Vaidehi (gritting her teeth):
"I'm not trying to take him away from you. But I'm not going to sit here quietly while you think you're the only one who deserves his love. He needs both of us, Neha. And if you can't accept that, maybe you're the one who's being selfish."
Neha (shouting):
"I am not selfish! I'm trying to make it work, and you're the one who's making this impossible! You can't just come in and expect everything to be handed to you!"
The argument escalates into shouting, both women now yelling over each other, their voices filling the room with chaos. Their emotions have taken over, and Madan's absence only makes the fight more intense.
Neha (tearfully, her voice shaking):
"I love him, Vaidehi! I don't know what to do anymore. I'm losing him to you, and I can't stand it!"
Vaidehi (softening for a moment, but then hardening again):
"You think I don't love him too? I've loved him for so long, Neha. But maybe... maybe it's time we both realize that we can't keep fighting over him. It's tearing us both apart."
For a brief moment, both women stand in silence, the weight of their emotions pressing down on them. But then, they both look at each other with renewed determination. The fight isn't over yet.
Neha (snapping):
"Well, if you're so sure, why don't you just have him then?"
Vaidehi (laughing coldly):
"Maybe I will. But you should know, Neha, I'm not backing down. You're not the only one who can love him."
With that, Vaidehi storms out of the room, leaving Neha standing there, her hands clenched into fists, breathing heavily. The fight has done nothing but fuel the tension, and now both women are more determined than ever to hold on to Madan, no matter the cost.
Night. Madan sits alone in a small Krishna temple, His eyes are wet. He stares at the deity.
Madan (whispering):
"I wanted love… but I turned it into a game."
The temple is quiet. For the first time, he isn't laughing. He's just being.
The ongoing battle between Neha and Vaidehi has reached its tipping point. The house is charged with tension, the air heavy with frustration. The two women, unable to contain their anger any longer, have reached an emotional saturation point. Each feels hurt, betrayed, and desperate for Madan's attention and love. Their words have become sharper, and their emotions have taken over.
The living room, where Neha and Vaidehi are standing face-to-face, their eyes blazing with anger. Their voices have grown louder and louder as they continue to argue.
Neha (yelling, her voice trembling with fury):
"You think you can just swoop in and take him from me, Vaidehi? You're nothing but a distraction! He's mine, and you know it!"
Vaidehi (furious, stepping closer to Neha):
"Yours? Don't act like you're the only one who has a claim on him! He doesn't belong to you, Neha! He belongs to both of us, and you're too selfish to see it!"
Neha (shouting back):
"I'm selfish? I've been the one trying to make it work, while you're here trying to destroy everything! You want him, go ahead, take him! I'm done!"
Vaidehi (eyes narrowing):
"You think I want to take him from you? No, Neha, I want him for myself. He's not some toy you can control! He needs someone who understands him, not someone who plays games with his heart."
The tension between them is palpable, their words cutting through the silence of the house like knives. Just as it seems like the argument is about to spiral out of control, Madan, his face twisted in frustration and anger. His patience has finally reached its breaking point.
Madan (shouting, his voice booming):
"Enough! Both of you, just shut up!"
The sudden force of his voice shocks both Neha and Vaidehi into silence. They turn to face him, their expressions a mix of confusion and surprise. Madan takes a few steps forward, his anger barely contained.
Madan (gritting his teeth, voice shaking with fury):
"I've had enough of this! I've been listening to this nonsense long enough! What the hell do you two think you're doing? You're fighting over me, as if I'm some prize to be won!"
Neha and Vaidehi stand frozen, their mouths open in disbelief. Madan's eyes blaze with frustration as he continues, his voice rising with every word.
Madan (pointing at both of them):
"You're acting like children, both of you. Do you really think this is what I wanted? I didn't ask for this! I didn't want to be in the middle of your petty rivalry! You're both tearing me apart with your constant fighting, and it's driving me crazy!"
