Humari Adhuri Kahani (chapter 14 updated) : LAST CHAPTER - Page 43

The darkness of the evening swept over the soft twilight in the west sky slowly after the sunset. The crowd of tourists was gathering again in the fort premises, acquiring best seats to watch the light-and-sound show depicting the story that is hidden behind each of those bricks of the architectures. The story that has been collected by thousands of Historians, researchers, archeologists, with all their hardship and dedication of years after years, ages after ages... They have gathered the clues, connected the facts, reconstructed the incidents by travelling down the timeline, and deduced the most likely scenarios to be labeled as the History. History glorifies the past, it tells the story of light, the story of glory, the story of prosperity. But what about the real stories those has been buried underneath these solid constructions, these stones and bricks? What about those thousand drops of tears, those suppressed sounds of weeping, those drops of invisible blood dripping constantly from the bleeding hearts... who will take count of those? Who will tell that story? Or that story will die alone in the darkness, shedding tears lonely, smiling to see people rejoicing the glory, forgetting the dark...

The laser lights were flashing on the buildings in synchronization, the narrator was telling the story in an attractive baritone... while staring at the lights Pragya was not listening to that story. Her mind was occupied with these heedless thoughts only. People cumulate the facts and facts create History. Emotions are too volatile, too unpredictable to be cumulated; they are not static like facts... they keep on flying, keep on fleeing. That's why perhaps those untold stories of those bricks stay untold forever, the story of past remains unfinished. And when someone comes to find the treasure of his past digging these bricks, he finds only the debris...

Pragya looked at Rohan with the corner of her eyes. He was sitting next to her maintaining a minimum gap in between. He was staring at the dancing lights, it seemed he has lost himself in these lights and shadows... perhaps his mind is now playing hide-and-seek with these lights and the shadows of 450 years back, when this fort was not a dead witness of History, when it was alive, glorious, and when he had been a part of the stories of it, that had been buried in this soil of the fort. Rohan was looking extremely calm and too much exhausted after their sort adventure in the debris of the old building. It's natural, after the constant roller-coaster ride between past and present Pragya had actually expected Rohan to lose his consciousness for a while out of stress. But instead he had become a motionless rock. He hasn't uttered a single word after this. It seemed he had reached too far from his root of existence, and Pragya cannot reach him from this ground.

But Pragya has to. She is not here only to witness Rohan slowly losing in the deep sea of past; she is here to heal him, to protect him from the demons of his past and to help him to reach to his reality. If she fails, Rohan will sink forever, and Pragya cannot afford to fail Rohan. She won't let anything happen to him. Taking this oath, she unmindfully placed her hand on Rohan's hand which was beside her. Rohan flinched, but did not reciprocate. Pragya felt a deep sigh coming out of his heart.

"What are you thinking? Pragya asked softly, not disturbing the rest of the audiences.

"History only takes count of victory. None knows that the pillars of victory stand on the base of thousands of drops of tears... Rohan muttered.

"I was also thinking the same... Pragya murmured with a slight smile. "History rejoices the pride of glory, but overlooks the pain of that glory...

Rohan looked at her. His glossy eyes were shinning in the dim yellow light. "How do you know? He muttered suddenly in a deep lost voice and simultaneously held back her hand, tightening the grip.

"I... I was just thinking... Pragya answered confusedly. "It just seemed obvious... The stories I heard from you, about the emperor and the Princess of Amer, about their relationship... about the pain of their love...

"Love... Rohn smiled. "You are so sure about using this particular term.

"Yes, because I believe it is love. Not a policy of diplomacy, not any political deal, not a courtesy relationship. Pragya said in a slight excited voice. "When I think about them, I always see two man and woman, trying hard to reach each other, trying hard to touch each other; but failing every time... the distance between them never ends, they never reach to each other... But it does not nullify the truth of their love... Truth is as pure and real as rays of light. It cannot keep hiding!

"But people try to keep it hiding... Perhaps they are too busy to build their palace of fake glory on the base of the pain... They keep on building the wall, and the distance never ends! Rohan sighed and closed his eyes.

"The distance must have gone... at least for a moment... Pragya uttered unmindfully. "Two people in love, and a whole long life together... the faade of indifference must have broken in front of the strength of truth... at least for a moment... maybe!

