Engaged to Love

At dawn, Ajab de was singing her favourite Bhajan to the Lord when Hansa Bai came and sat with her. The palace was decorated well for the Sagaai, and Hansa Bai's eyes teared up at the thought of losing her favourite daughter.

" What's wrong, Maa Saa?"
" Nothing, Ajabde. I was thinking it's only a matter of time before you go to Chittor and I will never hear you sing again." She sobbed as Ajabde hugged her.
" I will come back to visit you, Maa sa...."
" Only in Pak Fera and on occasions, and when you have children. That's the rule of the Royal Family, you cannot come here when you want. "
" She is my daughter, Hansa, and if she wants to meet you, I can assure you that no rule will stop her. "Jaivanta Bai interrupted the mother-daughter moment with a smile.
" I know, Jaivanta, I will not worry about her because I know you will be there."
" Hansa, Yu should not worry as long as Kunwar Pratap is there for her." His name made Ajabde blush as she walked past them and to her room.

Ratan was busy with a hundred options for her Jija's Sagaai. Not every commoner married the crown prince. She had to do something special. Hansa Bai made Ajabde sit down and applied Chandan on her to make her already glowing face glow more. Jaivanta Bai came in worried.
" Ranaji has called Dheerbai; she is arriving at the Sagaai soon." Everyone's faces were gloomy when Ajabde smiled, "Of course, Choti Maa has to come to bless her favourite son." Her smile and confidence made Jaivanta less worried.

As they got Ajabde ready in her crimson red chunri and green lehenga, Sajja Bai decided to do a Nazar Uthran of Mewar's Kuwarani.
" I think we need to save Ajabde from Kunwarsa's eyes only. She is looking so beautiful, he will only stare at her." Sajja Bai's comment made everyone laugh, and Ajabde blushed red.

In a room at the far end of the corridor, Kunwar Pratap was wearing his turban, helped by Chakrapani.
" You are making him wear the turban, Chakrapani. Look at the smile he is wearing today. "
Kunwar Shakti chuckled as Kunwar Pratap stopped smiling and looked at him sternly.
"You are next, Bhai Shati, we will see what you do!"
" True, Kunwarsa, the first time I am seeing a man so happy to get married. " Chakrapani joined in.
" Aree... stop talking, you two, and help me get ready, I'm late." Pratap tried to ignore their glances as Veni and Bheem laughed.
" So Kunwar Pratap is so eager for the Saagai." Everyone was shocked as Udai Singh joined the group. Pratap was stunned.
" Daajiraaj, you also!" He replied, shocked.
" Come, Kunwarsa, I need to talk to you." Everyone else left immediately.
" Kunwar Pratap, you are soon going to start a new life, and I want to tell you something really important today.... " Pratap waited in silence.
" I have seen that in many ways, Ajabde is like your Ranima. Her ideals, morals, and self-respect are all like Jaivanta Bai ji. I had always tried to understand her in vain; I know I displeased her a lot. I was married to her when I was your age, and since then, the only happiness we shared was you. " Pratap was stunned at his father's words. Everything he said was known, but he never expected his father to actually say those.
" Always keep Ajabde pleased and give her priority among all your alliances. I failed your Ranimaa. But I know you are more like her than me. And Pratap, I am sorry, as a father, I didn't listen to you first; no one could be better than Ajabde for you." Kunwar Pratap hugged his father with a smile. See, Ajabde, what you have done, you made Rana Udai Singh speak out to me....

Jaivanta Bai was shocked to see Rana Udai Singh share a smile and a hug with her son. She smiled, pleased as she broke the father-son moment, saying, " Come, Pratap, the Panditji is calling you to the hall. " Udai Singh nodded in approval as Pratap went out with Ranima. As Udai Singh sat lost in his thoughts, a guard came in and announced, "Rani Dheerbai is here, Ranaji."

Ajabde sat in her room, her hands going cold in nervousness. The guests had arrived mainly from her family, the Chittor and Jalore Royal Family, Jaivanta Bai's homeland. Bhago and Ratan came running in to inform, " Kunwarsa is at the hall and he looks so handsome." Sajja Bai smiled at Ajabde, who was blushing.
" He is handsome as always, he's my Dadabhai after all!" The voice made them turn as a beautiful girl, almost Ajabde's age, entered with Jaivanta Bai. Her lehenga and jewellery indicated she was a royal.
" Ajabde, this is Heer Kanwar, Pratap's cousin from Jalore."
" Bhabisaa!" She hugged a taken-aback Ajabde. Ajabde remembered Pratap talking of Heer to her once.
" Aree, let the vivah happen, then call her Bhabisa." Sajja laughed. Heer touched her feet.
" I have heard of you from Dadabhai, too." She gushed.

