RAABTA

Historically, we know nothing about Phool Bai Rathore except that she was the daughter of Ram Singh Rathore, granddaughter of Raja Maldeo Rathore and fifth wife of Maharana Pratap. There is no historical evidence of Akbar's alliance with her in particular; however, Maldeo did give his granddaughters in a marriage alliance with the Mughals and other major dynasties. Phool Kanwar's cousin Maanwati Bai (Better known as Jodha Bai or Jagat Gossain) married Salim, Akbar's son and later emperor Jahangir. The Princess was in her chambers. The Mehrgarh Fort was in a quiet, dark state, and everyone feared what lay ahead. The men of the Rathore clan had gone to ally with the Timurid emperor Akbar. Rao Maldeo had decided that it was the only way to save Marwar's future. His second son Udai and youngest one Chandrasen supported his decision to save the country. But his heir and firstborn, Ram Singh Rathore, was a rebel. He was not going to bow down before the Mughals and lose...

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...