Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 37 - Day 2 - Afternoon

'Boys, come on out, it's time for lunch!', called out Vasudeva. 

All five of them came out and Krishna's eyes first saw them at the door. Rukmini's five brothers. They all stood awestruck, at the sight of the man that would be their brother-in-law, looking at them with nothing but pure affection. His eyes smiled joyfully as he saw them. Behind them, he saw his friends, Devaka, Upadevaka and Jayant. Grinning broadly, he walked up to them and sought the blessings of all the five brothers.

'Keshav! Finally, we meet you publicly as our bother-in-law to be!', said Rukmaratha.

'Bhrata Ratha, the pleasure is all mine. Shree would not be happy if you would not have come for the wedding. I am so glad you could all make it.', said Krishna, broadly smiling at them.

'And you will keep all of our family waiting at the door. How shameless are you Kanha!?', said Balaram, his arms folded, clicking his tongue. Approaching Rukmi with a folded hands and a warm smile, Balaram said,

'Honoured that you have come to our home, Yuvaraj. Please make yourself comfortable. And anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask any of us. We are family now. And by all means, please feel free to punish Kanha as and when he errs. You are our elder brother', and smirked at Krishna

Krishna chuckled to himself at Balaram's comment. Rukmi folded his hands and said with guilt in his voice and face,

'Rukmini is so fortunate that she has a brother like you to protect her. We are grateful that our sister has come to your home, Halayudha! I still cannot believe that I was such a fool to refuse a groom like Krishna for my sister.',

'Not your fault at all, Bhrata! Your hatred was fueled by Matamaha Jarasandha's hatred.  Why would you not trust someone who you have trusted since childhood? Please don't fret.', consoled Balaram. 

'Let me formally introduce. This is my older brother, Balaram. Son of Mata Rohini.', introduced Krishna to the five brothers of Rukmini.

'Of course! We know! The great Rauhineya!', said Rukmaratha.

'Bhrata! How can we call you?', asked Rukmamaali.

'As you wish, my dear Maali! But let me tell you, I have fancied this name. Anant. You could call me that!', laughed Balaram as he warmly welcomed them.

'Halayudha for me, Rauhineya for Ratha and Anant for the rest of you! Deal?', asked Rukmi.

Agreeing, they all laughed merrily. Krishna then walked up to Devaka, Upadevaka and Jayant and enveloped them in a warm embrace. 

'We don't even know how to address you now. Shyam, Kanha or Maharaj!', laughed Jayant.

'I am the same old Shyam for you! No matter where I go, what I do! And you know that too!', Krishna made a face. 

'We are so happy that you are getting married to Shree!!! We cannot contain ourselves.', Upadevaka. 

'So can't we!', Balaram came forward and embraced them all.

'Congratulations on your wedding Sankarshana! ', they all wished him, at which Balaram gracefully accepted their good wishes. 

'Time for some more introductions. This is our family friend Satyaki, around Krishna's age. He is more like our cousin than a friend. This is another cousin, Uddhav. And this man here, you are familiar with, the Middle Pandava, Arjun. And mind you, the rest of the Pandavas will arrive here very soon!', introduced Balaram and there was the next five minutes of all the young men mingling with one another and becoming extremely close to one another, without barriers of the position of King and Subject. They were all equal.