The Blessed Pratibimb

Chapter-4

One afternoon like usual Isha was busy with her flower plucking for tonight's pooja. She was reciting mantra in such a melodious way that even nature itself was enjoying it. She was busy with her work when she felt a familiar presence around her. She said, "Pranam to my Guru Durwasa."

She looked at him and touched his feet and got blessed with, "Sada Sukhi Bhawam."

She smiled at her guru and asked, "Gurudev, you should have called me, why bother to come all the way long here?"

Guru just smiled and replied, "Some works needs our devotion more than our work."

She didn't understood a single word and was about to ask, but Guru said, "Isha, my daughter, you are blessed with natural talents. You really are special."

She smiled and said, "I may have them Gurudev, but if it wouldn't have been you I would have never known to them."

Her Guru smiled at her simplicity and said, "Then you must have remembered the blessing you got from your Guru."

She frowned and asked, "What blessing you are specifically talking about Gurudev?"

He looked down, seemingly disappointed, but said, "I gave you blessing Isha, that whosoever would defeat you in battle you would marry him."

Her breadth hitched, and the flower basket fell from her hands. She knew what this meant and she never wanted this to be true. Her eyes started to fill with tears. Her legs felt too weak to stand and she fell on her knees. She joined her hands as the stream of tears started to fall from her eyes. She said in a broken voice, "Gurudev, how can I, a Brahmin girl can marry a Kshatriya king?"

Gurudev looked at her vulnerable state and said, "Dear, this is your fate now. You have to accept it, you have to live it more than die. This is your destiny Isha accept it."

She frowned and asked, "But Gurudev, I am the only daughter to my father. What the whole society would say if I marry him? My father would die with shame."

Saying that she burst into uncontrollable stream of sobs. He stood there tall and said, "What if I say this is the wish of your mother?"

She looked up at him completely forgetting about the previous topic and asked, "What do you mean Gurudev?"

He smiled and said, "I have come here after visiting Chandraloka. I can assure you this is your mother's will."

Wiping her tears she asked, "Really? But why would my mother want me to cross the social boundaries after all she was the one who established them?"

Guru just smiled at her student's ignorance and said, "You have to find that out on your own by following your destiny. Remember you destiny involves whole humanity's welfare."

Saying that Gurudev disappeared into thin air. And she touched the print of his feet on the ground. She was completely confused as to what is right and what is wrong. She didn't know what she should do next. Should she marry him or should she wait for next movement.

"Ahhhh!" She groaned heavily and went straight to temple and in front of Devi, she let her frustration out. She fell on her knees and said, "Maa, I don't know what's right and what's wrong anymore. All my life I followed the rules set up by society strictly because I thought that's what involved everyone's welfare but now Gurudev have said that following my destiny involves everyone's welfare. I am confused what to do now? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or don't even want to be the ill-cause to everyone. Guide me Maa. I give myself completely to you, whatever would be done by me should include people's welfare."

She closed her eyes and sat there for some meditation. Soon enough she felt a light in front of her eyes and it said, "Dear, you called upon me. You devoted yourself to me. Where do you want me to stay?"

She smiled in her closed eyes and said, "Maa Adi Shakti, I knew you would come."

The voice said in a soothing manner, "Dear I have not come from anywhere I was sleeping inside you. Everyone have divine female sleeping inside them. I am your intuitions and caring side. I have waken up by you. Now tell me where should I stay."

Isha said, "Maa, you yourself said you're my intuitions and caring side then please be seated in my heart, because a mind is there only to cut things down with logic, it only involves selfish deeds but heart involves long term welfare. So be seated there."

The voice said in a proud manner, "Well said my child, from now on, whosoever open their heart to the world and think about people's well being I will be seated in their heart and will always protect them." She smiled and the light started to go inside her body in heart and soon she felt light headed. She opened her eyes and said, "Oh Maa Adi Shakti, thanks for your help, now I know what should I do."

She stood up and went to the market. To buy some supplies for kitchen. She stood at her usual shop and said, "Mister can I get some bay leaves."

The shopkeeper nodded and told his wife to bring some from inside. She went inside and brought some for her. She seemed upset so Isha asked her, "Are you alright? You seem upset."

She looked at her husband and then back at her, she said, "No my child, I am all okay. After all this is a fate of being woman."

Isha asked her, "What are you saying?"

The woman in her early thirties smiled sadly and said, "No matter whether you're a princess or a normal lady, every girl have to go through this pain my child."

Isha was getting more anxious as she asked, "What pain are you talking about?"

She said, "Pain of being betrayed, pain of being unequal. Pain of being a woman, pain of being weak. When a woman do mistake whole society comes to punish her. But if a man do that no one comes saying, 'maybe this woman doesn't know how to handle her man.' But that's the case with every woman. Nothing new."

She frowned and asked, "But Ma'am Puranas said a woman has as much rights as a man do. Then why this partiality?"

She looked down and said, "Darling this has become a unspoken rule of society. No one ever fought against it, so it got established. If one want to change it, they need to prove how will it work."

Isha replied, "But isn't Mahadev and Maa Adi Shakti have proved it?"

