अन्तः अस्ति प्रारंभः।
The end is the beginning.
A caterpillar dies, to birth a butterfly. Water evaporates to rain down. Dead carcasses fill the stomachs of vultures.Life gives way to death and death to life. In a vicious circle of different karmas...
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The first day Rukmanetra came to Mihira's house, she still had not bought any chairs or settees. The prince took one look around the house, still empty, and looked back at Mihira.
She let him in without fanfare, holding his eyes. She would not be embarrassed about the lack of facilities in her house.
"Would you like some water, your excellency?" Mihira asked, leading him to sit down near a window for the fresh evening breeze and putting down a thin blanket for him to sit down on.
Rukmanetra wordlessly sat down and looked up at Mihira as he answered,"Yes, please, Devi. I hope I have not intruded?"
"No, you have not, your excellency." Mihira answered, always walking to the kitchen, thankful that she had bought a pot for water already. She brought the glass (the only one she currently owned) back to him.
Virat was already sniffing the prince, barking happily when he recognised the scent. Rukmanetra was scratching his head with a smile, slightly ruffling him around playfully. He leaned down to talk at the dog in some gibberish that Mihira did not understand and had no urge to understand.
For a second, she stared at them. Rukmanetra had never looked so happy, in all the months she had known him.
Perhaps, it was a good idea to ask his help in training Virat. ____________________________________________________
Virat was exceptionally amazing. He took to training like a fish to water and his violence was as beautiful as his submission. With a whistle, he would bite, and would always aim for the most vulnerable and vital parts of the body. With a snap, he would turn to Mihira and wag his tail and ask for belly rubs. It was amazing.
Rukmanetra became a sort of weekly presence at Mihira's house. He would come, stay and play with and train Virat, and then he would leave. Often, he would bring Rukmini with him, so that they could visit the Gauri temple that his sister so liked.
Eklavya had somehow convinced her that he would never harm her dog and now Eklavya and Virat often accompanied her to the market, while she went to buy furniture and other necessities for her house. It was highly embarrassing to see Rukmini and Rukmanetra share a plate of snacks because Mihira did not have any other plate at the time. Had it been anyone but Rukmini, she would not have even blinked. But her cosmic mother? Mihira would strive to treat her the best.
And so, the day Mihira came back from the market again, this time with curtains, fertilizers and seeds for her future garden, a mirror, and some fruits and vegetables, she was highly unsurprised to find Eklavya and Virat lounging in her living room, both sprawled on the ground very leisurely.
Mihira kicked Eklavya and ruffled Virat's head as Rukmanetra often did, the dog barking happily at her.
Eklavya did not even bother to open his eyes as he complained,"You reversed your greeting, wild girl."
