EPISODE 15
link to the previous epi
Episode 14
That day Swara refused to stay in bed. Though her arm was paining badly she paced through the palace, her thoughts clouded by Sanskar. While she stood on the balcony watching the vast sweep of mountains, Sanjay entered her room.
“How are you feeling?” he asked coldly.
“I’m feeling sick, Sanjay. I am fed up. Fed up with this life. What do you want from me? Never in my conscience I’ll submit myself to you. What do you wish to do with me?” she snapped back.
“You’ll see”. He clapped his hands twice. There entered Mrs.Maheshwari with the castle physician.Mrs.Maheshwari greeted Swara. She was fed with a different story cooked up by Sanjay. She was informed that Swara had gone nuts as her marriage didn’t take place as expected. Mrs.Maheshwari was taken aback by Sanjay’s revelations. She looked severely and with contempt at the girl.
“You are ill in mind rather than body” said Mrs.Maheshwari. “You mist be taken well care of.”
“She’s gone insane with that incident. Poor girl.” said Sanjay with a chilling smile.
“A little unbalanced perhaps” supported the doctor. He knew he would be paid high for supporting His Highness’s theory.
“I am perfectly sane.” screamed Swara.
The trio in the room chose to ignore her words.
“What do you wish to do, Sanjay? ” she asked.
“To keep you within the bounds of the palace, until you become perfectly fine.”
“It is a conspiracy.” she cried “I won’t submit to such treatment.” she ran toward the door , but the doctor stepped neatly in front of her blocking her way.
“Now, now, I beg you to keep calm” he said soothingly.
She tried to push him aside. But Sanjay gripped her in his hold and said
“You see she is quite crazy”
Mrs.Maheshwari walked out of the room unable to take anything more.
Swara turned to Sanjay. “You can’t do this to me. I won’t be treated as a lunatic.”
He smiled unpleasantly.
“You’ll be treated differently. As soon as you make up your mind to submit yourselves to me, the better it will be for you. Until then, you’ll be treated like a lunatic.”
He pushed her on the bed and walked out of the room with the doctor. She stood up, wiping her tears and went back to the balcony. Down below she saw Singh watching intently at her window. As soon as she came out, he entered the palace. After five minutes an envelope was slipped into her room, underneath the door. For a moment she thought it to be Sanskar and immediately tore open the envelope. When she saw the leeters she knew that it was not him. It read:
“I know the whole circumstances. If you wish to go back to Kolkata and promise secrecy I can help you. If you are ready to join me let my man by your window see the lamplight from you.”
Dushyant Singh.
Swara smiled. She had always suspected Singh’s loyalty for Sanjay. She was very well aware of his intentions. At the same time she also knew the fact that Singh could do anything in the palace. If he could help her then she would let him. She grabbed the lamplight fro her table and ran towards the balcony. Singh acted quickly. Within five minutes he was in her room discussing his plan with her. Once Singh went back Swara packed a small bag stuffing some money and jewels.
Sigh knocked at her door at midnight. She sneaked out of the palace with Singh and sat inside Singh’s car. The car sped away leaving the palace behind. However something else was going on in Swara’s mind. She knew that she couldn’t leave Ajmer without meeting Sanskar. They neared the triple crossroads, one of which led to the mountains in the direction of the gypsy camp. Suddenly she gave a little cry and leaned against Singh.
“What’s the matter?” he asked
“I…I am feeling ill…. I think I’m gonna faint.”
“Try to remain stable.”
“Water” she murmured and fainted into his arms. Singh stopped the car and went out in search of water cursing himself for being a fool. She watched him running towards the mountain stream. She quickly got out of the car and ran towards the path leading to Gypsy encampment. Breathlessly she ran up the mountain side, away from the car.
Sigh returned with a flask of water. His jaw dropped when he saw the car empty. Furiously he shouted for Swara. There was no answer. She had the darkness of night and the vastness of the territory to hide. Singh wiped his forehead. He drove back to his home after a futile attempt to find Swara.
