Hi everyone,
I am here with my next part. I am very sorry for the long delay caused in posting script. I know there is depression around due to RT's exit and I really feel sad seeing all crying smileys everywhere. I hope this part will cheer you up to some extent.
One Request: Please imagine Rajat as Prithvi while reading this. And Smile Please 😊
Recap of last 11 parts: Prithvi while returning home from his mission, gets landed in Santoshi Maa's utsaav held in Seetapur of Nagaon, due to his enemy's trap. He fortunately meets Sanyogita there. Arjun, Pundir and Payal (Sanyogita's friend and Princess of Nagaon) decides to make use of opportunity and clear misunderstanding. Three of them too involves Sanjam, who visits utsaav next day, in reuniting Prithvi and Sanyogita.
Link to Part 11: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=731376
********************** Part 12 ***********************
"Meauuuuu Meauuuuuuuuu"
"Ab bas bhi karo....... Payal nahi hai yaha, batao kya khabar hai?" Sanyogita asked two kids who came near the well where she and Prithvi were standing.
"Nahi..... khabar toh hum Payal didi ko hi denge......." Said one of them. "Waise tum dono
ko, kuch dil behlane wali bate bata sakte hai."
Sanyogita knew how over smart those kids were. She pursed her lips and said "Achha!!! toh batao."
Ishanya one of them, came to their side and said "Kal ke liye aur bhi log aa rahe hai dur gaonse, bahot maja aanewala hai."
Karan, the other kid too came there. "Kal subah ke aarti ke baad, mela lagne wala hai." He looked at Prithvi "Phir suryast se pehle hi sare karyakram shuru honge."
"Yeh toh bahot hi acchi baat hai." Prithvi said going near them.
"Ha..... kuch rajgharane ke log bhi aane wale hai." Ishanya added. He was staring Prithvi and rolling his eyes on him from top to bottom. Prithvi guessed he must be best friend of Payal.
"Tum Lakshman hi ho naa?" asked Ishanya.
"Ha....." Prithvi smiled. "Lagta hai sabke bare mein sab kuch jante ho tum."
"Ha thik kaha....." They were happy to be praised. "Kaha kya ho raha hai, ya kya hone wala hai yeh bhi pata hai hume."
"Waise tum hamare dost ban sakte ho..... " Ishanya added going near Prithvi. "Yeh Karan aur mein Ishu. Didi bhi humari dost hai." Prithvi looked at Sanyogita.
She ignored him and asked "Aur kya kya hoga kal?"
"Kal alag alag prant ke log apni kala aur parampara, nrutya aur sangeet ke roop mein sadarr karnewale hai." Karan was playing with a long rope which was around one meter. There were knots at its end.
"Maha mantriji ki toh bahot bagh daud ho rahi hai. Aur ab toh hamare pyaare...... Hasmukhlalji bhi nahi hai..... unki madat karne ke liye." Karan added.
"Kyun, kya hua?" Sanyogita asked.
"Hasmukhlal ko humne yaha se bhaga diya." Ishu and Karan clapped their hands against each other's.
Sanyogita adjusted dupatta on her head and said "Phir se piche pad gaye tum dono unke, yeh mat bhulo woh yaha ke sarpanch hai."
"Sarpanch ho ya koi raja, hum julm kyun sahe?" said Ishanya innocently.
Prithvi was fascinated by kid's attitude and innocence. He could not stop smiling.
"Waise kya kiya tum dono ne?" asked Sanyogita.
Karan and Ishu looked around to confirm no one else is there.
Ishu replied "Hamesha ki tarah Hasmukhlalne phir se hume saja di, humko kaam pe lagvaya." He said as if big unjustice was done to them. "Seema se phalon ki tokri yaha lana ka kaam de diya, aur kudh baith ke aaraam kar rahe the."
Karan added "Toh maine maha mantri se jake keh diya ke, iss chakkar mein Ishu kahi kho gaya....... pul ke aas pass kahi. Bahot dhunda par mil hi nahi raha."
Ishanya bowed down.
"Kya?" Sanyogita said slowly.
Ishanya stood straight and said "Ha..... Maha mantri toh Hasmukhlal pe ghussa ho gaye, unhe daat rahe thhe bachon ko waha bhejne ki kya jarurat thi, aur phir ghusse mein Hasmukhlal ko waha bhej diya,...... mujhe dhundne." He laughed holding his stomach.
Prithvi raised his eyebrows.
"Aur hasmukhlal ke aadmi bhi mujhe dhund rahe hai..... par mein kisike haath hi nahi aanewala."
Karan while playing with the knots of his rope, said "Ishu ki maa toh sach much mein rone lagi..... Hasmukhlal ke toh paseene chut gaye maha mantri ke samne, .....achha maja chakaya humne unko."
He tied the rope around his waist and again untied it.
Watching the rope, Prithvi asked "Yeh hai kya?"
