New OS: The Sky was Scarlet

Jalal saw Jodha standing on the balcony silently, unmindfully gazing at the night sky. The sky was scarlet... maybe a forecast of a sudden storm! First he thought to go closer, to touch her shoulder to give her comfort. But he stopped himself at the next moment. Let this poor girl to spend these moments alone...

Slowly he came back inside his bedroom and put down his hat. Before keeping that properly on the wardrobe, he stared at the emblem on the hat. The emblem carries the pride of the new nation... their nation; Pakistan... a dream nation of so many political leaders. And Jalal is a very small part of one of the great protectors of the new nation... their pride!

But still Jalal could not be happy while staring at the emblem. Is a nation build with soil and water only? Humans are dying. And their new nation is built with blood and tears of thousands and thousands helpless human beings of two nations... Will the human race be able to overcome the curse created from those helpless tears?

Sighing a little, Jalal kept the hat properly. Five minutes later, he came out in a new night suit changing the uniforms after bath.

Jodha was still standing at the balcony. He did not call her. A strange cloud of grief had strangulated him suddenly. "Hamid! He called the waiter of his Bungalow. The 25 years old boy came and saluted. "Ji, Sahab!

"Bring coffee for me. Jalal ordered. "And listen, has your Mem-Sahab eaten anything?

"No... Hamid said in a little guilt. "I requested a lot. But she did not move from there after you left.

Suddenly Jalal's mind filled with a strange feeling of guilt. He should not have shared the news with Jodha today. Rather he should have listened to Jodha and should not have sent the news to India... But he did this, as this was his duty. He did not even think in his dream that his duty will take such a price! Perhaps he should have listened to her; he should have understood that a girl like her knows and understands the world better than the well-educated, dutiful DSP like him... that the pull of deep-rooted blind conservative beliefs and superstitions is much more powerful than the pull of blood, than the power of love and affection! Jodha knew it... that's why she had clasped a stranger like him with all her strength... Perhaps women know! Jalal could have hidden everything. But he did not. The blind dependency of Jodha on him did not let him to hide anything from her. She should know; she had the right to know...

But if the news revive the scar of her wound again? If she sinks in the sea of depression again? How will Jalal save her?

"Okay... Bring some snacks too... Jalal sighed. Hamid saluted and went off.

Jalal lit a cigar before leaning against the armchair. Independence has come. But did they really want this blood-drenched, half-burnt, half-ruined and begged independence? Then? How the most desired independence converted into a life-long curse to some uprooted people all of a sudden? How the most desired independence gave birth to so many heartless beasts in the cover of human beings? Will the situation improve after some months? Or it will go on like this only... forever?

Suddenly a noise from outside broke the thread of Jalal's thought. The sound was coming from far... Again a riot???

Jalal ran to the balcony. Jodha was standing like before. It seemed the noise did not touch her soul... She has become a stone!

"These morons! Bloody ********! A raged Jalal could not control his tongue in front of Jodha. The fire was visible from the balcony of the bungalow of DSP. The nearby villages were calm since last two days. Just now only he reported the situation as peaceful in office... Now again! Signs of tremendous worry reflected in his face. He looked at Jodha for a glimpse. God knows how many girls might be rewarded with the same fate just like this girl! Spontaneously his right hand touched Jodha's right shoulder as he gripped her body from back. Perhaps Jodha got back her sense with this touch... But she sighed only.

"Let's go to the room, Jodha... Jalal said in a soft tone. "Come on.

Jodha looked at him. Her eyes were dry, emotionless... Without spending a word more she moved back to the room. Jalal too went back.

"Hamid! He called while swiftly pulling out the uniforms from the wardrobes. He has to go right now to fulfill his duty. In his job there is no fixed time of duty; especially in this situation they hardly get time to take rest or to sleep. However, he did not expect to go out so soon after coming back as well!

Hamid came with the tray in his hand. He had the shadow of fear in his face... "They started again, Sahab!He commented in fear.

"I have to go! You close the doors properly. I am telling the security guards to be alert. Jalal said while adjusting the collar. "And tell Fatima to sit with Mem-Sahab till I come back.

"No need. Jodha uttered, after a long time... Jalal looked at her in shock. The always afraid, traumatized, shy woman is seemed to reflect an uncanny glow today. There is a suppressed fire in her eyes that was never seen before. A fire of rigidity, stubbornness and strength to stand back again!

Dismissing Hamid, Jalal came beside Jodha and tenderly touched her chin. "You might be frightened Jodha... so...

Jodha smiled.

