Bali with Nivid, walked on a street both sides of which had beautiful houses covered in lush greenery. A woman came out with a dia (similar to a candle) in her hand from the house to their right side. They looked at her. She put the dia at the root of a Tulsi plant and turned towards the gate to look at the unfamiliar figures that were standing outside her house.
"Bali, that's his name. What is he doing here?" Dhani thought when she looked at him.
Bali's eyes gazed at her in complete awe and the same was true for her. Nivid looked at him and her. They seemed lost in each other. He was surprised by Bali's behaviour.
...?... My man. Look at his expression. He has completely lost his senses."
Even after a while when none of them moved, Nivid spoke that brought them to their senses.
"Young maiden, we were crossing from here. We feel a little thirsty. Can you give us some water to drink?"
"Yes. Please come and sit here. I will bring you some water."
Dhani offered them a place to sit in her garden. Bali's eyes were stuck on her. He couldn't leave her sight until she entered the house and wasn't visible anymore.
"Indeed her beauty is no less than that of a goddess. But, to see this bison behave like a puppy for a woman, I could never have imagined this. It makes me laugh."
"Hahaha," Nivid laughed.
Bali scoffed.
"Do I look silly? Well, I am being silly. I know. It's not the way a man should behave. But, when I see her, I cannot control my heart," he said.
"It's called attraction my boy. It happens with every man when he sees a beautiful woman….. except for your saint elder brother. Ahh… I feel sad for his future wife."
"It's not a mere attraction. I feel much more than that."
"That's what it feels like, my boy."
"Stop calling me YOUR BOY or I will break your front teeth," Bali yelled at him angrily.
Dhani came out of the house with a tray in her hands. A jug of water and two glasses. Bali saw her. His temper was replaced with a soft smile. She came near and offered them water to drink. Vani came out of the house to see the wanderers for whom her sister took the jug.
"Oh! They are the people from the temple."
Nivid drank the water that Dhani had offered yet Bali didn't take the glass up to his lips.
"Ahh… people of this village are very hospitable, very helpful. Young maiden, thank you so much for quenching our thirst. May I know your name?"
With admiration to the spoken appreciation of her village Dhani was about to tell her name when Vani meddled.
"Your welcome, Sir. My name is…"
"Her name is Chandi. And my name is Chamundi. We are pleased to help you, Sir. Thank you for giving us the pleasure to serve you."
She guested her hands towards the gate of her house. Nivid looked at Vani with eyes wide open.
(Chandi and Chamundi are the names of goddesses who kill demons)
"Is she telling us to go? There is no way any parent would give such dangerous names to their daughters," Nivid contemplated.
"Haha. Young maiden, you have pretty good names. By the way, I…" he was saying when Vani spoke again after politely bowing down.
"Thank you, Sir. Have a good night's rest tonight. It's getting late. And don't forget to drink the night tea. Veerapalli is very famous for its night tea."
Nivid became agitated and looked at Vani with loathe. She smiled mischievously.
"Haha. Thank you again young maidan. Let's go (to Bali)."
Bali bowed down to Dhani with a smile. Their eyes were filled with love towards each other.
"Why in the world had they come to our house out of all other houses? I don't feel good about them. And that man, he looked like he would just kill someone if he got angry about the slightest of things," Vani said to Dhani.
For Vani her sister was the purest thing in the world. She lived in the temple her whole life and was not a good judge of character.
"He looked considerate to me," Dhani said.
Vani raised her eyebrows in concern. That man looked monstrous, felt monstrous and her innocent sister was saying he looked considerate.
"Sis. Just tell me, is this type of man your fantasy? Did you ask for this type of man from the Lord?
Dhani became nervous on her questioning.
"What?" She asked.
"Sis, don't trust anyone easily. You don't know how cruel this world is. Okay?"
Dhani felt obnoxious seeing her sister's concerns.
"Let's go to bed," Dhani said and went into her house.
●●●
In the Ashram of Veerapalli, Bali laid on the mattress with his head resting on his wrist.
{Ashram is a place where travellers of devotees can live for some days. It is always near a temple.}
"Chandi!!..…" he murmured and grinned.
"Why are you repeating her name like a mantra?" Nivid asked and sat down on the other side of the mattress. "Anyway, I don't think it's her real name."
The door creeked and Aatreya came in.
"Your Highness!" Nivid said aloud.
Bali snapped out of his thoughts and adjusted his position to sit straight. Aatreya sat on the mattress in the corner that was specially laid for him.
"How was the village?" He asked Bali.
"Beautiful, elder brother….," Bali said the two words and paused.
"And?" Aatreya asked.
Seeing Bali then made Nivid grin. He knew that Bali hadn't observed the village at all. His eyes were fixed on only that woman. To save Bali from His Highness' questioning he spoke in his place.
"Your Highness! Veerapalli is a very beautiful village. Rich in culture and landscape. We saw the rice fields today, and I can say that this village has the blessings of Goddess Annapurna on it. People here are kind and hospitable towards foreigners."
"Good to hear. Trade with Veerapalli will enhance both villages' wealth and welfare. Veerapalli Chief and Sir Prabhupada run the village with binignity."