Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 14 - The guise

At the courtroom,

'Agraja, why was I not told about this earlier? I do not consent to wed Shishupal! You cannot get me married to someone that I do not like!', Rukmini's voice had never been this grave.

'That is none of your concern! You cannot talk to me like this.', Rukmi's voice was equally grave. The two of them were at loggerheads now.

'I will talk to you like this, if you behave with me the way you do!', Rukmini found her voice rising.

'Rukmini, that's enough! Not a word more!', Rukmi was annoyed now.

The four brothers and Alankrita looked at each other in worry. These two would explode easily.

'Ratha, just get Rukmini ready. We have to perform her Saakharpuda and Halad Chadavane today evening. The other events start tomorrow. And you! Better get ready, else you shall never see light in your life again!', Rukmi instructed Rukmaratha and warned Rukmini.

'How dare you!!!', Rukmini thundered, her eyes bloodshot.

Nobody has seen Rukmini this angry before. She was so furious that even Rukmi winced back for a second. Her loud voice rang across the palace.

'So much anger for a princess?', called out a voice.

They all turned to their left, finding two women who headed a group of Dasis. They looked quite exquisitely beautiful. Both of them were a little tall, being women. The fairer one of the two was probably a little timid that the other. She wore a dark-pink Nauvari saree with a matching blouse, and a Bindi that perfectly matched her saree. Her curly black hair neatly wrapped into a low bun, decorated with jasmine flowers. She wore an elegant Maang-Tika which ended beautifully on her forehead with a simple circular pendant, entirely made of gold and pearls. She also wore simple ear studs made of gold and pearl in the shape of the Sun. She had simple tattoos at the end of both her eyebrows, her neck and chin, marked in green simple dots and also wore a simple stud on her nose made of gold. She wore many bangles, pink glass bangles, gold and pearl bangles too. She wore two gold and pearl necklaces, a choker and a slightly longer chain. She wore simple gold anklets. She looked like Urvashi herself.

The darker one seemed more outspoken. She wore a blue Nauvari saree with a green border and a contrast blouse in white. She had braided her long hair that touched her thighs. She also sported a little side bun on the left side of her head with little pearls studded in it and a little pearl chain that dropped from the little gold crown that held the tip of the bun. She wore a simple maroon long Bindi with a thick white downward pointing arrow tip at the end of the Bindi, towards her nose. She too wore a simple stud made of gold on her nose. She had the exact same jewellery as the fair one, with the only difference being the colours she chose. She looked like Menaka.

'I have never seen so much anger in a princess.', exclaimed the darker one, as she daintily walked up to Rukmini. The fairer one followed her and the duo bowed in reverence at Rukmi.

Rukmini was now flustered and she turned away, folding her arms, not bothered to reply to the dark one's question.

'Who are you?', asked Rukmi.

'I am Sohini and this is my sister, Mohini. We have come from Yuvarani Alankrita's maternal home. We are fortune tellers and we also help in organising wedding events', said the fairer one, smiling.

'Ah, alright! It is a good thing you came on time. Please feed some sense into her brains. She refuses to get married now.', said Rukmi, shaking his head in disappointment, looking at Rukmini.

'You did not seek my consent, Agraja!', Rukmini's shrewd voice came at him pointedly.

'Take her away, Alankrite! I do not want to raise my hand on her.', said Rukmi, at Alankrita.

Alankrita meekly dragged Rukmini away to her room. Rukmini did not get a chance to see who the person was.

'Please do not worry, Yuvaraj. We shall by hook or crook, convince Rajkumari. We also request for special permission to tell her future during the Halad Chadavane event.', requested Mohini.

'Permission granted. You may all get to work now. Keshi and Maali, you take charge of how the decorations and other arrangements have to be done. Bahu, and Ratha, come with me.', instructed Rukmi and left the room.

Rukmamaali looked at the Sky in worry while Rukmakeshi instructed the rest of the Dasis and distributed their work.

'Maali, don't fret. I have instructed the rest of the Dasis about what to do.', assured Rukmakeshi.

'Bhrata Keshi, I don't know how these days will go. I can't help but get nervous', said Rukmamaali, sweating, one hand on his hip and one hand on his head.

Rukmakeshi looked at Sohini and Mohini and smiled.

'Why fear? When Krishna and Arjun are right here!', he whispered in Rukmamaali's ears.

Rukmamaali looked at him in surprise and Rukmakeshi pointed at Sohini and Mohini. They grinned back at him.

Rukmamaali could not believe his eyes. His hands automatically folded in respect, with tears in his eyes, unable to utter a word.

'Bhrata! Give us your blessings', smiled Mohini. And he took Rukmamaali's blessings.

'Keshav, Savyasachi! What an honour to have finally got your darshan!', he whispered, his voice choking in emotion.

'Bhrata, we are now in your palace. We shall take care of everything, please don't worry!', said Sohini.

'I am so relieved. Bhrata Keshi, let us go and tell Rakhma that they have come into the Palace.', said Rukmamaali.

'No Maali. Let it be a surprise for her.', smiled Rukmakeshi, nodding at Mohini, who nodded back.

And they left, thanking Mahadev that Krishna and Arjuna had reached on time. Now they left all their worries at Krishna and looked forward to the Saakharpuda and Halad Chadavane ceremonies to happen that evening.