In the darkness, I couldn''t tell who it was. A firm hand was covering my mouth, and I could feel the texture of armor pressing against me. We stood in a silent corner for what felt like ages. My heart was pounding with fear, and I longed for Krishna, wishing he would appear and rescue me. Everything was so unfamiliar, and my mind was spinning. I just stood there, frozen.


    Once the silence settled, the stranger-whoever he was-grabbed my hand without a word and began leading me deeper into the dark cave. I wanted to ask who he was or where we were going, but I didn''t have the courage. All I wanted was to leave this place quietly, so I followed him in silence.


    Finally, after a short walk, we emerged from the cave, and I took a long breath of relief. Inside, I''d felt suffocated, with the darkness pressing down on me and the strange, musty smell. Outside, it was still night, but the full moon cast a bright, silvery glow over everything. The landscape looked almost surreal, and for a moment, I thought I was seeing the Earth of a different time, with its towering trees and creatures that seemed familiar yet different. The moonlight was more intense than I''d ever seen, and everything shimmered with a strange beauty, it was like I was in new Earth.


    Lost in the wonder of it all, I suddenly remembered the person who had brought me here. I turned, and in the moonlight, I could make out the figure clad in armor, face concealed. In a hushed tone, I managed to thank him, to which he only nodded in acknowledgment, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder before leading me to a horse tied nearby. He climbed on first and motioned for me to sit behind him. I hesitated, but there was no point in arguing. Alone in the forest, I had little choice but to go with him.


    The rhythmic pace of the horse soon began to lull me, and I drifted in and out of sleep. After some time, I jolted awake, feeling as though I''d been nudged.


    We had come to a halt before an astonishing sight-a palace, shining like gold even in the night. Was this heaven?...... The structure glimmered as if woven from dreams.


    He handed the reins of the horse to a nearby guard and signaled for me to follow him inside. I was too entranced to resist, following him, eyes wide as I took in the grandeur around me. The palace was filled with light despite the late night, with chandeliers and artwork beyond anything I had ever seen in my whole life time. Even the air was fragrant with something exotic and mesmerizing. He led me up to the second floor, where he entered a chamber, motioning for me to close the door behind me.


    As I turned around, I saw him removing his armor. When he lifted the helmet from his head, I gasped. Long, dark hair cascaded down, as if a lotus had bloomed right before my eyes.


    Her face radiated beauty, with eyes so innocent, like those of a newborn child. Once the armor was off, she looked like a queen draped in crimson, glowing like pure gold even without heavy adornments. I was left speechless, as if gazing at something divine. She smiled and spoke, "So, you are the one...!"


    Blushing, I nodded without knowing exactly why. I felt shy for reasons beyond me, like a child caught in an unexpected moment.


    I gathered the courage to ask, "Thank you so much for today, truly...but forgive me, I don''t recognize you."


    She gave a gentle smile. "Relax....This is indeed our first meeting, so how could you know me...? But I know quite a bit about you."


    "Really?!" My heart skipped a beat. Was she mistaking me for someone else?


    She continued with a knowing smile, "You are sakhi of him... well, now mine too."


    I blushed, hearing her call me sakhi. There was no reason to, yet I felt bashful in her presence.


    She laughed softly. "I''m sure you''ve heard of Sakha''s Bharya (wife), Rukmini."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    I stammered, "You... you are... you!"


    The words stumbled from my lips as I struggled to process it. I dropped to my knees, reaching to touch her feet in reverence, but she gently stopped me, pulling me into an embrace instead. "Your place is in my heart," she whispered.


    I was overwhelmed by emotion, hardly able to believe I was standing before her, the one I''d barely thought of... In my life time I don''t even remember her much and yet was now treating me with such warmth. I felt a pang of guilt, for she was offering me such genuine affection as though I were very dear to her.


    "Your Sakha would be arriving soon," she said with a gentle laugh. "He doesn''t know I brought you here. He went on to play his lila, thinking he could keep it a secret from me. But nothing escapes me."


