purushdutt and his wife was Queen Shrikanta.
King Purushdutt was a confluence of charm, skill and valor while Queen Shrikanta was an embodiment of beauty, wisdom, purity and humility.
Once upon a time, Queen Shrikanta was asleep comfortably in her bed. She dreamt that a cub entered her mouth and reached her abdomen.
The queen woke up. She chanted the name of God, went to the king’s room and narrated her dream to the king. The king carefully listened to the queen’s dream.
The king thought for a minute and then said, "It seems you will give birth to a son as mighty as a lion. You will become a mother.”
“And you’ll become a father?” The queen shivered with joy and said, “By the grace of god, our wish since years will be fulfilled now.”
Queen Shrikanta got pregnant. Day by day, her external beauty began to blossom and her inner world was being enriched by various desires. Her feelings and wishes were changing. She use to share her all feelings with the king :
• “May I give Abhaydaan (freedom from fear) to all living beings.
• May I donate wealth to the poor and orphans.
• May I give offer food, water, clothes and other such essentials to saints.
• May I arrange celebrations in the temples.”
Many such desires used to arise in the queen’s mind and the king used to fulfill them all with a happy heart. The reason behind such auspicious desires was the child in the womb! That soul was of pure nature. All the phases of ideal souls become the reason for happiness of others. Even while in the womb, that soul pleased the queen’s mind by generating auspicious, beautiful and pure desires.
Nine months, seven and a half days passed. At an auspicious day and time, the queen gave birth to a charming son.
The maid named Shubhankarika immediately went and gave the good news of the son’s birth to the king. Overwhelmed with joy, the king honoured the maid with golden ornaments.
The birth of the prince was announced throughout the city. An ocean of joy began to emerge in the city.
‘Our beloved king and queen are blessed with a prince.’ In this happiness, the citizens came together and decorated the royal roads of the city. Fragrant water was sprinkled all over the paths, various  kinds of flower torans were decorated on the streets.
Every house and shop was adorned like a bride.
Songs were sung in every place. The melodious notes of trumpets and other musical instruments echoed everywhere.
Men and women came on the royal highway and started dancing and singing.
All this went on for an entire month.
Donations were given, celebrations were held, gifts and relatives gathered in the palace.
The prince was named Sinhakumar.
This name was in accordance with the dream seen by the queen during pregnancy. Sinhakumar was the soul of King Gunsen ! After completing his life span in heaven, he incarnated as the son of Queen Shrikanta.
• His was charming
• He had a good figure
• The glow of his face was as pure as silver
• His intellect was sharp and clean
As Prince Singh grew up, he became skilled in scriptures and weapons.
Though he had reached the stage of youth, he didn’t possess stubbornness. Modesty and etiquettes were blended seamlessly in his personality.
He also had a good circle of friends.
He had virtuous relatives as well.
Everything was auspicious and favourable for him.
This was the result of his efforts done towards Dharm in the incarnation of King Gunsen. Whatever he got, all of it was marvellous. He got the best of everything.
***
Queen Shrikanta’s brother was Laxmikant. He was also a prince.
But after the death of their parents, Shrikanta had brought her beloved brother to Jaipur. Laxmikant was virtuous and mighty. In his youth, King Purushdutt and Queen Shrikanta married him to Princess Muktavali. The king honoured Laxmikant with the title of Mahasamant. In the western part of the city, a grand palace was made for Laxmikant and given to him.
Laxmikant was completely loyal to King Purushdutt. Purushdutt used to treat Laxmikant as his close friend. Their bonding was getting stronger day by day.
A son was born in Purushdutt’s palace while a daughter was born in Laxmikant’s palace. She was named Kusumavali.
Kusumavali was taught all the arts of women by the pundits. Many qualities were naturally manifested in her personality.
Inspite of the fact that both the royal families were so close to each other, neither had Sinhakumar seen Kusumavali nor had Kusumavali seen Sinhakumar.
Some specific traditions are fixed in Mahavideh Kshetra, especially in the royal families. Until the prince and princess become young enough, they cannot meet each other. Talking was beyond impossible. Their progress and personality development might be taking place between the walls of their own palaces in the supervision of their respective families. Reading, playing, running, performing arts, swimming, climbing trees and all other such activities might be happening in the vast complex of their palaces.
Otherwise, it’s impossible that Sinhakumar hadn’t seen his maternal uncle’s daughter and Kusumavali hadn’t seen his paternal aunt’s son.
Secondly, in Mahavideh Kshetra, there might have been this tradition of marriage between uncle’s children. Such social arrangements might be prevalent. Or else, Kusumavali and Sinhakumar wouldn’t get attracted towards each other! Their servant and maid wouldn’t see them as a pair then!
It had become a reality that Sinhakumar had made way in Kusumavali's heart. In the very first meet, just with an eye contact, she got attracted to Sinhakumar. Even the situation of Sinhakumar was not very different!