Saundarya: Seraphic Oneness ( Ficlet #1)
Gazes Through Showers
Manohar had finally gotten an early release that day from work. He did work in His father’s company, but He had refused to be treated as someone special, insisting He climb the rung by Himself, especially if He was to become the Managing Director eventually. He wanted to see what every position offered to be able to improve the company as time went by. The pride on His father Vasudev and elder brother Halesh’s faces was more than enough for Him to know He had made the right decision regarding the company. But in that moment, all He really wanted was to go home to His Amma’s bhajjis and tea, relax next to her and talk about the happenings of the day, of dreams of the future. But here He was, caught in the rain, in this crazy, unmoving Bangalore traffic. Was there nothing… He sighed and turned on His playlist, shuffling His Tamil music playlist, hoping that some song that would suit the mood would appear somehow. “Venmathi venmathiye nillu,” the melancholy of love at first sight filled his car, and Manohar relaxed. This song perfectly set the mood, for the gloomy sky and the insane traffic gave Him the same vibes. He sang to himself softly, staring at the endless traffic and the dark rain clouds. Sometimes, He had seen his own complexion dance with the colour of the rain clouds. Rather, very often it had happened, and in recent days, even more so.
Every priest he has met in any temple He went to had told Him that His Divinity was like Vaasudeva Krishna's; that He was meant to change the world, but how could He without His other half by His side?
Manohar sighed softly, looking out His window, when the visual before Him made Him pause, and blink His eyes, repeatedly.
Was that... a young woman dancing in the rain? Amidst the thunder and lightning, all alone, though it felt like the rain was dancing with and around Her. Who was She? Why did She feel like someone intimately close to His heart?
"Jannalin vazhi, vandhu vizhundhadhu minnalin oli..." crooned His radio, as Manohar watched Her unblinking. Even the song sensed the thrumming of His heart and veins, it seemed. He peered more, making to lower the glass of His window, to take Her in better, when the sudden turn She executed in Her dance made Their eyes clash.
And the whole world stopped.
Manohar could feel something ancient awaken in His veins, something primal, beyond the human body, something intimately connected with the Soul, and for that moment, He felt the same from Her too, if Her parted pink lips and the widening of Her neelotpala eyes meant what He thought they did; surprise and knowing, a reflection of His own mixed emotions.
He was unsure what to think; He did not even know what He felt.
But He knew He was overwhelmed, that He felt too many things- who was She? Why did She awaken in Him something He had not felt before?
She was imprinted in Him. He rolled down His window, just to get a clearer look at Her, and it was exactly then that the traffic started to move slowly. He sighed, looking at Her as if to say sorry, before slowly driving away, watching Her for as long as He could, Her eyes never leaving Him either.
'Shankara, bless me so that She and I will meet again, and soon!'
****
Kamalaa could not forget those delightful dark brown eyes, like the soil of the rich earth, that had read her Soul that day. She even remembered those beautiful molten gold specks that danced all over His eyes, even from the distance, amidst heavy rain. The cold She had gotten due to dancing in the rain did not bother Her, but not knowing the identity of the man with the captivating eyes bothered Her.
She wanted to meet Him, get to know Him. Something about Him- it told Her clearly that He was the One.
The One She had always dreamt of.
Somehow, She just knew.
Even She could not explain how it was so, but She was more than sure that He was the One for Her. He was Her beloved Krishna.
"Purushottama," She prayed. "Come for me and to me very soon."
She felt a cool breeze touch Her, the blessing of Her Lord,as if to indicate that all will be well.
"May I ever be yours," She prayed once more, when the light sounds of Her mother's aarati reached Her ears, the ringing sounds of the archanai bell like the melody of Krishna's flute, an answer in reassurance.
"I knew you will always be there for me, Mannavane."
With those words, She slipped out of Her room, not noticing the mild fluttering of the peacock feather on Her desk even in the absence of air, a further sign from Murari, the enlivener of hearts.
A day later...
The house was decorated like a new bride, festoons and flowers hung everywhere. It had ben decorated for the welcoming of the hopeful groom of Kamalaa's elder cousin sister Revathi, the latter a karate instructor and architect, managing both professions with aplomb. Kamalaa Herself had been busy with adorning Her sister with jewels required for the occasion, without taking away Revathi's individuality.
Kamalaa's hobby was aesthetic, elegant dressing, while professionally, she was a child psychiatrist, and had seen a lot of unexpected cases.
"Kamalaa," Revathi said. "Do you think this will work out?"
"I feel it will. I have a good feeling about this match, in a way I did not about the previous ones," said Kamalaa softly. "That explains the dressing up too, I guess."
"You always dress me up beautifully, but since you met that mystery man, I feel like you allowed your romantic side to come out in full force, and that is showing in how you are dressing me up."
"Is it?" Kamalaa felt the jhumkas on Her ears hit Her skin lightly, creating a pleasant sensation rather than pain, as She entwined Revathi's long braid with a fusion of malli and kanakambaram.
"It is, and I am loving this," said Revathi. "You have made me some celestial apsara?"
Revathi was clearly joking, but Kamalaa looked at Her sister, and said, "You do not know how beautiful you truly are. Hopefully, my Athimber can and will show you."
"Girls, they are near. Kamalaa, check to make sure all the food is ready, and keep Revathi's vadai-sambar in the front," called out Prerna, Kamalaa's mother, who had taken the position of Revathi's after the latter lost hers.
Kamalaa looked at Revathi and kissed Her forehead gently.
"Get ready Akka, the time has come."
With that, Kamalaa left the room, heading to join the welcoming committee, just as the golden brown eyes her heart had been captivated by fell on Her.
Kamalaa stilled and met His eyes, as He too paused, taken in by Her, the whole world falling away, only each other in the vicinity of the intense gaze of love that radiated from them.
"Purushottama," She whispered, low enough that none but She could hear Herself.
"Neela," He whispered, as if having heard Her, His eyes boring into Hers, as everyone around Them greeted each other, the heady love in the air enhanced within Them, as both walked inside, now side by side, as if unable to even part.
'Krishna, you came, as you promised,' Kamalaa prayed, as everyone got seated, and the introductions started, Kamalaa still glancing at the man intermittently, Her veins thrumming with reassurance and hope.
******
@vibishalakshman @thelekhikawrites @celestesinsight @krishna-sahacharini @kaal-naagin @krishnapriyakiduniya @nirmohi-premika @chemicalmindedlotus @whippersnappersbookworm @sakhiiii @ambidextrousarcher @willkatfanfromasia @nspwriteups @dr-scribbler @rupkatha-banerjee @theramblergirl @hinsaa-paramo-dharma @moon-880 @thegleamingmoon @thereader-radhika @balladedutempsjadis @dr-scribbler Please let me know you thoughts, and do let me know if the rest of you want to be added to the list.