Guest of The Heart

Rakesh was really lost in the magical eyes of the girl. If it is said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, then definitely the girl sitting just in front of him was without any doubt the most beautiful girl of the world. This is really the feeling that poets call infatuation! Wearing a blue coloured saree, with eyes more beautified with the application of collyrium and an alluring aroma coming from her body and a peaceful serene presence, this girl resembled the Apsara Urvasi who has come down.

Rakesh was quite tired but he realized that unknown girl as his very own dream girl with whom he was acquainted for the ages. It was the Howrah-Chakradharpur fast passenger and Rakesh was going to Barabhum, his GrandPa's house. It was the time of Spring and already the nature of that region was beautified with the colours of Palash and Magnolia and fragrance of Mahua. Also this was the time of Madal festival. But Rakesh was mesmerized by the angelic beauty and charming presence of that girl. If he could think then, he would be also mesmerized by the fact that how the destination of a person changes so quickly. Rakesh was mesmerized by the awesome curly long hairs that was falling on her shoulders, neck and arms and taking after the dark clouds that come with the message of rain. Time had stopped for him. With just one glance, the girl took his heart away. Rakesh wanted to be acquainted with the girl, he had to say a lot of things.

But destiny was quite different! In the whole journey, he could neither say a single word to the girl nor ask her name only. Anyway, after long time, Rakesh reached GrandPa's house. Being a part of Chhotanagpur Plateau, Barabhum is famous for breathtaking hills, jaw dropping waterfalls, serene Sal, Mahua and Kendu forest. Sugnibasa forest and Matha Eco camp are not very far away. His maternal grandfather Mr. Bholanath Sharma, a retired Engineer of Indian Railways, was too much elated to see him. All in the families were delighted that after many a days, their very own family member had returned. Love, fun, happiness, celebration-everything was there. And in the grand celebration of festival of colours, there were so much joy, so much laughter, so much vivacity that Rakesh forgot the girl for some time. But sometime the twilight of dusk or a solitary cuckoo singing in a melancholy tone just reminded him of his ladylove. Again he was stuck by Cupid's arrow, when he saw the girl in the same train after one month. He was going to GrandPa's house and it was the summer time.

And a good thing was that it was a full moon night. The whole outside environment was looking immensely scenic in the shining silvery effulgence. The train passed through the vast meadows and passed through the dense Sal and Kendu forests. Cool refreshing breeze was coming through the viewing window, rejuvenating body and the soul, awakening the passion of love in the heart. Sometimes it is necessary to be biased by the divine feeling of love, break the fears of confusion, hatred and fear. Rakesh was not to miss the chance to be acquainted with his dreamgirl anymore. And this time the intensity of love broke all the barriers. The train passed the villages, crossed the bridge over Rupnarayan and Kangshavati, and he was only not acquainted with Smita, they turned out to be good friends. From Smita, Rakesh came to know that she would live at Chandil. Chandil is an awesome city of Jharkhand. It is famous for the beautiful Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and breathtaking Chandil Dam constructed on the winsome Swarnrekha river.

After being acquainted with Smita, Rakesh felt a strong urge, a never-satisfied thirst to eye the winsome beauty of Chandil and Swarnrekha as well as the urge to meet his ladylove and express his long repressed feelings towards her at a romantic, fullmoon night. And with that intention, one fine summer morning, from Kolkata Rakesh set out for the hilly region of Chandil. On a fresh watery summer afternoon, when the cool breeze was blowing, on the bank of the exquisite Swarnrekha, Smita took the hold of Rakesh's hand, their eyes were filled with romance. It is said that eyes are the mirror of heart. If any poet could see the expression of the pairs of eyes, he could how much deep their love was! How much the intensity of love was!

Both the hearts were beating fast and faster. Ten years have passed. Bhola Dadu has died. From Howrah station, Rakesh is just about to board Howrah-Chakradharpur fast passenger. He knows that today he won't see Smita in the train. Because, his Smita has got married. He had seen her expression, and from her vibrant expression, her soft words, her radiant smile, it was quite clear that she was also in love. But the irony of fate was that he could never tell her about his feelings in words. Smita has got married and moved to Bilaspur. Still Smita reigns in his mind and will reign in his mind all the time. Lovers are disunited, sometimes the barriers of society and family don't let them be in union. But disunion of lovers doesn't define the failure of the love story. Every love story is special. Love lives for ever. The End