Ruhana reached her home in the jungle and found her father worried. He felt her presence..

“ Kahan thi aap? “ he asked.

“Baba andar chaliye fir batati hoon aapko sab. “ she said.

“Kya bataogi? Naagrani ne sab jagah apne sainik faila rakhe hain. Jo aapko aur Sachin ko dhundh rahe hain.” He said angrily.

Ruhana sighed…

“Hum jaante hain baba. Aur isiliye yahan aaye hain. “ she said.

“Aap dono chahte kya hain? Kiske prem mein pad gaye hain aap dono?“ he asked.

“Yahi ki raani maa Sachin ke pyar ko apna aashirwad de. Hume aapki madad chahiye. “ she said.

“jo tum chahti ho wo nahi ho sakta Ruhana. “ he said.

“Ho chuka hain baba. Ab hum ek aam Insaan hain. Hum Vineet se prem karte hain. Unke pyar ke Saamne yeh shaktiyan koi mayne nahi rakhti. “ she said.

Her father looked on. She held his hands..

“Baba madad kijiye. Rani maa ne Sachin ko majboor kiya hai. Unhe unka pyar milna chahiye. “ she said tearily.

Her father nodded, for he couldn't see his daughter in tears, and also, he didn't want them to lose their love either.

…

Sachin was sitting in his hut. It was dark all around. His eyes were teary and he was thinking about Angel. Meanwhile, Ruhana came there. Her heart pinched to see her best friend in miserable condition.

She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Sachin! “She called him with difficulty as a lump formed in her throat.

Sachin turned back and saw Ruhana. He was fearful and he hugged her.

”Aap yahan kyun aayi?Aapko Vineet aur Angel ke paas hona chahiye tha. unhe aapki zarurat thi. “He said tearily.

Ruhana was rubbing his back.

“Aur aap! kya aapko hamari zarurat nahi hai? Aapne hamesha hamara sath diya rani maa ke khilaaf ja ke aur jab aapko aapke mitr ki zarurat hai toh hum kaise na aate? “Ruhana said thoughtfully.

“hum toh vivash hain, nahi ja sakte unke paas par aap kyun is daldal mein aa gayi? “He complained with tears.

“Aaj tak aapne hamari madad ki hai na, ab hum aapki madad karne aaye hain. Vineet aur Angel wahan surakshit hain. Humne unhe Baahar nikalne ko mana kiya hai. Aap chinta mat kijiye. Sachin hum mil ke is samasya ka hal nikaal lenge. “Ruhana assured him.

He looked at her tearily… “Ruhana Pata nahi kis halat mein hogi wo? Maa ko wahan nahi aana chahiye tha. Agar hum ek mamuli insaan ban ke khush hai toh unhe takleef kya hai! Maa ne sab barbaad kar diya. Humein nahi chahiye yeh sab. Na yeh duniya, na yeh shaktiya aur na yeh nagraj ka taaj. Humein toh bas hamari Angel chahiye jiske sath hum pyar se khushi se zindagi jee sake. “Sachin said while holding her hands.

“Hum wo zindagi zarur jiyenge Sachin. Bas aapko himmat se kaam lena hoga. “Ruhana assured him. Sachin nodded.

“Lekin hum yahan se ja nahi sakte. “he said dejectedly.

“Koi raasta toh hoga na sachin. “ she said.

“Sachin yahan se kahin nahi jayenge. Aur aap Ruhana, apni salamati chahti hain toh chali jaiye yahan se. “ Sachin’s mother came there and shouted on her.

“Main jaungi toh sachin ko apne sath lekar jaungi. “ Ruhana shouted.

“Aapne ab tak hamara gussa nahi dekha hain. Hum Phir keh rahe hain chali jaiye. “ Naagrani shouted.

“Hum jitna aapko jaante hain, utna kaafi hai Raani maa. Aur zyada hum jaanna nahi chahte. “ Ruhana said.

“Pehle apna astitva toh Pehchan lo. “ She said.

“Uski mujhe zarurat nahi hain. Humare baba bahut ache hain. Unke baad ab sirf ek Insaan se hi astitva hai mera. Aur aap bhi sachin ko jaane dijiye. “ Ruhana said angrily.

“Wo hamare bhavi raja hain. Sachin kahin nahi jayenge. Aur aap? Aap hume mat sikhaiye ki hume kya karna hai. Chali jaiye hamare bete ki zindagi se. Rahiye un insanon ke beech, aap hain bhi unhi mein se ek. “ Naagrani shouted.

Ruhana was shocked hearing her… “ Jayenge hum lekin akele nahi. Aapki in shaktiyon ke aage humara pyar kam nahi ho jayega. Samajh lijiye. Sachin ko yeh sab nahi chahiye. “ she said.

“Bas! Aap ja rahi hain ya hume zabardasti karni hogi? “ Naagrani said in anger.

“Bas kijiye maa! Aapke gusse se humara pyar kam nahi hoga. Hume nahi chahiye ye taaj. Nahi chahiye ye shaktiyan. Hume pyar chahiye jo unke paas hai, aapke is naag lok mein nahi.  De dijiye sumeir ko ye taaj. Wo raja banna chahta hai na, hume baksh dijiye. Hum thokar maarte hain aapke is taaj aur zimmedariyon ko. “ Sachin bursted out in anger while his mother was lost in thoughts.

….

She moved from there and still lost in thoughts. Whether she had responsibility of locality but she was a mother too. She was a strict queen but a soft hearted mother too. Her son’s tears were affecting her. She couldn't bear her son like this.

“Kya kare hum? Na Sachin ko is halat mein dekh sakte hai na hamare vansh ko ek nakabil raja de sakte hai. Mana ke hum rani hai par hamari mamta humein kamzor kar rahi hai. Humne khud ko itna majbur kabhi nahi paya. “She sat on rock while staring at sky.

“Sumeir bhi toh raja ban sakte hai par wo utne kabil hai hi kahan! Sachin ki halat bhi toh aisi hai ki kabil hote hue bhi wo apni zimmedari nahi nibha payenge. “

“Kyun na hum Sumeir ko hi itna kabil kar de ki wo Raja hone ki har zimmedari bakhubi nibha paye aur Sachin ko unki khushiyo ke paas jane de. “She thought and a smile appeared on her face and she left to meet her son and free him from the burden she herself, had given to him.

To Be Continued.