picture curtsy : ayu14
-KURBAAN HUA-
PART: 1
We are about to reach Jaisalmeer. It's already 1pm and we still have to travel at least one hour to reach our destination. It's a business trip or else who wanna visit Rajasthan in the month of May. Actually I want to add a new wing in my business. Khurana Construction is really doing well so I thought why not spread it. I was just considering all the options and opportunity just came into my hand. Well it's a very usual thing I always get what I want I am Maan Sing Khurana' heart n soul of Khurana Construction. One of my clients owned an old 'Haveli' in Rajasthan. He was calling an auction for it. I thought why not try my luck in hotel business. It will be a good choice as Khurana Construction can take care of restoration of that palace. Well this is the first time I am going to take a look on the palace. Let see how much I have to spend on it.
Here we are ' standing in d hall of the palace' we mean Adi my manager, Chenilal care taker of the palace and me. I was dumbstruck' what a possession I am possessing right now! The hall is BIGGG' well I guess it was the court ' six pillars, holding the roof of the hall' walls are adorned with old paintings and wall hangings' they are very old and its artistic value cant be measured by any amount of wealth. Well I am not an artistic person but I guess something is in the air of this place that's making me romantic. I smiled' me and romantic! I wanted to see the whole haveli. We have still some time before the sun set. I keep on exploring all the rooms. Its not possible to explore the whole palace in one go and many rooms are out of use from a long time, so me and Adi had a quick look all those rooms which are in a good condition. Chenilal was also there with us he was guiding us and telling us stories about the palace. Just then my eyes get stacked on something. I went near the window; there was another haveli or some thing like that. I was only able to see the pick of it. I asked' 'Chenilal whats that?'
'Wo hokum voh choti haveli hai, suna hai kabhi waha nach gana hotha tha' bade bade raja maharaja athe the mauj masti ke liye'. Par wo bohoth bohoth pehle ki baat hai ' angrezi zamana ke bhi pehle'' replied Chenilal
- kya hum vuha ja sakte hai? I asked.
Chenilal: ji hukum zaroor ' ye to ab ap ke hi jagah hai
Oh yes I remember the property I bought included a smaller haveli too. I instantly got a vive; I wanted to go there just at that moment. Huh! My own behavior is surprising me. Maan Sing Khurana getting restless for watching an old palace. I sigh ' I was right there is something in the air of Rajasthan.
'Amaravati' ' the word just skipped from my mouth.
Haan hukum iss haveli ko log uss waqt pe amaravati hi kehte the' parr ye aapko kaise pata?
Voh I was just giving similes.
Adi translated it for Chenilal. From when did I start doing these poetical stuffs like giving similes, strange!
This Chota Haveli is much more beautiful than the bigger one. The work of glass paintings was mesmerizing me. This palace has gone through more damages than the earlier one even then it appealed to my eyes most. I was literally rushing from one room to another ' don't know why but something kept me doing that. Adi and Chenilal was just behind me. I stopped in a room. Any one can imagine that this room was more beautiful than the heaven itself in its time. Adored with colorful glasses and a huge mirror in the middle of the wall. There were something like racks of marble near the mirror looks like dressing table of today's. Must be a room of a woman, I thought. I was about to move from the room my eyes went at one of the corner ' wait is that a picture? I guess an old oil painting. I moved and bring out it. I gasped ' who is she?
For some moment I was blank. I couldn't think anything, see anything, hear anything. Is she a living woman?... I mean was she? Is it possible that a person with blood and flesh could look that beautiful? Is it a portrait of somebody or imagination of some artist ' can anyone's imagination achieve that beauty?
I was lost. Adi came next to me.
Adi: She is beautiful. Ye koun hai Chenilal?
Chenilal: GEETANJALI'
I came in conscious by her name, 'Geetanjali? Kaun thi wo?' I asked.
Chenilal: naachnewali baiji thi yahaka. Dayin thi saab dayin '
He was cut by Adi. ' par ye to bohot khoobsurat thi'.
'Haan or issi khoobsurati ne ek rakya ko kha gayi..' replied Chenilal.
I turned and frowned.
Chenilal soften his voice, 'bohut din peheleki kahani hai saabji' humhe bhi nahi pata. Bass apne buzurgo se suntan aaya hu iss aurat ke liye ek raj parivar khatam ho gaya tha.'
That's not impossible I thought. Even I would have done anything for her. "Dayin"'huh '. "Goddess.".
'Aapne kuch kaha sir?' ' I get startled by Adi's question. 'umm agar ye itni hi absaguni thi to isske tasbir kyun rakh diya tum logone? Jala kyun nahi diya?' I asked Chenilal.
Cehnilal, 'Hukum iss auratne kya kiya ye to hume thik se pata bhi nahi isske liye itni khoobsurat tasveer ko jala du' nahi saabji hum itne bhi gawar nahi hai.'