Lady started to laugh and said, "Oh dear, they're Gods. How a simple man can be like Gods?"

She was about to protest but her inner feeling stopped her and she nodded. She took her bay leaves and went back to temple. She smiled as it was now just very much clear for her what she need to do next.

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Adhrit was busy with both Megh and Bali as it has been ages since Arihant have visited him or done anything other than politic matters. He had been focused completely on that. He had this crazy passion on his mind to make this kingdom internally strong. He knew why his brother wanted to stay away from this outside world. He knew perfectly that he couldn't endure looking at her again and then simply leaving. So he kept himself busy. He was patting Megh as he said, "I am sorry friend, I know he should be here with you, but he's not. You know, heartbreak from first love can be tough and it's more tough for a king as of the responsibilities are more. He never get time to heal. I am sorry Megh."

But before he say anything more Megh started to neigh loudly. He was upset and it was clear to everyone. He tried his best to calm him down but in vain. It felt as if Megh was in deep sorrow of his master. He was royal horse of a high breed.

The horse itself was very much like friend to Arihant. It was clear that Megh can feel his sadness and he was upset because his master was sad.

Suddenly, the leash was slipped from Adhrit's hands and Megh started running in one direction without looking back. He was running wild like he has lost something. Arihant happened to pass by and saw all the scenario. As soon as Megh was unleashed Arihant started towards it. He knew if he would kept like this he can endanger someone's life. Both Adhrit and Arihant ran after him. Clearly on the plain ground none of them was compared to his speed.

A girl was passing by along with some flower basket. She was too busy in herself. But as she saw Megh coming towards her with full speed she froze. She didn't happen to move, seemingly accepting her fate to die. She sensed the death nearing her. Her mother who was near by saw her daughter's life on stake and her mouth left only with, "Maa Raksha..."

Arihant and Adhrit thought the situation is out of control and they will lose the girl's life. But as Megh was about to step on her, a brave life came in front of him and stretched arms to save poor girl's life. She threw the girl with her one hand out of the path and than used her other hand to get his leash. She pulled it with full force and used her hand to caress the horse near his neck. This seemed to please the wild spirit as the wild Megh at once stood calm. Being washed with abundance of love, he started to dance around Isha. She giggled at his thanks and started to pat his head. Everyone was stunned by this séance.

Megh was a royal horse and also a blessed one; that no one, else than true owner of his can calm him down in anyway. Isha happen to calm him down at a situation like this means only one thing that she deserved to be Queen of this kingdom and now it was more clear to both Arihant and Adhrit.

Adhrit reached first and was about say something but her mother cut him, "Thanks a lot! You are Devi yourself. You saved my daughter's life. I can't thank you enough."

She smiled and replied, "It was duty ma'am."

Little girl pulled the hem of her dupatta and she turned to her. Little girl said, "Madam I have made this crown of best flowers in the garden for Devi Maa. And I would love to give this to you as you saved me like Devi Maa."

Isha smiled and took the crown made by her, and coincidently it fitted her head perfectly. By now Arihant reached there too. He was mesmerized to see the beauty in front of him again. She was in her complete blossom as her pink heavy skirt flow from her waist to her silver anklets. Her dupatta nicely tucked on her shoulder. Her silver armlet, silver mangteeka, with that crown she sure looked like a Devi he thought to himself. It was clear to him now that she was not only worthy of being his love but also worth being the queen.

Both mother and daughter thanked them again and left. Adhrit being a cheeky one asked, "Bhabhish- I mean what are you doing here, Devi?"

Isha slightly blushed at his intentional mistake and said, "I wanted to talk to the king."

Arihant was about to refuse but Adhrit said, "Sure he is waiti- I mean free for yo- I mean free. He is free. Right brother!"

He didn't looked at his brother because he knew if he did so, he would be killing him with glares, so he choose to admire his bhabhishree. While Arihant knew Adhrit wanted to do it on purpose so he said, "I am n-"

But before he could further proceed Isha made a almost crying face and said, "Your Majesty, please don't say no."

Seeing her like that Arihant slipped and replied, "Sure, we can talk! Just... Just don't cry please."

She nodded decently but Adhrit could see through this and he knew his bhabhishree had something on her mind. But he also knew whatever it was, it was only for his brother's welfare. At least his heart believed in that.

Arihant said, "Want to talk in private?" She nodded and he gestured her to follow him. But Isha seemed a little nervous so Adhrit just smiled and whispered in her ear without Arihant letting know, "You can do this Bhabhishree, I believe in you..."

Those words have immense strength to her and that's what she needed for the work she was about to do now.

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Guru Durwasa: A famous Indian Rishi known for his wrath and curses.

Sada Sukhi Bhawam; Always stay prosperous (translated from Sanskrit language)

Chandraloka: Place where moon god and his people stay.

Puranas: Ancient Indian Scriptures containing knowledge of universe.

Maa Raksha: Mother Save (translated from Sanskrit language)

Dupatta: A long veil like clothed to wrap the bodies in traditional Indian wearing.

Devi Maa: Divine mother