"... and that is why the peacock feather is the symbol of Lord Krishna."
"Wah, Jodha Begum, what a beautiful story. It is so soothing to listen to you." Jalal has placed his head in Jodha's lap. They sat on his bed and she leaned on the headboard. Jodha smiled and lovingly massaged his head. She let his wavy full hair slip through her fingers.
"Relax shahenshah. You've had a hard day."
"Your voice and the sound of the rain is so soothing." They both fell silent in agreement, listening silently to the monsoon rain pouring down on Agra. The cool wet fell on the floor of the terrace, bringing coolness to the hot night. Haze rose from the warm sandstone, turning the light from the torches and braziers into a diffuse flicker. The flames hissed in the rain.
"Jodha begum, I love listening to you. You give me peace in these stormy days. You are the only one who touches my innermost and who loves me for myself. Thank you for being with me."
"Shhh shahenshah!" Jodha lightly put her hand over his mouth. "Stop praising me!" she blushed.
Jalal reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.
"You deserve it." His fingers caressed her hand and held it tightly in his. "The rain is finally bringing some cooling. The land can breathe a sigh of relief."
"You are right. People are suffering a lot from the heat. Do you know what they say in Rajputana about Lord Krishna and the rain?"
"Another story?"
"Ji. Do you want to hear it?"
"Gladly, as I said, I like to listen to you!" he smiled.
"Fine, then listen. On a hill in Varshana stands the Mayur Kutir. It is the place where Radha and Lord Krishna danced as peacocks."
"They danced as peacocks? How so?" asked Jalal curious. Jodha smiled.
"Patience, Shahenshah!" she replied and began to narrate further.
"During the monsoon season, Radha and Lord Krishna were sitting in the Mayur Kutir. They watched as the imposing monsoon clouds gathered. It was an impressive natural spectacle. Grey mountains of clouds in their various shades of grey from light to inky black piled up in the sky and formed ever new formations. The wind drove them apart and together again. Soft thunder rumbled in the distance. Suddenly they were surrounded by hundreds of peacocks who, with their exotic plumage in full splendour, began to dance in ecstatic mood, seeing the united beauty of the divine lovers sitting together. Radha liked the dance of the birds very much and expressed this to Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna had an idea and transformed himself into a peacock. The cloud mountains opened their floodgates and rain began to fall. The thunder came closer and closer. Lord Krishna began to dance like a peacock to please his beloved Radha." Jalal smiled.
"When the lovers of life set out to dance, the earth shakes and the sky trembles." He said thoughtfully.
"Shahenshah, it seems you have become a poet. From a ruthless warrior to a poet." she teased him.
"Stop mocking me! Why can't a warrior be a poet too? Especially when he is with his beautiful wife?" he pouted.
"We was just teasing you. We like it when you show that side of yourselves." Gently, she ruffled his hair. "Now let us continue the story." He laughed softly and she continued.
"His dance was beautiful. Radha watched him enthusiastically and clapped gleefully. After his dance, he transformed back into Lord Krishna. He looked at her and spoke to his beloved.
"Radha, you look as beautiful as the full moon."
Radha felt insulted because she thought herself more beautiful than the full moon and did not want to be compared to it. She thought that even the full moon had a few flaws in it, but she had none. She went away angrily and climbed a hill to Maan Kutir. Lord Krishna was sad when Radha left him. He continued to stay on the hill.
