Hey guys,
My first paper went well which was tough subject, thank you guys for your wishes!!!
Teenzs wanted me to write something about magic and stuff like that. Well, I thought of something. It is an amalgam of magic, supernatural, reincarnation, love, repentance. I don't know if it is a digestible thought. It's different!!!! People who are genuinely not interested in reading such extreme fiction, with no hint of realism, I would advice you to skip this.
To be honest, I had to do some research work about silk route and Ladhka (a place I am desperate to go). I had some peripheral information but I am glad I could know so much more in detail.
So this khichdi is presented to you in platter!!!! I hope it tastes well.
NOTE: Don't try to find logic in this, you will find nothing even if search for something relevant, don't question and just go with the flow of the story. I have tried my level best to make it believable incorporating a few facts.
Please do comment, I really want to know your opinion about this one, criticism or appreciation anything, but do comment!!!
ENJOY!!!!
XXXXXX
Once Again...
"The two extraordinary individuals in the same world should inevitably find one another. The survival of their eloquent expression of love is a rare gift of history."
He was charismatic, engaging, and handsome. He drew people like moths to his flame, challenging his masters as well as his peers with scintillating displays of logic. His seemingly unshakable core of self-confidence was justified by his talents for dialectic and intellect. His name was Jai Walia.
Aditya, Jai Walia's brother-in-law approached him, Jai was standing in the farthest corner possible looking at something with keen interest which he couldn't figure out.
"Jai?" he called him
"Hmm?mm?" jai replied absent-mindedly?
"Kahaan kho gaye?" aditya asked
"Once again?we will meet?" jai said in a different tinny sound?
Aditya thumped his back?
"Jai, kya bol rahe ho?" aditya said looking confused?jai suddenly came out of his trance; he looked here and there muddle-headed?
"Kya?kya hua jiju?" he said in a hurried tone?
"Tumhe kya hua, kuch toh bol rahe the" aditya looked at him surprised by his disillusioned state?
"Main, maine kya kaha?" jai asked recollecting nothing, he didn't remember saying anything?
"Abhi toh kuch kaha?mujhe sunai nahin diya?"
"Nahin, kuch nahin kaha?" jai wondering about what he had said?
"Yahaan kyun khade ho, chalo party main, tumhare liye hain?"
"Haan, aata hoon, aap chalie?"
"Aajana jigyasa bula rahin hain?"
"Han, aap chaliye?"
Jai stared at aditya's retreating back?he often encountered such incidents, where he unmindfully spoke things which he couldn't remember later on?he at times wondered whether something was wrong with his psyche, at times he had visions, visions of running horses, visions of peaked mountains, visions of a sweet voice, he wondered whether his life was a hallucination or reality? with lot of courage he had visited a psychiatrist, who said it was just over-stressing of brain and that some things which were stored in his sub-conscious mind were evoked? but he knew there was something more than just that?sighing he followed Aditya who had disappeared inside?
Aditya entered the party which was in full swing, he looked disturbed, he had always perceived Jai to be a person cut out differently, he usually talked less enveloped in his own world. He was shockingly dispassionate and detached form worldly things, his sphere of interest was totally aloof from normality, books were something he enjoyed, reading things, knowing things, he read everything, from Gita, to modern novels of substance. The most successful entrepreneur, the business tycoon, the most eligible bachelor, power, money, women, Nothing, nothing of this held his interest. He was a hermit in a man's disguise, living a bohemian life.
This expensive party was held in his honor for his successful launch of the foreign restaurant outlets, but he was standing outside in the chilly night. He had never been ecstatic on receiving the Youngest Entrepreneur Award, neither joyous over starting a new branch, it was as if nothing mattered to him, Success, Failure, held no significance in his life.
His eyes were always in search of something, something Unknown.
"Aditya, jai kahaan hain" jigyasa's frantic voice disturbed his train of thoughts?
"Haan, aa raha hain?" aditya said to his wife
"Yeh jai bhina, kitne log milna chahte hain usse aur yeh pata nahin kahaan hain?"
"Aa jaayega?"
Just then jai entered, spotting him jigyasa dragged him to make him meet some people? ?aditya looked on, both brother and sister were poles apart?he shook his head?
XXXXXX
She was a rare apparition in the cloister of the people, a young woman, though undoubtedly lovely, she was renowned more for her keen mind and her thirst for knowledge than for her beauty. Her name was Bani Dixit.
"Di, so jao na?" a sleepy pia called for her sister?
