Beauty and the Beast

11.

How would he not follow her in the same footsteps? After all, as he saw himself, he saw her. Especially every time she looks back at him hopefully. 

"But what are you really waiting for?" Vinayaka asked him. "What I mean to ask is that why are you taking so long to tell her?" 

"She doesn't believe it. She thinks that I am playing with her." 

"Then why don't you let her know you're serious?" 

"Yes, I would, if only she would try and listen." 

"No. You aren't coming to the point. You're twisting around the words expecting her to just accept it. You never mistook what intention Jalaja had. She couldn't be clearer that she had given her everything to you. While you, here, don't even tell her in unmistakable terms that you love her. Expression of love doesn't need to be grand." 

"You're a child. You do not really know the exact way Sri works. Everything for her is grand. Sri herself is grandeur." 

Vinayaka laughed. "Sure, I take the form of a child but wasn't it you from whom I appeared? My maa had asked for a child that was like you. She performed penance for you and then I was born. So, technically, I'm also a part of you." 

Narasimha looked at his nephew. Sure, for someone reason the boy chose to look like a forever child but he was just as clever as him. 

"Sri herself is grandeur. What grandeur can match her? What grandeur do you have that can surpass her own? Could you bring anything that would be more beautiful to you than her? You could make nature look pretty when you try to tell but the whole nature is her. The whole Earth is her. What can you form that is more beautiful than her?" Vinayaka asked further. 

"I'm not sure it will go just as easy." 

"Why would a woman let you go this easy? How often does she have a situation where she has you following her? Last time she made completely sure you were aware of the depth of her feelings for you. You were too busy with all the suras bereft of strength and courage to pay a lot more attention to her. You even went as far as almost not participating in her swayamvar. Almost like you weren't a part of it at all. If that isn't cruelty, I don't know what constitutes a lover's cruelty. The first time around, you almost claimed that you wish to remain celibate as yogi forever in the hills of Badrinath. So, don't blame her if she isn't going to make this easy. You didn't particularly leave the easy path for her." 

"Whose side are you on, Vinayaka?" 

"Since when did you have sides between both of you? Unlike maa and pitashree, two of you aren't divided into two halves of the body but rather offered her a place in your heart. How are your heart on one side and you on the other?" 

Narasimha simply shook his head. The boy took after him in witty replies. His ears moved, hearing the faint sound of anklets from far away. The large ears could hear anything from far away. Almost recognizing sounds. The hurrying footsteps had to be the lady of the forest. Vinayaka changed his appearance quickly to resemble a regular young boy. 

Soon, Chenchita arrived near the temple and saw Vinayaka. A smile graced her lips. Whether she recognized him or not, he would always be a source of happiness to her. 

"How can someone send a little boy into dangerous forests alone? Did you come alone?"

"I have been here before, so I came by myself," Vinayaka answered. Chenchita looked at him, a little worried that a sweet boy like him arrived in the forest alone but he also made her unusually happy. 

"Alright. You came by yourself but don't leave alone, alright? The forests aren't safe. I would feel very disturbed if you got attacked by some wild animals."