Happiness

The Ladies had reached the Rani Mahal early at dawn to prepare for the grand welcome. Ajabde was instructing the Daasis on the decorations. The Rani Mahal was well decorated with flowers and curtains handpicked by Ajabde herself. Dheerbai was walking through the corridors, seeing the beautiful royal decor.
" This Samant Putri has a taste." She found herself praising Ajabde aloud.
" Dhanyavaad Choti Ma." She was startled to find Ajabde standing behind her with a smile. She hated that victorious smile.
" Kuwaranisa, Ohh, you are so naive. I feel so bad for you!" Ajabde's smile turned to surprise as she raised her eyebrows, " Ji?"
" Haan, I feel so bad, here Jija didn't let you, the future Maharani of Mewar, stay in the Ranimahal, and she claims to treat you equally, and Rajkumari Heer Baisa gets a room in the Ranimahal."
Ajabde smiled again, " Chotima, I'm sure Ranima had done this thinking of me only. I am very happy to get to look after a household with full control from now on. Ranima wants me to learn early. After all, I have to look after the whole Ranimahal someday."
Dheerbai's smile disappeared as she walked away. Jaivanta Bai has witnessed this from a distance. She walked up to Ajabde, saying, " Come to my room."

They walked to Jaivanta Bai's chambers, and she shut the door behind them.
" Ajab, you have always been my daughter, you know that, right?" She said, holding Ajabde fondly.
" Yes, Ranima. I always am," she smiled.
" Then tell me truly, do you feel I treat you differently?"
" Yes, you do, Ranima, you love me more!" She hugged a smiling Jaivanta Bai.
" You know why I..."
" I know Ranima... For my safety. I know! And I can never question you. I trust you blindly. You are my mother. And as for what people say, Ranima, as long as you and Kunwarsa are with me, I am happy here."
" You know, Ajabde, no princess could have been better than you for Mewar!" Jaivanta Bai smiled proudly.
" Maharanisa..." A Daasi came in. " The new bride is here."
" Let's welcome Heer Baisa Ranima."
They went out to meet SajjaBai at the main entrance. Flowers were laid down for the new bride to walk on. Sajjabai did the aarti, followed by Jaivanta Bai, who surprisingly ignored Dheerbai and handed the thaal to Ajabde. Shocked at first, Ajabde took the aarti thaal and stepped forward with a smile.
" Ajabde has the first right on her Devrani now. Be careful, Heer!" Dheerbai taunted as Shakti sarcastically replied back, " That's the best thing that could happen to her in this RaniMahal." He stopped at Pratap's nod and glare. Ajabde's smile travelled from Shakti to Pratap as eyes met, and remembering the fight, he chose to look away.

The ring-finding game was going to happen as Shakti proudly said, " I will win this!" Heer glared at him like a lioness, making him smile. The ring was thrown in by Ajabde, who again looked up at Pratap, who looked away. Heer won the contest as Chakrapani teased Shakti, saying, "No one wins against the wives. Even our Baojiraj, the greatest sword fighter, lost a sword fight to Bhabisaa." Everyone laughed as Ajabde turned red and Pratap stared at Chakrapani.

That night, Pratap was busy with some paperwork when Ajabde entered the room.
" Kunwarsa, I was thinking..."
" Not now, I'm working."
" Not anymore!" She blew off the lamp on the desk.
" Ajabde, let me work."
" Work tomorrow."
" Why?"
" Because we haven't talked all day, I want to talk."
" And fight about something again?"
" Kunwarsa! I asked Ranima. She said Kelwara is not that dangerous. Then why are you not taking me? Do you plan on meeting some princess there?"
" What?" She could see his surprised expression in the pale moonlight. She bit her lips.
" Yes, like they all found your and Jasobai's pairing ...."
"Hahaha! Looks like someone is jealous!"
" No!"
" Yes!! I loved that."
" What?"
" Your possessiveness. That day." He pulled her close. She smiled at him. He held her hand and took her to bed.

Two days hence, Ajabde was busy setting up Heer's room, making her comfortable, when Jaivanta Bai came in smiling.
" Ajabde, Daima had visited Saubhagyabati, and she said the baby is a daughter. Go meet her once." Ajabde nodded, smiling as Heer asked, " Can I go too?" Jaivanta Bai nodded.

