## **Soni Mahiwal – A Timeless Love Story**

The story of **Soni Mahiwal** is one of the most famous romantic tragedies of the Indian subcontinent, whispered in desert winds, sung by wandering singers, and passed down in folklore for centuries. It is a tale of forbidden love, undying love, and the constant pull of fate—set on the banks of the mighty Chenab River, where two souls meet, only for fate to tear them apart.Long ago, in the town of **Gujarat** in Punjab, there lived a beautiful young girl named **Soni**, the daughter of a wealthy potter. Her father crafted delicate clay pots, each one smooth and perfect, and Soni helped him decorate them with designs of flowers and birds. People from distant villages came to buy these pots, and Soni soon became famous not only for her beauty but also for her modesty and kindness. Her laughter resonated like music, and her presence brought warmth and life to the busy marketplace.Meanwhile, in the distant city of Bukhara, lived a young merchant named Mahival, whose real name was Izzat Beg. Born into wealth and luxury, Izzat Beg had everything he could ever want—except, perhaps, a sense of belonging. His heart yearned for something beyond the confines of his merchant life. One year, while traveling with a caravan to Hindustan, he stopped in Gujarat to trade fine silks and spices. It was there that he first saw Soni.

She stood near her father's shop, arranging freshly baked clay pots, her hands moving with practiced skill. The sunlight fell on her face, making her look almost ethereal. Izzat Beg couldn't take his eyes off her. He returned to her shop the next day and the day after, buying utensils she didn't need, just to catch a glimpse of her or give her a shy smile. Soon, the young merchant realized he had won.Soni began to notice him too. His gentle eyes, his dignified demeanor, and the quiet seriousness in his voice drew her to him. Still, she knew their worlds were very different—she was the daughter of a humble potter, and he was a wealthy merchant from a distant land. Still, love rarely listens to logic. Their secret meetings turned into whispers, and whispers turned into love. Soon, Soni and Izzat Baig fell deeply in love.When news of their budding relationship reached Soni's family, they were shocked and enraged. A foreign merchant was not considered a suitable match for their daughter. They forbade him from meeting her, and the news spread throughout the city. Faced with rejection and humiliation, Izzat Baig abandoned his wealthy past, his business, his caravan, and even his name. From that day on, he was known simply as **Mahiwal**, which means buffalo herder. He crossed the river to the other bank and lived in a small hut, herding buffalo during the day and dreaming of Soni at night.Despite all the hardships that came between them, their love remained. Every evening, when it got dark, Soni would leave her house with a baked clay pot and cross the Chenab River to meet her beloved. In return, Mahiwal would catch fish from the river, cook it with whatever herbs he could find, and save the best part for her. Their nights under the stars were filled with sweet nothings, secret hugs, and whispered promises.

But old love stories rarely end in tragedy. Soni's in-laws—to whom her family had forced her to marry—were suspicious of her nightly disappearances. They kept a close eye on her, waiting for the right opportunity. One night, when Soni left the house with her earthen pot, her sister-in-law quietly replaced the baked pot with an unbaked one. Unbaked pots, even if they appear sturdy, melt upon contact with water.Unaware of the deception, Soni reached the riverbank, her heart pounding impatiently. The moon hung low, casting a silvery path on the water. She lowered the pot into the river and began her journey. But halfway across, she felt the pot become heavy and soft in her hands. She panicked. The pot began to melt, breaking into pieces in her hands. The river roared around her, cold and merciless.On the other bank, Mahival was waiting. Earlier that day, he had caught a fish for her, but had given it to a hungry traveler, and given his share as well. "Soni will eat," he had said. "She is my strength." When he saw her struggling in the water, he jumped in without hesitation, fighting the current with full determination.But that night the Chenab was very strong. Its waves drowned out their screams and pulled them both into its depths. When morning came, the lovers were found washed up on the shore, lying next to each other as if clinging to each other even in death.

Their tragic end shook the entire area, and the villagers mourned for days. Yet their