For some days ,I had a chance to spend good quality time with Krishna in Dwarka. He would take me a ride in his chariot ,we both would sit and see the sunset at the beach ,or sometimes Krishna would wake me up early in the morning to see the sunrise .
We even went to the market place of Dwarka ,where I saw many artisans making variety of jewellery made of coral and conch shells ,decorated boxes ,rich silk shawls and clothes from various parts of the country .
Then we went to the gardens ,where Krishna would play his melodious flute .Birds would sing to his music ,peacocks danced and offered him their feathers,trees offered their their respects by showering flowers on him .I collected all the flowers in the garden and even made a garland for him .
I even played the Veena for him ,when he was resting .But the most special thing was ,that I painted his portrait using the natural colour of forest flowers .I felt ecstatic when I painted his lotus face and eyes .I was happy that atlast I had got a chance to serve my lord .
One day Krishna was sitting on his throne ,while Rukmini Devi was fanning him .Krishna had a little smile on his face .
"What seems to be the matter ,my lord ?" Asked Rukmini curiously .
"Vaidarbhi ,today I'm expecting a very special person to come at my place ." Replied Krishna.
"Who is that person ?" Rukmini asked .
"You'll see very soon ...." Said Krishna brightly and looked at me .
I too was curious ,so I stood at the balcony which was facing towards the palace gates and waited for that person to come .
A weak and poor Brahmana wearing a white dhoti came near the palace gates .He asked the guards to let him in .I recognised him .Krishna's most dearest friend ,Sudama had come to meet him .They both met ,when they were studying in Gurukula .
But unfortunately ,the guards never believed what he said .They teased him and asked that how can he become a best friend of Sri Krishna ,who was the king of Dwarka .Poor Sudama kept on insisting that Krishna knows him very well ,and they both studied together in Gurukula .The guards became irritated "How dare you speak against us ? You cannot enter this place or meet Sri Krishna .You are not allowed .So you may leave ......" saying this the guards pushed him and Sudama fell down .
Tears came from Sudama's eyes .He was really desperate to meet Krishna .
"Oh Krishna ! Oh Sakha ! Where are you ? Why is this happening to me ?"
Sudama was calling out Krishna's name .
Here ,I saw Krishna suddenly getting up and walking towards to the room entrance in a hurry .
"Sri Krishna ! What's wrong my lord ? Where are you going ? Please wait !" Rukmini started to run behind him .
I too ran behind him and we reached the entrance of the palace.
"Oh Krishna ,where are you my beloved friend !" Sudama shouted for help and turned back ,fully dejected . He was about to leave ,when suddenly Krishna called him out "Sudama ! Please don't leave .I have come here . Oh Sakha !"
Sudama turned back and saw Krishna ,who was coming to him with his hands wide open .
He was very much happy and in pure ecstasy ,that he too ran towards him with tears flowing from his eyes unlimitedly .They both embraced tightly .Sudama forgot all about his problems ,miseries and poverty...when he saw Krishna after so many years .The guards who insulted Sudama hung their heads in shame and guilt ,after seeing that how close Sudama was to Krishna .
"Oh Sudama ! Where were you all these years ? I was waiting for you all the time ,and here you are !" Krishna asked .
"Oh Kanha ! Seeing you again , has removed all of my pain which I faced throughout my life ......"Â Sudama cried .
Krishna took Sudama to his beautiful palace .Everyone kept on staring at them ,as they were surprised to see such a deep bonding and friendship .The guards who insulted Sudama initially ,now hung their in shame .Krishna was indeed overwhelmed very much after seeing Sudama .
My lord asked him to sit on his throne .Sudama refused and became felt very conscious .
At first he was trembling to even speak to Krishna ,because he knew that he was the king here .He started to compare his status with that of Krishna.
But soon he realised that Krishna was so much happy after seeing his friend ,that he made him sit on a golden throne and took his feet in his hands .
The other queens of Dwarka were shocked to see the Lord of Dwarka ,serving a very poor person .They saw Sudama's condition- Weak and thin body ,trembling arms and legs ,wearing a dhoti and uttariyam (upper garment) which was also very old and dirty .
They were gossiping among themselves that how can such a poor person ,be served by Krishna himself ?
