Love Story: Sohni Mahinwal

Of the rivers flowing in the Punjab province of Pakistan, only the “Chenab” has the distinction of being associated with many popular love stories. In the folk literature, especially in folk songs and stories, river Chenab is remembered as "Chanhan". People believe that its water has such a magical effect that it does not allow a person to stay anywhere for good. The tragic drama of Heer and Ranjha was played in front of poet Damoodar. Mirza and his Sahiban had fling of love on the bank of the river and fell prey to the evil eyes of the world. The love story of Sohni and Mahinwal was also written with blood on its rippling waters.

It is a reminder of a time when countries around the world remembered the sub-continent as “the golden sparrow.” Merchants brought a variety of goods from distant lands and on their way back returned with a variety of goods.

In the historical city of Balkh Bukhara (now in Uzbekistan), there lived an eminent merchant named Mirza Ali, whose business extended to distant lands. His agents and workers used to come to India with merchandise and on their return bought diamonds, jewels and other necessities and took them back to their homeland doubly benefiting from the trade according to the custom of the time. With so much wealth and honor, he was deprived of the blessing of children.

And this was a concern for which he, like Mughal Emperor Akbar, asked for a thousand prayer and attended the doors of the faqirs (mendicants). One day, hearing from someone that a dervish had come to a nearby hill, whose popularity and reputation was much talked about, he went to the dervish and, after making a vow, said:

It is his heart’s voice that he wants a son.

The dervish spent days and nights in chanting and worship. One day he raised his head towards the sky in front of Mirza Aali and said that God Almighty would give you a beautiful son even in this age but he would be wounded by the arrow of love (cupid) when he is young. He would put his life in trouble and then lose his life in a state of misery and leave only his name behind.

Exactly 9 months later, Allah Almighty blessed Mirza Aali with a male offspring named Izzat Beg. Since Izzat Beg was the only one and the wealth was abundant in the house, the kind-hearted businessman did not spare any effort in training his child.

Besides to pampering, he was trained in the popular sciences and arts, as well as in javelin throwing, horsemanship, swordsmanship, and archery. Izzat Baig was very handsome, intelligent and innocent as well as an obedient son of his parents but in his youth like every other boy his heart started dreaming of seeing the world and making something of himself.

He repeatedly asked his father and mother to let him join a caravan to go abroad so that he could know the world, but every time his father and mother declined saying that he was the only child of old age and they could not afford his absence, but one day they had to do so at the insistence of Izzat Baig. Emperor Shah Jahan's birthday was to be celebrated in Delhi, so Mirza Aali prepared a large trade caravan and sent Izzat Baig with them on the condition that he would return soon with the caravan.

Head of the carawan was given the responsibility of his safety and on his assurance, Aali Baig half-heartedly allowed his beloved son to go India.

When the caravan left, at the request of Izzat Baig, who was eager to travel and see new cities, it was decided to go straight to Delhi first, as there was a possibility of an immediate sale of merchandise due to king's birthday celebrations. In this way, it will be easier for them to return to Bukhara by camping in Lahore, Gujrat, and other cities.

This suggestion proved to be very reasonable as the caravan, during its stay in Delhi, quickly sold its merchandise and toured Delhi, which was then the capital of India. This was a rare marvel for the caravan from Balkh Bukhara and especially for Izzat Baig. Here Izzat Baig had the opportunity to appear in the royal court and present valuable gifts in the service of Shah Jahan. According to royal custom, the king also, presented him with a khilaat, a horse, and about one hundred thousand gold coins, which was a great honor for the caravan, and especially for the young Izzat Baig.

On their return, the elders of the wealthy caravan thought that some goods should be bought from Delhi and some would be taken from Lahore and Gujrat on the way. After stopping at Lahore for two days, sightseeing and shopping, the next stop of the caravan was Gujrat, where the bloody waves of the Chenab River flowed and the story of Izzat Baig becoming Mahinwal begins.

Izzat Baig's caravan camped outside Gujrat city. They began to rest to relieve the fatigue of the journey. At night, when everyone was sitting and talking to each other, a fellow-traveler said to Izzat Baig:

Respected sir! Gujrat city is famous all over the world for its pottery. There is a potter named Tulla (real name was Abdullah) whose utensils are so beautiful that people take them as gifts. He is not only an expert potter but also wealthy because of his special art. The utensils he makes are so charming that they are popular even in distant lands. The jugs and jars are made so that the water gushing from their necks could be seen clearly. The dishes, bowls, vases, saucers, plates, jugs, chimneys, etc. made by Tulla fill the hearts of buyers. He does not know that where he gets the clay from and how he kneads it and then put it on the (potter’s) wheel and shape it into pots. He has never revealed this secret to anyone. The colorful paintings on his pots are also wonderful and charming.

In reply to a question the fellow-traveler said:

"I will bring you some vessels in the morning. You will be amazed to see how skilled and perfect Allah has made this man."

This was confirmed by the local traders also who had come to have business deals with the caravan. They also started praising Tulla's art. Now Izzat Baig really wanted to see the pottery made by Tulla which everyone was praising. He thought about it all night and eagerly waited for the morning to go and see the perfection of Tulla's pottery. And then when morning came, the first thing he did was to call the man and say:

"Go and buy some good pottery from the potter you mentioned last night."

The fellow-traveler knew the potter's shop. Immediately, he went to the town and after a while brought back some fine pieces of Tulla’s art. Izzat Beg was surprised to see the pots. He never thought that the pots could be so beautiful. He said in astonishment:

"As much praise as I heard last night, these pieces are far more impressive in sophistication and beauty."

