SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 4 - DISORDER OF ENMITY

Tree of Introduction

“Somdev, what happened? Your face looks dull today. You are neither talking nor laughing or making others laugh! What has happened to you?” Kaushal, the minister’s son, broke the silence and asked him.
“What happened? Have you fought with your father?” asked Kamal, the Commander’s son, while sitting next to Somdev and patting his back.
“There is something fishy,” said Veerdev, the Brahmin’s son, while punching Somdev on his thigh.
After dusk, all friends would gather at Kaushal’s mansion. They would meet every night even if there was no purpose. They were mutually attached to each other. They used to support each other in happiness and sorrow.
The incident witnessed by Somdev in the afternoon had moved him. Actually, Somdev himself admired Dhanshri! He was standing outside Madanleela Park to see Dhanshri. Perhaps, he had never met Dhanshri personally till date. His love was only limited to his imagination. Dhanshri was one of the most famous and beautiful maidens of Susharm. However, according to their social norms, unmarried women didn’t go out alone. They would only go out in groups of four or five. But whenever Dhanshri went out with her friends, the young men and other bystanders would look at her with admiration in their eyes.
Somdev finally said, “Friends, my world has turned upside down. What is the point of living now?”
Hearing this, all his friends were shocked.
Kamal said, “Which part of your world has turned upside down? Has your money or home been robbed? Who robbed you? When did this happen? If you talk clearly, then we will be able to understand something. If you tell me, I will even get your robbed wealth back. After all, I am the Commander’s son!
“Oh! My friend, my entire world has been robbed. What will I get back now? Kamal, you retrieve it. She herself has been robbed. Oh! My treasure!”
“What rubbish are you talking? Will you keep beating round the bush or speak something sensible also? If you speak sensibly, then we can figure out something and help you out. But if you keep talking baselessly, then there is no point!”
“Dhanshri!” Somdev’s words stopped midway.
“What about Dhanshri? And what is there between you and Dhanshri? Is there anything going on between both of you?” Veerdev asked excitedly!
“I was whole heartedly in love with Dhanshri, even now…”
“But does Dhanshri love you?”
“I don’t know about that!”
“Have you ever confessed your love to her?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“Dhanshri has fallen in love with Dhan, the son of Vaishraman. Today, I myself saw both of them together in an isolated place.”
Kaushal could not stop laughing.
He said, “My wise friend! So can’t Dhanshri fall in love with Dhankumar? Isn’t she free to love whomsoever she wants? And if she loves someone, then why do you need to die?”
Somdev was discouraged. He sat with his eyes on the floor.
Kamal raised Somdev’s face with both hands and said, “My friend! Drowned in love, were you daydreaming about marrying Dhanshri? Look at yourself in the mirror first! At least go to Dhanshri and try talking to her! You will start sweating! You have seen that beautiful girl, haven’t you? Thousands of people are staring at her! But has she ever raised her eyes and looked at anyone? When she walks across the royal street, her eyes become like that of an ascetic! She walks away with here eyes fixed on the ground! Nobody has the courage to go close to her, look into her eyes or confess their love to her!”
Veerdev said, “Oh! Do you know the story of Indra, the Kshatriya’s son? Try to recall how Dhanshri had humiliated him at the city gate!”
Just like you, he was also crazy behind Dhanshri’s beauty and was fluttering around her like a butterfly! Dhanshri was entering the city from outside. Five of her friends were with her.
At that moment, Indra stopped her courageously and said, “I am Indra, present in the service of Devi Dhanshri. May Devi be happy!” 
Dhanshri stepped back.
She asked, “Who are you? And why are you standing in the middle of the road?”
“I am Indra, the son of a Kshatriya. If you allow me, then I would like to request something.”
Dhanshri and her friends started laughing. Dhanshri said, “Speak king, you have the permission!”
“I am not a king. I am a slave at your service. I want to dedicate a tribute to you.”
Then Indra literally joined his hands and sat down at Dhanshri’s feet. Dhanshri hesitated a bit and felt conscious.
