Yaduvansham

Eight • Lost and Found

The next few days of Arjuna at Dwaraka didn’t go quite well.

He had earned a new nickname by his in-laws: ‘Mr. Fortune Teller’. He could hear comments like, ‘Sir, could you tell whether it would rain or not?’ or ‘When will the harvesting season begins in Dwaraka?’ or ‘Could you peek in the future and tell us, good sir, what will I be wearing tomorrow?” or even ‘Sire, will Krishna ever grow up?’.

Krishna teasingly even placed his palm before him as asked him check his lifeline, future and end. Arjuna argued that Krishna knew the future better than him. But a small answer came, “But still. I would like to test your predicting abilities.”

Arjuna had enough. He stomped his foot and threw his hands down, scowling, like a stubborn kid. He dashed to Devaki’s chambers and dug his face into her lap. After that no one dared to tease him regarding that episode, not even Krishna.

Rest of the days went peacefully in pleasant ambience of Dwaraka. They were actually supposed to visit Prabhasa and did, in a few days. The journey was amazing. The waves of the sea splashed against their boat and ran off when they tried to capture them. Krishna tried to bring out the topic of the Fortune Teller, but one look from Devaki was enough to keep him quite.

Prabhasa was a wonderful spot. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Mahadeva was situated there, Somnatha. Chandra had performed severe penance and pleased Lord Shankara to gain his lost radiance. It is said that whoever visits this sacred place gains all that he has lost, like Chandra Deva did.

The Yadavas were great devotees of Mahadeva. They visited the Somnatha temple quite frequently and were doing so again.

Visiting Somnatha was a divine experience. They freshended themselves and paied their reverence to the almighty lord. Served the other devotees with their own hands and donated wealth amongst the poor. And even had a bit of fun. The waited there for a few days, to absorb the holiness of the temple and after a week, they chose to depart.

Abhimanyu was like his Uncle Krishna more than his parents. Mischievous, naughty and also Chanchal. Sitting in his swing, the whole day was not according to his character. He could now take complete steps and speak full sentences in his baby-ish voice.

Subhadra kept him down on the mattress, for a change. It would later turn to be a big mistake she committed. Abhimanyu was more hyperactive that other kids of his age, not denying that also learnt very quickly. One intresting thing he saw, and he just chased it.

Today, that thing was a rabbit who had lost its path and sought shelter in their tents.
It saw Abhimanyu alone. It was a tiny creature but adorable as well. It rushed towards Abhimanyu and sniffed him. Abhimanyu being Abhimanyu found it funny and extended his hands to pull the ears of the rabbit. That act scared the poor creature and it immediate fled to the forest nearby.

“Wait. Don’t go.” Abhimanyu chased it. Falling a thousand times in path, yet he made all the attempts he could to keep track of the rabbit and did, till he quite deep inside the forest.