He was very happy to see the pots. The man who had gone to fetch the utensils also happened to see Sohni, the potter's daughter. As Izzat Baig was praising the pots, he softly remarked:

"Sir! These are pieces of pottery. I have seen a girl there whose beauty cannot be praised in words. There will not be such a beautiful girl in the whole of Balkh."

Of the rivers flowing in the Punjab province of Pakistan, only the “Chenab” has the distinction of being associated with many popular love stories. In the folk literature, especially in folk songs and stories, river Chenab is remembered as "Chanhan". People believe that its water has such a magical effect that it does not allow a person to stay anywhere for good. The tragic drama of Heer and Ranjha was played in front of poet Damoodar. Mirza and his Sahiban had fling of love on the bank of the river and fell prey to the evil eyes of the world. The love story of Sohni and Mahinwal was also written with blood on its rippling waters.

It is a reminder of a time when countries around the world remembered the sub-continent as “the golden sparrow.” Merchants brought a variety of goods from distant lands and on their way back returned with a variety of goods.

In the historical city of Balkh Bukhara (now in Uzbekistan), there lived an eminent merchant named Mirza Ali, whose business extended to distant lands. His agents and workers used to come to India with merchandise and on their return bought diamonds, jewels and other necessities and took them back to their homeland doubly benefiting from the trade according to the custom of the time. With so much wealth and honor, he was deprived of the blessing of children.

And this was a concern for which he, like Mughal Emperor Akbar, asked for a thousand prayer and attended the doors of the faqirs (mendicants). One day, hearing from someone that a dervish had come to a nearby hill, whose popularity and reputation was much talked about, he went to the dervish and, after making a vow, said:

It is his heart’s voice that he wants a son.

The dervish spent days and nights in chanting and worship. One day he raised his head towards the sky in front of Mirza Aali and said that God Almighty would give you a beautiful son even in this age but he would be wounded by the arrow of love (cupid) when he is young. He would put his life in trouble and then lose his life in a state of misery and leave only his name behind.

Exactly 9 months later, Allah Almighty blessed Mirza Aali with a male offspring named Izzat Beg. Since Izzat Beg was the only one and the wealth was abundant in the house, the kind-hearted businessman did not spare any effort in training his child.

Besides to pampering, he was trained in the popular sciences and arts, as well as in javelin throwing, horsemanship, swordsmanship, and archery. Izzat Baig was very handsome, intelligent and innocent as well as an obedient son of his parents but in his youth like every other boy his heart started dreaming of seeing the world and making something of himself.

He repeatedly asked his father and mother to let him join a caravan to go abroad so that he could know the world, but every time his father and mother declined saying that he was the only child of old age and they could not afford his absence, but one day they had to do so at the insistence of Izzat Baig. Emperor Shah Jahan's birthday was to be celebrated in Delhi, so Mirza Aali prepared a large trade caravan and sent Izzat Baig with them on the condition that he would return soon with the caravan.

Head of the carawan was given the responsibility of his safety and on his assurance, Aali Baig half-heartedly allowed his beloved son to go India.

When the caravan left, at the request of Izzat Baig, who was eager to travel and see new cities, it was decided to go straight to Delhi first, as there was a possibility of an immediate sale of merchandise due to king's birthday celebrations. In this way, it will be easier for them to return to Bukhara by camping in Lahore, Gujrat, and other cities.

This suggestion proved to be very reasonable as the caravan, during its stay in Delhi, quickly sold its merchandise and toured Delhi, which was then the capital of India. This was a rare marvel for the caravan from Balkh Bukhara and especially for Izzat Baig. Here Izzat Baig had the opportunity to appear in the royal court and present valuable gifts in the service of Shah Jahan. According to royal custom, the king also, presented him with a khilaat, a horse, and about one hundred thousand gold coins, which was a great honor for the caravan, and especially for the young Izzat Baig.

On their return, the elders of the wealthy caravan thought that some goods should be bought from Delhi and some would be taken from Lahore and Gujrat on the way. After stopping at Lahore for two days, sightseeing and shopping, the next stop of the caravan was Gujrat, where the bloody waves of the Chenab River flowed and the story of Izzat Baig becoming Mahinwal begins.

Izzat Baig's caravan camped outside Gujrat city. They began to rest to relieve the fatigue of the journey. At night, when everyone was sitting and talking to each other, a fellow-traveler said to Izzat Baig:

Respected sir! Gujrat city is famous all over the world for its pottery. There is a potter named Tulla (real name was Abdullah) whose utensils are so beautiful that people take them as gifts. He is not only an expert potter but also wealthy because of his special art. The utensils he makes are so charming that they are popular even in distant lands. The jugs and jars are made so that the water gushing from their necks could be seen clearly. The dishes, bowls, vases, saucers, plates, jugs, chimneys, etc. made by Tulla fill the hearts of buyers. He does not know that where he gets the clay from and how he kneads it and then put it on the (potter’s) wheel and shape it into pots. He has never revealed this secret to anyone. The colorful paintings on his pots are also wonderful and charming.

In reply to a question the fellow-traveler said:

"I will bring you some vessels in the morning. You will be amazed to see how skilled and perfect Allah has made this man."

This was confirmed by the local traders also who had come to have business deals with the caravan. They also started praising Tulla's art. Now Izzat Baig really wanted to see the pottery made by Tulla which everyone was praising. He thought about it all night and eagerly waited for the morning to go and see the perfection of Tulla's pottery. And then when morning came, the first thing he did was to call the man and say:

"Go and buy some good pottery from the potter you mentioned last night."

The fellow-traveler knew the potter's shop. Immediately, he went to the town and after a while brought back some fine pieces of Tulla’s art. Izzat Beg was surprised to see the pots. He never thought that the pots could be so beautiful. He said in astonishment:

"As much praise as I heard last night, these pieces are far more impressive in sophistication and beauty."