She said, “Hey! What are you doing? Get up from here!”
Indra said, “I am worshipping you, Devi. Your magnificent image is embedded in every drop of my blood. Forgive me lady, this Indra is your slave!”
There was fire in Dhanshri’s eyes.
She reprimanded Indra, “You evil man! Move out of my way or else…”
Dhanshri kicked Indra on his head.
She said to her friends, “What are you all looking at? Crush this love bird under your feet!”
All the girls bashed Indra. Indra fell down. His mouth started bleeding.
Dhanshri spat on him and walked ahead.
It was his fortune that the issue ended there. Or else, do you know Dhanshri’s father? He is King Sudhanva’s favourite!
If he wanted, Purnabhadhra could have put the love bird behind bars.
“Somdev, my friend! If you want to be imprisoned in a cage and get beaten up by the arrogant Dhanshri, then you can go to her and sing your love poems!”
All the friends started laughing. Somdev was sitting with his head bowed down in shame.
Veerdev said, “If Dhanshri loves Dhankumar, then they will make a perfect pair. We too know Dhan. Dhan’s rich charm can melt Dhanshri’s pride in her beauty. And Dhanshri’s pride in her wealth will also be destroyed by the tremendous wealth owned by Dhan. Vaishraman has not let anyone remain poor or helpless in Shusharm. The king himself gives respect to Vaishraman. Purnbhadra treats Vaishraman as his master. Therefore, it will be like a cherry on the top of the cake if Dhankumar marries Dhanshri.” 
***
Somdev’s love had turned into jealosy. He exaggerated and spoke about Dhanshri and Dhankumar’s love amongst the women. However, he was quite scared of Dhanshri. He would walk through the streets in such a way that he Dhanshri couldn’t catch sight of him even by chance.
The matters of rich families are not discussed openly on streets. Thus, sitting in their houses, men and women gossiped about Dhanshri and Dhankumar’s love. There were more rumours about Dhanshri since she was very proud of her beauty. It is natural for women to get jealous of other’s beauty.
Hardly anyone criticized Dhan. Everyone was praising him. Dhan was born with such great fortune. He was popular in the entire city. His generosity had won everyone’s hearts and shut everyone’s mouth!
Dhanshri’s mind was in a dilemma. The conflict of attachment and hatred broke out. Love sprung up for the body, but hatred arose towards the soul! Seeing the strong and handsome Dhan, Dhanshri was out of her mind. Day and night, she would only think of Dhan.
She started fantasising being with him. She got desperate to be tightly held by Dhan in his muscular arms.
When her feelings of lust would calm down, she would start feeling a sense of enmity towards Dhan. Flames of criticism were ignited in her mind. ‘He is my enemy from the previous lives. I don’t even want to see his face.’ She would get engulfed in the storm of such thoughts. ‘But, I will get close to him. I will control him, make him trust me and then push him into a deep well. Then I will throw him away like mango seeds.’ Dhanshri’s ideology was deceitful and fraudulent.
She had found out that Dhan used to visit the outer premises of the Madan Leela Park for a walk in the afternoon. He used to go alone. She thought, ‘I too will visit the same place with my friends. I will leave my friends in the garden and then find a way to walk around him. Let me see if he himself comes and proposes me. Otherwise, I will teach him about love in a day or two.’
***
As per his usual routine, Dhan reached the outer premises of Madan Leela Park. The trees were swaying in the cool and soft breeze. The flowers were falling off the branches and beautifying the ground. The terrain was covered with fruits. Trees like Kadamb, Champa, Nagkesar, Mango, Rose and Coconut enhanced the beauty of that garden. Dhan was enthralled by the spring breeze and fragrance of various flowers.
Meanwhile, he saw Dhanshri entering Madan Leela Park with her friends. He couldn’t take his eyes off Dhanshri. He felt as if the beauty of all the six seasons had descended on Dhanshri’s body!
