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The dark night with shimmering stars studded in the sky looked so mysterious. And the forest in front of that small locality was even more mysterious. "NEVER GO THERE AFTER 12" was what people of that place used to say for the forest and Rishabh had grown up hearing that. What was in there? Well, Nobody knew. Rishabh had asked alot of times from his parents and other elders of the clan, but nobody knew much of it. Except for that very old lady who was called Paabo by the villagers. She had told him once about something shimmering white ascending from the sky.
However much they were prohibited to go to that place but since he had turned 17 every night Rishabh would sneak into the forest in search of something he didnt know. But he was sure he couldn't hold himself back. As soon as dusk arrived he felt as if the forest called him.
The nights of that village were mostly beautiful and with the moon shining tonight, it looked ethereal. Rishabh, as usual sneaked into the woods. The trees were so high and there was also vegetation on the ground. It was never scary but the absolute beauty of the place could hypnotize a new visitor. Rishabh went to his usual spot, a clearing between the trees. He sat on the ground with his back supporting on the tree and he started to engrave something on the wood beside. Suddenly he remembered that last night he had written his name on one of the trees. He decided to check on it and decorate it further. What else could he do in a forest at this time of the night.
As he came to sit infront of the tree with his name written, he was shocked.
His name was there Rishabh clearly engraved. But, there was something else too below it which he couldnt read. As much as he tried to read it he couldnt. It seemed another language. He sighed at the end and decided to write something else, so as to check if it was really a person or just random markings by some animal.
He wrote "Hello". After waiting for sometime he went away. The whole next day RK had that message in his mind. Could it be real? Was it some person there? He waited eagerly for the night. As the night approached RK couldnt control much. Generally he would go at 12 after everyone slept off but today he couldnt help but go earlier. He walked straight to the clearing and then to his tree. He was surprised to see something else engraved too. But again he couldnt read. He went closer to the markings and touched them they were still moist. That means its fresh. Whoever it was, was here sometime back.
RK waited for sometime more and then decided to leave. He took a stone and wrote on the tree again. "Please wait for me.." and went off.
The next night Rishabh decided to come to the forest much earlier. He couldn't let the mysterious person slip away again. He went to the clearing and checked the tree. Today nothing was written on the tree after his last message. Rishabh sat with his back resting on the tree as he kept waiting for the person. He kept looking around to see someone approaching.
Suddenly he felt the place lightening. Shocked he looked around but couldnt find anything. He felt the light closer. As he looked up he was dumbstruck. A beautiful angel with white wings came down floating in the air. He looked on with wide eyes. Was he awake or is it a dream.
The angel descended down and Rishabh could now see her face. A milky white girl with thick curly locks bunched into a pony tail on one side. She wore white frilled dress which ended at her knees.
"Are you the one who writes on the tree?" She asked and her voice as if dissolved in his ears. So sweet and so mesmerizing.
RK's mouth was left opened.
"Please dont shout or get afraid... If somebody would see me they woukd kill me..." she said in a fearfull tone.
Rishabh came out of his thoughts. "Are you real?" He asked barely in a whisper.
"Yes.." she smiled.
Rishabh put his hand forward in order to touch her to believe her but as his hand approached her, he decided against it lest he might dirty her.
"Do you write on that tree?" She asked again.
"Yes.. i wrote there... " RK said still in a dreamy tone.
"Ohhh. Hello Rishabh.." she said happily.
"You know my name?" RK's eyes grew wide.
"Of course... you only wrote it there right?" Madhu said happily.
"Ohh yes.. but i couldnt read what you wrote.." RK said to her.
"Come I will tell you..." Madhu held his hand and dragged him to the tree while Rishabh went into another shock feeling her hold his hand.
"See... This is written Madhubala" she said to him nodding.
"Madhubala?" RK asked confused.
"Yes thats my name... Here its written Rishabh and below it is Madhubala... This is our language.. I only know a little bit to read your language but I cant write it..." Madhu said getting upset.
RK didnt like her getting upset. She looked better in her chirpy mode.
"Dont worry.. I dont even know how to read your language..." he said smiling.
"Yeahh... right!!" Madhu said getting happy.
Thats when RK noticed she was still floating.
