Koyel.....an unending love story

It is very easy to make promises when you are in love but at times it becomes very difficult to keep up to the promises. Our story is about such promise being made and kept forever until death did them part.

It was the break of the dawn and the fantastic time of spring, a fresh aromatic air blew across the most breathtaking topiary garden, which was a treasured — and extravagant — emblem of the past few decades of Rajpura Palace urging the visitor to escape into the wonders of man and nature. Rare plants, orange trees, Bell Fountain, and the Great Parterre as if pulls the visitor towards itself. . . . . . Yuvraj Manik Singh was taking a walk across the garden admiring its beauty, flowers, fresh air and. . . . . . suddenly a voice stopped him . . . . . a bandish based on Aahir Bhairav was sung by a beautiful female voice. The voice had stirred the air with its power and sweetness. Manik Singh was stunned and fell in to trance. . . . "whose voice this could be? "he thought, he was so engrossed in the voice that he did not pay attention to any thing else. . . . . . gradually his steps preceeded towards the direction from where the voice came.

At a distant walk he found himself near a neighbouring outhouse. He was so fascinated that he did not notice that he was crossing the road. . . . when a screeching sound of the brakes stopped him and within seconds the voice stopped. "Your highness, you are here early in the morning! "Madhur Saab opened his fiat's door. He was Manik Singh's father, the royal king's friend and business partner.

Manik felt a little disgusted and embarrassed. . . . one to try crossing the road without looking out, two what would he answer to Madhur Saab about his childishness of following a fascinated voice.

But why did the voice stopped, who sang it, he had never heard such beautiful voice. . . all these questions swirled around his head.

The breakfast table was filled with laughter and talks, Yuvraj had never liked to be a part of any crowd. He was a shy person, though he did his business studies in London, still the love towards Literature and Art was immense.

He wrote beautiful poetries, shayaries and these were printed anonymously since the Royal king never accepted his only son who would be his successor to waste time in Literature or Art.

Until then Yuvraj had not even started looking after his estate. The discussion at the breakfast table was about Yuvraj's coronation ceremony. Not really a coronation ceremony. . . . at around the late 60's there were no kings, coronations. . . . business groups introduced their partners or successors in an event or party organised. Royality was like the setting sun during dusk, hence a party was to be organised where the Royal Father would introduce his son as a successor to his estate and business.

They were talking about a new artist Ragini, Yuvraj was least interested and left the table. . . . little did he know that this name would change his whole world.

The palace was brightly lit on the day of the event. The garden decorated with glowing fountains, VIPs , celebrities, business tycoons everyone in the city had arrived to greet and bless the new Yuvraj. The hostess of the Royal family was busy welcoming the guests. Waiters moved around with trays of snacks and drinks. Fountain of Champagne inaugurated the joyous occasion, when a white Ambassador screeched its brakes in front of the giant iron entrance gate and a chauffer came out of the car immediately to open the door at the back. . . . in no moment the media, press, cameras every thing focused to the car, clicking photos , shouting "Ragini ji has arrived". Yuvraj Manik Singh had no clue what was going on, he was trying to figure out what was the gathering around the Ambassador for, when from the midst of the crowd a small thin women appeared. Wrapped in a silk saree , a smiling face which had a great intensity and quick to captivate anyone's heart. Simple yet elegant was her looks. The Royal Father had moved towards her to receive and greet her , closely followed by his son Manik, when introduced , only then did Manik came to know this celebrated singer of Rajpura, "Ragini" who had been mesmerising the audiences with her cuckoo like voice for a decade. She was excellent in classical singing, thumris, ghazals specially that of Irshad's. . . . When anyone would listen to her songs would get in tuned.

Manik understood the reason of the praise in few moments from then, when she started a thumri based on raga Pilu. . . . . the same voice which he heard few days back. . . . . . which filled in honey to his ears and made him a fool to cross the road without noticing.

This was their first meeting.

Manik had been away from the country for 15 years, little had he idea about what was going on, he had concentrated in his studies and writings. In 60's India had no internet, facebook, twitter, vedio calls, chats etc and people would rely upon trancalls, phone calls, telegraphs, postal letters etc. But since Manik was a poet so he was captivated with the voice of the young singer. However he didnot get the courage to talk to her besides he was shy and would speak less.

