Krishna!

Chapter 2 - Mathura

The city was filled with lush green trees and beautiful plants. The path towards Akrura's house was filled with well-constructed houses. Simplicity shone throughout the path. But the people they saw on the street were tired, unhappy, and scared. They stared at Krishna and Balaram, wondering who these handsome boys were, secretly hoping that one of them was the eighth child of their dear princess Devaki and Vasudeva who Kamsa had ruthlessly imprisoned. The chariot drove towards the centre of the city, the busy and famous market of Mathura. Akrura got down and so did Krishna and Balaram.

The citizens there kept looking at them, whispering, "Who are these two handsome young boys? Why have they come here?".

One of the citizens came forward and asked Akrura, "Mantrivarya, who are these two boys? Why have you brought them here?"

Akrura responded excitedly, "These are the very boys, Mathura has been longing to see and meet. Krishna is the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva, and this is his elder brother, Balaram, the son of the pious Rohini, the first wife of Vasudeva".

The quiet marketplace immediately transformed to an excited and hopeful place, with all citizens greeting Krishna and Balaram and sharing their worries. And each one of them promised that they would not reveal the true identity of the boys. Krishna and Balaram happily greeted all of them and listened to them and consoled them, assuring them that happy days were to come very soon. Just as they were speaking, Krishna felt something. He felt a beautiful Zephyr on his face and his mind began fluttering. He started getting goosebumps and he also had butterflies in his stomach.

"This is how I feel when Radha is around. But today my heart is beating faster! Why is that so? Is there something that is going to happen?", Krishna began to wonder.

As he was thinking, Balaram also noticed what he was feeling and began to wonder if Radha had also followed them to Mathura. But he remembered Akrura strictly telling everyone that nobody but Krishna and Balaram, Nanda Maharaj and Rohini were to accompany them with three others important Gopas in the village. Rohini and Nanda with the other Gopas were to arrive a little later. And Radha would never go against Krishna. He just quietly brushed his thoughts aside and gently tapped Krishna on his shoulder. Krishna came back to reality and continued speaking to the citizens when he heard Akrura's voice.

"Krishna, do you want to me to permanently stay out of the house?"

"Not at all Pitrvya, I'm just coming. Tell Pitrvyaa that we'll just speak to the people here and come quickly!", laughed Krishna.

Just as they were speaking, they heard a thud, as if two people banged into each other.

Everyone turned to see what had happened, but after seeing who had banged into each other, they ignored the scene and continued to do whatever they were doing.

"How can you!? Can you not see and walk properly? Our friend's head would be hurting now", said a young girl who was continuously rubbing the head of another who had just banged into a third woman. Krishna was watching this amused, although he could not see the faces of the three young women.

"Are you alright? I shall make sure this woman gets punished. How can she hurt you?", the young girl was furiously talking to her friend.

"Shh! Kanike! Do not be so rude. It happens. And this poor woman is not at fault. I did not see her coming my way and bumped into her." And turning to the other woman,

"I'm extremely sorry, Sahodari. I was not paying attention and walking. All your perfumes have fallen down. Let me pick them up for you", said a remorseful sweet voice. Hearing that, Krishna's heart was filled with joy.