Rohan did not tell anything, and gazed at the debris of Akbari Mahal which looked haunted in this dark evening. Pragya could recognize his mental condition from this gaze. Rohan is slipping again, he is floating in his memories of past. The debris of the palace is not a bunch of some bricks and stones for him anymore... he is seeing a grand palace, luminous, gorgeous, glorying with pride of rise... and he is seeing a man standing at the window inside the best room of the palace, staring at the moon of the sky, and relishing the bliss of this solitude with the pain of glory he has acquired in his glorious life... for these heavy sighs belong to only him, and his solitude...

For a long moment Pragya was listening to the narrative attentively and enjoying the dance of the lights. She was so occupied that she did not notice if Rohan was sitting beside her or not. She lamented these moments instantly when she turned her face and found the next seat of her vacant. Rohan was not there. He was not anywhere where she could see him.

She jumped up from the seat panicking and frantically moved out. The audiences noticed her suspiciously but did not question. She reached a security guard nearer, while talking she discovered her voice was trembling...

"Ex...excuse me... Did you notice someone... a young man... to get out of here...

"Many people are coming and going madam... The guard said half-heartedly.

"No no you have to remember! Pragya gulped in nervousness. "He is tall and fair, was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans and...

"Maybe... The guard stated confusedly. "Maybe he has gone there... He pointed to a direction. "Why don't you call him?

"Yes... yes... thank you! Pragya ran towards the direction while fetching the contact of Rohan from her phone. Not reachable. The mechanical voice from the phone mocked cruelly. While standing alone on a pavement near a garden under the vast sky, Pragya felt like crying. It was entirely her fault. She noticed Rohan slipping, still how could she become inattentive? Where she will find him now? In his semi-conscious situation Rohan literally knows every inch of detail of this fort even much more than any guidebook, and today Pragya herself witnessed this. What if he again goes to any of those broken buildings now? What if he goes to seek the answers for the past himself alone in this darkness? Pragya will never be able to find him if he is lost. What if Rohan is lost forever?

Pragya felt the flood of emotion tearing apart her heart the moment this thought came in her mind. Weird, isn't it? So much emotion for a mere patient! However, at this moment, Pragya did not have the time to analyze her own thought-process. She took a deep breath for a moment, then ran towards the direction shown by the guard, shouting Rohan's name frantically.

"Rohan! She shouted again while calling in the phone for the 3^rd time just before she discovered herself coming nearer to the Anguri Baag. It is a relief that small yellow lights are here and there and the security guards are guarding, else she would really lose her mind in tension. "Rohan!!! She shouted again and rang again.

Fortunately, the phone rang this time, and not only this, Pragya could hear a faintest sound of Rohan's ringtone floating in the air, which suggested Rohan is nearer. Pragya sighed a relief, and her eyes searched for Rohan nearby... There was a shadow of a man at a corner of Anguri Baag, and Pragya understood she never felt so much relieved ever before like she is now.

"Rohan! You came here without telling me! She rushed to him and almost gripped one of his arms.

Rohan did not notice his presence. His eyes were still at a faint light coming from a corner of a building, as if he is waiting for someone... and Pragya noticed it clearly, there were tears in his eyes. His cheeks were flooding with silent tears, and he was drowned in a sea of unknown agony...

"Rohan... Pragya touched his shoulder and uttered in a dimmed voice. Rohan did not reciprocate. But now Pragya could clearly hear the tune he was humming.

Ashru r ekti fotay jonmo amar, amar moron,

Nirobe jatiswar er golpo bola tomar dhoron...

Jhorecho bristi hoe ageo tumi, abar jhoro

E kamon kanna tumi amay jokhon ador koro...

[I live and die again and again in those drops of tears,

And you keep on telling the stories of rebirths silently...

Rain again, just like you used to rain in past...

Why are these tears when you love me and show your affection?]

Pragya froze and listens to the tune silently; she herself did not notice when tears have silently started raining from her eyes... A strange spark of pain and emotion started flowing through her blood, and she had no idea why she is losing the control of her mind again and again. While standing beside Rohan in this ancient fort under the vast dark sky she suddenly discovered perhaps she has lost something which she herself does not know. The whole nature, the sky, the air, the flow of the river, the moonlight and each of the brick of this fort is trying to remind her, but she is not able to find it... But she must find it; she must... without finding she will be entangled, her soul will be entangled. She will never be free!