He was very happy to see the pots. The man who had gone to fetch the utensils also happened to see Sohni, the potter's daughter. As Izzat Baig was praising the pots, he softly remarked:

"Sir! These are pieces of pottery. I have seen a girl there whose beauty cannot be praised in words. There will not be such a beautiful girl in the whole of Balkh."

All of a sudden, Izzat Baig felt that he had fallen in love with Sohni without seeing her. The next day, Izzat Baig also walked around Tulla's house (shop). What was the yard of the house, a well-organized factory with hundreds of workers, and rooms were filled with all kinds of utensils. Izzat Baig was stunned to see Tulla's workmanship. Tulla himself was showing the pots to a wealthy man of Bukhara. Showing utensils from one room to another, he came to a special inner room where he kept his best and most valuable artefacts. These pots could only be bought by wealthy persons. Purchase of these utencils was not within the reach of common man.

Izzat Baig had just stepped inside the room when he saw a glimpse of Tulla's daughter, Sohni, sitting on the bench behind the curtain in front of him. At that time she was painting a bowl. At a glance, Izzat Baig dropped the vase in his hand. Hearing the sound of the vase breaking, Sohni's heart began to pound. She came into the room bare-headed, holding a paintbrush in her hand.

Izzat Baig was standing in front. Tall, handsome young man, with an open face and shoulder-length wavy hair. Sohni, on the other hand, was as beautiful as a maiden descending from heaven. The burning face turned even redder in panic. Her face and forehead were tangled with gold because of her haste. Standing in the doorway, Sohni looked as if someone had put a beautiful picture in the mirror. In the same way, for a while, they both stood silent. Tulla the potter, clearing his throat, began to pick up the pieces of the broken vase.

After a while, Tulla said to Sohni: Daughter, show the pot to the customer. I'll be back. Saying this, he went outside the shop for some urgent piece of work.

On the other hand, Izzat Baig got a chance to see Sohni with open heart. Now the situation was that Sohni was showing him the pots and he did not like any one at all. It was not his intention to like dishes because his choice was dishmaker’s daughter now and for her he just wanted to stay there longer. That is why he rejected whatever utensils Sohni showed him until she got bored and said a little annoyed:

"If you don't like our pot, buy it from another store. We have the ones in front of you."

Now Izzat Baig also realized that he had stayed there for a too long, so he bought a couple of pots and left. Indeed he bought the pots from Tulla's shop but left his heart there. Normally the heart but he had left his life and soul there. Sohni had overwhelmed his heart and mind. He spent that night waiting for the morning to go to Tulla's shop and see Sohni.

After that, Izzat Baig would come to Tulla every day and keep looking, liking and buying utensils for hours on end until this purchase emptied many rooms.

One day when he came, Tulla happened to be out somewhere. May be offering condolences for deceased relative. Sohni didn't want to upset such a good customer just because her father was not at home. So she showed him the pots herself. Izzat Baig was waiting this moment from the day first so he kept buying utensils throughout the afternoon. Then it is not known what happened and how it happened that while selling utensils, Sohni got smitten by love. With a single glimpse of the stranger, Sohni began to feel as if her pots were filled with something else.

On the other hand, Izzat Baig had never seen such colors before, and began to feel as if the drawing room of Sohni’s house was getting cold.

The hotter it was outside, the more comfortable it felt inside. As soon as he touched the strings of her heart like Ranjha, Sohni's limbs started humming like Heer Sial and no sooner they saw in the eyes of each other, songs resounded in the air.

On the other hand, the merchants along with Izzat Baig were worried that he had wasted all his earnings in buying pottery. He might have taken a couple of pots, but he had a pile of pots. How could they take hundreds of these vessels to distant land like Balkh Bukhara? Still, Izzat Baig was not ready to leave the city. The pots lying in the inn were covered with dust. Some of the pots on top of each other had even started to crack. Izzat Baig's comrades were still unable to understand his intentions. Eventually, after constant refusal from Izzat Baig to move towards Balkh, all members of caravan became fed up, and one day the caravan left this place without Izzat Baig.

All that remained for Izzat Baig was that he would go around Tulla's factory all day. Sometimes, he would stand at the pot-making center, and set the prices of the pots. Even once during this time, if he could see Sohni, he would be happy that his day had become fruitful.

Sohni, on the other hand, was in such a state that with a single glimpse of the stranger, she began to feel that everything belonged to someone else. She was not even conscious of eating and drinking. She used to paint the pots day and night. The same blue color that her lover wanted and the same charming motifs that Izzat Baig liked.

Tulla, knowing and understanding everything, could not say a word, but it kept boiling inside like a pot. He tried his best to marry Sohni somewhere else but she did not agree to the marriage. It was also difficult for him to put his only daughter in the hands of a stranger. Several weeks had passed since the caravan left and Izzat Baig was penniless, hungry and thirsty, wandering around in need of money.

Apart from taking care of horses, Izzat Baig knew no other business and did not know the language of the people of the city.

When he finally became totally helpless, one day he went to Tulla, the potter, and said to him:

"I have been robbed and the thieves have looted everything. I have nothing left to eat. I beg you to hire me. I don't need a salary, just give me food." I will do whatever I am asked to do.”

When Tulla saw his condition, he really felt sorry for him. He knew that Izzat Baig was a rich man and he had bought utensils worth tens of millions of rupees from him uptill now. Now that he was in trouble, he should be helped. So, he was hired without pay, only for food. Izzat Baig considered it his good fortune that he got a job at Tulla's house and thus would get a chance to see Sohni. Tulla used him for a few days for cleaning work and then asked him to take care of his animals. He would go out to graze cows, buffaloes, horses etc., and play al-ghoza (a kind of flute) around the cattle all day long. From here, Izzat Baig got the name Mahinwal (the buffalo herder) because he used to graze buffaloes.

