Sriya Pranaya Kavya

Eight: It Feels Good Go Out

When Sriya finally found herself being able to walk, she was restless to be out. She hadn't felt the fresh air for quite some time. Especially since she had to be hiding according to Keshava which she totally seemed to disagree with. 

She after all paid for the ruling politicians' political rallies so that they come in handy when she needs them. It is a completely useless endeavor if she has to hide away like this. But apparently, Keshava disagreed. 

In any case, she didn't want to argue much lest he changes his mind about letting her out of the bungalow for a bit. He was shopping for a few things. 

She heard someone reading Bhagawat and was naturally drawn to it. When the words because comprehensible, she knew what they were reciting. Rukmini Kalyana. Her mother had taken to many such Rukmini Kalyana Mahotsavas back in Visakhapatnam, at her mother's birthplace. After going to so many, she almost remembered it by heart. They believed that the recital of that part gives them Krishna's protection and hence parents send young girls to participate in them. 

She was naturally drawn to it. "I wasn't aware that they perform Rukmini Kalyana here..." She pointed out to Keshava. He gave her a look. A look that had Sriya quite confused. 

He seemed halfway exasperated that she asked such a stupid question and halfway offended that she even had to ask such a question. 

"No. I'm asking because I usually only heard of such in the southern part of the country. The northern part of the country usually recites all of Bhagawat for nine days or such, I think." 

The answer did not come in words. He almost rolled his eyes at her and sighed, "They do here. I don't dictate customs." 

"I didn't ask if you dictated the customs. It was just a random inquiry. Why are you so touchy about it? Am I missing out on something here?" 

"No. Nevermind..." He shook his head and kept walking. 

What was wrong with him? She wondered. He wasn't usually so damn touchy. He takes things easy. She's never seen him worked up about anything even when she is almost losing her temper with a stupid businessman who assumes himself to be superior to her just because he had a special organ downwards. 

When Sriya didn't follow him, he looked back, "What? We should be going back to the mansion." 

"No. I want to go there." She demanded. 

"Come on, you already know Rukmini Kalyana by heart why do you want to sit there? Also, you're still healing." 

"My Kanna is there..." 

"Well, your Kanna is also here but this you don't seem to recognize..." Keshava whispered to himself. "Your Kanna is everywhere." 

"If you want to go then go. I am going there." Sriya turned and began towards the temple. There was a board by the temple. 

Krishna Rukmini Temple Chori Ne Phera

As if the light bulb went off in her brain. That's why the place sounded so familiar to her. How could she have been so silly? Krishna and Rukmini were married there. How come she did not remember it even after the 14 recitals of Rukmini Kalyana she had gone to?

Sriya turned around and saw Keshava. "You could have told me this piece of information before." She almost screamed bloody cheating at him. 

"Remind you what?" 

She pointed to the board before her. "This." 

"What? I'm supposed to tell you that? I mean how does reminding you of this seem as important while you were recovering?" The way she walked towards him, he instantly started running away from her, "In my defense, I had other things to worry about. If you think Kanna was yours I shouldn't have been needing to remind you. You would have known."