Last time we had seen how –

Although Priyaji was chanting on the mala, there came  a time, when the mala slipped from her hand, and fell on Prabhu’s sandals. But she was not aware – her Naam continued. She was immersed in the ocean of bhaav. From her eyes tears of prem overflowed  – torrents of pure Ganga and Jamuna that were rushing to merge in the Sea at Neelachal. Priyaji was the embodiment of the meeting point of Nadia and Neelachal. “

Now continue……………..

When Priyaji gained consciousness, her eyes were full of tears. Amita and Kanchana were unable to console her in her viraha. “Go sakhi, go to him – the Lord of my heart – and please tell him of my condition. Tell him that without his presence Priya will surely die.

Moribo moribo shoi, nishchoy moribo. Gora binu e praan raakhite naaribo. “

Kanchana replied – “Why, sakhi, hardly a few days are remaining, when all the devotees headed by Adwaita Prahbu, will go to Neelachal. I too shall accompany them. Of course, I had not enlisted myself, since I did not wish to remain away from you. But now that your condition is such, I shall most certainly go there and I have a good mind to have a nice little chat with him.” Kanchana’s face had a very firm look indeed. Priyaji eagerly took her hands in hers and said – “Ohh really ? Kanchana, Will you do this for me? Ohh ! Shoi, how shall I ever thank you?” “You don’t have to, you know, sweetheart!” said Kanchana. By now, even her eyes were moist.

At Neelachal, Lord Goursundar had made very nice arrangements for the devotees. They got wonderful Jagannath mahaprasadam every time, and rather neat accommodation. The Lord himself would come time and again to ask if they lacked anything, whether they needed anything else, was everything alright?  Kanchana would try to peek and move about surreptitiously every now and then to catch his eye, if even for the fraction of a second.

However all matajis were put under the guidance of Seeta Mata, who had a strict (although benevolent) eye on the girls. She had already briefed them about what was appropriate and what not before they had left Nabadweep. Once here,  they were never to venture out alone. As for going in front of the Lord? NO WAY !! It was a big taboo ! Kanchana made various schemes and plans to get some sort of message across to him  – may be she could – while he was on his way to the Mnadir ? Or may be she could dash into him sometime during the rush hours of darshan? Or while every one was jostling to take the arati ? But none of her prayers were answered.  As a result, alas !! There was no way that Kanchana could get anywhere within miles of her Pran-priyaa’s Prana-ballabh Sri Nabadweepchandra. On the other hand, the date for their departure to Nabadweep was fast drawing close.

(to be continued…………)