Chapter 2
Arnav's jeep crossed the boundary separating India from Pakistan around midnight. His father being one of the prosperous farmers of the area had the luxury to afford this rare commodity. Thakur Amar Singh Raizada was the Sarpanch of his village, Khanakpur Sahib. Their village was some thirty kilometers away from the LOC and had been thankfully awarded under Indian province. Amar Singh Raizada had very gallantly executed the export of people of Muslim tribe living in his village. He knew that once some of those cynics, bloodthirsty people of their area came to know that still a few many lives of opposite community breathed within their swords reach, they wouldn't rest until they wiped them out too. So it was only prudent to send them off to places they were safer at. The world hadn't seen this big atrocity until now. 400 000 to 500 000 lakh people were killed on each side of the border. Foot weary convoys of refugees were attacked until there was nothing but corpses left to cover the walking paths. No consideration was given to young or aged.
He turned the headlights on as it was safer to take help of synthetic lights now. They were in the safer area.Arnav had returned from the US only a few hours ago. He was supposed to reach fifteen days back but most of the air and water routes were postponed or withheld due to the current crisis in Hindustan. He managed to reach back now, thanks to some useful contacts he had back in Vilayat. The letters he had received from his father stating about some complications his best friend, Shashi uncle's village was facing in consequences to partition, had made his return even more urgent. He wouldn't have paid much attention for he believed feudalism was nothing but another form of slavery, setting high canons of hypocrisy which people would worship like God in coming years. His stay in the US had polished him and he knew nothing he did could change anything. It was a mindless race for an unknown target, where people fought just to overpower. But his father had requested him to look into the matter and if there was someone Arnav could never refuse, they'd be his father. Whatever he said, it was a decree for Arnav. It was his father's dream to have his son studying law in the US and then come back and practice here. A vision of his father and now he was Vilayat returned, Oxford-educated barrister.
He had never thought he'd ever associate himself with anything even near to this communal war. He wasn't supercilious; he was just a bit more intellectual. He knew this would take them nowhere and only garner fodder for more communal rebellion. But as soon as he had reached home, his father had ordered him to immediately go on a rescue mission of Shashi uncle's family. He hadn't thought much and only acted on his command. Reaching the village he was welcomed by the sight of corpses and blown down houses. His blood had turned cold and it took everything from him to keep moving. Though he was of courageous deposition, he didn't find the idea of getting himself killed in this mad race a very smart one. He somehow managed to track the address of the church Shashi uncle's family was stayed into. But, he hadn't been able to reach in time. He had to witness the tragedy Shashi uncle's family met. Every member of his family was brutally murdered in front of his eyes and he could do nothing.
Except for one, he thought as his eyes moved to the passenger seat, where Khushi lay, unconscious. She hadn't been able to stand for long and had passed out right after they'd run and managed to reach his jeep. After that, he'd drove like a maniac, not caring about anything except for making it border safely. Now, he looked at her for the first time.
The night was cool with the full moon shining boastfully in the clear summer sky, with silvers of stars gleaming every few meters. The gentle wind ruffled her soft hair and moonlight poured on her face as she slept away peacefully. Her face was tired, worn out but he could clearly account her each feature. There were drops of blood on her face and his heart squeezed painfully at the sight of her innocent face dotted with the blood of her own family. Her silky black hair was disheveled and a few strands came out to cradle her face. His hands automatically moved to brush them away. As he tucked those few hair away his breath hitched. She was beautiful. So young must be barely sixteen. Her small pouty lips looked feathery, her long and curvy eyelashes lay spread following her closed eyes. He had seen her eyes. They were beautiful and big with the lightest shade of brown coloring them. However, they'd had been blank. No fear, no terror nothing in them as if they tragedy had left her with nothing to feel.
She was fair, a little pale in this condition, utterly mesmerizing even so. His hands automatically moved to caress her cheek, while his other hand took care of the steering wheel. Her supple cheek felt soft under his touch as his fingers moved to lightly wipe away the marks of dried blood off her skin. She looked so fragile, so defenseless right now and a sudden feeling of protectiveness washed over him. Shashi uncle's parting words echoed in his ears and he vowed to protect her from everything.
He was distracted as he saw sprinkles of glowing lights in the far distance indicating they'd reached. He had safely brought Shashi uncle's daughter back. His father would be heartbroken with the news of friend's death, but he was positive, seeing his friend's daughter alive would appease his heart. As he drove closer to the village he could see groups of men from his village sitting outside with lit lanterns in their hand. They stood up as soon as they saw him. He slowed his jeep near them and asked in Punjabi
"What has happened Chacha? It is passed midnight, mustn't you all be sleeping?"
He saw them looking gravely at each other and then one of the older men stepped forward and reached to pat his shoulder, his eyes sympathetic as if feeling sorry for him "You go home Arnav Babu" he was addressed as Arnav Babu, as he knew he would be after his return from Vilayat. "Seth Mohan Lal Ji is waiting for you there"
Arnav's heartbeats raced as sudden indescribable dread settled over his chest "But why Chacha? Is everything okay?"