Kunwar Shakti was at the door.
" Panditji has called for Bhabisa." He said to his mother as his eyes fell on the stunning beauty beside her.
" Shakti, this is Rajkumari Heer Kanwar of Jalore."
" Kunwar Shakti Khamma Gani."
"Gani Khamma." Ajabde noticed a familiar smile on Shakti's face, a smile that could be genetic, she thought as she looked at Heer blushing. A smile curved Ajabde's face. Dheerbai entered the room, " I will take Mewar's future Kuwarani to the hall. "
"Of course, Dheerbai ji, since you are so happy with this sagaai." Jaivanta Bai's taunt made Hansa and Sajja smile at each other. Ignoring them, Dheerbai held Ajabde's stone-cold hands.
"Are you nervous already? What will happen when you have to welcome more wives of his with a smile, Ajabde?" Dheerbai whispered. Ajabde smiled. " It's just jitters, Chotima." Dheerbai was not impressed.

At the hall, amidst the mantras and the crowd chatter, he heard her Payals... and looked up. Her face hidden in a dupatta, she made her way to the hall, and a smile curved his face. He saw Dheerbai lead her and was a little bothered as he looked at his mother, who gave him an assuring nod. A bail of water was kept between them as the Panditji instructed them to unveil her dupatta. Dheerbai stepped forward to do the honours, and her nervous face was unveiled as he looked at her reflection on the water. Then he looked into her scared eyes directly with a smile. His smile paced down her heartbeats, and she smiled back. Mantras were said, pujas were performed. Jaivanta Bai blessed Ajabde with traditional jewellery and clothes, and Raoji blessed Pratap with a sword and turban. After the puja, the cousins and friends decided to have some fun. They took the newly engaged couple to the room.

Kunwar Shakti was confused. He didn't know why he couldn't take his eyes off Heer throughout the ceremony and even in the halls. Her smile made him smile, and her voice made him skip a beat. What's happening to me?

Kunwar Pratap was waiting for a moment with Ajabde in private, but they were always surrounded by people.
Ratan and Heer were teasing Pratap, saying, "You should gift her something."
Not being able to scold his sister, Pratap asked Ajabde, "What do you want?" as the others laughed.
" A promise."
" Promise?"
" Yes, Mewar will always be independent, promise me," came a soft reply, stunning everyone. He smiled with pride, " I promise you, Ajabde, as long as I live, Mewar will be independent."
Heer frowned. " What is this, Bhabisa? You had the opportunity to ask for anything!"
Shakti smiled, " She is Dadabhai's reflection!"
Heer looked at him with a smile that stopped his world as Ajabde looked at the duo and then at Pratap, who was looking at Chakrapani helping Bhagwati with the flower on her hair.

That night, Ajabde stood on her balcony, looking at the rain, lost in thought. After a few more days at her home, the thought made her sad. A creak of the door made her turn as she looked at Pratap walk in, looking back to check if someone saw him.
" You?"
" Ajabde..."
" We need to talk." Their voices together stunned each other.
" You first", She replied.

" I don't know why Chotima is here, but I am sure she will trouble you." He sounded worried. " I ..."
" Don't worry about me, Kunwarsa, I will not make the same mistakes again. " She assured him as he held her hand.
"Now my turn!" She was excited.
" Say... what's the news...."
" Kunwar Shakti... did you notice him at the ceremonies?"He was lost.
"Did you see Heer Kanwar Baisa?"
" Behena? Ajabde, you are confusing me."
" I think Kunwar Shakti likes her!" Her smile was cut short by his laughter.
"Bhai Shakti? He is never interested in girls!"
" Were you always interested in girls?" Her question shocked him.
" No... I...."
" I don't know how you did not notice him at the ceremony. He has your smile...."
"I didn't know you were busy noticing them when all your attention should have been towards me. " He stepped towards her with a teasing smile. " And now, the sagaai is also done, you know!" She skipped a heartbeat.
" Kunwarsa!"
He stepped forward and unveiled her dupatta. Then her scared eyes made him smile as he stepped back and said, " Subhratri." He left his bride smiling as he dashed to his room.

