"Common Smita hurry up" Akshay wish to leave as soon as possible

"coming" she brought their picnic bags and put in car.

"You know there will be crowd gathering in Tajmahal as time pass." he complained

"I know but we already have arrangements for tickets and its dawn, we are not going to face traffic." she assures him

"Whatever."

Akshita demanded to go on school picnic with her classmates. Smita was hesitant at first but allowed at the end. After dropping her to school they decided to visit long due visit to Tajmahal. They reached to the Tajmahal early in the morning and as expected its less crowded than afternoon. They have no words to praise the monument in words. The monument constructed by white marble is symbol of love for many. Its location, structure, carving, style, design everything is in sync and looks perfect. After exploring the place for more than two hours, they moved to the the bank of river Yamuna. They spread the mat on ground and sat there peacefully. Its late morning but sun rays felt pleasing in chilling weather of Agra. Smita brought some snacks from home and they buy two cup tea. Its one of kind of experience, sipping hot tea at bank of Yamuna while admiring The Taj. Company of your lover is cherry on the cake.

"So Shahjahan - Mumtaz is your favourite love story." Smita asked

"Nope, mine favourite love story resides in Delhi." Akshay replied calmly

"Really, which one?"

"Its a long story."

"and I am here to listen."

"You know I told about Amir khusrow."

"Yeah, the poet who wrote in Persian."

"He wrote Ishqiya /Ashiquan. He described love of Deval devi and khizr khan in a way that I fell in love with them."

"So you admire love story of fictious characters." Smita was curious to know.

"Nope, they were as real as you and me. Infact that was first Hindu Muslim lovestory exist in history of India "

"Really, I am excited to hear about them. Its a shame, I'm being a Delhite didn't knew about them."

"The story starts with Alauddin khilzi."

"That cruel ruler whom everyone feared ?"Smita asked.

" Yup but its not about him but his son. " he said and Smita gave him full attention." In 1296 Khilzi won war against waghela king Karan deva of Gujrat. His wife Kamladevi married to khilzi and Karan ran away to deccan with his kids. After few years Kamladevi start missing her daughter Deval. Sultan Khilzi send his eldest son and crown prince Khizr to win war against decaan king and brought Deval devi to Delhi "he paused to see her reaction.

"Their love is forbidden." she whispered

"Yes but they didn't knew about being step sibling at the time they fell in love. Gorgeous princess and handsome prince the combination is deadly. Attraction towards each other is most natural thing. In the journey towards north from south, a connection formed between the duo which is not easy to break. "

" You are right when your heart wants something its not easy to suppress the desire . "

" In palace complex their meetings proceeds further and soon the matter came in limelight. King, queen and other courtesan opposed this relationship. Their meeting is prohibited, khizr fell terminally ill. At last king allowed their marriage but disowned both of them. "

" So finally its a happy ending. "Smita chirped.

" I wish it was. Khizr gave up an empire for her and happily accepted being a mere soldier. Later he was accused of treason and prisoned. Deval stayed at his side in prison and she was companion till the end. A crown prince became powerless and that is his biggest mistake. Coup happened, Sultan was killed. They killed Khizr too. Deval wasn't ready to leave his dead body, her hand was cut. A Waghela Rajpoot princess transferred from man to man. She died in dark corner of palace. "

" What a tragic turns of life. His sacrifice of an empire and would be king just go in vein. Her giving up on luxury lifestyle doesn't is mere waste.It would be better if she died with him. Now I understand why Jauhar happened in that time. I always have reservation towards that custom but now I realised the gravity of events. There is no option. "Smita said with teary eyed.

" And grief a man felt while watching a woman die infront of him. The same woman whom he promised to protect and cherished. Your loved one is burning alive and you were tying the saffron turban for one last time. There is no purpose to turn back from war. "he said in sad voice.

" We are lucky to have a such a beautiful world where love is not a luxury anymore . She expressed the brighter side of coin.

"and that's why we give up on love so easily."

"I don't know about others but I am not going to give up on you for anything." She put her hand on his hand.

"I know" he put his hand on her arm and pull her towards him.

"You know everything, I think I shouldn't say anything."

"Action speak louder than words woman." his reply shut the chance of further argument. "Tell me about your favourite love story"

"You will laugh on me if I tell you."

"Than give me a reason for smile."

"So you won't give up."

"Nope."

"Fine but before that you have to answer my two questions?"

"My bank account detail and password is ...

" Just shut up Akshay. Don't blabber rubbish . "

He just put his finger on his lips.

" What you think about one sided love? "she asked after few minutes.

" Hurt and pain "

" And how you would react if your would be spouse reject you on marriage alter for petty reason?"

"I'll be very angry and probably curse but why are you asking all this?

" My favourite love story. Although its not a proper love story but still my favourite, answer this question. "

" Interesting, so where is origin of all this? "

" Junagadh Gujrat. "

"and?..

