Preeti: I would leave Nani. But not before I know what is that secret which you both are hiding from everyone here.
Daadi: Preeti. We can discuss this tomorrow. You know Shravan. If he sees you not in his room now, he would only be angry.
Preeti : But Daadi. I need to know the truth. Without understanding my Past, I cannot start a new future with Shravan.
Nani: Fine. Now tell me what you wanted to know then?
Preeti: Everything. Everything about the truth of Raj Mahal.
Daadi and Nani looked at each other and then finally decided to tell all this to Preeti.They knew she won’t be leaving the room until she is made aware of everything. So here they started narrating the Past of Raj Mahal to her.
Daadi: I dont remember how many generations back this happened. But surely some 3 - 4 generations back. The Kings ruled Jodhpur then and Ratan Khurana, one of the Ancestor of the Khurana Family was the King of Jodhpur that time. He had two Sons, Yuvraj Khurana and Raaghav Khurana, Yuvraj being Elder was the next heir to Ratan's throne. Till Yuvraj was 16, he was always away from Raj Mahal for his Education and then he returned back here forever. It’s said that during those times, Ratan Khurana was not keeping much well and his Second Wife Malini Khurana was taking care of him in his last days. Malini was always strict in every terms. Raaghav was her Son . Still She also considered Yuvraj as her own son. She was called Maasa by him. Yuvraj had never seen his real mother anytime. She died when he was very young. So he respected Maasa in every terms. When he returned back to Raj Mahal, the first person that caught his attention was Chanchan, She was the Daughter of a Maid of Raj Mahal. Chanchan was very much beautiful and kind and in no less time she managed to win the heart of Yuvraj. His days started with her waking him up and ended with her making his bed ready for sleep. Days passed and so did the years, Yuvraj was in Love with Chanchan and he desired to get married to her. Maasa rejected his wish and she fixed His Marriage with Divya, Daughter of The King of Sultanpur. Yuvraj could still deny his Maasa's wish but not his Father Ratan's wish. God knows What Maasa fed in Ratan's ears about Chanchan and her behavior, that the same Man Ratan who loved Chanchan As his own daughter, started hating her and he warned Yuvraj, that if he doesnt accept their wish to marry Divya, then they would throw Chanchan and her Mother out of Raj Mahal and make their life a Hell. Yuvraj couldnt bear this. He agreed to get married to Divya. Chanchan tried to meet Yuvraj alone many a times but Maasa's eyes always caught her and never allowed her to meet him like that. And then came the day of his marriage. It’s said that Chanchan was suffering from inside. She couldnt bear the pain of seeing her love tying a Knot with someone else and hence she thought of ending her life. She killed herself on Yuvraj's marriage day.
Preeti: No She didn’t. She didn’t kill herself. She was killed by someone. Someone killed her Daadi. She could never end her life like that without giving a last try.
Daadi (Surprised): Look Preeti . I dont know about all this . But we only know that she died the same day Yuvraj was getting married to Divya.
Preeti was totally broken. She didn’t knew how she needed to react. Does she need to repent on the fact that she couldnt let her love life complete in that birth? Or should she be happy that now finally she had got her Love. Her Yuvraj. Her Shravan back.??
Preeti: So Yuvraj married Divya ?? (She asked in a nervous tone)
Daadi: No. He didn’t. He could never marry someone after seeing his Love die in his arms. Maasa wasnt happy with him disobeying her orders and she cursed Chanchan for everything that happened. She cursed Chanchan's Soul that she would never be able to get Yuvraj in any births.
Preeti's tears were rolling down continuously.
Daadi: After Chanchan's death, Yuvraj's life completely shattered. He felt Sick and then in just a month, he too passed away. And there their Love Story remained Incomplete.
Part 24
Daadi: No. He didn’t. He could never marry someone after seeing his Love die in his arms. Maasa wasnt happy with him disobeying her orders and she cursed Chanchan for everything that happened. She cursed Chanchan's Soul that she would never be able to get Yuvraj in any births.
Preeti's tears were rolling down continuously.
Daadi: After Chanchan's death, Yuvraj's life completely shattered. He felt Sick and then in just a month, he too passed away. And there their Love Story remained Incomplete.
Preeti broke down on the floor feeling herself all numb. She could relate everything that she ever got falshes off with this past of Raj Mahal which Daadi told her. She could still feel the pain that Chanchan and Yuvraj went through in their past birth. Nani sat down beside her and hugged her.
Nani: Dont cry bitiya. We cannot change the Past. But we can only make the future better. If you are back in this world for fulfilling the moments that you were devoid with in your last birth, then dont be upset thinking what had happened. Live What life has given you now.
Daadi: Yes Preeti. Yuvraj is back as Shravan. Me and Devi knew it as Shravan grew up. He had the same features of Yuvraj, the same looks, height, personality, everything. We were not sure if Chanchan was back or not. We had no proof to find her. And see the destiny, it got you here in this Raj Mahal, without even we trying. There is a reason behind it. There is a reason why destiny made Shravan marry you like that hurriedly. There is always a reason for everything. After all the mess that was created years back, Raj Mahal finally got it’s Bride back. (She kneeled down before Preeti and cupped her face making her look at them.) You are the BRIDE OF RAJ MAHAL now. Take your position. In this house and in Shravan's life too.
