Author: Jaya

By Radharani Das

All entries to our IML Day Drive are licensed under CC BY 3.0

অনেক দিন আগে এক রাজার ছিল এক সুন্দর ফলের বাগান আর সেই বাগানে ছিল একটি সুন্দর সোনার আপেল ফলের গাছ. ওই আপেল গুলোকে গুনে রাখা হতো, কিন্তু দেখা গেল যখনই ওই আপেল পেকে যেত প্রতি রাতেই একটি করে আপেল হারিয়ে যাচ্ছে. তা দেখে রাজামশাই খুবই রেগে গেলেন এবং বাগানের রক্ষক মালিকে নির্দেশ দিলেন সারা রাত বাগানে পাহারা দিতে. মালি তখন তার বড় পুত্রকে বাগান পাহারায় নিযুক্ত করলো. কিন্তু মাঝরাতে বড় পুত্র গভীর ঘুমে অচেতন হয়ে পরে. যথারীতি সে রাতেও আরো একটি সোনার আপেল চুরি হয়ে গেল. পরবর্তী রাতে মালি তার দ্বিতীয় পুত্রকে পাহারায় পাঠালো. কিন্তু মাঝরাতে দ্বিতীয় পুত্রও গভীর ঘুমে অচেতন হয়ে পরে এবং সে রাতেও সোনার আপেল চুরি যায়. ভীত-সন্ত্রস্ত মালি তখন অজানা আশঙ্কায় তার তৃতীয় পুত্রকে বাগান পাহারায় পাঠাতে সম্মত হলো না. কিন্তু যা হোক উপায়ান্তর না দেখে শেষ পর্যন্ত সে রাজি হয়ে গেল. যথা সময়ে তৃতীয় পুত্র আপেল গাছের নিচে শুয়ে সময়ের প্রতিখ্খা করতে লাগলো. ঠিক ঘড়িতে বারোটা বাজার সাথে সাথেই সে শুনতে পেল বাতাসে শন শন আওয়াজ আর তার পরেই দেখতে পেল একটি সোনার পাখি সশব্দে ডানা মেলে উড়ে এসেছে. সেই সোনার পাখিটি সোনার আপেল ফল তার ঠোঁট দিয়ে কেটে নিতে উদ্যত হলো. সঙ্গে সঙ্গে মালির তৃতীয় পুত্র সচকিত হয়ে লাফিয়ে উঠে পাখিটির দিকে সজোরে তীর ছুড়ে মারলো. কিন্তু তীরটি পাখিটিকে বিদ্ধ্ করতে পারল না. কেবল মাত্র একটি সোনার পালক পাখিটির লেজ থেকে খসে পড়ল আর পাখিটি উড়ে পালিয়ে গেল. পরদিন সকালে ওই পাখির খসে পড়া সোনার পালকটি রাজদরবারে রাজা এবং সভাসদগনের সামনে রাখা হলো. সবাই একমত হয়ে বললেন যে ওই সোনার পালকটির কাছে রাজকোষের সমস্ত সম্পদই নগন্য. তখন রাজা মশাই ঘোষণা করলেন, “পাখিটির একটি মাত্র পালক যথেষ্ট নয় আমার জন্য, আমি সেই সোনার পাখিটিকে পেতে চাই”.

রাজার ঘোষণা অনুযায়ী মালির বড় পুত্র সোনালী পাখির সন্ধানে যাত্রা শুরু করলো. সে ভাবলো যে কাজটি অতি সহজেই সম্ভব হবে. অল্প কিছুদুর যাবার পর সে একটি গভীর বনে এসে পৌছলো. অদুরেই দেখতে পেল একটি শেয়াল আপন মনে বসে আছে. শেয়ালটিকে দেখতে পেয়েই সে তাকে তীরবিদ্ধ করতে চাইলে শেয়ালটি তার সঙ্গে কথা বলতে শুরু করলো, “আমাকে প্রাণে মেরো না; আমি জানি যে তুমি সোনালী পাখির উদ্দেশ্যেই এখানে এসেছ. আমার কথা শোন. এখান থেকে রওনা হয়ে সন্ধ্যার মধ্যেই তুমি একটি গ্রামে পৌছে যাবে. ওখানে পৌছে তুমি দুটো পরস্পর মুখোমুখি সরাইখানা দেখতে পাবে. একটি সরাইখানা অতি সুন্দর ও আরামদায়ক. তুমি সেখানে যাবে না. বরং উল্টো দিকের নোংরা ও অপেখ্কাকৃত অপরিছন্ন সরাইখানাটিতেই আশ্রয় নেবে.” কিন্তু মালির বড়পুত্র ভাবলো, “এই তুচ্ছ প্রাণীটি এত সব জানবে কি করে?” এই চিন্তা করেই সে শেয়ালের দিকে তীর ছুড়ে মারলো. কিন্তু তীরটি শেয়ালের গায়ে লাগলো না এবং সে লেজ গুটিয়ে গভীর বনে পালিয়ে গেল. বড়পুত্রটি তারপর পথ চলতে চলতে সন্ধ্যা ছুইছুই সেই গ্রামটিতে পৌছে গেল যেখানে পাশাপাশি দুটো সরাইখানা অবস্থিত. সে লক্ষ্য করলো, একটি সরাইখানাতে পান-ভোজন ও নৃত্য-গীত চলছে এবং অপরটির পরিবেশ নিরানন্দ ও মলিন. সে ভাবলো, “যদি আমি এই আনন্দের পরিবেশ ছেড়ে নোংরা ও নিরানন্দ স্থানটিতে যাই তাহলে তা বুদ্ধিমানের কাজ হবে না.” এই ভেবে সে বিলাসবহুল সরাইখানাটিতে গিয়ে মনের সুখে পান-ভোজনে মগ্ন হয়ে পড়ল. ভুলে গেল নিজের দেশ ও সোনালী পাখির কথা.

দীর্ঘ সময় বয়ে চলল. যখন বড়পুত্রের বাড়ি ফেরার আর কোনো সম্ভাবনা দেখা গেল না, তখন দ্বিতীয়পুত্র সোনালী পাখির সন্ধানে যাত্রা শুরু করলো. পথে যেতে যেতে সেও যথারীতি শেয়ালের দেখা পেল ও তার পরামর্শ শুনলো. কিন্তু যখন সে দুটো সরাইখানার কাছাকাছি এলো, সে বড় ভাইকে উজ্জ্বল সরাইখানাটির জানালার পাশে দাড়িয়ে থাকতে দেখল. সেই সরাইখানার হাসি-গান-আনন্দের শব্দ শুনে সেও ওই বিলাসবহুল সরাইখানাতে ঢুকে পড়ল. ফলে সেও বড়ভাইয়ের মত নাচ-গান-আনন্দে আত্মহারা হয়ে সোনালী পাখি ও তার নিজের দেশের কথা ভুলে গেল.
এভাবে দীর্ঘ বছর অতিক্রান্ত হয়ে গেল. মালির দুই ছেলের কোনো খোঁজ পাওয়া গেল না. এবারে ছোটছেলে সোনালী পাখির সন্ধানে পৃথিবী পরিক্রমায় যেতে চাইল. কিন্তু স্নেহশীল পিতা তাকে অজানা আশঙ্কায় কোথাও যেতে দিতে চাইলেন না. যাইহোক সেও শেষপর্যন্ত সোনালী পাখির সন্ধানে যাত্রা শুরু করলো. যাত্রা শুরুতে সেও কিছুদুর গিয়ে যথারীতি বনের ধরে পৌছালো, শেয়ালের সাথে তার দেখো হলো এবং তার সুপরামর্শ মনোযোগ দিয়ে শুনলো. কিন্তু অন্য দুই ভাইয়ের মত সে শেয়ালের সাথে কোনো বিরূপ আচরণ করলো না. তখন শেয়াল তাকে বলল, “আমার লেজ শক্ত করে ধরে বস, আমি তোমাকে দ্রুত তোমার গন্তব্যস্থানে নিয়ে যাব.” ছোটছেলে শেয়ালের কথা মত কাজ করল এবং শেয়ালও তাকে নিয়ে বাতাসের মত তীব্র গতিতে পাহাড়-পর্বত অতিক্রম করে ছুটে চলল.

তারপর ওরা সেই গ্রামটিতে পৌছালো এবং শেয়ালের পরামর্শ অনুযায়ী ছোট ছেলে নোংরা ও অপরিছন্ন সরাইখানায় আরাম করে রাত কাটিয়ে দিল. সকাল বেলায় শেয়াল আবার এলো এবং যাত্রা শুরু করার আগে তাকে সব বুঝিয়ে বলতে লাগলো, “এবারে সোজা সামনের দিকে এগিয়ে যেতে হবে. সামনে এগুলেই দেখতে পাবে একটি দুর্গ এবং তাতে একদল সৈন্য নাক ডাকিয়ে গভীর ঘুমে অচেতন. তোমার লক্ষ্য ওরা নয়. তুমি আরো সামনের দিকে এগিয়ে একটি কোঠায় কাঠের খাঁচায় সোনালী পাখিকে দেখতে পাবে. পাখিটির পাশেই দেখতে পাবে আরো একটি সুন্দর সোনার খাঁচা. কিন্তু সাবধান, তুমি পাখিটিকে কাঠের খাঁচার বাইরে বের করে ওই সুন্দর সোনার খাঁচায় ঢোকাবার চেষ্টা কোরবে না. তাহলে তোমাকে এর জন্য পরিনামে আফশোষ ও দুঃখ ভোগ করতে হবে.” এই বলে শেয়াল তার লেজ বিছিয়ে দিল এবং ছোটছেলে তার উপর বসে বাতাসের মত শনশন করে পাহাড়-পর্বত অতিক্রম করে ছুটে চলল.

দুর্গটির দরজায় পৌছে মালিপুত্র চারদিকে তাকিয়ে দেখল শেয়ালের কথা মতই সবকিছু ঠিকঠাক আছে. সে দুর্গে প্রবেশ করলো এবং একটি ঘরে কাঠের খাঁচায় ঝোলানো সোনালী পাখিকে দেখতে পেল. তার নিচে রাখা আছে সুন্দর সোনার খাঁচাটি. আরো লক্ষ্য করলো যে, চুরি যাওয়া তিনটি সোনার আপেলও কাছেই রাখা আছে. সে তখন ভাবলো, “আহা! এমন সুন্দর পাখিটি এমন একটি পুরনো খাঁচায় বড়ই বেমানান.” যেমন ভাবা তেমনি কাজ. সে পুরনো খাঁচাটির দরজা খুলে পাখিটিকে সুন্দর সোনালী খাঁচায় ঢুকিয়ে দিল. আর যায় কোথায়, পাখিটি সজোরে এমন চিত্কার শুরু করে দিল যে সমস্ত সৈন্য বাহিনী জেগে গেল. জেগে উঠেই তারা তাকে বন্দী করে রাজার সামনে হাজির করলো. পরদিন সকালে বিচার সভায় স্থির হলো যে, সে যদি বাতাসের মত তীব্র গতিতে দৌড়তে পারে এমন একটি সোনালী ঘোড়া এনে দিতে পারে তাহলেই তার প্রাণদন্ড মুক্ত করে দেওয়া হবে এবং সে সোনালী পাখিটিকেও নিয়ে যেতে পারবে.

সুতরাং আবারও মালিপুত্র গভীর দুঃখে পথ চলতে লাগলো. হঠাত তার শেয়াল বন্ধুর সাথে দেখা হয়ে গেল. শেয়াল তখন তাকে বলল, “বন্ধু, দেখলে তো আমার উপদেশ না শোনার ফল. যাইহোক মনোযোগ দিয়ে শোনো কিভাবে তুমি সোনালী ঘোড়ার সন্ধান পাবে. এখান থেকে সোজা গিয়ে একটি দুর্গ দেখতে পাবে. তারই ভেতরে আস্তাবলে দাড়িয়ে আছে সুন্দর সোনালী ঘোড়া. ঘোড়ার পাশেই দেখবে গভীর ঘুমে অচেতন সহিস. তুমি চুপিসারে ঘোড়াটিকে নিয়ে বেরিয়ে পড়বে. তবে সাবধান, পুরনো চামড়ার তৈরী আসনটিতেই তুমি বসবে, পাশে রাখা সোনার আসনটি স্পর্শ করবে না.” তারপর শেয়ালের লেজের উপর বসে ওরা বাতাসের মত দুরন্ত বেগে পেরিয়ে গেল অনেক পাহাড় পর্বত. দুর্গে পৌছে মালির ছোটছেলে দেখতে পেল সোনালী আসনের উপর হাত রেখে নাক ডাকিয়ে ঘুমাচ্ছে ঘোড়ার সহিস. কিন্তু ঘোড়ার পিঠে চামড়ার আসন দেখে মালিপুত্রের মনে খুব দয়া হলো. সে ভাবলো, “আমি ঘোড়াটিকে সোনার আসনটিই দেব. সুন্দর সোনার আসনটিই সোনালী ঘোড়ার যোগ্য.” বলাই বাহুল্য, যে মহুর্তে সে সোনার আসনটি স্পর্শ করলো, সঙ্গে সঙ্গে ঘোড়ার রক্ষক ও প্রহরীরা জেগে উঠে তাকে বন্দী করে ফেলল. পরদিন সকালে বিচার সভায় তাকে প্রাণদন্ডে দন্ডিত করা হলো. তবে পরে সকলের সন্মতি নিয়ে এটা স্থির হলো যে, সে যদি সুন্দরী রাজকুমারীকে নিয়ে আসতে পারে তবেই সে প্রাণদন্ড মুক্ত হবে এবং ফিরে পাবে তার সোনালী পাখি ও সোনালী ঘোড়া.

দুঃখিত মনে সে পথ চলতে লাগলো আর আবারও তার দেখা হয়ে গেল বৃদ্ধ শেয়ালের সঙ্গে. শেয়ালটি তাকে বললো, “কেন তুমি আমার কথা শোনোনি, তাহলে আজ তুমি সোনালী পাখি ও সোনালী ঘোড়া উভয়েরই মালিক হয়ে যেতে. যা হোক, আবার আমি তোমাকে পরামর্শ দিছি. এখান থেকে সোজা চলতে থাকবে এবং সন্ধ্যার মধেই একটি দুর্গে পৌছে যাবে. ঠিক রাত বারোটা বাজার সাথে সাথে দেখতে পাবে রাজকুমারী স্নানঘরের দিকে যাছে. ঠিক সেই সময় তুমি রাজকুমারীর কাছে পৌছে যাবে ও তাকে সোহাগ চুম্বন দেবে. তারপর রাজকুমারীই তোমাকে পথ দেখিয়ে নিয়ে যাবে. কিন্তু খুব সাবধান, রাজকুমারী যেন কোনোমতেই তার পিতামাতার অনুমতি নিতে না যেতে পারে.” এই বলে শেয়ালটি তার লেজ বিস্তার করে মালিপুত্রকে নিয়ে বাতাসের মত দুরন্ত গতিতে পাহাড় পর্বত ডিঙিয়ে ছুটে চলল.

এভাবে চলতে চলতে তারা দুর্গের দরজায় পৌছে গেল. রাত বারোটায় মালি পুত্র দেখতে পেল রাজকুমারী স্নানের জন্য যাচ্ছে. ঠিক সময়ে সে সেখানে হাজির হয়ে রাজকুমারীকে সস্নেহ চুম্বন দিল. রাজকুমারীও খুশি হয়ে তার সঙ্গে যেতে রাজি হলো. কিন্তু যাবার আগে চোখের জলে একটিবার পিতার আশির্বাদ নেবার জন্য করুনভাবে অনুরোধ করতে লাগলো. মালিপুত্র প্রথমে রাজি না হলেও পরে কাতর কান্নায় বিচলিত হয়ে দেখা করার অনুমতি দিল. বলাই বাহুল্য, ঠিক সে সময়ই রাজপ্রাসাদের প্রহরীরা জেগে উঠে তাকে বন্দী করে ফেলল.

