"Krishna!" he hears Rukmini call.
His mind is reeling as he sidesteps into a small opening in the hall. Hopefully she doesn't know about this place, he thinks as he quickly walks down the enclosed hall. Krishna only walks a short distance when he reaches in end of the path. It opens into a small room with a couch against the far wall.
My son is dead. That must be an impostor. We searched high and low and sent my best men to find him. I spent nights trying to think of a way to make things different. To bring back Rukmini's only child.
Krishna is deep in his muddled thoughts when he hears "ahem."
He whips around to find himself staring at none other than Shiva.
"Can I help you?" Krishna asks. Annoyed that he's been interupted.
"Krishna... he's not an impostor. That boy is your son and he needs you to accept him."
Krishna looks at Shiva with a grimace.
"You need to accept him. Them. That's Rati in the new form of Mayavati. She's a good woman and been by that boy's side since their old life," Shiva tells him.
Krishna looks blankly at Shiva. Takes a breath. Shakes his head.
"Krishna... I wouldn't be here like this if it wasn't important. The two of them need your blessing. They wish to wed and do the things the right way. Don't hinder them."
"How come I didn't get to raise my boy?!" Krishna says suddenly.
"You can't be mad about that. Things had to happen a certain way. That was the deal I made with Rati. Blame me, but please don't take it out on them," Shiva answers.
"Why do you care so much?" Krishna asks.
Shiva sighs, "I incinerated a god for doing his duty.... this is the least I can do after giving them a less than decent deal of reincarnation."
Krishna sits silently for a moment taking it all in. He's right. The poor boy deserves a father.
He nods at Shiva, accepting his duty as father. Shiva disappears as Rukmini enters the room. She nods at Krishna and reaches out her hand. "We're in this together," she says. Krishna accepts her hand and together they go.
Outside of Krishna's home a year later.
There had been singing and dancing for weeks. The village had come to celebrate the new inseparable couple radiating love with every small touch and glance shared between them. The ceremonies had been uplifting and joyous in celebration of the union.
It is time for the mehndi ceremony. Maya sits cross-legged on the ground. There's a table in front of her and two skilled henna artists. She rests her hands on the table as they apply the intricate henna designs. The day tarries on as the designs are drawn and Maya thinks about her life.
Am I ready to commit another forever to my love? Wait. What am I thinking? Of course I am.
Maya shakes her head knowing she can't back out after everything. Her day seems to drag by as the henna is drawn out and finished. She wants to see Pradyumna and that audacious wink of his but she knows they can't see each other. She must wait until the next day to see him at the final ceremony, because she had wanted to do things right.
The next day. The final wedding day.
Pradyumna stands under the Mandapa decked in flowers waiting for Krishna to bring Maya to him. His father had announced that he wanted to be the one to walk Maya to Pradyumna after a short amount of time spent with her for the ceremony.
There. They appear. Krishna is guiding Maya in her beautiful red dress adorned with beads and lace. As they approach, Pradyumna notices the intricate henna designs etched on her hands.
When they reach Pradyumna, Krishna takes Maya's hands and has her hold them still. He accepts the bowl of water from a nearby servant and pours the water through Maya's hands. He then takes her hands and places them in Pradyumna's waiting hands.
Krishna asks if they are ready. Pradyumna and Maya stare deep into each other's eyes as they nod. Krishna combs sindoor into Maya's hair and declares them wed to the guests.
The guests cheer and start the singing and dancing over again. Pradyumna grins. "Now can I run off with you for a good time?"
Maya grins back at Pradyumna and nods in acceptance. They don't look behind them, but Krishna is beaming happily at the newly wed couple.
Author's Note: Going into the last story I knew I had to tie up some lose ends and I really wanted them to have a wedding ceremony. I couldn't figure out how to change Krishna's attitude until I talked to my inspirational friend again. He immediately suggested Shiva come back. I ended up trying to add an element to explain why Shiva wants to help them anyways. As far as the ceremony goes, I had to do my research. I wanted to fully describe a Hindu style wedding but there was too much. I had to pick and choose what I wanted to highlight. The Mandapa is an arch type structure, a little more western related than some of the other things. Henna is a design type thing drawn on the bride's hands and feet. Usually it's drawn on the day before the wedding as the couple is not supposed to see each other once that happens until the actual wedding ceremony. My research also told me that much of the ceremony consists of singing and dancing. I tried to include that. I liked the idea of the bride's father pouring water through her hands before giving her away. That is called kanyadaan. I decided I wanted Krishna to grow attached to Maya and want to walk her to Pradyumna and tried to show that element. Of course, I wanted it to end just like that.