We returned to the palace that evening .Krishna walked briskly before me ,while I came behind him slowly .He was still quite irritated upon me .
"Thank goodness ! Godha where were you ? Krishna,where did you find her ?"
Devaki asked ,as she received .Then everyone noticed the bunch of flowers ,which I was carrying in my hands .
"These flowers are found at the hill . It means you went to the forest !?" Rukmini asked .I was trying to reply ,but before that Krishna spoke up in his high pitched tone "She ventured out alone ,in the forest .The tribes had met her ,and gave those flowers. They didn't harm her ,for they were my devotees .But yes ,she was attacked by a tiger before ."
Everyone got shocked after hearing and looked at me .I had nothing to say ,and kept on staring at the ground . What could I possibly answer ,when I had made a mistake ? I only looked at Krishna's stern face with a guilt ,who was staring at me .I understood how much worried he had become about me ,when I was not there at the palace .After all the talks and discussions ,Krishna himself gave an order that I must stay in the palace ,in my room and should not go anywhere out without a permission .He even told Rukmini and others to keep a close watch over me .None of these things mattered for me deeply .I was prepared to stay confined within the palace ,and I was okay with everyone keeping a close watch over me .The only thing that mattered me deeply was ,that my lord was still angry upon me .I even went after him and asked for forgiveness ,but he never paid heed to me .
I went towards my chamber and closed the door .What should I do ? I made him upset ,but I had to change his mood .Oh no ! I only wanted those flowers ,that too meant for my beloved Krishna's painting .I never knew things could go wrong like this .When I closed my eyes I could only see Krishna's angry and worried face in my mind ,how he had got tensed .
"Don't worry Godha ,everything will be alright ." Rukmini peeped inside the room and asked the maids to leave .She sat beside me ,and held my hands in hers .
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen !I brought the flowers for my lord and wanted to prove him that I was strong . I didn't mean to disobey him ." I replied ,as tears were collecting in my eyes .
"Look ,I can understand your feelings well .But do you know how Sri Krishna reacted when you were missing ? Just as Raji came and told us ,he left all of his work in between ,and was in a frantic mood .Neither he ate his meal ,nor he did any of his work. All he knew was that he had to find you ,his loving devotee .Lord always keeps his devotees and their needs on priority ." She replied
Oh Krishna ......my Lord ,my Madhava had become so tensed for me .Oh ,it's all my fault !
"But now he is so much angry with me .Will he ever talk to me ?"
"Godha ,he is angry with you because he has so much affection and fondness for you .He won't let his devotees get in trouble ,no matter what .That's why he became so much tensed for you ."
"Devi ,I need to apologise to Dwarkadhish .I have to pacify him ,and make him talk to me again .What should I do ?Please guide me ."
"Why don't you offer him with the things he loves the most ? He loves to wear beautiful pitambara (yellow silk robes) ,adorn his crown with a peacock feather ,loves flowers like the Parijata and Lotus .Perhaps it'll change his mind ." Rukmini suggested.
I was determined to make my Krishna happy again ,because I couldn't bear the separation and his ignorance towards me .I wanted him back to talk to me ,to play his flute again for me ,and to forgive me for whatever I done .I immediately went in search of the things which he loves .Of course I wasn't allowed out ,so I roamed inside the palace .For the parijata flowers I went to Satyabhama's garden ,and asked her permission to collect a few of them .For the lotuses ,I went to Rukmini's garden ,where she had planted variety of lotuses ,some were even blue .I made a small garland out of them .For the peacock feathers ,I saw a peacock sitting silently on a window sill .I wanted to approach it , but it will get scared and fly away .If Krishna was with me now ,he would have held it in his arms would tame it lovingly .
"Oh Jewel among the birds ! Krishna's beloved ! Could you provide me with your beautiful feathers ,so that my lotus eyed lord could adorn himself ? It's not for me ,it's for the cowherd prince ." I pleaded to the peacock ,hoping that it would understand a little bit .But it was sitting silently ,not paying attention to me at all .Suddenly it flew away , and to my surprise left a few feathers on the floor .
"Thank you so much ,Krishna would be very happy !" I shouted excitedly and collected the vibrant feathers .
I took all the things along with me to the chamber ,where Krishna was sitting with all of his work .He was looking after some important documents .Surely his irritation didn't go fully ,and also he was having heavy responsibilities regarding the matters of the kingdom .
I was hesitant to go near him at first ,fearing whether he would scold me again .As I was lost in thoughts ,I didn't even notice that he was looking at me all the time and knew I was there .
