Many oil painting were displayed on the side walk near the Gateway Of India Mumbai[Bombay].A lame boy was selling them , A painting of beautiful girl it had caught the eye of a handsome playboy Suraj who was driving by in his mercedes ,
The lame teenager was apt businessman , he was spinning tales about the paintings ,a small crowd had gathered around him.
This painting of the kanees ‘Anarkali the beautiful Anarkali. ,let me tell you about her.
It is said emperor Akbar walked from Fatehpur Sikri to Ajmer to pray for a son , he was blessed with a son “Salim “ named after his Guru . Emperor Akbar himself an connoisseur and a collector of art and culture His court was decorated with musicians , vocalists ,sculpturers and classical dancers they were known as ‘Navratan’ [ nine gems]
Salim was brave and handsome after winning many wars against the rulers of deccan ,came back to the Agra fort where he met the daughter of not so important courtiers This maiden had been given the title of Anarkali by emperor Akbar for her beauty and musical talents.
Salim fell in love with Anarkali and wanted to marry her Akbar did not approve of his son’s love he wanted to unite the sub continent through the marriage of Salim with other royal princess .Unfortunately Salim was unwilling to obey his father and Anarkali was also adamant and challenged the Akbar who sentenced her to death
He had her buried alive , the ancient rulers did this to non political prisoners chaining them to a post and constructing a wall around in them in the dungeons of forts . Salim Anarkali are always remembered together as eternal lovers . one of foreign tourist was impressed by the story ,after haggling a bit he bought it.
Suraj got down from his car after the crowd moved away .
‘ What about this painting ,boy’’
‘Sahib its not good , just useless , buy this one Padmini , Queen Of Chittorgarh’
the boy began to narrate another story ,
As the rajput kings were constantly fighting with each other they were open to foreign invaders like Mohmmed Gori who invading India from the area that is now modern Pakistan which is close to [present Rajasthan ] Bikaner ,Ajmer , ancient Mewar which was one of the Rajput Kingdoms and was attacked by Allai uddin Khilji This was 14 century Rana Sanga and rajput alliance defeated the invader , a pact was made and the victory tower was built inside the fort of chittorgarh Padmini was the beautiful queen of Rana Sanga ,it is said that Allai uddin Khilji saw the reflection of Padmini in a mirror
He began to desire her and invaded Mewar again This time the rajput alliance were late in giving help Rana Sanga died fighting Queen Padmini committed Johar along with all women living inside the fort to save their honour from being taken captive by Allai uddin Khilji and sold as slaves
The boy did not sell the painting to Suraj , his cajoling did not work .
The lame boy Babloo was a school boy who loved history ,enjoyed reading about old Indian kings.He was earning his livelihood through his talent of painting and storytelling. Ever day he managed to sell one of his painings. Bablo had runaway from the orphanage where he was ill-treated by warden.
Suraj took some visiting foreign clients to Ajanta caves a historical site , outside he saw the lame boy displaying his paintings . This time he was narrating the story of brave and
sacrificing Panna 14 century Rajput women were brave and sacrificed their all for Rajputana , many a princess could wield swords like men and died bravely committing sati with the soldiers One great women was Panna ,the nursemaid of tiny crown prince UdaiSingh the son of Rana who had died fighting on the battle field
Panna breast fed tiny Udai as well as her new born son , she was in the nursery when a spy came to warn her that Ratan Singh his uncle had planned to kill the crown prince and she must save him.Unfortunately before Panna could flee from the palace , sound of Ratan Singh footsteps approaching to the nursery were heard. And Panna in an act of supreme sacrifice changed the crown prince place in the cradle and laid her infant son in his place
The cruel ursurper killed the infant in the cradle , Panna did not waste a moment without a second glance at her dead son ,took up the prince and hid in the forest rearing the child till he was old enough to fight for his throne
Rana Udai Singh built the beautiful city of Udaipur, full artificial lakes like Fateh sagar , city is full of beautiful gardens ,fountains and palaces . The Lake Palace in middle of the Fateh Sagar is now a luxury hotel Udaipur today is just right place to visit as a tourist.Rajasthan is the place to visit , camels in the desert ,forts and palaces an treasure trove of royal folklore , valiant kings , queens and tales battles .
Again Suraj asked him to sell the painting.
The lame boy smiled slyly at Suraj , ‘’Saheb why do you want this painting , you are a rich man , buy the portrait of Razia Sultan queen of Delhi, this one pointing with his grimy finger.
Delhi is the capital of our country India
Sahib ! have you ever visited ?
Delhi has been the capital of many mughal kings. Qutub Minar an ancient tower in Delhi stands tall a reminder of the 13 century Razia Sultan who was the onlyEmpress to rule from the throne of Delhi. She was the granddaughter of Qutub-ud-din Eibak , former slave of Mohmmed Gori who ruled Delhi , his slave was Illtumish a able general and married him to his daughter
After her father Illtumish’s death,Razia ascended the throne , being a woman she was not liked by the nobles Unable to gain the loyalty of her courtiers she depended more on another African Slave general Yakud .Razia ruled for a period ,some historians say that she fell in love intending to marry him Thus displeasing the nobles and she was murdered , end of the slave dynasty Qutb Minar Tower of victory named after Sultan Qutb ud Din Aibak, 17 km south of Delhi, India. You most visit Delhi . buy this painting .