"Yeh" Karan hold the rope in his hand and said "Yeh bade kaam ki cheez hai. Kisiko bhi kisise baandhna ho na, toh kaam aayegi."
"kaise?" Prithvi asked.
"Yeh yun baandho" Karan again tied it around his waist and interlaced two end knots."Aur bas isse khicho." He showed knot, but he did not pull it. "Bada aasaan hai, aur yeh gathan chudvana itna aasan nahi hai. Payal didi ne banake diya... kaha jarurat ke waqt istamaal karna."
Prithvi smiled "Achha hai....." He went in front of Ishu "Par ab tumhe aaisa nahi lagta ke majak bahot hua, ab tumhe mahamantri ko sach batana chahiye."
"Nahi Kyu bataye hum?"
Ishu looked up at Prithvi and said proudly "Jabbhi dekho woh Hasmukhlal hume datte rehte hai, marte rehte hai. Isliye humne unhe wahi ek ped se bandh diya, aaise hi ek dor se."
"Kya?" cried Sanyogita.
"Par Yeh galat hai, Ishu." Prithvi sat down on his knees in front of Ishu to his height.
"Tum phikar mat karo..... unhe kuch nahi hoga, unke chamche unhe dhund hi lenge. Bas thodi der baithne do unhe ped ke saath."
Sanyogita kept her pot on the wall, came near Prithvi and Ishanya and said: "Aur tumhare mata pita tumhare liye pareshaan hui hoge, uska kya?"
"Kuch hi der ki baat hai, bas."
"Phir bhi..... yeh....."
"Waise pata hai ek kali gufa hai yaha pe, aur hum toh chahte the ke hum Hasmukhlalji ko usi gufa mein hi bandh de kahi, taki kal sham tak woh yaha aaye hi naa." Karan said coming near them.
"Kali gufa?" Prithvi asked. He remembered something like this where Payal and Arjun were eager to move in.
"Ha Sarpanch ji ko humne wahase gujarte dekha hai. Kai baar toh woh hume waha par band karne ki dhamki de chuke hai. Kehte hai bahot geheri gufa hai woh. Bade dadaji kehte hai Santoshi maa ki koi bahot purani aur bahot badi murti hai waha, jo abhi tak kisiko mili nahi."
Prithvi: "Achha?"
Ishu: "Ha kehte hai waha bahot sunder se nazaare bhi hai."
Sanyogita: "Gufa mein?"
Karan "Ha, toh humne socha kyun naa hum hi chale jaye waha, par Maha mantri ne hume mana kar diya, keh rahe the ke yeh srif ek kahani hai, aaisi koi murti nahi hai waha."
Ishu: "Pata nahi Maha mantri ko kaise pata chal gaya. Unhone toh sarpanch se keh ke waha sainik khade kiye."
Prithvi remembered he did not see any soldiers anywhere around it.
Sanyogita: "Ab baatein bahot hui, Ishu, Karan..... jao aur jake maha mantri ko sab sach batao.... yeh thik nahi hai..... ek din musibat mein padoge tum dono."
Ishanya: "Par bina wajah hum aanyay kyun sahe."
"Phir bhi..... tumhe saja mil sakti hai, yaha ke kuch kayade kanun bachon ke liye bhi hai. Hasmukhlal toh nahi chodenge tumhe, par bade dadaji bhi saja denge..... aur tumhare.."
"Didi aap bhi naa....." Karan interfered "yeh sab jante hai hum..... hum aapki tarah darpok nahi hai."
"Ab hum kab darpok nazar aaye tumhe?" Asked Sanyogita folding her hands.
"Bahot baar. Aap ho darpok." Ishanya turned towards Prithvi and asked "Kyun??" Prithvi got up looking at Sanyogita and nodded "Ha... thodi bahot."
"Ha???" Sanyogita turned her face towards Karan and said quietly "Keh do isse, ab hum kisise nahi darte."
"Puchho isase, kya yeh samshaan bhumi mein, das kadam andar jake danda gaad aayegi?"
Sanyogita looked at Prithvi. He turned his face and grinned. He remembered how sanyogita was fully determined to go in samshaan bhumi all alone, during yatra, when he and his friends provoked her.
Sanyogita's jaw was set. She raised her voice "Keh do isse yaha koi samshaan bhumi nahi hai."
Karan tapped his chin with index finger and said "Ha lekin woh kali gufha hai naa."
Sanyogita thought something and said "Thik hai....Keh do isse, hum waha bhi bina dare ja sakte hai, agar yeh aur iske dost waha pehle hi naa maujud ho..... hume darane." Prithvi smiled remembering that incident.
He shut his smile and said "Keh do isse mein majak kar raha hu, varna sach much chali jayegi. Phir ek aur bahana mil jayega isse aasu bahane ka."
"Ha.... didi toh waise bahot udaas bhi rehti hai." Said Ishu.
