The vibrant colours of
springtime had never been so enticing,
thought Rukmini. The roses never looked redder, the breeze was never
smoother. The clear blue ocean stretched out into the vast horizon
holding out bright promises for the future.
She stood upon the veranda of her palatial mansion by the sea. Mayavati and Rukmavati, her daughters-in-law were walking along the shore
with Pradyumn, who held his son Anirudhha by this finger. The little boy turned
and waved at her. Stretching out his hand he called out in his childish tongue,
"Gramma!" The princesses quietly lowered their veils, while
she beckoned the child to come near her.
As they came closer, she looked up into the
sea.
Rocking baby Anirudhha, Rukmani asked her son, "When would your father
be back?"
"Soon enough Maa." he replied, "According to the royal
messengers, he should be here by afternoon. But, why do you ask?"
"Pradyumn, it's been a whole year since he left for Indraprastha.
Perhaps your wives would know how I feel. Here. Be careful, Maya!" she
handed over Anirudhha to her elder daughter-in-law and moved away from them.
She went around the palace directing her maids, and occasionally aiding them in the decoration of the palace."Sulakshana! Wind up the
marigold tassel there. Put up the garlands beside the auspicious banana tree
near the main gate. Padma, you go and gather some durva for the aarti!"
she said.
. ---
He smiled down at her while she performed the aarti. He is tired, she thought as she sprinkled some holy water over his
head to ward off the evil spirits that might be lurking around. She silently followed him to their room as
they passed the courtyard where he laughed and exchanged news with the soldiers
who guarded their private chambers. He cared for them and they loved him back.
As soon as Rukmini closed the gates of their bedroom, Krishna collapsed onto their bed. Rukmini rushed to him, "Hello?! Your shoes! You haven't opened them."
"Let them be, darling!"
"N and o, NO!"
"You're too strict Ruki!"
"You do this every time, right?"
"No I don't!"
"Yes, you do."
"No I don't!"
"Well! When did you not do this last?"
"Umm, last time? No, the time before that. No? Fine, I don't remember."
"Take off your shoes."
"That includes bending down, opening the laces of the right one, taking my feet out of it and then-"
"Oh, stop the rant! I'll do it. As usual."
---
In the dining room, Rukmini was mildly surprised when he ordered everyone to leave the room. When she rose to leave, he pulled her back and said, "I don't feel like eating today." Her palm immediately rose to his forehead to check the temperature, but he caught it midway. "You feed me, I meant." Rukmini narrowed her eyes, glaring at him with a coy smile on her face.
A moment of silence prevailed.
With a indulging laugh, she fed him as he gazed dreamily at her. "What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing. I'm happy. Back at home."
