- 37 -
28th November
Rani was still asleep when her mobile rang. She switched it on. A voice came from the other side, “Rani, it seems you were lost in dreams! The phone kept ringing for so long!”
“Sorry Alok Ji, I kept reading till late night, so, I was in deep sleep.”
“Nice to hear that. Complete and deep sleep is essential for good health. Do you remember why did I call you so early in the morning?”
“How can I forget this Alok Ji? Harbouring some pleasant memories of early period of life in our hearts, after remaining entangled in the worldly complexities for a long time, we met at the other end of life exactly one year ago on this day. We met in childhood, talked about being with each other and then got lost somewhere. Like a miracle, an occasion brought us together again. Unforgettable day indeed!
“After returning from Jalandhar when I came to your house to get Lassi, you were alone at home, yet we didn’t talk. Then when I got married as per the worldly customs, I thought that there was no possibility for us to be united in this life. Accepting the destiny, I was leading life in a routine manner. Who can understand what God wishes? Our reunion is a miracle contrived by the Invisible Power! This day is a priceless and sweetest memory of our life. I don't remember when we had met for the first time in childhood or when you had kissed me for the first time, therefore, this day is the most important day of our life.”
“Rani, I’m pleasantly surprised to hear from you the significance of this day in our life. How can the same feelings arise in the hearts of two persons simultaneously! What I was feeling, you’ve expressed those very feelings in words. It shows how identical is our wavelength! I feel like going out somewhere and experience solitude instead of being confined within the four walls of the house. Where can we go? Think about it. Meanwhile I also think.”
After about half an hour, Alok called, “Rani, pack up your clothes for two-three days and be ready; I’m reaching within two hours. Pack some woollens also.”
“Oh, you intend to go to some hill station? But where…?”
“Let it be a suspense for the time being. Have faith in me and rest assured that wherever I take you, you’ll enjoy.”
“No doubt about it.”
Alok called again within minutes, “Rani, if possible, prepare and pack lunch also.”
“Alok Ji, why do you talk of the possibility? Even if you had not said so, I would’ve made lunch. Women don't have to be reminded of such things. Their natural instinct makes them do it automatically. I’ll wait for you at the breakfast.”
When the conversation was over, Rani started getting ready. She quickly prepared the breakfast and lunch. Within fifteen minutes of Alok’s arrival, they were in the car after having their breakfast. After crossing Roop Nagar, Alok asked, “Have you ever visited Anandpur Sahib?”
“Yes, I visited once with Ramesh Ji.”
“Then you must have seen the ‘Virasat-e-Khalsa' (Legacy of Khalsa - the Sikh sect) museum?”
“No, it was under construction then.”
“Let’s first see the museum. Guru Gobind Singh Ji had established the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1699 on the occasion of Baisakhi. In 1999, to commemorate the completion of 300 years of the establishment of the Khalsa Panth, with the support of the then NDA government, the construction of this historical building was started. This complex was conceived and designed by Moshe Safdie, a world-renowned architect born in Israel and educated in Canada. Its architecture symbolises the hands raised in prayer. It displays extensive glimpses of five hundred years of Sikh history, culture and civilisation of Punjab.”
It took them about two hours to see the museum. Thereafter they sat at a Dhaba and satisfied their hunger with their home cooked food and proceeded further. They reached Mata Chintapurni before the fall of evening. After booking a room in a hotel, they went to the holy shrine and paid their obeisance. They also inquired about the timings of Manglacharan Aarti (First prayer of the day). They got up early in the morning, took their bath and reached the temple. They participated in the Manglacharan Aarti, sought Mata’s blessings and got Prasad. After this, they had their breakfast and proceeded further. On the way, they visited Jwalamukhi Temple, and traversing the rough and tough hilly terrain, they reached Chamba before the dusk.
Chamba is an ancient and beautiful historical town situated in the valley on the right banks of river Ravi, which was known as Iravati in the Vedic times. The king of Bharmour, Sahil Varman (Verma), while shifting the capital of his kingdom from Bharmour to this place in 920 AD, named the town as Champavati, after his daughter, which is today known as Chamba and is a district headquarters of Himachal Pradesh. Alok and Rani checked in the hotel Iravati and stayed there overnight. The next morning, they visited Laxmi-Narayan temple, built in the 10th century and sought blessings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi as well as Lord Shiva. They basked in the wintry sunshine for about an hour in the vast open area called Chaugan. After having lunch, they left for Khaziyar, also known as mini Switzerland.
On reaching Khaziyar, they checked in a decent hotel, had their tea and came out to enjoy the wonderful views of Nature. Surrounded by Dhauladhar mountain-ranges, a small lake in the middle of the valley looked like a beautiful gem embedded in a sheet of greenery. Since it was off-season, there were a few tourists. Most of them were newly-wed couples who were walking around the lake holding each other’s hands and whispering sweet nothings to their partners or enjoying the secluded hilly environment. It is nearly impossible to describe the natural beauty of Khaziyar in words. Seeing the rows of tall pine trees, Alok remembered the following lines of the national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar :
‘Lambe lambe cheed greev amber ki aur uthaye
Ek charan par khade tapasvi se hain dhyan lagaye.’
