SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 2 - TANGLES OF HATRED

Distance meeting

Sinhakumar came to Laxmikant’s palace with his friends. Mahasamant Laxmikant along his entire family welcomed Sinhakumar with great enthusiasm.
Golden threads were tied on the prince’s white dhoti. When a gust of wind would touch his silk clothes, the golden strings would seem to dance merrily. Flowers were stitched out of silver threads on rose-pink coloured kurta. The colour of his outfit was suiting his complexion. Gem-studded armbands were looking great on his strong upper arms. His rings also shining brightly on his fingers. He had worn a broad golden waistband as well. A small sword was hanging on that waistband. His shoes were stitched by famous designers of Jaipur. Pearls were studded on it.
Big forehead, advanced neck, sharp nose, oval face, rosy lips and perfectly shaped ears.
Sinhakumar was looking handsome. Even the most beautiful angel would get attracted to him for once. Sinhakumar’s personality was so attractive and everyone would get drawn towards him.
When Laxmikant welcomed the prince, he also joined his hands and greeted Laxmikant. Queen Muktavali saw the prince very closely today.
She was very satisfied. In her mind, she compared Laxmikant and Sinhakumar and considered her daughter Kusumavali to be luckier than her.
Sinhakumar and his friends had their meal. Even while having food, his eyes were searching for Kusumavali. But how would he find her? Her friends were dressing her up in her room. They wrapped her with beautiful clothes. They also made her wear precious ornaments that highlighted her beauty. Mehndi was applied on her legs and a tilak on her forehead. All her nails were painted red.
After she was ready, all her friends wished her good luck. Kusumavali went to the garden with her dear friend, Madanrekha. Stepping slowly, she entered the garden.
Mahasamant Laxmikant had decorated the garden gloriously. There were several grape vines. Groups of peacocks were dancing. Cuckoos were singing on the row of Ashoka trees. Bees were hovering on the mango trees. Black and red stones were placed on the edge of a freshwater pond. Eight dancing statues were placed on all the four edges. White swans were swimming in the lake. Rows of Areca palms surrounded with betel vines and pavilions of helicopter flower creepers enhanced the beauty of the garden. Banana trees swaying in the mild breeze and Champa, mogra, chameli, juhi, rose and other plants around them made the atmosphere fragrant. Different sized fountains and deer running around them looked mesmerizing. Even the rabbits playing hide-and-seek looked sweet and innocent.
This was Kusumavali’s favourite garden. Everyday she would come here with her friends to play and enjoy. This was the spot of her leisure!
But today, she was here with a different purpose. Her legs were shivering. Her eyelashes had become heavy with the weight of shyness. Today, she was going to meet the love of her life. She had to please him. But she was extremely nervous since she had never spoken to a young man before.
Madanrekha could feel her nervousness.
She said to Kusumavali, "My dear friend, mistress, getting to stay with loved ones is a result of good fortune. I’ll give you some tips to keep this bonding intact :
• Address your dear one with a smile
• Talk to him in such a way that pleases him
• Gift him a bouquet of flowers
• Ask him about his health
• Look at him affectionately
Kusumavali was listening to her silently.
Madanrekha continued, “Today, you do one thing – pick a flower from the plant that you have grown by yourself and give it to him. Then tell him, 'This is my favourite flower. I am gifting my most liked flower to my most desired partner.’ Okay?”
Kusumavali kept her hand on Madanrekha’s mouth and said, "Shut up, you’re shameless! Is this the way to speak? Don’t teach me wrong things!”
"Where am I teaching you wrong things? You have to learn all this now! You have already learnt how to love but now you also have to learn how to keep that love forever.
Then give him paan, I have arranged for everything.”
"As you oder, my friend!" Kusumavali laughed out.
"Not just this, Sinhakumar also admires art. And you are a great artist. I think you should gift him a nice painting.”
"What kind of painting?" Kusumavali asked.
"A male swan restless in separation and a female swan eager to meet him, isn’t it a wonderful imagination?”
"The picture of your imagination is hanging in my art room. I made it just two days ago. Go and get it."
Madanrekha ran speedily and returned with the painting in a blink of an eye.
"Now, one last advice - write a poetry that will make the prince happy."
"Oh! This work is yours. Won’t you do this much for me being such a great writer, my dear friend?"
"Okay, I’ll write it for you."
"Write the poem on this painting. I mean,  frame the poetry according to this painting.”
Madanrekha prepared the poetry and wrote it on the painting.
***
The prince came to the garden and entered the pavilion. The place was beautiful, fragrant, cool and enchanting. Sinhakumar loved the garden, he sat there.
Madanrekha saw the prince entering the pavilion. She signaled Kusumavali.
Madanrekha entered the pavilion with the painting, flowers and paan. The prince knew that she was Kusumavali’s friend.
The prince stood up and greeted her with a smile.
Madanrekha also greeted the prince and said sweetly, "Prince, the princess has sent me to inquire about your well being. Inspired by the deep affection that she feels towards you, she has sent these flowers for you from the plant that she grew by herself. She has also sent this paan for you as well as some fruits which are kept for special guests only. Moreover, she has asked me to give you this painting which is painted by her. “May the royal swan get to meet you,’ this feeling is depicted in the painting.