"Hmm?" bani said flipping the pages of the fat book; she was reading about the evolution of human race in India, the migrating of Aryans to the various parts of India, their establishments?history always fascinated her, unknowingly so?it had something highly magnetic about itself, the mysticism and secrecy surrounding it engaged her attention, and her friends were not at all surprised when she opted to study history as her major subject?
There was picture of a man riding on a horse, his hair was a bit long upto the back of his neck, he was mildly fair, he was carrying a metal sword in his one hand, the other hand held the ropes controlling the speed of the black horse, he was wearing red and black loose clothes, that was the picture of an Indo-Aryan?
Indo-Aryan was an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the family of Indo-European languages. The separation of Indo-Aryans proper from Proto-Indo-Iranians is commonly dated, on linguistic grounds, to roughly 2000 BCE. The Nuristani languages probably split in such early times, and are classified as either remote Indo-Aryan dialects or as an independent branch of Indo-Iranian. By the mid 2nd millenniumBCE early Indo-Aryans had reached Assyria in the west (the Indo-Aryan superstrate in Mitanni) and the northern Punjab in the east (the Rigvedic tribes).
An influx of early Indo-Aryan speakers over the Hindukush (comparable to the Kushan expansion of the first centuries CE) together with Late Harappan cultures gave rise to the Vedic civilization of the Early Iron Age. This civilization is marked by a continual shift to the east, first to the Gangetic plain with the Kurus and Panchalas, and further east with the Kosala and Videha. This Iron Age expansion corresponds to the black and red ware and painted grey ware cultures.
The various Prakrit vernaculars developed into independent languages in the course of the Middle Ages, forming the Abahatta group in the east and the Hindustani group in the west. The Roma people (also known as Gypsies) are believed to have left India around 1000 CE.
She spread her fingers on the printed image?she felt jitters in her body, the picture felt fiercely similar, her ears filled with the neighing of horses?she closed her eyes, she could see a pair of steel grey eyes amidst a breeze of sand...she tried hard to look further but the picture vanished and a black landscape formed in front of her eyes?she opened her eyes with a jerk?the same steel grey eyes haunted her day and night?she felt as if somebody was following her every time, something was going on which was beyond the realms of her thoughts, something which she couldn't comprehend, her strong sixth sense warned her that something would happen which would unveil this mystery which surrounded her? ?
"Di?switch off the lights?" came another lazy shout form her sister?
Bani reluctantly closed the book and switched off the faint table light?she plopped on the bed, pulling up the bed sheet to cover herself? ? her eyes still open?
XXXXXX
Nishikant Dixit twitched his fingers nervously, while pacing around wobbling?
Kiran looked at her husband with nervous expression?
"Sab theek hoga na?" kiran asked nervously
"Prarthana karo kiran" nishikant said?just then he heard talks of people?
"Wahi toh kar rhain hoon?"
"Bani taiyaar hui ki nahin?shayaad woh log aagaye"
"Ho rahin hain?"
Bani and pia's bedroom was rummaged, it resembled a cyclone hit area with things lying here and there?
"Pia, kya kar rahin ho, chodo na" banis aid trying to adjust her sari
"Nahin di woh bangles ache lagenge" pia said
"Kya farak padta hain"
"Yeh rahen mil gaye" pia said, atlast finding the pink bangles?she rushed towards bani to put it on her?
She shook her head looking at her elder sister, she was so boring. She hardly had any interest in materialistic things, never bothered to demand anything from her father, fashionable clothes, designer stuff, make up, jewelry, expensive things. And men, she mused if at all she knew how they looked. Nothing, she had interest in nothing, always sticking to her humongous history books reading something or the other. She was always wrapped up in simple cotton salwars, a tiny diamond nose ring, small studs in her ears and a thin chain around her slim neck. She wondered whether a person can be so simple, lacking any fancies that too a young female, but her sister was a rare specimen meant to be born in a different era.
Her eyes were always somewhere else; they were always in search of something, something Unknown.
Pia sighed as she looked at her sister with fondness; she was indeed very beautiful?
"Di, aap bohot sundar lag rahin ho?" pia siad hugging her from behind?bani smiled
"Aap roz taiyaar kyun nahin hoti aise, you look so nice?" pia said
"Pia, these things don't interest me, you know?"
"Haan, haan I know my Book-worm?" pia said?
"Pia?"
While in the hall, nishikant was talking to Shobna Suri, Jai Walia's massi, Jai Walia's marriage proposal had come for bani through a common friend?Jai was sitting a bit lost, he felt strange as if something occult was going to happen?
"Bani ko toh bulaiye kiranji?" shobna said?
"Haan, main abhi leke aati hoon?" kiran said and went upstairs?listening bani's name jai got pothered?it seemed unnervingly familiar?
