RAABTA

The news had spread like wildfire. Udai Singh's spies were suspicious of the story of a Bhil boy who had killed a tiger. It was an unimaginable feat by a tribal lad. Something was amiss. Udai Singh sent his soldiers to see for themselves. The soldiers hovered around the Bhil villages for weeks until the Bhils confronted them, fearing for their own safety. The soldiers could not confirm the news, but the spies could guess what Udai Singh feared.  "He is going to rebel." He said to a worried Dheer Bai. "That is why he has befriended those Bhils." "If you fear treason, Ranaji." Dheer Bai seized the chance. "You can keep him under house imprisonment somewhere away from Chittorgarh." Udai Singh looked reluctant. "The chiefs will see it as my weakness." He grunted. "I will tell my spies to keep an eye on them." "It's unsafe to stay here anymore." Pratap stopped at his morsel, hearing his mother speak. She was fanni...

The Bullock cart stopped in the middle of the forest. The scorching heat of the summer sun over the head. It made the woman sweat. It had been a long time since she had been outdoors in the summer sun this way. Kunwar Pratap was holding the reins of the cart. He was in a simple white angrakha and a red pagri. Those that commoners often wear. He glanced over his shoulder at his mother. She looked tired in her simple green lehenga. Her face was covered in a semi-transparent dupatta. "Do you need to stop for water?" He enquired. Jaivanta shook her head at her concerned son. He was barely twelve, yet he spoke like a protective man. They had stopped twice on their way from Jallore to Bhilwara. Once, they had bought this commoner attire from a local market. They had paid a young woman handsomely for buying it for them. Then they stopped for the night at a traveller's den on the way. These traveller's dens were made by Sher Shah for traders who stopped on their way to Surat....

"Jija, your fear has blinded you." Dheer Bai's words to Jaivanta Bai made everyone gasp. The entire Rani Mahal of Chittorgarh had gathered in the hall. Jaivanta Bai had accused Dheer Bai of poisoning her son's milk. "I know you did it." Jaivanta's lips trembled. Her eyes were teary with fear. A copper glass of milk lay spilt across the floor. Kunwar Pratap stared at his mother in shock. "Your wet nurse was seen around the milk." Dheer Bai let out a soft chuckle. "Just because Jagmal's nurse was around, it does not mean..." "You hate Pratap. I know you do." Jaivanta Bai spoke firmly. "Why will I hate him? He is like my son." Dheer Bai defended. "Like..." Jaivanta shook her head. "It is not the same." "Ranima." Kunwar Pratap held his mother's hand. "I am fine." "If your servant did not notice the slight change of colour, the milk would have killed you." His mo...

Kunwar Pratap was eleven. He was a slender boy, fair but tanned in the sun. His curly hair was like his father's. He had brown eyes like his mother. He would go around the fort all day with Shakti and interact with commoners. Everyone in Chittorgarh loved the prince. He helped the needy. He assisted the handicapped. He never behaved differently with the rich and the poor. He was kind, gentle and chivalrous. Jaivanta decided it was time for him to attend Gurukul. As a Rajput prince, Pratap was going to train in warfare. Sajja Bai insisted that Kunwar Shakti join him for his training as well. It was time that the boys stayed away from the palace luxuries and learnt the hardships of life. The Rani Mahal had gathered at the Badi Pol to see the princes off to their Gurukul. Sajja Bai wiped away tears. Jaivanta Bai blessed them. They touched her feet. "May you become warriors and protect Mewar." The Gurukul was at the foothills of Chittorgarh, not far from home. Yet it was far ...

The scorching summer heat gave some relief to Jaivanta Bai once the sun came down on the western horizon between the cliffs of the Aravallis. From the window of the Rani Mahal of Kumbha Palace, she could see the wide walls of Kumbhalgarh, the decorated roofs of the temples, and guards with torches. She prayed from her window as the Vaid had advised her not to move around much. The last few days have been difficult. Her feet were swollen, and no amount of painkillers helped. Daima inspected her once again. "The prince is due any time soon." She had whispered to Sajja Bai. She placed her hand on her swollen belly gently, singing lullabies to her child. Daima said he could now hear and recognise her voice. Her mother used to sing her these songs once. It seemed like a distant past now, almost like a dream.  She could not wait to be a mother. Teach her son everything she wanted in a man. A man who would be chivalrous and could stand up for himself. He should be brave enough to ta...