বন্দী মালিপুত্রকে রাজার সামনে হাজির করা হলো. ক্রুদ্ধ রাজামশাই তাকে বললেন, “তুমি আমার মেয়েকে কোনো দিনও পাবে না, যদি না আট দিনের মধ্যে আমার জানালার দৃশ্য অবরোধকারী পাহাড়টিকে তুমি সরিয়ে ফেলতে পার.” সেই পাহাড়টি ছিল এতই বিশাল যে সারা পৃথিবীও ওটাকে সরাতে পারতো না. মালিপুত্র সাত দিন ধরে ওই পাহাড়টির খোদাইয়ের কাজ করে অতি অল্প অংশই সরাতে পারল. আবার সেখানে এসে হাজির হলো শেয়ালটি এবং মালিপুত্রকে বললো, “তুমি ঘুমোতে যাও, আমি তোমার জন্য কাজ করে দিছি.” পরদিন সকালে ঘুম থেকে উঠে মালিপুত্র দেখল যে বিশাল পাহাড়টি আর সেখানে নেই. সে খুব খুশি মনে রাজার কাছে গিয়ে কাজ সম্পন্ন করার সংবাদ দিল ও প্রতিশ্রুতি মত রাজকুমারীর জন্ন্য প্রার্থনা জানালো.

রাজা প্রতিশ্রুতি অনুযায়ী রাজকন্যাকে মালিপুত্রের হাতে সমর্পণ করলেন. মালিপুত্র সেখান থেকে বিদায় নিয়ে কিছুদুর যাবার পর আবার শেয়ালের দেখা পেল. শেয়াল তাকে বলল, “তুমি চাইলে এখন তিনটি জিনিসই পেয়ে যেতে পার রাজকুমারী, ঘোড়া ও সোনালী পাখি.” মালিপুত্র বলল, “সে তো খুব ভালো কথা, কিন্তু কিভাবে আমরা সেগুলো লাভ করব?”

শেয়াল তখন তাকে বুঝিয়ে বলল, “তুমি আমার কথা মত কাজ করলে সব কিছুই লাভ করতে পারবে. তুমি রাজার কাছে গেলে তিনি যখন রাজকুমারী সম্পর্কে খোঁজ নেবেন তখন তুমি রাজকুমারীকে দেখিয়ে দেবে. এতে রাজা খুশি হয়ে তোমাকে সোনালী ঘোড়া দিয়ে দেবে. প্রথমে তুমি ঘোড়ার পিঠে বসবে, তাদের বিদায় জানাবে এবং সবার শেষে রাজকুমারীকে করমর্দন করে খুব তাড়াতাড়ি ঘোড়ার পিঠে বসিয়ে লাগাম ধরে জোরে ছুটিয়ে নিয়ে যাবে.”

সব কাজ সঠিক ভাবে চলতে লাগলো; তখন আবার শেয়ালটি এসে তাকে বলল, “এবার দুর্গে পৌছে তুমি যখন সোনালী পাখির কাছে যাবে আমি তখন দরজার পাশে রাজকুমারীর সাথে থাকব. তুমি ঘোড়ায় চড়ে রাজার সাথে কথা বলবে. যখন রাজামশাই দেখবেন যে এটা সঠিক সোনালী ঘোড়া তিনি পাখিটিকে নিয়ে আসবেন. কিন্তু তুমি শান্তভাবে লক্ষ্য রাখবে যে পাখিটি সত্যিকারের সোনালী পাখি কিনা. যদি তাই হয় তুমি ঠিক তখনই পাখিটিকে নিয়ে ঘোড়ায় চড়ে বেরিয়ে আসবে.”

শেয়ালের পরামর্শ অনুযায়ী সব কাজই যথারীতি চলছিল. মালিপুত্র সোনার পাখিটিকে নিয়ে রাজকুমারীর সাথে সোনার ঘোড়ায় চড়ে ঘভীর বন পার হয়ে যেতে লাগলো. কিছুক্ষণ চলার পর শেয়ালটি সেখানে হাজির হয়ে মালিপুত্রকে বলল, “আমার একটি বিশেষ অনুরোধ রইলো; এবারে তুমি আমার মাথা ও পা শরীর থেকে কেটে বাদ দিয়ে দাও.” কিন্তু মালিপুত্র কিছুতেই এমন কাজ করতে রাজি হলো না. তখন শেয়ালটি তাকে বলল, “ঠিক আছে, যাইহোক আমি আবারও তোমাকে সুপরামর্শ দিছি. দুটো জিনিস মনে রেখো. প্রথমতঃ, ফাঁসিকাষ্ঠ থেকে কাউকে মুক্ত করবে না. দ্বিতীয়তঃ কোনো নদীর কিনারায় বসবে না.” এই বলেই শেয়াল বিদায় নিল. মালিপুত্র চলতে চলতে ভাবলো, “এই পরামর্শ মেনে চলা কি আর এমন কঠিন কাজ.”

তারপর মালিপুত্র রাজকুমারীকে নিয়ে সজোরে ঘোড়া ছুটিয়ে পৌঁছে গেল সেই গ্রামে যেখানে সে তার বড় দুই ভাইকে ফেলে গিয়েছিল. সেখানে পৌঁছেই সে একটা বড় রকমের চিত্কার ও  হইচই শুনতে পেল. লোকজনদের কাছ থেকে খোঁজ নিয়ে সে জানতে পারল দুইজন লোককে ফাঁসিতে ঝোলানো হবে. কাছাকাছি এসে সে দেখতে পেল যে ওই দুইজন লোক আর কেউ নয়, ওরই বড় দুই ভাই যারা এখন দশ্যুতে পরিনত হয়েছে. সে চিন্তিত হয়ে জানতে চাইল ওদের বাঁচার কি কোনো উপায় নেই. কিন্তু লোকজন বলল যে ওদের মুক্ত করা বেশ কঠিন ব্যাপার. শুধু একটি উপায় আছে, যদি কেউ অর্থদান করে ওদের মুক্তিপণ মিটিয়ে দিতে পারে তবেই ওরা মুক্ত হতে পারবে. এই কথা শুনে মালির ছোটছেলে আর বেশিকিছু চিন্তা না করে মুক্তিপন যা চাওয়া হয়েছিল সেটা মিটিয়ে দিয়ে বড় দুই ভাইকে  ফাঁসি থেকে মুক্ত করে দিল. তারপর তিন ভাই মিলিত হয়ে একসাথে বাড়ির উদ্দেশ্যে রওনা হলো.

ধীরে ধীরে ওরা সেই বনটিতে পৌছে গেল যেখানে শেয়ালের সঙ্গে তাদের প্রথম দেখা হয়েছিল. স্থানটির পরিবেশ এত শান্ত ও মনোরম ছিল যে  বড় দুইভাই নিজেদের মধ্যে বলাবলি করতে লাগলো, “চলো আমরা নদীর পাশে কিছুক্ষণ বসে খাওয়া দাওয়া করে বিশ্রাম করি.” ছোট ভাইটিও ওদের কথায় সম্মত হয়ে গেল; ভুলে গেল শেয়ালের সতর্কবার্তা. অপর দুই বড় ভাইয়ের সাথে সেও নিসন্দেহে বসে পড়ল নদীর কিনারায়. কিন্তু সে কিছু সন্দেহ করে ওঠার আগেই ওই দুষ্ট দুইভাই পেছন থেকে ওকে ধাক্কা মেরে নদীতে ফেলে দিল. নিজেদের সঙ্গে ওরা ধরে নিয়ে গেল রাজকুমারী, সোনালী ঘোড়া ও সোনালী পাখিটি. যথা সময়ে ওরা বাড়ি পৌছে গেল এবং রাজদরবারে রাজার সাথে দেখা করতে গেল. সেখানে পৌঁছে রাজামশাইকে ওরা বলল, “আমরা অনেক পরিশ্রম করে এসব কিছু লাভ করে নিয়ে এসেছি.” সেই রাজ্যে তখন অসীম আনন্দ উত্সবের সমারোহ শুরু হয়ে গেল. কিন্তু সোনালী ঘোড়া খাওয়া বন্ধ করে দিল, সুন্দর সোনালী পাখি আর গান গাইল না এবং রাজকুমারীর চোখের জলের বন্যা বয়ে চলল.

এদিকে মালির ছোটপুত্র নদীর খুব গভীরে পড়ে গিয়েছিল, কিন্তু সৌভাগ্যবসত নদীতে জল কম ছিল. তার শরীরের সব হাড় প্রায় ভেঙ্গে গিয়েছিল. তাছাড়াও নদীর ধারগুলো এতই গভীর ও খাড়া ছিল যে সে তীরে উঠে আসার কোনো পথ খুঁজে পাচ্ছিল না. ঠিক সেই সময় আবার সেখানে হাজির হলো বৃদ্ধ শেয়াল. সে তাকে খুব তিরস্কার করলো; মনে করিয়ে দিল ঠিক সময়ে তার উপদেশ না শোনার ফল এবং এও বলল যে যদি সে তার পরামর্শ শুনত তাহলে এই দুর্দশা তার হোত না. শেষপর্যন্ত শেয়াল বলল, “আমি এত দূর এসে তোমাকে এখানে ছেড়ে যেতে পারছি না. সুতরাং তুমি আমার লেজটি খুব তাড়াতাড়ি শক্ত করে ধর.” এভাবে শেয়ালটি তার লেজের সাহায্য মালিপুত্রকে নদীর গভীর থেকে টেনে তীরে তুলে আনলো. তারপর তাকে বলল, “তোমার বড় দুইভাই তোমার উপর নজর রাখছে. সুতরাং তুমি যদি রাজ্যে ফিরে যাও তাহলে ওরা তোমাকে প্রাণে বাঁচতে দেবে না.” একথা শুনে মালির ছোটছেলে খুব দিন দরিদ্রের বেশে জীর্ণ পোশাক পড়ে গোপনে রাজ দরবারে পৌঁছে গেল. যেই মাত্র সে রাজদরবারের দরজায় পা  রাখল অমনি সোনালী ঘোড়া খাবার খেতে শুরু করলো, সোনালী পাখি গান গেয়ে উঠলো এবং রাজকন্যার চোখের জল মুছে গেল. মালির ছোটছেলে রাজার সামনে উপস্তিথ হয়ে তার বড় দুই ভাইয়ের দুষ্ট চক্রান্তের কথা জানালো. যথা সময়ে দুষ্ট দুই ভাই ধরা পরে গেল এবং কঠিন শাস্তি পেল. এভাবে ছোটছেলে তার সুন্দরী রাজকন্যা, সোনার ঘোড়া ও সোনার পাখিটিকে ফিরে পেল. এভাবে সময় বয়ে চলল. রাজার মৃত্যুর পর মালিপুত্রই পেল সিংহাসনের উত্তরাধিকার.

এভাবে দীর্ঘ বছর পার হয়ে গেল. হঠাত একদিন আপন মনে মালিপুত্র হেঁটে চলতে লাগলো আগের সেই বনের দিকে. আবার তার দেখা হয়ে গেল বৃদ্ধ শেয়ালের সাথে. এবার চোখের জলে কাতর হয়ে বৃদ্ধ শেয়াল তার কাছে প্রার্থনা জানালো শেয়ালের শরীর থেকে মাথা ও পা কেটে তাকে মেরে ফেলতে. অবশেষে মালিপুত্র তার কথামতই কাজ করলো. সেই মুহুর্তেই শেয়ালের পরিবর্তে সেখানে দেখা দিল এক অপরূপ যুবাপুরুষ. প্রকৃতপক্ষে এই যুবকই হলো বহু বছর আগে হারিয়ে যাওয়া রাজকুমারীর ভাই.

By Dr. Jayanti Rusat

All entries to our IML Day Drive are licensed under CC BY 3.0

સોનાનું પક્ષી

એક રાજા હતો, તેની પાસે એક સુંદર બગીચો હતો, એ બગીચામાં એક વૃક્ષ હતું, તે વૃક્ષ ઉપર સોનાનાં સફરજન બેસતાં. આ સફરજનને હંમેશાં ગણવામાં આવતાં, તે પાકવાનાં શરૂ થયાં ત્યારે ખબર પડી કે રોજ રાત્રે તેમાંથી એક સફરજન ઓછું થતું. આ બાબતે રાજા ખૂબ ગુસ્સે થયો અને માળીને વૃક્ષ નીચે આખી રાત ચોકી રાખવાનો આદેશ આપ્યો. માળીએ તેના સૌથી મોટા પુત્રને ચોકી કરવા માટે રાખ્યો. પરંતુ લગભગ બાર વાગતાં જ તેને ઊંઘ આવી ગઈ અને સવારે ગણતરીમાં એક બીજું સફરજન ઓછું થયું. પછી બીજા પુત્રને ચોકી કરવાનો આદેશ આપવામાં આવ્યો. અડધી રાત્રે એ પણ ઊંઘી ગયો અને સવારમાં બીજું એક સફરજન ઓછું થયું. ત્યાર બાદ ચોકી કરવા માટે ત્રીજા પુત્રને દરખાસ્ત કરવામાં આવી; પ્રથમ તો માળી તેને કોઈ નુકસાન થઇ જશે તેવા ભયથી તેને તેમ કરવા દેવા નહોતો માગતો, પણ કોઈક રીતે, છેવટે તેને મનાવવામાં આવ્યો, અને યુવાન ઝાડ નીચે ચોકી કરવા માટે રોકાયો. ઘડિયાળના બાર વાગતાં જ હવામાં તેણે સુસવાટા મારતો ખખડાટ સાંભળ્યો, અને તેણે ઉડીને આવતું એક પક્ષી જોયું જે અસલ સોનાનું હતું. જેવું તે એક સફરજનને ચાંચથી તોડવા તરાપ મારતું હતું ત્યારે માળીનો પુત્ર ઉભો થઇ ગયો અને તેના તરફ તીર છોડ્યું. પરંતુ તીરથી પક્ષીને કોઈ નુકસાન ન થયું; માત્ર પક્ષીએ તેની પૂંછડીમાંથી એક સોનાનું પીંછું નીચે નાખ્યું અને ઉડીને દૂર ચાલ્યું ગયું. સવારે સોનાના પીંછાને રાજા પાસે લાવવામાં આવ્યું અને આખી પરીસદને ભેગી કરવામાં આવી. દરેકજણ એક બાબતે સંમત થયો કે રાજ્યની બધીજ સંપત્તિ કરતાં તે પીંછું વધારે મૂલ્યવાન હતું, પરંતુ રાજાએ કહ્યું, “એક પીંછું મારે કઈ કામનું નથી, મારી પાસે તો આખું પક્ષી હોવું જોઈએ.”

પછી માળીના સૌથી મોટા પુત્રએ સોનાના પક્ષીને મેળવવા સફર શરુ કરી અને તેને સહેલાઈથી શોધી કાઢવાનું વિચાર્યું, તે માત્ર થોડેક રસ્તે દૂર ગયો એટલામાં તો તે જંગલ નજીક આવી પહોંચ્યો, અને તેણે જંગલ પાસે એક શિયાળને બેઠેલું જોયું. તેણે તેનું તીર કામઠું લીધું અને શિયાળને મારવા તૈયાર કર્યું એટલે શિયાળ બોલ્યું, “મને મારીશ નહિ, કારણ કે હું તને સારી સલાહ આપીશ; હું જાણું છું કે તારું કાર્ય શું છે, અને તે છે તારે સોનાનું પક્ષી શોધવું છે. તું સાંજે એક ગામમાં પહોંચીશ, અને જયારે તું આગળ વધીશ ત્યારે  તું ત્યાં બે પથીકાશ્રમ જોઇશ જે એક બીજાની સામસામે છે, તેમાંનો એક જોતાંજ મનોહર અને સુંદર લાગે છે: તેમાં ના જઈશ, જોકે બીજો તને હલકો અને તુચ્છ લાગશે પણ તેમાં રાત્રી વિસામો કરજે.” પરંતુ છોકરાએ પોતાના મનમાં વિચાર્યું, ‘આવું એક જાનવર આ વિષે શું સમજી શકે?’ તેથી તેણે તેનું તીર શિયાળ તરફ ચલાવ્યું; પરંતુ તે નિશાન ચુકી ગયું અને શિયાળ તેની પૂંછડી પીઠ ઉપર કરી જંગલમાં નાસી ગયુ. પછી તે પોતાની રીતે આગળ વધ્યો, અને સાંજે તે ગામમાં આવ્યો, જ્યોં બે પથીકાશ્રમ હતા; આમાંના એકમાં લોકો ગાતા, નાચતા, અને મિષ્ટાન કરતા હતા; પરંતુ બીજો ખુબજ ગંદો અને તુચ્છ લાગતો હતો. તેણે કહ્યું “જો હું આ મોહક જગ્યા છોડીને તે હલકા પુરાના મકાનમાં જાઉં તો હું ખુબજ મૂર્ખ કહેવાઉં”; તેથી તે સારા દેખાતા મકાનમાં ગયો અને તેની અનુકુળતાએ ખાધુંપીધું અને પક્ષી તેમજ તેના દેશને પણ ભૂલી ગયો.

