#bani basu

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 3

This is a partial summary, all the magic is Dr. Basu's!

Balarama walks on, on a winter evening. It is true that them two brothers have faced off against armies of thousands and emerged victorious. Krishna is smart, and capable and strong, but didn’t he do most of the heavy lifting? But everyone just says Krishna this, Krishna that! Even as children, everyone only sang praises of Krishna. He too was one of them, no doubt, he loves his brother more than anything, but still. Also, now people say he is a god. In that case, is Balarama a god too? Or is he relevant only when he follows his brother around? Who is he then? Is he Brahma? Shiva? Sudarshana? Garuda? Balarama looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then he flapped his arms around a bit. No. No feathers. Balarama laughed to himself at the absurdity.

Life was so simple back in Vrindavana. They would sneak off, to secret wrestling spaces, the girls would follow Krishna around like bees around a flower. They would drown in his love. Did any of them love Balarama like that? He isn’t too ugly, now, is he? Back then, even more than the cows, he loved the fields. Scaring off the farmhands, he would complete a day’s work on his own, until Nanda would drag him away by the ear, complaining to his mother, now Vasudeva would think I am using his son as a farmhand now! Balarama could never explain to them that he genuinely enjoys this.

He doesn’t know what Krishna thinks, but nothing in Mathura really pleases him. Not like Vrindavan. His mind keeps wandering back to his childhood. There was a girl. Dark-skinned. Lived near the river. He used to call her Yamuna. He never did find out her name. Thank God, they go out on trips every now and then, or else he would go crazy with all the rules and regulations of the upper echelon.

Krishna isn’t here now. He told everyone he’s going on a random trip, but he’s actually down in the city he calls Dwaravati. No one’s here to talk to him therefore. His mother’s here, so is Devaki, Kanu’s real mom, but he never knew about the twelve others. He finds it difficult to go on respecting his father. Every time he tries to tell his mother all this, he finds her too so anxious, for his safety, upset at his father’s indifference. He ends up swallowing his part entirely.

One day, therefore he just woke up and left. Towards Vrindavan. The ministers had ordered him to not go, but he had laughed in their faces. I am but a simple cowherd, he had said, you can manage for a week or two! Out of the boat on the other side Yamuna, Balarama steps but, his shoes get stuck in the mud. Good riddance, he thinks, as he walks faster towards his home.

When he walks through, the first word out of Nanda’s mouth is, you came alone, or is someone coming?

Balarama laughs it off, wouldn’t you even let me in the house without Kanu now? Where’s my plough?

That’s Balarama! Not where Yashoda is, not where his friends are, but first, his addiction!

In the evening when the whole village gathers in their courtyard, Balarama just shakes his head, I am just on vacation. All the big stuff, the smart plans, that’s all Kanu. I am just a meagre helper, that’s all!

Later he goes out to see the village, but everyone’s busy with their own families and even the cattle don’t remember his scent. After a full round, he comes back frowning, I haven’t forgotten anyone Yasho-maa, it seems you people have forgotten me! He exclaims.

The next day, however, it seems like a festival has started. Everyone comes to see him and shower him in love. Just then, one lady form somewhere says, now just if we can put some black colour on him, wouldn’t we get just a taste of Krishna? Balarama stands up, tearing the garland form his neck, walks up to a hollow Kadamba tree, and starts drinking the water that has fermented over long inside that hollow. Kadambari.

You all can’t seem to think one step ahead of Kanu it seems! You haven’t seen nothing yet! He roars, I’ll show you what Balarama is! He ran, swaying from side to side, screaming Yamuna! Where are you!

The dark-skinned woman, having heard his voice had come out. Pulling her close with his plough, he screams for her to let him have his way. The woman screams and begs him to let her go. Finally, Balarama releases her. I am truly worthless then, he cries. Then again he became angry, From now on, you must walk the path I tell you to, he roars, and draws a wavering line with his plough and disappears into the forest, leaving the village staring speechless at his retreating form.

That night, no one saw Balarama, but a storm came. Almost as if the sky was to break down on their heads. The next morning, they found the river flowing through the forest. Along the path that their Rama had set! The villagers were left speechless once more. The poor woman’s house too had been washed away, and she was nowhere to be found. Only Rama didn’t remember anything.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 15

This is just a partial summary, the magic is all Dr. Basu's!

Even as they reached the outskirts of Pragjyotisha, Krishna realized this wouldn’t be an easy fight. They were dredging through near-impenetrable forests, drenched in the incessant rain in every cell of their body, his soldiers were dying of a mysterious fever and the might of the Brahmaputra had already robbed them of half the morale.

Finally, they met a group of locals who knew the Riksha tribe. They laughed in joy when they heard Krishna had married one their own, and henceforth were ecstatic to help them navigate the treacherous terrain. They were a little suspicious of him at first.

Did you carry her off or something?

More like she carried me off, Sir. Krishna had laughed.

Yes, our women to tend to go crazy when they see a good man!

It turned out they hated Naraka equally, and were more than happy to help them to the city. Krishna refused to bring Satyabhama into the battlefield, and left her pretty much imprisoned in the tent under the expert eye of Daruka. Though, annoyed, Satyabhama started following the doctors, both the ones from Dwarika and the local ones, around, interrogating them to learn as much as she could instead.

When Krishna finally killed Naraka, he entered the inner quarters with a couple jumps and stopped the rest of his army at the gates. Inside, he found the many women ‘abandoned’ by Naraka, ones he had discarded once he’d grown bored of them. Understandably, they were terrified of him. These women looked tired and dejected, a picture that improved somewhat the further he entered. Finally, in a room which he decided was Naraka’s bedroom, where he found Vishvakarma’s daughter spread on the bed, unconscious. Krishna immediately ordered to bring Satyabhama in.

Satyabhama quickly made her way through the palace, making a list of all the families, from whoever could remember their families at least. For a couple days, no one came. Then, Krishna had his men threaten punishment after which people started coming in one by one. However, no one would admit any woman by the names in Satyabhama’s list even existed.

