Kaal Chakra

25. अभिघात

अभिघात - Meaning 'attack'
                              
                              *******
Dwarka

Panchami, Chaitra Shukla Paksha, 5000 BCE

"How on earth do you eat this?" Balarama asked, finally forgoing his spoon and simply picking up one noodle with his fingers.

Looking at the frail piece of pasta hanging limply in his mighty hands, Lakshmi stifled a snort of amusement at the sight.

"We have a special type of spoon for that," She replied, schooling her features to remain serious. "It has three teeth at the front which allows us to pick it up easily."

"I see," The crown prince of Dwarka murmured.

"You can also eat it with your hands, if you like. That's what I used to do anyway," Lakshmi told him, demonstrating to him right after. As she slurped her noodles noisily, the two mothers gasped at the sight.

"Putri!" Rohini exclaimed faintly, staring at her in shock.

"What?" Lakshmi asked innocently, licking the sauce off her lips.

"That is not how a princess eats!" Devaki reprimanded her.

"Yes, where are your manners, Lakshu?" Krishna asked in a mock-stern voice, a mischievous sparkle gleaming in his eyes.

"But Bhratashree," Lakshmi whined, "This is how we eat spaghetti at home in my time! And I am in my home here, am I not?"

Upon hearing her argument, a satisfied smile crept up on Dwarkadheesh's face.
"Indeed," He agreed, "This is your home, Lakshu. Isn't it, Mata?" He asked his mothers, turning his all-knowing gaze on them. At his ever-so charming smile, both royal women relented gracefully, making the nineteen year old princess promise to only eat so when she was in the presence of her family.

While she solemnly swore to do so, Lakshmi couldn't hold back a tiny smile and received a light swat on her arm for her efforts from Rohini.

"I saw that," She scolded, although everyone could easily detect the amusement in the undertones of her voice.

"Mata," Lakshmi said in a wounded tone, rubbing her arm with a pout.

"Oh hush, you" Devaki said, tweaking her nose and feeding her a morsel, making her close her mouth automatically. When she was done chewing, she threw a betrayed look in the direction of her brothers, who were looking far too delighted at the thought of someone else being reprimanded instead of them.

"You are supposed to be on my side," She groused, struggling to keep her face straight.

"We are," Krishna assured her.

"We are just happy that it is not us who are being chastised by our mothers!" Balarama interjected gleefully and everyone burst out laughing, including Lakshmi herself.

                                                                                                         ********
"I had never been to Dwarka in my time," Lakshmi said to her brothers as the four of them walked barefoot (on her insistence) on the warm sand, listening to the waves crash on the beach.

"Is that so?" Uddhava mused, looking at her.

"Hmm, I had been begging to go for years but whenever we made a plan to visit, it would always get cancelled for some reason or the other. It was maddening." Lakshmi said.

"Look on the brighter side, you are here after all." Balarama told her, mussing up her hair with his large hand.

"I guess I am," Lakshmi admitted. "It seems that someone finally heard my prayers." She added, throwing a quick look in Krishna's direction who caught it and sent a cheesy grin in return. After a momentary silence from all of them, the crown prince of Dwarka spoke up.