"Wahi kahani fir ek baar majnu ne liya kapde faad,
dekh tamasha beech bazar."
India, 1950's
The bard's voice echoed through the bustling market shining with lights, laughter, bright costumes and strong fragrances of roses and tuberoses accompanied by hidden desires. All eyes that till now were fascinated by the famous impromptu of their street poet, turned towards the sound of the broken glasses. Some sighed, while others looked at the drunk man kneeling next to the broken bottle of alcohol.
"Doctor Sahib, aap thik toh hain na?"
The young poet quickly jumped off the pedestal from where he was reciting his poem for the passer bys and knelt next to the man.
'Phir kya hua Kabir sahab? Aagey bhi toh boliye.'
He surprised the young poet who was carefully making him stand up.
"Phir kya hona hai, boldijiye na Kabir miya ke Majnu humesha ki tarah chillaane lag gaya aur Laila ka naam inn badhnaam galiyon mein gooj tah raha."
It was Ishrat jaahan the famous tawaef of the place who came rushing out in between her thumri performance hearing the commotion outside in the street.
His face became suddenly serious and turned towards Ishrat with downcast eyes.
'Yeh sab ke liye aap se maafi mangta hoon aagey se dhyaan rakhoonga'.
He was about to leave when he suddenly felt his wrist being clasped by a hand making him stop in his path.
"Samhal ke doctor saahab hum jaante hain aapko hum mein koi dil chaspi nahin lekin inn badnaam galliyon mein unka naam roz lene se Zoya bibi sarhad paar se yahan nahin aane wali."
Aditya Hooda's pupils dilated and his eyes turned bloodshot red hearing her name, it felt like alcohol left his body as he dashed away into the darkness.
He could not breathe, it almost felt like every drop of blood in his body called out for her. Aditya washed his face in the nearby pond and in the moonlight he could see his bearded dishevelled face. The words of that courtesan woke him from his frenzy, like a madman he had been shouting out her name every night in those long alleys where reputed people came to fulfil their desires hiding their faces from the lights.
Aditya felt helpless as he looked above at those thousand stars,
Zoyaaaa
his desperate voice echoed in the loneliness of the night.
On the other side of the border, she stirred from her sleep and clutched her eyes shut hugging her knees tight for she knew he must be in pain somewhere.
Adityaa
She whispered to herself like a prayer, it was almost like she wanted to heal his battered heart and soul so far away from her.
To be continued...
Background of the story: The story is set in the partition era.
How was the intro dear readers? Attempting to right something after ages, hope you are all doing well.
Note: The first lines are from the film Tamasha.
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Love in the time of conflicts
FanfictionWhen families were being displaced, people uprooted and Earth itself crying at the misery. Can two young hearts mend what is broken or will they be ripped apart? Can love heal the scars of hatred?