Mahinwal's greatest wish was to stay close to Sohni anyway and he got that opportunity. Now he could see her every day. Not only that, but sometimes he would even talk to her. But the strange thing was that even though he was so close to Sohni, he could not tell her the state of his heart. Although Sohni’s heart would start beating when she would see him, yet, the two did not openly tell each other the state of their hearts.

Finally, when one day, Mahinwal saw Sohni alone, told the state of his heart. He told her that he was the son of a very big businessman of Balkh Bukhara and how he had fallen in love with her and became her father's servant.

Sohni had an inkling that Mahinwal was a captive of her love, but she did not even think about it. She could not even think that he was so madly in love with her:

"He just ruined himself for me. His love is true."

The small spark of love that was burning in Sohni's heart suddenly ignited like a flame. Now they were both burning in the fire of each other's love. Whenever they got a chance, they would talk to each other and quench their thirst, but that was not enough. Now they could not live without each other.

Their restlessness and impatience had grown to the point where they could not hide their fectings. It is said that love and fragrance could not remain hidden. Sohni and Mahinwal's love affair did not take long to unfold. People around them also started talking and Tulla, and his wife also got to know it. She scolded daughter:

"Are not ashamed? You are destroying the honor of your parents."

But now Sohni had reached a point where understanding was useless. For her, the words of shame and humiliation had become meaningless. Her mother's words had no effect on her. Seeing this, Tulla and his wife got furious. In the evening, when Mahinwal came home with animals, Tulla said:

"We have been merciful to you and you have been unfaithful to us?"

And then he said decisively:

"It's in your best interest to pick up your belongings and get out of here. Never turn around again."

Mahinwal knew that the secret of their love had been revealed and it was a talk of the town, but he did not believe that he would be kicked out of the house so soon. At that time, Sohni was also standing on one side, listening to all that but was forced to stay in her place, she could not do anything. In this way, Tulla kicked Mahinwal out of the house and Sohni was left in tears of helplessness. Then Tulla and his wife got Sohni engaged to a boy from the potters’ clan.

Sohni begged her father a lot and explained to him that she had an eternal relationship with Mahinwal, but Tulla did not pay heed to her words.

In a couple of days, Sohni was sent to her in-laws in a palanquin against her will crying, and shedding tears.

On one side of the river Chenab was the village of Sohni's in-laws and on the other side was the village of her father where Mahinwal stayed tormented day and night in Sohni's separation.

Izzat Baig had no sense of eating or drinking. Growing up in pride and bliss, he was forced for begging from door to door. Sohni's love taught him to speak Punjabi. He would sing love songs in heartfelt language. Sohni's echoe in every song sung, in the forests and pastures. Day and night, she remained lost in the memory of Mahinwal.

Embracing the memory of Mahinwal, she refused to accept her husband who had discovered that he could not win Sohni's heart. What he did to please her was that he started spending more time away from home on business trips.

One day, while walking around anxiously, Mahinwal felt as if Sohni was calling him. He tried to look around but the sound was coming from inside. So, laughed out loud. Was it a hoax? The madman's laughter grew louder and louder but the sound was still audible.

He ran and climbed a hill and looked around with tears in his eyes. No one could be seen anywhere. But no, the voice was constantly coming. Maybe there was someone in the thicket of trees in front of him: "Mahinwal, Mahinwal, Mahinwal". The same voice was still being heard by him.

Gradually, the name of Sohni, who was in his veins, also started coming on his tongue. The two voices began to resound in the air. "Sohni Mahinwal, Sohni Mahinwal, Mahinwal Sohni, Mahinwal Sohni". Once, he felt as if a voice was coming from a distant ditch. He ran into a ditch. When he got there, he felt that the sound was coming from above. He started climbing up and down again. His breathing began heavy. Hungry, thirsty, barefoot, helpless, exhausted, but when he came up, he realized that the sound was really coming from inside the ditch! He ran and then went down into the ditch. As he descended, he began to feel the sound coming from behind, and when he reached the middle of the ditch, he became convinced that the sound must be coming from somewhere above. "Sohni Mahinwal, Mahinwal Sohni". Like a weary lunatic, he began to climb again. He reached the top, and looked around for a long time. Where was that voice coming from? Annoyed, he tore his clothes. Sweat-soaked, and dusty, he ran here and there like a madman. He ran and reached the bank of Chenab. The sound was probably coming from the waves. Yes, the sound was coming from the Chenab water and Mahinwal jumped into the river.

Now he was fighting against the waves of water. The home bank was far behind, and the far bank was nowhere to be seen. Still, he was working with his hands and feet, cutting through the waves. Sohni's voice started ringing in his ears again.

Of course, it was her moaning voice that was shouting Mahinwal, Mahinwal. Mahinwal started beating his hands and feet uncontrollably. One of the sailors saw him drowning and pulled him into the boat and took him ashore.

He saw Sohni standing in front of him crying-Mahinwal. He couldn't believe his eyes, he looked at her again and again in amazement. It was a dream come true. Impatiently, they clung to each other. The outstretched arms and the shadows of evening seemed to turn into cold and soothing darkness. Before parting, Sohni advised him:

"You camp on the other side of the river near the pier. I will come to the river at night. You come from there swimming."

Mahinwal did that. He built a hut on the other side of the river and took the guise of a beggar. Sohni was also waiting for the night. As soon as night fell and all the people of the house fell into a deep sleep, she left the house and reached the river. On the other side, Mahinwal had already reached there. When the two saw each other in solitude, they met madly and talked heartily. After that, they would go to the river every day and talk to each other.

