First of all sorry guys. I literally kicked you all into commenting. Sorry.???
But please this is the second last episode. After the last part i’ll post an epilogue. I want you all to comment on these final parts. And if there are more silent readers.. please this is the ‘third’ last time I am asking you all to comment on Gypsy Lover. All comments – good bad or ugly are welcome.
So let’s start.
Link to the previous episode
episode 15
It was a mere whisper which she thought won’t be heard. But Sanskar’s ears were more sensitive to her voice,than any melodious music. He heard her whisper. He stopped abruptly. The chain fell from his fingers and he dropped Suvarna’s hand. He searched the crowd with his eyes. Then he saw Swara, all spent, exhausted, ready to faint. He stared at her as though he was dreaming.
“Swara!”
A murmur went up from the gypsies. They saw the girl leaning towards the platform and drop to the ground. They recognized her now. She was the same girl from the palace, whom Sarovar married some days before.
Before her body touched the ground his strong arms supported her and lifted her up on to the platform beside him. He murmured her name again
“Swara.. Swara”
He was utterly confused. He was trying to move on. To wipe out every memory of hers and their love. After what he saw in the palace he was sure that it was Sanjay whom she preferred. She even tried to save Sanjay from his knife. That’s why she ran in between them when she got shot by Sanjay. He was heartbroken. Beyond repair. Nothing could fix him at that time. But he wished to go back to the tribe whom he had once loved dearly. His people, to whom he had once been a well loved leader.
However when he returned he found them in confusion. Naik murdered, Pawan out of favour. The gypsies were chaotic like the lambs which lost the company of their shepherd. They could trust nobody. Every man’s hand seemed to turn against his brother. They needed guidance. They pleaded to him to stay back. They were remorseful and ready to make amends. He was swept away by the tide of enthusiasm and popularity. Last night they as he was weary and depressed they had left him to sleep. But as dawn broke over Ajmer some of them went to him and let him know their popular wish that he should settle down by marrying Suvarna, who had always loved him and who was the young queen of beauty in their camp. So he did what they all wanted him to do.
It was to please his tribe that he got ready to marry Suvarna. He knew that he could never acknowledge her as his wife nor could he give her the rights of being his wife. His heart died inside him the day he broke the chain around Swara’s neck. He was not lifeless nor hopeless. His heart and brain were filled with the old wild fever, the old passion for Swara. He drew her closer to him and looked aghast at her pale face, her fragile body covered with blood and soil.
“Why are you here Swara? Why did you come here and how?”
She looked up at him. She was struggling to keep her eyes open. Her voice was faint, painful.
“Sanskar.. I am so tired.. I… I need some water.”
“Oh Swara.. my poor darling”
He had sworn to never let his sense swim for any woman. But they were swimming now, for her. Unknowingly he kept placing soft kisses on her forehead.
He asked one of the gypsies to get some water and then guided her to his chair.
Suvarna was startled by the sudden entry of Swara in her wedding. She knew that Sarovar can never be hers if he came to know about Swara’s innocence. Suvarna was intelligent enough to understand the helplessness of Swara for which she left him in the forest. She too was a witness of the dirty game that the men of her tribe tried to play with her. Only she and few of her friends witnessed the scene. Other women of the tribe had gone for collecting firewood from the forest. She and her friends kept their mouth shut so that Swara could be wiped out of her way forever. Her friends who knew about her love for Sarovar supported her. It was then a wretched girl of her tribe came in between ruined her plans. Swara escaped from the camp, unharmed. But when Sarovar returned the camp without Swara, leaving her to her fate in the palace, she was overjoyed. She insisted her grandfather to talk to Sarovar, whom she knew, Sarovar never denied. That was how everything was falling into place for Suvarna. She thought that Swara would never return and Sarovar would eventually fall for her. But Swara’s sudden entry, which was totally unexpected, that too blood dripping from every part of her body, all bruised was shaking Sarovar’s determination from the core. When she fainted, all his determination to not let himself feel for her again went flying out in the air. He was lifting her in his hands, showering kisses all over her face, telling soothing words into her ears. Suvarna realized with great difficulty that Sarovar could never be hers. He was never hers. And it seemed impossible when Swara returned. This time the bond would be forged for eternity. She stood there watching the scene unfolding before her.
“Swara” he spoke again wiping the blood from her feet with his embroidered scarf “What does all these mean?”
“It means that I love you… I followed you..” she said faintly gulping in the water the gypsy had brought her.
“But.. I can’t understand. You left me in the forest. went back to Sanjay. Tried to save him from my knife. Why?”
“You are mistaken Sanskar. Pawan and Naik fooled me. Pawan told me that gypsies would kill you unless I return myself to Naik who would take me to the palace if I did so.”
“Then? then what happened Swara? Speak up.”
