“Dad why don’t you try to understand us. We haven’t done anything crime. Please dad we love each other for the past 5 years and you knew it well. Why can’t you accept us dad?” pleaded Janaha with tears running down all over her face.
“Just forget that rouge you idiot. I am just leaving you alive based on some kindness as you are my daughter. Get out of my sight and never again speak of him” yelled Vasudev at his daughter.
“Dad please. It’s been 5 long years ever since we started begging for our life and why can’t you even consider us once in your life? How long do you think of house-arresting me? Though we both knew everything what you’re been doing to separate us, we trust each other and thus our love becomes stronger each and every day not even seeing each other for the past 8months.”
“Shut up your blabbering and go in Janaha. Don’t make me take a tough decision”
“What do you mean by tough decision dad? Are you gonna kill me?”
“I said you to go in now!”
“Stop it dad. I’m done with all your dramatic expressions. Why don’t you act a bit human? Whats your problem dad? Mithun is our neighbor and you knew him well from his childhood. And above all he is our caste too. What is that hinders you from accepting our love. It’s just your useless ego that made us shed tears with all the tortures that we’ve been through. Everything has a limit dad. He means a lot to me. And now do listen carefully dad. I love him and I no more gonna wait for your approval. It’s my life and being 24 years of age I have the sole right to take my own decision. I waited so long for your approval but everything went in vein. So I’ve made my decision and I need you to get to know this dad”
“Well done my girl. That takes a lot of courage to you to speak up to your dad like that. I’d appreciate it. But don’t act lame and just get to bed now. I can find you all grown up now and stand here threatening your dad but you haven’t understood the fact that you can never do anything that makes me or my prestige by letting it down. I am least cared about your immature love feelings and all. Now go to your bed” ordered Vasudev in a mystifying tone.
Janaha knew it well that there is nothing gonna change her dad anyways. So she decided to elope with Mithun finally with everything kept ready before hand with a secret message which she passed out to her love a week before. And for a final try she was standing there pleading her dad for his acceptance. Finding her dad’s decision she left to her room silently and locked her up as usual and started to wait for the time to struck 1 a.m.
And the time has come. The clock struck 1 a.m. and Janaha got up from her bed and tried to elope through the secret passage which Mithun has made for her escape. He is been waiting on the other end of the passage for more than a hour restless with fear running all over his veins and when he saw the clock striking 1 a.m. his heart begun pounding as though it might jump off through his mouth.
Janaha kept each of her steps with more care and made sure that nobody watches her until she reaches that passage. Once she reached the passage she is free from worries as none of their family can find that passage so easily. She was moving ahead with a nostalgic feeling that was filled over her whole body and she was sweating like a dead meat with all the fear in her heart.
All of a sudden she experienced an electric shock that passed over her body and she fell down to the ground with a loud noise. Unluckily she had stepped on the electric wire which is been kept half done. Somehow she managed to get up and move forward to the passage. In the mean time hearing the noise her dad and her brother got up and came out looking for the reason and found her trying to escape.
Vasudev and Varun went to the peak of rage and they caught her red-handed and dragged her inside the home.
“You little brat. How dare you try to elope with that worthless fellow by cheating us? Who gave you so much courage to do this? Is it Mithun? Now its time for me to payback to both of you. Enough of my lenience. Even if I don’t react now, I have to stand mortified in front of my relatives and friends because of you. Varun get that venom from the freezer.” Yelled Vasudev at his son.
“Dad, are you serious? Should I really take it?” asked varun puzzled.
“Yes varun. I mean it. Just do what I say and no more questions”
“Ok dad” said Varun and bought the venom.
After all these fury Janaha made no hustle and she stood there tough.
“Look at her. How stubborn she is? It’s not going to happen any better leaving her alive. She will be creating shame to us and our family only” saying so Vasudev compelled her to drink the venom and he threw it away emptying the full content of the venom into her throat.
Janaha was still brave and she didn’t make any move for rescuing herself. Instead she spoke her last words with much strain which made her father turn pale.
“Bravo dad. You’ve done it. You have succeeded in you ego and useless stature. But you know what? Even now I have won the battle. You can kill me now but you cannot stop me and Mithun living happily after our death. And just remember dad. Lovers die and not the true love and it lives forever. Am proud of dying for the sake of our great love. Thanks dad” saying so died Janaha creating an epic for her true love.
Mithun stood there, on the other side of the passage, waiting for Janaha’s arrival till the crack of dawn with a lot of emotions and thoughts running through his mind. Hearing the expression of grief from Janaha’s mom he rushed in her home and found Janaha lying there speechless and frozen. Thus ended his life of joy and pleasure and unable to take over the huge shock he turned out to be upset mentally and he was found laying over the grave of Janaha for 4 long years unaware of who he is and where he is and finally one day his soul left his body and united with his love after so long years of battle and rivalry. Thus lived the most beautiful lovers of the earth blissfully ever after in the kingdom of heaven without any interference.
Note: This is an actual anecdote of a couple, who are a relative of mine, who lived in interiors of South India in early 80’s where the caste and status played the major role in the minds of human beings. I have heard a lot about them and their sufferings to succeed in love from my parents which is so hard to put into words and thus I have made it in short and presented it for all of you on this Valentines Day. This post is dedicated to both of them and I hope they will still love each other. Happy Valentines Day!
Tiny Toes 