Ila, the beautiful lass was frustrated of being dressed like a manequin and made to stand, walk and sing in front of all the perspective grooms who came from nearby villages during this cotton harvest season. Ila at twenty,was a beautiful ambitious girl. She was an enthral beauty with almond shape eyes long golden lustrous hair. Her locks often adorned her charming face. A beauty anybody could vouch for. She was not only beautiful but also intelligent. She worked in the fields, did household chores and taught the village children and elders. Ila was ready with logical excuses and reasons to put down the marriage proposals that her father or relatives invited at home. Ila's beautiful eyes could convey thousands of emotions at one moment. If only someone would genuinely decipher them.
Frustrated with her life's offering, she wasted her youthful moments throwing straw in the river water and then gazing at the clear skies above her. As if she was talking to God, pleading to him to understand her wishes and guide her to the righteous path. The river bank was the place where she could distress herself. She lived with her parents Harirao and Sunanda, brother Arun and grandparents and cousins whose parents had expired. As it was harvest season, all of them were busy in plucking cotton, ginning cotton fibres into bales and transporting some of them to different parts of Maharashtra and selling a few stock to those merchant from paithan who came to exchange cotton commodities like gold etc. This year Ila's parents had decided to buy some gold jewellery for Ila's marriage as they had received a good proposal from Chandrashekar Bhim, the richest merchant of Paithan. But Ila had refused to marry anybody at that time.
During those days under British rule and many nationalists activities took place throughout the country. Ila's village became the hub of freedom struggle, Ila being educated got the news so she and her friends decided to join the freedom struggle. Nationalists activities in the village were carried out from an isolated dharmashala. The girls used to write articles spread national awakening among the people and the men would stock arms, weapons and bullets. Soon this news her house and they asked her to quit all these activities. She being rebellious was adamant to fight for her country. During these activities, she came across many men and women but among them was the most charismatic person called Shiva. He was alert and agile, created a euphoria among girls whenever he entered the dharamshala. He only talked to some men in whispers and then disappeared like smoke in to air.
Although he spot to few men but his eyes always searched for Ila. All of them inquired about his whereabouts but no information was available even his most trustworthy friends only his name. One night when Ila with her companions snapped out of the dharamshala disguised as men, they were spotted by the village guards and the girls family were informed. Ila was punished by her parents. She was confined to a dark room of the house and was starved for days. Shiva too was troubled by her absence. He missed her and desired to meet her. He asked the activists about her but he did not get any news. After few days, when he came to the village, to deliver some paper and arms he noticed her in pensive mood, sitting near the river bank. Lost in reverie, weeping, wiping her tears and suddenly a strong large palm with a handkerchief appears before her eyes. She raises those teary eyes to see the handsome, charismatic Shiva in front of her. She was startled and speechless, but gathered courage and tried to break the silence between them. She questioned him " who are you? Why have been staring at me as though you have never seen a women before?" He just looked, slyly smiled and started walking. Ila was in no mood to let this man walk away, she took two steps further, grabbed his hands and looked straight into his eyes.
Ila felt her legs would no longer support her for she had no courage to speak to him. His sharp features, chiselled face, sharp piercing eyes made him look majestic like a tiger. Again there was silence, but Ila coaxed him to speak. He said," my confessions will create more problems in your traumatic life Ila." She was surprised to hear her name for the first time. He said," I introduce myself to you as your lover. We first met when you walked into the dharamshala with your friends with your beautiful face weiled in black chiffon dupatta that night I had decided to drown myself in those beautiful eyes.
My life was enlightened that dark. I have come to light the lamp of love in your heart to see that it shines day by day with added lustre my dear." Ila panicked, she was speechless. He again smiled and with his finger moved away the locks which were obstructing his view of those beautiful eyes. She moved away. Ila exclaimed, " please stop, and don't utter a word."He said," This is the name given to me by my dead parents. I warned you earlier my revelations will shock you." She starts walking, he stops her. For past one year, I was silent. The looks in his eyes was torturing Ila. She was indesicive but said," I cannot respond your love with love Shiva" Naughty smile kissed his lips. He said," did I ask you to love me, but I shall love you day and night without calling you or defaming you". Once again silence pervaded but both did not leave the river bank. Then Shiva retreated, Ila uttered," before we depart, I would like to know about the details about the lover whom I cannot love." He said," your rejection is my acceptance. I was brought up by hawaldar Tambe as my parents had died in an epidemic. Hawaldar Tambe worked in Yerwada jail, I often visited the prison. I learnt to read and write with the help of lia an irish nun who came to give moral education to the prisoners. During my adolescent age, patriotic feelings engulfed my mind and I made up my mind to free my country from the British clutches. Many of my friends were freedom fighters. One of them was a spy in Yerwada jail. He worked as a cook. He got me job of the hangman which I still diligently do but only to the real culprits, the innocent one escape from the prison in disguise and live happily after. So would you like to hang around of your life?" Ila's eyes wide opened without speaking she started walking towards her home. He followed her and then he said " I would not defame you by meeting you secretly or at isolated places. In case if seeds blossom in your heart you can just keep your one foot out of your house with lantern in your hands. Ila looked at him, " one foot meaning? " he said, " you accepted my love and lantern in the hands symbolised my enlightened life in your company. "
Ila reached home confused. She helped the women of the house with the domestic chores and when the question of meeting Chandra rao Bhim son arouse, she flatly refused. She was scolded beaten by her mother and aunt but she did not budge. Her grandmother burnt with a hot iron rods and told them not to send her out of the house. Ila rebelled and made up her mind not to endure the ordeal. At night all were asleep she carried the illuminated lantern in her hand and only one foot but kept both the feet out of the doorstep. In that dim light, village illuminated lantern. Shiva saw the beautiful feet with anklets adorning them, he bent down and kissed those wounds. She closed her eyes and uttered Shiva. He lifted her chin kissed the closed eyelids of her beautiful eyes. The light became dim, he hugged her and wept her hearts content and then bid her goodbye promising her to meet again at Digambar Jain Ashitay kshetra temple. They meet in the morning at the temple. At temple, he never spoke with her because of her personal problems but at the river bank they used to speak for hours till the break of dawn. She left the home with Khanderao whom she blindly trusted and fondly called him Bhausaheb. But soon Ila and Shiva love was eclipsed by the demonic Vishwanath Chandrashekhar Bhim's son who was suppose to marry Ila. He discovered their meeting place lovers point as well as their revolutionary activity centre of dharamshala. So he conspired with the village head and informed the police. The young revolutionaries were caught and imprisoned. As Shiva was the mastermind of all escapes, he tried to rescue and free all his associates out of the prison. However he was to elope,the jailers bullets silent the tiger. He just gave a loud roar " Bharat Mata ki Jai and ill see you soon Ila" Ila too surrendered and took the gun from the jailer and killed herself saying I'll meet you soon.
