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In a remote corner of Punjab,
there was a small village, surrounded by rich green fields. At a short
distance, there was a thick forest, which had a large pool in it. This was
used as a watering hole by the wild animals. So it had become a favorite
hunting ground, and a lot of people used to come there looking for prey.
On the out skirts of the
village along the main road lived a rich farmer called Sharma. His married
daughter was to go to her in-laws place and the whole house was full of
people and the smell of delicacies being prepared. The shadows grew long as
evening approached and a slight breeze began to blow.
The young girl, whose name was
Saraswati went into the open yard behind her house when her friends were
playing.
Like a flock of birds they
chattered, sometimes bursting into song while they clapped and danced.
Saraswati was the most beautiful of all of them, and when they saw her they
made a circle around her, and began to sing. Nearby was a grinding stone
with a wooden pole, in which some women had put rice to de-husk it. The
'Thump! Thump!' of the pole became like a drum – beat to the song and they
were soon lost in the beauty and poignancy of the words relating the
closeness between mothers and daughters.
When the song ended, the girls
were horrified to see a young Mughal soldier on a horse. He had probably
been attracted by the singing. Now he sat astride his horse and stand
unblinkingly at Saraswati. The girls were completely unnerved and looked as
if turned to stone.
The young Mughal moved forward
suddenly, and grabbing Saraswati's tender wrist pulled her forward and
lifting her on to the horse, rode off and soon vanished from sight.
Hearing Saraswati’s agonized
screams and the shrieks of her friends, the family members and other
villagers rushed to the spot. Everyone heard the shocking story. But no one
came forward to go to the young girls rescue. No one had the courage.
After a lot of discussion, it
was decided that the girl's father, brother and husband should go to the
Mughal's camp and beg him to let the girl go. Maybe he would take pity and
give in to their pleadings.
The Mughal's camp had been set
up about a mile away from the village, and the young man, who was the Nawab
of the area, had come there for hunting, He had some servants and a few
Soldiers with him and they had accompanied him on the hunt. While chasing a
deer he had left his companions far behind. The deer managed to escape and
he, being thirsty turned towards the village for water and there he found a
different prey in the form of a young and beautiful girl. When he reached
his camp, he pushed the girl into a tent and went to tie up his horse and to
drink some water.
By this time the girl's
relatives also reached, The girl sat in a corner, sobbing quietly. The Nawab
sat down on the cot and looked angrily at the villagers. They came to him
and bowed low.
Shama joined his hands and
said, "My Lord, She is my beloved daughter and she is married. Today she has
to go to her husband's home. Please set her free. The rulers are like one's
mother and father, always caring for their subjects."
Nawab - "Go away all of you.
What I take I do not qive up."
Shama - "My Lord, I can offer
you her weight in silver, but please let her go."
The brother also spoke up -
"Surely you have no shortage of beautiful women, If you like we can offer
you gold instead, Please release my Sister!"
The Mughal however, continued
to shake his head obstinately.
It was the turn of the husband
now, to catch the Nawab's feet and beg for mercy, "Please spare us this
shame . I am ready to offer you anything valuable - jewels - anything you
wish, but please return my wife to me, and save my honor!"
The Nawab now turned his head
and looking slyly at them said. "You seem very moneyed people - but I don't
care for your silver, gold and jewels. Leave right now or I'll have you
thrown in prison.
The husband realized that in
their eagerness to get his wife free they had revealed how wealthy they
were. He had no wish to lose everything for the sake of a mere girl.
Quietly, he slipped away.
Seeing the Nawab's adamant
attitude, the girl's father began to wail loudly and her brother fell down
in a dead faint.
Saraswati looked at them, then
drying her tears and pushing back her veil she came close to her brother and
began to whisper softly in his ears, "Wake up dear brother, wake up and go
home" I will not drink the water from a Mughal's home, brother. I would
rather set fire and kill myself!"
At these words of quiet
confidence, the brother and father got up. They knew they could gain nothing
by staying except the Nawab's anger. With slow, dragging steps, they
returned to their village.
The house, which a short while
earlier had been a picture of joyous celebration was now turned into a place
or mourning. The people collected around to console the girl 's family and
to condemn the injustice and tyranny of the rulers. But they were helpless
to do anything. |
