Modern Krishna's Bad Day
Modern Krishna's Bad Day
Today, Krishna was under a great amount of stress. He had just opened the registered letter that arrived in the mail. It was from Radha - his childhood friend. His joy to see the letter from Radha after such a long time was short lived when he found out that the letter was really from her lawyer who had filed a harassment case. He had not seen Radha for over twenty years by now, he realized. Between his demanding job as the head of Dwarka and other responsibilities of his family, he rarely thought of Radha or his Gokul days. But of course, whenever he did think of either, his heart was filled with warm, nostalgic thoughts. He knew that he missed those days.
But now everything about Gokul was rushing back into his memory. Thanks to Radha and her letter - well, actually her lawyer friend who had helped her draft the letter. All the details of those days were brought back into his memory. The letter clearly mentioned that Krishna had harassed her by stealing her clothes while she was bathing in the river. She had to beg for her clothes. And then there was more. The letter mentioned how he used to throw stones (he had a good aim too, he remembered) aiming at her and her friend's clay pots full of water, breaking and spilling the content over young girls' clothes.
Then there were few more such incidents. The letter had a long list of them all. Some of them he had vaguely remembered, and some of them he had remembered fondly. In fact, ironically, a few times in recent past when he did think of those incidents, he had wondered what Raddha might be up to these days and if she even thought of him.
Now it was all clear, out in the open in that letter. Obviously she had thought of him and their time together more often - more often than he realized. This official looking and sounding letter mentioned exactly how she remembered, and how much damage these incidents had done to her personality, and how she was suffering from depression bouts due to this memory.
And Krishna had other problems to worry about. The report from his Doctor had come only two days ago. It showed high cholesterol level and he knew the reasons All the butter that he had stolen - and eaten - as a child in Gokul had to go to some place. Wish he never ate so much butter but how was he supposed to know? He wondered if it was really Mata Yashoda's fault and he can somehow make her realize what she has done. Though in reality even she did not know because it was him stealing it from every house in Gokul. Yet, as a mother wasn't it her responsibility to make sure that he does not get access to unhealthy food? Granted much of the butter was consumed without her knowledge but still she could have prevented some.
As if all of these was not enough, he saw, through the corner of his eyes. a familiar face of no other than his friend Sudama. " Now, what does he want?" murmured Krishna under his breath. Of course, out loud he said, "what a surprise! Am I glad to see you!" And they both started chatting over a cup of tea and some sugar-free, gluten-free cookies about their time together in the Sandipani Ashram. Krishna was a bit restless as his mind was still partially occupied with the letter from Radha's lawyer, however, he did notice that Sudama was hiding something in his hands. Curiously, he asked Sudama what was in his hands. Reluctantly, Sudama opened his hand and a letter came out. Another letter! Sudama mentioned that now he was the President of the Sandipani Alumni Club and he was here to collect some funds from his very successful alum. He mentioned that his contributions will be tax-free.
"Tax free" Krishna said out loud, "At least one good news in the whole day".
Today, Krishna was under a great amount of stress. He had just opened the registered letter that arrived in the mail. It was from Radha - his childhood friend. His joy to see the letter from Radha after such a long time was short lived when he found out that the letter was really from her lawyer who had filed a harassment case. He had not seen Radha for over twenty years by now, he realized. Between his demanding job as the head of Dwarka and other responsibilities of his family, he rarely thought of Radha or his Gokul days. But of course, whenever he did think of either, his heart was filled with warm, nostalgic thoughts. He knew that he missed those days.
But now everything about Gokul was rushing back into his memory. Thanks to Radha and her letter - well, actually her lawyer friend who had helped her draft the letter. All the details of those days were brought back into his memory. The letter clearly mentioned that Krishna had harassed her by stealing her clothes while she was bathing in the river. She had to beg for her clothes. And then there was more. The letter mentioned how he used to throw stones (he had a good aim too, he remembered) aiming at her and her friend's clay pots full of water, breaking and spilling the content over young girls' clothes.
Then there were few more such incidents. The letter had a long list of them all. Some of them he had vaguely remembered, and some of them he had remembered fondly. In fact, ironically, a few times in recent past when he did think of those incidents, he had wondered what Raddha might be up to these days and if she even thought of him.
Now it was all clear, out in the open in that letter. Obviously she had thought of him and their time together more often - more often than he realized. This official looking and sounding letter mentioned exactly how she remembered, and how much damage these incidents had done to her personality, and how she was suffering from depression bouts due to this memory.
And Krishna had other problems to worry about. The report from his Doctor had come only two days ago. It showed high cholesterol level and he knew the reasons All the butter that he had stolen - and eaten - as a child in Gokul had to go to some place. Wish he never ate so much butter but how was he supposed to know? He wondered if it was really Mata Yashoda's fault and he can somehow make her realize what she has done. Though in reality even she did not know because it was him stealing it from every house in Gokul. Yet, as a mother wasn't it her responsibility to make sure that he does not get access to unhealthy food? Granted much of the butter was consumed without her knowledge but still she could have prevented some.
As if all of these was not enough, he saw, through the corner of his eyes. a familiar face of no other than his friend Sudama. " Now, what does he want?" murmured Krishna under his breath. Of course, out loud he said, "what a surprise! Am I glad to see you!" And they both started chatting over a cup of tea and some sugar-free, gluten-free cookies about their time together in the Sandipani Ashram. Krishna was a bit restless as his mind was still partially occupied with the letter from Radha's lawyer, however, he did notice that Sudama was hiding something in his hands. Curiously, he asked Sudama what was in his hands. Reluctantly, Sudama opened his hand and a letter came out. Another letter! Sudama mentioned that now he was the President of the Sandipani Alumni Club and he was here to collect some funds from his very successful alum. He mentioned that his contributions will be tax-free.
"Tax free" Krishna said out loud, "At least one good news in the whole day".
Comments
Post a Comment