" Why dont you step down... It would be easier for you else you would get tired.." Rishabh said worriedly.
Madhu broke out laughing. "How can i get tired.. that is how we stay.." she said.
"All the time floating in the air?" RK asked unbelievable.
" No.. we rest at our place but I cant step down on this earth... or else my wings would burn..." Madhu said a little upset at the thought. "They say that it might burn even more.. I have heard a fairy even died.." she sighed.
RK looked at her for a few seconds. She was so innocent.
"Okay... I need to go now.." Madhu told him as she noticed something in the sky..
"Can you come tomorrow again..." Rishabh asked her from behind.
"Yes... I come here daily... you are the one who is late.." Madhu complained as if they knew each other since long.
Rishabh smiled at her..." I will come earlier from tomorrow.." he promised.
Madhu smiled at him and then flew away.
Rishabh kept looking at her flying figure. She was an angel..! Yes literally...
Rishabh went to his home totally mesmerized by what he saw. He was ecstatic. And the way she complained to him, he felt as if she was his old friend. Still thinking of Madhubala he slept off.
The day felt never ending. He kept on looking at the sky to see to check for position of the sun but it seemed to not move at all today. After a lot of cursing and grumbling the sun did set. And as soon as the last ray of sun disappeared RK ran to their meeting place. And then kept looking at the sky again for Madhu to descend down. Not late enough he saw two wings fluttering gracefully and she descended to his level.
"You are early today!" She exclaimed ecstatic.
"Ofcourse... How can I keep my angel waiting..?" Rishabh said with a smile not realizing that he used 'my' for her.
But Madhu noticed that and blushed hearing him.
---------
"So Madhubala where do you live?" Rishabh asked her out of curiosty.
"There.." Madhu said pointing at the moutain.
Rishabh turned around to look at the mountain. "Wow..." he said seeing the mountain. "I have always wanted to go there... Can you tell me what are those twinkling there.."
"Ohh that... Nothing much... Just flowers.. They glow a little..." Madhu said as if its not a big deal while Rishabh looked at her in shock.
"The flowers glow??" He asked surprised.
"Yes.." she replied confused at his reaction.
"Where do you stay... ?" Madhu asked back.
"I stay outside this forest.. There is a small village..." RK told her embarrassed as his place was not that grand as was hers.
"Wow... You mean that place from where the sounds of songs come..." Madhu asked delighted.
"Yeah.. The people sometimes sit around fire and sing their songs..." RK said non chalantly.
"Wow.." Madhu said. "It must be so fun?" She asked.
"Yes kind of... you know most songs are about this forest and its mystery..." RK told her.
Madhu giggled at that.
"Yes... they never let us come here... Its like a forbidden land for us.." Rishabh told her.
"I can understand..." Madhu said nodding.
"how?" risabh asked her confussed.
"Even for us... This is a forbidden land." Madhu told him.
"Really? Then why do you come here?" Rishabh asked back.
"I dont know... I feel like coming here... Like I belong here..." Madhu said thoughtfully taking a deep breath.
"Ohhh..." Rishabh replied.
"And why do you come here?" She asked him curiously.
Rishabh shrugged.. "I dont know why but I felt as if this forest calls me... After dusk... " he replied in a serious tone.
"I used to come here after dusk.. at this time.." Madhu giggled.
"Really? Was it you who called me?" RK said flirtling.
"Nah... I dont call anyone... I am just that magnetic.." Madhu said in attitude.
They saw each other and then laughed togther.
The silent and desolate forest echoed with their laughter. As if everything came alive. The unsaid friendship between two unmatched creatures brought radiance to the forest.
------
The next morning Rishabh woke up revived. He had gotten almost in a friendship with his angel. He wanted to go to her again but she would not be there right now. He stepped out of his house. The sun was still in the east. Again the long journey of the sun. He sighed at that.
Days and nights went by and they both met in the same way. It had become a habit for them to meet. They would laugh at jokes and listen to the stories the other one had about their worlds. It felt a whole new research for them.
One night Rishabh was sitting there playing with the grass as he waited for Madhu to come.
As soon as he saw her descending his face brightened up.
"Hey.." Rishabh said with his smile.
"Hi..." Madhu replied back.
"How was your day..?" She asked him.
