OS Competition - ALL OS'S ADDED - Page 3

"Jagte Raho…..." the chowkidar's voice echoed through the silence of the peaceful spring night. "Pora kopal amar.…...sab aram se so rahe hain aur mere naseeb mein hi jagna likha hain" he thought wearily. But he was wrong It seemed even Arjun Roy Chowdhury, the only son of Zamindar Rudrapratap Roy Chowdhury of Krishnapur Village, was having a sleepless night as well. He looked absolutely drained, exhausted; his handsome face pale and distraught. Looking at the full moon night sky Arjun turned around to see his beautiful Arohi asleep and exhaled deeply. In few hours time her whole life was going to change and yet she was sleeping like an angel as if utterly oblivious of the harsh realities of life. He had always been grateful to God for blessing him with a pure-hearted "jeevan sangini" like her and yet he was …...….an avalanche of agony and pain came down crushing on his guilt-laden heart.

The cool breeze through the open window touched her face making Arohi stir a bit and a lock of hair fell on her beautiful face. As Arjun leaned forward to brush it away he noticed the dark circles under her eyes and marks of dried tear stains. Tears welled in his eyes. Married at the tender age of thirteen Arohi has always been more to him than just his wife; his friend, his confidant, his lady love. Being five years older than her, he was supposed to be more mature and in control but she had always managed to wrap him round her little fingers, making him dance to her every tunes yet understanding him the most. Even at the risk of being branded as 'joru ka ghulam' he has always enjoyed pampering her, listening to all her whims and fancies. Her exquisitive beauty, her inherent mild nature, her intelligence had allured him to love her more and more with passing years. Wiping her tear stains he gently touched her beautiful face. But unfortunately even his love couldn't protect her forever from the harshness of life. She had been forced to grow up …..……pinned down with the burden of family responsibilities to such an extent that his pyari si, chhoti si, natkhat si Arohi has even learnt the art of masquerading her feelings from him. He knew very well the pain and anguish her heart must have been going through but still she was the one who had forced him to swear on her and agree to this heinous proposal…...Not only her, his parents have contributed equally to this…...…..Yes the cultured, educated, modern visualist Arjun Roy Chowdhury has been forced by all his dear ones to give his consent for a second marriage…...….a practise that he had loathed all his life.

He looked at her pretty face, her luscious lips, her full breasts, her curvaceous body……….…..how could they brand her as barren……….how could God be so cruel to her. Despite of married for ten years when they had failed to have a child all fingers have started to point at her. What a hypocrit society... ……..that only blames a woman and never a man. She was only twenty three and already been declared "barren" by the so-called society, banned from attending any social ocassion. He had caught so many times crying and had reasoned with her. To start with all his scientific reasoning used to lighten up her face with hope but gradually all laughter, all happiness faded from his life as even Arohi began to believe in all the accusations of her being an 'apshagun banj'. May be there was a problem and he was willing to even take her to the doctors in Calcutta but his parents were only too keen for a grandchild. They were so blinded by their urge to have a 'banshadhar' that even his mother had failed to understand Arohi's plight and turmoil. So when his alliance came from the Zamindar of Netrakana for his daughter, she took it on herself to get his consent by threatening to kill herself'……...

A sense of guilt pierced through his heart as he realised what a selfish person he had been. He was supposed to be her "sukh dukher sathi" yet he had failed to be by her side when she had needed him the most.He should have never agreed to the proposal. Born with a golden spoon in mouth, he had felt insecure when his father had threatened to disown him: the thought of an unknown future had added to his inherent restlessness. He had felt like a spineless creature who has failed to deal with his responsibility and have fallen a prey to the clutches of social expectation. Threats after threats from his dear ones have encompassed him with their shackles. ...but was it only threats.? …...had not there been also his cowardice and greed that had chocked his protesting voice as well…...Arjun shivered as this realisation struck him. Laying back he looked at his Arohi again and wished he could be as calm and composed as her.

Arohi could feel his eyes lingering on her, her body shivering as his hand gently touched but she kept her eyes shut. She knew that the moment she would look into that big, brown eyes all her resolutions, her promises to her mother-in-law would melt. She loved him too much to hurt him with her tears. She had been blessed with his unconditional love for the past 10 years but she could never give him the happiness of children. It was her fault that she is a 'banj' and just for as selfish love she couldn't have made the whole family suffer. Just the thought about the presence of another woman in his life had ripped through her heart and soul yet she had happily succumb to the demands of her in-laws She knew she had to make him agree even at the cost of her own happiness. She still remembered the time when she had to resort to all sorts of tricks so that Arjun would give his consent. He had been absolutely adamant to start with but the day she had threatened him to consume rat poison he had to give in…...

This would be her last night with him. Tomorrow the new bride's family was coming for "Ashirbad". Although Arjun was totally unaware of this decision but from tomorrow her new life would began in the other end of the "Mahal" She hadn't told anything purposely knowing very well that he would never agree to her leaving this room. Her in-laws wanted her to go back to her "baper bari(mayka) but she had managed to convince them she would never let her ominous shadow fall on Arjun's new life. It would be painful to see him with someone else but at least they would be living in the same Mahal. She was sure there would be moments when she would have a glimpse or two of him and those moments would help her sail through her lonely life. More tears welled in her eyes and she turned away from him with a futilte effort to hide it.