Sanyogita looked at Prithvi "Kya tumhe aaisa lagta hai hum har waqt aasu bahate hai, udass rehte hai?"
Prithvi nodded his head without looking at her.
She went two steps towards Prithvi and said "Tum yeh mat samajhna ke hum khush nahi hai. Tumhare bina bhi hum bahot khush hai samjhe."
"Lag toh nahi raha." Prithvi replied looking at Ishu and Karan.
"Thik hai ab tum dekhna, ab hum tumhe khush reh ke dikhayenge."
"Hum toh yahi chahte hai." Prithvi said looking anywhere but at her.
Ishu went near Prithvi, looked up and said "Humne thik suna..... Tum dono bachon ki tarah jhagadte ho" He shook his head. "Yeh buri baat hai....."
"Achhaa??" Prithvi nodded raising his eyebrows.
"Waise kuch log abhi ek tambu mein tum dono ka naam leke has rahe the." Karan pointed at Sanyogita and Prithvi.
"Kya matlab?" asked Sanyogita again adjusting duppatta on her head which always slipped down.
"Ha, aaj raat, tum dono ko pakad ke tumhe bevakuf banane ka soch rahe hai."
He laughed innocently and went in front of Sanyogita. Ishu too went there.
Karan said naughtily "Humne kaha aapko bevakoof banane ki kya jarurat hai..... aap toh...... aap toh......" Sanyogiya widened her eyes and nodding her head said "Hum hai hi bevakoof??"
Karan and Ishu kept finger on their lips and giggled.
"Kya aapne se badon se aaisi baatein karte hai." Sanyogita kept her hands on waist and there was anger appearing on her face. Ishu and Karan laughed with joy. They loved to tease her.
"Humne toh kuch nahi kaha. Aapne hi abhi abhi kaha ke aap........"
"Hum bevakoof hai." She repeated.
"Phir se kaha....." They clapped hands. Prithvi smiled.
"Payal didi kehti hai..... aapko uulu banana bahot aasan hai."
"Ha ha, tum dono toh bade masoom ho, tum toh kuch bhi nahi kehte."
"Masoom toh hum hai hi, Kyun Lakshman bhaiyya?" They turned back at Prithvi.
"Ha..... bahot." Prithvi added.
"Dekha yeh bhi tumhe bevakoof manta hai."
"Maine aaisa toh nahi kaha" Prithvi reacted quickly. He looked at Sanyogita and shook his head.
Sanyogita felt annoyed "Din-ba-din bade shaitaan hote ja rahe ho tum dono." She said angrily.
Karan: "Ha, hum shaitaan aur aap ........"
"Hum Bevakoof....." again she said. Karan, Ishu and Prithvi together let out a laughter.
She went near Karan and Ishu. They ran four steps near Prithvi.
Sanyogita found three of them on one side again. "Hume ghussa mat dilao, varna hum pakad ke pitenge tumhe."
"Woh toh aap kar hi nahi sakti." they said loudly and again laughed.
"Achha??" She looked here and there for stick or something. She found one. "Abhi dikhati hu." Saying this she picked up a stick lying on the ground and started chasing them.
Ishu and Karan again clapped hands against each other. "Aap nahi pakad paaogi hume." They ran around the well.
"Badmash!!!!!" She too ran around behind them.
"Pakado pakado....."
"Abhi pakadti hu."
Prithvi stood still folding his hands and enjoying the scene. He felt so lightheart to see Sanyogita leaping around idilly. He was grinning widly.
"Hum jake Mahamantri ko sab sach batane wale hai." Sanyogita paused.
"Dekho aap aaisa nahi kar sakti, varna hum aapko isase baandh denge." said Ishu taking short quick breathes and showing her the rope in Karan's hand.
"Ab dhamki bhi de rahe ho." She again continued moving around the well. "Nahi chodenge."
Kids again ran around well and Sanyogita followed them.
"Lakshman bhaiyya bachao" They ran towards Prithvi.
"Sanyogita jane do, weh bachhe hai." said Prithvi trying to keep her stick away.
He moved left and right as Sanyogita moved right and left in front of him. Ishu, Karan and Sanyogita took rounds around Prithvi. "Aap nahi pakad paogi" Prithvi wished stopped this by holding Sanyogita around her waist in his arms. He even raised his hands, but stopped himself and he ignored this thought as quickly as it came in his mind. He moved to one side. Ishu and Karan went behind him again and Sanyogita in an attempt to hold them, came exactly in front of Prithvi.
"Ishu khich isse" Kids took an opportunity, placed the rope around them and quickly pulled the knot on Prithvi's back.
Prithvi and Sanyogita were tied together closely, facing each other.
After a long and non-stop journey on horse, from the palace, finally he reached the Santoshi Maa'a camp. Around ten to fifteen of his men accompanied him with swords and knifes. As they reached the main gate they got down and left their horses outside in the horse barn. They moved in through the main gate. Moving his hand on his baldhead, he looked around searching for his other men who were already there. He had worn white colour kurta and pyjama.
