After coming out of the war practice camp, even though Kamala felt safe from getting into any problems, she felt a strange feeling. She wanted to meet Rajkumar Abhimanyu again. “But, what reason will I tell to meet him” – by thinking this she made her way back to her room. She was shocked to see Mata Rukmani and Mata Satyabhama enquiring Chandrika about where Kamala has gone. Chandrika had no choice other than to say that she does not know.
But just then, Kamala entered her room and greeted her mothers. Both started to stare at her and asked her where have you gone without having your lunch. Kamala said “I went to the war practice camp, Mata.”. “But for what” asked Mata Satyabhama. Kamala with a glimpse of a smile said “To meet Jyest Pradyumna and Rajkumar Abhimanyu…”. Chandrika signaled her no from behind her mothers. Kamala also signaled her that she knew it and added that “Mata, I went there to meet my brother and Rajkumar Abhimanyu to ask them to come for lunch as well as to inform Rajkumar Abhimanyu that I will be resuming my archery classes from tomorrow.”
“That’s fine, but why didn’t you inform us… We all were searching for you” – said Mata Rukmani. “I am really sorry Mata, but I actually informed Pithashree and when I went there, Chacha Balaram ji was also present there…” said Kamala gently. Both the mothers felt it was ok and asked her not to leave anywhere without informing them and also took her with them to have lunch.
Both Mata Satyabhama and Mata Rukmani forced her to come and have lunch at the dining hall (A large place to accomodate about 150 people as it belongs to a palace).. Kamala said “Mata, I don’t feel hungry. I won’t want to eat” and thinking in her mind that “How can I eat when he does not eat..”
There came her problem… Padmavadhani… “Problems come just on time” thought Kamala after reaching the dining hall. Padmavadhani finished her lunch and was talking to Mata Subhadra. Just then, Padma remembered about her sister rushing somewhere through the corridor. Kamala took a deep breath and sat on her place. The moment she sat down, Padma asked “Where were you going Didi..”. “I went to the war practice camp” said Kamala without looking at her face. “Why are you looking sad Didi” asked Padma again… Then all Matas watched her keenly. Kamala pretended to show that there is nothing. A maid was about to serve food for Kamala but she refused to have it and asked for some fruits.
Everyone felt that there is something wrong and enquired her about it. She simply said that her stomach is upset. “Which is upset? Your stomach or your heart…” asked a voice. You can find who is that – Lord Krishna. “Pithashree” said Kamala by getting up from her place and greeting him. He asked her to sit down and have her food.
“Have you had your lunch Pithashree” asked Kamala. “No” replied Lord Krishna. But Padma intervened and said, “Pithashree, but I distinctly remember that I served you lunch this day, I mean a few minutes before”. “A father is never complete without his daughter’s affection.” said Lord Krishna explaining that, Kamala did not serve his lunch. Kamala got up from her place immediately and served him some food. While eating it, he said, “I am sad that, I will be missing this soon” indicating that Kamala’s wedding has to happen soon.
Kamala also felt sad, not only about leaving her Pithashree but also about how to tell him her feelings. Mata Satyabhama asked him that, “Did she agree for Swayamvara? Swami”. But Lord Krishna replied her “Not yet, but she asked for some time to think about it”. Mata Subhadra said, “I don’t know which Rajkumar of which kingdom is lucky, to have our girl”. Everyone laughed. But Kamala looked at Mata Subhadra with a tear-filled eyes and thought that, “Mata, it’s none other than your son…”
Lord Krishna finished his second lunch and asked about Kamala’s decision on her Swayamvara. She wiped of her small teary lotus eyes and ran towards her room. Mata Satyabhama was about to call her that she did not even have fruits, but Lord Krishna signaled her no.
Kamala went to her room, but before she entered she saw some maids talking that, Rajkumari Kamalanayani’s Swayamvara is going to be arranged soon. She felt irritated to hear the word called Swayamvara and simply entered and the maids stopped talking. She saw that Chandrika was missing and saw other maids were only in her room. She enquired about her and got to know that, Chandrika went to have her lunch.
