All the beautiful daughters of Mara by Ashok Aatreya (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📕

school was situated on the other bank of the river which was not perennial.
In a short, sweet and brief meeting Anand and Bhairvi came close to each other.Bhairvi wanted to share Anand’s dreams as a struggling young man who came to that small town by his own will. It was no less then an adventure in itself to come there for a job for a city dweller like him…Also in the very first sight Anand felt that Bhairvi was made for him. In no time they started a common feeling that they could go to gather, hand in hand to long distances and share the burden and responsibility of life as partners.
By that time Anand was a simple teacher .He left his cricketer far away .He wanted to forget all his past and other colors of life, his characters- more of a fiction than of real world,.
On one eventful day, Anand and Bhairvi were going to Udiapur in night bus from Delwara and in that journey they had the good opportunity to come close. After fast and frank talks from Anand’s side she asked pointedly-‘Don’t you feel your life has been like a free-wheel?’
‘Yes to some extent as the dissatisfaction always kept me on my toes.’
‘I believe one should also have some values in life and fear of the almighty.’ She expressed her ideas firmly but in slow tone.
‘I know, I have started feeling like that now. And you have known, by now little about me and my Nana . He was a great freedom fighter… The values Inherited by my Nana and Nani always inspired me, although it is difficult to tread upon the path because the path is hard and full of spines.’
Anand also thought it better to tell her about Shahee’s affair as he felt no harm in it After hearing his story in brief Bhairvi asked him-‘Do you still remember Shaheen ?’
‘Very often but she is now a history to me.’
‘And what’s about your son? You told me you got some issue from her….’
‘I have no information about them now although there was some rumor about that matter. As of now what happened to the child who had not seen sky just because he was considered illegitimate.’
‘What was that rumor? Was the child aborted?’
‘No after a long gap someone close to Shaheen met me in Bombay and told me that the child is not aborted but after the birth, he is given to some Fondling-home… still nothing is clear and I now believe the history will not repeat as there was religion, borders and politics between us…. Any way I have told you everything about my old affairs and I want to be transparent in these matters.’
‘I am happy… I just wanted to know…. Anand I love you…!’
Then there was sudden apply of break and their Bus took a little turn towards left side and slanted in the deep valley. It was a narrow escape since one truck fully loaded by marbles slabs was about to collide form their Bus…. Everyone thanked God… The intelligent handling by the driver saved them…. Although one left wheel of the Roadways Bus in the saving exercise came out and that made bus to slant. The passengers came down one by one. The bus was very close to the Eklingji temple and it was a full moon night….
Anand and Bhairvi enjoyed the moon lit night as they had gone little deep in to the forest coming down the valley of Arawali hills. Some of the other passengers of the bus had gone towards the temple since the driver and conductor told them that until next bus came from Nathdwara, they would not be able to move. The Stephanie of the bus was also punctured and there was no other way out since the night buses from Nathdrwara to Udaipur were few in number and the bus by which they were traveling was last but one.
Within no time the bus passengers broke into groups and went to different directions. Two-three Tea stalls were also close to temple where some of the passengers had gone to enjoy tea and sweets… Anand and Bhairvi often traveled by the same bus when ever there was any holiday or some other official work to be executed by them in the district office.


