Chapter 22 Krishna Janmashtami
Author's pov
It's the day of Krishna Janmashtmi. The day when lord Krishna was born. The eighth reincarnation of lord Vishnu. Vanya is completely recovered now and shifted back to her place with her sisters. She woke up at 4 am in the morning and got ready in a baby pink Gopi dress with a cotton pink embroidered waistband. Drying her hair, she tied them loosely with white and pink natural flowers. The vaishnav tilak adorning her forehead with a red bindi on it and some white art made up her eyebrows ending at her cheekbones. The bangles are making a jiggle sound when she moves her hands. The jingling sound of her anklets when she walks around holding her skirt indirectly indicating her sisters about her heading to the temple of their house.
She entered the temple. Cleaning the temple she started taking out the clothes of God. She anointed lord Krishna and adorned lord in pitambar vastra, yellow flowers, gold jewelleries which includes two neck pieces, earrings, waistband, anklets, rings, bajuband and bracelets. A vaishnav tilak beautifully designed on lord Krishna's forehead with some white art made up on his glowing black skin looking ethereal tempting beyond anything.
Meanwhile the girls arrived in their own Gopi dresses. Vanya washed her hands and all the girls covered their heads with the dupatta as now they are going to worship the lord. Vanya was about to light the diya in aarthi thal when vani stopped her saying some people are going to join them. Vanya raised her brows asking who?. While she just shrugged giving her -see by yourself- look.
After five minoutes, their wait comes to an end. There comes The Dandwani Brothers all decked up in white dhoti and a dupatta hanging from their shoulders with red tilak embellishing their foreheads. They all greeted each other.
"Let's not delay anymore!" Aaryaant said. Vanya nodded.
She turned around and lit up the diya and started singing the aarti of lord Krishna while performing the lord's arti followed by everyone. Tears streaming down her eyes showcasing the pool of emotions and vulnerability which she was hiding from everyone. Tears of happiness, tears of longingness, tears thanking her lord krishna, tears that show her rage and unswerving for achieving the goal. Her faith in her god strengthens her. It encourages her to move furthermore. She will take revenge and kill the murderers of her parents. Yes! Her parents were killed by one of their enemies. Only Vanya knows about their parents murder as she witnessed it.
They prayed to God for good health and wealth. And thanked him for their well being and wealthy wealth. They all left the temple after the puja was done. But as every year Vanya sat there alone in her Kanha ji's refuge.
"Where's Vanya?" Aaryaant asked noticing her absence.
"She's in the temple" vani answered.
"Is there anything left ?" he again asked.
"Well she likes to spend some alone time with her god" vartika answered. He nodded in understanding.
After half an hour, they were talking when they heard the music coming from the temple. Curiosity kicked in Aaryaant and he asked about it only to know that she had started dancing.
"Wanna see?" vani asked them.
"We're not fools to deny... at least not me" he said with exhilaration dripping in his voice. And they all went to the temple. Before aaryaant could enter, vani stopped him holding his hand indicating him not to move further while he just raised his brows asking her the reason.
"She doesn't like anyone to see her dancing..... nobody knows she's a one hella kathak dancer." she stated the reason and he shockingly nodded understanding her. He stood at the entry watching her moving gracefully with each step detailed according to the lyrics of the song.
Well the song is actually a mashup of Raat suhani mast chandani, woh kisna hai and maiyya yashoda mori gagri.
She wasn't aware of his presence and was just dancing closing her eyes enjoying her moment dedicating her love for her krishna without any stress and burden of anything. At last she ended her dance with a long twirl and falling in front of her lord. Her head bowed down, her hands on the floor supporting her to steady in place, her braided messy hairs all over her head and floor. She didn't stand up for minutes breathing heavily. She looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder only to see him standing beside her forwarding his hand for her to stand up. She stood up holding his palm.
"Marvellous!" he said with a proud smile. She smiled back listening to his words.
"Dii you were amazing" Ariv chimmed in breaking their eye contact.
"Yeah we never knew you are a Kathak dancer" Aryan added looking at her with love filled eyes.
"Ahh..thanks" Vanya awkwardly thanked them as she didn't like to hear compliments.
"Mam the jets are ready!" one of the butlers informed them, breaking their moment.
"Well Where are you guys going?" Aaryaant asked.
"Vrindavan!" Vanya smilingly said with a hint of excitement.
"Vanu di even we want to join you guys! Can we?" Aryan asked with his puppy eyes.
"why not! It'll be more fun!" she exclaimed happily.
"Only if you're comfortable?" Aaryaant asked her even though he knows she'll be anything but uncomfortable!. She nodded with an assuring smile and blinking her eyes making him smile back at her.
"We're going there for four days so, pack accordingly!....and you guys have one hour it's 5:30 already. So be here at 6:30." she said and the four brothers left.
They all boarded the jet and the jet is ready to take off. Sitting arrangement is done such that Vanya is with vartika while vani is with Varnika. And aaryaant with Aavyaan and Ariv with Aryan. The journey from Mumbai to vrindavan is of three hours.
Vanya and aaryaant are busy replying to the mails and their office work. Aavyaan is busy watching his engagement pictures with a smile while vani is reading some points of her upcoming case. Vartika is sleeping on vanya's shoulder making her caress her hair from time to time. Ariv is watching a movie with Varnika. Yes Aryan and varnika have exchanged their seats as per varnika's demand. And Aryan besides vani scrolling through his social media.
In a span of time they landed. Vanya inhaled the fresh air feeling ecstatic as soon as she came out of the jet and bowed her head to the earth showing her respect towards her lord's birth place. They all smiled and did the same. After reaching the hotel they decided to rest for an hour and meet for breakfast. Everyone retired to their respective rooms.