Inseparable Souls

Prologue

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A girl, exquisitely adorned, sat on the bed in the bridal chamber. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her face, enhancing her natural beauty. She gazed dreamily at the moon, lost in thought as she awaited her husband’s arrival.

As she heard the door creak open with a thud, her breath caught in her throat, and a wave of fear washed over her at the sound of approaching footsteps. Although she could sense her husband’s presence, she dared not look up.

“I’m sorry, Shree! I should have asked for your consent before marrying you,” Abhivayakt said, guilt etched on his face. “But given the circumstances, I had to make this decision to save you.”

Shree remained silent, her gaze fixed on his feet.

“Shree! Don’t think of this marriage as a lifetime cage. When the time is right, I will set you free. You can then live your life as you wish, away from this unwanted bond,” he assured her.

This prompted Shree to look up, a sarcastic chuckle escaping her lips. "" Azaadi!!! Hmmm.... Ye shabd toh mujhse anjaan hai. Hum aurat hai Kunwar saa aur upar se gareeb. Bapu ne bech daala chand paiso ke liye apke bhai saa ko. Kissi ne itni juraat bhi nikki humse hamara faisla puch sake, Humara mol aise lagaya gya jaisa koi khilona ho. Phir aapke bhai saa humme apne saath le gye humarri marzi kaha puchi gyi? Aapke bhai saa ne humme sone ke pinjre mein kaid kar diya. Unhone ne ek baar bhi janne ki koshish na ki kya hum khush hai? Kher chodo jaise taise humne apni kismat apna li, ye maan liya ki humari kismat aapke bhai saa hi likenge. Phir ek din aapke bhai saa ye duniya chod ke chale gye. Aapke parivaar waalo ne faisla kiya ki hamaara bhi jeevan apke bhai ke saath samapt kar diya jaaye. Hume Apne pati ke shav ke saath esa jalaaya ja raha tha phir bhi kissi ne ye ek baar bhi ni pucha ki mein jeena chahti hu ki nahi. Main bhi murakh isse hi apna anth samajh kar maut to gale lagaane wali thi ki aap aa gye aur apni mahaanta dikhane ke liye mujhse bina puche shaadi kar li. Kaha hain meri marzi mera faisla. Main is duniya ke liye sirf ek kathputli hu jiska mann kare use tarah se nachwata hai. Yehi hai mera jeevan, yahi mera astitwa hai!!!! "

{“Freedom? Hmmm… that word is foreign to me. I’m a woman, and worse, I’m poor. My father sold me for a few coins to your brother. No one dared to ask me what I wanted! I was treated like a toy, bought by my brother. He took me away without considering my wishes. He trapped me like a sparrow in a golden cage, never bothering to see if I was happy. I accepted my fate, thinking my destiny was in the hands of your brother. And when he passed away, your family decided that my life must end with his. I was to be burned alongside my husband, yet no one cared to ask if I wanted to live! I was a fool to think my life would end there, and then you— Kuwar saa like a savior—married me without my consent. Where is my will, my choice? To the world, I am merely a puppet, dancing to the whims of others. This is my existence! This is my reality!” A lone tear slipped down her cheek as she finished.}

Abhivayakt felt a surge of guilt but also believed his intentions were noble. He had married his brother's widow to save her from the cruel and false rituals threatening her life.

"No! You are no longer a puppet. You are my wife, the wife of King Abhivayakt Shikhawat. You are the queen of Jaisalmer. You will stand by my side as my equal. You will shape your destiny; I promise you that," Abhivayakt declared.

"Don't give me false hope. It will only lead to heartache in the end!" Shree replied, forcing a smile.

"I’m not giving you false hope, Shree!" Abhivayakt insisted, trying to reassure her.

Shree rose from the bed and said, "Aap ab mere pati hai! Aap jo chahe kar sakte hai" { "You are now my husband! You can do anything you wish with me!"} She slowly began to undrape her saree, revealing her fully grown figure.

"Shree! Please don’t," Abhivayakt said, stopping her hand and covering her with a piece of cloth.

"You are my wife, and I will never act against your will. You are my equal. I will only touch you when you desire it," he stated firmly.

" Lekin .... Agar mein aapko khush nahi rakh paayi toh log mujhe hi kosenge! Mujhe mera dharam nibhaane de " {"But... if I can't keep you happy, people will blame me! Let me fulfill my duties," } ,Shree pleaded.