Finally, a group of Brahmins approached him, Do you not understand, no one wants these sinners in their homes, and neither do we.

Krishna tried to argue with them, so did Satyabhama, but soon the crowd began to turn into a mob. Turning back, he looked at the woman. One of them came forward, You rescued us, and simultaneously made us homeless. Now, you are our Lord and husband.

Krishna wondered if this was a curse from that one gopi that he’d left behind. In any case, he said yes.

---

When he entered Dwarika, Krisha as surprised. No one had come to recieve him. Ugrasena, Shini, Satyaka, Balarama, Vasudeva no one! Krishna’s own body was covered in bandages, even his face hardly recognizable. After a while, he saw Akroora’s chariot, and Satrajit’s and Vishvakarma’s. He handed off his daughter.

Take Vaasudeva to my room, Satyabhama commanded.

No, to Rukmini’s please. Krishna whispered, and rushed off on a horse despite Satyabhama’s indignant protests after he ordered Vishvakarma to find houses for the other women.

Balarama was waiting there for him. A glass in his hand and Revati by his side. I heard, Kanu, you’ve filled our pure city with your upa-patnis? He asked sarcastically, I’ve been rude to our father for just 14! I know I have forced you to marry once, and you have married a few more times as well, but 16000?! That too, the ones from that Naraka’s unclean house?

Krishna took a deep breath, Call for a Sabha, Prince. I do not wish to repeat myself. Then he turned and left, not bothering to answer further questions from Balarama.

Revati shook her head, Did you have to be so rude?!

It’s for his own good! His face rather shrunk no?

How would I know that? He covered in bandages from head to toe!

In the Sabha, Krishna sat down. He was still too tired. He had to settle this issue before he could rest. He had asked Daruka to speak on his behalf. After describing the battle, Krishna stood up, These women have nowhere to go. Many of them have lost their youth. Many of them have lost their minds from the torture. What if we all marry some of them and give them shelter in our homes?

We heard you have already married them, asked Vasudeva.

Not yet. Many of these women are highly beautiful, skilled and educated. We men marry in great numbers in any case, so why not now?! We haven’t provided them with any other occupation after all!

We can keep them as servants, Satyaka said.

Many of them come from highly respected families, and anyway Naraka’s torture hasn’t left many of them capable of hard labour. I have thought about this in detail, and this seems to be the only way!

Akroora shook his head, Whatever you say Krishna, I won’t destroy my reputation by marrying someone else’s women. The rest of the parliament to indicated their assent.

Fine then, it seems I am the only one who will marry them then. Krishna walked out of the parliament, his eyes welling up. These were the people he was fighting for?!

Rukmini lay in her room, crying into the pillow. Sarika pulled her up by the hand, Why’d you leave your home if not to be his wife? He’s come a long way, a lot of words stopped in his heart. Why did you marry him if you weren’t prepared to even listen?! Go!

Rukmini went. Krishna extended an arm towards her, a hopeless look in his eyes, breaking down in her arms, falling into a deep, tired sleep, as Sarika quietly moved around them, preparing medicines and ointments and light liquor to help with pain.

When Krishna finally got around to marrying them, no one from the government attended, only a crowd that had come to see Krishna’s ‘upa-patnis’.

Deep in the night, Krishna walks through their house. Some of them put a garland around him, some of them bring sandal. One of them even kissed him on the cheek. Krishna smiled too. After a long time, he picked up his flute. Rasa, again, at last.

At sunrise, Sarika walks into Rukmini’s room. Is it over? Rukmini asks. Over. Sari replies.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 13

This is just a partial summary, all the magic is Dr. Basu's!

The ordinary people do not often care about politics. Of late, though, one thing everyone has heard of, throughout the subcontinent- that there is a man, called Krishna. People have been trying to kill him unsuccessfully ever since his birth. People say he’s a magician! Another, they all know about the Kurus. That family is cursed! Ever since the old king lost his mind on a fisherwoman and deprived his true heir of the throne, his family has been wrestling with fate in every generation. First both that true-prince’s brothers died, then his widows gave birth to two children. The older one was born blind and had to fetch his wife from a distant kingdom who wouldn’t even look at him! Some said she loved him too much, some said she didn’t want to see him, and some said the blind king is such a tyrant that he forces her to stay blindfolded! They say she had 101 children, but come on, no one really believes that! Especially with all the rumours you hear about the king and his women!

Then, the old Pandu-raja, what a good man! They drove him and his family to the forests, that blind prince! When Pandu’s widow returned, that so-called son of Dhritarashtra, that Duryodhana- what words he used! To cast doubt on their paternity, to ask if the queen Kunti didn’t murder Pandu herself! Who would believe that the boy was only 12-13?! In contrast, look at Yudhishthira! Just like another Rama, following his mother, 4 Lakshamanas in tow!

Then, when they were sent away with their mother, how much money did those 100 brothers and their uncle spend?! But not everyone can be bought! Well, not all 100 are bad, but who wants to do all that math?!

But, didn’t they die?! No! They’ve come back! The citizens all flocked to the palace, to see them- and their firebrand new princess they’d all married!

In the sabha, Duryodhana sat right beside his father. There’s no saying what his old father might do, given his conscience came up at the most inconvenient times! Finally, the elders all spoke, let’s divide the kingdom!

Maharaja, came Krishna’s voice, startling Dhritarashtra, we are glad you divided the kingdom. I assume we’ll be settling the division of the royal coffers next? It would be the next natural step, no?

Bheeshma huffed, looking at the old king’s face, What? Did you think you’ll get away with just giving them a wasteland? He turned to an officer, Start the counting, let’s finish the division in Krishna’s presence here. No one should say later that Krishna went back, and behind his back Duryodhana fudged the numbers!

