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 he watched his eldest son, Kunwar Amar instructing the workers as his younger brother Kunwar Chand looked on. "We used to be like this, Bhai Shakti and me." He sighed. He had lost his family for the seat of Mewar. His brothers hated him, his stepmothers wished he were dead. But the love of his people kept him going.

 

The sound of a procession attracted his attention as he noticed a palanquin moving up the ridge to his camp. " Ajabde..." he murmured, displeased. Before leaving Chavand he had clearly instructed her to stay at the palace and rest as per the Vaidji's instructions. She was very weak, he had said. But Maharani Ajabde was not a soul to be lying down with an illness. Her ever-smiling face came out of the palanquin, a scared Jasobai in toe. The Chauhan Princess was very scared as she was supposed to stop the Maharani but failed. 

"Rana Ji, set the two tents where you wish to." Ajabde's voice was fully determined. " We are staying here until you go back with us."

" Ajabde, vaidji..."

" I tried to stop Jija." Jasobai almost sobbed.

" It's not her fault."

" I know that Ajabde." 

 

He knew her too well. He stared in silence as they met the princes and looked after the arrangements. Kunwar Amar's marriage to the princess of Bundi was just a month away and sometimes looking at Ajabde he remembered the girl who used to watch him play with swords. Time flows like a river. He smiled watching the mother-son duo hug each other as Ajabde inspected some old wounds. 

" Kunwar Amar is not your kid anymore, he is getting married next month, stop inspecting him like that!"

" Daaji Raaj is right Ranimaa." Kunwar Amar found an excuse to run away from this embarrassing concern she showed at times.

" No matter how big he becomes, I will always look after my child's wounds."

" Then, who will look after mine, Ajabde?"

" Kunwar Pratap you have so many wives, my son only has me." She knew very well how much he hated being reminded that she was not the only one.

" They are not you Ajabde, where is Jasobai?"

" See, you are asking me about her, she is at her tent, Go on." She purposely turned away as if she was busy. But he didn't leave. Instead, he walked up to her and held her hand.

" Are you alright Ajabde? Jasobai told me you fainted... and..."

" I am all right, they are just worried more because you scare them with your concern about me."

" They are not wrong if anything happens to you..."

" You will still have all your other wives." She tried to ignore his teary eyes with her laughter. They both knew she did not have much time left. At Least the Vaidji told him so, while she overheard it.

" Ajabde, please rest a little."

" I will only after you and Kunwar Amar and Chand have eaten."

She sat there inspecting all the delicacies as her husband and his sons ate. The Kheer was brought by a maid at the end. 

The next morning the workers and the royal family woke with the musical voice of the Maharani singing Bhajan. The Royal family was making preparations to go back to Chavand as the work was almost over. Suddenly, he felt her face turn pale as she fainted in his arms. She was as light as a feather. The brave Rana Pratap lost his voice at this, as the guards rushed to his aide. She was taken to the palace immediately for medical attention. The Vaidyas treated her day and night as she remained unconscious, her head burning with fever. Her husband never left her chambers these few days, he stopped talking and eating. He lost his sleep in the fear of losing her. Having a bite, his expression made her smile. Never had her Kheer failed to take that expression out of him in all these years. He smiled at her. Wish I could keep you like this forever. She could read his mind.

 

On the fourth day, she could see the people around her, recognise their faces and fumble a few words. He made her eat her food and drink her medicine from his hands. She had done so much for him all her life this was the little return he could ever give her. 

" Kunwar Pratap?" 

" Yes Ajabde, I am here. You want something."

" Yes, I want... I want Amar to get married to the Princess of Bundi no matter what."

" He will Ajabde, you get better then..." He sobbed, trying to hold back his tears in vain.

" No Kunwar Pratap, you promise.... that girl reminds me of Ranima." Ajabde's smile faded as she coughed. He gave her water. She gulped it down hard as if something hurt her throat.

" Another Promise Kunwarsa.... Please..." She was gasping for breath. This was her longest conversation in a week.

" Anything for you ... tell me..."

" Marry Ratnavati...."

" What? No... I can't ... you know I...."

" Marry my sister Kunwar Pratap."

" I can't... she is nothing like you."

" She needs your help Kunwarsa... Marry her... Promise me..."

" Ajabde..."

" This is my last wish..." 

 

He feared these words. This felt like his worst nightmare was coming true... He felt as if the sky was falling on his head... Life without Ajabde? He had never imagined... He wished he fought less and stayed home with her more... He wished he never had to marry for alliances and hurt her time and again... He wished he could give her the life of a queen and not a commoner in exile... Today he wished he could give her his life. 

 

" No Ajabde, don't say that. Don't say that" He hugged her, feeling her frail hands hug him back as tears fell from her cheeks. 

" I am sorry Kunwar Pratap. I have to leave you like this, I feel helpless."

" No Ajabde, I am sorry, I wish I could be with you more."

" You have always been my best friend Kunwarsa."

" And you are the best companion I could ask for."

 

The Guard announced the arrival of their sons as he let her go from his hug. A sobbing Amar and Bhagwan Das came to hug their mother. 

" Always listen to your father, never question him." She told them. " Amar, respect your wife the way your Daajiraaj does." She smiled at her sobbing sons before they left. She wanted to meet Solankini Bai and Phool Kanwar. She held the sobbing princesses and told them " Take care of our children and Kunwarsa." 

" Jija we are nothing without you, who will put our thoughts before Ranaji if not you?"

" You will learn behna."

 

That dawn was one of the darkest dawns of Pratap's life. Mewar cried for Maharani. She had loved them like her children and she left peacefully, like she always was, full of grace, in her sleep, as she held his hands forever.

 

For the next few months, Amar Singh took over the administration as his father mourned his mother. He missed her concerns now. He knew how his father felt. She was his friend. They had grown up together. Mewar rejoiced at the wedding of Amar soon and nobody except Amar and his Daaji Raaj had this void in their lives never to be filled again. After a peaceful seven more years of reign, fulfilling his last promise to Ajabde and marrying her sister, Rana Pratap passed away, unsatisfied with life, as he could never bring Chittor back to Mewar, but content that he had fought to marry Ajabde who was the best partner he could ever have.