" Aap dono hamare agyaat hi mandir me gaye the? " Lekha's question remained unanswered.
Geetanjali insisted, as she could see how frightened the woman look, " Aapko kisi se darne ki avashyakta nahin hain. "
The woman kept repeatedly glancing at the thin man, pleading him with her eyes. He shook his head and said again, " Hum bol rahein hain, hum apraadhi hain. Dand humein milna chahiye. "
The husband and wife had a triumphant look on their faces, but Geetanjali kept staring at the feeble woman, " Hum aapke saath hain. Koi kuch nahin karega, aap bas boliye. " the woman nodded meekly.
" Shanti, nahin. " the skinny tried to use a hard tone, but end up whispering, " Tum janti ho hum yeh kyu- "
" Toh kar lene dijiye woh kya kartein hain. Nahin darte hum unse. Maar bhi dalenge toh maarne dijiye, waise bhi toh hamari santaan ke saath hamari bhi mrityu ho chuki hain. " she broke into sobs, the man too had tears trickled down his cheeks. He came towards her and hugged her tight, making everybody shocked since, open display of affection was not usual.
" Yeh kaisi ashleelta ka pradarshan hain maharaj. Iss tucch- " Kamala pointed her finger at the crying couple, but Shanti interrupted her.
" Aur tumne jo kiya hain, woh ashleel nahin hain? Pata bhi hain meri bacchi bhookh ke karan ro rahin thi? Pata bhi hain kaise usne aakhri saans tak humse anna manga hain? Pata bhi hain tumhe? Nahin na- " she cried uncontrollably, " -hain hum apsagun, phir dand dijiye humein. Ek choti bacchi ne aapka kya anisht kiya tha, ki aapne usse itne nirday prakar se maut ke muh me jaane diya? "
" Yeh kya bol rahin ho tum? Tumhari bacchi? Woh jo mandir me aayi thi- " Mrityunjay gulped.
" Haan wohi rajkumar. Hamari santaan, jiski dirghayu ke liye humne bhagwaan se prarthana ki thi, woh ab- ab iss duniya mein na- nahin rahin. " Shanti sniffed and sobered a little, " Bohut ro chuke hum maharaj, aansu bhi sookh chuke hain, ab humein nyay chahiye, hamari bacchi ki liye. Kya aap ek ma ka dard sunenge? "
Adhiraj nodded while everyone present there, prepared themselves to hear the heart-wrenching incident.
" Aapko shayad pata hoga maharaj, ke aapke aadesh ke baad bhi nagar mein bhed-bhav ki pratha chali aa rahin hain, aur hum unhi abhaagon mein se hain, jisko nagarwasiyon ne amanglik naam de kar nagar se niskashit kar diya tha. Phir hum chalein aaye dur, koi samasya nahin thi humein maharaj, hamare liye hamari beti hi kaafi thi, aur koi sukh humein nahin chahiye tha. Par din jaate hi, bhed-bhaav ki pratha aur badne lagi, aur ek kshan aaya jahan, humein apsagun bolkar anna bhi nahin diya jata tha. Naresh seth ke ration ki dukaan se hum anna-dal laate the, pet paalte the, par baad me unhone bhi humein anna dene se mana kar diya. Bole ki hamari kaali kismat ki wajah se unki dukaan ka anisht ho rahan hain. " the other husband and wife glared at Shanti, " Hum bina kuch khaaye bhi reh lete maharaj, par hamari bacchi kya karti? Aayushi bhookhi thi, humne binti ki unse, hamare swami ne haath joda, per pakda, par yeh nirday vyakti- " she controlled her sobs, " -inhone bhari bazaar mein hamare pati ka tiraskaar kiya, unhone maara, par woh chup rahein kyuki, humein anna chahiye tha. Par aaghat jab unhe sar par laga, tab unhe vaid ke baad le jaya gaya. Hum vipada mein the, par koi nahin aaya, koi nahin aaya. " not able to control anymore, Shanti fell on her knees and bellowed.
Geetanjali too was sniffing and hugged the woman to give her support.
" Issi dauraan Aayushi ki mrityu- woh humein chhod kar chali gayi. " the thin whispered to himself, the others hadn't heard if the court-room hadn't been dead silent.
" Yeh sarasar jhooth hain maharaj. Iske paas toh koi praman bhi nahin. " the so-called victimised man said smirking.
" Praman hum hai maharaj. " Geetanjali got up, wiping her tears, " Humne dekha hain, jab yeh unhe prahar kar rahein the. Uss din jab hum bazaar gaye the, yaad hain rajkumar- "
Mrityunjay nodded ever so slowly, " -tab humne dekha tha, par kuch karne se pehle hi hum waha se chale aaye. Uske pashchaat, mandir mein Shanti se mile, aur woh sab. Hum sakshi hain iss baat ka, ki atyachaar Kamala aur unke pati ne Shanti aur unke parivaar ke upar kiya tha, jab unhe laga ki Shanti unke khilaaf abhiyog dalegi, tab inn logon ne ulta Shanti ke pati par aarop daal diya, maharaj. " she glared at the couple, who'd paled because of the revelations, " Baaki ka vichar aap kariye maharaj, doshi kaun hain, iska nirnay bhi aapka. " Geetanjali folded her hands in front of Adhiraj.
