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O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya
Pal palAankhen dhoonde tujhePal palRaahen take teriJanmon janmon kiSadiyon sadiyon kiPyasi hai intezaar meri
Tere binaSoona lage ye mannTere binaAb na chale dhadhkan
Ab to aa bhi jaAb to aa bhi jaTeri diwaniTeri jogan pukaareAb to aa bhi ja
Na roke samayNa roke zamaanaNa roke mautNa roke koi bahana
Ab to aa hi jaAb hone do MilanTujh sang preet lagakarDil haari mai sajan
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya…
Her voice trilled around da sleepy meadows…echoed sinisterly all around envelopin da scenery in a cocoon of pain n unfulfilled love…of a long long wait for an enstrangd lover…who wil cum one day, on a white horse…n take away our princess.
Her voice tuchd souls, made sleepin ppl turn uncomfortably in der sleep…it invited da dawn in…invitd da new rays of da awakenin sun to gently stroke her…complement her stirring voice…her soft n beckonin features…those incredibly long n dense tresses…that mellifluously delicious skin…those intoxicatin jade eyes…
Illuminated as if wid a heavenly light stood our princess Gazal…
“raajkumari gazal”Da sound of da maid sounded harsh in da peaceful surroundings
Gazal(wakin from her trance): kahiyeMaid: maharaj aapka intezar kar rahen hainGazal: unhe kahiye hum aa rahen hain…
Da maid bows n leaves
Aakhri din hai aaj. Jo chahe keh le pitaji. Bas aaj aakhri din hai. Uske baad mai azaad. Apne piya ke saath. Koi riti riwaz nahi tor sakti iss prem kahani ko. Koi nahi rok sakta iss Milan ko…
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya…
N dis time a note of a flute answerd her soulful call…her luv answerd her song…
Her Veer answerd her love…
Da dawn gave rise to da hot april morning. Usual hustle bustle had begun in da castle as Gazal made her way to her fathers chambers…
Her father…da well respected Maharaj Adwitya of Amer…
Amer: a prosperous kingdom in a nook of former Bengal…on da shore of da mighty Bay of Bengal . it had a long history of unfailing kings since ancient times. Much of its history was now lost… but it shone as imp as ever under Maharaj Adwitya…
Maharaj Adwitya was a success in everything he did…apart from perhaps his personal life. His wife had commited suicide in da sea leavin behind two young daughters. Gazal and Geet.No one knew why…tho der wer rumors…but soon da tragedy was forgotten as da princesses grew up…Specially Gazal…it was said dat she was blessd as da “ankhsunamun”…A title gaind by some special royalty of amer over da centuries, of divine grace, beauty n a voice which had a hypnotizing quality…
When Gazal sung in a whole court in her full beauty, it was said dat none moved a muscle…all wer lost in her grace…Multitudes of offers of marriage came for her…but she saw none…as she knew da one who was hers…she had found her soulmate…she had found her Veer…
Gazal sat at da royal table wid her father and sister Geet…a bubbly n cheerful gal full of life, overshadowd by her sisters beauty, but never mindin it. Da only person Gazal wud miss…after tonite…but kuch pane ke liye kuch khona to parta hi hai…
Maharaj Adwitya: asha hai aapki neend achi huiGazal: ji maharajMA: kyonki aaj shaam ko aapke rishte ke liye kalinga ke rajkumar harsh aa rahein hain…sharad purnima ka din lagbhag tay hai apke vivah ke liye…
A stunnd silence greeted dis announcement…Geet was aghast! She knew her sister had given her mind n soul to Veer…how cud her father…N y wasn’t Gazal protestin…wel if not her, she cudnt c her sisters destruction quietly…
Geet: pitaji…aap kaise?...mera matlab hai didi toh…She quailed under her fathers glance…Da king was wel aware of da rumors spoken in hushd tones abt his daughter and dat lowly son of a merchant…how cud he dare to think he can claim a princess? N dat 2 none oder dan Maharaj Adwityas own daughter…it was a matter of his pride…he cud kill to prevent dis union…
MA: aapko koi apatti hai rajkumari Gazal? (as if he gave a chance of an oderwise answer)Gazal:nahi pitaji…jaisa aap kahen…
Dis stunnd not only Geet but da king himself…he wasn’t expectin such easy admission…
MA: hume bharosa tha ki aap hamari izzat par aanch nahi aane dengi…toh aaj 6 baje hi pahunchegi…..
He went on n on…but Gazal was in her own world…hearin her father wid a smile…but listenin to da flute callin her…as it had abt a year back…
It was spring as Gazal had gone to da outskirts of Amer wid her maids…she did not lik der company…n of da guards keeping an eye on her for her father…she managd to duck frm da camp to gain sumtime on her own…
She walkd into da green meadows fresh wid dew…it was a natural miracle dat such greenery cud exist so close to da beach! So dat she stud baskin in da salty wind of da unfathomable sea…when a melody reach her….which changd her life for ever…She followd da flute…to da man playin it…
He had long tresses tesed by da gentle breeze…a simple brown coat graced his muscular shoulders,,,high cheekbones, deep set eyes, hints of a stubble…His eyes wer closd in a tune of his own, wen he felt a presence…n opened his eyes, to see da most beautiful person he had ever seen…nothing more needed to b said…it was love at first sight…
Later wen Veer, as he was calld, da son of a poor merchant, found out dat his belovd was none oder dan Rajkumari Gazal, he was dauntd…but wat is status in face of love? Nothing cud pull dem back now…
Every day he playd da flute n his darling came to him, swingin to da unearthly melody as she sung wid it…in her equally divine voice…it was mating widout a tuch…a meetin of souls…a call for soul mates…
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya…
Till da kings men saw der meetin…n da king ensurd Gazal never visitd da cursd meadows…but no one can part such lovers…dey wer promisd for life…dis n da one beyond…
Da breakfast was over n da happy king went abt arranging his daughters doom, Gazal smild at da Stunnd Geet…n walkd off to her room…
Ab kuch aur ghanto ka intezaar hai…apne khayalon me khoi thi jab Geet enterd…
Gazal: kaho Geet…Geet: kyu di?Gazal jus smild…
Geet: unless…no! I know! Ul never give up Veer…ur planin sumthin…
Gazal sighd, it ws not possible to hide anything from her sister. She ws a part of her soul…
Gazal outlind her simple p[lan to her sister as she heard disbelivinly…
At sunset she wud visit da temple…n behind da temple was da secret entrance of underground passageways connectin all of Amer , its existence kown to royalty alone…She wud take da path to da lighthouse…wer she wud meet Veer, dey wil wait for a launch arranged by a frend of Veer…n den dey wud be gone, before even da king realisd…dey wud b gone to a new world …to b together…forever…
Geet had misgivins, it ws too simple a plan, but she cudnt say anything, her sister was too lost in luv to pay any heed to consequences…
Gazal: mai nahi janti mai apna lakshya paa sakungi ya nahi…par ek baat janti hoon…Veer se Gazal ko koi juda nahi kar sakta…kabhi nahi…Jane se pehle mai tujhe kuch dena chahti hoon…shayd tujhse kabhi miloo nahi…
She hands out a ring…a gold ring glintin wid da sunrays…shapd in form of a dragon, wid an eye of a brilliant diamond…
Geet: ye to…ye aapke paas kaise aaya…Gazal: prem anguthi hai…sadiyon se mana gaya hai ki ye kho chukka tha…par ye maa ne jane se pehle hume sambhal ke rakhne ke liye diya tha…Geet: (awed) ye wohi hai na? kaha jata hai ki ye anguthi sacche pyar karne walon ko alag karne wali har musibat ko tal deti hai! Kya ye sach hai?Gazal: pata nahin…humne bhi bass suna hai…lekin isske karan mai apne pyar se mili…
Geet: di…apko mujhse zyada iski zaroorat hai…aaj to…Gazal: apne pyar ko pane ke liye hume kisi anguthi ki awashyakta nahin Geet…mujhe apne Veer par bharosa hai. Aur hum nahin chahte ye anguthi mere jaane se humare pariwaar se door ho jaye…maa bhi ye nahi chahti hongi…le lo Geet…
Geet accepts it n tearfully hugs her sister…as da sun starts sinkin slowly…
She packd her bare necessities hummin a song, ready to depart wid her beloved, to depart frm dis cruel ppl who did not understand her love. She covered herself well wid an old shawl n walkd beneath da sky blood red wid da settin sun towards da kali temple…
Da sun had set, Gazal had made her way in da passages, she now reachd da lighthouse n stood in da brilliant moonlight…da pure white shine of da moon illuminating her delicate profile…a strong wind carresin her hair…waitin for her Veer…N der came floatin by da familiar flute tune…a part of da seemingly quiet night but actually holdin back turbulent sentiments…It ws followd by her own Veer…oh! No one had lookd more god lik dan him b4…Gazal found herself fallin in luv again n again wid him…
Veer: Gazal…(njoyin da sound of her name on his lips)…mai darr raha tha ki shayad tum aa na pao…Gazal: kaise na aati…(she gently strokd his face)Veer held her hand: thodi hi der me Vrijesh apni nao lekar pahunch jayega…uske baad hume koi juda nahin kar sakta…Par kash aaj mausam behtar hota…ye hawa kuch zyada hi tez nahin chal rahi?
Notices Gazal shiverin…Veer: (puts his arms around her n envelopin her in his warmth): chalo andar chalte hain…wo aayenge to pata chal jayega…
IN DA KINGS COURT:
Da king was welcumin kalinga’s royalty when a troop of ppl wearin black robes symbolizing merchants stormd inside
MA: sainikon! Ye andar kaise aaye? Kya chahte hain aap?One of da merchants: Amer ke log hone ke naate hume apne raja se kabhi bhi suraksha mangne ka hakk haiMA: bilkul sahi baat hai…to hum appki kya sahayata kar sakte hain?
Hum apna beta mangne aaye hain…
A shrivld man announcd…lukd lik da leader of da pack …Veer’s father…MA: matlab kya hai apka?VD(veer’s dad): hamare bete ko apki beti ne chura liya hai. Na jane kya jadu tona kiya hai uspe ki wo humesha ke liye humse door ho gaya. Ab wo Amer chorkar jana chahta hai. Saath me aapki beti bhi hai. Aap raja ho sakte hain, lekin hum rajkumari ko apne bete ko aghwa karne nahi de sakte…
MA: ye kya bakwaas kiye ja raha hai? Gazal yahin mahal me hain…wo apke bete ke bare me kuch nahin janti…
VD: to phir aap apni betti ke bare me kuch nahin jante…
Da king cud take no more. In normal circumstances he wud hav orderd da man to be hangd for his insolence, but before royal guests he had to be civil. N prove his daughters innocence. He knew Gazal may be impulsive…but she was not crazy to dare such a thing. He was confident da man was speakin nonsense. He jus needed to prove it n den order da man to jail n deal wid him properly later.
MA: abhi pata chal jayega…dasi! Rajkumari GAzal ko yahan laya jaye…
Der was a deadly quiet as da whole court waitd speechlessly…Da dasi returnd…alone
MA(his voice low n dangerous): kahan hai rajkumari Gazal?Dasi: wo…wo…maharaj….MA: KAHO JALDI!!!Dasi(scared by his shout): apnekamremenahinhai…MA: kya? Thik se bolo…Dasi: ji maharaj…rajkumari apne kamre me nahin hai…
Da king din ans n was lost in thought at wat to do next. Everything was at stake. MA: (to veer’s dad who was lukin triumphant): kya aap jante hain wo ab kahan hai?VD: hume pata chala hai ki veer apne mitr Vrijesh ki nao me aaj purane lighthouse se nikalne wala hai…RAjkumari bhi uske saath hongi…
Da king had made his decision. He lukd at da sena waitin 4 his command. Slowly n clearly he spake
Lighthouse ke aas paas ki har jag chan maro. Wahan se nikalne ka hard war band kar do. Raaz dwar bhi (secret passage by which gazal escapd). Wo jahan bhi mile unhe ….wohi khatam kar do.
Geet was listenin to all dis in slowly mountin horror.
NAHIN! Pitaji…aap ye kaise kar sakte hain. Wo apki beti hai! Pitaji..kya paap kiya hai usne…mohabbat hi to kii hai…
MA(boilin wid rage): SHANT HO JAYIYE!!! Ek aur shabd aur aap bhi Gazal ke saath maari jayengi. Nahin chahiye hume aise santan…Panditji…aap Rajkumari Gazal ke shradh ka intezam kijiye…
A whole troop of soldiers leave da palace wid a large group of villagers carryin mashals…as dey make way for da lighthouse…
In da lighthouse da lovers wait in each oders arms…sayin millions widout utterin a word…all was so tranquil….jus dat da weather outside seemd worse…but frm widin da wel sheltrd lighthouse it ws diffiult to hear much…
But den veer notices sum lights frm outta da window…its not frm da seas direction frm wer da ship was expected…it ws cumin 4 land direction…Not expectin anyone, veer peeps outta da window…n freezes
Gazal:kaun hai wahan veer…She joins him at da window….n der hearts grow cold as dey find da bottom of da lighthouse teeming wid angry villagers n soldiers
Da mahamantri below shouts up a warnin…
HUM JANTE HAIN AAP WAHAN UPAR CHUPEIN HAIN! RAJKUMARI GAZAL, AAP ABHI NICHE AAYENGI TO SHAYAD MAHARAJ APKI JAAN BAKSH DE. HUM DUS TAK GINENGE. AAP TAB TAK NICHE NAHIN AAYEIN TO HUM UPAR AAYENGE. KOI CHALAKI NAHIN…MAHARAJ NE DOOR HI VRIJESH KI NAO KO ROK DIYA HAI, ISLIYE AAPKO BACHANE KOI NAHIN AYEGA….KEWAL DUS…
EK…
Veer n gazal luk at each oder thunderstruck….dey cant now surrender n giv up…coz dey no dey wont b spared….dey hav to try a way out
Do…Teen…
Veer: chalo gazal, hum piche se utar te hain…samudra ki taraf…shayad wahan koi rasta mil jaye…
Char…Dey take da flight of stairs leadin to da sea…
Paanch…Cche…
Dey reach da landing..
Saat…Aath…
Dey rush to da beach. But r quaild to see da beginin of a mighty storm…
Nau…Der hopes rise as dey see a small dinghy appear from da waves towards dem
DUS!!! PRATHAM DAL KE SAINIKO….ANDAR PRAWESH KAREIN…
Da dinghy is now nearing dem as dey approach da choppy waters. Da waves much turbulent n dangerous now. Da dinghy ws much close. Few more metres…
WO RAHE RAJKUMARI AUR WO BHAGORA. MARR DALO UNHE. BHAGNE KI KOSHISH KAR RAHE HAIN!!!
Few of da soldiers n da mahamantri had reachd da beach 4m oder ned n had seen dem, now da arrows wer aimd at dem as sum soldiers rushd towards dem wid der swords
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
3 arrows perfectly found der targets into da hearts of da archer soldiers…
Gazal n veer luk stunnd at da source of der savior arrows…into da dinghy wich had now reachd dem…N watch stunnd as a figure leap outta it wid a war scream…Its blade flashin as it expertly hacks away da soldiers wid swords…
As more soldiers cum, da figure keeps fightin….givin da lovers time to sail away in da dinghy…
Da figure swishes its sword at da oncumin soldiers as veer n gazal board da boat. Dey r ready to sail n luk behind at der savior. At dat moment da figures cape falls down…
Revealin…
Gazal: GEET!!!
Geet(at da same time killin 2 men): Bhago di! Bhago!Save ur life n ur luv…jao jaldi…mai zyada der inhe nai rok paungi….BHAGO!!!
Gazal: nahi! Hum tumhari jaan ko khatre me dalkar…
Geet:( performin a full toss back kick n fellina soldier): BAKWAAS MAT KARO! Geet apna khayal rakh sakti hai! Jab tum apne sangeet me vyast thi…geet ne apne aap aur apni behen ko bachana sikha hai!JAO…Veer …le jao meri behen ko…(jabbin her blade into a soldier)…aur iska khayal rakhna…
Dey hav no option but to leave da brave figure fightin lik wildfire on da shore as dey sail out towards da ominous sea…ragin wid a storm…
Suddenly da men stop cumin towards da beach n geet has sum respite…shes much wounded…but wonders wat stopd da soldiers, sure der wer many more…
Let her fathers men cum, dey wil hav to face Geet!!!
At dat moment she found da reason y no one more came out to da beach as her heart went cold wid dread wid da shout she heard from da villagers…
KALBAISHAKI
It was da much feard storm of Bengal, kalbaisakhi!!! Geet lukd fearfully at da sea…maybe she had saved her sister from death n sent her into another….
The moments passed by as geet stonily stared at the ravaged sea…her mind as turbulent…what had she done? But was there any other alternative…If she had not sent them into the sea, the soldiers would have killed them…atleast now they have a chance to escape! Though in her heart she knew it was not possible to escape the kalbaisakhi…but perhaps it was better for them to die together…than be separated in life and die miserably alone…Maybe she had actually relievd her sister…
She stood, a lone figure in front of the crashing waves when with a hue and cry a large group of soldiers appeard and surrounded her. When she did not move a muscle or react, the leader mustered courage to speak…
Leader(looks around at the carnage and the men this girl had killed all alone…gulps): rajkumari geet…apne hathiyar dal dijiye…hum apko giraftar…
At this Geet looks at the man with her eyes blazing with cold fury and the poor guy quails under her gaze. Realizes its better to shut up…
At that moment the king arrives at the beach,,,
MA:kya hua yahan?Leader: ji maharaj…wo…rajkumari gazal bhaag gayi…MA: kya?!!! Aur tum log use rok nahin paye…?Leader: wo humne poori koshish ki…lekin yahan rajkumari geet ne unhe bhagne me sahayata ki…
MA(notices the erect n stony Geet): tum! Yahan…ye kya sun raha hoon…kahan bhage hain wo dono…Leader: wo maharaj…ek nao lekar wo dono samundar me chale gaye…
The king pales…maybe at their obvious fate in the storm…or maybe because he himself dint get chance to kill them…who knows? Then he looks at his second daughter
MA: GEET! Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere aadesh ko nakarne ki? Kya sochke tumne socha ki tum maharaj Adwitya se kisiko bacha sakti ho? Ye MERA rajya hai! Yahan meri hukumat chalegi! Tum hoti kaun ho…Sharam aati hai tum do beheno par…aise aulad paye hai humne…humari izzat, maryada, naam, sab kuch pani me mila diya…
Geet coldly looks up at her father…her mind numb with a maddening rage…nothing could hold her back now…
Geet(slowly, clearly n in a deadly soft voice): aapki izzat, aapki maryada, aapka naam…..GAYA BHAAR ME!!!
The king and all around lookd stunned…never had anyone dared to talk like that to the king…but never had anyone seen anyone look that angry either!
