Dear Friends,
During my recent holidays I visited Rajasthan and once you visit forts/ old palaces and places of history, you seemed to be thrown back hundreds of years ago, and unknown feeling of nostalgia takes over you. The same thing happened to me. This short story is a reflection of that. This story is dedicated to all my friends to missed me during my leave and kept on pestering me to come up with something new. The feeling that you are being missed gives you a sense of pleasure and wanted. Thanks my friends for all your patience.
Previous FFs...
Kasamh Se https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/929115/ff-kasamh-se-ch-51-end-pg-116-updtd-on-25-9
The Captured Heart: /forum/kasamh-se/1026470/ff-the-captured-heart-ch-18-pg-45-last-chapter
Chhoti si mulakat : https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=999441
A New Dawn : https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=974981
The Phone Call : https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/910155/ff-the-phone-call-epilogue-pg-52 Dil Ki Suno : https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/874713/ff-dil-ki-suno-epilogue-pg-53 Eternal Soulmates: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/869198/ff-eternal-soulmates-ch-5-pg-7-end The Flowers of Spring, https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=853938&T PN=1
Ek Kashish: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/830952/ff-ek-kashish-ch-20-and-epilogue-pg-58 The Crushed Innocence :https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=800150& TPN=1#13464286
The Destiny: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=779329&T P
Ankho hi Ankho me: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=738121&T PN
Woh Raat : https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/731347/ff-woh-raat-chapter-6-pg-10-last-ch
Anokha Rista (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/712391/anokha-rishta-chapter-18-and-epilog-pg42).
Chhoti si aasha https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/672677/ff-chhoti-si-aasha-ch29-and-epi-pg-76:
Kuch Achhe Kuch Bure (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/641995/kuch-achhe-kuch-bure-ch-24-and-epilog-pg71); Thori si bewafai (https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=615869) Kuch Rahen Anjaani Si (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/573991/ff-kuch-rahein-anjaani-si-ch-36-pg111): Contract Heir: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=536274&T PN. Return of Bani Walia, https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/515481/return-of-bani-walia-note-on-pg-31: :Business Tycoon Jai Walia marries a Mt Abu Girl(https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/486636/business-tycoonjw-marriesfinal-prt-pg64). Mai Apke bina nehi reh sakti hu (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/457994/mai-apke-bina-nehi-reh-updt-pg-11-pt-ix)& Finding Bani (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/469208/finding-bani-ff-part-viii-page-8).
The Everlasting Love
Bani watched the big 'Diya' in the puja room burning. She gazed at it mesmerized, not that she was seeing it for the first time. Fire always fascinated her, frightened her and had a hypnotic effect. She never understood why but the big 'diya' in the puja room specially cast a spell over her. She lit it everyday and stood watching it for sometime.
Bani, Bani she heard her mother calling out''
Bani's eyes flickered, the spell was broken'.keya hai Ma, she answered
Tu ready to hai na beta, they will be here within 10 minutes'..
Bus I will just wear my slippers'..she answered
Pehenke niche ajah beta, they will not like to wait, just pick you up'.
Bani went into her room. Unwrapped the new matching slippers with her pink dress, she felt foolish to dress up in a finery while visiting a 'fort' or to say the ruins of a fort built 1500 years ago, 'Chittorgarh''Living in Udaipur she has always visited it many a times on various occasions, sometimes from school, when her relatives came from other cities etc but today she was going for some other reason'.Bani lifted her gaze to look at the photograph kept next to her bed'.her engagement photograph'..her engagement with Jai Walia, son of her father's best friend, it seems both their fathers had a desire to get their children married when they themselves were unmarried and in college together'.after college Uday Walia migrated to USA and got married to a Latin American, Nishikant Dixit joined the family business. They got busy in their respective lives and occasionally met when Uday Walia visited the country. Suddenly one fine morning there was a call from USA from Uday Walia to remind Nishikant Dixit about his promise during their college days. Nishikant was surprised and happy that his friend remembered it inspite of their lives changed drastically over the years. He was even more surprised when he heard that Uday Walia has spoken to his son and told him about the same. Infact it is Jai, ND who has agreed promptly, maine usko tumhare parivaar ka latest photo dikhaya and he said he will get married if Bani is willing'.
Bani did not want to get married to any foreigner and specially half foreigners. She hated these sorts of people. Most of them come to India showing off their well being, their accented language and their latest gadgets. She had relatives and of course seen fate of one or two friends who have got married to such people, it is not paradise there and no bed of roses'.
Bani had stated her apprehensions but her father was already over the moon, more of the fact that Uday Walia remembered his promise'.
