Colours and Fun

The Palace was decorated for the wedding, the guest rooms were filled with renowned guests, and the family was busy with the wedding preparations. Rana Uai Singh, Raja Surajmal and Rawatji sat discussing matters of the state with Kunwar Pratap. The Ranimahal was filled with the laughter and giggles of princesses, queens and noblewomen. Everyone was eager to meet Ajabde, keeping her busy since the morning. Heer sat pretty in a white and gold lehenga while Shakti wore a white dhoti. The Ranimahal was separated into two groups: the bride and the groom.

Maharani Jaivanta Bai had made sure the royal tailor made dresses for every occasion, not only for the bride and groom but also for the newlywed Pratap and Ajabde. For Haldi, Ajabde was wearing a white lehenga like Heer's with a marigold yellow dupatta and pink borders. Pratap's white kurta had the same pink borders, and his turban matched his wife's dupatta. Ajabde wore her own wedding jewellery that made her look as gorgeous as the bride.

The Haldi powders and paste were first taken to Shakti. Jaivanta Bai, Sajja Bai and all other relatives were smearing Shakti with Haldi as he sat blushing, and Ajabde smiled, remembering her own wedding. She came forward, and Shakti smiled at her, putting forward his cheeks to his Bhabisa, making everyone laugh.
"Kuwaranisa will take the Haldi to Heer."
" Ji Ranima."
" Where is Kunwar Pratap?" Sajja Bai asked.
" He must be hiding somewhere, fearing the Haldi." Chakrapani smiled.
" Aree, you are here!" Ajabde hugged Saubhagyabati, whose baby bump was starting to show. Jaivanta Bai greeted them. Then she told Chakrapani,
" Now it's your job to drag him out of Rajkarm and make him enjoy the wedding, Chakrapani."
" I will do that, Maharanisa." Ajabde smiled at Jaivanta Bai before leaving with the Haldi.
" Aree... Bhabisa..."
" You want to say something, Kunwarsa?" Shakti had caught Ajabde in the corridor.
" Woh..."
"You want to say something to Heer Baisa?"
Shakti was a little hesitant, then he handed Ajabde a mala of Heer's favourite flowers.
" I got this for her hair..." Ajabde smiled and nodded, and took the gift for Heer.

"Jija, you are here!" Heer hugged Ajabde. "You look beautiful. " She swiftly handed Heer the gift while hugging, and she hid it beneath her dupatta. Jasobai saw that and smiled.
The Haldi ceremony was done; all the ladies were in the common hall, smearing each other with the remaining Haldi. Jaivanta Bai remembered she had kept some Haldi to dry on the roof of the Private Mahal of the family.
"Kuwaranisa, go fetch the remaining haldi too if it's there on the roof." She ordered.
" Ji."

" Chaliye Baojiraj!" Chakrapani was dragging Kunwar Pratap by the hand away from the kings and nobles.
" Aree, where are you taking me, Chakrapani?"
" I am following Maharani Sa's Aadesh Baojiraj!"
" What?"
" Yes, to keep you away from Rajkarya till the wedding, so I'm taking you to the Ranimahal!"
" Chakrapani, stop!" Kunwar Pratap let go of his grip." I have no work in the Ranimahal Chakrapani. The ladies are busy with the rituals there. I am going to my room!"
" But... Baojiraj!" Chakrapani was calling in vain at the retreating figure.
"Ohho!" Pratap was talking to himself. " If I go there, then Shakti can attack me with the haldi, the whole Mahal is filled with haldi, where will I go?"

