The Wounds of Love

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 prince, still a child, was not used to the extreme conditions of the open air and the desert sun. He was slightly feverish. In his tent, his mother put her hand on his warm forehead worried. There were sounds of footsteps and she grew alarmed. The tent curtains parted. It was his father. She managed a smile, he looked worried and tired.

"Is he all right? He still has a fever doesn't he?" His voice was filled with guilt. Maybe if he did not want the throne or take it upon himself to liberate their land from the Mughals, his son would have lived the luxurious life he lived.

" He is fine Kunwar sa, he is only five. He needs to get some rest. He is not used to the desert sun. Please stop worrying." He clearly saw the worry in her eyes. She just could not lie. He sighed heavily and sat down beside her. Taking her hand in his, he looked at the sleeping boy and smiled. He reminded him of those days when he used to sleep soundly on his mother's lap, much before the Mughal Emperor decided to be his sworn enemy.

"You go and eat your dinner with Rana Ji and Kunwar Jagmal. I am here with him."

" No, I will eat later, with you."

" Solankini..."

" Go feed her, I am sitting with Amar."

"Kunwar Pratap!" Her stern voice stirred him. " She is your responsibility, she is new in the family and it's your duty to make her feel comfortable."

"I did not want to marry her, you forced me to take care of her yourself."

" This is not how a Rajput prince behaves."

"Really? This is how a princess fights with her husband?"

" I am not a princess."

" Yes, you are."

" Kunwar Pratap!"

Their childish fight was interrupted by Solankhini Bai's entrance.

" I am so sorry, I did not know Kunwar Sa is here Jija." She apologised. " I came to see Kunwar Amar." She grew uneasy. She had found a sister in the kind-hearted and gentle Ajabde who was loved by everyone, yet even after almost a year of marriage, she was scared of Kunwar Pratap's presence. She knew he always turned to Ajabde for support and she was relieved it was that way. She was his queen but not his wife yet despite Ajabde's several tries.

" It's fine Behena, he was leaving." Ajabde gave her husband a cold stare. He got up reluctantly and gave a half smile to Solankhini before leaving. Solankhini rushed to Ajabde's side.

" Has his fever receded?"

" No, I am so worried." Ajabde opened her worry to her new friend.

" Shouldn't we call the Rajvaid?"

" No, it will worry everyone. I will see what I can do."

" Why don't you ask Pandit Ji to help?"

" You are right, he might be able to." Calling the daasi, she sends her to Chakrapani's tent to get some medicine for Amar.

" Can I ask you something, Jija?"

" Of Course Behena."

" You called Kunwar sa by name..." Ajabde bit her lips, it was indeed bravery on her part but only inside the closed doors between him and her, now Solankhini knew. Seeing her blush, Solankini smiled. " You and Kunwar Sa are indeed just like I heard before marriage." She left Ajabde smiling.

At night the guards announced that no one should leave the group alone as danger lurked in every corner of the forest. They would resume their journey at noon the next day. As she lay half awake beside her son, Kunwar Pratap came in. She sat up startled.

" Hush." He made a hand gesture at her. " You will wake him."

He came and sat on the other side of the bed.

" Kunwar..."

" No, I will not leave his side." She knew arguing was in vain.

The next day they woke to an alarming noise of guards and maids. Kunwar Pratap stepped out and saw the maids of Solankhini crying. His heart filled with concern. Ajabde rushed to their side. " What is it?"

" Baiji Sa, we woke up and Choti Bai Sa was not there, we searched for her everywhere."

" Hey Eklingji, I hope she did not leave alone in search of the river." Ajabde murmured worriedly.

Pratap rushed to the armoury chest, took out his sword and getting on Chetak ordered Ajabde, " Nobody leaves this spot until I find her." She nodded.

