A Valentine’s Day Story

(This story is purely a work of Fiction. But it has not been written from a materialistic point of view, for as fallen as I am, I can never think of posting anything on this website that would not glorify and remind us of that Lotus-Eyed, Dark-Complexioned, All-Attractive Supreme Person we call Shyamsundara!
But if anyone has an objection to my story (I only request you to read the story completely before doing so,) please feel free to remove it from the website, or I can do it if you wish me to do so. In that event I can but only beg for forgiveness for having posted the story….)

Two years had passed since I had first met Radhika. I was then doing my post-graduation in English Literature and we were in the same class. As we were in the same study-group, we would meet everyday and before I realized it, I was deeply in love with her. She was that sort of person. She had the sweetest nature in any person that I knew, and that was what attracted me to her the most. Always smiling and cheerful, she was liked by everyone and was literally the friend, philosopher and guide to many people in our class.
She was slim and averagely good-looking but her eyes were simply captivating. They were large and could convey as per her wish, the light and solemnity of intelligence, the twinkle of mischievousness and yet at the same time, a sense of serenity and peace of mind.
She was reputed to be an excellent cook and on many an occasion we all benefited from her capabilities, when she would bring some snack for all of us. And the snack would be surprisingly delicious! And even more surprisingly, pure-vegetarian!

The day arrived when I could not stand it anymore. I wanted to propose to her. Coming from a fairly conservative family, I did not believe in ‘fooling around’. I wanted to ask for her hand in marriage. I felt she would be the ideal wife for me.

I tried to get a feedback from our common friend, Lakshmi. She told me that Radhika had always spoken favourably of me, so I had a chance! So I went with Lakshmi to the local jeweller and bought a ring for Radhika in keeping with the ‘proposing protocol’. Then on Valentine’s Day, after our classes were over, I approached Radhika and asked her if I could speak to her in private. She consented and we went to our college cafeteria.

We sat down at a table near a window and I was just thinking about how I should pop her the question when suddenly she asked me a question that knocked me off my feet, ‘Manohar, are you going to propose to me or something?’
I was totally unprepared for this. I stammered and tried to find my bearings, ‘Well, I… umm…. Well, you see, I….well….like you and….’
‘What do you like about me, Manohar?’ Her question cut me short. She was looking at me intently. Her expression was serious.

I understood and cursed the situation. Lakshmi HAD to open her big-mouth! She had probably told Radhika everything! I managed to regain my confidence. I decided to complete what I had set out to do.
I said, ‘Radhika, we have been together for about two years now, and I have known you to be a wonderful person, with a lovely nature, the kind of person I had always wanted to spend my life with.’
I named all the other good qualities that she possessed and finally said, ‘So I was wondering if I could ask your hand in marriage? I will approach your father for his permission, of course…’ I hastened to clarify.

Radhika vacantly looked out of the window, her mood still serious. With a heavy heart, I realized that she wanted to refuse my proposal but being a close friend of mine, she did not want to hurt my feelings.
I said gently, ‘Radhika, if you wish to refuse my proposal, that’s fine with me, really. After all, we can always remain good friends.’
Then something entered my mind. I asked her softly, ‘Is there….. someone else?’
She turned to me for a moment, confusion written on her face. Then she returned to look out of the window.
I silently cursed my luck. Of course, how could a beautiful person like Radhika be walking around single like that.
I decided to do the gentlemanly thing.

Waving my hand in the air dramatically, I told her, ‘Well then, when do I get to meet that fortunate guy and tell him that he is the luckiest guy in the world?’
Radhika looked at me in astonishment. ‘Do…do you want to meet…?’
I shrugged and tried to look casual, ‘Well, I guess I must meet the one to whom I’ve lost the trophy. After all, I am a gentleman and sportsman and all that sort of thing! Hey, in fact, I think I should befriend him. After all, since you have chosen him, he must be some fabulous kind of guy. Yes, I’d love to meet him.’
Radhika smiled for the first time that evening and got up from her chair. ‘Come on then, Manohar, let’s not waste time…’

We got into a taxi and Radhika gave the driver the necessary instructions. Throughout the journey, she appeared euphoric and my mood was sombre, though I tried to hide my feelings.
I tried to make conversation to distract myself. ‘What sort of guy is he? I mean is he in a big position or something? Is like very handsome and all?’
Radhika gave me a curious look and then gave a girlish giggle. ‘Oh yes! He is in a VERY big position, and EXTREMELY influential. And he is extremely good-looking. In fact, he has been my heartthrob since I was a kid!’
‘Good for you,’ I observed. It was now my turn to stare out of the window.

