THE EXILE OF MUKUNDA, CHAPTER 1 Continued..

They were both busy taking brisk steps when Vallabha noticed something. Rather she heard something.

‘Did he just say something?’ she hollered.

Shyam while still pacing toward the city looked toward Mukunda. He with his forefinger of right arm still pointing toward the lake, was constantly gazing the shore.

‘Pa..Pe..Pa..’ he muttered again.

‘He did. He just spoke his first babble.’ Shyam laughed.

Vallabha brought herself to a halt and cupped his soft little cheek. ‘Speak again for your aunt.’

‘Pa..Pa..’ this time around he was more audibly clear. Shyam now slowed down too. ‘Look! He is muttering papa.’ he said.

‘He is probably babbling Pita-Maha. He loves you a lot.’ she countered.

‘I myself find it a bit tongue-twister, why would he try the word for his first.’ said Shyam. Amidst all this celebratory chatter of him uttering, he was busy staring at the lake. His index finger was still pointing toward the shore, with no sign of relenting. His eyes were steadfast, as if he could see something, which others couldn’t.

A year or so passed. The city was taking shape and growing it’s own identity. There was enough work for everyone in Ksharanpur. But, only two in the whole populace used to go through their day with inexplicable rigidity.

One was Radhika, who would look into the daily affairs of the palace and would sub-consciously leave no time for anything else in her daily schedule. And, the other was Mukunda who would sit by the side of his room’s window and would either play by himself or gaze at the lake for length.

After that incident, no one ever took Mukunda anywhere near the lake or for that matter anywhere outside the palace. Shyam would often visit him in the room and on some occasion seeing him playing all by himself, would stand by the door and just watch. On one such occasion, Vallabha came unannounced and stood by Shyam’s side.

‘Where is Radhika?’ she said.

‘Must be somewhere in the palace. Perhaps. ‘

‘She should be attending to Mukunda more often. He is growing a little over reclusive for his age.’ she said.

‘I am not sure what is happening around here. This is not the world that Krishna envisioned.’

‘It seems Radhika has receded into her own cocoon and doesn’t want to form any bond with anyone. But one thing is for sure. I cannot see him suffer like this, lying in a corner of room, unloved.’ she said.

‘But what can we do?’

‘Look at him. All he wants is to be by that lakeside. He cannot think of anything else. Just allow me to take him to the shore. Just once.’ she replied.

Shyam inhaled deeply and said ‘Don’t you remember what happened the last time around?’

‘I do. But can we let fear define our everyday life?’

‘Of course not; just pick him up, I will accompany you.’

As they were moving out of the palatial gate, they saw Radhika standing by the lawns. Shyam pointed toward her, and drew Mukunda’s attention to his mother.

Mukunda waved and chuckled as if his happiness knew no bounds.

Radhika acknowledged the wave with a very measured smile and then waved back. ‘Where would you like to go for a stroll?’ asked Shyam.

To which Mukunda reciprocated ‘PaPa Where..’

Radhika broke into a fit of laughter and started moving toward them. As she inched in Shyam handed him to his mother. For a quarter of a minute or so he was happy and embraced Radhika, with his small and soft arms. But then he again started looking toward Shyam. After all he knew that his mother’s love would not get him an evening stroll outside the palace, in real Ksharanpur.

‘He adores his Pita-Maha.’ said Radhika, while still smiling with ecstasy.

‘He sure does. But he knows the fact that only Pita-Maha would cave into his demands. He is a true wanderer by nature.’’ replied Vallabha.

Mukunda was now growing impatient and wanted to be back with Shyam. He started moving his hand in vigorous random movements and started mumbling again.

‘Here! Enjoy your evening, you guys. I will finish my work and would see you in the dining, later tonight.’ said Radhika, while handing Mukunda back to Shyam.

As soon as he was with Shyam again, his babble turned into ‘PaPa Where..’

‘To the shores..’ replied Shyam. Radhika waved and then went back to the lawns.

As they stepped onto the pavement besides the shore, Shyam was cautious than ever before. But this time around neither the winds grew stronger nor any lull grew apparent.

Mukunda was trying to spring from his embrace and was eager as ever to reach out for the lake. ‘PaPa Where..’ he repeated.

‘To the shores..’ Shyam repeated.

‘When would he say his first coherent sentence?’ enquired Vallabha.

Even before Shyam could think of saying anything, Mukunda raised his finger and drew in a deep breath.

‘Where PaPa?’ he said. And then in rapid succession uttered ‘Where is PaPa?’

Shyam grew a little confused and then Mukunda spoke again.

‘Where is my PaPa?’ was his first coherent sentence.

They both were now looking toward him in amazement. Shyam then turned his gaze toward Vallabha, to which Vallabha nodded.

They both knew what Mukunda was seeking an answer to.

‘He is Beyond the Realm.’ replied Shyam, while pointing toward the lake.

 

End of Chapter 1.

P.S. – ‘The Exile of Mukunda’ {Beyond The Perceptible} including but not limiting to plot and storyline, is copyrighted to Arpit Bakshi. The material can be shared only with proper Attributions to the Author, solely for non-commercial purposes.

The First Book in the Maha Vishnu Trilogy can be found here – http://goo.gl/cwEgBF