"Just waited for the night..." Rishabh replied grinning cheekily.
"Same with me..." Madhu smiled.
Just then they heard monotonous sing song voices from the village side. Madhu's ears straightened.
"Are they singing again?" She asked him.
"Yeah..." Rishabh replied with a frustrated frown. "Today again.."
"Why are you saying like that..?" Madhu said angrily as she hit him on his shoulder. While Rishabh just rolled his eyes.
"Rishabh can you show it to me?" Madhu asked hopefully.
"What? I escaped from that and now you want us to go there?" Rishabh replied not believing.
"Why do you want to escape?" She asked curiously.
"Comeon Madhu.. They are so annoying.." he exclaimed.
"Shut up... They sound so full of life... please... pretty please..."
"But i waited for you whole day..." Rishabh tried his last weapon.
"I will stay with u a little longer.. please show that to me.." Madhu replied him
"Okay fine!!" Rishabh sound finally defeated as he stood up to walk while Madhu flew behind him.
They stopped near the edge of the forest from where they had the clear view of the program.
The women sat around a bonfire as they clapped and sang while the children danced. Some girls swriled in the middle with whirling lehengas around them. Madhu looked at them in wide eyed excitement. Her eyes glistened due to the reflection of fire and she clapped with them.
Madhu looked at them while Rishabh stared at her. He just couldnt help but get lost in her beauty. Her colour so milky which glistened in the dark and her eyes so sparkling. She fluttered her wings unknowingly while still being above the ground. Thats when Rishabh realized she was an angel who could never even step in his world. She might have revolted her kind and come here to fulfill her curiosities but she can never be one of them. She can never be with him. Rishabh smiled disappointedly.
"Come on Lets go..!" Rishabh whispered to her as he couldn't hold the silence anymore. The silence between him and Madhu.
"Really? Do we have to?" Madhu asked disappointed.
" Yes..." RK said firmly.
Madhu sighed. "Good bye people... Madhu cannot stay longer... The thick headed fool will take me away..." she said in a low tone.
Rishabh chuckled hearing her. "I am not melting for any of your tricks..." he said to her still smiling.
"You dont have a heart..." she said complaining.
"Yeah sure.." Rishabh said amusingly. Only he knew how much his heart was beating now seeing her.
They both went back to their usual clearing as they talked.
"That was amazing..." Madhu said delighted.
"Really... I am glad you liked it.." Rishabh said sarcastically.
"Why do you hate it so much...?" Madhu asked complaining.
" Its so monotonous... most of the guys didnt like it.." Rishabh shrugged.
"Didnt like? U mean they like it now?" Madhu asked him.
"No they dont... but now most of them have their girlfriends, fiances or wives dancing there... so somehow Its gotten interesting for them all of a sudden." Rishabh said not able to hide the grudge in his tone as he laid down on the grass with his hands below his head to form a rest.
Madhu was sitting on a lowly branch of tree still maintaining her safe distance from the ground.
"Dont you have a fiance or a wife?" Madhu asked fearing for some reason. She didnt want it to be a yes...
"No... I am single... Do I not look like?" Rishabh asked confused.
"You look so good and quite an eligible bachelor..." Madhu tried to confirm.
"Really... You think I look handsome?" He asked excited.
"Yeah... kind of.." Madhu said blushing
"Thankss..." he said smiling widely.
"So... dont you even have a crush?" Madhu asked him hoping to have a 'no'.
"Yes...I have a crush. " Rishabh said dreamily as he thought of her.
But Madhu's smile dropped. She felt as if something was taken away fron her.
"How is she? Is she good?"
"The best I have ever known in my whole life.." Rishabh said excitedly.
Madhu sighed. But she forced a smile. Why wasnt she feeling happy for her friend. She should.
Suddenly the cock sounded the morning barn.
"Oh no... its quite late... i have to reach before the first ray of sun..." Madhu said panicking.
"Is it something special?" Rishabh asked curiously.
"We have a prayer session at dawn. And all the fairies gather there for prayer. Its compulsary." Madhu said as she spread her wings and started to fly to the mountain.
"Please pray for me.." Rishabh called from behind.
Madhu turned back to him. "What for?" She asked hurriedly.
"So that I can be united with the one I love.." Rishabh said with a disappointed smile.
