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Hey guys!🤗 I am here with an os as my gift to apeksha and rinal on their birthdays. Since, it is a surprise, i guess you must go straight to reading it. 😃 😉
HUMDARD
It was a dark evening all thanks to the dark clouds that had flooded the sky. The loud thundering sounds were so fierce that they could instill terror in the hearts of even the mighty.
However, even after sunset, there was that woman who still stood unafraid, looking up into the skies. It was kunwarani ajabde, who had dropped up at the window of the cottage,where she now lived to behold a terrible storm approaching. But, not a single line of fear was visible on her face-her now expressionless face because this storm was nothing against the one they had faced. Clear cut memories of that storm-that great war against the invading mughals made their way to her and the very thought of them, made her tremble and shake from inside and the only thing she wanted was to forget them or wipe them off and drown them away into some river,so that they couldn't find their way back. But that was the very thing she couldn't do because it just wasn't possible.
A month had already passed after that doomed day in the history of mewar, when its pride chittor, fell into the arms of the enemy.It is said-"Time heals all wounds".But this one wound that had inflicted itself upon their hearts was so deep that even time was incapable of devouring and lessening it.Nothing had changed since then-that same pain, that anxiety, that enormous fear and heart break.
But then, there had been that one person who had managed to stand upright like a mountain in the storm. Kunwar pratap,the yuvraj of mewar. He had managed to retain his infinite hope, courage and determination even in this difficult time and had inspired and motivated them all to work day in and day out. To burn the midnight oil towards the building of a new capital for themselves. The common citizens had accepted him as their leader in this tedious task, which indeed would have been impossible without him and they all worked together diligently, as one man, under his able leadership.
He, along with his beloved wife ajabde and family were now living a simple life in a decent cottage, near village gogunda where they struggled to make both ends meet. While ajab worked hard all day, to help her family ,kp worked no less in the open grounds, manually lifting heavy stones and bricks and guiding all the others. He left off early, even before she was awake and returned very late and by that time, ajab would be fast asleep, being thoroughly exhausted with the day's work. So, she had seen very little of her husband in the past month.
Though the world might think, kp's courage could never be challenged by anyone and he never lost it for the past few months, the truth was that he himself had housed a storm of emotions within and had lost the courage, even to face his own wife and ajab knew it. She tried hard not to fall prey to her tiredness and not to fall asleep but had failed miserably at it-however hard she tried.
But today was different and she knew the thunder and lightening were enough to keep her awake. Besides, the wind outside, was cool and soothing and she realized that her tiredness was now all gone. She put amar to sleep early that day and then decided to prepare a delicious supper for her husband when he returned back from a long day and to serve it hot so that she could see that cute and mesmerizing smile and this time extra wide, on his handsome face, she now longed for. While everyone was now in their dreams, she went into the small kitchen in the house and prepared some soft chappatis and his favourite daal and some potato sabzi.
Soon she heard the hooves of a horse, coming nearer and nearer and as she finished making the last one of those chappatis, she ran to the door and stood waiting.
As she had expected before, it was him, on his spotless white horse chetak,all tired and sweating,even in that cold weather. When she saw her at the door, he was surprised but then, somehow, he just couldn't muster the courage to look up at her. So, trying hard not to look at her and into those beautiful eyes, he said.
Kp:Ajab,aap?Aap soyi nahi ab tak?
Ajab:Nahi kp. Aaj humne socha ki hum aapki pratiksha karein.
Kp:Kintu aap, aap thak gayi hongi. Jayiye, jakar aap so jayiye ab.
Ajab:Toh kya aap nahi thake kp? Aapke chehre par saaf dikh raha hai kp, aapki thakan. Jayiye, aap mooh-haath dho lijiye. Hum abhi aapka bhojan lagate hain.
Kp:Kintu,humare mann nahi hai bhojan karne ka. Humme neend aa rahi hai, isliye hum ab kaksh mein jaa rahe hain sone.
Ajab:Nahi kp, humne aaj aapki pasand ka bhojan banaya hai.Aapko khana hi padega.
Kp:Thik hai, jaisa aap kahein.
Soon, kp changed, freshened up and was back in their room, where she served him the steaming hot food. It felt as if kp had tasted such food after ages and he applied all his might to try and smile, but that smile which ajab was expecting, seemed to be miles away from kp's face. In fact, he still couldn't develop that eye contact with her.
Ajab:Kp,aapko bhojan kaisa laga?
Kp(trying to fix his eyes only on the food):Accha hai ajabde. Bahut hi swadisht.
After that none of them could speak or utter a word to the other.
Soon it began to rain.The drizzle outside had a sudden impact on their hearts.
Ajab:Aaj aisa lag raha hai jaise saara sansar ro raha ho.
Kp:Dekhiye toh ajab humari durdasha, hum toh ro bhi nahi sakte.
Ajab:Kp aap... (noticing that he was still unable to face her)aap humari aor dekhiye.
Kp:Nahi ajabde. Hum nahi dekh sakte. Hum aapse aankhein nahi mila sakte.
