Sriya Pranaya Kavya

Ten: The Beach Attack

The patterned jharokha overlooked the verandah outside. The stone chhatri could be seen from the balcony.

Sriya saw the dark feet and lighter shade of underfoot, from the jharokha, that peaked from the chhatri.

The moon flashed its light generously to let her note the beauty of those dark feet. A black thread was tied around the right foot. Perfect pedicure.

Keshava's light resting calm was broken by goosebumps rising over his skin. Almost like those of thorns. It was so familiar to him that it brought a smile over his lips. He stood up suddenly and walked over to the edge and looked up at the jharokha.

His eyes met a familiar figure. He noticed the jasmine flowers decorating the long braid while she turned and ran off. Keshava leaned against the pillar of the chhatri knowing that she would come back. His beloved just couldn't be satisfied with how long she looked at him. Several yugas may pass but she would still think it was too short.

The grin that graced his lips turned her cheeks red. He already knew that she was staring at him. It was useless to pretend otherwise. He makes it impossible to deny what he wants her to accept.

She looked at him. Keshava signaled her to silently come down. When she reached the end of the stairs. She saw Mallikarjuna sleeping on the diwan. She stopped for a moment and walked as silently as she could.

When she exited the door Mallikarjuna grinned, his eyes closed.

She reached the chhatri and Keshava was still leaning against the pillar. When she reached closer, he extended his hand to help her climb up. She held his hand.

Rukmini's eyes couldn't look away from his. Even as she held his hand. As if her feet forgot how to walk, she stood frozen. 

The bridal mundavlya was tied around her forehead. Her bright green nauvari, her gold nath, her thick thushi, her ambada, kaan, Vaaki, and bugadi over her head.

Everyone who saw her said that she reminded them of all Tulja Bhavani. Krishna's heart jumped with happiness. Krishna had known people surrendering to him but his heart jumped out of him to clutch over to his divine Goddess. Especially with how she looked at him. Krishna could forever call himself Sripathi just by the way she looked at him. 

"Rukmini..." He tried to get her to hurry. "We have all our lives to stare at each other, priya."

Rukmini was frozen at the sight of Yadavkulaabhushana. His turban had jewelry and peacock feathers. His kurta had gemstone embellishments and his yellow dhoti. Rukmini saw nothing else once her eyes saw Dwarkadeesh. She remembered nothing when she saw him. Her time stopped right there. 

Krishna sighed seeing her in a frozen state. He jumped down the chariot, put an arm around her waist, and pushed her into the chariot. The moment his foot touched the chariot, it sped off. She just watched him in amazement. Surely he was named Krishna aptly. Attractive. 

Sriya got up the chhatri. Keshava smiled, "Not sleepy?"

She sat down on the chairs there. She noted Keshava blending in with the people here. A small town in Gujrat had become home to him. His white dhoti with a red decorative border and the red shirt. The traditional jacked decorated with mirrors and colorful threads rested over the chair he was sitting on.

Noting her line of thought he smiled, "Ajit was nice enough to help me blend in with the crowd." He answered.

She nodded. The beach was nice and the breeze was kind, "Can we go to the beach?"

"Sure."

Keshava and Sriya walked towards the beach. As if she was a child again, she eagerly ran towards the sea. As if Samudra himself was eager to greet his little Princess, the waves too eagerly ran towards her. Keshava caught her wrist, "You can't go far into the waters."