Rohan had stopped humming. Pragya did not notice when he looked at her.

"You? Want anything?

Rohan's voice has again changed into that controlling, authoritative one. He asked in such a way as if he does not know Pragya. Or he knows, but not as Pragya, his doctor. As if he has an implied right on her... respectful, yet dominating.

"You came here without telling me... I was worried! Pragya told in an excited voice. "Don't do it again! Ever!

Rohan gazed at Pragya for a long moment, long enough to make her uncomfortable. Then he smiled tenderly mixing a bit of sarcasm. "You were worried, about me!

"Well, I am supposed to be worried about you, isn't it? Pragya took a moment to control her illogical emotions and got back her professional tone. "It is my job to keep an eye on each of your activity. Wherever you go, whatever you do is entirely my responsibility.

"Responsibility is a funny word. Everyone is depended on their own; none is ought to be responsible for any other person... Rohan said in a lost tone. "Man is solely responsible for his own fortune... he has to carry the responsibility on his own. He looked at her from his corner of eyes; they looked colder than they seem to be. "I know what I am doing... you need not to be worried.

"Really? What were you doing here, then? Pragya asked while turning on the recorder of her phone swiftly. She has a folder of most of the sessions of Rohan's past-talks, and they have been the aces of her research. She could sense she was going to get another session right now under this vast sky in this old, haunted fort.

"I was seeking an answer...

"Answer of what?

"The answer of what you had asked... Rohan uttered in a whispering tone.

"Me? Pragya frowned. How come she is included in his memories of past?

"Yes... you asked whether the wall of distance had dissolved ever, even if for a moment or not... Rohan murmured. "I was trying to find.

Pragya nodded and bit her lips. Rohan is currently in his past-self, but still remembers the incidents of present. That means there is something in his subconscious which is helping him to anchor with his own identity. He has not completely lost it, but it seems he is not very far from the deep end. If he completely loses his connection from the reality, what will be the turning point? There must be something that will anchor him to his present, and Pragya has to find it very soon.

"So... what did you find? She asked carefully.

Rohan smiled uncannily while his gaze pierced the darkness of the corner of the wall, and he whispered in a deep voice... "There!

The sky was calm and clear. Not even a leaf of the trees of the garden was swinging in the air. The nature hardly had any idea what storm was going on inside his heart. The whole fort was silent in darkness... the darkness of despair, the silence of uncertainty. Death is the most mysterious fact in this universe... it comes like a thunderbolt, swipes out the root of existence and goes away without leaving any sign behind; only the deadly silence of the omen of the uncertainty remains, manifesting the darkness of the doom, the terror of death all over. Each and every creature of the fort had sunk in that darkness.

Only he was awake. Alone in the dark. Restless. Shocked. Broken. While pacing in the dark pavement of Anguri baag and silently watching the dark corners of the fort alone, unarmed, all his thoughts were entangled with each other, and he could hardly think anything in a methodical way. A hard rock was strangulating his throat, and often his heart wanted to scream loudly... Why him? Why it had to be with him? Why the greatest gift of his life had to be snatched from him before he even could realize how much valuable that had been? Why things did not happen according to the dreams? Why everything had to be scattered even before it is formed?

He held the drop of tear forcibly coming down from the eyes. This was the first drop of tear since morning... since getting the news... since announcing the news in the court without flinching to maintain royal dignity... since burying that little body under the soil of the graveyard heartlessly... since weeks ago, when his first-born died after spending only one month in this world followed by his twin brother within two weeks. The nation faced a great loss, the royal family got a huge shock, his personal loss is unimaginable and that is known by everyone... but still he could not afford to drop a tear. He is the emperor, he is not allowed to break down, to cry out. The responsibility of the world lies upon his shoulders, and he cannot fall! Everything depends on the strength of his shoulder. He does not have support of any shoulder where he can rest his head and cry his heart out.

Suddenly a low but sharp sound of weep floated in the air. He stopped and tried to listen. Someone was sobbing silently, the despair of her tears was mingled with the air... it seemed the sky and the air was weeping in the grief of her...