Nani and Daadi did their best to make Preeti come out of this sorrow. And thats when their door knocked . Preeti wiped her tears and stood up with Nani and Daadi. Nani opened the door and saw Shravan standing before them looking at Preeti angrily.
Nani: Shravan.Uhh.
Shravan: (Seeing Preeti): What are you doing here ?? You should have been waiting for me in our room. Not here.
Preeti tried to compose herself. She didn’t know how she needed to react.
Daadi: We had called her here. Actually she being the Bahu of this house now, we had some rules and stuffs to be informed to her.
Shravan: Is it done or you guys still need her to be here for the whole night??
Daadi and Nani looked at each other and they didn’t knew how to react to this. Their Shravan was so much in a hurry to take his Wife off from here. Preeti didn’t speak anything. She just walked off the room and he followed her. She entered their room and then walked straight to the dressing table and sat there taking her jewellery off.
He could see she wasnt in a good mood. Something was wrong with her?? She looked fine till the marriage rituals were completed. Then what made her so different now? He thought of asking.
Shravan: Is everything all right?
She nodded a Weak Yes taking the Final Necklace out of her neck, keeping only the Mangal Sutra tied. She took her night dress from the closet and walked inside the washroom.
Shravan felt her behavior a bit wierd. Not that he wasnt expecting her to act normal tonight and not like a typical Shy bride. But still that charm in her was missing . The charm, the worry, that she showed to him in the evening when he was hurt was missing in her now. May be she was tired. He didn’t think much. He too needed some rest after that accident. He walked to the bed and slept on his side keeping ample of space for her to rest too . He didn’t know when his eyes closed in a deep blissful sleep.
Preeti came out in her Night dress and saw Shravan sleeping on the bed peacefully. She walked to him and kneeled down beside the bed on his side. She looked at his face and uttered in her mind.
Preeti: I know you dont remember anything Yuvraj. And may be Maasa's curse would never let you remember your chanchan anytime. But I promise you to bring those memories back, to bring that missing love back. It may take time. But I would not let that Love be forgotten. And nor would I let anything come between us anymore.
Saying tha
t she closed her eyes leaning her head on the bed , still sitting on the floor .
Next Morning.
Shravan's sleep was disturbed when he felt the Rays of light hitting his eyes and he rubbed them. The moment he opened his eyes he saw Preeti's head leaning on the bed and she was sitting on the floor. She slept like this? The whole night? Why? He patted her hand.
Shravan: Preeti. Preeti Get up.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She understood how she slept last night and hence feeling a little embarrassed that Shravan noticed it, she got up from there.
Shravan: You slept like this the whole night?
Before she could answer he came to her and touched her forehead to see if she had temperature.
Shravan: You have fever dammit. Come here. (Saying that he pulled her to the bed and made her lie down.)
Preeti: Shravan. I am ok.
Shravan: Preeti. Dont argue. Just rest for sometime. I will call Dr Suman.
Preeti instantly got up and sat on bed.
Preeti: No. I am fine. Since I slept on floor the whole night, I got this little temperature. But I will be soon Ok. You dont need to wory. And I can’t sleep. I am the Bride of Raj Mahal. I have my responsibilities.
Shravan (Raising his eye brow): Bride of Raj Mahal??? Who fed that Phrase in your head??
Preeti smiled and then replied back.
Preeti: Daadi. Isn’t that nice??
Shravan: May be.
Saying that he got up from there and left to freshen up.
The entire family were only giving some blushing looks to Preeti when they saw her down . Aarti hugged her daughter, wishing her a good morning and then whispered something in her ears to which Preeti only blushed harder and pushed her mother lightly and walked to take Daadi and Nani's blessings. They blessed her and asked her where Shravan is and she told them he is in the room working.
Anjum: This Shravan would never stop working. It’s his first day after marriage and he is busy ,. Thats so unfair.
Radhika: Come on Di. What else you expect from SHRAVAN?
Kishore: So true. Shravan mere Bhai has to grow up now.
Everyone started laughing and Preeti just blushed again and then walked to Kitchen to make something Sweet for everyone.
It was afternoon and Preeti was in Daadi's room asking her to give the keys of that room in Raj Mahal at the top floor. She wanted to get something’s from there which might help her in getting Shravan's memory back regarding their last birth.
Daadi: No Preeti. You should not do anything that could hurt Shravan.
Preeti: Hurt? Daadi I am doing this so that he comes to know everything.
Daadi: I know. But you cannot force him to know it.