Ajabde was picking up the powdered and dry paste Haldi in a bowl when she sensed his presence. He was a little taken aback seeing her there as he looked here and there to see if anyone was watching before he approached her with a smile. An idea struck Ajabde's mind. She smiled to herself.
" Ajab..." She turned around, throwing powdered haldi at his face, surprising him. His face and Kurta were smeared in Haldi as he looked at his wife giggle.
" What just happened?"
" You got smeared in Haldi." He couldn't help the little haldi on her left cheek as she laughed.
" Accha?" He took a handful of Haldi from the one spread on the floor.
" Nahi Kunwarsa!" She ran to the other end of the roof. Her payal made tinkling sounds, and he ran after her. Her dupatta was flowing.
" Why are you scared?" He caught her by the hand and pulled her close, and used his other hand to smear her face, neck and hair with the Haldi powder.
" Kunwarsa!" In a flash, she threw what remained of the bowl at him. He sat down, hiding his face with his palms.
" Aah, my eyes, Ajabde!"
" Are you all right?" Worry crept on her face as he pulled the haldi spread on the cloth on the floor and rained her with it, laughing.
" You tricked me!" She complained as she realised all the Haldi was now on the floor. But a Rajputani never loses. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the bucket of water nearby. She rushed to it before he could grab her.
" Ajabde No!" She splashed him with the water as he got drenched.
" You are in big trouble, Kuwaranisa!"
" No No No!" He grabbed a pail of water and splashed her lehenga. Now, as they ran, their footsteps made footprints across the floor of the roof. They ran about, throwing whatever they could find at each other, from dried leaves to even mud from the pots. Their laughter rang through the silence of the roof.

Jaivanta Bai wondered what was taking Ajabde so long; maybe there was no haldi left, and her Agyakari daughter was making some more. She walked up the stairs, followed by Sajjabai and her Bhabisa. They stopped hearing the laughter of the duo. Never had she heard Kunwar Pratap laugh so loud, let alone Ajabde. The trio exchanged a surprised look.

Jaivanta Bai stepped out on the roof to find it smeared in water and Haldi, and mud, and their footprints everywhere. Kunwar Pratap's Pagri lay undone in the water. She travelled towards the sound of the laughter as she caught a glimpse of the sight before her. Pale in hand, Ajabde was ready to throw some water, and Kunwar Pratap was standing opposite her, in warrior stunts with what appeared to be some mud he picked up from a pot. The duo froze at her sight as Sajjabai and Mamisa stepped forward and exchanged a surprise look. Jaivanta Bai had a serious face on as she looked around the messed-up rooftop, and Ajabde hid behind Kunwar Pratap, dropping her pail and trying to put her dupatta back on. Both were dripping wet, smudged in Haldi and mud.

" Ranima... woh...." He opened his mouth as he spotted his undone pagri and went to grab it, exposing Ajabde, who was standing, red and staring at her own feet.
" Kunwar Pratap, go and have a bath." Jaivanta Bai was trying hard not to laugh. Ajabde walked past Pratap and them and ran down, followed by an embarrassed Pratap. The trio broke into laughter.

After a bath, Kunwar Pratap was in a Royal Blue kurta and was adjusting his red turban when Ajabde came in, in the same blue lehenga, her open hair wet and hanging from one side. Eyes met when he smiled. She had a worried look on her face.
" What happened?"
" Chi Chi Chi, Ranima saw us, with Majhli Ma and Mami sa. What will they be thinking of me?" She hid her face with her hands, making him laugh.
" Ajabde, you were there with me, not a stranger..."
" It's all your fault, Kunwarsa!"
" My fault?"
" Yes!"
" Who started it?" He folded his hands and stared at her as she looked away.

A daasi came in announcing, " Rajkumarisa is calling Kuwaranisa."
Ajabde left a smiling Pratap, who made his way to Shakti's room. Shakti was getting dressed for the wedding with Chakrapani's help when Pratap walked in. He was setting his brother's turban straight as the duo smiled at him. Ajabde entered the room rather awkwardly as Heer smiled at her.
" Jija, what happened on the roof?" Heer giggled.
" Woh... Hum... I need to go give Kunwar Shakti something." She left embarrassed.

