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 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 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 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.
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.

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Two

Bondita got down from the local train with a duffle bag and her hoodie tied around the waist of her dark green Kurti, which she teamed with white leggings and a white dupatta. The weather at Canning seemed hotter and humid than Chandannagar, and at first glance, Bondita spotted the spring blooms of Krishnachura painting the tree at the station red. She picked up her bag and looked around the crowded station. Someone was supposed to come and get her. She dragged her bag through the crowd and finally reached the gates. The rickshaws, vans and small autos were shouting out names of different places, names that appeared like images in her memories. “Bondita Malkin?” She turned to see a woman in a checked printed saree worn above the ankle with a Ghomta over her head and the Anchol tied to her waist. Bondita nodded as the woman in her forties surprised her by touching her feet. Bondita jolted away in shock. “What are you doing?” She asked with raised brows as the woman took her duffel bag. ...

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 Three

Aniruddha stepped out of his room, in a wrinkled Kurta, with a towel and toothbrush, to almost bump into Bondita, who was hurrying out of her room, trying to wear her watch on the go. He stopped before she barged into him and spotted her in one of Thamma’s Dhakai sarees. It was a white-on-white saree she had worn with a quarter-sleeved black blouse. Her hair was bunned with a claw clip, and she wore a small black Teep complementing her Kajol-drawn eyes. She looked slightly startled as she stopped at his dishevelled appearance and looked away at his stare. “Why are you…” He cleared his throat to do away with his morning groggy voice, “Dressed up?” Bondita shook her head at his words. “Because I have camp today, the NGO representative is waiting downstairs.” At her words, Aniruddha nodded and promptly held her wrist to check her watch. Bondita eyed his index finger and thumb, briefly brushing around her wrist as he suppressed a yawn. “But… It's 7 AM.” Bondita smiled, amused at his wo...

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...

Scheme of Things

The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Four

“You are cheating, he can’t play!” Bondita was attracted by the commotion downstairs as she opened the window of her room. She walked out to the balcony to inspect it. It was Sunday, and Padma had promised to make Chicken Curry, knowing Bondita had invited Tapur to join them for lunch. In the courtyard was a group of boys, probably Sidhu’s friends, with a broken pipe for a bat, a wooden plank for a wicket kept between two bricks and a rubber ball, arguing over a game of cricket. Bondita’s eyes stopped at Aniruddha, marking a line with chalk and then measuring feet using steps to mark the boundaries. Bondita looked amused at the sight. “Batuk. You went out fair and square; give me the bat.” Bondita put her hands on her waist as she commanded. Batuk refused to part with his new bat. Som frowned at his brother. “She is right; it was a clean bowl. Give her the bat!” Som commanded. “I was not ready.” Batuk shook his head. “She knew that.” “It's still out.” Bondita frowned. Aniruddha wal...

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...

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...

RAABTA

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