Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 32 - The family

'Madhavpur! The land of Madhavrai and his bride, Rukmini', these words kept ringing in Rukmini's ears and she could not believe that Krishna had actually built another city just for her! She knew that Dwaraka was there, but Madhavpur? She had not expected that. It was such a beautiful surprise. Her eyes shone in excitement, unable to process what had just happened and what awaited her. She looked at Krishna, and squeezed his hand. He grinned at her, squeezed back her hand and continued driving towards the entrance of the city. And he stopped right at the entrance.

'Shyam, why did you stop?', she asked, looking at him.

'Shree, we're going to be welcomed. How can we enter without the grand welcome?', he smiled.

'Grand welcome? I don't see anyone near the...', and her voice was cut out by the loud beating of the Mridanga, Tabla, Dholak, Pakhawaj and the Shehnai and Sitar and from inside the city, a sea of people came out to the entrance. She saw some familiar faces, Mata Devaki and Pitashree Vasudev and Maharaj Ugrasena. She also saw Balaram and Arjun. She smiled at all of them and from the chariot, folded her hands and obeisance. They all looked at her lovingly. Additionally, she saw three women smiling at her. 

The eldest one among the three has a calming presence, her face shining with wisdom. She was a simple woman, with her sharp eyes very keenly observant and warm at the same time. Her presence radiated positivity and grace. The simple woman that she was, she had properly instilled discipline in Balaram. Clearly, that was seen in his behaviour. And her demeanor was clearly that of a Queen. She seemed to be very knowlegeable and witty. Her entire persona radiated kindness. 

Rukmini's hands automatically folded her hands towards her and bent her head respectfully. 

'Mata Rohini', whispered Krishna. Rukmini smiled at him gratefully.

Rukmini's eyes moved on to the woman standing beside her. She seemed of her age. Dressed in a beautiful bright pink and blue lehenga, draped in Rajput style, with simple traditional gold jewellery, her hair neatly braided, the woman looked exquisitely beautiful, with a nice wheatish complexion. Her hands had the stains of a drying up Mehendi with red Aalta decorating her finger tips. She grinned at Rukmini and Rukmini instantly felt a sisterly connection with her.  She grinned back with hands folded.

'Bhratrjaya Revati', whispered Krishna again and Rukmini smiled at him again.

Her eyes moved to the final new person she saw. She seemed to be a teenager. She seemed younger than Rukmini and she had a twinkle of excitement in her eyes, wanting to immdiately drag Rukmini and take her all around Madhavpur and Dwaraka. She was also dressed in Rajput style with some modern gold jewellery, appropriate for her age. She happily clapped her hands and jumped in joy. But Rukmini found interesting was she took a moment to steal glances at Arjun who stood in the other corner of the line. Rukmini winked at her and whispered to Krishna. 'Subhadra right?', 

'Right!', laughed Krishna. 

He proceeded to get off the chariot and held out his hand to Rukmini. Daintly she held his hand and got off the chariot and proceeded to take everyone's blessings. Maharaj Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Devaki and Rohini took her Aarati and warded off the evil eye from her. They all heartily welcomed her to the family. She went on next to meet Balaram.

'Best Friend!! So good to see you officially be part of the family. I have been waiting for so long!', he grinned at her, his arms folded, his face brimming with pride.

'Best Friend or sister, I am overwhelmed, Sankarsha... Oh I am sorry, Bhrata Balaram!', she chuckled as she took his blessings.

'Mahadev bless you! I am Sankarshana for you. For life! No Bhrata Balaram or Dau or anything else. Am I clear, Shree?', he said, placing his right hand on her head.

'Aye Aye, Captain!', she folded her hands and bowed down and looked up at him, grinning. He shook his head, grinning back at her. And she moved beside him.

'Bhrata Gandivi, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done!', she said with folded hands.

'My honour to be your brother-in-law, Bhratrjaya! This is the greatest gift Madhav could have ever given me.', said Arjun, his hands folded, as he bent down to take her blessings, which she gracefully offered.

And she quickly moved on to Revati who immediately engulfed her in a tight embrace. Rukmini bent to touch her feet which she stopped and said,

'Finally! I finally get to meet you. I have heard so much about you from Kanha! I could not wait for you to come home! I finally get a sister to share my thoughts with! I am so happy you are here Rukmini!', Revati beamed at her, squeezing her shoulders and gently caressing her face.

'I have never had a sister in my life, Agrajaa! I have always had five brothers and I have always wondered what it would be like to have a sister! I am so glad to have met you and I can't wait to share my sisterhood with you!', exclaimed Rukmini

'And me? You don't want me to be around?', squealed Subhadra.

'Why would I not want you, dear Subhadra, I have heard so much about you from your brother! And I have also heard that you like reading? I promise I will make time and read one book with you everyday!', Rukmini opened her arms to Subhadra and Subhadra ran into that embrace and tightly squeezed her.

Rukmini felt so loved that she did not know what to do. Her mind had so many thoughts racing and she did know how many layers of emotions she was experiencing at the same time. Krishna came from behind and gently nodded at her, took her by the hand and stood in front of his parents.

And Vasudeva announced,

'From now on, till the next one week, we have all the citizens of Dwaraka staying with us here at Madhavpur! One week from today, Krishna will be marrying Rukmini in both our style of wedding as well as that of her hometown!', 

And the crowd of citizens errupted in joy!

'And from now till a week, a special rule for Krishna. Rukmini is a very good girl so we know she will not create any mischief. But this young man here...', said Vasudeva looking pointedly at Krishna.

Krishna's happy face immediately turned tensed and he looked around at his family members to see all his brothers, sister and sister-in-law giggling and smirking at him mischievously.

'Pitashree?', he asked worriedly.

'Nothing, young man. You will not be allowed to see or meet Rukmini for the next one week!', announced Vasudeva and Krishna's face immediately fell.

'Pitashree, how will I stay away from her?', mumbled Krishna, with that crestfallen face.

Throught that noice, everyone looked him in amusement as he mumbled. Devaki went forward with her hands on her hips, smirking.

'You have to! These are rules, Kanha!', said Devaki pulling his ear.

'Mata! This is not fair!', Krishna made a fuss.

Rukmini who was giggling to herself all this while, piped up at Mata Devaki.

'Mata, I have an idea to solve this problem.', 

'What is it, my dear?', asked Devaki lovingly.

'From what I have understood your son to be, he is very interested in conversations. So how about this. For one week we promise to not see each other. But can we at least write letters to one another? That way, we will be following rules of not seeing each other, but also have some conversations', she asked with hope and her idea was immediately approved. 

Krishna sighed gratefully at Rukmini and she grinned back at him, realising that she had not known this quality that existed inside of her. Smartness to come to Krishna's rescue! She had not expected that! 

And in all smiles, the family welcomed her to Madhapur, taking her to the rooms built to the east and Krishna to the rooms built to the west. Both of them turned around to see each other for the last time that week, knowing that they would see each other next only on the day of their wedding.