---

Rukmini stared at the ocean as she sighed. Everyone had come back from Kampilya. Everyone, but Krishna. Rukmini didn’t feel she could protest. She was the woman who’s first night of marriage resonated with the heart-wrenching cries of “Radha” on a flute. When she had cried that night, in tune with that flute, she hadn’t cried for herself, but rather, she had cried for that another woman that she simultaneously didn’t now but also knew better than anyone else!  She, the Krishna-priya, had pretty much signed up for this separation. Everyone wants her husband for themselves- from his other family to every person in the city, and yet when Krishna had walked out…what was there in Kampilya? Rukmini laid down on the floor itself.

Sari came running as she picked her up. In the past few months Rukmini had grown so thin, that Sarika could pick her up in her arms like a doll. Laying her on her bed, Sari asked, where’s the baby?

Must be with the nanny, she answered, still crying.

Look dear, Sari held her shoulders, he’s a Kshatriya’s son. 10-11 years and he’ll be gone, off to some gurukula, lost to you forever. I know you aren’t bothered about superficial things, that you’ve missing the man you have loved, but when you’ll wake up one day and find him gone, would you be able to tolerate that? The man you’re crying for now, he isn’t slacking in his duties! You knew he wasn’t made to just sit here and love you! He belongs to a larger sphere, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you!

Rukmini rushed to her son. He was the complete image of Krishna, she realized with a jolt! She wouldn’t let Pradyumna go to any gurukula, she decides as she takes him away from the nanny. Let his uncles and father bring the best of the best teachers here! They are such great warriors too, they can teach him at home! She’ll also finish the education she had neglected at home. From the same teachers, she will fill in the gaps. She will have to become a true saha-dharmini for Krishna, soon, before he drifts farther away!

Sari sighed as she looked at Rukmini. All this work, to outshine her cowives, and the poor girl didn’t know, her biggest competition lived with her in the same room! Her reverie is broken by a woman’s shouts in the outer areas.

Where’s Vasudeva, the woman demands, I am Satyabhama, tell him that!

Sarika annoyedly walked back to Rukmini, go! See what she wants, Sari said, And tell her properly, this is the palace of the badi-rani-maa of Krishna’s, so she should keep her temper in check.

Satyabhama looked on as a fairy seemed to descend gracefully from the upper mahals, like a cool wind after a summer’s sunset and Rukmini stared at the tall, marble statue, like an apsara! Rukmini’s eyes welled up, and she thanked the lord for the limited light of the meagre diyas in the darkness of the night.

You’re sure, you’re not lying? Vasudeva is still in Panchala, then? I’m sure he won then, given he’s apparently not here! Satyabhama glared at her.

He said he wouldn’t be participating, Rukmini found her footing, our husband doesn’t lie, sister. Our brother-in-law said some Arjuna has won that princess. She has been married by the five Pandava brothers.

And, no one thought to tell me?! Satyabhama turned on her feet and left, not waiting for the response.

On her way she decided, she’s got to make friends with his Panchali girls, and Vasudeva must not be sent alone on these interesting adventures!

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 17

This is just a partial summary, all the magic is purely Dr. Basu's!

For the first time Jambavati attended a family function. She was usually hesitant, and the other women also didn’t quite like her, but this time she couldn’t avoid it, since Krishna himself had asked her to come.

Most of the Yadava elders had come around. Krishna and Balarama had come together after a long time, to give a join-party in Krishna’s palace. Krishna had a lot of work, from proving to the Yadavas that he and Balarama are friends again, help the Yadavas accept the Pragjyotisha’s women, encourage his wives to get along, give Revati her true respect as the hostess etc.

After a while, everyone sort of forced Krishna to play his flute, but the tune was different. Not heartfelt, but rather like the footsteps of a war! Rukmini whispered later, Why did the tune change?

My favourite tune wasn’t appropriate here, Krishna smiled.

Jambavati said hesitatingly, I remember this tune, it reminds me of home!

Satyabhama raised an eyebrow, Woah, Jambu, you people also have music, do you?

Krishna-Balarama’s young sister Subhadra piped up, choto-bou-didi is a talented flautist! Haven’t you heard, Vaasudeva-dada? She loved this youngest sister-in-law of hers.

How would I hear that, sister, Krishan joked, I was busy getting beaten up by my father-in-law. I do apologize for that! When did you hear it though, Subhadra?

Jambavati pressed a hand on Subhadra’s mouth, Shut up!

Woah Jambavati, Krishna laughed, You’re quite the refined woman now! I’ve never seen you blush before!

You’re the one who taught me, Jambavati said, using ‘tum’ instead of ‘tu’ for the first time.

But I didn’t want you to change this much, Krishna said. He was quite liking the ‘tu’ addresses.

Satyabhama laughed, So, Subhadra, did you also find a lover in the forest to play you a flute or what? One ‘junglee’ is enough for this family! But let it be, not everyone is Krishna’s wife just because he married them! She turned to someone else, Don’t you know Satyaa is Vaasudeva’s favourite wife? That has to count for something!

Revati turned cautiously, all the women were drinking copiously.

Who did you call a what again? Jambavati fumed, I can fix you with one right slap you know?

Right I am, you kaali billi! Aren’t you ashamed of having your daddy steal my father’s property to get to Krishna? Satyabhama started crying, as Revati wrestled the galss of wine away from both of them.

Rukmini stood in a corner terrified, as she whispered to Revati, Didi, dada’s coming this way? How can I show him my face after this?! Who knows who all heard all this!

Seeing Krishna, Rukmini practically flew to him. Krishna turned, laughing, what happened? I hear a rumble? You should take more care looking after them, no?

All from your collection itself, Prabhu! Take care yourself! Rukmini fumed as she walked into the house, past him.

Later, Vasudeva called both of his sons to chew them out. You both keep scolding me about my wives, and I admit they fight a lot, but have they ever embarrassed us in public like this?! From which jungles you have brought all these specimens from!

Krishna was listening with his head hung, but he looked up at the last comment, But Father, one half of this mess is purely citybred! Rather, I should say we should stop serving liqueur in these parties!

Ah, but what will people say then? Rather, let’s stop serving alcohol to the women!