Dhanshri was wearing magnificent ornaments made of various flowers. She looked like a living Goddess of the Forest. She had applied a fragrant cream on her body. Her hair was adorned with flowers. She had applied kajal in her eyes. Her face looked like the full moon and her hands were as soft as fresh leaves. This beauty of hers would mesmerise everyone who saw her!
Her friends went into the garden playfully. Dhanshri stood alone leaning on an Ashoka tree, a little away from where Dhankumar stood. She stood for sometime, looking at the ground. Then she slowly raised her beautiful eyes and glanced at Dhankumar. Their eyes met. Both of them were shot by Cupid’s arrow. They felt a strong attraction towards each other. But neither of them moved ahead nor did they utter a single word. For two hours straight, they continued to stare at each other. Love made way through their silent eyes. Then Dhanshri walked away somewhat angrily.
Dhankumar stood there stunned. A caravan of thoughts arose in his mind. ‘It is definite that this beautiful young girl likes me. My heart also feels attracted towards her. So, I shall find out about her family background and then request my father to get me married to her. My father will go and speak to her father. And if her father agrees, then our wish will get fulfilled. We will become each others companions in the journey of life.’
Dhankumar was just coming out of his world of thoughts when Dhanshri was leaving the garden with her friends. She came towards him. Dhankumar also walked towards her. Seeing him walk towards her, Dhanshri’s heart started dancing with joy. Both of them stood under the shade of a mango tree. Her friends stood at some distance and were gossiping.
‘May I know your name?” Dhankumar asked her in a polite tone.
“My name is Dhanshri.”
“Who are your parents?”
“My father is Shreshthi Purnabhadra and my mother is Gomti Devi.”
“Oh wow! Purnabhadra is a close friend of my father, Vaishraman. He visits our house frequently. I have often seen him.”
“Oh! So are you Nagarshreshthi Vaishraman’s son? I am very happy to know. It seems like I have fallen in love with the right person.”
“My situation is the same! I too have fallen in love with you.”
“Then we should talk to our parents so that we can get married!”
“You are right. I will speak to my father in a day or two.”
“I will also talk to my mother.”
“But maybe, we might not be able to meet in this garden now!”
“Why?”
“People will start gossiping.”
“How?”
“Your friends are not going to stay quiet, are they?”
“You are right.”
Glancing at Dhan, Dhanshri walked away from there. Dhan kept standing there.
The stories of love and lovers spreads in all directions like blowing wind. Vaishraman heard the rumours. Vaishraman could not believe this! He could not believe it to be true! He had always seen Dhan as someone who was indifferent towards sensory pleasures. He had never seen Dhan look at any female! Vaishraman spoke to Sridevi.
“Devi, you too must have heard that Dhankumar is in love with Dhanshri, the daughter of Shreshti Purnabhadra.”
“Yes, I have heard that, but I am not ready to believe it.”
“Even I don’t believe it. However, if it’s true, then I don’t mind getting him married to Dhanshri!”
“Dhanshri is one of the most beautiful maidens in the city! If she comes to our house as our daughter-in-law, then it will be great!”
“So then should I ask Dhankumar or will you talk to him?”
“I will only ask him,” said Sridevi.
***
Sridevi went to Dhankumar’s room and talked to him affectionately. Dhankumar was a genuine person. He narrated the entire incident to his mother in the way it had taken place.
“Son, I will talk to your father. He will go to Shreshti Purnabhadra and keep the marriage proposal of you and Dhanshri. I am sure that Purnabhadra will not refuse. Infact, he will be happy. We have a good relation with their family.”
Dhankumar thought for a while and said, “Mother, I am not insisting on getting married to Dhanshri! Only if you both feel appropriate, then go ahead with it. I have just narrated the incident that had taken place.”
Sridevi had tears of happiness in her eyes. She lovingly hugged her son and caressed his head.
“Son, I admire your innumerable virtues. We are blessed to have a son like you!”
Sridevi repeatedly pecked Dhankumar’s forehead and left his room. Then she proceeded towards Vaishraman’s room.