Mitravinda

4 years ago

proteeti

@sambhavami

Mitravinda stared into the horizon of the city of Avanti.

The colourful tents adorning the outskirts of the illustrious town gave her no joy today for they were but a reminder of her impending fate. Her swayamvara was to take place the next day. The tents were populated by her suitors that came from across the world. She felt a shiver running down her spine every time she thought of marrying any of them. How could she? Wasn't it a sin to surrender oneself to more than one man? How could she marry any of them when her heart already belonged to Krishna, the best among all men, and the Yadavas? Rukmini must have performed unparalleled penances for she was able to send a message to her Lord in just the nick of time! Her brothers were wary of the possibility now. She was effectively on house arrest since the announcement of her impending marriage was made.

She turned around puzzled, as the tinkling laugh of a familiar voice drew closer. She smiled for the first time in a long time as she saw the bright, smiling face of Subhadra, her beloved's sister and her cousin.

"Well, well, if it isn't my least favourite cousin!" Teased Subhadra as the women embraced.

Despite the initial surge of happiness, Mitravinda found herself unwilling to partake in their usual sisterly banter. She smiled and politely nodded while Subhadra chattered about the highlights of her visit, seemingly unaware of her cousin's disinterest.

That afternoon, as the sun rose to the helm of the sky, and scorching sunlight ricocheted off the golden kalasha at the tip of the temple of Sri Mahakaleswara, the women retired to their chambers seeking the sweet midday nap. Soon, most of them had fallen asleep. Even the kanchukis fanning the royal ladies were nodding off at intervals. Yet, sleep evaded the lotus eyes of Princess Mitravinda. Nervously, she kept repeating prayers under her breath beseeching the great Lord Mahakala.

Rolling over to her side, she found Subhadra wide awake and staring at her expectantly. "Dearest sister mine, do you have anything to say?" She whispered.

Mitravinda raised an eyebrow markedly, "Do you have nothing else to do but tease me all day?"

"Well, isn't it customary to tease the bride-to-be? I heard it's good for an auspicious marriage." Retorted Subhadra, "Last chance cousin, anything to say at all? I'm just putting it out there- the entire city of Mathura watched as you practically fainted when my brother walked past you. You couldn't hide it even if you tried!"

Mitravinda blushed bright red at the mention of that faux pas. Had it really been that obvious?

"Well, I suppose it would have been nice if he were an option in the swayamvara, but you and I both know that's not happening." She said with a sad smile, "In fact, I am really surprised my brothers let you come here!"

Subhadra smiled mysteriously, "So, you would choose him if he were an option, right?" Mitravinda nodded silently.

"Good to know." Subhadra yawned and rolled over to the other side. As far as appearances went, she was fast asleep in a minute.

---

As the sleepless night rolled into a glaring morning, Mitra's anxiety grew. She felt as though Lord Nataraja himself were dancing within her heart. People ran hither and thither around her, while Mitra felt like the world itself had stopped turning. Her sisters-in-law had gathered around her, adorning her in a bride's garb. Under their breaths, they muttered consolations. Nearly all of them had been abducted from their homes by Mitra's brothers, Vinda and Anuvinda.

Suchitra, the youngest wife of Vinda complained, like nearly every other day, "Your brother is lucky we took our vows in the temple of Mahakala! It's the only reason why I don't just stab him in his sleep! He killed all my brothers and my nephew! He was only fourteen!"

Suchitra ran away, hiding her tears. She had not yet adjusted to her life here. Devadarshita, Vinda's oldest wife shook her head in disapproval. While she hated the ways of her husband, she didn't approve of the open hostility. She had after all bore the physical brunt of her husband's anger, long back, when she still had had the heart in her to protest. Instead, she simply sighed and concentrated on braiding Mitra's hair. Her silence also stemmed from the fact that she was the only one who had chosen Vinda in a swayamvara, and held herself responsible for her fate to some extent.

All four of Anuvinda's wives were abducted. They mostly preferred to keep their heads down and get on with their lives. There had been a fifth wife; his first wife. She had stood up to him once, refusing to allow him entrance to his newly-abducted second wife's room. By the next week, she had vanished from the palace. No one knew where she went or what happened to her. Even today, five years later, the second wife made sure to offer special prayers to Mahakaleswara on the date of her disappearance.

No one had any doubts about the quality of the Kings and Princes who would be invited to this swayamvara. Quietly, Chandrika, one of the queens, whispered into Mitra's ears, as she tied something to the end of her saree, "We are all bound by the promises we made before the Lord Mahadeva, but you won't be. Try out your new life for a week. If it is truly as unbearable, here's the finest poison I could find. Either consume it yourself or feed it to him. Don't suffer like we do!" A lone tear rolled down Mitra's cheek as she stared off into the distance, barely heeding the remonstrations about ruining her makeup.

Subhadra, however, bounced around, happy as ever. She leaned in close to Mitra, applying kohl on her long, lotus-petal eyes. She whispered to the princess when no one was looking at them, "Just eat light today okay? We cannot have you fainting again!"

Mitra glared at her cousin. How could she be so insensitive? She was definitely as heartless as her brother!