Preeti finally was able to convince Daadi and she took the keys and left for the Top floor. She was little scared to enter. No doubt she wanted to check the room properly to find anything that could make Shravan remember. She didn’t know if there is even something like that in the room. Even Daadi and Nani had never fully investigated what that room consists off. She reached the floor and without even a second thought, she opened the door. She turned the lights On and then walked inside. The first thing she did was to walk to Yuvraj's picture on the wall and touch it. She could show Shravan this room and show him the picture too to make him realize that they had a past connected. But she didn’t wanted to forcibly let him know these things.So may be she should be finding something more interesting. She walked inside further and then opened a cupboard placed at the corner. There she saw some Old Books and albums placed . She took the Album out and started checking the Old Black and White Photos. All unknown faces. She couldnt understand who is whom. But she didn’t stop. She continued flipping the Album pages and there she got something really interesting. It had a family picture . Seeing this picture she was trying to figure out who is who. It had a Couple in the centre where the lady she recognized was Maasa (the one whose picture was on the wall) so it was sure that the Man standing next to her was Ratan Khurana. With this couple there were 3Kids in the picture in total. Yuvraj was clearly identified to be the elder one as he was standing beside his Father. Next to him was another boy who was little younger to Yuvraj whom she considered to be Raaghav as Daadi had told her. When she roamed her eyes on the third one, she was shocked .
Preeti: Suraj??
She rubbed her eyes to check it again and yes indeed the boy looked like Suraj. The lights went off and Preeti dropped the Album in fear. She was very scared now. The room was filled with darkness. She turned to the door to leave but there she saw someone entering inside. She was hell scared. She moved back.
She was about to scream aloud when the currents were back and there she saw the same person before her who was the reason of her previous shock that she received while seeing the Album.
Suraj: Preeti. Are you Ok? What are you doing here?
Preeti was breathing hard and she suddenly picked the Album from the floor and hide it behind her.
Preeti: Nothing. I was just. I mean. I was just finding something.
Suraj: Finding something? In this room?? But what would you get here?
Preeti: What are you doing here? I mean on this floor?? (She asked doubting him now.)
Suraj: I was here to check the Switch Boards with the electrician. I mean in my room the AC is not working. So had come here to check the main switch. I saw this door open and thought of checking whose in. Daadi and Nani doesnt let anyone come here. So I was surprised to see the door open .
Preeti: Haan wwoh. I took the keys and got their permission.
Suraj just nodded. He knew Preeti was hiding something. But what?
The electrician came at the door.
Electrician - Sir. It’s done now. There was some problem with the wire at the Main switch. I changed it.
Suraj : Okay. Go down. Maakhan would pay you.
The Electrician left and Preeti waited for Suraj to leave so that she can hide the Album.
Suraj: Come. Let’s get down. It’s not good to be here for long.
Preeti: Yeah. you go ahead and I will be back.
Suraj nodded. The moment he turned the album that she was hiding slipped from her hand and fell down. Suraj turned to see and saw it. Before she could try reaching it to pick, Suraj did and he saw the same picture which Preeti saw some time back. There he got some answers. Preeti was here to find some answers . Does she knew the past??
Preeti on the other hand was surprised seeing Suraj not shocked to see his own picture.Does that mean he too knew something like she did. She thought of giving this doubt a STOP and she asked him finally.
Preeti: You know something about this Picture?? Am I right??
Suraj finally concluded. Preeti remembered something. Thats the reason she was asking him now. But didn’t she remember him ??
Suraj(Nodding a Yes): I do remember. But I am surprised on one thing. Do you know all this too??
Preeti didn’t know where she needed to start with. She just closed her eyes tight and then opened it again to finally shoot her doubts to him.
Preeti: So you too had a past connected to Raj Mahal?
Suraj: Just like Chanchan and Yuvraj took the re - birth , Kishan too did.
Preeti: Kishan??
Suraj: That was my name in that birth.
Preeti took the Photo out of the Album and then turned it back only to find the names of the people present in the picture written in Sanskrit. (Which she luckily knew to read). Ratan. Malini. Yuvraj. Raaghav and Kishan.
Suraj: I think we should leave this room now. Lock the door . We will talk on this down.
Preeti nodded and then they both locked the room and walked down.
Part 25
Suraj and Preeti walked down the stairs with Preeti holding the Picture Album in her hands still. Suraj didn’t know where he needed to start this with. They just walked quietly down and before Preeti could start asking him anything, Anjum came there .
Anjum: Arre. Where were you Surajji??
I searched you the entire house.
Preeti immediately hided the Photo album behind her so that Anjum should not see it.
Suraj: Ohh Yes Anjum. I was upstairs. With the Electrician.
Anjum smiled and then looked at Preeti.
Anjum: And what was the Bride doing there?
Preeti: Anjum. I was just. (She was thinking what answer she should give but she was saved since Anjum was just kidding with her)
Anjum smiled and then held her shoulders making her walk ahead.
Anjum: Thats ok Bhabhi. You dont need to answer me.
Preeti faked a smile and looked at Suraj who gestured her that he would talk later. She nodded and then excused herself to leave back to her room.
Shravan was busy in his room all ready to leave for work. Preeti came inside and before he could see what she was hiding from him, she kept the Photo Album inside the closet at a safe side and locked the door and turned to face him. She then started to fold her clothes and arrange her stuff in his Closet. He was buttoning his cuffs.
Shravan: I have asked to book our tickets to US. We would be flying this weekend.
Preeti: This weekend?? So early??
Cursed Bride Page 16
