Forever

" The Day Amar Singh was born, Mewar celebrated like it was Diwali. The palace was decorated, and so was Ajabde's room. Amar was lying in a golden cot when I saw him for the very first time. He looked like my Pratap used to as a kid. Today, when I look at Amar, I see a lot of Ajabde in him." Jaivanta Bai smiled at a beaming fourteen-year-old.
" Ranaji too was so happy with Mewar's uttaradhikaar." Her smile faded at the memories. The differences started afterwards.
" He was so happy that he founded the new capital that year only." She spoke up.

" What about Daajiraj and Badi Ranima?" Kunwar Chand, nine, enquired. Solankhini and Jasobai interrupted the conversation.
" Come now, all of you, Kunwar Amar, Kunwar Chand, Kunwar Bhagwandas, and Rajkumari, it's late. Time for bed." Solankhini spoke.
" Please, Majhli maa. A little more. " Bhagwan Das, a five-year-old old pleaded.
" Haan Majhli Maa... let Dada bhai's birth story end, tomorrow we will hear mine!"
" Ohho, Chand! How bout us?" The princesses protested. " We come first, right, Ranima?" Jasobai and Solankhini smiled.
" All right, a few more minutes, then we are sending Jija!"

" Woh...Tell us... About Daajiraj and Ranima!" Kunwar Amar returned to the story.
" Your Daajiraj was so, so happy. He used to be so scared, too! Once you had a fever, you were only a few months old then. He left his administrative work and came back for you. Ajabde had to plead and send him back! And Ajabde was always good with kids, be it your Mama Balwant, Saubhagwati's girl or all of you... all your childhoods were spent in her arms more than your own mothers'"
"Of course! Badi Ranima loves me most! More than Dadabhai!"
" Bhai Chand, that's not true." Amar protested.
" Yes, it is!"
" Oh no, they start again!"The princess gasped." Let's go tell Badi Ranima"

" Tell me what?"
The children stopped and froze as Ajabde entered, smiling at Jaivanta Bai.
" Come now, all of you, let Raj Mata rest a little; it's late."
The princesses were ready to follow, but the princes insisted.
"Please, a little more, we promise to wake at Bhrahmamuhurat, please!"
" Ajab, let them stay with me tonight. After the stories, I will put them to sleep here."
" Yay!" A loud cheer broke out before Ajabde calmed them down, saying,
" All right, all right! But after the story, go to your rooms, all of you!"
"Ranimaa, we are hearing your stories! How did you learned sword fighting from Daajiraj!"
Bhagwan Das gushed excitedly as Amar pinched him, whispering, "Hush!"
Ajabde's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment as the children beamed at her. She left without a word.

His room was still in lights, and she knew he was alone; all the other six wives were in their common room, in this makeshift hideout they called home. She had gone there to hear Jasobai complain about the children being sleep-deprived. She sighed and stepped into his room.
" You are awake still?" Her voice made him look up from his work.
" So are you..."
" And the children!" She nodded her head.
" What happened?" He smiled. "Badi Ranima failed to be strict?"
" No, Raajmaata's stories interrupted the scoldings!"
" Stories again? Ranima needs to rest!"
" I know! I said that! You want to try?"
" Why did you come back?"
" Coz... Ranima was telling... about... umm... my sword lessons! "She turned red as she looked here and there.
" Our sword lessons!" He stepped forward with a smile as eyes met. Then realisation dawned.
" To the children??"He was shocked.
" Yes." She looked worried.
" Ranima bhi naa!" he nodded.
" Sleep now!" She was back to her old topic. " It's late."
" Ajabde!" He held her back, holding her by the wrist. " I was thinking...."
" No, the children are awake and ..."
" And you are blushing like you used to."
" Ji?"
" Maharani Ajabde Baisa, it's been such a long and wonderful life with you." He smiled, holding both her hands and pulling her close.
" With me? And the others, too, you mean?"
" Haan Haan wohi wohi!"He nodded, smiling.
" Rana Pratap Singh, it's late, so..."
" So...."
" Go to sleep!" She giggled at his serious face.

