LOVE is a divine gift. It elevates the giver and the taker. It assumes huge dimensions in mute tributes.
Vijay was killing time throwing stones in the river. Suddenly the wind brought sweet strains of music to his ears. He proceeded in the direction of the sound and came to a temple. He saw a Jogan singing. He was drawn towards her and was spellbound. He saw many women there listening to her devotional song.
Next day he again went to the temple to hear her heavenly voice. Though males were forbidden to be nearby, he managed to stand by the pillar to satisfy his ardent desire.
After the song was over, the Jogan proceeded to her place. But this time Vijay followed her. She resented this and scolded him saying, "The noon gathering is meant only for females and males are strictly forbidden to come". Vijay wanted to say something but the Jogan cut him short saying, "I do not talk with men'' and she shut the door of her hut.
But Vijay was feeling restless all the while. He felt himself drawn towards the temple. The Jogan saw him. She pleaded, "Please discontinue your visits. Your presence breaks up my peace of mind".
Vijay had no other go than to give her his promise not to cross her path. He kept his promise.
Vijay, the atheist of yesterday and devotee of love of today, was seen rambling on the banks of the river. He had faint hope of catching some strains of that celestial music from the hut. But the Jogan had ceased singing her songs. The only word that was heard was "Shanti" "Shanti" "Shanti".
Nobody knew why this change had come over the Jogan. Vijay found some comfort in placing flowers at the feet of the idol.
One night Vijay saw a figure coming towards the river. She had come to throw the flowers into the river. Seeing Vijay, she was thunderstruck. She just uttered, "You-here"? Vijay said "I come here every day so that by chance I may hear your song", and he put the question that was worrying him all the while, to the Jogan, "Why have you taken to the ascetic's way of life"?
She wanted to avoid him, but she had perforce to tell her story to lessen the burden of her soul and comfort Vijay.
She said, "I was a Jagirdar's daughter. My name was Surbhi. My father was in deep debts and my brother was addicted to drinks. My brother took into his head to marry me to an old man. I thought it better to face death. So I left my home and people. In the jungle I met an elderly Jogan. She advised me to devote myself to the service of God. I was fond of composing songs. My voice aided me and I sang to the delight of all. But now that voice is silenced. I who had succeeded in renouncing everything now felt perturbed".
Now only one way was open to her. She decided to leave the village without telling anybody. When Vijay learnt about it he came to her. She uttered only these words, "If you want that I should live in peace, do not proceed further from that tree." Vijay stopped there. She vanished in a minute,
Vijay kept his word. He paid visits to the temple, to the tree, to the jungle.
One day a young Jogan came there. She gave a book to Vijay saying, "An elderly Jogan gave this to me to hand over to the man who sits below the tree on the border of the village, after her death".
[From the official press booklet]