Revisioning the birth of Krishna
A silent little cage it was, where she sat like a bird holding her over-grown tummy, caressing the baby, it had more to the hold, an over-protective mother she had to be.
She blindly looked out to the moon imagining her baby’s face on the moon, she smiled. She gave her a little daub of khol on her cheeks as an act of protecting her from evil eyes.
Although, everyone in the city of Marua was awaiting the birth of the first son of Devashi who is fated to be slaughtered by his maternal uncle even before his another little eye blinks cutely once or twice and opens. Devashi had a feeling that it would be a girl.
‘Devashi.’ Vasudev called with a voice so soft in fear and worry. She turned to look at him, her eyes calm and patient, he wondered how could she be so confident that her son will be saved. Vasudev believed it would be a man.
Her eyes spoke about the valour that she has inherited from her kingly ancestry. ‘I think I should take him to my friends place across the river.’ He trembled as he said those words.
Devashi simply turned and continued gazing at the moon.
She didn’t say a word.
The labour pain was painful, a life-sucking pain. It was an old village where developments rarely happen. The doctor was an old lady who has first-hand experience in bringing out babies to this angry world.
Deveshi supported well, but awkwardly gave birth to the baby and the baby smiled at her gracefully, graceful enough to washout her pain.
The messaged passed on wilder than fire to the ears of Kansa. He wanted to be happy of him getting the status of uncle through his beloved sister with whom he played and shared, the days were ripe in his memory before he was reminded by that deadly phone call from his astrolger who informed him about his death by the hands of Devashi’s son. Why do we need Gods when we have astrolgers.
Kansa with mixed feelings walked to Vasudev’s house.
Meanwhile Vasudev bothered the mother who has just given birth and kept smiling at the baby in her arms. She was reluctant to give the baby to anyone. Not even to Vasudev.
‘Let me give him to my friend he will take good care Devashi’ he pleaded.
It was a son, a man.
Devashi was quite contended, all the more it was her life, her breath which lives inside him.
She continued to smile.
Vasudev was worried.
The clock ticking sounded like a bomb blast.
Kansa had entered Vasudev’s house which was locked. He got his men to break open the latch guessing that they would have locked it for safety.
He was wrong.
He found none in the house except for a breeze of sweet-smelling Jasmine. Kansa got even more skeptical and dashed open the bedroom. None.
He was fierce, he walked in rage to Devashi’s house.
Little boys were playing infront of the house where death was yet to befall. Kansa pushed the children mercilessly from his way and bolted the house.
Devashi lay on the bed with her Son and Vasudev without thinking for a second pleaded Kansa clasping his feet.
‘Please get up.’ Kansa said softly with his gaze stuck to his son-in-law. He was flushing with joy instead of wrath. Vasudev could already feel his heartbeat normal.
Devashi smiled at her brother and he forced a smile. ‘I have to kill your son.’ He said. Vasudev jolted.
‘Brother, leave my son. I am not pleading because I don’t have to. He is my son not your killer, he will never be. I am a woman who believes in the hearts, in prayers not in filthy astrolgers who beg proudly for money.’
‘Devashi, you will not speak of the astrolger that way.’ Kansa demanded.
‘Brother, if you were to lose your daughter as soon as you see her smile at you calling you ‘father’ with her eyes you will not stop me.’ She glared at her brother.
‘Leave my son Kansa, I promise that he will not be of any harm to you.’ His voice was not shaking, because he has taken in the fact that his wife has given birth to a Man.
‘Both of you.’ Kansa directed the Knife to them. ‘Put the baby on the bed and leave.’
Devashi put him carefully on the bed and kissed his little fingers. A drop of tear fell on his little tummy. It wasn’t either Devashi’s or Vasudev’s
Devashi smiled proudly at Kansa and moved away, she held Vasudev’s hand.
Kansa looked at the baby, at his dark complexion yet perfect big round eyes just like his sisters’ . He wanted to look at his sister and then back to the baby but he didn’t. He was scared that he will give up his anger. Scared that he would let the baby be his killer.
Kansa leaned towards the baby with the knife held horizontally to his neck. The knife was too big for the baby’s neck! He clasped the baby’s neck on the other side with his other hand and held the knife tighter because he felt it slipping away. He brought it closer to the babies neck. It didnt cry. It smiled.
‘Krishna’ Devashi voiced.
Vasudev looked at her bluntly and the knife dropped from Kansa’s hold.
‘My son will live and he will be celebrated as Krishna, a life giver.’
Blood rushed, fiercely just like Kansa’s anger from Kansa’s finger. Well, the knife was too big for the baby.