Once again the boy refused to sell the painting.
Suraj was hooked onto the painting , he began to drive everyday along the marine drive uptill the gateway of india in search of the boy. Often he would find him selling his paintings there , telling his stories.Today again he was telling the story of
Princess Sanyoghta who loved king PrithviRaj Chauhan, her cousin whom her father detested . So great was Jaichand’s jealousy that he placed PrithviRaj’s statue on the gate of his palace giving him the status of his servant PrithviRaj was a famous , known far and wide for prowess as a archer ,could shoot a flying bird blindfold.At the Swarmbar the equally stubborn Sanyoghta walked out and garlanded the Statue .
Brave PrithviRaj was waiting at the palace gate and carried his sweetheart on his horse to his Kingdom of Delhi where he married Sanyoghta Love reigned supreme and sweethearts were reunited though their marriage was short lived .PrithviRaj joined with other Kings to fight Mohmmed Gori, an angry Jaichand stayed neutral.
‘what sahib again you want that old painting ,buy something new please ‘
‘No ,I will give you five thousand rupees let it be my last offer , now give the painting to me ‘ said Suraj
‘I ‘m a poor boy , how can I refuse you , I will give it to you , I will paint another one.’’
‘ Who is the girl what her name ‘’
‘No one sahib , just my imagination ‘ said the boy with an innocent expression.
Suraj knew the boy was not telling the truth and he will never him the girl’s name.
He hung it on the wall of his office . The girl in the painting intrigued him as if rising out of the clouds and floating in mid air He was a busy industrialist, his granfather‘s heir, ofcourse a lady’s man with all the girls chasing him.
Strangely he seemed to have lost interest in all women, the painting had bewitched him Surprising his grandfather and friends on his own birthday bash by declaring that The girl in the painting was his dream girl He began to look for her
A strange twist of fate brought his dream girl in front of him only to discover that she was no princess but a common thief Chameli. He sat in his car and watched her steal fruits from a vendor.
Meanwhile his grandfather was not swayed by the painting and changed his will According to the new will if Suraj did not get married and have some kids the entire wealth will go to a welfare trust A plan began to take shape in his mind ,by which he will not loose his wealth nor his dreamgirl .
Suraj looked for Chameli again. One day saw a policeman arresting her for stealing a purse and took her to the policestation to be sent to jail for the petty crime .He bailed her out ,in exchange he proposed she will have to play the role of his wife . She was not willing to do so but then she thought about Babloo the lame boy who lived with her and decided to do it . Chameli and Babloo had runaway together from the orphanage . They had struck up a friendship when they use to go to school . Chameli was older than Babloo , she was incharge of the school tiffin.
The orphanage wardens were a corrupt lot, young girls were often raped. Chameli had run away to save her modesty.
Chameli told Babloo she was going away for babysitting to Goregaon, another part of Mumbai . .Babloo wouldnot have agreed to the job ,infact he did not trust anyone.Chameli gave Babloo money and paints and several canvas. She stepped into Suraj’s mansion as his wife , his grandfather was takenup by her innocent beauty and entrancing manner ,the old man Gupta Saheb was happy with his daughter-in-law only Suraj was not fooled knowing that she was just a thief.
Everyday he was impressed by her grace and good manners , something which suggested that she had gone to school . He did not trust her , thought of her like just like his prized possessions
After two months , one day Babloo saw Chameli entering the mansion.He went there searching for her, and found her in the garden with Gupta Saheb. Poor Chameli was in a delima ,if she recognized Babloo as her brother she would break her bargain with Suraj who had agreed to pay a hefty sum for the farce .
Chameli sent Babloo away , he left crying broken hearted ,thinking that Chameli had forsaken him for a richman. Chameli tried to follow Babloo but her attempts to go out of the mansion were thwarted because Suraj had instructed the security not to let her out of mansion without his permission.
Chameli climbed the mansion wall and tried to run away but unfortunately she fractured her leg and had to be confined to her room .Suraj spoke scathingly to her, totally unmindful of her feelings. Chameli spirites became very low and she began to run high fever .
Some days later Suraj saw Babloo near the railway station recognizing him as the boy who had sold him the painting . A heartbroken Babloo narrated to him the incident, Suraj’s eyes were opened , he tried to persuade Babloo to come with him but the boy joined a gang of beggars and got into a local train .
Suraj upset by the events rushed to his mansion only to find his dreamgirl Chameli had jumped down from her balcony again .
This time hurt her head ,losing her consciousness she died calling and searching for Babloo while the little lame boy spent most of his sad life on the footpath begging for food ,never knowing that Chameli who loved him was dead.
Suraj couldnot confess his love to her.Suraj never married ,after Chameli’s death Gupta Saheb also died he had loved Chameli like a daughter.