He kept staring at the image which was descending down the steps, his heart thumped seeing her, her face, her eyes, her hair, everything was so apocryphal, his mind blanked out, he felt as if his mind was churning and he was being carried into an infinite black hole?he could hear a sweet voice calling him?
Bani sat twitching her pallu ends, she didn't lift her yes, her head was downcast, she suddenly felt nervous and anxious?
"Mujhe lagta hain bachon ko thodi deer akele main baat karni chahiye" shobna said
"Haan, haan?bani beta, jai ko garden main lejao" nishikant said?
Bani's heartbeat stopped hearing jai?she quietly led him to the garden?
Jai and bani kept staring at each other as if mentally trying to place each other's visage in their memory, they seemed exceedingly similar and known to each other but their rational mind couldn't distinguish that familiarity? ?
They kept looking at each as if in a trance?their eyes not leaving each other? ?
"Shrabani?" a slow echo escaped jai's mouth?
"Ranvijay?" bani whispered?
They lost each other in the pool of their eyes?until pia came and disturbed their silence? ?
"Mujhe toh Bani bohot pasand hain, bani aur jai ko bhi koi aitraaz nahin, kundaliyan mil gayi toh rishta pakka samajhiye?" shobhna said?
Nishikant gave a nervous smile?he looked towards the pundit who was busy making some calculations on his fingers, carefully reading the kundalis of jai and bani?
"Kya massi, aaj kal kaun kundali dekhta hain?" jigyasa commented
"Haan beta, par mujhe yakeen hain?"shobhna said waiting for the pundit's reply?through all this process jai sat blank? bani who had gone back to her room stood before the mirror as if trying to remember soemthign, she could hear voices? ?
"Shobhnaji, aashchariya ki baat hain?" the family pundit spoke up?
"Kyun kya hua?" nishikant said hurriedly, this was the moment he feared; there was a strange dosh in Bani's kundali, the Saturn resided in her birthplace which was dangerous, many proposals before had been rejected due to this, they had performed innumerable pujas and havans to suppress its effect but nothing helped?
"Maine bohot sari kundaliyan padhi hain, par?" the pundit continued?
"Par kya, punditji?" shobhna said, fear gripping her?
"Par koi do kundaliyan itne theek se nahin baithi, aisa lagta hain yeh do log sirf ek dusre ke liye hi banne hain, alag alag dheken toh dono kundaliyon main vichitra sa dosh hain par saath main dekhe toh kuch bhi nahin, aisa lagta hain hain ki yeh bandhan is janam ka nahin par janmon ka hain, yeh shaadi toh bohot khushhal aur sukhi hogi?" the pundit concluded?
"Yeh toh bohot achi baat hain, aap hi koi acha muhurat nikal dijiye paunditji? "
Nishikant and kiran said a silent prayer to the Almighty? ?
XXXXXX
The horizon was tinged with red, the sun was about to set, hiding between the two adjacent snow-covered majestic mountain peaks of Ladakh, 'The land of Passes', stood silent as a black horse emerged from between the two mountains, a silhouette of a man riding the horse appeared almost shadowing the setting sun? ?
A much older man stood at a distance watching the rider approach him, his white hair fell on to his shoulders due to the driving evening wind, a group of men stood behind him with envious eyes?the horse slowed down as it reached its destination, the rider got down with a jump, standing upright he looked at the old man with a grin on his face, bowing his head a bit in his honor he threw a heavy pouch in the air which was caught by one of the group members, they hurriedly opened the pouch to reveal shimmering gold coins, rocks of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls?the men gasped at the sight, the group member handed the pouch to the old man?
"Ranvijay?my boy?" the old man called in delight, he spread out his arms? ranvijay moved forward to hug him?
"I am proud of you...boy?you are truly a great leader?" Aparajit said fondly?looking at his brave protge?
"You have only taught me, Master?" ranvijay said in gratitude?
"I have taught so many, but no one except you have lived up to it?jay?"
Jay just smiled back? ?
Aparajit was of Indo-Aryan descent. His ancestors belonged to the mixed race of Mons and Dards of Indo-Aryan population. His great grand father and grandfather worked as warriors in the army of the Kushana Empire which included the Baltistan (Baltiyul) valleys, the Indus Valley, the remote Zangskar, Nubra valleys, Rudok, Guge, Aksai Chin regions of Ladhak. The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a period of 45 million years by the folding of the Indian plate into the more stationary Eurasian Plate.
Over a period of centuries the Kushana Empire disintegrated due to internal politics and external foreign attacks, slowly the inflow of Tibetans increased due to lack of any specified demarked borders. The spread of Buddhism around the place resulted in deplete in population. Even the Aryans were drifting southwards towards Sindh and Punjab.
