Nights... Nights are the most beautiful time in the span of 24 hours that we get. For some, it's the time when they visit the land of nod and meet their dreams, but for some, it's the time when they meet themselves. There is a beauty in night, it's calm, beautiful, dark, passionate and wrapped in a mystery. Some nights are shiny with moon bestowing all its love & some nights are cocooned in darkness with the stars watching over it. You can look into the darkness for hours yet not find anything and sometimes you find all the answers in the same darkness. 8
It was one such dark night in Dehradun. The hill station was wrapped in the blanket of mist all round which was ushering the arrival of winter as autumn was bidding a goodbye in the month of October. It was 1 am in the night and the city was wrapped in silence as the denizens were happily sleeping except one person, Anurag Basu. 5
Anurag opened the balcony door of his majestic suite room of Taj Residency and walked out. He was on a three-day business trip to the city. This place was nothing like what his home back in Kolkata was. Kolkata was always buzzing with activity, a non-stop hullabaloo surrounded the city.
The mere thought of home brought a great unrest in his heart. No, he didn't come from an unhappy house. Anurag was blessed with a loving family of father, mother & siblings. He was born mature and reserved. When all his siblings would scream and shout during summer vacations in childhood, he would sit in a corner with a book and weave dreams about being a helping hand for his father. As he grew up he made his dream come true and proved to be a great helping hand for his beloved baba. 4
Off late he has been caught in a dilemma. Just like any other mother of a 26-year-old even his mother, Mohini Basu wanted him to get married and settle down in life. She even selected a girl for him, his childhood friend Pratyusha. Pratyusha Guha, his childhood and the only friend maybe, his father's best friends daughter and his mom's favorite. She was a great girl, Anurag knew it because she loved him ever since even knowing that he doesn't love her. When officially a proposal came from her family for the marriage his parents saw no reason why they shouldn't get married. Honestly even Anurag found no reason of not marrying her except that something in his heart stopped him from saying yes. 3
His father knowing his shy son's dilemma told him a what he heard from his dad that instead of marrying someone you love, marry someone who loves you because they will never break your heart. Anurag's mother has given him an ultimatum that once he is back from Dehradun she wants an answer and it shouldn't be a no. Anurag didn't want to hurt his mother but he couldn't say yes either. He was so stressed that project in Dehradun came as a lucky escape for him. Three days in the valley was the time he got to make his decision although he knew what his decision would eventually be. 4
Hmmm..hmmmm. Hmmmmmm..mmmmmm 2
Anurag's chain of thoughts broke when he heard a voice coming from somewhere nearby. Before he realized he wore a jacket and decided to follow the voice. It was so unlike Anurag to be infatuated with just the voice, but there was something in this girl's voice that drew him. As if she was calling him. 2
Hum tere bin kahin reh nahi paate
Anurag got out of the hotel and followed the voice that lead him into the forest. After walking for a while he reached near a lake. It was a beautiful lake surrounded by shrubs of wild flowers and it looked even more beautiful in the full moon night. The voice stopped and Anurag looked around trying to find the source when he heard again.
Hum tere bin kahin reh nahi paate
Tum nahi aate toh hum mar jaate
Hayee pyar kya cheez hai
Yeh jaan nahi paate
And then he saw her, sitting on a rock with her back facing him. All he could see was her long flowing hair and a red dupatta that flew in the gentle breeze. The chill in the air couldn't stop Anurag's feet from advancing towards her. He felt she was the magnet who pulled her to without his will. In a few steps he was just standing behind her as she kept looking to the waterbody. 5
"Aadhi raat ko kisi ka peecha nahi karna chahiye sahab" she spoke breaking the silence between them and Anurag was startled. "How did you know?" he asked surprised. She turned a little and he could see half of her face. She had a razor-sharp jawline, big eyes that shone in the night and a sharp nose. She smiled a little and made space for him to sit. Anurag sat on the rock beside her and kept looking at her. He knew this was bad manners, his mind was asking him to look away but his heart turned rebel. 5
"Woh jheel dekh rahe hain aap?" she spoke again and Anurag looked at the lake again. "Bahut shant hai par ek zara sa patthar maro toh bahut hulchul ho jaati hai. Yeh raat bhi bilkul waise hai, shant aur aapke pairon ki ahat ne is shanti ko tod diya." anurag didn't knew what to say. They both sat in silence looking at the lake shining in the moonlight when she got up to leave. Anurag hurriedly held her hand and asked "kahan ja rahi ho?" "Raat bahut ho gayi, chaliye chalte hain" she forwarded her palm and without wasting any time. 5
The walk back to hotel was again wrapped in silence. "Aapki manzil aa gayi" she spoke as they stood in front of his hotel. She turned to go back when he held her hand and asked "apna naam nahi bataogi?"
"Prerna" she whispered and vanished in the darkness of night.