But, Father, it’s not like we men are especially immune to sura’s effects? I specifically do not appreciate some of the comments I have heard from our drunk, male youth!

But, Kanu, Balarama said, The sons of good families do not do that. Look at me for example!

Krishna raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. Instead, he went to Prabhasa for a few days to clear his head.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 25 (Last part)

This is just a partial summary, all the magic is purely Dr. Basu's!

Now the retirement age in Dwarka is 45. Not many people die young anymore, and the older men just lounge around in gardens drinking their days away. This makes Krishna uneasy, but he cannot correct it too harshly. He too is tired. Of fighting constantly. He could do it when he was young, but even he’s growing old. He doesn’t want to leave with a brand of a dictator on his head.

Samba, Pradyumna and Satyaki decide that they’ve uncovered some interesting news but they are not finding Krishna alone since spies circle him like the rings of Saturn. Finally, they decide that Samba is going to go to Rukmini’s palace to talk to his father.

Krishna enters his room to find his two sons sitting like they’re waiting for the principal. Samba shows him something, a bunch of short chakra-spear-mace-combination devices made from the scrap metal recovered from Salva’s UFO. Samba tells his father that he’s named these mushalas. He explains he has named these after an existing weapon so as to not rouse suspicion, and that he’s working on a way to have them return like the chakra and that this metal never rusts and so he’s going to keep them sunk underwater near his facility.

---

The water festival was happening after a long delay. Krishna was taken back to his younger days, when the 16100 women had also joined him. This time, obviously they had been forbidden from joining any festivities.

Krishna still smelled something in the air. Some of the younger boys whispered among themselves. They had smuggled in some foreign liqueur. There were many bugs this time of the year. Unusually more. Lakshmana said it’s the bug of sin, it has flew back on Krishna’s shoulder from Kurukshetra.

Vyasa calls Krishna to Kamyaka the next day. Krishna is surprised that its no longer a forest. Vyasa is now the proud principal of multiple forest-wide schools, in Kamyaka, in Dwaita and Naimisha.

Vyasa tells Krishna that a yuga doesn’t change over in a day. It rots away into the new one. Homans only pick up on it once it is too late. Vyasa points out that Duryodhana’s upbringing was one of the first signs. The forest fire that killed Dhritarashtra, Kunti and Gandhari was the first major indication for the average human. He says the fact that despite living in an ashram surrounded by young rishis, the fact that these old people were practically sacrificed to the fire, is a dire sign. He then instructs Krishna to return and stay careful. Krishna only laughs.

---

Krishna had hoped he would be successful. One example of an ideal autocracy and another of democracy he had planned to leave for his successors. But to establish the monarchy the Pandavas ended up ridding the entire world of warriors, and his democracy is rotting from the inside. He doesn’t know if the following generation will honour his and his peers’ sacrifices.

A few drops of rain falls on his head. He morns the death of the Kanu of Vrindavan. The one he’s had to murder, to sacrifice on this altar of the greater good.

As soon as his chariot entered the city, a month before they planned, Krishna was greeted with the sight of several young men and women drunk off of their minds. Many of the girls clambered on to the chariot, one of them settled on his lap holding some wine to his lips.

He shook them all away. He ordered Daruka to go straight to Akroora’s house. The bugs were everywhere. Over the ocean’s waves, Krishna could hear his own heartbeat.

He asked Akroora for an explanation, but he himself was too drunk. He went home to Rukmini who served him food, but Krishna pushed it away. Can’t you cook like they do in the ashrams, Krishna asked his wife. Then he shook his head, It’s just me. I do not like anything of this city anymore!

Why Krishna? You are the Dwarkadheesh, you have built this from scratch! Rukmini asked.

No, I am just a slave of these people. I’ll work for them, day and night, and the real owners will just squander it!

Why Krishna, Sarika was angry, Why blame yourself now? Who told you to give up all your rights? Your hard-earned money? Why did you have to give them the taste of luxury? Now you must sit an watch! You do not deserve to be angry at the monsters that you have created!

Krishna stood stunned why Rukmini trembled beside him.

Why didn’t you tell me this before, Sari? He asked, Then it means, as a ruler, I am an absolute failure! I have saved them from all ills, I have never let them face any struggle, or poverty, or fear or anguish. I gave them everything so they do not have to be jealous of anyone else and yet…

Sarika says in a calm voice now, This was an experiment. Almost successful. You did your job. There isn’t another country on this earth that is as rich as Dwarka. You were young when you were groomed by these people. They showed you a dream, and that kept you from recognizing their true faces even when you saw the cracks in the masks. Then when you left to go build your brothers their kingdom, Akroora snatched everything you had right from underneath you. A revenge for not remaining his dutiful puppet!

---

The next day in the parliament Dwarkadheesh asks his son, why were they celebrating.

Well, Samba said, it was the anniversary of when you started building this city. Exactly the last new moon night!

Well, Krishna laughed, I do not know when I started building this city, and everyone else has found out? Great! When were you planning to tell me? I only informed the sabha in Mathura when I was done building it. Even then even I did not know the date. How did you find out, Akroora?

Akroora stands up and yells that Krishna cannot insult him like this. Krishna only smiles and declares that he is sending Akroora on a six-month leave to ‘rest’.

Just then about 300 men walk into the sabha, and yell, Krishna is our father. We want our rights!

Akroora jumps up with a smile, and informs that these boys were all born to the 16100 women at some point or the other.

Krishna is fuming. He still maintains his cool and says, I am not your father. Your mothers are all legally married to me yes, but I do not know who your fathers are. Maybe your mothers or the people that have sent you here today can actually help you find your real fathers.

He leaves the sabha.

---

By the time those boys went home, most of them were trembling with fevers. Their mothers cried, it’s all Krishna’s magic. He had even cursed his own son once, and now he has cursed their children.

Krishna’s wives confront him in Rukmini’s palace. They do not believe him. Krishna simply turns around and returns to his own house. There he has many flutes. People had gifted them on many occasions but he had never found the time to actually use them. Now, he starts going through them, finally finding one that’s playable.

