My Wanderings 114. Short Story No.63. A River Is lost when it's Banks part

My Wanderings 114

Short Story No. 63

A River Is Lost , when it's Banks part

            Manmohan Nath usually called Kaka ji , was living with his mother in a lane near Ragunath Mandir Srinagar in a very big house. It was his ancestral house  but his father had died much earlier leaving behind his  young wife and a little son Kaka ji. His mother Radha Mal, mostly called by his son and others as Kakni,  had brought up  his son in much agony and  adversity. She made her two ends meet by spinning cotton and wool , handed over to her by shwal and kaleen makers , on her spinning wheel . In return she would get some paltry amounts of money to look after her son and herself. In addition to this she would also give on rent some portion of her house to villagers , who usually came to  city for studying or doing a job. Radha Mal was a very nice and kind hearted   woman and helped all the neighbourly women with her advice and even sometimes with cash or kind with whatever little resources she could afford . She never compromised with the education and  upbringing  of her son Kaka ji  at all. She would work more harder on her spinning wheel ,whenever she needed money for her sons requirements .

                           Manmohan was also good in studies and never let her mother to complain on this account, but being the only son of his mother he got a little pampered . He would not sometimes, listen to his  mother when he reached  to the stage of adolscence. It was  hard for Radhamali to control her son as a single parent . Sometimes she would curse her fate for the early death of her husband , who's presence  could have made her life much easier. As she knew very well that  destiny can not be redeemed for good , one has to remain satisfied  with whatever a person gets in life. Moreever , Manmohan felt more lonely without his siblings and he would mostly loiter in  streets and play with his friends . Radhamali had sometimes to roam  in streets, to know about his son's  whereabouts as she used to get  worried about him often , whenever he was out of her sight or was late in reaching home.

                          One day after school hours Manmohan decided to visit a cinema hall to witness a cinema show with his friends and could not reach his home on time, Radhamali spent hours together on streets to look out for his son . It was really a nightmare for her on that day ,as she could not prevent the bad thoughts about her son creeping in her mind  . 

                   As Manmohan was very good in studies, he completed his graduation which was not a simple task those days . It was the happiest day for Radha mali and she spent most of her savings on tea parties, she arranged for her relatives , neighbours and whosoever came to congratulate her on this occasion. No sooner Manmohan graduated, he got a permanent job in Central Govt. 

             After sometime , Radhamali was advised by her relatives to look out for a bride for her son. Soon Radhamali found a good match proposal  for her son . The  girls name was Shanti and she was a school teacher . Manmohan was not ready for marriage yet, but he could not resist the sentiments of her Mother, who was much optimistic about this matrimonial proposal received by her for her son . However, he accepted the proposal most  reluctantly and Radhamali started the arrangements of  marriage for her son. After passage of some time Manmohan got married to Shanti and Radhamali was overjoyed and let the celebrations of marriage continue for some more days . 

                  Manmohan also liked his wife so much and fell in love with her within a short period of time. They would sit together in gardens ,river banks , boulevard etc. for hours together and express their love for each other openly . One day sitting on the river jehlum  bank, Manmohan said to Shanta, " you can't imagine how much I love you Shanta."

"Yes I know dear you love me so much", replied  back Shanta. 

Then Manmohan pointed towards the flow of water and said," Shanta Love is like river never ending as it flows, but gets greater with time".

Shanta replied ," Love me a little dear but for longer please".

Manmohan said again," As I already said love is like a river ,it will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle. Thereby our love will last for eternity ".

Shanta nodded her head in affirmation with a lovely smile on her face.

                Their love continued for a year or so but then cracks started to develop in their relation. Their love evaporated like drop of water on the hot pan.  They started to find faults and criticizing each other on flimsy grounds . Manmohan was very much intrested in planning a family as he had lived a lonely life with out his siblings.  Shanta was not  ready to bear  a child  so early as she was a career conscious woman.  Then Mamohan told his wife that she should leave her  job and help his mother in household chores. Shanta refused to leave her job blatantly which hit the ego of Manmohan and he began to behave more rudely with her . Shanta was not also so peaceful as her name implied. She also began to pay her husband in the same coin. 

                          One fine morning she left Manmohan's home for good and started living with her parents but  she continued her job. The ego of Manmohan did not allow him to bring his wife back despite of many requests by his mother. With the passage of time the gap between the two became deeper and both got busy with their jobs etc. Shanta started to visit the Ashram of a great saint of Kashmir alongwith her parents in her leisure time and became deeply involved with spirituality. As a matter of coincidence Manmohan also started to practice spirituality under the guidance of some south Indian Guru , who used to visit Kashmir in summers alongwith his disciples. He even suffixed his Guru's surname with his name and accomplished various spritual tasks under his guidance .

                     The Guru of Shanta was very revered and famous saint  of  Kashmir. He also tried hard to bring reconciliation in relations between  Manmohan and Shanta but failed in the mission as both remained adamant on their convictions. 

Time passed,  seasons changed and lot of water flowed from Jehlem but there seemed no chance of reconciliation  between the two. In the meantime mother and Guru of Manmohan died and he became lonely,  but he could  never reconcile with his wife. 

                One day Manmohan met Shanta on Budshah  Bridge Srinagar  as they were crossing the bridge on opposite sides . When they reached near each other Manmohan stopped in front of her. Shanta also had to stop. After exchanging pleasantries she  enquired about the death of her mother-in-law.  She said to Manmohan, "Kakni was a nice woman. May Shiva grant her sathgati."

Manmohan accepted her condolences while  nodding his head and bringing a fake smile on his face.

Then Manmohan said," can't we reconcile now and start living together again."

Shanta replied to Manmohan," We could not remain together in our youth and what is the fun of living together in the autumn of our lives, as we both are heading towards old age now."  Then pointing towards flow of water underneath the bridge she  said," you once said love is like a  river but I say life is like a  river and rivers never go in reverse . So try to live like a river . Forget your past and focus on your future."

Then Manmohan said," Even though I miss you so much it comforts me to know that we are atleast under the same sky."

Then Manmohan and Shanta again parted for good.

                          It was only after some time  kashmiri pandits had to migrate to Jammu and other parts of India due to turmoil and insurgency in Kashmir 

After migration of pandits to jammu , the parents of Shanta also died one after another and she became more dependent on Ashram now. Then her Guru also passed away and she decided to remain permanently at  Srinagar Alshram  as his services were required there. 

After some time both retired from their services consecutively one after another.   Manmohan also decided to remain at  Kashmir  only and finally shifted to Mata Khir Bhawani Ashram and started living there permanently in total penance .

                After a long time Manmohan could be seen there in long white beard, disheveled hair and unkept attire. He had become indifferent towards everything . Even his pension was stopped by the bank from a very  long time  , because he never bothered to submit his Life certificates  there.

Finally Manmohan died in the premises of Mata kshir Bhawani shrine , unknown and unlamented.   His last rites were also performed by unknown pilgrims present in the premises at that time. No body could claim his property and  Bank deposits maintained at Srinagar. 

Shanta also died quite recently leaving all her assets to Ashram. 

rkkaul.blogspot.com