BEAUTIFUL EYES
Shankar and Tarana were sitting on a mound on the bank of the Nakatiya River. Far from the worries of the world, both were lost in their world here, in this solitude. Shankar was playing the guitar and Tarana was singing. The sound of the guitar and the song was echoing far and wide in this quiet place.
Shankar must have been eleven-twelve years old. He was a teenager from a middle-class family. His father had a grocery shop in the city. Shankar was very handsome and very good at studies. He was very fond of playing the guitar. His father had gifted him this guitar on his tenth birthday. Shankar always kept the guitar with him and kept playing new tunes on it.
Tarana was a carefree teenager of ten-eleven years. She had a slender figure, sharp features, and a fair complexion. She looked very beautiful even in simple clothes. Tarana was average in studies but she sang very well. She used to participate enthusiastically in every school program. Her father owned a bicycle shop in the city. She had two elder brothers and both of them loved Tarana dearly. She was loved by everyone in the house.
Shankar and Tarana lived in the same locality. There was a distance of half a furlong between their houses. It was a locality with a mixed population. This was the time when the city was ruled by Rohel Sardars, and everyone lived together in harmony. Shankar and Tarana used to play with each other from a very young age.
They did not know when they entered adolescence from childhood. This was the stage when surprising changes started taking place in both their body and nature. When Tarana sang, Shankar would become mesmerized and keep staring at her for hours. Various thoughts would come to his mind. Similarly, when Shankar played the guitar, Tarana would keep staring at his face. The sweet sound of the guitar would create a tickle in Tarana's heart.
After returning from school, both of them would come and sit on this mound and talk about the world. For years, the process of meeting and talking to each other had continued without any break. Both had their world. In this world of theirs, there were colorful dreams and beautiful imaginations.
Meanwhile, the bird of time was flying with wings. Shankar had come to B.A. and Tarana was in Intermediate. But their friendship and meetings were continuing. Shankar had grown a light beard and mustache. His chest had become broad and his muscles were strong. Overall, he looked very handsome. Tarana did not even know when he had become the hero of her dreams.
On the other hand, the signs of youth had also emerged in Tarana. Big eyes, a long nose, and red cheeks. She looked very beautiful.
Shankar and Tarana used to spend hours with each other and never got tired of praising each other. Now both were tied in a strong bond of love.
Tarana was very beautiful and looked like a Nymph. For Shankar, she was the most beautiful girl in this world, but one thing that bothered him a lot was Tarana's eyes. Her eyes were big but they did not have the depth of a lake. They were not kajraari (black). One day, while talking, Shankar said to Tarana - "Tarana, why don't you apply kajal? There seems a strange emptiness in your eyes, they do not look kajraari."
Tarana smiled looked at Shankar and said - "You are right Shankar. I have tried to apply kajal many times, but no kajal suits me. As soon as I apply kajal, my eyes start watering and they turn red."
Hearing this, Shankar took a deep breath. Then he said in a sad voice - "I wish your eyes were black and kajal."
If you are so concerned about my eyes Shankar, then why don't you make any kajal or surma only for me? The kajal or surma made by you may make my eyes kajraari." Taraana said with pride.
Shankar suddenly became very serious on hearing this. He had decided in his mind that he would make surma for Tarana.
Tarana teased him and said, "What happened, Shankar? Why are you sad?"
No, Tarana, there is nothing like that, you are very beautiful. I can't take my eyes off your face." He said smiling.
Now Shankar was obsessed with making surma for Tarana. He wanted to make such a surma for Tarana which no one has made to date. In this pursuit, he read hundreds of books, visited dozens of surma makers, and searched the houses of hundreds of hakims. He tried many remedies to make sure but nothing worked. Shankar did not give up and he was continuously engaged in this mission.
In the midst of all this, he was not able to meet Tarana for many days. He had not told anything about his mission to Tarana. Therefore, Tarana would sometimes become very sad. She could not understand why Shankar was so lost. She tried to talk to Shankar about this many times, but Shankar would avoid the topic by making some excuse or the other. He wanted to surprise Tarana.
After many months of effort, finally one day Shankar's hard work paid off. He succeeded in making such Surma that did not cause any irritation in the eyes or watering. The biggest specialty of Surma was that after applying it, the eyes started looking naturally black.
Shankar applied it to his eyes for many days. There was no limit to his happiness. He had made such Surma which no one had made to date. He was overjoyed at his success.
After college, Shankar reached the same mound on the banks of the Nakatiya River. Tarana was already sitting there waiting for Shankar. On seeing Shankar, her withered face blossomed like a fresh flower.
Then Shankar said to her, "Close your eyes Tarana. I have brought a rare gift for you."
"What kind of gift?" Taraana asked looking at him in surprise.
"You close your eyes," Shankar said smiling.
Tarana sat down with her eyes closed. Deep curiosity was visible on her face.
Shankar took out a bottle of Surma from his pocket placed it in Tarana's hands and asked her to open her eyes.
Tarana looked at the bottle and asked, "What is this Shankar?"