After walking few steps, he stopped and also his men, behind him. He turned around and said "Hum log phail jate hai, tum do do karke har jagah phail jao. Jab jarurat padegi tumhe bulaya jayega."
"Ji achha..." one of them bowed and said.
"Aur tum dono" that bald man said to the nearset two "Tum mere saath chalo. Hum hamare baki aadmiyon se wahi milenge." They bowed down too and followed him, others spread as told.
He increased his speed, as he moved trough the crowd in the camp. Like before he was full determined to gain success this time. He had many tasks on his mind. His men must have recognized spies of Delhi and found the information they were carrying. He had to finish them off and that too, tactfully. He assumed his men must have finished that girl. And he had to complete one more task - to hand over the message of his king to Maya maa.
He moved in through the noise and crowd, which distracted his thoughts. He wished his way should clear ahead. Angrily he pushed the people on his way.
"Arey bhai dekh ke nahi chal sakte." One of the two whom he pushed harshly shouted.
He stopped and turned at him with rage. "Hamare raste mein jo bhi aayega, woh nahi bachega." He said in his mind, tightly holding his sword.
"Yehhhhhhhhh" Karan and Ishu let out a cry of victory.
"Yeh kya kiya tum dono ne." Sanyogita dropped the stick in her hand and cried at them who tied her with Prithvi face to face.
"Ishu Karan kholo yeh rassi." Prithvi too cried.
Sanyogita moved and pushed the rope, trying to free herself.
"Dekha humse takarane ka natija." said Ishu.
"Yeh kya kar rahe ho tum, kholo hume." Prithvi said. He too was pushing the rope. This was the limit.
"Yeh kya batamizi hai?"
Ishu looked around and panicked.
"Karan teri maa aa rahi hai woh dekh." Ishu said pointing his finger in one direction.
"Arey baap re" Karan looked in that direction "Lagta hai mujhe dhundte yaha aai, bhago varna pitaii ho jyegi."
"Ha, aur mein yaha hu, yeh bhi unhe pata nahi chalna chahiye, bhagoo." said Ishu.
They ran away.
"Arey kaha ja rahe ho tum donooooo." Prithvi cried behind them.
"Rukooooooo" Sanyogita shouted trying to move the rope up and down.
They panicked and tried if the rope comes out. It was a difficult and an embarassing situation. The place where they were standing was open and was visible from far distance. Though it was night, torches were burning near the well. They were trying their best to keep distance between each other. Before anyone finds them in this position, they have to untie themselves.
Sanyogita took her hands behind Prithvi. She was not able to see the knot at his back and so she raised her hills and rested her chin on his shoulder to look down. Prithvi felt weird sensation on his shoulder.
"Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum." He said.
She was literally hugging him. Prithvi resisted his attempt to hug her back. Realizing what she was doing ,Sanyogita quickly brought her hands back and without looking at him said "Hume jana hai, kuch karo."
"Ha..."
Sanyogita looked towards her left. "Prithvi woh log yahi aa rahe hai .....dekho." There was panic in her voice. Prithvi looked in that direction and saw a group of people approaching them as they passed through burning torches on the path. Among them many were the same people who were teasing them in the temple. He was sure now again they will tease him and her. He again struggled as hard as possible to remove the rope.
"Sanyogita tum bhi naa..." he took his hands back and tried to release the knot. "Yeh sab tumhare karan hua hai. Kya jarurat thi un bachonke piche daudne ki." Prithvi found a knot.
"Unhone hume itna ghussa dilaya."
"Ha....... ghussa toh hamesha tumhare naak pe sawar jo rehta hai." He hold two knots in his fingers, in a position to pull.
"Ghussa hamesha hamare nahi tumhare naak pe sawaar rehta hai, chaubisau ghante..."
"Ab tum chup raho aur mujhe kuch karne do."
"Jungli billi" he said in his mind.
"Bigde ....." she left her words incomplete in her mind.
Prithvi was about to pull a knot.
"Ab kholo jaldi rassi ko." She again tried to push the rope from all side and Prithvi lost the knot.
"Sanyogita tum jara shant rehti toh, mein gathan kholne hi wala tha."
"Kaise shaant rahe, yaha kisi ne bhi hume aaise dekha, toh pata nahi kya samaj baithenge......" She again cried "Prithvi jaldi kuch karo."
"Hey bhagwan..... ha Sanyogita mein koshish hi kar raha hu..... " He found one knot, but it was too tight.
Those people who were coming near well, were finding Ishanya and Karan. They stopped on their way to talk to two men on the way. But, Sanyogita saw, two women were staring them. "Woh yehi dekh rahi hai, yeh toh..... " She looked at Prithvi, who had closed his eyes and was was concentrating hard on the knots. Looking at him some feeling brusted in her mind. She found him as charming as she had found him when she first saw him and could not stop herself from staring him.