Sarika takes all the complaining women and the three queens and reaches the palace. Krishna is taken by surprise at their complaints. Let alone cursing those boys, he didn’t even know that something was wrong.

He turns around and asks, Who told you to say these children are mine in the first place? Satyabhama was it? Or Akroora?

Satyabhama takes offence but Krishna stops her.

Oh, you have lied enough and you should have been the first one to understand they were lying given you were the one who pushed them to this fate! He turns to the women, What did you want out of this? Money? My throne? Is this how you wanted to repay me for rescuing you all?

One of the women spoke up, Yes you rescued us! But did you remember to visit us every after that? Or when you reduced our pensions so we didn’t have another choice?

You know, Krishna said, I had nothing to do with that decision.

How would we know that? Your wife said you knew?

Krishna simply glared at Satyabhama.

Now take back your curse?

Krishna sighed and asked to be given a horse. He visits all the boys, some of whose mother’s are also now showing symptoms.

The parliament decides to do a yajna. Krishna tells his father to deal with the brahmins while he’s off to find doctors.

Samba was off to dispatch the last shipment of the mushalas, tied round his waist, to Prabhasa, in the underwater corner that he’d found. Midway he was captured by Kritavarma and his son. They wanted to go teach the yajna brahmins a lesson.

They all dressed him up like a woman, and Samba not wanting to give up the mushalas, agreed. The brahmins curse him to give birth to the mushalas.

Samba somehow ran to Vasudev’s house, where his grandfather saw the mushalas tied, and believing the sages to be true demanded that they all be floated out into the ocean. Samba never found out that the person who sold him out was none other than his wife Lakshmana.

---

Krishna is still running around Dwarka with a posse of doctors trying to control the disease. In the meantime, when he went to Akroora, he found out that Akroora had tried to send the Syamantaka to Mathura with some spies, but the spies have now disappeared with the gem. Akroora thinks that is the reason why there is an endemic in the city. He asks Krishna to tell his sons to go find the gem now, but Krishna declines, saying that the health of the people is more important to him that any gem.

He orders Akroora to announce in the whole city that everyone healthy must immediately leave to go to Prabhas, but before he could leave Krishna turned back to find Akroora on the floor- the first victim of the disease among the rich.

Ugrasena and Vasudev stay back in Dwarka, and Krishna travels back and forth. Meanwhile, Krishna keeps hearing rumours about Samba being cursed to become the end of Yadavas. Annoyed, he calls his son one day. Samba tells him the whole story. Krishna is disappointed that Kritavarma would take this route to find out what Samba invented but he lets it go for the time being.

Krishna tells Samba to order Kritavarma to stop the production of all liqueur in Dwarka. On his way back he walks through the beach. In his tired stage what he doesn’t see is that the beach is a lot wetter that is usually is. The sea is wrong.

On his way back to Prabasha the next day, Krishna saw it. Bonfires strewn across the beach. Many men and many women around it. Balarama with his underlings, drinking. Rukmini finds him later, asleep. Too asleep.

The next morning Revati asks him to allow her to go to Dwarka to tend to the sick. Krishna asks if she has asked Balarama. Revati shakes her head and says that if he can go drinking without asking her then she could also do this. He takes her to Dwarka and then patrols the city once.

Lakshmana fumes when he suggests sending Pradyumna here to help Samba since there might be dacoits who’d want to take advantage of the absence of most of the population. Krishna otherwise finds things quieting down. But things seem too quiet.

When he returns to Prabhas at night, Sari tells him that Balarama is missing. Krishna just walks out tiredly. His wives worry.

Krishna really doesn’t talk to anyone. Sometime he goes to take a bath and just sits on the beach for the rest of the day. Or wanders in the forests or other abandoned places. Sarana comes to tell him again that they cannot find Balram. He tells them to go look if they want to. He doesn’t even return to eat most days. His family cannot figure out where he goes or what he does the entire day.

---

Pradyumna and Krishna return to Dwarka to find the people distraught. A demon has kidnapped Samba. Pradyumna says they shouldn’t have given Duryodhana that Narayani sena. Krishna agrees. He says he was too proud to have outsmarted Duryodhan and too naïve to have wanted to prove to the parliament that he’s fair.

On their way up the hill, they find the demon. They kil him. On the top they find Samba. Krishna’s firstborn. Krishna can hardly keep anything straight. Pradyumna practically carries both his father and his brother’s body down the mountain.

Krishna left with most of the women in the city towards Prabhas. On his way on the beach, from afar, he saw Satyaki’s shadow attack Kritavarma’s. Before he can reach, he sees Satyaki has killed Kritavarma. Somehow, he stopped them for the night.

The rest of the night he spends consoling Jambavati.

The next morning he sees Satyaki’s tent being surrounded by unknown men. He runs with his chakra, but it doesn’t work. Thinking for a second, he runs to the waterfront, where within the grass Samba had hidden his mushalas. Without thinking Krishna starts throwing them one by one. Krishna is after all Krishna. Not a single shot misses. But he cannot recognize anyone he’s aiming at. Soon, everyone is dead, and between them stands the lone Vrishni, mushala in hand. The end of the Yadavas. Not Samba, but his father.

Krishna’s chakra simply laid on the ground and watched helplessly. Krishna didn’t know that on Akroora’s orders, Kritavarma had previously taken out as many of the nuts and bolts on the weapon as he could.

When the sun is setting over the pyres, Daruka is running on his horse to Hastinapur. Krishna has told him to get Arjun.

Standing at Dwarka’s main gate, Krishna feels the ocean at his feet. Dacoits running out of the city with whatever they can carry. Before his eyes, the entire city, even the palace where Ugrasen, Vasudev, Devaki, Rohini, Revati, Lakshmana, the 16100 women were all staying, it simply melts into the skyscraper wave.

Krishna simply turns his horse and rides away.

After some distance, his horse falls dead. Krishna throws away his armour, and jewellery and falls unconscious under a tree.

