When Anand Loved Razia

  Anand and Razia were a beautiful pair, ardently in love with each other. They were neighbours and as infants both of them slept in the same cradle. As little children they shared the same cot.
That long bondage between the two blossomed into tender love. Anand’s father Raghaviah and Razia’s father Ahmed were aware of their love for each other but adopted an indulgent attitude over it.

  Their love was to have borne fruit under their paternal nourishment but …

  “But Anand,” Razia said sadly “I don’t think even in my dreams that the village head would agree to our marriage.”

  Anand did not reply. He was throwing pebbles into the river and when they created small ripples, he muttered something under his breath. “Yes, Razia, how could he?” he said slowly as if talking to himself. “The cursed religions”he clenched his teeth. He was quite alarmed about the communal tensions gradually enveloping the village because of their love.

  “Anand!” Razia put her arm around his shoulder,”don’t be disheartened. You’re a man and my man. You must find a way out of this.”

  Razia’s soothing words injected new strength into him. “Razia!”He said resolutely,”we will persuade our parents to talk to the elders of the village. He took her hand into his. They both walked along the bank of the river and turned to the right to reach the lane that led to their houses.

  The river flowing majestically meant a lot for the young lovers.  They were initiated into the majestic presence of the river when they were children. While Anand’s father Raghaviah and Razia’s father Ahmed sat on the sands of the bank of the river and talked over the affairs of the village,  Anand and Razia played hide and seek games there.

  As young lovers they muttered sweet nothings to each other on the river bank on full moon nights. The river kindled the spirit of their love and now exhorted them to take the right action to consummate their love.

  Having been pressurized, Raghaviah and Ahmed met the elders under the banyan tree which served as the local court for the village and half a dozen hamlets around. 

  The elders of the village gave them a patient hearing. No doubt, they also had a soft corner for the  young lovers. But they were helpless in the face of the communal passions, gradually overtaking the village. The villagers of both the communities have no objection to this inter faith marriage. But the village heads of both the religions have their instructions from above to thwart this marriage.

  So despite the tearful pleadings of Anand and Razia and their respective parents, the banyan court of the village decreed that the inter faith marriage should not take place. It was also decreed at the banyan tree court that both Anand and Razia should be married separately within their respective religions within three months. That is - Anand should be married; with an eligible girl of his community and Razia with a suitable bridegroom of her community.

  Both Raghaviah and Ahmed had anticipated this decree. So they accepted their fate stoically. But the hot blooded young pair revolted against the decree of the village banyan court.

  That night both Anand and Razia met on the banks of the river. Razia, in spite of her heroic pretence, buried her head in Anand’s chest and wept bitterly. But Anand did not join her in her sorrow for he was a real man now.

  “Razia” he said firmly, “our wedding will be performed at ten o'clock  tomorrow morning, Come what may.”

  “But Anand…”Razia was startled. She was very much worried about Anand’s safety. She wanted to express her doubts and fears. But Anand stopped her. “No ifs and buts Razee,”he said, “even if the heavens fall down, the wedding will take place at the appointed hour.

  Love, devotion and gratitude overwhelmed her and she bent down to touch his feet. “No, Razee,”Anand raised her and hugged her. “The rightful place of my lady is my heart, not my feet.”

  A little while after that rapturous mood, “Anand said,”Razee it’s already half past nine. Let’s get along. I’ll see you home.”

  The next morning the entire village was agog with the revolutionary decision of the young lovers. People began to gather at the village Ramalayam and the adjoining mosque as Anand announced that the marriage would take place at the mosque according to Islamic traditions and later at the Ramalayam according to Hindu customs.

  Just before the wedding at the mosque and at the temple later, villagers gathered there in large numbers. There were discussions and heated exchanges as to what should be done now.

  They were all agitated over the possible future result of this interfaith wedding, as communal clashes were already taking place in nearby towns.

  Suddenly as if a bolt from blue, a farm hand came there running. He was panting for breath as he ran about a mile non stop. He reached Ahmed in one long stride and cried,”Goodas are going to attack our village. They’re coming this way.

  At this unexpected turn, the villagers who gathered at the temple and the adjacent mosque, began to run helter-skelter fearing for their lives.

  Raghaviah expected the impending attack beforehand. So he was least perturbed. He turned to Ahmed, now his brother-in-law and said,”brother, “let’s take the challenge. But we must be composed.”

  Then he looked at the fear-stricken and dispersing villagers from the temple and the mosque. Both Raghaviah and Ahmed mobilised the villagers who were fleeing. They asked the villagers to gather at the river bank, the border of the village with their women and children.

  Shortly an army of men, women and children gathered at the bank of the river with weapons of various descriptions from swords, knives, sticks, pestles and baskets filled with stones. A sizable army of boys were also at the scene with catapults. Only a signal from Raghaviah and Ahmed, they were ready to charge.

  On the other side of the river, there were about twenty ruffians with swords, sticks and country; made bombs. Their initial plan was to indulge in looting and arson in the village and then kill the bride groom and kidnap the bride. 

  But now they were frightened and perspired profusely as they were badly outnumbered. It also dawned on them that as long as the majority community and the minority community were united under the bondage; of love and oneness, no evil force could attack them.

  Had they crossed the river, they were sure to be lynched to death.

  As they took a last, timid look at the vast army of the villagers, the better part of their discretion prevailed on them to do the right thing and they took to their heels.

  Unfortunately our hero Anand had been deprived of the opportunity to show his heroism.

  Thus the crisis was over without any bloodshed.