Krishna's magic

It was a late Friday evening. Sarang and Sumitra had just finished watching a movie reclining on their bed. Normally she would tell him about the different aspects of the film and whether she liked the film or not. Today she was silent looking at the ceiling vacantly. Something amiss, Sarang felt.

He turning to her side put his arm around her and asked her, “Are you having headache? You are unusually silent and not spoken a word about the film as you are wont to. I liked it.” Finding her unresponsive, he pulled her face towards his, gently pushed the hair from her face and gave a peck on her forehead.

“What is bothering you, Sumi? Come out,” he cajoled her.

After some silence, she started telling, “Today I went to my mom’s place in the afternoon. My grandma had come there from my uncle’s house for a week. As usual she again gave vent to her frustration chiding me, mockingly though, at my inability to give her a great grandchild. She started reminding me that I was married four years back and that many girls in the locality subsequently married have babies and one is in family way for the second.”

When mom saw my eyes moist, she remonstrated with her mom saying,” it is all God’s grace. Why do you embarrass Sumi when she has come specifically to meet you?” and added,” Tell me what can she do except seek the grace of God.”

“That made my grandma realize her fault and she hugged me regretting for her foolishness,” Sumi said with a wry smile.

Sarang smiled at her and pulling her closer to him assured her,” Doctors have already said that there is nothing wrong with us and in some cases it takes time. Anyway we will go to Sri Krishna temple tomorrow and seek His blessings.”

The next evening when they were at the sanctum of Sri Krishna temple luckily there were none. The priest who was known to them well welcomed them heartily. Both Sarang and Sumi with closed eyes prayed intensely. After the darisan, when they were coming out of sanctum, the priest called them and gave Sumi a big picture of Lord Krishna seen washing the legs of His boyhood friend Sudhama.

When they looked at him with surprise, the priest said with an impish smile, “This picture reminds us how Bhagwan gave his friend unasked for in abundance what he needed most, wealth and prosperity. He knows what His devotees desire. I am very sure He will bless you soon. Keep this picture prominently in your room.”

It was about nine months later, Sumi heard her mother-in-law vomiting in muffled manner in the bath room. She was nearing 50. She was shocked  when she saw Sumi standing outside the bathroom and started sobbing in embarrassment. Sumi consoled her and persuaded her not to feel guilty about it.

Sarang made a remark with a mischievous smile, that as priest had assured, Krishna was benevolent true to his nature though it was misplaced. The mistake lay with him as he hung the picture in the living room instead of their bedroom.

When priest was told, he said, “Who can divine what the Lord would do? May be if you move for a short while to a separate place, your wishes may be fulfilled.”

Sarang moved to a first floor of a house closer to office and was hoping for the miracle to happen. Exactly after a year, Sumi saw the landlady who had already three children ambling along with her protruded stomach. The Lord had again missed His target, it seemed to the couple.

Fed up with this yearning and waiting, they decided to return to their parent’s place where a baby boy was waiting for them! They decided to leave it to what destiny has decided for them. Meanwhile there is the little baby brother to shower their love and affection, Sumi calmed herself.

Sarang in an irritated mood, decided to throw away the picture but Sumi prevailed upon him to give it to someone needy. It so happened when he went to his regular provision store to buy somethings, the owner Shanmugam was lamenting that he was losing nearly a lakh of rupees a year by the rodents eating away the groceries. All his efforts to eradicate the menace failed and there was no way unless the old building that housed many shops is demolished and reconstructed.

“This is out of question,” he said and added,” So I brought a cat hoping it would put an end to the rat menace. But this lazy feline is mostly asleep and has not eliminated even one.”

There was a sudden flash in Sarang’s mind and he jumped in glee when he found out where exactly to leave the picture.

” Shanmugam, I have a solution and you simply follow my advice and you will be rid of this nuisance in six months, I bet.,” he said.

He rushed to his two wheeler and brought out the picture. “Keep this hanging behind you in the counter. Krishna’s magic will be done surely. I have seen this happen personally in two cases,” assured Sarang. Shanmugam immediately hung the picture behind his table.

Sarang had forgotten about this totally. It was almost a year since he went to bazaar. When he heard someone hailing,” Sir, please step into my shop and see for yourself”. He turned to see a beaming Shanmugam behind him. who literally dragged him to see his shop. Sarang was aghast to witness a clowder of cats romping and compering about on the gunny bags, shelves and in every nook of the shop.

“My god, you are a blessed man! I hope the rat menace no longer exists and there is no loss also,” Sarang remarked.

“Yes, Sir, thanks to you and the picture. But I cannot manage so many cats. They are growing in number that I can hardly handle. Kindly take this picture with you,” he said handing over the picture.

Sarang could see the bewildered face of Sumi on seeing the picture and assured her that he would keep it in their rosewood bureau in their bedroom away from the eyes of others.

Need it be told that six months later Sumi woke him up one night complaining of nausea and that both broke into a broad smile realizing the magic finally wrought by Krishna!