He saw him a nod and say "You go Arnav Babu. Seth ji will explain you everything"
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Thakur Aman Singh Raizada was killed. Arnav's father had been killed by the hands of those cynics. He didn't know if the pain of this kind could even exist. Only a few hours before his death he was being sympathetic towards that girl's loss. He didn't have a little clue then that his own fate had deceived him. He had lost his mother when he was young, barely remembered her now and his father had been his only parent, compensating for his mother too.
He sat with his father's letter clutched in his hand, rereading it for the nth time in light of the glowing oil lamp sitting on his ancient, intricately designed study table. It had been fifteen days after his father's death. All the rituals were done but he wasn't over the pain of this loss.
Arnav Beta
I am going near LOC to drop a few of our Muslim brothers there. I shall be back in few hours. Must you return in my absence make sure you take good care of Shashi and his family? Shashi has always been my best friend and I expect you to treat him with merited reverence.
Take care. I shall be back soon.
Your
Lalaji
Things had proceeded with time. He had been declared one of the Panch by the Panchayat. He had started practicing in the district court as government required qualified lawyers now when everything was settling down, post Independence. As it wasn't necessary for him to go to the city every day, but only when required he also started taking care of his father's farms and Zamindari business. He didn't have any oracle in this field but he was trying.
The riots, though, still continued. The frequency of incidents was starting to diminish but they hadn't altogether stopped. Still murders happened near the boundary and that always left Arnav feeling restless. He felt like the world needed him and he was sitting there doing nothing.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not hear the creaking of his wooden door
"Thibani Putar you are still awake?" an elderly hand caressed his head and he unconsciously leaned in its warmth
"Yes, Babey. Why did you get up, though? Did you need something?" He asked, turning around in the heavy iron chair to face his grandmother.
The older women did not answer at once and continued to run her wrinkled hand loving through his hair. "You are remembering your father again, aren't you?" she asked
Arnav's throat choked with tears and he leaned against his Babey, burying his head in her warm embrace and nodded.
"Shh..." she gently whispered and let him cry. Nothing could compare the pain of losing your child, but she was keeping strong. At least, she has her Thibani with her. Life could have been worse.
After some time when he felt he had composed himself enough, he looked up and asked: "Why did you come here, Babey?"
"Khushi had a nightmare again" she answered as an explanation. Arnav sighed and turned away from Babey to hide his eyes.
If these fifteen days had been difficult for him, they had been rightly murky for that innocent girl. As much as his pain made it impossible for him to move on, seeing her had given him an immense sense of strength. Khushi had suffered seven continuous days of high fever and she had been down for the count. He did not think in those seven days she had even opened her eyes. Like a perpetual gloom had shed over her and her mind had absolutely refused to ever resurface from the tragedy. His father's death and Khushi's condition had worsened the situation. He had fought and even managed to bring everyone out of those dark days. Khushi was now recovering. Her sullen, blank face was slowly gaining its color back and she was now almost herself. However, he did not know how she was coping emotionally. He could only do so much. He could not go near her. It would be inappropriate. But he did not forget his promise to her father. He would take care of her that was definite.
Everything was moving, but he was stuck. This incident had left a permanent imprint on his heart. Only one think kept questions whose answers he did not have kept revolving in his mind, what if he hadn't gone to save Khushi's family? He'd have stopped his father from going to the border. What if he'd returned a bit sooner? And more importantly, what if the partition hadn't happened?
"You go sleep Babey, it's late. And don't worry about me. I am fine" he told her and got up from his chair, walking out in the cool summer night. He paved his way briskly along the corridor until he reached Khushi's door. Standing out he paused and leaned his forehead against it and closed his eyes. A silent tear trickled down his cheek and he took in deep shuddering breaths. Her presence gave him some strength. Just knowing she was there - safe and alive gave him strength. Maybe because it told him that he had at least managed to save someone or maybe because he was determined to preserve at least her, he did not know. But she mattered to him. She defiantly did.
Hi, everyone
I honestly never thought so many people would turn up to read the story. Thank you so much for your comments, each one of you. It is so heartening to see you guys actually caring about this story. SAR is a narrative very close to me and it really gives me joy unbound to see you guys appreciate and like it.
Okay so a few things, I do not send out PMs. As I'd be updating this story everyday at around 11 PM IST, I don't think it will be too hard to keep a track. Another reason, I used to send out hundreds of PMs when I was active on IF last year and it felt so bad to see only half of the people from the PM list turning up to leave a comment or like the update, though I knew everyone was reading it. The silence of readers is also one of the things that pushed me away from IF. Because I won't pretend otherwise, comments matter! Like, a lot!😆😆 I love knowing your thoughts, simple as that.
Next, I will start with my other SS Full Measure after I am done with Sunshine after Rain. So that should be roughly after 10 days. Hope you guys stick around until then😛
Regarding my story Towards the Edge. The story isn't available anywhere. That story is like my ultimate project(😉) and I would like to develop it with time. I don't think right now I am in any state to continue with it. Maybe someday... I'll let you guys know, if you are still interested that is.
Okay, that's it for today. Looking forward to hear from you'll on this chapter.
Love
😊
Edited by Cattywampus - 10 years ago
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