And the sound was coming from a dark corner of Zenana.

He stared at the darkness, tried to imagine the silhouette of her. The intensity of the sob was increasing, and she was sounding more inconsolable. He gazed; the continuous sound of suppressed weep seemed to pierce the heart. He felt his heart was bleeding. And he felt his eyes were wet. He could not hold himself anymore and displayed his weakness openly... He actually shed tears, for the loss of his children, for the loss of his fatherhood...

And it felt soothing. The hard rock inside the throat was melting.

After a moment, he silently wiped out the strain of tears from his cheek. Forcefully pulling himself from sinking in the sea of emotion, he tried to see her. She was sitting outside the staircases, drowning into the dark. Her knees were folded and head was buried in the middle of two knees. His bleeding heart suddenly held back in a sudden concern. The whole palace was drowned in grief after the demise of the heirs. But all were busy with their own duties- the duties of conducting the process of mourning properly... Had anyone any time to sit beside the grief-stricken mother for a moment to help her to cope with it? The babies were with their wet-mothers and nurses since their illness, hence she must not been there when it happened. Someone might have come to her bearing the sad news, recited it in front of her, and left the place without sparing a single moment to look back at the face of the mother. Why would anyone care at all? In the properly maintained disciplined system of the fort, there is no place for wasting time for useless emotions.

He knows it. He himself follows the rules of this system. He himself believes that caring and emotional attachments are nothing more than distraction. But right in that moment, he felt guilty. He suddenly felt he has lost the dignity of a human while being busy to keep up with the dignity of an emperor.

After a small moment of hesitation, he walked towards her in silent steps. She seemed too lost to feel his presence. He sat beside her silently, and to his own surprise, he did not bother sitting on the ground. The pain inside the chest was partially relieved when he slowly put a hand on her shoulder.

"Begam Sahiba... He could not recognize his own voice when he called her.

"It happened because of me, isn't it? She looked at his eyes. He became speechless for a moment. Where did the glowing beam of dignity and pride of a princess lose from those beautiful doe-shaped heavenly eyes? With those red, swallowed eyes, lost and frantic stare, she was looking like a devastated tree standing alone in a stormy night... The princely dignity of the Rajput princess has scattered completely; the grief of the mother has won over the pride of the princess.

He took a moment to grasp the question. She kept on staring with the same insane glare and repeated the same words again... "It happened because of me... it happened because of me... it happened because of...

"What are you telling?? He tried to stop her in his usual louder voice, but his voice chocked in a sudden thrash of grief. He coughed and took long breaths, tears rolled down of his cheeks. Then, overcoming the hesitations he forcefully cupped her face and pulled her feeble body nearer to his chest. "Listen to me Begam Sahiba... Calm down! Calm down! He whispered.

"You... you don't know... I know... She sobbed hard while clutching his arms with all her strength... "I am responsible! I am responsible! It happened because of my sins! She almost screamed out... "But I never wanted... I never... I... She sounded more inconsolable with each of her breath.

"No no it is not! It is not... Look at me... Some unknown force suddenly pushed him forward as he spoke up in his usual loud and firm voice. "I know how much tough it is for you; even I am finding hard to accept this fact that my sons are... are no more... but we have to accept the truth and cope up with it. Time goes on in its own pace, and if we cannot catch up, we fail! He cupped up her face and forced her to maintain an eye contact. "Whatever has happened was the wish of Allah! Don't blame yourself... Don't punish yourself!

"No... no... She took a long breath and rubbed her eyes. "Don't console me... I know why this happened I know! I know why God took them from my lap! It's because I never wanted them from my heart! I never loved them!

"That's a lie! His voice cracked. "You are the mother; you...