This is a bottle of Surma Tarana. After trying continuously for many months, I have made this rare Surma for my Tarana. By applying this, your eyes will become deep and black like a lake.
On hearing this, Taraana's face lit up with a unique happiness. She looked at Shankar with loving eyes. Then both of them got engrossed in talking.
Tarana started applying Surma. Indeed, it was a very rare Surma. Neither did Tarana's eyes turn red nor did they water. After applying Surma for a few days, the beauty of Tarana's eyes increased a lot.
Tarana's elder brother Qasim was married. He had opened a shop in a grocery store. One day, suddenly his eyes fell on Tarana's eyes. He asked Tarana, "No one used to apply kajal or surma on you, and then what kind of Surma have you started using?"
Tarana told her brother Qasim the whole story of the surma.
After listening to Tarana, Qasim thought that if Shankar told him the formula of making this Surma, then he could make a good profit by making this Surma.
Qasim said to Tarana - "Tarana, you tell Shankar and get me the formula for making this surma."
"What will you do with this formula brother? Tarana asked looking at Qasim in surprise.
"I will make surma from this formula and sell it to earn money. I am sure that this kohl will sell well in the market." Qasim said.
"But Shankar has made this kohl just for me. He has worked very hard for it. It is possible that he is not ready to give this formula." Tarana expressed her doubt.
You will have to somehow convince Shankar to give me this formula, Tarana. Can't you do such a small thing for your elder brother?" Qasim pleaded.
Tarana said, "Okay brother, I will talk to Shankar."
The next day, Tarana told Shankar everything and asked him to give the formula to Qasim.
Shankar was in a dilemma. He had worked hard on this formula for many months. He had discovered this formula only for Tarana. He did not want to give this formula to anyone else.
After repeated persuasion by Tarana, he agreed to give this formula of Surma to Qasim. He thought that he loved Tarana and he had made Surma for Tarana. Now when Tarana herself is asking him to give it to Qasim, then he should give the formula to Qasim. He said to Tarana, "Okay, if this is your wish, then I will bring the formula tomorrow and give it to you. I am happy in your happiness only."
Tarana looked at Shankar with loving eyes.
The next day Tarana took the formula from Shankar and gave it to Qasim. Qasim was very happy.
Qasim made Surma on that formula and started selling it in the market by keeping it in a good Surma box. In a few months, Surma became the first choice of the people and it started selling very well. Qasim was earning a lot of profit by selling Surma.
Meanwhile, the love between Tarana and Shankar was becoming stronger day by day. They continued to meet on the mound without any break. One day Shankar looked at Tarana and said - "Taraara, your eyes have become very beautiful now. Your beauty is enhanced by your deep lake-like eyes."
On hearing this, Tarana burst out laughing. Tarana's tinkling laughter echoed far and wide in that deserted place.
Both of them had started dreaming of becoming each other's life partner.
On the other hand, the sale of Qasim's Surma was increasing day by day. The fame of Surma crossed the boundaries of the city and spread throughout the entire state. Now this city was being identified with Surma. Qasim was earning a lot of profit.
Sometimes, Qasim thought that if Shankar told everyone someday that this Surma formula was made by him, and then all my plans would be spoiled.
Qasim's mischievous mind started making different plans against Shankar. She told the youth and religious representatives of her community that Shankar, a boy from another community, wanted to marry her innocent sister Tarana by trapping her in his love trap.
This created excitement among them. Everyone said in one voice, "This will be a great insult to our community. Before Shankar and Tarana take any wrong step, we have to teach Shankar a lesson."
On the other hand, unaware of all this, Shankar and Tarana were engrossed in their love. Their love was as pure as Ganga water and as pure as gold.
One day Shankar and Tarana were sitting on a mound and talking to each other. Then people of one community surrounded them from all sides. Shankar and Tarana were stunned to see sticks, rods, and knives in their hands. "Tarana tried to tell the people that Shankar and she love each other deeply. I cannot live without Shankar. Shankar is not at fault in this."
But there was passion in the crowd and passion does not understand the language of justice and mercy. Some crazy people moved towards Shankar.
Shankar said to Tarana- "You run away Tarana; otherwise these people will also kill you along with me."
"No, I will not leave you anywhere Shankar. We will live together and die together." Tarana shouted.
By then those people had reached very close to Shankar. Before those people could attack Shankar with weapons, Shankar jumped into the river. "I am also coming with you, Shankar," Tarana shouted. People ran to catch her. But by then Tarana had jumped into the river. Flowing in the strong current of the Nakatiya River, both of them went very far in a moment.
The people present in the crowd stood there like statues for a long time, and then they returned.
After many days, the bodies of Shankar and Tarana were found in a bush on the bank of the river, many miles away from the city. Both were holding each other's hands. Even the strong current of the river could not separate them. In a few days, the talk of their love spread far and wide.
It is said that even today the unsatisfied souls of Shankar and Tarana keep wandering around that mound of Nakatiya River. Many people have seen both of them sitting on the mound and talking to each other.
