Smriti watched Medha dip her big toe into the kund. She moved her feet back instantly and muttered, "So cold. I don't think I have the heart to take a dip."

The rain from the previous night had turned the weather cold. With the sun still in slumber, the water in the kund had remained cold. Smriti sighed and took a deep breath. "Jai Shri Krishna!" Muttering Lord Krishna's praise, she jumped into the pool with a loud splash.

Icy sensations gripped her warm skin. It stung like needles. The impact blew cold air around her, and she shivered. Biting back a squeal, she closed her eyes and dipped her head underwater for a while.

After rising back for air, she quickly rubbed her arms, chest, and thighs, and climbed out of the pool. A bewildered Medha looked at Smriti, who no longer shivered but comfortably began drying her hair and body in the open.

The droplets from Smriti's bathing cloth fell on Medha's feet causing her to gasp at the coldness.

Smriti laughed. "Just mutter a prayer. Dip and come back. That's it."

Medha looked at a few other girls who had followed suit and quickly dipped themselves in the cold, dark water of the kund. Some of them drenched their towels and scrubbed their bodies. A few others sprinkled water drops over their heads and skin and began making their way to the changing rooms.

"Well, fair enough," Medha said before jumping into the pool.

Smriti moved her head back with laughter as Medha emitted a high-pitched scream when her body collided with water. She turned towards the grilled windows, watching the pale moon glisten in the dark sky.

***

All the senior girls and the female staff of the school assembled in the courtyard between the senior girls' accommodation buildings—Samsthiti and Abheri. Every single person was busy with some task or the other. Some female students were busy decorating the floor by, drawing floral designs with powdered colours and flowers. A few were involved with the boys in cleaning and decorating the stage near the Vishnu-Lakshmi temple for the pooja, which would be followed by cultural events.

Smriti, too had immersed herself in work—to string garlands. Six girls, including Smriti, sat together, their fingers working through flowers and needles. Malini and Kritvi, a year younger than Smriti, were humming a Krishna song. The others joined in with a smile while Smriti quietly synced her fingers with the melody of their music.

Studies had been suspended for two days. Tomorrow would be Krishnaashtami, so preparations had begun in full swing. In the morning, the teachers coordinated to oversee supplies for the pooja and feasts. Carts supplied with flowers, ghee, and grains kept on arriving until late noon. Students meanwhile were loitering inside the campus. Some studious children sat with their books and pens under the afternoon sun that had graced itself after a long spell of wet rains. Many indulged in fun games with each other to pass the holiday celebrations. Junior students thronged to the playgrounds to play sports all day.

The whole atmosphere of the campus was buzzing with excitement and activity.

"Ouch!" A large droplet of blood pooled on her thumb, causing Smriti's attention to waiver from the conversation. The other girls looked at her in concern, to which she replied with a pressed smile. "Oh, I just pricked my thumb, girls. I will quickly come back after washing the blood off."

Placing the half-weaved garland gently on the floor to avoid her blood staining the petals, Smriti stood up and left to wash her finger. She walked with hurried steps while her eyes roamed around all the students and staff working for the festival. Her eyes descended on the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna right in front of the Vishnu-Lakshmi temple.

She walked with slow steps, her eyes taking in the beauty of the idol, when she felt a jolt, her head crashing into another hard body. Her balance fell, and she was about to trip when she felt a hand reach out to hold hers and a warm hand wrap around her waist.

On opening her eyes, she found Ekaksh staring at her face, his eyes concerned. Smriti breathed hard while he kept looking into her eyes. His hand around her waist made her shiver a little.

Ekaksh looked at Smriti, who had fallen right into his arms. Her breath escaped in little whispers while her chest heaved. The soft skin of her waist felt great to his fingers, and her wide eyes, staring up at him, looked adorable. Her hair had loosened from her bun, and a few wisps flew around the sides of her forehead.

A loud clang made them both jump. Smriti got up and straightened herself while Ekaksh took a respectful step back, asking, "Are you okay?"

Tying her hair again, Smriti replied, "Yes, yes, I am. Thanks." An embarrassed Smriti scratched the side of her chin. "I was looking at the murti, and not focusing on my steps."

Smriti retracts her hand and turns her head towards the Krishna idol. She gasps as the moonlight falls directly over his face. "He... Look over there—he looks ethereal!"