Aparajit was one of the last remnants of the Indo-Aryans in this region. He refused to leave this place as it was in this place he was born and brought up and was emotionally attached to. He was a very good warrior robust, courageous and fierce; he gathered a group of young Aryans and trained them with equipments like metal swords, draggers, harpoons, archery etc. With the complete downfall of the Khushana Empire he was left unemployed. He started raiding the traders in the Silk Route with the help of his small, but efficient manpower.
The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, was an extensive interconnected network of trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe. The routes enabled people to transport trade goods, especially luxuries such as silk, satins, musk, rubies, diamonds, pearls and rhubarb. At the same time, they were a conduit for the spread of knowledge, ideas, cultures, and diseases from different parts of the world in China, India, and Asia Minor to the Mediterranean, extending over 8,000 km (5,000 miles). Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the great civilizations of China, India, Egypt, Persia, Arabia, Rome, and Byzantium and helped to lay the foundations for the modern world in several respects. The southern route was mainly a single route running through northern India, over the Hindu Kush Mountains.
Being a very learned and knowledgeable man Aparajit started to research about various products being traded and with his extreme tactics tricked the traders and looted them. His gang earned their living by stealing from unsuspecting travelers. Abiding by their own, unique codes of honor and dividing the spoils equally. Their brotherhood was bound by their code of honor and a collective will to rise above their humble origins.
Ranvijay was one of his best students, his favorite; he had a strong physique, tall figure, he had excelled in all fields and was at times better than him as well, he was ready for any exploit, the tough passes and steep gorges didn't intrepid Ranvijay, his name meant 'The person who wins in the battle field'. He fondly called him Jay, which again meant 'Victory' and as his name he always tasted success as if Failure was an unknown far off kin? Nothing was Impossible for him?
XXXXXX
Jay was busy practicing sword fighting with one of the group members, Aparajit was standing at a distance over-looking the regular work out session of the men, it was very important to be physically as well as mentally fit for any kind of assault, Jay was twirling the sword with relative ease, his wrists flexed as if there were no bones inside, he was about to attack his opponent when a sudden babble of noise disturbed his concentration?
A snow leopard was running in their way, vegetation was extremely sparse in Ladakh except along streambeds and wetlands, on high slopes, and in irrigated place, all the men stepped behind except Jay, they wondered where did this dangerous wild animal came from the deep forests near the foot of the mountain, he aimed his sword to kill the leopard, he was about to throw his perfectly aimed sword when an arrow zoomed and hit the leopard's head right in the middle, the leopard fell on the dusty ground lifeless. He frowned, he looked above to see a person sitting on a milky white horse lowering the bow? he looked at the person with suspicion, the person was covered from top to bottom, the face was also covered with only the eyes visible?he wondered whether the person was from Yeti's group, their rivals?
"Who are you?" he asked in his deep baritone aiming the sword?there was no response?
"If you wish to live tell me who are you?" he asked again?again there was no response?
He was about to march ahead, when the person got down with a loud thud, coolly ignoring Jay the person headed towards Aparajit and bowed before him?before anyone could question, the person revealed by removing the cloth covering the face, Aparajit laughed out loud?
"Master, why are you laughing?" Jay asked, curious, since the person's back was facing him?
"Shrabani jay, it's my bani?" Aparajit said hugging his valiant daughter? shrabani turned and removed the turban showing herself to jay's curious eyes? Jay was transfixed by those gorgeous emerald green eyes for a moment and kept staring at her unabashedly?bani smiled seeing the effect she had on jay? she was typical of the region, with flowing black hair, emerald green eyes, slim frame, and exceptionally whitish skin color, the fully wrapped clothes efficiently safeguarded her feminine parts ?she was a beauty in the truest sense?
Jalan, jay's friend nudged him to get back his attention?
"Oh!!!" jay could only manage to say?
XXXXXX
Bani was a motherless child, her mother had died in child-birth, her father
Aparajit had brought her up single-handedly, by nature she was more like him valiant and fearless, even though women did not participate in such manly likings but she had keen interest in them, she secretly watched her father train the men, she spent most of her childhood copying the moves with a tree branch, much to her father's amusement she wanted to learn archery, Aparajit who loved bani to bits couldn't refuse his only child and trained her personally?
She was merely sixteen when she saw Ranvijay, her father's favorite student, he was much older than her, in his twenties, he was taming a wild black horse, she kept staring at his stark steel grey eyes amidst the breeze of sand which was dancing? and within no time he was sitting on the horse's back riding away into oblivion?