Kunwar Pratap searched all the way to the rivers calling her name in vain. He rode across the clearing in search of her. His anger turned to concern for his new bride. In a clearing, he thought he heard a twig break. He jumped off Chetak and started looking for clues. Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps. He turned in time to catch Solankhini almost falling at his feet, she was breathless.

" I saw a wild cat and I was so scared I..."

" Who told you to go alone?" He held her up, supporting her with his hands.

" I..."

More noises in the clearing and they turned towards the sound. Kunwar Amar stepped out of the trees surprised to see his Choti Ma sa and father in what looked like a hug to him.

" Amar..." Ajabde's call was heard as she appeared behind him taken aback. She dragged Amar by his hand, ignoring what she thought to be a private moment between her husband and his wife and scolded him, " I told you not to run off, you are not well, start listening to your Maa sa." They left for the tent.

Kunwar Pratap let go of Solankhini's arm and called the maids to take her to her tent. He knew what Ajabde thought. He rushed to her tent. On the way, he spotted Amar playing with his grandmother. Ajabde was singing bhajans while making a garland of wildflowers for her Lord Krishna. His footsteps stopped her but she didn't turn to look at him.

" AjabDe..."

" Kunwar sa you should have a bath and get dressed, we are leaving in an hour or two." She looked away.

" There is no one here."

" I know."

" Still you are calling me Kunwar Sa? What's wrong ?"

" Nothing."

" What you saw there..."

" You don't need to explain your personal life to me."

" Yes, I do." Kunwar Pratap rushed to her side. Their eyes met, he knew she had cried. He knew this would eventually hurt her.

" Nothing happened, she fell and I..."

" She is your wife, you owe me no explanation." Ajabde's voice was calm.

" I knew this! I knew you would be hurt someday, I did not want this." He sounded like he was about to cry. " I told you I don't need another wife." Ajabde knew her mistake. She was not supposed to show him she was hurt, he would be reluctant to alliances then and it would also be unfair to Solankhini. She called out as he was about to leave.

" Kunwar Pratap." He stopped to turn back and look at her. She smiled at him and walked up to him.

Their eyes met and she hugged him. He smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. They smiled at each other and Ajabde moved away saying, " Go now, get dressed, Amar will come back." He saw her blush afraid of what he might do next, in a tent, under broad daylight and he walked away with a smile leaving her to her Pujas. Back in her tent, as the daasis treated her wound, Solankhini smiled at the closest she had got to Kunwar Pratap in the last few months, and the worry she witnessed in his eyes. She said to herself, Jija was right, maybe someday I will get his respect if not love, and be his wife instead of a Queen.

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His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabde looked visibly displeased at the daasi who ran. " They are at the fort gates and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red Jora and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maa sa Maa sa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabde." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" Amar exclaimed

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him. The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And his spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. One of his aides

Destiny

The war was almost won. A few of Marwar’s soldiers were left on the field along with Rao Maldeo Singh Rathore, their king and leader. He was thinking of retreating at the end of this day. As his sword clashed with one of the opponent generals as he eyed the opponent King now open and prone to attack. A little hope flickered in his mind as his eyes instructed his closest aide. The opponent was quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 yet his bravery and valour reflected his blood and upbringing. He mesmerised the opponents and even Rao Maldeo with his clever war strategies and sword skills. As Maldeo’s aide swung his sword at a taken aback Udai Singh, someone’s sword defended it as his body acted like a shield for the king. He killed the man in one go. “ Ranaji are you okay?” “ Haan Raoji.” He nodded gratefully. By half the day, the Marwar army had retreated as the air filled with “ Jai Mewar! Jai Eklingji!” From the triumphant soldiers. Rana Udai Si