સમય પસાર થતો ગયો, મોટો પુત્ર પાછો ન આવ્યો કે ન તેના કોઈ ખબર સાંભળ્યા, તેથી બીજા પુત્રએ સફર શરુ કરી, અને તેની સાથે પણ તેજ વસ્તુ બની. તે શિયાળને મળ્યો, શિયાળે તેને સારી સલાહ આપી: પણ જ્યારે તે બે પથીકાશ્રમ પાસે આવ્યો ત્યારે તેનો મોટો ભાઈ જ્યાં મોજ મનાવાતી હતી તે પથીકાશ્રમની બારી પાસે ઉભો હતો, તેણે તેને અંદર બોલાવ્યો; તે પણ લાલચને રોકી ન શક્યો અને અંદર ગયો, અને એજ રીતે તે સોનાનું પક્ષી તેમજ તેના દેશને ભૂલી ગયો.

ફરીથી ઘણો સમય પસાર થઇ ગયો એટલે સૌથી નાના પુત્રએ પણ સોનાનું પક્ષી પામવા વિશાળ દુનિયામાં સફર ખેડવાની ઈચ્છા કરી, પણ ઘણા સમય સુધી તેના પિતાએ તે ગણકાર્યું નહિ, કારણકે તેમનો પુત્ર તેમને ખૂબ પ્રિય હતો, અને તે ગભરાયેલા પણ હતા કે કદાચ તેની સાથે પણ ખરાબ નશીબે કઇંક અજુગતું બનશે તો તે પાછો નહિ આવી શકે. કોઈપણ રીતે, છેવટે તેઓ માની ગયા કે તે જાય તે જ સારુ છે કારણકે તે ઘરે પણ આરામ કરવાનો નથી; અને તેણે સફર શરુ કરી, જેવો તે જંગલ પાસે આવ્યો, તે શિયાળને મળ્યો, અને તેજ સારી સલાહ સાંભળી. પરંતુ તેણે શિયાળનો આભાર માન્યો, અને તેણે તેના ભાઈઓની જેમ જીવવાની લાલચ ન કરી; તેથી શિયાળે કહ્યું, “મારી પૂંછડી ઉપર બેસી જા, તારી મુસાફરી ઝડપથી થશે.” તેથી તે બેસી ગયો, અને શિયાળે દોડવાનું શરુ કર્યુ, અને તેઓ ઝાડ-ઝાંખરાં અને પર્વતો ઉપર થઈને, એટલી ઝડપથી દૂર ગયા કે  તેમના વાળ પવનમાં સીસોટી બોલાવતા હતા.

જયારે તેઓ ગામમાં આવ્યા ત્યારે છોકરો શિયાળની સલાહ અનુંસર્યો, પોતાનો વિચાર કર્યા વગર તે હલકા પથીકાશ્રમમાં ગયો અને તેની અનુકુળતાએ આખી રાત ત્યાં આરામ કર્યો. સવારમાં તે જેવો મુસાફરી શરુ કરવા જતો હતો તેવું જ ફરીથી શિયાળ ત્યાં આવ્યું, તેને મળ્યું અને બોલ્યું, “કિલ્લા પાસે ન પહોંચે ત્યાં સુધી સીધો આગળ વધતો જજે, તે પહેલાં ગહેરી નીંદમાં ઊંઘતું અને નસકોરાં બોલાવતું સૈનિકોનું આખું દળ સુતેલું છે, તેમને ધ્યાનમાં ન લેતો પણ સીધો કિલ્લામાં જજે, અને જેમાં સોનાનું પક્ષી લાકડાના પાંજરામાં બેઠું છે તે રૂમ ન આવે ત્યાં સુધી આગળ વધતો રહેજે; તેની તદ્દન નજીક સોનાનું સુંદર પાંજરું ઉભેલું છે; પરંતુ તું હલકા પાંજરામાંથી પક્ષીને બહાર કાઢીને દેખાવડા પાંજરામાં મુકવાની કોશિશ ન કરતો, નહિ તો પછી તું પછતાઈશ.” પછી શિયાળે ફરી તેની પૂંછડી ફેલાવી અને યુવાન તેના ઉપર બેસી ગયો, અને તેઓ ઝાડ-ઝાંખરાં અને પર્વતો ઉપર થઈને, એટલી ઝડપથી દૂર ગયા કે તેમના વાળ પવનમાં સીસોટી બોલાવતા હતા.

જેમ શિયાળે કહ્યું હતું તેવું બધુ જ કિલ્લાના દરવાજા પહેલાં હતું: તેથી છોકરો અંદર ગયો અને રૂમ શોધ્યો જ્યાં સોનાનું પક્ષી લાકડાના પાંજરામાં લટકતું હતું, તેના નીચે સોનાનું પાંજરું ઉભેલું હતું અને તેની પાસે રાજાના બગીચામાંથી ગયેલાં ત્રણ સોનાનાં સફરજન પડ્યાં હતાં. પછી તેણે પોતાની અંદર વિચાર્યુ, “આવા સુંદર પક્ષીને આવા  હલકા પાંજરામાં લઇ જવું તે અયોગ્ય લાગશે”; તેથી તેણે બારણું ખોલ્યું, પક્ષીને પકડ્યું અને તેને સોનાના પાંજરામાં મુક્યું. પરંતુ પક્ષીએ એવી ઊંચેથી ચીસ પાડી કે બધા જ સૈનિકો જાગી ગયા, અને તેઓ તેને બંદી બનાવીને રાજાની સામે લઈ ગયા. બીજા દિવસે સવારે તેનો નિર્ણય કરવા માટે અદાલત બેસાડી; અને બધાએ સાંભળ્યું કે તેને મૃત્યુદંડ કરવામાં આવ્યો છે, સિવાય કે તે રાજાને સોનાનો ઘોડો લાવી આપે જે પવન જેવો તેજ ગતિએ દોડી શકે; અને જો તે તેમ કરશે તો તેને સોનાનું પક્ષી પણ આપી દેવામાં આવશે જે તે લેવા આવ્યો હતો.

તેથી નિસાસા નાખતાં અને ખુબજ નિરાશામાં તેણે ફરી એક વાર તેની સફર શરુ કરી. ત્યારે અચાનક તેનું મિત્ર શિયાળ તેને મળ્યું અને બોલ્યું, “તું જો હવે, મારી સલાહ ન શાભળવાના કારણે શું થયું તે, છતાં પણ, જો હું જેમ કહું તેમ તું કરીશ તો, હું તને કોઈપણ રીતે સોનાનો ઘોડો કેવી રીતે શોધવો તે કહીશ. તું સીધે સીધો જજે એટલે કિલ્લો આવશે, તે કિલ્લાના તબેલામાં ઘોડો ઉભેલો હશે, તેની બાજુમાં તેની દેખભાળ કરનાર અશ્વપાલ ગાઢ નિંદ્રામાં નસકોરાં બોલાવતો સુતો હશે, તું શાંતિ પૂર્વક ઘોડાને બહાર લઇ જજે: પરંતુ તેના ઉપર જુનું ચામડાનું પલાણ મુકવાનું ધ્યાન રાખજે, પણ તેના નજીકમાં સોનાનું પલાણ છે તે તેના ઉપર મુકતો નહિ.” પછી છોકરો શિયાળની પૂંછડી ઉપર બેસી ગયો, અને તેઓ ઝાડ-ઝાંખર અને પર્વતો ઉપર થઈને એટલા દૂર ગયાં કે તેમના વાળ પવનમાં સીસોટી બોલાવતા હતા.

બધું સીધે સીધુ આગળ ચાલ્યું, અશ્વપાલ તેનો હાથ સોનાના પલાણ ઉપર રાખીને નસકોરાં બોલાવતો સુતો છે. પરંતુ છોકરાએ જયારે ઘોડા તરફ જોયું ત્યારે તેને વિચાર આવ્યો કે તેના ઉપર ચામડાનું પલાણ મુકવું તે ખૂબ દયાજનક છે, “હું તેને સારું છે તે જ આપીશ,” તે બોલ્યો, “મને લાગે છે કે તે તેનો  હકદાર છે.” જેવું તેણે સોનાનું પલાણ લીધું કે અશ્વપાલ જાગી ગયો અને તેણે મોટેથી બૂમો પાડી, તેથી બધા ચોકિયાતો અંદર દોડી આવ્યા અને તેને બંદી બનાવ્યો, અને સવારમાં ન્યાય કરવા માટે ફરીથી અદાલત સામે લાવવામાં આવ્યો, અને તેને મૃત્યુનો આદેશ આપવામાં આવ્યો. પરંતુ એક વાતે સંમતી સધાઈ કે, જો તે ગમેત્યાંથી સુંદર રાજકુમારી લાવી શકે તો તેને જીવતો છોડી મુકવામાં આવશે તેમજ પક્ષી અને ઘોડો પણ તેને આપી દેવામાં આવશે.

પછી તે ખુબજ દિલગીરી પૂર્વક એના રસ્તે ચાલ્યો; પરંતુ પેલુ શિયાળ આવ્યું અને બોલ્યું. “તું કેમ મને સાંભળતો નથી? જો તે મારા કહ્યા પ્રમાણે કર્યું હોત તો, તું પક્ષી અને ઘોડો બંનેને લઇ ગયો હોત; છતાંપણ હું તને એક વાર વધુ સલાહ આપીશ. સીધા આગળ જવાનું ચાલુ રાખ, અને સાંજે તું કિલ્લા પાસે પહોંચીશ. રાત્રિના બાર વાગે રાજકુમારી સ્નાનગૃહ તરફ જાય છે: તેના પાસે જઈ તેણીને ચુંબન કરજે, એટલે તેણી તને પોતાને ભગાડી જવા દેશે; પરંતુ તેણી તેના માતા પિતાની રજા લેવા જાય તો તને પરેશાની થશે તેનું ધ્યાન રાખજે.” પછી શિયાળે તેની પૂંછડી ફેલાવી, અને તેઓ એટલે સુધી દૂર ગયા કે તેમના વાળ પવનમાં સીસોટી બોલાવતા હતા.

તેઓ કિલ્લા નજીક પહાંચા ત્યાં સુધી બધુ શિયાળે કહ્યું તેમ જ થયું, યુવાન બાર વાગે નાહવા જતી રાજકુમારીને મળ્યો અને તેણીને ચુંબન કર્યુ, અને તેણી તેના સાથે ભાગી જવા તૈયાર થઇ ગઈ, પણ તેણીએ આંખમાં આંસુ સાથે તેણીના પિતાની મંજૂરી લેવા જવા દેવા માટે તેને આજીજી કરી. પ્રથમ તો તેણે ના પાડી, પરંતુ તેણી ખુબજ રડવા લાગી અને તેના પગે પડી, છેવટે તેણે મંજુરી આપી, પરંતુ જે ક્ષણે તેણી તેણીના પિતાના મકાન પાસે આવી કે ચોકીદાર જાગી ગયો, અને ફરીથી તેને બંદી બનાવવામાં આવ્યો.

પછી તેને રાજા સમક્ષ લાવવામાં આવ્યો, અને રાજાએ કહ્યું, “મારી પુત્રી તને કદીપણ નહિ મળે, સિવાય કે તું મારી બારીમાંથી દેખાતા દ્રશ્યને અટકાવતા ડુંગરને આઠ દિવસમાં ખોદીને દૂર ન કરે. “આ ડુંગર એટલો મોટો હતો કે આખી દુનિયા તેને દૂર ન કરી શકે: જયારે તેણે સાત દિવસ કામ કર્યું છતાંય ઘણું ઓછું કામ થયું ત્યારે પેલું શિયાળ આવ્યું અને બોલ્યું, “લાંબો થઈને સુઈ જા; તારું કામ હું કરીશ.” અને તેણે સવારે ઉઠીને જોયું તો ડુંગર દૂર થઇ ગયેલો હતો; તેથી તે પ્રસન્નતાપૂર્વક રાજા પાસે ગયો અને રાજાને કહ્યું કે હવે તેણે ડુંગર દૂર કર્યો હોવાથી તેમણે રાજકુંવરી તેને આપી દેવી જોઈએ.

હવે રાજા તેનું વચન પાળવા મજબુર હતો, તેથી યુવાન અને રાજકુમારી દૂર ચાલ્યા ગયા; પછી શિયાળ આવ્યું અને યુવાનને કહ્યું, “આપણે રાજકુમારી, ઘોડો અને પક્ષી તે ત્રણે ત્રણને લઈશું.” યુવાન બોલ્યો, “ઓહ! તે તો બહુ મોટી વાત હશે, પણ તું કેવી યુક્તિથી તે કરી શકીશ?”

શિયાળ બોલ્યું, “જો તું માત્ર મારું સાંભળીશ તો તે કરી શકાય તેમ છે. જયારે તુ રાજા પાસે આવે, અને રાજા સુંદર રાજકુમારી માટે પૂછે ત્યારે તારે કહેવાનું કે, ‘તેણી અહી છે‘ પછી રાજા ખૂબ આનંદિત થઇ જશે; અને તે જે સોનાનો ઘોડો તને આપશે તેના ઉપર તું સવાર થઇ જજે, અને તેમની પાસેથી રજા લેવા તારો હાથ તેમના હાથમાંથી બહાર ખેચીં લેજે, અને છેલ્લે રાજકુમારીને હસ્તધૂનન કરજે. તે વખતે તેણીને ઝડપથી ઊંચકી લેજે અને ઘોડા ઉપર તારી પાછળ બેસાડી દેજે; ઘોડાની પીઠની બાજુમાં તારી એડીઓ મારજે અને તારાથી શક્ય હોય એટલી ઝડપથી દૂર ભાગી જજે.”

તે બધુ બરાબર થયું, એટલે શિયાળે આગળ કહ્યું, “પછી જયારે તું તે કિલ્લા પાસે આવે જ્યોં પક્ષી રાખવામાં આવ્યું છે ત્યારે હું દરવાજા આગળ રાજકુમારી પાસે ઉભો રહીશ અને તું ઘોડા ઉપર જ અંદર જજે અને રાજાને વાત કરજે, એટલે રાજા જોશે કે ઘોડો બરાબર છે કે નહિ અને પછી તે પક્ષીને બહાર લઈ આવશે; પણ તારે ઘોડા ઉપર સ્થિર બેસી રહેવાનું, અને કહેવાનું કે તે ખરેખર સાચેજ સોનાનું પક્ષી છે તે જાણવા તારે પક્ષી જોવું છે, અને જયારે તું પક્ષીને તારા હાથમાં લે ત્યારે તારી સવારી લઈ દૂર ભાગી જજે.”

આ “પણ” શિયાળે કહ્યું તેમ બન્યું; તેઓ પક્ષી લઇ આવ્યા, રાજકુમારી ફરી ઘોડા પર સવાર થઇ, અને તેઓની સવારી એક વિશાળ જંગલ પાસે પહોંચી. પછી શિયાળ આવ્યું અને બોલ્યું, “મને મારી નાખવાની હું તને પ્રાર્થના કરુ છું, મારું માથુ અને મારા પગ કાપી નાખ.” પરંતુ યુવાને તેમ કરવાનો ઇનકાર કર્યો: તેથી શિયાળ બોલ્યું, “હું તને કોઈ પણ કિંમતે સારી સલાહ આપીશ: તું બે બાબતથી સાવધાની રાખજે; કોઈને પણ ફાંસીના તકતામાંથી છોડાવવા માટે લાંચ ના આપીશ અને કોઈપણ નદીની બાજુમાં બેસીશ નહિ.” પછી તે દૂર ચાલ્યુ ગયું. અને યુવાને વિચાર્યુ “સરસ, તે સલાહ પાળવી કોઈ અઘરી બાબત નથી.”

