Two Bodies, One Soul Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Two Bodies, One Soul

Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

Amla and Sabla came together in the village almost at the same time. They were found in a very bad shape at the shrine of a holy sage. Both of them were wounded both physically and mentally as a result of which they lost their memory so much that they were even unable to recall their names, leave aside their place and reason for loss of memory. so eve these names were also given to them by the villagers. In those turbulent times it was quite normal for people to lose their memory after witnessing this large scale destruction and senseless violence. With time their physical injuries were healed but they were unable to get back their memory. As they had nowhere to go so villagers decided to give the work of looking after the shrine to them in return of food and half a dozen clothes per year though they seemed to belong to diverse faith to the faith followed by the majority of the villagers.

So they were employed as caretakers of the shrine that was hub of faith not only for the villagers but also for the people of surrounding villages. As both Amla and Sabla had lost everything, including their memory, so both of then devoted rest of their entire life in looking after the shrine and serving the pilgrims, who came to pay their homage at the shrine selflessly. Due to their devotion, hard work and polite behaviour they won the hearts of the villagers and other pilgrims visiting this holy site. They became popular among the villagers as Baba Amla and Mai Sabla who added these prefixes as mark of respect and affection. With time they became the centre of respect of the villagers and as both of them did not know about their lineage so they accepted this work as their destiny and God sent opportunity and blessing that has given direction to their rudderless lives. Villagers had even married them with each other so as to put the stamp of approval by social authority regularising the fact that both of them were together day and night. As both of them had devoted themselves, soul and body, entirely to each other and to the service at the altar of holy shrine so they did not had issue and villagers took the responsibility of looking after them in their old age when they had grown weak and infirm.

Though their energy had not remained the same as it was in their young days but still they used every ounce of energy left in them in the service of holy saint with full vigour, vitality and capacity. They had grown so used to each other’s company that now they could not even imagine in their dreams to live without each other even for a moment, But they knew that they could not do anything except follow the decree of Almighty and making prayer daily to God not to separate them even in death, even for one moment and they had complete faith in Him that He will give power to them to face the vagaries and uncertainties of future life. Perhaps their prayer to remain together for ever was so sincere and firm that even God had to grant it as one morning both of them were found dead by the villagers. Of course it was perfectly natural death as they lay side by side holding their hands together with a divine glow on their face. Villagers also complying with their dying together decided to bury them together in the same grave side by side. They had lived together and were united even in their death because they were tow bodies one soul. From that day it is believed by the villagers that the pilgrimage to this shrine remains incomplete without paying homage on the grave of this couple.