PART 24
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In the camp...
At the magical show counter, at the gaming counter, near the food-stalls, through the entertainers, through the dancing and singing women, Chamki tried her best to get away from Hasmukhlal and made sure that he does not notice her. But he was determinedly following her. Amrit who was feeling great and smart followed Hasmukhlal and this time he decided to teach him a lesson; as it is he had nothing better to do there and was going through boredom before he undertook that unneeded Rescue-Chamki mission.
Bending down and passing through the queue of dancers, Chamki escaped towards the shopping stalls again.
How, Sanjam couldn't answer, but Amrit again reached before him at the bangle shop where Chamki stepped in. In no time restless Sanjam too went in.
"Chamki, tum thik ho naa?" Amrit asked as soon as he entered behind her.
"Ha mein thik hu, mujhe kya hua hai?" Chamki said without looking at him and moved near the desk.
"Tum phikar mat karo Chamki." Amrit smiled stupidly at her. "Hum sab jaan chuke hai. Uss Hasmukhlal ko achha sabak sikhaenge, hum jante hai woh tumhe pareshaan kar raha hai." Amrit assured idiotically standing besides Chamki and gawking at her.
"Nahi mein thik hu." She tried to ignore his crack brained looks and went on the other desk.
Sanjam went in and hide behind a drapery near the desk. He was waiting and thinking of some way to shove Amrit away and talk to Chamki.
"Kaunse rang ki chudiya chahiye?" Shopkeeper asked her while packing few sets.
"Inhe toh saare rang ki chudiya dikhao, inpe saare rang ache lagte hai." Amrit said in a cloying tone.
Chamki felt like giving him a tight slap. But gathering patience, she again ignored him.
"Mujhe hare rang ki chudiya dikhao." She randomly pointed at the bottle green colored bangles.
Amrit picked up red set of bangles and smilingly said "Hume yeh lal rang ki chudiya bahot pasand aayi Chamki."
"Toh aap hi kyun nahi pehne lete?" Chamki riposted.
"He.. he..he.." Sanjam who was hiding behind a drapery laughed uncontrollably and his laughter was audible. Amrit and Chamki started searching him looking here and there while louring.
"Aap phir se yaha?" Amrit spotted him. He moved the drapery and Sanjam in Hasmukhlal's getup was exposed.
Chamki kept the bangles down angrily with awful looks on her face.
"Koi baat nahi Chamki" Amrit said in a pride tone looking from Chamki to Hasmukhlal. "Mein isse achha sabak sikhaunga."
"Tum kya mujhe sabak sikhayoge... " Said Sanjam rolling his sleeves back out of frustration and that made Amrit positioned himself in front of him ready to fight.
Tensed Chamki looked around and discovered that people around were looking at them. She tried to concentrate on the bangles. But in no time behind her, Sanjam and Amrit held each other by collar.
"Chamki se dur raho..." warned Amrit.
"Pehle tum chale jao yaha se." Sanjam snarled. They started shaking each other and moving in circles.
"Bas bahot hua." Chamki cried. Sanjam and Amrit relinquished each other as Chamki angrily paced towards them. "Amrit aap ki meherbani hogi agar aap meri madat naa kare aur Hasmukhlal..." Raising her finger she continued "Mere baba se ab aap nahi bachenge." Warning him she went out.
Sanjam pushed Amrit back with force and he fell on few girls in the shop. Loud screaming of girls was heard.
Chamki came out when, suddenly, in front of everyone, she was stopped by her wrist held tightly by a strong but warm clasp having a familiar touch."Chamki." Sanjam softly called her name in a normal tone with many emotions reflected through his eyes. Chamki as if being hypnotized stared at him trying to find a reason for the state of mind she was in. Time was passing on very slowly as something in his tone and touch reminded her of Sanjam.
"Sanjam??" She said in a serious tone after a long pause. There was a thirst in her wondering eyes to see him, to talk to him but all she could see was weird Hasmuklal with mustache and beard. She tried to see Sanjam behind Hasmukhlal's getup whose curled fingers around her wrist said something different.
People passing by were watching them with giggles. But Sanjam and Chamki did not wish to care about them. Taking his sleeves back, Amirt again proceeded towards them and shook them from their trance.