રાજકુમારી સાથે મુસાફરી કરીને તે છેવટે તે ગામે આવ્યો જ્યાં તેણે તેના બે ભાઈઓને છોડ્યા હતા. ત્યાં તેણે શોરબકોર અને હંગામો સાંભળ્યો; જયારે તેણે પૂછ્યું કે શું બાબત છે ત્યારે લોકોએ કહ્યું, “બે માણસોને ફાંસીએ લટકાવવાના છે.” જેવો તે નજીક આવ્યો અને જોયું તો તે બે માણસો તેના બે ભાઈઓ હતા જેઓ લૂંટારાઓ બની ગયા હતા; તેથી તેણે પૂછ્યું, “કોઈપણ રીતે તેઓને બચાવી ન શકાય?” પરંતુ લોકોએ કહ્યું, “ના,” સિવાય કે તે તેના બધા પૈસા બદમાશો ઉપર પ્રદાન કરે અને તેમની મુક્તિ ખરીદે. પછી તો તે કોઈ પણ બાબતનો વિચાર કરવા રોકાયો નહિ અને કહેવામાં આવ્યા તે બધા પૈસા તેણે ચૂકવી દીધા અને તેના ભાઈઓને છોડાવ્યા, અને તેમની સાથે તેમના ઘર તરફ જવા નીકળ્યો.

તેઓ પ્રથમ વાર જ્યોં શિયાળને મળ્યા હતા તે જંગલ પાસે આવ્યા, તે એટલું ઠંડું અને ખુશનુંમા હતું કે બે ભાઈઓએ કહ્યું, “ચાલો નદીની બાજુમાં થોડોક સમય ખાવાપીવા માટે બેસી જઈએ અને આરામ કરીએ,” તેથી તેણે “હા” પાડી, શિયાળની સલાહ ભૂલી ગયો અને નદીની બાજુમાં બેસી ગયો; અને તેને કોઈપણ વહેમ ન પડ્યો તે દરમિયાન તેના ભાઈઓ પાછળથી આવ્યા અને તેને નદીમાં નીચે ફેંકી દીધો, અને રાજકુમારી, ઘોડો, અને પક્ષી લઇને તેમના સ્વામી રાજા પાસે ગયા, અને કહ્યું, “આ બધુ અમે અમારી મહેનતથી જીત્યા છીએ.” અને પછી ભવ્ય આનંદ માનાવવામાં આવ્યો, પરંતુ ઘોડાએ ખાધું નહિ, પક્ષી ગાયું નહિ અને રાજકુમારી રડ્યા કરી.

સૌથી નાનો પુત્ર નદીના તટમાં પડ્યો હતો: સદનસીબે નદી લગભગ સુકી હતી, છતાંપણ તેનાં હાડકાં લગભગ ભાગી ગયાં હતાં, અને કિનારો સીધા ઢોલાણ વાળો હતો જેથી તે બહાર નીકળવાનો કોઈ રસ્તો શોધી શક્યો નહિ. ત્યાં તો પેલું શિયાળ ફરી એકવાર આવ્યું અને તેની સલાહ ન માનવા માટે તેને ખૂબ ઠપકો આપ્યો; અને કહ્યું કે જો તેણે તેનું કહ્યું માન્યું હોત તો આવી કોઈ આફત તેના ઉપર આવી પડી ન હોત. “તેમ છતાંય,” તેણે કહ્યું, “હું તને અહી આ સ્થિતિમાં છોડી શકું નહિ, તું મારી પુંછડી બરાબર મજબુત પકડ,” પછી તેણે તેને નદીમાંથી બહાર કાઢ્યો, અને જેવો તે કિનારા ઉપર આવ્યો કે શિયાળે કહ્યું, “તારા ભાઈઓએ જો તેઓ તને રાજ્યમાં શોધી કાઢે તો તને મારી નાખવા માટે ચોકી પહેરો ગોઠવ્યો છે.” તેથી તેણે ગરીબ માણસ જેવાં વસ્ત્રો ધારણ કર્યાં અને ગુપ્ત રીતે રાજાની અદાલતમાં આવ્યો, જેવો તે થોડોક દરવાજામાં દાખલ થયો કે ઘોડાએ ખાવાનું શરુ કર્યું, પક્ષીએ ગાવાનું ચાલુ કર્યું, અને રાજકુમારીએ રડવાનું છોડી દીધું. પછી તે રાજા પાસે ગયો અને તેના ભાઈઓની બધી જ બદમાશી કહી સંભળાવી; પછી તેના ભાઈઓને ગિરફતાર કરવામાં આવ્યા અને સજા કરવામાં આવી, અને તેને રાજકુમારી પાછી આપવામાં આવી; અને રાજાના મૃત્યુ બાદ તેના રાજ્યનો તે ઉત્તરાધિકારી હતો.

ઘણા સમય પછી, તે જંગલમાં ચાલવા માટે ગયો, અને તેને પેલું શિયાળ મળ્યું, અને આંખમાં આંસુ સાથે શિયાળે પોતાને મારી નાખવા, અને તેનું માથુ અને પગ કાપી નાખવા, તેને ખૂબ આજીજી કરી. અને છેવટે તેણે તેમ કર્યું, અને એક ક્ષણમાં તો તે શિયાળ માણસમાં બદલાઈ ગયું, અને તે રાજકુમારીનો ભાઈ હોવાનું જાહેર થયું, જે ખૂબ ઘણા વરસો પહેલાં ખોવાયો હતો.

By Bh. Kameswara Rao

All entries to our IML Day Drive are licensed under CC BY 3.0

బంగారు చిలక

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మణిద్వీప మనే ఒక రాజ్యం ఉంది. ఆ రాజ్యాన్ని పరిపాలించే రాజు పేరు సనాతనుడు. అతనికి ఒక అందమైన తోట ఉంది. ఆ తోటలో బంగారు జామపళ్ళు కాసే ఒక చెట్టుంది. అది కాసే జామపళ్ళని రోజూ లెక్కపెట్టేవారు. అంతలో ఒక విచిత్రం జరిగింది. ఆ పళ్ళు పండి పక్వానికి వస్తున్నాయనగా,  రాత్రికి రాత్రి  ఒకో పండు చొప్పున రోజూ మాయమై పోతున్నాయి. ఇది చూసి రాజుగారికి చాలా కోపం వచ్చింది. తోటమాలిని పిలిచి రాత్రంతా జాగ్రత్తగా కాపలా కాయమని ఆజ్ఞాపించాడు. ఆ తోటమాలికి కాలపర్ణుడు, తామ్రపర్ణుడు, శ్వేతపర్ణుడు అని ముగ్గురు కొడుకులున్నారు. పెద్దకొడుకు కాలపర్ణుడిని పిలిచి ఆ రాత్రి తోటకి కాపాలా ఉండమని చెప్పాడు తోటమాలి. కాలపర్ణుడికి అసలే నిద్ర ఎక్కువ. కాని తండ్రి మాట విని తోట కాపలాకి వెళ్ళాడు. రాత్రి పన్నెండు దాకా కష్టపడి ఎలాగో అలా నిద్ర ఆపుకున్నాడు కాని, ఆ తర్వాత అతడికి మైకం కమ్మేసింది. ఇంకేముంది! పొద్దున్న లేచి చూసేసరికి మళ్ళీ ఒక పండు మాయం. మర్నాడు తోటమాలి తన రెండో కొడుకైన తామ్రపర్ణుడిని వెళ్ళమన్నాడు. తామ్రపర్ణుడికి గర్వం ఎక్కువ. “ఓ! నేనీ రాత్రి వెళ్ళి అసలు సంగతి తేల్చేస్తాను.” అని బీరాలు పలికి తోటకి బయలుదేరాడు. కాని అతడు కూడా రాత్రి పన్నెండయ్యేసరికి నిద్రమత్తులోకి ఒరిగిపోయాడు. మర్నాడు మళ్ళీ మామూలే. మరో పండు మాయమైపోయింది. మూడో రాత్రి చిన్నవాడైన శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తాను వెళ్ళి కాపలా ఉంటానన్నాడు. చిన్నవాడు కదా, వాడికేమైనా ఆపద కలుగుతుందేమోనని తోటమాలి ముందు తటపటాయించాడు, కాని చివరికి ఒప్పుకున్నాడు. ఆ రాత్రి శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తోటకి కాపాలాకి వెళ్ళాడు. అర్ధరాత్రి పన్నెండయ్యింది. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు జాగురూకతతో కాపలాకాస్తున్నాడు. అంతలో అతనికి ఆకాశంలో చటచటమన్న శబ్దం వినిపించింది. ఎక్కణ్ణుంచో ఎగురుకుంటూ ఒక చిలక వచ్చింది. అది బంగారు చిలక! కొమ్మమీద కూర్చుని ఒక పండుని తన ముక్కుతో తుంచ సాగింది. వెంటనే శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తన దగ్గరున్న విల్లు ఎక్కుపెట్టి దానిపైకి బాణం వేసాడు. కానీ ఆ బాణం చిలకని ఏమీ చెయ్యలేదు. బంగారు జాంపండుతో సహా ఆ బంగారు చిలక తుఱ్ఱున ఎగిరిపోయింది. దాని తోకనుంచి ఒక బంగారు యీక మాత్రం రాలి కిందపడింది. మర్నాడు పొద్దున్న ఆ బంగారు యీకని రాజసభలో రాజుగారి దగ్గరకి తీసుకువెళ్ళారు. దాన్ని పరిశీలించిన సభ్యులు, ఆ ఒక్క యీక, తమ రాజ్యంలో ఉన్న సమస్త సంపద కన్నా చాలా ఎక్కువ విలువ చేస్తుందని తేల్చారు. అయినా సరే రాజుగారు, “ఈ ఒక్క యీక నాకు పనికిరాదు. ఆ బంగారు చిలకే కావాలి” అని పట్టుబట్టారు.

బంగారు చిలకని వెతకడానికి కాలపర్ణుడు ప్రయాణమయ్యాడు. కొంత దూరం వెళ్ళేసరికి అతనికొక చిన్న అడవి కనిపించింది. ఆ అడవి మొదట్లో ఒక నక్క కూర్చుని ఉంది. దాన్ని చంపడానికి తన విల్లు ఎక్కుపెట్టాడు కాలపర్ణుడు. అప్పుడా నక్క కాలపర్ణుడితో యిలా అంది – “ఆగాగు! నన్ను చంపకు. నా పేరు సుబుద్ధి. నేను నీకు కావలసిన సమాచారాన్ని అందించి నీకు మేలు చేస్తాను. నువ్వే పని మీద వెళుతున్నావో నాకు తెలుసు. బంగారు చిలక కోసమే కదా. నువ్వు తిన్నగా యీ దారిలో వెళితే సాయంత్రానికల్లా ఒక చిన్న గ్రామాన్ని చేరుకుంటావు. అక్కడ నీకు దారికి రెండు వైపులా రెండు సత్రాలు కనిపిస్తాయి. ఒకటి చాలా అందంగా ఆకర్షణీయంగా కనిపిస్తుంది. కాని అందులోకి వెళ్ళకు. దాని ఎదురుగ్గా పాడుపడినట్టు కనిపించే సత్రంలోకి వెళ్ళి, రాత్రి అక్కడే గడుపు. అప్పుడు నువ్వు కోరుకున్నది నీకు దొరుకుతుంది.” నక్క చెప్పిన విషయమంతా విని కాలపర్ణుడు సంతోషించాడు. కానీ ఆ రహస్యం మరెవ్వరికీ చెప్పకుండా సుబుద్ధిని చంపెయ్యాలన్న దుర్బుద్ధితో, ఎక్కుపెట్టిన బాణాన్ని దాని మీదకి వదిలిపెట్టాడు. కాని నక్క దాన్నుంచి తప్పించుకొని, తన తోకని పైకెత్తి అడవకిలోకి చరచరా పరిగెత్తి పారిపోయింది. కాలపర్ణుడు సుబుద్ధి చెప్పిన దారిన వెళ్ళి సాయంత్రానికల్లా సత్రాలున్న చోటికి చేరుకున్నాడు. అందంగా ఉన్న సత్రంలో చాలా మంది జనాలు ఆడుతూ పాడుతూ ఖుషీ చేస్తూ కనిపించారు. అది చూసేసరికల్లా కాలపర్ణుడికి సుబుద్ధి మాటలు మరుపుకి వచ్చాయి. తిన్నగా ఆ సత్రంలోకే దూరిపోయాడు. అందరితో పాటు హాయిగా తింటూ తాగుతూ, బంగారు చిలక గురించి, తన ఊరు గురించి, వచ్చిన పని గురించి పూర్తిగా మర్చిపోయాడు.

కొంత కాలం గడిచింది. పెద్దకొడుకు తిరిగి రాలేదు సరికదా అతడి ఆచూకీ కూడా తెలియలేదు. దానితో అతడినీ, బంగారు చిలకనీ వెతకడానికి రెండోవాడైన తామ్రపర్ణుడు బయలుదేరాడు. కొంత దూరం వెళ్ళాక అతడికి కూడా అడవి, అడవి ముందర సుబుద్ధి కనిపించారు. తామ్రపర్ణి కూడా దాన్ని చంపడానికి బాణం ఎక్కుపెట్టాడు. కాలపర్ణుడికి చెప్పిందే మళ్ళీ యితడికి కూడా చెప్పింది నక్క. కానీ దాని మాటలు తామ్రపర్ణుడు ఖాతరు చెయ్యలేదు. నక్క మాట ఎవరు నమ్ముతారని చెప్పి అతడుకూడా దాన్ని చంపబోయాడు. నక్క తప్పించుకు పారిపోయింది. సాయంత్రం రెండు సత్రాలున్న చోటుకి చేరుకున్నాడు తామ్రపర్ణుడు. అందంగా కనిపిస్తున్న సత్రంలో జల్సా చేస్తూ అన్నగారు కనిపించారు. ఇహనేం. అతడుకూడా ఆ సత్రంలోకే వెళ్ళి, తను వచ్చిన సంగతి మరిచిపోయి తానూ మజాలో మునిగిపోయాడు.

మరికొంత కాలం గడిచింది. తోటమాలి ఇద్దరు కొడుకులూ తిరిగిరాలేదు. ఆఖరివాడైన శ్వేతపర్ణుడు, తాను కూడా  బంగారు చిలకని వెతకడానికి వెళతానన్నాడు. కాని అతనంటే తోటమాలికి చాలా ఆప్యాయం. ఏ ఆపదో సంభవించి, అతను కూడా వెళ్ళి తిరిగిరాడేమో అన్న భయంతో పంపడానికి ఒప్పుకోలేదు. కాని కొడుకు మరీమరీ చెప్పడంతో ఎట్టకేలకు అంగీకరించాడు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు బయలుదేరి మళ్ళీ ఆ అడవి దగ్గరకి వచ్చి సుబుద్ధిని కలిసాడు. మళ్ళీ అన్నలిద్దరికీ చెప్పిన విషయాన్నే అతనికీ చెప్పింది నక్క. అన్నల్లాగ ఆ నక్కని చంపడానికి ప్రయత్నించకుండా, శ్వేతపర్ణుడు దానికెంతో కృతజ్ఞతలు చెప్పాడు. అతని సత్ప్రవర్తనకి సంతోషించిన నక్క, “నా తోక మీదెక్కి కూర్చో. నిన్నా ప్రదేశానికి త్వరగా చేరుస్తాను” అని చెప్పింది. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు దాని తోకనెక్కి కూర్చున్నాడు. సుబుద్ధి ఝామ్మని  ఆఘమేఘాల మీద పరిగెత్తి గ్రామానికి చేరుకుంది.