    "Yet he asked me not to leave that place or do anything without his permission... What should I do now?" I asked nervously.


    She smiled reassuringly, "Now that you are here with me, I will take care of everything. Come, let''s prepare. You''ll meet him soon."


    She held my hand and guided me to a bathing chamber where her attendants were already waiting with garments and other preparations. Each one looked as enchanting as an apsara. Two attendants took me to a private corner of the bathing area, where they handed me some bathing robes. I was nervous and unfamiliar with the attire, but I gave it a try, awkwardly wrapping myself in the long fabric(dhoti). Peeking out of the curtain, I called for one of the attendants to help. She chuckled softly before showing me how to tie it properly.


    Dressed and shy, I emerged from the corner. Rukmini herself looked ethereal, her beauty enhanced by simplicity. She gestured for me to sit on the edge of a small water pool nearby. I walked over, adjusting my clothes shyly, and sat beside her.


    "Don''t be so nervous ...Here all are women" she laughed playfully and splashed a little water on me, making me smile.


    The attendants began to apply sandalwood paste, and I found myself struggling not to giggle at the ticklish sensation. Everything felt so strange, so dreamlike.


    Trying to distract myself from trickling sensation, I asked, "I''d love to hear the story of your love marriage, if you wouldn''t mind...?"


    She blushed deeply, her cheeks glowing as if lit by some inner fire, and I could see a shy, innocent happiness in her. She was like a young bride, each word about him revealing a world of love. As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with memories, and I found myself utterly enraptured. She told me stories of Krishna''s various moods, of how each gesture had made her fall deeper in love with him. At times, she''d stop mid-sentence, embarrassed, and I''d laugh softly at her endearing shyness.


    Lost in her stories, I hadn''t even noticed the attendants had finished applying the paste and other bathing process, later on Rukmini Sakhi went with some other attendens, and I was given to wear light pink clothes, I managed wearing it with the help of other, and they finished dressing me in a light pink garment.


    One of them handed me jewelry, perfumes, and ornaments, each piece delicate and finely crafted. Several attendants worked on my appearance at once, and I felt like a bride myself.


    After One of the attendants led me back to Rukmini Sakhi''s chamber, where she was seated before a mirror with her hair flowing freely. Only now did I notice her hair, thick and lustrous, like a midnight ocean. She looked even more radiant, a true goddess. I stood at the door, captivated by her beauty, until she gestured for me to come closer and close the door. The attendants had already left.


    "Sakhi, I chose this pearl necklace for you. Let me put it on you," she said, holding out a beautiful necklace of pearls. I blushed, taken aback by her kindness.


    "Thank you, but I should be the one praising you... Now I understand why he was so eager to meet you that time!" I said, teasingly. "Honestly, compared to you, Krishna himself is no match!"


    She laughed, a light in her eyes. "You flatter well, just like him."


    She placed the necklace around my neck and set a small black kajal dot behind my ear saying it will keep me away from all evil eyes, then I helped her to decorate her hairs with flowers.


    Just as we finished, there was a knock at the door. She gestured for me to hide behind the curtain, with a playful look in her eyes, and went to open it.


    Peeking through the curtain, I watched as Krishna entered from that big door, looking even more enchanting than usual. Dressed with more lavished items, he seemed more beautiful than ever, and after entering him , I could see Rukmini Sakhi blush deeply as she turned back to sit before her mirror. Krishna''s gaze never left her, as if he were seeing her for the first time like a teen lover.


    Closing the door without turning, he stepped behind her, his eyes filled with admiration, and knelt beside her, caressing her hair. She gazed at him, her shyness making her even more beautiful. Watching them, I too felt myself blush, even from behind the curtain. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling as though I were intruding their private moment.


    Just then, I heard Krishna''s voice, soft and playful echoed. "So, where have you hidden our secret guest?"