A Sri Krishna-Arjuna conversation.
It was the evening before it all ended. Our last one spent together.
The breeze blowing was somber, the waves splashing were foreboding. The feeling of being washed away was slowly gripping me. Strangely, it felt good. One after the other, each wave carried with it a memory of my life. Some I cherished, some I gladly let go. All my hopes and desires, triumphs and tragedies, virtues and sins, everything was finally leaving the shores to merge with unbound vastness. The Infinite.
"Madhav?"
I tentatively murmured. He was resting on the bark of a tree, his head slightly tilted towards me, his eyes lightly closed.
He uttered an inquisitive 'hmm?' without opening his eyes.
I paused for a while as I realised that I had not yet assigned words to my question . I hesitatingly said-"I was thinking....."
I saw his lips curl into an indulgent smile."What now Parth?"
I could not help break into a smile too. He had put me at ease. Once again.
"Is this the end Madhav?"
He gently open His eyes and looked at me.
"Yes, it is."
Silence was all I could hear. I felt the sand slipping from my clutch. But my eyes refused to give way. Still affixed I continued-
"What did it all mean then?"
He turned towards the sea. I was anticipating an answer but I knew it was not in the near sight for I recognised that twinkle in His eyes very well now.
"Parth, do you think the wave comes to the shore looking for meaning?"
"No, it comes only to return."
Without pondering, almost instantly and a bit impatiently I blurted.
He turned towards with me with an approving smile. I realised my answer implied much more than I meant. I persisted-
"But there has to be a purpose else everything is in vain?"
"Hmm..purpose..!"He mocked in jest.
"Let history discover it, why should we do all the talking, fighting and then deciphering too! Give others a chance dear Parth!"
I couldn't help smiling. Nor could I ignore the turbulence in my heart. I wanted to hear something reassuring to be able to withstand what the dawn would offer me. For I knew I was to witness a loss unimaginable for any man on earth.
He knew it too. Else He would not have borrowed this precious solitude for us.
My questions were proving futile so I decided to keep silent.
After a while, on His account He began with a faraway look-
"We had fun, didn't we Parth?"
That we did. My mind raced along the banks of my memory and snatched the remnants of the moments spent together. Sheer bliss defined them. This I was not ready to let go.
While I was reminiscing,I suddenly noticed that He was staring at me with a look so tender and loving that I could cease to exist at that very moment.
Thus, I lowered my gaze and realised my face was wet. And this was not the spray of the ocean.
I turned my thoughts towards Him, instead, wondering if He felt the same as I did. Of course he did not. He would not indulge in the ignorance I was willingly wallowing in. And our union was beyond parting, this He would more than just know.
But then I was sure I saw His eyes glimmer. Was it a tear of the compassion that he felt upon seeing me unnecessarily suffer. Or was it disappointment that I had in me still a lot of things unconquered.
I could no longer betray myself so I asked the question which had been haunting me-
"Madhav, we shall surely meet again.... right?"
"With certitude."
I felt a surge of relief embracing me. I cannot imagine what I would have done had His answer been otherwise.
He continued- "But that's not what I was thinking about...."
"Then?"
He paused and and with a tinge of pang said-
"It's the time in between."
"Parth...it will take quite a while to have such an evening again."
I felt being pricked but I was strangely unshaken. As if finally something within had taken charge and put an end to the overwhelming drama I was engaged in. Not just did I sit still, I actually attained an unmoving poise. I could feeI the depths of me aspiring to envelop their thoughts with words. Finally I uttered-
I shall wait.
And then I heard a soft but profound-
Me too.
There was no more scope for words. This would sustain me for eternity and beyond.
He slowly took out His flute and poured into it music which stirred the innermost fibre of by being.
I noticed the moon which had just arrived on time to hear the celestial notes filling the night.
I drew a long breath and wondered about the number of centuries, ages, lifetimes that would pass before the moon would grace our next rendezvous on a similar evening...
It was a bittersweet parting.
