Chapter 12

Part 11

Interesting meetings

Sunaina and Harsh invited Sia inside the mahal and Harsh couldn't stop boasting about its beauty and craftsmen ship. Then he kept comparing it with Maharaj Dayavardhan's mahal and making a big show that Sia was almost getting tired of it now.

Then they stopped near a room.

Harsh: Or yeh aap ka kamra hai Sia. Ham aasha karte hai ke aapko yeh aapke prati lagega or bohat hee sundar bhi

Sia: ha waakai me yeh bohat hee khoobsurat kamra hai.

Harsh: (goes and stands in front of the dresser and the cupboard) Or is almari or kaach ko dekhye Sia or hame bataye ke aapka kya khayaal hai?

Sia: uh yeh wo....(looks at Sunaina for answers)

Harsh: yeh khaas tore pe banaya gaya hai Maharaj Dayavardhan ke updesh se. iskee kaareegaree dekhye Sia, aapko isse khoobsurat cheez kahi dekhne ko nahi milegee. Or phir yeh almiri dekhye. (opens it up for her) Yeh khaas tore pe banaya gaya hai ke kapre rakhne me aasaani ho or....

he carries on and Sia just looks at Sunaina and grins at Harsh's unsual nature. He was impossible.

Harsh: aapko pata hai humme kitnee baar niyota aata hai Maharaj Dayavardhan se ke ham onke saath khaana khaaye or ham aapko batade ke hamare liye wo sawari bhi bhejte hai.

Sia: sach me bare hee dayalu maaloom parte hai yeh.

Harsh: aap andaaza nahi lagasakti. Onkee daya ham per itnee hai ke kya batao aapko. Khair ab chalye ham aapko baaki ka mahal bhi dikhaa de or phir...

he trailed on and Sia just stared at Sunaina almost feeling sorry for her. They did follow him around and then eventually he left them alone and Sunaina took her to one of the rooms where she spent most of her time.

Sunaina: Harsh sab cheezo ka bara hee khayaal rakhte hai or...(hesitating) hamara bhi. Ham onhe ziada se ziada bahar tehel ne ke liye majboore karte hai.

Sia: acha? wese sehat ke liye to hamesha acha hee hota hai

Sunaina: ha, or phir roze onhe Maharaj Dayavardhan se bhi milne jaana hota hai to oske liye bhi ham onhe roze majboor karte hai.

Sia: or tum din bhar yaha is kamre me hee rehtee ho

Sunaina: ha, hame kaafi santalon milta hai yaha pe rehkar. Yaha pe ham jo chahte hai karsakte hai. (looks at Sia ) aisa hota hai ke din me ham or Harsh sirf kuch hee pal ke liye milte hai bus. Hame hamaree is haalat pe kaafi khushi hai or koi dukh nahi.

She just smiled back at her with affection and then they both just continued chatting and catching up.

That evening, Harsh, Sunaina and Sia all went to Maharaj Dayavardhan's mahal by invitation. As they came out of the carriage Sia looked at the mahal with awe and Harsh also noticed it.

Harsh: Hai na yeh dunya kee sabse haseen jaga Sia?

Sia: sach me hai to zaroor.

Harsh: iskee kaareegari dekhye, sabse alag hai or phir yaha kee har cheez sabse alag hai or...

his complements continued and Sia just gave up ignoring him as there was just no chance of escaping. Then she began to fix herself a bit to make sure it wasn't ruffled in the carriage ride.

Harsh: aap chinta mat kijye Sia, aap bilkul theek lagrahee hai. Ha wese to Maharaj yeh sab kaafi dekhte hai per hame pata hai ke onkee betee ke aage onhe aapkee yeh saadgee zaroor pasand aaehgee.

Sia didn't know whether to be flattered or offended by his comment.

Harsh: onhe logo me oonch neech dekhne ka bara hee shoke hai to aapko milke khush honge.

Sia: shukriya Rajkumar Harsh, aapne yeh kehkar hamara mann thora halka kardiya. (Disappointment was evident in her voice.)

Once inside they were taken to the Maharaj Dayavardhan's darbar where he sat on his throne with many other disciples sat on the chairs across the hall. Harsh and party were called with great respect and the maharaj made Harsh sit on the chair near him and Sunaina and Sia were told to stand behind him.  Sia noticed his features and demeanor clearly projected arrogance and higher authority. Whilst he talked she saw no streaks of laughter or even a smile on his face which made him very un agreeable. He definitely was what Harsh had described him as and somehow he reminded her of Dharam. Perhaps because he was his nephew and was bound to get his attributes.

