***

[Vidarbha]

"Princess , stop! Plucking flowers is my duty! What are you doing? If the Crown Prince sees this, it'll be disastrous."

Jaya ran after Mata Rukmini, trying her best to ensure that the princess, who was wandering barefoot in the garden today, didn't step on any thorn.

But Mata was not one to stop.

"I don't know why, Jaya! Today, my heart is filled with great joy!"

"Really! What's the reason? Tell me, so I can share in the joy too."

As soon as the birds in the garden noticed Mata Rukmini wandering freely, they flew over to her immediately. Some kissed her feet, some played with her hands.

A few sat on her shoulders, and those who couldn't find a place perched on her head.

"Daring creatures!"

"Oh Jaya! These birds only know love. They are unaware of proper conduct."
"And just look at these sweet-sounding birds! Today must indeed be a very auspicious day."

Laughing, the princess began to spin around in circles, like the earth rotating on its axis!

Jaya stopped Mata, not out of anger, but out of concern for her. She worried that Mata might get dizzy and fall.

"Calm down, Rajkumari, calm down! Tell me, why are you-"

"Rukmini!!! What are you doing here?"

That harsh and grating voice! This voice had always been stern towards Mata, and who knew if it would ever change.

"Bhratashree! You are here? Do you need flowers too? If you want, I can-"

"Why do you keep these maids with you if you are going to do all the work yourself?"

Rukmi's voice made Jaya tremble completely.

***

»»——•°•𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚊 𝚁𝚞𝚔𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒 (1)•°•——««

***

Even Mata lowered her head, not out of fear, but because he was her elder brother.

Respect....!

Jaya was shaking as if she had seen death itself.

But Mata, being omniscient, knew everything. Although Rukmi's way of speaking was rude, his voice concealed the love for his sister, just hidden behind a veil of ego.

"And what are you doing in the garden, barefoot? Do you have any concern for yourself?"

Rukmi's face was red with anger, but Mata's words were so soothing that even wilted flowers would bloom, not to mention a brother's heart.

"Brother! With you around, I don't need to worry about myself."

"Don't try to cast your spell of words on me. And-"

He placed his sandals in front of Mata and looked away.

"Father is calling you."
"But remember, if you attempt to do the servants' work again, the consequences won't be good."

Mata wore the sandals with a sweet smile.

This elder brother deeply cared for his younger sister. If only he could let go of his pride and jealousy, history would have taken a new turn.
But well..!

***

"Onnneeee Hundreeedddd Onnneeee.....................
.......................

Onnnnneeeee Hunddrreeedddd
Twwwwwoooooooooo....................
.............

Ooonnnneeeee Huuuuunnnnnddddrrrrrreeeedddddd .......... Thrrrrreeeeeeee...............

Oooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeee Hhhuuuuuuuuunnnnnnddddddrrrrrrrrreeeeeeedddddddd .........
.......... Fffffffooooooooooouuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrr...........!!!! "

And a sweat-drenched Krishna collapsed, completely exhausted, and didn't get up again.

"Enough, Prabhu ! I'm exhausted. I can't do this anymore."

"Krishu! You haven't
even done half."

"What do you mean I haven't done half! This is double and two more than the exercises in my regular training."

Kanha raised his eyebrows.

"So?"
"The size of the demons wishing to harm me is also double and two more than your size."

Kanha crossed his arms, trying to stifle his laughter but failing to hide the amusement in his eyes.

"I found it! I found it! I found it!"

Chitra came running out of nowhere, as fast as a 'Vande Bharat' train.

But her speed was so high that she had to hit the emergency brake, which didn't help.

Instead, the train derailed......!

Kanha extended his hands to catch her, but unfortunately, she landed one foot short and fell directly into the garden.

And now....!

Both Krishnas burst into laughter. One Krishna was already on the ground, and now the other one sat down, laughing uncontrollably.

