💞 Loom of Love 💞

An ancient temple, vast and majestic in its presence, stood gracefully amidst the serenity of Kerala’s timeless beauty. The air around it carried both the soothing coolness of tradition and the divine vibrance of devotion. Its walls, built with radiant red bricks, glowed softly beneath the daylight, holding within them centuries of faith and sacred memories. The crystal-clear waters of the temple pond mirrored the endless blue of the sky above. And when the sanctum doors slowly opened, the divine form of Lord Krishna revealed itself in all its splendor. Though sculpted from dark granite stone, the deity radiated a brilliance that seemed equal to the light of countless suns. The fragrance of burning camphor mingled with the freshness of holy basil leaves, filling the atmosphere with an indescribable sense of divinity. Outside the temple stood an enormous banyan tree, believed by the elders to be centuries old. Its shade had become a refuge for many — for the elderly to sit and exchange stories, for weary souls to rest, and for travelers to escape the harsh warmth of the afternoon sun. Like every other day, today also the temple was crowded with devotees. Beneath the cool shade of the banyan tree, a few men sat together, immersed in conversation. “This year’s festival truly became grand because all of us joined hands together,right?” said a middle-aged member of the temple committee with a smile. “My children and grandchildren enjoyed every moment of it before returning their hometown happily.” “thats happy to hear,” another man added warmly. “It has been many years since we witnessed a festival celebrated here with such magnificence.” As they continued speaking about the celebrations, their attention shifted towards a man walking out of the temple premises. “Gopa! Where did you disappear yesterday evening? We didn’t see you at the meeting.” With a gentle laugh, Gopalan replied, “I had gone to my sister’s house to discuss the engagement arrangements. By the time I returned, it was already late, so I couldn’t come here afterward.” “Oh! Then does that mean the wedding will happen soon after the engagement?” one of them asked teasingly. “The engagement will be fixed now,” Gopan answered calmly, “but the wedding will only happen after another six months or so.” “That’s good too,” the man nodded approvingly before asking again, “By the way, are you alone today? We didn’t see Krishna mol and grandmother.” “How could they not come?” Gopan smiled. “Both of them are inside the temple offering prayers. I had somewhere important to go, so I stepped out early.” After bidding farewell, Gopan walked away. One among the group, unfamiliar with the village, asked curiously, “Who exactly is he?” “You’re not from this village, that’s why you don’t recognize him,” the middle-aged man replied. “That is Gopalakrishnan — our Gopan. Ask anyone in this village about him or his family, and they will speak of them with immense respect. They belong to one of the most dignified traditional families here.” Another man added, “And not just because of their lineage. Whether it is for help, support, or guidance during difficult times, there is no family more dependable than theirs.” “For every problem, Gopan always has a peaceful solution,” someone else continued. “That is his greatest quality. He never complains, never carries resentment. A true devotee of Lord Krishna.” “He has two children — a daughter and a son. His daughter’s marriage has already been arranged with his sister’s son,” he said with a smile. “To be honest, that girl is truly blessed by God. A child touched by Krishna’s grace — named Nanditha Krishna” “In today’s world, it is rare to find a daughter like her, or a family like theirs,” another person remarked. The stranger listened quietly, uncertain whether to believe such praise. Noticing his hesitation, the middle-aged man spoke again... “The people of this village could speak endlessly about them, especially about Krishna mol. She is adored by everyone here. Even seeing her brings peace to the eyes and heart. You will understand it yourself when you meet her.” At that very moment, Krishna and her grandmother walked out of the temple after completing their prayers. Her grandmother was nearly seventy years old and suffered from several physical difficulties, yet not a single day passed without her visiting the temple. Walking just behind her was Krishna. Her smile carried the innocence and calmness... Her presence gave a fragrance of a blooming champaka flower..... The tiny dimple that appeared on her cheek only added to the charm of her face. Her large dark eyes with beautiful lashes lined with dark kohl — held an innocent radiance that was impossible to ignore. Her thick, long hair was adorned with sacred tulsi leaves. In every step she took, there was a graceful simplicity deeply rooted in village tradition. Her words carried the sweetness of honey. Whoever she met, she greeted them with a smile filled with affection — that was her nature. She dressed in a half saree with sandalwood paste adorning her forehead, she embodied the essence of a true village beauty, her face glowing with prosperity and purity. “What is this discussion everyone is having together?” Krishna asked playfully with a smile. “Are you all planning to make the next festival even grander than this one?” Laughing softly, the middle-aged man replied, “We were actually discussing your wedding. Tell us, when will we get to enjoy the wedding feast?” Before Krishna