Shrabani very well loved him from the moment she had laid her eyes on him. The force of his personality, his razor-sharp mind, his valor and courage, his handsome demeanor undoubtedly resulted in an irresistible combination for a young girl.
She was highly upset that jay didn't ever notice her, she deliberately came to meet her father with the pretext to see him, but he was always busy in his own world while other men gaped at her beauty. From then on she was more determined to win his cold heart. She trained herself harder with the ambition to join her father and moreover to win her love's heart.
XXXXXX
"Father, I want to help you in your endeavors" bani said?
"But bani, my child it is a tough job?" Aparajit stated as a matter of fact?
"I have no fear?" bani said, a different kind of confidence gleaming in her eyes?
"Master, a girl will help us now?" jalan scoffed, smirking with certain high-handedness?while jay looked on to bani to see her next move; he instantly knew she was tough, very tough, he patiently waited for her to speak up, but instead of words an arrow came running towards jalan, tipping off his head turban to the ground in a split-second?
"The next time, it will be your head, JALAN?" bani said mincing no words?jay smiled to himself, he knew she was indeed a tough girl?
Jalan looked mortified, while other men sneered?Aparajit smiled contently, after all it was his blood?
"Okay bani?" he gave his consent, nobody questioned their master's decision?
"But I have a condition" bani said promptly?
"What?" Aparajit questioned?
"No one will ask me why or how I am able to guide them" bani said in no nonsense tone?
Everybody nodded their heads in affirmative, some out of admiration and some out of fear; the sixteen year old nubile thing was replaced by a tough young woman who should not be messed with?
"Ranvijay doesn't follow anybody, he follows ONLY himself?" jay said accusingly?
"I never said you to follow me, I said you will not ask me anything when I will be with you and help you" bani said
"Why?"
"That's how I work?" bani said?
"Okay?" he said shrugging his shoulders?
XXXXXX
Bani lay on her stomach thinking about jay, she could surely see admiration in his eyes when she spoke to him, this was their first ever conversation, she felt butterflies in her stomach, a funny feeling engulfed her, her eyes scanned his appearance again, mild nut-brown chiseled body as if a sclupturer had fashioned him in detail, a bit tanned due to the scratching sunrays, she bit her lip scolding herself mentally for her explicit thoughts, she turned around to sleep, closing her eyes she could only see his steel grey eyes looking at her?
Jay laid on his back, his thoughts not leaving bani?he had never noticed her presence, in fact he had never noticed any other person of the opposite gender, may men were involved in a polygamy, which was lawful, many had causal flings but he never was interested in any of them, probably too busy to note anything, but seeing bani today he was rendered speechless, he was smitten by her bewitching beauty, her softness as well as toughness?there was something unmistakably wonderful about the way she looked at him?the constant snoring disturbed his beautiful thoughts, jalan was sleeping like a log after drowning himself in a tumbler full of liquor?he shook his head and shut his eyes?
XXXXXX
In the time that followed, bani helped the gang to tremendous exploits, gaining the respect of the men, and the admiration of Jay. She was very well acquainted with the crook and nook of the region, she devised different routes to capture the traders, and it worked out every time? Jay was slowly beginning to fall passionately in love with her. As their success increased, seemingly unstoppable so did the love between Jay and Bani mounted in intensity?he often found himself returning her shy glances with a foolish smile, and had become the butt of jalan's mindless teasing.
XXXXXX
Jay blindfolded his eyes with his stroll, he liked to practice it that way, it was still early morning, jay picked up his dragger, jalan was still sleepy, yawning he made a sound on the target, following the crackling sound he threw his dragger which landed right on the target, after a few shots he relaxed a bit, suddenly a tinkling sound of bells gathered his attention, he followed the path of the sound and started walking in the direction of the sound, jalan gave a furtive look, he headed back to the house to catch up some sleep, jay stood still, the tinkling sound had stopped, he could hear a gush of running water?
Bani silently walked towards the bank of the river, a narrow distributary of Indus River flowed near her stony house?she liked the freezing cold water of the river, she carefully put her foot into the water, her skin numbed coming in contact with the colder than ice water, bravely she immersed herself in it, despite of the coldness she enjoyed the feel of the prickling water against her skin? she dipped in the water and quickly came out with twittering teeth and shivering body?
Jay removed his blindfold to see the breath-taking sight before him, bani was standing at a distance completely drenched, water dripping from her long hair, the almost translucent piece of cloth stuck to her bodily contours like second skin, it failed miserably to hide her feminine assets, it was the first time he had seen her like that, like a young, pretty woman, usually she was fully covered, a sudden wild hunger erupted inside him looking at the almost naked sight of his love?he stood there transfixed by her flawless beauty?
