Krishna and Balrama hurriedly made their way towards Sulabha Kaki's house, which was closest to the Yamuna. 

Balram hesitated for a moment before speaking,

"Kanha, my dear anuj, there is a question which is driving me crazy. Mata Lakshmi seems to have forgotten the bond you once shared. How can it be that someone so deeply connected to you does not remember you? With my divine powers, I can recognize that Mata is in her transcendental form, she should be aware of you, yet she did not recognize you. What is the  reason behind this ?" Balram inquired, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.

Krishna stopped midstep, pausing his movements, and a gentle smile played upon his lips. His gaze, deep and knowing, met Balram's. There was a pause, a moment of silence that seemed to hold within it the wisdom of the ages.

"Dau, your concern echoes the pain of separation that lies at the heart of my existence. This forgetfulness you speak of is not a mere accident of fate but the result of the curse-a curse borne out of a moment of deep anguish and misunderstanding in ages past."

Balram leaned in closer, his interest piqued by Krishna's words.

"A curse? But who would dare to curse such a love, and for what reason? How does such a curse manifest, and is there a path to liberation from it?"

"Do you remember the curse given to Radha Dau?" Krishna asked, his countenance acquiring a serious tone.

"But that was given to Radha, Kanha; how does it affect the eternal form of Mata?" Balram questioned his Anuj, his voice agitated, thinking about the pain his brother was suffering.

"You yourself answered, dau. Who is Radha? She is the embodiment of the sheer amount of devotional love that my Lakshmi has for me. I still remember that day, dau, when she was cursed. My Lakshmi had been utterly inconsolable, for her love for me was once again questioned, and once again she was asked to sacrifice, but this time not herself but something she held much dearer, her memories of me. Because of the profound grief she felt over the loss of memories, the part that has forgotten me dominates her now. There is, of course, a part of her that remembers who she actually is and remembers me and you, but that part is yet to be unleashed. This is the effect of the curse."

" Then can't you break Radha's curse?" Balrama questioned, his mind still fixed on the agony his mata had gone through.

"NO! That cannot happen, dau. That is fate, it is a time-bound curse, it cannot be broken until and unless the Kaal chakra deems it fulfilled, until and unless Radha fulfills her karma in this life."

"What karma kanha?" Balrama dreaded the answer to his question.

"The fulfillment of a boon dau. Bade bhaiyaa Ayan was a great devotee of mine in his previous life and had asked to marry Lakshmi as his boon. It has to be fulfilled, which is why my Lakshmi even in her great grief had accepted the curse. She is set to fulfill the boon, which is why the curse eventually came into being. Do you think my Lakshmi would go against her eternal vows of our marriage and marry another? She knew she could never do it, would never do it which is why she accepted the curse, to fulfill my Karma of the boon I had given to my devotee." Krishna's eyes glistered with tears as he thought back about the love of his wife. In the completion of his boon, she was still following her eternal vows to support him in every situation.

"Is there no remedy, no way to break this effect of the curse and restore the memory of your divine love?"

Krishna looked towards the horizon, where the first rays of the sun painted the sky in hues of gold and orange. "The effect of the curse, powerful as it may be, holds within it the seeds of its own undoing. It is love itself that is the key-the pure, unconditional love that endures beyond the confines of memory and time. Through love, all curses are lifted, and all separations are bridged. My beloved and I are bound by a love that transcends the curse's grip. In time, all will be remembered, and all will be reunited. Soon dau, soon," Krishna assured his brother with a gentle smile.

Balram bowed slightly to Krishna, gratitude evident in his eyes."Your wisdom illuminates the deepest truths, Kanha. May your love transcend all obstacles and lead you both back to each other, as it was meant to be."

Krishna's smile was radiant as the sun that now began to adorn the morning sky was a testament to the unfathomable depths of love and the eternal dance of union and separation that defined the world."Hurry along, quick dau, your mata is waiting, even if she does not realize it." 

Flashing a charming smile Krishna ran towards the house. "Sulabha kaki, where is the girl you brought from the shore?" Krishna questioned, his eyes betraying his excitement to finally meet his eternal consort, this time fully conscious and in full control of his senses.

"She went back towards the shore, Kanha" shouted kaki from inside the house.

Krishna shook his head in amusement, "Oh Chanchale! You took your own sweet fill of me, but you are now making me run here and there for your single gaze. So not fair"

Turning back to his dau, he said in a feigned dejected voice," Do you see dau, even on earth, she is set on keeping me on my toes, she's the very essence of vitality in my life." Krishna did not realize it when his voice impulsively turned fond while talking about his beloved.

