[Dwarka]

"Kanhaiya!"
"Kanhaiya! People have come from far and wide to participate in the annual festival of Dwarka. You should go too."

"Of course, Dau Bhaiya!" replied Kanha, with a twinkle in his eye as he glanced towards Chitra.

Something odd must be brewing, for sure!

Chitra's mind raced with confusion. She thought it best to quietly slip away from there. Just as she was tiptoeing out of the room, a voice rang out -

"Stop, Chitra!"

She turned back so quickly to her place that Dau didn't even notice.

Though it didn't matter, Lord Krishna had seen her.

"I have a task for you!"

As wide as Chitra's eyes were, the Lord's smirk was equally big. And Dau was watching them both, scratching his head in utter confusion.

»»——•°•𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚊 𝚁𝚞𝚔𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒 (4)•°•——««

•°•°•°

"This one?"

"No."

"Look at this?"

"No."

"Dear Dwarkadhish! we've been around the entire fair nearly five times, but you don't seem to like anything!"

The Lord, unfazed, moved forward with a charming smile.
Despite their disguises, his presence couldn't be concealed.

"Chitra, if you want to buy me a gift, you'll need to think aheeeeeeeaaaaaaaad."

The Lord's hand gestured towards a spot near Chitra's eyes. Her eyes followed his hand and fixed on that spot.

Chitra knew exactly what to do next.

The painters of Vidarbha are renowned across nations for their exquisite artistry. When Chitra arrived at their stall, she was struck by the beauty of their works.

Such incredible depictions of nature, enchanting animals, and birds, and portraits of many beautiful women. Yet, Chitra's eyes lingered on one particular painting, unable to look away.

It wasn't that she didn't try, but
"Who is this Beauty?" she asked softly.

"This is Princess Rukmini of our Vidarbha kingdom. They say there's no one in the world as uniquely beautiful as her."

"I want this picture."

"Only 1000 gold coins!"

"Are you serious?"

Chitra....Now approached towards Kanha, seeking his help.

"Lord, I have a gift for you."

Krishna's face lit up with a warm smile. He composed himself, not wanting Chitra to see his excitement.

"What gift, Chitra?"

"See for yourself, Dwarkadhish."

As Chitra unveiled the painting, the Lord's gaze softened, and he became utterly captivated.

His eyes fixed on the portrait.

Neither looking left nor right,
Neither up nor down,
He didn't even blink.

If you compare Prabhu and Mata , you could easily say they are complete opposites.

Where the Lord is dark as a cloud, Mata is bright like the moon's soothing rays.

Where his eyes are sharp like his Sudarshan, her eyes are large and gentle like a deer's.

Where his intellect is filled with mischief and cleverness, She is sweet and innocent.

Where Prabhu Krishna's smile can wound hearts, Mata Rukmini's tender smile can heal the wounded.

Chitra waved her hand in front of him a few times, but he remained lost in the painting's beauty.

"This is the most precious gift I've ever received, Chitra!"

***

[Chedi Kingdom]

***

"I can't believe it!"

"You've said that for
the 103rd time!"

"And you've been counting?"
Krishna caught on, but how?

Operation Secrecy!
The first rule of spy missions!
Ensure that no one can figure out your intentions, your thoughts, or your actions. Nothing!

But Shaurya had already forgotten the first chapter, and his eyes wanted to widen in realization, but he didn't let them.

Everything was as silent as a graveyard at night!

(Just hoping there aren't any ghosts, witches, or spirits around 😬)

Only the sound of two horses' hooves broke the silence.

"You're observant," he admitted.

Although he shouldn't have, there was no shame in it since both of their positions were the same.

Under the inky veil of a moonless night, Shaurya sat astride his ebony steed. His hooded cloak billowed gently with the night's whispers, rendering him almost an apparition against the darkened landscape.

His eyes, sharp and vigilant, sought out Krishna, riding her ethereal white horse beside him.

Krishna's hood was drawn low over her forehead, casting a veil of darkness that obscured her eyes, only allowing fleeting glances of their green depth.

The occasional gust of the cold night air played with her cloak, lifting it ever so slightly to reveal strands of her raven-black hair, dancing with the capricious wind.

There was something mesmerizing about the way her hair moved in the midst of their perilous mission.

Shaurya, found his gaze lingering on her. In that moment, her presence seemed to be the only thing grounding him amidst the tension of the night.

But as Krishna's eyes met his, he quickly diverted his gaze, the spell broken. His focus shifted to the imposing gates of the Chedi kingdom ahead. The grand doors stood tall and unwavering, a formidable barrier guarded by a legion of soldiers.

