Skip to main content

Dreams and Wishes

At dawn, the Bhil women took the girls to the Kalika Mata Temple and the Jal Kund. Dressed in white a nervous Heer followed everything Ajabde knew and did, trying to explain the significance of the rituals to her. They prayed to Lord Ganesh.

Kunwar Shakti and Kunwar Pratap were staying at Punja Ji's place as they were not supposed to see the brides before the wedding. Ajabde was dressed in her mother's lehenga, a mang tika Jaivanta Bai gave her as a family heirloom and the simple nosering Pratap had gifted. They made their hair into a simple bun with wildflowers before putting on her dupatta. Heer was dressed in traditional Bhil jewellery of silver and beads that the women had gifted her. They made her wear a red and white saree draped as a lehenga and a red chunri with it. She looked like a pretty colourful Bhil bride.

Kunwar Shakti was a nervous groom dressed in a traditional bhil dhoti, kurta and cap. The bhil shawl hung from a side, making the white attire colourful. Kunwar Pratap was in a brown and white groom's sherwani Hansa Bai had sewed with love and he wore a brown pagri. All the bhils were singing and dancing around the stage they made for the wedding. The women took Ajabde to the Temple of Shiv Parvati first. Pratap was escorted there by Punja and his men.

As they stepped facing each other, she looked at his smiling face from behind the veil and blushed. He was happy he could make her dreams come true. They exchanged garlands made of red wildflowers. Then they prayed at the temple. After the Havan, it was time for the sindoor. As the woman lifted the dupatta off her face he couldn't help but notice her kohl-smudged eyes, smiling at him. He held her dupatta up in one hand and filled her forehead with the other as the women blew conch shells and the men sang and danced. They held their hands to thank the subjects for their love as they looked at each other.

" Time for the vows." The women were giggling. He held both her hands in his as he remembered how cold they were at the wedding. Looking at each other they started repeating the vows after the priest. Vows to stand by each other, vows to have equal shares in pain and happiness, vows to make his house her home, vows to protect her, vows of giving each other rights above all. Vows that they had unknowingly followed ever since they met.

Heer Kanwar was sitting nervously when Ajabde came in with the women.
" Jija, you look beautiful."
" You are the new bride, Heer, today is your day." 
She held Heer's cold hands as she took her out to the daylight, under the sun, on the podium, Shakti sat nervous surrounded by the Bhils. Pratap was first to catch a glimpse of the bridal party, or more precisely his wife, as he smiled at her. She blushed and nodded a soft " Stop it" as he smiled teasingly.

Shakti caught a glimpse of his bride, in a saree, something he had never seen before. She sat across him in the Havan as he stared at her. He could sense her nervousness and blush. Kunwar Pratap was in a mood to tease Ajabde throughout. His gaze followed her through the rituals making her feel uneasy. He couldn't help but wonder what would have been so wrong if she wore this lehenga at their wedding, she looked so beautiful in her simplicity. Somewhere down the line, their simplest dreams and happiness were lost in the name of Royalty.