I was amazed by his answer. I guess I didn't estimate them right. I thought they are superstitious illiterates but forgot that they are RAJPUT' history has always told about their bravery but has forgot to recognize them as artists. None can understand art more than them, sculptures of Rajasthan is prove of it' they are born artists.
I decided to stay in this choti haveli umm Amaravati. Though Chenilal said he has done all the arrangement in Badi Haveli and this haveli doesn't have electricity I wanted to stay here only. Chenilal agreed and I told him to arrange a blanket and candle. That will be all I think. Just then Adi crack the joke of the day.
Adi: Aap yah ape math rahiye sir. Ye purane haveliyon me atmaye rehti hai' aur this palace even don't have light.
What nonsense ' I gave him a weird look while Chenilal laughed out loud.
Chenilal: nahi nahi saabji yahape aisa kuch bhi nahi hai. Haan Rajasthan ke bohot saare haveli mein aisa hote hue suna hai' parr aaj tak yahape kisine bhi kuch bhi nahi dekha. Teenso saal ki purani iss haveli me aaj tak kisine kuch nahi dekha kuch nahi mahsoos kiya. Maine khud yahape kuch raat guzara hai.
Its 10 pm. I am lying in the bed that Chenilal arranged for me. Well its not exactly a bed a khatiya. Covering myself in a blanket I was trying to concentrate in a story book. But my mind was processing something else. What's happening with me? Me, Maan Sing Khurana was drooling over a picture! What was I thinking' I could do any thing for that woman. Huh I laughed; I have seen girls drooling over me. Everywhere I go be it in office or any business meeting or a client meet, if there is woman, an unwanted attention and gasp is conformed. Earlier I used to enjoy it but now it irritates me. And till now I haven't seen someone who can catch my eyes and now here I am getting weak on my knees for an woman on a 300year old picture! I laughed. But couldn't resist myself from having a look on the painting. Chenilal had already hanged it on the wall. I brought the candle and saw her face in the light of the flame.
Uh again it happened. I can't move my eyes off her. Her hazel eyes, her downward glance were expressing her shyness balancing her coy smile that was reflecting at the side of her luscious lips. She was wearing heavy gold jewelries. Pink choli was complimenting her flawless skin. Her jewel adorned curves were seducing me like hell. I was touching the painting as if I was touching her. Aaghh I am behaving like a pervert.
I don't know how many hours I was standing there staring at the picture. The candle blew out but moon light was there for me to help. I get startled by a melodious voice. It appealed to my ears like a whisper as if it is coming from somewhere far away. I turned.
" kya aap mujhe sun sakte hain?"
She was there standing in this very room. I shacked my head no its not possible. I must be dreaming. No' I can even believe for a moment that someone from distant past has come here in this ancient haveli but I can't believe that I am seeing this woman standing in front of me. Is she a Goddess I wonder? In moon light I cant recognize what color she was wearing pink or white. She was adorned with heavy ornaments and having a ghunghat on her head just like the painting. The only difference is that she was not wearing the same smile rather she had a sad lair all over her face. I continued staring at my dream.
"agar aap humhe sun sakte hain to mehervani karke jawab dijiye"' she almost cried.
Yes I can hear you, I mean haan main tumhe sun sakta hoon. Tum ho kaun?
She smiled. Her face lit up with hope' well I guess so. I was looking at her without a blink. She is not a human of blood and flesh sure. What was she? Is she a shadow or ether or may be something out of the world existence. I must feel weird or should be scared but wasn't ' actually I couldn't feel anything at that moment' I was dumbstruck, mesmerized by her beauty.
"Main Geetanjali' mujhe aapki madat ki bahut zarurat hain' aap mere sahayata karenge?" She replied with the same melodious tone.
'To wo tum hi ho jiske liye ek rajbansh khatam ho gaya tha.'
"nahi mere vajah se nahi ' yakeen kijiye' mere vayajah se nahi."
'Then who was responsible for that uhh matlab to phir sach kya hain? Mujhe puri kahani sunni hain.'
"Main sabkuch bataungi bass aap vada kijiye aap mere madat karenge."
'kya madat chahiye tumhe?'
"Yahan se mukti' aur aapki bina ye sambhav nahi hai."
I frowned but agreed, 'thikhai ab tum sunao tumhari kahani.' I was listening to her without moving my gaze from her. I know when I will regain my conscious I will deny to believe. But for now I don't want any logic to destroy this moment' I don't know what to believe or not to believe ' I just want to believe.'
GEETANJALI STARTED HER STORY..
