Beauty and the Beast

19

Chenchita stood there simply looking at him. There was a look in his eyes that almost made every thought in her mind disappear. She had seen a similar look within lovers in her own tribe. Like they felt restless. He looked just as restless.

"I think you're a little too agitated. Sit." She sat down by the lake.

Narasimha took a deep breath and sat down next to her. "In those waters, various creatures live. Fishes, frogs, snakes, salamanders, swans, ducks, and various others. Even if not living inside them, all other creatures rely on these waters themselves. Everything else relies on water. The water doesn't need anything else or it doesn't rely on others. If what I have understood is accurate, then, you are like these waters. The very source of life for all these creatures. So, how come the waters themselves have reached up to the fish and asked it to become equal with it? Could there be anything sillier than that? How can you blame me for acting like this when you, the lord of creation itself, claim that you have some special love for me that you don't reserve for anyone else?"

He looked at her. "Because it isn't enough for the waters to just be there for life to proceed through all the creatures. All these creatures have to have the ability to take in the waters. Suppose that the waters are there and the fishes are there but what is the use if they do not have gills? It is the gills that enable water to reach the fish and allow it to live. If the water loses its wetness then even the frogs wouldn't be able to live in the water. So, here there are two aspects. The wetness of water and the ability of the other creature to take in the water. You aren't the fish in that water. You are the wetness of water and the ability of the creature to take the waters. You are the thirst in the birds and animals that remind the animal to take in water and you're also the mouth that allows the creature to drink in water. You're the bridge between Paramatma and the Jeeva. What is the use of Paramatma being there if there is no bridge to bring the jeeva closer to him?"

Chenchita looked at him.

He laid back on the ground staring into the sky. The stars rejoice in the company of the moon. The moon entered the house of Rohini and was his happiest. He wondered when was he going to be like the moon entering the house of his dearest.

She laid down with him.

How many times does he wish that she doesn't torture him by suppressing all the memories which burn him from inside? Yet, she doesn't will herself to remember who she is. Sure, even Bhargavi had no memory of being Sri Mahalakshmi but the whole situation had been different because she always desired to be one with him. Whether it was a 7-year-old Bhargavi who was learning Vedas and wished for union with in the way a Jeeva wishes with Paramatma or as a 18-year-old Bhargavi who desired to be united with him as his lover.

None of them were the case with Chenchita until a while ago. Since she learnt about Paramatma and Jeeva, she desires to be one with him as a Jeeva wishes with Paramatma. When her mind was settled on that, it was impossible to explain to her why he desired to marry her.

Soon enough, sleep started to attack her. She closed her eyes and sleep overtook her. She turned in sleep and pushed herself closer to him. The scent of tulsi and sandalwood made her so comfortable that nothing else worried her. As she slept, she slowly tugged at his uttariya and cover herself.

Narasimha looked at her. He opened his arm and she snuggled happily. She was warm and he could sense her lulling heartbeat. He wished to pull her closer and tightly within his embrace but it would be unfair.

It was way past sunset and the moon had made its entry into the sky. He decided to take walk in the gardens, as he always does. Sleep and Narayana are never in the same sentence. There was never a time when Narayana sleeps. There is only his physical body resting for a while. He saw settlements being made there.

"What is with this?" He asked.

"Mata has asked us to prepare her bed outside." They answered. Leaving behind her heavy jewelry, Sri arrived. Changing from the long earring to the smaller ones so it doesn't disturb her sleep. Almost all of her jewelry was left back except for one gold chain other than her mangalsutra.

'Quite tired.' Narayana noted seeing her.

"I hope your night is peaceful." She muttered to him and went straight to her bed. The smile on his face dropped.

'This is unfair. Not even an invitation to lay down next to her.' He muttered to himself. Very happily, the Lady of Vaikuntha snuggled on the bed pulling the woollen blanket over herself.

Narayana plucked flowers and leaves and started throwing them at her.

"Stop..." She complained but didn't even open her eyes. He continued throwing them at her. "Tch... why are you disturbing me? You don't sleep so you'll not let me sleep also or what?" she complained.

"No." He answered and continued to trouble her. Getting some water from the lake, he sprinkled it on her. This woke her up. Her eyes were ready to throw accusations at him.

"What is the problem? What do you want?" Annoyed.

He chuckled. "You didn't ask me if I wanted to sleep next to you."

Sri took a deep breath to bite back the words forming in her mind. "If you want to lie down, then do so. Did I stop you? When did we need to ask before laying down next to each other? If you want to lie down, here..." She moved away a bit to give him space. "Do whatever you want but let me sleep. I'm very tired."

She turned around to sleep on the opposite side. He laid down on the side. Smirking mischievously, he started to tug the blanket off her.

She turned and gave him a complaining look. "Please let me sleep. Stop entertaining yourself by troubling me. I'm sure you'll find plenty of things to entertain yourself with. There are so many books in the library. All of you paints and brushes are kept ready if you want to paint." She almost pleaded.

He laughed. "Alright. Have a peaceful sleep." He said. He clicked his fingers and conjured a ball. Throwing it up in the air and then catching it. After a few moments, Sri moved his arm and put her head on her shoulder. She pulled his other arms around her waist, tightly tucking herself within his embrace. "I thought the goddess wanted to sleep peacefully and be left alone." He teased her.

"If you have decided to lay down next to me then it is quite annoying to sleep like that. This is more comfortable."

"Oh, then what about me? I don't sleep. What should I do? Count the flowers on your hair?"

"Close your eyes and rest. Just rest for a while and let me enjoy the comfort of my husband laying down next to me."

She entangled her fingers in his and pulled his uttariya over herself.