Chapter 9: Lamenting
It has been more than two months since Veer has left the Ratanpur Palace. He liked to stay in secluded places. He would sleep in the wilderness, under some tree, on some rocky bed or somewhere in open field below the sky. He has forgotten about himself. He visits some nearby town to receive the alms from some household and then come back to his place of seclusion whenever feels hungry.
Veer never felt so lonely. He now wished to keep away from other humans. Who would have thought that the feeling of being away from your beloved will drive you away from humanity? Whenever he sits somewhere, he will keep staring in the void. For hours he will forget about Things around himself.
At the start when he was living the life of a prince, he thought he should take revenge on those people. But later he realized those people were the family members of Priya. She did not care about those people and this world, why should he? Anyways Priya was gone, he hated to give any response to this world. He wanted to ignore and reject this world.
At one night, he was sleeping his back down on a flat rock on top of a hill. He was supporting the back of his head by his arms. His posture was like he was lying flat on the top place of this world. This was approaching full moon and the night was illuminated by moonlight. The sky was full of twinkling stars. Crickets and cicadas were singing their songs and night looked serene and lively in a mysterious way. Everything around was looking beautiful but Veer was feeling more yearning and pain inside, so he looked at the shining moon and stars and whispered:
"Priya! Are you there somewhere? Or you are beside me, following me silently. Can you give me any indication? I really wish to feel that I am not all alone in this world. Humans are just living for their selfish desires. Those who talk about honor and responsibility, they want respect and fame in return. Those who talk about logic and politics, they want power in return. Who can be more aware of that than you?
Priya! I also despise this world as you did. I also feel alone like you did. This round white moon would be beautiful, these stars will feel so playful, the songs of these crickets will feel out of the world." He sighed and closed his eyes and whispered again before falling asleep "Only if you were beside me." A misty drop sipped from the corner of his eyes.
Veer wandered in the hills and forests and reached one of the towns. His belly hurt because he did not have any food or water from the last 3-4 days. He watched from a distance, in front, there was some ceremony going on at the nearby house. It seemed like some marriage festivities. Sweet music was being performed, people are busy in merriment, small children were playing around. Veer hesitated but then moved forward toward that house. His pride tried to stop him for a moment but he discarded it. What use is his pride, for whom should he maintain it? Pride gives birth to expectation and that is the cause of resentments. Who in the world can generate these feelings in his heart?
Veer approached the lively scene and stood at a distance. There were a few beggars standing. One of them asked him "Today, there might be some treat here. For the good luck, people donate food and clothes on auspicious events. You have come to the right place, delicious things are waiting for us, hehe." few other beggars also laughed. Veer looked at them indifferently, he smiled but didn't respond.
After the marriage ceremony was completed, one person came and asked this group of beggars to take seats on one side. Then after few minutes, 2-3 people carried the food in baskets. Baskets were filled with Plain pieces of bread, sweetbreads, Sweets, and milk in cups. Beggars picked the things one by one for themselves. All of them picked more than enough. Veer waited in the last of the queue and he only picked plain loaves of bread and a cup of milk. The person who was distributing the food looked at him strangely.
Having taken the food, Veer stood up to leave. One person asked "Don't you want something more. Take some sweets, we have so many different things here." Veer looked at that person, he smiled and said "All the delicacies of the world are just momentary. They are not for me." He smiled sadly and left. Those who heard him looked at his departing back which looked so solitary. They felt like they missed something important.
Veer walked and entered the hills near town. He sat in the shade of a tree and ate the bread and drank the milk. His hunger satisfied but appetite was still not filled but it did not matter for now. He really did not feel like doing anything, his mind was almost blank. He walked ahead and kept walking through the wilderness. He forgot about day and nights. If he felt hungry, he will eat some fruits from the wilderness or the roots of some vegetation. He will drink water from some river, pond or spring when thirsty.
One day Veer felt like his legs have no power left in them. He was so tired that he could not balance himself and sat powerlessly below a tree and supported his head on the tree trunk. Veer closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He felt empty from inside. There was nothing in this world which can tie him up. When he walked in the night, he wished to meet some powerful beast. When he walked below hot summer sun, he wished it to burn him to ashes. He wished God will take pity on him and allow him a way which will make him meet with Priya. But everywhere he only faced hopelessness.
Veer was lost in his thoughts and suddenly heard the sobs of a girl and the voice of a man. The man said "What can we do? My family will never agree to let me marry you. They care too much about social status."
The girl sobbed and said "Then what to do? If I go back this time, I will be engaged to that person from other village."
Veer heard this conversation and found their situation familiar to that of his and Priya. When they met last time and Priya returned, her family engaged her to someone she did not like and later it became the reason for her death. Veer felt sad for this girl. He concentrated and listened to their talk.
"If I was forced to marry someone else, I really can not continue living. Please do something about it. You have made me feel what love is, please help me get away from this heartache also." The girl continued sobbing.