Geet: sharam to hume aati hai aap par! Kis izzat ki baat kar rahe hain aap? Kis rajya ki baat kar rahe hain? Raja to door ki baat hai…aap puri tarah se nakamyab rahe zindagi me…
MA: GEET….Geet: BAS!!! Bahut sun liya aap ke khokle adarsh…kya karenge inn adarshon ka jab aaoke apne santan, aaki apni stri apse zyada mrityu ko pasand karti hai!Pitaji, aap par to krodh nahi, daya aati hai…Apne jhoote usolon ki duniya aur ghamnd aapko andha kar chuki hai…par ek din aap jagenge…aur dekhenge koi nahin bacha apke paas…Dekhenge kya khoya aapne…
Flicks her hair behind and unsheathes her sword…starin with vengeance at all soldiers around them…
Geet: hum, Geet, aur bas Geet…ab aur isi waqt se maharaj adwitya ko apna raja manne se inkaar karte hain! Jo hume dand dena chahe, aage aaye…Geet haar kar nahi jhukegi…aant tak laregi…Iss paar ya uss paar…
MA: (his emotions unreadable) sab sainikon ko aadesh hai…isi waqt yahan se chale jaye…aur khoon nahi bahega yahan…
Geet…aap jahan chahe jaa sakti hain…
Without another word he leaves geet standing alone on the shore with his soldiers…
She looks out to the wild waves, thinking of the doom her sister had gone into…feeling oddly empty…And collapses onto the wet sand….
The little boat rocked to and fro like crazy. No one except the mighty ocean had any control on it. And apparently the raging seas had no mercy on the boat…or on the star struck lovers in it clinging to each other…
Initially when out at sea, veer had tried to maneuver it with its oars…but however skill he had, he was utterly powerless in front of Poseidon.Now they had given up to wherever fate and the storm took them. Their end was inevitable…but end to life doesn’t necessarily mean end of love.
Veer looked into those mesmerizing eyes he had fallen so much in love with. Those startling jade eyes…as green as grass covered with fresh dew…as intense as a storm…as hypnotizing as a crystal ball….The lovers held each other as a huge wave suddenly took over their dinghy on its crest.
The wave traveled at a mighty speed and both were helplessly flunged with it. Their boat was picked up like a twig and rushed with the wave…
With growing horror the lovers looked ahead…the wave, and with it their boat, was about to crash into the “pathor matha”!!!The pathor matha or the stony head was remnants of an ancient cave temple of which most the sea had claimed. Few of its rocks stood out like jagged teeth looking over the sea…it was few miles away from amer’s coast and no boat ever went near it…it was too risky.
And now our boat was thrown with full force against the looming rock, our lovers holding tight to each other. The wave crashed. The boat had capsized.Two battered figures entwined to each other lay on the top rock…
Few last breaths. Few last promises. Gazal looked up at Veer as she lay in his arms….waiting for the next wave rising in the distance to bring kaal.
As the wave closed in, the lovers gazed at each other….unfazed by reality…What can death mean to true love? What can death mean to soulmates?
They were together…oblivious to the killer wave making its final blow…
……………………………………………………………………………………….
200 yrs and 2000 kms away he woke up with a shout….
200 yrs and 2000 kms away he woke up with a shout….
It took him sumtime to get back his orientation n realize dat it was a dream….a dream again….da same dream again n again n again…
Feelin frustrated he grips tufts of his dense untidy hair…den rubs his eyes n looks at da watch….6 30 am…He cud sleep more, but abhi wapas neend nahi aayegi
So he decides to get up n takes a shower. After da shower he dresses up in a faded blue denim n a sleeveless white t-shirt wid a hood…he runs his fingers thru his unruly hair n cheks himself out in da mirror.
A tall, handsomely muscular guy of 23 wid light brown eyes stare out. Deliciously dark n messy hair, hot lips, sharp angled features….he smiled his killer smile…It was no wonder gals cudnt resist Rajveer Shekhawat!!!
But den his smile falters as he remembers da reason hes awake at dis hour. Da stupid dream dat has been irritatin him since he was 15! He hated it….it made him feel oddly empty n tremendously depressed later….He shook his head to shake of da feelin of gloom n confusion da dream brought…
“Hell man! I hav to get out side…maybe da fresh air wil make me feel better. But abhi to 7 baj rahe hain. Itni subah jaoon kahan….Ofcorse! Awni wud b awake….Aur nahi bhi hogi to jaga doonga! So Awni dear….here I cum…!!!”
He locks his one room flat where he livd alone n rode his bike in da alredy busy roads of Mumbai…
Wid da wind whipping his hair he rides on towards his destination….Music blarin frm his earphones….
Dhim dhim tananaDhim tanananaOh Oh oh…galiyon se aayega
Dhim dhim tananaDhim tanananaOh oh oh…seeti bajayega
Dhim dhim tananaDhim tanananaOh oh oh…neem ke per se
Dhim dhim tananaDhim tanananaOh oh oh…paas bulayega….
He honks his horn as he tackles a sharp corner, makin a screechy swing n expertly avoidin a school goin kid…he went on…
Oh humdum suniyo reOh janiya suniyo reOh janiya, shaam koChupke seChori chori nange paonChaand aayega
Oh…suniyo reOh suniyo re…
He reachs da white bungalow standin cutely in da mid of a wel tended garden, parks his bike hummin a song, move towards da main door n stops on da doorstep…
“nah! She wont b inside now…”
He left da doorsteps n rounded da bungalow to reach its backside where he stepd onto da garden…as he expected, der she was…
Tending a rose bush was a girl in a frayd brown khaki shorts and a ill fitting t shirt smeard wid mud n sweat. Her hair was loosely piled in a knot givin her da look of a scarecrow. Her honey brown eyes n dark-olive complexion cud hav been said to be beautiful….if she ever took care of dem ie.
With a sigh for a millionth time Rajveer said to himself….“god must hav made dis creature a GIRL as a part of a huge cosmic joke!!!”
Awni…his best friend for past 10yrs was anything but a….girl! She perhaps looked like one…genetically too she might have been classified as a female…but Rajveer knew dat by heart she was a total tomboy. Hardly any qualities of a woman. What was beauty, what was dressing up, what was feminity…she was unaware of it all.Brash, arrogant, fiery, wild…n totally unpredictable! That was his darling Awni!And he loved her that way too…
He meant to call her till his eyes fell on the water pipe spouting water on the grass…and an evil grin crossed his face. Behind Awni’s back he tiptoed to the pipe, pickd it up and….
SPLAAAASHH!!!
“WAT DA **@##$@$@%% !!!!”
The force of water knocked her back as she spluttered incoherently…
She saw da laughing Rajveer wid da pipe stil drenching her.
“RAJ….U…”
He din let her finish as a fresh volley of water hit her face. Helpless initially now her reflexes worked as she well aimed a kick on his calf muscles. Caught off balance, his knees buckled and the pipe slipped from his hand. In a second Awni was up n closed da tap.Then she stood towering over Rajveer now laughing hysterically…
“U total MORON! GIBBON! SHARK! BILLY HEADED BILLOUS BOGGART!!! Wat da BLOODY hell do u think u were doin…”
He gaped at her driping mad form n wid a snort said“sorry yaar, but u needed a bath…”“SHUT UP! Consider urself lucky that u just got over from pneumonia last week …otherwise poore saal bas paani me hi tairte rahte…IDIOT!!!”
“point noted my lady…”
She left the garden in a huff n entered da bungalow. Rajveer followed, still smiling. He went to the couch and settled himself comfortably there.RV: after u change id like a cup of coffee
In a falsely sweet voiceAwni: anything else my lord! RV: no..for now dat wil do. U may now go and change. Apna hi ghar samjhoAwni: that’s so kind of u…(gives him an angry look n goes up)
Grinning RV cheks out the newspaper. Soon Awni returns in an uncomplementing kurta over a faded slacks.
Giving a hopeless look to the weird combination…RV: meri coffee me sugar zyada dalna…aur…He shuts up under the luk Awni gives him as she sets abt making coffeeHe goes upto her and gives her a warm hug.
RV: kya yaar! Itna kyun naraz hoti hai! Acha sorry baba…aise hi kirre chare…ab gussa mat kar…Awni:let me go…
RV hugs her tighterRV: not til u forgive meAwni: RAJ!RV: I wont let u go babes…Awni: ufff! Ok baba…its alright…
Haw! (takes a deep breath as he lets her go)I don know why I tolerate ur nonsense
RV: coz ur my best friend and sum one I cant live widout!!!Awni: thik hai! Thik hai! Itne melodrama ki zaroorat nahi…
They both sit on the couch with their coffee.
Awni: to aaj laad sahib itni jaldi kaise utth gaye
At this Rajveer remembers the reason why he came here in the first place. Awni’s company always made him forget his troubles. But now with the familiar depression he rememberd his dream…
RV: wohi…as usual…Awni knew all about his nightmare since past 8yrs. And how it troubled him. She sat close to him n put her arms around him…Awni: Raj…(stays quiet for some time) so u saw anything new thid time…?RV: no…the usualAwni: the usual storming sea?RV: (lost in thoughts of his dream)the usual storming sea…Awni: and the usual pair of lovers…RV: the usual pair of lovers…Awni: and that beautiful girlRV: oh! So beautiful…(dreamily)Awni: with clear jade green eyes…RV: with clear jade green eyes…Awni: and breathtaking features…RV: and breathtaking features…Awni: and full lips…RV: and full lips…Awni: and creamy complexion…RV: and creamy complexion…Awni: and a huge pimple on her nose…RV: and a huge pim….WHAT!!!
Awni burst out laughing as RV threw the cushion at her.RV: don make fun of her re…Awni: oh! Im soooooo sorryRv: shut up Awni…Awni: Raj…ur nuts!
She lovingly ruffled his hair and went to wash the coffee mugs.
She always made him feel better, RV thot with a smile. Since his mother died when he was 16 and his father left for USA, mostly in grief, Awni had been his constant support. He simply cudnt think of life without her.And only she had the right to call him Raj…his mother did so. And after that he didn’t allow anyone else to call him that. Everyone used “RV” (a/n: so wil
we most of the time). But Awni ke liye koi rules to ho nahi sakte. And he didn’t mind her calling him Raj…utna to hakk tha hi uska!
Awni was an orphan. She had shifted in Mumbai with her nanny who was given her guardianship by her parents. She was 10 then. And in a shop the kids met with their mother n nanny (respectively). And after that were inseparable friends. Goin to the same school and passing out of the same engineering college added to the bond.RV dint know much about Awni’s family as she disliked her relatives apparently. He just knew her family was very rich and were some sort of zamindars in west-bengal.It didn’t concern him.
His eyes fell on an envelope on the dining table.It was well decorated.
RV: hey! Wats dat? Can I chek it out?Awni shrugged n he opened it.
“AWNI SENGUPTA”RV: hmmmm….its a marriage invitation card! Ur relative…? West Bengal ka address hai…Awni: yup! My cousin Akriti’s marriage in April. Invited me and whoever else I want to invite.
RV: Cool…yaar abhi April me chutti hai…CAT ka kitna preparation karenge. Chalte hain na wahan. Maza aayega!Awni: R u crazy?RV: kyun yaar! Seriously…that is if im invited…Awni: that’s not a prob. Im asked to get my friends too. Waise bhi mera ghar hai. Kisi ko bhi bulaoon….but I don wanna go…RV: Awni…kyun bhagti hai tu inse?Awni: bhagne ki baat nahin hai…there r sum things I wud prefer to forgetRV: iss tarah kayaron jaise unse mooh morke?(touching her weak point)Awni: No ways! Mai kayar nahin hoon…its just dat…RV: chal na phir…I bet it will be fun…Awni: lekin Raj…RV: plsssssss…Awni: thik haiRV: yippeeeeeeee!!!!Awni: aur nandini ko bhi le chalte hain. Bichari medical parte parte thak gayi hai. Uski bhi chutti hai uss time.
Nandini was RV’s cousin…and a close friend of Awni’s too.RV: good idea. Aaj shaam ko Sonu Nigam ke function me mill rahein hain. Tab use bata denge.Awni: ok…thanx for reminding about the function…RV: ya…n pls try to dress up like a homo sapienAwni: WHAT!!!RV: kuch nahi….jaane do…
Btw ye shaadi hai kahan.Awni: hamari pushtak zameen par. We wil have to take a bus from Kolkata.It’s a small village called Amer…
AMER…naam sunke hi RV ko aisa laga mano a 440v current passed through him. It was a feeling which he couldn’t define, and passed away before he could even comprehend it. Confused he shook his head like a puppy, as if to shake off the odd feeling…
Rv: amer…(tastin da name on his lips) hmmm….so wen do v leave?Awni: april 1st week me hi Calcutta ki flight leni paregi…n from der bus n horse cart…RV: sounds cool…Awni (in a distant tone); I guess so…
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Suraj hua maddhamChand jalne lagaAasman ye haiKyu pighalne laga
Mai thehra rahaZameen chalne lagiDhadhka ye dilSaans thamne lagi
Kya ye mera pehla pehla pyar hai…Sajna…kya ye mera pehla pehla pyar hai….
His mellifluous voice echoed around the stage as the crazed fans gave a standing ovation to Sonu Nigam…
The trio (RV, Awni n Nandini) were havin a blast and joined the applause as the show ended.After the show, all ppl flocked towards the exit. It was a narrow exit barricaded by guards for security checking. So as too many ppl tried to move out of it at same time, it caused a bottle neck and everyone was caught up in a huge bustling and jostlin crowd. In the pressure of shoving ppl, RV got little separated from Awni n Nan…
He managed to get out of da exit and immediately saw a small crowd gathering in a corner. He heard someones voice shouting and with a dread enterd da group of ppl to see what was happening as he recognized the angry voice of his best frend.
In middle of da group Awni was shouting her head off at a sweating middle aged guy as Nandini half in tears tried to pull her away.
He asked a nearby woman
RV: kya ho raha hai yahan?Woman: uss kambakht ne uss larki ko cheda (nandini). Bhid me galat tarike se choone ki koshish ki…to uski frend uss bande ko acchi firing de rahi hai. Deserves it!
Acchi firing was an understatement.
Awni: U BLOODY @@##@$!!! Samjhte kya ho apne aap ko. Baap ka maal hai kya larkiyan. Kuch bhi karoge?Man: nahi …maine kya kiya?Awni: kya kiya? Nautanki saala…himmat kaise hui teri…Man: dekhiye aap mujhe aise insult nahi kar sakti…Awni: ABE! Teri to…(holds his collar as two flusterd police men come der. RV decides to intervene…not to support Awni, but save the poor man…he was nearly choking!!!)Police: kya ho raha hai yahan
Awni pushes the man into da arms of police…Awni: Ye aadmi…Man: mujhe bachaiye…Police: kya hua?Awni: haan haan…isse bachaiye…mai Adam teasing kar rahi thi…(ppl around snigger)…bichara…Police: koi nahin…hum dekhenge isse…(undrstandin da situation)…aap shaant ho jayiye…
Huffing in rage and pulled by Nandini n now RV, Awni turns to leave…
Man: agar kuch galat kiya to thik hai. Sorry kehta hoon…
Awni suddenly snatches her arm outta RV s grip, goes to the man and kicks him hard…
Awni(very sweetly as the man howls): Ooopsie! Agar kuch galat kiya to thik hai. Sorry kehti hoon…
And walks away leaving sum ppl around clapping, da man howling and police gently smiling….RV and Nan follow her in exasperation.
They walk without a word to a nearby café. As they sit Nan bursts outNan: Bhaiyya! Aap to wahan the. Kuch kiya kyu nahi Awni ko rokne ke liye? Kitna scene create ho gayaRV: pehle socha roku Awni ko…uss admi ki jaan jo bachani thi!!! But then I thot da ass***e deserved itNan: I suppose so…tho I wudnt hav dared to con front in public…let aside kick him!
A small silence follows…Nan: Awni…kick awesum tha waise…
And all burst out laughing!!!
Awni(as all quiet down): gals shud protest Nan…u cant ignore…RV: point! I agree…but Awni, thoda zyada nahin ho gaya?Awni: ummm…maybe, jus lost temper….tho I don repent itNan: neither do I actually…mazaa aa gaya !RV: Awni n her action sequence…
As all laughed some more…
Nan: hey btw RV bhai told me abt da marriage invite to ur home place. Awesum idea! Lets plan it in details…RV: yah!....
And dey discuss da plans, Awni not participatin as exitedly as others…
Time flied, and Awni and RV were busy in preparing for CAT exam…also because during the marriage they wont be able to study.Nandini was as usual goin crazy with her internship…after all doctor banna mazak nahin. Soon it was time….
welcome to subhash Chandra international airport, kolkata. Temp outside is 34 deg celcius. Kingfisher airlines wishes all its passenger a happy stay. Thank you
The trio stepped out of da plane onto the hot turf. Last of all RV jumpd off da stairs. A brown leather jacket, deep blue denims, white polo neck t-shirt, suede shoes, designer goggles…hair messed up (as usual)…Awni felt her insides constrict suddenly and unexpectedly at him lookin so unbearable handsome. And she was surprised at this involuntary reaction of her senses, and shook it off…
Soon they collected their luggage and set out for the hotel they booked for their stay in kolkata.
RV: whoa….nice place! Iv never been here…Nandini: me either…but im mostly lookin forward to the food….yummm!RV: yeah, bong cuisine is da best part…Awni: don think u guys wil get much time to eat in kolkata. Today evening we wil take the bus to Amer.RV: hmmm….stil lunch to kar sakte hai,,,
A short rest in the hotel, some leg pulling, a delicious lunch…spl RV ate so much, both gals were exasperated…!Soon they were aboard the bus rolling into the village scenery with the setting sun as the backdrop…
RV takes out his guitar and strums a tune…
Baatein kuch ankahi si, kuch ansuni siHone lagi…Kabu, dil pe raha na , hasti hamari, khone lagi…Ho ho ho hoHo oo ooHo oo oo
Shayad yahi hai pyarShayad yahi hai pyar….
Nandini: (sigh) lifes beautiful…RV: yeah sure…
But Awni dint comment…
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Some distance away….
“O! O! O! jaldi karo! Next gana ‘O’ se gaana hai…cmon ppl”“arre Lux, sochne to de…”
Another bus, another dusty road, another group of ppl…A game of antakshari was goin on, all were stuck on an alphabet…
Opponent team : O 1….O 2….O 3…
A messy lukin gal in shorts and dark hair was trying to rev up her team…
O 4…“arre…socho fast…”“Lux! Tu hi soch na…”
Da gal , Lakshmi; called Lux by all shook her headLux: mera stock khatam
O 5…O 6….
Lux: LARA! Tu bhi help karna…
Her name being shouted out woke her from her self imposed hypnosis. Aloof from the throng around, she was idly staring out of the bus window. Drinking in the dusty scenery now bloodied with the setting sun rays…The wind whipped her long tresses and ruffled her white duppatta…making it fly on her face and cover her eyes…
Woken from a trance…she pulled of the dupatta…to reveal those same startling jade eyes…as green as grass covered with fresh dew…as intense as a storm…as hypnotizing as a crystal ball….
Lara: kya hua? (in a soft trilling voice)Lux: “o” se gana hai…JALDI!
O 7Lara: o…o…Lux: haan! Haan! Hum bhi jante hain…”o!” aage bol…Lara: ufff…tu chup reh pehle…sochne de…o…
O 8…O 9…
Their was no time to think any more…she sung the first thing that came to her mind…
In a clear sweet voice, the landscape was stroked by the same melody it had missed so much over the long years….
