Hearing them talk about the last wish, my face was falling sad... Inside, I was feeling really terrible, but I couldn't show it, because all this was happening because of me... I had lost the bet, so how could I ask to stay any longer?.... And just when I was starting to settle in here and was trying my best to adjust, I was having to go back!.... I was thinking all this to myself while watching him, then suddenly he pulled both my cheeks, teasing me and saying, "Why are you taking so long? Hurry up... I have a lot of work to do,..... Don't you know how busy I am... Oh, pardon me, I forgot that you don't know how to do any work, so how would you know about work....!"
Saying that, he started laughing at me, showing his pearls teeth... I was feeling bad, and a little angry at him too... Earlier I had plucked a rose from Princess Shreya's garden just for Krishna, thinking I'd give it to him happily... but now, in frustration, I held it out towards him and started saying, "Last wish, is it?... Then do one thing... Keep this rose with you as a memory of me!"
"Just as a rose has thorns, so do you have anger... It's perfectly fitting that you chose a flower that resembles you.....The rose!" he said, taking the rose, smelling it, then placing it in his crown and smiling. He then asked, "How do I look?"
"Do you ever look bad? You always look good!" I muttered, pouting in a soft voice.
"Ah! Now that's something true you've said... Alright then, on account of that, I'll send you off quickly... I need to get some sleep too... Finally, a good sleep after so many days, now that the biggest trouble is leaving....!" he laughed, pulling my nose.
In anger, I shrugged his hand away and replied, "Then why did you call me if I was such a trouble for you ... I don't even enjoy annoying you, you know... Just hurry up and let me go..."
As sooner had I said that, he came up to me, placed one hand on my waist, and covered my eyes with the other. His touch sent a jolt through me again, the same feeling I had while coming here... I was feeling like I was floating in the air... I was scared, yet his touch was calming me... I was hearing a sound like the wind, and now and then, a bell would chime... Then suddenly, everything went quiet... My head felt dizzy; it seemed like I was going in circles... and slowly the feeling of his touch was gone...
When I quickly opened my eyes, there was no one around me... the temple I had come to was no longer there... Everything seemed like a dream... My head was spinning... The flower I had plucked on my way to the temple for him was lying at my feet... To my amazement, it was still fresh as if nothing had happened... Picking up the flower, tears welled up in my eyes. I held it close to my heart and started recalling the moments I'd spent with him... Was all of it just a dream? I thought as I cried... After a while, I pulled myself together and made my way home. As soon as I reached, I washed my face, hiding any signs of tears so no one would notice. Everything around me was familiar... but coming back here felt strange... I was delighted to see my family, yet every time Krishna came to mind, I felt like crying. I was scolding myself for being so stupid, for making so many mistakes... To distract myself, I started helping my mom in the kitchen... I was just waiting for night time so I could go to my room and cry alone in the dark by holding the pillow... I couldn't even explain to anyone what had happened, let alone express my sadness... So many times while helping my mother, I had held back my tears somehow.
During dinner preparations, I made an excuse, saying I had a stomach ache and wouldn't eat, as I had already eaten outside in the evening. I focused on serving food to everyone else. Just then, someone's voice was heard outside... My father and grandfather went to open the door... I saw my father entering the room with a brown bag. I asked him whose it was... Before he could answer, my grandmother, who was standing behind me, spoke up, "Oh! I forgot to tell you... A relative's son of ours got a new job in your city... so when you go back to your job after the holidays, take him along and arrange for a place for him to stay... There's an empty room in your flat, right? You'd mentioned it..."
YOU ARE READING
Krishna's Dimension (Ft.21st Century)
SpiritualeImagine walking alone at dawn, the soft whispers of leaves and the distant melody of birds surrounding me. Their rhythm feels strangely familiar, almost as if nature itself is sending me messages from Him-Krishna. But today, something is different...