The prince gladly accepted all the presents. He held the flowers and put the paan in his mouth. Keeping the fruits beside him, he took the painting in his hand and started looking at it. Shivers spread down his spine.
He said, "The princess is skilled in paintings. The feelings can be clearly understood just by looking at this painting. And the poetry further decodes the secrets."
"Prince, I have written this poem, not Kusumavali,” Madanrekha cleared.
"You have done a great job by composing the poem according to the picture. Now give me a betel leaf and scissors."
Madanrekha ran to the palace and brought the scissors and leaf. The prince swung the scissors on the leaf in such a way that the figure of a couple of swans emerged on it. He also wrote two lines in poetic language :
‘Assuming that partner will not be attained after death, this royal swan is living somehow with the support of favourable conditions.’
He said to Madanrekha, "Take this letter and give it to Kusumavali. And tell her that I am fond of paintings. Her painting has touched my heart. So, I will be happy if I keep getting more paintings from her."
"I will surely give this message to Kusumavali and also hand over this leaf-letter to her.”
The prince removed a precious necklace from his neck and gave it to Madanrekha.
“Prince, wait for a few moments outside the pavilion. My friend will be able to see you from distance too.”
Madanrekha quickly went to Kusumavali and gave the prince’s message to her.
Then she said, "Go outside the pavilion, I have asked the prince to stand there, go and meet him.”
"Kusumavali went outside the pavilion and saw the prince. The prince also saw her. Their eyes met and then the prince left from the garden."
***
This is the story of Mahavideh Kshetra.
This is an elegant example of the culture that before marriage, the girl and boy didn’t meet privately. The presence of a third person was necessary so that even though attraction increased, a line of dignity was maintained.
Kusumavali had goosebumps. Holding Madanrekha’s hand, she walked slowly and went to her palace.
Madanrekha removed the ornaments from Kusumavali’s body. Kusumavali sat on the bed. She made Madanrekha sit beside her. A high tide of joy was rising within her. She was unable to speak.
Madanrekha said, "My dear mistress, listen to one thing with open ears. Today, I gave everything to your beloved one on your behalf and also brought what he gave for you. But tomorrow, I will not go to him, you will only have to go. I will stand silently.
Kusumavali said, "See, you went today so you got this precious necklace, didn’t you? Wasn’t it your profit?”
"Oh wow! Okay then, you only go from tomorrow. Not just necklace, you’ll get much more than that, for which you’ve been so desperate."
"Keep quite!”
“Then I don’t want this necklace or ring. All I want is the two of you meet mutually.”
“But I can’t gather the courage. My legs don’t move ahead!”
"You will have to! Otherwise, I’ll have to push you to go there."
"Madanrekha, even if I gather the courage and go, I won’t be able to speak according to your instructions. My mouth will remain shut!"
“Nothing will happen if you fear like this."
"It’s not about being scared, I feel shy."
"That will reduce gradually on its own. Maintaining etiquettes will please the prince as well.”
“Okay, I accept your point! Now you stop giving lecture and tell me what kind of painting should I draw to give him tomorrow? I will make the painting today itself, but what kind of picture will he like?”
“Look, I’ll give you an idea for your new masterpiece!
Show the beautiful shore of the ocean and a pair of ducks there. On the surface of the water, the female duck is crying awfully and the male duck is flying away in the sky. Fill the sky with shades of evening colours.”
“What an idea! You have amazing imagination. You’re a writer after all!”
“Enough, you don’t praise a lot. My time is up now, I will have to leave. I have to attend the queen. My mother will also be waiting.”
Madanrekha left the room and Priyanka entered.
“Mistress, it's time for meal. Mother is looking out for you."
“Let’s go, I’ll come with you.”
***
After completing the meal, Kusumawali went to her art room. She started drawing. Flowers of enthusiasm were blooming in her body. Her beloved one had liked the painting made by her. Her picture was also praised by him.
She completed the painting in almost three hours. She said in her mind, ‘Perhaps, I have made such a beautiful painting for the first time.’ Endless skies, dark twilight, sun setting on the distant horizon, the calmness of Mansarovar, clear water, a duck swimming in it, looking emotionally at its partner flying away, tears rolling down from its eyes. ‘How is this duck! It can’t bear separation for one night. It will be better if my beloved one does not make me cry too much during the nights of separation!”
She hung the picture on the wall.
In the evening, Madanrekha, Priyakara and other friends landed in Kusumavali’s palace. Everyone saw the painting of the ducks. Everyone’s eyes widened.
"What a beautiful picture the princess has made!"
Priyanka said, "Oh ruthless duck, come down from the sky or else your partner will die crying.”
Madanrekha spoke in an emotional tone, “It will not come now, it will appear tomorrow morning only. The partner will have to continue shedding tears till that time.”
Kusumavali said with false anger, “Do you guys have any other work or not? Put my picture where it was. Stop this nonsense of yours.”
“Oh look! Our duck doesn’t cry, but gets angry!” Priyankara teased.
Kusumavali hid her head in the pillow.
All the friends burst out laughing.
Madanrekha sat on the bed and started caressing Kusumavali’s head.
“Kusum, Queen Muktavali has told the King that their daughter has approved of the prince. So, finalize the marriage.”
Kusumavali looked at Madanrekha.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Absolutely. Nothing but the truth. Minister Subuddhi might probably be in King Purushdutt’s palace right now to fix your marriage.