Celestial Love vs Human Love – Maitree & Ashish SS: Part 1 Update on Jul 13, 2024

I dedicate this one to my dearest friend Jasmine Rahul who wished to read short story based on Malayalam movie ‘Gandharva Kshetram’ . At the movie Madhu and Sharada were main leads along with Prem Nazeer and here Namish Taneja , Shrenu Pareikh and Kunal Jaisingh will be playing the respective roles. The movie was a wonder and I don’t know whether I can give the exact feel of the movie but I will try my level best. So let’s move to the story.

A small village at Rajasthan 

Maitree : Oh Dadi, why you insisted me to wear this gagra choli ? It’s so heavy …

Dadi : My Gudiya Rani you looks like an angel when you wear this. And don’t forget this is our village’s traditional dress. I suggested you to wear this because you should always dress up like a fairy , princess and your looks should be classy. Then only Gandharva will like you…. Those who didn’t obey the Gandharva they all had to suffer a lot in Thakur family….And I don’t want the same thing should happen to you..

Maitree : Dadi why you are saying so ?

Dadi : My son married a girl from other caste and bought here . But then what happened ? My daughter in law died during her pregancncy when she give birth to you and my son also didn’t lived long….Two weeks later when he was leaving village at the rainy night the bus he was travelling got hit at the bridge and at god took him also from me.

Maitree : But Dadi that was an accident and not only my Bawuji whoever travelled in that bus were either injured or dead . That’s because of the broken bridge and it’s the fault of the engineer and workers who didn’t checked properly before opening that bridge …..If roads , bridges , vehicles are not proper accidents may occur and at that day climate was also not fair.

Dadi : Shh!! Chup ho jaa….By going school you have started uttering non sense. I am telling you all these happened because of the curse of Celestial Musician which means Gandharva Sangeetagya. At least my grand daughter should not break the rule……Astrologer I mean your dadaji  has told that you should always remain as single, unmarried person so that Gandharva will feel attraction on you. Remember your Maa was not from our caste and community and by making her as my daughter in law I did a big mistake…..I still remember that wedding day of my son and bahu when my husband committed suicide as whole villagers boycotted him from the post of Sarpanch of Panchayat by stating that by making an intercaste marriage at traditional home he has committed a big sin. And your Dadaji at so much humilation killed himself with the traditional sword and at last time of death he made me to swear that I should devote my son’s child to Gandharva .

Maitree : I heard that Gandharvas with their music attract girls what if instead of me if a boy was born ?

Dadi : No …..It can never happen . My husband already said that my daughter in law will give birth to daughter only . He was a great astrologer too and his prediction should never become failure.

Maitree : But Dadi these stories are…..

Dadi : These are not mere stories these are truth, bitter truth . See my gudiya rani at nights you have to dress up like these always ….Now go and sleep at room.

Maitree : Dadi I feel so fear to sleep alone….

Dadi : You should always think about Gandharva , his waving long hair, his smile and the music and the time when you enters to your youth he will take you and all the curses of our Thakur Home will be ended forever. Your life is devoted for Gandharva and remember the day when Gandharva gets attracted on you he can do whatever he wants on you.

Maitree : Dadi !! What does that mean ?

Dadi : Anything can happen , your Dadaji’s sister Kalyani was a devotee of Gandharva and she never get married with any one but Gandharva pleased on her and she gave birth to a golden baby…..

Maitree gets shocked and feels scared. Dadi cupped her face and looked her

And when you grow up you will also give birth to golden baby that child will be celestial child of both Gandharva and an Angel Maitree…..You are not a normal human girl you are born as an angel and always remember this thing you are always devoted to Gandharva ..

Dadi used to describe Gandharva every day and slowly Maitree started believing this despite being an educated person and unknowingly this had started a deep impact at her sub conscious mind.

After some years 

Maitree has now become a beautiful youthful girl and still she hasn’t stopped hearing her Dadi’s stories. It was a full moon night and at her dadi’s instruction Maitree dressed up in white fairy like costume

Dadi ; You just sleep tonight wearing this. Gandharva will meet you today.

