RAABTA

Rao Ramrakh Punwar had walked into the camp tent upon the declaration of his arrival and bowed to the Rana of Mewar. Rana Udai Singh was sitting on a makeshift throne inside the tent with a spread of fresh fruits, wine and nuts on the carpet before him. He gestured at Rao Ramrakh as one of the servants offered him grapes that he politely refused. He eyed Rawat Chundawat, standing by the king, his hands folded across his chest, his face looking worried, the bushy brows narrowed and his long oiled and combed beard looking neat as he eyed Rao Ramrakh. Almost as if he could read his mind, the Samanth of Bijoliya knew that like himself the Rawat of Salumber did not quite agree to the need of this battle. Yet here they were. Rao Ramrakh realised they were probably waiting for the Senapati, Kunwar Partap as some soldiers came and spread some maps of the terrain as instructed by Rawat Chundawat. The guards declared the arrival of the prince of Bundi as Rana stood up to welcome his son-in-law. ...

  “Baisa, there is a letter for you.” Kasturi, Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar’s personal attendant, had a scroll in her hand as she frowned. The only people who wrote to her were her friend Saubhagyawati and Daata from war. Both of them were in Bijoliya. She took the scroll from Kasturi as a shiver ran down her spine.  Rao Ramrakh Punwar attended the celebration of Rajkumari Padmavati's grand wedding. He had come home and told stories of the grandeur. He had received a sweetmeat gift to take back home as well. As the children indulged in it, Ajbante Kanwar had thought that maybe the celebration had caught up with Kunwar Partap and he was unable to write the letter he had promised. But a week had passed since the Bidai entourage had left Bijoliya and she had not heard from him. Ajbante Kanwar cursed her expectations of taking his words literally and found herself in tears one night. She had been scared when she realised that the lack of communication hurt her. She attributed it to he...

Ajbante Kanwar found herself by the Menal waterfall that made enough noise for her to not hear Kunwar Partap approaching with the horses. She was lost in thoughts.  After two days of playing host to the royals of Bundi, yesterday the king had informed her father that they would start their journey to Chittorgarh early in the morning. As she snuck out of the palace she saw the pompous procession of elephants decorated with gold ornaments and horses with golden quilts over their seat being led out by the Bundi soldiers. The palace was awake earlier than she anticipated and she had to squeeze in a little time and excuse herself for her “prayers”. But as she sat by the waterfall she was unsure whether he could come. She looked up at the sky clearing into dawn as she sighed and shook her head. He must be preparing to leave. Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar stood up, brushing her lehenga as she turned to leave. If she wasted more time, Daata would scold her. She had not worn her warrior attire u...

 “I got these for you.”  Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar had just made her way to the other side of the temple premises, with her dupatta hiding her face, while her guards, attendants and palanquin waited at the other end of the Math premises at Menal. The moment she spotted Kunwar Partap across the temple complex near the forest with Bijli he straightened himself and held out a bundle of glass bangles. Ajbante Kanwar looked perplexed at his reassuring nod. “Me?” She asked, unsure of what she heard. He nodded again. “Bhai Shakti dragged me to the fair yesterday and I brought green bangles for Ranima so I thought…” He cleared his throat looking unsurely at the Magenta bangles on his hand. “Why?” Her question interrupted his chain of thoughts as his smile faded. “Did you not like it?” He looked unsure. He had never bought anything for anyone before except for Ranima. Ranima never disliked anything he chose for her. While Kunwar Partap scanned the shop, looking for a perfect bangle for ...