"Kya hua?" Prithvi asked opening his eyes.
"Kuch nahi." She ignored her thoughts and again looked towards her left and pushed the rope.
"Jaldi karo."
"Ha ha kar raha hu. Yeh bachhe bhi naa..... Payal ne inhe bilkul apne jaisa banaya hai."
Sanyogita stopped struggling and looked at him "Payal ko bahot achhi tarah se jaanane lage ho tum."
Prithvi quickly understood what was in her mind. Not again, he thought. He brought his hands in front and waving them said "Dekho Sanyogita tum Payal ki baaton mein bilkul vishwas mat karna. Woh jaan bujke tumhe sab aaisa waisa suna rahi hai, mere bare mein."
"Woh aaisa kyun karegi? Aur woh toh tumhe janti hi nahi."
"Woh janti ....."
"Dekho Prithvi woh hamari saheli hi nahi, hamari choti behen jaisi hai..... aur"
"Ha toh ..... tumhari yeh choti behen....."
"Aur hum uske khilaf kuch nahi sunana chate."
"Mein janta hu woh achhi hai..... mein toh sirf uske irade tumhe....."
"Rehne do hum sab samaj gaye..... "
"Mein nahi janta tum kya samaj rahi ho, par mein kuch bhi jaanbuj ke nahi kar raha....... woh Payal hi sab..."
"Ab hume koi farak nahi padega, Prithvi."
"Kya matlab?"
"Ab hume kya, tum usse dosti badhao....."
"Nahi Sanyogita....."
"tum usse tumhare maqsad ke bare mein sab kuch batao....."
"Kya?? nahi ..... tum Meri "
"Tum kuch bhi karo."
"......baat toh suno....."
"Tum usse pyaar bhi ....."
"Chup ho jao Sanyogita....." saying this, Prithvi placed his right hand on her mouth covering her lips and left hand behind her head. "Chup ho jao."
She became silent instantly. The surrounding too became silent, except for the sound of slowing moving breeze and their breathing. No one was there around yet. People were approaching the well, but were a bit far away.
It seemed two torches near the well began to burn more brightly on their faces. Their shadows were formed on the ground as one single entity. Prithvi did not lift his hands. He gazed in her shining eyes and said "Mein tumhe ek hi baat kehna chahta hu....."
Sanyogita held her breathe. Atmosphere was pleasant, but she was shivering. The way he was looking at her, she found that she was slowly getting lost in his charm. She could feel his warm breathing.
"Maine tumse aur sirf tumse pyaar kiya tha, karta hu aur hamesha karta rahunga." Prithvi said softly. He found expect this there was nothing left with him to tell her. He lost his thread of thoughts in her beautiful eyes.
"Ek nazar dekh le,
Jine ki ijajat de de.
Ruthnewale woh,
pehlisi mohabaat de de.
Ishq masoom hai,
Ilzaam lagane pe naa ja,
Meri nazaron ki taraf dekh,
Jamane pe naa ja."
Cool wind was blowing his hair to one side. He saw, dupatta on her head was struggling to fall down. With the breeze, Sanyogita's hair bud came forward and swayed on Prithvi's right hand. He raised his hand from her lips and pushed her hair bud behind her ear to have an unobstructed view of her face. That bud again came forward, he again tucked it behind her ear. He unintentionally rested his palm on her cheek looking at her lips. Sanyogita, who was staring him without moving her eye lashes, closed her eyes and lowered her head. Her brain had stopped working. Prithvi lifted her face. With his slight touch, she felt like, an electric current has passed through her. She held his hand tighly for support. She moved more close to him and was about to hug him, when...
"Woh dekho ..... woh dono..... phir se shuru ho gaye....."
Hearing these words and sound of the footsteps approaching them, Sanyogita opened her eyes. She shuddered and realized where she was and what she was doing. She brought his hand down quickly. Prithvi lifted his other hand from her head. He saw, she was looking at him and was on the verge of tears.
"Ab phir nahi Prithvi, ab nahi."
Prithvi could not catch what she exactly pointed. He kept quiet, moving his eyes on her face.
"Ek baar aaise hi tumhari baton mein aake, humne dhoka khaya hai." She shook her head "Ab hum tumhare dhoke mein nahi aayenge Prithvi. Koi sapno ki duniya nahi dekhni hume." She blocked her tears.
No.. I did not, I did not betray you, a voice squalled in Prithvi's head. He held her arms, not thightly though "Pehle bhi maine jo kaha woh sach tha, aur aaj bhi sach keh raha hu." He wished to shout as loudly as he could and tell her that he is still innocent and loves her more than anything.
"Bas." She cried.
"Mere dil ki baat tum kyun samaj nahi pa rahi ho?" he said each word heavily, with low voice.
