Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 4 - Education

At Vidarbha,

'Agraja, please talk to me! I know you are angry. But you have till date never showed any anger on me. Have I done something wrong?', Rukmini approached Rukmi with great hesitation.

'Shree? Your brother is very upset. I think it is better you talk to him after a while?', said Alankrita, Rukmi's wife. She was the eldest daughter-in-law of the house, and she had won the hearts of everyone in Vidarbha.

'Bhratrjaya, I just want to know if I have made any mistake that Agraja is so upset with me.', said Rukmini worriedly.

'Rakhma, I am not upset with you. You, my dear will never be a cause of my anger or hatred. I just hate that Krishna! How dare he kill my friend!?.', said Rukmi, softly.

Rukmini was relieved. Rukmi did not know that she had met Krishna and Krishna was the man she was destined to wed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she went up to Rukmi and gave him an embrace. Rukmi calmed down immediately and gently returned his sister's embrace. She knew how exactly to calm him down.

'Alright! Before I forget, Rakhma, your education is still yet to be completed. You have another five years to go. You will start in two days and go to the Ashram of Maharshi Agastya and his great consort, Gurumata Lopamudra. They will train you for the next three years. You must complete your education. And once you come back, we will get you married into a good family', he finished.

Rukmini nodded meekly, and Rukmi blessed her. She had five years. Five long years to wait before she could wed Krishna. And by then her brother's anger would surely reduce. And she prepared herself to leave for the Ashram of Maharshi Agastya and Mata Lopamudra.

Meanwhile, at Mathura,

'Kanha! Bal! Children, it is time for your education. You will be sent off to the Ashram of Maharshi Saandeepani in a few days and you should complete your education for twelve years and then return.', said Vasudeva.

'Yes, children, education is important. Make sure you complete it with you full effort.', smiled Devaki.

'Make sure you don't prank your friends and elders at the Ashram like you would in Vrindavan, is that clear?', asked Rohini.

'Yes Mata, yes Pitashree! We shall leave in the next few days', replied both, excited to start a new journey.

And they were prepared to leave for the Ashram, with Krishna having certain plans in his head that he had to discuss with Balaram. It was time that Dharma saw its re-establishment.

At Maharshi Saandeepani's Ashram,

'Welcome, Krishna and Balaram. Welcome to your new journey. We hope you will learn and experiment with the knowledge you have gained.', welcomed Maharshi Saandeepani.

'Thank you Maharshi. We shall give our best and work hard', said the duo.

'Kanha!! Bal!!', said a voice excitedly.

'Sudama!!??', exclaimed the duo excitedly.

'Guruvarya, may I take them to my room? Can they stay with me?', asked Sudama.

'Yes, Sudama. I was going to ask them to stay with you anyways. And now that you have asked for it yourself, you are most welcome to take them to your room.', smiled the Maharshi.

'Before you leave, Krishna and Balaram, I would like to introduce you to your classmates. Sudama, you know already. Meet the rest of them. The Prince of Avanti, Rajkumar Aditya; Another brahmin boy, Akshaya; The Prince of Kalinga, Rajkumar Chandrasena; The Prince of Pandya, Sarangadhwaja, The Prince of Madra, Rajkumar Madranjaya and twin brahmin boys, Ritwija and Saatvika.', introduced the Maharshi.