The Hanged Lovers

The Hanged Lovers

I did not utter a word when I was pushed in the back seat of a car by the guards; from the room in which i was locked with no light and food since three days. Still, it was not quite with me that this would be the penultimate day for me here on earth. In few hours I would not be much more than a life less meat hanging from a rope. "Soon everything will be over" was my thought before the car started whose windows were tinted black. Inside the car, Pia was already sitting with her hands tied. "Prashay," she said weakly as she recognized me. I pulled my tied hands and tried to stretch forward to touch her but couldn't and at least feel her skin for one last time.

 Maybe, I would remember her in the next life and love her again as now, I thought. This I knew. I would pray to our God for her soul and wait for her to find me in the next world. There we could be together forever. How careless we were when we fell in love with each other.  A Brahmin Hindu and a Sunni Muslim. This could not be, and would never be tolerated. Neither by the Hindus nor the Muslims. So it did not matter where we were at this moment; caught by the Hindus or Muslims? We would be done one way or the other. Either way we were dead.

"Please let it go quickly" was my thought before I locked my memory of this cruel world. It just worked somehow. No fear, no thoughts, no pain. If I could only maintain this condition when I will soon be hanged. "Are you scared?" Pia asked me. I shook my head. In the dark interior of the car, our breath and Pia's voice were all I could see. The world around us was forgotten. I would soon see her for the last time. Suddenly the car stopped. I felt tears gather in my eyes. Then the door was opened. The guards took us out. There was a ring around the crowd, both Hindus and Muslims. They formed a large circle around the tree. There was also a covered platform on which the Hindu Sarpanch and the Muslim Imam sat. At least Our Love had brought our communities together for this act, to kill us. We were led by our guards to the tree. Then we had to kneel down with our heads down. Then, for a while it remained perfectly quiet.

I wondered if they would give us an opportunity for last words with each other. At the same moment large black cloths were pulled up on our faces. "Prashay," Pia said to me, "Whatever happens. Stay close to me. I'll wait for you in the next world." "Yes," I replied, "But please promise me the same."

Suddenly I was grabbed on the arm and pulled up, even before I could hear her answer. I could feel the rope's noose being tied around my neck. The same happened with her. Only now did I notice that the tears rolled over my face. I was more afraid than I had imagined. I had sworn to keep my mind shut until it was over. We were standing side by side, only a few yards from each other, and still light years far from each other. I felt like the rope tied around the neck so tight that it choked my eyes out. My legs were just tied to the ankles. I closed my eyes as I heard from the far end of the square the loud noise of drums, it was drums of death for us and became faster and faster. Then the drumming suddenly stopped as fast as it had begun.

A soft cracking signaled to me that the stool below our legs were dropped. The tears began to roll over my face. After a few moments of shock, I gave it up. I knew that I would not be able to free myself either way and all in all: Why should I fight against my predestined fate? All that mattered at the moment was that I was with Pia. We would die together, this was my consolation at this moment. I was not afraid anymore.

As the light before my eyes faded I could see myself drawn into darkness. Everything was black. No light. No noise. Only silent darkness. I treaded slowly in the darkness trying to find my way and suddenly I saw a flash of light. End of this dark tunnel.

And finally in this bright light I saw her. We could be finally together.