"Hamare liye sari duniya chodne ka vaada kiya aur dusre din hi, hume thukarake Delhi ko apnaya tumne."
"Mein tumhe pehle bhi keh chuka hu woh meri majburi thi."
"Juth..."
"Zakhmi aur behoshi ke halat mein nanaji ne mujhse Delhi sambhalne ko kaha, mein unhe inkaar kaise karta?"
"Maharaj Anagpal toh hamare pitaji ko Delhi saupna chahte the, jo tumne chhina hai unse."
"Nahi, yeh sach nahi hai, maine kuch nahi chhina hai."
"Issi Delhi ke liye, Ajmer mein sabke samne hamare pitaji ka aapmaan kiya tumne."
"Apmaan maine kiya ya tumhare pitaji ne nanaji ka kiya, yeh jake puchho tum apne pitajise. Aur tumhe lagta hai mein aaisa karunga Sanyogita? Kya itna hi jaan payi tum mujhe?"
Sanyogita did not say anything further, but simply stared in his eyes which were reflecting truth, pain,love everything.
"Bade besharam hai yeh dono toh."
Prithvi and Sanyogita looked around. Ten to twelve men and women were circling them.
"Bhai hadd hoti hai." said one man pointing his hand at them and looking at everyone around.
"Yeh tum dono thik nahi kar rahe ho." said other aged man.
"Hua kya?" Prithvi asked truthfully. He was still holding her arms.
"Yeh aaise ..... khule aam....." One long beard man pointed his hand. Prithvi brought his hands down as if he got a shock. Sanyogita lowered her head. They heard giggle of people around.
"Lo..... Hum itne bhi besharam nahi hai." one women came forward and pointed at the rope around them.
Prithvi and Sanyogita looked down. They completely forgot about the rope with which they were tied together. Prithvi realised he was so close to Sanyogita that he could feel her uneasiness and every movement. He tried to keep distance between him and her. They felt completely embrassed in front of everbody around and avoided eye contact with everyone.
Sanyogita again started pushing the rope. Prithvi quickly took his hands behind and tried to release the knot. He could not find out why it was taking him so long to find and release a simple knot. It was appearent that they were trying to untie themselves and struggling hard, but no one came forward to help them. Some women giggled silently even more, keeping duppatta on their mouth.
"Kyun ri chori" same women continued keeping her hand on waist. "kuch laaj livaj hai ki nahi tumhe? Ya shadi ke baat sab bhul gayi?" she tried to shut her smile.
"Jo aap samaj rahe hai waisa kuch nahi hai." Prithvi said pushing the rope.
Prithvi found this strange. No one bothered to untie them and were treating them as if they had committed a serious crime. What did they do yet?
"Shradhha chachi..... Woh... humne kuch nahi kiya....." Sanyogita looked around. She saw bade dadaji, oldest man in the function, standing with his hands folded and looking at her.
"Yeh rasii...... Ishu aur Karan ne......" There was panic in her voice and tensed look on her face. She looked at Prithvi for answer.
"Dekhiye" Prithvi raised his voice. "Woh do bachhe, Ishu aur Karan, uhnone hume yu bandha hai."
"Hai hai, ab ilzaam hamare bachon pe dal rahe ho. Weh bhala aaisa kyun karenge?" Said Shradhha chachi holding her chin.
"Ha aur Ishu bechara toh kho gaya hai...... pata hai abhi tak nahi mila woh." said other women.
"Woh kahi khoya nahi hai, woh yehi hai, abhi abhi yehi tha." Prithvi said.
Why these people doesn't think logically? How could they tie themselves like that? Or are they just finding a reason to pull their legs?
"Dekho toh bhabhi....." One short man said "Apni galti ka ilzaam bachon pe dal rahe hai."
"Humne koi galti nahi ki."
"Toh yaha, yu, kya kar rahe thhe tum dono? Sab kuch dekh rahe the hum." said Shradhha chachi converting her smile into angry face. Others were gigling more.
Prithvi looked at Sanyogita wondered what they saw. This was true. For a milisecond even he was lost. He had no track of time or place. He lowered his eyes and Sanyogita did the same.
"Iss baat ki jara bhi parvah nahi ke, yaha hamare bade bujurg hai, bachhe hai. Kya asar hoga bachon pe?"
"Kyun beti?? Yehi sanskar mile hai tumhe?
"Bata de tumhare gharwalon ko? Waise kaha hai tumhare gharwale."
"Woh maya......." someone continued.
Sanyogita was literally shivering. She softly whispered in Prithvi's ear "Maya maa ko yeh baat pata nahi chalni chahiye." Prithvi looked at her. "Weh janti hai hum shadishuda nahi hai."
How could they explain everyone. According to them, they are couple, yet what they were doing was wrong and Maya Maa knows the truth. What will she think if these people complained her? And if these people came to know the truth, that they aren't husband wife, how would they react?