సుబుద్ధి చెప్పినట్టే శ్వేతపర్ణుడు పాడుపడ్డ సత్రంలోనే ఆ రాత్రి బస చేసాడు. పొద్దున్న లేచి తన ప్రయాణానికి సిద్ధమవుతున్న శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని మళ్ళీ సుబుద్ధి కలుసుకుంది. మళ్ళీ అతనికి మరో మంచి సమాచారం అందించింది. “ఇక్కడ నుండి యిలా తిన్నగా వెళితే, ఖేచరీపురమనే రాజ్యం వస్తుంది. అక్కడొక పెద్ద కోట ఉంటుంది. ఆ కోటముందు చాలామంది సైనికులు గుఱ్ఱు పెడుతూ నిద్రపోతూ ఉంటారు. వాళ్ళని పట్టించుకోకు. తిన్నగా కోటలోకి వెళ్ళు. ఎదురుగా ఒక గది ఉంటుంది. ఆ గదిలోనే నీకు కావలసిన బంగారు చిలక ఒక చెక్క పంజరంలో ఉంటుంది. దానికి దగ్గరలోనే మరొక అందమైన బంగారు పంజరముంటుంది. కాని నువ్వా చిలకని చెక్క పంజరంలోంచి తీసి బంగారు పంజరంలో పెట్టే ప్రయత్నం చెయ్యకు. చేసావో తర్వాత విచారించవలసి వస్తుంది” అని హెచ్చరికగా చెప్పింది. అలా చెప్పి మళ్ళీ తన తోకని తిన్నగా చాపి శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని ఎక్కించుకొని ఝామ్మని ఆఘమేఘాల మీద పరిగెత్తి అతన్ని ఖేచరీపురం చేర్చింది.

అక్కడ సుబుద్ధి చెప్పినట్టే పెద్ద కోట, దాని ముందు సైనికులూ కనిపించారు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తిన్నగా కోటలోకి వెళ్ళి ఆ గదిని చేరుకున్నాడు. అక్కడ వేలాడుతున్న చెక్క పంజరంలో బంగారు చిలక కనిపించింది. దాని కింద, అది తీసుకువచ్చిన బంగారు పళ్ళు కూడా అక్కడే ఉన్నాయి. ఆ పక్కగా మిలమిలా మెరుస్తూ బంగారు పంజరం కనిపించింది. అది చూసి శ్వేతపర్ణుడు, “ఇంత సుందరమైన యీ పక్షిని యిలా చెక్క పంజరంలో పెట్టి తీసుకువెళ్ళడం చూస్తే ఎవరైనా నవ్విపొతారు.” అని అనుకొని, పక్షిని ఆ పంజరంలోంచి తీసి, బంగారు పంజరంలో పెట్టాడు. వెంటనే ఆ పక్షి గట్టిగా కీచుకీచుమంటూ అరవడం మొదలుపెట్టింది. దాంతో బయటనున్న సైనికులందరూ లేచి వచ్చి శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని బంధించి ఆ ఖేచరీపురం రాజు దగ్గరకి తీసుకువెళ్ళారు. మరునాడు సభ జరిపి, శ్వేతపర్ణుడు చెప్పిందంతా విని అతనికి మరణశిక్ష విధించారు. అయితే అతనికొక అవకాశం ఇచ్చారు. వసుమతీపురమనే రాజ్యంలో వాయువేగ మనోవేగాలతో పరుగెత్త గలిగే బంగారు గుఱ్ఱం ఉంది. దాన్ని తెచ్చిస్తే, శ్వేతపర్ణుడు బంగారు చిలకని తీసుకొని వెళ్ళిపోవచ్చు.

పాపం దిగాలుగా వగరుస్తూ, వసుమతీపురం ఎక్కడుందో వెతకడానికి ప్రయాణమయ్యాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. ఎక్కణ్ణుంచి వచ్చిందో సుబుద్ధి మళ్ళీ అతనికి ఎదురయింది. “నా మాట వినకపోవడం వల్ల యిప్పుడేమయిందో చూసావా! అయినా నువ్వు మంచివాడివి కాబట్టి నీకు మళ్ళీ సాయం చేస్తాను. బంగారు గుఱ్ఱం ఎలా సంపాదించాలో చెపుతాను విను. ఇలా యీ దోవన తిన్నగా వెళితే వసుమతీపురం వస్తుంది. అక్కడొక కోట ఉంటుంది. ఆ కోటలోని గుఱ్ఱపుసాలలో బంగారు గుఱ్ఱం ఉంటుంది. దాని పక్కనే గుఱ్ఱాలకాపరి గుఱ్ఱు పెడుతూ నిద్రపోయి ఉంటాడు. మెల్లగా దాని కట్లు విప్పి తీసుకురా. అక్కడే రెండు గుఱ్ఱపు జీన్లు ఉంటాయి. పాతదైపోయిన తోలు జీను ఒకటి, మెరిసే బంగారపు జీను మరొకటి. నువ్వు మాత్రం ఆ బంగారపు జీను జోలికి వెళ్ళకుండా తోలు జీనునే గుఱ్ఱంపై వేసి జాగ్రత్తగా తోలుకు వచ్చేయి”, అని చెప్పింది సుబుద్ధి. మళ్ళీ తన తోక మీద శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని ఎక్కించుకొని, ఝామ్మని ఆఘమేఘాల మీద పరిగెత్తి వసుమతీపురం కోట దగ్గర అతన్ని దించింది.

అనుకున్నట్టే శ్వేతపర్ణుడు గుఱ్ఱపుసాలలోకి వెళ్ళి బంగారు గుఱ్ఱాన్ని తీసుకు రాడానికి సంసిద్ధుడయ్యాడు. కాని అతను గుఱ్ఱాన్ని చూసేసరికి, “పాపం. ఇంత మంచి గుఱ్ఱానికి ఆ పాత తోలు జీను వెయ్యడమేమిటి! దీనికి బంగారు జీనే సరైనది” అని అనుకొని, బంగారపు జీను తియ్యడానికి ప్రయత్నం చేసాడు. కాని నిద్రపోతున్న గుఱ్ఱాలకాపరి యీ బంగారు జీను మీద ఒక చెయ్యి వేసి పడుకొని ఉన్నాడు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు దాన్ని తియ్యడానికి ప్రయత్నించిన క్షణంలో అతనికి మెలకువ వచ్చి గట్టిగా కేకలు పెట్టాడు. ఆ అరుపులకి రాజభటులు వచ్చి శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని బందీ చేసి వసుమతీపురం రాజు దగ్గరకి తీసుకువెళ్ళారు. మర్నాడు ఉదయం సభ జరిపి మళ్ళీ శ్వేతపర్ణుడికి మరణ శిక్ష వేసారు. ఈ రాజుగారు కూడా అతనికి మరో అవకాశం యిచ్చారు. భోగవతీపుర రాజ్యం రాజకుమారి ఆనందినిని తెచ్చి యిస్తే, అతను బంగారు గుఱ్ఱాన్ని తీసుకుపోవచ్చునని షరతు.

మళ్ళీ విచారంగా, భోగవతీపురానికి దారి వెతుక్కుంటూ బయలుదేరాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. మళ్ళీ సుబుద్ధి ప్రత్యక్షమై, “నా మాట వినలేదేం? వినుంటే హాయిగా గుఱ్ఱాన్నీ పక్షినీ కూడా సంపాదించేవాడివి. సరే, ఇంకా నీకు సహాయం చెయ్య బుద్ధి వేస్తోంది. రాజకుమార్తెను సంపాదించే మార్గం చెపుతాను విను. ఇలా యిటువైపు తిన్నగా వెళితే సాయంత్రానికల్లా భోగవతీపురం కోట చేరుకుంటావు. ఆ కోటలోని రాజకుమార్తె సరిగ్గా అర్ధరాత్రి పన్నెండు గంటలకి స్నానానికి బయలుదేరుతుంది. అలా వెళుతున్న సమయంలో నువ్వు వెళ్ళి ఆమెని అమాంతం ముద్దు పెట్టుకో. అప్పుడామె నీకు వశమై నీతో కూడా వస్తుంది. కాని ఒక్కటి మాత్రం జాగ్రత్త సుమా! ఎట్టి పరిస్థితులలోనూ వచ్చేటప్పుడు ఆమె తలిదండ్రుల దగ్గర సెలవు తీసుకోడానికి వెళ్ళవద్దు.” అని చెప్పి మళ్ళీ తన తోక జాపింది. మళ్ళీ ఝామ్మని ఆఘమేఘాల మీద పరిగెత్తిపోయి సాయంత్రానికల్లా శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని భోగవతీపురం కోట దగ్గరకి చేర్చింది.

నక్క చెప్పినట్టే కోటలోకి ప్రవేశించి, అర్ధరాత్రి పన్నెండు గంటలకి స్నానానికి బయలుదేరిన ఆనందినిని ముద్దుపెట్టుకున్నాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. నక్క చెప్పినట్టే ఆమె శ్వేతపర్ణుడికి పూర్తిగా వశమయ్యింది. అతనితో వెళ్ళడానికి అంగీకరించింది. కాని వెళ్ళేముందు తన తల్లిదండ్రులకి వీడ్కోలు చెప్పి వస్తానని కన్నీళ్ళతో ప్రాధేయపడింది. ముందు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు ససేమిరా అన్నాడు. కాని రాకుమార్తె అతని కాళ్ళమీద పడి ఏడ్చేసరికి శ్వేతపర్ణుడి గుండె కరిగింది. చివరికి ఒప్పుకోక తప్పలేదు. వాళ్ళు రాజు దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళేసరికల్లా రాజభటులు వచ్చి అతన్ని ఖైదు చేసేశారు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడి కథంతా విని రాజు యిలా అన్నాడు – “అదుగో, ఆ కిటికీలోంచి చూడు. ఎదురుగ్గా ఒక కొండ ఉంది చూసావా! అది నా దృష్టికి అడ్డు తగులుతోంది. ఎనిమిది రోజుల్లో దాన్ని తవ్విపారెయ్య గలిగితే, నా కుమార్తెని నీకిస్తాను. లేదంటే నీకు మరణం తప్పదు!”. ఇక చేసేదేముంది! కొండని తవ్వడం మొదలుపెట్టాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. అదేమైనా అలాంటిలాంటి కొండా! మేరుపర్వతమంత పెద్దది! అయినా పట్టువదలక తవ్వసాగాడు. రాత్రనకా పగలనకా అలా ఏడు రోజులు తవ్వాడు. అబ్బే! అయినా అది ఏమాత్రం తరగలేదు. ఎనిమిదో రోజు మళ్ళీ సుబుద్ధి అతని దగ్గరకి వచ్చింది. శ్వేతపర్ణుడి పట్టుదలకి మెచ్చుకొని, “కష్టపడింది చాలు. నువ్వెళ్ళి విశ్రమించు. నేను నీ పని చేసి పెడతాను” అని చెప్పింది. మర్నాడు ఉదయం శ్వేతపర్ణుడు లేచి చూసేసరికల్లా కొండ మాయం! ఆనందంగా రాజు దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళి విషయం చెప్పాడు. రాజు అన్నమాట ప్రకారం రాకుమార్తెని యిచ్చి పంపించాడు.

శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తిరుగుప్రయాణం కట్టాడు. సుబుద్ధి మళ్ళీ అతనికి ఎదురయింది. “మనం రాకుమార్తెని, గుఱ్ఱాన్ని, పక్షిని కూడా సంపాదించే ఉపాయం ఉంది”, అని చెప్పింది. “ఆ! ఏమిటది?” అని ఆశ్చర్యపోతూ అడిగాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. “చెపుతా విను. నువ్వు వసుమతీపురం రాజు దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళి రాకుమార్తెని చూపించు. ఆ రాజు చాలా సంతోషించి, బంగారు గుఱ్ఱాన్ని తెచ్చి యిస్తాడు. ఆ గుఱ్ఱాన్ని ఎక్కి అందరికీ వీడ్కోలిస్తున్నట్టుగా అక్కడున్న ఒక్కొక్కరితో చెయ్యి కలుపు. చివరిగా రాకుమార్తె దగ్గరకి వచ్చి, ఆమెతో కూడా చెయ్యి కలిపినట్టు కలిపి, ఒక్క ఉదుటన ఆమెనెత్తి గుఱ్ఱం మీద కూర్చోబెట్టుకొని, రాకుమార్తెతో సహా ఉడాయించు”, అని ఉపాయం ఉపదేశించింది సుబుద్ధి.

సుబుద్ధి చెప్పినట్టే చేసి, బంగారు గుఱ్ఱాన్నీ రాకుమార్తెనీ కూడా తీసుకుని వచ్చాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. అప్పుడింక ఖేచరీపురం బయలుదేరారు. సుబుద్ధి మళ్ళీ ఉపాయం చెప్పింది. “మనం కోట దగ్గరకి చేరుకున్నాక, నేను రాకుమార్తెతో బయటన ఉంటాను. నువ్వు గుఱ్ఱంపై సవారీ చేస్తూ రాజు దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళు. బంగారు గుఱ్ఱాన్ని చూసిన రాజు చాలా సంతోషించి బంగారు చిలకని తెస్తాడు. కాని నువ్వు గుఱ్ఱం దిగకు. అది నిజమైన బంగారు చిలకో కాదో చూస్తానని చెప్పి దాన్ని నీ చేతిలోకి తీసుకో. అది నీ చేతికందగానే మళ్ళీ గుఱ్ఱాన్ని పరుగుతీయించు.”

సరిగ్గా సుబుద్ధి చెప్పినట్టే చేసి చిలకని కూడా సంపాదించాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. చిలకని పట్టుకొని, ఆనందినిని ఎక్కించుకొని, గుఱ్ఱం మీద తన రాజ్యానికి బయలుదేరాడు. తోవలో ఒక పెద్ద అడవి వచ్చింది. అప్పుడు సుబుద్ధి మళ్ళీ వచ్చి, “నీకింత సాయం చేసానుకదా. నాదొక కోరిక తీర్చు. దయచేసి నా తలా పాదాలు నరికేసి నన్ను చంపెయ్యి” అని శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని కోరింది. కాని అందుకా యువకుడు ససేమిరా ఒప్పుకోలేదు. “నాకింత ఉపకారం చేసిన నిన్ను చంపడానికి నాకు చేతులెలా వస్తాయి” అన్నాడు. అప్పుడా నక్క, “సరే పోనీ! నీకు రెండు జాగ్రత్తలు చెపుతాను. తప్పక గుర్తుంచుకో. ఒకటి – ఉరిశిక్షనుండి ఎవ్వరినీ రక్షించకు. రెండు – ఏ నది ఒడ్డునా కూర్చోకు”, అని హెచ్చరించి వెళ్ళిపోయింది.

శ్వేతపర్ణుడు తన తిరుగు ప్రయాణం కొనసాగించి రెండు సత్రాలున్న గ్రామానికి వచ్చాడు. అక్కడంతా ఏదో గోలగా గొడవగా ఉంది. సంగతేమిటని అడిగితే, “ఇద్దరు దోపిడీ దొంగలని ఉరి తీస్తున్నారు” అని చెప్పారు జనాలు. దగ్గరికి వెళ్ళి చూస్తే వాళ్ళిద్దరూ తన అన్నలే! అన్నల్ని ఉరితీస్తూ ఉంటే చూస్తూ ఎలా ఊరుకోగలడు! “వాళ్ళని రక్షించే మార్గం లేదా?” అని అడిగాడు శ్వేతపర్ణుడు. వాళ్ళు దోచుకున్న సొమ్మంతా ఇచ్చేస్తే వాళ్ళని వదిలేస్తామన్నారు ప్రజలు. సరేనని తన దగ్గరున్న డబ్బులిచ్చి వాళ్ళని విడిపించాడు. అందరూ కలిసి ఇంటికి ప్రయాణం కట్టారు.

తోవలో నక్కని మొదటిసారి కలిసిన అడవి దగ్గరకి వచ్చారు. “మాకు ఆకలిగా అలసటగా ఉంది. ఇక్కడ పక్కనే ఉన్న నది ఒడ్డున కూర్చొని, ఏదైనా తిని, కాస్త విశ్రమిద్దాం” అన్నారు అన్నలిద్దరూ. నక్క చెప్పిన హెచ్చరిక మరిచిపోయి శ్వేతపర్ణుడు సరేనన్నాడు. అందరూ నది ఒడ్డుకి వెళ్ళి కూర్చున్నారు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు కాస్త ఏమరుపాటుగా ఉన్న సమయం చూసి అన్నలిద్దరూ వెనకనుండి వెళ్ళి అతన్ని నదిలోకి తోసేశారు. బంగారు చిలకని, గుఱ్ఱాన్ని, రాకుమార్తెని తీసుకొని తమ రాజ్యానికి చక్కాపోయారు. రాజుగారికి బంగారు చిలకనిచ్చి, తమే కష్టపడి ఆ చిలకనీ, గుఱ్ఱాన్నీ, రాకుమార్తెని సంపాదించామని బొంకులు పలికారు. అందరూ సంతోషించి సంబరాలు చేసుకున్నారు. కాని గుఱ్ఱం ఏమీ తినడం మానేసింది. చిలక ఉలుకూపలుకూ లేకుండా ఉండిపోయింది. రాకుమార్తె దిగులుగా ఏడుస్తూ ఉంటోంది.