Mahinwal used to catch fish daily before Sohni came. At the same time, he would entertain her by playing al-ghoza. As soon as she came, the two of them would fry the fish and eat it with great relish and at the same time talk to each other, until it was morning when she would lie down on the cot.

It was the rainy season. There was a lot of flooding in river Chenab. There seemed to be a lot of rain somewhere in the catchment areas. The water of the Chenab had broken the banks and spread around. Despite that Mahinwal somehow reached the other side of the river, but was worried about how to catch fish in such a situation. He did not see any fish anywhere because the water was very muddy. The flood carried debris and thorny bushes. For miles, the river trampled over the banks. How to catch a fish with the hook? Even the net could not be thrown? Meanwhile, the time of Sohni's arrival was approaching. Mahinwal was wondering what he would offer to his beloved that day.

Sohni arrived on time. As soon as she arrived, she jokingly said to Mahinwal:

"Nowadays I have given up dinner at my in-law's house. She who is fortunate enough to sit with a lover like Mahinwal, how could she sit with someone else and take a bite down her throat."

Mahinwal was shocked to hear that. He wished the earth would burst open and he would fall into it.

The next day, the rain and storm did not stop. It was raining heavily. The river was flowing. Despite millions of efforts, no fish could be found, but he had decided that he would not be shamed when Sohni comes. So he had already arranged a fest for her beloved.

Sohni arrived at her appointed time, smiling and scattering flowers of smiles, new color, new look and new taste everyday. A woman in love is like a kite that wants to fly high and touch the sky. After talking for a while, she began to cook the fish:

"What kind of fish did you bring today?" It's not coming to a simmer."

Mahinwal, was lost in his own thoughts. When they started eating fish, Sohni became convinced that something was wrong. The taste of the fish was a bit strange. When Sohni saw that Mahinwal's clothes were soaked with blood, she became very upset:

"Where did this blood come from?" Going closer, she looked carefully at the clothes and took Mahinwal in her arms."

Since Mahinwal could not find the fish, he cut his thighs and offered to his beloved. Without Mahinwal, even a morsel of dinner, which did not come down her throat, how could he return her hungry?

What heights of love Mahinwal had reached, Sohni realized that day. Kissing her lips, cheeks, eyelids and forehead, he brought her to new consciousness. Sohni's lips stayed attached to Mahinwal's as if they were sipping and drinking each other. That night Sohni glowed like light in Mahinwal's arms. As the morning came, talking of secrets and necessities, it was time for Sohni to go back but she didn't want to leave Mahinwal either.

Eventually, when she was forced to leave, she strictly forbade Mahinwal from crossing the river thereafter, saying that from today she would come to his side. She shouted at Mahinwal not enter into the water until his wound had healed, and he would return in a boat that day. So it was decided that after that day they would meet in the hut of a dervish named Bhoora Sain.

It was too late for Sohni to get back. When she entered the courtyard, she felt as if millions of eyes were staring at her. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were lying on their beds with their eyes closed, pretending to sleep. As soon as she woke up in the morning, Sohni started feeling the rage of her sister-in-law and mother-in-law. It was as if they were both burning with flames of enmity and jealousy that would burn her delicate body. She kept her feeling down all the day. She smelled something from the surrounding environment. The rest of the family members, standing in the corners, were whispering as if they were hatching a conspiracy.

After a long wait, it was night. People started preparing for sleep. As soon as the eyes of the people sleeping in the courtyard were closed, Sohni left the house to meet her Mahinwal. To cross the river, she picked up a pitcher from the kitchen and pressed it under her arm. As Sohni stepped outside, her cunning sister-in-law, was lying under the pretext of sleeping, stepped behind her. The mother-in-law lay helplessly on the bed.

Leaving the courtyard, Sohni went straight to the bank of the river. The river was silent as if nothing had ever happened. Sohni immediately jumped into the water to meet Mahinwal and disappeared from sight.

Her sister-in-law sat on the bank all night, grinding her teeth and making plans. Then she saw Sohni floating back on the pitcher again. Once it occurred to her to catch the thief red handed but could not do so and kept standing behind a big tree.

Sohni started rinsing her dripping clothes. Oh, what a beautiful girl. Her beauty was dazzling in the moonlight. The Sister-in-law kept staring at her with her eyes fixed. Sohni hid the pitcher in a bush and walked towards the house and lay down on her bed in the dark. Those were summer days. The clothes had dried on her way.

Sohni's sister-in-law, who was already burning with jealousy, told her mother about the whole incident. In the end, the mother and daughter decided that the girl who was cheating on their son should be killed. So her sister-in-law brought back the pitcher that was hidden in a bush and replaced it with an unbacked pitcher.

The next night Sohni got up on time and went out. In her excitement of meeting Mahinwal, she reached the shore like an arrow. She picked up the pitcher from the bush and floated in the water. On that night, full moon shined brightly in the sky. The river was in flood again. Eager to meet Mahinwal, Sohni was gradually slipping into the deep water.

The unbacked pitcher under her arms began to melt and soon turned into mud that flowed into the water. Sohni had reached the middle of the river at that time. On the other bank was the hut of the Faqir Baba in which Mahinwal was waiting for Sohni who started calling out for Mahinwal. The river was in the grip of a storm. The wind was strong. Raging waves of water were making Sohni helpless, who started calling out to Mahinwal even louder.

Sohni's call finally reached Mahinwal's ears. He came out of the hut limping with a stick. He immediately jumped into the river. As soon as he jumped into the river, a great storm raged but he managed to reach Sohni in the deep water.

Sohni and Mahinwal, clasped in each other's arms, began to roll in the flow of water. A mighty wave of the river engulfed them and after that they wrapped in each other's arms, and had plunged into the deep.

