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!