ఇక్కడ శ్వేతపర్ణుడు నది అడుక్కి పడిపోయాడు. కాని అదృష్టవశాత్తూ నది దాదాపుగా ఎండిపోయి ఉంది. కాబట్టి అతను మునిగిపోలేదు. కాని ఒళ్ళంతా దెబ్బలు తగిలాయి. నది బాగా లోతుగా ఉండడంతో అతను బయటకి రాలేకపోయాడు. అప్పుడు మళ్ళీ అతని పాత నేస్తం సుబుద్ధి అక్కడికి వచ్చింది. తన హెచ్చరికని పాటించనందుకు శ్వేతపర్ణుడిని మందలించి, “అయినా, నిన్నీ పరిస్థితిలో వదిలిపెట్టి ఎలా పోగలను! ఇదిగో నా తోక పట్టుకో” అని తన తోకని పొడుగ్గా పెంచి అతనికి అందించి, దానితో అతన్ని లాగి బయటకి తీసింది. “నువ్విలా నీ రాజ్యానికి వెళితే నీ అన్నలు నిన్ను బతకనివ్వరు. అంచేత మారు వేషంలో వెళ్ళి రాజుగారికి అసలు సంగతి చెప్పు” అని సలహా యిచ్చింది. శ్వేతపర్ణుడు ఒక పేదవాని వేషం వేసుకొని రాజుగారి కోటలోకి ప్రవేశించాడు. అతను రాగానే గుఱ్ఱం లేచి గడ్డి మేయడం మొదలుపెట్టింది. చిలక తీయని పలుకులు మాట్లాడ్డం మొదలుపెట్టింది. రాకుమార్తె ఏడుపాపేసింది. ఇదంతా ఆశ్చర్యపోయి చూస్తున్న రాజుగారి దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళి శ్వేతపర్ణుడు జరిగిన సంగతంతా చెప్పాడు. అసలు విషయం తెలుసుకున్న రాజు అన్నలిద్దరినీ ఖైదు చేసి వాళ్ళకి తగిన శిక్ష వేశాడు. శ్వేతపర్ణుడి సాహసానికి, మంచితనానికీ మెచ్చి, తన రాజ్యానికి అతడిని రాజును చేశాడు. రాకుమార్తె ఆనందినిని పెళ్ళి చేసుకొని శ్వేతపర్ణుడు చక్కగా రాజ్యం చేయసాగాడు.

కొత్త దంపతులిద్దరూ ఒక రోజు వాహ్యాళికి అడవి దగ్గరకి వెళ్ళారు. మళ్ళీ అక్కడ సుబుద్ధి కనిపించింది. ఇప్పటికైనా తన తలా పాదాలు నరికి తనని చంపమని వేడుకుంది. దాని బాధ చూసిన శ్వేతపర్ణుడు అఖరికి అది అడిగిన కోరిక తీర్చాడు. వెంటనే ఆ నక్క ఒక గంధర్వునిగా మారిపోయింది. సుబుద్ధి అనే ఆ గంధర్వుడు ఆనందిని అన్నగారే! శాపవశాత్తూ నక్కగా మారిపోయాడు. శాప విమోచనమైన సుబుద్ధి, దంపతులని ఆశీర్వదించి అదృశ్యమైపోయాడు. ఆనందినీ శ్వేతపర్ణులు ఆనందంగా కలకాలం జీవించారు.

కథ కంచికి… మనమింటికి…

Time to reveal the stories our St. Valentine liked best. He tells us that he loved reading all the stories and has been re-assured that people still believe in power of love. Though he would have loved for someone to have played a little naughty. In short, he loved the sugar but missed a little spice. 😉

You have probably guessed the results from the order in which we posted the stories. 🙂 But here is the formal announcement along with the judge’s comments of the stories and the competition.

First prize: Vibha Batra

The Funny Thing Called Love

A light-hearted romp through the hazards of modern romance. Love triangles are something of a cliche so it was fun to read about romantic lines and circles for a change. There’s also a nice little surprise at the end; nice because I should’ve guessed it but didn’t. The last line is perfect too.

Second prize: Neelima

It’s hard not to like a love story with two mutually-suspicious people. They’re not right for each other– the girl’s smart and sensible, the boy’s insufferably smug and spoiled– and they know they’re not right for each other but that fatal and mysterious attraction between book-readers and book-ignoramuses pulls them together. I loved that bit about her pimples and his strangely romantic need to burst them. Gross? yes; Plausible? completely. The ending– last 3-4 lines– could be edited to read better.  

Honorable Mentions:

Makarand Lohire: Fear of Love

The thing I liked about this story were its unassuming characters. They’re not beautiful or fair or members of the urban elite. There is a dark undercurrent to the story that leaves a trace in the mind. However, the ending was implausible and the writing definitely needs more polish. But the author has a realist sensibility I found quite appealing.

Eva Bell: Love Knows No Bounds

In a sense, this is a Valentine story in the classic M&B style. A dashing army officer falls in love with the beautiful ward of an Important Person. It’s a well-written and smooth read, but unfortunately, nothing really happens in the story. Boy meets girl in not very surprising circumstances and boy gets girl in equally unsurprising circumstances. That’s a lot like real life, admittedly, but I like my M&B romances to have a little more drama. Eva’s almost there, I think.

Hema Gollamudi: A Class Apart 

I was disappointed having to turn this down because it was a thoughtful and well-written tale. The ending works in Nehru cleverly. But we don’t really understand why Suchi loves Arvind or vice-versa. The problem that’s posed at the beginning of the story– what to do with a son who “throws away” his elite education– doesn’t have much connection with the fact the two love each other. Suchi needed to be connected with Arvind’s family in a deeper, more conflict-rooted way. Or so I felt.

 Rest of the entries:

As for the other stories, they were a varied bunch.  I won’t go into the specific issues I had because there were quite a few. But I was glad to read all of them; without exception the stories reveal a faith in the power of love to transform lives. I was surprised no one attempted a lesbian/gay valentine nor push for some of the darker rasas. Leads me to suspect many of the authors probably hadn’t tasted what they wish us to savor.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated and wrote the beautiful stories. Also big thanks to our St. Valentine – Anil Menon who provided his valuable feedback and that too in record time! Do check out his website to find out more about his books and about the writing workshops he occasionally runs.

We really enjoyed running this contest and hope that all of you will keep writing more and more. We will get in touch with the winners soon.

I bumped into Anuja, my college friend, the other day. (“Ages!” as we exclaimed, discreetly checking one another out). One look at her and all those repressed memories came flooding back to me.

Before I launch into that sorry tale, let me tell you more about her. She was quite a character, that Anuja. Hyper, outspoken, loud. An out and out tomboy. All those things boys supposedly don’t like in a girl. At least a certain boy didn’t. His name was Raghav. And he was quite the hottie. Tall, dark, conventionally good looking with biceps the size of Nagpur. He was everything girls like in a boy. (Anuja more than most girls.)

It didn’t help matters that Raghav had eyes only for another. Apologies for making the whole thing sound like a love triangle right out of a Hindi potboiler but that’s exactly how it was. Raghav loved Janani, Janani loved Pranav, (Pranav wouldn’t know love if it socked him in the face but that’s another not so short story) and Anusha loved Raghav. And that’s how things stood during the final year of our college life.

How did it all start? Well, we had all been friends and things were good the way they were. But legend has it that Raghav rescued Anusha from the clutches of a particularly nasty feathered villain one sultry afternoon. The gang was hanging out near the big tree in the parking lot, when the villain of the piece, a pigeon, flew out of the branches, without warning, and swooped low, scaring the living daylights out of Anusha. As Raghav, ever the chivalrous young man, shooed the offending foe away with loud grunts of “Get lost, get lost”), Anusha, the damsel in distress, had lost her heart to him.

Truth be told, the poor pigeon hadn’t harmed a hair on Anusha’s colour-blocked head. But you know how it is with girls, especially the ones who are freshly in love. For days following the incident, Anusha spoke of little else. It was always “That pigeon did this, dear Raghav did that’. Soon, the story attained such proportions you’d think Anusha was chased out of the building by a snarling thirty foot dinosaur before Raghav had gallantly stepped in and fobbed the beast off.

Raghav’s crush on Janani was nearly not as dramatic. One fine day, our canteen ran out of supplies earlier than usual. Raghav would have certainly died of starvation had Janani not arrived on the scene, a box of lip-smackingly delicious aloo paranthas in tow. Hard to say if he fell in love with Janani or her mother’s cooking skills but from that day forward, Raghav began looking at Goddess Annapoorna (Goddess of Food) as Godess Athena (Goddess of Love).

Of course, Janani felt no such emotion for Raghav. She had given her love organ (that did a million beats per minute whenever the object of her affection was around) to another. Pranav was the typical geek who dreamed of inventing “Something big, something extraordinary”, something that would be his ticket to fame. It wasn’t as if he was anti-girls. It’s just that he was pro-career.

And that’s how things stood that year. All of us were one gang. There were strong emotional undercurrents underneath the façade of friendship. Some indirect flirting, some coy glances but that was it.

It was the month of August that Anusha decided to take things into her own hands. Some people claim that on Independence Day, she was switching channels, when she came across Nehru’s famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. And she was inspired. She would keep her trust with destiny indeed. She would act on her desires all right.

Problem was she couldn’t propose to Raghav. How could she? She was a girl, a passably good looking one, at that. And no self-respecting, decent looking girl would go out on a limb and profess her feelings for a guy, no matter how strongly she felt for him. Ego before heart, self before other and all that, you see.

So she did the next best thing. She picked up her biggest weapon, her mobile phone, inserted a brand new sim, changed her voice and called him up. A ‘Secret Admirer’, of course. Did Raghav actually chat with the random caller? How could he not? It was a girl’s voice. And it sounded good. A killer combo, if you ask any boy. He was in the Hot Seat and his feelings for Janani simply had to take a backseat.

Nights melted into days, days melted into weeks. Raghav wanted to meet the girl who stole away his dreams (he felt as if he hadn’t slept in days, hooked as he was to the mobile phone). He demanded a rendezvous. Anusha complied. It was face off time.

The venue was agreed upon. A park, where else. If there was one thing Nagpur wasn’t short of (other than oranges) it was parks. The time was agreed upon. Four in the evening. Not too many housewives, babies, strollers, fitness parks, in the park at that time.

Right on the dot of four, Raghav braked to a halt in front of the park, and hurried inside. Sure enough, there she was, his lady love on a rickety bench. It was when he took a step closer that he realized! It was Janani, his original crush Janani reading A Tale of Two Cities.

It all made sense to him now. Janani must have had feelings for him all along. But shy creature that she was, she had taken shelter behind a (mobile phone) screen to confess her feelings for him. Raghav needed no more proof. He had bounded up to her and enveloped a visibly uncomfortable Janani in a bear hug.

Let’s halt here for a second and rewind a bit. To tell you the truth, everything had gone according to plan. Then at the last minute, just as Anusha was stepping out, her phone rang. Turned out her little nephew was down with a ‘diaper related emergency’. She rushed over to her sister’s to make herself useful. But not before calling her friend Janani for a ‘little favour’. Janani, of course, knew how Anusha felt for Raghav. It’s why she agreed to go along with the plan, harebrained as it was. She would go to the park, tell him it was Anusha all along and that would be that. As a good friend of Anusha’s, it was the least she could do.

She had just about buried her nose in her book when along came Raghav, all burly arms and bear hugs. It was when he attempted to plant a big sloppy kiss smack on Janani’s cheek that she put her foot down. Her hand went flying up to his face and Raghav came face to face with the harsh realities of life. Needless to say, all romantic entanglements (with each other, at least) of the gang were put into the cold storage for the rest of our college days.

In fact, I haven’t thought about that incident in years. I mean, it’s not as if I enjoyed being hugged or almost kissed by Raghav. It’s just that meeting Anusha brought all those memories back. In any case, I am now happily married (no, not to Pranav, in case you were wondering) so it’s all good now. Love, I tell you, is such a funny thing.

It was not that Raghav had not experienced love of the first degree. He had, several times in fact. He knew the degrees of emotion that followed the first glance, the realization of her presence among so many others, the desire to let your eyes rest on hers, the electric urge to fall into the wellspring of desire and then, of course…he knew all that. The only problem he had according to his mother was that he could not commit.

“And it’s about time Raghu. I’m not going to be making you rajma and rice all my life. Make it on your own or get a wife who can make it for you.” Raghav gave her a cursory glance as his fingers texted out a business email on his blackberry. He marveled at his mother’s cluelessness about women today and their culinary skills.

Take Nisha. She was the perfect fit-the right height, the right background(their dads were good friends), the right profession(she had an MBA like he did) but she was a hard core feminist whose sharing the chores obsession made her a terrible choice for a live in partner. Then there was Sadee, a girl of mixed ethnicity who Raghav still couldn’t completely forget.  Her drawback- she only ate out. It was all fine on dates but everyday? What are restaurants for then? , she said and he said “What are kitchens for?” and there ended a story.

It was unfortunate that food had to be a part of the marriage deal, but it was , at least in Raghav’s case. So when his mother asked him to go to Nagpur, the city of oranges, to see a girl, he agreed. He was thirty four already. Nowadays twenty five year old men had families. He had had too many relationships and too many disappointments- he was starting to look forward to the woman of his mother’s dreams- the quite educated but not too well educated sort who was good with everyone, could run the household, satisfy him and of course make good rajma and rice, which was all he needed.

All the way to Nagpur, he tried to make sense of the photograph his mother had showed him. The girl’s family had sent him several snaps of the girl at various angles , so that he could a better perspective of her. They had  arranged for a skype chat as well, but he preferred to see the girl first in flesh and blood and let his hormones decide if they were compatible at a basic level.

The girl was tall enough and a dusky wheatish complexion. She was a commerce graduate and worked in the accounts department of an unknown enough company. She had acne, he could tell, even through all the foundation she wore for the photograph.  Her eyebrows were plucked to arrow-like arcs, so she was the sort who took care of her appearance, which was always good in the long run. Her shape was pleasing, more than her face, he decided, which was also not such a bad thing; he didn’t want a wife who attracted too much attention for her beauty.

He was showered with warm welcoming smiles and a family that he instantly felt an affinity to, which was strange as he had never been to Nagpur before, except once on a company assignment. “Where is your mother? She should have come-we had made all the arrangements.” Raghav did not explain how difficult it had been to keep her away- how he begged and pleaded that he meet the girl first before any of the formalities were drawn. He didn’t want to repeat the embarrassments he had suffered with Nisha and so many others.

The girl’s family ushered him into a room. Raghav looked around anxiously. There was a small bed and a picture of Radha and Krishna. This sealed it for him. A young woman walked in. “I’m Mohini.” she said casually as she sat in a cane chair that he hadn’t noticed at the side of the bed. She wore a white salwar kameez and her acne was acute, especially as the sun caught her face.

Raghav caught her observing him carefully as though he were a rodent about to be dissected. Their mutual dissection lasted for five seconds that seemed as long as eternity.”You know something!”, Mohini exclaimed, changing the tense feeling in the room suddenly to one of immense brightness.”Has anyone told you that you look like Nehru?”

Raghav blushed a deep crimson. He was often called handsome which was why he never had any shortage of female friends, but Nehru? No, no one had said that to him at all. When he looked at her again, Raghav noticed that Mohini had neat features- a couple of penicillin injections would cure the acne. He also noticed her curviness and felt soothed.

“I don’t understand this arranged marriage business Raghav.” Mohini said as she sat cross legged on the cane chair.” I’ve been thinking and thinking how can I say okay I’ll sleep with you? How can I just do that unless I’m really hundred percent sure?”

Raghav nodded in agreement. She had a point.

“So I thought what is the one thing that I like the most? If you can answer something like a questionnaire, then I can correlate your likes with mine and we can have further discussions.”