Dekh beta, I am happy but not at the cost of your happiness'meet the boy, if you like him fine, if not no issues, I will tell Udi that in this life nehi hoga'.lekin ek bar dekh toh le'.
+++
Bani put on her slippers and gave a quick glance at the mirror. She a sweet looking girl, not a beauty but looked pretty when dressed up. Bani fixed the clip of her shoulder length hair and with one last glance stepped out of the room.
+++
The car honked loudly, Bani gave a nervous glance towards her parents, they smiled at her broadly'best of luck beta, have a nice time, they wished her'
In tentative steps Bani went towards the door
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Jai Walia had come to visit them with his cousins from Delhi and put up in a hotel in Udaipur. He was a charming man with killer looks with Latin American mother and Indian father he got the best features from both the sides. Unlike the other non resident 'desis' he spoke fairly good Hindi with normal accent and of course his American English. Her parents were impressed by his behaviour, especially when he bent to touch their feet and of course not to say about the qualifications he had and the job he did, Bani had no point to reject him and last Sunday they were engaged after three days interactions, several long distance calls between the parents. Then they came to know Uday Walia was a sick man with a terminal dieses who would like to see his only child settled in life in all respect'..
Is that the reason why Jai Walia chose to marry her, Bani had been wondering since then. To fulfil his father's last desire, if not wish'.why was the sickness not disclosed before, not to influence our decision beta, her mother had justified, he is sick but not critical as yet.
++++
Bani's heart was beating fast, she was squeezed into the SUV, Jai was sitting next to her, his body touching hers, Bani felt aroused but at the same time in her mind she had so many unanswered question, she is not exceptionally pretty so why he has chosen her, she has yet to show her enthusiasm, infact had been very quiet, barely spoke before him, even then.....she hated the idea he said 'yes' because of his father....
The car sped towards 'Chittorgarh', they will catch up with the fort and after dusk will see the 'light and sound show' there, after having dinner on the way back, Jai will take the early morning flight back to Delhi and USA, only to come back after three months to marry Bani.... Bani tried her best to be appropriate as Jai's cousins joked and pulled their legs on the way...
++++
His cousins thought they need privacy so they went ahead leaving them behind to be together, Bani bit her lips in uneasiness, she noticed Jai was more interested in looking around the fort, the dusk was about to set and the fort had an eerie look, Bani could hear the guide shouting explaining the history, 1500 years ago it was assumed this fort was built by a king by the name of 'Chitrangad', why he chose this site etc ....Bani knew the history by heart so she was not really interested but Jai seemed to be and was going towards his cousins stood hearing the guide explaining....Bani followed.....
This is the victory tower but before this tower was built Rani Padmini, you must have heard about her committed 'jauhar' along with 16000 other women and children when she understood defeat was near, she did not want to join the harem of Allauddin Khilji....
'Jauhar' asked one of the cousins....
Sati, self immolation...replied the guide....Rani Padmini was known for her beauty, she was the queen of Rawal Ratan Singh, the ruler of Chittorgarh...when Allauddin Khilji, the ruler of Delhi heard about her beauty, he camped around this place for months....to break the deadlock Rawal Ratan Singh thought to give in to his demands and let him see a glimpse Padmini but the Rani will not come out in front of the sultan she sat in the palace in the middle of the lake and Sultan got to see her reflection on the mirror sitting in a room opposite the palace......Sultan ka hosh ur gaya...itna bhi koi sundar ho sakti, he could not believe his eyes, he plotted again, he is no way going to give up his claim to make her his....very cunningly he took out Rawal Ratan Singh out of the fort and arrested him.....waiting for the Rani to come....
But Padmini was equally intelligent, she sent her soldiers dressed as females and rescued her husband...
Allaudin attacked the fort, with food becoming scarce with months of siege but not valour the Rajputs thought of dying fighting with honour, so in the morning when Rawal Ratan Singh went to fight the sultan, Rani Padmini took bath in that water tank which is still now in use after centuries, prayed in that mandir of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar, the creator, the preserver and the destroyer, on this very spot she alongwith 16000 other women and children jumped into the pyre, to die in honour......the guide's voice faded, Bani stood watching the victory tower built by Rana Kumbha later, lit up as darkness had set in, giving the tower a fiery glow....this is not the first time she heard this story but somehow she was rooted to the spot, she could not move standing apart from the crowd under the tree, behind Jai, she could feel the hair behind her neck were standing....suddenly she heard a voice asking in a language quite similar to rajasthani.......
Tumne itna der kiyu kar di, Padma.....