Bani was returning back when she saw two pair of steel grey eyes watching her intently without even blinking, she kept looking at him, her cheeks flamed, all of a sudden she felt a warm sensation consume her, all her coldness vaporized, looking at him one last time she fled, her feet ran as fast as they could? for the first time she had seen that flame of love and desire for her in his steel grey eyes which she so longed to see since years?he smiled watching her run away, the ever tough Shrabani was feeling nervous?
They were united first in the dwelling that sheltered their love, and then in their hearts that burned with it.
Moreover, rarely had two lovers been as suited to each other as Ranvijay and Shrabani. Both attractive, both extremely intelligent, both enraptured with the arts of learning, they shared an intellectual energy that few couples of any age or era have been fortunate enough to know.
In these early days of intense desire, they sneaked out to meet each other at odd hours of night. In the day they were physically separated working, or were surrounded by others, but that did not quench the flame of their love for one another; on the contrary, the very sundering of their bodies served but to link their souls closer together; the plentitude of the love which was denied to them inflamed them more than ever?They spent hours in the happiness of love, their speech was more of love than of the plot of the next exploit; their stealthy, lengthy steamy kisses far outnumbered their reasoned words?
XXXXXX
After many days, the ransack was huge, Aparajit had announced a celebration for his men for he thought that they deserved a treat for their extreme hard-work and grueling?
The men were virile people fond of war, drinking, chariot racing, and gambling. The men were enjoying the gay atmosphere, they drank pots of liquor, ate animal meat, special dishes like thukpa noodle soup, tsampa roasted barley flour, skyu a heavy pasta dish with root vegetables, while some indulged in gambling. They lurched around with women enjoying the festivity? Leaving jalan who was busy romancing ushna, bani's friend, jay set out in search of bani, she had not made any appearance so far, he looked towards Aparajit who had almost passed out, he quietly tip-toed out of the gathering and swiftly made way towards bani's house? ?
Jay was mesmerized to see her petite figure standing behind the curtain of colored beads?Bani looked at him with an unknown passion?he walked towards her, she was just wearing a plain maroon silk cloth wrapped around in a sensuous manner, devoid of any ounce of jewelry, he neared her, she held his face in between her soft palms?he bent down and kissed her tiny glittering nose ring which he had got it for her? ?
"Jay?" she whispered huskily? arousing his every latent sense?
"Bani?" he whispered back in an equal husky manner?moving his thumb in circles near the corner of her lips?
A luminous young woman opened herself to a luminous man. He slid the silk hiding her interiors, the smooth silk fell in a cascade resting on the ground in a puddle?he laid her down?his eyes getting darker with her mere sight, stripping himself he came over her? their love dictated the rhythm with which their bodies answered each other, as though they knew already that for each tremor of pleasure they would pay with an equal measure of pain? She was wide and deep as a river in spate? He sailed on her waters?
XXXXXX
The on-going affair between his daughter and his student didn't go unnoticed by Aparajit, he didn't have complaints either, he was quite proud of his daughter's choice, but he feared something?both Ranvijay and Shrabani were greatly intellectual beings with higher degree of ambitions, they were always in search of new discoveries and adventures, he feared that their over-zealous quests might possess their mind and hamper their love for each other?
On the other hand, as rightly predicted by Aparajit, jay and bani seemed to have entered a world of their own?no longer heeding of the world around them, Jay and Bani ventured too far in their exploits, progressing from the theft of material objects to tampering with elements that should never be tampered with?
"Bani, are you sure we will find it" jay asked a bit unsure?
"Yes, jay, come?" bani said confidently?
Removing the stone blocks with great difficulty they discovered an opening, they silently went inside the cave, it was blindingly dark, their eyes failed to see anything; they held on to the side of the cave and kept moving ahead?
"Bani, how did you know this place, I have been here many times but I have never seen it" jay's voice boomed in the stony silent place?
"I just know" she stated, she herself didn't know how she knew, she just knew, as if she was born with it, she couldn't pin-point any thing with specificity?they kept walking slowly?
"I can hear something?" jay said as some voice hit his pinna?bani's ears failed to alert her?
"What can you hear?" she asked
"Something?something is burning?flames?I can smell chemicals?" he said
They headed ahead to find a faint saffron glow coming from inside, they followed it to enter a huge cave like structure?their eyes popped out seeing the illuminated alien place?a huge round furnace was there, below which orange flames were dancing heating the furnace?a narrow pipe came out of the bottom of the furnace which ended in a vessel?the atmosphere was hot as if boiling lava was flowing?