But after managing to control his laughter a bit, Kanha extended his hand to help Chitra again.

However, seeing Chitra's face made him burst out laughing all over again. First, Kanha was sitting and laughing, and now he was rolling on the ground with laughter.

Chitra's hair was adorned with countless colorful blades of grass, and her face was covered with beautiful, colorful flower petals.

And the cherry on top-a cute little grasshopper was sitting right on her adorable nose!

Chitra glared at the Lord like an owl eyeing its prey in the darkness of night. The Lord was certainly enjoying Chitra's predicament!

Now it was time for Chitra's 'brahmos supersonic missile'!

Chitra pulled out a letter and began reading:

"Oh Dwarka's Sovereign! Shri Dwarkadhish! Ever since I laid eyes on you, my nights have been sleepless."

The Lord's laughter vanished instantly! It took Krishna a moment longer to stop laughing, though.

"Chitra, what are you doing with those?"

"Nothing, Dwarkadhish! Just some love letters that have arrived for you."

"Chitra, these letters are not for your eyes. Hand them over to me."

As the Lord moved to take the decorated letter, Chitra quickly pulled it away.

"Oho! I'm not giving
them up so easily."

"Chitra, my Sakhi, give them to me!"

"No, no. Not yet."
"There's more to hear."

"So , you won't listen this way!"

Kanha crossed his arms over his chest and started moving forward. Chitra, mirroring him, moved backward!

Krishna could sense what was about to happen just by watching them.

Gradually, Chitra disappeared, followed by the Lord.

Well, wasn't it fortunate for Krishna? Poor girl was entirely exhausted and fell asleep right there.

[The Dwarka Times]

<< Front page>>

...Later, through some whispers among the maids and some fleeting palace gossip, our team found out that-

Is Krishna still sleeping there?
Yes, still asleep.

But that's not it!

Did the Lord catch Chitra?
Of course, that was bound to happen. But something strange happened.

the strange part is that after catching her, he let her go...

without any punishment!

That never happened with Krishna!

Something is fishy, Daya! Something is definitely fishy.

<<The Front Page ended>>

***

[Vidarbha]

"This one?"

"No!"

"And this one?"

"Absolutely not!"

"What about this one?"

"Very bad!"

"You'll surely like this one."

"Chiiiiiiiiii!"
("Ewwww!")

All the portraits of handsome princes, powerful kings, and great emperors were scattered on the intricately woven carpets. Some were thrown farther away, as if someone had tossed them in anger.

All the artists were exhausted from showing their paintings, yet no one managed to please Mata. Mata hadn't even glanced at any of the portraits.

"Maharaja! The princess does not like any of the eligible princes, kings, or emperors present on this earth."

All the artists admitted defeat and knelt before the king with folded hands, except for one!

"Artist! do you still have something left?"

The artist hesitated because he knew that no one would accept the remaining portrait he had. He was well aware of that fact.

"Princess... that one!"

"Don't worry! I assure you that no one will harm you." said the extremely beautiful lady sitting right in front of him, smiling.

She promised the artist.

"As you wish, Princess!"

The artist, who appeared a bit older than the king, handed his portrait to Mata.

As soon as Mata opened the portrait, her eyes were fixed on it, unmoving.

It felt as if the world around her had disappeared.

This forehead, as bright as the sun!

These eyes, as if the entire ocean was contained within them!

These lips, like rose petals... no,
like lotus petals... no,
even softer, incomparable to anything!

This radiant face...!

The tilak on his forehead, resembling the savior of the world, Shree Hari!

And the peacock feather on his forehead! Reflecting the beauty of the entire universe!

{Words fail to describe, no matter how much I describe, it's insufficient, negligible, less than zero. An entire Wattpad could be filled, but it wouldn't suffice.}

Only one word escaped from Mata's lips, her upper lip barely moving.

"Prabhu!"

______________________________________

***

Radhe Krishna ❣️