Yamuna was closest with Yudhisthira in terms of their divine originsтАФboth the scions of dharma. But she was closest to Draupadi more than any of the Pandava family. She loved to be with her, in court sessions, and in her personal palace. There was something about the empress which made the river goddess drawn to her. The empress was KrishnaтАЩs best friend, was named Krishnaa, and she shared the mannerisms with her lord too.
тАЬOh Kalindi, I didnтАЩt even get time to come to you before,тАЭ she had exclaimed when Yamuna was KrishnaтАЩs new brideтАФgetting ready for their marriage in Indraprastha. тАЬSutasoma had been really clingy today, and you know I couldnтАЩt have let Satyabhama handle everything alone until Rukmini Jiji arrives.тАЭ She spoke in a rush, bringing out the golden jewelleries and Yamuna flushed at the love Krishnaa displayed by making her wear yellow royal garbs, her lordтАЩs favourite.
тАЬI know, Subhadra came early to make sure I had everything. YouтАЩre the queen, and you already have so much duties.тАЭ Yamuna assured in a calm manner, like the flow of her river. Krishnaa shook her head, тАЬSubhadra is a darling. And, thereтАЩs no amount of work which can keep me away from helping you, Yamunae. Now come on, your Kanha is getting inpatient already.тАЭ
So much similarity between the two, she noted. The graceful temperament, and golden irises which had embers in it. The very similar lotus shaped eyes, the same mischievous smile, and the same ability to charm everyone. No wonder they were the best of friends, knowing each and every secret of each other.
The next few moments were a haze, almost dream-like. Years hard of penance was coming to fruitтАФshe was to be wed to Vaasudeva Krishna! Shri to be united with Hari, once again. She was escorted to the marriage site by Krishnaa and Valandhara, whose presences were such gentle and comforting that she didnтАЩt even get to feel the jitters of nervousness.
She looked above, a single wish residing in her heart. Only if Pitadev and Yama were here. Her father and twin has to be present in her marriage, will they not at least give her a glimpse of them?
She looked around once she was seated, Valandhara and Devika were together looking after the hall arrangements. Kerenumati and Vijayaa were sticking close, and she noticed the stolen glances of the youngest Pandava towards the Madra princess. She smiled, and then her gaze shifted towards the empress who smiled like the brightest of stars beside her twin. They talked while Krishnaa looked over everything, and her twin helped her out too. Both of them looking like twin stars of the cosmos.
Then, her gaze finally rested on her groom who waited on her patiently knowing she was the chanchala and he also have to go through his share of waiting. Amusing, is it not? The God who had everyoneтАЩs love, waiting patiently for the gaze of his love? Such divine was the leela of Shri and Narayana.
She looked into his eyes enchanted, deep brown golden eyes which reflected the entire galaxies of universes created and destroyed in a fraction of seconds. She saw the ever lively eternal abode of hers beside her husband, her Vaikuntha. She saw his childhood in the banks of her river, she saw him breaking the Pinaka when trying to string it, she saw him whisking her away amongst the crowded Samudra Manthana, and then she saw them in his eyes. Seated in the marriage site. A drop of tear escaped her eyes, for she was in bliss.
Krishna tilted his head, and then wiped away her tear. тАЬIs marrying me that bad?тАЭ He asked in an innocent tone, and she chuckled shaking her head, laughing at the irony of his question in the back of her mind.
тАЬLook around the guests a bit, thereтАЩs a long journey ahead of you now, my goddess.тАЭ
And she did. She saw the veiled wickedness lurking around now. The king of Gandhar shut his left eye in shock or cunningness only he knows when he felt her gaze. The personified form of the current era, she thought. Then, she saw the dearest nephew of Shakuni, Duryodhana, who looked around his surroundings with a certain gaze which resembled envy. The next era to come, she noted. Then she gazed over at the supposed best friend of Duryodhana, the wicked son of the sun. She couldnтАЩt even admit that this man was birthed as a part of her own father.
As he was killed in the hands of Nara-Narayana in his past form, this form too is meant to be eliminated by Nara.
Krishna held out his hand, and she rested her auspicious palm over his. The priest chanted hymns, but they had already been each otherтАЩs since the very beginning of the universe.
A short excerpt from the book, and there are few scenes which I have cut down from the original draft because of obvious reasons.