At the same time, the rushing waves of the river took them to the valley of death. Thus both Sohni and Mahinwal passed away forever but the waves of the river Chenab which swallowed two lovers still sing their love songs and their graves are a place of pilgrimage for the lovers.

All of a sudden, Izzat Baig felt that he had fallen in love with Sohni without seeing her. The next day, Izzat Baig also walked around Tulla's house (shop). What was the yard of the house, a well-organized factory with hundreds of workers, and rooms were filled with all kinds of utensils. Izzat Baig was stunned to see Tulla's workmanship. Tulla himself was showing the pots to a wealthy man of Bukhara. Showing utensils from one room to another, he came to a special inner room where he kept his best and most valuable artefacts. These pots could only be bought by wealthy persons. Purchase of these utencils was not within the reach of common man.

Izzat Baig had just stepped inside the room when he saw a glimpse of Tulla's daughter, Sohni, sitting on the bench behind the curtain in front of him. At that time she was painting a bowl. At a glance, Izzat Baig dropped the vase in his hand. Hearing the sound of the vase breaking, Sohni's heart began to pound. She came into the room bare-headed, holding a paintbrush in her hand.

Izzat Baig was standing in front. Tall, handsome young man, with an open face and shoulder-length wavy hair. Sohni, on the other hand, was as beautiful as a maiden descending from heaven. The burning face turned even redder in panic. Her face and forehead were tangled with gold because of her haste. Standing in the doorway, Sohni looked as if someone had put a beautiful picture in the mirror. In the same way, for a while, they both stood silent. Tulla the potter, clearing his throat, began to pick up the pieces of the broken vase.

After a while, Tulla said to Sohni: Daughter, show the pot to the customer. I'll be back. Saying this, he went outside the shop for some urgent piece of work.

On the other hand, Izzat Baig got a chance to see Sohni with open heart. Now the situation was that Sohni was showing him the pots and he did not like any one at all. It was not his intention to like dishes because his choice was dishmaker’s daughter now and for her he just wanted to stay there longer. That is why he rejected whatever utensils Sohni showed him until she got bored and said a little annoyed:

"If you don't like our pot, buy it from another store. We have the ones in front of you."

Now Izzat Baig also realized that he had stayed there for a too long, so he bought a couple of pots and left. Indeed he bought the pots from Tulla's shop but left his heart there. Normally the heart but he had left his life and soul there. Sohni had overwhelmed his heart and mind. He spent that night waiting for the morning to go to Tulla's shop and see Sohni.

After that, Izzat Baig would come to Tulla every day and keep looking, liking and buying utensils for hours on end until this purchase emptied many rooms.

One day when he came, Tulla happened to be out somewhere. May be offering condolences for deceased relative. Sohni didn't want to upset such a good customer just because her father was not at home. So she showed him the pots herself. Izzat Baig was waiting this moment from the day first so he kept buying utensils throughout the afternoon. Then it is not known what happened and how it happened that while selling utensils, Sohni got smitten by love. With a single glimpse of the stranger, Sohni began to feel as if her pots were filled with something else.

On the other hand, Izzat Baig had never seen such colors before, and began to feel as if the drawing room of Sohni’s house was getting cold.

The hotter it was outside, the more comfortable it felt inside. As soon as he touched the strings of her heart like Ranjha, Sohni's limbs started humming like Heer Sial and no sooner they saw in the eyes of each other, songs resounded in the air.

On the other hand, the merchants along with Izzat Baig were worried that he had wasted all his earnings in buying pottery. He might have taken a couple of pots, but he had a pile of pots. How could they take hundreds of these vessels to distant land like Balkh Bukhara? Still, Izzat Baig was not ready to leave the city. The pots lying in the inn were covered with dust. Some of the pots on top of each other had even started to crack. Izzat Baig's comrades were still unable to understand his intentions. Eventually, after constant refusal from Izzat Baig to move towards Balkh, all members of caravan became fed up, and one day the caravan left this place without Izzat Baig.

All that remained for Izzat Baig was that he would go around Tulla's factory all day. Sometimes, he would stand at the pot-making center, and set the prices of the pots. Even once during this time, if he could see Sohni, he would be happy that his day had become fruitful.

Sohni, on the other hand, was in such a state that with a single glimpse of the stranger, she began to feel that everything belonged to someone else. She was not even conscious of eating and drinking. She used to paint the pots day and night. The same blue color that her lover wanted and the same charming motifs that Izzat Baig liked.

Tulla, knowing and understanding everything, could not say a word, but it kept boiling inside like a pot. He tried his best to marry Sohni somewhere else but she did not agree to the marriage. It was also difficult for him to put his only daughter in the hands of a stranger. Several weeks had passed since the caravan left and Izzat Baig was penniless, hungry and thirsty, wandering around in need of money.

Apart from taking care of horses, Izzat Baig knew no other business and did not know the language of the people of the city.

When he finally became totally helpless, one day he went to Tulla, the potter, and said to him:

"I have been robbed and the thieves have looted everything. I have nothing left to eat. I beg you to hire me. I don't need a salary, just give me food." I will do whatever I am asked to do.”

When Tulla saw his condition, he really felt sorry for him. He knew that Izzat Baig was a rich man and he had bought utensils worth tens of millions of rupees from him uptill now. Now that he was in trouble, he should be helped. So, he was hired without pay, only for food. Izzat Baig considered it his good fortune that he got a job at Tulla's house and thus would get a chance to see Sohni. Tulla used him for a few days for cleaning work and then asked him to take care of his animals. He would go out to graze cows, buffaloes, horses etc., and play al-ghoza (a kind of flute) around the cattle all day long. From here, Izzat Baig got the name Mahinwal (the buffalo herder) because he used to graze buffaloes.

