Months after completing her penance, Dhani had arrived at her village Veerapalli. A landscape filled with beauty and fields after fields of mustard covering the land in yellow flowers. After twelve long years of great penance she had returned home. For these twelve years, her family kept visiting her in the temple once every year. She greeted her mother, father and her sister who was two years younger than her.
"Ahh…my daughter has grown so beautifully. I am glad that you are finally back. Come inside," her mother said. Mala was her name. She was a benevolent yet authoritative woman from whom every family member feared.
"How did your penance go?" His father, Prabhupada asked. Prabhupada worked as an advisor to the Village Chief of Veerapalli.
"The Lord has accepted my prayers."
"Really? Then this means soon you will get married? What kind of husband did you ask for? Sweet? Cute? Handsome?Hmm…. what type of man requires twelve whole years of penance to show up? Tell me, sis….," a sweet voice rang like the cooing of a bird. Vaani, her sister, asked the question in answer of which Dhani could only smile.
"Mmm… then should we start looking for a groom?" Mala suggested.
"Yes, we should. I am receiving a lot of proposals asking for her hand in marriage. Whoever comes to know that my daughter is doing penance in a temple, ask me to get her married to their sons. Let's take a look at…," Prqbhupada was saying when Vaani cooed again.
"But, first shouldn't we know what kind of husband she asked for? It will help us find the right one, won't it? Tell us, sis, what did you ask for?"
"No matter whom you choose, the blessing will follow its course," Dhani affirmed.
"You don't want to tell us, do you? What have you asked for that you can't tell us?" Vaani asked with a raised brow.
"Don't tell Ma and Pa, just tell me," she came close to her and requested politely.
Mala and Prabhupada laughed at her naughtiness and Dhani smiled too.
●●●
Winter had spread its coldness in the village of Veerapalli. Days had passed after Dhani's return. Many proposals were put for her marriage but none matched her description nor her parents were able to find a good suitor for her. It put a stone on Prabhupada's chest. Her daughter was of marriageable age, but there was no suitor for her.
But, Dhani went on with her life ahead, knowing that her blessings will come to fruition at the right time. Just as she was worshipping the Lord in her days in the temple of Nilgiri Hills, she followed the same and went to the Veerapalli temple every morning.
On an auspicious Tuesday of the Margashirsha month she prepared to go to the temple, just like any other day.
"Ma, I am going to the temple," she said.
"Take Vani with you," Mala replied. "These two sisters are completely different from each other. One has lived twelve years in a temple and the other has not even visited a temple twelve times in her whole life," she added after a sigh.
The sisters reached the Goddess temple of Veerapalli. It was an architectural beauty to behold.
"Vani, let's go and pluck the flowers for offering first," Dhani said.
"Umm…humm," Vani replied. She was uninterested in temple chores since childhood. Out of compulsion to their mother's words the poor soul had to accompany Dhani everyday to the temple.
They walked into the outside garden of the temple where flowers were grown to worship the idol of the Goddess. A huge man appeared in front of them. Vani looked at him with astonishment. A wrestler-like figure, much taller and sturdy than any man she had seen in her life. His appearance was beastly. Sharp jawline and full brow made him look ferocious. Dressed in the attire of royals yet gave of the signs of simplicity of villagers, but intimidating to others. Accompanying him there was someone, not properly visible before his majestic appearance.
The man with his companion crossed path with the sisters looking ahead when Vani said to Dhani;
"Did you see that man? Is he even human or a beast? Looks dangerous."
"What man?" Dhani asked. She didn't notice the other walkers in the garden. Her eyes were fixated on the red hibiscus flowers that she wanted to pluck for offerings.
"You didn't see that…that big of a man?"
Dhani turned and looked at the back of the man. Indeed he was big.
"How can someone be that huge? He is not from our village. What is he doing here? Is he a wrestler? Is our village holding a wrestling competition?" Vani asked.
Dhani sighed.
"Dear sister, pluck flowers and stop looking around."
They plucked hibiscus, roses, jasmine and some other flowers of their choice and placed them in the basket they were carrying.
"This is enough. Let's go inside," Dhani said.
The temple was situated at a height from the premises. Large stairs were covering the gap. They climbed the stairs to go inside the temple only for Dhani to bump into someone who was coming out of the temple. She stumbled and was about to fall off the stairs, but the man grabbed her by her waist on time.
"Ahh!" A scared moan came from her out of fear of falling.
Dhani looked at her saviour. He was the same man as before, the humongous one. Now that she had a clear view, he looked more humongous than before.
"Are you okay?" He asked. A heavy voice, thrilling enough to shake the heavens.
"Uh…yes…I am," she answered and looked at his big muscular arm that was wrapped around her waist.
Mesmerized by the beauty of hers, the man held her in his arm for a while. His eyes took their time to admire her charisma which made her nervous. She tried to pull back. He let go of her and said;
"I am sorry. I didn't see you. You are not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"No. I am fine. I am sorry too."
Their eyes locked onto each other's eyes. Both bowed down and left for their opposite ways.