He didn't want her to go alone. He wanted her to go along with her. His better-half, his soulmate, his guide. he couldn't imagine life without her. There was a sense of completeness when she was around. She completed him. The sense of togetherness was always alive. Every morning he first saw her. Her sight always made his day. Her smile would ease off all his concerns. Well, it was magic. She knew what bothered him even before he would tell her. She had sharp intuition. Her faith in him was boundless. And that faith made him go miles. He never knew what his life partner would be like till he met her. Her questions, fearlessness and inclination towards honesty amazed him. He always felt he met his image, he met his reflection. He thought he knew her, but every day he met her new self. And that's where he felt he has a long way to go.
Nature favored him. His exile brought them together. She chose to accompany him. He began understanding her. He felt the forest was his home when she was with him. After all a woman makes the four walls a home.
The thought of separation always bothered him. He recalled those days when sita was abducted. Every second seemed like a decade to him.
Today he paced the length of the corridor restlessly. He couldn't think to be away from sita again. He wanted to go with her.
He was split between his duties. One side it was his home. On the other end it was his extended family. He was a king. He was a husband. He never wanted her to know what had happened. But she was quick to understand his dilemma. If only his logic could beat her intuition. But that was next to impossible. Her intuition always led. And she caught his dilemma.
"What happened raghunandan? You look tensed. What is bothering you?", sita enquired.
"sitae, why do separation and companionship come along with each other?"
"Ummm... Aren't these two sides of a coin called love? And when love is boundless, separation is meaningless, isn't it? "
He stared in front blankly. He had told her the same when he was banished. And she made him take her along with him.
Today, it was a different tale. He didn't have the guts to face her. He didn't have the courage to share his dilemma.
He got up with a heavy heart and walked silently towards the window. The night was darker than usual except for a few shining stars.
" The people are talking ill of me, aren't they?" The voice behind him startled him. He turned back questioningly.
" No sitae", was all he could utter.
" swami, accept one thing, you cannot lie. Your eyes reflect your thoughts, And what i see now is indecisiveness, pain and undivided love."
He rushed to her, holding her shoulders.
" We will leave sitae. We won't stay here. And that is right. We will leave."
" Not us. i shall leave to the forest. i am questioned for my chastity, not you. You are the king."
" And you are the queen, sitae"
" I know swami. And leaving for the forest is my duty as a queen so that you can perform all your duties without hurdles."
" You are not an obstacle. You are my support."
" Exactly, am your support so am clearing the way for the king to perform his duties towards his subjects. Please allow me to go."
Their debate was endless. But once again sita convinced him the way she had done years ago.
As he paced the corridor, he felt her presence. He turned around and found her dressed in saffron. His heart broke a million times.
They walked to each other. He was clear in his mind. He wanted to stop her. He wanted to pester her to have him along with her.
Years ago this had happened.
Her eyes were complaining and he was helpless then.
Today, she was determined and he was helpless again.
She stood in front of him determined and smiling. He stood dumbfounded, eyes filled with tears. He took out his hand to caress her but she nodded negatively.
She walked past him but couldn't go further. She felt smthn held her back. Turning around she found her cloth entangled in his jewelry.
Reminiscing their past, they smiled tearfully.
Years ago, his cloth was entangled in her bangle and she followed him to forest. But today she couldn't let him come along.
Time changes everything. Instances do repeat changing faces but decisions differ.
Yeh moh moh ke dhaage
Teri ungliyon se jaa uljhe
Yeh moh moh ke dhaage
Teri ungliyon se ja uljhe
Koi toh toh na laage
Kis tarah girah ye suljhe
Hai rom rom ek tara
Hai rom rom iktaara
Jo badalon mein se guzre
Ye moh moh ke dhage
Teri ungliyon se jaa uljhe
Koi toh toh na lage
Kis tarah girah yeh suljhe
Tu hoga zaraa paagal
Tune mujh ko hai chuna
Tu hoga zara pagal
Tune mujh ko hai chunaa
Kaise toone ankahaa
Tune an-kahaa sab suna
Tu hoga zara paagal
Tune mujh ko hai chuna
Tu din sa hai, mein raat
Aana Donon mil jaayein shaamon ki tarah
Yeh moh moh ke dhaage
Teri ungliyon se ja uljhe
Koi toh toh na laage
Kis tarah girah ye suljhe
Yeh teri jhoothi baatein mai saari maan loon
Ke teri jhoothi baatein mai saari maan loon
Aankhon se tere sach sabhi, sab kuchh abhi jaan loon
Ke teri jhoothi baatein mai saari maan loon...
Tej hai dhaara behte se hum awaara
Aa tham ke saansein le yahaan
Yeh moh moh ke dhaage
Teri ungliyon se jaa uljhe
Koi toh toh na laage
Kis tarah girah yeh suljhe