Where had she gone? Why had she done this? There could be only one answer. She had gone to find Sarovar. He could know no peace as long as she remained in Ajmer.
Singh’s fears were well founded. Sanjay came to know about Swara’s absence from the palace the next morning. He raged out, understanding that somewhere he’s the victim of treachery. Little did he suspect his assistant Singh for the same. However he was more concerned with finding Swara rather than punishing the traitors. The very fact that the girl denied him again and again awakened the devil in him. He w9uld possess that maddening grace and beauty or die for it.
Swara soon found out the way which she knew led to the gypsy encampment She could hear Singh shouting her name. She didn’t stop. She began climbing the mountain murmuring his name all the way which seemed to give her strength. Sometimes she stumbled and fell bruising her legs and arms. she didn’t care. She knew that she might somehow reach him and tell him everything.
She realized that she may not find him among the gypsies. After whatever that had happened he might not return to his people. Going to the gypsy encampment once again after Naik’s fooling her was not easy for her also. But she was determined that she would never let any stray of hope go unnoticed, unused to find him. Everything in her screamed her to go away from the gypsies. But her live and devotion gave her courage.
After two hours of continuous struggle, her body gave up. She sank down to the ground, panting heavily, her eyes closed. She didn’t realize how long she lay there, sleeping. When she woke up it was morning. She rose to her feet brushing away twigs from hair and whispered:
“Sanskar… I must go on.. to find you..”
She continued to climb. She was stiff and sore, but physical pain could not deter her. At last what seemed like eternity she reached the gypsy encampment.
She saw the gypsies celebrating. Men and women were running in and out of the tents almost everyone carrying different kinds of goods. She walked forward. Suddenly her eyes caught the sight of Sanskar sitting on a raised platform, looking like a king. Unlike his usualself he was wearing a silk blouse, embroidered heavily, holding an embroidered sash. She looked at him. How handsome he was!! His hazel brown orbs, slightly trimmed beard and muscular frame; everything in him seemed so perfect to her. However she failed to notice the emptiness in his eyes for she was so happy that she could find him there. She thanked god for the instinct which had led her to climb the mountain. The gypsies were singing and dancing calling out his name merrily. She pushed her way through the crowd of gypsies who were singing and dancing. She saw him sitting on a carved chair. She pressed closer to the platform.
“Why was he sitting there like a king about to be crowned?” she thought. Then she saw a girl sitting at his feet. She was dressed like a princess. Swara knew her. The gypsies called her Suvarna, the prettiest girl of the tribe.
The eagerness died in Swara’s heart. A cold feeling clutched her heart. The girl and Sanskar – why they were together? Silence fell upon the tribe. The music and dance ceased. Sanskar rose to his feet. Suvarna stood with him and he took her arm and lifted her up beside him. Then he held up his other hand and something flashed in the sunlight. Swara’s eyes fastened upon it. She knew what that was. It was a chain a golden chain similar to the one he had put around her neck. The token of gypsy marriage. He was going to marry Suvarna!!!
Something in Swara seemed to die. After the agony of wanting Sanskar, after all her loyalty and devotion, it was more than she could endure to witness his marriage to another girl. She could, would not see that chain placed about Suvarna’s neck. She tried to call out to him. But her voice didn’t come out. She tried hard, but voice refused to come out of her throat. Her tears made their way down her cheeks. She felt defeated, exhausted and her body was giving away. She made one last attempt to call him. “Sanskar..” she whispered.
Here’s the 15th chapter. What do you guys think?? Sorry last chapter was episode 14 and i entered it as 13. And please my dear silent readers.. jaago. I am no sain. I am not being comment conscious. But still it hurts to see the number of comments dropping day by day. I have made a decision. If this time I am not getting more comments, I won’t write the next part and stop writing this here. This is not a threat, but it pains a lot. One or two words won’t do any harm to you all. I am seriously fed up. I can no longer take this if it is going to be like this. I wrote today’s episode in despair. so if there are any mistakes, forgive me. Thanks to all those who commented on the previous chapter. I have replied to all of them.Thank you once again for all those wonderful words of yours…