Raghav’s eyes gave her an are you serious? look and she returned an I am serious look.

The questionnaire had been printed out. There were all kinds of questions that required a one-word answer. Do you smoke? Do you drink? Which pubs have you visited? Who is the author of A Tale of Two cities?

He laughed when he read the one about the two cities.

“What about me? Don’t I get to make a questionnaire?” he asked.

He filled out the questionnaire in good humour. Sometimes, when I don’t drink. Sometimes, when I don’t smoke. All the pubs in Bangalore. He wasn’t sure about the Tale of Two cities though- he reckoned it was a movie. Literature was not his area. “I don’t know this one.” he said pointing to question eight.

Mohini wrinkled her nose. “Don’t you read books then?” she dug her thoughtful fist into her acned cheek.

“Don’t get the time.” Raghav brushed off her question and went on to question nine. What is the capital of Romania? The question created a physical sensation in him that reminded him of the helplessness he experienced during GK quizzes his school organized every Thursday of long ago.

“Don’t mind me asking, but are you trying to humiliate your prospective husband?” Raghav put down the ballpoint pen and looked squarely at this woman whom he was thinking of marrying. Her pimples were visible now- a dark red and burgundy. He felt like pinching each one till they ran blood.

“I didn’t expect such a response Raghav. What other way is there for me to assess you? Look around you.” Raghav looked around and the room was taking shape. Besides the bed and the cane chair and the window, there were several cupboards lined up- all of them were filled with books in various states of decay. “These are the books that I got from my uncle. He’s a professor in Delhi. He’s what you would call an omnivorous reader- he reads just about anything-horticulture, space travel, the double helix, the Upanishads and pigeons.”

Raghav was still trying to get her point. He was baffled by his inability to recall the capital of Romania, as though he had found himself in one of those exam hall dreams.

“What I’m trying to say Raghav is that I have to read all these books- that’s a promise I’ve made myself. I live and breathe books and if you don’t know who wrote A Tale of two cities then we might as well call it wraps.”

That was easy enough, Raghav mused. Why hadn’t he thought of this before? The questionnaire to every girl he met before they decided to take the plunge and share fantasies that hardly matched.

He couldn’t believe it though when he found himself saying, ”but Mohini I could learn.”

Mohini sat up in her chair and looked at him as though to say but I didn’t see that coming.

“Now I could ask you a few things too. You can call me a male chauvinist pig but all I need is someone who likes to listen to me talk and yes, I will be a chauvinist and ask you if you know how to make rajma.”

Mohini bit her lip in a state of dismay and amusement “Of course, not.” The wind blew the laced curtains upwards and she noticed the Nehruvian chin. She couldn’t help thinking how fine her children could look and she said, “But I could learn.”

The marriage was fixed soon after a skype chat that Mohini insisted on to know more about her future husband’s preferences. She had always thought her acne would prevent her from getting a groom and had devised so many methods to deal with rejection. She smiled hard for her marriage photo as she knew the man who stood beside her was a chauvinist she needed, by far the most handsome chauvinist she had ever learned to love.

Walking on a footpath of Ravindra Nath Tagore Marg, in Nagpur – the tiger capital of India, I saw a lady with a small voice recorder querying the people around her about something. Next to her was a man in typical journalist attire – a shirt and a pair of loose fitting cargos, with a sleeveless jacket over it. He was holding a camera and taking snaps. They seemed to be from the media and considering the ugly looks of the lady in question, they were definitely from the print media. Television news channels rarely hired ordinary looking folk.

In desperate need of publicity, I deliberately slowed down, as I neared them. Chhinka, who was walking beside me moved away hastily. He didn’t like the media.

The ugly lady noticed me and asked “Hey you, do you know who was our first prime minister?”

I realized that this was for some Republic day special column to be printed the next day.

“Ya…its..Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji.”

Adding ‘ji’ was an attempt to be extra polite as I wanted to be in that column.

She said “Oh great, now tell me one word that links Nehruji and Love?”

On hearing that question, anyone would have replied ‘patriotism’, but for some unknown reason, I uttered “Rose”

-“Rose! That’s quite a different answer.”

The reporter seemed impressed. They then wrapped up their kit and were about to leave. I stopped the lady and asked “Excuse me m’am, where will be this interview printed?”

-“If your words get selected, they will appear in tomorrow’s TOI with your picture.”

Whilst the lady was talking to me, the man next to her snapped my photograph and asked for my name and profession.

I replied “John Perrera. I am a still photographer.”

And then they left.

I continued towards my house near the end of the lane. It was on the first floor; a single room, partitioned with a curtain to convert the smaller part into a kitchen. Chhinka and I stayed there for a rent of 4000 Rs.

Climbing the wooden stairs, as soon as I entered the room, Chhinka shouted “Hey, why do you always speak to the media guys? You know that these people are not good for me. And by the way, let me remind you that you have to complete your Valentine’s Day project.”

I “Oh yes, the last date for submission is 13^th Feb. I tell you, this topic is really tough for me.”

Chhinka “Ok now, I will leave for work.”

-“Chhinka, we have to pay our rent soon. Be ready with your share. I don’t want our landlord to get annoyed. She was the only one who agreed to give her house on rent to two homeless 22 yr old guys.”

After some time, I went out with my SLR camera, in search of some good shots, that would suit Valentine’s Day, but hardly got any good pictures and when I came home, I was already tired, so I fell asleep in a second.

Next day 9 am

I was eager to watch my photo in TOI. Quickly rushing through the pages, scanning every part of every page, I finally found my face in a corner with some lines, my name and profession written next to it.

I felt like showing it to someone else, but there was no one except my room mate “Did you see this?”

He nodded, while sipping tea.

– “This is the kick start of my career. One day, I will be a great photographer.”

The moment I said that, Chhinka started sneezing heavily, which was usual for him, and also the reason his name was kept ‘Chhinka’, which meant ‘sneeze’ in Marathi.

But this was the wrong moment for the sneezes as it was considered as bad luck. Though I didn’t believe in such things, I felt like bashing him today. I moved towards him and as I was about to catch hold of his collar, he handed 2000Rs in my hand “Here is my share of the rent.”

I took it and calmed down “Good, by the way, from whose pocket has it come this time?”

Chhinka “A foreigner…careless people, they can’t acclimatize to Indian conditions.”

Chhinka was a talented thief, talented enough to make around 6 to 7 thousand a month. I never questioned him about this, as sometimes this was an economic support for a struggler like me.

10^th Feb 9 am

We were not routine drinkers, but that day he got some big, money filled wallet. So, we decided to have some Vodka in our little place, with doors and windows closed, so that our landlord wouldn’t know.

Chhinka “So John, how’s your work going on?’

Me “Not good, you know na, I am least interested in these love topics, so I don’t have any idea as to what to snap for the Valentine Day project.”

Chhinka “Why re..ok.. just tell me today…here itself…right now….why you hate love. I mean, you don’t stare at girls; you don’t interact with much people…why?

Me “I don’t hate love yaar, it’s just that I am…scared of it.”

Chhinka “Scared!…why? Latex Rubber has been invented, my friend.”

Me “Chhe, it’s not that. You know, when I was in fifth standard, I had a dog named ‘Blacky’. I loved him a lot. I used to be with him for most of the time. He used to sleep on my lap. Though he wasn’t able to speak human language, I could understand his moves. But then one day, he stopped eating. I tried a lot to feed him, but he used to keep his mouth tightly closed. I told this to my dad, to which he slapped me and kept me away from my dog. I kept crying the whole night. Next day, when I woke up, I ran to Blacky to see that he was totally cold and stiff. Flies were all around him. He had died. I cried fir almost a week and even now, I can’t forget that sight.

My sorrows didn’t stop over here. When I was in 11^th standard, my both parents died a railway accident. I wasn’t allowed to see their covered bodies. I wasn’t sad for my dad’s death…not at all, but my mother…she was my life. She too left me…that too so early.

In the next few days, I involuntarily analysed the reason for my grief, and I concluded only one thing that in both incidents, I felt sad because I loved them.

So, in the next few weeks, I found a way to avoid being unhappy by avoiding to love anyone. When I will not love anyone, obviously I will not feel sad if they leave me.”

Chhinka “Man, I am talli now, and kasam se…your funda is bouncer for me. achha leave it, tell me, did you have crush on anyone in college days?”

Me “Yes, there was one girl….Rose Dcosta. I liked her, but I deliberately avoided her.”

Chhinka “Why…now please don’t tell me the same ‘scared’ reason.”

Me “Ya, that’s the reason.”

Chhinka “Oh my God…achha sun, now the talks and vodka both are over, so lets sleep and good night.”

Next day 12 pm

I and Chhinka were at All Saints Cathedral church. The place is always full of tourists and thus surrounded by small stalls of books, toys, clothes and many more. But the place which was my favorite was the open space in the right side of the church, occupied by the pigeons. People fed grains to them.

Chhinka was busy with his work, looking for some prey, while I was looking for some lovely moments to snap.

Chhinka, who I think was finding it hard to show his talent in such an open space, came to me and said “John bhai, take the pictures of these pigeons, while they fly. It would make a nice pic.”

It was absurd for me to follow his suggestion, but I didn’t want to depress him by denying him, so I clicked a few shots, while Chhinka tried to make their wings work. We did that for some time, after which even the pigeons got frustrated and left the place, leaving the grains as it is. After that, Chhinka moved away and I got busy trying to take pics of couples present there.

Suddenly, a lady started crying loudly “Somebody stole my mobile, please help.”

I could only hear her voice as she was surrounded by the crowd gathered to help her. But I knew the culprit was Chhinka, so I too vanished from the place.

After having lunch and evening work session, I came home and asked Chhinka “What brother, which mobile it was…. the lady’s?”

Chhinka laughed “Samsung Wave.”

Giving a smiley nod, I moved to my computer table to copy today’s snaps. I did that and was tired to have a look at them, so shut down my computer and joined Chhinka in his celebration.

Next day

I was taking a look at yesterday’s pics. They were good. But the photo that glued my eyes to it was those of the pigeons as I was startled to see those photos, not because of the pigeons, but because of the lady standing far behind the pigeons. She was Rose Dcosta. I had seen her after almost 6-7 yrs, but still looked the same, as beautiful as during college days.

Don’t know why, I felt like meeting her, atleast once, to say her “Hello”. I quickly moved out of my chair to leave for church, but then I realised that I was being overanxious. So, I sat back on my chair. I stared at her photo, zooming it. There I got a clue to meet her. She was carrying a novel in her hand. It was ‘A tale of two cities’ by Charles Dickens. And then I recollected that there was only one bookseller in that nearby area, so I rushed to the church and then to that bookseller and inquired him about Rose showing him the photo. He said that she was the same girl whose mobile was stolen a day before. I felt sad after hearing that, but later, I was happy for it as I knew that the mobile thief was none other than Chhinka.

Sprinting from there, I came to Chhinka “Where is yesterday’s stolen mobile?”

Chhinka, with the mobile in his hand “Here it is, why?”

Me “Give it to me; I am going to the lady for returning it.”

Chhinka “Hey, why are you putting me in a problem. Why are you being so polite, suddenly. Police will trace me through you.”

Me “She is my college friend. Nothing will happen. I’ll tell that I got it somewhere…say in the train.”

I took the mobile, inserted the sim card and called the last dialed number. It was ‘Rose 2’. I didn’t have the guts to say who I was. So, I pretended to be a stranger and told her to meet me near the church.

Chhinka “John, what about your Valentine’s Day project, is it done? Tomorrow is the last day.”

I nodded and left.

When I reached the church, I saw that she was already there. She was dressed in blue jeans and a red winter jacket. She was looking cuter than earlier. She didn’t wear cap to cover her head, which was making me feel uncomfortable.

As soon as I reached near her, she recognized me and surprisingly asked “John..you here?”

I wanted to hug her in return, but involuntarily my hand stretched to give her mobile, handed it to her and without saying a word, I started moving back.

She stopped me “John, why are you scared. I want to say you something, something that I had said you earlier too. But that time, you had denied my love and went away without saying a word. But today, I want a reply from you. John, I love you and I know you love me too.”

I stayed silent and stood there.

She continued “John, now its enough. Why are you doing this to me? It’s been 6 years, but still I am not able to forget you and I suppose you too are not able to forget me.”

I had to turn to her after listening to those words. I quickly hugged her and kissed her on her lips. She didn’t resist me but smiled, which I sensed by her lip movements, as both of us had closed our eyes. We kissed each other till we opened our eyes. I looked in her deep affectionate eyes and confessed “I love you Rose, I had loved you since college days, but I was scared to tell you that because I was scared from the grief of losing you some day.”

Rose “I know that, that is why I had to play this little drama of getting robbed, to help your feeling of love overpower your fear. If I would have directly approached you, you would have again denied me. So I took help of your friend Chhinka.”

Chhinka appeared from somewhere “Yes John, did you remember it was me who told you to snap those pigeons. I knew that Rose was standing in the background.”

Me “But, when did you plan all this?”

Rose “On 26^th January, in TOI newspaper, I saw your photo. After that, I contacted the reporter. She told me that she did the reporting at the Ravindra Nath Tagore Marg. I inquired a bit over that place and I got to know about your location. Then, I met Chhinka some days later and told him about us and further he helped me with the plan.”

I was really surprised to hear that. I saw at Chhinka “Yaar, thank you very much, I will pay half your share for the next months rent.”

Me and Rose laughed at that, while Chhinka seriously said “I am serious about the rent thing, you will have to keep your promise.”

“Waise John, what about tomorrow’s Valentine Day submission?”

Rose “Don’t worry; as now he is in love, he will understand it well.”

Next day

Finally, my photo was selected for the largest space in the magazine by the senior photographer. It was all because of Rose. It was her idea of that awesome snap. Rose and I are happily spending every moment of our lives with each other and now I am not scared from love.

And talking about the photo.

It showed an old lady with an old man sharing the same shawl walking past the windy lane.

It depicted the fact that one day, one of them is going to leave the other, but still they love each other, not feared of their separation.

Colonel Rohan Singh had completed his last recce along the LOC, and returned to his bunker. It had been his home for three long years. His inexhaustible source of encouragement against the threat of terrorists on one hand and the blistering cold on the other, had come from the memory of a beautiful doe-eyed damsel. Night after night when the fear of militant guns kept him awake, he would conjure up the face of a feisty young woman, who had wrapped him around her little finger with her captivating voice and exuberance. Now that his battalion would be moving to warmer climes and to civilization, he would track her down.

“If only I had a homing pigeon to carry a message telling her that she has never been out of my thoughts! For all I know, she would burst into peals of laughter and say ‘Of all the modern contraptions available, must this romantic fool contact me through a pigeon?’ I’ll find her wherever she is and convince her that she’s the girl for me.”

Before this posting, Rohit had been A.D.C. to the Governor of Karnataka. He was the pick of the crop by virtue of his excellent work, charismatic personality and impeccable manners. Tall and well- built, with a well chiseled nose and features, he could have easily passed off as Nehru’s progeny. That was what Aarthi had blurted out on their very first meeting.

“Gosh! If Nehru and Edwina had cohabited, I’m sure they would have had a son just like you. Are you by any chance related to any one of them?”

Rohan had been stunned speechless for a while. His face had coloured up like a beetroot.

“If only this cheeky girl wasn’t the Governor’s niece I’d have tweaked her nose until it hurt. Doesn’t she realise that I’m not a playboy but a respected officer in the Army?”

Then she had smiled, and that smile had erased every trace of impudence.

“My aunt says that when you are not dancing attendance on her, you’ll be my escort for the duration of my stay in Bangalore. And I hope you’re going to give me the time of my life. Or else……..”

“Or else what?” he challenged, deciding to treat her like the brat she was proving to be.

“Or else it will be a waste of my precious holiday. I want to take my mind off my studies and just enjoy myself. This will be my last year at the Medical College in Nagpur.”

“Nagpur? Why did you choose such a hot and crowded place? It’s only good for growing oranges.”

“Because I’m not the brightest of students, and I couldn’t get a seat anywhere else,” she laughed.

Rohan had been very surprised when the Governor called him aside one day.

“I want a favour from you Colonel. This is not part of your duty and if you don’t feel up to it, feel free to refuse.”

“At your service Ma’am,” he said, hoping that it wouldn’t be something that clashed with his code of ethics. Then he would have to refuse and perhaps incur her anger.