“Oh Sanskar.. I am not that strong to explain that nightmare to you. I was… I was fooled. Naik and some other men- over 10 people drew lots for me. For claiming me. I still can’t believe that I escaped from their clutches safe and sound. And I was trying to save you from Sanjay’s bullet. I was guarding you. Not him.”
Sanskar’s eyes were now fire balls. He could now understand the reason for Naik’s death. How dare they? How dare they try to molest his wife?
He spoke once again.
“I am so sorry for the humiliation you had to face because of me. I am sorry that I doubted your intentions. Trust me dear I will not let your sinners live their lives peacefully. They shall be punished. They must be given the utmost punishment our law has to offer. Death. And I am sorry Swara. It is me who should be punished for doubting your loyalty, make you bleed and cry.”
“No Sanskar..No. If you insist I can point out the men here who tried to misbehave with me. But I don’t want that. I want you to forgive them. I can see shame and guilt written across their faces for what they have done. And these bruises and blood. it is all worthy since I got to meet you here, explain everything to you. You must not be guilty Sanskar. The circumstances were such which forced you to doubt my intentions. Now that we are together all that doesn’t matter.”
“Oh my poor Swara… you have a very good heart..”
“Which beats only for you” she said, completing his words.
Then he realized that Suvarna was standing close to them.
“You are mine, Sarovar” she said, her brown eyes aflame.
“No Suvarna, no little sister. I was about to commit a great sin. Swara is my wife.”
“But you divorced her” she protested.
“Unjustly.” he said. “It is written in our laws that no man shall divorce his wife without a good cause. I thought she betrayed me while it was me who wronged her.”
She let out a cry. Cursing Swara loudly she ran away to her tent. Sanskar didn’t have time to answer her.
The gypsies were chaotic. Sarovar had sworn to forget Swara and marry their own girl Suvarna. Was he already going back on his words to them?
Swara felt something wrong. Though she couldn’t understand their language, she could understand that they resented her return.
“Shall I leave Sanskar – until they calm down?” she asked him.
“If you go, I’ll go with you.” his voice was stern.
Sanskar raised a hand and silenced the people. Then he spoke to them in their own romantic language. He narrated his love story to them, how she sacrificed everything, every comfort for him. How she got ready to give herself away for saving his life. How he wronged her and doubted her loyalty for him. How she even after being so ill climbed the mountain to find him, which even the strongest men of the tribe attempted only on horseback. When he stopped all the eyes were tearful and the tribe was looking at her with sympathy and respect. Sanskar knew the gypsies were romantic enough to understand him.
He continued. “Swara is a worthy mate to me, your leader. If you accept her wholeheartedly I would remain here with you guiding you all till my last breath. if you wish to reject her the I too will leave you all with her and lead a peaceful life somewhere else. I have decided, now that I got her back, I will never let her go away from me. The decision is yours.”
Unanimously, the gypsies shouted back:
“Don’t leave us Sarovar. We need you. We are ready to accept Swara as your better half. please don’t leave us again.”
Not a person of the tribe protested, save Suvarna’s parents.
A great light sprang to his eyes. Radiant, he turned to Swara
“Swara, they accept you as my wife.”
Swara’s happiness knew no bounds.
Lifting her up from the chair he picked up the golden chain which was prepared for Suvarna, and sealed it around her neck.
When the shouting of the tribe died down, he lifted her up in his hands and carried her to his tent. The tent was cool and dim, with the sweet scent of Spring flowers. The bed was covered with a mass of white mountain lilies. Very gently he placed her on the bed. Kneeling beside him he took her hands to his and kissed them. Bending over her he kissed the red and warm lips of hers. Then he brought a bowl of water and satin cloth and cleaned her bruises. Dumb with happiness she lay on her bed of flowers and watched her. One by one he took off her torn clothes and cleaned her. Then he combed her brown hair and dressed her with a heavy silk embroidered dress.
When he was finished he leaned back and looked at her.
“Now you look beautiful my Queen.” he said.
Wrapping her hand around her slim body, he kissed her which were for so long denied to him.
The tribe was still making merry, singing and dancing.Swara locked in Sanskar’s arms slept well which was much needed for her that moment. He sat on the bed holding her close to him, feeling contented. He thought looking at her lovely face:
“If I know what love is, it is because of you.”
Tada here’s the 16 the chapter. Please do comment. We are reaching the end. One more episode to go. After that I’ll post an epilogue. Thanks for all those lovely words of yours. I am honored and overwhelmed. Will reply to them after posting this.
I have decided to name my next ff as ‘NEVER LET ME GO’
OR
‘NEVER LET YOU GO’
I have finished writing the prologue. Right now cross checking it for any mistakes. Wii post the prologue on Monday.Which one is good? Tell me through your comments. Eagerly waiting to hear from you all. Ignore typos. Once again sorry for yesterday’s behaviour. I know I was rude. Bash me if you want. But please do comment. Hope you will forgive me for my moronic behavior.