Heer and Shakti exchanged garlands as Shakti refused to bend down and Heer stood on her toes to garland him, making everyone laugh. Ajabde remembered how easily Pratap had bowed to her. She smiled at him realizing he was thinking the same. The sindoor daan was beautiful as Ajabde held her chunri and a blushing Heer refused to look up at Kunwar Shakti who couldn't take his eyes off his bride. After some songs and dance the Bhils described an age-old tradition where the groom sang for the bride. Shakti was caught off guard as everyone laughed.
" Chaliye Kunwarsa, you can't say no to traditions." Ajabde teased.
" Bhabisa! You were on my side!"
" Come on now Bhai, I have seen you humming at times."
" I have seen you write poetry also Dadabhai, doesn't mean.."
" Gayiye na..." Heer's soft voice silenced him.
" Ji?"
" Gayiye."
Pratap smiled at Ajabde as Shakti started, " Mare hivrave.... prem saugaad ayo re..." 
" See Bhai" Pratap teased. " Now you also started listening to your wife, in these few hours and you used to tell me and Chakrapani." 
Punja's father the last Bhil Sardar and the oldest man of the village came to bless the couple.
" BaboSa, wish them a healthy family," Punja told the old man as Heer blushed.
Ajabde stepped forward to take the blessings of the old man and she shocked everyone by touching his feet as Kunwar Pratap smiled.
" Arree Kuwaranisa, what are you doing?"
" Taking your blessings Dadosa."
" But Kunwaranisa... you are a royal..."
" Everyone is a human being first..." Kunwar Pratap stopped him.
" May we get the news of the uttaradhikaar of Mewar soon Kuwaranisa." The old man's blessings made Ajabde blush as Shakti chuckled, making Pratap stare at him. As everyone left the hut, Shakti started teasing Pratap who threatened to quit helping them.
" Bhabisa, he is threatning me."
" What...?" Pratap was shocked as Shakti complained in the same tone he complained to Jaivanta Bai as a child.
" Leave him alone Kunwarsa."
" Aree I... Bhai Shakti...."
" Bhabisa, you haven't still been able to take full control of him have you?" Ajabde smiled at Shakti as Heer laughed at a frowing Pratap.
"Enough now! Everyone gets ready to leave for Bundi. We will reach by dawn. And no one tells a thing about this wedding until I do." Everyone nodded.

Jaivanta Bai received a letter she was hoping to receive. This letter would help her convince Udai Singh and fail Dheerbai's plans. She now knew the threats her brother received with the royal seal, threats to steal her happiness and Heer's. She couldn't lose. Not with her son and Ajabde by her side.
Ranima.
Khamma Gani. We found Heer safe and sound near Bijolia, She is with us and so is Kunwar Shakti. He had no hand in all these that Heer planned. We are arriving in Bundi soon with them both. 
                                                                                                                 Kuwarani Ajabde Baisa.

 Jaso Bai was sitting with a Daasi who was telling him the now famous tale of how Kunwar Pratap Singh had married a commoner, that too his Samant's daughter.
"Kuwarani Ajabde Baisa is the nicest person I have met." She gushed as she described all the happenings since she had arrived in Bijolia with Heer Baisa.
" Why did he choose a Samant's daughter without even meeting prospective brides from Royalty?" The maid couldn't tell. Jasobai was looking forward to meeting this lucky wife of the man all princesses desired someday. She didn't know her wish would be granted soon.



READ CHAPTERS HERE

Labels:

Comments

  1. Adora ThangjamSunday, July 26, 2015

    Really fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownSunday, July 26, 2015

    its good
    but plzz don't let akbar marry heer
    if i m not wrong heer is jodha right?

    ReplyDelete
  3. SuranyaSunday, July 26, 2015

    No Aditi Heer here is for Shakti's wife who was Pratap's cousin from Bundi( i dunno her real men) and Jodha's name was Harka Bai of Jaipur

    ReplyDelete
  4. SujataMonday, July 27, 2015

    Girl ur updates have kept me soooo hooked!!! We were at a car showroom yesterday to look for a car for one of the relative n I was busy reading the update on the story n the hubby thought it was something urgent with the office.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. SuranyaMonday, July 27, 2015

    Hahaha! Saare Hubbies mere ko pitenge ! Don't do that! Thanks Btw! Am glad married women are liking my imaginary married life romance! I thought am doing something wrong with it, now am relieved with yours and some other reviews :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
6 comments
Read More

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 ...
5 comments
Read More

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused.   " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...
8 comments
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Four