He wakes up at dawn. He cries as he sees the body of his favourite horse Valahaka. He then goes to find a little pond and drinks some water. There was a cave nearby. Entering, he is shocked. It’s Balarama. He called out to him even as old memories crowded before his eyes. He walks out.

He couldn’t see, a giant python, slithered out in front of him, swallowing his best friend alive. It then slithered out past his feet. Krishna thought, people will think this was Balarama himself, his snake avatar.

Something sharp hit his ankle. Turning he saw it. An arrow. He turns further. Its one of the boys that had come to seek his paternity in the sabha. He asks them, I am ready to be your father, but could you be my sons?

Some more of them appear. Tell him to acknowledge he’s our father first. Then we’ll take him to a doctor! He’s a great warrior, not like he’ll die off of two arrows! They yell. Krishna laughs even in the pain. They go away shaking their heads.

From a distance, Krishna hears a woman’s voice. Sarika has come looking for him. Krishna pulls her to himself, calling out for Radha. I know you’ve waited for me, he whispers. Sari can only embrace him back.

---

Arjun comes. Finds him in the forest. He breaks down in tears. The children who had hit him now also break down from behind trees and bushes.

No one really knows what happened to all those women. The regular women. The queens. Satyabhama is heard to have taken shelter in a nearby village. Who knows what happened to the others.

Arjun took as many of them with him as he could. He put Kritavarma’s son in charge of Martikavarta, Satyaki’s son in Saraswati, Vajra in Indraprastha. Maybe Sarika took charge of little Vajra, who really knows.

Who knows if their unity is really the strength of the Pandavas and loneliness is what doomed Krishna. Arjuna crosses the long road on auto-pilot. He only stops in Vrindavan to share the news and to cry with them.

---

Yudhishthir calls for a sabha. The other brothers fight with him. Draupadi just sits quietly. Arjun simply says he’s sorry he couldn’t ever help Krishna when he needed it.

They try to dissuade Yudhishthir from dragging Draupadi with them towards Uttar-Kuru. Draupadi just laughs and says, Your brother has never let me go. He has always gripped my hand tight so I wouldn’t run away. Why do you think he’ll let me go now? Yudhishthir is angry, and older. He is after all the only one that’s completely human.

Even today, when the flute wants, it makes itself heard to the right person. That person can also see the end of a blue saree disappear into a forest somewhere. The flute is sometimes in the thunder of the sky and sometimes In the sound of a bowstring’s vibration. He had come to give love, and love he has given till the last.

Yudhishthir doesn’t agree. He only remembers Krishna standing in his court, the chakra drawn, his eyes reddened in anger. He doesn’t understand why these people are worshipping him. Arjun shrugs sadly. He says, Krishna has never asked me for help. He hasn’t even ever let me know when he’s in trouble. He always liked being a lone wolf. And the one time he did ask, I failed him, miserably.

The other brothers also add. He was the best of friends. Even the people he killed, he never did so out of vindictiveness. Even the people who died in Kurukshetra, he tried to save them.

Draupadi says, He told me, at the root of everything that Krishna has ever done, lies his pain for having left Vrindavan. He never stopped, lest he couldn’t move again. He only gave his entire strength in trying to protect the ones he could.

---

Yudhishthir alone reaches Indra’s country. He is stopped by Indra who asks Yudhisthir why he left his son alone under a rubble of snow, or his other brothers, or his daughter-in-law. He has no answer for that.

Probably, at that high altitude, Yudhisthira was hallucinating. Probably even the dog.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 7

This is just a partial summary, all the magic is Dr. Basu's!

Ugrasena is embarrassed. Again and again, even when he is in charge, Krishna and Balarama are having to bail out the Yadavas again and again. He keeps trying to give up his position, specifically to Krishna, or Balarama, or anyone else of their choice. Krishna has evaded him thus far, but he understands that most of the Yadava community thinks that with all this work on Dwarika etc. he is trying to phase Ugrasena out. So, he calls for a session in the parliament. The people still ask him to take the throne, but he refuses politely. They offer it to Balarama who laughs in their face, yáll can’t even tolerate my wife as just that, would you be happy addressing her as queen? She’s taller than me on top of that!

Then Vasudeva is asked. He too denies, saying Kamsa’s torture broke my back, I still can’t stand straight. Even after that if I’m king, who among my 14 wives will be queen, and who is willing to mediate that? Better, ask Satyaka!

Satyaka said, I’m a bit too old, why don’t you ask someone else?

Krishna laughs at them, before unfurling a prepared plan, allocating ministerships to each of the stakeholders. Balarama laughs saying Krishna forgot his favourite agriculture department, and finally they all settle on the parliaments department distribution.

People ask why Krishna will not take a ministership. Satyaki laughs, does Dwarikadheesha need a specific position in Dwarika after all? Krishna protests but he knows, thanks to Vishvakarma, the biggest palace on the most prominent street is his, every man woman and children here know him by face and his wife is the most popular woman in the city. Maybe, he is.

They also discuss the issue of the lost Pandavas, and they decide, if the brothers are to resurface anywhere, the Yadavas would be on their side. Krishna sits quietly. His father had once told him that he looked strikingly like this aunt of his.

---

Why did you choose to love me? Krishna asked Rukmini when she was seated beside him at lunch.

Why would you ask?

Did you love me because I am pretty? I’ve heard that many women love me because of that! Or because I am strong? Or because you thought I’ll be a right new King, and everyone will place their heads at your feet, is that it?

Rukmini’s face falls. It seems like Krishna doesn’t even want to know her, I don’t know why I loved you, but I can see this much that I have much misfortune to look forward to.

Krishna’s face grows dark, any woman who marries Krishna should prepare herself to face a world of trouble- the sooner you understand this the better it will be for you. You might have heard that I am looking for a person who will be able to command this subcontinent with fairness, and I want to be that person’s friend, philosopher and guide, but I am not planning to be that person myself. So, you’ll never be empress. This, right where you are, is the highest you are going to climb. Would you still be satisfied?