On their way back, Ajabde and Heer took the garden route to the Ranimahal that passed their home and the Dangal Sthal. Ajabde knew why Heer insisted on taking the route as the princes practised there. She smiled and ignored the obvious. Their voices interrupted the sword duel as Shakti stared at them from a distance with a smile. Ajabde stepped forward with the news.
" Chakrapani will be having a daughter soon. Daima said."
" What? How could she tell?" Shakti was suspicious.
" That's what I asked." Heer gushed.
" They can tell, I saw about Bhai Balwant."
" Yes, and even Maan and Jagmal, too, you remember Bhai Shakti?" Pratap added to a clueless Shakti.
" Bhago is very happy."
" And Chakrapani?" Pratap asked.
" Scared to death." Heer laughed. Ajabde held her hand," Let's go back, it will be time for Ranima's puja soon." She nodded.
On her way back, she felt a little dizzy.
" Umm... Heer... I am not feeling well."
" What happened?"
" I don't know."
" Let's go to your home, Jija, you can lie down a little." Ajabde nodded at a scared Heer.

" Badi Maa Badi Maa." Heer was out of breath. " Woh... Jija is not feeling well."
" What happened?" Jaivanta Bai rushed to see Ajabde sitting on her bed drinking juice from a dasi.
" Aree Heer, you called Ranima? I'm fine, really. "
" What happened, Ajabde?"
" I just felt a little dizzy. It's so hot outside, maybe that's why..."
" Daasi call vaidji."
" Aree nahi nahi... Am fine, Ranima. Vaidji will cause Kunwarsa some tension."
Pratap stormed into the room, all worried.
" Ohho, Heer Baisa, why are you calling everyone?" Ajabde complained.
" What happened, Ranima? She is ill?" He looked worried.
" No, am fine", Ajabde protested. The medicine man checked her and went away with Jaivanta Bai. Pratap sat down, worried about facing her on the bed.
" Why don't you take care of yourself?" He said once they were alone.
" Kunwar Pratap, see how you worry without a reason. That is why I was telling you I will go with you so that you can take care of me." She smiled.
" Ajabde, why are you so stubborn?"
" Pratap!" Jaivanta Bai entered as he got up.
" Ji Ranima?"
" Go meet Rawatji, he is waiting at the baithak."
" Ranima, can I go to Kelwara too?" Ajabde interfered as Pratap looked at her angrily.
" No, Ajabde, you can't." Pratap smiled as Jaivanta Bai spoke.
" See, Ranima won't allow you." He said and left.
"Ranima, why can't I go?" Ajabde asked as Jaivanta Bai smiled and hugged her.
" Because you need extra care now, especially with my Nanha Pratap coming, I can't afford to let you go out of my sight!" Ajabde looked at Jaivanta Bai, shocked as realisation dawned, and she blushed red.

" Ranima! " Pratap interrupted, clueless. " We are leaving at dawn."
Jaivanta Bai looked back at Ajabde, telling, " Tell him by dawn." She nodded shyly.
" Tell me what?" Pratap asked as soon as she left.
" Nothing. Let's pack your things." She walked past him and was about to go out of the room when he shouted, " Ajabde!" And made her stop.
" You are not leaving until you tell what Ranima is telling."
" Uff Kunwar Pratap, I will, but not now!"
" What kind of excuse is that?"
" Let me go."
" No! Tell me."
" All right!" He stared at her face, waiting. She looked here and there.
" Woh.... Woh... Humm.... "
" Yes?"
" You... I mean, we...."
" You are making no sense!"
Ajabde breathed in heavily, " I need to go see Daimaa tomorrow!"
" Why? For Saubhagyabati?" She nodded a no.
" For me."
" Why would you need...." He stopped, surprised and stared right at her blushing red face. " Ajabde! Hey Eklingji. Really?"
" Yes." She replied, embarrassed as he hugged her.
" Why are you standing here? Sit down. No, Lie down! And you haven't eaten yet, Daasi Daasi!"
" Kunwarsa! Kunwarsa!" She stopped him with her hand. " Am fine."
" You don't decide that! We do!"
" We?"
" We... Me and I... or her! I need to go tell Rawatji to postpone the trip by a day. We will go see Daima."
" No, you don't! You forget the vows?"
" Wha..."
" First Mewar, then Ranima, then me... us." She smiled as he stared at her.

At dawn, he was ready to leave as she came out with the aarti thaal.
" You shouldn't have woken so early."
" And missed doing your aarti?"
" Stay with Ranima and don't eat anything from anyone and...."
" I know, stop worrying and concentrate there! I will write to you."
"Every day!"
"Kunwarsa!"
" No, Promise me!"
" All right, every day!"
" Take care of yourself and him..."
" ... Or her..." She smiled. She did his tilak and he got on Sarang. He then got down and walked up to her, surprising her with a tight hug.
" Take care, Ajabde."
" Stop worrying and come back soon."
" I will."

He rode off as she stood there before leaving for Ranima's chamber to wait for his arrival in a month or so.

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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