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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"Redemption does not exist." Mihira told Rukmanetra, when he spoke about penances and redemptions, giving him a long look.
Rukmanetra briefly looked at her while his hands continued to play around with the twigs, making a sort of frame with the wood and the other flexible stems of plants laying about. His hands flew at a speed which spoke of years of practice and habit, sheer muscle memory.
Rukmanetra raised an eyebrow. "You do not believe in redemption, yet you are coming with me, to go to my sister and her future husband, to beg for forgiveness and favour?"
Mihira raised an eyebrow in return, ignoring the miling about of the small retinue of soldiers behind them as they set up tents. Being the only woman in the group meant that Mihira would get a smaller tent but thankfully she would have it all to herself. And she did not even have to do the work! Bless the gentlemen of Vidharbh army, truly.
"Firstly, my prince, I do not beg." Her arrogance had often cost her some bruises in Kaliyug. "And while Didi and Bhaginipati would be an exception to that rule, I do reiterate that we are going there for a simple peace talk. If they accept to help us, that is their generosity."
He waved a hand dismissively. His fingertips were red from fiddling with the rough wood for so long and he had callouses on his hands from riding his horse for a whole day. Mihira had similar callouses. They had ridden hard and fast to cover the distance from Kundinapuri to Ambikapur, where the Dwarkan army was reported to be nearing.
It was a safe place near the river Tapti and while the Dwarkan party was slower relatively due to such a large number of people and the necessary luxury to be provided to the royals, if Rukmini and Krishna crossed the border to Ujjain or Avanti, the idea of talking to them in an another state was way worse than in no man's land, Ambikapur. If such sensitive talks took place in other states, spies and later controversies could pose too many threats.
Rukmanetra nodded. "Yes, I agree. However, back on the point, if Dwarkadish and Rukmini forgive us and if we prove to be trustworthy, would we not be redeemed?"
Mihira shrugged. "If I apologised to the families of the people whom I killed in Vidharbh, in order to ensure the safe passage of Krishna and his army, would I be redeemed?"
"No, but you could be forgiven. Being forgiven and being redeemed are two different things, Mihira."
Mihira took a deep breath, something melancholy settling between her ribs. She looked away, looking down at the trishul ring of hers. "And if we deserve none?"
"Irrelevant. In this world, no one gets what they deserve. They get what they have earned." Rukmanetra said, voice awfully gentle. "It does not matter if you think you do not deserve it. Forgiveness and redemption are all in the hands of the giver. The giver decides who deserves forgiveness. Just as you cannot force someone to forgive you, you cannot force someone to despise you."