And Jalal gazed in mesmerization... Did he ever see her smiling?

Yes, she had smiled that day... The day he proposed her... But for a glimpse only... Her smile was converted into tears in no times... She had shaken her head in great despair then... "No no no... she said. "You can't marry a girl like me...I am... I am... She had started banging her head. "I am unchaste! Impure! Don't take any decision of your life out of mercy...

"Dare to say this again in front of me... Jalal had picked up her chin... In a husky tone he had uttered in a voice drowned in love... "To me you are the purest. The most divine blessing of the God! God has sent the first bliss of love to me in the form of you... I am not showing mercy to anyone; rather I am begging...I beg your love; don't send me back in empty hands...

She could tell nothing after this... Only had washed his feet with two drops of tears from her eyes... Jalal could not stop her that day; he had accepted her gift of gratitude, love and surrender in a saturated heart... She was shedding tears only. She did not smile that day...

Neither did she smile at the day of their registry marriage... Yes, a sweet twist of shyness had touched her beautiful lips. When all the friends of him were shouting in joy after they were officially announced as husband-wife, she was blushing, her face reflected a soft glow of pure happiness... but her eyes were filled with tears. She did not smile.

But today she smiled. Till today he has only seen her tears of happiness. Today he got to see her smile of grief. Perhaps only women have so many shades of expressing emotions!

"Jodha? He uttered. Jodha held his hand.

"I will be alright. I will not be afraid anymore. Don't worry. She said in a gentle voice.

"Are you sure? Jalal said in a tensed voice. He himself has witnessed Jodha's fright when the noises of riot from the far lands have floated in air...

"Yes. Jodha smiled again. "Today I have left all my fears behind me. Today I lost the last bond with my past life- that is my fear... I do not have the right to be afraid anymore DSP Sahab!

Yes, she calls him as DSP Sahab till now. Jalal has tried to change it though it will take some more time it seems. He had told her to call him by his name, but she does not listen to. "We cannot take our husband's name in our lip... She had told. Jalal did not tell anything more. An uncanny yearning and urge of complete surrender is mixed in her voice when she calls him DSP Sahab; Jalal cannot disrespect that spontaneous urge...

However, "What are you telling... Jalal pressed her hand. His eyes filled with empathy.

"I am telling truth. Jodha looked through the window. "Go fast now, DSP Sahab... Many innocent lives are waiting for your arrival...

"Yes... Jalal nodded. "I will come back very soon. You haven't eaten anything from morning. Eat something...

Jodha smiled. "I will be waiting for you!

Getting back in his car from local police station, DSP Jalal Mohammad leaned back against the seat and sighed a relief. Situation was under control now. Thanks to his decision of police posting in all the areas of the district, the goons of the league could not make much chaos. Though he does not know how long the situation will remain under control. In this time violence, the humans have become beasts... The eye-wash of police force cannot stop them with the worthless rule of laws... Thousands of people are becoming homeless everyday... thousands of mothers are losing their sons... thousands of girls are getting abducted, they are pushed into the living hell each and every moment. And what they are doing? How much can they do after all? They are absolutely powerless in front of the ruthless forest-fire which is destroying the existence of a whole generation in front of them...

Jalal's eyes got stuck to the lights of far... Only God knows how many Jodhas are dying in the living hell each and every day... He has saved only one; but how much he can do!

He remembers that day very clearly. He sees each and every incident in broad daylight whenever he closes the eyes. An incident of 7-8 months ago most probably... A special task-force of police was in a mission under his command. They had raided an abducted farmhouse of a famous leader... There was none in the farmhouse; except one dead-body which was alive. Yes, a dead-body. Though her heart was beating, lungs were active and she was trembling due to some nervous function, Jodha was nothing but a dead-body that time. Those brutal monsters had sucked all the lives from her body and had left her to die... Jalal still remembers... when he first saw her under the broken cot and tried to pull her out from there, she had screamed her heart out... She was screaming out of tremendous fear... she was trying to protect herself by embracing herself with her two thin, pale, weak and wounded arms. She was forcefully pulled out from the cot in order to send her to hospital. She was screaming continuously... she was scared of every simple thing. And strangely, her insane scream had brought tears in the eyes of a so-called rough and tough dutiful police officer unknowingly!

Jalal himself had taken the responsibility of reaching her to hospital. She was screaming like a complete mad at first. But slowly she had become silent. Completely silent... perhaps the last trace of sense from her lifeless body had come out with her last scream... she had become a skeleton.

