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 their 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 that Hansa Bai had sewn 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 nervously 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 from 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 had worn 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, realising 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 Chakrapani and me."
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 threatening me."
" What...?" Pratap was shocked as Shakti complained in the same tone he had 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 frowning 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 foil 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.
Kunwarani 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.