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as

Unpredictable

" Ohho Dadabhai! I can not walk anymore!" Shakti was panting. Clad in a commoner's attire they had hired a cart for some distance and were now walking to Bijolia. " You have to! We have to go back tomorrow morning otherwise they will be sure we were not at the Kelwara region but elsewhere." He said in an indifferent tone. The stone on the path indicated they had reached Bijolia. " There! Look Dadabhai a mandir!" He smiled. " Thik hai ." Kunwar Pratap shook his head a little displeased. " You can rest a little before going into the main township." " Paani!" Shakti was panting as he sat on a solitary part of the Radha Krishna temple as Kunwar Pratap walked in to seek blessings. At Shakti's cry for water, he started looking around and found a pond visible in the distance. " Stay here!" He ordered his brother even though he knew very well Shakti won't move from his place. He was at the bank looking at the c

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in court with Rana Udai Singh. The Mughals were conquering a huge part of the north courtesy of Bairam Khan and Mewar on their routes to the ports of Gujarat. " Dajiraj we need to secure the roads leading to Agra and also towards the west. The attack-prone areas should always be under surveillance." " Yes Ranaji. Baojiraj is right." Rawatji agreed. In the Rani Mahal, everyone was preparing for a grand lunch. Ajabde was making a sweet dish for the princes and princesses and in a hurry, she forgot to add the Kesar and Badam on top. As she served the smaller princes including Kunwar Jagmal, Dheerbai came to inspect her eldest son's food. " What is this? Who made this? Kokoiaji?" She stormed to the kitchen with a bowl of sweet dishes. " Kunwaranisa did." Came a scary answer, from Veer Bai. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing Chotima?" A disappointed voice came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha

Struggle of Thoughts

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde had both by the first week known each other's schedules well and they made sure that their timings didn't clash, be it in the puja Ghar, dressing room or elsewhere. They tried to stay out of each other's way as much as possible, giving each other the space they needed. Ajabde had learned that Kunwar Pratap preferred cold sharbat and desserts over steaming hot food, he liked to wake up with the first bird's call at dawn, he didn't like any disturbances at work or at the Dangal Sthal, and he loved his mother the most. Kunwar Pratap had learned that she was intelligent enough to decipher unsaid words between the lines of any novel, epic or book she read. She was very much into spending most of her time reading or sewing and when outside he always spotted her in the garden tending to flowers with his sisters. What he saw was how similar her lifestyle was to his mother's in a very weird way. She liked things simple, preferred to make her own

The Difficulties

“The best of our characters are often reflected in our children.” Kunwar Shakta had visited the court at Udaipur after a Turk marriage offer was turned down by Rana Udai Singh for the third time for one of his Princesses. The Ranimahal at Chittorgarh buzzed with rumours of him warning his father about the consequences of enemity with the Turks and also about the impending doom of Mewar. He had apparently irked Kunwar Partap by suggesting a peace alliance with the Timurids was beneficial to Mewar. Rana Udai Singh in his anger had banished him from his court. Kunwar Shakta had sworn not to be associated with the royal family any further and to join allies with the Turks. Rawat Chundawat was calm enough to pacify the angry prince and offer him to shift to Bassi and give his decision a second thought. However, Kunwar Partap had refused to abandon Chittor defying his father’s orders for a shift to the newly founded capital with his Ranimahal. He wanted to stay at Chittorgarh which was

Understandings

After counting days, Ajabde was happy that she was going to Bijolia. She knew how eager her mother and Ratan would be to know about her new life. She couldn't wait to hug her mother and feel like... Home. She was selecting gifts for her parents and her siblings as per Ranima's instructions. Then suddenly an idea struck her mind. Her new family welcomed her with so much love and support. Especially Ranima and Majhli Maa Sa. She wanted to give them something. Suddenly she remembered that Ranima had loved her embroidery work on dupattas back in Bijolia so she called a Dasi and ordered some plain Chunris and embroidery threads. She had a lot of work to finish in a day before leaving. Kunwar Pratap came back into the room to see her on the floor, right in the middle of the room with red, green, yellow, and pink all sorts of dupattas scattered. " What's all this?" He asked not sure if he should be asking. " I am making gifts. For Ranima, Majhli ma, Rani Dheer Bai

RAABTA

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