Lotus among the Roses

A letter from Home!

 Her mind buzzed with the weight of those recent revelations, her resolve hardening with each passing moment. 

She was no longer the timid Padmini, content to live in the shadows of others' expectations.....

 No! She was Padmini reborn, a force to be reckoned with, determined to carve her destiny from the stone of fate!

As Kumud awoke from a fitful slumber, her mind swirled with a tumult of emotions. 

The revelation of her soul's crossover weighs heavily upon her, yet amidst the confusion, a sense of purpose begins to stir within her.

Just then, a gentle knock echoed through the room, drawing Kumud's attention to the doorway. 

Her maid, Renuka, stood with a sense of urgency,  her hands tightly clutching in excitement.

 "Forgive the interruption, my lady," Renuka began, her voice tinged with eagernass , "but, My lady,  Guruji  has arrived with a letter from your father."

As if summoned by her thoughts, Kumud's guru enters the room, bearing a letter in his hand. His gentle demeanor and the weight of the parchment he carries hint at the gravity of its contents.

"Kumud, my child," he begins, his voice carrying a blend of warmth and solemnity, "I trust you are feeling better now?"

Kumud nodded, offering a grateful smile in return. "Yes, Guruji, I am feeling much better, thank you," she replied, her voice still tinged with a hint of fatigue.

Guruji's brows furrowed slightly with concern as he took a seat beside her. "You gave us all quite a scare when you fainted in the forest," he said, his tone gentle yet probing. "Tell me, my child, how did it happen? Did you encounter some danger while you were out collecting flowers?"

Kumud hesitated for a moment, her mind drifting back to the events of that fateful day. "Yes, Guruji," she began slowly, "I was gathering flowers near the edge of the forest when I felt a sudden sharp pain in my leg. Before I knew it, I had been bitten by a snake."

Guruji's eyes widened in alarm, his hand reaching out instinctively to grasp hers. "A snake bite?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. "Oh, my child, how terrifying that must have been for you!"

Kumud nodded, her gaze dropping slightly as she recalled the fear and confusion she had felt in that moment. "It happened so suddenly," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I remember feeling a sharp pain, and then everything went dark."

Guruji nodded sympathetically, his expression filled with compassion. "It must have been a frightening experience indeed," he said gently. "But you are safe now, my child, thanks to the quick actions of the villagers who found you and brought you back to the ashram."

Kumud nodded gratefully, a sense of relief washing over her as she squeezed Guruji's hand in gratitude. "Yes, Guruji," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "I am grateful to be alive, thanks to their kindness and compassion."

Guruji smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling with reassurance. "You are a resilient young woman, Kumud," he said proudly. 

After a few more words of consolation, Guruji finally looked at Kumud and said with a cryptic smile,  "Child, a letter has arrived for you from your parents."

Kumud's heart skips a beat at the mention of her parents. 

Memories of her original family flooded her mind - the loving embrace of her mother, Savitri, a softspoken and very knowledgeable Brahmin lady, and  the comforting presence of her father, Padmabhooshan, A venerable name in the realm of commerce, wielded influence and prosperity with astute business acumen.