Neha (quietly, her voice shaky):
"Madan, we're just... we're just trying to make things work. We love you."
Vaidehi (almost pleading):
"I love you too, Madan. I didn't mean for things to get this bad."
Madan runs a hand through his hair in frustration, pacing back and forth as he struggles to collect his thoughts. His eyes burn with anger, but there's also a deep sense of regret behind them. He stops suddenly, turning to face them both.
Neha and Vaidehi exchange a quick look, their expressions softening slightly as they begin to realize the weight of Madan's words.
There's a heavy silence in the room. Neha and Vaidehi both look at each other, their eyes filled with a mix of guilt and understanding. They've been so focused on winning Madan's love that they've neglected the consequences of their actions.
Madan (quietly, with a tinge of sadness):
"I don't know what to do anymore. I thought this was what I wanted, but now... I don't know."
Neha and Vaidehi look at him, their faces filled with guilt, but there is still no resolution. Madan feels trapped, lost in his own confusion and pain.
Unable to bear the burden anymore, he falls to his knees in despair. Tears well up in his eyes as he raises his hands toward the heavens, his voice a plea of pure anguish.
Madan (crying out, voice choked with emotion):
"Krishna… Krishna, please… save me! I don't know what to do! I never wanted this… I thought I could balance everything, but I've hurt everyone. Please, Krishna, help me. Show me the way. I can't take this anymore!"
The moment his words leave his mouth, the atmosphere in the room shifts. A divine calm settles over the chaos, and suddenly, the room goes still. Time itself seems to freeze. The ticking of the clock stops, the sounds of the outside world fade into silence. Everything halts as Krishna, in his divine form, appears before Madan.
Madan looks up in awe, his tears still flowing as he sees Krishna standing before him, radiating light, his expression serene yet powerful. Krishna smiles gently at Madan, his voice soft but carrying an eternal wisdom.
Krishna (with a warm smile):
"Madan, my child, do not be afraid. I have heard your cry."
Madan is overwhelmed by the presence of Krishna. He falls prostrate before him, his body trembling with a mixture of awe and sorrow.
Madan (voice trembling, through his tears):
"Krishna… I… I don't understand. Why is this happening to me? Why did you let me go through all of this? Why did you allow me to fall into this chaos?"
Krishna steps closer to Madan, his form shimmering with divine grace. He places a hand on Madan's head, lifting him gently, and speaking in a calm, reassuring tone.
Krishna (calmly):
"Madan… all that you saw, all that you lived was my maya."
Madan (blinking):
" Neha and Vaidehi… they weren't real?"
Krishna smiles softly, his touch radiating peace.
Krishna:
"They are real. But what you experienced , the weddings, the romances, the chaos ,was a divine illusion. A dream woven by me, just to show you what lies ahead when desire is driven by imitation, not devotion."
Madan's eyes widen as he slowly begins to realize… the garlands, the temple, the joyful moments, the fights , all of it now shimmer and dissolve like mist.
Madan (stunned, whispers):
"So… I'm not married?"
Krishna (laughs gently):
"Would you like to be?"
Madan quickly shakes his head.
Madan (half-laughing, half-teary):
"No no, Krishna! One was tough, two was torture!"
Krishna:
"Exactly. That was not punishment. That was reflection of your own restlessness, your flirtation, your pride in copying my leelas. I had to show you where it leads."
Madan bows his head, humbled, his voice soft and genuine.
Madan:
"I understand now. Your leelas are not stories to act out… they are truths to surrender to."
Krishna (smiling):
"Now you see, my child. Love is not in multiplying hearts… it is in purifying one."
Krishna turns to leave.
Madan (tilting his head, half-smiling):
"Krishna… before you go, I just need to know one thing."
Krishna turns around, amused by Madan's tone.
Krishna (smiling knowingly):
"Yes, Madan?"
Madan (scratching his head, sheepishly):
"How did you manage eight wives? I couldn't handle even two! They both love me, but I felt like I was being torn in half!"
