Lakshmana

4 years ago

proteeti

@sambhavami

Lakshmana sighed as the crowd booed again. The situation had not gotten any better since the morning. She was getting testier by the hour as her much-awaited swayamvara was turning pretty much into a disaster. Countless kings and princes had come and gone and not one had succeeded. She looked around the grand hall that had been constructed for the occasion. On either side of her, sat the Kings Brihatsena and Shalya, her father and uncle. Beside them, on a lower dais sat her twin cousins- Nakula and Sahadeva. They were the ones taking turns announcing the Kings who came forward to try their luck at the challenge that had been set. Lakshmana was getting more and more annoyed with her father for setting such an odd task, that no one seemed to be able to even comprehend.

Agreeably, it was a fairly difficult task. A rotating fish had been hung from the ceiling, hidden from plain sight. Every contestant was allowed just one short glimpse of the fish in a bowl of water set on the ground before that too was removed. The challenge was to hit the rotating fish based on that first glimpse. A few years back the king of Panchala also had proposed a similar task at his daughter’s swayamvara. This was just a bit more precise than the trap at Draupadi's. If Draupadi's life worked out that well, why wouldn’t she find a worthy suitor?

Lakshmana, as an only child, had always had to come up with inventive ways to keep herself occupied. Hence, she had learnt to read lips on a whim a few years back. She was slightly amused that a casual hobby was now her only source of entertainment in this dire gathering, as she followed along to the hushed conversations that went around the bejewelled hall. Some of them were discussing her looks, some the challenge and some of them were busy discussing what had been there for lunch. Lakshmana had always been shy and introverted, otherwise, she felt she might've told off at least the lunch bunch. No wonder no one was being able to hit the fish, if the fish curry from earlier was the only thing on their mind! Instead, she focused her mind on smiling brightly while fixing her gaze on the fish, that was visible from her seat.

Right then, a tall, muscular man arose from his seat. The announcer identified him to be Duryodhana, the crown prince of Hastinapura. He was rumoured to be a real piece of work! Right as he took a step forward, another man arose, wearing shining armour bearing the markings of the sun, and pulled him back, pointing at the handsome man sitting at the very end of the sabha. Lakshmana wondered how she had missed him in the crowd. He was dark-skinned with a couple of peacock feathers adorning his curly hair. His garments were electric white.

The man with the armour was whispering to his friend, "Do you not see Krishna over there?!"

"So what, Karna?" The prince replied.

"So, my prince, have you not seen the twins up there?! There's no way anyone other than Krishna or Arjuna will take this girl! Also, have you seen the look on his face?" Karna shook his head, "Duryodhana, my friend, you do know how far you go with archery, don't you? Do you take any specific pleasure in humiliation?" Lakshmana laughed in spite of herself.

"Well, you could try, for me?" The prince huffed, almost as if she was a toy to be won at a carnival! Lakshmana gasped indignantly. That's cheating, she thought. She prayed to God so that Karna wouldn't try. The stories of his valour had reached Madra as well, mostly riding the waves of the complaints brought on by the twins. Thankfully he spoke, "Nah, friend. Believe me, let this one go. Arjuna and Bheema we can take on, but right now, if we escalate, then Krishna will definitely get involved, and you and I both know facing that's suicide!"

Meanwhile, the handsome man at the end of the hall, that Krishna, had leaned forward, "I can hear you two, you know?" He laughed cheerfully, "Glad to know you got the point, but maybe keep it down!" People often called her Charuhasini- the one with the beautiful smile, but she had never seen a smile more enticing than his. The way that he shook his head, at the same time shushing his cousins who looked just ready to add on. Duryodhana and Karna had both promptly shut up, their faces beet-red with embarrassment. They were now sitting quietly staring at the mirrors hanging on the walls straight in front of them. So he was sassy as well as confident. Lakshmana raised an eyebrow- why won't he try then? Was she not worth it to him?

She was only beginning to appreciate his beauty when she realized he had been staring at her pretty much the entire duration of the swayamvara. She blushed as she realized that was probably what Karna was going off of. Now that she realized it, the two Pandava brothers were also sniggering under their breath as well. Was it that obvious?

Lakshmana concentrated on their conversation. Arjuna and Krishna were discussing the challenge under their breaths, but she could still read their lips.

It's tricky, but it can be done, Arjuna was mouthing.

Of course, it can, apart from the glance they let you take...if you try really hard you can probably hear the contraption, Krishna replied. Lakshmana was struck by the next part of the conversation. 

Krishna spoke seriously, there must be a component for the princess to grant her favour! Why else would they call it a swayamvar? Surely, she herself will lead the one she likes to victory! I'm quite sure that's the real trick here. 