"Where is he?" jai enquired looking around?
They were in search of The Alchemist, the man who knew how to make gold?
Bani pointed her finger towards a corner?a frail, old man, sat there, only a ragged loincloth covering his malnutrition body, his rib cage was yearning to come out of the thin layer of skin, long silver white hair fell till his waist?they kept looking at him with amaze?
"Who are you?" the man shouted at once opening his closed eyes?
"We?we?" bani fumbled?
"We want to learn your science?" jay said immediately?
The old man laughed cynically?
"No body believes it?" he said standing erect?
"We do?" jay said trying to gain his trust?
"What makes you think that I will tell you the secret?" he asked?
"We will spread your knowledge?" jay said
"You creep, I don't trust you?" the old man said wobbling back to his place?
"In years, nobody came here, but we did, we want to know, you are a great scientist"
The old man's pride elated hearing the boy call him 'Great Scientist', for years he had longed for recognition, but people didn't believe him and his theories, they thought he was a mad, loony man who was moonstruck and suffered from an incurable disease, he was hence banished form his community? he had hence fled and lived in this cave away from anybody's eyes?he had performed an experiment which was yet to show any result, but he knew it would be successful one day?
"Okay?" the old man said, indicating jay and bani to come near him?
"Listen carefully, don't question me in between? I have spent years in observing the fire that purified the metals, I have spent so much time close to fire that I gave up the vanities of the world?
Alchemy is a serious discipline.
I have dedicated my entire life to the purification of metals, if a metal were heated for many years; it would free all of its individual properties. It is called the discovery of the Master Work- it is part liquid and part solid?
Liquid part of the Master Work is called the Elixir of life, it cures all illness and the solid part is called the Philosopher's Stone.
The Philosopher's Stone has a fascinating property. A small silver of the stone can transform large quantities of metal into gold?" the old man said in a tottering voice?
Jay and Bani looked baffled by this revelation?the alchemist showed them various papers?a papyrus with strange language written on it, with so many drawings, peculiar words and signs, magic symbols? ?he brought out a parchment which had the method of preparing gold inscribed on it in a peculiar Prakrit language, jai could make out a few words, like heat?
"Have you made gold?" bani asked?
"I have been trying to do it?come?" the alchemist led them near the furnace?
"I have put mercury in this furnace, for years it is getting heated, I am waiting for the day pure gold will be made, I can't say how many more years it will take?" the alchemist said with disdain?bani's eyes grew wider seeing drops of gold flowing into the vessel from the pipe?
"Look GOLD" she shouted? the alchemist rushed to the vessel, he laughed seeing the liquefied gold slowly running down?
"You both are my angels, finally I have succeeded in my experiment?" the alchemist laughed ragingly?bani smiled at him and eyed jay who was standing behind him, suddenly the alchemist fell down, blood oozed out from his frail body, jay came near him and took out his dragger from the back of his neck exactly where the spinal cord started, the alchemist yelped in pain and died?
Bani quickly collected the papyrus sheets and parchment, rolled them and tugged them in her waistband protectively?jay checked the alchemist?a shapeless stone rolled down from his cloth, he picked it up, it was a strange stone?from one angle it reflected one color while from other angle it reflected another color, but it was colorless as such if seen as a whole?
"The philosopher's stone?" bani said excitedly?
"May be?" jay said keeping it inside the leather pouch?
They looked in the vessel in which gold was collected?the gold had stopped flowing, but the vessel had enough gold, they quickly poured it into a bottle?
"Let's go bani?" jay said holding her hand?
XXXXXX
That was the initiating drive for their savage passions to cross borders for what they wanted. They stole energy, luck and even the powers of levitation crossing over into the bounds of the supernatural even if that entailed deceiving fate and cheating mortality. They were like two possessed souls who knew nothing except their desires. Their extreme sense of want and greed over-powered the human inside them; they lost themselves in this whirlwind of power, insatiable desires and reprehensible acquisitiveness. Their covetousness and rapacity coupled with their passionate love for each other blinded them to see the deadly sins they were committing?
Jay and bani rode on their respective horses towards the Mansarovar Lake? It was a fresh-water lake which lay at 4,556 m above mean sea level?relatively round in shape, its circumference was 88 Km and depth 90 m?To the west of Lake Manasarovar was Lake Rakshastal and towards the north is Mount Kailash?Jay and bani stood at a distance observing the Lake? The Sutlej River, the Brahmaputra River, the Indus River, and the Karnali River (Ghaghara River) all traced their sources to its close vicinity? ?