"Yeah yeah! Mother! She suddenly laughed wearily. "I am the mother! I was supposed to love them unconditionally... But I didn't! God gave me the blessings of motherhood and I insulted his blessings as a burden on my pride. He showered me with all happiness and I rejected them as a curse! You know when I got to know about my pregnancy I felt strangled. Women search for their freedom from motherhood, and I found the chain of imprisonment. You know when they gave me my babies in my lap for a moment and then took them away from me for their better caring, I was so lost that I did not feel any emotion. I could not request anyone to give my babies again to me, that I will take care of them, will feed them on my own, will make them sleep in my lap... my pride held me back; I believed my responsibility of giving birth to heirs is over and I can go back to my peaceful reclusive life... I wanted them to go away from me... I never thought them a part of my own soul; I never understood how much they belong to me, and how much more they are than a mere responsibility! I insulted my motherhood; I insulted my God... And He gave me punishment... He showed me what I lost by taking them forever! She suddenly broke down again. "O Your Majesty! I killed my sons! I, being a mother, killed my own sons!!

"No! He cried out and forcefully pressed her face against his chest. Her tears flooded over his chest while she clutched him with all her strength. The sound of her distressed whimper shivered the air.

"Begam Sahiba, for God's sake, listen to me... He whispered in a low, tired voice while stroking her head with utter affection. The intensity of her sob was eventually decreasing as she tiredly leaned against his chest panting. He carefully picked her face up and wiped out the trace of tears. He wanted to tell many things about death and life in order to take away the burden of false guilt from her heart, but not a word came out of his throat. Instead his eyes became moist while he murmured in an almost muted voice. "Don't do this! Please! He silently pleaded while a drop of tear fell from his eyes spontaneously. She slowly touched his hands, closed her eyes and stood still perhaps to regain her sanity. Her body was still shivering in the shock of mourning.

"Whatever you are thinking is not true, Begam Sahiba... It's never true! He told in a broken voice while caressing her cheeks. "A mother can never bear a curse for her children. Even her tears shower as blessings on them. Do not blame yourself. Do not think that God took away them to punish you. He is not so cruel; he never can be! He gulped and looked at her eyes. "Whatever has happened was pre-destined. Was written in my fortune... No matter how much I try to overpower my destiny, it always show how much powerful it is... and I...I... He could not continue anymore, and broke down... Tears dripped constantly as he shivered in a silent, terrible cry, and spontaneously touched her forehead with his forehead. She did not protest and gave in, drew herself closer to him, and their tears mingled together, their entities became one in witness of this dark night.

After a long moment, they broke their embrace... "Majesty... She uttered silently while clutching his hand.

"The night is almost over... He said in a low tone looking at the sky. "Allow me to escort you to your room.

"Thank you, your majesty... But I will go on my own. She tried to smile. "You must be tired. You should go back to your restroom and have some sleep.

"Sleep! Haa! He laughed sarcastically. "Sleep has bid me goodbye forever it seems, Begam Sahiba... And I must come with you; I insist.

"But you need not to come with me, Majesty. She said.

"I do. He told in a firm tone. "I am your husband. It is my duty to stay by you tonight. For sake of you; for sake of mine...

Her eyes shivered, lips parted as she tried to say something; but instead she nodded silently and followed his order.

Together they entered into her room; he himself made her sit on the bed and lit a small lamp with his own hand. The small light inside the dark room increased the intensity of silence even more. Both of them sat silently for a while, staring at the flame of the lamp...

"Thank you, Majesy... She murmured after a while.

"For what? He smiled sadly.

"I never expected you to be with me... I never expected anyone to care for me today... I am just... Her voice broke and she wiped out her tears silently. "May I ask you something? She uttered.

He nodded silently while staring at the flame.

"Why do you care so much for me, Majesty? I was supposed to bear my pain and agony alone; none was supposed to be by my side- not you...Why did you care for me so much?

"You don't know?

He did not say it purposefully. It was just a slip of tongue and even he did not know what he meant. But there was something in his half-whispered word that suddenly the room sank into the doom of silence again.

"I have to care... He said in a lost tone after a while. "Don't you see, how your and my fortune has been attached together? How has your life been entangled in my life, my dream and my destiny? How your pain and tears have been tied with my agony? I have to care about you... If I don't, who else would?

She gazed at him, two drops of tears rolled down her cheek silently.

"I think you should lie down... He slowly came closer to her and rested his palm on her palm, pressing them to give comfort. "You will feel better...

"So do you... She caressed his fingers with tender care...