Vaidarbhi Rukmini ,who was goddess Lakshmi herself was fanning Sudama ,and Sri Krishna was washing his feet .Tears came from the lotus eyes of my lord unlimitedly ,and those tears washed Sudama's feet .Sudama too was emotional ,after seeing Krishna's actions .
(Credits to the creator ð)
Then Sudama was invited to have food at the dining room .He was extremely stunned and surprised after looking at the variety of dishes ,sweets and fruit juices .
Rukmini fanned him and Krishna was chatting with him .
"So ? Did you like this place dear friend ?" Krishna asked
"Krishna ,this place is so beautiful ,beyond my imagination .The gardens of this kingdom are vibrant ,just like Vrindavana ..." Sudama replied while eating .
Krishna smiled after hearing the name of Vrindavana .It was a place that was very close to his heart ,and for me too .
"How are you spending your life ? How is your family ? You never came to meet me all these years !" Krishna pretended to be upset .
"Oh Krishna ,I ....I am fine .My family is also good ......" Sudama stammered a bit while talking .He never told the actual reason behind his visit .
Sudama and his family were suffering from poverty .It was tough to get food for a day .Their living was difficult .But their hearts were pure .That's why ,Sudama's wife suggested to go and meet Krishna ,who was lord of the 3 worlds and protector of the innocent .She believed that he can find a solution for their misery .
Krishna kept on looking at him ,while he was filled with thoughts .
"Is there anything I could do for you ,dear Sudama ? If there is anything troubling you ,please share it with me .I know you have faced lot of difficulties in life . Why didn't you come to me during your bad times ? Whatever is it ,don't hesitate to ask me . I will surely support you ,my dear friend ." Krishna's comforting voice had pacified him and he embraced him tightly .Just looking at Krishna and talking to him made Sudama feel comfortable ,and gave him the hope that everything will be alright .But still ,he never asked for anything .
Both of them were talking about their childhood days in Gurukula .
"Do you remember that incident ,when we both stuck in the forest due to heavy rain ? Our Guru only came and found us struggling in the middle of the forest. He took us back to the ashram . That was indeed a very adventurous situation !"
Krishna said .
"Indeed Krishna ! And at that time you were there for me ,my closest companion .We both used to go to the forest together ,studied everything together ,ate food together ,did our exercises together and slept together ."
Sudama replied happily .He was so involved in talking ,that he almost forgot about himself and his problems .Rukmini was also listening to their amazing adventures curiously ,and so was I .
Then Krishna suddenly asked " Oh ! I nearly forgot to ask you ! You have come here to meet me after so many years ,then you must have brought something for me ? Where is my gift ,Sudama !?".
Sudama's face became pale after hearing Krishna's words .He had brought nothing for Krishna ,except some rice flakes which was tightly packed inside the cloth bundle which he was carrying .He looked down with embarrassment .
"Oh Sakha ,I accept everything ,be it a leaf or a flower .If you offer me with pure love and affection ,I happily accept them .Come on ,show me whatever you have brought !" Krishna insisted .
Still Sudama was feeling very shy and tried to hide the cloth bundle behind him .He was feeling very uncomfortable to give it to Krishna ,since he thought that it would be not appropriate to give such a gift to the Lord of Dwarka.
Krishna was also becoming impatient ,and at last spotted the cloth bundle "Ah I found it ! What is that ? Dear Sudama ,you were trying to surprise me ...." He snatched the cloth bundle from him .Sudama was tensed .
"You have brought my favourite rice flakes ! So kind of you ,dear friend ! I am really happy !" Krishna was overjoyed after seeing those rice flakes .He ate them with much pleasure .Sudama wanted to stop him ,but Krishna hardly listened to him .
When he took another fistful of rice flakes and was going to eat them ,Rukmini stopped him in between "Oh dear Lord ,I think it's enough ."
Neither did I understood what she meant ,nor did Sudama .He was confused completely .
"I really thank you and your devoted wife for presenting me this invaluable gift ,dear Sudama .Now I think you should go and take good rest ,since you had a long journey ." Krishna said .
"But I have to leave Krishna ......." Sudama replied.
"You're leaving ? No way ! Stay here tonight and we'll see for tomorrow .You have come after so many years ,I can't just let you go right now !" Krishna replied enthusiastically and lead him towards the bedroom chambers .
(Credits to the creator ð)