" Dadabhai, whatever happened today ... has spread like wildfire!" Shakti kept a serious face as Chakrapani chuckled.
" You want to get married or not?" Pratap eyed his brother and then his friend.
Ajabde's entry made them all turn as she handed Shakti the neckpiece.
" Look, he is threatening again, Bhabisa!"
" Stop complaining like a kid, Bhai."
" Leave him alone, Kunwarsa."
" But Ajab... I..." He nodded and left, followed by Chakrapani.
" Waise Bhabisa! People really enjoyed the Haldi. Didn't they?" Shakti chuckled as Ajabde turned red and was about to leave when Chakrapani came back to announce, " They are calling the groom to the Mandap." Ajabde smiled and followed them out to see Kunwar Pratap waiting.
As they walked ahead, he gave her his hand, saying, " Chaliye."
She took it before carefully leaving it once they arrived at the corridors leading to the halls. He smiled and walked past her to Shakti as she smiled to herself. It truly was a Haldi she would remember!

Sibling's Day

Shakti always had a very strict sibling equation with Pratap. Though they were only two years apart, the siblings had very different tastes and preferences. For Shakti, Pratap's disciplined and well-planned life looked like he was missing out on a lot of things. He sometimes didn't even approve of how impulsive Pratap was when he was emotional. Shakti, on the other hand, prioritised experiences over plans. He never found a need to feel deeply for anything the way Pratap did, and over the years, mostly in Pratap's absence from the family, he had managed to find a way with his parents. But he didn't really have any other elder sibling figure. All his cousins' sisters were close to him and younger. But with Ajabdeh, he had developed this very strong connection over the past few weeks. As a child, Shakti's playmate in the house used to be Sajja, while his father worked, his mother ran NGOs, and Pratap was always found with his head in a book. Ajabdeh was up for an...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Four

Aniruddha tapped his black loafers on the Italian marble floor of the entrance as he eyed his watch. It was almost half past five. He checked himself in the full-size mirror beside the coat hanger, looking fresh as he shaved and bathed, set his hair, chose a white summer blazer over his black shirt and trousers and abandoned the idea of a tie. He cleaned his glasses with the handkerchief, contemplating whether he should knock at Asha’s door, telling Bondita to hurry. He wondered what the women were doing there for such a long time. He could hear them giggling and gossiping as he walked past the room. He wondered what huge deal a party was that a woman needed another to help her dress up. He took out his phone and wondered if he should call her downstairs instead to avoid the awkwardness of knocking on the door. It was then that Aniruddha heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up in a reflex. He would give her a piece of his mind for wasting precious moments, especially when they...

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...

AAYA TERE DAR PAR DEEWANA

Pratap was outside the gates of Meera Girls College in Udaipur by the next afternoon, unsure of whether to go in and ask for her. He spotted a few girls walking out, and one of them kept staring at him suspiciously before approaching him. He stood in his spot, still awkward as she asked, “Aren’t you that ASI guy that Roshni met?” “I… what?” Pratap narrowed his eyes “I am sorry, I don’t remember you.” “I am Mahek.” The girl waved her hand and smiled, “I was with her at Chawand.” “Oh, I see.” Pratap sighed. “I found some information that might help her …err… project.” He stopped at Mahek’s suspicious frown. “So I thought…” “You came all the way here to give her some information about her project?” Pratap cursed himself inwardly. Indeed, that sounded lame when she repeated it. “Why didn’t you call her?” “I…” He cleared his throat “I lost her number, so… I was hoping that she would be interested in an on-field internship…” “Oh, wait, I will give you her number. But she isn’t here, and I do...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Five

Aniruddha stared at the clock on his chamber wall for the third time and verified its working condition by checking it with his watch. He had asked Bondita to come to his chambers at six. It was almost six-ten and there was no sign of her. The peon he had sent to call her in had also left. He wondered if she had gone home earlier than usual. But then would she not have informed him? He eyed the partnership deed he had prepared to be signed, going through the terms one last time before he decided to go downstairs and see where she was for himself. As soon as Aniruddha got up, taking the coat from behind his chair to go, gathering the paperwork of the deed, a knock resonated on the door as he straightened his glasses and found his most professional voice to ask her to come in. Bondita looked a little breathless as though she had run up the stairs and apologised in a hurry, “Sorry, sorry… Meghna had some issues with her computer.” “There is a tech guy for that.” He narrowed his brows slig...

