Fields of Black rose

The field was damp with the blood of soldiers. It told stories of wars and atrocities. The screams of the souls could be heard while lifting the soil from it. That was the fate of the land that divided the two kingdoms of Daram and Chell. Years went by and the shouts and screams fainted to a dull whisper. The legacy of the land was still ill-fated.  Nearby villagers tried to cultivate flowers in it , but no matter what they planted the land only gave black roses. Seeds of lilies turned into black roses, seeds of marigold turned black roses even stems of red roses gave black roses. The land had the sun and rain but the thing it would return is the pain.   None of the villagers liked the piece of land and kept using it to form terrifying stories to scare the little ones. They used it for disposing off animals and convicted criminals. The night made it darker and the hint of darkness stayed on in the day as well.

Sambhav was a villager from a distant village who was on his way to Chell. He lost his way in between and suddenly made it to Daram instead of Chell. Persistently he kept on inquiring about how to reach the other village. The people with stern eyes were trying to avoid his questions as they knew that if they talked about their archenemy they would be punished. Frustrated with the lack of response from the villagers he went on to ask one of the guards who was mounted on a horse. 

“From where can I find the way to Chell?” Sambhav Asked.

“Are you new here? Don’t you know that asking this question can land you in serious trouble?”  He was keenly looking into the eyes of Sambhav as he spoke back to him. He guessed that this person could be a spy sent over from Chell as well, it was the perfect cover.The soldier did not take a chance, he knew that he could get convicted if he assisted a spy.  He asked Sambhav to climb the horse and go with him. Trusting the soldier to do the right thing Sambhav climbed the horse. He never knew that the dungeon awaited his visit. 

“Why did you bring me here? What have I done wrong?” Sambhav said.

“Asking about Chell is a crime here and you are guilty of it.”The Soldier said.

“Isnt there a bit of humanity in this town?” Sambhav said. 

“No. We do not deal in humanity for people going to Chell. The woman over there helped another person headed towards Chell. She will be banished to the dead lands, and from looks of it your fate is the same. You will have to plough fields and cultivate red roses there. ” The Soldier said. 

Sambhav knew that something was fishy. This was far too easy for being a punishment. 

The people in Chell were not loving either and they used to do the same to people associated with Daram. The people had created boundaries and laws preventing winds of love to flow, at least not for the people they despised. Many of their ancestors were lost in the battles, they had an obligation to pay to them as well. 

The name of the lady was Sharmistha. Sambhav gazed at her, but there was no remorse in her eyes. It seemed like she wanted to head out of town.  

“You are not fazed by this?” Sambhav said to Sharmistha.

“No, I knew this would happen. I wanted this. I like black roses. I wanted to see them for my own eyes.” Sharmistha said.

“Are you not afraid of being alone” Sambhav said.

“No. It is better to be in a place where my heart is true to myself, where the opinions and subjugations of other people do not impact the feelings in my heart.” Sharmistha said.

Sambhav felt a jolt he knew what she was saying is true, but can someone be that sure on their own feeling?  This thought initiated the day one of their sentence. They were given separate cottages to live in and separate farms to work on, they were tied to pillars so that they do not decide to run away.  They were all alone with no other soul in sight. Sambhav shouted trying to call someone for help. He noticed that Sharmistha had already started to pluck the black roses and decorate it in her cottage. She liked those black roses. She made no effort to set herself free, from her perspective she was already free. Sambhav dug deep trying to find a logical explanation of the black roses. He dug out the roots and ploughed the soil many times. He planted the seeds only to see them turning to black roses. He did not know what he was doing wrong. He however never looked at his motive, for him the soil and the plant was a means to be free. 

Sharmistha on the other hand never attempted to plant a single flower, but she always decorated her cottage with the roses. She kept on plucking till there were none on her side. 

“Can I have some black roses from your side?” Sharmistha asked.

“Sure, take as many as you want.” Sambhav said thinking about something he always wanted to ask Sharmistha.

“Did you lose someone in the battles between Chell and Daram?” Sambhav asked.

“Why don’t you plant any seeds on your side, they will also grow into more black roses, why ask them from my side?” Sambhav asked further.

Sharmistha did not reply instead she just laughed it away. The day was coming to an end and darkness across the land turned into complete darkness with the night. 

Sambhav was constantly thinking of why she would answer none of the important questions. Then a thought struck him, was he even asking the right questions?

Few days passed by, Sambhav could see the girl meticulously observing the soil and burying the wilted black roses into it. She walked on it, she watered it, and she sang to it, she even plucked the weeds. Sambhav considered all of those activities a waste of time, he would instead think about running away and was chiseling the pillar that held his chain.

“Why do you sing to the soil?” Sambhav asked Sharmistha.

“The silence in this place has killed the soil, I am merely attending to its wounds” Sharmistha said.

“When will the wounds heal? Sambhav asked.

“They will take their time. All I can do is wait.” Sharmistha said. 

This was the first time she had answered to his questions. The answer was unexpected but it was better sounding than the silence.  It was making some sense to Sambhav now, but he was hesitating in believing his understanding. 

“Why do you not plant any seeds?” Sambhav asked Sharmistha.

“Not till the soil asks me to! How can I demand something from the soil till I know it is ready to accept my request? All people have done to it is used it for their own purpose. I cannot demand anything until I understand this land and soil completely” Sharmistha said.

Now he was in her train of thoughts, he knew what he needed to do. Another few days passed by , the girl repeated her routine daily. Sambhav also had started to do the same thing. He knew that someday there would be a red rose in the yard of the girl, he was afraid that then he would be alone. The soldiers use to visit once in a while and would torture both of them reminding them of their mistakes. Sambhav would always ask god to end the ordeal. Few days passed. 

“Hey look I have a red rose in my yard” Sambhav jubilantly shouted. 

He wanted the guards to come before any harm could be done to it. 

“Why did it grow on my side and not yours?” Sambhav said. 

Sharmistha did not feel the need to reply. Sambhav thought that she must be sad due to which she is not replying. What he did not know was that she had been successful in achieving what she had set out for. The guards were astonished and could not believe their eyes. The red rose shined majestically on the otherwise grey landscape. They set him free. Sambhav asked them to set Sharmistha free as well, but they declined. They told him the way towards Chell and asked him to leave immediately.

Sambhav on his way to Chell was thinking why the flower would grow on his side of the yard. After all it was Sharmistha who cared for the soil, understood the soil, loved and sang for her soil. She deserved her freedom. It is then that he realized the biggest virtue of them all “Sacrifice”. She sacrificed her everything to see the happiness in Sambhav’s eyes . He then realized how she was able to win over the soil and how the hate within it started to convert to love. He knew that he had to immediately go back and be rescued "himself". 

Years ahead:

The landscape has completely changed. The land that once harbored hate is now a valley of flowers. The grey landscape changed to vibrant volley of colors, the silence erased and cascaded with hysterical laughter of children. Sambhav gazed into Sharmistha’s eyes:

“I am the most contended man on earth” Sambhav said.

“Why?” Sharmistha said.

“I now understand love” Sambhav said.

Love is not only a four letter word, it is present in all virtues around us. It finds it’s meaning in sacrifice, care, patience, resolve, humanity, humility, discovery, joy and many more. Appreciate those virtues and then you will be able to appreciate the power of Love. Love should be inside you because that is all that matters. Happy Valentine’s Day Sheilu and Yashashvi. Happy Valentine's Day to those who are in love and to those heading towards it. Cheers!