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya
Pal palAankhen dhoonde tujhePal palRaahen take teriJanmon janmon kiSadiyon sadiyon kiPyasi hai intezaar meri
Tere binaSoona lage ye mannTere binaAb na chale dhadhkan
Ab to aa bhi jaAb to aa bhi jaTeri diwaniTeri jogan pukaareAb to aa bhi ja
Na roke samayNa roke zamaanaNa roke mautNa roke koi bahana
Ab to aa hi jaAb hone do MilanTujh sang preet lagakarDil haari mai sajan
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya…
Everyone inda bus was lost in the mesmerizing tranquility of the song…Breaking the silence
Lux: whoa man! That was kewl…kiss movie ka gaana hai? How cum maine nahi suna?Lara: wo…ye gana…well…I don’t know! Pata nahi kahan suna ye gana maine…as if it came spontaneously from widin me…I don’t know…Lux: tu aur teri weirdness…job hi ho, WE WON!!! Yipeee…
Cheers around…Lux: so wats da next plan?Guide: as instructed by ur college, the bus will go upto Kharagpur. From their pairs of students will be made and they will pick up a destination from these chits. Whichever place u get, u wil travel their and do ur project-research on that place. So students, make ur group and pick up a chit…
Lux: me and Lara…register usGuide: ur name is “me”?Lux: very funny! Its Lakshmi Aravind Ayappa Venugopalan Swaminathan Rajnikantam Srinivasan…. and Lara Gupta…Guide: (gaping at her) ummm…only two ppl in a group…Lux: do hi to hai…shes Lara Gupta and I am Laksh….Guide: haan haan…samajh gaya…aap khud hi naam likh lijiye…
As Lara stood laughing at the mans expressions…Lux: Lara…u pick up the chit…Lara (picks up and reads the chit, with a odd feeling…) AMER….(a/n: wat else did u expect?!!!)
The bus finally halted and the trio disembarked onto a kaccha sadak. It lead to a village at walkin distance and a 2 storey builing stood imposingly ahead on the path.
RV: so where r we?Awni: Barrackpore…Nan: wohi history wala Barackpore? Jahan 1857 ka revolution ka kuch to timepass hua tha?RV: memory hai re tera boss…warna history ka to “h” bhi mujhe yaad nahi…Nan: aise hi doctor nahi bani hoon…so awni dear, wat now?Awni: barrackpore is an army cantontment and the closest we can get to Amer in bus. From here we will have to take a horse cart. We wil spend the night here itself, in that dak bungalow ahead…kafi der ho chuki hai. Kal subah nikal jayenge Amer ke liye….RV: horse cart? Wow! Medieviel times ki tarah…this is gonna be fun!Awni: chale abhi? Im sooooo tired…RV: me too….but bhook lagi hai…Awni n Nan 2 gether: WHAT!!!!!![:o]Awni: hayo rabba! Abhi thori der pehle hi to Rahu ki tarah kha kar aaye ho…n phir itni jaldi bhook bhi lag gayi?Nan: don believe it bhai! Kolkata ke uss hotel ke manager ne to haath bhi khare kar diye the ki “khana khatam”…!!![:p]RV(sheepishly): yahi to khane –pine ki umar hai! Aur tum nahi jante, barte bacchon ke khane pe nazar nahi dalte! [:p][:p]
Awni: huh! Its so unfortunate…tum iss rate se khaoge to West Bengal me pakka akal parne wala hai…RV: thik hai! Thik hai! Thora zyada kha kya liya…Nan: “thora”??? [:p]RV: whatever! Tum log to tang khiche hi ja rahe ho! Mere feelings ka to khayal kar lete…sob! [:(]Awni: oy nautanki ki tanki! Itna melodrama hazam nahi ho raha!RV: melodrama! Iss tarah mera dil tore ja rahe ho….hayyyy!!! Awni…dekh li teri yaari…[:(][:p]Awni: ooooffff!!! Kya karoon mai iss pagal ka….
Isi tarah larte jhagarte they reach the dak bungalow…after getting freshend they go to the village for dinner where da gals, in embarrasement, wished they dint know RV …khaye hi ja raha tha!!!Tired from the journey and RV tired of eating hardly realized when they reachd the bungalow, went to sleep and got ready early morning for their horse cart…Time really seemed to fly as within 24hrs of landing in Kolkata, they were on their way to Amer….
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Pairs of students were being dispatched with info regarding their project spots and necessary instructions were being given by the guide.
Lux: hum tayyar hain…so wat r d travel instruction?Lara: the guide said there are two ways to go there. One is by road, to Barackpore from Howrah by bus and walk from there or some mean of village transport…or we can take a launch on Hooghly. Amer is a natural port acc the info sheet. So we can dock there too…
Lux: id prefer to sail…yaar maza aayega…Lara: me agrees with u…to phir launch ka intezam karna hogaLux: k…Guide: hey gals! Planning ho gayi? Accha apko ek baat batani thi. Amer was an old and prosperous kingdom once and is still under influence of royalty. Once u reach their , ur supposed to take royal permission for ur research. I have heard rite now Amer is rule by a regent, u hav to talk to him…Lux: manage kar lenge…Guide: yeah! Im sure of that…but stil I wil advise u not to introduce urself with ur full name…
And the guide left with a laughing Lara and a murderous looking Lux packin for Amer….
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The horse cart stopped finally and a disgruntled and messy Rajveer got down stretching himself, followed by an equally tired Nandini
RV: hayyy! Nan, tere paas pain killer hai kya? Kamar toot raha hai is cart ride se….baap re…n da road ws horrid!Nan: upar se wo stupid landslide beech me aa gaya! Shaam hone ko aayi hai, kitna late ho gaye…
“ to kya express highway and mercedes expect kar rahe the?”Awni lithely jumpd off the cart. A beige body huggind t-shirt and black jeans, RV thot for once she was lookin a little presentable…though he wish she would try to open her hair or something. Always that stupid birds nest…Come to think of it, he din remember ever seeing her with any other hairstyle! Anyways, nothing to do abt it…Awni to Awni hi rahegi!!!
RV: hey! Wats dat noise?A loud clang of bells rung nearby and chatter of ppl cud be heard. It was as if a procession was afoot…
Da trio went forward and RV n Nan who were ahead took the turn beyond the small hut where the cart had stopped. They were stunned at what lay ahead….
The scene ahead seemd to transfer them into medieval times. RV n Nandini watched in awe as a huge royal chariot appeared pulled by two proud horses. On both sides the chariot was accompanied by rows of men and women shoutin cheers and carryin puja thalis and blowin shankhs and all. Ahead of da procession was a tall old man in royal garb and a turban. He had a sword on his flank as well as carried another beautiful and regal blade in a sheath decorated with jewels in his hand. On his side was a middle aged lady with a serene face and her simple sari was well adorned with royal gems.
Nan: whoa! Wats dis….RV: welcum procession to hai…but definitely not for us! None of us r royalty right? Nan: yup…right Awni? Awni?
Awni appered around da corner and looked at the procession with an uncomprehendable expression on her face.
RV: ye kya ho raha hai Awni?
She dint answer, dint need to as few metres from them the procession stopped.
The lady looked at them with tears in her eyes. RV wondered what he had done to get such reaction. The man strode towards the bewildered group…(atleast RV n nan were bewildered)…RVs attention shifted to Awni now who stepped forward…But it was not the act of stepping forward that attracted his attention. It was the way Awni carried herself, straight n proud.
Before they could understand anything, the man fell on his knees before Awni and held the royal sword up to her
Man: mai, Arindam; Amer ka regent (sorry, iski hindi nahi aati), Amer ki janta ka rakshak aur iske Rajghar ka zimmedar; Amer ki Rajkumari Awni ka sahriday swagat karta hoon aur apna dhan, man, tan unki sewa me arpit karta hoon.
Ignoring sharp gasps of shock from her frends, Awni accepted the royal sword, unsheathed it and taped da naked blade on Arindams shoulders…
Awni: Rajkumari Awni ko apki sewa swikar hai…
The man stood up and stood aside for the lady to come up to Awni with a puja thali. Uski aarti utarti hai, Rajtilak lagati hai n den stares at her widout a word.Awni bends down to touch her feet.
Lady: sada safal raho…Awni: kaisi ho bua….?
Lady:(slowly) to itne saal baad bhi hum apko yaad hain…Awni: kaise bhool sakti hoon…bua, hume maaf kar dijiye…ma-baba ke guzarne ke baad man hi man humne saara arop humare pariwar par laga diya tha. Socha kabhi wapas nahi ayenge, par bhul gaye the ki Amer hamara adhikar hi nahi, zimmedari bhi hai. Rajkumari hone ke karan hume apne gamo ko bhula kar, Amer ke bare me sochna chahiye tha….lekin…
Lady: jo hua so hua. Isme aapka bhi koi kasoor nahi. Niyati ko yahi manzoor tha. Aapke mata-pita ka prem jab yahan mani nahi gayi to wo bhaag gaye. Rajkumar ke bhagne se maharaj toot gaye, par phir bhi apne putr aur putr vadhu ko swikar nahi kiya. Aakhri saans jab chal rahi thi, unhe apne ekmatr putr ki yaad to aani hi thi. Lekin tab pata chala ki wo dono accident me mare gaye….isi shok me wo chal base….aur tab se amer apka intezar kar rahi hai…
Arindam: ye sab baatein baad me hogi. Rajkumari aur unke saathi thake honge. Chaliye, Rajmahal prasthan kijiye…
Awni nods and den seems to suddenly remember her frens who seemd to hav vanished into the shadows as dey silently watchd the conversation; with expressions as if der proffesors were explainin calculus!
Lady: aap apne saathiyon ko bhi layin hai? Hame milwayengi nahi?Awni: who…ye hai Nandini, aur Rajveer…hamare sabse pyare dost….Lady: aapka Amer me swagat hai…chaliye…
Dey move towards the chariot and Awni starts to go when dey notice da two did not move…
Awni (smiling at der shock): now wud u both stop gapin like goldfishes out of water and move?
Widout waitin for reply and wid a smug smile she strode on towards da chariot…and da two at a loss of words followed…
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Those beautiful green eyes stared at the thin yellow line in the distance dat was the beach of amer. The briny wind blowing her long hair. The sunlight sparkled as brilliant diamonds on da clear sea. Now da beach was comin closer and da green meadows along with the sand was becoming clearer.But that was not what was attracting Lara’s attention…instead it was da ominous lookin black rock that stood lone and menancing at some distance…she didn’t know why, but it made shivers run down her spine…
Lara: wo kya hai?
Nawik: use hum amerwasi “pathor matha” kehte hai. Waise to ek purane mandir ka remains hai. Lekin uske aas paas koi nahi jata. Khatarnak kahaniyan hai uski…
Lux: Awesum! V can begin our project frm there…Nawik: nahin…wahan mat jayiye…khatre se khali nahin. Uske paas ke patharon se takrakar nau toot jate hain. Wahan tak pahunchna hi khudkushi hai. Aur pahunch bhi gaye to, kehte hain wahan bhoot hai…
Lux: bhoot!!! Wow…
Nawik: (makin a face at lux’ casual reactions) meri baat maan lijiye…do premiyon ki maut hui thi….
Suddenly shuts up as if he head said sumthin terrible and continues rowin wid silence.
Lara: haan…aage kahiye na…do premi?Nawik: hum yahan Amer me uss kahani ki baat nahi karte…panauti mani jaati hai…
After dat how much ever lara n lux insisted, da boatman didn’t utter a word abt da old fable….
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“RAAJKUMARI !!! ur a BLOODY PRINCESS….”
Awni: ders nothing “bloody” abt bein a princess…RV: tu chup baith! How cum u din tell us? N me…im suppoosd to b ur “best frend” rite?Nan: I agree…I din expect ull hide sumthin so imp from RV bhaiyya…Awni: arre yaar…mai to bass…RV: rehne de Nandini…dost to bass hum mante the…thanx for disillusioning me Awni…
They were sitting in da royal guestroom. Throughout da journey to da palave RV didn’t talk to Awni. On bein alone he finally burst.
He stood up n made to go. Awni caught his hand, pulled him to sit down beside her and gave him a warm hug.
Awni: Raj….im sorry…pls try to understand…Rv: do YOU understand how much betrayd n hurt im feelin rite now?Awni: Raj , I dint mean to hurt u…u no dat…mai ye sach sirf tumse hi nahi, shayad khud se bhi chupa rahi thi….khud se hi bhaag rahi thi…I no u hav every rite to be mad at me…but…
She turns out her lips and makes a cute puupy face, her eyes wet (croc tears[:p])….
Awni: im shoooo shorrryyy…pleeejeee….shhorry!!!
Rv cudnt help but smile. U cant shout at sumone lukin so cute!
RV: thik hai! Thik hai! But u dare hide anything frm me ever again…
Hugs her back…
Nan: awww…..kitne cute ho tum dono…perfect jodi…I tell u , u both shud marry. Best couple…
She said it casually…but after sayin so realisd da discomfort she had caused suddenly… both broke apart and Awni specially blushd as if aware suddenly of RV n shifted off…
Awni: kuch bhi kehti hai…Nan: no, I meant…wo aise hi keh diya…
But RV was as usual cool…it din bother him. Even in colg ppl had teased dem a lot, n he was usd to it…
RV: not a bad idea…aur waise bhi Awni se koi aur sane banda to shaadi karega nahi…Awni: oh! Ur so kind to worry abt me! Im honored…(and she threw a glass at him wich he caught deftly)
Tabhi awni ki bua enters…and da group grows somber to respect her…
Bua: awni beta…Awni: aap ne taklif kyu ki? Mujhe bula liya hota…Rv: (in awni’s ears); sheesh! Kitna filmy dialogue hai…AAWWWW!!!
Awni had steppd hard on his feet…
Bua: kya hua beta?Rv: ku..kuch nahi…(glowers at now grinning Awni)Bua: job hi ho…Awni, hum ye batane aaye the ki kal subah Amer ka varshik mela prarambh ho raha hai. Aapke liye humne dawat bhi rakhi hai uske baad. Samay par pahunch jjayiyega…aapke hukm ke baad hi officially mela shuru hoga…
Awni: jaisa aap kahen. Hum pahunch jayenge…Bua: aur aap logon ko bhi aana hai. (to rv n nan)…aur koi aur taklif ho to dasiyon ko zarror batayega…hum abhi prasthan karte hain…
She leaves…
Nan: mela! Yaar,bahut maza ayega….but don u think dis “dasi” thing is too old fashioned…Awni: khaak dasi…sab pensioned naukar hain…do chutti mahine me, high salary…RV: cool! Accha side profession hai! Agar mera kuch na ho future me, to rajkumari Awni, aap hume aapke mahal me naukri dengi?Awni: itne alsi aur bekar naukar ki koi zaroorat nahi hume…RV: oy! Tu to rehne de….
Da camera leaves da laughin n fightin trio to a pair of girls landing on Amer’s dockyard….
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Nawik: kisi se bhi pooch lijiye Ramu ke motel ke liye (a/n: ramu ka motel?[:o] sad name…) rehne ki yahan sabse sarwottam vyavasta hai…
Lux: hum dhoond lenge…Lara: aur waise ye Amer ke regent kahan milenge? Unse ijazat jo leni hai…Nawik: yahan ka regant to bara kharoos hai! Pardesi unhe pasand nahi…na kar de shayad…lekin maine jahan tak suna hai, Amer ki rajkumari Awni aayi hui hai. Wo khus sheher se hai. Yadi wo mil jaye, to bina mushkil ke aapko ijazat mil jayegi…
Lara: Awni…kahan milengi wo?Nawik: wo to hum nahin jante…lekin kal se Amer ke varshik mela ka arambh ho raha hai. Aapki kismet acchi rahi to wo wahan mil jayengi…
Lux: thanx man! Uv been so helpful dude!Nawik: [:o] ji…?Lara: wo ye aise hi kuch bhi bolti hai…shukriya…Nawik: koi baat nahi…
Da gals leave for da motel…
………………………………………………………………………………………….
The two girls stood basking in the dim moonlight. Saying nothing. Perhaps lost in their own thoughts.
Nandini: kya soch rahi hai….?Awni: kuch nahi…wo aise hi…Nan: bhaiyya ke bare me…?
Awni: haan…nahi…mera matlab hai…Raj ko abhi tak wapas aa jana chahiye tha…kab ka nikla tha “sunset” ki photos lene ke liye…Nan: yeah…aa jayega wapas…but dats not wat u were thinkingAwni: wat do u mean…Nan: tu nahi janti?...Awni: seriously darling…im clueless…Nan: hmmm…accha ek baat poonchoo to sach batayegi?Awni: shoot…Nan: but I want an honest answerAwni: tu janti hai Awni jhoot nahi bolti
Silence for a minute…
Nan: tu Rajveer bhaiyya se pyar karti hai na?
More silence follows. And this time it is much longer. Awni stares straight ahead, into infinity, lost in the question…or perhaps the answer…Did the question shock her? Perhaps not really…Did she know the anwer? Maybe yes…Did she want to accept it?...Definitely NOT!
Atleast she hadn’t bothered to answer this question when several times her idle mind and confused heart had asked her the same. But was there any point in running away from so obvious feelings?
Nan: jawab nahi diya tune…Awni: kya mere jawab dene se kuch badal jayega? Ya kuch fark parega?Nan: very diplomatic…but I want a straight yes or no…
Few more heartbeats pass…
Awni: yes…Nan: I guess I knew it. But what I really don’t know is why don’t u approach for something a little deeper than friendship?Awni: ur “deep” talk is definitely not going deep in my brain! We r best frends. What more do I need.Nan: but…
“Hey gals!”
He was back.
RV: u people should hav come wid me! Kya awesome scenery thi. And the sunset made me feel so nostalgic! As if sitting on the same meadows I have watched the same sun set so many times…very weird feeling…but pics r gonna be great!...hey! main tab se bole jar aha hoon. Y aren’t u ppl respondin?
Awni: nahi wo bas…shaant mahol ka maza utha rahe the…achanak itne irritating disturbance se used to hone me time to lagta hai [:p]RV: (stickin out his tongue) dunno y I even bother to talk to you…[:x]Nan: that’s because u simply cant do without her…
RV: (jestfully…but overlooks completely the serious tone) what crap! Who needs Awni? Not me surely! Shes just a pain…hai na Awni [:p]
Awni (her mind elsewhere, her heart wounded): yeah sure…anyways, kal mele ke liye jaldi ready hona hai. Lets go to sleep.
She just leaves without a word. Nandini too just sighs and follows Awni leaving a thoroughly confused and bewildered RV behind, he shrugs off…
“GIRLS…!!!”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
“hey sis! I hope ye dress acchi lag rahi hai mujhpe. Im not much into traditional wear”
RV n Nandini were ready for the mela. RV lookin dead drop handsome in a simple but elegant white-gold embroidered kurta pyajama.Nandini wore a designer salwar suit.
