The Garland Maker

Saanso ki mala pey simru main, tera naam!

It was raining.

Night was about to set in, the moon was about to become full in next seven days.🌙

Night was all Siya had, and oneness with the moon was all that she longed for!

Siya weaves rose garlands every day in front of this mazaar. With every red rose she sews in the thread, she breathes his name, a love so pure yet so incomplete! 💕

Though a hindu by birth, this place has a different level of peace, she feels quite attached to. A place which is no different from her place of divinity.

Alii !…

This place reminds her of Ali, the boy whom she loved once so much.

A love story that couldn’t be complete because of societal norms and parental disregard.

Owing to different religion, her father refused the match.

She kept sewing the garlands, as the memories of that night kept flashing before her eyes.

A night…

though had the ambience of full moon, turned a lot darker with heavy clouds, when Siya’s father refused to accept Ali in his family. Ali came to meet Siya with a bunch of red roses.🌹

All the roses fell on the ground, drenched and water washed all over.

Tonight, although it was raining heavily, Ali’s heart carried grief which was much heavier than the black clouds above.

Stay away from my daughter! a rebuke made so hard by Siya’s father.

It tore Ali’s heart to pieces.💔

It was raining all heavily, Ali realised Siya could never get these roses.

Siya standing at her balcony, had her kajal gliding down her face, as tears rolled down her eyes, when she watched a drenched Ali dropping all his roses on the moonlit rainy ground.  

Three years have passed...

The connection with roses has not changed for Siya.

Ever since she left her father’s home, and staying on her own as a Garland Maker. The mazaar was something which connected her with memories of Ali. Ali was someone who believed in supremacy of Allah and power of his love.

It is being three years,  nobody knew where Ali went. Siya searched for Ali everywhere, like a mad woman.

Visiting every dargah and mazaar, which her bare feet could take her up to.

Tears glided her eyes, remembering the nights with rain and moon, that followed her wherever she went searching for Ali!

This mazaar was close to her home, Siya choose a life where she can sit outside mazaar and sew rose garlands, remembering Ali in her every breathe, singing, ‘Saanso ki mala pey simru main, tera naam!’

Devotees outside the mazaar advised her to go inside the mazaar and place her jeremiad before the Sufi saint who lives inside the mazaar.

Devotees have shared stories of how many separated souls have met their beloved; once they got the glimpse of the saint who lives inside the mazaar.

Siya, on the other hand had lost all her hopes, and had an understanding of not visiting inside any day to pray for uniting with Ali.

Today is full moon 🌔

Siya’s heart felt joyous and pined at the same time realizing, love will attain its fulfillment for so many lives tonight.

‘May the moon tonight relieve every loving soul from the pain of separation!’

It was raining heavily and Siya was still at her garland shop, her heart was not ready to leave the place.

Winds were whooshing. In no time, a big thunderstorm broke!

A big thunder, lightning fell, and Siya could hear a few people shouting inside the mazaar.

The situation intensified and as a few moments passed, two devotees came outside from the mazaar. The rain was on the verge of stopping now, as if all was done.

The devotees were approaching Siya, who was about to leave her garland shop and go home.

‘Siya ji, our beloved Sufi Saint has been struck in today’s thunderstorm lightning.’,

‘He is breathing his last, saying he was doing his dua (prayers) beside the divine wall and it is today he said he was praying for someone. He was uttering the word Siya!’

‘He is breathing his last, and we want to present him with roses. Can you please come inside with your rose garlands!

Siya rushed inside, The Sufi was breathing his last.

Saw Ali, the Sufi praying!

‘Let my Allah bestow me with glimpse of my Siya, once’.

Two eyes met!

Siya ,the garland maker comes forward and keeps her hands and roses on the torso of Ali, who was lying down.

They spoke…one last time, with their eyes.

.