Home Calling!

The Maharana Pratap International Airport, Udaipur airport was bustling with activities. Foreign tourists, Indian Tourists, Local people, Cars, trolleys, Hotel Buses were everywhere. A statue of the National Hero Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar stood mounted on his favourite horse Chetak at the terminal. She stepped out, in her casual baggy jeans, Blue teeshirt and pink sneekers, a bagpack ( pink and black cheetah print) on her shoulders and a pink trolley in had. Her long hair was let lose as her shades acted like a hairband. She looked around to find a cab.
" Bhaiya Suniye... Cab?!" She asked a man.
" Sorry Madam today we have cab strike!" The man shook his head.
" Shit!" Chewing the gum, she looked around, then dialed " Papa". Noone picked up.
" Shit Shit Shit!"

Ajabde Punwar, 21, was just like any other normal college student from Delhi. Only she was not from Delhi. She was daughter to a manager of a small princely state of Surajgarh, a mere three hour drive from the Udaipur airport. She had left the place when she was ten, with her mother and lived at her Nanaji's place so that she had a better education. Surajgarh had nothing to offer except the huge palace, some villages and archeologcal sites and two good primary schools. Last heard the Princehad taken up resposibilities for the state's betterment. However bad it might be, for her it was home.

Her thoughts were broken by a sudden commotion at the terminal gate as a few local media reporters rushed towards it. Getting hold of one such man she asked, "What's the fuzz? Who on earth has arrived?"
" He is the next big sensation of Udaipur. A Big Business Tycoon in the making! He has just bought a hotel here and had come here to see off the previous owner."
" Aree Who is it Bhaiya?" She frowned slightly "Naam toh hoga na!"
" Kunwar Pratap Singh of Surajgarh!" The man rushed towards the gate to catch a glimpse of the celebrity. Her eyes widened.

A party was in full swing. A little girl sat looking out of the window. She was barely five, in a pretty pink dress and her eyes yearned the lush green lawns outside. Most of the children here were rich and spoilt. She had heard her mother say. She looked around watching the kids dance to something loud and silly. Seemed like a rhyme song. A seven year old boy came up behind her asking, " What are you doing here?"
" Nothing." She didn't spare him a glance.
" Then come lets dance." He offered.
" Who are you?" She asked annoyed. A smile appeared.
" You are asking me, at my place?" Her eyes widened in fear as she got up and ran away leaving him all confused.
" Aree, wait, tell me your name!"

" Mom... Mom.... " She tugged at her mother's saree restless.
" What happened Ajab?" The lady asked, cluelessly.
" I.... I... met ...." She stammered.
" Who did you meet Ajab?" The woman frowned.
" Kunwarsa." She whispered as though in fear.
" Why are you scared silly girl? Stay with me." Hansa held her hand tight as she looked around spotting him with his best friend.

Ajabde came out of this memory.
" There's no cabs here, Papa is not taking my call too... I am already late..." She looked at her watch. " He should have a car..." she looked at the crowd. " But why on earth will he believe who I am! Am sure he doesn't remember me!" She thought aloud again.
" Ahh well, I have no option, so Ajab let's try this!" She pulled her trolley and pushed through the crowd of onlookers.