Nan: ok I guess…RV: just ok? How rude man…Nan: mai isse zyada tariff nahi kar sakti. Handsome, hot, sexy, charismatic…ye sab sunna hai to Awni se pooch lo…[:p]RV: yeah, why not! Tarifen to zaroor milengi…but aise adjectives ko censor karna parega!!! Anyways…wo hai kahan…Nan: tayyar hoti hogi. I really hope she wears something sensible today. Army print pants aur uske trademarked silly top me ek “rajkumari” dressed hui to bas samajh lo…RV: lolls…! Me too ummeed karta hoon…Nan: aapke ummeedon par paani ferte hui taklif ho rahi hai…
RV: what?[:o]
But he follows her shocked gaze to the doorway where Awni was standing…In a frayed jeans…and a black…
RV: POKE MON SHIRT!!!!!???? [:o][:x][:o][:x] ur gonna wear a POKEMON SHIRT! Princess in a POKE MON SHIRT!!!
He collapses wordlessly on the couch…
RV: hey bhagwan! Ye kiss pagal larki ke pale para hoon!Awni: why? Is it that bad? Its new and all…looks smart too…n most of all comfy hai! April ki garmi me cotton t-shirt is best…
Nan: ooooffffff!!! [][][:x][:x][][]
Awni: (adamant…as usual) look guys! I hav no idea whats ur prob! But ill wear what I want to. Cant help it if anyones troubled with it. Now im leaving. U ppl come with me if u want to.
She storms of…forcing the horrified but helpless RV n Nan to follow the POKEMON shirted princess….
…………………………………………………………………………………………
They were at the fair. It was full of life and colors. Ppl enjoying every moment. And so were the trio.Though RV n Nan looked uncomfy at the stares they got from the local ppl. They were lookin foreign, still their traditional garb didn’t make them look too out of place.But it was Awni who got the stares.
From disbelief to disapproval to amusement to shock…
She stood out from the throng as a different species. Yet she was hardly bothered. And went on chatting and laughing as usual.
Awni: I have never been to a traditional fair before. It cool…eh?Nan: u bet! Btw u just met ur bua…when I n RV went for some drinks, u were talking to her…what did she say?
Awni: the usual…RV: the “usual”? u mean she didn’t comment on…er…ur awesum sense of clothing?Awni: u really are mean Raj! [:x] well, no. actually at first she did look a bit shocked. But when she asked me and I explaind the comfort, she just laughed it off…RV: I bet she heard the stubbornness in ur voice n realisd telling u anything is similar to…what do they say?...yeah! “bhains ke aage bansuri bajana”!!!Nan: bhaiyya…its “been”, not bansuri…RV: kya fark padta hai? Bhains ko as if difference pata hai! [:p]Awni: sab bhains tumhari tarah nahi hote hain Raj…
RV: [:x][:x][:x]Nan: lolls…ill get something to eat…
RV turns his face away from Awni as Nan leaves towards food stalls, as if in mock rage and his eyes fall on a girl…
His breath catches in his chest. A powerful sense of dejavu fills him. As if a strong force had blown him away to a diff place, a diff time…
His sense came back in a moment but still his nerves were shattered…He could say only one word…
“Gazal”…
Awni: kya?RV: Gazal…Awni: kaunsa Gazal…?Raj…(shakes him to his sense)
RV looks excited and confused and happy at the same time.
Awni: kya hua???[:o]
RV: wo larki Awni…wahan par dekho…
Awni follows RVs gaze n her eyes settle on Lara. She was watching the puppet show…her beautiful face filled with joy…
Awni: acchi dikhti hai…looks foreign like us…but to kya?RV: ye wohi larki hai…jise main sapno me dekhta hoon…Awni: WHAT! I think ur getting delusional…how can that be possible?RV: mai sach keh raha hoon! Pata nahi kaise n all…but ye wohi hai…ill bet everything…oh hell! N shes SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!Awni: whoa! Chill Raj…so uv finally lost it! Congo!RV: im serious Awni…shes da same girl…Gazal…Awni: how do u know her name is Gazal?RV: no idea…but I just know it…
Awni: ok! I don belie vim actually humorin u…but look ill ask that girl if her name is Gazal…n intro us…or rather intro u…ok?RV: ur such a SWEETHEART!!! Baby, I love you…Awni: (in a soft voice) kash…RV: u said something…?Awni: nope…
She goes towards the girl and taps her on the shoulder. She turns, her jade green eyes looking mesmerizing…
Lara: yes…Awni: umm…hi! Well, u look stranger here so I thot ill talk to u…so hi! Im Awni…Lara: hullo Awni…please to meet u…im Lara…
Awni smiled to herself…Awni: umm, n this is my friend, Rajveer…n Raj, this is LARA…
Looks at RV with a triumphant “i-told-u” look…
But RV doesn’t notice it, neither does Lara…They just stare into each others eyes as if not belonging to the present…both utterly lost…
Lara did not know what was happening to her. Or what was that weird effect the stranger was having on her. But her brain seemed to work at breakneck speed n heart came to a standstill…He came close to her and they just stared as if hypnotized at each other.
The air was charged with visions n chemistry…Neither Lara nor RV cud understand it…but it was deliciously beautiful…
Awni looked from RV to Lara n back to RV like watchin a tabletennis match, seeing their lost n dazed expression…
Awni: HULLOOOOOO!!!!
Both were shaken up from their daydream n blushed simultaneously…
Lara extended her hand to RV shyly…RV took it…(as if awni didn’t exist there)Lara: hi…Veer…Awni: (bit annoyd) Its RAJveer n not just “veer”.
But again she was totally ignored.
RV: hi…
Again both were losing themselves in each others presence, but before they went too far, awni pulled them back…
Awni: (in a loud voice) ummm…nice to meet u Lara, see u later... Raj, v need to go now…Takes his arm n pulls him.
RV: yeah…well…ok Lara…see you…um….byeLara: bye…
Awni n RV make to leave, jus then something apart from RVs presence strikes Lara.
Lara: hey Awni!Awni: yup…
Lara(looks her up n down as if seing her in new light n spl her pokemon shirt): umm…do u happen to be the princess of Amer by any chance? I heard her name is Awni too…
Awni(a bit alert): yeah…im her…Lara: oh! (stares at her t-shirt again)…actually me n my frend r here for a project on media studies abt life in villages…n ineed ur permission to take up research for the same in amer…if u don’t mind…
Awni: oh yeah! Sure! Go ahead! It’s a free country, u don need my permission.Lara: thanks…Awni: see you…(looks at RV n suddenly on inspiration) n by da way, theres a wedding of my cousin soon. Im inviting u n ur frend too. Actually tomoro happens to be a musical ceremony in celebration too…sangeet type…do come, ull get material for ur project too…
Lara: ooh thanx! Id luv to…ill be there…Awni: tc…
Literally drags away now speechless RV.
When they were at a distance n out of the hubbub she pulls his ears.
RV: OUCH! (finally shaken up)Awni: ok! So now ur awake! Welcome to the real world…[:x]
But he just smiled.
Awni: what the hell Raj? U were practically drooling on her, n she was no less…but still I sensed ur “liking” for her n invited her…RV: I can never thank u enuf for that…Awni: since when did u need to thank me?...Raj. what was wrong? U generally don go so gaga over good looking girls.
He smiles once more, sighs n engulfs Awni in a hug…
(with a twinkle in his eye) RV: methinks im in LUV with her…n its an awesome feeling…
With a happy look he moves towards the exit where nandini was beckonin them.
Awni hangs back, her heart broken: “Don’t I know what an awesome feeling it is Raj…how beautiful…n how painful too…”
Nan:hold on! Hold on! Tell me again…r u SURE she was the girl u saw in ur dreams? It is just not possible!!!
They had reached the palace and RV told Nandini all that had happened. Awni helped too, but didn’t say much. She was oddly quiet. She had accepted her friends happiness without expressing any hint of her own heartbreak.But Nandini read her pain even if she hadn’t uttered a word and Nan simply couldn’t accept RVs “love” for that strange girl!
RV: I don get it! What is ur prob? Why r u reacting so strongly?Nan: because ur being irrational!RV: perhaps ur rite! But love is irrational! I don’t care…the point I know rite now is that im in love with Lara…
Nan: WAT DA HELL DO U MEAN BY THAT! How can u suddenly fall in “love” with a total stranger and absolutely overlook the feelings….
In her anger she didn’t think what she was saying but Awni caught her hand and silenced her with a look. Still in rage n frustration Nan shook her head at Awni…
Nan: u both r pathetic…
RV looked from one girl to another, totally confused at Nan’s unfinished sentence.
RV: wat wer u sayin Nan? Finish it…overlook what feelings? Tum dono me kya khichdi pak rahi hai…
Nandini gave an angry look to Awni n left the room.
RV: I simply don’t understand whats wrong with her…and what was she saying? I know u know something…bata na Awni…Awni: nothing Raj…RV: pls quit it! U know vry well that u cant lie to me. To koshish bhi mat karnaAwni (takes a deep breath): ok ill tell u the truth…there is something wrong.RV: yes! So I was right!Awni: yeah u wer right…something is wrong according to us abt ur new “love calling”…but it doesn’t concern u n neither I nor Nan will tell u about it…so its better if u forget it. Matter finished. The end. No more discussion.RV: whoa! Dats the height of tyranny!
Awni gets up to leave when RV pulls her back into his arms. She couldn’t stop her heart from racing.
RV: (gently) Awni…don’t u think I noticed something is wrong with my best friend since we met Lara? N it is drivin me crazy to not know what it is. Pls…Awni: I think I was quiet clear. Yet I will repeat. I WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS TOPIC ANYMORE. Jo karna hai kar lo!
Her anger was misdirected n perhaps unfair. But she couldn’t help it.
They sat in silence for some moments on the couch. RV in his years with Awni was accustomed to her sudden outrages, but this time he felt it was different. It was more hurt than anger. And he couldn’t understand why.
Awni on the other hand felt her sudden anger cooling and being replaced with guilt. It was not his fault that she was in love with him! He didn’t deserve such behavior. He needed a friend now. He needed her. She couldn’t turn her face on him for selfish heartbreak.
She sighed, held her face in her hands for few secs, clearing her mind of all traces of hurt and “lost” love…and only concentrating on her friends happiness.
Awni: sorry Raj…shouldn’t have shouted out on you, dunno why I did so…RV: its ok. U hav more right than any one else to shout at me, even without reason. But still id like to know what is bothering u guys.Awni: arre, kuch nahi yaar…just that being skeptical and logical as usual, its difficult to accept this “gal of ma dreams” phenomenon! That’s it re…its all so sudden that we are not able to get over doubts…RV: that’s really it?
Awni made her best casual face. It was very difficult for her to lie to Raj. But for him she could do it.
Awni: that’s really all of it dear!RV: hmmm….i don’t blame u guys for the disapproval. It is weird I agree. But dil ka kya bharosa? Kab kispe aa jaye….Awni: yuck! Kis b-grade hindi film ka dialogue tha?[:p]RV: do u always have to make fun of my feelings? Hurt my sentiments…Awni: ooofff…melodrama shuru!RV: I know! Actually mai soch raha hoon ki I will apply for ekta kapoors dialogue writer…what say?Awni: Great idea! So finally you found something ur good at! Congrats…so u wont be as useless as a dead batRV: dead bat?[:o] aren’t bats always dead?Awni: I meant the chamgadar wala bat. Wo kala kala, pharpharake urne wala, furry, smelly, blind mammal!RV: uh…got it! Vivid description…though sounds more like ur future husband![:p]
Awni couldn’t give a scathing reply as her bua enters.
Awni: arre aap yahan…RV: (in a falsely high voice) aapne kyu taklif ki? Hume bulaliya hota…
Awni glowered at him as bua laughed.
Bua: beta, aasha hai aap logon ko yahan koi taklif nahi ho rahi.
RV: nahi bua ji! Bilkul nahi! Itna maza to sheher me kabhi aata hi nahi.Bua: sunkar accha laga. Aur mele ke anand bhi utthaye honge aapne.Awni: bahut. Typical vibrant and colourful village. Par pata nahin kyu, sab hume itne interest se dekh rahe the!RV: ab aise kapde pehnogi to what else do u expect!Awni: mujhe chirana band karoge?!![:x]Bua: waise baat galat nahin hai…Awni: (as bua and RV laugh) bua…AAP BHI!!!
Bua: khair; sangeet ki tayarriyan chal rahi hain. Shastriya sangeet aur nritya natikaon ka sama badha hai.RV: im really looking forward to it! Mujhe shastriya sangeet bahut pasand hai. N specially classical dance….(dreamily) traditional clothes aur gehnon me saji larkiyan, bhartiya sanskar, and enchanting beats of the tabla…nothings more beautiful and soulfull than classical dance. West can never rival our art and culture!
Awni: tum kab se aisi bhari-bharkam baatein karne kage?[:o]RV: mujhe bachpan se hi ye sab pasand tha…Awni: whatever…
Bua: thik hi kahan. Paschimi kala jitni bhi sundar ho, bhartiya sabhyata ki sundarta alag hi hai…
RV nods and gets up to fetch a glass of water for himself. As hes about to sip it…
Bua: mai aapse kuch kehna chahti thi Awni.Awni: ji kahiye…Bua: Sab kal kuch na kuch pesh kar rahen hain. To humne socha ki shayad humari Rajkumari koi nritye pesh kar degi.
RV choked on the water. Simply choked in a disgraceful fashion. The water going up his nose as he coughed. He managed to say a sorry to bua and turned pretending to cough. But what was shaking him was intense laughter.
Awni…and CLASSICAL DANCE!
He couldn’t laugh in Bua’s face. It would be insulting. But he felt his ribs will crack from holding back his laughter. He was so much busy in his coughing and keeping a serious face that he couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation. He only managed to hear a horrified “kabhi nahi! Mai nritya nahi kar sakti” from Awni.
Bua said something else and left with a crestfallen face.As soon as she was out of earshot, RV fell from the couch and rolled on the ground, spasming with intense laughter.
He kept on laughing like that for 10 mins as Awni stood with her hands on her hips.
Awni: ho gaya hasna? Ya aur baki hai?RV coming up for breath : I don’t believe she asked YOU to dance! Its as good as askin Gabbar Singh to ballet in a pink frock!!!(in a serious imitation of bua) “To humne socha ki shayad humari Rajkumari koi nritye pesh kar degi.” ….
He laughed some more as Awni went to the window, staring out into the dark night.
RV now able to control his laugh, or perhaps in fear of his lungs bursting with it!
RV: honestly it is so damn hilarious! AWNI and CLASSICAL DANCE! Someone who will die before wearing an earring or a skirt will do a classical dance! Poor lady…shes so illusioned that her “princess” is a girl!
Awni stared into nothingness. Lost in memories. Lost in a diff time. Diff place.
Softly…”but I AM a girl”….
RV: WHAT! Never thought ill hear u say that…(mocked to check her pulse and temperature)…are u ok? [:p]
When Awni didn’t reply, RV yawned n checkd his watch.
RV: its getting late. Mai sone ja raha hoon. U think deeply and contemplate about ur feminine origins. And perhaps prepare for ur “dance”…
He broke into some more giggles, hugged Awni goodnight and still chuckling left for his room.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
He had never before felt so self-conscious. He was well aware that generally girls found him acutely handsome, and his somewhat easy-laid back attitude and acceptance of his attractiveness added to his charisma. But today was a different story altoghether. Never had he felt so aware of himself and so desirous to look good. Not just good, the best. For his “first love”, he had to make the efforts.
He had spent the whole morning in deciding what to wear for the sangeet in the evening. And pissed off Awni and Nandini to no avail in again n again asking for their view. Confirming it. Deciding against it. Checking a new alternative. Again asking for opinion. Canceling it. And then lastly deciding what he had decided before.
He was intensely lucky that Awni was somewhat distracted today, else she would have surely eaten his head off in teasing him incredibly about his obsession with Lara. Yet he managed to irritate both girls so much that by noon they swore not to see his face before evening.
And now as the hour came near, RV steeped down the ornately decorated stairs of the main hall, finally wearing a black, silk sherwani heavily laden with golden embroidery;just ideal for the occasion. Complete with a golden dupatta, he was dazzling like a medieval time prince.
It was ROYALTY after all and he couldn’t help wondering in awe as he took in the intricately beautiful decorations. Traditional and bright. All around flowers and lamps decorated the huge hall. There at the end of the room was an open space which resembled a stage, though it wasn’t higher than ground level. At one corner of the stage, musicians sat playing several instruments. On the other end the bride sat giggling with her maids and friends, people sang and danced and chatted with glee.
But RV checked this all in one glance, he was looking for someone else.
Nan: hey bro! so finally u decided on the sherwani which Awni had selected for you first! Then what was the point of choosing so much.[:p]
RV made a face at her as he turned to her. She was looking quite nice in a peach-silver salwar suit.
RV: Hass lo. Hass lo. But when u see her ull realize it was worth it.Nan: (rolling her eyes) yup! I got it! Btw Awni ko dekha?RV: (mind else where, searching for the jade eyes that had haunted his dreams since ages) Nopes! Yahi kahin hogi…
Nan: (not noticing his lack of attention) bahut der se use nahin dekha…dunno WO aaj kya pehnegi…hope not Mickey mouse or Barbie t-shirt!
RV: hmmm…(lookin around)Nan: Bhaiyya! R u listening?[:x]RV: eh…what? No…sorry!Nan: I was saying I hope Awni doesn’t go for a Mickey or Barbie t-shirt today.
A bit of sense trickled into RVs eyes as finally he contemplated what Nan was saying.
RV: no ways! Awni ka bharosa nahin! Wo kuch bhi kar sakti hai! Actually mujhe aapne bare me itna na sochkar, uske liye koi “decent” dress select karna chahiye tha!Nan: so finally apne dost ki yaad aayi…[:x]RV: aur nahi to kya…Gazal…I mean Lara mere friends ko aise ajeeb kapro me dekhegi to kya impression parega? Already she was shocked by the earlier poke mon attire. I don’t want her to think I hang out with crazy ppl!
Nan was hurt on Awnis behalf.
Nan(coldly): Oh! Then I have a solution. Why don’t u disown “crazy” ppl like Awni as ur friend? Then u don’t have to feel embarrassed before ur “love”. After all friends like Awni are inconsequential before the beautiful Lara!!! [:x][:x][:x]
RV a bit shaken and stung: cmon Nan…u know no one means more to me than Awni! I mean…
“VEER”…
The delicious trill of her voice again honeyed up his senses as all logic seemes to leave him. He turned to see Lara appear with another girl.But his eyes were only on her.
She simply looked gorgeous! A olive green ghagra-choli adorned her milky complexion and complemented her eyes. As she smiled shyly, she took his breath away.
Coming up to him…Lara: veer…hi!RV(somehow finding his voice and managing to close his mouth after a nudge from Nan): h…hi! How r u?Lara: mai thik hoon…aur aap…?RV: (too enthusiastically as Nan rolled her eyes) Absolutely fit!Lara: um…this is my friend LakshmiLux: hey! Lara se tumhare bare me bahut suna. N truly ur more handsome than she described! Wo to kal se bole hi ja rahi hai…
Lara nudged her to shut up as both she and RV blushed, too aware of each other and the sizzling electricity passing between them.
Nan: I can understand ur feelings, Lakshmi. Me was bored to death by RVs long descriptions of Lara too. Though I must say it was well deserved n even more perhaps.Btw apparently RV is too tongue tied to speak in ur presence Lara (at this got a shriveling look fromRV), but hi! Im Nandini. RVs sister. Cousin actually.