Mitra pushed Subhadra's hand away from her face. "How would you feel if your brothers stopped you from marrying someone you loved?" She said.

Subhadra's face broke out into a wide grin, "I'd like to see them try!" Subhadra cupped Mitra's face in hers, "Just promise me, you'll hold on tight, will you? All the love, all the trust that you have in your heart, just bundle it all up, and hold on to it!"

"Hold on...to what?" Mitra asked.

"Just, hold on." Subhadra said kindly, "No matter what I tell people, you are my favourite cousin. How did you ever think I'd give up that easy? Just you wait and see."

Even though Mitra wanted to believe Subhadra, she had come to understand that this happy little cousin of hers was overtly optimistic, and only just a bit spoiled. She couldn't decide if she should pay her any attention or not. She did, however, cry as she compared Subhadra's brothers to hers.

---

Mitra felt numb and could hardly perceive her surroundings as she was led onto the arena of the swayamvara. Vinda and Anuvidya had tightly gripped an arm each.

Vinda bent down to whisper to his sister, "I'll press hard on your arm when you reach our choice prince. Put the garland on him."

Mitra looked around with a well-laden garland of flowers in her hand. She felt less like a bride, and more like an animal led up to the dais for execution. No one in the arena caught her eye, for they were blurred out by a thick film of tears forming in her eyes. So, this was how it was to end. Now will begin a lifelong slavery to a man other than her beloved. Even if she emptied the vial of poison that her sister-in-law had gifted her, she would still be bound to another man for the rest of her mortal life, and be remembered eternally as his cowardly wife!

Mitravinda called out one last time to the dakshina-murthi Lord Mahadeva- the south-facing Lord of boundless compassion. Sati, his first wife, had embraced the flames for the honour of Shaivya's Lord Shiva. If he didn't show compassion now, Krishna's Shaivya would also definitely meet a similar fate!

Mitravinda felt her brothers discreetly dragging her up the aisle of suitors. She could feel their eyes boring into her, sizing her up. Some of them had the decency to look uncomfortable, but no prince charming burst out of the row, putting an end to the farce. Instead, she was marched up and down twice along the length of the sabha by her brother. Both times he had pressed down on her arm when she had stood before Prince Duryodhana of Hastinapura. She could feel her brothers' glares almost piercing a hole through the back of her neck. She could also feel the forced smiles they still donned for the sake of appearances. Mitra felt a strange rebellion bubbling inside of her. She had never been so determined. She would not place the garland around his neck on her own. If she was to be married to him, her brothers would have to physically make her go through the motions, shedding all garb of decency. If she went down now, she would go down kicking and screaming.

Suddenly a loud noise shook the sabha. Everybody turned to look at the locked main door. Someone seemed to be trying to break it down. Mitra's brothers immediately let go of her, drawing their swords instead. Most of the suitors followed suit. She gasped as, with the second bang, the heavy wooden doors of the guarded arena burst into a hundred pieces and a humongous golden chariot rolled in, enveloped in a startling ball of light. Her horror turned into incredulity as she spotted the figurine of the great bird Garuda at the helm of the chariot and the realization dawned on her. Subhadra, that sly little devil! She could have kissed both her and her brother right now!

The chariot rolled down the marble floor, stopping right beside her. Krishna, the leader of Dwarika, stood leaning slightly on the frame, a casual smile playing on his lips.

Without another word, Krishna bent down and lifted her by the waist onto his chariot and immediately turned it around on its wheel, as her garland lay abandoned on the floor. The barricades of the Yadava army helmed by Balarama and Satyaki quickly flanked into two pieces making way for Krishna's chariot as they simultaneously blocked the path of the other kings who attempted to follow. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Subhadra happily skipping up behind Balarama, putting an arm around him, just as the prince unsheathed his own sword.

Terrified of her brothers' reaction, Mitra looked over her shoulder and sighed in relief to find that the Yadava army had again merged into a single front behind them. She gulped however as she saw Vinda and Anuvinda who had somehow broken free of the barricade and were now chasing them down on horseback. Krishna had also noticed them. He turned around with the speed of lightning, shooting numerous arrows on the brothers. He switched so quickly between fighting and driving the chariot, that Mitra could've sworn he had four hands, not two! Eventually, he managed to injure both of their horses, leaving them stranded on the road, as he sped up the chariot.

She looked back at Krishna whose gaze was fixated on the road as he guided the chariot over the rough terrain. Mitravinda took a deep breath and spoke with a smile, "You could have hurt me, you know?" Krishna spoke without looking up, "Don't you get sassy with me miss! You swooned the last time we were this close."

Mitravinda blushed and laughed, and Krishna joined her as he finally slowed down the chariot over the plain road ahead of them. As the princess turned back he spire of the temple of Mahakala grew smaller and smaller as the car bounced happily ahead. Looking back, Mitra found the horses walking their own way, as Krishna had relaxed their rein, choosing instead to whisper a short prayer in the direction of the temple. To her delight, it was a prayer she knew. Smiling, although her eyes remained wet, Mitra gently touched Krishna's arm, joining in.

The burning midday sun had never been so pleasant.