The Lost Flute

Crashing Waves and a Necklace of Pearls

All the beaches of Dwarika, as Yashoda had found, were laden with rocks. The ocean threw itself relentlessly against the unwavering rocks, almost as if it wanted to swallow this island whole. Still, she went down there whenever the din of the palace became too overwhelming.

Even though at the beginning she had been somewhat afraid upon witnessing the apparent hostility of the sea god, the constant susurration of the ocean rising and falling had proved to be strangely comforting. With each passing day, Yashoda found herself spending more and more time sitting on the beach observing the citizens go about their day.

Even though she was technically deemed a queen, Yashoda found greater comfort among the common people who frequented the beaches. She would watch, fascinated, as the fishermen would tug along their long boats over the rocks, into the sea, and disappear for the day. "Godspeed!" She would call out to the nearest men as they would wave out to her on their way out. Yashoda would sit on the rocks watching, as their boats swam up and down as the turbulent sea carried them away. Once the boats were gone, Yashoda would take a stroll along the beach, casually surfing the little shops nestled on one end of the walkway.

One morning, she spotted a young woman sitting on the street under a makeshift canopy with jewellery of pearls laid out before her. A long seven-stranded necklace made of ivory pearls lying among her merchandise caught Yashoda's eye. She perched down beside the woman. Picking up the necklace, she held it against her neck, checking her reflection in a small mirror that the woman had erected in one corner of her little shop.

"It suits you greatly, Madam!" The girl smiled encouragingly.

Yashoda smiled and nodded, "Say would you exchange that for this one?" She said as she unhooked and held out her gold necklace.

The girl took the necklace to inspect, but dropped it on the floor of the shop the next moment as if it were burning, "I cannot take this Ma'am, it's real gold!"

"So what?" Yashoda inquired, "Where I am from, your pearls are worth much more than that!"

"Might be true, but Madam, if I take this home, they'll call me a thief! They gave Lord Krishna a chance to explain himself, I might not be that lucky!"

Yashoda shook her head, cursing herself internally for not having considered the possibility. She said in a small voice, "Could you then put this aside for me, please? I don't have any money on me now, but I promise I'll come and get this with your quoted price. I come here often, Niryama the sailor knows me!"

"I'll keep it till nightfall. Pay and get it if you like." The girl replied in a cautious tone.

Yashoda shook her head as she continued on her stroll, promising herself to never forget her purse again.

---

That afternoon, as Yashoda walked lazily along the seashore her long gold necklace gleaming against the golden sun dawdling across the sky, a warm amber hue caressed her dark skin. The beach was empty for as far as the eye could see.

Yashoda wondered if the shore was cleared out on account of the arrival of the princess who was now happily skipping away in front of her, kicking up a storm of dust over the sharp rocks with every footstep.

"Oi," She called out to the young princess, "Tell me, Dwarika is better or Mathura?"

Subhadra smiled as she turned back, "It's peaceful here. Truth be told, I do not miss Mathura." Her smile turned downcast, "Here, I don't wake up or go to bed with anxiety. Prayers for the safety of my brothers do not keep me up at night. Here, I can go to bed without a knife under my pillow. Oh God," She drew in a sharp breath, "Let me never go through such a war again! Here, everybody knows someone who lost something. I would literally die if I ever lose anyone like that."