A man comes out of the terminal as the media starts clicking pictures. Shutters and light was everywhere. Two security men guide him out. Black shirt, black suite, aviator shades. Just twenty three he looked like a man who meant business. The media started throwing their questions at him.
" Are you planning on building a hotel empire?"
" Will your Surajgarh Palace soon be a hotel?"
" Will you buy Hotels abroad?"
" No questions! No questions!" The security men waved.
He opens the sedan door to get in when she shouts from a feet away, " Can I get a lift?"
Stunned, he removed his glasses and looked at the crowd to see who said that. The media people were looking at each other and at Ajabde as though she was crazy. Some were staring at her with sympathy even. She looked a little uncomfortable.
" Damn! This was utter stupid of me!" She murmured.
" Pardon?" His voice made her look up. Her eyes looked troubled. He looked at her luggage and then back at her. She gulped.
" Am... am... RamRakh Punwar's Daughter." She managed.
" Ajabde?!" He exclaimed as she nodded. He waved at the securities to let her through.
" I am sorry... I couldn't get a cab so...." She stammered an excuse.
" Come with me!" He told his driver to take her luggage. She smiled gleefully before getting into the car. Then as he sat beside her, backpack in between, she opened the window on her side and threw out her chewing gum making him stare.
" Oops! Sorry. Your Highness, Amazing car." She said looking around.
" Your Highness?" He asked a slight amusement in his voice.
" Then what should I call you?" She asked surprised.
" Bachpan mein kya bolti thi... hmm... I remember... Spoilt Princy...Isn't it?"
She turned red thinking to herself, " Hey Bhagwan, how on earth does he know?"
" You are thinking how I know! Naa?" He smiled slightly.
" Kunwarsa, Bachpan k liye bhi sorry!"She interrupted in a hurry. " Really sorry!"
" Wow you can use Kunwarsa? wow!!" He smiled. Ajabde didn't respond. She ignored the taunt and amusement in his voice.
" You rememer Bhagwati?" He asked again, killing the silence of the car.
" Ofcourse she was my Bff!" Ajabde sounded excited at the mention of the familiar name. Bhagwati's father too worked in the estate and she was a neighbour.
" Bff??" He frowned cluelessly.
" Best friend. Till I left. I know her now only through Facebook!" Ajabde shrugged.
" You are here at the right time! She is getting married!" Her eyes went wide at his words.
" Married? OMG. To whom?" She seemed stunned.
" You remember my best friend?" He smiled again as she looked shocked.
" That Stupid Guy who used to take chocolates from your room and give Bhago?!" She bit her lips. He was the son of an associate of the Royals, who also grew up in the premises of Surajgarh.
" Ajab control!" She thought to herself. " Speak less!"
He nodded happy, " The same stupid guy!" She sat like a statue for a moment and let the information sink in. They were not kids anymore, and now with college being over, she had to act like an adult, especially around her father's work place.
" Thank you." Her tone turned formal and aware suddenly.
" For What?" Kunwar Pratap eyed her.
" Giving me the lift home!" He nodded in silence before they stared out at the Aravallis. But Ajabde was restless. She couldn't stay quiet for long.
" By the way, how is Ranima?" She started again, as Pratap smiled.
" She keeps talking about you. And keeps gushing, courtesy all her phone calls with Hansa Mausi."
" Mom?" Ajabde was a little taken aback.
" You didn't know? They have like two hours of convo twice each week." He shrugged.
" No Idea! I used to be hostels all the time!" Ajabde shook her head.
" Me too, hostels, dorms, in London." He added.
" Rich brat!" She murmured to herself.

"Kuch kaha tumne?" He asked as she shook her head.
" By the way congrats for that thing you bought!" She smiled.
" It's a seven star Hotel and Resort, not a thing!" He frowned at her words.
" Yes. That!" She smiled again. He gave a courtesy smile back.

The Surajgarh Palace was a huge estate, the Palace stood surrounded by gardens, orchards, shooting arena, sword arenas, Horse stables, Car sheds, Two Mandirs, The office, the servant quarters and a chain of houses for the in house employees as well as open spaces and lawns. One of the houses in the Employees enclave was Ajabde's childhood home. The car zoomed past the entrance as the guards saluted the prince. She was delighted to see the place after so long. The car zoomed past her house as the smile disappeared.
" Areee Roko Kaka Stop Stop!" She shouted.
" Kaka take the car to the palace entrance." He ordered calmly.
" But.. But my house is right there!"
" Ranima is waiting ever since she heard you are coming! Meet her."
She thinks aloud unconsciously. " Shit Man! Ranima in these clothes, am not even properly dressed for a meeting after a decade!" She looked at her tshirt and frowned.
He heard that and acted like he hadn't.

As he stepped out Jaivanta Bai came out. She had a royal aura about her, dressed in a cream saree and a blue velvet blouse with some royal jewelry she looked like a queen right out of some museum portrait.
" Pratap! Pratap!" She called worried. " Ajab's flight had landed in time but she..."
" Ranima, look who I found stranded in the airport."

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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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? ...

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...

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...

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...

RAABTA

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