It was a full moon night, the night when Yamini used to sing her song of devotion to God, seeking His blessing. Every Purnima, Yamini used to sing a verse composed by her, as an offering to her aradhya, the deity she worshipped. The forest used to wake up at midnight; the birds would start chirping, the trees would start dancing, the southern breeze would blow, and the moon would cover the sky with its milky aura. The forest would look like a divine stage where musicians and dancers from heaven came to celebrate Yamini’s song.

That night was no exception. The forest was filled with the sweet fragrance of Madhavi blossoms. The full moon in the sky looked meditative. Yamini decided to write her verse to praise the glory of love.

Vivaswan was returning home after spending twelve years in the Gurukul. He was passing by the riverside. Meanwhile, he lost his way and landed in the deepest part of the forest. Unable to find his way to the village, he decided to spend the night in the forest.

When he came to the river to quench his thirst, he saw a glimpse of the royal court of the empress of night. The sight mesmerized him as he stood there for long, long, and long.

Yamini was singing. She kept her cloudlike hair untied. It covered her face, but Vivaswan saw the Jasmine garland swinging on her chest. And he heard her song. The melodious voice, singing the praise of the glory of God, made him pause, for he was lost in learning the first alphabet of love.

On that night, what was the reflection trying to tell him? Vivaswan couldn’t identify the reflection floating on the river water; was it the moon or the moon-clad girl or Vivaswan himself, or was it the moment when all of them became one as they looked inseparable from each other? 

Perhaps, in the reflection of love, he had a glimpse of himself in a new light, or maybe a part of him was unveiled in the darkness through the light of love, for darkness knows how to wake the light which is lying asleep within the deepest chamber as a little flame hidden beneath the eon of silence.

When Vivaswan saw Yamini, at that moment, the flame caught fire to set ablaze that light, but the hour had not arrived to give birth to a sunflower. It seemed to him that, for all those years in the ashram, he was taught to seek the truth, but he embarked on the path of seeking only now, as if someone was holding a light in front of him to guide him towards his purpose in life – to reach the ultimate truth.

But which path would he choose? How did he want to devote himself to the seeking, becoming a renunciant or becoming a worshipper of love?

He didn’t know the answer. Perhaps this is the reason why light keeps a part of itself hidden in the darkness, only to be revealed to those who receive the blessing to see the light in the dark.

(to be continued…)

‘This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon’ .