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!" ...

The Adventure of PI Ved: The Case in London

There is something funny about the phrase “as dead as a doornail.” Why? Because I am dead and I don’t look like a nail of any sort. I lie on my living room carpet, hands stretched out, the knife stuck to my back...such a backstabber. I hated them all my life! And what is the purpose of killing me? It is not like I would have lived much longer, I was eighty-five, for God’s sake! I lay here, the blood turning thick as I stared at the painting on the wall. It is such a hideous painting. I bought it for so much money, I was duped. I am waiting for the morning when my caregiver arrives to discover me on the floor. But I feel they are still around, looking for something. Searching every room. It is around 7 AM that she rings the bell. She bangs the door. She yells out, “Mr Smith!” Oh no, she is going back. Come back here, you fool! The criminal must still be upstairs. I hear them come down the wooden staircase and exit from the back door. Now the useless caregiver lady is back. Oh, she ...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Three

Trilochon and Kalindi were having tea in the morning in their living room when Binoy walked downstairs in his Pajama Panjabi, pipe in hand and found them. Watching him unusually in his home attire, Trilochon frowned. “Are you sick? I thought you had already left.” Binoy sat down on the single chaise chair beside the couch as Kalindi poured some tea for him. “ I told you, Dada, I am here to retire.” He said, putting his pipe in his pocket. “Today, Som is going alone. We will see how that goes.” Their conversation was interrupted by Asha coming into the house in a white and red saree, with a red sindoor Teep on her forehead. She had a basket with her, and Koeli was accompanying her as she offered them the sweets she had taken as Prasad. “Since it’s his first day at the new position, we went to the temple together.” Asha narrated to Kalindi. “He left for work from there.” “Do you not have school today?” Kalindi enquired as Asha shook her head. She smiled, eyeing Trilochon, who narra...

Purnota: Epilogue

“Hello?” Saudamini’s voice was heard on the other end of the telephone as Aniruddha breathed in. “Mini, this is Aniruddha.” “Oh, Ani, how are you? How is Bondita?” Her voice changed from doubtful to excited. Aniruddha was standing by the couch in the living room with a phone book on the coffee table and a sheet of paper with a guest list in his hand. The mention of Bondita made him involuntarily eye the visible corridor to the dining area, where he could hear her voice, instructing Koeli. Ever since the marriage, she seemed to have taken up the job of ordering everyone around the house like a true landlord, and even he was not spared from her occasional orders. That is exactly how he had landed on the couch with a phone book. “Umm… she is good. Everyone’s good. I’m calling because…” “Oh, do tell her I truly apologise for not attending the wedding. I know she was disappointed with me and thought it was some payback for her not attending mine.” An amused smile formed on Aniruddha’s lips ...

Embracing Truths

Rana Udai Singh had sent his Senapati Kunwar Partap back to Chittorgarh because Dungarpur had summoned them to the battlefield. How did a friendly visit culminate in a war? Rumours spread faster than wildfires in Mewar. Rana Udai Singh was attending a Mehfil where he liked one of the King’s best dancers. He wanted to take her back to Chittorgarh, and the king, who took pride in art, refused to part with his best dancer. Udai Singh, at the height of intoxication, abused the king, insulted his dynasty and almost forced the dancer girl to follow him, leading to an altercation. What he expected now was for Kunwar Partap to lead an army to Dungarpur, wage a war and force the king to apologise. Kunwar Partap was appalled by what he heard from the soldier. Could the Rana not understand that he could not make any more enemies? He asked his troops to prepare to leave and informed Raoji. Ajbante Kanwar ran down the corridor to her chambers as fast as she could. She did not care if anyone saw her...

RAABTA

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