Lux: hi!Lara: nice to meet you…and where is ur friend? The princess Awni?Lux: I heard abt her too. Pokemon shirt one right?
Lara frowned at her friends lack of tact.
But though RV was too lost in Lara’s eyes, he didn’t know why he felt a surge of anger when Lux innocently made fun of his friend.
RV: each person has their own beauty. And the beauty and simplicity and liveliness Awni possesses is unique! Inspite of her outer bearing, no one can match her inner self!
Lux: hey chill! No offence meant!RV: none taken (a bit ashamed at his outburst)
But he didn’t notice the slight frown that crossed Lara’s face and the look of surprised admiration on Nan’s.
Lux: anyways id luv to meet the bride. Anyone cumin?Nan: I will. Lets go. U guys?RV: we will join soon. U go ahead.
RV and Lara stood a little farther from the crowd as few dances were presented on stage.
In more normal times, RV would have enjoyed this traditional folk and classical danceforms. But now he was too mesmerized with Lara to even notice anything.
Once they were alone they realized they hardly could speak. Each time one of them would try to utter something, and the word will get caught in their throat. Soon they stopped trying to speak and let themselves get totally lost in each other.
RV thought he had found heaven as he stared into those jade eyes, and his feelings reflected in them. What more could he ask for?
But suddenly his attention from Lara teeterd as the lights in the hall dimmed and they focused on the stage. But what actually pulled his awareness was the music.
It was a tempo beating with semi-classical notes and resonating with an uncommonly deep passion. The tempo escalated as a group of dancers arranged themselves on the stage in beautiful formations around the lead dancer. Inspite of being interested only in each other, the pair couldn’t help paying attention to the performance. And the lead dancer…
She was a girl of a graceful stature and elegantly shapely figure dressed in blood red ghagra, dazzling with light yet equisite jewellery.Her red dupatta full of gold and silver embroidery, twinkled as it covered her head and face.
Her whole outfit shimmered and flowed like liquid diamonds as her body gracefully flowed into perfect and passionate dance movements. She seemed totally unaware of the world around as she swayed to the equally enthralling rhythm.
Aasman ki bahon meChaand akela thehra thaRaat ki jawani parChandni ka pehra tha
Rim jhim rim jhimHawa ke jhokaUjli ujli raat
Taaron ki jholi me aayiJhilmilati jugnu ki baraat
Sabke hothon pe thehri thi aake koi baatDhol manjire bajne lage Pari dafli par that
RV(now his full attention on the remarkably breath taking performance): Whew! Thats one heck of an awesome dancer! Iv never seen such passion before…Lara: neither have i…
Aur thumak thumak karNach rahi thiMeri radha pyariHai!Thumak thumak keNach rahi thi Meri radha pyari…
Jane kahan se raas rachaneAaya chaila girdhari…
Suddenly the soul teasing music halted at the climax, leaving a swell silence of few moments to befall the enthralled audience. In those few moments the dupatta of the dancer slipped from her face as she rested in a pose with the resting melody.
The light as if just illuminated her. Her eyes closed, lost absolutely in her dance. Her olive skin glowing with its own unearthly glow. An ornament adorned her forehead as her beautiful black hair cascaded down to her hips. Incredibly full and flowing wildly like a stormy river.
RV had thought before he had never seen anyone more beautiful than Lara, but he fell in serious doubts as he beheld this angel like woman.And the funny part was that she looked oddly familiar, though he was sure he had never seen such grace before. And then with a resounding crash of his heart and a shaken disbelief, he realized why…
The music restarted from the crescendo and at the same instant the dancer opened her mesmerizing, kohl and mascara lined eyes…and huge pools of molten honey stared out…the pools he had grown looking into.
With a lurch in his chest, RV realized the incredible truth…
Lara (in a shocked whisper): Raajkumari Awni…
More shock was to come as Awni’s soulful voice filled the hall. Matching with the grace of her fluid movements and the music.
More piyaDarta hai dekho mora jiyaMore piyaDarta hai dekho mora jiya
Na baiyyan dharoAati hai mujhe sharamHaannn…Chor doTumko hai meri kasamNa…Zidd na karoJaane do mujhe balam…
Dekho…Dungi mai taarein o bawreChalo, hatho, sataaoo na…
More piya…Darta hai dekho mora jiya…o… more piya…
Speechless was the only word to be said of RV as he watched the girl he knew of being just brash and manly and clumsy… now danced her heart away. Everyone in the hall had risen and watched awestruck as with passing moments, the tempo of the music heightened and so did the passion of the dancer as she flowed ceaselessly with the climbing melody…
Kare krishn raas radha ke sangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Kare krishn raas radha ke sangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Now she was not in herself. The other dancers had stopped and moved aside. They simply couldn’t match upto her skill. It was as if her soul was lost in her passion, her heart afire, pearls of tears tasting her cheeks; as a true, stung lover, she danced in frenzied desire of her love…Expressing feelings untold and unsaid with the rhythm of her body and soul entwined with the rising tempo…
Jamna ke teer baaje mridangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Adharon me geet, man me umangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Saanson me pyas, tan me tarangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Iss din ko dekh duniya hai dangKare krishn raas radha ke sang
Kare krishn raas radha ke sangKare krishn raas radha ke sang…
The rhythm finally stopped as the dancer collapsed on her knees. A stupendous silence befell the hall as the dancer remained at the center of the stage, on her knees for some precious moments. Too tired to get up. And the audience too hypnotized to react.
A single clap broke the silence. Lara was the first one to get over the charm. Soon one by one everyone joined in and a thunderous applause filled the hall. With awed cheers, as the dancer finally got back on her legs and her sadly beautiful eyes looked upto the only man who wasn’t applauding. The only man still too shocked to do so. The only man who meant everything to her.
She stared for some seconds into his eyes, expressing every unsaid feelings of love and pain in her tortured gaze, then she bowed her head and just rushed to the backstage…half-running away from the hall….
He was still in a daze, still not believing what he saw…
“veer…”
Dumbly he turned around to face Lara. His mind somewhere else. He had anticipated this meeting with her for so long, but now he found things not as bright as he expected. Actually they were brighter than his expectations few minutes before…but after that dance, all seemed to have lost color…even Lara…
What did he feel?...he himself did not know…Confused…shocked…and mostly hurt…
Hurt…why? Because he felt betrayed. There was so much to Awni that he didn’t know. Awni was his best friend. Some one abt whom he cared more than he himself could admit. Since his parents had gone, she was her world. And he thought he knew his friend inside out, till now…Now he realized he hardly knew a few dimensions of the girl he considered a constant and foundation part of his life.And today there was something in her eyes that he couldn’t comprehend…but he had a gut feeling that it was breaking her heart. And his instincts also told him that he was the cause of it.
How? Why? He had no idea. But it disturbed him beyond anything…he did not realize it, but it stung his heart to see tears in her eyes…and made him angry. Guys after all cannot handle confusion and hurt…and specially emotions they cant understand…in such situation it is but natural to put the blame on someone else and turn all confusing emotions into anger…it was much simpler to understand after all!
So our dear RV conveniently disguised his misunderstood feelings of hurt and confusion and perhaps deep down love which he cudnt comprehend; into anger…
Lara: Veer…tum thik ho…?
Wen he didn’t replyLara: well, I gues ur too surprised n were not expecting Awni to…RV: I don’t want to talk about it. Pls.Lara: umm…ok…as u wish…RV: im sorry if im offending u lara, lekin mai abhi bahut disturbed hoon, I wanna b left alone…pl don’t mind…Lara: no no…not at all…I understand…but…can we meet again?
Inspite of himself RV couldn’t avoid a flutter of his heart and a small smile.
RV: id love that…Lara: well actually kal subah 11 baje ek local hume yahan ka sightseeing karwayega. N Lux has a project report to complete. So I would have to go alone…that is unless u want to accompany me…
RV: sure! (spirits lifting a bit) ill meet u at the rajmahal gates…Lara: id leave now then…take care…n one more thing I want to tell u…tho I may not have any right to, but true friends are not worth losing…
With that she left before RV could comment.
RV(in his mind): true frend! Ya SURE…
………………………………………………………………………………………….
He was sitting alone beneath the moonshine, his mind in a turmoil, which he did not want to feel…
It was well into the night. Nan had tried to talk to him but he didn’t want to brood on anything. And sitting alone his mind fabricated various ways to convince himself that whatever happened to Awni WAS NOT HIS FAULT. Rather it was Awni who was at fault for causing such turmoil to him.But still something unknown nagged his mind…when he heard a tinkling of payal…
He turned to see the visitor at so late in the night…and saw Awni standing behind him.He felt his breath catch in his chest as the moonlight illuminated her.She was still in the same garb of the dance, and standing like that, her hair softly stroking her cheeks and eyes so luminous, RVs anger disappeared.
But it reappeared with full force as he now saw her eyes red from crying. It sent a cold dagger thru his heart, n he didn’t understand this feeling or its cause…so the same refuge, anger…
RV(turning his back to her): ab kya kehne aayi ho?Awni: (sits beside him): I dunno wat made me…I hardly knew what I ws doin…Raj…RV: ill tel u what u were doin…U WERE GETTING ON MY NERVES!!
Awni: (startled, wasn’t expectin his anger) it was just a dance Raj! Why r u so angry?[:o]RV: don’t u know! Just a dance! What exactly were u trying to prove to me?Awni: I have no idea what u r talking about, I just followed my instincts n heart n…RV: U N UR STUPID INSTINCTS!
Gets up and starts pacin up n down da room
RV: im just tired of ur “instincts”…n ur antics…do u ever think before any action….i jus don know what to say…just go away before I cross any limits n hurt u by sayin something…JUS GO!
Awni:(she herself angry now) no no…don “worry” abt me! U go ahead n get off ur rage, tho iv no clue wats pissin u so much…
RV: its me whose clueless! Clueless abt whats bothering u since I met Lara…why r u behaving idiotically...Awni: I never said anything against Lara…
RV: oh! PUHLEEEEZ! Don’t I sense ur discord! …its UR PROB if u don’t approve of her not mine! It MY LIFE! N ill do as I wish…any of ur silly actions not gonna distract me…u HAV SIMPLY NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN MY LIFE!
Awni didn’t reply, she was too hurt to…just stared out into the serene land outside, as desolate as her broken heart, but RV cont his rant…
RV: n u urself have skeletons in ur closet…so much to urself that u never mentioned to me! ME…who was fool enough to consider u a friend! FRIEND? ur anything but that! Masks on masks….ur just a whole bundle of PRETENSION N LIES! N u think ur oversmart? By these acts n trying to indirectly influence me with ur empty n false “friendship” u thot u could get me against my love and my happiness! Oh..I HATE U SO MUCH!
” I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry” she chanted these words in her mind as she felt her eyes sting with threatening tears and heart bleed with his piercing words.
(In a quiet n wavering voice) Awni: I can never hurt u Raj…i…
RV: DON’T U DARE CALL ME RAJ! Only my mother had the right to…the only person who cared abt me and ONLY PERSON I CARE ABT! Except now Lara…N IM NOT LETTIN ANY “TOM DICK HARRY” CALL ME THAT!...oh! Im so sorry of the day I met u…
He suddenly stopped his tirade as he turned n his eyes fell on Awni. She still was starin out but quiet tears flow down her cheeks, her eyes brimming with hurt. He realized he had said too much. He never lost his temper generally, but if he did, he hardly knew what he was saying n would blurt out several stuff he would never mean to by heart.
N now was such a moment, his anger was replaced by a heart wrenching guilt when he realized the poisonous words he had spoken. He wished he could take them back immediately…
RV: I didn’t mean that…i…
His change of tone startled Awni back. She looked at him thru tear misted eyes n then looked down as she got up.
Awni (softly): u r right. I hav no right in ur life. Nor am I anyone whom u shud care abt. Im sorry that u ever met me n cozd ur self so much grief. U have every reason to hate me…and forget me…
With that she left.
RV: AWNI…listen to me…I didn’t…OH! SHIT…(she was gone)
His senses had returned now n he felt so terribly miserable. Even when they were kids, if Awni was angry with him n didn’t talk even for a while,specialy when he was the one to have cozd da truble, he wud go crazy with grief.He cudnt bear a single day widout hearin her crazy talks n that carefree laughter.
And this time…he knew he had screwd it all up! Hell! He wudnt have minded if she was mad at him. He could always manaofy her…but this time she was so hurt! What all crap he had said in his rage! What if she didn’t forgive him n actually never talked to him? No no…that’s a ridiculous idea. Utterly impossible. She cudnt do that. She knew she meant the whole world to him. He cudnt let that happen…cudnt bear that…
Such thoughts wandered in his head whole night as he tossed n turned in a futile attempt to sleep.
He rehearsd so many ways to apologize and make up when he would meet her next day at the breakfast table.
Morning dawned, he woke early…hell! He did not sleep at all! Guilt n anguish were eating him…
Filled with apprehension he went to breakfast…only to find Awni not there.Only Nan n Bua were there.
With the feeling of a heavy stone in the pit of his stomach he sat down at da table…
RV: Awni kahan hai?Nan: no idea…she didn’t even come back last night to sleep! I thot u wil know…
RV (now concernd): nahi to…I have no clue…is she allright?Bua: haan beta wo thik hai…aaj bhor kaal wo mili thi. Keh rahi thi ki gaon ki ser par ja rahi hai. Man bhari lag raha tha uska. Humne jane diya…shaam taka a jayegi…
Heaving a sigh of relief, RV: oh…tab mil loonga phir…
Suddenly remembers his date with Lara, it lifts his spirits a bit, stil 2 hrs to go…
Bua: bichari! Kal ke baad to man bhari hona jayaz hai. Iss tarah wapis uss duniya me jana, jahan bas taklif hi mili ho, mushkil to hoga hi…
Nan: kis duniya? Aap kya keh rahi hai?Bua: (wistfully) Awni k bachpan ki duniya…jab wo yahan amer me thi. Tum logon ko kabhi bataya usne?
RV: nahi…shayad kabhi humeapna samjha hi nahi…Bua: nahi beta! Aisi baat nahi…kuch baton ko bhulane me hi bhalai hai. Awni sirf tum logon se hin nahi, apne aap se bhi apne bhoot(a/n:past not ghost!) ko chupa rahi thi.
Takes a deep breath and trancesnds into the past…
“25 saal pehle ki baat hai. Rajkumar Ashok, humare bhai, yahan Amer me rehne wali, ek johri ki beti, Gehna, se pyar kar baithe. Unhe pata tha ki maharaj kabhi bhi unke prem ko nahi manenge. Darte the unse. Isliye chup chap un don one shaadi kar li. Kuch warshon baad Awni ka janm hua. Ye sab Maharaj se gupt tha. Aur Maharaj se chupa kar hi Awni yahan Amer me apni maa ke saath bari hone lagi. Ashok milte the unse, sur sochte the ki kab wo sacchai batane ki himmat kar payenge apne pita ko.8 warsh beet gaye, Awni ko wo har shiksha mili jo Rajkumari ko prapt hona chahiye. Hum aur Arindam bhaisaab, bhaiyya ke mitr, uski sacchai jante the, aur use humne Maharaj se chupakar jitna ho sake utna Rajkumari ka ohda diya. Sangeet, nritya, vadya…wo har shastra me sarwottam thi. Ek perfect rajkumari.
Tabhi Maharaj ne Ashok bhaiyya ka vivah kar wane ki thani. Unhe nahi pata tha ki wo shadi-shuda the. Ab unhe sach batane ke siwa koi chara nahin bacha.Ek din, Gehna aur Awni ko lekar Rajkumar Ashok maharaj ke paas upasthit hue, aur humari aur Arindam bhaisaab ki madad se unhe sach keh diya.
Pitaji ka krodh hum ab tak nahi bhule. Unhone bhaiyya ko rajya se tabhi bedakhal kar diya, aur kaha ki apna muih kabhi na dikhaye.Jab bhaiyya ne choti Rajkumari ki duhai di, to maharaj ne kroorta se kaha:
“tumhari patni to abhagyashali aur rajpath ke liye nakabil to hai hi. Saath me paida bhi larki ko kiya! Hume nawasa hota to apne nirnay ke bare me sochte. Aap apni stri aur apni “beti” ko lekar yahan se door chale jayiye. Hume aapki aur Amer ko Rajkumari ki koi awashyakta nahin”
Aur kuch kahe bina Bhaiyya, bhabhi aur Awni humesha ke liya Amer chorkar chale gaye. Jald hi khabar mili ki durghatna me bhaiyya aur bhabhi ka dehant ho gaya. Aur Awni ki zimmedari, bhabhi ki ek khas sakhi ko diya gaya jo use lekar Mumbai chali gayi.
Par shayad maharaj ke shabdon ka sabse bura asar Awni par para. Uske nanhe man me kahin ye baith gaya ki yadi wo larka hoti to Maharaj uske ma-pita ko rajya se nikalte nahin. Aur shayad isi me usne kanya hone ka apna astitva mita diya. Yadi ye duniya sirf larkon ko hi manti hai, to wo bhi ban gayi larkon jaisa…..”
Bua fell quiet as her story ended. Nandini and RV quiet too. All in their own thoughts.
But worst devils were in RVs heart as he rememberd his bitter words of last night. And when actually Awni was trying to get over the ghosts of her past and needed his help, he had turned away n left alone his best friend! He was so damn sorry!!!
…………………………………………………………………………………….
The lovers looked into each others eyes…lost in each others love…oblivious to the huge killer wave making its final kill…
But why was the wave feeling so hot? Surely the water cant be boiling! But it felt so…and that charring smell?
She woke up from the dream with a start…only to wake into a nightmare!
Flames were leaping all around her room. The curtains were being consumed, the carpet, the furniture afire…the whole room a screaming inferno…
Panic overtook her. She was going to be barbequed! She had to escape…do something…
A powerful wave of coughing took her over, she was already feeling asphyxiated…cud not breath….
Will she die now? Now…when after dreaming the same dream for so many years, she had finally seen the couple dying on the rocks?She had so much to live for…she could not let fate intervene…not again…
Amid da fiery flames, her watering eyes found the window. Now she had to get to it. But a huge wall of fire was between her and freedom… Between her and life….Between her and veer….
She HAD to get to it! As if in a daze she headed towards the window. Amid the flames, dodging them…she struggled to save her life…..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
“THANK GOD U R ALL RIGHT!!!!!”
Words were not enough not express his relief on seeing Lara alive and well.When he was leaving the castle for his date, he heard some lamentation of local ladies. On asking he had found that last night a huge fire had broken out in the east part of the village, consuming many houses.And then with asick feeling in the pit of his stomach, he realized that the lodge where Lara was staying was exactly in that area!
Nandini too was with him and without much ado she had headed towards the vaidyas place to help save whatever lives she could. She had hardly the time to console RV. On first impulse RV decided to follow her to the casualties, to find Lara. But his heart said she was where she had promised…at the gate.
So inspite of common sense, he headed towards the gate…to find Lara actually there! Safe and sound…
His heart was hammering with delicious relief. He could have scooped her in his arms and held her close…if not for the guide accompanying her.