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. 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 was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Six

Bondita opened her door in the usual hours of the morning and found Thamma and Jyatha Moshai on the couch in their living room, sipping tea. She had half sat on her bed, leaning against the pillow all night, imagining her plight when she faced Aniruddha in the morning. What if he did not think of it as much as she thought of his actions? What if that was his uncomfortable way of comforting her because she was upset? But what about his eyes, his gestures? Had she misread all of it? Bondita blushed to herself the moment she remembered how his eyes followed her around for the past two days. Bondita was hurrying through her daily chores, eyeing the clock, for she would be late for work and overheard Trilochon lament about things not changing since Binoy left. He thought that things were getting better at home, but as soon as Aniruddha had left for Sunderban, Binoy informed him that he had changed the attorney in charge of his case. Bondita frowned slightly as her hand stopped at wearing th...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Five

“The bride is older than the groom.” Aniruddha heard one of the older villagers speak in a judgmental tone. “No wonder the higher castes don’t attend such atrocities.” He eyed the younger man he was talking to, who smiled. Aniruddha was sitting beside them on a bench in the open courtyard of a house where the wedding rituals were taking place. Tirio and Tumdak were playing rhythmically in a corner as some women danced to the tunes surrounding the new bride and groom. The men sat on the other side of the courtyard. “Forget about the Brahmins, we don’t expect them to come.” The younger man shook his head. “As for traditions, what is wrong if the bride is older?” He smiled sheepishly at the older man. “What’s wrong? Everything. Master Moshai, you can be educated, but our ancient traditions have reasons. The groom must be older than the bride. It has some reason.” He shook his head. The teacher, in turn, educated the man that it was a perfectly normal Santhali ritual to marry older wo...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Seven

“Why will Bondita not come for Holi?” Asha asked as she inspected the colours, Abir, Pichkiri and balloons Somnath had ordered from Baro Bazaar. He shrugged. “She is scared of colours, I think.” Asha smiled, a little amused at her clueless husband. “She is not ten anymore.” He looked up at her words with a sheepish smile, “Well, I never saw her play Holi, perhaps Dadabhai knows the reason.” Asha contemplated her husband’s words. She did not share a relationship with Aniruddha frank enough for him to share things about Bondita. It would be easier for her to ask Bondita instead. “If you wish for her to come,” Som said, like he could almost read her mind, “Perhaps you can invite her. She won’t say no to you.” Asha nodded. “It will be good to have the whole family together. It's not been so since the wedding.” She smiled. Som agreed as he matched the list with the things. “Yes, and Baba will be coming too, he told me not to tell Jethu, but I was surprised by that.” “Maybe because he an...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Eight

Trilochon was so overwhelmed that Binoy came for the Pujo and Kirtan on Dol Purnima. Their neighbours, friends and acquaintances had all gathered in the Thakur Dalan, first for the pujo when the idol of Sree Radha and Sree Krishna were worshipped in the Dalan, and Horir Loot of Batasha and Naru were distributed. Unlike in the village, people here, especially children, did not fight over the Horir Loot . Bondita and Batuk took part in the ritual like they used to as kids, counting the number of Batasha each of them had, amusing the elders who reminisced about their childhood and how Batuk snatched Bondita’s share and ran as she chased after him, shouting. The Kirtan followed the pujo, the tales of Sree Krishna’s prowess, his Leela and Radha’s sacrifice were sung with the sounds of Dhol and Khanjani . It followed the devotional songs praising Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his praises to Lord Krishna. Bondita not only liked the stories of Kirtan but also how the crowd joined in the singing and...

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. 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. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

Endless

Kunwar Pratap reached the Dangal. Ranima had ordered Ajabdeh to practise regularly. She was nowhere around since he woke up that morning. He had assumed she was with Ranima for the morning prayers, but then she was not in the Dangal on time, either. Ajabdeh was never late. He felt a little uneasy as he picked up the sword. A thunder made him look up at the gloomy sky as he felt the first drop of rain. A little wet, he ran through the corridors. Ajabdeh had woken up feeling unwell. He was sleeping after a tiring day, so she decided against calling him and, more, worrying him. She bathed, hoping to feel better, performed her puja and went to the gardens for some fresh air. Still feeling uneasy in the gloomy weather, she decided that playing with Parvati might make her feel better. After some talk with Bhago and playing with Parvati, she stood up from the floor and felt dizzy. Bhago caught her hand. " Are you all right?" " I just felt a little dizzy. I don't know why...

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...

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabdeh looked visibly displeased at the ladies who ran around. " They are at the fort gates, and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red lehenga and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maasa Maasa... 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., " Ajabdeh." 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!" ...

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The maid-in-waiting ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai, who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room, followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The maid sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes could not believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed, shouting, " Quick. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabdeh. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. Sajja Bai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap had not noticed anything except her calm, unconscious face. Now that he noticed his blood-soaked, red hands, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...

RAABTA

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