Kyun uthe dil chor aaye ff - BANI MAIN HEER USKI

Chap 2- A rare bonding

Amrit walked through the streets of Lahore happily. She always loved being outdoors. The sky was clear and she could hear voices shouting," Azaad hoga hindustan" from every corner. The thought of being a free nation had filled everyone's heart with happiness.

The three of them finally arrived at Shiv mandir. Taking off his slippers Uday said," Amru..........I know that this is your last basant panchmi with us. You will be in Karachi next year with Veer sahab. It breaks my heart to even think of it."

"Veerji," she said, her eyes getting moist,"dont worry. I promise I will visit you every basant panchmi and raksha bandhan. If I celebrate holi, diwali, karwa chauth and shivratri with my in-laws, then I have the right to celebrate two festivals here in Lahore at least."

"Absolutely," said Vashma covering her head with her dupatta," Amru will always be there to see you win the competition Uday."

INSIDE THE TEMPLE

Veer Pratap Singh was doing jal abhishek. His servants stood in a corner with their heads bowed down.

Amrit walked up the stairs and arrived at where he was standing. She observed him from a distance and thought," I wish Veer sahab quits his decision to move to Karachi. I so want to stay here in Lahore."

"Oye hoye hoye hoye hoye," whispered Vashma," just look at the glow on your face."

Amrit blushed and said," I dont know him but he appears to be a kind and spiritual person. I hope that mahadev and parwati blesses our alliance."

Just then, Amrit felt a sense of fear and uneasiness. She couldnt explain what it was, but it was a feeling that was very strong.

"Vashma," Uday called out," you mustnt have come here. If Abrar bhaijaan finds out that you entered a temple..............."

"He wont ever find out," said Vashma proudly," I have been continuing my kathak classes too despite his disapproval. And he doesnt know a thing. Dont worry, I will manage."

"Lets leave now," said Amrit," we must not be late for the competition."

"Uday..." said Vashma pointing to a little girl saying something in the ear of the idol of nandi," what is she doing?"

"Nandi is mahadev's sawari," said Uday, "she is telling him her wish."

"Can I say my wish too?" she asked him.

Uday and Amrit nodded.

Vashma kneeled down before the idol of nandi and whispered in his ear," Please tell Mahadev to help me become a great classical dancer and.........and give me a very good husband. Someone who is kind but not dumb, who can fight for his rights, who will always be by my side and................with whom I have no fear of the world."

Vashma rose to her feet with gratitude and looked all around her. She didnt visit temples very often but she always loved the ambience. The priest chanting the mantras, the women singing holy songs, men performing jal abhishek.....it was all too lovely. Ever since childhood, Amrit and Vashma had fasted on Navratri and ramazan together. Since meat was not allowed in Om nivas, no bakra hallala was done on eid. Eid was celebrated with sweets and great Indian cuisine. She would sit with lalaji when he would teach Amrit the ramcharitmanas and Amrit would often learn teachings of the holy quran from Vashma's ammi Zahida.

Amongst the family members, her brother Abrar, Amrit's bua Mogar, her brother Bhanu and his wife Saroj did not approve of this hindu-muslim bonding. They would often cite examples from history and condemn such bonding.

"Do you know how that rascal Allaluddin khilji kept an evil eye on our maa padmavati," Mogar bua would say.

"Veer Maharana pratap was killed by Akbar's army," Uday and Bhanu would say.

"If they are in majority, they will make our lives hell!" Abrar would say.

Lalaji had only one thing to say," Religion is only a mindset. Whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong. Culprits are culprits, no matter which religion they belong to. Had doctor sahab not treated Rajrani when she developed tuberculosis, my life too would have ended with her. Had Zahida Begam not breastfed Amrit when Rajrani was ill, our daughter wouldnt have survived."

Dr. Baig too had only one answer,"The roof over our heads is a gift from Ratan. Had he not supported me when I was completing my education, I wouldnt have ever become a doctor. Zahida and Abrar were taken care of by him when I went to Amritsar to study."

Lalaji and Dr. Baig didnt care about history, they simply trusted each other and had complete faith in their friendship.