At the courtroom,
'I totally appreciate your idea, Alankrite! Please go ahead.', smiled Rukmi.
Alankrita went ahead to look at the rest of the arrangements. Rukmi instructed a few more things to the rest of his brothers.
'And after that, please make sure you make arrangements for Shishupal's stay. They are all arriving tomorrow morning.', instructed Rukmi.
'As you wish, Agraja! By the way, Brahmana Deva has had a word with Rukmini. He has just told her to get married on the Navami as decided. He did not tell her who the groom is and she assumed it is Krishna and agreed.', said Rukmaratha.
'He did well! It is good for her to know who the groom is after all the rituals are complete.', smiled Rukmi.
'Agraja, I shall make arrangements for the Dasis to stay on the outskirts of Vidarbha as the entire kingdom would be into the festivities that there won't be any space. I shall take Jyeshta's and Bahu's help. Maali is right now looking into Rukmini's jewellery and clothes. You know how good he is at that.', said Rukmabahu.
'Absolutely Bahu. Go ahead.', smiled Rukmi. Things would go the way he wanted. Krishna would be too late.
Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu and Rukmakeshi took their most trusted soldiers to set up the entire arrangements right outside Vidarbha for the helpers to come from Alankrita's maternal home. As they reached the outskirts, they smelt something beautiful. It smelt like Sandalwood. As they went tracing the source of the smell, it traced to a group of thick Ashoka trees. They went ahead and saw two men standing beside a chariot, a dark one and a fair one. With hearts in their eyes, they walked towards the two. Their backs faced the three brothers.
As they went closer,
'Finally, Bhrata Ratha, Bhrata Bahu and Bhrata Keshi are currently fighting to keep a straight face in front of Bhrata Rukmi, risking their lives and respect to bring me safe to their sister. Am I right?', said the dark one, and he turned and flashed his smile at them. The fair one turned too.
He was breathtakingly handsome, Chandra and Kamadeva combined into one.
'Krishna?', asked Rukmaratha, his voice quivering. And the three brothers folded their hands with tears in their eyes.
Krishna smiled at them, wiping their tears and embracing them with all his heart.
That embrace, had Rukmi received, he would have immediately accepted Krishna. It would melt anyone with such ease.
Krishna proceeded to touch each of their feet, and they stepped back in horror.
'What are you doing, Govind?', they asked.
'Rukmini's elder brothers are my elder brothers too. I have complete rights to take their blessings.', said Krishna smiling.
The three looked at each other and said in unison,
'Rukmini's choice is perfect! What did we do to get you as our brother-in-law?'
'Well, Bhrata, it is your love for your sister and me that makes you say all this. Let it be, meet my cousin, the middle Pandava, Arjun. Partha, this is Bhrata Rukmaratha, this Bhrata Rukmabahu and this Bhrata Rukmakeshi. Bhrata Rukmamaali would meet us later, hopefully.', introduced Krishna.
Arjuna came forward, his hands folded and face smiling at the love these brothers shared for their sister.
'Our honour to have the middle Pandava with us. We welcome you to Vidarbha.', said Rukmaratha, hands folded. The other two also folded their hands.
YOU ARE READING
Krishna! - Part 2
Historical FictionRukmini constantly dreams of Krishna and has made up her mind to wed him. But will her brother Rukmi allow it? Would she be able to wed the man of her dreams amidst schemes of Kings like Shishupala and Jarasandha?