Ajab:Nahi kp, aapko ye karna hi hoga. Hum ye toh nahi jante ki aap aisa kyun kar rahe hain, kintu hum pichle kuch dino mein itna toh samajh hi gayein hain ki aap humse aankhein chura rahe hain. Kyun kp, kyun?
Kp:Kyunki hum aapke apradhi hain. Aur apradh bodh ke tale humne aapse aankhein milane ya baat tak karne ka adhikar kho diya hai.
Ajab:Nahi kp, aapne koi apradh nahi kiya hai. (turning his forcefully face towards her)Aur aap koi apradh kar bhi nahi sakte. Hum jante hain.
Kp:(still unable to look into her eyes)Apne pati ke prem mein, aapne apni aankhon par bhi patti bandh li hai. Aapko humara apradh dikh hi nahi raha. (with tears) Aap humme jo saza dena chahein, de sakti hain. Hum usse prasannata poorvak sweekar karenge.
Ajab(with tears rolling down her cheeks):Nahi kp, aapne koi apradh nahi kiya hai. Aur hum aapko kabhi koi saza nahi denge.
Kp:Nahi ajabde, humne kiya hai apradh. Hum aapke bhai patta ki mrityu ka karan hain. Aur unn sab logon ki mrityu ka bhi jinhone chittor ke liye apne praan nyauchavar kiye hain. (bursting out)Sab kuch humare karan hua hai, sab kuch. Yadi uss din hum patta ki chaal mein nahi aaye hote toh ye sab kabhi nahi hota. Kabhi bhi nahi. Ya toh chittor aaj humare haath mein hota ya phir hum bhi unn sabke saman veergati ko prapt ho jaate. Kam se kam jeevan bhar iss apradh bodh mein toh nahi jeena padta humme.
Ajab:Nahi kp, aisa mat kahiye. Mat kahiye. (wiping her tears)Humme toh garv hai apne bhai patta par. Unki veerta par.Aur jo kuch bhi hua, usme aapka koi dosh nahi. Bhala aap swayam ko iss sab ke liye kaise zimedar maan sakte hain? Nahi bilkul nahi. Aur ye toh vidhi ka vidhan hai, har vyakti ko mrityu aani hi hoti hai.Aur jisko mrityu yuddhbhumi mein aaye vo toh atyant bhagyashali hota hai. Vo vyakti toh sada sada ke liye amar ho jata hai. Isliye, hum toh bahut prasanna hain. Haan bahut, dekhiye kitne prasanna hain hum(faking a smile)Aur aap iske baad apni mrityu ki baat kabhi apni jihwa par layiyega bhi mat, samjhe? Aur isme apradh bodh jaisi koi baat nahi. Hum sabko unke liye prasanna hona chahiye. Aur aaj ve sabhi veerjan bhi dekhiyega iss baat se awashya hi prasanna honge ki aap ab bhi jeevat hain. Aur aap nishchit roop se chittor ko vapas jeet lenge.Humme poora vishwas hai aap par.
Kp:Ajabde,ab aap humse aankhein chura rahi hain. Humme dekhkar boliye. Kya aapko sachmuch koi dukh nahi hai apne bhai ki mrityu ka?
This was enough for ajab to burst out, the cracker of painful feelings within.
Ajab:Kunwar pratap, humare bhai patta!(crying out loud)They toh ve keval kehne ke liye humare bhai. Kintu ek sagey bhai se badhkar they ve humare liye. Har saal jo rakhi humne bandhi hai unki kalayi par, uss rakhi ke badle mein na jane kya kuch nahi kiya hai humare liye. Har baar har mushkil mein saath diya hai humara aur sadaiv raksha ki hai unhone humari. Sach kahein toh, humara jeevan adhura lagta hai unke bina. Aur aaj jab ve nahi rahe tab bhi ,unhone mrityu ko gale lagane se poorva bhi humare aur humare suhaag ki raksha ki. Hum sada ke liye unke kritagya ho gayein hain. Na jaane hum kaise chuka payenge unka har ek ehsaan. Ishwar se humari bas yahi prarthana hai ki humme har janam mein aisa hi bhai mile. (again trying to compose herself) Par mrityu toh sabko ek na ek din aani hi hoti haina? Aur hum bahut prasanna hain ki unhe ye su avasar prapt hua, apni mathrubhumi ke liye apne praan dene ka.
Kp:Ajab,kya aap humme apne iss bhai ki mrityu ka karan hone ke liye kshama kar sakti hain?
Ajab:Kaisi kshama kp? Hum keh chuke hain aapse ki aapka isme koi bhi dosh nahi hai.
Kp(hugging her tight and crying all his heart out):Ajabde, kya dajiraj humme kabhi bhi kshama kar payenge, kyunki hum unke sabse priya mitra ki mrityu ka karan hain? Kya chotima, apne dajiraj rao surtan ji ki mrityu ke liye humme kshama kar payengi? Aur kya rawatji ki putri kabhi humare mukh bhi dekhna chahengi? Aur aap, aapke bhi toh mamusa they na vo?