Mahinwal's greatest wish was to stay close to Sohni anyway and he got that opportunity. Now he could see her every day. Not only that, but sometimes he would even talk to her. But the strange thing was that even though he was so close to Sohni, he could not tell her the state of his heart. Although Sohni’s heart would start beating when she would see him, yet, the two did not openly tell each other the state of their hearts.

Finally, when one day, Mahinwal saw Sohni alone, told the state of his heart. He told her that he was the son of a very big businessman of Balkh Bukhara and how he had fallen in love with her and became her father's servant.

Sohni had an inkling that Mahinwal was a captive of her love, but she did not even think about it. She could not even think that he was so madly in love with her:

"He just ruined himself for me. His love is true."

The small spark of love that was burning in Sohni's heart suddenly ignited like a flame. Now they were both burning in the fire of each other's love. Whenever they got a chance, they would talk to each other and quench their thirst, but that was not enough. Now they could not live without each other.

Their restlessness and impatience had grown to the point where they could not hide their fectings. It is said that love and fragrance could not remain hidden. Sohni and Mahinwal's love affair did not take long to unfold. People around them also started talking and Tulla, and his wife also got to know it. She scolded daughter:

"Are not ashamed? You are destroying the honor of your parents."

But now Sohni had reached a point where understanding was useless. For her, the words of shame and humiliation had become meaningless. Her mother's words had no effect on her. Seeing this, Tulla and his wife got furious. In the evening, when Mahinwal came home with animals, Tulla said:

"We have been merciful to you and you have been unfaithful to us?"

And then he said decisively:

"It's in your best interest to pick up your belongings and get out of here. Never turn around again."

Mahinwal knew that the secret of their love had been revealed and it was a talk of the town, but he did not believe that he would be kicked out of the house so soon. At that time, Sohni was also standing on one side, listening to all that but was forced to stay in her place, she could not do anything. In this way, Tulla kicked Mahinwal out of the house and Sohni was left in tears of helplessness. Then Tulla and his wife got Sohni engaged to a boy from the potters’ clan.

Sohni begged her father a lot and explained to him that she had an eternal relationship with Mahinwal, but Tulla did not pay heed to her words.

In a couple of days, Sohni was sent to her in-laws in a palanquin against her will crying, and shedding tears.

On one side of the river Chenab was the village of Sohni's in-laws and on the other side was the village of her father where Mahinwal stayed tormented day and night in Sohni's separation.

Izzat Baig had no sense of eating or drinking. Growing up in pride and bliss, he was forced for begging from door to door. Sohni's love taught him to speak Punjabi. He would sing love songs in heartfelt language. Sohni's echoe in every song sung, in the forests and pastures. Day and night, she remained lost in the memory of Mahinwal.

Embracing the memory of Mahinwal, she refused to accept her husband who had discovered that he could not win Sohni's heart. What he did to please her was that he started spending more time away from home on business trips.

One day, while walking around anxiously, Mahinwal felt as if Sohni was calling him. He tried to look around but the sound was coming from inside. So, laughed out loud. Was it a hoax? The madman's laughter grew louder and louder but the sound was still audible.

He ran and climbed a hill and looked around with tears in his eyes. No one could be seen anywhere. But no, the voice was constantly coming. Maybe there was someone in the thicket of trees in front of him: "Mahinwal, Mahinwal, Mahinwal". The same voice was still being heard by him.

Gradually, the name of Sohni, who was in his veins, also started coming on his tongue. The two voices began to resound in the air. "Sohni Mahinwal, Sohni Mahinwal, Mahinwal Sohni, Mahinwal Sohni". Once, he felt as if a voice was coming from a distant ditch. He ran into a ditch. When he got there, he felt that the sound was coming from above. He started climbing up and down again. His breathing began heavy. Hungry, thirsty, barefoot, helpless, exhausted, but when he came up, he realized that the sound was really coming from inside the ditch! He ran and then went down into the ditch. As he descended, he began to feel the sound coming from behind, and when he reached the middle of the ditch, he became convinced that the sound must be coming from somewhere above. "Sohni Mahinwal, Mahinwal Sohni". Like a weary lunatic, he began to climb again. He reached the top, and looked around for a long time. Where was that voice coming from? Annoyed, he tore his clothes. Sweat-soaked, and dusty, he ran here and there like a madman. He ran and reached the bank of Chenab. The sound was probably coming from the waves. Yes, the sound was coming from the Chenab water and Mahinwal jumped into the river.

Now he was fighting against the waves of water. The home bank was far behind, and the far bank was nowhere to be seen. Still, he was working with his hands and feet, cutting through the waves. Sohni's voice started ringing in his ears again.

Of course, it was her moaning voice that was shouting Mahinwal, Mahinwal. Mahinwal started beating his hands and feet uncontrollably. One of the sailors saw him drowning and pulled him into the boat and took him ashore.

He saw Sohni standing in front of him crying-Mahinwal. He couldn't believe his eyes, he looked at her again and again in amazement. It was a dream come true. Impatiently, they clung to each other. The outstretched arms and the shadows of evening seemed to turn into cold and soothing darkness. Before parting, Sohni advised him:

"You camp on the other side of the river near the pier. I will come to the river at night. You come from there swimming."

Mahinwal did that. He built a hut on the other side of the river and took the guise of a beggar. Sohni was also waiting for the night. As soon as night fell and all the people of the house fell into a deep sleep, she left the house and reached the river. On the other side, Mahinwal had already reached there. When the two saw each other in solitude, they met madly and talked heartily. After that, they would go to the river every day and talk to each other.

Mahinwal used to catch fish daily before Sohni came. At the same time, he would entertain her by playing al-ghoza. As soon as she came, the two of them would fry the fish and eat it with great relish and at the same time talk to each other, until it was morning when she would lie down on the cot.

