OS: Acceptance (Part 2, Page 6)

Part 1

She was wandering around aimlessly near the Golden Temple. What was left in her life now? There was nothing to live for. The baby was gone. The one man who had taught her how to live with self-respect, the one man she had thought would trust her beyond anything had trashed her self-respect. What was she to do with her life? Live for herself? That was something she hadn't learned to do. She had never done it in the past. When she had left her family, it was still for the sake of the baby. When the baby was gone, she still had Maan in her life. Who was she to live for now?

It was possible that Maan didn't really mean what he had said. He was just angry. One of his uncontrolled bursts. Yet, how could he say those horrid things to her? Could she forgive him if he apologized? Should she give him a chance? No! Not again. She will not show her weakness, not even to him. If she could not live for herself, if life became meaningless, she would rather end her life than forgive that insult. He had always promised that he would control his anger, but he never did. And now she would not take it any longer. So what if she would remember him every living moment of her life; So what if her life could have no meaning without him! She would not go back to him. She would not forgive him.

It was an open area with some trees here and there. People were sitting under the trees. Some were praying, some chatting with their family members and friends. She looked at the group close to her. It was a group of wandering Sanyasis - both men and women were there. They were discussing something. Many people who looked like they did not belong to the group were also sitting there listening to their discussion with devotion. For Geet, going somehere else was as good as spending some time with this group. What did anything matter anyway? she walked towards the group and sat with others in the audience.

One Sadhu, who looked elder than most others in the group, was explaining, "Insaan duniya mein jo bhi karta hai, khush rahne ke liye karta hai. Jiski samajh mein khushi jismein hai, woh wahi paane ki koshish karta hai. Logon ko lagta hai ki paise mein khushi hai, parivaar mein khushi hai - isliye paise kamane mein jaan laga dete hain, shaadi karte hain, bachche paida karte hain. Lekin ek na ek din sabko ye ehsaas hota hai ki sachchi khushi in sab cheezon se nahin mil sakti. Sachchi khushi insaan ko pyaar se milti hai. Main us pyaar ki baat nahin kar raha, jo hum apni suvidha ke liye karte hain ya samaaj ke bandhanon mein karte hain. Balki Woh pyaar jismein kisi cheez ki ichchha nahin hoti, koi shart nahin hoti. Woh pyaar jismein pyaar karne waala aapko waise sweekaar karta hai jaise aap hain. Woh pyaar jismein kissi ko kuchh sabit karne ki zaroorat nahin hoti. Lekin aisa pyaar is duniya mein nahin milta. Aisa pyaar insaan nahin kar sakte. Jeevan ki bhaag-daud mein pis kar hum jinse pyaar karte hain, unki bhi khaamiyan dekhne lagte hain. Unhein apne tareeke se dhaalne ki koshish karte hain. Unse kuchh pana chahte hain. Ismein kissi ki koi galti nahin hai. Jeevan hai hi kuchh aisa. Isliye ek na ek din sabko us pyaar ki khoj mein oopar waale ki or dekhna padta hai. Bas wahi hai jo hamein hamari saari khamiyon ke saath, saari galtiyon ke saath bhi hamein apna sakta hai. Bas uski sharan mein jaane ki zaroorat hai."

Something struck Geet very hard on hearing this. She was unable to coherently form her thoughts; so she felt the urge to be alone and think it over. She got up, left the group and kept walking until she found herself alone, away from people, even though they were strangers and would not have disturbed her. She sat on a bench nearby. She remembered the accident they had while returning from Shimla. The one which had taken Maan to his death-bed. The thought made her tremble. And it had happened only because of her childish demand. Wanting to drive the car on the highway. When he was out of danger after the accident, she had asked him feeling horribly guilty, "Main aapko bahut pareshaan karti hoon na?" And what was his reply? "Thoda, thoda. Par Geet, achchha lagta hai."

Yes - that's what he had said. Even after they had taken him so close to the death, he loved her antics, her childish stubbornness. He entertained them, even when they were against his basic nature. He not only accepted her faults, he not only loved her despite them, he loved her even for them. Could she not at least accept one fault of his - his anger? One fault of the man who had always supported her, who had been her strength when she was weak, who had been her mentor when she was lost, who had saved her when she was helpless, who had loved her unconditionally, who had gone against even his own family for her sake, whose anger was also only due to his concern for her well-being. That Sadhu was wrong. Humans can love like that. At least her Maan could. No! Only Maan could. And she was the woman who he loved like that. She had found that ultimate love on this earth itself. She had to look nowhere else. Fate had been too kind to her. It might have happened in the disguise of miseries, but fate had treated her like its favourite child. Fate had given her Maan. How could she be stupid enough to leave him?

She stood up. She would learn to love him not only for his strengths, but also for his faults. She might not be able to reach that level of unconditional love that he had, but she could at least make a beginning. She could accept his faults and not let it come between them. She could learn to ignore anything he said in anger.

She rushed towards the temple. She had to get her Babaji's blessings before she started her journey back. Back to Maan. Back to her love, her life, her world! She had just entered the prayer area, when she saw him. His tall figure kneeling on the floor, his head covered with a white handkerchief, his eyes closed, his entire being lost in prayer. The man who did not believe in God, but had started believing because of her. She was overwhelmed and could not look away from him. She also kneeled down, but she was not facing the shrine. She was facing him. She hadn't closed her eyes, she was looking at him with eyes filled with tears. There were no questions in her heart, nor surprises in her mind at seeing him there. She was not thinking at all, she was only drinking his presence to her content.

He opened his eyes, got up, turned and suddenly saw her, still kneeling on the floor and looking at him unwaveringly. He was taken by surprise. His movements brought her out of her trance. For some reason, hordes of doubts flooded her mind. Why was she assuming that he was there for her? He did not even know she was in Amritsar. How did she know he did not really mean what he had said and he still trusted and respected her like earlier? She became unsure. She was scared of her weakness for him. What if he wasn't even thinking about her and she broke down. Should she go away? She silently asked Babaji to give her the strength to turn away.

But before she could turn away, she noticed his eyes. They were filled with tears now. There was that hardly discernible smile on his lips and his face showed a gratitude towards Babaji for listening to his prayers immediately. He walked towards her, as if he was in a trance. When he came close to her he lifted his hands to touch her, to hold her hands in his. But he stopped. The guilt came back to haunt him and he wasn't sure she would allow him to touch her. He was about to take his hand back, when she held it. In a split second, the expression on his face changed from disappointment to grateful happiness. He put his other hand also on top of hers and led her away.

She did not look back to even offer thanks to Babaji. But somewhere the Creator was smiling looking at His two favourite children, walking together happily.

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LOVED IT

AMAZING

IF ONLY THIS HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONTINUE SOON XX