Both of them lied down together on the couch; her head resting on his chest, his hands stroking her hairs, trying to give comfort and warmth to each other... Like the peace after the storm, it soothed the bleeding hearts, brought touch of warmth in the cold souls to cope up with the great tragedy. It was perhaps the most peaceful sleep they slept ever; because it was not an emperor and a queen sleeping together; but two grieving parents trying to seek comfort in each other's arms to move on in the world together after losing their children...

"What happened after that? Pragya asked amazedly when they were about to come out of the fort. "The grief of losing their children brought them closer, and they acknowledged the profound bond they share... What after that? They didn't move on together towards a new life? They did not grip each other's hand while walking together in the journey of life?

Rohan smiled. His smile changed the look of his face. "This is not a fairytale story... This is life... He murmured.

"Then? Pragya asked a bit sadly.

"He kept on living his life... with his politics, his wars and strategies, his allies, his enemies, his fame... his extravagant way of living. And she kept on surviving... in her small room inside the huge Harem... with her loneliness on the debris of her fallen pride. Nothing changed...

"Nothing changed? Nothing? Pragya shook head impatiently.

"Who knows! Rohan smiled. "But you know, after that night, whenever any type of agony tried to touch him, to break him apart, he would just stand near of his window, staring at that particular room of Harem... Cause his heart had known one truth... that there is at least a single shoulder in this whole universe which has the power to release the burden of the emperor with a drop of tear; and where the emperor can forget the rest of the world and cry on his heart out like a common human being!

The sky was suddenly betraying by getting darker as dark cloud had spread a thick blanket over the moon and stars. Pragya and Rohan were standing at a dark parking near the exit of the fort. Guddu driver had been called and he said he was stuck in traffic. It was already late, and they would be tremendously late in hotel if they had to stand here for another one hour. Guddu cannot be blamed; Pragya herself told him to leave and come back when she calls. She should have been called him half-an-hour earlier, but after the incident in the fort and Rohan's back to back visions, how could she even remember about that silly thing? Now all they could do was to wait.

Rohan seemed unaware of the rest of the world while standing along with Pragya. He was simply staring at the sky and trying to count the movement of clouds. He looked too calm to understand in which phase of mind he is in currently. Pragya sighed a little. She was simply feeling exhausted. Today was one of the most memorable days of her career. The visit in Agra fort has opened a lot of doors in front of Rohan. All she has to do is to cumulate all of those and arrange them together to stand a proper case-study. It seems she will not be able to sleep more tonight.

"It will pour tonight. A distant voice of Rohan suddenly brought her back. Rohan was murmuring while staring at the sky.

"It will rain heavily. The dry and thirsty soil of Agra will be blessed with the touch of water... The fields will fill in green again; the farmers would get back their smile...O God... Rain all your blessings on this poor mankind!

"You love rain? Pragya tried to interrupt his non-sense blabbering.

"Who does not? He uttered unmindfully. "Unless it causes any disaster.

"Right... Do you have any memory in rain?

Silence for a moment. "Rohan? Pragya called again. "Are you here?

"She was standing alone on the roof, wet in the rain... Rohan suddenly uttered in a complete lost, mesmerized voice. "She was standing alone in the disaster fearlessly, like a hard rock of mountain unmoved in greatest disasters, unmoved, undefeated...

"Why she was standing on the roof Rohan? When?

No answer came. Rohan was lost; kept on murmuring something on his own mind.

"Rohan? Pragya called out loudly. Rohan looked at her.

"She was completely drenched... Drops of water were dripping from the twigs of her hair. Her face shined in gloss of water and moist... She was looking like a fairy; an angel of water; a deity in rain...

Rohan's voice lost in the sea of mesmerization. He was lost in the dream of the rain-drenched lady who happened to be the love of his life ages back. He slowly moved a step forward towards Pragya...

"How someone can be so beautiful and fiery at the same time? Like a flame of fire... you want to embrace, but you cannot... it only burns your soul out; does not give comfort... but at the same time she is like the deity of rain; sooths the heart from burning, gives away peace...

"Ro...Rohan? Pragya stammered and stepped back in an uncertain fear. Rohan's glare was lost, cold and uncomforting... Had Pragya not been known Rohan from a lot time, she must have slapped him hard for staring at her face like this shamelessly. Her verbal protest did not go to Rohan's ears and he kept on gazing mesmerizedly at her face as if he has a birthright of doing that.