Bahut din pehle ki kahani hai' kitne din mujhe nahi pata' mujhe to ye bhi nahi pata kitne din bit gaye hai iss char deewari ki bahar. Ananthgar naam tha iss rajyaka. Main issi haveli mein pali badi hui thi. Meri ma yahake tawaif thi. Thi to mein iss rajya ke raja ke beti par tawaif ki beti thin a to mein bhi ek tawaif banke hi rah gayi. Meri maa to bachpan mehi guzar gayi thi or ek tamanna humesha mere dil me aag ke tarha jalti rahi. Mujhe rajkumari ki tarh hi samman mile ' wo audha mile. Main logoke ke nazar mein apne liye wo sraddha dikhna chahti thi. Aur pehli bar mujhe wo dikhai diya uske nazar mein ' DEVENDRA.
Wo pehli wo insane the jo iss amaravati mein aake mere samne sajda kiya. Uski sundar, chawda kandha mere samne jhuka hua tha. Phir usne apne Madhyam awaz pe kaha," Namaste rajkumariji." Rajkumari! Ye shabd sunne ke liye mere kaan kitne taras gaye the. Uski aankho mein sayad mujhe wo samman bhi nazar aaya. Mere dil mein yehi baat baith gayi.
Uske baad lagbhag hardin Devendra yahan aaya karte the. Yahan Amaravati pe, mere sayan kaksha pe yahan tak ki mere bistar par, mujhpar usne apna hak jama liya. Mujhe Devendra se kuch khas lagaw nahi tha nahi pyar tha main to bass khoyi hui thi uske dikhaye hue sapno me. Ussne mujhe vada kiya tha wo mujhe shadi karke samajh mein ek rani ki samman denge. Wo humesha kaha karte the, " iss rajya ke raja akarmayann aur laparwah hain. Rajkumar bhi kisi kaam ke nahi. Agar wo raja ban gaye to praja ki dukh ke seema nahi rahegi. Bass ek baar mein unn logo ko hatha ke raja ban jaun tab tum hogi meri rani. Mujhe rajya rajneeti me koi dilchaspi nahi thi mujhe to bass rani banne ki khwab sapno me khoyi rahi. Roz rat mere sath sote hue Devendra ye baat dohrata tha. Aur mere dil mein ye biswas aur sapna aur zada gehra hotha gaya. Rani honi ke chahat mein wo jo jo kehta gaya main wo karti gayi. Vusne kaha isska manoranjan karo maine kiya, vusne kaha uska dil behlao, maine behlaya' kisiko apna deewana banya to kisiko sarab ki nashe mein dubo di. Pata nahi mere hathose ussne aur kya kya gunha karwata raha. Rani banne ki chahath mein main andhi ho chuki thi. Jab aankh khuli tab bohut der ho chuka tha.
Iss bich mein char panch saal bit gaya. Ye Amaravati Devendra ki saryantrakhana ban gaya tha aur main uski hath ki kathputli. Devendra ke naam pe rajya ke log daar te the. Rajsabha mein uska zor itna badh gaya tha swam Maharaj bhi unsa birodh nahi kar pate the. Prajao mein aakrosh badh raha tha aur unn logo ko lagta tha main uska saree kukarm ke sathi hu, unka nafrat mere liya badh raha tha..
Maharaj ki umar badh raha tha. Wo chahte the Yuvraj ke rajyabhishek ho jaye par yuvraj ko Devendra sharab ke nashe me dubo ke rakkhte the. Mujhe dheere dheere uska maksat samajh aa raha tha. Uss rath jab Devendra ne mujhe kaha, " tumhare liye ek kaam hain" main peheli baar usko na kardi.
Devendra mere bath ko sunke bhi unsuni kar di, " suno prativesi rajya Arjangar ke yuvraj aa rahe hai humare rajyame bhraman karne. Maharaj unke samne koi mitrata prastab rakhna chate hain. Arjangar humare rajya se kahi badhe aur saktishali hain. Unka aache tarike se swagat karma' aise unka dil behlana ke wo baki sab kuch bhul jaye."
"Mitrata prastab kaisa mithrata prastab? Kya wo rajkumari Nandini ke bibah ke vare mein soch rahe hain?"
"Patha nahi, sayed. Tumhe usse kya' jo main keh raha hoon wo karo."
"Aur agar main na karu to?"
"Mathlab?"
"Matlab ye ke mujhe patha hai aapke dimag me kya chal raha hai. Mujhe jhute khwav dikhake abhi ap Rajkumari se shadi karna chahte hai. Aur phir yuvraj ko hathake khud raja banenge hai na. issi liye aap chahte hain main Arjangar ke yuvraj ke dil bahlaun. Usse ek tawaif ke saath dekhke Maharaj rajkumari ke hath kabhi bhi uske hatho mein nahi denge hain na? aur iss tarh se aap ke aur singhasan ke bich mein aane wali saare badha dur ho jayega."