The taxi turned into a small lane opposite the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, near Wilson’s College in Mumbai. It came to a halt opposite an impressive structure that stood out starkly in contrast to its surroundings in terms of architecture. I had not seen such a beautiful temple in a long time.

‘He’s going to meet you here? In a temple?!’ I was incredulous! I had expected him to call her to a swanky restaurant or something. Radhika only smiled in reply. As we climbed the steps to the first floor, I scratched my head and tried to figure out this guy who thought that the highpoint of romancing his lady-love was to rendezvous with her in a temple! I decided I HAD to meet this guy.
Then again, I thought, since he’s such a big-shot, maybe he owned the temple or was a trustee of the temple, and had his office there or something.

We entered a large hall and I immediately felt my breath taken away. The floor was of wood, polished to perfection. The walls portrayed large, beautiful paintings of scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and from the life of a saint I didn’t recognize. To the left was a large life-like statue of a Sage in ochre robes, sitting on a gold-and-wooden chair that was elevated on a similarly designed pedestal. He had on his face, the most peaceful expression I had ever seen. He seemed to be gazing directly ahead at the wall ahead of him across the hall; my attention turned to the same.

The entire wall was composed of an ornate chocolate brown and gold design and at the centre stood two large, imposing doors bearing the same design. A beautiful, white, lotus-shaped fountain in front of the doors added to the décor.
There were a few people sitting near the walls on sides with their eyes closed, with their hand in a small bag, muttering something under their breath. Some ladies were sitting in the corner, making garlands from a heap of fresh flowers next to them. Some of them smiled at Radhika, seeming to know her well.
The entire ambience bespoke of peace and calm.

I turned to mention this to Radhika and to my surprise, found her lying prostrate on the ground offering some prayers. Not knowing what to do, I followed suit. After all, I was used to prayers and stuff. My parents were quite religious and we had a small ‘God’s Altar’ at home where we offered our prayers everyday.

We walked up to the small wooden fence adjacent to the fountain which presumably formed the barrier protecting the sanctum-sanctorum behind the closed doors. As we sat down in front of the closed doors, she explained briefly to me the names of the Deities installed in the temple, but I was looking around the hall, more interested in looking out for this guy who had upset my nuptial plans.
I asked Radhika, ‘Is he coming here to meet you?’
She looked at her watch and nodded. ‘Anytime now.’

There was a noise and I looked back at the entrance. I saw a large group of people entering the hall. Some of them were young, well-dressed men and I racked my brains to figure out which of them was Radhika’s betrothed. I heard the sound of the blowing of a conch-shell and we all stood up. The doors of the Altar opened, but I was too engrossed in looking at the people entering the hall.
Radhika then suddenly whispered in my ear, ‘Behold, Manohar, behold my beloved! The One who has stolen my heart!’
I turned in the direction of the Deities, for to my surprise, it was in that direction to which she was alluding.

I almost gasped at the sight. For suddenly, I was confronted with the awesome sight of the Deities of Sri Radhagopinath and their two Gopi Devotees-Friends, Vishakhadevi and Lalitadevi, on either side.
The brilliance of their opulent, glittering, bejewelled, bright red and blue attire was only matched by the lustre on their faces. Sri Gopinath’s eyes held my gaze with such an unbelievingly compassionate and benevolent glance that I felt almost physically bound by it! The enchanting smiles on Their faces left me stupefied, and incomprehensibly, I felt tears rush to my eyes!
I could not understand these waves of strange, overwhelming emotions that were sweeping over me, one after the other.
I tore my gaze away to look at the Deities of Sri Nitai-Gaurchandra to the left and Sri Gopalji to the right of them. Their magnificent, smiling faces seemed to enhance the effect.
It was an experience I hadn’t had in a long time.

We waited for the Sandhya Arati (as I learnt it was called) to finish and we both turned to leave. We stopped at the entrance and cupped our hands to receive the Prasadam, a besan laddoo being handed out by a Brahmachari, who cheerfully smiled at us and said ‘Hare Krishna!’
While leaving, without realizing why, I turned to glance at the Deities before stepping out of the hall, almost as if I hadn’t my fill of their Darshan.