"Her chanchal nature is like a dance of butterflies in a sunlit meadow, ever-changing and full of life. One moment she's giggling like a child, her laughter echoing through the room, and the next, she's off on an impromptu adventure, her eyes sparkling with mischief.I adore the way her energy fills every corner of our home, infusing it with warmth and spontaneity. It's as if she has an endless reservoir of enthusiasm, ready to spill over into our lives at any moment. Whether it's suggesting a spontaneous road trip or deciding to try a new recipe just for the fun of it, her chanchal spirit keeps me on my toes and reminds me to embrace the joy of living in the moment. Sometimes her chanchal nature can be a challenge to keep up with, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's in those moments of unpredictability that our bond grows stronger, as we navigate life's twists and turns together, hand in hand. And oh, the way she lights up when she's excited about something new! Her eyes gleam with anticipation, and her infectious enthusiasm is impossible to resist. Whether it's a new hobby, a book she can't put down, or an idea for a weekend getaway, her chanchal nature fuels our shared sense of adventure and keeps our relationship vibrant and alive.In the quiet moments, when the world slows down and it's just the two of us, I find solace in the gentle rhythm of her chanchal heart. It's a reminder that life is meant to be lived to the fullest, with passion and joy in every moment. And as long as I have my Lakshmi by my side, I know that every day will be an adventure worth treasuring." Krishna finished with a whisper, his heart thumping wildly in the suspense of her sight.

He ran back towards the shore where, finally, his eyes captured her form to his heart's content.

 On the shore she stood, now draped in a simple saffron saree embodying traditional beauty, her silhouette enhanced by the garment's structure, which modestly covered yet subtly accentuated her female form, and her wet hair left freely cascading, adding another layer of grace. The way she moved in the saree-each step measured and gentle, the fabric shifting softly with her movements-exuded an air of poise and dignity.

Devashree sensed the paddling of soft feet behind her, and turned around, capturing the essence of her dreams in her eyes. 

She swiftly checked him for any signs of injury. The way he had fallen had given her a mini-heart attack for a moment.

" Are you alright?" she asked him, her eyes showing concern.

" Never better," he answered her with a charming smile, causing her to sigh in relief. 

Krishna's heart soared at her concern for him. "Suniye, O Sundar devi, what are you doing here?" he questioned her as their eyes locked with each other.

Devashree's cheeks flushed with a red hue as he called her beautiful with his sweet, honeyed voice. "S..Sundar?" she stuttered, her natural confidence disappearing as she was faced with the muse of her paintings right in front of her. Something strange was happening to her; she had never felt this way before. Why was she nervous and excited at the same time? She could not decipher.

"The one who is so beautiful that in front of whom even flowers wither away in shame, such a beauty must be a sundari." Krishna answered her, his eyes shining mischievously as he took in her flushed form due to his presence.

Devashree looked away, hiding the blush that crept over her neck and over to her cheeks. Yes! She had very aptly named him Manmohana. He was doing strange things to her. She realized that he was shamelessly flirting with her, but damm it, it was working!

Krishna smirked in delight, seeing the crimson hue on her cheeks. So she wasn't immune to his charms, he would make her just as smitten with him as he was with her.

"You're not answering my question, Sundari. What brings you to this part of the forest?" Krishna's voice was gentle, coaxing her to open up.

Devashree took a deep breath, urging her thumping heart to calm down a bit, lest he hear it. Remembering the question he asked her and him being the reason behind her predicament, she glared at him.

"You! You are the reason I am here", she said, her voice gaining an accusing tilt.

"How?" he wondered what he had done to be the object of her glaring, though he was thoroughly enjoying it. She looked like an angry kitten with her big, lotus eyes.

"You fell right on the water-filled pot, breaking it into pieces, and the other pot is lost in the waters. How will I take the water back to the ashram now?"

Balram, who was standing behind Krishna, quietly hearing them interact, coughed loudly at the mention of his Anuj's 'fall'.

Krishna glared at his brother with a look that said, You-better- get-lost-from-here.Balrama smirked in response but went away, whistling to himself.

"Arey, I have saved your life not once but twice, you should thank me instead of berating me," he said, pouting childishly. "Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been there to save you from Kaaliya, Imagine that without me, you would have been in his stomach," Krishna said, his eyes widening dramatically.

Devashree silently acknowledged to herself that he was absolutely right. He did save her, for which she was grateful, but she did not know how she was going to pay off his debt.

But she isn't the one to back away from the banter. "And if I were not there, you would have drowned in the river!" Devashree countered his dramatic statements.

"If you were not there, then I would not have fain-"Krishna harshly bit his lip,realising what he had almost said. 

Damn, he was enjoying this too much, but he shouldn't lose his senses. Keep your mind in place, Krishn, he thought to himself. Rubbing his neck, he came up with an excuse. 

Krishna smiled charmingly at her once more, setting off delightful feelings in Devashree. His smile transformed into a knowing smirk as he watched her flushed state.

He stepped closer to her and replied," Your pot had to be broken, I did not want you to be poisoned with the water of the contaminated river had you drunk it; you seem too precious for that." Krishna whispered in a husky voice.

Devashree's pupils subtlely widened, his voice sending delightful shivers down her back. 