"Khama kha badnami ho jayegi." Sanyogita continued.
Prithvi being determined, took his hand back and this time succeded in releasing knot and untieing him with her. They moved apart. Others simply stood watching them.
"Yaha hum Santoshi maa ka utsaav manane aaye hai, aur tum dono..... " that short man said seriously.
"Hume maf kar do." Sanyogita said softly Keeping her head down.
"Iss utsaav ke kuch kayade kanun hai." Bade dadaji spoke for the first time. He came forward. Sanyogita respected him a lot; she moved one step back and bowed her head down.
"Tumhe dekh aur log kuch aaisa naa kare, isliye yaha ke niyamon ke anusaar tum dono ko saja milegi."
"Saja??" Prithvi repeated after him and wondered. In his life, he was never punished.
"Humne kuch..... dadajij aap...... " Sanyogita tried but couldn't explain them. How could she, when even she was finding reasons?
Prithvi thought better to apologize and cease this issue.
Looking around he said "Hum mafi mangate hai, dubara aaisa nahi hoga."
"Par saja toh tumhe milegi hi." said Shradhha chachi.
"Kaisi saja?" Prithvi asked.
"Aaj raat sangeet aur bhajan ke waqt sab milke taay karenge."
"Saja se bachne ke liye Kahi bhag mat jana iske saath."
Everyone luaghed.
Prithvi glanced at Sanyogita. She turned her face and was finding a way to move out.
"Yaha ke kuch kayade kanun hai, jo tumhe ab pata chal jayenge." said the oldest man.
"Saja pane ke liye tayyar ho naa tum dono?"
Prithvi looked around. All were reading his expressions. Now what these people will make them do? How can he engaged himself in this stuff? He has to find about his enemy. He even couldn't reveal his true identity to them. He suddenly remembered he has to check whether security in that place was good enough, for that he has to meet Maha mantri.
"Mujhe aur bhi bahot kaam hai." He was trying hard to convince them.
"Abhi abhi toh koi kaam nahi tha tumhe, bahane mat banao."
"Aap samaj kyun nahi rahe hai, mein bahane nahi bana raha hu, mujhe sach mein..... mujhe maha matri se bhi kaam hai."
All were smiling at him.
"Kya aap mein se koi mujhe bata sakta hai, maha mantri ka tambu kaha hai?" He asked people around.
"Pehle bolo..... saja manjur hai?"
"Ha..." Prithvi replied instinctly. He was not able to explain himself and his situation. "Manjur hai..."
Sanyogita turned at him sharply and moved out of the circle with quick steps.
"Jiske liye yaha aai ho, woh kaam toh pura karo beti." Shradhha chachi said laughing.
Sanyogita turned back. She was confused, why she came there? "Pani ka matka toh leti ja." said one woman. Sanyogita did not move.
Shradhha chachi came near Prithvi and said "Jao usse matka de do."
Prithvi took the pot and went near Sanyogita and handed it to her.
She took it and without looking at him said "Humse dur rehna tum. Aur ho sake toh chale jao yaha se."
"Ha aur tum bhi......." Prithvi replied. He again felt annoyed.
Sanyogita went away wearing the same guilt cum tensed looks on her face.
Prithvi thought for no reason, these people were troubling him. He had other important work to do yet. "Ab mujhe koi batayega maha mantri ka tambu kaha hai?" he raised his voice.
"Mandir ke piche ke raste pe tisra tambu." Shraddha chachi replied.
"Dhanyavad." Saying this he walked away. He heard people laughing behind him.
The bald man named Madan and his two men behind him enter the tent which was on the boundary.
"Yaha toh koi nahi hai madanji." They found the tent empty.
"Kaha chale gaye sab ke sab." Madan moved in the tent. "Kisi ek ko har waqt yaha rukne ko kaha gaya tha."
One of the two men looked out and said "Kahi hamare dusre jagah pe toh nahi baithe honge?"
"Par yeh jagah khali kaise? Kahi aaisa toh nahi hamare dushmanoko hamare bare mein pata chal gaya ho?" Madan looked tensed.
"Yaha kuch gadbad lag rahi hai mujhe." When he observed carefully, he found someone had searched their tent.
"Hamare logon ne Delhi ke jasuson ko pehchaan liya hoga, unse jal se jald milna hoga hume."
"Par Madanji weh gaye kaha?"
"Kya unke aane tak hume yehi rukake unka intazaar karna hoga."
Madan turned at them and said "Intazaar ke liye waqt kaha hai hamare pass. Yaha koi aur hai jo hamari madat kar raha hai, mein usse milke aata hu." He spotted a red color turban on the ground. He picked it and wore it on his hairless head.
"Tum dono hamare dusre jagah pe jao, aur dekho hamare log waha hai ya nahi." said Madan adjusting the turban.