"Aapki itni himmat?" He pushed Sanjam and looking at Chamki said "Tumhare baba ko hum bula late hai, ab yeh nahi bachega." Amrit tried to unwrapped Sanjam's fingers coiled around Chamki's wrist. Keeping his eyes on Chamki, Sanjam again pushed Amrit forcefully with his free hand. Amrit fell backward on the same group of girls who too came out. Again there was chaos and girls started giving disgust looks to Amrit.
Chamki realized that Hasmukhalal was still holding her wrist. She tried to free it and said "Hamara haath chodiye warna achha nahi hoga." Ignoring racket around, Sanjam added in a sober tone "Meri ek baat sun lo, phir mein tumhe tang nahi karunga.... mein Sanj" His words were mixed with the noise of the girls shouting at Amrit who tried to get up with the support of the desk thus falling and breaking the bangles kept on it.
Chamki tried to retract her hand rudely "Tumhari itni himmat ke mera haath sabke samne yun pakda."
Others were observing them.
"Haath chodo HASHMUKHLAL" Chamki turned red with embarrassment and anger. She then successfully freed her wrist.
"Mein Hashmukhlal nahi hu. Mein.. Sanjam hu..."
Without hearing his last amendments, Chamki ran away from there feeling abashed when people began to gather.
"Kaun ched raha hai ladki ko?" Shopkeeper came out lazily.
Amrit went near Sanjam and Sanjam quickly held him out of wrath and told others with serious expressions "Yeh ched raha tha."
Shopkeeper reacted ready to fight "Kya?"
"Ha... aur aapki chudiya bhi isne todi." Sanjam snapped.
"Nahi mein nahi.. yeh.." Amrit tried to unloose himself from Sanjam's grip.
"Ha yeh ladka sabko ched raha hai.." one among the group of girls yelled.
People gathered. Sanjam saw a stout woman who was ready to hit Amrit along with others. While Amrit was arguing Sanjam hooked the point of the stout woman's veil in Amrit's cloth-belt and escaped. When Amrit started running behind him, the women was pulled by her veil towards him. With one more attempt of Amrit to run away from there, veil came off and fell on the woman's shoulder and everyone gasped.
"Hai hai yehi hai woh besharam.. Hamara dupatta kicha... pito isse."
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In Sangam Nagar..... on the hill "Payal... kaha ho tum?"
Payal heard Pundir's voice from above. Quickly planning something she climbed the hill and reached the top surface coming face-to-face with Pundir.
"Waha niche kaha chali gayi thi tum, weh dono dikhe waha?" He asked hopefully examining the path from where he saw her coming.
"Aaa... nahi ... woh dono kahi nazar nahi aa rahe... tum chalo toh yaha se, yaha koi nahi hai." She started pushing him with a fear that he might spot them.
"Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum?" He asked confusedly and stumbled back with her push.
"Chalo naa, kahi aur dhundate hai unhe." She moved ahead and was successful in pulling him away from the edge.
"Payal?? Kya hua tumhe? Aur tum waha niche kya karne gayi thi?"
"Hum.. hum Woh.. woh phul dekh rahe ho?" In panic-stricken manner she pointed in the direction opposite of the place from where Prithvi and Sanyogita were visible. "Hume woh safed rang ke phool bade sundar lage, hum woh todne gaye thhe."
"Phool toh waha hai, phir tum iss taraf kyun gayi?" He asked suspiciously.
"Hume laga yaha se rasta hai... Woh sab chodo, tum hume woh phool tod ke doge Pundir?"
"Yeh samay phool todne ka nahi hai. Tum chalo pehle."
"Do naa." She pleaded in a sweet tone.
Pundir eyed her surprisingly "Hume Prithvi aur Sanyogita ko dhundna hai, bhul gayi?"
"Phikar mat karo weh yudh nahi karenge" She said mockingly with grin but watching his frown she further added in a pleading tone. ".. humare liye tum itna bhi nahi karoge?"
Pundir did not argue further. He kept quite by folding his hand. His scarlet face was reflecting colors of skepticism and irritation.
"Thik hai mat do par hum toh woh phool tod ke hi rahenge... chahe waha niche jaate jaate hamara paair hi kyun naa phisle aur hume chot hi kyun naa aaye..... hum saare musibaton ka samna karenge Pundir." Payal challenged herself, swung around and started climbing down.
"...... aakhir humare andar bhi toh woh rajputonwala khun bheta ha...." She gesticulated raising her right hand "Ab hum mar jayenge par woh phool tod ke hi rahenge..... Hamare shaan ka sawal hai."
