Kaal Chakra

19. ललिता

ललिता - Meaning playful, charming

                             *******
Dwarka

Pratipada, Chaitra Shukla Paksha, 5000 BCE

"I want to go to the kitchens," Lakshmi started and Avantika frowned, just about to open her mouth in protest when the dark haired girl interrupted her.

"I know, I know, I am not supposed to even move from this bed. But just think about it, how am I going to rest peacefully if my stomach keeps on reminding me that it's empty every minute?" Lakshmi said, rubbing her tummy.

"But there is still time for our meal," Avantika commented.

"That is what is the problem! Back in our time, we are used to having something in the mornings in..in the, just a second," Lakshmi told her, thinking about what time she had breakfast and which prahar of the day it came in.

"Yes, in the third prahar. We call it breakfast back in my time."

"You mean you used to have a meal three times a day?" Avantika asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, now you will have to get used to having two meals a day." The young maiden said dryly.

Lakshmi groaned and looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

"That is what I am trying to do. But I can't break a habit of over fifteen years in two days now, can I? I need some time."

"That's true as well. But I will not," "Please!" Lakshmi begged in between, "Under any circumstance allow you to leave your chamber." Avantika finished.

"I am fine!"

"Your injury says otherwise. Now, Rajkumari, I can very well understand your frustration about not being able to move but please, you have to take into consideration the worry and concern that your family has for you. They don't want to see you in pain." Avantika spoke gently and Lakshmi deflated.

"I know. And I don't want to worry all of you as well. But I don't like staying in bed. It's so boring!" The dark haired girl whined, slumping against a wall.

"And don't call me Rajkumari. It's Lakshmi for you." She grumped, narrowing her gaze at her.

Avantika simply stared at her. The girl in front of her was something else. Perhaps it was the fact that she was from a different time altogether or it was simply that she was just a normal girl like herself.

"You must be finding it very new here, isn't it?" She asked gently and Lakshmi's head snapped up to meet her understanding gaze.

"I mean to say, nothing is normal for you here." She added.

"It most certainly is, but not completely. Only the way of living." Lakshmi joked and then sighed.

"I get what you are saying. But the people, the places, the bhava are not new. I have thought so much about what it would be like to be in Krishna's Dwarka and now that I am actually here, it feels like a dream."

"Bhava?" Avantika murmured and Lakshmi slowly pushed off from the wall she was leaning against.

"Yes, whenever I used to read about Dwarka, about Kanha, I used to feel awe, warmth and most of all, longing. After coming here, I experience the same, just minus the longing."

Avantika felt a shiver run down her back at the intense emotions that fleetingly passed through Lakshmi's eyes before they regained their playful twinkle.