According to Hindu religion, the lake was first created in the mind of the Lord Brahma. Hence, in Sanskrit it is called "Manas sarovara", which is a combination of the words manas (mind) and sarovara (lake). The lake, in Hindu mythology, is also supposed to be the summer abode of swans, who are considered as very wise and sacred birds. It is also believed the Devas descend to bathe in the lake between 3 and 5 am the time of the day known as Brahma Muhurta?
Bani knew that drinking the water from Mansarovar Lake was believed to cleanse all sins?and many yogis came here?she had come to know that a saint was present here who had amrith, by consumption of which one could attain eternity?
"Bani, look there?" jay said as he spotted the saint and his wife sitting near the iced Lake in deep meditation?a small vessel (kamandal) was kept beside it?
Jay and bani approached them from behind in silent steps?they could feel the strong vibrations which were generated due to their deep- mental state, they looked into the vessel, it contained a fresh water like substance, it was glistening with remarkable glow?suddenly the saint's wife opened her eyes and was about to get up when she saw jay and bani with horror, she was about to scream when jay and bani turned her into a stone statue using their magical powers which they had acquired?they picked up the vessel and were about to drink the magic potion when the vessel was thrown away by the saint?
"You fools?" the saint shouted?
"You people are so immersed in your greed and want that you have got blinded?shameless creeps you turned my wife to stone?" he screamed?he kept his fisted palm on his forehead and chanted a mantra?
"You both will never get united?you both can never get your love?until your souls are cleansed of the dirt of greed and want?until you become humans again from devils you will never be able to find each others love, till your soul is free from any malice, you will take births over births and suffer? this is my curse?" the saint announced and threw the water which was formed in his fist on them?he vanished within seconds?
Jay and bani stood there still completely shocked about what happened, all their mystic powers went away, they lost everything they had, their luck, the magic, the powers and most of all their love?
XXXXXX
They tried, they sincerely tried to overcome their humanly wants, but whenever they tried something or the other happened, it had practically become impossible for them to remove their attention from the materialistic things which they hunted for? slowly they drifted apart, they hated and blamed themselves for the mishaps and the blunders they endured.
They shuddered whenever they came near each other as if they were some long lost strangers forced to be together?
They were in uncharted waters, floating directionless. They were angry with each other but felt that no one will ever love them again as they did to each other. They knew the mistakes they made came with a heavy price. Their morals had been diminished in the name of a clueless devotion to a toxic poison called greed and want. They wished for things to be different, but they lacked the backbone to stand up? ?
Shrabani fell totally silent, she always seemed to be lost in her own wide world, her love for jay aught any withhold, Ranvijay was going mad, he found himseld strtchign between his passion for adventure and his passionate love for bani, he made a decision, he decided to leave?and to go somewhere where he could fight this inner battle?
"Was our love pure?" bani innocently asked as he saw jay set to leave? he had no answer?he gazed into her vacant eyes? ?
"Once again, we will meet bani, once again?" he said before climbing onto his horse, he rode away?she kept looking on?
Henceforth they were born and re-born serving their inevitable curse. Their every next birth was spent in repentance and salvage, chastening themselves to become better human begins and quit the fancy diversions and materialistic manifestations of life? ? they were born again and again, trying to reach their Love? ?
XXXXXX
Jai woke up with a start?his forehead smeared with beads of precipitation, he remembered all his births in which he tried to cleanse his soul, his pain, his desperation to meet his love, now he understood why he felt strange seeing bani and why he had those visions, they were meant for each other?he picked up the phone?
Bani sat still staring at her reflection, all her past lives memories came rushing back to her, her trails and tribulations, her repentance, her yearning for her love?the ringing of the phone startled her?she picked it up?
"We meet once again Bani?once again?" jai said in a deep voice
"Our love was pure jai?" bani said with a small smile?
"Yes?" he replied?
"I have waited enough?jai? come and take me?"
"I will bani?I will?"
XXXXXX
THE END?.
God bless
Dhani
P.S.: The part where I have described about the Philosopher's Stone etc is loosely based on some lines from the book 'The Alchemist', it's a wonderful book, do read it if you get it!!!!
According to my knowledge, it is very much a fact, when you heat Mercury at extremely high temperatures for many years, then it looses all its properties and turns into Gold. Such an experiment had been conducted in our ancient times; the procedure of the experiment had been inscribed on the walls of the Birla Temple in Delhi, which is still intact, supposedly 1 gram of pure gold lump had been made practically.
It is quite fascinating, and Alchemy has been a part of our ancient times!!!
Teenzs, I hope I have lived upto to your expectations!!!! If not then may be next time I will try to write something better!!!
Sports
