New-age Savitri's belief brings husband home after 35 years

Palanpur, Jan 25 (UNI) Going by the age-old Savitri and Satyawan tales -- where the former snatched her husband, the latter, from the tightened clutches of death with her firm belief and determination-- the story of Samrathba is no different who portrays the new-age ''Savitri''.

It took her 35 years to see her belief come true that her husbabnd was hale and hearty and will return one day, at a time when everyone thought he was dead and pushed her to remarry.

The wrinkled Samrathba was a 16-year-old newly wed when her husband, Merusinh Modsinh Dabhi Rajput, left her in a fit of anger trigerred by his father's scoldings.

''I do not know what my age was when I left. When one day my father scolded me, I quit the house in anger,'' says Rajput, who left his village Dabhela in Banaskantha district located along the Rajasthan border, about 40 km from here.

According to Kanchansinh Dabhi, his younger brother, ''We never thought Meru will be back. Even our parents thought he drowned in a nearby Dhanali dam during the flood in the year 1972.'' Samarthba, however, was determined and defied the calls of remarriage.

''Unless I see with my own eyes his dead body, I would never think of his death,'' she always maintained.

Her thoughts always centred on Meru. Looking at the green fields she tirelessly tried to listen the bells of Meru's cycle which eventually became a routine for her. But, last Sunday, put an end to her long wait when Meru appeared from nowhere and stood shoulder to shoulder to her.

''I thought it was a dream. My brother suspected Meru if he was genuine. Only after several verifications he was accepted,'' she says.

About where he stayed these many years, Meru says after he left his house he went to Palanpur. And from Palanpur he reached Kalupur station at Ahmedabad without a ticket. He was caught and put behind bars for six months. After that, he barely recollects his whereabouts.

Meru was accidentally located by a person from his village, Puransinh, while working in marble factory owned in Ahmedabad. He spotted him, who was working there as a bore-driller. It soon transpired that Meru and he were from the same village. Puran then informed his village elders about the missing Meru.

His father died two years ago. His 80-year-old mother Roopaba, who could barely see, never thought of seeing her son again but believed his return after reassuring herself with certain of his birth-signs, says a villager.

Reunited with her husband after about three decades, both are now staying at Samarthba's village, Moti Bhakhar, to recall their memories and perhaps Samarthba's singing a song ''Mera piya ghar aaya'' for him! UNI XR-VNB WD KD RS1043