could respond, her grandmother answered lovingly, “She is still studying, Ravunni. She has a couple more exams left. Only after that will the wedding happen. Times have changed now; it’s not like the old days anymore.....” With that, the conversation ended and the two walked away. The groom-to-be was Krishna’s cousin, Venu Shivashankar — known simply as Venu. He was about to join as a manager head position in a reputed company in Bangalore. The only brother among two elder sisters.... Venu had been working in Bangalore for the past two years and was now preparing to move into a new company. With a respectable salary, his family had reached a comfortable stage in life now. By nature, Venu was a reserved and somewhat stern person. He rarely became close to anyone easily. The only people he truly spoke openly with were his grandmother, mother, and sisters. In fact, it was only after the marriage alliance was fixed that he even began speaking freely with Krishna herself. Venu’s mother, Gauri, was known for her strict nature. Once she decided something in her mind, she would stand firmly by it, regardless of whether it was right or wrong. Because of this stubbornness, there had once been a misunderstanding between Venu’s parents and grandmother after a small family dispute. Their strained relationship healed only after the proposal between Krishna and Venu was brought forward — a proposal initiated by grandmother herself. Later… Krishna's house An old ancestral house with five spacious rooms, carrying the grandeur of a traditional Kerala tharavadu. Though some modern touches had been added over time, the soul of the house remained untouched. The courtyard overflowed with plants and flowers — countless varieties of roses, other fragrant flowers, and many more. Beside them stretched grandmother’s beloved vegetable garden, filled with lady’s finger, brinjal, tomatoes, ivy gourd, bitter gourd, and endless rows of greenery. Both grandmother and Krishna lovingly took care of every plant there. Grandmother had two children — Venu’s mother, Gauri and Krishna’s father, Gopan..... Though she had many grandchildren, Krishna remained the dearest to her heart. The reason was simple: Krishna resembled her in every possible way — in appearance, in behavior, and even in the smallest habits of life. Grandmother never made decisions without understanding Krishna’s wishes. It was only after realizing Krishna’s affection for Venu that she arranged this marriage. After returning from the temple, grandmother usually rested for a while. She had recently recovered from a stroke, though its weakness still lingered within her body. As grandmother entered her room to lie down, Krishna’s mother, Shari, called from behind. “Chechi ( gauri)called earlier. They have received a date for the engagement. She asked us to call once you return.” After humming softly in acknowledgment, grandmother replied, “I’ll call her tonight. Bring me some warm water first.” Shari quietly walked towards the kitchen. Shari, Gopalakrishnan’s wife, Krishna's mother,was a gentle and silent woman. She never imposed her opinions on anyone, nor interfered unnecessarily in anything. She carried no complaints, no demands — living only for her family and children like a devoted homemaker. Apart from these three, there were three more beloved members in the household. The first was Krishna’s younger brother, Nived Krishna — lovingly called Nivi. A ninth-grade student, he was mischievous, playful, and endlessly energetic. The second was the darling of the house — Kingini, the pet cat. No one in the house enjoyed more freedom than her. And finally, there was Krishna’s dearest friend and everything ...named Sheetal, whom everyone fondly called “Sree.” Whenever she found time, Krishna conducted tuition classes for small children. The children adored her deeply, which was why they never missed a single class. Like every evening,today the children gathered again for tuition. While Krishna was teaching them, the landline telephone rang. Nivi, who was watching television nearby, rushed to answer the call. After speaking cheerfully for a moment, he shouted loudly with excitement, “Chechiyyeeee… your future husband is calling!” Usually, Venu called only during the afternoons, knowing that children would arrive for tuition in the evenings. Wondering why he had called at this unusual hour, Krishna walked toward the phone with slight curiosity. Taking the receiver from Nivi’s hand with a soft smile, she spoke gently, “Hello…” “Hello,” Venu replied. “What were you doing?” “I was taking tuition classes. What’s happening there? Why did you call at this time?” “I’m coming back home tomorrow,” he said. “I won’t return until after the engagement. I’m at a shop now, buying things for my sisters and their children. Do you want anything? I can bring it for you too.” With a shy smile, Krishna answered softly, “I don’t need anything.” “Why not?” he asked teasingly. Krishna fell silent, unsure of what to say. Understanding her silence, Venu continued gently, “Give the phone to grandmother. I haven’t spoken to her properly for more than two days.” “She came back from the temple and is resting now. I’ll ask her to call once she wakes up.” “That’s alright. Let her rest. I only wanted to ask if grandmother needed anything. Tell her to call me later.” Krishna softly hummed in response. “And there’s nothing else… continue your classes peacefully. I’ll see you when I come there.” With that, Venu disconnected the call. To be continued…