Story: 21 days of separation in Delhi

While skimming through the night table, these words caught my eye:

‘’What use is gold, life, pearl, coral unless we spend them on love, sacrifice them to a beloved one?”

This was said centuries ago by Rumi as if it was to explain what has been going on these days. It had been about 21 days, since I came to this city and it was the hottest weather of the year in Delhi.

But as the poet said: “If you’re living winter inside, you’ll shiver deep down though it’s summer outside.”

Yes, I was shivering inside as I’ve never did before. Moments that never came to pass, nights full of tears. This was a kind of pain that I’ve never known and experienced..

…thoughts were causing me to lose my mind.

What did I do wrong? Questions and questions again, never-ending, unanswered questions. Born an orphan and was about to leave these lands as an orphan.

All these efforts were only for one heart.

We did not even have some minutes to exchange, no more than some number of words, lines with, simply couldn’t have.

My camera came to my mind. It had to be in the pocket of my bag. I got out of the bed and started to look for it. I could not stop the flow of time, that I understood though I did a little bit late. But at least, I could portray the life flowing..

I took a taxi right ahead and proceeded to “Agrasen ki Baoli”.

I did not bargain with the driver this time. Because I did not care about the charge. Those memories spent within four walls, they were invaluable.

About 45 minutes later, wriggling out of the dusty traffic of Delhi, we had finally arrived at that place where staircases adjoined the sky..

This masterpiece with his 103 stairs was built during the Tughluq Dynasty. The exact date and reason behind its construction were still unknown. But that spiritual feeling, mixed with sadness and happiness surrounding you, once you took a step inside, was unforgettable.

And at this very place the eyes gazed at each other, talk lapsed into silence, hearts got enough of thinking and feeling.

I looked at those walls, at people passing by it again. I was sad inside but was not regretful, never. If I had a chance, I would come again for the sake of that beautiful pure heart. I might have made a lot of mistakes, yes, I saddened her a lot. I would not be able to see her again.

Maybe I turned the love into hatred. Maybe God was angry with me as I tried to change the fate.

But one cannot simply turn back the time…

I got back here again and pressed the shutter.

I tried to shoot every frame tirelessly, on and on. In this very place where a friendship turned into a love, I was trying to portray a world where even friendship no longer exist, all alone, lovelorn.

It was all to have these photos that I keep make me remember love again, once that time comes and I miss it all. I pressed the shutter for one last time, say goodbye, to those mournful walls at this exact place, where “Eternal Friendships” lived together and ended all alone.

It was exact 21 days in loneliness that longing made us live. Just a few minutes before the plane took off, these lines of mine came to my mind:

“They call you Agrasen ki Baoli.

One,

wants to gaze at your heavens hopefully,

wants to see you though you’re near,

feels the longing deep down, right here.”

Author: Harun Resit Aydin

Agrasenki Baoli in Delhi is still the most mystical place in my life, where the biggest love’s and sorrow’s were lived all together and turned into more than 700 poems and 45 stories. It’s the place of love, passion and longing for my ink and paper.

I pray that God unites one day all the lovers around the world.

Of course, before the last poem is written, the last bird is silenced and I’ve closed my eyes forever.

Thanks..

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