Satataharitam - Short Stories On Narayana

From One Yuga To Another -3

The stroll back to the palace after a night spent well on the banks of the river was the quietest time they'd had during the visit. For some, it was by choice, and for some, it was the worry that they'd wake up the villagers and gather unnecessary attention.

"You play the flute so well!" Bharata whispered to Krishna, unable to hold back now. "I could listen to that forever."

Krishna smiled brightly. "I wouldn't mind playing it to you forever too."

"What a charmer." Shatrughna commented. "You're rivalling me at this now, Krishna."

"This whole bunch is a bunch of some extrmely charming men." said Arjuna, looking at his bestie and Shatrughna. "You both have such superiority complex when it comes to this thing, goodness! I'm honestly more charmed by Dau and Bharata than you two."

Said Dau looked at him incredulously, and Bharata looked thoroughly perplexed. "Even they don't agree with you." said Krishna, laughing.

"But he's right about the superiority complex." said Balarama. "What a match my idiot brother has found in you, Shatrughna."

"You haven't changed at all, Laksh." Shatrughna brought his melodramatic eyes to work. "Yugas may pass, but you'll remain the same." Fake sniffling and tears were employed for better effect.

Balarama pushed him away as disgustedly as Lakshmana cursed him under his breath. He truly hadn't changed.

"Why don't you all yell some more?" Rama asked, sounding supremely frustrated by the bunch. "Let's call all the villagers! Let's beat the kettledrums and blow into the trumpets! Come on!"

"Woah woah woah!" Krishna was the only one who had the audacity to frustrate an already frustrated drama. "Look who's raging! Calm composed senior Daasharathi."

"You will shut up right now." Rama said, index finger pointed right in Krishna's face. "Not another word."

"Sir sir sir!" Shatrughna got to the duo. "Please tell me how it feels to annoy yourself and have an argument!"

A collective sigh was heard from everyone barring Krishna, because now he was extrmely biased with this adorable young (old) man.

"Quiet, guys." Balarama voiced out for Rama. "Do this after you're in the palace. Behave."

Rama sent him a glance to thank him in the universal elder brothers' code. Yadava Rama smiled back to respond in the same language.

×××

"So there are three more owls in our company now." said Sita, closing her eyes and massaging her temples.

"Do you want to hear my music?" Krishna asked. "It'll maybe reduce your urge to slap each of us for spending the night by the river?"

She gritted her teeth as calmly as anyone could have. "Why don't you guys behave?"

"I've asked this question so many times, Rukmini." Balarama replied rather absentmindedly.

Eleven pairs of eyes stared at him to make him realise his minor blunder.

"I mean..." Balarama clenched his eyes shut in embarrassment. "Devi Sita."

"Rukmini must be a lot like me." Sita thought aloud, allowing a smile. "And she must be so happy to have a Laksh Bhaiya, no?"

"Rukmini is you." said Krishna. "You are Rukmini. And she loves her Dau so much, I wonder if he's my brother or hers."

"You literally just said 'her Dau', Kanha." Arjuna pointed out.

Sita, Lakshmana and Balarama looked incredibly proud as Krishna elbowed Arjuna. "Shut up, Jun Jun."
(ArreyyYaar look at what you've done-)