The group of youth provided by the Pradhan proved efficient for Aniruddha’s liking as they helped him survey the villages, create a set of data and provide a rough idea of how much fund was needed to rebuild the roofs and fallen walls. “What if we make them permanent? That way, the next cyclone will cause less damage. Pakka houses may also get other facilities like toilets and…” Aniruddha suggested as his eyes shone in the flickering light of the dimly lit kerosene lamp in the living room of Pradhan’s house. Drops of perspiration had formed on his forehead in the load-shedding, and the mosquitoes buzzed around them. For the first two nights, Aniruddha could barely sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings with buzzing insects, sounds of the unknown, and eerie animals here and there at a distance. Stories of snakes climbing up to the second floor through windows despite the mosquito net protecting his four-poster bed kept him alarmed. By the third day, after a day’s survey through the villag...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Three

“Did you ask for me, Dadu?” Bondita asked as the old man smiled at her. She looked fresh, with her hair neatly braided and a cotton pleated skirt, Thamma sewn with a faded top of one of her cousins, as she stood before the old man sitting on the porch. “Yes indeed, Didibhai, you didn’t come for chess yesterday.” The man smiled. “Oh, Pradhan Jyatha wanted me to look out for the …” She stopped as she saw Aniruddha walking towards them down the corridor. She eyed him as the old man followed her gaze. “Oh Aniruddha Babu, come here. This is Bondita Das.” Aniruddha smiled at the child as she looked away. “She is the only girl in the village who has appeared for her final examinations this year. She is very intelligent and…” Aniruddha nodded “She helped me a lot yesterday.” He made her look up, with a cold stare at him as he smiled politely. “Yes, I have called her here to show you around the village. He wants to see the affected areas of the Adivasis, Bondita.” The old man made her nod. “But...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Six

Kalindi waited outside the hut, on the torn mat they usually slept on, using the hand fan to drive away mosquitoes as she stared at the empty path leading out of the house, the path Bondita had taken some time back. It was almost an hour. Did the foolish girl escape or land in trouble? To her relief, she could hear her nephew snoring away indoors, reassuring her that they were at least not caught by the villagers till now. She was sure Bondita would return empty-handed and hurt, and that she would have no other way than to accept the proposal from the Pradhan. That morning, her Kaka would accompany Sarkar Moshai to the adjacent village to talk to a family friend of the Sarkars. They were looking for a bride for their sixteen-year-old eldest son, who worked as a labourer in Sealdah. Kalindi had tears in her eyes. Not much had changed in these years; not much of women’s fate was different, wasn't it? Kalindi was about ten years old when her father took her to the Roy Chowdhury house ...
Post a Comment
Read More

A Heart at War

Legend has it that Pratap had to struggle for his father Rana Udai Singh's approval on his wedding with the daughter of Bijoliya's chieftain's daughter, Ajbante Kanwar Punwar. It is so because he was the crown prince and his first queen was supposed to be the next queen of Mewar. Hence his father expected his first bride to be a powerful princess who would aid his political needs. But stubborn as he always was, Kunwar Pratap had other plans. The water of the Bhimlat was still. The sound of the waterfall could be heard in the silent afternoon in the dense forest. A pebble caused ripples in the water and alerted the horse gazing nearby. He looked up at the source of the stone. Then began grazing peacefully once again. The source of the stone however was far from being peaceful. His face wore a frown as he stared around restlessly for the umpteenth time. He sat unmindful on the large rock on the bank of the water body watching the ripples closely, lost in thoughts. The soun...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Five

Aniruddha finished reading the book he had carried with him in the dim light of the bulb in his room and decided to pack it away. He was leaving in a few days and wanted to make sure he left nothing behind. The construction work on the school had started, and the Panchayat wanted to give him a thankful farewell he humbly refused. The spotlight should be on Trilochon to help with his next election campaign. Aniruddha did not want to associate himself with the party or the job. He contemplated going back home and telling his father that he had decided to pursue a career in India instead of his initial plan of going back to London. He had been giving it a thought for quite some time, and the day he said it out loud to Bondita, he knew in his subconscious mind he had already decided on it. The more he saw the village, the more sure he was that he was needed by his countrymen. Dadu put faith in him that he could be part of something bigger than himself and his career, and he intended to kee...
Post a Comment
Read More

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 hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...
6 comments
Read More