LOVE KNOWS NO BARRIERS-----A SHORT STORY!
" It’s too late before I even realized that I love him I had an intimate friendship with him" Sheena told Naina
" Forget this love fever and be realistic , Love is only a folly of the youth and it vanishes when reality hits you in the face. You will also forget this once you are married" Naina told Sheena.
"Come on Mom, Love does not have an Expiry Date---- once you love ---- you just love, have you forgotten your own case? --- you married a sixty years old man, after leaving your first husband---- who was rich and earning a lot of money. You left his riches for your love, isn't it, Mom?" Sheena retorted.
" No, it was a silly mistake---- yes, I loved---- my second husband, God bless his soul but he was short of materialistic fuel that drives life---in a hard manner,I learnt that love alone does not meet all needs of life. Somewhere, we have to draw a balance between love and our material needs" Naina told her daughter Sheena.
"But love did prevail in your case and why NOT in my case? Satyajeet is rich and handsome ---- he is higly educated. What else do I want in life?" Sheena was pleading her case.
"No, but you still can not marry him” Naina was firm.
“But I love him; Satyajeet’s parents have agreed.” Sheena was reasoning out.
“Listen; Hindu customs and traditions do not permit this marriage” Naina said calmly.
“What rubbish is this mom?” Sheena was shocked.
“Come read this.” Naina threw an old black diary at Sheena.
It was a diary of some Shameena Khan. It began on January 01, 1984. Sheena started reading the diary, selectively. ******************************
01 January 1984
The party last night was superb. I danced with Navkesh. He is studying in the final year of Electrical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.
21February 1984
Amma (Mother) was disturbed a bit. Papa was transferred to Leh (Laddakh). He will be leaving in a fortnight.
23 March 1984.
I had some problem with my periods. Navkessh took me to a gynecologist. The report was positive. I am worried. Navkesh promises to marry me
18 July 1984.
Navkesh's mother has agreed. But they are unsure of his father. Auntie said she would persuade him. It is reassuring.
11August 1984
I and Navkesh leave home. Both of us have run away, in fact, because Navkesh’s father is very furious. He threatens to kill Navkesh. His mother suggests this course to us. She gave us Rs 10,000 for expenses. We reach New Delhi.
19 August 1984
Navkesh has been offered a job in the Delhi Vidyut Nigam.
27 October 1984
I was blessed with a beautiful daughter on 20 October.
31 October 1984
Mrs. Indira Gandhi has been assassinated by her two body guards. There are anti Sikh riots in the city. Navkesh has been out since morning. He has not come back. It is 11 PM. I am scared.
01 November 1984
No news of Navkesh. I hope his French beard and long hair do not give a wrong impression to the marauding mobs. Is he alive? If not, I will end my life, too. ******************************
The diary had ended abruptly. There were no more entries.
Sheena was silent for some time, then she spoke, “so, you are Shameena ?
’
“No, not me. Your mother was” Naina was equally curt.
“What? You are not my mother”, Sheena was shocked.
“Not biologically. But it does not matter. I have been rearing you up for the past 24 years.” Naina was explaining.
“Then why are you not allowing me to marry Satyajeet” Sheena questioned.
“Biologically, you and Satyajeet are first cousins. Satyajeet’s mother is a real sister of Navkesh, your father. ” Naina said.
“How would anyone know?” Sheena begged.
“Navkesh and Shameena know it-----they are alive and in USA.
Shameena had to remarry Navkesh as Simran Kaur, as a riot-affected Sikh girl. Navkesh's father had approved her. They had quietly given you to me because I was a childless widow and a land lord of the house.” Naina clarified.
"But that does not matter---they won't object because they themselves had been victims of these customs" Sheena replied.
" Unfortunately, this is the tragedy ---Navkesh has threatened to expose me." Naina threw a brain teaser.
"Expose you? I don't get you, Mom" Sheena was puzzled but still courteous
"You see---Satyajeet----Yea Satyajeet is my Son from my First husband" Naina let out the missile.
"And Satyajeet's father knows about you and me----" Sheena asked.
"No, he does not , but he would be told by Navkesh----your father and his brother-in-law" Naina clarified.
"So, this is why you have been objecting? " Sheena was angry.
"Yes, because this love and marriage would be stigmatized" Naina added.
“If it has to be a stigma, then you all ought to be stigmatized. I don.t care; I love Satyajeet and he loves me---------this is 21st century----we are not bound by your rules; we will make our own rules--- I will marry Satyajeet” Sheena rushed out of the house sobbing and cursing everyone
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