Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 35 - Day 1 - Evening

'Kanha! Kanha!', Satyaki's voice rang across the room of the five lads. Everyone looked up lazy. Arjun and Uddhav were reading something, Balaram was sitting by the window, Krishna lying down lazily with the support of his right elbow, his left arm casually resting on his left knee which he had stretched out a little, his right leg straight. That evening was to just relax and unwind before the actual events began the next day.  They all had to leave for the respective duties assigned to them by Krishna the next day, and so deemed it to take an easy day that evening.

'Satyaki! What happened?', asked Krishna loosely, his mind completely relaxed.

Satyaki ran in, panting, a letter in his hand.

The minute they all saw it, they sat up straight, Krishna completely excited but clearly controlling himself, Balaram, Arjun and Uddhav hooting! Satyaki joined in the hooting and to confirm Krishna's thoughts he said,

'Bhratrjaya has written this! She has said that she does not mind if you read this aloud to us.', Satyaki winked at the others who started laughing. Krishna turned red and began scratching his ear in embarrassment. 

'Cut the drama, Kanha! Read it privately. We won't see you go more red than you already are! (looking at the other boys) Come on, boys! Out we go. Let's go and find out if we should be working on any arrangements if needed.', grinned Balaram, playfully ruffling Krishna's hair. Krishna grinned back gratefully and the other three proceeded to head out of the room, when they heard Vasudeva call out, 'Boys! I need some help with these sacks of rice and other grains, come on, get some muscle work done along with the others!', 

'Just in time, coming Pitashree!', said Balaram as he ushered all the boys out, shutting the door after him.

Now, the mood was perfect. It was summer, yes. But the breeze that blew was nice and cool. Made up for the hot day that day. Krishna gently held the letter and went and sat exactly where Balaram was sitting. He sat there, closed his eyes, somehow managed to calm his excitement down and looked at the letter. It was the exact same scroll that Rukmini had sent to him, the first time. He closed his eyes again brought the letter to his nose and sniffed to happiness. He could smell Rukmini's essence in the letter. Getting excited, he gently opened the letter and began reading...

'Dearest Shyam!

I don't even know where to begin! I still think all of this is a dream. I am not doing anything, fearing that someone will wake me up and I would wake up back in Kaundinyapuram knowing that you would come to fetch me! (I know, I can't believe it too!)

But I know this is a dream coming true! I can't believe that you came so swiftly, that too for me? In one day? How Shyam? How did you have the heart to like me, despite knowing that Radha is the one for you?  Ever since I have heard about her, I just know that she is one beautiful soul. But sometimes, I feel guilty. (Guilty? Why?) Guilty because I feel I might have taken her place and that is not fair! (Sweetest! Seems like you forgot that I told you Radha was already married and she had approved of you to be my wife) I want to meet her someday and apologize for taking her place. I did not mean to. I did not know!

Guilt aside, I am unable to understand this feeling. You! I don't know how to look at you as my husband, despite wanting that all my life (he could see her smile nervously). I did not know that you were the man I had always loved and you became a friend. Not just a friend, my best friend. And without knowing anything, Sunanda and Kanika has pushed me so much in Mathura to fall in love with you. I refused, thinking I cannot betray the man I love, not knowing it was you (Haha, I know that! Kanika had told me). But still, the day you told me you love me, I cannot tell you. My heart forgot about the man I loved for some moments. I just fervently prayed that you were the man I loved so that there was no issue. And now look! You eventually turned out to be the same. The minute I laid my eyes on you at Mathura as its Prince, I was just hoping that you would be the man I love (While I absolutely resonate with whatever you say, what is this "THE MAN I LOVE"? Why don't you say Krishna?)

Oh! You must be wondering why I'm not using your name. I don't want to. Instead, I want to call you something that I have always called you in my heart. I know I have called you this just once. But it is a word very dear to me. (What is it? I can't wait to hear that from your mouth!) You know I always call you Shyam. But after we are married, I would love to call you Raaya (Raaya! How endearing is this!? I wonder what it means). Technically speaking, Raaya means Lord. But for me, it is something beyond that. It is a reflection of who you are in my soul.  You are the King of my world, not just the outside world. You are the guiding light to all the darkness in my life. You are the water that quenches thirst, you are the rain that cools, you are the Sun that creates, you are the food that satiates hunger, you are the deer that leaps in my heart, you are the lion that dispels my fears away, you are that friend who will stand by me no matter what! Okay I'm running out of adjectives. But this is who you are to me, Raaya. I know you are the reason I exist! And I know, so do you, if you had not come to kidnap me, I would have not survived. You have given me life. You are also the reason I am still alive. (This is flattery, Shree!! I am so honoured that you think of me this way! Raaya sounds so regal to my ears and yet so soulful and heart-filled! I would love to be called Raaya)

This entire kidnapping incident feel like Mukti to me. Freeing me from some shackles of my own mind. Freeing me to love you beyond myself. And oh! Thrilling it was! It was ages since I had a chariot ride like that! Thank you for that (I loved that too, haha. And I'm so glad to experience your freedom with you). Like we spoke yesterday night, I was quite afraid of meeting the family like this. I didn't know what your parents would think of me and most of all, I was scared of  Agrajaa Revati. Although you mentioned that she is very nice, I didn't know. And now, I feel she makes up for the lack of an older sister in my life. And little Subhadra, she is so sweet. She keeps pressing my hands and feet all the time, despite my asking her not to and she falls asleep on my lap so many times, haha. Mata Rohini and Mata Devaki have made me feel so at home. I don't feel like their daughter-in-law to be. I know I am their daughter. You know they fed me all my favourite dishes, exactly the way Matoshree would do! Pitashree and Matamaha are so kind to me. And your cousins! I feel like my brothers are all here. I am overwhelmed, Shyam! Yes, but overwhelmed with the love I have received. I don't know how to process it. So I've decided to do something nice. Maybe cook a thing or two for tomorrow's lunch. Tell me what you want. I'll specially make some for you and sent it across. (I though your love language was music, you want to cook? Anyways, I can't wait!)

I would have played something on my Veena, but since I don't have anything here, I have to make do with cooking for now. (Wait till you hear me playing. I'll play something like a Rageshri or a Bhageshri for you tonight. I am sure you'll just want to listen to me. I have never played anything for you.)

I cannot express Shyam, what is happening to me. I am just so happy. I feel so blessed. I cannot wait for us to get married and spend the rest our lives together!

Your dearest friend and would-be-wife,

Shree'

Krishna had tears as he finished reading the letter. He looked out of the window and saw that it was night. He looked at his waist, saw his dear little flute lying there peacefully. Smiling, he took it out. Gently placing it on his lips, he played. Rageshri, the raga for the sweetness in romance, peaceful, calming the nerves. The sound of his flute, spread. Spread all across Madhavpur. When it reached Rukmini's ears, she stood rooted in her position, unable to move. How overwhelmed she was. 

She looked at Revati who had shut her eyes, enjoying the music. Revati opened her eyes and just said. 'Kanha! He plays this only when he is extremely happy and overwhelmed'

Rukmini went up to the window, sat and just lost herself in meditation, experiencing something she had not expected from her Lord. He was a brilliant musician, she did not know he was this good. She knew he was very good, but this is beyond that. Any sane person would go into a trance. With each of the notes hitting her soul, she felt herself being energized. With love, positivity and a deep connection to the soul where he sat.