" I was travelling to Gujrat few years ago and in the area of Gir forest and Girnar hills, I heard this folklore. Rajul was princess of Junagadh betrothed to Nem kumar prince of Dwarka. He was a shy introvert prince and she gorgeous young girl. She heard praise of his bravery and intellect oftenly. Time passes and she never realised when she fall in love without meeting him.

The day of marriage came. She prepared for this days for so long. Its day of finally meeting the man in person. Whole kingdom is celebrating the event. Whole city is decked up for welcoming the bridegroom and his family. Wedding procession came. She saw him from the balcony and he is same like she imagined. She felt so happy and thanked heavens. Fervour is on the peak of it and all of sudden he turned his chariot. Rajul was distress with the event and fainted.

There is panic in the members of both side of families. His father ran behind him and asked the reason of this sudden return. Reason is petty for many. He is refusing just because of animal slaughter and feast about to prepare by its meat. Everyone said they are Rajput (warrior clan). Non vegetarian food is common for them.

He said, "there is a pup of deer and female deer in one cage. There is tears on that deer's eyes. I felt guilty. I felt I am sacrificing their life for my own pleasure."

"but where is love story in it Smita?"

"Let me complete first. His relatives asked him what he wants now? He said I want to opt for monkhood. I can't continue this lifestyle anymore. There is surprise as well as laugh from people. People suggested opt for vegan lifestyle what is the need to take extreme step. His resolve hadn't changed. Rajul too came to ask the man who wronged her. She asked him you are concern about a deer's tears but what about my tears. She hadn't cursed him or get angry. She is extremely hurt by his sudden rejection. "

" Its twisted but he can opt for vegan lifestyle and married her too. "Akshay reasoned.

" One who can't bear killing of animal what he will do in battlefield?The one whose heart is melted with a animal's pain. Is he capable to kill a human . "she asked

" Nope, he can't but sometimes we had no choice except killing the enemy. "

" But he had the choice so does she. She has an option to marry another guy in same alter but she didn't. Her heart is not ready. She said if he think this is right lifestyle than I'll accompany him. Some think that's madness but that madness made her immortal in history. "

" I didn't get it. How she became immortal? "

" She took a promise from him that if you want to opt for penance and monkhood,go for it but showered the knowledge on me. Promise me to guide in spirituality. Promise me to taught religion. He promised. "

"and he kept the promise."

"Yes, he did. He came back and fulfill his promise. She waited for him and her wait doesn't went in vein. That was the era where female weren't have choice to read religious scriptures. Woman wasn't encourage for devotion and spirituality. Woman was treated as a property. In that time she got the choice because of him. Its difficult to relate them but whenever I heard it... I felt strange sensations. "Smita was unable to express thing fully.

" In our society where it was preached for years that 'a women is gate of hell.' we conveniently forgot about them because this story challenge our belief system. Here a man taught a woman whatever he learnt in life. She was above many men in knowledge. A woman who is rich in intellect. A woman whose spirit doesn't subsidies. Her quest for knowledge doesn't discouraged.

Love is in its purest form in this story. She requested him to keep his hand on her head. He did that. Just imagine a man who never loved the woman, give the best life to the same woman. "she keep saying and Akshay understood what touch her heart. The tremendous support by him to her, the freedom to choose and a strong back behind her if something went wrong. The princess is protected, respected and cherished but not in the traditional way.

"He never loved her but their is something which I can't explain . We mostly admire destructive form of love where lovers died. Their love doesn't went to conclusion. They never spent a day with each other. Their desire for each other remain incomplete." she kept saying

" We hardly appreciate the form of love where love won. We never acknowledge stories where lover spent a whole life time with each other. We hardly know name of lovers who walk side by side with each other for whole life. She walk side by side with him for a life time. Their whole life was dedicated to humanity. They spread the message of love, kindness and peace in various kingdom. Queens were respected in a kingdom but she was respected everywhere. She was a shadow of him."

" This story moves me, not just because of them but people around them too. Marriage is conventional choice celibacy is not . They choose the unconventional route. People around them doesn't mock, bash or abused them. His and her parents gave them freedom to speak their mind. They were heard and accepted just like any other. Nowadays parents forced their kids for career, marriage and many other things. Some people threat their kids to opt certain things otherwise they will commit suicide. We put so much pressure on our loved one. I don't want that. I want to give choice to Akshita. I want her to take decision of her life. I want to guide her but doesn't want to force my opinion on her. The level of maturity and patience their parents depicted is commendable. I want that in my life. I came again and again to meet you just because of that. Akshita had desire to meet you. She wanted to know about you. We had sour relationship at that time . I had a choice to filll her ears with my experience but I choose the other one. I gave her choice to know you and formed her opinion by her experience. I want to give my child an option to live life the way she want. I want my child to turn to me if there is trouble. If something is bothering her.

"You know what Smita, you are special. Person like you are very rare. I am very lucky to have you in my life."

"A person like you are one in billion who listen my rant patiently. I am lucky to have you"she replied

" I am more lucky...

"No, I am more lucky

" Two times more lucky....

"Three times more lucky.....