As time passed by Manik could not eradicate the voice off his mind. . . . . but how can he contact this lady. That was when "Ragini" was to receive an award and Yuvraj Manik Singh was invited to the award function to present the award. Sharing the same stage would give him an opportunity to talk to the lady just once , made him drive to the function. And as assumed, he received a chance to talk to her, when called upon stage to say a few words, Manik read out few lines of his Shayari in the name of Irshad. Thats what clicked. Ragini was a great fan of Irshad without knowing that she was speaking to the poet himself. Manik too savored the amusement of listening to his praises without revealing himself.

During the second meeting least they had thought that they would meet quite often. . . . . exchanging telephone numbers.

The love for Art and Literature brought them closer. . .

Ragini was a dedicated singer, music was just not passion for her but was a form of worship for her. Years of dedicated learning blessed her with technical mastery in music. Words would automatically find tunes in her voice, she was an expert in Ghazal gayaki specially those of Irshad's . But the question was who this Irshad, as this was a pen name taken up by the poet. . . . . she was desperately seeking to meet this anonymous shayar , hardly did she knew that she happened to know this shayar for quite some time now.

Both Ragini and Manik Singh were fond of each other's company. They grew a deeper relationship with each other, writing letters to each other and Manik would often take a visit at Ragini's place to meet her father as a friend and having the same taste of music.

With every visit that Manik made to Ragini's house he found himself closer to her through her music, he started teasing her and called her "Koyel". Once while she was in her "riyaz"that Manik Singh had just entered the house, he was so engrossed in the music that he stood still at the doorway and when Ragini finished her song , who did not happen to notice Manik due to her strong dedication, was astound when Manik quoted an Irshad's poem"These kind of shayaries are often written by Irshad", thought Ragini. But her thoughts were disrupted when her father entered to greet Manik. When her birthday arrived Manik gifted her a book of poem written by Irshad and was unpublished, keeping his promised to help Ragini meet Irshad one day , revealed himself to her for the first time and also revealed his dire wish to marry her and be happy forever with her.

Yuvraj Manik Singh was very staunch in his promise to marry Ragini. When he presented his feelings to Ragini's family, they were delighted but some where thoughtful.

When Manik Singh determined to marry Ragini and told his Royal Family about the same, they reject on the verge of the fact that Ragini and her family were commoners and they were royals.

All pleads and requests went in vain and the Royal family instead announced the marriage of Yuvraj with the royal lady of Surajpur a neighbouring estate.

Ragini and her family moved to Bombay, since the relationship rumours between Yuvraj and Ragini had already depleted the dreams and staying at the same place had caused more painful verbal attacks from neighbours and family. Ragini too wanted to engross more and more to the music career.

[Forty Years later in Present days]

The most renowned musical award function in New York was to award the lifetime achievement award to a renowned singer who had been fascinated audiences across the world with her magnificent and beautiful voice.

The entire film industry looked forward for one chance to get her sing in their films. Even if the film wouldn't be a hit, her songs still eluded the hearts of millions.

She had her mastery in Thumris and Ghazals of Irshad

Few music directors introduced Irshad's ghazals in few films and all of them were block buster hit, which brought her more fame and name in the country

The lady walked across the red carpet to receive her award, a smile on her face, the same soberness, wrapped in saree and eyes low. All the audiences were greeting her, press , media hooting and cheering for her, flashes of camera created mesmerizing lightening. . . . . slowly she walked up to the stage to receive her award. . . . . . as she looked up. . . the face was pale, white and stricken with fear. . . . . "Koyel?". . . . a voice triggered, "Yuvraj". . . . the female voice rang.

Though the situation did not end up like normal "Bollywood movies", Koyel falling unconscious in the arms of Yuvraj!!!!!

But all the life both kept their identity secret from each other. Yuvraj did not marry as wished by his family but fled to London where he started his writing career full-fledged.

He changed his name, identity so that he never had to show his face again to his Koyel in shame, since he always thought that he was weak to protest. It was all his fault and he had no right to interfere in her life. . . but for long 40 years he neglected his health each day but never did he forget to love or remember his beloved awaiting on her. . . . . . on the other hand Ragini used the name Koyel given to her by Yuvraj and soared high in her career of music. . . . each day awaiting to meet Yuvraj again. Both lived their personal life without marrying.

Yuvraj was at death bed with cancer. . . . . he called for his Koyel just once, Koyel did come as promised. . . but it was late again . . . Yuvraj Manik Singh had already left for the heavenly abode without his beloved with out ending their love story. . . . . . .