Ranjish

AUTHOR POV......

चाँद के आगे ये सूरज भी फिजूल है,
कहाँ रुकता है कोई प्यार के धूल है,
तुमसे दूर जाए तो किसी और के पास,
ज़िंदगी में हर चीज़ का वजूद है।"

Kanak's life had taken a drastic turn after Vikram's imprisonment. Despite the initial shock and grief, she had slowly begun to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Sagar, ever the supportive friend, had been instrumental in helping her find her footing again.

With Sagar's encouragement, Kanak had decided to restart her college education. Her mother, though still emotionally distant, had shown a glimmer of support by helping Kanak with her studies. It was a small step, but Kanak cherished the moments they spent together, poring over textbooks and notes.

As the days turned into weeks, Kanak began to feel a sense of purpose she had been lacking. She threw herself into her studies, determined to make a better life for herself. But despite the progress she made, there was still a gaping hole in her heart.Vikram.

She missed him terribly, often finding herself crying in her room, overcome with grief. The distance between them seemed insurmountable, but Kanak held onto the hope that Vikram would one day return to her.

Meanwhile, in his prison cell, Vikram sat with his head in his hands, tears streaming down his face. He knew that his imprisonment was necessary, a consequence of his past actions. But that knowledge did little to alleviate the ache in his heart.

He missed Kanak, missed her smile, her laughter, her sparkling eyes. The distance between them had made his love for her stronger, more resilient. He knew that he would do anything to be with her again, to hold her in his arms and never let her go.

The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months. Kanak and Vikram both knew that their love would have to endure the test of time and separation. But they also knew that their bond was unbreakable, forged in the fire of their passion and commitment to each other.

As they waited for the day when they could be together again, they held onto the hope that their love would emerge stronger, more radiant than ever before.

It was a quiet and somber day of Karwachauth, a day when wives fast for the well-being and long life of their husbands. The atmosphere in the house was heavy with anticipation, but there was also an undercurrent of pain in Kanak's heart. She had kept her fast for Vikram, even though he was miles away, locked behind bars in jail.

Sagar, had assured her that he would try his best to arrange a meeting with Vikram. Though the situation was delicate, Kanak clung to the hope that she would be able to see him, to feel his presence, even for a few minutes.

The sun began to set, and Kanak, with a mix of nervousness and excitement, found herself standing at the gates of the jail. Sagar stood beside her, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a touch of anxiety. He gave her a comforting look as the guard led them through the gates.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Kanak was ushered into a small, sterile room where Vikram sat on a bench, his hands clasped together, his eyes tired but alert. As soon as he saw her, his expression softened.

"Kaise ho, Kanak? Aap?" Vikram asked, his voice low and gentle, but there was a deep weariness in his tone.

Kanak blinked, a tear slipping down her cheek as she stared at him. "Do you even care, Vikram?" she asked, her voice trembling with the weight of her emotions. "If you cared, you wouldn't be in jail."

Vikram sighed deeply, his eyes clouded with regret. He looked at her for a long moment before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was necessary, Kanak. I had no choice. Please, leave all of this behind. I don't want you to suffer because of me."

Kanak shook her head, her heart aching at his words. But then, Vikram did something that made her heart skip a beat. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden carving, delicate and intricately done. It was a carving of Lord Krishna, the deity that had always brought peace to their lives.

"I've been working on this in jail," Vikram said quietly, holding out the wooden figure to her. "This is the only gift I can give you on Karwachauth. Every husband gives his wife diamonds or jewelry, but this... this is all I can give you."

Kanak gasped, her breath catching in her throat as she looked at the small carving. The intricate details on the wood, the way Lord Krishna's face seemed to radiate serenity, the tenderness of the gesture—it was more than she could ever have asked for.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she clutched the wooden carving to her chest. "It's more precious than diamonds, Vikram," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This means more to me than anything else in the world."

She wanted to run to him, to throw her arms around him and hold him close, to tell him that everything would be okay. But just as she took a step forward, the cold voice of the jail officer interrupted them.

"Times up," the officer called, his stern tone pulling Kanak out of the moment.

Vikram looked at her one last time, his expression a mixture of love and sorrow. Without a word, the officer led him back to his cell, and Kanak was left standing there, clutching the small carving to her chest, the weight of the moment settling in her heart.

Sagar was waiting for her outside, his face sympathetic but unreadable. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder as they left the jail, and she followed him silently. She felt as though she were walking through a haze, each step heavier than the last.

Later that night, after offering her prayers to Lord Krishna, Kanak sat down in the quiet of her room. The moonlight bathed the room in a soft glow, and she opened her fast, breaking the long hours of hunger with a single bite. But instead of focusing on food, her eyes were drawn to the wooden carving on her bedside table, a symbol of love, sacrifice, and hope.

As she looked at Vikram's picture, a sense of peace washed over her, even as her heart ached with the longing to be with him. The journey ahead was uncertain, but in that moment, Kanak knew that the love they shared was stronger than anything that could keep them apart.