The maharaj then stopped speaking with Harsh and gave Sia the look.

She stared back at him conscious about what he might say but she didn't show any sign of intimidation.

M. Dayavardhan: aapki yeh dost kaafi sushil or sundar maaloom partee hai Rajkumari Sunaina. To yeh hai Sumaina ke Maharaj kee betee jo ke hamare hisaab se onki mirtyu ke baad, onka rajya aapka hone waala hai Rajkumar Harsh.

Harsh: Ji aapne bilkul sahi suna or ham....

Dayavardhan interrupted him so he put his hand over his mouth.

M. Dayavardhan: Aapki paanch behene hai, sahi hai?

Sia: Ji. Or ham Ananya ke baad aate hai jo ke sabse bari hai.

M. Dayavardhan: to aapki choti behene me se kinkin Sumaina se bahaar peish kardigayee hai

Sia: Ji sab ke sab ho chukee hai

M. Dayavardhan: (surprised) kya? sab ke sab ek saath? (he narrows his eyes as if scrutinizing her) aapki choti behene bahaar nikal gayee or abhi tak aap or aapki bari behen kee shaadi nahi huwee. Rajkumari Sia aap kee choti behene to kaafi choti hogee hamare hisaab se.

Sia: Ji Maharaj (smiles) hamaree sabse choti behen abhi sola saal kee bhi nahi huwee.

Dayavardhan sighs and leans back on his throne clearly disappointed by her answer. He was even more surprised when she continued speaking when he didn't even ask her to. He stared at her with wide eyes.

Sia: Wese maharaj hame yeh kaafi na insaafi lagti hai agar ham yeh kahe ke choti behene ko bahaar nikalne ka moka nahi dena chaheeye jab tak bari beiteeyo kee shaadi na hojaaye. agar bari beiteeyo kee shaadi karne ke haalat nahi hai to iska samadhaan to yeh nahi ke choti behene ko bhi wahi saza mile. Wo bhi to bari hongee to phir onhe bahaar jaane ka moka milna chaheeye.

Harsh is not pleased with her and tries cautioning her but Sunaina is pleased to see her standing up for something she believes in. Dayavardhan is outraged.

M.Dayavardhan: aap apni rai aise de rahi hai Rajkumari Sia jese ke aapko kaafi tajurba hai. Hame yeh to bataye ke aapki umar is waqt kya hai?

Sia: Jab hamare paas teen choti behene hai to aap andaza laga hee sakte hai ke hamaree umar kya hogi to phir ose aise batane ka kya fiada

M.Dayavardhan: ab aap sola ya satra se to bari hongee hee nahi to phir yeh chupaane ka raaz kyu?

Sia: (smiles at him sarcastically) Ji ab hamaree umar satra tak nahi pohochee

Dayavardhan leaned back again and turned away from her and began talking with other people about other things. Sia noticed that he was clearly disturbed by her outwardness and that pleased her. She was going to show him that she was not going to bow down in front of him unnecessarily.  

Chatrapur

 

The people were busy in building that ditch around the mandir where then the water from the lake could flow over here and the people can drink from it unharmed.

 

Just then someone on a horse came riding up and with a whip struck one of the workers. Everyone froze and dropped what they were doing and stared at the person. He was one of the daakoos so everyone became afraid. The daakoo got off his horse and gave menacing looks at everyone and then slowly began coming towards the old man who he had just struck. He kept moving back and then the daakoo picked his hand up to whip him again but he was stunned when his whip was held back midway. He turned around and saw Veer standing there holding onto the whip.

 

Veer: (anger filled eyes) agar tumne ise dubaara haath bhi lagaya to me tumhaara haath kaat daalunga

 

Then he threw the man's hand away and snatched the whip out of his hands.

 

Daakoo: Koun ho tum or tumhaaree itnee himmat'.yeh baat agar sardaar ko pata chali to phir tumhaari khair nahi

 

Veer: Jaake kehdo apne saardaar se ke ab oska yeh zulm in logo pe bilkul chalega nahi. Or wo kya kaayaro kee tarha bil me chupa beitha hai? Himmat hai to bahaar nikal ke lare Veer se. Keh dena ose.

 

The daakoo was leaving

 

Veer: or ha, dubaara agar yaha pe dikha to sach much tumhaara haath kaat daalunga.