Have I ever asked you for that? I loved you because of something else. Leave it now, you might grow conceited…

Leave it then. Let’s eat. Krishna laughed.

After some time, Rukmini said again, I’ll admit the rumours about you is what drew me to him, but what kept me here, was your compassion! I’m a foolish woman, and I’ll accept whatever you give me, however much you choose to, without question or complaint!

Krishna seeing the tears pool in her eyes, pulls her close. He saw how Rukmini had caught him, she knew she would never get 100% of his heart, ever, but she was already willing to put up with it, and it wasn’t much Krishna could do about it.

Rukmini too started eating. In dessert, they ate the kheer that Yashoda made. Yes, Yashoda has come to Dwarika, and they stay with their Kanu, and for now Yashoda’s job 24/7 is to follow around her daughter-in-law and take care of her every need, up until the baby is born. She would even chew up and then feed Rukmini like a baby bird, if she thought that would help.

Krishna disappeared after that. After another week, then, Rukmini went into labour. Even as she tried not to scream and maintain a royal dignity, she found herself sorely missing her Sari-maa and Krishna. Even as her son was born, the midwife went and declared that the baby was healthy and the queen felt no pain. Rukmini silently seethed, since no one really asked her before announcing it.

Even the next day, Krishna is nowhere to be found, and no one really knows where he went. Rukmini herself is unable to go look for him herself, since she is being held prisoner inside the palace. She obviously has to get back her pre-child figure and beauty if she is to hold up Krishna’s prestige in public!

One day after that, the guard came and said one beggar woman is looking to meet the queen. Rukmini remembered how only the other day, another similar person had come, who had turned out to be Krishna’s childhood classmate Sudama! Ignoring her nurses, she commanded the guards to bring her inside.

She is not disappointed, because it is Sarika! She is nearly unconscious from the effort of crossing half the subcontinent behind her, and Rukmini resolves to personally look after her, yelling at her nurses to leave them alone.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 6

This is only a partial summary, the magic is all Dr. Basu's!

In Vrindavan, Rai goes to dry the clothes, sees the peacock flying over her head and falls unconscious. Ayaana and his mother carry her inside and apply their first aids. There’re no more issues in the household. The bahu does whatever she’s asked, whenever she’s asked. Doesn’t try to run away, or dance or sing. But she’s there, and won’t ever leave.

In Kundinapura, there’s no more escape. Rukmi is personally keeping his sister under watch, and will escort her even to the temple. Krishna sighs as he sits in his chariot alone. For nothing he came all this way.

Suddenly, Sarika gets up and sits beside him. “Drive, drive, drive!” She whispers urgently. Krishna’s hands move to push the horses even as he turns around. Removing her veil, she smiles, and Krishna gets another shock. This is no Sarika! Sarika, is in fact, decked in the most expensive silks, hidden under heavy jewellery and a long veil, on her way to the temple, her arms held in the prince’s, laughing amply under that veil. Vidarbha’s bird has flown away after all.

Soon, the army follows from Jarasandha to Kratha-Kaishika even. No one liked this betrayal. Today, Rama, Satyaki, Akroora, Kritavarma everyone. Ready to pay Krishna back for all the battles that he has fought alone so far. Rukmi alone cuts across the united army, following Krishna but is thwarted, his life saved by the very woman he had been about to kill. Now, deprived of all family he ran to the new city Bhojakata. If Krishna can build his city, why can’t Rukmi too, maybe then these people would finally understand how better he is!

In Dwarika, in the last marriage no one really was there, now the entire Mathura is here. Revati hid herself as best she could with her long frame. Balarama, however, now forever dedicated to her, huffs on to Vasudeva, Father, control your women he says, or I shall have to relocate with my family!

Vasudeva stands with his head bowed. Balarama regularly taunted him about his wives, but he’d never imagined that they’d go so far as to mistreat his daughter-in-law. Massaging his bad back, Vasudeva limps to the parliament. The men all nod, as if they hadn’t also been encouraging this, and promise that they’d all ask their wives to behave better. Krishna comes in, and Vasudeva complains to him as well.

Krishna sighs and tells them that every house, street and even every piece of marble belongs to Revati, and it is she who has been kind enough to allow the Yadavas to stay in her father’s kingdom. Let’s do one thing, Krishna says, lets hand over the keys of the parliament to Revati, crown her and Balarama the queen and king of this land, and return to Mathura, and all our wives can continue their internal politics there. Dwarika is not a place for luxury and politics. If anyone wishes to do so, is welcome to return to Mathura.

Krishna walks out, and the parliament erupts in conversation. Of course, they all say, women are the root of all evil, they conclude. Vasudeva complains, the wives are always angry with me, they all want similar sons like Krishna and Balarama, and this advanced age no less. How do I tell them, that I had nothing to do with their upbringing, btu they won’t leave me alone no matter what I say.

Even as he said it, Vasudeva realized his mistake as some of the youngling start laughing. He returned straight back to his house, and for the first time in a long while, yelled at his wives, I will exile you all to Mathura, if I hear even one more complaint about the treatment of Revati, then you can keep having kids however you want over there! Krishna and Balarama are coming for you, one step out of line, and you’ll see who’s who!

His wives fume but silently. Truth to be told, they are all quite afraid of their stepsons and their strength.

Rukmini is dying of shame. Krishna’s been nothing but a gentleman over the whole week they’d travelled to get there. I didn’t know Rukmi’s sister was so shy, Krishna said, and Rukmini could only blush. All the way, she had heard even the common people discuss her love letter, and she couldn’t think of how exactly did the news get out, much to the amusement of her to-be husband.

All the women crowded near her, all wanting to welcome her first. Then, among them came her brother-in-law. Revati, he called out, let her come, she will do the rites first, it’s her sister-in-law after all.

Rukmini, blushing even more, stared amazingly as a really tall woman came out, and picked her up bridal style like she was a little doll. Come on, she whispered, as she delicately carried her up the palace stairs. Rukmini fell asleep in her arms itself even before they reached her room.