"What is it Godha ?" He asked me ,but his tone seemed dull and heavy .
"Krishna....... I...I have brought something for you ." Saying this I kept all the things before him with shivering hands ,expecting a happy smile on his face .He kept looking at those items ,but didn't give a reply like how I expected him to do so .Instead he just gave a little,half smile which was barely visible to me .What was wrong with him ? I thought he'd be happy with my efforts ,but his face was expressionless .He looked tired and exhausted ,and surely not in a happy mood .Very soon he asked me to leave him alone for sometime ,because of his exhaustive , tedious work .
"I will make you happy again ,for sure .Nothing can stop me !"
"I know what you're doing .You are trying to pacify Kanha ,right ?" A voice interrupted me .
"Dau ,can you please tell me what is happening ? Even after offering all of his favourite things ,Dwarkadhish remains silent and dull ."
"Princess ,he has been doing loads of work since today morning ,and in between he got even more stressed when you went to the forest . But he'll be alright very soon ,don't worry ."Â Balarama said
"No ! This is my fault .I have to apologise to him for my carelessness and pacify him .Dau ,you are his elder brother .You must be knowing very well what Dwarkesha likes .Please tell me ."
"Well ,Kanha is not a serious person . I still remember how adventurous he was ,when we both were in Vrindavan .We both along with our friends ,would roam around in every forest ,taking care of our cows ,having a picnic daily , and of course ......stealing butter ! That's our most important job ,a job that Krishna loves very much ."
"Stealing butter ?"
"Yes ,and he loves to play pranks on mother Yashoda and all the other Gopis ,especially Radha .She is very precious to my younger brother ,and the butter which she makes is his favourite .One day ,he broke the pot which Radha was carrying on her head ,and all the butter fell on her ! Krishna likes to tease Radha ,and at the same time loves to pacify her by his nectarine words .
Nobody here talks about her or the pastimes of Kanha that much ,but I still remember all of them ,how he used to play his flute and call Radha ,how he used to cry for her in separation (Viraha) ,how he used to disguise himself as a Sanyasi or a Gopi to meet her ,how he pacifies her .....everything ." He replied .
(Credits to creator ð)
Radha .......
I understood ,that she was the one who could help me in removing Krishna's anger .After all ,they are one and inseparable .I needed her help ,but how ? Krishna has told me not to go anywhere ,so I have to keep my word .I decided to call her by meditation ,she will surely come .
I went to my chamber and sat in a meditation pose ,focusing on Radha's divine form .
"Oh Queen of Vrindavana ! Please hear my prayers and appear before me .You are Krishna's beloved ,his innermost strength ,his Hlandini Shakti .Please come to me oh Radha ,for I need your help in pacifying Bhuvanasundara .
Oh Madhavi , Shyama , Radhika , Keshavi , Kishori , Shyamasundari , Praneshwari , Vrajeswari ,Jayashree , Haripriya , Krishnapriya , Kamalalochana !
Please accept my prayers ,and allow me to witness your divine ,beautiful form .
Daughter of Vrishabhanu and Kirtida ,please come before me and help me ! I call you again and again !"
Just then I heard a beautiful voice ,which was as sweet as nectar .
"Open your eyes Godha ! I am here for you ."
As I opened my eyes ,I witnessed such a divine and wonderful presence in front me .Radharani ,Queen of Vraja had come to me and was standing before me ,her eyes filled with compassion and empathy .She was wearing a beautiful silk ,which was of the colour of a blue hued lotus .Her eyes were like lotus petals ,similar to that of Krishna and had a little smile on her face .She was simple ,for she was a milkmaid and her dressing too was very simple .But her beauty was so much divine and ethereal ,that she needed no jewellery or queenly attire to make her look beautiful .Her complexion was golden ,like melted gold .
Her long ,black hair was decorated with forest flowers ,her crown had the Chandrika jewel ,and decorated with a peacock feather .
(Credits to the creator ð)
"RADHA ! Oh Haripriya ! Kindly accept my obeisances and my love .I feel so blessed after seeing you with my own eyes . I am in dire need for your support ,please help me ." I was ecstatic and touched her tender ,lotus feet .
"Godha ,I know that why you have called me here .Krishna is angry ,I am very well aware of it .But don't worry , I will help you . I have been watching everything since starting .And I even know that you are a girl from Kaliyuga ,and Krishna has used his magic to make you as a princess .I saw how you both spent quality time together ,and I even saw how you risked yourself for Krishna by going out alone ."
"But ho...how did you know all this ?"