"Ranima! Ranima!"
" Kunwarsa is here, let me go!"
" Let him come!"
" Kunwar Pratap!"
" Stop calling me that! I feel like a child." She giggled again, freeing herself right in time before Bhagwan Das came running in to hug his mother.
" What happened, Kunwarsa?"
" This baby was crying because he couldn't sleep without Ranima!" Kunwar Amar appeared extremely fed up with his brother.
" Dadabhai, I am not a baby!"
" Yes, you are! You can't sleep without Ranima!"
" That's not true, I sleep with Daajiraj too!" Amar laughed out loud as Bhagwan Das started to wail, hugging Ajabde, who shouted, " Kunwar Amar Singh, stop making your Bhai cry!"
" Ranima, today I am sleeping with you!" Amar hugged Ajabde, crushing Bhagwan Das in between.
"Urgh, I am!" Bhagwan Das was pushing in vain.
" And I thought I was!" Pratap thought to himself!
" You said something, Ranaji?" Her voice seemed angry as she heard him.
"Nahi Nahi, okay, all right, you two leave her alone! Who is coming with me to hear some war tales before sleeping?"
" Me Me!" Bhagwan Das ran as Amar still stood there. "I'm staying with Ranima, let the Baby hear about war and be scared!"
" I am not a baby!"
" All right!" Pratap stopped them with his hand. " Enough now, you will wake the whole house!"
" Ranima, tomorrow I want sword lessons with you instead of Daajiraj." Amar smiled.
" Me? Nahi Amar, I don't remember..."
" Yes, Kunwarsa, take your mother to the Dangal, we will see what she remembers!" Pratap smiled at a surprised Ajabde.

Early at dawn, Solankhini Bai came rushing in, " Jaso Behena, Champa, Phool Baisa! Wake up! You can not miss this!" They rushed to the jharkhas with smiles and giggles as they witnessed their always soft and gentle Jija in the arena with Amar. Her warrior attire made her look fierce. Amar was practising a duel when Ajabde constantly said, " Trust me, Amar, I forgot!"
"Then let's remind you, Maharani Ajabde Baisa!" His voice made her look at him wide-eyed as Amar slowly stepped away with a smile and went inside.
" Should we be watching this? If Ranaji knows, he can scold!" Champa spoke up.
" If Jija knows she won't talk to us in embarrassment the whole day." Phool giggled.
" Let's leave them alone!" Solankhini smiled.

Swords clashed as eyes talked; she attacked and he defended, teasing her with his gaze. It had been almost eighteen years since their first fight, yet the same Pratap and Ajabde stood in the Dangal Sthal today, older, mature, and more responsible, the guardians of Mewar, whose dreams of being together in all the hardship and keeping Mewar safe were still the same. The kind and gentle Ajabde was now Maharani Ajabde Baisa, while the valiant Kunwar Pratap was now Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar. Time stood witness to their amazing friendship, love, struggle, sacrifice, marriage, romance, family and achievements. They stood facing each other eighteen years apart, still the same, their love unchanged, forever.

The End

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...

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 Twenty Five

It took Trilochon half a day to figure out something was wrong at home. Since he was back, Somnath did not talk to him at all, and Aniruddha looked visibly upset. They avoided each other at the dining table and the living room. Trilochon was not comfortable with asking Ashalata anything. In the evening, as Kalindi poured tea from the pot, Trilochon groaned inwardly. “It’s not even six months since he got married, and she has started a war between brothers.” Kalindi stopped pouring the tea as she turned to him. “What?” She asked, a little cluelessly. “If I had chosen a bride…” Trilochon stopped at Kalindi’s disapproving stare. “What makes you say that?” She asked rather calmly. “Well, I never saw Som and Aniruddha fight until she came here.” Kalindi looked amused at his words. “You are the type for whom people hate in-laws.” “Pardon?” Trilochon narrowed his brows. “What do you mean?” “Bondita. Ask Bondita.” Kalindi shook her head. “I told her it was a bad idea to work with him.” “You ha...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty One

The morning after the Chief Minister of the state attended the reception party, Binoy wrapped the newspaper that had just arrived at their threshold, eyeing the picture of him and Trilochon with the chief minister smiling proudly, made a mental note of framing it for his office in Siliguri and stepped out to see the car waiting for him in the entrance to take him to the station. He glanced over his shoulder at the house, still asleep and watched Bihari put his luggage in the back seat. Bihari had been with the Roy Chowdhury House since he was a teenager. He eyed Binoy as he lit his pipe and straightened his jacket when Bihari approached him. “Boro Saheb, should I inform Kotta Moshai once?” Binoy eyed Bihari with a disapproving glance. “If I wanted to tell him, I would have done so myself, Bihari. Where is the driver?” He checked his watch. Bihari sighed as he ran to check on the driver. Bondita stopped on the gravelled path leading from the entrance to the main gate as she watched...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Four

Aniruddha let the shower run as his skin erupted into goosebumps under the cold water. He breathed out and removed the locks of wet hair from his face. He turned off the shower, wrapped the towel lowly around his waist and walked back to the room, not caring about the wet floor from the water dripping down his torso. He lay on the bed as his body soaked the blanket. He stared at the ceiling, stretching his arms over his head. Bondita’s promise played on his mind in a loop. “I will not leave… I will never leave.” He wanted to believe her. He wanted one person he could fall back on, trusting them to catch him when he stumbled. But his experiences proved him otherwise. He remembered that day as vividly as if it were yesterday. He had bought a scarf for Bondita from Palika Bazaar as a truce because he felt bad leaving home after fighting with her. He had tried to be patient with her and sat her down numerous times to make her understand why boarding school would benefit her. Aniruddha...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Two

