1454AD
Today the night was exceptionally dark as if it wanted to hide something in the shroud of darkness it had spread. Far on the hill top stood the RangMahal the royal palace of Vatikapur. The road leading from the palace to the forest was deserted, not a soul was in view.
The silence of the night was disturbed by the sound of horse hooves coming from a distance. Soon one could see a chestnut horse coming down the palace road leading to the forest. A figure clad in white churidar and jama sat on it, the tail of the turban that adorned the person's head, hid the face.
The horse was being rode with one hand. The other hand was wrapped around something long and wide. The horse raced down the path towards the forest. The rider was followed by a group of horse men at a distance. They seemed to be chasing the rider. The men seemed to be a group of soldiers led by the man riding in the front. Soon the chestnut horse and its rider disappeared into the forest.
In the forest the rider halted the horse in front of a watering hole. Then stepped of the horse to drink some water. The rider took off the turban, and one could see that it was a girl. She was beautiful, porcelain complexion, long dark curly hair falling up to her hips, big doe shaped eyes. Soon she heard horse hooves. She took hold of the dagger in her waistband and hid behind a nearby bush. She tried her best to keep quite.
The horse men stopped near the watering hole. The leader stopped he got off the horse and looked at the horse drinking water from the watering hole.
" Come out... come out where ever you are ... Princess Barkha." He said.
He was searching the side of the horse as if looking for something.
" How long will you hide and till where will you run?" He said.
Suddenly when Barkha went to pull the dagger towards her the leaves rustled, and the man heard the sound. He signalled the guards to check. Soon the guards were dragging the Princess out of the bushes. Two soldiers held on to her, stopping her escape.
" Where will you run from me Princess." He said.
He snatched the bundle out of the princesses hands. He opened the bundle and took out the gold Krishna idol from within. He turned it this way and that.
" You have no idea what you're doing, Madhukar Rai. If Prince Aparajit comes to know you will loose your life." Princess screamed.
" He will come to know only if he is in Devrath he has gone to Varanasi for business." Madhukar gave an evil smirk. " By the time he comes back I'll have the Paaras Mani."
He turned the idol around in his hand.
" So tell me where it is?" He asked.
" Even if you kill me I will not give it to you." Princess said spitting on his face.
In turn Madhukar slapped the Princess. He suddenly twisted the idols head and the Paaras mani came out of the compartment on the idols back. He took it out.
" Paaras Mani. " He signalled the guards to let go of the Princess, and leave the spot.
He then pulled the Princess into his arms.
"Now I'll be the richest man on earth, and you will be my Princess." He said trying to kiss her.
Somewhere near Jodhpur a young man got the news of his princess missing from Vatikapur. He mounted his horse and rode towards Vatikapur. He had started long back when the incident in the forest was taking place he had reached the palace. The King Informed him that that Madhukar Rai had attacked the Palace and kidnapped Barkha. The young prince Aparajit did not wait for a second but rode towards the forest . In the forest Madhukar had thrown away the idol and was pulling at Barkha's clothes as a result tearing them. That was the state Aparajit found them in. The Princess was cowering on the ground, Madhukar in the process of forcing her into submission.
" MADHUKAR I'LL RIP YOUR ARMS APART." Aparajit shouted.
The Madhukar was holding the dagger to the Princesses throat. Aparajit dashed towards Madhukar and held him by the collar. However before he could strike, Madhukar stabbed the prince in the side of his stomach. Then jerking himself away, he mounted the horse and escaped.
Aparajit was in terrible pain. His soldiers soon followed him into the forest. Seeing the prince hurt they reached to help. However Barkha had stood up and ran into the forest.
Being a Rajput princess she couldn't bare that a man other than her fiancé had touched her. She would rather burn herself in a funeral pyre( Johar)*. She ran as fast as her feet would carry her.
Aparajit turned to see her running into the forest. Holding down his injury he ran after her.
" Barkhaaaa! Stop." He screamed.
" No Kuwarsa, I have been tainted. I cannot show you my face." She answered as she continued running.
" No Barkha, don't take any hasty decisions. We will work it out together." He tried to console her as he followed her as fast as he could.
There was no use, she did not stop. Soon she reached a clearing. There was a dilapidated hut. She ran in. On the wall there were sockets with torches. Only one was burning. She brought her hands together in prayer.
" Oh kanha! Give shelter to my soul. I'm coming to you. Forgive me my love for I have to go." Saying she set herself aflame.
By the time Aparajit came to the clearing. The hut was buring. On further inspection Barkha's burning body fell out of the hut.
Aparajit fell to his knees.
" Barkhaaaaaa my love!"He screamed in agony.
Present day
He was chocking. Darkness surrounded him. Fire there was fire everywhere
" No ....No ... Fire...fire please distinguish it. Barkhaaaaa!" Abhijeet screamed as he sat up with a start.
" Why was he having these recurring dreams? Who the hell was Barkha?" He thought.