 

The daakoo gulped as he did find Veer threatening and was about to attack but saw Veer and became afraid and ran away from there. The villagers all cheered with victory and carried Veer on their shoulders and began dancing around.

 

Aswaahi qabila

 

 

Bhawanipur

Ananya: VEER!

She sat up breathing heavily and really shocked. She just had a bad nightmare about Veer being in danger and she thought he was going to go away from her forever. She touched her perspiring forehead and caught up with her breath. Then silent tears dropped out of her eyes.

Ananya: Kaho ho Veer? Aise hame chore ke kyu chalegaye aap? Waapis jaldi aajaaye, waapis... (she continues crying out loud)

 

Pari hears her and comes into the room

 

Pari: Kya huwa Ananya, tum theek to ho na?

 

Ananya: (bursting in her arms) Chachi hame bohat darr lagraha hai. Aise Rajkumar Veer chale gaye hame chore ke pata nahi ab kya hoga. Wo theek to honge na

 

Pari: Tum chinta mat karo Ananya, bhagwaan ne chaaha to sab theek hee hoga. Dekhna wo bohat jald waapis aajaenge.

 

She continued crying in her arms and Pari consoled her.

 

In Chatrapur Veer was also having restless night thinking about Ananya and why she didn't reply to any of his messages. He had sent so many and yet no replies. He wondered why that was. He knew it would take him at least another month till the mandir was ready and plus now he also had this new daakoo problem so he didn't know when he'll be able to leave. Why didn't she understand him? The night passed and he couldn't blink even an eye.

 

Avdhi

 

It had been days since Sia had been here and she quite enjoyed her stay. She had to admit she loved the beautiful gardens of the mahals and she just didn't feel like leaving.

 

On the tenth day an over excited Harsh came rushing inside.

 

Harsh: Sunaina! Sunaina! Jaldi karo jaldi karo'.

 

Sunaina: (is confused) Kya huwa? Aap itna haap kyu rahe hai?

 

Harsh: Abhi abhi hame Rajkumari Anjali ne bataya ke Maharaj Dharam Avdhi pohoch chuke hai or wo yaha pe hamse milne aarahe hai. Chalo jaldi karo, jaldi karo

 

He kept running around here and there like a neurotic. Sia was also there and she was equally surprised.

 

Sunaina: Lagta hai Sia onhe pata chalgaya hai ke tum yaha per ho warna wo hamse to milne nahi aate.

 

Sia: Hame lagta hai Sunaina ke tum kuch ziada hee sochtee ho is bare me. Tum jaantee ho ke ham onhe kitnee nafrat karte hai or hame yeh bhi pata hai ke wo bhi hame kuch ziada pasand nahi karte

 

Harsh returned

 

Harsh: Are jaldi karo, jaldi karo'.

 

The women followed him to make sure he calmed down soon.

 

After some time Rajkumari Anjali (Dayavardhan's daughter) and Dharam entered the mahal. His eyes searched here and there as if he was looking out for someone and then they stopped as the threesome stood in front to receive them.

 

Harsh: Aap dono ka hamare is gareeb khaane me swaghat hai. Aap se milkar hame khushi huwi

 

Sia noticed how Rajkumari Anjali was nothing like her father. She was friendlier and soft spoken and even had a smile pasted on her face all the time. Her mannerisms quite impressed her and then her eyes moved towards Dharam and both their gaze met. It had been months since she had last met him in the mela and still he had that same glow in his eyes.

 

Then they all went and sat down in the hall with Harsh and Dharam sitting together and Anjali and Sia sitting together.

 

Anjali: To aakhir me hamaree aapse mulaqaat ho hee gayee.  Hamne aapke bare me itna suna hai ke ham besabri se intezaar karahe the is moke ke liye.

 

Sia: Acha? (looks towards Dharam) hamne to yehi socha tha ke hamare baare me sab bura hee sochte hai

 

Anjali: Aisa to ho hee nahi sakta, kyu ke hamne sirf aapkee acchai ke baare me hee suna hai or ham dekh ke kehsakte hai ke wo sab sach hee tha. Khair ab hame yaha pe or ziada maza aaehga kyu ke ab hame aapka saath jo milne waala hai. Ham khoob baate karsakhenge or hame ek haseen saathi bhi miljaaehga.

 

Sia: Kya aapke mahal me yeh sab pehle nahi hota tha?

