It has been three weeks since the wedding and the festive mood prevailed still, The flowers never withered and diyas never extinguished. The whole of Dwaraka seems lightened up more than ever by the arrival of swayam Lakshmi into their land
Rukmini dedicated much of her energy for her new royal duties but she made sure she got enough personal time to make a home for her there. She, along with Krishna for her help, replenished the ignored garden under her window by planting all her favourite flowers which comprised of almost all the flowers that ever existed. Otherwise, she basked under the maternal care of her mothers-in-law, sometimes in the kitchen learning the recipes of new and variety dishes and sometimes hearing stories about Krishna's childhood from Mata Rohini. She would listen to the story with utmost curiosity and interest, realising how much deep rooted Vrindavana really is in Krishna's heart. But it always confused Rukmini as to why he never visited the place again. She knew Yashoda Maiyya is still waiting for her son to return someday to her, the milkmaids are still waiting for their beloved, their pots unbroken and intact from years now. The makhan hanging from the roof just hung and got used whenever necessary. But something about the whole matter prevented Rukmini from voicing out her confusion to anyone. She found it best for it to be left alone for the time being.
On this particular day, Rukmini, after being released from her duties, were tending to her flowers in the garden, her gentle strokes seemingly giving a new life and color to the flowers. Tucking her ebony hair behind her ears, she watered the plants with care and love, humming a tune and enjoying the delicate warmth of the sunny day to the core. She moved from one end to the next end of the garden as her eyes caught the fully bloomed pink lotus in the pond nearby. She remembered that it was just flower bud yesterday and now it has blossomed beautifully, in a way symbolising her life subtly. She suspended her work as she stared at the Lotus wistfully, her mind unlocking a long lost memory.
A young Rukmini of seven, purely out of a desire to prove she can handle herself, slipped away from her brothers and ran through the path near the Girija Temple. As the prayers came to an end, Rukmabahu, the youngest of her brothers, noticed her absence from the scene and alerted the others. They frantically searched the whole area around the temple as panick gripped their heart on not finding her. As Rukmarata searched besides the temple, on the path, his gaze turned to something shining on closer. Inching closer, he recognised it to be the earring his sister was wearing that morning and picked it up hastily.
"She has went that way!!" Rukmarata called out as he rushed through the narrow path. The path lead to a dense clearing of the forest, and they walked along calling out for their dear sister. Every snap of the twig made them turn in hope until they heard a loud splash coming from behind the huge rock.
The brothers glanced at each other and ran to the source, behind the rock. There stood Rukmini, drenched in water, trying to come up to the shore desperately. Rukmi rushed forward and pulled her little drenched figure ashore. None of them felt like scolding her seeing her current condition. Breathing wildly, Rukmini tried to regain her composure and looked at her brothers with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to be adventurous." She said looking down at her feet, timidly.
Rukmi chuckled and knelt before her, taking her in for an embrace, both, in relief to see her and as an attempt to soothe her. He wiped her face with his Angavastra and stood up again.
"It's okay Rukmini... You don't have to apologise."
"How did you fall in by the way?" Asked Rukmanetra curiously.
"I was staring at that and slipped." Rukmini replied, pointing at the bright pink lotus in the middle of the pond, shining at the gentle touch of sunshine. It was only then had the brothers took notice of the beautiful flower their sister was so interested in.
"I can pluck it out for you. Should I?" He asked again with a gentle smile.
YOU ARE READING
Krishnatmika Rukmini
RomantikShe sat there on the floor, tears flowing from her beautiful Lotus shaped eyes, hands trembling, desperate to word her thoughts. she kept the paper on the queen sized bed. She took the peacock feather and gently dipped it in the ink and slowly raise...