RV: thank god ur all right! When I found out abt da fire, I was scared out of my wits!Lara: I managed to escape…it was close…a harrying experience…Lux was fortunately not in the hotel too…
RV: what a relief….i was so…(he suddenly blushed at his earnestness)
But Lara smiled: I promised I would come…I had to….whatever happened, I had to…
They smiled at each other, a oddly familiar thrill running through them with a nostalgic feel.
The overcast sky looked down upon the two as they followed the guide to explore the land…and perhaps explore their past…
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Her watch told her it was 3pm. Still the sky was much darker, as if the sun was already sinking.
“a tempest seems likely”….Awni said to herself, and then sighed.
She was back in her palace room, her bag packed.
She had left early morning to be on her own…n in that solitude she decided her course of action. She could not remain in the same place as RV. She just couldn’t. She could happily sacrifice her love with a smile for her friend.But after what he had said last night, she did not think she had a friend anymore!
His harsh words would forever haunt her, echoing in her head…she simply had to leave!
She planed to go to Mumbai first, pack up her possession n properties and settle matter there as soon as possible, n then go away.Where? She had no clue…but as far away from RV as possible…
Lost memories of the years they had spent together came back. She could see the scenes before her eyes. But the sound that she heard weren’t of the laughter they had shared at that time, but were the last poisonous words her “best friend” had spewed out at her.
“U HAV SIMPLY NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN MY LIFE!”
“ur just a whole bundle of PRETENSION N LIES!”
“DON’T U DARE CALL ME RAJ!”
“I HATE U SO MUCH!”
A hot tear rolled down her cheek. She had to escape these memories. She wiped her tears, atleast from her eyes if not her heart…
She planned to leave that evening. But before that she had to say a final bye to her bua. She could not go without meeting her.
Thinking so she headed towards her bua’s chambers.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Bua: to tumne antim faisla le liya hai aur apna irada nahin badlogi?
Awni had conveyed her sudden departure, tho not the reason behind it.Even after trying her best when bua realized she could not convince her, she had to accept it.
Awni: ji haan….mai thore der me niklungi…Bua: mausam bahut kharab hai…Awni (with a bitter laugh): to ye akhri tarkeeb hai hume rokna ka? Bua…pls samjhiye, mujhe jana parega…
Bua: jot um thik samjho. Apna khayal rakhna. Par jane se pehle hum tumhe kuch dena chahte hai.
She walked towards a cabinet and fished out an old cloth purse. From it she took out something small and handed it to Awni.
Bua: tumhari amanat sambhalo…
Awni opened her palm… a gold ring shapd in form of a dragon, wid an eye of a brilliant diamond stared out at her…
…………………………………………………………………………………………
RV took a deep breath and inhaled in the deliciously salty air. He was sitting atop a rock looking out to the sea. The local guide was ranting on and on about the port of Amer and trade in medieval times and god knows what else.Lara was takin notes with a bored expression…at times glancing at RV with a shy smile.
RV looked at her…no one had the right to look so beautiful! The briny breeze played with her hair, her green eyes sparkled as bright as the sea itself reflecting the sunrays…
Though rite now there hardly was any sunrays. The clouds covered the landscape, the waves lashing wildly. RV looked back at the sea…the deep, wild, powerful sea…why did it make him feel so nostalgic? So awed, yet scared…
He was amid breathtaking scenic beauty, apparently happy and peaceful, in the company of a angelic girl who had a powerful effect on his systems…he had all a man could ask for.
Then why wasn’t he feeling good abt it all? Why was their a nagging feeling of hurt in his heart? That something was amiss…that he was losing something he prized above all…that something was wrong…It was just not justified!He looked again at Lara…meaning to clear his heart of unexplained turbulent emotions…but it hardly helped.
He closed his eyes…and saw the cause of his these emotions…
Awni.Awni all along.
He had been trying to ignore all negative thoughts of last night. Felt Lara’s presence would heal his heart. Make him feel better. But his subconscious kept on torturing him. And somewhere deep down was a fear that she might never forgive him. He could not live with that!
RV sighed. It was no good to try to push back Awni from his mind. The sea reminded of the times they had spent on the juhu beach.They used to have competitions about who could eat more items.
Awni had won by one item last time…with a record of 34 items! Including nariyal pani and pan!
The memories brought back a faint smile.
Lara: kya soch rahe ho?
RV was brought back to reality. Damn! He shud be engrossed in spending time with the girl he thought he was in love with. Then why did totally diff thoughts chased each other in his head. Why did it feel so confusing…
He shook his head, trying to get rid of Awni’s thoughts as if shaking away a fly.
RV: wo…kuch nahi…so hope u got enough info for ur project?Lara: who cares? End me khud bana bana ke hi to likhna hai! And waise bhi I bet most of the crap the guy is takin about is made up!RV: yeah sure! Did u hear him saying Babur came to India thru amer? Lolls! Only guides can talk such utter crap…
They laughed together for a while. Then an uncomfy silence fell. Both looked away, blushing.
RV: I was honestly scared when I heard abt the fire. I do not want to lose you.Lara: (with a smile) don’t worry.i do not want to lose myself too!
Another silence fell. When suddenly Lara blurted out.
“I dreamt about you last night”
As soon as the words left her a hot blush filled her cheeks. RV smiled.
RV (teasingly): just last night?Lara: actually no. (seriously) I have been dreaming about you since I was 10.RV: WHAT!Lara: I know it sounds absurd…but I always had a dream about two ppl…
Guide: chaliye! Ab dakshin ki or chalna hai. Apko Amer ka purana bazaar dikha doon. Mausam bhi bigar raha hai. Gaon ki or chalna thik rahega.
RV and Lara could not discuss the dream as they got up to leave.
“ wo wahan kya hai?”
Lara spoke up. She was pointing to a tall tower standing all alone on the beach at a distance.
RV(squintin at it): looks like a lighthouse…
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Awni was ready to depart. She wanted to leave without attracting any attention. And specially questions of relatives. But most of all she did not want to run into Nandini or RV. It could lead to situations she did not want to confront.
The ring lay heavy in her pocket. Bua had told of its “mystic” power to protect lovers.Prem anguthi
“what a terrific joke”…Awni thought. When she had lost her “prem” forever, then she was getting the stupid “prem anguthi”…life was such a comedy…She would perhaps gift it to Lara and RV on their marriage. By post of corse.The thought send a shiver of hurt thru her.
“I do not want to think abt it. If Raj is happy, enuf for me…”
As she approached the front gates, she looked behind once. Sadly realizing that she may never see her best friend again.
Her heart told her to meet him one last time. But what would she do even if she met him? She couldn’t express the hurt and emotions. Nor tell him she was going away forever.
“not that he’ll mind or anything…” she said to herself with a bitter laugh.
She pulled up the hood of her scarlet top. She had not bothered to tie her hair. And it was falling on her face, blown by the now strong gale.Her legs felt cold, she wished she had put on full jeans instead of the 3 quarts she wore.Her backpack hung heavy on her shoulder, tho not as heavy as her heart.
Ideally it was not a weather to b traveling, n it seemd to get worse. But she could not afford or bear to wait any longer.
But she wished she could see Raj for one last time. Even catch a glimpse…
……………………………………………………………………………………….
“WAHAN BHOOT HAI ! Nahin! Nahin! Mai wahan nahi jaaonga! Aur apko bhi nahi jane doonga!”
The guide was shaking his head vigorously. He sat on the rocks solidly, absolutely refusing to go near the lighthouse.
The moment Lara and RV had noticed the lighthouse, the guide looked ready to run away from it at full speed.
They requested, cajoled, threatened, pleaded…everything…but he refused to go near it or even tell them why.
But after so much badgering he finally told them th cause.
“WAHAN BHOOT HAI !”
Lara and RV fell quiet for a second, after which RV burst out laughing.
RV: Bhoot! Awesome! Yahi sunna baki reh gaya tha…this is totally hilarious.
Lara was oddly quiet and looked thoughtful.
Guide (bit hurt by this open contempt): aap shehri log mane ya na mane. Sadiyon se amer ke sab log jante hain ki wahan bhoot hai. Aur koi wahan nahi jata.
Lara: kiska bhoot hai wahan?RV: cmon Lara…ur actually listening to these old wives tales?Lara: even tales have a basis. Bataiye na…kiska bhoot…
Guide: nahi! mai nahi bata sakta…apshakun mana jata hai…
RV: oof! Aap uss lighthouse se 2 km door hai. Bhoot ke range se bahar. Kuch nahi hoga. Bataiye.
Guide: wo…RV: bataiye…warna hum yahan se nahi jayenge…aur apko bhi nahi jane denge…Phir soch lijiye…shaam ho jayegi…samundar me toofan…charon or andhera…bas ek hi roshni hogi…uss lighthose se…aur wo aapko apne or
bulayegi…dhire…dhire…aap hosh me nahi honge…aur aapke kadam apne aap hi lighthouse ki taraf bar jayenge…dhire…dhire…aur jaise aap wahan pahunchenge….WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!
RV jumped on the scared man, startling him. Guide: AAAARRRRRGHHHHH!!!!The man jumped in fear. RV laughed aloud winking at Lara.
Guide: kyu dara rahe hai!RV: to bataiye hume…
Guide: accha thik hai…ek bahut purani kahani hai uss lighthouse ke bare me.
All settled on the rocks as the guide began his tale in the usual guide voice.
“bas popcorn ki zaroorat hai” RV thot to himself. And even in such odd situation his heart did a painful somersault. He missed Awni. She would have so enjoyed this “ghost” story. And more scaring the hapless guide.He missed her so much.He pushed away his thoughts as the story started.
Guide:
Kai saalon pehle yahan ek maharaj hua karte the. Kahani ya itihaas unka naam yaad nahi rakhti. Lekin wo bahut sakht the. Itne sakht, ki unke apne pariwar unse darti thi, au shayad nafrat bhi karti thi.Unki beti thi. Bahut sundar. Kehte the wo jab gati thi, sab mantramugdh ho jate the. Door door tak us jaise koi na tha. Apsarayein bhi haar maan jaye.
Aur ek din Rajkumari ko prem ho gaya. Ek sidhe sadhe gareeb ghar ke larke se. wo dono jaise ek dooje ke liye bane the.Wo bansuri bajata tha, aur rajkumari gati thi.unki madhur sangeet Amer ki ragon me bas gayi.
RV felt goosebumps. Odd sensations and scenes erupted out of nowhere in his mind. Why did it all sound so damn familiar? It was as if he was living the story…
…….par maharaj ko kaise yeh manzoor hota. Unke gurur ke upper kuch na tha. Isliye unhone rajkumari ka vivah kahin aur tay kar diya.Lekin kismet kuch aur chahti thi. Rajkumari uss lark eke saath bhag gayi.Kaise. Kyu. Kahan. Koi nahi janta.
Par kahte hain wo dono bhag kar iss lighthouse me aaye. Aur yahin maharaj ki sena ne unhe pakarne ki koshish ki. Parantu pata nahi kaise, kismet se, ya kisi ki sahayata se…wo bhaag gaye…
Apni maut ki or.
A silence befell. Both RV and Lara were as if watching a movie. They saw it all happening before their eyes.
Samudra me kalbaisakhi ka toofan aaya hua tha. Koi nahi janta toofan un do premiyon ko kahan le gayi. Kuch kehte hain wo bach gaye. Kuch kahte hain beh gaye. Aur kuch mante hain ki woh Amer ki tat se thore door par “pathor matha” naam ke patharon se takrake ek duje ke prem me amar ho gaye.
Kaun jane? Par tab se yeh kaha jata hai ki Rajkumari aur uske premi ki aatma uss lighthouse me bhatakti hai…isliya wahan, aur pathor matha ki or koi nahi jata. Uske bare me log bolne se bhi darte hain!...
The story ended. But was it a story? The guide did not know what happened to the pair in the storm. Then why did RV “see” the story after they had left.
Two lovers. On the rocks. Killer wave behind them.
As if in a daze he looked up. Into Lara’s eyes. And saw his own feelings mirrored in them.
At that instant he knew she saw the same end too. She had the same dream too.
Why? How?
Their was only one way to find out.
RV: (in a shuddering voice) naam kya tha un do premiyon ka?
In a scared whisper the guide replied…
” Gazal aur Veer”……
………………………………………………………………………………………….
The lone figure in bright red trundled on. Stooped with a heavy backpack on her shoulder…or perhaps bend with heavier burdens on her mind…
As she reaches the main gate of the castle, a loud gathering of ppl attract her attention. Many ppl wer gathered around a man who was shoutin something dementedly.
Awni didn’t bother to stop, till something caught her attention…
“….aur wo do shehri maut ke muh me chale gaye…”
Her ears perked up. There were no “shehris” in Amer except she, RV n Nan…n ofcorse Lara n Lux…what had happened? Honestly speakin she had not seen any of dem since last night…
Casually she strolled over to the gathering, trying to make something of the man’s rantings.
“maine unhe rokne ki bahut koshish ki. Kaha wahan Bhoot hai. Wo bilkul nahi mane. Jaise pagalpan sawar tha, lighthouse me jane ki.”
Now it ws getting on her nerves! Who ws it abt? She decided to ask directly…
Awni: kiski baat kar rahe hain aap?
All men turned to look at da cloaked figure, da guide lookd suspicious.Awni sighed, “so much for cover…”She took off the hood n let her hair tumble out.
“rajkumari!!!”
All stood up respectfully, awni rolled her eyes…”whatever”
Awni: to aap kya keh rahe the?Guide: meri galti nahi hai…unhone meri baat mani hi nahi…Awni: kinhone? Aap kinki baat kar rahe hain?Guide: wo aapke saath aaya hua larka, aur wo hari aankhon wali larki…kya naam tha?Awni: Lara…Guide: haan..wohi…Awni: kahan hai wo dono…(thotfully)Guide: wo…maine kuch nahi kiya…mai to…Awni: GET TO DA POINT MAN! (losin patience)…samajh gayi ap nirdosh hai, ab aage boliyeGuide: unhe samudra tat ki sair par le gaya tha…wahan lighthouse dekhkar wo sawaal poochne lage. Maine bataya wahan bhoot hai, aur wahan ki kahani batayi…kahani sunkar jaise unhe kuch ho gaya! Jaise unpe hi koi bhoot sawar tha! Aur dono uss lighthouse me jane ki zidd par arr gaye…ab unhe bhoot zinda nahi lautne denge…
Awni breathd a sigh of relief. She ws a bit worried wid da guides tone. “stupid superstitions”…she thot.
She had too heard of the story of lovers lost at sea and rumors of their ghosts n all such crap. n knew der ws nothing as such in da lighthouse. Da man ws
overreactin. They were ok. And together…the thot send a ripple of pain thru her.
Guide: uske upar se mujhe to ye bhi darr hai ki wo pathor matha ki or bhi jane ki koshish karenge!!!
Da ppl around oohd n aahhhd, Awni too ws concerned dis time.No ghost thing, the weather ws getting horrid. It ws suicide to go near the rocks now. Fatal.
Awni: pathor matha? Abhi?Guide: haan…samudra ke uunche lehron ke karan lighthouse ke chaaron or paani bhar gaya tha, to wahan tak pahunchne ke liye unhe ek nao lni pari. Aur maine uss larki ko kehte hue suna ki “pathor matha” to jana hi hai…shayad wo dono kabhi wapas nahi aayenge…
Awni: toofan paas hai…mujhe nahi lagta wo itni bari galti karenge. Pagal nahi hai. Waise bhi ek tourist spot ke liye jaan khatre me kaun dalta hai?Guide: kya pata? Par unko dekh kar nahi lag raha tha ki bas itni si hi baat hai. Jaise hi unhone kahani suni, junoon sawar ho gaya unpar wahan jane ka…aur un premiyon ka naam sunkar to aur bhi pagla gaye…ab kya hoga?
Awni shrugged n walkd off. Her burden was lifted. She did not share the mans silly fears. She knew dey were safe. N not so dumb as to tackle the stormy seas now. They wil b fine.
un premiyon ka naam sunkar aur bhi pagla gaye…
Awni had now put quite some distance between herself n da guide. She walkd on…
“what was da name of the lovers?”
Awni had heard da story wen she was kid. Cudnt remember da name. it came to the surface of her memory, but cudnt brek it…
“kya tha…yaad nahi aa raha…arre…haan!”“Gazal aur Veer”
As soon as da words left her, she halted suddenly in her tracks. No ways!!!The truth hit her lik a truck. She cudnt believ it! How can it b true? Its crap…But…
RVs dreams…same ones…n recognizing Lara as da gal…calin her Gazal, her calin him Veer…n now rushin to da lighthouse on hearin der story!
It ws too fancy n fictious to b true. Impossible. Yet da facts were obvious.
In mid of her surprise, Awni cudnt help but laugh out loud!
“great! Isi ki kami thi. Pichle janam ke bichre premi. Wow! Incredible!Accha mazak hai…mai jisse pyar karti hoon, wo na hi sirf kisi our ko chahta hai, but wo larki uski pichle janam ki sathi nikalti hai! Superb!Kisi movie ko kahani bechni chahiye!”
“aur ye prem anguthi MERE paas hai! How bloody ironical!”
She shook her head, shakin away the hurt n shock n resignment.
“whatever janam. May they live happily ever after”
Dats all she cud say. Or bear to. Raj wil b very happy wid Lara or Gazal or whoever…he wont need anything in life…spl not her.
She could continue on her way as before.
………………………………………………………………………………………
They just lay in each others arms. Peacefully. The sun was setting. Atleast it ws time to. The sky was already too dark with clouds to say for sure. The sea gurgled ahead.
RV happily stroked Lara’s hair as she leaned against his chest. It felt so much in place. Yet disquietning.
They were in the lighthouse. High tide made the water surround it n lap its walls. The small boat they had used to come there, bobbed on da waves. It felt as if all his life he had lived in a dream. And his dreams were the truth after all. Now finally he was living his dreams.
The story had pushed the last pieces into place. The deja-vu was too deep. He had seen history repeat thru his memory. Or atleast saw broken parts of it. But enough to realize who he was. Or had been.
An unfinished love story. The thought amused him, but felt so real.He couldn’t remember everything, but got da gist.
Lara…or was it Gazal?...got up and went over to the window. Staring wistfully into the now tossing sea, already ragin with storm. Her face hidden by shadows, yet looked so mesmerisingly beautiful. Hypnotic. Out of wordly.
RV didn’t think any mortal could look so beautiful.
In a soft tinkling voice; Gazal: Wohi toofan…
RV went up to her n looked on. The wild waves brought back some horrible memories. It made him nauseated.
But Gazal looked unfazed, actually seeming to enjoy it.
Gazal: Wohi toofan…Wohi kalbaisakhi…Wohi hum…
And then she turned to look at RV, her eyes too bright, as if ashine with an insane light.
Gazal: par iss bar kahani khatam karni hai! Iss baar adhura nahi rakh sakte!RV: matlab kya hai tumhara?Gazal: hum ABHI pathor matha jayenge! Tab hi hamara Milan poora hoga. Humari intezar khatam hogi. Kahani poori hogi.
He could see her point, but it was insanity to tackle the seas in the storm.