"Because even though I and Krishna both are living our life away from each other and are far apart ,but our minds and souls are together in union always .Krishna is in me ,I am in Krishna .No matter how much ever duties and responsibilities we both have ,no matter how much ever changes we go through ,but our hearts are together and we won't forget about each other .I live inside Krishna as his strength ,that's why I know about everything and everyone .And you Godha ,you are our devotee because you paint both of us ,and show your love through your art .So If Krishna is with you ,I am also with you ."
Tears were flowing unlimitedly from my eyes when she spoke .I felt as if I had achieved something very precious in my whole life .Radha wiped off those tears of ecstasy from my face ,with her delicate hands lovingly .And when she hugged ,I felt the warmth and divine love .I felt protected ,and it was as if I had hugged Krishna himself .
"Here ,take this ." She magically brought a pot in her hands which was filled with curd .
"Take this curd and make buttermilk out of it .Make it with pure love for Krishna in your heart ,like you always used to do .Then give it to him ,he'll be fine very soon ." She said
"I will ! Thank you Radhe ! Thank you so much !" After getting a solution ,I ran towards the royal kitchen .I churned the curd ,added some asafoetida powder (hing) ,little pinch of salt and mixed them thoroughly ,until some malai started to float on the butter milk .Then I prayed to Tulasi Devi in the garden for her divine leaf ,so that I could add it to the buttermilk and will officially become ready to offer to Krishna .
It was dinner time ,and everyone were assembling at the dining hall .I gave the buttermilk to Rukmini ,and asked her to serve it to Krishna by herself .
"Devi ,please serve this to Dwarkadhish in dinner tonight ."
"I will surely do it Godha ,he'll like it very much .It looks delicious ." Rukmini appreciated me .
Krishna came there slowly ,as usual lost in thoughts .Even during dinner he was discussing some state matters with Balarama .He neither looked at me ,nor he spoke anything to me .
I was praying for him to get back to normal and again become joyful .
He did notice the pot which contained buttermilk ,and asked for it .As Rukmini served him ,and as he drank it .....his eyes widened and looked at the buttermilk with amusement .
"Who made this ? Who has made such a delicious buttermilk ,which gives immense peace and comfort to my heart ?" He asked Vaidarbhi .
She smiled ,and looked at me "My lord ,a beloved devotee of yours has made it for you ,hoping to get you out of your anger ,and to win your heart ."
As he heard these lines ,he turned towards me without thinking .He understood everything , and atlast gave a gentle smile which gave me extreme happiness and relief . He asked for more ,and not only him but everyone desired to taste what I had made .
My dear Krishna ! Please forgive me for whatever I did .Please accept my apologies and talk to me again ,play your flute for me again , and be with me always Sakha !"
I was staring at the golden moon amidst the dark night sky ,hoping for some change .
At that time ,I felt a hand on my shoulder . "Godha ,I forgive you .Look I am here ."
"Krishna ! I'm so sorry , I really didn't mean....."
"Look ,I know everything. You don't have to explain everything in detail to me ,my dear."
"Wh....what are you saying ?"
"I know what all happened today ,and how you made the buttermilk .This was all my Leela ,am I right Radhe ?"
Radha came from behind ,and stood beside my lord .It was a divine sight to behold ,as the King and Queen of Vrindavana were standing before me together .Their radiance and their aura had made me feel as if I was merging into them .Krishna's complexion was darkish blue ,like the night sky .Radha's complexion was golden and bright ,like the moon amidst the night sky .The stars all over were the Gopis ,dancing to the tunes and rhythm of the divine couple's ecstatic and unconditional love .I fell before their feet ,and cried in happiness .
"My lord ! What Leela is this ? I don't understand ,please tell me ."
"Godha ,you are truly a very loving and affectionate Sakhi of ours ,as you proved us today .That's why ,we gave you this surprise by letting you witness both of us together ."
"Yes ,and you know what ? I was not at all irritated or angry that much today .I just pretended to be ,as you know about my acting skills .Godha ,I just wanted to see your devotion and love .I know it very well that why you wanted those flowers ,but be careful in future and make sure you don't repeat the mistake again .I forgive you ." Krishna said .
"KunjBihari ! Don't get so angry upon your Sakhi .You know she was so desperate and worried after seeing your stern face ."
"Priye ,she is very close and precious to me .I got angry so much ,because I love her so much ." Saying this both of them hugged me together tightly . Shyama and Shyam's embrace had made me feel so much ,so much lucky and protective .
This was such a divine moment ,a really special moment that can't be described in words .
(Credits to the creator ð)