It was the rainy season. There was a lot of flooding in river Chenab. There seemed to be a lot of rain somewhere in the catchment areas. The water of the Chenab had broken the banks and spread around. Despite that Mahinwal somehow reached the other side of the river, but was worried about how to catch fish in such a situation. He did not see any fish anywhere because the water was very muddy. The flood carried debris and thorny bushes. For miles, the river trampled over the banks. How to catch a fish with the hook? Even the net could not be thrown? Meanwhile, the time of Sohni's arrival was approaching. Mahinwal was wondering what he would offer to his beloved that day.

Sohni arrived on time. As soon as she arrived, she jokingly said to Mahinwal:

"Nowadays I have given up dinner at my in-law's house. She who is fortunate enough to sit with a lover like Mahinwal, how could she sit with someone else and take a bite down her throat."

Mahinwal was shocked to hear that. He wished the earth would burst open and he would fall into it.

The next day, the rain and storm did not stop. It was raining heavily. The river was flowing. Despite millions of efforts, no fish could be found, but he had decided that he would not be shamed when Sohni comes. So he had already arranged a fest for her beloved.

Sohni arrived at her appointed time, smiling and scattering flowers of smiles, new color, new look and new taste everyday. A woman in love is like a kite that wants to fly high and touch the sky. After talking for a while, she began to cook the fish:

"What kind of fish did you bring today?" It's not coming to a simmer."

Mahinwal, was lost in his own thoughts. When they started eating fish, Sohni became convinced that something was wrong. The taste of the fish was a bit strange. When Sohni saw that Mahinwal's clothes were soaked with blood, she became very upset:

"Where did this blood come from?" Going closer, she looked carefully at the clothes and took Mahinwal in her arms."

Since Mahinwal could not find the fish, he cut his thighs and offered to his beloved. Without Mahinwal, even a morsel of dinner, which did not come down her throat, how could he return her hungry?

What heights of love Mahinwal had reached, Sohni realized that day. Kissing her lips, cheeks, eyelids and forehead, he brought her to new consciousness. Sohni's lips stayed attached to Mahinwal's as if they were sipping and drinking each other. That night Sohni glowed like light in Mahinwal's arms. As the morning came, talking of secrets and necessities, it was time for Sohni to go back but she didn't want to leave Mahinwal either.

Eventually, when she was forced to leave, she strictly forbade Mahinwal from crossing the river thereafter, saying that from today she would come to his side. She shouted at Mahinwal not enter into the water until his wound had healed, and he would return in a boat that day. So it was decided that after that day they would meet in the hut of a dervish named Bhoora Sain.

It was too late for Sohni to get back. When she entered the courtyard, she felt as if millions of eyes were staring at her. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were lying on their beds with their eyes closed, pretending to sleep. As soon as she woke up in the morning, Sohni started feeling the rage of her sister-in-law and mother-in-law. It was as if they were both burning with flames of enmity and jealousy that would burn her delicate body. She kept her feeling down all the day. She smelled something from the surrounding environment. The rest of the family members, standing in the corners, were whispering as if they were hatching a conspiracy.

After a long wait, it was night. People started preparing for sleep. As soon as the eyes of the people sleeping in the courtyard were closed, Sohni left the house to meet her Mahinwal. To cross the river, she picked up a pitcher from the kitchen and pressed it under her arm. As Sohni stepped outside, her cunning sister-in-law, was lying under the pretext of sleeping, stepped behind her. The mother-in-law lay helplessly on the bed.

Leaving the courtyard, Sohni went straight to the bank of the river. The river was silent as if nothing had ever happened. Sohni immediately jumped into the water to meet Mahinwal and disappeared from sight.

Her sister-in-law sat on the bank all night, grinding her teeth and making plans. Then she saw Sohni floating back on the pitcher again. Once it occurred to her to catch the thief red handed but could not do so and kept standing behind a big tree.

Sohni started rinsing her dripping clothes. Oh, what a beautiful girl. Her beauty was dazzling in the moonlight. The Sister-in-law kept staring at her with her eyes fixed. Sohni hid the pitcher in a bush and walked towards the house and lay down on her bed in the dark. Those were summer days. The clothes had dried on her way.

Sohni's sister-in-law, who was already burning with jealousy, told her mother about the whole incident. In the end, the mother and daughter decided that the girl who was cheating on their son should be killed. So her sister-in-law brought back the pitcher that was hidden in a bush and replaced it with an unbacked pitcher.

The next night Sohni got up on time and went out. In her excitement of meeting Mahinwal, she reached the shore like an arrow. She picked up the pitcher from the bush and floated in the water. On that night, full moon shined brightly in the sky. The river was in flood again. Eager to meet Mahinwal, Sohni was gradually slipping into the deep water.

The unbacked pitcher under her arms began to melt and soon turned into mud that flowed into the water. Sohni had reached the middle of the river at that time. On the other bank was the hut of the Faqir Baba in which Mahinwal was waiting for Sohni who started calling out for Mahinwal. The river was in the grip of a storm. The wind was strong. Raging waves of water were making Sohni helpless, who started calling out to Mahinwal even louder.

Sohni's call finally reached Mahinwal's ears. He came out of the hut limping with a stick. He immediately jumped into the river. As soon as he jumped into the river, a great storm raged but he managed to reach Sohni in the deep water.

Sohni and Mahinwal, clasped in each other's arms, began to roll in the flow of water. A mighty wave of the river engulfed them and after that they wrapped in each other's arms, and had plunged into the deep.

At the same time, the rushing waves of the river took them to the valley of death. Thus both Sohni and Mahinwal passed away forever but the waves of the river Chenab which swallowed two lovers still sing their love songs and their graves are a place of pilgrimage for the lovers.