RV: lekin iss baar bhi mare gaye to? Bahar dekho? Tumne hi to kaha…Wohi toofan…to iss baar bhi nahi bachenge agar wahan gaye to…subah hogi to jayenge…
Gazal: NAHI! (her voice maniacally high now) tum nahi samajh rahe! Hume isi toofan me jana hoga! Tum dekh nahi rahe…itihaas dohra rahi hai…aur hume mauka de rahi hai apne bhagya ke prem ko prapt karne ka…
RV: (grumbled) khudkhushi karke kuch prapt nahi hoga…
Gazal smiled at this. An odd wistfull smile as she touched his face. A thrill of shock went thru him.
Gazal: kuch nahi hoga veer…iss baar kudrat ye CHAHTI hai ki hum apna raah poora karein, aur kahani ka ant karein…aur yahi raasta hai…kuch nahi hoga…tum daro mat…iss baar kuch ho hi nahi sakta…
She looked deliriously happy and her joy was infecting him. He felt his doubts leave as she held his hands and pulled him towards the small boat.
But as he got on it, sea sickness grabbed him again. Storm raged ahead, the water was churning, lightning flashed…he looked at Gazal, meaning to refuse…
But she gave him a calm n composed “don’t worry” look, n he felt his nerves settle…
A weird sense of calm n destiny filled him and he hardly remembered the eventful journey to Pathor Matha…
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Awni had reached her destination. She had arranged for a cart to pick her up and take her to barrackpore from where she planned to take a bus. The cart hadn’t arrived yet, she would have to wait. It was getting darker and stormier. She hugged herself and prepared for the wait when she noticed a familiar figure reclining against a tree, her eyes closed.
Awni: Nandini?
Nandini opens her eyes: Tu yahan kya kar rahi hai?
She was looking very tired. Dark circles under her eyes.
Awni: ummm…wo…but TU yahan kya kar rahi hai?
Tiredly Nan sat on a rock and sighed.
Nan: yahan par medical supplies bahut kam hai. Aur casualties itne zyada. Jo aag se bach bhi gaye, infection se mare jayenge, to maine medicines mangwayen hain. Waitin for the delivery…
Awni: medicines? Casualty? Aag? Whats goin on…?Nan (a bit shocked): U HAV NO IDEA? I don believ it…kahan thi sara din?...n u call ur self “princess”!
Awni: I don’t…oders do…der prob…but u din ans da ques, wats all dis abt?Nan: apparently ur blissfully unaware, but kal raat, Amer ke gaon me aag lagi thi. Bahut saare log mare gaye. Aur yahan koi doctor ya hosp bhi nahi hai. Maine jitna ho sake kiya…cant save everyone, but tryin…subah se isime bhaga-bhagi kar rahi hoon…
Awni: HELL! N I had no clue! I should be ashamed of myself…Nan: couldn’t agree more, BUT WHAT ABT U?
Notices her backpack and guilty expression, comprehends her for sec n den gets up suddenly in anger.
Nan: TU AMER SE BHAAG RAHI HAI?Awni: wo…Nan: haan ya nahi?[:x]Awni: mai actually…Nan: YES OR NO. were u planning to go or not! [:x][:x][:x]Awni: haan! Aur kyu na jaaon? Pls yaar…don’t make things worse for me…I don’t wanna discuss this…
Suddenly Nandini’s face clouds.Nan: tune bhaiyya ko dekha?
Awni: (bitterly) aisi kismet kahan? Nan: itni busy thi ki usse mil nahi payi…hope wo thik hai…Awni: wo bilkul thik hai! Zaroorat se zyada actually…Nan: tujhe kya ho gaya hai! How could u be so selfish?
Awni: how am I bein selfish now?Nan: RV needs u now more than anything else. N UR LEAVING HIM IN DIS CONDITION????!!!!
…………………………………………………………………………………………
The waves lashed mercilessly around them, the sea churned, their little boat rocked crazily…the storm was bad, it looked like sure death…till the boat gently docked on a rock, and the Pathor matha loomed ahead. They had reached it safe and sound…
But RV hardly felt any of the turmoil. He was in an odd peace, hardly bothered by near death experience, as if he knew that they will reach their destiny and NOTHING could stop them. Not even KALBAISAKHI this time…
But his senses seemd to return and he found himself atop the Pathor matha with Gazal’s hand in his. Shaken back to the real world he turned and looked at their tiny boat. THEY HAD MADE IT! He did not know how…n the funny thing was he did not even remember much abt da journey. Weird. Must be shock.
Anyways that hardly mattered as he looked around. Déjà vu rocked thru him with powerful pulses. The rock top was very narrow, he and Gazal hardly fit together, and her proximity made it more invigorating.
two lovers…lost in each others eyes…entwined on the rocks…killer wave behind…
RV was rocked back to reality. The dreams seemd more clear now.
RV: so finally we complete the story and meet our destiny…Gazal: nahi…abhi kahan…RV: aur kya baki hai? Jaisa tumne kaha tha, yahi kahani adhoori rah gayi thi…aur hum yahan pahunch gaye…phir se…nayi kahani shuru karne…
Gazal: kahani humare alag hone par adhoori reh gayi thi, veer…RV: aur yahin par mil kar humne use khatam kiya…
Gazal: abhi milan me bahut bara faasla baki hai Veer…RV: hardly 2-4 cms ka actually [:p]
Gazal: tum samjhe nahin ab tak…
And suddenly the rocks were severly bashed by the raging sea and the Pathor Matha trembled with the impact. A huge portion of the rocks below crumbled and were washed away. RV nearly lost his footing.
RV: whoa! This is getting dangerous. Hume chalna chahiye. The earth is literally falling from beneath my feet!
But Gazal stoof unfazed, not at all bothered with the now precariously shaking n breakin Pathor matha.
Gazal: (in a whisper) tum ab tak samjhe nahi Veer…And turns to face him. The sky was overcast and now night had settled in. there was no light. But her face seemed to glow of its own accord. Those jade eyes shining with unearthly beauty and understanding…and unconditional love.
But something was amiss, something not right…
RV didn’t have time to ponder on this as he noticed a huge wave about to crash upon them.
RV: NOOOOOOO…..
The wave broke, shaking the Pathor matha vigorously. RV flailed desperately to get a hold on something.Everything was crumbling away. The Pathor Matha had stood proudly and bore many such storms before. Then why was it collapsing this time?Must be his horrible luck,RV thought as he managed to find a foothold and found himself on a rocky cliff side of the PM, hanging to the side and feet on a ledge kinda. Just a slip, or one more of those gigantic waves, and hell be lost forever…
Suddenly his senses recalled with dread.
RV: GAZAL! GAZAL!
“Mai thik hoon”…a calm voice answered, totally unaffected by this dance of death. “ Bas ab tumhara intezar hai Veer. Tabhi to Milan poora hoga…Kahani khatam hogi…”
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Nan: RV needs u now more than anything else. N UR LEAVING HIM IN DIS CONDITION????!!!!
Awni was perplexed. It was SHE who was in a pathetic condition, SHE who was abandoned…and SHE was only being blamed! Who said life was fair!
Awni: Rajveer is in an absolutely happy and good condition. I don’t see him in any sort of need for me. I have no idea why ur under the notion that he had gone through some sort of tragedy…
Nandini glared at her disappointedly and then understanding filled her eyes.
Nan: oh! Tujhe to pata hi nahi tha…Awni: ab aur kya pata nahi hai mujhe?
A loud neighing of horses filled the air. The horse cart was coming.
Nan: kal ke aag me Ramu ka atithigrih bhi jal gaya Awni.
She stops for a second, taking a deep breath.
Nan: koi nahi bacha…KOI NAHI…Lara aur uski dost Lux, dono mare gaye…
Awni bursts out laughing.
Awni: sorry dear. Ur info is apparently wrong…Nan: what do u mean?Awni: actually Lux ka pata nahi, but Lara is hale and hearty…wo abhi Raj…veer…(gulps) Rajveer ke saath hi hai…shes fine…and RV too is in no tragic condition! His “girlfriend” is absolutely ok, and happy with him…
Nandini just shakes her head.
Nan: did u see her?Awni: not exactly. But I just met someone who did. And he cant be mistaken for sure. Guide hai n specially Lara aur Lux ke liye kaam kar raha tha…aur thori der pehle usne un dono ko ek saath dekha…
Nan: apparently he is mistaken Awni…
Awni just smiles. Nan was getting hyper. Stressd out. The cart had arrived with the medicines. Awni loaded her bag and got ready to climb on it.
Awni: its not possible dear. They r ok. Don’t worry. And u take care. Bye…
Nan: Awni, LARA IS DEAD! Why don’t u understand…Awni: coz I hav solid proof of a man seeing her…
Nan: AND I HAVE PROOF OF SEEING HER BURNT CORPSE! AND I SIGNED HER DEATH CERTIFICATE! She was found trying to escape from a burning window, but couldn’t manage it…
………………………………………………………………………………………
“RAJ!!!! RAAAAAJJJ!!!”Awni called out frantically as she raced at full speed to the top of the lighthouse.
It hadnt taken her long to realize that something was fatally wrong when she found of Lara’s death. She couldn’t understand then how or why Lara was with Raj now. Nor did she bother to ponder over it. Life had been terribly weird the past few days, and there could be ANY sane or insane explanation to it.
She just knew one thing, and it was more of a gut feeling than any logical conclusion…Raj’s life was in danger!!!
The instinctive feeling of impending doom on her best friends life, hit her suddenly as soon as Nandini had told her of Lara’s demise.
So she hadn’t thought twice as she had unhooked the horse from the cart, and had ridden it to the palace, much to bewilderment of Nan…to use the secret royal passageways to the lighthouse. It was safer and much quicker.
And now that she had reached it, with a feeling of hopelessness and foreboding, she realized he was not here!
“kahan ja sakta hain…kahin use kuch ho ta nahi gaya? Nahin…nahin…aisa nahin hai…par wo hai kahan? Pata nahin kiss haal me hoga…aur jane kisske saath! Aur main use iss khatre me chorkar ja rahi thi! Agar use kuch ho gaya to I … No! I wont think abt it…”
She rechecked the lighthouse again, maybe he had gone back to the palace and was allright! But heart said something was terribly wrong.
She looked out from the window of the lighthouse at the stormy tempest churning the sea, seething herself with equal frustration when her eye settled on the imposing shadowy structure of the legendous Pathor matha.
She knew the local lore enough to associate it with the ancient tragedy of Veer-Gazal…and it didn’t take her much time to guess where Raj could be now.
“Hell or heaven…ill find u Raj”
But as soon as she said so, despair filled her. She had a raging stormy sea to beat to reach the Pathor matha…and she didn’t even have a boat!
“now what!!! How? How?”
Awni sat down in frustration and pained helplessness. She was desperate. Had to do something. Had to reach Raj at any cost. But how?She couldn’t beat the Poseidon. Couldn’t do by water, without a boat.It was not possible to arrange for a rescue helicopter or something in these areas.
There was only one option. below the ground…
Awni knew that the Pathor matha was an old rock temple of the ancient era. And fables told that the royal underground passageways connected EACH and EVRY part of amer to the castle. Including Pathor matha.With rising hope Awni ran back to the entrance of the passages.
But the prob was with the destruction of the temple, and its being claimed by the ocean, the route to it was lost to fables alone.
The area was of rocky igneous origins, so technically the sea bed was strong enough and the passageways were built much below it. So the route to Pathor matha should be intact.
But the passed centuries and huge water pressure made it extremely risky.
Yet, it was not the risk part that deterred Awni, she would run through fires and hellholes for her friend. but the problem was that she had no idea which path to take!
The secret way to the PM was forgotten long back, and the labyrinth of passages were too confusing and easy to get lost, to take a guess.
“Oh god! Pls lead me to Raj…PLS…lead me to the Pathor matha…somehow…anyhow…”
Suddenly she fell quite. A low swooshin noise caught her attention…no, it ws more like a growlin mumble of low pitch, n it was coming from within the passages!
The sound…what could it be? Sounded like a vacuum cleaner…no, more like a bathtub with its plug being pulled…or…
“holy cow! It’s the sea!”
The gigantic ocean gurgling with the equally massive storm, thrashed against the ceilings of the passages in the areas where it ran below the superficial sea-bed…and echoed in da corridors.
A brain wave hit Awni as she realized dat the sound made by the sea arose from the passages leding into it…and into the Pathor Matha!
“Bulls eye! Now I need to follow the sound…and check out for areas where the passage walls are slightly wet…and ofcorse I have my compass in my backpack! The ncc training was usefull after all Raj! I will use it to reach you!”
Fishing out the compass from her backpack, consulting it under a flashlight and then listening to the sound carefully, Awni hit on the direction to be taken.
“Im coming Raj…and this for good luck!”She took out the Prem Anguthi from her pocket and put it on.
And without a worry if she would survive the treacherous pathways under the sea, she plunged in the dark caverns…
………………………………………………………………………………………
“ Bas ab tumhara intezar hai Veer. Tabhi to Milan poora hoga…Kahani khatam hogi…”
RVs senses had gone for a toss. And he was close to lose his sanity too. What the hell was happening?
And from where was Gazal’s voice coming?RV turned as best he could while still balancing himself on the hanging precipe in direction of the voice. But the voice was coming from the direction of the sea! How can Gazal be there? No ways…
But all arguments died in RVs mind as he saw Gazal. Calmly standing…
On the waves!!!!!!!!!!!
RV: “ok! So finally I have lost it! Must have suffered concussion or sumthing n hallucinating…”
Gazal: Veer…
She was calling him! NO! it was not a dream or trick of his mind! She really was there. Standing unperturbed on the stormy sea. Not even floating. Just as if it was a stage or something, not huge, rocking tides!
Gazal: Veer…mere paas aa jao…RV: r u nuts?!!! Sweetheart, I hav no clue how r u managing that stunt. But babes I can assure u, I CANT DO DAT!
Gazal sighed. Her beautiful face illuminated by an unearthly light, as if she was not a creature of this earth. Her hair stirring, as if ruffled by a gentle breeze, not a vicious storm. Her pale, milky and perfect complexion glowing…so perfect…too perfect…
Gazal: tum ab tak nahi samjhe?
RV had a weird feeling. He did not understand what it was. An unbidden thought on which he couldnt put a finger on.It felt as if one part of his mind was whirring at supersonic speed, and another crawling at snail’s pace.
RV(slowly): kehna kya chahti ho tum…kya samajhna chahiye mujhe…?Gazal: Veer…maine tumse vaada kiya tha ki aaj tumse miloongi…kuch bhi ho…mai zaroor miloongi…aur maine apna vaada nibhaya…RV: (pissd off) dekho Gazal…shayad tum situation ko samajh nahi rahi ho, mai maut ke upar latak raha hoon! Kisi bhi waqt beh jaoonga. Aise haalat me mera dimag tumhare paheliyon ko samajh nahi paa raha…so come to the point!
Gazal: (her voice echoing mellifluously, in a whisper, but was heard easily above the din of the storm) kuch bhi ho Veer…maine apna vaada nibhaya…iss janam ka aur pichle janam ka…Pichle janam me bhi maut rok nahi payi thi Gazal ko Veer se milne…aur nahi iss janam me maut rok payegi iss Milan ko…Pehle ye samundar Gazal ke ant ka karan bani, aur iss baar agni ne use samapt kiya…
RV couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was just not possible. Gazal was DEAD?
But she continued: …parantu jaise pehle bhi ye prem kahani toot nahi payi, iss baar hamare prem ki jeet hogi. Iss baar ye kahani khatam hogi Veer. Tum mere hoge…yadi jiwan me nahi, to mrityu me…
RVs head was spinning. It was all too much to digest. Now that he realized the truth, he felt how did he not guess it before? It was all so obvious…And now looking at her, shining with her own light, she definitely did not seem like a mortal! He should have seen through the truth before.
Gazal was dead…he should have been smitten with pain of losing his love again. Yet it only brought an empty feeling.It was not fear he felt at Gazal’s truth. It was loss…
Not for Gazal’s life. For something else…It was a loss…for his own soul…
RV shook his head. Why where such weird n unexplainable thoughts coming to him?
Gazal: Veer…mere paas aao Veer…sadiyon se tumhara intezar kar rahi hoon…a baa bhi jao…jane do uss patthar ko…aur sama jane do iss nashwar shareer ko iss toofan me…hamare dil sadiyon pehle mil chuke hain, ab aatmaon ka bhi sangam hone do…Veer…
She went on and on. Coaxing him to leave his shelter and join her in the unending void of death. But now RV was hardly listening. His body as well as mind was going numb. He was in a trance…
“…meri Gazal bula rahi hai. Mujhe uske paas jaana hai. Iss baar hume koi nahi rok sakta. Agar use zindagi naseeb nahi hui, to mujhe bhi jine ka koi adhikar nahi…”
“…Nahi… Mai jiina chahta hoon…”
“…ye janmon janmon ka vaada hai…”
“…meri kya galti agar baar baar maut hamare bich aa rahi hai? Mai kyun uske saath apna sab kuch tyag doon?”
“kyunki saccha prem yahi hota hai. Mai uske bina nahi ji sakta…”
“aisa nahi hai…mujhe nahi lagta…kyu nahi jii sakta?”
“ye uske prem ka vishwatghat hoga. Hum hamesha ek dooje ke liye bane the. Mai kabhi bhi kisi aur ka nahi ho sakta”
“zindagi chalti rahti hai…aur mai iss zindagi ko nahi chodungaa…”
“kyun jiyun mai? Kiske liye? Kaun hai jo Gazal ke prem se zyada zaroori hai…kuch nahi…koi nahi…”
“NAHI!”
“mai aa raha hoon Gazal…aur iss baar hum juda nahin honge…”
“NAHIN…NAHIN…NAHIN…”RV closed his eyes. Trying to shut out the part of his mind screaming at him to jump. He frantically tried to think of a reason to live. To convince his other part that he COULD live without Gazal. That he had someone to live for. And a face came before his eyes…
AWNI…
He was not thinking straight. He did not understand how or why. But at that instant he realized that Awni was his guardian angel. The twig of hope and
love that will help him to stay afloat in the deep ocean of confusion and death in which he was floundering.
Inspite of his situation , the turmoil in his heart and Gazal’s continuous soulful call for her Veer, RVs thoughts were filling fast with memories he had cherished with Awni. Of their growing together. Of their fights. Of the making ups. Of the cheers, the hugs, the feeling of being there for each other…Of happiness, of unadulterated love, of clear and deep sentiments of caring and loving each other…
Awni and her memories cleared his mind slowly from the dark debris of destiny that awaited him in the form of the beautiful Gazal. But now he did not find her beautiful anymore. She was scary. And dead…
No! He would not give up. The past was over, the future to come…And he did not want to waste it for some promises of old times…It did not matter anymore. He had done what he could. But death did not let them meet this time too. So he wasn’t going to kill himself to join her. There was more to his life than his past and Gazal…
Veer had belonged to Gazal…he always would…but HE was NOT Veer, he RAJVEER! A new person, a new life…His resolve was made. He would live.
But nature did not let him take the decision. Or was it egged by another supernatural force which had perhaps sensed his desire to not give up?
