Surprises

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were at the main entrance of the Mahal. Hansa Bai came out with Jaivanta Bai, eager to see Ajabde. Hansa Bai hugged her daughter in happiness.
"How could you leave without telling me, Ajab?"
" Am sorry Maa sa... It won't happen again. I promise."
"Where is Chotima?" Pratap asked Jaivanta as Ajabde looked at him, scared. He was angry. God knows what he would say.
" She left for Chittor after a tiff with Ranaji. Kunwar Shakti is here with Chakrapani and Bhagwati."
" Bhai Shakti?"
" Ji Dadabhai... I was missing you all too much, especially Maa Sa." Sajja gave a weird smile and stopped at Shakti's glare. Her son had warned her against smiling like that.
Ajabde went to her room with her mother and hugged Ratan tight.
" Maa, so did you tell her?" Ratan's face was serious. She turned to her mother, who was fondling baby Balwant.
" No... I...."
" Tell me what?"
"Daata fixed your marriage. Apparently, the insult and your running away made him feel you'd better get out of this situation. It's another samant family..." Ajabde was stunned. She looked at her mother helplessly.
" I am sorry, but I tried to reason with him." Hansa Bai explained.

"What?? Marriage?" Pratap was stunned as Jaivanta broke the news. She also informed him that the groom's family would fix the dates that day only.

Ajabde stood on the roof, sad and unmindful as he walked in. She didn't turn towards him.
"Ajabde..."
"There is nothing left to talk of Kunwarsa. Please leave."
"I'm not leaving, and you know that very well." He was visibly angry. " Whoever this person is, I will talk him out of marrying you."
" No..."
"No??"
" You know my Daata had received enough insults for me. Not anymore." Her determination stunned him as he walked away angrily, saying, " Fine... Be unhappy!"
She wiped away a silent tear...

That evening, Hansa Bai and Jaivanta Bai were dressing up Ajabde in her best lehenga. Bhagwati and Sajja were helping.
" She looks pretty," Ratan concluded.
" She is so lucky to get such a good proposal, Jaivanta," Hansa told her friend in happiness.
" No, Hansa. He is lucky to have her." Their words were not registering in her brain as she remembered she wore this same lehenga at Bhagwati's wedding, and he had loved her so much. Those stealing glances always caught her eye. Those will remain in her memories forever.

Pratap was pacing in his room when Chakrapani walked in with an attire. "Ranaji, send this ... Wear it and come to the hall... Ajabde's marriage..."
" Get out, Chakrapani. I'm not going anywhere." Pratap scared off Chakrapani.
"Dadabhai Daajiraj is calling you." Shakti stepped in. Pratap looked up at his brother.
" What is wrong with everyone?'' he asked angrily.
'' I said I'm not going there." Jaivanta walked in, asking Shakti to leave. He gave a smile and walked away.
" Pratap..."
" No Ranima... I can't see Ajabde marry a stranger."
" Who said she is marrying a stranger?"
" What do u mean?"
" We all know him. He is a perfect match for her."
" Know him? Who is he?" Pratap was stunned to see Ranima praise his competitor.
" There ... That's him." Jaivanta smiled, pointing to the mirror.
" Where... I can't..." Realisation dawned as he looked at Ranima, stunned.
" Are you serious? But how?" A delighted Jaivanta bai told him what happened after he had left. Pratap hugged his mother in joy.
" Does she know?"
"Not yet... Dress up now... Let's give her the surprise of her life..."

Ajabde walked in with her mother. Her face was hidden in the dupatta. There was a priest there looking at her Kundli. Kunwar Pratap came in, stared at her and smiled. She looked away, thinking... Where were the guests?

" Baisa has a very good kundli. There is no problem I she gets married soon." Everyone was smiling, including Pratap. His smile scared her.
" Kunwarsa's kundli, please Maharanisa..."
" Surely Panditji, after all, marriage is for two people."
Ranima's words stunned Ajabde as Ratan whispered to her... " surprise"
She still couldn't believe how and when, as he smiled at her.
" Next week will be perfect for the Sagaai."
Everyone was happy. They took the elder's blessings and hugged their friends and siblings. She was in her room with the queens and her mother, who were happy that their surprise plan worked.
Kunwar Pratap was about to walk in when he hid himself, noticing the elders there. She saw his reflection in the mirror. With a hand gesture, he told her to come out, and she nodded no. They didn't realise the elders were smiling.
" Kunwarsa, you?''
Sajja Bai stunned Pratap.
" Ha woh... I came to talk to Ranima." They all laughed.
" In Ajabde's room?" She blushed.

They left in silence as Ajabde blushed red.
" Why are you here?"
" I..."
"You knew everything, didn't you?" She pointed her finger at him.
" What? No..!"
" Then why were you smiling?"
"Ohh, I knew then..."
"And you didn't bother to tell me..."
"When could I..."
" I was so worried, so scared... I..."
"Hush,, He put his finger on her lips to stop her and removed me, amused at her.
" I am not talking to you till Sagaai."
" Aree..."
"No... Subhratri!" She turned away. He smiled and walked away, saying, " I will see how you don't meet or talk!"

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

Search This Blog