She was nothing but a professional duty. Jalal has rescued lots of distressed girls like her. But God knows what happened to him after that... he kept on meeting that girl in the home where she was kept. First he used to give himself excuses such that he is going there to complete some formalities; or he is going there to fulfill some natural duties to the helpless girl... but some days later he suddenly discovered that he does not need those excuses. When Jodha became a need from a mere duty, he did not understand.

She was not able to utter her name at first. Jalal had named her himself. Jodha. He does not know why he decided this name only. Maybe because the name has a slight tune of fearlessness of fire with it. Jodha was not fearless enough that time though. She used to fear a lot. The trauma of the sudden destruction in her life had broken her and scattered her completely. She used to star at the ceiling fan all the time; mute, lost and lifeless. But by any chance if she heard any type of noise from outside, or something unnatural excited her nerves, she used to tremble in fear, used to cry like insane. She had none to support... she had none to take care... she had no one who would wipe out her tears and would bring her back from her trauma. Jalal did not understand when her helplessness started pulling him so deeply; he even started stealing time from his duty hours... for her... to bring her back to life. She used to be scared of him too before. But slowly perhaps her instinct told her that he is reliable. And slowly, very slowly, she started depending on him completely. She used to hold his hands, clasped them strongly and closed her eyes... as if she is fetching support and energy from him to survive in this brutal world. She used to be scared, and she used to embrace him with all her strength and started crying vulnerably forgetting that he is a stranger... a complete stranger. Jalal does not know what used to happen with him that time; how he used to hug her back, took her inside his chest to protect her, and assured her that everything will be alright. How did he use to forget that the woman is a complete stranger... he does not know her. He used to feel as if she is known to him from long long ago...

Jalal used to talk a lot. Jodha did not use to make a little sound even. Her actions, her expressions, her tears used to talk on behalf of her... Jalal could read those. He had accepted the tears of surrender and gratitude from that helpless girl wholeheartedly... And one day he discovered, he has lost his own existence. He has no existence without that poor girl. She has been mingled with his breathe, his every beat of heart...

Jodha started behaving normally after one month. She started talking, though she used to talk very less. However, she had told Jalal her real name and address... Radhika, the elder daughter of a very conservative Brahmin family... her father belonged to the higher middle-class society of the nearby township; she used to lead a normal life like any other young girl does... before Mr. Radcliff drew a line in between the country to break it into two nations. Everything changed so swiftly that their family could not even get the time to understand the change. Her father opened his eyes when two goons directly entered inside their bedroom, massacred everything, insulted her and her mother and threatened them to leave the nation at once. They decided to leave. But where to go they did not know... They did not know what to do with the properties of their motherland and how to manage in a completely new place without a penny in hand. Her father could not shift within the deadline. And they had to pay the price by sacrificing their daughter... Yes... those goons had abducted her in front of the whole town, and no protest had worked that day...

Jodha had cried a lot while describing her story. She had told that she has lost her right of returning to her family... Jalal did not listen to her. He had enquired a lot; tried a lot to find her family... News had come within some days... Radhika's family had left to India. They had nothing else to do in order to save the other daughters of the house... They had searched a lot, they had begged to each and every police station to find their daughter but everything was in vein. The reports also said that Radhika's mother has almost become mad in worry for the elder daughter. His father was broken completely. But still they had to go to India, like beggars of streets... Leaving their daughter to rot in this different country!

It is quite natural to become insane in worry and guilt for daughter... Especially how can a mother endure this fact that her dear daughter has been pushed to die in a living hell in front of her eyes? Jalal could feel the agony of the poor family, so he did not leave any trials of finding Jodha's family and handing her in their hand. How he will survive without her, he did not think! Then so many things happened... time of Jodha's release was near, and she had nowhere to go... then he took the ultimate decision... he married her... she started a new life with him... he started to fill her life with various colours in order to wipe out the black dirty patch from her memory... she was becoming completely normal... She was happy... Though he did not stop searching her family in India though his sources... He was worried for her family; especially for her mother...

At last he was succeeded, and he was able to send a real good news to them about their daughter. That their daughter is safe and happy. He did not listen to Jodha... as he knew that he is doing right. Her mother will be relieved, will be happy...

How happy her mother had been was known today though a letter from Jalal's reliable source...

Jodha's mother has attempted to commit suicide.

Not because of her daughter has been left in a hell to die a humiliated death... not because her daughter had been savagely raped and tortured by some beasts... not because she was unable to bear the grief of losing her daughter in distress...