RV didn’t have a chance to do anything…to save himself…as a huge wave dashed upon him and he lost his grip and footing.
The wave rushed him away towards his death and Gazal…
He fell…and fell…and fell…
…………………………………………………………………………………………
He fell…and fell…and fell…
A cold rushing sounded in his ears, he was shivering and hurting all over.Was dis death? It should not have been so painful. And why that jerk?
RV was completely shaken, his senses gone for a toss. But slowly he came to and found himself still hanging on the cliff, albeit, much of the cliff had washed away in the wave and just few rocks now jutted out of the PM, one of which he was hanging.
He was hanging? But he had lost his grip…yet he could feel his weight straining on his right hand as he strained to gain a foothold to balance himself.Something warm had entwined on his right wrist and held him tightly, stopping his fall into the gurgling stormy waters. Perhaps some sea weed on the rocks.
He didn’t have time to think much about it as he struggled to steady himself and transfer his load to his feet as they found a foothold in a crevice.He was stable for now, but only till the next wave washed him away.This time even a sea weed wouldn’t be able to save him.
He looked up to glance at the weed encircling his hand and supporting his weight, only to see a hand.
And then the hand was linked to an arm.And the arm to a torso.And the torso to a head.
Awni’s grinning face shone above him.
Awni: gotcha! Man! U r sooo heavy…thot I wud surely drop you!RV just gaped at her like a goldfish outta water. He was speechless.With surprise and shock and disbelief, but mostly joy.
RV: AWNI! Tu yahan?Awni: hey! Tumhe kya laga? Only u hav got the right to hang from wobbly rocks which could anytime be swallowed by a sea churning with a storm!Im here to share the adventure![:p]
RV: I don’t believe it! How did u reach here? I mean the storm n all…Awni: look Raj dear, we will have a nice little chat about my navigation skills and my sharp senses and intelligence over a warm fire. But this is hardly a cosy situation, don’t u think?
Inspite of his near death experience, and inspite of the fact that death was still so near, he couldn’t stop the huge stupid grin coming on his face.
That was his dear Awni! She could make him smile ANYTIME!
Awni: so now quit grinning like an idiot and help me pull you up! Then we will think of a way to get away.She heaved him up but that didn’t help much as suddenly RV went rigid. He had remembered that Gazal…or rather Gazal’s ghost was there too. Perhaps Awni could not see her…At that moment as if to prove his point.
Gazal: veer…veer…Awni: cmon up Raj, we can do it…Gazal: mere paas aao Veer…
Awni: balance urself dude, n why the hell r u not trying? Trust me, its not my hobby to risk my neck and save ppl from dangerous precipes hanging over stormy seas! Im not enjoying myself exactly…so try to move!
Gazal: (as if Awni did not exist, as if nothing was happening) Veer…tum sirf mere ho…apna vaada nibhao veer…mere paas aao…
Awni: What the hell Raj…
RV: (quietly) Awni…so u cant see her…
Gazal: mera intezar poora karo veer, iss kahani ka ant karo…
And then she begun to sing. It was as if tides of melody were washing over him. Again putting him in a trance. Calling him.
O saathi re…O re piyaTujh sang preet lagakar sajnaDil haari mai piya
Pal palAankhen dhoonde tujhePal palRaahen take teriJanmon janmon kiSadiyon sadiyon kiPyasi hai intezaar meri…
His senses and conciousness seemed to float away from him. His mind was muddled. He saw no reason to hang on or survive.NOOO! He had to let go.He had to reach his love…NOOOOO…
Ab to aa bhi jaAb to aa bhi jaTeri diwaniTeri jogan pukaareAb to aa bhi ja
Na roke samayNa roke zamaanaNa roke mautNa roke koi bahana
Ab to aa hi jaAb hone do MilanTujh sang preet lagakarDil haari mai sajan…
He was not himself anymore. His inner voice had been totally overcome by the hexing song. He slowly loosened his grip…
Awni: OH BABES! WILL U JUST SHUT UP!!!
Her loud and crystal sharp voice lashed out at the entrancing song and like a splash of chilled water woke RV from his trance.
He saw up at Awni straining hard to pull him up.She spared a fleeting glance at the spectacle of Gazal which had fallen quiet now, and gave her a look as if she was looking at an extremely irritating salesman!
Awni: I agree u hav got a gr8 voice. Maybe you should try playback singing for bollywood. But right now we r just not in the mood darling. So just shut ur trap!
RV was stunned. She COULD SEE HER. But then did she not realize what she was? It was so obvious…yet…
RV: Awni…Gazal…Lara is a ghost…
Awni fell quiet for a sec as if in deep thought, then shrugged.
Awni: good point Raj…that IS a problem. I guess bollywood does not generally accept ghosts as playback singers.But we will discuss her career plans later. Just budge up now Raj…
He couldn’t believe it! Awni knew and understood everything. And still took it lightly. Saving him was a more pressing matter than a looming ghost.And anyways how can ghosts deter this wild and willfull girl from doing what she wanted to and save her best friend.
RV smiled to himself. Only Awni could be this crazy and brash and absurd. But that’s why he loved her.
He tried to leverage himself as Awni pulled him again.
A quiet but deadly voice echoed.
Gazal: Mere Veer ko jane do larki…mai tumhe nuksan nahi pahunchana chahti hoon…parantu yadi tum zidd karogi, to Veer ko pane ke liye Gazal kuch bhi karegi…
As if to prove her point the rock that was supporting them shuddered. It would take hardly one more little wave to completely shatter it. And then both he and Awni would die.
Gazal: tum thik soch rahe ho Veer…yadi tumne mujhse door jane ki koshish ki, to ye larki bhi tumhare saath maari jayegi…
Awni: what utter bullshit! Agar marna hai to waise bhi marenge. Thanx dear, but im not interested in ur advice. RAJ…don’t listen to her and try to come up…
He hesitated.
Gazal: agar tum mere paas aa jaoge Veer, to iss larki ko kuch nahi hoga…kuch bhi karo, iss paar ya uss paar, tum aaj yahan se jiwit nahi jaaoge…bas apne saath iss larki ko bhi le jana chahte ho ya nahi, ye ab tum par hai Veer…
The rock shuddered harder. It would collapse any moment.But Awni was unperturbed.
Awni: why are you not moving Raj…help me pull u up!RV: nahi…Awni: WHAT???!!!
RV looked up into those huge honeyed eyes, now wide with exertion and shock. Her hair was open and whipped on her full face. Why did he have to realize how beautiful she was, after so many yrs, when it was too late…Life was so unfair…
RV: Awni…jane do mujhe…Awni: STOP IT! Im NOT letting u go! I don’t care what happens!RV: I do. Don’t u understand, I come up or not, still im gonna die. I cant let u get hurt because of me…no Awni…go away…Awni:Raj…RV: Awni pls…
Awni: SHUT UP RAJ! Yeah, maybe ur rite. Up or down, ull die both ways perhaps. But if u do, then I want to die with you! And I want u to be with ME.I will never leave you and stop trying to save you till my last breath. I will NEVER give up. I will NEVER let go. And if u do anything stupid and don’t come up, im gonna jump in before u do and make sure u see me crashing on the rocks and dying before u do!U GET THAT? So stop giving silly reasons, coz IM NOT GONNA LISTEN!
RV: Why? Why r u doing this? Why do u want to die pointlessly? Why do you want to so unthinkingly sacrifice everything for me? Why?Awni: COZ I LOVE YOU!!!
A cold silence fell in, but Awni broke it soon.
Awni: yeah! I love you. And im not leaving u here. So just cut the crap and come up. Coz u know if AWNI decides something, NOTHING can change her
mind! So don’t bother to say anything and just push urself off those rocks while I pull u up…
There was a height of tyranny and Awni crossed all limits. Rv just gaped at her cool acceptance of something he would never have been able to so easily. And over that she also managed to make it sound as if it was HIS fault!Bossiness was synonymous to this wild girl.
And so was determination. RV knew his friend well enough to understand that he was wasting his time in telling her to save herself. And somewhere deep down in his heart he was thankfull to her for not leaving him alone.It was a selfish thought, true, still everyone has a part of their psyche which requires some ones arms to protect them from their worst fears, whatever the price of it.
So ignoring the wobbly rock, the raging storm and an enraged spirit, RV levered himself and balanced himself to distribute his weight as Awni simultaneously heaved him. RV managed to edge up and support his arms now on the cliff. A little more to be safely up…for the time being that is.
A shrill scream of rage filled the air as the spectre realized what RV was doing. And she turned into a blinding flash of light which zapped at Awni’s hand which held and supported RV.
But Awni waved her other hand at the incoming light, and swished it aside as if it was an irritating fly!
RV: Whoa! What was that?Awni: No clue…dunno how I did it, was instinctive…
The light returned to its earlier position and turned back into a seething Gazal staring angrily at the hand that had waved her back. Or rather at the shiny ring on it.
Gazal: Prem anguthi
RV: what?
Awni stared at her ring: prem anguthi…a lucky charm…ill tell u the story later…Now move it…A final tug and a scramble as Awni finally managed to pull Rv up onto the now unstable rock with her.
Gazal: tumne apna chunaw kar liya hai Veer…ab meri bari…aur tum, Rajkumari Awni; apni maut ko tumne khud hi neota diya hai…tumhe ye samajh lena chahiye tha ki Prem anguthi sirf premiyon ki raksha karta hai…aur Veer tumse nahi, humse prem karta hai…Gazal se Veer ko koi juda nahi kar sakta, tum bhi nahi…
Awni slowly turned to look the spirit of Gazal straight in the eye. The wind whipped her hair across her huge angry eyes and pure determination and cold rage shone from her as she coolly said.
“FUCK OFF…”
He was sitting on a rock about to crumble into a stormy sea at the mercy of a supernatural entity which had come to haunt him from his past birth.The situation could not have been more fatal and bad. Yet RV could not help but find it all oddly amusing.
That was what Awni was all about. Courage, loyalty, love, determination…and unperturbed by ANY trouble that came her way, meeting every challenge with equal gusto and fervour. Undaunted.
RV: Ummm…Awni…dear, I think its highly indecent and unhealthy to say “fuck off” to a ghost. Give her some respect yaar! [:p]
But the good humour left him as Awni gave him too a quelling look.
Awni: thik kaha tumne Gazal…Veer tumhara hai…par ye VEER nahi, RAJVEER hai. Tum dono ki maut ke saath tumhari “prem katha” samapt ho gayi thi. You cant force urself on him now. Hes a different individual and though he may be a reincarnation of ur Veer, he is not the same person and may not necessarily be in love with the same girl. Jaisa tumne kaha Gazal, chunaw uska hai…
Gazal: Jiwan ke moh maya me mera Veer fass gaya hai… wo nahi janta ki wo kya chahta hai, wo apna chunaw nahi kar sakta, isliye mai uski madad karoongi…aur phir wo hamesha ke liye mera ho jayega…jiwan ne do baar hume dhoka diya, isliye maut me hum ek honge…
RV: Aisa nahin hoga Gazal…
His quiet comment broke into the debate as attention fell on him (finally!)
RV: Sirf markar hi hum ek nahi ho sakte, kyunki iss baar ye do premiyon ki maut nahi hai…meri maut tumhare[ liye nahi, haalaaton ke karan hoga…tum iss tarah mujhe nahi paaogi Gazal…Kyunki Veer shayad Gazal ka tha…par ye Raj to kisi aur ka hai…
Then to Awni’s surprise and Gazal’s fury RV slowly pulled Awni to himself, looking deep into her eyes.He had finally got over the confusion that his past had instilled into him, his view of true love had finally cleared, he had finally defeated the soul of Veer that reigned him.
He cupped her face, gently stroking away the curl of hair on it…and pulled her into a deep kiss…
All hell broke loose as Gazal realized that her story was foiled for ever. She could conquer his body in death, but not his heart.
The gigantic wave moved in fast upon the lovers, about to beat them…again…
But they were unfazed by reality…What can death mean to true love? What can death mean to soulmates?
They were together…oblivious to the killer wave making its final blow…
History repeated itself…
………………………………………………………………………………………
The gentle swaying motion rocked him back to a dim awareness. Slowly his conciousnes begun to clear as he opened his eyes.His head was pounding and whole body felt wrecked. But essentially he was in one piece.
With a groan he propelled himself on one elbow, head swirling with disorientation. With a bleary eye he took in his surroundings…which wasn’t much of a feat…
Till mile n mile away was an expanse of a now calm sea. As if it had never thrashed and tossed wildly with full potential few hrs ago.
A warm faint light stole around da tranquil breeze marking the beginning of dawn, though the sun had not risen yet.
He still could not make much sense and associate the present with tha immediate past. His m ind had hanged, so he didn’t bother to try and just looked around.
Now that his mind was clearer, he saw that the sea was not the only thing in view.At a little distance away, a thin yellow line of a beach glowed. As he focused his eye closer, they settled on a few dark broken structures.
With a heavy jolt, reality finaly went down his systems as his hazy mind registered the identity of those desolate structures…
The Pathor Matha…
Only a few rocks stood out now, like broken teeth remaining of a once proud mouth.
And with that, the whole memory came back to him with a chilling thought
AWNI!!
He shot to alertness as he looked around his immediate position.he was in a small rickety boat, floating lazily in solitude.Beside him lay a figure, on her stomach, her hair sprawled on her face.
RV: Awni! (he cradled her head into his arms, fearing the worst, splashin some sea water on her face)…Awni…
Her eyelids fluttered as mild spasms of slow dawning conciousness filled her features.Lazily she opened her eyes, stared at him without much comprehension, stretched herself and finally managed to sit up…with a look of casual confusion.
As she slowly took in the view, the look turned into bewilderement, shock, surprise and then finally rigid realization.
Awni: What? How? When? Where?...Whats goin on…We are alive…RV: Bingo! I knew it! I knew that u will finally get it! How smart of you!!! [:p]Awni: ha ha ha [:x]Awni: …But how…RV: dunno…even I don’t understand…but only one thing could have saved us from the fatal wave and broyght us to the safety of this boat…only one thing had the power to control and defy nature…
Awni: Gazal…RV: Yup! But why?Awni: sorry dear…but im no expert in ghost psychology [:d]
Then suddenly her good mood declined as she became more aware of their close proximity and consequences of last night. She brought in her knees close to her chin and hugged herself tight, falling on a broody silence.
RV gently stroked back her hair. It was still full of salt from the sea and slightly damp. He ran his hand through it…It felt so good…
She shuddered involuntarily with his touch as she spoke slowly…Awni: I had decided to leave…
RV: What?[:o]Awni: after last night I had decided to leave for Mumbai last evening and from there rush off to some unknown place as soon as I could from there…away from you…RV: R U NUTS? Why, u stupid girl…Awni: what could I have done? I thought u didn’t need me in your life anymore and I couldn’t have beared to see you hate me and with…
RV: Awni…U actually thought that I don’t need YOU? After all those yrs we spent together, after everything, just because I lose my temper in a fit of stupidness, you decide to leave ME forever! Did u think I could LIVE with you gone??? GREAT! Thanks a bunch!!![:x]
Awni: You have simply no right to shout at me ok? You r the one who said all that nonsense…and now…RV: Yeah! I agree I did. But I take it for granted that my “best friend” will understand me when I don’t mean things in rage and forgive me! How could you even…sheesh!
Awni: (now in tears n angry) Ya sure! That IS ur problem! U always take me for granted! Why should I be the one to always understand? Don’t I have feelings? U would anytime ignore me and talk all crap and…
She went on and on, ranting in bottled rage and despair which she had held back so long. RV tried to explain and coax her, but she was so mad that she couldn’t be stopped by sane logic or apology. She just pushed his hands back as she let the tide of pain flood out.
RV sighed. He knew better than anyone that when this crazy girl lost her temper, NO one could shut her up…atleast not by conventional methods.So he just took in a deep breath, and completely ignoring her tirade, roughly cupped her face and pulled her in for a kiss.Foolproof methods to shut up wild cats! [:p]
He loosened his grip under her shocked protests and pulled back for a moment.RV: (slowly) I love you. And that is reason enough for you to forgive me.
And inspite of her feeble attempt at a reply, he resumed the kiss. She tried to pull back for a second, then gave up, put her arms around his neck and happily kissed him back.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
She drifted away towards the now rising sun. The bright light was awaiting her at the end of a corridor. A light of final peace and freedom. It was just a matter of crossing the corridor. Her essence lifted and slowly merged in with the merry sunshine as she fleeted a last gaze at the now distant sea…
And on the small boat in it, containing two entwined figures.
She did not feel bad. Not anymore.
She knew the man on it was not her Veer. He had left the man and had joined her when the mortal had refused to. Only she had not realized it then. But as he had confessed his love for the other girl, she realized he couldn’t be her Veer.And couldn’t bear to let the same fate that had hurt her so long to finish another story incomplete.As a last decision she had intervened to let love win…
And now nothing mattered anymore as her soul liberated itself…
Soona soonaLamha lamhaMeri yaadeinTanha tanha
Akar mujheTum tham loManzil meriDekhe rastaMurke zaraTum dekhloAisa MilanPhir ho na hoSab kuch meraTum hi to ho…
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
3 yrs later…
“I WILL DECIDE HER NAME. MATTER CLOSED.”“WHY? SHES MY DAUGHTER TOO!”
Their heated argument filled the air of the hospital room, as an irritated Nandini held her head in frustration.The two argued on and on as a tiny bundle lay between.Finally when the argument had reached its crescendo…
Nan: Will U GUYS SHUT UP!!! This is a hospital! Football ground ki tarah chilla rahe ho[:x]And cant u guys reach a mutual decision without leaving out a huge trail of casualty due to ur arguments?Silly ppl…
Awni: (sullenly) ok…But HE started it!RV: oh yeah! And u said u wont let me name my daughter. I refuse to…
Nan: SHUT UP! [:x]Guys…think n discuss like “civilized” ppl, cant u?
RV (wid a grin): well, no![:p] actually that’s da fun…[:d]Awni: U bet [:p][:D]
Nan: oofff…nutcases! Dunno how u will bring up this sweetheart. Shell go insane soon with u guys!
Awni: like us…[:d]Nan: sure…whatever, u guys continue ur shouting match, I have to go on rounds.Awni: ok dear…but Nan…its been 2 days since shes born, and she hadn’t yet opened her eyes. Is everything allright?
Nan: for the millionth time Awni…YES! Babies sometimes open their eyes even after more than 3-4 days! And I checked her…shes absolutely normal! So don’t worry…Now tc…ill be back soon…
She leaves…After a tiny silence.
RV: but wateva tha case…I WILL NAME HER…!Awni: NORV: YESAwni: NORV: YESAwni: NORV: I luv u…Awni: NO…oh…(blushing as he kissed her forehead) me too…But that doesn’t mean I give up!
RV: ok baba! U do the honours! So what will u name our darling…?
He gently picked up the little, delicate baby girl, eyes misting with love and joy.
Awni: Ummm…I actually didn’t think abt it…may be…well…OK her name will be…
At that moment with a stifled cry, the baby abruptly snaps her eyes open…And clear jade eys stare out at them. Those startling jade eyes…as green as grass covered with fresh dew…as intense as a storm…as hypnotizing as a crystal ball…they finished her sentence…
“Gazal…”
