Yashoda just couldn't run anymore. After all, she had noticed a few grey hairs the other day. Krishna's games were taking a toll on her.
"Krishna, please come out wherever you are. I'm exhausted", she cried in exasperation.
There was no sound, no stir in the leaves, no sound of little bells, no peals of laughter. Yashoda slumped down under a tree to catch her breath. Her chest heaved as she closed her eyes and rested her head on the trunk of the huge banyan tree.
That morning Yashoda had come home from the Yamuna Ghats and seen little Krishna playing in the dirt. He had smiled up at her mischievously and held out a filthy, tiny hand for her to hold.
Yashoda had picked up the little boy and dragged off his reluctant little frame to the bath. Little Krishna kicked and writhed as the determined Yashoda scrubbed the dirt off his body. At last when Krishna looked up innocently at her from within the wraps of a towel, her heart melted.
Krishna's smile was magic! He kept Yashoda under his spell till he was fully dressed and covered in ornaments. It was time for the final touch, a line of dark kajal to border his eyes. It was then that he fled, disappearing outside the door in a peal of laughter a tinkle of bells.
Yashoda's spell broke that instant and...she sighed. Looking up at the sun overhead, it was noon. Where would she look now? She had asked the ladies in the neighborhood. They had only laughed at her plight.She had even gone to the fields to ask the cowherds. All she received was a splitting headache from the hot sun.
She dragged herself off the ground and wearily looked around. Wait till he returns, she thought, I will punish him; no kheer for days. Slowly the thought crept into her head, the poor little boy hadn't eaten since morning. He must be hungry. Suddenly she felt a deep yearning for him, she wanted to see him, she wanted to hold him, seat him on her lap and feed him his favorite kheer.
Fear filled her heart, was he alright? Had he lost his way? Had he fallen into a ditch or...Yashoda shuddered...swept away by the current of the river. Oh Krishna!, she thought, where are you?
Defeated, she dragged her feet back to the banyan tree. She rested her back against the tree and closed her eyes.
The still air stirred for a moment, a light and sweet sound of bells rang, barely audible. Yashoda's eyes flew open. Had she imagined it? No, there it was again, this time louder.
Filled with renewed energy, she ran, her heart beating out of her chest. "Krishna, Krishna".
As she swung around the trunk of the great old banyan tree relief swept over her, thank you dear God! There lay baby Krishna asleep, kicking restlessly, the bells on his feet emitting a sound that could charm the Gods.
Yashoda stood mesmerized for a moment before picking him up in her arms. His restlessness was gone and he snuggled close to her, grabbing a fistful of her sari. She walked quietly back home, Krishna sleeping in heavenly peace in her arms.
Nandini, give me a sign...where are you?
Yashoda had picked up the little boy and dragged off his reluctant little frame to the bath. Little Krishna kicked and writhed as the determined Yashoda scrubbed the dirt off his body. At last when Krishna looked up innocently at her from within the wraps of a towel, her heart melted.
Krishna's smile was magic! He kept Yashoda under his spell till he was fully dressed and covered in ornaments. It was time for the final touch, a line of dark kajal to border his eyes. It was then that he fled, disappearing outside the door in a peal of laughter a tinkle of bells.
Yashoda's spell broke that instant and...she sighed. Looking up at the sun overhead, it was noon. Where would she look now? She had asked the ladies in the neighborhood. They had only laughed at her plight.She had even gone to the fields to ask the cowherds. All she received was a splitting headache from the hot sun.
She dragged herself off the ground and wearily looked around. Wait till he returns, she thought, I will punish him; no kheer for days. Slowly the thought crept into her head, the poor little boy hadn't eaten since morning. He must be hungry. Suddenly she felt a deep yearning for him, she wanted to see him, she wanted to hold him, seat him on her lap and feed him his favorite kheer.
Fear filled her heart, was he alright? Had he lost his way? Had he fallen into a ditch or...Yashoda shuddered...swept away by the current of the river. Oh Krishna!, she thought, where are you?
Defeated, she dragged her feet back to the banyan tree. She rested her back against the tree and closed her eyes.
The still air stirred for a moment, a light and sweet sound of bells rang, barely audible. Yashoda's eyes flew open. Had she imagined it? No, there it was again, this time louder.
Filled with renewed energy, she ran, her heart beating out of her chest. "Krishna, Krishna".
As she swung around the trunk of the great old banyan tree relief swept over her, thank you dear God! There lay baby Krishna asleep, kicking restlessly, the bells on his feet emitting a sound that could charm the Gods.
Yashoda stood mesmerized for a moment before picking him up in her arms. His restlessness was gone and he snuggled close to her, grabbing a fistful of her sari. She walked quietly back home, Krishna sleeping in heavenly peace in her arms.
Nandini, give me a sign...where are you?
one word.
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Thanks Prianthi, gt da mythological flare from u rite?
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