Skip to main content

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 all smiles. She hated that victorious smile.
" Kuwaranisa, Ohh you are so naive. I feel so bad for you!" Ajabde's smile turned to a 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, am 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 t 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, " Noone 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 paper works when Ajabde entered the room.
" Kunwarsa I was thinking..."
" Not now, am 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, Zija, you can lay 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? Am 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 vaid checked her and went away with Jaivanta Bai. Pratap sat down worried 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 by her hand. " Am fine."
" You don't decide that! We do!"
" We?"
" We... Me and him... 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 reminded smiling 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."
" Everyday!"
"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.

READ CHAPTERS HERE

Labels:

Comments

  1. Adora ThangjamThursday, July 30, 2015

    AWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cute and romantic :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. SujataThursday, July 30, 2015

    Hmm the good news.... good one

    ReplyDelete
  3. SuranyaThursday, July 30, 2015

    Than You so much, last part updated, up next is a prAja modern series

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

See You Soon

Kunwar Partap entered the relatively quiet stable premises at the break of dawn checking on Bijli who was asleep, when he heard the sound of anklets near the cow shed. He walked up to the entrance of the stable, from where he could see her, her dupatta placed loosely over her wet hair, devoid of jewellery the way he never saw a royal lady, with a basket of flowers in one hand and a plate of sweets on the other. She was distributing sweets to the cow keepers, veterinarians and everyone who came by on the occasion of Lakshmi giving birth to her calf. “What will you name her, Hukum?” an old man asked. She smiled shyly, pressing her lips together. “Mandakini, Kakasa.” The old man smiled at her suggestion. “Like the kund? Very nice.” Kunwar Partap walked up to Lakshmi’s shed only after most people had dispersed to their work. Ajbante Kanwar heard footsteps behind her and turned with the plate that now had one sweetmeat left. Alarmed at his sight and at the lack of options she could offer fr...
Post a Comment
Read More

Stable Boy

  “Jija, I want to go to the stables too.” Ajbante was stopped in the corridor of the inner palace by Ratan Kanwar, followed by their half-brother, Akhil who was three. “We do.” Ratan corrected herself. The dawn had just set on the horizon and the birds were chirping in the gardens. Ajbante Kanwar had just taken a bath in the private pool and managed to grab her empty flower basket to go to the gardens still before that, she would visit the stables and cowshed, check how Lakshmi was doing with her newborn, and if Bijli was okay with the sudden changes her father made. Ratan Kanwar’s nagging made her sigh and nod. “Don’t make so much noise so early in the morning.” She scolded them as they followed her, giggling and skipping down the hall behind her. “Don’t touch the newborn Kunwar Akhil, you will scare Lakshmi.” The familiar alarmed voice made Kunwar Partap stop gathering hay as he placed them down, wiped his forehead and glanced over his shoulder at the cowshed. There was some gig...
Post a Comment
Read More

I Saw You

Kunwar Pratap was in his brown Dhoti, off-white angrakha and a piece of brown cloth tied to his head when he entered the palace premises. He was standing in the courtyard, eyeing the lofty towers and domes, wondering whom to talk to as some soldiers galloped their horses out of the stables on the right and some people were gathered on the left. The main entrance and two guards on either side and he decided to go towards the stairs leading up to the inner palace when the guards stopped him. “Who are you looking for?” “Rao ji?” He asked unsurely. “Rao Ramrakh…” “What audacity, boy?” The old guard scolded, “Say, Hukum!” “Yes, Hukum.” He nodded. “I came to tend to the stables.” “Then go to the stable, why are you loitering around the private gardens?” One of the soldiers said in a gruff voice. “He must be the one we were told about…” The other one reminded him. “Oh, go to the stables anyway, Hukum is busy practising, I will summon you once he is on the premises.” Pratap nodded at his words...
Post a Comment
Read More

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him.   The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And 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. One of his aides...
6 comments
Read More

Queen of the Heart

Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabde decided it was fair to know his strength before the big competition. Sword in hand, in a white female warrior attire with only her face visible she hid behind one of the large watchtowers of the Dangal watching him move. She heard Rawatji say, " Your left hand is still weaker than the right one with the moves. Both should be perfect." A smile curved her lips. Knowing an opponent's weakness always helps, which is one rule of the war she always remembered.   Kunwar Pratap swung his sword with his left hand and turned around. He could sense someone watching, his sixth sense was never wrong. He looked around and hatched a plan. Ajabde again peeped at the grounds to see it was empty. He had left. She walked towards the empty ground, sword in hand. Suddenly, the cold blade of a sword was felt on her neck. She stopped still. " So someone was spying on me." His voice had a hint of taunt. " No, I was...
Post a Comment
Read More

Prologue: Impulsive Hearts

1576 CE. The dark clouds circled over the Haveli of the Chieftain at Avadgadh, one of the unimportant posts on the western borders of Mewar, Rajputana. It was the arrival of the rainy season, with occasional downpours over the green veil of the Aravallis on the horizon and the streams that often meandered around the hills now surged like rivers. The monotonous life in the little settlement was stirred by the arrival of guests in the Haveli. It was not usual for the old chieftain to receive so many guests, especially women and it sparked curiosity and rumours among the villagers. Who were these people? Some of them looked like royal ladies and some not. In the inner palace of Avadgadh, on a balustrade that was designed with Jali, nymphs adorning its pillars that looked over the Aravallis in a distance, covered with dark clouds, the gusty wind blew the new curtains almost toppling a vase kept by the window. She caught it, alarmed, almost out of the force of habit to be alert about her su...
Post a Comment
Read More

Unexpected

" This is your room Ranisa." Hansa opened the door to the well-furnished large guest room of the Bijolia Palace. The diyas were lit and the room was neat and clean. " Your Daasis decorate the rooms well." Jaivanta Bai looked around. " Oh, Ranisa. all these... " Hansa smiled proudly. " All these are done by my daughter." " Your daughter?" Jaivanta Bai smiled surprised. " Milwayiye ." Jaivanta Bai was eager to meet her. " Ajabde! Ratan!" Hansa called as the girls came in. 13-year-old Ajabde preferred a simple lehenga in a pink and blue Dupatta clad over her head. She was the first one to calmly bend down and touch Maharani's feet as a five-year-old Ratan came running. " Ajabde is very talented in sewing, gardening and home decor. She can also...." " Maa Sa...." Ajabde's soft protest stopped Hansa as Jaivanta Bai smiled. " Accha, I won't tell but these are your good talents, right? ...
2 comments
Read More

Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. “Break the door” he ordered. “Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar. “Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.” “Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried. “Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde.  Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens… Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction. “ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword. Ratan took two ste...
Post a Comment
Read More

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The Daasi 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 Daasi sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes couldn't believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed shouting " Jaldi. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabde. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. SajjaBai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap hadn't noticed anything except her calm unconscious face. Now he looked down at his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. " Kunwar Pratap! Tell me what happ...
6 comments
Read More

You Deserve More

Ajabde woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm clinging to her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly but he was holding it so tight. Ajabde'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 his bed as he again looked back at the rain. Then he looked back frowning as 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 in th...
8 comments
Read More