Radha waited excitedly. This night was surely eventful. She looked at the moon, and was surprised. The moon was nearing the western horizon! Which meant in a few hours, it would be the Brahma Muhurta (around 4.00 am)!! Which meant that that the night would be over soon! Where was Krsna?
"Where is he, Vrinda?"
Vrinda didn't respond.
Radha looked at her friend and, in a flush of compassion, almost forgot about Krsna. Vrinda was dozing among the flower bed. Radha smiled at her priya sakhi. Despite being the presiding goddess of the forest, Vrinda had chosen to take a human form, just to serve her and Krsna. She had run as messenger for them all night! No wonder she was tired!
"Guess this Leela has to continue without Vrinda for time being..." Radha sighed. She recalled the purpose of the Leela. It was - "No Radhe! If some gandharva or rishi tries to eavesdrop?" she cautioned herself.
She closed her eyes...
***The Rasa Festival had reached a state of Paramananda!
As the moon moved further along the horizon, Krsna smiled! He raised his flute and with a flush, played a melodious trill in Kambhoji! The gopikas looked at him in delight, and at once began -"Agamagizhndilagum Nilavoli thanile Thanai marandhu Pullinam Koova
Ashaindaadi miga ishandodi varum nalam kaana oru manam naada
Tagumigu ena oru padam paada takita tadhimi ena natam aada
Kanru Pashuvinamum ninru pudai soozha enrum malarumukha iraivan kanivodu
- Kuzhaloothi Manamellam Kollai Konda Pinnum, Kurai Edhum Enakkedadi! Sakhiye!"
"Our hearts are at bliss under this moonlight, like the birds who gather around, forgetting everything else! When he dances and sings running, we eager to see his beautiful face! To sing the lyrics of a song, to dance to the tunes of it! As the Cows and calves graze around, that ever-smiling god pulls out his flute - and oh Sakhi! When he has thus stolen my heart, what more do I need?"
***
Radha blinked her eyes. She had just witnessed such bliss, it was hard to come out of her divine vision! But then, Krsna was in Bliss with the other gopikas! And that meant he wasn't coming!
Vrinda awoke. Radha gave her a nostalgic look, and Vrinda guessed it. "He is still in Rasa Leela, isn't he?"
"What is the use of waiting, Vrinda?! He has not come, the moon is bright in the sky, and here I am, waiting for him!
"I am simply tired of searching and waiting and searching and waiting! Kamadeva is relentlessly shooting arrows at me! What will I do without Krsna? I feel its better to just leave this body! Of what use is my youth and beauty if it doesn't please him? Of what use are my jewels if they do not charm his mind? Of what use are these flowers-" she pointed at her garden, "if I cannot worship him with them! Those gopikas are highly fortunate to be dancing with him tonight! Krsna is is not at all bothered! I offer my laments to his feet; at least then will he listen?!"
Vrinda sensed that Radha was losing her spirit. "Perhaps," she said, "It would help to describe what you just saw?"
"What I just saw? Oh, it was a delightful sight, Vrinda! Just listen, you'll feel exhilarated!" Vrinda listened, glad that at least her sakhi's mind was diverted.
"He is kissing Chandravali and applying the Kasturi mark on her face! Just like the rabbit-mark on the mon, her face glows with the Kasturi! That victorious Krsna is delighting the gopikas on the banks of Yamuna!
He is decorating all the gopikas hair with the Kuravaka flowers, and they look like deer in the dense jungle of the gopis' hair! He decorates their breasts with Kasturi, the gems on their body shining like the stars in the sky! On Padma's lotus like arm, he is tying an emarald bracelet!
On Rati-Manjari's waist, he is decorating it with a golden studded chain! On his chest, where Lakshmi Devi resides, the gopis are placing their hands stained with kumkum, thus looking like rubies on emerald!
Oh, anyone singing these glories of his will be relievd from all sins, Vrinda! When he enjoys with all the gopikas thus, my heart awaits his - wait, why am I waiting here in vain for him? He is enjoying with those gopikas!"
Ad once again, gloom descended on Radha.
Vrinda put her hand on her friend's shoulder, and Radha's eyes filled with tears.
"You don't understand Vrinda. He has special love for me! He loves me more than his own life! If he doesn't come, why should I live?
Any woman who looks at those lotus eyes, tender with compassion, does not feel pain. His voice is like nectar, cooling down our anger, and filling us with love! What in comparison is this breeze? Any woman who loves Krsna cannot be torn down by that ferocious God of Love! The moon can never compare to his cool feet, which always offer refuge to his devotees! His personality is like a rain-cloud, always showering his love on all! Ordinary clouds cannot even touch the border of the level of his love! The robes, he wears, of pure yellow colour, further beautify him! He is the most handsome in all the fourteen Lokas! Indeed, all his devotees delight in these descriptions! But I am so unfortunate that I can't even attain him! Of what use is this life to me?"
Radha wiped her tears and looked at the horizon. The moon was about to set. And Krsna was nowhere to be seen.
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