Kya hum kabhi bhi jaimalji, kalla, dondiyaji aur issardasji ke parijanon se aankhein mila payenge? Aur kya hum kabhi swayam se bhi aankhein mila payenge ajabde? Isse toh humara veergati ko prapt ho jana hi behtar tha.
Ajab:(covering his mouth)Bas kijiye aap. Aisa mat kahiye. Bina soche samjhe kuch bhi kahe ja rahein hain aap. Kya hum jee payenge aapke bina? Hum aur kitni baar aapse kahein ki aapka iss sabme koi bhi dosh nahi hai. Aur inn sab logon ko aapse koi shikayat nahi hai. Jab aapka koi dosh hi nahi hai, toh aap bhala kshama kyun mangenge? Aap toh inn sabki ummeed hain. Aur sabko aapse apeksha hai ki aap inn sab logon ka balidan vyartha nahi jane denge. Aap chittor ko punah haasil kar lenge aur uss krur mughal ko mooh tod jawab denge. Aur humme vishwas hai aap par. Hum jante hain ki aap pichle kuch dino se apna saara dukh apne andar samete hue hain. Aur aapko unn sabki takat banna hai. Kintu aaj jee bhar kar ro lijiye kp. Jee bhar kar ro lijiye.
She hugged him tight and they both sobbed together letting out all the pain they felt together.
Later she sat down on the bed and he lay on her lap, just like a little kid and continued to reminisce those memories that were beautiful and agonizing at the same time.
Kp:Ajabde,humme aaj bhi yaad hai, hum keval panch varsha ke they jab rawatji humme jungle mein apne saath aakhet par le gaye they. Ve kaha karte they ki aakhet par har pal apni nazarein chaukanni aur hathiyaar par pakad mazboot. Humare chote se haathon ko pakadkar unhone humme talwar chalana sikhaya, lakshya bhedna sikhaya. (in a heavy overwhelmed voice) Aur aaj ye sochna ki ab ve humare beech nahi rahe. (wiping his tears)Aaj hum jo kuch bhi hain, keval unki vajah se hain ajabde. Yadi ve nahi hote toh... (in tears)toh pata nahi hum kahan hote.
Ajabde:Jeevan bhar ka prem keval kuch varshon mein diya hai mamusa ne humme. Kabhi ye ehsaas hi nahi hone apne mama nahi hain.
Kp:Aur patta, pata nahi itna ghanisht mitra humme dobara kabhi mil payega ya nahi. Apne iss mitra ke liye kuch bhi karne ko tatpar... ashwapalak samajh liya tha unhone humme (wanting to laugh and cry at the same time)Iss choti si umar mein unki deshbhakti ke toh kya kehne...
Rav Surtan ji, humare sagey nanaji toh nahi they kintu har baar itna sneh kiya. Jab bhi humme unki awashyakta hui, ve sadaiv they humare paas. (trying hard to stop his tears roll down his cheeks)Dondiyaji aur issar dasji, ye toh humara aur mewar ka saubhagya hai ki humme inke saman veer yoddhaon ka sahyog mila. Kalla, veer toh ye they hi par har paristhiti mein ,har yuddha mein uddand aur aniyantrit ho jana aur bina soche-samjhe kuch bhi karna(trying to smile) kuch-kuch aise hi they hum bhi, bachpan mein. Par ek bahut acche mitra bhi siddha hue hain ve humare. Aur jaimalji,unki veerta aur yogyata ki prashansa mein toh humare shabd bhi kam pad jayein.Bahut kuch sikha hai humne unse. Unke kushal netritv ke karan hi hum kayi dino tak mughalon ko apne durg se door rakh paye. (all emotional again)Aur humara durg, humara chittor. Kitni saari yaadein judi hui hain humari isse. Humara bachpan, humare bhai behenon ke saath vo saare khel, phir vo yuddha aur shams khan par vijay.Humare acharya ji, gurukul, vo sab kuch. Afghano ke virruddh vo saare yuddha. Aur haan ,hum dono ka vivah, gauna, sabkuch. Aur kunwar amar ka janma bhi. (weeping again) Sabkuch sabkuch hai chittor humare liye. Kabhi nahi bhool payenge ajabde. Kabhi bhi nahi.
Ajab too wanted to wail and cry but she knew she had to be strong at the moment. She could cry,very well when she was alone. But this was the only time he could cry, because at others he needed to be the strength of his people and now she had to become his strength and console him.
Ajab:Shaant ho jayiye kp. Bas.
She slowly wiped his tears and patted him lovingly. She sang a soothing lullaby, putting that baby in her lap to a peaceful sleep after months. It was midnight and outside, the rain had stopped and the storm had subsided.
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Okay, mujhe maaf karna agar main tum dono ko apne birthday par rula doon. 😛 But i can't help it. I am hoping that i did justice to this sensitive topic and story. I myself don't know why i am naming it 'humdard' but i just can't think of any other title. Please feel free to suggest any other title if you want. 😳 The thing is that i am a little unwell today and i don't know what happened but my neck was paining a lot. I took some medicines and now it is better. 😊 But only because of that did i get the time to write this story today. 😛
Chalo now, please read and review. 😉
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