(Tall pine trees with their necks raised towards the sky
Look like ascetics standing on one leg being in meditation.)
Alok asked Rani, “Would you like to stroll for a while or sit somewhere?”
“I think it would be better to stroll for some time. The body will get relaxed a bit after long car journey.”
And they strolled on the slightly moist grass. Rani was feeling immense joy while roaming around with Alok in such an enchanting environment. She did not want to lessen this experience by expressing the same in words. Therefore, she kept walking quietly alongside Alok. This was the first time after Rashmi’s death that Alok had come to a hill station and that, too, with a companion with whom his heart was in tune. Therefore, he, too, was keeping mum to imbibe this unique feeling. Their faces were glowing with inner happiness.
It was the end of November and evening time in the hills. The shadows of evening descend so fast that night seems to be advancing at double the speed. In the cold twilight, the colour of the lake-water was turning dark. Green pine trees were looking black in the fading light. It was getting colder. A few tourists, still roaming around, were, of course, going to stay here. And now everyone started returning to their respective hotels.
Rani said, “Alok Ji, it’s getting colder. Now we should return to the hotel.”
“Yes, let’s go.”
And they returned to the hotel. After the dinner, Alok pulled back the curtain, hanging over the window of the room. The light coming through the curtains on the windows of the outer rooms of the nearby hotels had almost disappeared. The full moon of 14th day of Shukla Paksha was smiling in the infinite sky above the black mountains and its brightness was not only illuminating the whole sky but was also ruling over the earth majestically. There was pin drop silence all around. Even a slight sound could be heard easily in such an environment. Innumerable beautiful shades and the scenes of nature filled Alok’s heart with joy. To enjoy such a scene to the fullest, he opened the balcony door and pulled out two chairs in the balcony. As soon as he opened the door, a cold wave rushed in as if it was just waiting for the door to be opened. Alok said, “Rani, come out. See, what a beautiful view! I’ve never seen such a wonderful scene in my life.”
Rani said in a slightly complaining tone, “Alok Ji, why have you opened the door? Room has become very cold. I’m feeling sleepy due to the fatigue of the whole day, don’t feel like coming out.”
“I’m ordering coffee. Come out, even if for a short while. Let’s enjoy the nature’s beauty while sipping coffee. If you feel too much cold, cover yourself with a shawl.”
Rani came out reluctantly just to please him. Seeing the nature in its most beautiful form, she spontaneously reacted, “Wow, what a beauty! How soothing is this silence! Alok Ji, I left the bed just for your sake, but now I feel if I hadn’t come out, I would’ve missed a lifetime opportunity of seeing such a beautiful and enchanting view.”
Despite having shawl around her, a wave of cold mountain air ran down Rani's neck and spine, causing shivering. She rubbed her palms in an attempt to generate warmth.
After sitting in the balcony for about half an hour on the pretext of coffee, Rani got up saying, “Alok Ji, let's move inside, I can't bear the cold anymore.”
Alok did not insist to sit further. They came inside. Seeing Rani shivering, Alok asked, “Should I switch on the blower for some time?”
“No, I’m not used to sleeping with the blower on.”
“I’m not suggesting keeping it on throughout the night, I was just asking to keep it on for some time. As the room gets a bit warmer, we’ll switch it off.”
“Okay, as you wish.”
“Not my wish, just for your sake.”
“Okay. Switch on for a while. I may fall asleep soon. You’ll have to remain awake to switch it off after sometime.”
“Doesn’t matter. You may sleep without bothering about it.”
Due to the warmth of the quilt and the heat generated by the blower, the effect of the cold reduced considerably within a short while. As soon as her body temperature became normal, Rani fell asleep. Alok remained awake for a while, then switched off the blower and surrendered himself to sleep.
The next day, after having morning tea and enjoying the warmth of the quilt for a while, Alok got up from the bed and got busy in bathing etc. When he came out of the bathroom, Rani was still in bed. Alok enquired, “Rani, you’re still in bed, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Then get up, take your bath and be ready. We’ll leave after the breakfast.”
Without getting up, Rani said, “Alok Ji, can't we stay here for one more day ? To enjoy tea-coffee and meals sitting on the bed in the warmth of the quilt gives a different kind of pleasure. I don't want to forego this bliss of solitude so soon. Hope you won’t mind?”
“Why should I? My happiness lies in your happiness. And why just one day, we can stay as long as you like. We’re neither required to go to office nor we’re answerable to anyone.”
“Okay. We’re staying here for today. We’ll see what to do tomorrow. If any of your clothes requires washing, give the same to me, I’ll do the washing.”
“It’s winter season. It’ll work even without washing clothes.”
That day, they spent most of the time in their room. In the afternoon, when the Sun was shining brightly, they came out of the room and enjoyed the sunshine for about two hours.
The next day, when Alok asked about staying more, Rani declined. On the way back, they kept talking about the happy time spent during the trip.
After the Sunset, when they arrived at the Society, the evening was fast turning into night. When Alok made a move to go saying bye, Rani said, “Alok Ji, although we had decided not to stay together in the flat at night, yet I want you to make an exception and stay here tonight. I’ve never got the homely feeling during the two months of my stay here. I want to experience that home even if it’s for one night,.”
Alok could not refuse.
*****
