In Mathura ,

After devastating thunderstorm and heavy downpour of last night ,  Mathura was shining again with the aurora borealis and sky already had the aurora tinged the horizon with roseate hues. Beauty of Mathura , the holiest place  'Shri krishna Janmbhumi Temple' , was looking more divine due to the festivity around the kingdom.

Along with King and Kingdom , the nature was also celebrating the arrival of little princess Nandini . If Birds were singing the lullaby for her  then flowers were also showering the blessings on her , similarly if the aromatic smell of wet soil was enough to make atmosphere fresh with its fragrance so the lovely deep burble of Yamuna's water was producing the rhythm of euphoria. Horses and elephants were moving in the sync as if they were procession of men in wedding.

Whole Nandanvan was filled with, the royal decoration all over the palace , soothing smell of joss sticks , sandalwood,  fragrant oil , and also the delicious aroma of royal food and also with the most attractive gossip ever , about new found heart mates . The jouissance of Queen Satyavati was at peak , after founding the little love of Prince of Hastinapur , and it became most delicate and important subject between Royal families.

Even after bearing pain equal to death and after draining every ounce energy from body , Queen Mayavati was glowing under the subtle rays of sun with her all time elegant Royal look . She was settled with Nandini in her warm embrace , on the chasterfield in the Royal court along with her childhood acquaintance beside her  , and Throne in the middle of court was occupied by the King Nand , and King Shantanu was settled with other important male of royal family on other chasterfield .

Every royal family present over there showered Princess Nandini with lots of affection in the form of auspicious blessings and also with things which were screaming royalty itself . Her elder brother of eight years and future king of Mathura, Prince Ajinkya also gave her , his special little sword of 1.5 feet , court laughed at his choice of present but little Nandini showed her toothless grin indicating that she is going to learn sword fight in future.

But the most rousing thing was that people were waiting for the token of affection will be given by  Royal family of Hastinapur . And the moment came when Queen Satyavati came forward with her Son , the Prince of Hastinapur.

"As we all know Queen Mayavati and me are best pals. So, I the Queen of Hastinapur , Satyvati wants to turn this friendship of childhood into the relationship between two kingdoms by proposing the alliance of The would be King of Hastinapur,  Manik and the pride of Nandanvan and princess of Mathura ,Nandini " when tears filled eyes of mother and Queen of Mathura showed their acceptance over alliance , the whole royal Court filled with big applause of appreciation.

"Your highness ,  me and whole Hastinapur is waiting for your proclamation " Queen Satyavati handed , the further responsibilities and descions of approval , to her life partner and king of Hastinapur.

"I the King of Hastinapur , on the behalf of whole Hastinapur is proposing this alliance in front of the King Of Mathura " Saying this he ordered one attendant to pass the Royal Scroll having Cachet of Hastinapur to the King Nand.

After accepting the Treaty of alliance between Mathura and Hastinapur , Overwhelmed King Nand hugged King Shantanu  showing equal gratitude and respect towards proposal and him. Both companions turned into relatives. Naughty 9 months old Manik shifted from his mother's lap towards the Mayavati who was holding Nandini on her lap and he also showed his acceptance and love towards Nandini by pressing his small lips on her soft red cheeks and she again showed her toothless grin making him laughed out of felicity. Both mothers were astonished by seeing love between infants.

"I still haven't given token of love from my side to the new born princess .......So I request you to order ur Sculptor for etching emblem of Hastinapur on her " his  statement was heartfelt and the whole royal court became flummoxed for moments.

There was a look of ecstasy on everyone's face who belongs to Mathura . The eyes of King and Queen,  of Mathura ,gleamed with the stream of euphoria touching their eyelids. It was stereotype of royal families , from generations , to mark every royal member with the emblem of kingdom on their body. But the implementation duration of custom used to changed , if Prince will born then he will be marked on the day of naming ceremony , but if the princess will born then she would be marked after her alliance got fixed , and embale of her future Kingdom , will be etched on her body . After marking of Princess , no one can repudiate matrimonial alliance between two Kingdoms.

"From this moment she is would be Queen of Hastinapur.......But when Hastinapur will take their Queen to their kingdom"  King Nand's query made King Shantanu thought for a moment.