Maitree : Is it ? Today I will see my Gandharva…

Dadi : Yes…..

Maitree smiled and went to her room…In excitement without closing the room she lie down at bed and slowly she felt asleep …..

Maitree!!  A soft voice echoed at her ears and she simply said ; Mmhh..

I am your Gandharva. Come let’s go to our Gandharva Lok…

Maitree slowly opened her eyes and she saw the long waving hair , the sparkling eyes and the Gandharva who dressed up in white dress

Maitree :Gandharva !!

He : Yes I am Gandharva come with me…Now your nights are mine ….We will sing and dance whole night…

He stared her sharply. Maitree felt it as a command and when  Gandharva held her hand and turned she accomapnied him without saying anything.

He took her to another world where everything were decorated with lamps , flowers and lights….

He turned towards her face and looked her intensely. Maitree was almost freezed at that gaze.

He came closer and touched her hair . At nervousness she closed her eyes and he whispered at her ears : Now onwards Maitree’s life , dreams belongs to Gandharva. At nights you will be my celestial fairy and when the right time will arrive I will take you to my world forever and ever……

Maitree turned her face and Gandharva held her towards him and started singing the melodius tune and Maitree lost herself in that song..

Indra vallari poo choodi varum

Sundara hemantha rathri

Enne nin marile vanamalayile

Manthara malarakkoo

Ividam vrindhavanamakku

Indra vallari poo choodi varum

Sundara hemantha rathri

Enne nin marile vanamalayile

Manthara malarakkoo

Ividam vrindhavanamakku

He signed upwards with his finger and Maitree saw flowers bursting at them and she felt mesmerized on this deed.

Ozhukume vennila palaruvi

Oru nimisham kondoru yamunayakku

Premodhayangalil meyyodu cherkkumoru

Gana gandhravvanakku

Enne nin gana gandharvvanakku

Premodhayangalil meyyodu cherkkumoru

Gana gandhravvanakku

Enne nin gana gandharvvanakku

He held her more closer and she felt everything as magical at that moment.

Indra vallari poo choodi varum

Sundara hemantha rathri

Enne nin marile vanamalayile

Manthara malarakkoo

Ividam vrindhavanamakku

 At morning Maitree wake up and looked here and there. She didn’t find Gandharva anywhere. She tried to recall whatever Gandharva did with her and in fear she started crying bitterly.

She ran towards her Dadi and Dadi felt confused.

Maitree : Dadi I saw Gandharva….He took me somewhere and said I am his fairy ….Now my whole nights are his …..What does that mean Dadi ?

Dadi : Gandharva has annoucned you as his fairy which means the curse of our house will go away forever…..You saved us , you saved the village . I am so proud of you Gudiya rani..

Maitree : Dadi was that a dream or reality ? What if he will do anything with me ? Dadi like Kalyani…

Dadi interrupted her ; Kalyani jeeji break the rule after giving birth to golden child. She tried to leave the village and Gandharva cursed her …..That’s why her dead body was floating at river….

Maitree : And the golden child …..What happened to that child ?

Dadi : Gandharva took the child to his world. No one has seen that baby ….But Maitree you should never leave this village and if you disobey this then anything can happen..

Maitree gets scared….

Meanwhile a person came there.

Maitree !!

Maitree : Buwa Ji !!

Dadi : Why you came here Sudha ?

Sudha : Maa!! You didn’t liked my arrival.

Dadi : Sudha don’t forget you are now just a guest of this house….Beti jab parayi hoti hein toh woh mehman ban jaati hein…..Mere bete ne ek hi accha kaam kiya hein. Teri shaadi hamare hi biradri ke ladke ke saath kiya….Woh bhi paas waale gaon mein…

Sudha ; Maa aap purani baaton mein itni uljhiye mat…..Mein toh application form leke aayi hoon Maitree ke admission ke liye college mein….

Dadi : College !!!! But there is no college in this village ….

Sudha :But it’s in our village , comparitively it’s more developed also. If you allow us Maitree can go college by staying at my home . College is just at walkable distance only.

Dadi : Sudha !!!! How dare you say like this ?

Maitree and Sudha gets shocked…..