"What now? There's Z+++ security here!"

"Z... what?"

"Never mind!"

What's the point of explaining? It would require narrating the whole story of 5000 years. This isn't the right time for it anyway.

Krishna's resolve hardened. With a swift motion, she unsheathed her sword, its blade glinting ominously under the dense, dark night.

Don't ask about the source of the light.
Krishna glanced around too but no clue!
Maybe the source is Kanha.

Yes! He has always been.

Is this another mystery of his sword?
Who knows?

Shaurya, observing her from atop his black steed, couldn't help but let out a low, amused chuckle. His eyes twinkled with a knowing glint as he watched her prepare for combat.

"No need to be violent, Krishna," he said, his tone laced with playful irony.

Krishna's brows knitted in confusion. She turned her gaze to him, her curiosity piqued.

"What do you mean?"

With a slow, deliberate smile that revealed his shining teeth, Shaurya leaned forward, his demeanor as calm as the night.

"We're going to play it cool for now."

For a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken understanding. Krishna lowered her sword slightly, her mind racing with the possibilities of what Shaurya had planned.

She sheathed her sword. She knew that whatever Shaurya had in mind, it was bound to be as unpredictable as the man himself.

As their horses advanced, Krishna's confusion deepened. Shaurya gestured for her to cover her face thoroughly, and she complied, pulling her hood lower to obscure her features.

What puzzled her more was that Shaurya, in a bold and unexpected move, threw back his hood, revealing his face to the soldier standing guard.

He produced a golden token from within his cloak, holding it up for the soldier to see. Krishna froze, her breath catching as the soldier with a respectful nod, relayed an order to his comrades, and the massive doors of the Chedi kingdom began to creak open.

Krishna could only stare at Shaurya, her eyes wide with astonishment. The grand doors swung open, and they rode into the heart of the kingdom.

The entire way, Krishna's gaze remained fixed on Shaurya, her mind racing with questions, yet unable to tear her eyes away from him. The mysterious token, and the ease with which he had gained entry left her in awe and curiosity.

Shaurya sensed Krishna's intense gaze on him, but he kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, his expression unreadable.

"Don't stare at me like that."

"How the hell did they let you enter with such ease?"
Krishna's frustration and curiosity were evident in her tone.

"I'll tell you,"

Shaurya replied, his lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.
"But first, let's rest."

Krishna finally tore her gaze away from Shaurya and looked ahead. The city lay before them, shrouded in the blanket of darkness, its massive buildings looming silently.

The grandeur of the structures was impressive, though not as magnificent as the Dwarka.

"I'll only wait until morning. No less, no more," Krishna declared, her eyes still scanning the unfamiliar cityscape.

•°•°•°
[Vidharbh]

"Maharaj! Prince Rukmi has returned from Vatsa kingdom."

"Tell him to rest, I will meet him in his chamber."

The soldier bowed his head and went to deliver the message to Rukmi. Bhishmak had to think, to ponder deeply. But it was clear that no matter what path they took, this task seemed impossible.

Every way led to a dead end.

But still, for his dear daughter.

***

Maharaj Bhishmak entered his son's chamber.

"What did you want to discuss with me, Pitashree?"

Bhishmak hesitated at first, but then took a deep breath and spoke.
"It's about Rukmini."

Rukmi's expression changed from gentle to serious.
"What about her?"

"I was thinking about her marriage."

"Marriage...? So soon...?"
Rukmi did not let Bhishmak finish his sentence. He had not thought about her marriage happening so quickly. The thought of his little sister moving away from him so soon was hard to digest.

In his eyes, Rukmini was still a little girl who had no knowledge of good and bad, who did not even know that she should not walk barefoot in the garden.

She is his little sister......!

"No!!! Nothing will happen without her consent."

"She has consented."

Hearing Bhishmak's words, Rukmi's eyebrows furrowed, a calm way of saying 'What nonsense are you talking about? Just say it clearly.'

Bhishmak knew he had to tell everything now.
"Your little sister... she likes..."

"Who does she like?"

The tension was so thick it could break with a slight breeze.

(Just don't try to do it 😐)

He was looking directly into his father's eyes, and for a minute it would be hard to tell who was the father and who was the son if the physical and age difference were removed.

"She loves Dwarkadhish Shree Krishna."

Rukmi's anger erupted like an active volcano. He kicked the large, ornate table nearby with such force that it crashed into four pillars and broke into four pieces. His roar shook the walls of the palace.

"How did she dare?"

____________________________________

Radhe Krishna ❤️💖