"Mujhe dar hai kahi..... kahi, delhi ke jasuson ne unhe maar toh nahi dala."
"Agar yeh baat hai toh, toh ab weh log hoshiyaar rahenge."
"Aur unhe humare baare mein bhi pata chal gaya hoga?"
"Nahi!!!!!" Madan shouted. He went near one of them. They frightened.
"Aaisa nahi ho, mujhe sirf kamayabi chahiye samjhe tum." He went near the door. "Aur iske liye mein kisi bhi hadd tak ja sakta hu. Jarurat padi toh kal tak main hi unhe dhund ke unhe khatam kar dunga."
He streched his hands sideways on the door frame. "Agar hum unhe nahi pehchaante, toh woh bhi toh hume nahi pehchante. Par hamare saath koi aur bhi hai jo unhe pehchanta hoga hi. Hum usase milke aate hai."
"Mujhe bas bas itni hi phikar lagi hai maha mantriji." Prithvi told Maha mantri.
He visited Maha mantri's tent and complained about the theft happened in this tent and repeatedly asked him whether the security around the camp is well built up. There was one more guy in the tent who was busy reading some letters and did not pay attention towards them.
Maha mantri, though he appeared quiet tensened, had maintained a calm posture. He was in his formal suit and a turban on head. He had a long white beard.
"Sab thik toh hai naa?" Prithvi again assured from him, while observing him.
"Bilkul sab thik...... suraksha yaha kal se dugni kar di hai. Yeh Jeevan yaha ke suraksha pe kadi nazar rakhe hue hai." Maha mantri pointed at the person who was busy reading letters.
He looked up at Prithvi and Maha mantri when his name was called. He kept letters aside, got up and walked towards Prithvi. "Lakshman ji aap bephikar rahiye, hamare saath yaha ke sarpanch bhi yaha ke logon ke suraksha pe jyada dyan de rahe hai."
"Par sarpanch toh kahi bahar... " Prithvi indirectly tried to tell him where sarpanch is but Jeevan cut him off "Sarpanch kisi kaam ke liye bahaar gaye the ab wapas aa gaye, meri abhi abhi unse baat hui hai."
"Yeh achii baat hai."
"Mukhya dwar par bhi sainik nazar rakhe hue hai, aur baki har jagah phaile hue hai."
"Aur mandir mein?" Prithvi asked.
"Ab aander sainik rakhe toh logon ko shak ho jayega ke kuch gadbad hai."
"Matlab kuch gadbad hai toh?" Prithvi asked.
"Nahi bhai koi gadbad nahi hai, sab thik hai, humpe yakeen kijiye aap." Jeevan felt irritate as well as he swallowing hard glancing at maha mantri.
"Aappe pura yakeen hai hume, bas...."
"Aapko phikar karni ki koi jarurat nahi hai, aap nishint hoke utsaav ka aanad uthaiye." said Maha mantri.
"Ha anand toh hume aa raha hai, humne suna kal koi rajgharano ke log yaha aa rahe hai?"
Prithvi said rubbing his hands.
"Ab Seetapur Nagaon mein hai, toh nagaon ke maharaj hi aayenge." said Jeevan.
"Achha par......."
"Ha pehle woh nahi aanewale the par unka faisla badal gaya hai. Weh kal aa rahe hai." replied Jeevan. Prithvi did not know this.
Before he put forward his next question, Jeevan turned at Maha mantri and said "Maha mantriji ab mujhe aadyna dijiye, mein chalta hu mujhe kuch kaam hai." Saying this he nodded his head at maha mantri. Maha mantri nodded back. Jeevan left the tent from back door. Prithvi watched him going.
Maha mantri appeared more worried. "Aur bhi kuch janna hai aapko?" He rudely asked Prithvi.
"Nahi bas yehi sunana tha ji hume ke yaha sab thik hai. Achha chalte hai hum." Prithvi was about to leave when Madan appeared at the door of tent. He was wearing red turban.
"Maha mantriji, kya hum andar aa sakte hai?" He asked.
Maha mantri looked at him and as if recognized him at once, asked instinctly "Ab kya aur tambu ki jarurat hai aapko?"
Madan came inside and tried to smile "Nahi maha mantriji, hum toh bas."
He stopped looking at Prithvi.
"Toh koi jaruri baat hai?" asked maha mantri staring him.
Madan and Prithvi stared each other for a second or two. Madan then again turned at maha mantri and said "Aap se milne aaye hai hum." He moved near them and kept quite.
There was silence. Mana mantri looked at Prithvi, then at him and back at Prithvi.
"Achha toh hum chalte hai." Prithvi broke the silence. He glanced at Maha mantri who did not reply back and also at Madan and moved out. Behind him, he heard Madan speaking "Apne Hasmukhlalji kahi dikhayi nahi de rahe hai. Hum unse ....."
********************* End of Part 12 **********************
Please Note: I have used one old hindi song composition in the script.
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