"Shree, true happiness isn’t just about physical intimacy. It’s about sharing every moment with your partner—whether it’s joyful, sorrowful, or challenging. You will stay by my side, won’t you?" Abhivayakt asked.

Shree nodded obediently, feeling a warmth she had never experienced before.

"From now on, we are friends first, before being husband and wife—true friends," Abhivayakt said, taking her hand.

"Kunwar saa!" Shree gasped in surprise.

"Please, don’t call me Kunwar saa. Just call me by my name," Abhivayakt requested.

"Huh... No, no! Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna! It would be sinful to call my husband by his name," Shree exclaimed, her eyes wide with fear.

“Shree! Nothing like that has happened. It’s just a myth! If you don’t want to call me by my name, then how about giving me a nickname?” Abhivayakt chuckled.

“Aap hi bta dijiye { Please suggest it by yourself },” Shree replied, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Hmmm! What about Abhi?” Abhivayakt suggested.

“But what will other people think if I call you that?” Shree questioned.

“Don’t worry about what others think. Besides, we’re leaving Jaisalmer in a few days to move to Italy,” Abhivayakt reassured her.

“Hey Krishna! Videsh!! How will I live there? I don't even know the local customs, what to wear, or how to communicate! Oh Kanha, please help me!” Shree prayed.

Abhivayakt laughed at her adorable antics. “Why do you always call on Lord Krishna for every little thing?” he asked.

“Because he’s the only one who listens to me,” Shree said sincerely.

“Then consider that he’s heard your prayer. Your Krishna is right here,” Abhivayakt replied with a grin, pointing to himself.

“What do you mean?” Shree asked, a puzzled expression on her face.

Abhivayakt playfully pinched her cheeks. “Forget it! It’s getting late; you should get some sleep.” As he turned to leave, Shree nervously grabbed his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Abhivayakt asked.

“Don’t go outside! What if the elders see you leaving? They’ll scold me! Please don’t!” Shree pleaded.

“All right! I’ll sleep on the couch,” Abhivayakt replied.

“No! I’ll take the couch. I can manage,” Shree insisted, anxiety evident in her voice.

“Are you sure?” Abhivayakt asked, concern etching his face.

“Yes!” Shree affirmed, grabbing a pillow and duvet as she headed for the couch.

Though they slept apart, each of them couldn’t shake the thoughts of the other.

Let’s see what twists their lives will take.

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**Character Descriptions:**

**Abhivayakt Shikhawat:** The Prince of Jaisalmer, India, and a prominent businessman, Abhivayakt embodies the essence of a charming prince. With his tall stature, striking grey eyes, and dusky skin, he captivates many hearts. However, he is betrothed to the daughter of his father’s business partner.

**Shree:** A simple girl born into a poor farming family, Shree is the embodiment of beauty—a diamond in a coal mine. She has long, shiny black curly hair, large almond-shaped eyes framed with thick lashes, and lips like rose petals, complemented by her fair complexion. She aspires to be a doctor, but poverty stands in her way, as her family’s priority is solely to put food on the table.

**King Abhimanyu Shikhawat:** The King of Jaisalmer and Abhivayakt’s elder brother. Abhimanyu ascended to the throne at a young age and took on the responsibility of caring for his younger brother after their parents’ death. He is a kind and generous ruler, beloved by the people of Jaisalmer.

**Madhurima Mehta:** The fiancée of Abhivayakt, Madhurima has been his childhood companion and has harbored a crush on him for years. Her desire is to marry him.

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**Sati Pratha Overview:**

The ancient Hindu practice of sati involved a widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre, originally viewed as a courageous and heroic act but later evolving into a forced tradition. Despite being banned across India, sati has a grim history.

According to ancient Hindu customs, sati symbolized the culmination of marriage. It was initially a voluntary act, showcasing a woman's devotion by following her husband into the afterlife, acknowledged as the greatest expression of loyalty.

Over time, however, this practice became coercive. Women without support or surviving children faced societal pressure to commit sati, as they were often seen as burdens.

Sati was officially prohibited in the 1990s and has since been eradicated from Indian society. The Bengal Sati Regulation Act, passed on December 4, 1829, by Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, outlawed the practice throughout British India.

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