"Usske liye mujhe rajkumari se shadi karne ki kya zarurat hai?"
"Taki aap iss raj parivaar ke kehlaye aur praja bidroho naa ho."
Devendra mere bath sunke thodi der ke liye hairan rahe gaye. Ussne kabhi nahi socha tha uske ungli me nachene wali main uski dimag ko aise padh lungi. Par kuch hi der mein uske mu me hasi lout aayi. Aur uss hasi ko dekhke mere antaratme hill gayi. Saitan ko haste hue dekha hai aapne?
Devendra mere kareeb aye. Uske sans uske hath mere sareer mein saap jaise lag rahi thi mujhe aur uske awaz jaise sidha narak se mere kano me gunj rahi thi.
"To tum samajh gayi. Sacchi tum jitna khoobsurat ho uthna hi buddhimaan bhi ho. Issi liye to tumse itna pyar karta hoon. Ab jab itna kuch samajh hi gaye ho tab ye bhi samjho ke agar tumne mana kar diya to main tumhare saath kya kar sakta hu. Daro math tumhe marunga nahi bass iss rajya ki seemana me jo bazaar hai uahape le jake bech' tum samajh rahi ho na. Aur yakeen mano ye karte hue mujhe bilkul accha nahi lagega. Tumhare jaisi sundar ladki raja ki rakkhel banne ki liye hai bazaru'"
Usne baat khatam nahi ki padh mujhe sab samajh aa gaya. Maine uski ye chehra pehle bilkul nahi dekhi thi. Darrse sharamse mere aankh bandh ho gayi.
"Dev'" main uska naam bhi pura nahi le payi usse pehlehi uss rakshash ki shikar ban gayi.
Maine hi itne dino tak iss vayanak saitan ka sath diya ab mujhe uske hatho se koi nahi bacha saktha. Agar main usske hath se mukth ho bhi jati par Anathgar ke log mujhe itna nafrath karte the wo mujhe mar dalte. Main majboor thi.
Do din baad Arjangar ke yuvraj yaha padhare aur ussi rath Devendra ne usse Amaravati me le aaye mere mehfil me. Mere upar hukum tha main unhe apna deewana banaun, par hua kuch aisa mein khud unki deewani ban gayi.
Ussi rath mehfil ke pehlehi maine usse pehli baar dekhi parde ki piche se. apne shikar ko dekhne aayi thi aur khud shikar bann gayi. Kumar UDIYAMAAN.
Parde ki piche se main bass unhe dekhte reh gayi. Use jaise bhagwan ne apne hatho se khodke banaya hain. Uske sareer me kuch bhi aise chiz nahi the jo sundar na ho. Uska hath' uske unglyan' ek hath unka kamar pe rakkhe hue talwar ke upar tha' mere aankh uske upar se hath nahi rahi thi. Wo chal rahe the aur unke ek ek kadam pe mera dhadkar badh rahi thi. Unka rang mano gehu jaisa. Unka muskan jaisi khubsoorat kuch to maine dekha hi nahi. Par jo sabse sundar chiz tha wo thi unki aankh. Bhagwan aise bhi aankh hothe hai kisika. Itna gehra itna bhabbahak. Wo pal jab bhi yaad karti hu mai pagal ho jati hu. Ek pal to laga unn aankho ke samne jaungi to kho jaungi. Aaj thak maine unke aakh jaisi sundar nazara nahi dekha. Par aaj'.
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Geetanjali paused. Par kya? I was listening to her without looking anywhere else. She had occupied all my heart and soul. So when she paused I get startled. After a long time my mind came back into conscious. And at that moment it started thinking ' what did she say? Deep dark eyes... long slender fingers ' whitish skin tone. Wait I know someone who look exactly like her description. Well I am no narcissist but isn't I see that figure everyday in the mirror? Even now I can see him standing in front of me reflecting all my facial expression. Do I look like him? Do I look like prince UDIYAMAAN?
"parr aaj kya Geetanjali? aaj kya dekha tumne? Meri bath ka jawab do. Kya main unke tarh dikhta hoon? Kya main tumhara UDIYAMAAN jaisa dikhta hu?"' She was silent. Unable to control my interest I turned at her. She was not there she was nowhere.
to be continued..
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Hei friends this is my first SS with my favorite MAANEET... I wanted to make it an OS... but its a lil bigger than an os so I make it as a SS... I will finish it in 3 updates... hope u like it... dont forget to hit like button if u like it and leave a comment... and pls excuse my grammatical mistake😊
Index
MAANEET FF: Samne Wali Khidki
Mrityunjai Some Love Stories Never Die
[copy-right of this story is reserved for me (Sayanee Gupta) only... if it is copied in some-where else I'l take legal action against him or her]
Mangal Lakshmi
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