I tasted the laddoo while climbing down the stairs. It was exquisitely delicious. I mentioned the same to Radhika.
She smiled and said, ‘That is because it has the taste of Krishna in it!’ I was impressed by that concept.
‘You must be hungry, and it looks like we need to talk,’ she said and I agreed on both counts. By now, I had realized that Radhika was very deep into this devotional business and I was keen to know how and why she had chosen this path. We ducked into a cosy restaurant called ‘Govinda’s’ adjacent to the temple, where a smiling Devotee-waiter served us steaming hot dosas.

I told Radhika about my experience in the temple. She was delighted to hear that. She said that she had felt the same way, the first time she had visited the temple. Between mouthfuls, she told me how she had come on a chance visit to the temple many years ago and was invited to discuss philosophy with a female Devotee or ‘Mataji’ as they were called. As she always had an interest in philosophy, she accepted the invitation and at the end of 4 hours, she felt like she had taken an invigorating, refreshing, spiritual and intellectual bath!

While leaving the temple, the Mataji had asked her to begin chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra; that was all. Radhika, as an experiment, had started chanting and after a few months, she felt like a new person altogether.
Her entire perception of the world changed for the better. All her negative thoughts and behaviour vanished; she became more proactive and began to find solutions to all the problems that she encountered. She mentioned that those problems to which she could not find a solution somehow always miraculously got solved of their own accord. She realized she could not carry on with her life without Krishna.
She felt like she had finally realized her goal in life; to dedicate everything she said and did to Krishna, for she knew that this was the Path to Eternal Bliss.

‘Manohar, even just possessing the desire for Bhakti makes the difference. Krishna will immediately respond, show you the way and carry to you, what you lack, and preserve what you have!’ Her tone was earnest and full of conviction.
‘Do you know, Manohar, all those nice things that you credited me with, when we were sitting in our college cafeteria, are solely the result of my friendship with my beloved Krishna! Now you know why I am so madly in love with this VERY influential, VERY attractive Person!’ She smiled with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I couldn’t help but stare at her. Not because she was teasing me, but because I began to imagine a way of life with a concrete goal; one endorsed by saints for over millions of years, a selfless life devoted to serving Krishna, and in the process, developing all those virtues and qualities that are desired by people who want to live a ‘Sattvic’ life. It sounded utopian! Just thinking about that idea filled me with bliss.

I asked her hesitatingly, ‘Radhika is it possible for anyone to try and adopt this path. I mean, I would like to give a shot at it.’
Radhika stared at me, her eyes shining as if with a new-found happiness. ‘Do you really mean it, Manohar?’
‘Of course, Radhika. I have just realized that I was living such an aimless life, always running after this and that, without knowing where it would all end. I liked what you just told me about living a ‘Krishna-Consciousness’ life, as you call it. It seems to offer that ‘something’ that I was always searching for. Of course, don’t expect me to immediately reach the stage of Devotion that you have, but I’m willing to give it a try!’
I continued somewhat hesitatingly, ‘Only one thing though. I wouldn’t know how or where to begin. I’ll need some of your help in this venture. Only if you are willing, of course and I seek your help only as good friend, nothing more!’ I added, lest she misunderstood me.
Radhika stared at me for a while, seeming to be at a loss of words. Then she closed her eyes and softly murmured something which sounded like, ‘Thank you Krishna, for taking care of things for me!’
I bent forwards, ‘I beg your pardon, did you say something, Radhika?’

She looked up at me with a serious look in her eyes. ‘Yes, actually I was just saying, that if you truly want to try and adopt a Krishna-Conscious way of life, and want ME to help you in that, there is only one more important thing that remains for you to do.’
‘And that is….?’ I asked with some concern.
Radhika looked at me steadily and continued with a slight smile playing on her lips, unable to conceal the rosy-red blush that was now progressively adorning her fair cheeks, ‘You had better give me that ring to wear; the one that you are carrying in your pocket. It’ll be easier for both of us that way!’
I promptly complied with her suggestion!

‘Just possessing the desire for Bhakti makes the difference. Krishna will immediately respond, show you the way and carry to you, what you lack!’
This thought was uppermost in my mind as we walked hand-in-hand towards the taxi-stand. I looked sideways at Radhika’s smiling face and marvelled at Krishna’s plan. In one master-stroke, He had shown and tempted me into following the Path of Eternal Bliss AND delivered to me the right life-mate who would help me on that path.
It was going to be a memorable Valentine’s Day for me……………….

HariBol!
Eternal Muser