Madhu didnt knew what to say. She just nodded her head and flew to the moutain while Rishabh saw her going away. Fairies are the purest of God's creation. Maybe God will listen to her prayer and do some miracle to unite them.
However much they were prohibited to go to that place but since he had turned 17 every night Rishabh would sneak into the forest in search of something he didnt know. But he was sure he couldn't hold himself back. As soon as dusk arrived he felt as if the forest called him.
The nights of that village were mostly beautiful and with the moon shining tonight, it looked ethereal. Rishabh, as usual sneaked into the woods. The trees were so high and there was also vegetation on the ground. It was never scary but the absolute beauty of the place could hypnotize a new visitor. Rishabh went to his usual spot, a clearing between the trees. He sat on the ground with his back supporting on the tree and he started to engrave something on the wood beside. Suddenly he remembered that last night he had written his name on one of the trees. He decided to check on it and decorate it further. What else could he do in a forest at this time of the night.
As he came to sit infront of the tree with his name written, he was shocked.
His name was there Rishabh clearly engraved. But, there was something else too below it which he couldnt read. As much as he tried to read it he couldnt. It seemed another language. He sighed at the end and decided to write something else, so as to check if it was really a person or just random markings by some animal.
He wrote "Hello". After waiting for sometime he went away. The whole next day RK had that message in his mind. Could it be real? Was it some person there? He waited eagerly for the night. As the night approached RK couldnt control much. Generally he would go at 12 after everyone slept off but today he couldnt help but go earlier. He walked straight to the clearing and then to his tree. He was surprised to see something else engraved too. But again he couldnt read. He went closer to the markings and touched them they were still moist. That means its fresh. Whoever it was, was here sometime back.
RK waited for sometime more and then decided to leave. He took a stone and wrote on the tree again. "Please wait for me.." and went off.
The next night Rishabh decided to come to the forest much earlier. He couldn't let the mysterious person slip away again. He went to the clearing and checked the tree. Today nothing was written on the tree after his last message. Rishabh sat with his back resting on the tree as he kept waiting for the person. He kept looking around to see someone approaching.
Suddenly he felt the place lightening. Shocked he looked around but couldnt find anything. He felt the light closer. As he looked up he was dumbstruck. A beautiful angel with white wings came down floating in the air. He looked on with wide eyes. Was he awake or is it a dream.
The angel descended down and Rishabh could now see her face. A milky white girl with thick curly locks bunched into a pony tail on one side. She wore white frilled dress which ended at her knees.
"Are you the one who writes on the tree?" She asked and her voice as if dissolved in his ears. So sweet and so mesmerizing.
RK's mouth was left opened.
"Please dont shout or get afraid... If somebody would see me they woukd kill me..." she said in a fearfull tone.
Rishabh came out of his thoughts. "Are you real?" He asked barely in a whisper.
"Yes.." she smiled.
Rishabh put his hand forward in order to touch her to believe her but as his hand approached her, he decided against it lest he might dirty her.
"Do you write on that tree?" She asked again.
"Yes.. i wrote there... " RK said still in a dreamy tone.
"Ohhh. Hello Rishabh.." she said happily.
"You know my name?" RK's eyes grew wide.
"Of course... you only wrote it there right?" Madhu said happily.
"Ohh yes.. but i couldnt read what you wrote.." RK said to her.
"Come I will tell you..." Madhu held his hand and dragged him to the tree while Rishabh went into another shock feeling her hold his hand.
"See... This is written Madhubala" she said to him nodding.
"Madhubala?" RK asked confused.
"Yes thats my name... Here its written Rishabh and below it is Madhubala... This is our language.. I only know a little bit to read your language but I cant write it..." Madhu said getting upset.
RK didnt like her getting upset. She looked better in her chirpy mode.
"Dont worry.. I dont even know how to read your language..." he said smiling.
"Yeahh... right!!" Madhu said getting happy.
Thats when RK noticed she was still floating.
" Why dont you step down... It would be easier for you else you would get tired.." Rishabh said worriedly.
Madhu broke out laughing. "How can i get tired.. that is how we stay.." she said.
"All the time floating in the air?" RK asked unbelievable.
