12 (Sakuntala) Heart To Heart Exchange Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Sakuntala slightly reprimanded,
And from her friends demanded
An apology for their impertinence
To question on queens in the palace.

The King smiled and said,
“No attention I’ve paid
To take it as a mistake
Don’t worry for my sake.”

Her friends, on hearing this,
On some plea, left the place,
While she was in the scene,
Along with the King alone

With no previous guidance,
It was her first experience,
With a man of her choice.
To speak, she lost her voice.

He said, “Don’t be afraid.
I’m here by your side.
I see you’re so tired.
And seem to be worried.”

“Your sweating body needs
Cool air from wet lotus leaves.
To keep it cool, shall I fan you?
It’s a pleasure for me to do.”

For this, she was reluctant,
As it was a discourteous act
Against a man of dignity
And a noble royal authority.

He said, “In this hot sun,
Your slender body will burn.
So, don’t leave this place.
You must take my advice.”

She said, “I blame my fate.
A situation it did create,
Where I’ve no qualification
To seek such a top association.”

He thought, “The strange Cupid
Had his selfish object fulfilled
But he doesn’t allow girls
To suffer any kind of pains.”

“When lovers come close,
They wish to disperse,
For fear of surrendering
Their bodies, though willing.”

When he pulled her dress
She shouted, “This is a place
Where the hermits stay,
So, keep to decorum, I pray.”

He consoled her saying,
“Why are you shouting?
Your elders are too good.
You’ll never do them bad.”

“The daughters of royal sages
Prefer Gandharva type marriages
And their elders approved,
Thereafter, had it regularized.”

A few steps, she went ahead,
But turned back and said,
That his unfulfilled desire
Shouldn’t make him forget her.

He said, “Oh my dear girl,
In my heart you’ll be still.
Though you may leave,
It’ll crave for your love.”

On the way he found
A bangle on the ground
He took it in his hand
And had it examined.

It would have fallen
Back when she ran.
He kept it in his heart.
It consoled him, he felt.

For the bangle, back she came
He showed her the same.
When she asked for it,
In her hand, he inserted it.

His touch jolted her up.
“Oh my dear, hurry up.”
Like this, she cautioned him,
Lest someone might see them.

In the wind that blew,
A dust just then flew,
Towards her, close by,
And settled in her eye.

It irritated her eye.
He said, “I’ll try
To remove the dust
If only you permit.”

She hesitated for fear,
He may go so near
To do something else,
Taking this as an excuse.

But he caught her face,
Opened her eye by force,
Blew away the dust
With his mouth just.

Her inviting lips quivered,
Her body also shivered,
Her face, when he touched
But her modesty prevented.

She said, “My eyes are free.
Now clearly I can see.
This act of your kindness,
I can’t repay, since I’m helpless.”

“Not necessary, ” he replied,
“Your face smell, I had,
Like a honeybee enjoyed
Lotus flavor and satisfied.”

To leave, it was time for her.
She heard her foster mother
Cautioning her of the night,
The time for return to her hut.

Behind the bush, he hid.
Forced by her, this he did.
She went back to the hut,
With her heavy heart.

“With smart eyelids, pretty face,
She turned back face to face.
Her fingers guarded her lower lip,
That couldn’t express any tip.”

“Though I lifted her face,
She too showed her face,
I couldn’t give her a kiss,
This chance I did miss.”

“Where can I go now?
I’ll spend my time how?
Will that chance come again?
Together when we’ll remain? ”

“Evening rites will start.
Demons will sneak out.
The sacred fire will burn.
They will spoil it, in turn.”

“It’s time for me to go there
And guard their sacred fire.”
So, saying he proceeded,
To do his duty as a guard.





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