Two Precious People.

This is a story that has its beginning in a dusty, quaint little village and journeys through large metropolitan cities and back to the little village. This story is about 2 women, separated in age by close to 40 years and their relationship with a boy and a girl – twins – their shared happiness, sorrows and bondings of life.

Saavli, a cute little girl, all of 7 years, starts a life in a large household in the village, a home full of loving and caring. Her co-worker, a very loving and trustworthy housemaid, Sukki, becomes her mother figure, learning from her all the household chores. Soon, a very strong bond developes between Sukki and Saavli and a relationship that blossoms into a mother-daughter like one.

Late in the winter of 1972, the household heralds the birth of a boy and a girl – twins – that bring joy and happiness to the entire family. Sukki and Saavli are completely in love with them and take it upon themselves to help the family to look after the twins.

Over a 2 year period, the bonds grow stronger, Sukki and Saavli are completely besotted by the twins, caring and loving them as their own kin.

After 2 years, come the moment of departure – the twins would finally be leaving the village to join their father in the city – a sad moment for Sukki and Saavli, but one with a silver lining, knowing that the twins would now be with both the parents and take their steps in the city that welcomed them so lovingly with a whole new set of relatives and friends.

Years passed by, the twins made their way to school, made new friends, starting a life amidst books, classes, teachers and lots of homework. Never during these formative years, did they forget Sukki and Saavli, and each holiday season, take the train to happily visit them in the village household. Over the years, Sukki and Saavli saw the infants blossom into precious kids playing and having lots of fun in the vineyards, beach and the local temple.

With time, Saavli had matured into a beautiful teenager all of 17 yrs and Sukki had aged considerably, the years now showing on her face and bent in the back, as the hard work was beginning to take its toll on her.

Sometime around as Saavli turned 17, her parents re-located and came to take Saavli with them. In a week’s time, Saavli was gone, leaving behind Sukki all alone. Saavli was gone to the city with her parents to start on a new life, absorbing the glitter and hustle and bustle of the city life.

The twins continued with their annual pilgrimage to the village, seeing Sukki age every year and with passing time find each day a burden to perform her daily chores. The children, now all of 10 years old, would assist Sukki in her work – watering the plants, folding the clothes, filling water from the well and sum all her petty errands.

Shortly, after the twins turned 10, the girl was diagonised with a medical condition and after a series of tests, it was concluded that she would have to undergo an open heart surgery. The girl twin insisted and convinced her parents that she wanted Saavli by her side after the surgery. The twin’s parents and her aunt managed to locate Saavli and the aunt offered her a job to work as a maid in her house. All were very happy again, Saavli with them in the city and Sukki, whenever they visited the village. Life was never more happier for the twins, almost like a fairytale like them.

Months changed to years, Saavli fell in love with a lift operator in the apartment complex of the kid’s aunt and no sooner Saavli was pregnant – apparently out of wedlock.  Saavli was once again taken away by her parents – the kids lonely again, saddened by Saavli’s departure. The girl took the loss of Saavli very seriously and was devastated. Her new found friend, soulmate and confidante was gone in a flash. As the twins grew up they understood that Saavli had been in love and a pregnancy was a mistake, but not a fatal one, it was pure adultrated love that had brought Saavli and her suitor together.

In the village, Sukki was now very old and always at home. On all subsequent trips to the village, the twins would visit Sukki in her hut and spend lots of time with her. The boy of the twins was very attached to Sukki, and on one such trip found that Sukki hadn’t eaten in almost 2 days. Sukki was lying on her bed, the boy asked Sukki’s son for some soup, held Sukki in his arms and fed a few spoons of soup. Within minutes, Sukki passed away cradled in the boys arms – she was probably waiting to die in his arms – peaceful of the fact that she was near the boy one last time before her death.

Life had almost come a full circle, from the birth of the twins to Sukki’s passing away, when one night , the girl twin dreamt of Saavli and that she was crying in her dreams. The girl twin with a lot of perseverance managed to find Saavli’s address and went about looking for her – not knowing what to expect. She just had an old black and white photograph, in which  Saavli was 7 years old and was standing with the newborn twins. She searched the slums high and low with her heart pounding. Atlast, she managed to find Saavli.  Both of them didn’t recognise each other. Saavli, who was so fair, and cute as a child, had become a complete stranger.  She had become dark, with teeth out, and her body, only of bones without any flesh. They stared at one another – and the ice broke- now they were in each other’s arms hugging and crying. They couldn’t speak much, but just hugged and cried, meeting each other after ages. The girl told Saavli that she had dreamt about her crying. Saavli said that her husband, was already once married before he married her.Saavli had 3 children. The eldest, a son, had recently passed away after suffering from jaundice, and that was the reason she saw her crying in her dreams.

Later, with great difficulty, the girl went home and told her parents and her twin brother about it. They all were shocked and upset to hear this. Life went on for another few years, and later it was learnt that Saavli was no more in this world. Alas!!! This was the end of an unknown, yet such a beautiful relationship – so intense – so loving.

Who knows, if both, Sukki and Saavli were the twins real mothers in the previous births to form such a strong bond!!!

The twins often think of Sukki and Saavli, with all the fond memories, and with moist eyes, thinking about these 2 precious people in their lives.

Life moves on………

Mera Saaya.

दिन  गुज़ार   गया , शाम ढल गयी ,
साथ ही साथ , रात चली आयी.


दिन होता है तो
तुम मेरा साया बन जाते हो.
रात  होते ही,
तुम मेरा सपना बन जाते हो.
और अगर कुछ नहीं तो,
मेरा ख़याल बनकर रह जाते हो.


जहा भी जाऊ, तुम मेरे साथ साथ
कभी साया , कहबी सपना और कभी ख़याल बनके.


साया है जो हर वक़्त साथ निभाता है.
सपना तो अब टूट गया.
और ख़याल है, जो आता है जाता है,
दिलको युही तड़पाता है.


सुबह की खुशबु और तुम्हारा चेहरा देखू
शाम की फिजाए , और तुम्हारी मुस्कान.
रात की विरानगी और दिल की तन्हाई.


दिल  तड़पता है तुम्हारे बिन,
बुलाता है तुम्हे हर गाड़ी .
मत तडपाओ और हमें,
मन हमारा है बोहोत दुखी.

Intezaar

बोहोत अकेले है  हम,
तुम्हारे बिन ऐ सनम.
तुम्हे मिलने की दुआ करते है,
मगर मिल नहीं पाते तुम्हे जानम.


दिन रात होठो पर,
तुम्हारा ही नाम आता है.
मेरा दिल हर वक़्त,
तुम्हे मिलने को तड़पता है.

दिल पुकारता है तुम्हे,
बुलाता है हर घडी.
मत तडपाओ हमें बार बार,
मन हमारा है बोहोत दुखी.


आ जाओ अब मेरे पास,
मत रुलाओ और हमें.
मिटा डालो इंतज़ार हमारा,
मीता डालो मन की प्यास.

Everywhere Its Only You

Wherever I see, you are there,
Laughing and Smiling everywhere.
Up in the sky or deep in the sea,
Its only you that my eyes can see.


My eyes wonder in the sky and i see you smiling at me,
They look in the sea and see you calling me.
Wherever it be, its only you they can see.


My heart knows no bounds the moment it sees you,
It leaps in joy when i think of being with you.
The hills and road seem longer and longer,
When will i find you, I just sit and wonder.


These are my dreams, that i keep on dreaming.
One day I'll get you,my heart keeps on hoping.


Hopes are hope, will they be true.
My heart will keep on crying, 
Until it finds you.