The winter morning was pleasant, especially when the sunshine hit the dewy grass on the lawn, and Bihari set down the porcelain cups for Trilochon and Kalindi to start their day. Kalindi had just taken up some orders to knit sweaters and mittens for some of the neighbourhood kids as she wrapped the thick brown shawl tightly around herself, on the chilly morning as she sat down on the lawn chair with her needles, pin and colourful balls of wool, as she knit a pair of mittens while waiting for Trilochon to join her. Bondita hurried out of their place and stopped at the sight of her sitting alone, unsurely. “Do you need something?” Kalindi raised her eyes briefly from the wool and asked as she shook her head. “I was hoping to talk to Jyatha Moshai…” She shivered a little as Kalindi scolded her to find a sweater first. She rushed indoors as Kalindi spotted Trilochon in a thermal t-shirt, a pair of pants and a shawl walking towards her with the cane in hand. He stopped as he watched her kni...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty

Trilochon’s only desire for Som’s wedding was for it to be so grand that the entire Chandannagar remembered it for the longest time. He had also invited the leaders of the opposition, ministers and even the CM, and if rumours were to be believed, he would accept the invitation. That meant trying to impress him for a ticket to the next Lok Sabha elections. He knew the only way to do so was also to showcase Som as a prodigy. Their family name was enough to earn votes for the party in the area. “Perhaps you could tell him about Somnath Babu’s involvement in some of the projects here. Like the slum area where water was flooding the pathways…” Poritosh had suggested. “But it was done by…” Bapi Da had stopped as Trilochon shook his head, “How does it matter who did it? What matters is that we say Som did it.” They agreed. “Jyatha Moshai.” Bondita walked into his room, not expecting the elderly men from the Party office to be there. “ Bolo, Maa. ” “The Gaye Holud is here.” She smiled. “How a...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Three

“So the question is, do the slum dwellers get their dues to relocate, or do they protest on the road, grabbing media attention? If one of them mentions the sewage project where all this started, we can’t guarantee not dragging certain names then. It will be beyond our control.” Bondita breathed in as she eyed everyone at the table. The conference hall of ARC & Associates had an oval table with a whiteboard, projector and podium and sitting around the table were a stenographer, Bondita’s secondary attorney, Debashish Ghosal, the contractor and his attorney Biswas, the representative of the NGO with the Union leader of the slum, Trilochon, Somnath and Aniruddha. The people of the NGO appreciated her strategy with a nod. Ghoshal looked perplexed as his lawyer whispered something in his ear. Somnath did not look up from the table as Aniruddha passed a note to Trilochon in writing. “Now the decision is yours.” Bondita continued. “We are keen on out-of-court settlement if our basic ...

Purnota: Chapter Nineteen

“Wake up, wake up!” Bondita smiled, amused at Aniruddha and Batuk sleeping on his bed, hugging each other like children. She removed the curtains, and the room was flooded in daylight. “Urgh.” Batuk stirred as Aniruddha sat up. “What is wrong with you?” Batuk threw the pillow Bondita caught before it hit the floor. Her wet hair shone in the sunlight, with droplets of water lingering on its tips as she adjusted her well-pleated orange saree with a blue border and opened the window. A gust of cold breeze blew in from the Ganges, prompting Batuk to pull his blanket over his face. “Let me sleep, Daini !” He murmured. “Is it not enough that you all gave away my room to guests?” Aniruddha was stretching and yawning as Bondita chuckled, amused, pulling her wet hair to the side of her shoulder. “Why are you dressed up?” Aniruddha asked, suppressing a yawn. “Oh, you should be, too. Jyatha Moshai said We are going to Kalighat.” She raised her brows, amused. “Oh shit,” Aniruddha murmured, hitting...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Six

Bondita was surprised to find Binoy in the living room of the Roy Chowdhury house as she entered the premises early in the morning. Trilochon sat with his brother, looking serious as they discussed some paperwork, as Bihari walked out with tea. Noticing Bondita so early in the morning, Trilochon looked up questioningly. “I have some errands to run before the office.” Bondita smiled as Trilochon nodded. She had to pay some bills and deliver some of the orders Kalindi had finished because her ankle hurt in the morning. Trilochon enquired about her need for medicines as Bondita reassured him that she had made sure of it. Bondita briefly eyed Binoy, who did not take an interest in her or the conversation, as he did not look up from the papers. Bondita cleared her throat, informing Trilochon that she should be on her way. “I think you should show her the papers, Binoy.” Trilochon stopped her as he suggested to Binoy, who eyed Bondita briefly. He looked unsure as Bondita opened her mouth wit...

RAABTA

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