26/TRAVELLING PARALLEL WITH HEART

Anand remembered his old days with his sweet heart Bhairvi. He even took her to remote hilly tracks where his Nana was engaged in the prolong war against the British Raj.He was happy and excited to see that Bhayrvi, his future life partner was equally and emotionally involved in his pursuits of life…specially interested in the freedom struggle of people in the area. She gave him good company and when he wanted to traverse the path of history of their martyrs. She shared Anand’s sentiments that the idea of an armed revolution never completely ruled out the protests of people as many groups involved in the freedom struggle still believed in the cult of violence and took to manufacturing of fire arms and bombs well as assassination. His Nana too had not seen in any hazards of armed resistance against the rule of tyranny.
Anand’s Nana in the deep forests of Mewar was engaged in breeding revolutionaries how to prepare bombs through a booklet and pamphlets with a misleading title-‘Van - Seva’…actually his Nana had the direct links with the Gujarat rebels who settled down in Europe.
Anand and Bhairvi had visited first of all that territory of Menal where his Nana took his shelter in the guise of an assistant Pujari.Being Brahman he was immediately accepted by the masses of that tract.
‘Do you know Bhairvi, my uncle remained a Pujari for a pretty long time in this temple? Anand told her while entering in the age-old shiv temple worshiped by Nath sect of Sadhus.
‘This is the most beautiful sight I have ever visited in my life…so vast and beautiful…
so much charming.’ She told him.
‘And could you imagine my Nana was in touch with the European revolutionary Sardarsingh Rana based in Paris’
‘I read about Bhikaji Cama…’
‘Exactly…they were a group who helped young revolutionaries monetarily’ Anand explained to his lovebird …Rana was the least known though he was the only one who remained in touch with my Nama to see India getting independence and lived in Paris almost 50 long years…’
‘How do you known all this Anand…? She was impressed with what information Anand possessed.
‘ I had a friend in Bikampur whose father was the Director of State Archives and a very senior professor…he helped me to get all that what is today the rare documental history in the archives. I was fortunate enough to have all that as he died of heart attack… immediately after a week. otherwise anybody can think… how difficult it is to gather information from the government source…His frind’s late father appreciated the radical spirit, of his Nana’s struggle in the freedom movements who lived his last days in privation… His Nana always inspired him to fight for the second line of struggle, the fight for the still oppressed people of his country after independence. Anand was speaking continuously without interruption as he was emotionally moved by memories of his unsung hero…his loving Nana…Bhairvi was silently observing his glittering face.
‘Bhairvi, I am fortunate enough to have his one last letter written to my Nani after freedom and in that letter he had cleared his mind in these words- ‘…My dearest love…I have no words to acknowledge your pains of life…I have the offers to join the present government in a bigger capacity of my reward as they told me…but I still feel good if I die as un unsung commoner than joining hands with corrupt and power seeking brokers of orthodox polity of new brands of politicians. I prefer a loss to a dishonest 'game', the one brings pain at the moment, the other for all time. I hope you understand this more than me…!
… ……
Anand and Bhairvi moved in the direction of old ruins of temples. They both reached Maurakuro, where Anand’s Nana lived near a deserted palace and his hideout was the remains of a Nauchowk in the beginning of his fight against the foreign rule. The modern fort of Bijolia Rao was built by using old stones of ruined temples and palace and the main entrance was also beautified by statues in design.
They visited huge Shiv temples in the nearby town…Revati tank with an old inscription saying- ‘whosoever will take a dip in this tank would be blessed by prosperous family.’After reading the inscription when Anand smilingly Invited Bhairvi to take a dip for their future prospective married life, Bhairvi simply took water in her palm and put it on her head and sprinkled her eyes with due respect. Anand just repeated her act.
This historic and religious place is surrounded by sky high Aravali range of hills. From the hills fresh humming streams glittered, flowing into the four hundred feet deep dark fissure. This scenic beauty not only enthralled them but stirred fear in their mind. The fissure was covered by natural forming lid of dark green dense offshoots of trees.
‘How refreshing to be a part of this enchanting gift of nature…!
‘It’s overwhelming to be here…Perhaps the goddess of bountiful beauties has created this to stop restlessness of life’-Bhairvi responded as if she was lost in deep meditation
‘My Nana had a great fascination for this land and in his diaries he had mentioned that these temples were erected by the last Hindu ruler Prithviraj Chauhan and often visited by the kings and knights of Chittore along with their families.’’ Anand told.
‘That means your Nana was well versed in history…
‘I think so… I want to visit all those places where my Nana was active…as I plan to write a book
on the unsung hero’s of our freedom struggle…and to start with Mewar will be quite exciting-He expressed his future desire.
‘Anand I shall too be happy in case you associate me with this project’-Bhairvi gave her consent.
‘Now you are part of my life…I feel you my real partner.
Bhairvi and Anand came back to Kailashpuri by bus. They had to join duties on the next morning.
It almost became a routine pas- time and passion of this new love couple to visit pockets of the activities of freedom fighters. For couple of months Bijolia became the center of attraction of them and they moved around the old capital in search of material for the book. In earlier times this feudal terrain was reachable either by foot or horse or by camels ,land was rocky with almost no irrigation for farmers, still the common men was crushed by different types of taxes imposed from time to time…and the ways of collection of these taxes were oppressive . Anand’s Nana fought against the practice of ‘Beggar’ which was almost common in the feudal system…during those days there was no use of capital and the barter system was operative for exchange of services or labor with goods. But later the system took a form of unimaginable exploitation.
In the smallest village Cobler,Potter,Barber,Gardener,Tailor,Carpenter,Sargara,Dholi,Bhil and even traders were supposed to give free service to their feudal lords or his representative.
The Cobbler besides his job of making and mending of shoes would give his free service to his lords. He was used as messenger, for bringing fodder for animals, as cooli, for grass cutting and storing, arranging, making and managing food for the horses etc…Potter were responsible for water-service and would give earthenware, even keloo (slabs) for roofing, Barber was called for washing clothes, cleaning house and utensils, their women were