" No.. we rest at our place but I cant step down on this earth... or else my wings would burn..." Madhu said a little upset at the thought. "They say that it might burn even more.. I have heard a fairy even died.." she sighed.
RK looked at her for a few seconds. She was so innocent.
"Okay... I need to go now.." Madhu told him as she noticed something in the sky..
"Can you come tomorrow again..." Rishabh asked her from behind.
"Yes... I come here daily... you are the one who is late.." Madhu complained as if they knew each other since long.
Rishabh smiled at her..." I will come earlier from tomorrow.." he promised.
Madhu smiled at him and then flew away.
Rishabh kept looking at her flying figure. She was an angel..! Yes literally...
Rishabh went to his home totally mesmerized by what he saw. He was ecstatic. And the way she complained to him, he felt as if she was his old friend. Still thinking of Madhubala he slept off.
The day felt never ending. He kept on looking at the sky to see to check for position of the sun but it seemed to not move at all today. After a lot of cursing and grumbling the sun did set. And as soon as the last ray of sun disappeared RK ran to their meeting place. And then kept looking at the sky again for Madhu to descend down. Not late enough he saw two wings fluttering gracefully and she descended to his level.
"You are early today!" She exclaimed ecstatic.
"Ofcourse... How can I keep my angel waiting..?" Rishabh said with a smile not realizing that he used 'my' for her.
But Madhu noticed that and blushed hearing him.
---------
"So Madhubala where do you live?" Rishabh asked her out of curiosty.
"There.." Madhu said pointing at the moutain.
Rishabh turned around to look at the mountain. "Wow..." he said seeing the mountain. "I have always wanted to go there... Can you tell me what are those twinkling there.."
"Ohh that... Nothing much... Just flowers.. They glow a little..." Madhu said as if its not a big deal while Rishabh looked at her in shock.
"The flowers glow??" He asked surprised.
"Yes.." she replied confused at his reaction.
"Where do you stay... ?" Madhu asked back.
"I stay outside this forest.. There is a small village..." RK told her embarrassed as his place was not that grand as was hers.
"Wow... You mean that place from where the sounds of songs come..." Madhu asked delighted.
"Yeah.. The people sometimes sit around fire and sing their songs..." RK said non chalantly.
"Wow.." Madhu said. "It must be so fun?" She asked.
"Yes kind of... you know most songs are about this forest and its mystery..." RK told her.
Madhu giggled at that.
"Yes... they never let us come here... Its like a forbidden land for us.." Rishabh told her.
"I can understand..." Madhu said nodding.
"how?" risabh asked her confussed.
"Even for us... This is a forbidden land." Madhu told him.
"Really? Then why do you come here?" Rishabh asked back.
"I dont know... I feel like coming here... Like I belong here..." Madhu said thoughtfully taking a deep breath.
"Ohhh..." Rishabh replied.
"And why do you come here?" She asked him curiously.
Rishabh shrugged.. "I dont know why but I felt as if this forest calls me... After dusk... " he replied in a serious tone.
"I used to come here after dusk.. at this time.." Madhu giggled.
"Really? Was it you who called me?" RK said flirtling.
"Nah... I dont call anyone... I am just that magnetic.." Madhu said in attitude.
They saw each other and then laughed togther.
The silent and desolate forest echoed with their laughter. As if everything came alive. The unsaid friendship between two unmatched creatures brought radiance to the forest.
------
The next morning Rishabh woke up revived. He had gotten almost in a friendship with his angel. He wanted to go to her again but she would not be there right now. He stepped out of his house. The sun was still in the east. Again the long journey of the sun. He sighed at that.
Days and nights went by and they both met in the same way. It had become a habit for them to meet. They would laugh at jokes and listen to the stories the other one had about their worlds. It felt a whole new research for them.
One night Rishabh was sitting there playing with the grass as he waited for Madhu to come.
As soon as he saw her descending his face brightened up.
"Hey.." Rishabh said with his smile.
"Hi..." Madhu replied back.
"How was your day..?" She asked him.
"Just waited for the night..." Rishabh replied grinning cheekily.
"Same with me..." Madhu smiled.
Just then they heard monotonous sing song voices from the village side. Madhu's ears straightened.
"Are they singing again?" She asked him.