---

When Rukmini woke up, she found Revati sitting by her head, but immediately a large group of ladies surrounded her even before she got out of the bed. They all pushed her back, asking her what she needed and introducing themselves rapid fire. As she looked around, she saw helplessly, Revati had disappeared. Why won’t she, someone quipped, this is what happens when you give such responsibilities to a tribal girl, no rules, nothing!

Even as evening dawned, they all decked up Rukmini.

Do you think she looks like Krishna’s bride now?

Why won’t she?

Ha, if it was so easy to control Krishna! That boy’s not going to be fooled by physical beauty alone!

That’s true, this girl doesn’t seem to have anything in the name of personality, now, does she?

At least her father’s rich. Looks very pampered too!

At least this one’s better. Remember the mess at Balarama’s wedding?

Rukmini sat awkwardly among the women who really made no secret of their opinions. She was desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of Revati, seemingly her only ally in this complicated household, but she seemed to have truly disappeared into thin air.

By the time she was taken to the altar, she was nearly crying. She saw Krishna too being helped onto the altar. They’d made him wear such a heavy dress, with so much jewellery, that he barely could walk himself.

Radha, too is running, like Rukmini had. Not to Krishna anymore, just Yama. She doesn’t know the next time Rai will embrace her Kanu, they’d both be wooden idols in a temple.

[sambhavami]

Krishna Vaasudeva - Bani Basu - 9

This is just a partial summary, the magic is all Dr. Basu's!

Satrajit felt guilty right after he watched Krishna ride away to clear him name. Finally, he confides in his daughter Satyabhama, who is immediately furiously.

I should just walk out of your home, with how you treated our Krishna, she yelled, I know he didn’t take it, but even if he did take it, that gem suits only him!

But where will you go then? Satrajit asked, laughing as he saw his daughter angrier than she had even been.

Maybe to Akroora, or to Shatadhanva! She yelled, immediately regretting it. She is the most beautiful woman in Dwarika, how could she show any weakness for the men who pursued her!

You like him, don’t you? Satrajit whispered.

Obviously! She replied indignantly, I am surprised my own father didn’t know that! Why did you think I turned down practically every other man in Dwarika? Now, with what you’ve done, he wouldn’t even look at me!

What are you even thinking? He is a prince! And then, he put so much effort in kidnapping the Vaidarbhi princess, too? Why would he marry a simple gold-merchant’s daughter? Also, would you be happy married to a man who has other wives?

Kings and princes are like that only! Let him have a thousand wives, once he’s had Satyabhama, do you think he’ll even look at anyone else?

But my dear, Krishna does love his wife a lot. You know that! On top of that, she’s from such a great family, she’s so pretty and so highly educated…

So what? I’m fairer than her! Much more beautiful too!

What are you saying? The queen is so beautiful! She is like my daughter too, and yet I feel like touching her feet. Such a calm and elegant helper she is Krishna’s, how can you even say that? Also, do not praise your own beauty in front of your father, it’s uncouth!

Satrajit sighed as Satyabhama stormed off. Truly, he had spoiled her a bit too much, it seemed to him. She is also equally as educated as the queen, and she has even learnt to fight! Yes, she’s a little too full of herself, but then she’s young. She will learn to check herself in time. Would a marriage then really be so bad?

Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he went to his shop. In any case, Krishna was gone for more than a week now, and Balarama kept summoning him. He too was feeling guilty it seemed. No sooner had he reached his shop did a guard catch him, Balarama called you to the parliament. Satrajit started trembling. Not finding his brother, Balarama might murder him only.

When he reached, Balarama was angry. Krishna’s face was inscrutable. Prasena’s body lay on a jewel-laden stretcher. Balarama handed him the Syamantaka, wrapped in a white cloth, I hope you will think twice before accusing my Kanu again, merchant, or else…Balarama raised a fist.

Stop it, Krishna huffed, what are you doing? What’s the point of blaming the outsider, when family itself cannot trust family.

Balarama deflated immediately, crashing down onto a nearby chair.

When Krishna recounted his story, Satrajit immediately fell at his feet. Get up now, Krishna said, a bit embarrassed, you’re not to be blamed! How could you not suspect a man that his own brother accused of the same crime! I am just glad I could return it to you in good time.

Before Satrajit had the time to get up, he saw his daughter too falling at Krishna feet, please accept me and this gem both, sire! She cried.

No, no, Krishna shook his head, I already have two wives. I am sure a woman that looks like you will have better prospects.

Satrajit regained his senses and said, You must say yes, sire, or my daughter might just kill herself!

Satyabhama came closer to him, I held a lot of pride in being the prettiest and the smartest of the Yadavas. You destroyed my pride the same way as you did my father’s. People say you are Narayana himself, who would be a better match for me than you?

Krishna scratched his head. Was this Jambavati’s city-edition? If all women who saw him started to be attracted to him like his, where would he even keep them?

Balarama pulled him to the side, See he’s a merchant, we can run high lines of credit with him if we’re ever in trouble. You could marry a tribal woman to make an alliance, what’s your problem with this? Such a smart lady she is, it will be an insult to beauty itself to turn her back. Then he turned immediately and announced, I accept, on my brother’s behalf!

At the end of everything when Krishna was finally able to get to Rukmini’s quarters, he found it empty. A nurse took him to see the little-Krishna. His throat started closing up with emotion as he looked at his son. Still Rukmini was nowhere to be found. He walked from room to room calling out her name until someone spoke from the shadows, why do you need Rukmini anymore, my Lord, she’s been reduced to a third already!

Who? Krishna exclaimed, Sarika! He laughed as she came closer, also smiling, Don’t mind me making a joke, Sir, Rukmini is still getting ready. She’ll be seeing her husband after so long after all!

Immediately, Rukmini came in. She was wearing a saffron dress draped like a gopi, no jewellery other than armlets and a necklace made of Tulasi leaves. Krishna dropped to his knees, at her feet, hot tears flowing down his cheeks. Rukmini, put her arms around him, also crying.