"Hastinapur will take their Queen after her valediction from Mathura on her 18th birth anniversary....... Exactly after eighteen years from now......Till then protect our possession" announcement made by King Shantanu and got accepted by whole Royal court including King and Queen of Mathura.

When pattern of the shades of sky got changed from soft to harsh and more bright because of  enormous hot rays coming through sun, at that time continuous wails were roaming in the whole palace because it was very tough for 9 months old Manik to see his one day old Princess bearing pain of needle piercing her back where sculptor was making emblem of Hastinapur . Nandini was in deep sleep due to after effect of one pinch Affu . This drug is given to the person to block his or her senses for some time so they won't feel pain . Every female present their in Queen's chamber was already overawed by his love .

Now sky and Krishna JanmBhumi temple are glowing because of Twilight , when the sun is below the horizon, caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the atmosphere. The beauty of the temple was looking like a heaven on earth where Lord krishna will take birth again in midnight in the atmosphere filled with , peaceful aroma , beautiful flowers and uncountable oil lamps giving glamorous view.

Whole Mathura was gathered at the temple premises for celebrating naming ceremony of Princess and Birth of Lord krishna. Every person from Kingdom gave blessings to Royal family and also showed their tremendous pleasure over the name and Princess Nandini . Lavish banquet was organised for Mathura, by the King Nand.

Outside the Mathura , some people sitting on the horses were conspiring against the Prince of Hastinapur .  Everyone was sitted on either black or brown horse but the main narrator was instructing to the others while sitting on white horse in the middle of group. His sharp and bright features were screaming the royal blood in his veins.

"Your highness ...... Sorry for saying this but do think again this is not appropriate way ..... It's out of morals and ethics ......You can get what u want through real war too " one of the trusted man suggested the other way indirectly rejecting the wrong way.

"Vasu U know that if not you then I would have killed the person for saying this .....And also U know we can never defeat King Shantanu ..... I want Hastinapur either this way or that way......And it's a order go and kill the Prince of Hastinapur" he roared at his men under the black sky .

"Be generous to Lord krishna at least , it's a Janmashtami ........ It's a sin to kill infant during festival " Vasu again tried his luck but helplessness in him was visible through his features , as per tradition of his family he was bounded to follow orders of that royal person .

"U r crossing your limits.......I don't care about all these......But I am giving you liability to kill that Prince after Birth of Lord krishna......But don't waste a moment after that .......Now go " controlling his anger he ordered his men and without having other option than following orders they left from there with their horses.

Outside the premises of Temple , Mathura looked dark and extremely silent indicating the silence before another storm . After sensing the nature of wind in the atmosphere Falguni baai again went near her future board and Shakuntala followed her .

Inspite of being in a temple and celebrating festival one man was vigorously finding the some source of help so that he could help his wife at her confinement. After went through mental and physical trauma of helplessness he cried in the middle of road under dark sky. He could only hear his wife's loud wails due to an unbearable pain , he became hopeless but eventually as if lord Krishna helped him and he found old woman sitting in her cottage. She was weak and exhausted that's why she didn't went to temple today so he begged in front of her for his wife and unborn infant. Seeing his vulnerability and need she agreed to go with him .

Men's of that royal person entered inside the temple and occupied place nearer to the royal families . As it was precious and holiest festival of Mathura that's why King Nand rejected for the security inside the temple around royal families. Vasu by grabbing the right opportunity settled himself close to women's rows and specially sitted across the Queen Satyavati who was holding Prince Manik near her.

That helpless man and old woman entered inside his cottage where his wife was lying unconscious on bed . She went through lots of pain and eventually she lost her consciousness making condition of her and her unborn child critical. Fortunately that old lady once was a physician in Palace Nandanvan , at the time of her early age. So she was capable enough to save mother but unfortunately that man lost his new born son. Grieve , sorrow , mourning were so small words infront of what he went through when he held his already died son in his arms.

He cried over his misery , misfortune and cruelty of fate which have shown him the worst possibility a person can ever see in his life. How he wished to be dead before seeing piece of him lying on his lap lifeless. The grief was unbearable that he thought of ending his life instead of living without his son. But his fate was so unfair with him that he couldn't left his unconscious wife to live alone and mourn over two losses.

