Krishnatmika Rukmini

Chapter 8 - Shattered

Disclaimer: Author, that is I, in no way, under no circumstances agree with the concept of Child marriage. But since, this is Dwapara yuga I am writing about and me manipulating the ages of characters may cause confusion in timeline, I'm doing this. So, please... no negative comments. I don't have any choice here.
★★★

Days later

The people in the huge palace was met with beautiful rhythmic music of different instruments. An air of celebration filled the air though it was like any normal day.

Rukmini after her routinely visit to the Goddess had already returned and was watering the beautiful plants of the palace. She, hearing all the commotion, turned towards Chandrika who bore the same confusion.

She with reluctant steps returned to her room along with chandrika and peeked in from the large window with a frown etched on her features.

It didn't took her much time to recognise Shishupala who was her brother's dearest ally. Whenever she meets Shishupala, his birth story comes to her mind.

Shishupala was born to Maharaja Damaghosha of Chedi and his wife Srutashrava, who was a sister of Vasudeva. The speciality of his birth is that he was born with three eyes and four arms. His parents' inclination of abandoning him due to his unearthly form was blocked by an Akashvani which exposed the fact that, his form would change to a normal one when he would be taken into the lap of his destined killer.

This prophesy was established true when Krishna, who came to meet his cousin took Shishupala into his lap, making his extra body parts disappear in an instant.

Discovering that her nephew would be the killer of her son, Srutashrava begged Krishna to forgive atleast hundred sins of Shishupala. Krishna, unable to disregard this motherly love, agreed to this request of his paternal aunt.

But what Rukmini didn't knew was that Shishupala was Ravana reborn, and the third incarnation of Jaya, one of the gatekeepers of the divine Vaikuntha. He was born on earth due to the curse of four kumaras who were rejected entrance to vaikuntha by Jaya and Vijaya.

And it was their devotion and inability to bear separation from their lord which lead them to choose the option of being born as enemy to Lord Vishnu for three consecutive lives instead of being born as devotees for seven lives.

Rukmini was brought out of her trance by the music nearing.

At the entrance, Shishupala was warmly welcomed by his dear friend Yuvraj Rukmi, Rajkumar Rukmaratha, Rukmakethu, Rukmabahu, Rukmanetra and Maharaja Bhishmaka who's face held an expression of confusion and tension.

"Welcome"Rukmi exclaimed with hand extended for hug.

"What is the purpose of this sudden visit Shishupala?" Maharaja Bhishmaka asked politely.

"I have called him here to discuss some important matters" Rukmi replied to Bhishmaka and lead Shishupala bearing a sly smile on his face, to the interior of palace.

As Rukmini was the only female member of the family, she was obliged to do Aarti of royal guests that arrived in the palace.

Everyone stopped in their track seeing Rukmini coming towards them with elegant strides bearing Aarti thali in her hands. Her face held neither happiness nor sadness.

As she reached closer, Rukmi silently nodded indicating her to do the Aarti. After doing the Aarti, she took herself to the side to make way for the guest. Though the strange glance Shishupala gave her just now and the discomfort she felt due to it pondered in her mind making her furious.

Shishupala was made to sit on a large comfortable coat while Rukmi took position in the adjacent seat.

"It has been so long since I last met you" Said Rukmi with enthusiastic voice. Shishupala nodded in agreement.

"So let us come straight to the point" Rukmi said looking at Bhishmaka sitting opposite to him. Bhishmaka knew that something was up.

"I would like to marry off my only and beloved sister, Rukmini to you" Rukmi said shocking Bhishmaka and Shishupala alike. But unlike Bhishmaka, it made Shishupala happy.

"Rukmi... How could you.."

"Pitashree, I will talk to you later about this" Rukmi cut off his father and continued

"The wedding would take place within four days. We don't have much time. You do agree, right Shishupala?"

"Why would I not agree? It is a thing more than happy for me that our friendship would evolve into relationship." Shishupala who always desired to get Rukmini as his wife, said, his features enhanced with delight and a smirk that one would give when achieving something.

Time went by as they talked about all that they could with each other and before anyone knew it, it was night. Though Rukmi insisted Shishupala to stay in Vidarbha itself, he returned to chedi promising that he would come to take Rukmini along with him.

Rukmi avoiding any interaction with his father went to his room. But of course he couldn't do it everytime.

Bhishmaka ordered Rukmi to come to his huge chamber early in the morning. Rukmi like an obedient child came and exclaimed "What is it Pitashree?"

"What do you think you are doing? You certainly are the Yuvraj, but you don't have the power to take decisions on your own. And that too  decision on my daughter's marriage."

"Isn't she my sister too? What I did is absolutely right."

"Care to explain how?" Bhishmaka said with a stern look.

"Pitashree, try to understand. Right now there is nothing more important than making our relations with other kingdoms strong. The kingdom of Chedi have one of the most efficient army. And they are also very good with Magadh. Since Shishupala has such a good relation with Magadhnaresh Jarasandha, they will not part away for sure."

Bhishmaka nodded as Rukmi continued "So, even if we happen to be under adverse situations it is important that we are aided by somebody. And the best option is definitely Chedi and Magadh as they are two of the strongest in aryavarta. So, to maintain this, there should definitely be a wedlock in between. In addition, this marriage will elevate our status even higher." Rukmi looked at Bhishmaka after justifying his actions.

"And this could be beneficial to destroy that evil Krishna" Rukmi muttered to himself.

Bhishmaka after thinking about it for sometime, nodded in positive affirmations manipulated by the words delivered by Rukmi on political strategies and gain, such that he forgot about anything he thought about this unwanted marriage initially, making the little hope of Rukmini, who was standing outside the room, shatter into million pieces.

And just like that, Rukmi turned a relation sacred as marriage to a deal made for gain, drowning his sister's right to choose her husband and literally every decisions in her life. He was completely blinded by his ego and the thirst to gain power that he dismissed Dharma and a woman's self esteem and respect, which is by the way often overlooked by people who view her just as a commodity. Even Bhishmaka, though tried to resist this advance of his son, could not shun the urge of gaining power inside him and the immense fondness which he held for his son. And this urge and fondness led him to forget about the innocent love his daughter grew in her heart for Govinda

★★★

Glossary

•Akashvani - Bodyless sound (literally translates to 'words from the sky')
•Aarti - A kind of ritual done during auspicious occasions
•Govinda - Another name of Krishna
★★★

I am extremely sorry if this chapter is kinda rushed. Classes have started and it's just... *Frustrated*
Again sorry for making it rushed but I don't know what else to show. And rukku is 16 here if u haven't understood that.

Please vote if u find this worthy enough for one...ಥ╭╮ಥ