Lakshmana gasped quietly. She hadn't even considered that. Truly, the fish was clearly visible from where she was seated. But could she somehow communicate its true position to a participant? She couldn't just go ahead and announce it! Lakshmana could've sworn that Krishna had stared straight into her eyes as he had mouthed that, almost conspiratorily.

Finally, as all other Kings had tried and failed to fulfil the challenge, her father now asked Nakula to call upon anyone who had not tried. Nakula promptly called Bheema, the older Pandava brother. He politely declined and indicated towards Krishna and Arjuna – the last remaining princes who hadn’t tried the challenge yet. Arjuna leaned over and whispered something into Krishna’s ear and the latter promptly laughed and looked away.

Arjuna went ahead and strung the heavy bow kept at the altar. Bowing his head once before her father King Brihatsena and once before his brothers Bheema and Krishna, he shot the arrow. All spectators gasped as the arrow seemingly hit the fish. Lakshmana looked up with horror, it had stopped spinning! Arjuna was a nice guy, but Lakshmana had never imagined him as her husband. Even now, it felt somewhat wrong! The King promptly sent his investigators to assess. To the surprise of all, they declared that Arjuna’s arrow had missed the fish by just a hair’s breadth, hitting the ceiling, instead of the fish! That was the reason it had stopped spinning. Lakshmana couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

The King, at this point, was almost ready to compromise and declare Arjuna the winner. However, the archer simply laughed and with a slight nod to the princess, returned to his seat. That had to be intentional! Lakshmana allowed herself to smile a little as well. Of course, Arjuna had to try at least once, he was after all the greatest archer in the land. What would people say if he simply skipped such a specific contest?!

On the other side of the sabha, Arjuna was nudging Krishna to step up. Lakshmana felt a warm glow spread through her heart, as she saw that beautiful man squirm and hesitate in shyness as his cousins teased and encouraged him. Why would he not rise? Why did all the world's worth of shyness have to descend on him right this second? Finally, Sahadeva left his throne and held Krishna's palms in him, coaxing him. Finally, even Duryodhana spoke up, "We're all hungry Vasudeva, just get up and go!"

Krishna now nodded, "If you say so!" He laughed.

Finally, he arose and walked towards the altar with a smile on his face. Looking down once to see the fish, he looked up and locked eyes with her. Then it finally hit her: he wasn't shy, just dramatic. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Arjun leave the sabha. Krishna raised the bow and turned to look at her. Lakshmana gulped. She remembered his previous statement. Slowly, tile by tile she raised her eyes, fixing her gaze on the spinning fish. She could feel his gaze too holding on to hers. She wasn't even sure if he looked at the water bowl when it was set. Slowly he set the arrow on his bow, his gaze still fixed on her face. Lakshama didn't dare to look at anything, even at him. Even a second's hesitation on either her part or his could be disastrous.

Then, with a swift, fluid motion, he released the arrow. Lakshmana could have cried with joy, for this time there was no room for doubt, for the arrow had pierced the fish’s body and trickling droplets of blood now worshipped his feet. She saw him mouth at no one in particular. Eww, why can't they ever just use fake fish?! Lakshmana laughed since it was a sentiment she shared.

Krishna touched the feet of her father who at once embraced him. He led Krishna up to where Lakshmana now stood ready with a garland flanked on each side by Nakula and Sahadeva who were both grinning ear-to-ear. No sooner did she garland him than a grand chariot drew inside the hall, driven by Arjuna, who now was equipped with his own bow as well as Bheema’s mace. Lakshmana looked back quizzically at Krishna, who smiled at her, “Your other suitors are not going to take this well. We must hurry!” On cue, she could hear angry murmurs rising throughout the lineup of the suitors. 

"He cheated!"

"I saw her helping him!"

"This isn't fair, she pointed it out to him! She must pay!" 

Lakshmana felt angry at the accusations. She had been staring at the wretched fish pretty much all afternoon. How was it her fault if only one among them actually paid attention?! However, she controlled her anger for the moment, and followed Krishna quickly down the flight of stairs, towards the grand chariot.

The unsuccessful Kings and Princes were now rallying up to stop Krishna from leaving. Arjuna jumped down the chariot, throwing the reins to Krishna and advanced along with his brother Bheema to face their adversaries. As soon as Lakshmana was aboard the chariot, Krishna turned it around and rushed it out of the arena at top speed. Lakshmana looked back to find her father and uncle also armed, fighting the aggressive kings alongside the Pandava princes.

As she turned around Krishna laughed, “Not to worry, Arjuna alone is enough for those men. Besides, he will also have the support of brother Bheema and the Kuru entourage." Krishna laughed at her surprise at the mention of the Kurus, "Karna only wants to kill Arjuna. He'll still help protect your family.” Lakshmana smiled and nodded as the cool winds whipped her hair around as the couple now rode happily along the riverbank of Asikni, leaving behind the faraway mountains that seemed to only whisper blessings.