Adhiraj was shocked to hear the condition of his empire, the empire which he'd built in the hope, that it would be one of the greatest in the future. But now, the news of such discrimination, such atrocities have poured a bucket of cold water in his dreams.
" Humare paas koi shabd nahin jisse hum aapko sahanubhuti de sakein. Par hum aapko nyay avashya dila saktein hain. " he turned towards the other couple, " Aap dono ko inn logon pe mithya aarop lagane ke karan aur inhe bin baat ke aaghat puhchane ke aarop mein ek varsh ka karavaash diya jata hain aur inke ration ki dukaan ko jabd kiya jata hain. " the orders were followed immediately.
The guards dragged them away, while the officials were to do the works regarding the store. Shanti and her husband joined their hands and thanked the king for his wise decision and blessed Geetanjali for her kindness.
After they went away, Adhiraj couldn't help but praise Geetanjali, and Mrityunjay hold her shoulders like a proud husband that he is. Vishakha went out jealous and for the first time, Geetanjali saw appreciation in her mother-in-laws eyes.
Maybe the court session hadn't gone so bad!
•
A huge mass was present in the court-room, as it was decorated as grandly as ever. The hues of golden and red, brightened up the whole atmosphere, while the maidens decorated the room with scented candles and exotic flowers.
The raj-tilak ceremony was a grand one, and Adhiraj wanted people to remember this event, for the rest of their lives. The courtiers and the guests from the nearby empires poured into the huge room, since it was the most anticipated day, the crowning of the prince.
Lekha, Geetanjali and Adhiraj were already standing in the platform, and with the announcement of an attendee, Mrityunjay emerged from the entrance, dressed up as royally as ever. Everyone present there, stood up dazed, as if, it was their soul who wanted to express their respect to the great warrior.
Vishakha for some mysterious reasons had gone back to her home.
Lekha went forward and did the aarti and did the gestures to ward off the evil eyes. Then, he was asked to sit in front of the huge hawan. The priest chanted holy mantras, but Mrityunjay had his attention on his wife. From time to time, he'll be glancing at her, and when their gazes met, she would smile at him, which made his heart skip a beat.
After all the rituals were done, Adhiraj asked an attendee to bring the royal sword, and handed it to Mrityunjay, and made him wear his crown, " Aaj se, Gauravgarh ka dawitvya hum aap ko samarpit kartein hain. Humein viswas hain ki aap, humse bhi shreshth raja banenge, aur humesha, khud se pehle, apni praja aur rajya ke baare mein sochenge. " he had slight mist gathered on his orbs, while he blessed Mrityunjay.
" Hum aapko shikayat ka koi avsar nahin denge pitaji. Yeh humara bachan hain aapse. " everyone clapped, while Lekha smiled, coming forward.
" Aur ab hum, Gauravgarh ki nayi rani ki bhi ghosna karna chahenge. " whispers aroused in the surrounding, but it turned into loud cheers when the announcement was made, " Rajkumari Geetanjali banegi aaj se aap logo ki maharani. "
Geetanjali was shocked, but despite everything, bent down to touch Lekha's feet," Sadaa sukhi rahiye aur jaldi humein hamara agla uttaradhikari dijiye. " she blushed at that.
Lekha pulled her up and touch her cheek, " Aapko gyaat hain humne aapko yeh padd kyu diya? " Geetanjali shook her head, " Kyuki iss teen mahino mein humne dekha hain aapki mehnat, aur sahash, tabhi toh aap Vishakha ko bachane kud gayi, bina apne praano ke chinta kiye, jo ek rani ka kartavya hain. Apne praja ke baare mein sochna, khud se pehle. Aur uss din nyay-kaksh mein, aapki budhimatta ke karan jo un logo ko nyay mila. Isse humein viswas ho gaya hain ki, ho sakta hain samay lage, par aap hi iss taaj ki, asli haqdaar hain Geetanjali. Aur humein aap par purn viswas hain. "
She nodded with tears, " Hum aapko niraash nahin karenge ranima. "
Lekha did her aarti too and soon the crown of the queen, adorned her head. Everyone was happy to get their new king and queen.
Amid the celebrations, Mrityunjay catch Geetanjali staring at him. Standing near her, he asked, " Kya hua? "
She hold his hands, for the first time, forgetting that the whole of the people were watching them, " Dhanyavaad aapka rajkumar, aaj aapki wajah se hum yeh kar paaye. Aapke liye hamara prem aur samman aur badh chuka hain. Hamara asli taaj yeh nahin, aap hain rajkumar, jisse hum marte dum tak apne sharir se alag nahin karenge. "
Mrityunjay smiled, " Aap jo bhi hain khud ke wajah se hain, humne toh bass marg dikhaya hain priye. Aap hamari shaan hain, gurud hain aap hamari, aur yeh gurud hamesha uccha hi rahega. "
He kissed her forehead with such love, that she couldn't help but express her thankfulness to god for making him come to her life and show her what love is and how love can make you reach the heights.
~•~
The end!!!!
But Jay and Geetanjali had still a lot to go through their life, and a lot to live. Please give your views on their story, and don't forget to vote and support. Soon will be coming with a different couple. ☺❤