Usha’s Dream

“Of course,” said Usha without any hesitation. “I remember him so clearly. But can you really draw portraits of all the princes? There must be so many of them!” “I must try,” said Chitralekha. “It’s the only way to find out if he is real or just a dream.”

“Please hurry then, I pray to you. Please…,” said Usha, “I shall be eternally grateful to you if you can find him for me.” Chitralekha got busy from the next day, drawing portraits of prince after prince. At night she would take all the portraits and show them to Usha. The princess looked at them eagerly but turned down all of them with a heavy heart. Chitralekha got to work again, drawing and showing them to Usha. One night, Usha picked up the first portrait listlessly. She sat up eagerly and looked at it again. “Who is this?” she asked Chitralekha.

“It is not my prince but he reminds me of someone.” “It is Krishna, the prince of Dwarka,” said Chitralekha, “People say that he is an incarnation of Vishnu.” “Show me the next one,” said Usha. Chitralekha handed it to her. Usha frowned, trying to recall something. “Strange! This person reminds me of someone too. Who is he?”

“It is Pradyumna, Krishna’s son.” It is not my prince, though he does remind me of him. I wonder why,” said Usha. “How about this one?” asked Chitralekha handing her another portrait. Usha looked at the portrait and stood still as a statue. “Well?” asked Chitralekha looking at her curiously. “Who….is….he?” whispered Usha hardly able to speak. “It is Aniruddha, Pradyuman’s son. He is the grandson of Krishna,” said Chitralekha.

“He is the prince of my dreams,” cried Usha. “Are you quite sure?” asked Chitralekha. “As sure as I am alive. I remember this smiling face, these eyes that started at me and the hands that held mine. Chitralekha, he is the one I have been waiting for, all my life,” said Usha in excitement.

“Now that we know that he really exists, I shall die if I cannot marry him. Please, I beg of you, bring him to me.” Chitralekha was deep in thought as she walked up and down. She knew it was impossible for her to meet Anirudhha, let alone bring him to the palace. Aniruddha lived with his father and grandfather at Dwarka, surrounded by hills and deep moats. She had heard that anyone wishing to go there secretly had to scale seven steep walls and conquer a regular army of guards. Moreover, the invincible Chakra of Krishna was always resolving across the skies of Dwarka, ready to destroy the strangers.

“I am absolutely certain that anyone coming from the land of demons, would not be admitted to the hallowed kingdom of Dwarka,” Chitralekha told Usha. But the princess was not convinced. “I don’t care how tough it is. If you love me and are my true friend, bring Aniruddha here to me.”

“I shall try. But I don’t have much hope of success. I fail to see how I can ever get inside the city walls of Dwarka,” remarked Chitralekha. But true to her promise, Chitralekha started on her hazardous journey keeping her friend’s happiness in mind. She was just wondering how to proceed when she caught sight of the wandering sage Narada, singing the glories of Vishnu.