Arjun knew her far too well. He pulled her towards him. Looking at her tear stained face he could feel the anguish. As he was about to say something she hushed him with her fingers. Words would have ruined the moment. Cupping his face she slowly kissed his forehead, his eyes, his nose, his cheeks and hesitated a bit before she touched his lips passionately with hers. Tonight was her night. He was still hers. Slowly she moved down kissing his neck, his throat, gently nibbling on his earlobes. Her eyes devoured him for the last time, his handsome face, his firm muscular body. "Ami tomak e chai (I want You)" she whispered. Arjun already aroused with desire wrapped one arm around her and brushed her body against his, kissing stroking and caressing her soft and supple body like a frenzied man .He wanted to taste and savour every bit of her, making her moan and grasp for more pleasure. They have made love before but this was more the consummation of the soul than of the body. As they experienced new heights of satisfaction and ecstacy, they found solace in each others bosom for the night……...

Arjun sat on the wooden small chair waiting for his new in-laws to start the "roka" ceremony. He felt like a living dead who was just following the customs and traditions just to keep everyone happy. Funnily enough no one had even cared to think about his own happiness including Arohi. He just couldn't believe that Arohi had moved out of their bedroom without even telling him…...the bedroom where they have shared so many intimate moments. He had felt distraught when he had gathered that from the servants in the morning. He had tried his best to look for her but she was nowhere to be seen.

Just as his new father-in-law was about to start the customs one of the relative said "are koyi kansh to bajao…...rasm shuru hone se pahle kaNsh bajna chahiye" Suddenly someone started blowing the Kansh, the sound was so tuneful that it felt as if it was being blown with ones heart out. Nobody could see the person blowing it…...Arjun looked at the direction the sound was coming from and he froze. It was Arohi. Desparetely trying to blow the "auspicious" kansh with one hand and trying to cover her "ominous" face with her saree. Her face devoid of any emotions; her heavy bosom undulating with rythmic sound of the kansh...

"Bandho karo…...sab bandho koro" Arjun's strong voice echoed through the walls of the Mahal. " mein shadi shuda huun……...mein yeh nehi kar sakta" he stood up, throwing the garland away from his neck.

" Arjun beta…..shant ho jayo……... are tum kuleen zamindar ho……...tum do to kya hazaro shadiya kar sakte ho…...….aur wasie bhi tumhari pehli patni to banj hain" his father's muneeb tried to reason with him.

" Arohi apshagun nehi hain……...woh banj nehi hain…...woh meri pehli ur akhri patni hain...…mujhe koi bachha nehi chahiye……..mein khush huun…app log sab ja sakte hain" Arjun's words silenced everyone.

"Par beta mujhe tumhari pehli patni hone se koi appatti nehi hain…...meri beti zaroor is bansh to waaris degi...uske graho mein putrajyog hai" his would be father-in-law remarked in an assuring tone.

"Accha …agar jyotish bhul huya to…...woh bhi banj nikli to...…aur kitne masoom larkiyo ke balidan dete rahenge app log…..mujhme koi khamiya kyu nehi dekhta" Arjun's frustrated voice seemed to ring to deaf ears.

As he was about to leave his father's roaring voice stopped him. " agar shadi nehi kar sakte to mere ghar mein tumhare liye koi jagh nehi hain…...tumi jete paro ekhan theke".

"Chole jabo baba…...….waise bhi in khokle rasm o se bahut

dur jana chahta hu main. Yeh kaisa samaj hai jo ek aurat agar ma nehi ban pati hai to usse kure ki tarah apshagun man kar pheNk deti hain…...….his voice chocked thinking about the pain and sufferings that numerous Arohi had been forced to face throughout the years.

He quickly went to Arohi and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, completely ignoring her pleading eyes. He knew that she was scared to face everyone but at last he had gathered the courage to open up his heart and he was determined to be at the side of her. It was her strength of character that had instilled in him a new inspiration, a new zeal to be the maker of their own desitiny Even Arohi's " suniye mere khatir hi sahi shadi kar lijiye…..…..." couldn't change his mind. He was right and for the first time in life he chose to defy Arohi. Confronting all appeals, all pleadings he barged out of his father's Mahal and hand in hand with Arohi he stepped out to explore the unknown future….

Life would have been much easier if he had listened to his father and got married but then he could never have confront his inner self. Arohi's selfless love had evoked the sense of true love in him. He had always loved her but that moment when he had seen her blowing the kansh just for his auspicious future, despite of all her agony and turmoil, her loved had touched divinity. That divine ray had freed him from all the shackles of insecurity and obligations. He could at last become man enough to stamp over his father's hollow threat, protect the honour of his wife and confront the social superstition.He was her "jeevan sathi" in the true sense of the word. At last he felt happy and relieved…..he looked into her beautiful eyes and said "Tomakei sudhu bhalobashi, tomakei sudhu chai..chirodin..chirojiban..( I only love you, I only want you…forever …always)