They were driving towards the forest, when Snigdha's heart started beating very fast. As they neared the forest, she started feeling restless. At the edge of the forest she was taken over by a strange fear.
" STOP!! STOP!! PLEASE STOP THE CAR!!" She screamed.
The car came to a screeching halt. Snigdha got off the car. She ran a few steps for ward. She could hear voices.
"Come out ....come out where ever you are?" a voice said.
" No...No... No...I can't go in." Snigdha screamed.
She fell to her knees. Seeing her in distress every one got of the cars. Abhijeet ran to her side and knelt beside her. He touched her shoulder trying to get her attention.
" Snigdha what is the matter?" He asked.
She turned around and buried her head in his broad chest.
" I can't go in Abhijeet. Th.... th... there is something in there. A...a... fire.... he ... he ... is there." Snigdha said panting and gasping for air as if she had run a mile.
Suddenly she caught hold of Abhijeet's collar.
" NO...NO... please tell them to stop. I can't go in please." She screamed again.
Abhijeet felt a strange compulsion to protect this complete stranger. He pulled her into his arms.
" Singdha look at me." He commanded.
As if he was someone else. He put a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. Snigdha looked into his dark eyes.
" Do you trust me?" He asked.
She didn't know why but she did. So she nodded.
" Then don't worry. We will face it together." He assured her.
To the rest of the group it was a strange phenomenon playing in front of them. They had just met, why did it feel like these two were connected some how? Abhijeet helped Snigdha up on her feet and led her to the car. He sat next to her holding her hand. The jeep took off, followed closely by the other cars. Soon they were driving into the forest. They came to a stop near a clearing. There was a small stone platform with a stone arch and inside there was a stone sign. Every one opened there shoes and entered. Snigdha was still sitting in the jeep. Suddenly she started feeling dizzy. There were flashes in front of her eyes.
" Oh kanha I'm coming to you please give me shelter." Voices rang in here ear.
Then some one was on fire. Snigdha screamed.
" Kuwarsaaaaaaaa!!!!"
Abhijeet was just about to enter the memorial when he heard her voice. He turned around and ran to the jeep, pulling her into his arms.
" Shhhh it's OK, I'm here." He said trying to comfort her. Everyone looked at them surprised, it was hard to believe they had just met.
Abhijeet did not understand why he felt the urge to run to her and comfort her, he hardly new her.
Snigdha looked up at him in shock and surprise. Why did she call out to him and why did she feel so safe in his arms? She slowly pushed herself out of his arms blushing and looking away.
" Are you ok?" Abhijeet asked.
" Y... yes I'm fine." Snigdha answered.
Abhijeet helped her up.
" What is the matter?" Asked Dr Pal approaching them.
" I...I don't know mam. I felt like there is something dangerous waiting out there." Snigdha answered.
" Its nothing. Come on lets go it's ok." Dr Pal said leading her towards the memorial.
Abhijeet looked at their retreating back, what was this feeling? Why did she seem so familiar? Snigdha turned around and looked at him. It seemed like she had the same questions in her eyes.
They entered the memorial, where there was a huge portrait of Barkha devi hung on the wall. Everyone was shocked again to see the similarity between both of Snigdha and her.
It was a white marble building. The whole hall was surrounded by pillars.
"She was beautiful." States Prakash.
" I have never seen so much of similarities in two faces." Exclaimed Radhika.
" How is this even possible?" Asked Prakash.
Snigdha walked around the hall, looking at the carvings.
" This place is so peaceful." She sighed.
As she turned around, she found her self face to face with Abhijeet. He looked deep into her eyes, as if he wanted to ask her something. Snigdha felt a weird sense of safety in his presence.
"People hardly come here." stated Mr Singh.
" Let's sit here for sometime." Suggested Dr Pal.
Everyone settled on the floor.
" So can we read the journal?" Asked Abhijeet.
Everyone agreed. Snigdha picked up the journal and started reading.
"Today is the start of Navratri. Our village always hosts the biggest fair in this area. People from all around Rajputana visit our village. Bapusa was talking to maasa yesterday that he is looking for a groom for me. I hope I like him.
Mannu has come to get me ready for the fair. I have to look my best she says. Why I wonder?" Snigdha looked up.
" The Navratri fair of this area was always the biggest of this area." stated Mr Singh.
"It has always been the best." Snigdha chipped in.
"Yeah! But how do you know?" Asked Radhika.
" Continue Snigdha." Requested Prof Dixit.
" Yes."Snigdha stated as she continued.
" The festivities were on in full swing. There were stalls of colourful cloth, utensils, jewellery, shoes etc. There were also stalls of food stuff, spices fruits etc. There were Ghumer dancers, jugglers, knife throwers, etc. The dandia was also about to start. I was very excited about it.
So I ran towards the gathering in the middle of the square. Archery competition was on there. In the middle of the gathering their local champion stood challenging the group to come and fight him.
" Is there any one who can defeat me?" He challenged.
Everyone looked around. At last someone called out.
" I'll compete." He said.
I turned to look at the source of the baritone voice. I was met with a pair of amber coloured eyes, staring directly at me. He was tall, fair with sharp features, dark hair falling on his forehead. He smirked at me, as if he knew what I was thinking. It did something to me. I felt tingles go down my spine.
He stepped in the middle and picked up the bow and arrow. He looked at me once more and then concentrated on the target. He hit the bulls eye on all the three turns, while our flustered champion missed it once. He turned to me and gave me a smug smile. I looked away feeling my face heat up. I pulled Mannu away from the crowd and walked towards the food stall. As we moved around the fair I could feel his eyes on me.
