In my Devil's Arms

A week later they were married.

They took seven vows with holy fire as their witness. He put vermillion in her head and tied a mangalsootra in her neck.

" May Shiva bless you and keeps you together in all your births", said a priest.

They then touched the feet of all the elders of their family.

It made a great impact on little girl's mind.

About Srikant she thought only one thing.

HE IS MINE FOREVER AND EVER.

" Guruji Gunjan is young and Srikant leaves for army in a week. We both decided her GOUNA( adult bride enters her marital life) can wait for some time", said Roop.

" Okay son as you say", said the teacher.

" Sahib", said the young girl once they were alone. " Please don't forget me".

" I will not little heart", he said. " But why do you call me Sahib? My name is Srikant."

" Chachi( aunt) says its inauspicious to take your husband's name. And you are a sahib( officer) in king's army. So.."

HE LIKED HIS NICK NAME.

He smiled at her.

" Please wait for me Sahib. You are big I am small but I will grow up fast", her eyes watered.

Somebody hurt her he guessed.

" Who said I will forget you", he asked.

" Your brother", she sobbed. " Because I can't cook. But I am learning. I will make very tasty food".

" I know you will", he believed in her. And Shiva promised us forever. So why would I leave you?"

" Okay", she smiled.

He kept in touch during the first two years of his marriage. But then he got busy. Crowned prince ascended the throne following the death of his father. He was ambitious and extended his kingdom. Srikant performed with great valour in army and by 19 he became the commander in chief of the king's army.It was in army he met his friends. Kishan, Lakhan and Dheeraj. Roop's brother Adheer joined the army too. So he came under Sri's wing too.

He met Gunjan for the last time before her adulthood when Guruji died two years after his marriage. She was weeping silently. She knew of his impeding death. But the loss of a father is a loss she couldn't deal with.

He engulfed her in his his arms.

" Baba went to Shiva sahib", she sobbed. " I am all alone now.".

" You can never be alone. Because Shiva has given me to you forever and ever", he said.

SHE FELT SAFE, LOVED AND PROTECTED.

They went to river Ganga to immerse Guruji's ashes.

One day while doung Puja an ascetic stopped them.

" You both will be tested in future", he said.

" Tested for what", Sri asked.

Ascetic looked at him and said, " I hope you take a righteous path when offered many". Then he left.

Gunjan thought he was forecasting a misfortune.

" I am so scared Sahib", she said.

" Nothing will happen to us Gunjan", he assured.

BUT IT DID HAPPEN.

Well she found the same ascetic next day.

" Punditji what did you mean yesterday", she asked politely.

" You are the light THE GUIDING LIGHT"he said. " The day he seeks your guidance is the time he will rise and shine like a star", he said.

" But", he said." THERE IS A LONG WAIT.."

Then he left abruptly again.

She told everything to her husband. They never saw that ascetic in their life again.

But as her mother in law find it she took Gunjan to seek blessing in an old Shiva temple.

" Don't worry child a river when leaves a mountain always reaches the sea", said a wise priest.

" You are that river who has left your father; the mountain and your husband is your sea that awaits.".

Sushant hated Gunjan . So to tease her he said, " Sometimes a river is lost for ever or dries up without reaching the sea".

Then he ran away.

Tears appeared in Gunjan's eyes. She was small so she could be easily lost.

She told her fears to Srikant.

" But when it rains the dried river is filled again", he replied. And lost rivers also find their path again."

" I don't want to get lost Sahib", she said.

" You will not", he assured.

" But there are many rivers for a sea sahib".

" Yes but there is just one Ganga. Only Ganga completes the sea filling its saltiness with her sweetness. You are my Ganga Gunjan. One day you will complete me".

" Will you wait for me Sahib"?

" Forever and ever", he said.

And then his Ganga was lost. Disappeared.

Just like ascetic had warned he made a wrong choice. And she paid the price. With her life.

But he kept his promise. He waited patiently. In penace. He felt empty, incomplete and useless without her. He waited for days, months, years and decades. He waited for four centuries.

A LIGHTNING CRACKED AT A DISTANCE...HE CAME OUT OF HIS MEMORIES

Flasback ends

Present.

" Vicky", she said in her sleep.

He smiled. She was dreaming of him.

" Vicky", she said again her sleep teoubled by something.

" I am here my love", he held her hands.

She rubbed her face on his hands like a cute kitten.

No one will come between us he promised. He held her in his arms as he slept too.

His Ganga has reappeared.

In a dark place of Mumbai city.

" King your wait is over", said a smoky figure.

" You mean to say she is back", said a masked man.

" Yes", he said. " I sense her. She is close".

" Who? Where?"

" No I am not that powerful yet", he said.

" There is also a bad news", said the smoke.

" WHAT", he barked.

" Her husband is with her".

HE WAS SHOCKED.

" How"?

" They are star crossed lovers king. Universe help them meet.".

" Then I will reverse this force. I was able to seperate them once. ..ha ha ha ha"

He laughed maniacally.

" You are stupid king", said the smoke. " The penace of the four centuries have made him stronger while you have realised your power just few years back".

" Is he in a human body", the king asked.

" Yes Srikant is a human that is for sure".

" And you are evil", he said. " Together we can defeat him.

" First concenterate on growing your power. Also they must not get married. Remember promising each other in front of holy fire will manifest their power. His penace and her sacrifice. YOU WILL BE NO MATCH"

" No no", thought the king. He waited for centuries too. Its this universe which played trick on him. Otherwise she was his. SHE WILL LOVE ME ONE DAY. He thought.

Unbeknownst to Gunjan it was not competition of rivers to reach the sea but of two powerful oceans to claim Ganga for themselves.