RAABTA

The procession had stopped at a clearing. The women and children needed to rest for the day. The maids and guards who had followed them into this life of difficulty and sacrifice quickly laid the tents for rest. The young crown princess, still a child, was not used to the extreme conditions of the open air and the desert sun. She was slightly feverish. In the tent, her mother put her hand on his warm forehead, worried. There were sounds of footsteps, and she grew alarmed. The tent curtains parted. Ajabdeh Punwar entered the tent she shared with Pur Bai Solankini, a little worried. She managed a smile at Pur Bai as she checked the princess's fever. She checked the medicines kept by the bed and, after a reassuring nod at Pur Bai, stepped outside the tent where an eager Amar waited for her. "Keep vigil on your sisters." She ordered the eight-year-old as a pang of pain hit her. She did not want to take away his childhood and innocence with the weight of responsibilities so so...

This was originally a short story, but given the impact the incident had in shaping the life of Maharana Pratap, it is included in the series. Jiwa Bai Solanki had stepped into the Senapati Mahal, Chittorgarh, which was now home to Fatta since he was designated in charge of the fort by Ranaji. As per the norms, before taking on any designation, a Rajput man was to be married. Her father was happy to marry her to one of Mewar’s bravest. She, in turn, was in awe of him being compared to Kunwar Pratap for his skills. A warrior herself, Jiwa was always someone who looked for brave souls.  His mother had made sure she was adjusting well to the new home. The irony was that their marriage ended with Akbar’s bombardment and cannonball noises at the fort walls instead of the dhol nagadas. They had stared right at each other, almost like a reflex, knowing their shared life was always going to be a tough battle. Fatta had remembered Kunwar Pratap’s words, “Always look for a mirror to your sou...

This was originally written as a Short Story, but it feels better to include this chapter in The Legend of Maharana Pratap, the series, as it is one of the most important and impactful chapters of his life that made him who he was. “Tomorrow will be a new dawn, of new hope, and a new beginning. Tomorrow will be the best. Because Tomorrow, there will be no tomorrow.”   The cold night was silent. The stars twinkled like a sheet of golden sequins spread across the midnight sky.  The camp tents below had green flags flying high. The Shahenshah E Hind was having a good night’s sleep in the peace of an almost seized victory. He dreamt of sitting on the throne of the fort the next day as the invincible, and who knew, perhaps, he could catch that nightmare alive. Kunwar Pratap Singh had stolen Jalaluddin’s dreams and turned them into nightmares. His otherwise not-so-efficient father would have surrendered long ago. Rumour had it that he had escaped with his closest kin to some lakesid...