Anurag went back to his room and hit the bed. He didn't realize when sleep took over him. The alarm clock in the morning broke his slumber. He sat up with a jerk and the first thing he remembered was previous night's encounter with Prerna. He mind was going bonkers with too many questions like who was she, what was she, but all he had was questions and no answer. His reviever was broken with a phone call from his pa. Keeping aside the thoughts of Prerna, Anurag got busy in his work. Anurag was someone for whom work came first. He could forget the whole world and even himself but today was an exception. He was sitting in the boardroom going over terms and conditions of the agreement in a robotic manner but his mind was not void of thoughts, thoughts of Prerna. 7
Finally, day made way for a beautiful night again and today Anurag was desperately waiting for night. He was not sure if Prerna will come today but he wanted to go there and wait for her. As the clock struck 1 am he moved out of his hotel room in the same path that lead him to Prerna last night. He was walking in the narrow path when he heard... 3
Hum tere bin kahin reh nahi paate
Tum nahi aate toh hum mar jaate
Hayee pyar kya cheez hai
Yeh jaan nahi paate
A dazzling smile broke on his face as he realized she was there. He walked faster and later started running to reach her early. He reached near the lake and found her sitting on the same rock. He stopped to catch his breath when she spoke "mujhe laga aaj aap nahi aayenge." he took slow steps and sat beside her "tumhari awaz majboor kardeti hai. Koi aur option nahi choda tumne, aana hi pada mujhe." she looked at him and smiled "buri lat lag rahi hai aapko meri." "Acha lag raha hai is lat ko lagake" Anurag spoke looking deep into her eyes. She smiled as their eye lock prolonged. Finally after a while she looked away and Anurag spoke again "tum har roz aati ho yahan?" She didn't reply but just nodded her head in affirmation. "Tumhara ghar kahan hai?" he asked again, he wanted to know more about her. Why? He didn't knew but all he wanted was to know Prerna. "Yahin hai" she replied. "Aur ghar mein kaun kaun hai?" "Raat bahut ho gayi humein chalna chahiye" instead of answering his question she extended her palm again. Anurag under the captivating spell of her eyes held her hand and followed her. And just like the previous night she dropped him at the gate of his hotel and vanished in the darkness of night.
The next morning was a restless one for Anurag as it was his last day in Dehradun. He was leaving by early morning flight the very next day. The whole day he couldn't concentrate on work. He was present there physically but his heart and mind were at the lake with Prerna.
Day again made way for night and Anurag walked towards the lake with a determination. He realized that he was in love with this beautiful and mysterious girl called Prerna. He wanted to confess his love for her tonight and tomorrow go back to Kolkata and tell his parents about her. He envisioned a life with her in these two nights.
She was, as usual, sitting on the rock as he reached by the lake. "Aaj aap jaldi aa gaye?" she asked. Anurag sat beside her and said "aaj tumse bahut zaroori baat karni hai isilye jaldi aaya." She looked at him inquisitively when Anurag held her hand and spoke "tum aur main ajnabee hain Prerna. Main tumhare naam ke alawa kuch bhi nahi jaanta par pata nahi kaise in do raaton mein mujhe tumse pyar ho gaya. Main tumse shadi karna chahta hoon. Bolo shaadi karogi mujhse?" 4
Anurag looked at her with expectant eyes with his heart beating wildly in his chest. He was waiting for her answer when he saw two tears rolling from her eyes. He wiped her tears and was about to ask her when she held his hand and spoke "main aapse shaadi nahi kar sakti." Her words fell like a bomb and he felt his heart shatter. "Mera aur aapka saath kabhi poora nahi ho sakta Anurag babu. Ghar wapis jaaye aur Pratyusha se shaadi kar lijiye." 5
Anurag was stunned and rooted at his place. He never told her his name and how did she knew about Pratyusha and his wedding plans. Anurag was still reeling under shock when he felt her lips on his forehead. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. She spoke with her lips still against his skin "aapko zindagi ki saari khushiyan mubarak ho." and then she ran away again into the darkness.
Anurag opened his eyes after a few moments to find himself all alone, he panicked and screamed her name but all he got was the echo of his own voice.
"Prerna!" Anurag's scream echoed in the valley and died in the silence of the night. He looked everywhere for her and sat under a tree next to the rock they sat. he closed his eyes to get a grip on his emotions and sleep took over him. 4
Anurag opened his eyes with the sound of chirping of birds when he realized he was still sitting by the lake. He looked around to search for Prerna when his eyes stopped at the rock and he felt the world stopped for him.
It was just not a rock but a tombstone wrapped in a red dupatta and it read -
"forever young, forever 19. Our beloved daughter Prerna. (1895 - 1914) 11
Tears made their way out of his eyes when he heard her voice again. +
Tum jo na hote toh dil na lagaate
Dil ki tadap hum kisko batate
Hayee yeh pyar kya cheez hai
Yeh jaan nahi paate.