I was admiring a pair of jhumkas , when I felt someone behind me.
" Do you like them?" a familiar voice whispered into my ears.
I knew it was him.
"Mannu let's go." I tried to pull my self together.
But as I started to go, he held my hand.
" Won't you tell me your name?" He pleaded.
I shook my head. Mannu had gone a little further away, she came back.
" Kuwarsa!" She exclaimed bowing to him.
I was surprised that she knew him.
" How do you know him Mannu?" I asked in a brittle voice, as I felt a little jealous she knew him.
" He is our guest kuwarisa" She smiled a knowing smile.
" Guest?" I asked surprised.
She came forward and whispered.
" Yes Rajasa has chosen him for you." She said giggling like a fool.
"W...W...What!!" I exclaimed blushing profusely.
I looked at him, then looked away. He pulled me towards him and whispered.
" Name." He demanded.
His authoritative voice sent tingle through my whole body.
"Barkha." I whispered as I extricate my self from his hold and ran away.
Snigdha looked up from the journal and was met with Abhijeet's dark mysterious stare. She couldn't look away. He looked equally enamoured, at the back of their minds there were flashes of some other life time, it was like a scene playing on their minds curtain.
" Snigdha please continue." Dr Pal insisted.
Snigdha was snapped out of her reviver.
" Uhhh... Y...Yes!" she said in a flustered voice.
" There is some kind of tension brewing in our family. Arvind Bhaisa seemed very angry today. He had fought with my elder brother. Actually Arvind bhaisa is my uncles son. He was my father's elder brother, Chaudhury Manoj Singh. After his death my father had taken care of his son. Everyone in the village knew that Arvind Singh was to be the immediate successor of my father.
However it seems my father had announced Nikunj Bhaisa as his successor. Hence the discord. In the morning I got the news from my maid Mannu that bhaisa had left the haveli. I was very sad, as he was my most favorite brother."
" Yes later Arvind Singh joined hands with the enemy to destroy the Chaudhury family." Chipped in Mr Singh.
" Then the enemy killed him as well." He continued.
" The enemy being???" Asked Prof Dixit.
" The current owner Raja Madukar Rai." Mr Singh informed them.
As soon as the name was said Snigdha felt her heart turn cold with strange fear. She held the journal tight, her knuckles turned white. She started sweating and breathing hard.
Radhika came to her and touched her shoulder.
"Snigdha are you ok??" She asked.
Snigdha shook her head.
"N...No!! That name, I feel..." She stammered.
Abhijeet was at her side in an instant. He was unable to understand his urge to comfort her. He held her hand in his and pulled her gently towards him to get her attention.
Snigdha looked up into his eyes with tear strained eyes.
" It's OK."Abhijeet said in a soothing voice. " He will not get you. I'm here."
Snigdha seemed to visibly calm down at his words. What Abhijeet did next seemed to shock everyone except Snigdha. He pulled Snigdha into his arms and she lay her head on his chest. Snigdha had a strange feeling, as if she had come home. Abhijeet felt complete.
"Uhu Uhu." Dr Pal cleared her throat.
Both Snigdha and Abhijeet shot apart. Snigdha blushed ferociously. Abhijeet too looked flushed. When they looked around they found everyone laughing. He gave a lopsided smile and looked away.
" Can we guys continue?" Asked Prof Dixit with a knowing smile.
"Y...yes." Snigdha stammered.
"Yesterday we got the news that Arvind Bhaisa has joint hands with, Raja Tomar of the enemy village. I can't believe he has become a traitor for the throne. I cried the whole day yesterday.
Mannu was trying to console me the whole day. However to no avail.
" Kuwari sa stop thinking about people who don't care about you. Think about the person who is going to come to your life. I have a letter from someone." She whispered softly into my ear.
I looked at her and gave her a shy smile as she handed me the letter. As she left, I ran to the door and closed it, leaning on it in a nervous huff. I than sat on my bed and opened the letter.
" Dear Raj kuwari Barkha,
Or should I say my Barkha.
You cannot imagine the state I'm in since I saw you in the fair. You are the only thing I can think about. You are all over my dreams. My heart is so restles.
Can we meet. I'll wait for you in the Vaikunth garden of your palace will you come my dear.
Your Prince Aparajit."
My heart was beating fast. Just then there was a knock on the door.
" Kuwari sa can I come in?"Mannu called out.
" Yes" I answered as I folded the letter and hid it under the bed sheet.
Mannu looked excited, as she came in.
" Kuwari sa your inlaws have come to set the date for your roka." She informed me.
" Is he here too?" I asked her.
" No Why?" She asked me with a sly smile.
" I...it's nothing." I fumbled with my answer.
" Oh are you hiding something?" She asked in a sly voice.
" Let me see that." She said snatching the letter from under the bed sheet.
Before I could get hold of the letter, she was reading it.
" Oh so he wants to meet you!!" She chimed. " But Kuwari sa I don't think that will be allowed."
" Please Mannu let me go. I'll go in the evening." I pleaded. " No one will know."
" Ok let me see." She answered.
Snigdha looked into the silver box. There was a bundle of old letters inside it. She picked them up and held it to her heart. Her eyes were drawn to Abhijeet who was looking at her with small smile on his face.
"Those letters look so familiar!" Abhijeet thought.
" Was it us? Were we there? Why are they familiar?"
" They seem close to my heart! Do you also know them?" Snigdha thought looking at Abhijeet with questioning eyes.