They run parallel, through every walk of life,
Breaking and meandering together, escaping strife.
Then as it was, then again it will be…
And though the banks never met, together they'll always reach the sea.
"Geet speak up! Please"
His anguish was audible in his tone.
Please lord! Please don't let me open up to him. He won't be able to take it. It would only give him more grief.
She prayed silently, looking at the Taveez hanging down his neck.
I can't let him know, please lord.
Before she could recover from the shock of a misfired gunshot, another firing was heard and the bullet pierced through Maan's back as he turned in time to shield her.
"Maan"
Came her shrill scream as birds fluttered away from the noise of guns, leaving a silent jungle behind.
Maan pulled her down with him before bullets could pierce them through. He yelped in pain as his back lodged two bullets, twitching and spreading their venom inside him. He tried to keep his face straight, devoid of any expression so as not to scare Geet; but least did he know that she was going through worst.
Oh god! How did I ask for this?
I didn't mean to hurt him when I asked for the past to be kept from him.
She shouted in her mind to god.
Wish I had asked something else when you said Amen.
She thought regretfully, crying inside as Maan clenched his teeth to keep the pain at bay.
Maan was in pain because of her. She saw his eyes drooping as he held her hand in his and the other holding his back. The footsteps were heard nearing as gunshots' sound shrilled. Maan knew they had been fools standing and talking in the middle of that restricted bordered area but he also knew how important that was!
'Geet"
He panted.
"Run, keep low and hide behind those bushes….. crawl away…..I will divert them"
He breathed heavily, trying to keep himself conscious.
"No Maan. "
She cried, shaking her head furiously.
"Do. As. I. Say"
He hissed. There surely wasn't time for argument.
"You have done a lot for us. Now it's my turn."
She said determined. And this time Maan couldn't say anything; didn't have the strength or heart to push her away.
Getting up with him, supporting his body with one arm while holding him with the other, she helped him walk. The firing had stopped and that meant more danger as the snipers would be approaching them. They limped as fast as they could, going in the opposite direction, scurrying towards the river.
Maan's gait was loosening up as he was feeling drowsy, his breathing slowing down while Geet tried to formulate a course of action. If they crossed over now, at least Maan would know people there, they would get help.
But who was she kidding!
She was unwanted on that side just as much as he was on this side.
How could two banks of the same river be so same and yet different?
How could the two sides be so begrudging?
They were caught between Devil and the Deep blue sea now. But hadn't Maan wished hell once? If this could give him his heaven, his Geet then the strife was much welcome!
Geet could feel him give away now as they almost made it to the riverside.
"Maan, love, stay awake. Please. I promise I will give us a happy ending."
She said while walking.
"Just don't give up Maan; hold on there."
Maan tried to keep his eyes open as she whispered sweet nothings into his ear. She didn't know where to go but she had to walk with him, to save him. To have a last chance of escape.
They reached the bank of Ravi, precisely at a time when sun had risen fully, shining over the world in all its glory. Just as Geet looked back to Maan by her side, she saw his eyes closed his breathing almost slow. His body was getting cold. By this time both their clothes were stained with his blood.
Once upon a time he had promised to sacrifice his blood, sweat and tears on her and today he literally had done that.
"Maan"
She called out, reviving him.
"Come back to me. Please"
She pleaded, her eyes watering and her tears filling the already flooded brook.
"Geeet"
Was all he could say amidst his labored breath.
She was all that he was holding onto even in his death.
"I love you"
She confessed before she saw a sniper on a far off mound pointing his gun at Maan. This time she turned around, quick enough to take the bullet on herself, saving Maan from more pain.
"Maan"
Her shriek echoed through the jungle, bouncing back from willowy tree barks and looming over them .
She tightened her grip on his shoulder while her other hand held him tightly as the bullet pierced through her, sending a spasm of excruciating pain down her body. Her low shriek awoke him from the deep slumber he was slipping into.
They both were dying, together.
As they looked into each other's eyes they could see a journey, a journey that they had traversed for each other, if not together.
They had been like two banks of a river, running parallel, contrasting one another but never meeting.
But the great merciful lord had written in their destinies to meet at the end, at the mouth of the sea.
...the banks did meet when river died and so would Maan and Geet.
The sniper in the background started descending towards them on seeing both injured.
"Mishty"
He panted breathing slowly
"At last you gave us a happy ending"
He murmured with a smile before she pulled him along into the deep, swift river, flowing by; meandering into another world that would transfer them to a land of eternity.
Two souls dropped into Ravi like worn out fetters, breaking all shackles.
Their bodies crashed onto waves, waves that were independent of going wherever they pleased,
No limits,
No lines,
No boundaries to forbid.
Pakistani soldiers and snipers stood at the edge, not jumping into the wild river only to claim two unknown, now dead bodies. Indian troops, Maan's juniors stood on the opposite bank, running their search operation.
No one knew where Sergeant Maan Singh Khurana had disappeared. He was declared missing by his troops and Kaka never opened his mouth to malign Maan's name. Geet's family had already lost their status years ago and her identity was in shambles since.
No trails were left behind……
Men stood on both sides of the bloodied river as Maan and Geet were lost into oblivion.
------------------------------
Ages hence……..
As I wandered alone on the banks of Ravi,
Palely loitering, my eyes caught sight of a union-
Reunion of companions swept apart since ages
As the white swan flew over the river to reunite with its mate
Separated by false boundaries, threat and fear.
Broken leaves and dust now flow across the brook,
Abandoning their identity, leaving their place where they belong to.
Waves lashing over lonely feet quietly whisper-
'We come from a land of the unknown yet well known foreigners'
Separated by destiny's foul play thither."
This cool wind when it steadily flows-touches but both
Hindustan and Pakistan, yet one can't make out
Whose name does the wild breeze bear as it blows?
'Hindustan' as I say doesn't mean abode of Hindus,
Neither does Pakistan stand a Muslim paradise.
Both are but brothers, through whose veins
Five rivers make their way.
Hindustan and Pakistan born of same mother
Separated but by greed and that fateful August day.
Often I think what if I was a bird?
Flying over both lands undisturbed.
Or if I were the wind; wildly blowing sans pain or agony-
Bearing the message of peace, love and harmony.
What if I dashed on as waves do?
No one would stop me; none would have the power to!
Our forefathers never taught us-'This is my land or yours'
Then why has land reddened with bloodshed and wars?
Our land is of those holy rivers that sanctify their paths on as they flow
Our heritage of Kabir, Rahim, Buddha, Mahavira
Where Gandhi preached satyagraha and ahimsa
'Hai sabka Maalik ek' proudly said Sai fakira.
We come down from a lineage of peace and unity
Then why forget; all lead to one goal-castes, religions or deity!
If rain drizzles impartially on both, sun rises unbiased
When both have Mother Nature locking their fates
Then who are we to call them entities separate?
Let's take a step forward to convey peace
Let's walk in order to make the two ends meet.
Many a hurdles may line our way,
But remember, Persistence and Perseverance will lead to a happy day.
They say 'there always is a morning after the darkest of nights'
Hence, at the end of this tunnel we shall see a beam of light.
As the great poet himself said last,
"Let's walk forward in the radiance of past."
As I wandered alone on the banks of Ravi,
Seeing two mates unite,
Seeing the peace fire re-ignite…..
As Distance of eras was covered
And love of the two unraveled!
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Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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