The moon hung high in the midnight sky, casting a silvery glow over Nand's courtyard as he paced back and forth, his mind consumed with worry. It had been a few hours since he received a letter from Chieftain Viprithu, regarding the delicate and worrisome situation in Mathura.
He prayed repeatedly for the safe arrival of Akrur, Devabhaag and Rohini.
As he paced, his wife Yashoda emerged from the darkness of the house, her garments billowing around her in the night breeze. She held a lantern in her hand, the soft light casting a warm glow over her face as she approached Nand.
"Nand-Maharaj, maine Rohini jiji ke aagman hetu sabhi taiyaariya kar di hai. Unhe kisi bhi prakaar ka kasht nahi hoga." Yashoda said, her voice filled with reassurance.
Nand nodded solemnly. As they stood there, a knock echoed through the courtyard.
"Nand-Maharaj !" Akrur's familiar voice fell on their ears.
Nand hurried to open the door, his heart pounding with anticipation. In the dim light, he could see Akrur and Devabhaag standing before him, with Rohini in their midst, who was dressed in the humble garments of a maid, to hide her identity from any suspicious eyes.
"Padhariye." Nand said, allowing them inside. With a vigilant gaze, he surveyed the surroundings for a fleeting moment, ensuring all was secure, before firmly shutting the door.
He then touched the feet of Rohini, "Pranaam Bhabhi."
"Ayushmaan bhava." Rohini said with a small smile.
Yashoda too approached her with joined hands, "Mera bhi pranaam swikaar kare, jiji."
But just as she was about to touch her feet, Rohini stopped Yashoda and instead enveloped her in a heartfelt embrace.
Yashoda said, "Ise aap apna hi ghar samajhiye, jiji. Yaha aapko kisi bhi vastu ki kami nahi hogi."
"Mai tumhare sneh ko acche se pehechanti hu Yashoda, mujhe koi chinta nahi." Rohini said with a sad smile.
Akrur and Devabhaag looked at Nand, and joined their hands, "Ab jaane ki aagya chaahenge." They said.
Nand frowned, "Abhi toh aaye hai. Tanik vishram kar lijiye."
"Nahi Nand bhaiya," Devabhaag shook his head, "Abhi vishram ka samaye nahi hai. Aage ka maarg durgam hai."
Akrur stepped forward, gripping Nand's hands tightly, his voice filled with desperation as he pleaded, "Aap bas Rani Rohini ko surakshit rakhiyega. Yeh Vasudev ki pratham patni hai, Swargiya Maharaj Shurasen ki Jyesht putravadhu hai, Vrishniyo ki Maharani hai. Keval yahi hai jo sabhi Yaduvanshiyo ki shakti apne dhwaja tale ekatrit kar sakti hai."
"Aap chinta mat kariye. Bhabhi yaha sukhi aur surakshit rahengi. Inpe koi bhi vipatti aane se pehle, Gokul ke sabhi gwale apne praan nyochawar kar denge." Nand assured.
And then Akrur and Devabhaag went away, their departure as discreet as their arrival.
------
The dimly lit prison cell of Mathura was shrouded in darkness, the only source of light coming from a single flickering torch on the wall. The air is heavy with the scent of despair and hopelessness.
Devaki's once radiant face was stained with tears, her eyes puffy and red from crying, from mourning the loss of her first child. Her long, dark hair was disheveled and matted, a stark contrast to her usual graceful appearance.
She sat on the cold, stone floor, her back against the wall, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Vasudev sat beside her, holding her in his arms, trying to offer whatever comfort he could in their dire situation.
Both of them were shackled with heavy chains, a cruel reminder of their imprisonment. Outside the cell, the world was silent, occasionally interrupted by the footsteps of guards.
Suddenly, a small scroll slipped through a gap in the cell bars, landing at Vasudev's feet. He frowns in confusion as he picks it up and unrolls the message.
A surge of relief floods Vasudev's being as he reads the news of Rohini's safe arrival at Nand's house. Filled with gratitude and renewed hope, he rises from his seat and approaches the torch that casts its glow upon the prison cells. The heavy shackles on his feet impede his stride, but he perseveres.
Vasudev quickly burned the paper in the flickering torch, ensuring that no evidence of the message remains.
"Kab tak Arya ?" The voice of Devaki made him look at her, "Yeh aapda kab tak rahegi ?"
With a heavy heart, Vasudev fixes his gaze upon her, slowly making his way towards her, the clinking of his shackles echoing through the dimly lit corridor, "Pata nahi," He sighed.
Sitting beside Devaki, he tenderly cupped her face and offered a reassuring smile.
Vasudev said softly, "Parantu jab tak bhi chale, mai tumhare saath hu Devaki."
As Devaki gazed into his eyes, she was overcome by the profound love and unwavering faith he possessed. Overwhelmed by emotions, she collapsed into his embrace, her silent sobs resonating through the chilling darkness of their confinement.
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A/N
NAND BABA AND YASHODA MAIYA MAKING AN ENTRANCE 🙏🙏✨✨
ALSO....We always praise Mata Sita, Draupadi, Kunti and Madri, for following their husbands into exile, and rightfully so. They deserve all the praise they can get for that.
But we always overlook Vasudev.
If he wanted he could've saved himself from such sufferings by nulling his marriage with Devaki. He could've easily said 'Keep her Kamsa, I don't want her', he had every chance of getting the easy way out.
But no ! Vasudev stays with her in the prison for years, supports her, protects her, loves her, always ! He faces every humiliation by Kamsa but doesn't say anything. He was literally the best husband.
Indeed no man was worthy of being the father of Shri Krishna ✨
Let's take a moment to appreciate that 🙏