~Mewar~

Meera sucked in a deep breath, as a thousand of emotions rushed passed her mind. No, it wasn't that of sorrow of being instructed to spend the entire day of Janmashtami in the topmost part of the palace, alone. Apparently, her presence amidst the royal guests who had arrived would be a disgrace, they shouldn't have a glimpse of the bamboozled woman.

If she was spotted outside, strict punishment would have been inflicted upon her.

Mumbling something herself, she continued decorating the little idol of Lord Krishna with a widely grinning face. Her face glowed with joy, as if every single thing she did for her Lord reflected upon her.

Why not? After all her Lord resided in her.

"Baisa! How is this looking?" a young girl excitedly chirped, swinging the carved wooden swing for the idol of Sri Krishna. Even in the hostile environment she resided in, there were still pure souls who were whole-heartedly devoted to their lady. 

"It is really beautiful!" Meera commented mesmerized, accepting it from the girl. "See here Baisa, we have made the garlands!" two more of them came wobbling towards her with their little steps. 

She had created a heaven out of the dark room within a few hours, thanks to some of her devoted Daasis and their children, who flocked around her mesmerized. Maybe without them, Meera's worship to the Lord on His day would have been futile. 

 Sulekha handed over the offerings she had gathered and handed it over to Shivli. While Meera was occupied in decorating the idol of 'Laddoo Gopal' with newly sewed clothing, a few of them laid the carpet. The swing was carefully placed over it, and decorated with freshly fragrant flowers. 

Meera had a smile of ecstasy on her golden-hued face, witnessing her Lord decked up from head to toe. Finally, her fingers lifted the peacock feathers and attached it to the head of the idol. A soft chuckle left her lips, as she rounded her arms around the mud-figure and brought it close to her temples and folded her palms, as if she wanted to protect Him from all the negativities. 

"Baisa, Sulekha brought fresh nectar and butter. But this was all we could gather," Shivli crawled towards the half sitting Meera who was still dreamily eyeing the idol. The maid's face turned into a gloomy one, realizing the fact that they couldn't offer more than this. Meera placed a gentle palm on her shoulder, making her pass a soft smile, "What Maadhav desires is love Shivli, and love knows no quantity," saying so she accepted the whatever they had brought for her.

Meera dipped her finger into the freshly prepared butter and brought it to her lips. A satisfied grin left her, it was perfectly sweet and as desired. Shivli watched her with awe, though she was aware that her lady had the tendency to taste her Lord's offerings before offering it to Him, but today it felt different. Meera's tasting of the offering appeared to her for a moment that Lord Krishna himself was tasting it.

'True to your devotion, you are my lady!' the maid gazed at her amused. After tasting a bit of nectar as well, she poured it into the copper bowls and assembled it near the throne of the idol. 

Perfect.

A water chuckle left Meera's lips as her ocean-eyes clouded with tears. How she had lost the hope that she wouldn't be able to serve the Lord on Janmashtami!

But how can Govind refuse her plea?

She turned towards her helpers in an affectionate manner, "I couldn't appreciate you less, friends. Without you I wouldn't have been able to arrange everything," she quickly wiped a drop of tear that trickled down her cheek.

"What are you saying Baisa? Whom else do we have except you?" Anju half sat in front of her, "Baisa, today we feel the ecstasy in serving you, as you do while serving your Lord!"

"Yes Baisa, and we will stay with your during the Puja as well!" the girls and the Daasis replied, smiling at each other. Meera's eyes widened with surprise as she blinked, "B-but their is even a bigger festival occurring in our royalty, wouldn't you attend that?"

"Baisa, you are suggesting us to attend the ceremony of those who tried to assasinate you a few days ago and today they dared to restrict you up here!?" Shivli had a sense of grief, while the others nodded, "Yes Baisa, we won't go anywhere, we will stay here and attend the Puja here!"

"But-"

"Baisa please! "

"Yes Baisa we won't! We won't desert you!"

"Who thinks about us in this entire palace except you?"

The women and the girls sat on the floor adamant, while Meera had a heartfelt smile on her face.

"You call us friends, and now let your friends be at your service!"

The ardent devotee of the Lord slightly nodded, while the maids exchanged gleeful glances. Glancing towards the idol which was sitting with all its glory on the intricate swing, Meera lit the earthen lamps and placed them on the copper plate. 

The devotees folded their palms in reverence, as Meera began to hum the tunes of the prayers to the Lord,

" Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Jaake sir mor mukut, mero pati soyee.

( He who wears a peacock-feathered crown, is my husband )

Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi. 

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )"

The maids sucked in their breath, their eyes automatically turning moist and heavy. With such devotion, such love their lady sang the tunes, it made them experience heaven. Her voiced laced with thousands of emotions, her eyes expressed everything as she began to move the plate of aarti around her Lord.

Such was the melody of her song, it could make anyone drown in the ocean of devotion for Sri Krishna.

"Koyee kahe kaaro, koyee kahe goro

( Some say He is dark-complexioned, some say He is fair )

koi kahe kaaro, koi kahe goro

( Some say He is dark-complexioned, some say He is fair )

Liyo hai ankhiyaan khol

( I have accepted Him with open eyes )

Koyee kahe halako, koyee kahe bhaaro

( Some say He is heavy, some say He is light )

Koi kahe halako, koi kahe bhaaro

( Some say He is heavy, some say He is light )

Liyo hai taraaju taul.

( I have accepted Him by weighing on a scale )

Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I have my Giridhar Gopal, I need no one else )"

Meera had lost all her conscious it appeared, she was completely delved into her Lord, who was her everything. Reaching her transcended state, her voice shook as tears flew down her eyes continuously. 

Surprisingly, the woman behind her also joined to her tunes, humming them and swaying with closed eyes.

"Koyee kahe chhaanee, koyee kahe chavne,

Koyee kahe chhaanee, koyee kahe chavne,

Liyo hai bajata dhol.

Tan ka gahana, main sab kuchh deenha

( I offer all my ornaments to you )

Tan ka gahana, sab kuchh deenha

( I offer all my ornaments to you )

Liyo hai baajooband khol

( I even discard my armlet for you )"

A sudden choking sensation engulfed Meera, her breath started increasing rapidly. Her voice cracked as she felt her throat aching, an uncomfortable feeling began to engulf her from within.  Nevertheless, she continued to maintain the tune, though it was being difficult. Her entire body started to feel numb gradually, immense pain shooting up in her forehead.

"Me-r--e to Giri-dhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I ha-ve my Giri-dhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Me--re to Giri--dhar Gopal, dusro na koi.

( I ha--ve my Giri-dhar Gopal, I need no one else )

Jaake sir mor mukut, mero pati so--yee.

( He who wears a peacock-feathered crown, is my hu--sband )"

Her eyes began to feel heavy, as she felt as if someone was forcefully closing them. Vigor began to drain out from her body, but the smile on her lips didn't. 

The cloth covering her head slid down, as she collapsed on the floor suddenly with the copper plate hitting the ground with a piercing sound.

"Baisa! Baisa!?"

"Baisa!? Can you-you hear us!?"

"Baisa!?"

"Sabse bada hai prem jagat me,
Prem se na kuch dooja!

Prem swayam ishwar ka roop hai,
Prem hi sacchi pooja!"

Will Meera be saved? 🥺🙏

Signing off for today!

~Kiritija Nushkie 😍~