Kyun uthe dil chor aaye ff - BANI MAIN HEER USKI

Chap 5- Randheer Raizada's entry

Amrit brought Vashma into her room and made her lie down. She gave her some water to drink and cleaned her wound. She then dressed it up properly with gauze and cotton.

"Amru," said Vashma closing her eyes in pain," I dont know how I will manage once you leave for Karachi with Veer Sahab."

Amrit wiped her tears and put the blanket over Vashma.

"Bholenath," she whispered softly," why am I not having a good feeling about my wedding with Veer."

LAHORE RAILWAY STATION

A young man in perfectly polished boots and English clothes stepped down from the train. He held a small suitcase and wore an english cap too."

"You need coolie sahab?" an aged porter asked him.

He smiled and said to the porter," Yes. I want you to carry this glass jar for me. And please be careful."

The man handed the porter a huge glass jar and said," Dadi maa has sent this achar for mama ji. I must deliver it to him."

The porter smiled and took the glass jar from him.

"You look Indian," said the porter," but you dress up like these firangi. Why sir?"

"Not everything about the british is bad," said the young man," our slavery is soon going to end. Then we shall build an independent nation and some english policies might help us."

"Are you married Sir?" the porter asked him.

"Soon to be," the young man said. On his left ring finger he wore a gold engagement ring.

OM NIVAS

"Is Vashma all right?" Uday asked Amrit when he saw her walk down the stairs.

"Yes veerji. She is resting now."

"Tauji has called Veer sahab's parents this evening," said Uday," they want to fix the wedding date. In a couple of weeks, my shoulders will be lifting your doli."

Amrit smiled but her heart was breaking into a million pieces. She closes her eyes and saw a look alike of her standing right in front of her.

"Why arent you rebelling against this Amrit?" her look alike said," your bauji wants you to drop out of school, leave your hometown and marry a man you dont even know. This is injustice Amrit. And you must speak up against it!"

"Stop it Ranjhan!" said Amrit opening her eyes. Uday had already left and her eyes fell on the newspaper lying on the windowsill.

"Thinking like Ranjhan and living like Amrit is not easy," she cried.

OUTSIDE THE RAILWAY STATION

"I am here to meet my bride," the young man told the porter.

FLASHBACK TWO YEARS AGO

Amrit was fourteen years old and Vashma was soon to turn fourteen. Amrit used to visit the lahore radio station every Friday while her bauji would stay late at the shop doing the accounts. On one particular Friday, she was sitting outside the recording room listening to Ranjhan's stories being recited on radio and feeling extremely proud of herself.

A young boy about 16 yrs of age passed by her and said," you come here every week. But why so? You can listen to the radio at your home as well."

"You are right," said Amrit softly," but my bauji does not approve of Ranjhan's work. I am not allowed to listen to the radio at home."

"Hmm," said the boy," so you sneak out of your house and come here? Thats not what well mannered girls do."

"You are right," Amrit spoke sadly again,"men can drink and gamble and we girls arent even allowed to have simple wishes and desires."

"I must leave now," she said getting up and wiping her tears.

"Wait," the boy said," May I know what your wishes are?"

Amrit looked at him for a moment. There was something in his eyes and manner of speaking that she had full faith in him.

"I want to study and learn literature," she said,"  I want to become an author and write about women's rights and freedom. I want bauji to feel very proud of me,not because I am a good daughter, but because of the service I shall do for the society. Bauji da naam roshan karna hai menu."

The boy smiled and asked her," may I know your name?"

"Amrit Sahni," she said.

"You dont want to know my name?" he asked her.

"Does it even matter?" she said," I dont think we shall ever meet again."

"Amrit Sahni," said the boy kneeling down in front of her," will you marry me?"

"What?" said Amrit smiling," are you serious?"

"Yes," the boy said.

"On one condition," said Amrit seeing that the boy was pretty serious.

"If you ask my hand from my bauji before he fixes my alliance with someone else. Once my marriage is fixed, I shall be helpless."

"I promise," said the boy taking out two gold rings from his pocket," these belonged to my nanu and nani maa. After nanu passed away, nani maa gave these to me as she had very little money to buy me a birthday present. So she asked me to sell them and buy something nice for myself. But I could never part with these."

Saying so, he took Amrit's hand and put the ring on her finger.

She gasped. But with a smile, she put the other ring on his finger.

"So now would you like to know my name?" he asked her.

"No," she said putting her hand on his mouth," what if I accidentally take your name in my sleep and maa gets to know."

The boy laughed and said,"Randheer Raizada.  I am leaving for Karachi early morning tomorrow to complete my studies. Next time I shall meet you in front of your bauji asking for your hand."

FLASHBACK ENDS

Randheer Raizada stood outside the lahore railway station. While the porter put his luggage into a  cab, he looked at his ring and said," Main aa gaya hoon Amrit."

OM NIVAS 5pm

Strong winds were blowing and Amrit was closing all the windows.

"Haye rabba," she said," why this storm today? I hope Veer and his parents arrive here safely."

She then went to her room and tip toed inside being careful not to disturb Vashma who was fast asleep.

She took out an old dupatta. It was the same one she was wearing when she had met Randheer. At one end of it a gold ring was tied. She held the dupatta to her heart and cried out in whispers,"I was a fool to trust him. Neither did he come nor any news of his came. I wish I had never believed in him."