"ROHAN! Pragya shouted this time as Rohan had come too close to her and was about to hold her hand. Rohan flinched and stepped back closing his eyes forcefully. Pragya held her patience and was about to say something more, but suddenly was interrupted.

"OYE HOYEEE! OOO MADAMM!! HUME BHI KUCH DEKE JAOOO! The nearby group of lad on motorbikes was trying to tease her from a long time. It seemed they have gone out of control now...

"Let's get out of here Rohan... Pragya controlled herself and pulled Rohan.

"KAHA JA RAHE HO MADAM JI, HUME KUCH DEKE TO JAOO!

Pragya cast a fiery look on them and was about to move, but some of those lads came closer with bikes whistling and winking.

"Tu Chiz Badi Hay Mast Mast Tu Chiz Bari Hay Mast!

Pragya was still bearing all these, but when one of them pulled her hand, she could not control herself and thrast a tight slap on that busterd's face. The lad was shocked for a moment, and his drunk friends got out of the hook to assault Pragya. Pragya understood they are going to face an unnecessary, grave danger.

"Bohot udh rahi hay?? Pankh Kaat Du???? One of them came too close to Pragya, enough to feel her nauseous, but suddenly someone came between them and caught his hand.

"Remember, you people have crossed your limits long back, and right now are surviving merely on my mercy. So before I lose all of my patience and find it impossible to have mercy on you, get the hell out of my sight! Rohan hissed in a terrifying cold voice which is not possible to come out from a sane man's throat.

"So you will stop us? Haa? You? All the boys laughed out.

"Yes I will. Rohan told in a cold, murderous voice. "And you will listen to me. None ever dares to ignore my orders, you should not as well.

"Who are you? The emperor of this fort?? Those jerks kept on laughing. "Guys, let's show him his place... And a fisted hand was about to punch on the face of Rohan immediately. Pragya had closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them hearing the sound of a whimper, she saw Rohan rubbing his hands and that man was right on the ground.

"HOW DARE YOUUU! The other lads almost jumped on Rohan together. Pragya horrifiedly saw how tactically Rohan defended all of the attacks and came out unscratched. But his eyes were ogling fire, he was shivering in rage; it looked like if he would erupt like a volcano.

"I might have forgiven you for this attack. But you dared to touch her. He uttered in an icy cold tone while loosing his leather belt he was wearing...

Pragya was lost; but only for a moment. The fighting might be spectacular like raw commercial movies' fighting scenes with a belt as a whipping weapon, but she absolutely distastes this kind of fighting with street-guys. She knew what she needs to do and she ran towards the main road shouting while Rohan indulged himself into the fight. When it was over, the street-guys tracked down by the polices whom Pragya had asked for help, a small crowd surrounding them and showing sympathy, Guddu driver trying to manage the situation efficiently, and Rohan sitting calmly in between all with bleeding hand and forehead, Pragya was still not out of shock. Her shock was not because of this terrible event; she was completely at loss seeing Rohan. Recalling the old memories and losing in those is one thing, but how she would define this strange change of physical strength and reflexes? Was Rohan suddenly possessed by the soul of his previous birth? How can a simple gentleman of educational background with no history of involvement in physical actions suddenly turns into a cold-blooded killer and knock a gang of street-goons down so tactfully like a professional fighter?

"Should I take your both to some doctor Madam? Guddu had come by her side. "Sir is injured.

Pragya nodded at Guddu and slowly moved towards Rohan. He was not unscratched as she was thinking before. There was a deep cut on his forehead and blood was dripping from the wound. His hands were bleeding too. There was a bruise near to his lip.

"Hey... Pragya sat beside him and kept her hand on his hand. "Calm down... She uttered in a caring voice.

Rohan did not utter a single word. He kept on gazing in his vacant eyes, it seemed he has gone too far from the world.

"Here... let me see your wounds... Look what those bustards have done to you. Pragya took out her handkerchief and pressed that against his bleeding arm. "Though I would say you should avoid fighting like this, but man! The way you show those jerks their place... O My God! How greatly you were fighting! And the way you whipped with your belt, ufff! Had you ever got any training of marshal art?

Still no answer. Pragya understood Rohan was not listening anymore. He has gone too far.