"In this birth you never loved me shri Narayan. I did everything to make happy but you never gave me a chance. Thus, when my soul departs from this body i only want peace which i never got in this birth. If I take rebirth I shall forget everything a...
The journey to Dwarka was filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement. The *makane* line could hardly contain their emotions. The prospect of seeing the fabled city of Dwarka, combined with the presence of their beloved Kanha, had them bubbling over with joy. They were lost in their own world, chattering away about the wonders they expected to see and the adventures they hoped to have. Every now and then, one of them would glance at Kanha, their eyes brimming with adoration.
Arjun walked beside Kanha, deep in conversation. Though Arjun was usually a man of few words, with Kanha, he felt a natural ease. The bond they shared went beyond words—there was an unspoken understanding between them, a mutual respect that only grew stronger with time. As they walked, Arjun found himself smiling more often, the worries of war and politics momentarily forgotten in the company of his divine friend.
Aarya, who walked on Kanha’s other side, was positively glowing. Her heart swelled with happiness just being near her brother. It was as though the very air around him filled her with peace and contentment. She didn’t need to say anything; her joy was evident in the way she walked, the lightness in her step, and the warmth in her smile. Every once in a while, she would glance at Kanha, her eyes filled with the purest form of sibling love.
But amidst all this happiness, Ishana was a storm of conflicting emotions. She walked a little behind the group, her eyes flicking between her sisters and Kanha, her mind racing. Her heart was a battlefield where love and fear clashed with relentless force. She knew her sisters were aware of her complex feelings for Kanha. They had always sensed the turmoil within her, the struggle between her affection for him and her desire to keep him at arm’s length. They wished she would just talk to him, confront her feelings instead of hiding them away. But Ishana wasn’t ready for that. She couldn’t afford to be vulnerable, not now.
As much as she tried to suppress her emotions, Ishana couldn’t deny the truth. She was deeply, hopelessly in love with Kanha. But her love was not the light, carefree affection that her sisters felt—it was something darker, more intense. It consumed her thoughts, filled her dreams, and left her feeling exposed and raw. She was obsessed with him in a way that scared her. She knew that if she allowed herself to feel, to truly express what was in her heart, she would be lost. Her carefully laid plans, her ambitions for her future and that of her sisters, would crumble. And that was something she simply could not allow.
So she kept her distance, even as she watched her sisters bask in Kanha’s attention. She told herself it was better this way, that it was safer to keep her heart locked away. But as she observed the easy camaraderie between Kanha and the *makane*, a pang of longing shot through her. They looked so perfect together, so at ease, while she felt like an outsider, dark and cold in the shadow of Kanha’s brilliant light. She convinced herself that she didn’t want that light in her life. It was better to stay in the dark, where she could maintain control, where her heart would remain her own.
Finally, they reached Dwarka. The city was as magnificent as the stories had told—an ethereal blend of beauty and grandeur that seemed to float above the shimmering waters. The gates of Dwarka opened to welcome them, and the sisters gasped in unison at the sight that greeted them. The streets were lined with gold and precious gems, the air filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers. It was truly a heaven on earth, and the girls were in awe.
As they entered the palace, they were met by the queens—Devaki and Rohini—and the great king Vasudev himself, along with Mahabhali Balram. The royal family greeted them with warmth and love, embracing them as though they were long-lost daughters. Even the grandfather, the great Ugrasena, welcomed them with open arms. Aarya felt like she had come home, surrounded by such love and affection. Devaki and Rohini, in particular, doted on her as if she were their own child, their fondness for her evident in every gesture. Aarya was deeply touched, feeling blessed to have Kanha as her brother and this wonderful family as her guardians.
But as the warm greetings were exchanged, Ishana’s anxiety grew. She met Balram’s gaze and saw the same penetrating intelligence in his eyes that she had seen in Kanha’s. He was just as formidable, just as capable of seeing through her defenses. She realized with a sinking heart that she was truly stuck here, in this beautiful city, surrounded by people who could unravel her every secret if they chose to. And she had no idea when she would be able to leave for Alynthi, where she felt she could breathe freely.
The brothers, Kanha and Balram, exchanged knowing glances. Ishana’s discomfort did not escape their notice. They had plans, and those plans certainly involved Ishana. Kanha was determined to help her see the truth she was so desperate to avoid, to make her confront her feelings, her fears, and the darkness she harbored within. He loved her deeply, just as he loved his other sisters, but he knew that Ishana’s journey would be the hardest. He was prepared to guide her through it, to challenge her in ways that would force her to grow, to accept the light that she was so afraid of embracing.
As the family settled in, Vasudev and Ugrasena couldn’t help but be intrigued by Ishana. There was something different about her, something they couldn’t quite put their finger on. They saw the same beauty and grace in her that they saw in her sisters, but there was a sharpness, a guardedness, that set her apart. It piqued their curiosity, and they wondered what it was that made her so different.
Kanha, however, knew exactly what they were sensing. He could read Ishana’s thoughts, her fears, and her desires as clearly as if they were written on her face. He smiled to himself, knowing that the time would come when all would be revealed. For now, he was content to let things unfold naturally, but he was ready. When the moment came, he would ensure that Ishana could no longer hide from the truth—about him, about herself, and about the love that she was so determined to deny.