The man said "Come here" and some muffled sounds, it seemed he embraced her and continued "Don't get too emotional. When we are born in this world, we have so many responsibilities attached to life. We have to think about honor, respect, and morals as well. I really wish to do something but I don't know what can we do without making hundreds of people suffer due to our decision."
Veer felt sad and angry due to Man's talk of honor and morals and could not hide his own feelings and laughed. That man stopped his talk and said: "Who is there?"
Veer sneered and said from the other side of tree trunk "Someone who could not control his laugh hearing to your funny and ridiculous excuses." That girl started sobbing more when she heard Veer's voice. She was almost defeated by the arguments of the man but now she felt she was not the only one who supported her love.
The sound of the crushing of dried leaves came and that man holding the hand of the girl appeared in front of Veer. Veer looked at the tear-stained face of girl and dignified face of the man and smiled.
That man asked, "Do you think hurting so many people due to our own selfish reason is a laughable matter?"
Veer sat straight against the tree trunk and smiled and said: "This issue is same for a prince or a son of some local leader's family." That man got startled at Veer's comment and Veer smiled.
Veer looked at their hands where they were holding each other and said "You are holding her so lovingly and telling her to go back marry someone else. You have your reasons but what about the hurt you are giving her?"
"But what can we do?" That man also became a bit respectful in front of Veer. Although the cloths of Veer were tittered his aura of a scholar was still present.
Veer looked at the man and the girl and smiled. He could see that man also loves the girl but he is conflicted due to teachings he has received and sense of responsibility which was put into him from childhood.
"Everything in this world is due to selfishness. Father wants to be proud because of the child. Mother wants grandchildren from her child. Relatives want the respect and honor due to your work. Everyone has their expectations. They will then tell you that it is your responsibility to respect them and bring honor to them." Veer said mockingly.
That man asked in confusion "Is not it right? We are born by them and have received their care. Of course, we should make them proud and happy."
"But what about their responsibility? They have brought you in this world, is it to burden you by their own desires? Is it not their responsibility to make you happy? A father wants his child to become a businessman, shouldn't he support his child if his child wants to be a scholar?" Veer said in a calm voice.
That man found it difficult to respond and could only agree to the Veer's point. Then he asked again "But about marriage, what should I do? They have planned my marriage to a wealthy business family from the northern side."
Veer looked at the girl and said "Is there any need to ask this? You love this girl and she also loves you. What does family background matter and what is the use of social status? You should take care of your own morality and responsibility. She will marry in your family and will become a person of your family. Her status will change and past will not matter anymore. It is said that even if a diamond is in the gutter, you should not hesitate in picking it. The same principle applies to marry a good girl. You know this girl is good for you but other people don't know. You marry her and prove them wrong."
That girl felt happy listening to the Veer. She also felt gratitude toward Veer and raised her head and said meekly "But they won't even allow the marriage to happen. They will forcefully separate us."
Veer smiled sadly and lamented "You know this is good that you realized this. I did not realize this thing and sent her back. She killed herself because no one listened to her and tried to force her in a marriage she did not want. Even our situation was not a desperate as your but we still were too confident about ourselves. Now tell me how it must feel to me?" His eyes turned misty and he looked at the man and said "Once you lose her then you will know that in this world nothing is more important than her. Don't make a mistake which you will regret your whole life."
The girl could not bear and started crying again. She was really thinking of dying if she could not be with her lover but she could not dare suggest him to leave everything lest he thought her as a selfish person. That man was also moved to listen to Veer's words. He really thought it was unbearable to think it that way. His gaze toward the crying girl softened and he turned toward her and wiped her tears and said "Let us go away toward the south. We will marry and have children. If you miss your home, we can come back in 5-10 years."
Veer also felt emotional looking at this and said softly "You should do this. No parents can always remain angry with their children. Everyone is responsible for his or her own duties. You should do your best at your level."
That man turned to Veer and smiled and said "I was almost going to make a big mistake. Thanks for reminding me. You said correctly, everyone has their own destiny and we should not be controlled by the reasons of others." he looked lovingly at the girl who has stopped crying and is smiling bashfully.
Veer lamented and said "That is how it should be. That is how it should have been."
Both lovers said thank you to Veer and departed toward the south as they said they wished to go far away and live happily. Veer felt the tears flowing and mumbled "Priya! We saved them." he is feeling happy for them but lonelier inside. He closed his eyes and whispered:
Chirping of birds
The sound of the wind
The rustling of the tree leaves
All would feel like heavenly music
Only if it could be joined with your laughter
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Kritdeo
Kritdeo Sorry for missing past week. I will be posting another chapter also this week to cover missing chapter.
I am trying to guide my character toward spirituality. His thoughts are changing and he is moving in a certain direction. Love and emotions are really hard to describe. Hope it is satisfactory. Please provide your comments and suggestions.
Happy journey on the path of love and spirituality.
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