HARIHARESHWARI 16 - विशृंखलित राजवंशाः

CHAPTER 21

The breeze carries the scent of wet earth, promising rain soon. The sky above is a canvas of swirling grey clouds, hinting at an imminent downpour. As the sun sets behind the thick clouds, casting a soft golden hue over the Gurukul, Krishna and Sudama sweep the ground with rhythmic strokes.

Despite being the supreme God, despite being the husband of the goddess of fortune, Krishna was humbly engaged in the menial task, a reminder of his student life.

His laughter fills the air as he playfully nudges Sudama, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Sudama smiles warmly, his face illuminated by the fading light. The occasional flash of lightning illuminates their silhouettes against the darkening sky, casting long shadows on the ground.

Gurupatni suddenly arrived, her footsteps quick and urgent. Her face was etched with worry, and her eyes darted around the ashram, until her eyes fell upon Krishna and Sudama. Clutching a small bundle in her hands, she approached the boys.

"Putro, varsha kabhi bhi ho sakti hai. Van mei jaake shigreh lakdiya le aao." She said.

"Jaisi aapki aagya." With a nod of understanding, they swiftly dropped their brooms.

Gurupatni offered the small bundle to them, "Isme chane rakhe hai. Bhook lage toh dono mil-baat ke kha lena."

"Gurumaa woh..." Krishna showed her his torn garment, "Meri uttariya toh shashtra abhyaas ke karan fatt gayi.... Aap yeh chane Sudama ko de dijiye."

Sudama, humbly accepting the bundle,  carefully tucking it in his worn-out garment, securing it tying the ends of the fabric together so the black grams don't fall.

The friends made their way to the humble hut where the weapons of the ashram were kept, each grabbing a sturdy axe before setting off. The cool evening air was filled with the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves as the two friends ventured deeper into the darkening forest.

After a while of searching, they stumbled upon a dried tree that stood tall and weathered. Without exchanging a word, they positioned themselves on either side of the tree and raised their axes with practiced ease. The rhythmic sound of metal meeting wood echoed through the tranquil forest as they began to chop away at the tree.

With every strike, wood chips flew in all directions, and soon, the tree began to splinter and crack. Slowly it began to sway and then with a thunderous crash, the tree fell to the ground. Undeterred, Krishna and Sudama worked together to chop the fallen tree into manageable pieces.

Realizing they had no means to tie the pieces together, Sudama prepared to tear his garment.

"Thehero mitra." Krishna halted him, "Mere vastra waise bhi fatte huye hai. Inse baandh lenge."

As Sudama looked on, Krishna tore his own garment into strips, using them to bind the pieces of wood together. Just as he finished tying up the firewood, dark clouds rolled in ominously, obscuring the last remnants of daylight. Thunder rumbled in the distance, followed by the first few drops of rain that quickly turned into a torrential downpour.

With a shared nod, they hoisted the heavy bundle of firewood onto their shoulders and began hurriedly making their way back through the forest. The rain pelted down on them, soaking their clothes and hair, turning the path into a muddy mess.

As they attempted to make their way out of the forest, the darkness descended rapidly, shrouding everything in a thick veil. The thick canopy above blocked out what little light remained, leaving Krishna and Sudama disoriented and struggling to find their way.

Sudama's heart raced with fear as he struggled to see through the thick curtain of rain. In his panic, the bundle of firewood slipped from his trembling hands, crashing to the wet ground.

"Krishna ? Krishna ! Andhkaar mei mujhe kuch dikhayi nahi de raha !" Sudama said.

Feeling Sudama's fear, Krishna calmly set down his own bundle of firewood, "Bhayebhit na ho, mitra. Mai yahi hu." He said and reached out to grasp Sudama's shaking hands.

Together, they navigated through the dense forest, their footsteps guided by faith and companionship rather than sight. The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves above mingled with their hushed whispers as they searched for a path to safety.

The rain continued to pour relentlessly, adding to their plight. Hours seemed to pass like eternity as they wandered aimlessly, their voices calling out into the night, hoping for a sign or a familiar sound. The dense trees loomed over them, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance in the dim light.

With each step, Sudama's exhaustion grew, hunger gnawing at his stomach. Hours passed like fleeting shadows, their surroundings offering no solace. Finally, drained of strength, they sought refuge beneath a towering tree.

Sudama's stomach growled, a reminder of their hunger. Remembering the black grams Gurumaa had given them, he reached into the bundle and retrieved the precious food. Seeing that Krishna lost in thought, Sudama quietly began to munch on the black grams, the only source of sustenance in the desolate night, unable to offer any to his friend.

The sound of his quiet munching could barely be heard over the roar of the rain. However, Krishna, ever vigilant, caught wind of the subtle noise.

Turning towards Sudama, he inquired "Yeh kaisa svar tha ?"

Sudama's heart raced, "K-Kaisa svar ?"

"Kat-kat-kat ho raha tha." Krishna said.

"Woh um... Woh toh...." Sudama quickly concocted a lie to conceal his actions, "Koi pakshi hogi shayad."

However, Krishna, the all-knowing one, saw through Sudama's facade with a knowing smile playing on his lips, "Ho sakta hai." He said, understanding the depth of his friend's hunger.

"Tumhe toh bahut bhook lag rahi hogi." Krishna said.

Sudama cautiously said, "Ha... So toh hai..."

"Woh chane kaha hai jo Gurumaa ne diye the ?" Krishna asked.

Sudama's face paled with fear as he struggled to maintain his lie, "Woh toh gir gaye... Varsha ke karan vastra geele ho gaye the toh khul gaye."

"Oh ho.... Ab kya kare ?" Krishna muttered.

Sudama smiled nervously, "Lagta hai ki aaj bhooka hi rehna padega."

"Arrey aise kaise ?" Krishna said, "Mere rehte, mere priyajan bhookhe rahenge ?"

Krishna, with a knowing smile, reached under his drenched garment, conjuring some more black grams.

"Yeh lo." He offered it to Sudama.

Sudama frowned, "Tumhare paas chane kaise aaye ?"

"Woh pichli baar jab lakdi laane aya tha tab Gurumaa ne diye. Tab khaaye nahi, aur ab tak mere paas the." Krishna said, "Lo lo."

Sudama, overwhelmed with guilt and emotion, hesitantly takes a small bite of the magically summoned food.

"Arrey pura lo." Krishna said, "Sab tumhare liye hi hai."

Sudama shook his head, "Kintu tumhe bhi bhook lagi hogi na ?"

"Mujhe bhook nahi lagti. Tum kha lo." Krishna said.

And now tears start streaming down Sudama's face as he realizes the depth of Krishna's love and generosity, a contrast to his own selfishness.

"Nahi." Sudama sobbed, "Mai iska Patra nahi hu."

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A/N

Chalo der aaye durust aaye 😁