Ekaksh followed and looked at the murti. A look of admiration passed over his face at the illuminating figure of the Lord of Vrindavan. Turning his eyes back to Smriti, whose lovely eyes twinkled with delight, the moon shining over her eyes, he replied, "Indeed... beautiful. Gorgeous and enchanting."

As Smriti turned her attention back to Ekaksh, the latter quickly averted his transfixed eyes. He took a step back and kept a polite smile on his face. Smriti said, "I am glad I pricked my finger, or I would have missed such a beautiful sight."

"Well, don't the elders say that every little mishap is a part of God's plan?"

Pressing her tongue to her cheek, Smriti smirked and asked, "Falling into your arms too was God's plan then, no?"

Ekaksh pressed two fingers between his eyebrows to hide his smile. He pretended to cough before saying, "Well, it is now his plan that we must get back to our respective works."

"Such a bore! Boo!"

Holding Smriti's shoulders, he turns her around and gently pushes her in the opposite direction. "Shoo!"

Though Smriti laughed, she didn't ignore the lingering warmth his touch left over her shoulders. She flexed her fingers, her thumb caressing her palm where he had touched. The little wound was long forgotten, and despite the gentle rain-fed breeze blowing around, she carried the searing touch on her hand, a little remnant of secret affection.

Ekaksh meanwhile jogged his way back. He cast one last look at the Krishna murti. Dark clouds flew around the moon, casting the divine in light and dark shades, the changing colour of life and time.

He remembered how Smriti's eyes shone under the moon, how the idol's etherealness had made Smriti even more lovelier. His palm went right over his heart as if his body yearned for Smriti's familiar embrace against him. A faint fragrance of jasmine—Smriti's perfume wafted near his chest.

Rathish stared at a smiling Ekaksh, who was chopping wood with a dumb smile on his lips. He asked with a peculiar grimace, "Did you get drunk or something? Why are you smiling like that?"

"Beauty intoxicates you more than wine at times."

Rathis dropped his plate and the rag. "Did you meet my sister-in-law on the way back?"

"Sister-in-law? I haven't proposed to her!" Ekaksh whisper-yelled.

"Which means you will. Now admit that you are in love with her."

"Love is a heavy word, anuj."

With narrowed eyes, Rathish replied, "I am only the younger twin. Not your baby brother."

"Yes, so shut up and do your work instead of pestering me."

Rathish did not pick up the plate and the rag. He scooted closer to his brother and stared at him with a toothy grin. Ekaksh, growing uncomfortable at the long creepy stare rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, I am in love with her. If you ask any more, I will start doing the same cliche act of comparing her eyes to the stars and her face to the moon, because I just witnessed that glorious sight.

She even accidentally fell into my arms. The last time we were this close was when she was leaving Avanti and was late to reach the riverbank. She thought she would miss seeing me for the last time and with tears, hugged me. Months have passed since that, and now, when she tripped and fell right into my arms, there is this strange emptiness now in my chest; and a longing to have her again. It barely lasted for a moment, Rathish. But look at me."

"Wow! At this rate, you should propose instead of rambling to me." Rathish placed his hand over his brother's shoulder. "When you know what you want, you must go get it. Remember, Maa's teachings?"

Sighing, Ekaksh placed his axe on the ground. His eyes turned thoughtful as he looked at his brother. "It would have been easy if I were some commoner." He looked around at the other boys who were busy with different chores inside the campus. "Like one of them. But we are royals, Rathish. Smriti doesn't even know who I am. She doesn't know our true identities. This friendship blossomed because she didn't know I was a prince. Maa doesn't know about her either. And royalty cannot foolishly take any decision.

I am lucky to know her, and to have her for a year too. Yes, I will burn with envy if any other guy takes her away, but all of it rests on her choice. I will always be happy to know her and be by her side until time permits."

The low chitter-chatter of students buzzed around. Some boys ran around each other with sticks in their hands. The male staff indulged in supervising the tasks for the pooja.

Rathis pursed his lips and sighed, his eyes towards the sky. "I didn't sign up for this. But what you said is true too." He looked at his brother. "Try enjoying whatever moment you have with her then."

"Oh, I will. In fact, I am."

"But I would still suggest telling her your true feelings. She likes you if you haven't observed. That gaze in her eyes says it all when she sees you. If you all can't be together, then at least bare your heart out."

After chopping the final log, Ekaksh carefully arranged the wood together. Nodding, he replied, "I will think about it."

***

A little Janmashtami fun and pretty stuff chapters (this and the next). Enjoy until we reach exam season and their academic weapon era for these people.

Thanks for reading! ❤