IBADAT- RTMC ff (part 4- pg no. 7) - Page 2

Manali , a beautiful small town by the side of the river Beas. Every day the town starts with , chirping of birds, rustling of people in the market and is surrounded with the pleasant atmosphere inherited in Himalaya ranges. A hill station is surrounded by the forests which are fully covered by snow in winter. Someone has said 'person with small expectation lives a happy life'...this line is enough to describe Manali's people. Here people are happy with their small dreams & friendly nature of the people is a noticeable feature of Manali. The town has a famous ancient temple of lord SHIVA which is worshiped by the whole town. It has been said that if you wish something truly to the lord SHIVA, it will come true.

This story is a story of a boy and a girl who got separated and met each other after a long period, with completely different personality, different believes, different morals; one had been raised in love, care and the other one in rigorousness, what will happen when they meet??

September 2002,

It was early in the morning. The sun has just arisen. Its yellowish orange rays spread over the city of Manali. The town was opening slowly. It was usual day for manali yet there was something different in its ambience. There was an aroma of sadness in the air.

At manali railway station,12 year old girl was desperately running behind the train as if her life was also going in that train, as if she won't run she will lost her life, her happiness, her only best friend...Prithvi. The station was lifeless; there was only fog which was roaming around the station. She was crying loudly, screaming his name while running behind the train. But at last her 12 year old human body gave up after running for all most 1 hour. The train was now out of her reach but still she was running, hoping that he would come back, hoping that at least he would say her goodbye before leaving, wishing at least she could get a last glimpse of him . But all her hopes crushed in front of her eyes when the train went out of her sight. She was sweating badly, her big black eyes were teary, she kneeled down on her knees, her flicks were coming on her face, she was panting heavily, and her voice was chocked due to crying...suddenly she felt someone's hand on her shoulder she turned to find her mother who was worriedly looking down at her daughter.

Sushma was scared by seeing her daughter in this condition; the little girl hugged her tightly. She too hugged her back; caressing her hair she consoled her. But somewhere she knew what he means to her, to their family. But she couldn't do anything, she was helpless. Her chain of thoughts were broken with her daughters innocent question ''maa, why did he leave me alone? He didn't even say me goodbye''

She didn't know how to console her innocent daughter, how to tell her the real reason behind her daughters best friend's leave who is like son to her. But she has to say something '' Nandini who says that he leave you alone...he went for his studies...he will come back once he finishes his studies?'' she was consoling more to herself that he will come back than to her daughter. ''but he went alone, who will take care of him? And he never told me about this? '' Her worried eyes were scanning her mother's face for reply when Sushma said ''nothing will happen to him, your lord SHIVA will take care of him''

''but where has he gone? Where would he live?" Nandini was crying bitterly.

''sshhh...everything will be fine...one day he will come back'' Sushma hugged her tightly.

''promise '' a hopeful voice came from down, Sushma looked into her daughters black eyes which was now shining because of tears, she smiled n said ''promise'' then she looked upwards towards the sky praying to god for the safety of 16 year old boy.

When they reached home safely, Nandini went to her room. Sushma didn't let her ask enormous questions which were crept in Nandini's mind. Whenever Nandini ask any question Sushma gave her only one answer 'everything will be fine'. Nandini was still not convinced with her mother's words. She was sitting on her bed hugging her pillow tightly to her chest; tears were rolling down her chicks. There were thousands of questions which were nagging her, why did he leave her? He didn't even let her know that he was leaving. Was he angry with her? But she didn't do anything which will make him angry. In fact yesterday he was super happy because he won the horse riding race.

Yes horse riding...it was not just a hobby for him but it was his passion. He was a marvellous horse rider. People around, were always flabbergasted by seeing him riding. His hold on all horse in the Manali horse club was beyond any jockeys' imagination. At the age of 8, he was handling horses as if he knew them for years. He used to talk to them as he only considered them as his friends after Nandini. Even the wild horses were failed to escape from his charm.

'Wild horses' she shuddered at the memory when last year she was trying to learn horse riding; one wild horse neighed at her and made her fell on the ground, giving scratch on her forearm. But before he could harm her more Prithvi hurriedly came to her and pulled her away from that horse. But the moment he saw her scratch there was something unreadable in his expression, there was worry, guilt, anger in his features. Something which she couldn't understand ... he made her sit in the stable and wipe the drops of blood on her forearm. After making sure that she was alright he made his way to that horse. She was hell worried for him. She hadn't had any idea of what he was going to do. But his expression made her understand that something dangerous was going to happen. She even tried to stop him but he was nowhere to listen to her. Prithvi went towards that horse and started to climb him.

That horse threw Prithvi on the ground and blood started oozing from his head... Nandini tried to enter the field but her friends caught hold of her. Everybody was shouting and telling him to come back as no one dared to come near the wild horse which by now has became wilder. But he was Prithvi. How could he listen to someone, it was against his pride. Tears started to come out of her eyes.

Among all the noises he only heard snobs. He turned to find her crying. Her tears were the only thing he couldn't tolerate. At the sight of her tears something hardened in his expression. He angrily turned towards the horse who was neighing in his half victory.

Prithvi stood in front of that horse and stared thunderously in that horse's eyes. ''You know, you shouldn't have done that...'' saying this Prithvi got hold of the reins and climbed the horse. He pulled the reins tightly to control him and within 10 minutes he was riding that horse. During those 10 minutes Nandini's breath got struck in her throat. She took a sigh of relief when Prithvi calmed down the horse.

When he climbed down the horse she hurriedly came to him. '' is there any need to do such things'' she said angrily as she took his hand in her and dragged him to the medical room in the club.

''yes...''he said simply when she made him sit on the stretcher n started doing his dressing with her unsteady hands. She still wasn't recovered from those deadly 10 minutes. While she mentally thanked god for protecting him. Even after falling from that horse dangerously he only got a scratch on the left side of his forehead.

''why?'' she asked while cleaning his blood which was spread on his forehead.

There was slight hesitation in deep brown eyes. But he didn't reply her...she asked him again ''Prithvi...why?''

He looked away and after a pause he said ''because he made you cry''

Nandini abruptly stopped in her activity. Her hand which was holding cotton was lightly pressed on his forehead.

After a tiny pause she said '' so it means whoever made me cry you won't leave that person, even if it's a horse''

''no...not even in dreams'' he said looking straight in her black kohl eyes but there was a dangerous clam in his voice which didn't go unnoticed by her.

''why??'' she asked while finishing his dressing

''because i...'' he angrily responded immediately but stopped in mid way realising what he was going to say, after a slight hesitation he looked away.

'' don't u know any other word than 'why''' he asked her irritably.

''yes, yes...I know...but whhyy r u asking?'' she asked stressing 'why 'to tease him.

''Stop it Nandini...''

''Why...?''

''If you don't stop to irritate me, I will not talk to you...''

''Really...but why...''

''That's it ... I will not leave you'' saying this he ran behind Nandini who ran out of the room laughing loudly.

A drop of tear fell on the round fair chick. He said he won't leave her but now he left her without even telling her anything. Why would he tell her anyways...after all it was not in his nature...Nature of the one n only Prithvi Singhaniya.

hope u guys like the first part. waiting for ur comments..