SAARANG GHATI

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL POV:
Amrita was a history student, currently on tour of Rangpur to do some research on the kings & princes of the 15th century. Since the time she arrived at the place, she heard about the famous or rather infamous Sarang Ghati Palace which belonged to the ruling dynasty of Rangpur at one point of time, the Amrohis. It is said that the palace is haunted by the spirits of the crown prince Pokhraj Shiladitya Amrohi & his eternal love Aziza Bai whose beauty was compared to the celestisl apsaras. Amrita found the stories very interesting & decided to spend a night in the palace but was promptly warned by the caretaker. "Memsahab..yahan rukna aapka munasib nahi. Yaha jo bhi ruka hai ya toh pagal hoke bahar nikla hai ya toh nikla hi nahi."
Amrita laughed as she said, "Chinta mat kariye kaka... Aap bas thosa khaane ki vyavastha karwa dijiye."
The caretaker sighed. "Theek hai. Jaise aapki marzi."
Later that night, Amrita camped  out in what seemed like the majestic dance room with a huge crystal chandelier overhead. After dinner she roamed around the room checking different things out when she came across a painting, an old one, faded with time but she could still make out a man standing in his royal garb & beside him was a woman with large lotus eyes, a magnificent smile. So this must be the the crown prince & his sweetheart. Beautiful indeed. She thought & then went back to get some sleep. Amrita's sleep broke later that night to the sound of ghungroos. She sat up & looked around the room. It was grandly lit up, a distinct smell of jasmine wafted in the room, the chandelier overhead was lit up. Amrita was so confused. There was a lady dancing gracefully to the beats of the tabla when another person, a man in weird royal costume grabbed her hand & twirled her around. As they both turned their faces towards her, Amrita screamed. It was the crown prince &, her dancer lover. Amrita's first instinct was to run but before she could move the chandelier fell crasing the prince & his sweetheart & everything blacked out for Amrita.
Amrita woke up in an unknown home. She looked around her & slowly sat up. A middle aged woman entered the room. "Arre beta leti raho, aaram karo. Tumhara zinda rehna hi ek chamatkaar hai." Amrita started to sweat as she remembered what happened at the palace. "Kaki maine... Maine unko dekha. Unko dekha."
"Kinhe dekha??"
"Woh yuvraj aur woh Aziza..."
"Shh!!! Chup ho jao. Chup ho jao. Kanwar Sa aur Begum Sahiba ka aise direct naam koi nahi leta. Kabhi unhe naam se mat bulana. Aur kya kaha tumne?? Tumne unko dekha?? Hey Bhagwan!!" She gasped out loud & hurried out leaving Amrita scared & confused. A few minutes later, an elderly white haired lady entered the room. She smiled at Amrita & spoke in a gentle voice. "Darro mat beta.. Mujhe batao kya dekha tumne??"
Amrita narrated the whole thing as the elderly lady gasped & tears filled her eyes. "Tumne Kanwar Sa aur Begum Sahiba ko dekha?? Aur tum zinda ho iska toh ek hi matlab hai... " The old lady grabbed at her arm & looked at it closely. She gasped as she saw Amrita's birthmark. "Yeh nishaan??"
"Haa mere haath mein janm se hai."
The lady smiled at her & said, "Tum vanshaj ho unki..."
"WHAATT??!! MAI UNKI VANSHAJ KAISE HO SAKTI HU??"
"Jo likha hua hai uske anusar toh tum hi ho unki vanshaj."
"Aisa kya likha hai?? Aur kaha likha hai??"
"Uske liye tumhe unki puri kahani janni padegi."
"Toh bataiyye mujhe. Mujhe janna hai."
"Theek hai. Toh suno..."