In my Heart 💙

Health

“Why? When I thought I could distract myself from him, by working hard and giving my best at this work … Why does it have to revolve around him again? Was that why I felt unknown excitement while decorating the house? Oh God! Why does he have to come here, when I want to be away from him?”

She looked up. From that spot, she could see her own house at a considerable distance. Tears clouded her vision.

“Now he will torture me every day, by appearing before my eyes. It was enough trouble trying to get him out of my mind, when he was not here. But now, it might even be impossible.”

She sucked in a deep breath and the hair on the back of her neck stood. A shiver ran through her whole body. That is when she heard people shouting. “They are here!”

She saw almost a hundred bullock carts approaching the village in a long queue. There was discipline even in each movement of the animals. Men were walking on either sides of the carts, with long cane sticks in their hands. In the carts, were luggage, beautiful women, old people and kids. Seeing so many people come towards their village, made her shiver but also extremely peaceful at the same time.

“Radha! Don’t create a scene. Come welcome them.” Her mother ordered and she silently followed her, wiping her tears.

First persons to arrive, were the family of Nanda Maharaj. His gorgeous wife, a motherly figure, Yashoda, greeted Radha with a warm hug, which instantly soothed her. Then came out two young boys from the cart, one of them she knew. The other, the elder son Balaram, looked very similar to his younger brother, except for the light complexion and a more serious face. He greeted her with a small genuine smile, which she returned.

Finally, the one whom she never wanted to meet again {Or did she?} smirked at her. The peacock feather on top of his head, stood proudly though it seemed tangled in the dark curls. She averted her gaze, trying desperately to make herself busy, in order to avoid interaction with him.

Fortunately for her, the house warming ritual started immediately and everyone got busy.

She too helped in making the kheer and served everyone. The whole village had a grand lunch together and the atmosphere resembled a festival mood.

By dusk, for some reason, she wanted to go to her special place. When no one was looking, she sneaked away, and sat by the banks, shedding tears, which dropped into the sweet waters of the river.

“I loved the house. Especially my room, the one that overlooks the lotus pond.”

She turned around to find him sitting close to her. {Was I so lost that I did not observe him sitting beside me?} Unable to bear his proximity, she got up to go away. But he grabbed her wrist.

“Why Radha? I have come all the way from Vraj Kunj for you, and you are running away from me! Why are you avoiding me?”

“You are not good for my health.”

“What?”

“You will definitely give me a heart break. And that is not good for my health.”

He laughed, a laugh that could light up the whole universe. “What does that mean?”

“You very well know what it means.”

“I am sorry, but I don’t understand.”

He pulled her closer, and she landed in his lap. Her breath hastened, her heart thumped like a wild hammer. Her body felt tingles all over. “I … mean … this.” She tried to speak in between her gasps for breath.

“In that case, you too are not good for my health.” He placed her palm on his chest and his heart thumped like hers. “But I need not worry about my health, as long as you are with me.” He whispered in her ear and her breath stopped. She dived again into his ocean-like deep eyes.