“My niece Aarthi will be arriving in a few days to spend her vacation here. She’s like a daughter to me as she has lost both her parents. So I want this to be a happy interlude in her otherwise busy life. She works hard at her studies – a real bookworm! But she’s warm and loving and can be gullible too. So keep her interested. Find something for her to do. And I trust you know where to draw the line.”

“But excuse me Ma’am, where will I find time to chaperone her around?”

“Chaperone is the wrong word. She’ll bristle up like a porcupine if you use that word. Be a friend or a comrade or a buddy. No, I don’t want you to be her bodyguard around the clock. Take her out when you’re off duty. That will do. Bangalore provides enough entertainment for young people – theatre, movies, any form of clean entertainment. No pubs, no drinks and definitely no intimacy,” she warned, “I’ll meet all the expenses.”

“I’ll do my best Ma’am,” Rohan promised.

But Rohan soon realised that the Governor had actually done him a favour. Aarthi was intelligent, knowledgeable and fun to be with.

“Where would you like to go?” he asked.

“Take me to all the places where my aunt won’t go,” she said, chuckling at her own joke.

“And for goodness sake don’t drive me around in a government vehicle. Do you have a motorbike?”

Rohan did have one. It was his preferred mode of transport when off duty. No one gave them a second look when they had their helmets on. By the end of the week they had become friends.

“Too much fraternizing isn’t going to be good for either of us. She’ll be gone in a couple of weeks. What then?” he wondered.

But Aarthi had no qualms. Rohan was so different from her college mates – so well mannered and gentle. Yet, not sycophantic because she was the Governor’s niece. He had a quiet dignity of his own, asserted himself when necessary and did not concur with some of her silly ideas. He was genuinely interested in her life at the Medical College, and listened when she shared her hopes, dreams and ambitions with him.

If only she knew what he wrote about her in his personal diary! Rohan loved poetry and used a quote from a lesser known poet.

“A woman of her gentle sex, a seeming paragon

The better elements and kindly stars have given

A form so fair that like the air,

‘Tis less of earth than heaven.”

Aarthi seemed very happy with the arrangement and the Governor was relieved.

“I’m enjoying my holiday so much that it will be difficult to get back into the studying mode,” Aarthi said.

“Is the Colonel good company?” the Governor asked.

“You couldn’t have chosen better, Aunty. He’s so mature. Not like some of the egoistic swollen heads I have for classmates or the giddy goats who ogle anything that passes in a skirt.”

The days passed swiftly in a flurry of activity. She liked being in the company of this strapping young man. Rohan too was conscious of her nearness. He had never been so close to any girl before. His job had taken up all his time and energy. However there was nothing romantic in their behaviour towards each other. Most people took them for siblings.

Rohan had shown her everything that was worth seeing in Bangalore – the Vidhan Soudha, Lalbagh, Bannerghatta, a play at Chowdiah Memorial Hall and a musical concert at Alliance Francais. They strolled through Cubbon Park when the evening shadows fell, and sipped Espresso Coffee at Barista’s. He took her through the crowds of shoppers on Commercial Street and watched as she bought junk jewellery from the roadside stalls.

“How she delights in little things!” Rohan observed, “I wish she could stay here for a few more weeks. She has made me sensitive to the things that I never bothered about before.”

Three weeks had flown by so quickly. It was Aarthi’s last day in Bangalore.

“Can I treat you to dinner tonight?” Rohan asked, “It will be a kind of farewell party.”

“That will be wonderful. Will you take me to your favourite restaurant?”

“Yes, it’s definitely my favourite eating place. But don’t expect the Taj. This is a cozy place called Red Rooster, which serves the finest tongue tickling cuisine. You’ll never forget the place.”

“No, I’ll never forget,” she said, looking straight into his eyes, “I have much to remember.”

Rohan looked down at his fingers. “I feel like I’m having a raging fever,” he thought. “Is this love or lust or plain infatuation? I’m praying that I’ll be true to the promise I made to the Governor. No intimacy, she had warned.”

But Aarthi had not restricted herself by promises to her aunt.

“This is the best place to say Goodbye,” she said, throwing her arms around him and planting a kiss on his cheeks. “Thanks for everything. I’ll always remember you.”

Rohan’s tenure as A.D.C soon drew to a close. The Governor’s report was highly commendatory. Someone at head Quarters frowned at the kudos he had received.

“This guy has had a cushy posting in Bangalore. Now let’s put him in charge of a battalion and shunt him out to the border.”

Rohan Singh and his men were glad to be back in Delhi after three long years. He was due for leave and would put it to good use. He must find Aarthi. He had carried her picture too long in his heart.

“Will I be too late?” he wondered, “Would she have forgotten me? An attractive girl like her must be mobbed by eligible bachelors. She may even be married for all I know.”

Only recently he had read “The Tale of Two Cities.” Though he had been impressed by barrister Sydney Carton who had loved and lost, and thought nothing of sacrificing himself for the happiness of a woman he loved, Rohan didn’t think he would do the same.

“Married or not, I’ll find her and wean her away from the guy. If worst comes to worst, I’ll kidnap her and elope even if I have to carry her in my arms.”

Rohan found the address and telephone number of her college and hospital. Then he dialed the number on his mobile.

“Sorry,” the answer came, “Dr. Aarthi is not working here anymore. She may be at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. You can enquire there.”

Rohan boarded the train to Mumbai. It took a while to find the place and confirm that Aarthi was working there. The moral police were nowhere in sight and the shops were filled with young people buying Valentine cards and gifts. Rohan picked up a beautiful card.

“Will she? Won’t she?” he wondered, as he prevailed upon a peon to take his card to Aarthi.

“Will you be my Valentine?” he had scribbled inside and also given his mobile number.

Then he sat in the waiting area, with a bunch or red roses in his hand.

She looked very professional in her while coat and stethoscope dangling from her neck. Her hair was bunched up in a pony tail. Her eyes lit up when she saw him and she made one sprint across, waving the card and shouting for everyone to hear, “Of course I will, Of course I will.”

“Love knows no bounds of time or distance,” Rohan thought, his body trembling with anticipation of a new and exciting phase in his life.

He thrust the roses into her hand, and as their fragrance engulfed them, he whispered,

“My lovely Valentine!”

The sound of the flapping wings and the guttural noise, made Suchitra, sitting on a settee by the window, turn her head and look out. The darned bird was perched on the parapet of the balcony next to the tulsi and pecking into the soil in the pot. She rapped her knuckles on the window pane. It worked. But, the stretching out left wing of the pigeon almost got the pot. It gave the slightest of shakes, making her start unfolding her leg from under her, before it settled down.

What a day to spend the Sunday. She would rather have been arguing and teasing Arvind than be chasing the city pests from messing her balcony. She caught her breath as the thought entered her mind. She said aloud, “What was that again? But,…but…how can that be?” She jumped out of the bean bag, throwing the book in her hand to the floor, and paced a few steps around the room. Her ankle length crinkle skirt twirled as she walked about. She stopped at the mirror at her dressing table and looked up to see tears streaming down her eyes. She stood there staring at her reflection and wiped her wet face with the back of her hand in a quick swish. She paced about some more. She seemed to make her mind up as she picked up her mobile phone from the bean bag.

Almost as soon as she picked it, she threw it back. She picked up the phone again and looked for a number. She pressed ‘call’ and quickly disconnected it. She thought a minute and dialed again. She got the response “The number you are trying to reach has been switched off”. She said loudly, “No!” She flopped on her bed and buried her face in her hands. Few moments later, she looked up wiped her face and dialed another number on the phone.

“Hello Shweta”, she said not waiting to hear a response on the other end.

“Hi Suchi!! What a long time. You finally remembered me. What’s up? Are you alright?”

As soon as she heard the concern in her friend’s voice, Suchitra almost cried again. She said in a hurry, “Where is that damned brother of yours? Arvind?”

Suchitra heard a sigh on the phone line and then, “Suchi. Honestly, I don’t know. I am coming over now. You stay right there.”

Suchitra looked dazed. When she finally stood up, she reached over to the book, and sat on the bean bag just looking at the plants in the balcony her landlady watered regularly. She got up only when she heard the door bell.

Shweta was seated on the couch in the living room next to Suchitra. She handed the take away glass with milk shake to her friend saying, “The banana in this will pep you up. Have it. I picked it up on the way from your favourite hangout.”  She then said, “Arvind only told me he has quit his job and that he needs a break. He asked mom, dad and me not to try and reach him and that he will connect with us. In the last couple of months, he has called us once. But, he did not say anything about what he is doing and where he is. Mom is really going bonkers trying to figure it out. Dad is trying his best to pacify her, but I can see he can’t understand why after having spent so much money on his Ivy league MBA, he could just one day give up his ‘Senior manager’ position and vanish. He can’t get over the fact that his son has come back to India after that big education and now this…” Shweta paused to look into her friends gleaming eyes and asked in exasperation, “When will you both stop being crazy?”

Suchitra could only splutter, “What did I do? I did nothing.”

“Did you not send him away?”

“Send him away?! Most definitely not. I just told him that he does not understand my world and way of living. He has grown up in all this money and has everything. I did not have any of that. I was lucky to have got into college and a scholarship on merit and because of my hockey, managed an MBA in this city college. Your dad paid for his education when he wanted to do the same in Harvard. There is no connect, you know. After that I did not hear from him. How can I be responsible for his actions?”

Shweta took a sip from her glass before responding, “But, Arvind did not want to go abroad to study. He kept saying he wants to work in India and does not care for a US degree. Dad did not listen to him. And mom said that once he has his degree he can decide what he wants to do. Finally, that is what he did. He finished that degree and took up a job here, much to dad’s dismay. You know that!”

“So, where is he now?” Suchitra scooped the milk shake from her glass with a spoon and then licked her lips.

“See, he quit here in Bangalore and went to meet mom and dad. He just told them he needs to do more directly for the people who really need help. He would not say more.”

“How do I reach him then?” Suchitra had an edge to her voice. She did not wait for a response. She stood up and said, “Ok, I will make a couple of calls to work and then I head to Majestic.” Shweta could only gasp before Suchitra continued, “I suppose busses to Nagpur leave only at night?”

“But mom and dad themselves…” Shweta could not finish as Suchitra interrupted her and said, “Somebody there would.”

Shweta said hurriedly, “I am coming with you. I will tell dad to send a pickup…”

Her pal said firmly, “No Shweta, I need to do this alone. I will anyway be in touch with you on the phone”.

Shweta sighed and said softly, “Alright. I know you. But do not vanish, ok?” And then she added, “Anyway, that’s my girl. I know you will find him.”

When Suchitra reached Arvind’s parents’ home the next morning, they received her warmly and not a bit surprised. His mother let her freshen up and gave her a hearty breakfast. They knew her as Shweta’s friend and it was tricky for her to ask about Arvind. She tried to be casual about it and finally asked about him while digging into the poha. His mom looked at her a second longer before she said, “Beta, Arvind does not tell us where he is. His father is so angry with him. But I know my son is made differently. Why does he not tell us what he is doing?”

Aunty told her of the various ways they had tried to get the information from him, but to no avail. It had been two months now and all they knew was that he was doing well and told them he was happy when he had called once, about a month ago. But she had heard the sadness in his voice. His dad had tried to find out from all his connections, and he was not working in any of the cities where they had branches to their business. Suchitra could only say, “Aunty, is there any hint or clue you could get from his discussions? Anything he suggested?”

“No beta. Before he left I was so upset that I had told him, “At least be like your papa. He is doing seva for people by giving them jobs and salaries. You do something similar too. You know he said that he is planning on the same lines and that he will let us know when the time is right. All he said is he is still close to us.”

Suchitra almost dropped her glass of fruit punch she was holding in her hand, and jumped up. “Aunty that is it. I know what he is doing.” She was made to finish breakfast before she got up and this gave her time to get details on the various bus stops and places around.

Taking her bag and a basket of food, which Arvind’s mother insisted she carry, she set off. She had to brush off aunty’s insistence of sending a car with a driver or coming along too, but not before she had said, “Beti, now only you can probably make him see sense. And you take care of yourself as well!”

As the bus started on its two hour ride to Sevagram, It kept halting at every stop to pick up people who kept streaming in. Suchitra could not even spend time with her thoughts. The bus was barely moving. Did it have to stop at every bus stop and why did so many people want to travel anyway? They seemed to somehow conspire and not let her think of Arvind…No…Not let her read…

She opened her book to page seventeen. She could not see what was on the page. All she could see was Arvind and his expression, when she had said, “What do you know of my trials. You see them through the comfort of your home.” He had come that eventful Saturday evening to talk about being together.

Arvind had said with infinite patience to what now seemed, her agitated rant, “Suchi, have I not seen you since you were with Shweta in the first? I…”

She had not let him speak, “That is different. You have to live this life to know.”  She had picked up the “The Tale of Two Cities” lying on her desk, that she had got the unabridged version of, and waving it at his face had said, “See what poverty does to people. What the rich can do to the poor and how they take advantage of it. It can change peoples’ lives.”

Why had she over reacted? She could have been more sympathetic. He had never shown an attachment to his wealth in his ways. She had not seen him go out to party or flaunt his dad’s glitzy new cars. He had not wanted to go for an international education. He had been so supportive of her and her family’s situation and had helped them with opportunities and sometimes even monetarily. It was her fortune that she had got into the school with Shweta due to the generosity of the school management where Arvind’s father was the board member. Arvind had somehow made sure she and her younger brother went through school without having financial worries.

Hearing her reaction, Arvind had just stood there looking down. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. He tried again and then gave up. He had then turned around and left.

She had not heard from him since then. She looked back into the book and saw she was on page nineteen. What had happened from page seventeen anyway? She turned the pages back angrily. Then she looked at her watch. Wow! She should have reached by now. Why was the bus taking forever for this short ride? She shut her book, put it in her handbag and quickly cleaned up her windblown hair with her hand. She adjusted her dupatta over her head to protect from the sun outside as she stepped off. She sat up straight with the bag on her shoulder and ready to run off the bus the moment it stopped and the door opened.

The bus halted finally and as she stood up, she could see that she could not get off as she had planned. Passengers had to collect the baggage from the rack above, the small baby had to be picked up, belongings checked and it did not help her growing consternation. When she alighted at last, she stood still. Her thoughts had been so focused on reaching this town that she had not thought of what she really would do next. As the woman behind, stepping off the bus, bumped into her, she looked up and froze.

Arvind was standing in front of her taking her bag from her hand. He was saying, “Just step here.” She could only look at him. He was wearing a light blue short sleeved shirt over faded jeans, his trademark. When they were a few steps away, she stopped and could just say, “Arvind,…”.

He looked at her intensely and said, “Two months, twenty two days six hours…” and looking at his watch added, “…and fourteen minutes”.

She was still staring. Realizing he had said something, she said, “What?”

“Since I saw you last.” He had the slightest of smiles on his face.

She had never noticed, he had the sweetest of smiles. And his eyes were so deep brown. What had she been thinking all these days? She said, “How did you know?”

“I decided to speak to mom thinking she would be worried. When I called her she said you were coming here. I asked her not to call you on the mobile and say anything.” Then with a grin he said, “I have been standing here for forty seven minutes watching the three other busses that came here before this one. But tell me how did you think I would be here?”

“I remembered what I told you last. Aunty said she had asked you to do seva. So I thought Sevagram is close to Nagpur and so…”

“You, silly! I am not here. I am in a village an hour away from here. I had to hire a cab and drive here as fast as I could.”

They had started to walk now. She had to shade her eyes from the blaze of the setting sun ahead of them. She said, “What the hell are you doing there?”

“I found this village where farmers were in deep shock over some of them taking their lives. I was with them for a few days when I was reminded of your comments on Nehru’s socialism. I am setting up a cell to help with their cotton production…”

She burst out, “Why Arvind?”

He stopped, looked at her and said in a hurt voice,” Suchi, you told me I had to live the life to know it. There was no way I could do it where my parents could find me. I had to do this on my own.”

“Why did you not choose a different part of Nehru’s personality to follow!?” She said agitatedly.

It was his turn to say, “What?!”

“Why did you not have an affair or something?”

“You want me to have an affair??”

She said softly “Do you have to do all I ask you to?” She walked close to him and put her hand out to hold his.