She waited in her room and ate a fruit kept in her room as she was unable to control her hunger. Just then, Chandrika came in and was shocked to see Kamala sitting on the window wall. Kamala noticed the presence of someone and was happy to see that it is Chandrika. Kamala asked all other maids to leave.
Once they left, Chandrika asked “What happened Kumari”. Kamala screamed in joy, and said “I am going to continue my archery classes tomorrow”. Chandrika felt it strange and said “By seeing your scream, I thought Rajkumar Abhimanyu accepted your love, but…”. Kamala then, explained everything that happened in the war practice camp and also at the dining hall.
“But what are you going to say to Yadushrest tonight…” Chandrika asked Kamala. “I don’t know, but it is better to go to Somnath temple. Now, I will go and meet Pithashree or Matashree and ask permission for that… And you also come with me now.” said Kamala to Chandrika.
After that, both went to see Lord Krishna but got to know that Lord Krishna and her mothers Ashta-bharyas (8 princely wifes of Lord Krishna), Lord Balaram and Yuvraj Pradyumna have gone to the sabha to meet a guest.
Kamala felt depressed… But she thought of Mata Subhadra and went to meet her in her room. She went there along with Chandrika and was glad that Mata Subhadra was in her room. She asked the maid in her room to seek her permission to meet Mata Subhadra, who came back with the permission.
When she went in, to her astonishment, she saw the archer of her heart in the room. She simply looked down and reached Mata Subhadra who asked her the matter. “I was unable to meet Pithashree or Mata or Balaramji or even my elder brother.. That’s why I came here… Mata, Actually the matter is I wanted to go to Somnath temple. I promised Mahadev that I will come to his temple with a basketful of flowers today. But without permission, I cannot leave the palace.” replied Kamala.
Mata Subhadra replied that “No problem, my dear. You have informed me right, then I will take care of it. Are you prepared to go to the temple”. “No Mata, First of all, I must get permission, then I have prepare my peacock feather basket with flowers and then get ready to go the temple. It might some time.” said Kamala with eagerness to go to the temple.
“Ok, you first go and get ready. I allow you to go to the temple. Get ready and go to the entrance of this Anthapura Building… I will ask the guards to get you a palanquin ready…” said Mata Subhadra. Kamala’s eyes bloomed in excitement.
“But, can we go alone outside the palace…” asked Chandrika. “Yeah, that’s right. You cannot go alone. Hmmm…. Ok Abhimanyu, you take her to the temple” said Mata Subhadra. “Mata ??” asked Rajkumar Abhimanyu. Kamala gasped and held Chandrika’s hands tightly. “It’s my order” said Mata Subhadra. Rajkumar Abhimanyu accepted it without any choice. “Kindly inform it to Mama Balaramji, if he comes in search of me” said Rajkumar Abhimanyu and left the room.
Kamala thanked Mata Subhadra through her heart and started to run towards her room to get ready soon. Upon entering her room, she hugged Chandrika and shouted in joy… “What have you done Chandrika. It is an unexpected gift for me.” said Kamala. Chandrika simply smiled.
Kamala went near the small and beautiful Shiva linga in her room and said “Mahadev, Now I agree that, a father knows his daughter’s needs and requirements well in advance than his daughter. I don’t know how to thank you… But thank you so much Pithashree.” (Thinking about Mahadev as the father of Devi Kamalanayani). “I will talk to Rajkumar Abhimanyu in person, at the temple itself”.
She then changed her costumes and her maids helped her putting on her jewels. She rushed to the garden and filled her peacock feather basket with freshly picked flowers and rushed to the entrance.
She was happy to see everything prepared as per Mata Subhadra’s orders. She went close and boarded on the Palaquin, along with Chandrika. After she got settled, Rajkumar Abhimanyu asked her “Shall we leave” and she accepted.
But, before reaching the palace entrance, they noticed another horse following them.. Kamala scolded someone which turned out to be her elder brother Yuvraj Pradyumna. He got to know about this, from Mata Subhadra and joined them. Kamala looked at Chandrika but they were not able to escape from him.
But throughout the way to Somnath temple, Kamala was simply fixed her eyes on Rajkumar Abhimanyu….
This series’s next episode will be released soon. Stay tuned…