 

Anjali: ab aap to jaantee hai Sia ke pitaji to din bhar apne logo ke saath rehte hai or onke saath baate karte rehte hai. Hame to on sab me koi dilchaspi nahi or phir (glances towards Dharam) hai hamare Maharaj Dharam jo ke wese to Aryanagar me bohat saari baate karte rehte hai per naajane kyu yaha Avdhi aake hamesha aise chup chaap hee rehte hai.

 

All this time, Dharam sat opposite and was constantly staring at Sia. He listened to everything she was saying as if he was trying to absorb each and every word coming out of her mouth. Harsh was ranting on but he didn't pay any attention to him as he was too busy with admiring her simplicity as she spoke.

 

Anjali: yaha pe to koi naach ta gaata bhi nahi (looks at Sia and her eyes light up) kya aap naach tee gaatee hai Sia?

 

Sia: (smiles) Ha'per ham aapko kehde ke ham isme bilkul bhi acche nahi to aapko ziada maza nahi aaehga.

 

Anjali: yeh to aapkee saadgee hai jo aisa kehrahee hai aap par hame umeed hai ke aap itnee bhi buri nahi hongee. Hame awashe maza aaehga.

 

Sia turns to look at Dharam and is surprised to see he is constantly staring at her. She feels conscious and for some reason feels shyness taking over her.

 

Sia: Anjali kya aap hame bata sakti hai ke Maharaj Dharam aise hame ghoore kyu rahe hai? Kya onhe hamaree koi baat pasand nahi aayee?

 

Both the women stare at him and he stands up and walks over to them ignoring Harsh. Sia is alarmed to find him towering her and goes back a bit not sure what to expect from him.

 

Dharam: Aapki or aapke parivaar kee tabiyat kesee hai?

 

Sia: ji ham bilkul theek hai or hamare parivaar ke log bhi theek hee hai

 

He nodded and kept his gaze fixated on her making her wonder what he was thinking.

 

Sia: aahh Ananya kuch mahinose Bhawanipur me hai to kya aap ki osse mulaqaat huwi?

 

Dharam: (paused and thought over his answer) Nahi'ham khud ek yatra pe gaye the or kuch hee dino pehle waapis laute hai to hame to moka hee nahi mila'or phir ham yaha per aagaye

 

Sia: or aapki behen?

 

Dharam: (looks at Sia as if he was surprised to hear about his sister from her) wo kuch dino ke liye hamare Bhawanipur ke mahal me rehne waalee hai or phir yaha Avdhi waapis laut jaaengee.

 

After saying that, he moved away towards the window and stared outside at the midday sky. No one said anything for some time until Sia broke the ice.

 

Sia: aap dekhsakti hai Anjali ke ham or Maharaj Dharam itne bhi acche dost nahi hai.

 

Anjali: yeh baat jaankar hame behat hairaanee horahee hai

 

Sia: aisa hee hai kyu ke ham hamesha insaan ko pehli nazar me hee pehchaan jaate hai or yaha pe hamne suna hai ke Maharaj Dharam ki bhi nazar me koi ek baar bura hai to wo bura hee rehta hai

 

Dharam turned around and glared at Sia for quoting him again as if mocking him. She just smiled back at him suggesting that yes she was making fun of him.

 

Sia: to aap dekhsaktee hai ke yeh maamla to kabhi suljhaaya jaa hee nahi sakta

 

Anjali couldn't help but laugh as she knew how Dharam was and meeting Sia assured her that she was perfect for him. She was exactly like him. Dharam just turned away from her again feeling somewhat disappointed.

 

Then both he and Anjali left with Anjali convincing Sia to come and meet her everyday.

 

Next day Sia was just roaming around in the gardens again and walked quite a bit when she ran into Dharam who was riding a horse. She couldn't help but to stare at him and his strong powerful frame on the horse just made him even more attractive. She stared at him and he also did but none of them greeted each other. Instead Dharam turned his horse and rode off away from her. She just shrugged her shoulders and moved along.

 

That evening Maharaj Dayavardhan had invited them to his mahal and this time Sia was looking forward to going because she wanted to meet Anjali again. This time they weren't in his main darbaar but were sat in a more private room where it was only family. Anjali insisted Sia to play the sitar and she was left with little choice so she sat down in the far corner with the instrument. Anjali sat next to her.

 

Dharam sat next to Dayavardhan looking upon Sia as always. She didn't play that well but he still was involved in listening to each chord and string she pulled as if magic was in the air. Dayavardhan appeared too displeased with it.