When Jalal entered into the bedroom of their Bungalow, it was already half passed eleven. Line of electricity had been cut. The whole place was as silent and dark as a cemetery. Blindly, Jalal entered into the dark bedroom in a silent pace so that Jodha does not awake. But then only a slight light of lantern had wiped out the darkness of the room.

Jodha was standing in front of him taking the lantern in hand. "Is everything alright? She asked.

"Yes... Jalal nodded.

"None is wounded? No girls... Jodha asked in a worried curiosity. Jalal loved this. Jalal was amazed.

"Thankfully nothing much had happened! he touched her shoulder to assure her.

"Can you tell me when this savage barbaric ritual of destroying humans in the name of partition will stop?Jodha suddenly lashed out. "How many lives would be sacrificed in order to pay the price of some whimsical decisions of some leaders and the so-called government?

Jalal sighed only. He did not have any answer. But he was feeling saturated in his heart.

"They suddenly decided they need two different nations. And they broke a country into twice. They did not even think what will happen to thousands of people! They did not think where those people will go after being uprooted from their motherland... Jodha's voice was trembling with the flame of fire. "And about the women... hah! She suddenly laughed sarcastically. "In this great country does anyone have the time to think about women? They are born to die... born to be humiliated. The men would start rivalry, would fight wars, would set fire... and the women have to burn in that fire of humiliation... Their dignity will be questioned; their self-respect will be crushed; their modesty, their honour, their existence everything will be smashed, will sink under the sea of humiliation... first by the beasts of the other planets; then by the very own persons of the very known world!

Jalal was hearing speechlessly. Perhaps for the first time he heard so many words together from her. Maybe the constant wounds from the life make human strong... Maybe the news of her mother was needed, to give her the last jolt... to make her stronger...

But Jalal could not let this to continue. He knew it is paining her. He knew she is in pain. He gently placed his hand on Jodha's shoulder. "Your mother is alright now. I got news. Give them some time to overcome their deep-rooted beliefs...

"Those beliefs are not to be overcome, DSP Sahab. Jodha's sarcastic smile pinched inside Jalal's heart. "You know DSP Sahab, I was a darling of my father. I know he must have been broken completely after I was missing... My mother was very much dependent on me... I know she must have gone mad after everything... I had a very dotting family DSP sahab, everybody used to love me a lot! But still I never wanted to see them again. As I know DSP Sahab... the moment I was abducted by some goons, everyone has wished so that I die... Radhika is dead for them, DSP Sahab... If I would go back to them for shelter, my father might curse his own fortune, and would blame the God- O God, when you had decided to take away the honour of this wretched girl, why you left her to live? Why you let her to come back to us; why you did not let her to lose her path, or to kill herself for her dignity; for the dignity of her family! After all this omened Radhika cannot be much valuable than the pride of the family! She suddenly laughed. "And look, what a pity! After so many days they knew that the cursed Radhika is not only alive; that shameless woman has even disaffiliated her religion after sacrificing her honour! Their dearest daughter did not even get a poison to consume and kill herself before drowning the pride and honour of her parents and family in the sea of humiliation... Tell me, how could they endure?? Father is okay too; he can forget her one daughter for sake of his other duties... but mother? How could she endure that her daughter whom she had wished to die is living like a shameless after leaving them back to sink in impurity?

Jalal could not say anything. He only pressed his palm on Jodha's shoulder.

"Do you think I did not know this, DSP Sahab?Jodha told again. "I knew everything... So I wanted to escape. So I never wanted to be Radhika again... This time her voice trembled with the touch of tears. "What do you think, I did not think to die? I wanted to die... I wanted to kill myself a several times. But what to do, I could not! I was coward. More than that, I was greedy. I am a human too! And a human wants to live! I was greedy for my life! How could I kill myself when my whole life is calling me to embrace me with everything I desired once? So I thought I would live killing Radhika. Jodha will embrace her life... but Radhika- my past entity did not leave me... Just like today it made me stand in front of a mirror to show me from where I belong! It should me how small is the important of the existence of myself in front of the big words like family, honour, pride...