In his tender gaze, a warmth unfurled within her, spreading its gentle tendrils to the very tips of her ears. His words, laced with adoration, weaved through the air like a melody. She felt her cheeks burn painted with the soft hues of a blooming rose, betraying the fluttering storm of emotions that his nearness awakened. 

As he drew closer, the world around them seemed to blur, leaving nothing but the two of them in a cocoon of their own making. Her heart beat a frantic rhythm. It's as though he spoke directly to her soul, calling forth a version of herself she scarcely recognizes-bolder, yet infinitely more delicate, like a flower that blooms in the embrace of the sun.

Devashree, stop blushing like a bride! Get a hold of yourself. You are not, and have never been, shy. YOU ARE BOLD!

She scolded herself for the mess she was making in front of him. She looked at him straight in the eyes, a vivid shine entering her eyes as she widened her eyes dramatically.

"Oh, my hero! You have saved me from great peril. However should I repay you?" Devashree exclaimed in a melodramatically sarcastic voice, with both palms on her heart clutching it as if she had a drastic revelation.

Krishna's smile widened in mirth, and his eyes, twinkling with the luminosity of a thousand stars, danced with laughter. "There's not much I would ask of you. My price is simple yet invaluable. I am a simple gwala you see, a pot of makhan churned by your delicate hands would be more than enough."

Devashree's eyes sparkled in amusement," I have heard you steal makhan from every house in Vrindavan from Sulabha kaki. Then why are you asking me for makhan? Would my makhan be any different?"

An earnest gaze entered his eyes and his voice softened," I have had the privilege of eating makhan made by every woman of this village. Some had the sweetness of their love for me, some adoration, and some pure devotion. You had been worried for me, I want to know the nature of the makhan you would make, won't you give me a taste of your sweet hands?" Krishna carefully maneuvered his words, he knew that she could very well refuse him, she was meeting him for the first time after all. But he still hoped she would agree, it had been so long since he had eaten something from her hands.

Devashree could not help but smile at his request. She could not deny the effect of his charm on herself. "Fine. I will make you a pot of makhan, not because you saved my life but because of the way you charmed me into it."

Krishna smiled ear to ear. "Then I will wait for you here in the evening" he announced in low tones.

" Now if do me another favor, I will bring you not one but two pots of Makhan"

Krishna's mouth salivated just thinking about the prospect. He could almost taste the sweetness, not just of the makhan but of the love infused in every morsel.

"What is it?" he asked her excitedly, he could not wait for the moment when he would feel the bliss of creamy and luscious makhan.

"I am a shisya of Devi Sumukhi and Rishi Sandipani. I was supposed to take take water back to the ashram. I don't want to disappoint Gurumaa on my first day. Can I borrow two pots from you?" Devashree asked hesitantly.

" Of course!" Krishna exclaimed and quickly brought two pots, filled them with Yamuna's fresh water, and gave them to her.

"Dhanyawad." Devashree thanked him with a gentle smile on her face." Ab agya de." She turned to leave but stopped as she remembered something important.

She turned back facing him with a serious glint in her eyes, she took one of his reddened palms in her soft delicate hand," You have indeed saved my life today. As a Kshatriya who has many responsibilities towards my people, I am in your debt. Keeping the sun in the sky, the river Yamuna and the earth under our feet as witnesses, I hereby promise you as long as you follow the path of Dharma, you will always have my back and my help." she announced, her strong voice ringing in the banks of Yamuna.

Krishna smiled serenely at his beloved, a proud glint in his eyes. He was glad and proud at how she had worded her promise. He tightened his hold on her hands, stopping her from going.

"If I ask you something more, would you give it to me, without breaking your promise I would like to make it stronger."

"What is it?" came the curious voice of Devashree

With a smile that mirrored the tenderness of his plea, Krishna extended his other hand, as an offering of friendship, a promise of unwavering support, and a shared journey through the lanes of life and beyond. " Will you grant me the honor of being your friend?"

With a smile that almost blinded him, Devashree accepted his hand, making his heart and his soul thrum in joy.

" Now my dear friend, shall I always call you new names O Priyadarshani? You are yet to tell me your name." Krishna chimed in his playful voice, eager to know the name of his beloved in this life.

Devashree blushed as she registered that neither of them knew the other's name. " You don't need to give me new names. I am called Devashree."

"Devashree.." A fathom of wisper left his lips," Adbhut, Devashree, jo iss dev ki devi , jo iss dev ki shree hai," Krishna hummed to himself softly.

"And you, won't you tell your name?" Devashree asked him, wondering if any word in this world was capable enough to be his name.

"You may call me by any name you want, I will always come to you. But I see you are curious. Krishna is what this world calls me."

"Krishn"

Hearing his name on her lips was like music to Krishna's ears. 

It felt new and wonderful, like he was hearing it for the first time. Her voice wrapped around him like a warm breeze, filled with the fragrance of divine love stirring deep emotions bringing back the utter bliss he knew in Vaikuntha.

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A/N

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