Krishna chuckles, the kind of laughter that is full of wisdom and playfulness. He walks closer to Madan, his eyes twinkling.
Krishna (teasingly):
"Madan, I am not a man... I am God. I didn't just have eight wives,I had 16,108. Each one thought she was my only queen."
Madan (eyes wide):
"Sixteen thousand...?! And here I thought two was overwhelming!"
Krishna (grinning):
"I gave each of them time, attention, and love. But more than that,I gave them presence. I was fully with them, heart and soul, wherever I was. There was no guilt, no juggling, no hiding. Just pure devotion."
Madan is still chuckling from Krishna's final comment. The air feels lighter, his heart more at peace. But curiosity still twinkles in his eyes.
Madan (teasingly):
"But really, Krishna… 16,108 wives? Even with all your wisdom, how did you manage?"
Krishna smiles mysteriously, then walks to the center of the room. With a gentle wave of his hand, a divine golden light begins to shimmer around him. Slowly, to Madan's utter astonishment,Krishna begins to duplicate himself.
In a swirl of celestial radiance, one Krishna becomes two… then four… then eight… until Madan is surrounded by identical Krishnas, each smiling, calm, and full of divine grace.
Madan (jaw dropped):
"Eh?!"
All Krishnas in unison (smiling):
"I was present with each queen, in each palace, as if I belonged only to her. That is the play of the Divine,not something to be imitated, Madan, but to be marvelled at."
Madan spins in place, watching in wonder as each Krishna raises a flute and plays a gentle, soothing melody. The music echoes like a lullaby of the cosmos. Then, one by one, they merge back into a single form.
Krishna now stands alone once more, glowing with divinity, yet as familiar and loving as a friend.
Krishna (softly):
"See? It wasn't about quantity. It was about presence. And only the Divine can truly be everywhere at once, and everything to everyone."
Madan bows deeply, tears in his eyes again,but this time, they are tears of wonder and gratitude.
Madan (whispering):
"Krishna… you're beyond everything I thought I knew."
Krishna:
"You are not meant to copy my divine pastimes. They are sweet, but they are not a manual. You are my devotee, not my duplicate."
Madan (softly):
"So… I shouldn't have tried to follow your path in that way?"
Krishna (shaking his head gently):
"No, child. My leelas are not for imitation, but for meditation. You took the flavor but missed the essence. I lived with love, you lived with longing. I balanced the universe, you tried to balance dinners."
Madan laughs, a genuine laugh, wiping his face.
Madan (grinning):
"I'm sorry, Krishna. I guess I still have a lot to learn."
Krishna (smiling warmly):
"And I'll be with you at every step. Just don't ask for a third wife, okay?"
Madan (laughing louder):
"Never again! Two was divine punishment enough!"
Madan folds his hands and bows deeply, feeling the illusion lift completely. The world around him slowly returns to normal…
Next morning. Madan sits on the living room sofa, sipping tea nervously. His parents sit across from him, looking unusually serious.
Father (clears throat):
"Madan… today you must decide."
Mother (gently):
"We've spoken to both families. They're both interested. So we're leaving it to you."
His father pulls out two photographs from a brown envelope and places them on the table.
On the left: Neha , calm, confident, smiling.
On the right: Vaidehi ,graceful, poised, eyes full of spark.
Father:
"You must pick one. No more drama."
Madan (softly):
"I can't choose between them… because right now, I don't even deserve one."
His parents look surprised. Madan exhales.
Madan:
"I thought love was about charming your way through everything. But they… they showed me it's about presence, not performance. I wanted both because I didn't know how to truly give myself to even one."
Beat. He smiles faintly, more at peace than before.
Madan (jokingly):
"Maybe Krishna managed it because he wasn't human. I am."
Mother (gently):
"So... no marriage?"
Madan (grinning):
"Not yet. Let me first learn to love without a flute in my hand."