"Don't ever say these again... Jalal's arms spontaneously clutched her... But he could say nothing to console her. Jodha was staring at his eyes without blink. And he could see the tears of thousands of women of this unfortunate land in those eyes. Every day the police and army are rescuing hundreds of missing, abducted girls from both the sides of the border... the homes sponsored by the Government has been allocated for them, are overflowing. Not all of their families are missing; but they are denying to take their daughter, their sister, their wife with them... The homes are overflowing, the footpaths, the refugee camps are overflowing... even the brothels are filling everyday with new members. Hundreds of women are losing their dignity, their life... their existence! Partition has not only snatched the roofs over the head of people; it has also shut the windows of the broad minds of humans with a bang... Radcliff line did not only break the nation into two pieces, it has also narrowed the vision of the human being. Perhaps the roofless, helpless men want to clasp their deep-rooted beliefs like the greatest shelter. They cannot challenge those beliefs because of their love for dear ones in this vulnerable time and state of mind. When the love and belief collides, the whole world inside the heart get scattered; perhaps that poor, helpless, half-educated mother could not bear that stress in her heart... perhaps she had seen only one way to get relief... What to blame? Whom to blame?

Jalal sighed and cupped Jodha's face. "They will understand one day, Jodha... The pace of the incidents have scattered them, the time has narrowed their mind. Today they are unable to accept the fact. But they will surely understand... If you and I stand before them one time, they will not be able to deny anything.

"No. Jodha said in a firm voice. "I will not stand before them ever... The last bond I had with them is broken by them. If I go back after this, it will be an insult... Even if they accept us that time, it will be an insult... for me, for you and for their beliefs too!

"But...

"No... Jodha held his hands. "Let them live securing the pride of their religion. Let them shed two drops of tears for their dead Radhika... Let them worship the stone-idols from their stone-hard beliefs. Everyone cannot be so fortunate to see the read God in front of them! They could not recognize the God... they insulted him thinking him as a curse. Let them be happy with that mistake. I won't become another storm for them!

There was something in Jodha's voice that trembled Jalal's heart from bottom. In a spontaneous emotion he held back Jodha's hands and smiled.

"You know DSP Sahab... Jodha murmured. "I believed in God from my heart. I believed and obeyed each rituals and regulations from the bottom of my heart. But after that drastic period of life, each and every belief got scattered... Today I know, God neither exists in the idols, nor does he exist in the sky and the air and in every petty things of nature... God exists inside human. Human can become God to someone by showing her a new ray of life... She suddenly placed her head on his chest and uttered in an almost choked voice. "You are that God for me... I can endure everything... But I cannot endure your insult!

Jalal touched Jodha's head and pated slowly. "I am not God Jodha... I am nothing. Human does not need God to come down to help them when they have the greatest blessings of him as their protector... and that is the shield of love. Love can become the mightiest weapon and protector to every evil omen in life. He caressed her cheeks with utter affection. "There is nothing but love, Jodha... My love for you... your love for me... your family's love for you... your love for your family... human's love for human... all are true, Jodha, all are the greatest truth of this life, this civilization. And love will prevail. No matter how long does it take, but this inhuman violence will be replaced by the care of love one day. Everything will be sorted out that day! Maybe it sounds like a dream now; but we all believe this- from the deepest of our heart. So we don't break down even in these dreadful days... we live, we dream... and we love! We keep on loving to stay awake in that dream!

Jodha gripped him. Two drops from her eyes wetted Jalal's shirt. Jalal caressed her hairs with utter care.

Both of them gazed at the sky together then... The night sky was scarlet... as red as blood...

Originally posted by: -Kavya_P-

Amazing os Di

Emotional too

It was so emotional. Yes! Even i believe god resides inside good human being.

Wow so touch to heart and an emotional os dear
You have written very well all the miserable life at the time of partition
And life of a woman that she has no importance in this society of men
Very well done
Keep updating 👏

lovely os
thanks for the pm

Originally posted by: konica.arora.92

Wow so touch to heart and an emotional os dear
You have written very well all the miserable life at the time of partition
And life of a woman that she has no importance in this society of men
Very well done
Keep updating 👏

Originally posted by: kartikaJA

lovely os
thanks for the pm

Originally posted by: Shinning_Stuti

Thank you so much dear!🤗 Yes, partition had made the lives miserable that time. 😔 And women are the most sufferers.

but women is the biggest enemy of other women. Once such victims shows her strength to live it is the other women around her who will not support her. But also there are men like jalal who break such norms and thinking of society. So in the end its human mentality.

just porlam... but sotti kotha blbo...pls Kichu mone Koris na.. may be Amar bojhateo okkhomota... but Ami na kicchu bjhte parini Os tar...
Kichu bojhar agei ses hoe glo...
actually I think content sajanor Golmaal ache ektu por por sajano hoini...
bt ei first tor kono lekha Amar thik bhalo lageni... m sorry re... bt golpo tar prekkha pot ta boddho ondhokaracchonno se jnnoi hoito ektu interest Nie bjhini...

bt ja e likhechis onno Ra bujheche so no problem