Beauty and the Beast

20

She laughed. "Unlike reaching you which can only happen on your invitation and your wish, anyone can go to meet Baramma anytime without needing a prior invitation. One doesn't need invitation to see their amma." She answered. 

Of course Mahalakshmi believed it. She could have suppressed her memories to trouble him but she is still Mahalakshmi and the motherly nature doesn't disappear away. She, as Jaganmata, was always happy to see her children come to see her. A woman could be deep within her husband's love but the moment her children's cries reach her ears, she would take off running. After all, she is chanchala too. 

Maybe Ambika wanted to see him and his priya come together. And Ambika had a way of making whatever she wants to happens. Garuda, Vishwaksena, Shesha, Tumburu, and Narasimha followed behind with Chenchita. 

Chenchita soon reached the tribe. Seeing Narasimha, they were extremely pleased. The tribe was singing the song describing the greatness of Baramma. The sweet lips that sang the songs of Shiva's praise and brought greatest sages from their hiding in Himalayas to Daksha's courts. Just to hear the songs that Baramma sang from her honey lips. The way it enchanted Shiva that he too arrived there in disguise of a sadhu. Baramma who had been lost in the Shiva's praises that she didn't even notice the arrival of Shambhu himself. Nataraja who dances the dance of destruction, danced in ananda to the strings played by her. She did not remember anything when she began to sing praises of her dearest Shankara. The marriage of Shiva and Daakshayani. Then the offense taken by her father when Shiva did not stand up. The subsequent enmity between her father and her husband. The great yagya conducted by Daksha and purposely not giving any offerings to Rudra. The rage of Sati at such a blatant disrespect to her husband. The burning of Sati. The rage of Shiva at Sati's burning. The destruction of the yagya by Shiva ganas, Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali. Shiva's tandava while carrying her body. Narayana's chakra cutting the body and the creation of Shakti peetha. The presence of her lips in the place and how those honey sweet motherly lips and its compassionate call brings them all to her feet. Baramma defeating the great asura who tried to disturb innocent people.

Two days worth journey and they reached the hill where Baramma stayed with Mallanna. 

Ambika watched her brother and her sister-in-law arrive at her temple. The amount of honey, fruits and offerings they had brought for her made her feel extremely happy. Chenchus were people dear to her. Their innocent and love for her warmed her heart. 

All the married women took the kumkum from the feet of the goddess and put it over their own mangalsutra, asking her for their husband's long life. The unmarried girls then took her blessings. Chenchita smiled happily seeing the idol of the goddess. 

The love Chenchita had for Baramma was deep. As if the goddess was her own sister. Someone she could happily talk about anything with. She gave the large bunch of garlands she made for the goddess to the priest. When she bent down to offer her the prayers and take her blessings, the large bowl of kumkum fell over from Baramma's feet to Chenchita. Half of her head and chest, and all of her forehead was covered in the kumkum. 

It gave a sudden shock to everyone to see the kumkum bowl fall but seeing the kumkum over Chenchita, the women gave her a smile. "Saubhagyam ek tannuku occhindi neeku." They teased her, "It is a sign, chanchala. You are soon going to get married." 

Chenchita was still in that shock. The falling bowl and its contents fell over her. She just stared at the Goddess, confused. Chenchita hadn't really taken the marriage part seriously just yet. She had simply tried to convince Narasimha out of really marrying her by proving that he couldn't keep his calm with someone like her. But the sudden scene with the Goddess had shaken her thoughts. Why did she signal her with such? Did she believe that it was time for Chenchita to actually get married?