 

M. Dayavardhan: agar aap aise hee sitar bajaatee rahegee to phir aap kabhi bhi osme behtar nahi ho paaogee. Hame lagta hai ke aap ko yaha per or ziada aana chaaheeye kyu ke hamare yaha pe kahi log hai jo aapko yeh sikha sakhenge. Wo hamare mahal ke dusri or hai to is tarha aap kisee ke raaste me bhi nahi aaengee

 

Sia: (fake smile) aap kee kripa hai Maharaj.

 

M.Dayavardhan: wese bhi hindustaan me kaafi kam raj gharaane ke log hai jinhe sangeet se mohabbat hai or ham onme se nahi. Or agar ham hote to ham aapko batade ke ham osme sabse behtar hote.

 

Dharam gets up and walks off towards Sia in the corner. Harsh as usual kept nodding at everything Dayavardhan said as if he was God. He went and stood in front of Sia who was still trying to play and when she saw him she couldn't help but laugh.

 

Sia: kya aap hame daraane ke iraade se yaha aaye hai Maharaj Dharam? Ham aapko batade ke hamare andar hamesha ek naya hosla barta hai jabhi hame koi khatre ka andesha hota hai.

 

Dharam: Aapke baare me hame khoob pata hai Sia ke aapko kaafi santolan milta hai dusro ke kahi huwee baate dhauraana. Or ose apni rai bana ke jatana

 

Sia: (continues laughing) aapke bhai to hamaree koi bhi baat pe yakeen karne ko tayaar hee nahi. Kya yeh ghore nainsaafi nahi?

 

Anjali: Yeh wakai me hai. (looking at Dharam) Aisa kese karsakhte hai aap Dharam?

 

Sia: agar ham aapko baataenge ke inka hamare saath shuru se vevaar kesa raha hai to aap to hairaan hee hojaaengee Anjali. Yeh jaise hai wese dikhte nahi

 

Dharam: (challenging her with his eyes) Ham aapse darr te nahi Sia.

 

Anjali: ab to hame jaana hee hai ke aakhir baat kya hai? Sia hame bataye ke aisa kya kiya hai Dharam ne?

 

Sia: hamaree inse pehli mulaqaat Ramghar ke jashan me huwi thi jaha pe inhone hamare saath seedhi moo baat tak nahi kee. Aise ghoom rahe the jese onhone waha aakar sab pe bara ehsaan kiya hai jab ke sab ke sab to apne hee aap me vyast the. Oske baad jab hamaree onse dubaara mulaqaat huwi Devghar me to waha pe yeh khud hamare paas aaye the per tab ham onke saath jaane ke liye tayaar nahi the kyu ke jo inhe pasand hee nahi ose dhauraane ka kya fiada. (looks at Dharam) ab aap ko to maana hee parega Maharaj Dharam ke yehi aapkee sacchai hai

 

Dharam: (thinks about it and then speaks) ham ziada tar anjaan logo se mil nahee sakte kyu ke yeh hamaree fitrat me nahi

 

Sia: Anjali, kya ham pooche in se ke aisa kyu sochte hai yeh? Ke in jaisa bhudhimaan or takatwar Maharaj aisa kyu sochte hai ke wo ziada tar anjaan logo se nahi milsakte.

 

Dharam: ham'.hamme wo baat nahi jo kai logo me hotee hai jisse wo kahi bhi or kisee ke bhi saath bait kar baat karsakhe. Yeh hamare liye bohat kathin hai

 

Sia: (looks at him strangely) Ham bhi yeh sitar acchi tarhase nahi baja sakte per hamne hamesha yehi socha hai ke isme ghalati hamaree hai kyu ke hamne kabhi is kee taraf dhyaan diya hee nahi ke ham ise theek tarhaase baja sakhe.

 

Dharam: (nods his head with agreement) sahi kaha aapne Sia. Aapne aapka waqt ziada ahem cheezo ko diya hai.  Wese dekha jaaye to ham dono ek tarhase ek jaise hee hai jahape ham dono ne anjaan logo ke saamne aisa kuch nahi kiya jo ham karna chahte hai.

 

They stare as if trying to read each other's thoughts.

 

M.Dayavardhan: Tum teeno waha kya baate karahe ho? Hame batao isi waqt. Hamara jaane ka haq hai.

 

None of them really answered and Dharam returned back to his seat whilst she continued to practice on the sitar. It felt as if the evening was never going to end.

 

End of part.  

arwa722008-11-16 18:44:40