The Two Prime Consorts β€οΈ
Rukmini and Satyabhama spare some time with each other in Dvaraka, post a work day.
When Suryanarayana's chariot rode below the horizon in the city of gates, the shades of saffron and dark mingling in one against the canvas of the welkin glimmered against the fair visage of the Narayani, the chief among the Ashtapatni of Keshava, who blessed the sun lord once before the lunar god arrived for his shift.
Rukmini's smile exuded the semblance of a fully bloomed water lily, bright pink and one dripping honey, much like her lotus eyes that crinkled in merry. Rolling back the dried scrolls, she interlocked her slender fingers against each other and gave a stretch, yawning with tears clinging to the corner of her eyes and a half-fatigued look eclipsing her usual Chanchala-ness.
Something swished against the shadows of Dvaravati castle's cloisters forged with finesse, quick to gain her attention. It played around on the whims of Vayu before a hand smothered it, deliberately camouflaging in the silence and semi-murk of the eventide. Krishnatmika frowned momentarily, eyebrows puckering before they rose again in glee. Grinning from ear to ear, she languidly shifted again in her seat, craning her neck to get a better look at whatever shenanigans Bhulakshmi was now upto.
"Ayi, I am not Bhanu to accompany his father in their monkey business. I am his mother, Rukku Jiji!" The unladly-like squeak that then addressed her, had Vaidarbhi doubling over as a pouting Satyabhama stepped out of the shadows; her hands on her hips with a look of betrayal and disbelief on her countenance.
"Very well, it's you after Kanha I see." She snorted, adding fuel to the mirth of her elder co-wife whose shoulders trembled by the laughter she tried subduing but to no avail.
"Aww, darling little Bhame, please have a seat. How may I assist you, my queen?" Rukmini pursed her lips, pushing back her amusement as Satyabhama rolled her eyes once more, shaking her head fondly; headstrong on maintaining the pseudo act of being offended but failed eventually. The latter moved around in unrushed steps, stationing more oil lamps in the corners of the council hall that contained no one but them for then, murmuring a hymn to the goddess of time.
"Samba was asking for his Jyeshtha Maa. Jamba Jiji told him she's got a more darling child," Satyabhama giggled while spinning on her heels, as a horrified Rukmini felt bad for snickering again. "He's been ceaselessly wailing like a typical child since, and needless to say, Yamuna's enjoying it. She even teased him for his other favourite Maa's too busy with Satyaa's little one." She mimicked the lisp of the Krishnaputra in the end, an exasperating amusement in her demeanour as Rukmini for the perhaps the first time in her life, was at a loss of words.
"Leave you, it's Kalindi who has unofficially vowed to not let me live in peace for once."
"No no, that designation is mine. I'll fight Yama to have his twin in place you see."
A short snug silence filled their space, an ecstasy in their hearts as was their nature. Satyabhama returned to Rukmini with a dramatic look of conflict in her eyes and a bowl of heated oil in her hand.
Bhudevi seated herself on a couch placed at a corner, before enthroning Rukmini's head on her lap, letting the latter's tresses loose to sprawl around like tendrils of forest vegetation, jasmine flowers caged in them at irregular intervals. The vermillion smeared forehead of the princess of Shrikshetra gave the image of the sun itself, eyes like stars curtained with a thin stretch of coral tinctured flesh. She was as precious to Madhava as the moon was to the poets, her bracing aura eternally enrapturing the patron of sustenance.
Prathama Dvarakeshvari studied the half-glare thrown her way before blinking, hauling her soul sister from the reverie of admiration she retained for her, "What are you looking at, Bhame?"
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do I love you for not pulling your ears for being late, big sister?" Varahi shook her head from side to side, experiencing irk and affection at once.
Krishnatmika flushed sheepishly before cheekily smiling as a pair of fingers slid in her scalp, the empyrean aroma of camphor infused almond oil wafting in the air around and having her almost melt like butter, "10 on 10, Vasundhare. You'll punish me, your beloved Shri? Will you not think of my darling ears?"
Satyabhama continued with her work, her doting eyes softening further as she felt Rukmini gradually flop, exhaling a sigh of relief and burying her face in the former's lap, "I shall have you locked away from the council for a week, do not forget that Mata Kokila's ferral cat is here to endorse and assist my shenanigans too."
'This scion of the flames is beholden to your majesty for thy exquisite choice of words recounting my magnificence, Shri Shri Dvaraka Maharani. It's a shame I am not as competent as you in terms of analogies and vocabulary. Grant this servant with leniency, good lady.β A mordant smile flashed from the other end of the mind bond as Satyabhama bowed in her sitting position, putting a hand on her chest in comic gratitude.
'You're welcome and pardoned, peasant.'
Rukmini smiled again, thoroughly relishing the repartee as the other Bharyas too joined in from different parts of the castle itself, each with more audacious, either too advanced or lame humoured responses to the other's teasing.
What would she do without these brats?