Mai bahut sharminda hu, mere liye aap rajya har gaye, itne log mar gaye, sipaiho, unke parivaar, phul jaise bachche.....sirf mere liye, mai paraschit kar rahi hu, is paap ka doshi jo hu, Bani looked upto to Jai, she lowered her eyes, she was still guilty.....
Jai took a step forward in her direction....
Rani kitna din aur kitna janam tum bhutko gi....
Rana mujhe iss paap se mukht hona hai, yeh kaisa sundarta bhagwan ne mujhe diya jo itna dukh la diya, ek rajya khatam kar diya, mujhe itne logo ka marne ka bhagidar bana diya.....mai aapka doshi, mere karan aap ka sarvanash ho giya......mujhe prayaschit karne dijiye
Us akhri raat ko jab maine tum se pyar kiya, maine yehi socha, is janam me nehi sahi, ek janam jaroor dena bhagwan jisme mai Rawal Ratan Singh apna Padmini ke saath sukh se jee saku....
Maine jab uss aag me kudi toh maine socha aur nehi, aisa zindagi aur nehi, kabhi nehi...maine janam liya lekin har janam me bhagti rahi, kisi me sukh nehi mila....isiliye mere paapo ka parayschit kar rahi hu....
Aur mai tumhari intezaar me, itne janamo ke baad abh mili ho....aur tum keh rahi ho....
Hey you two in what language are you speaking asked Jai's cousin Shilpa, breaking the spell, won't you come and watch the 'light and sound show'
Leave them alone Shilpa, shouted another cousin, let them be together....
Jai ran his fingers in his hair, Bani blinked her eyes....Jai spoke Hindi quite well enough for a person with mixed racial parentage staying abroad but he did not speak any Rajasthani, or any version of it....they looked at each other....the spell was broken but the thoughts were not.....both became conscious and tongue tied....remembering their exchange, Bani curled her fingers in fist, now she understood why fire always fascinated and frightened her...slowly they followed the others to the place where light and sound show was to be held in the fort.
The show started but Jai and Bani stood apart a bit far away watching the same, as the story moved forward from Rawal Ratan Singh and Padmini valour and love to the others which followed them.....
Jai whispered I am an ordinary man, no king with no kingdom to lose, but yes I am been waiting for you, I will not get my peace until I get my want, I had faced the Sultan with the thought that I will live with you in one life peacefully like any normal man and for that I will take rebirths till I get to do that....now I understand that when I saw your photograph why did I feel so connected.....
Mujhe dar lagta hai, replied Bani
Meri Padmini darpok nehi hai...
Bani turned in the dim lights from the show, Jai was looking very mysterious and determined, more latin American than Indian ...suddenly Jai touched his moustache, he curled them with his fingers, reminding her about the times when as Padmini she used to be with her maids and sahelis, he used to spy on her from behind the pillars of the palace....when he used to curl his long moustache, she knew he wanted her, she used to shoo the others out quickly to make his way clear....
Bani stared, how can a man want her still, she failed to understand, even if for his love, for all he faced how can he still love her......
Jai went and joined his cousins, Bani stood remembering her previous births, troubles she faced and the lives she had in repentance.....
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It was past 12 in the night when the car finally stopped in front of Bani's house, Bani got out in silence, the whole way they had not exchanged a word, not even during the dinner, his cousins tried to get them into conversation but failed and gave up....as Bani got down, Jai shifted next to the window...his cousins waved her goodbye, the car started....Bani waved them, suddenly she ran upto the window and caught Jai's hand resting on it.....
Ratan Singh time se ana, ghori par, mai intezaar karungi 19th ko.....
Jai smiled, you bet, he replied in his American accented English.....
I knew you in another time....
we lived, and laughed and loved.
We walked the fields of clover
and sat by waters that moved.
Our minds and hearts behaved as one...
our bodies knew the other well.
Our thoughts and wishes intertwined.
Ah, yes! the stars could tell!
And then through fate, and space and time,
again our eyes collide!
We knew from that first moment
that in this world so wide...
that we were meant to happen -
the stars had planned it so.
Two hearts and lives that beat as one.
The stars remembered.... long ago.
(Poem courtesy Khushboo 2006)
the end...........
When I heard the guide speaking of Rani Padmini, he spoke in a proud voice of bravery and valour and in the 'sound and light show' the valour of the Rajputs were highlighted. It was better to die in the battlefield than starving, so when the men left in the morning to face Allauddin Khilji, the women committed jauhar. But only one thought kept on playing in my mind, as a woman how must have Padmini felt. Her beauty is the cause of a downfall of a kingdom, loss of so many lives hence this story....I hope you liked it....love Tin....
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