She stopped and loudly announced blowing her nose proudly in the air, making yet another attempt to break his pigheadedness. "Hum dikha denge ke rajput ladkiyon mein kitni himmat hai."
"Jarurat ke waqt apna dimakh kahi chod aati hai yeh." Pundir irately murmured to himself.
Not ready to let her take any risk, Pundir accepted defeat by making face and snarled "Ab tum apni yeh nautanki band karo, phool mein laake deta hu."
She chortled silently and stopped quickly. Then she spunned slowly and with grave looks, stuttered "Ab tum itna keh hi rahe ho toh - " She shuggered her shoulders "hum tumhe yeh bahadduri ka kaam karne ka avasar pradan karte hai, tum bhi kya yaad rakho ge."
"Ha sach mein.." He sighed and made his way down towards the edge " .. itihaas mein mera naam amar hone wala hai."
She smiled enthusiactically when he was nearing those beautiful white flower bunches.
"Aur ab iske baad tum chup chap Prithvi aur Sanyogita ko dhundogi, samjhi?" Tilting his head up, he ensured loudly before plucking the flowers.
"Pehle itihaas mein apna naam amar toh karo" Payal cried.
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In the forest adjcent to the Goddess Santoshi's camp''.
"Bachaooooo.... Koi hai." Hasmukhlal succeeded in removing cloth stripe from his mouth and he shouted on the spur of the moment.
"Chudao mujhe yaha se.... koi hai..... sipahi.."
His yelling spread in the enviornment and fell on the ears of the soldiers who were fortunately searching for him in the same area. They came running following the noise and were shocked to see Hamukhlal lying under a tree in a pitiable condition.
"Hasmukhlalji..... Hasmukhlalji... aap yaha? Iss halat mein?"
"Kholo pehle rassi..." Hashmukhlal irately shouted.
One soldier went behind the tree and tried to release the knot. Impatience growing in Hasmukhlal and nature's call made him pull the rope in a wild manner. "Kya kar rahe ho, jaldi karo..... ek rassi nahi khol sakte?" He screamed.
When that soldier panicked, other soldier went to help him. Knots were tight, but finally they took the sword and cut the rope. Hasmukhlal somehow got up. "Mujhe sab dhund rahe hai aur mein yaha?? Nahi chodunga mein unhe."
Hasmukhlal somehow got up with the support of the soldiers and started running with stumbling steps and others followed him.
"Kisne kiya yeh sarpanchji? Delhi ke jasuson ne kya?"
Hasmukhlal suddenly tumbled as he heard the question and falled down. Instead of getting up on his own, in a reposed state he turned slightly at back and stared at that soldier with lurid looks, while that soldier scarily told him "Woh Maha Mantriji ko Madan naam ke ek bande se pata chala, ke Delhi ke jasus hi hai jo yaha aatang phaila rahe hai." Ignoring the fanatic looks of Hasmukhlal, Soldier moved forward and helped him to get up.
Hasmukhlal continued staring him with traumatizing expressions as soldier made him stand. "Madan aur Maha Mantri??" He mummered.
Soldier: "Ji Madan humare kaid mein hai."
"Kya !! " Hasmukhlal exclaimed shockingly and got lost in thoughts.
"Mujhe Madan ke pass le chalo." He softly whispered.
"Maf kijiye Hasmukhlalji, par Maha Mantri ka aadesh hai ke aapko pehle unke pass laya jaye." Said soldier with frightened looks as Hasmukhlal was staring him with crumpled brows.
The frightened soldier made his mind to hear the berating of the sarpanch, but Sarpanch simply stood planning something while his eyes were still fixed on him.
After a brief pause, Hasmukhlal slowly said "Pehle mein snan ghar jana chahta hu. Tum log jao, hum khud Maha Mantri se milne jayenge."
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In Sangam nagar., in the Mustard fields..
Half consciously and unflaggingly, with inebriated expressions on their visages, Prithvi and Sanyogita wandered more than half of the mustard area with bunk and squabble. They reached that part where group of farmers were working, cooking and ploughing. No sooner they were invited by farmers for the brunch which was followed by their funny introductions.
"Yeh Nandini .. aur mein Surya.." Prithvi confided trying to keep his eyes steady.
"Nahi .. Hum Nandini aur yeh Surya.." Sanyogita cut him across, giggling.
Feeling irate suddenly, Prithvi turned at Sanyogita and said "Nandini tum kabhi kisi ki baat nahi sunti ho..."