"Yeah..." Rishabh replied with a frustrated frown. "Today again.."
"Why are you saying like that..?" Madhu said angrily as she hit him on his shoulder. While Rishabh just rolled his eyes.
"Rishabh can you show it to me?" Madhu asked hopefully.
"What? I escaped from that and now you want us to go there?" Rishabh replied not believing.
"Why do you want to escape?" She asked curiously.
"Comeon Madhu.. They are so annoying.." he exclaimed.
"Shut up... They sound so full of life... please... pretty please..."
"But i waited for you whole day..." Rishabh tried his last weapon.
"I will stay with u a little longer.. please show that to me.." Madhu replied him
"Okay fine!!" Rishabh sound finally defeated as he stood up to walk while Madhu flew behind him.
They stopped near the edge of the forest from where they had the clear view of the program.
The women sat around a bonfire as they clapped and sang while the children danced. Some girls swriled in the middle with whirling lehengas around them. Madhu looked at them in wide eyed excitement. Her eyes glistened due to the reflection of fire and she clapped with them.
Madhu looked at them while Rishabh stared at her. He just couldnt help but get lost in her beauty. Her colour so milky which glistened in the dark and her eyes so sparkling. She fluttered her wings unknowingly while still being above the ground. Thats when Rishabh realized she was an angel who could never even step in his world. She might have revolted her kind and come here to fulfill her curiosities but she can never be one of them. She can never be with him. Rishabh smiled disappointedly.
"Come on Lets go..!" Rishabh whispered to her as he couldn't hold the silence anymore. The silence between him and Madhu.
"Really? Do we have to?" Madhu asked disappointed.
" Yes..." RK said firmly.
Madhu sighed. "Good bye people... Madhu cannot stay longer... The thick headed fool will take me away..." she said in a low tone.
Rishabh chuckled hearing her. "I am not melting for any of your tricks..." he said to her still smiling.
"You dont have a heart..." she said complaining.
"Yeah sure.." Rishabh said amusingly. Only he knew how much his heart was beating now seeing her.
They both went back to their usual clearing as they talked.
"That was amazing..." Madhu said delighted.
"Really... I am glad you liked it.." Rishabh said sarcastically.
"Why do you hate it so much...?" Madhu asked complaining.
" Its so monotonous... most of the guys didnt like it.." Rishabh shrugged.
"Didnt like? U mean they like it now?" Madhu asked him.
"No they dont... but now most of them have their girlfriends, fiances or wives dancing there... so somehow Its gotten interesting for them all of a sudden." Rishabh said not able to hide the grudge in his tone as he laid down on the grass with his hands below his head to form a rest.
Madhu was sitting on a lowly branch of tree still maintaining her safe distance from the ground.
"Dont you have a fiance or a wife?" Madhu asked fearing for some reason. She didnt want it to be a yes...
"No... I am single... Do I not look like?" Rishabh asked confused.
"You look so good and quite an eligible bachelor..." Madhu tried to confirm.
"Really... You think I look handsome?" He asked excited.
"Yeah... kind of.." Madhu said blushing
"Thankss..." he said smiling widely.
"So... dont you even have a crush?" Madhu asked him hoping to have a 'no'.
"Yes...I have a crush. " Rishabh said dreamily as he thought of her.
But Madhu's smile dropped. She felt as if something was taken away fron her.
"How is she? Is she good?"
"The best I have ever known in my whole life.." Rishabh said excitedly.
Madhu sighed. But she forced a smile. Why wasnt she feeling happy for her friend. She should.
Suddenly the cock sounded the morning barn.
"Oh no... its quite late... i have to reach before the first ray of sun..." Madhu said panicking.
"Is it something special?" Rishabh asked curiously.
"We have a prayer session at dawn. And all the fairies gather there for prayer. Its compulsary." Madhu said as she spread her wings and started to fly to the mountain.
"Please pray for me.." Rishabh called from behind.
Madhu turned back to him. "What for?" She asked hurriedly.
"So that I can be united with the one I love.." Rishabh said with a disappointed smile.
Madhu didnt knew what to say. She just nodded her head and flew to the moutain while Rishabh saw her going away. Fairies are the purest of God's creation. Maybe God will listen to her prayer and do some miracle to unite them.
---------------------------
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