After shedding tears on the vulnerability of that man , old lady left his house. Before going she told him that his wife is too much weak she may gain consciousness at the dawn . She also suggested some medicinal and helpful plants for his wife.

Lord Krishna showed his existence with the soft drizzle of rain just after the Pooja of Janmashtami . Atmosphere was holy and blissful, every person present over there were taking blessings from lord Krishna, everyone was satisfied with happiness but Queen Satyavati was unnecessarily worried. Insecurities and fears didn't left her mind for once from the dusk.

Her situation was getting more and more anxious with the passing moment and the moment came and she stopped breathing for few moments when she didn't found her only son and Prince of Hastinapur around her .

"Manik ....... Manikk.......Manik......Where are you Prince Manik......Manik " she fumbled in her way of finding her son in crowd. The desperation and need of finding him became equal to the oxygen for life. People got worried seeing her helplessness and immediately royal families came near to her . She went out of control and King Shantanu hugged her in front of everyone in order to control her . Nandini also started wailing in her mother's embrace. Cries of both women became out of control.

"You are king na.......Then how this happened in front of your eyes.....I don't know anything brought my Manik back to me or else I will take my life " Queen Satyavati screamed , accused, threatened him at top of her voice and eventually fainted in Shantanu's arm making everyone gasped on her situation.

Instantly royal families brought into the Nandanvan , Queen Satyavati was lying on the bed under observation of Rajvaidya and Queen Mayavati was sitting beside her holding small princess who was sleeping on her lap after vigorous crying session. She was sleeping silently but her tears remained unnoticed by everyone present over there,  who were flowing through her closed eyes grieving over the uncertain loss.

Soft drizzling turned into heavy downpour and continuous lightning in the dark sky was the only source of light for few moments in that dense forest of Mathura where a man kept walking like a lifeless body,  holding dead body of his new born son close to his heart , to perform last rights . He was numb beyond his senses to feel unforgettable sorrow in his life.

"What is written in today's astromancy?" Shakuntala asked.

"Destiny will play the most cruel game of this era between families...... Suffering will become way of living......But love between two souls will find their way towards each other" Falguni made a prediction after seeing aleration of stars and constellations from their original position in horoscope. 

Whole Mathura shivered under the outburst of King Shantanu's anger.Horses roared with equal intensity of lightning sky in that heavy downpour. Every commander , every campaigner with both kings were finding the Prince of Hastinapur without caring about thunderstorm.

Men's of that royal man reached at isolated part of jungle where they had brought Prince Manik with them to end life of  future king of Hastinapur. Vasu felt extremely low of himself for stooping to this level of cruelty in order to showed his loyalty towards royal person. Finding right chance where Manik was alone in the temple for few moments when his mother was doing Worshipping of Krishna , and in fraction of seconds he grabbed Manik and expertly left temple without getting noticed by crowd.

As if almighty showed Vasu a way to escape from committing crime of killing infant. He saw a man walking from distance of 10feets away, holding something very close to him ,he couldn't see what he was holding but he made excuse of his horse's legs are stucked deeply inside the mud  and told his other fellows to go ahead , he will follow them and will braught Manik with himself. He was commander so they agreed to him without denies and left .

After confirming everyone is gone Vasu started finding that man and eventually he found that man sitting under the tree holding small life in his embrace may be protecting that life from rain.

"Hey why are you here .......In this heavy downpour with little infant......He or she can get affected by rain " he sounded contradictory when he himself was holding small Manik in heavy downpour though he had covered him with the layers of protection so rain won't harm him so much.

"He can't get affected......He went beyond feeling anything " he chuckled on his fate due to deep grieve in his life. His answer was enough to make Vasu stood rooted to his place. Life showed him two sides of it in just few moments.

"But infant u r holding can surely get affected ...... Protect him or her before it's too late" that man said looking at extremely silent and lost Vasu. His sentence made deep impact on Vasu's mind that the intensity of saving Manik's life became more powerful than his duty.

"I can't protect him ......But u surely can " Vasu made clear decision of saving Manik's life.

...............End ..................||

If you found any mistake let me know.

How was the chapter?

............Aish❣️................