With foolish grin she counted on her fingers "Hume Sunita ki baat sun li aur.... Aur Payal ki bhi"
"Aur meri??" Prithvi asked with frown pointing his hand towards him.
"Hum kyun sune tumhari baat,.. Tum toh bigde raiji ho.. aur tum Payal ke khaas dost nahi ho. Hume pata hai, tum uske saath milke hume chida rahe thhe.. aur" Suddenly turning towards the perplexed farmers who were watching them with shocking looks, Sanyogita said in a cockeyed tone "Isske chaaron chamche hamesha iske agal bagal ghumte rehte hai..." She made gesticulations with her hands."Yatra mein yeh apne saare kaam unse hi karavata tha."
"Aur yeh ek jungle billi hai, jo hamesha mere raste mein aati thi." Prithvi tattled.
"Shhhhh.,...." Keeping her finger on her mouth Sanyogita took few unsteady steps in farmer's direction and whispered "Hum koi aam ladki nahi hai, hum uss Rajkumari Sanyogita se jyada khubsoorat hai."
Being fascinated by her beauty and outgoing attitude, farmers were awesomely listening to her, smiling widly. One of them even approached a little towards her with popping eyes, which made Prithvi feel uncomfortable even in his soaked state and holding Sanyogita's wrist, Prithvi gently pulled her back to his side saying "Nandini,maine kaha tha naa uss dudh mein kuch milaya gaya hai.... ab meri baat mano.... chalo yaha se."
"Nahi.. humne Sunita ki aur Payal ki baat maanli.. aur tum Payal se dosti badhane ka natak kar rahe thhe hume pata hai." She dusted her hand from his grip and a brabbling followed between them as Prithvi tried to explain her what Payal was up to. Though she argued, she could not make out a word he was telling.
Astounded ladies, draped in white untidy gowns who were cooking near by, interrupted their fuss and asked them to come with them for the brunch. When asked where they were heeding, Prithvi and Sanyogita stared at others... drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Kya Gopal ke yaha se aa rahe ho" A woman asked tittering shyly who was aware of the celebration at his place.
Suddenly feeling alarmed, Prithivi scanned the area and pondered on his condition. They were standing beneath the shade open on all sides. In one corner chullahs were burning and food was cooked.
As if been trapped in something, his brain refused to answer back and Prithvi stammered "Jaha dharti aasmaan mil rahe hai."
"Ha... ha.." Sanyogita who was misguidedly staring the ground shouted "Hume waha jana hai..."
"Kuch kha lo pehle, phir Gopal ke yaha wapas laut jana.. varna kheton mein kho jaoge"
Getting aware of the reasons behind Prithvi and Sanyogita's deranged behavior, farmers were adorningly watching and helping them, also enjoying with them and ignoring their irrelevant chatter.. like yatra, jungle, shivling, billi, khana etc.. which made no sense to them at all.
"Tumne hamare sabji mein saara namak dal diya tha." Said Sanyogita who hadn't started eating but was watching him who was merrily pounding a big red onion with his fist. They were seated facing each other outside the shade on a smooth stone near the boundary of the field.
"Ha...." Prithvi commented and laughed redirecting his attention to the food serverd in the leaf in front of him.
"Aur humne tumhari liye roti banayi, woh bhi thukara di tumne." Sanyogita smattered watching him enjoying the roti.
"Achha??" Prithvi was completely engrossed in eating and ignored her complaints. Sanyogita frowned
"Tum bahot bure ho.. naa shukriya naa mafi.. Hume nahi khana" and she was about to get up when Prithvi suddenly said "Achha... achha.. shukriya aur mafi dono.. ab toh kha lo."
He plucked a piece of roti and dipping it in the lentil cury raised it to her mouth. Gazing in his eyes, Sanyogita ate what he was feeding before mistakenly biting his finger.
"Sanyogita !!" Prithvi exclaimed confusedly a moment later, as it took time for his pulses to carry the pain to his brain. When it happened, her real name automatically voiced on his lips and more than that he came to know that it is her real name.
She gwaffed when she saw him shuddered and retract his hand with lour.
He appallingly watched her when she corrected him "Sanyogita nahi Nandini.. jo jyada khubsurat hai." She laughed.
Soon the ability to understand anything was lost again and he joined her in gag. "Maine kaha tha naa uss dudh mein kuch milaya hai."
----------------------------------------------------End of Part 24------------------------------------------------------------
Edited by ppiyu - 14 years ago
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