Jealousy

Dheerbai was walking down the corridor of the Ranimahal when she spotted a messenger walking towards Rana Udai Singh’s chambers. He had a letter in hand. Dheerbai rushed to stop him.

“ Whose letter is this?”

“ Ranisa, this letter is for Ranaji from Maharanisa. She has specially instructed not to hand this over to anyone except Ranaji.”

“ Ranaji is in his vishraam Kaksh now. And I'm sure Jija won’t mind if I take it.

“ But Ranisa.” The messenger was reluctant.

“ What is the matter, Dheer?” His voice startled her as the messenger bowed to him, handing over the letter. He took it and walked into his room, followed by Dheerbai.

“ Hey eklingji!” Udai Singh exclaimed as though he couldn’t believe what he read.

Dheerbai took the letter and read:

Khamma Gani Ranaji,

I was on my way to Bijolia when I was summoned by Bhai Sa’s sudden, urgent message to Bundi. Heer was missing. If the Daasis were to believe, she had fled. I sent Pratap looking for her, and it was extremely shocking that Pratap found her with Shakti. She had been living with him in the Bhils village for the last two days. Sajja and I were in so much shame in front of the people of Bundi that, to save further embarrassment, I had to promise them the royal wedding of Heer with Shakti this week itself. You need to arrive here and show your support… This is the only way we can save our family name. And please forgive them. They are children. Hope you will arrive soon. Jai Eklingji. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara

                                                                    For a moment, Dheerbai was fuming at Jaivanta Bai’s trick to convince Ranaji, who was now packing to leave immediately. Then she felt grateful that Jaivanta Bai did not reveal her in front of Ranaji. After all, she was the one sending letters to Bundi under his seal. But still, she needed to convince Ranaji. Ajabde was already a pain, and in addition, they would come between her and her dreams.

“ Ranaji. I think we should think a little. They are thinking alliance with Marwar.”

“Dheer, Jaivanta Bai had already promised them something on my behalf, which will save both our honour and our alliance. This marriage will stop Bundi’s alliance talks with Marwar.” Udai Singh seemed happy to a surprised Dheerbai.

“ Are you coming?”

“ No Ranaji…. I…”

“ Dheer, think if it were our Maan or Chand in Heer’s place, we would have thought the same.” Dheerbai smiled a convincing smile.

“ Ranaji, I want to go, but I am not well.” Rana Udai Singh left Chittorgarh alone.

Kunwar Pratap was convincing himself how to put forward the news once everyone calms down. He rode unmindful on Sarang as he looked back and saw Shakti ride by Heer’s side of the palki she shared with Ajabde. Ajabde peeped out, watching him stare back and asked, “ What?”

“ Nothing.” He nodded and looked ahead as the Bundi Fort became visible at a distance.

“ Heer!”

“ Maa Saa!”

The mother and daughter hugged each other in tears as Sajja Bai scrutinised her son, who chose to look away. Ajabde walked up to touch everyone’s feet as Heer’s mother wiped away her tears, saying, “ Bring me the aarthi thaal, our new bride is home!”

Ajabde smiled shyly as Pratap’s heart skipped a beat before he realised his Mamisa was talking of Ajabde and not Heer!

“ Bhabisa, you can’t only welcome Ajabde by Aarti. You have to welcome someone else also!” Jaivanta Bai spoke up.

“ Yes, He should come up first,” Surajmal spoke up. “ After all, Bindni is our family, Jamata is paraya!”

Pratap and Shakti looked wide-eyed, thinking how on earth they knew as Heer and Ajab shared a quick glance. Jaivanta Bai continued.

“ Ajabde, you have a lot of work, the Sangeet is today. Ranaji agreed to get these two married in three days.” Four relieved faces smiled.

“ But Badima…” Shakti was about to say something when Pratap grabbed his hand.

“ We can’t believe … such good news!” He made a gesture to Heer to keep quiet. Ajabde smiled and said, “ Sure, Ranima, Kunwarsa was a brother to me; it’s time I become his sister.”

After some refreshments, they were shown their rooms, and as Ajabde unpacked her things, Shakti came knocking.

“ Dadabhai, we cannot do this, we are already…”

“ Hush!” Ajabde quickly shut the door.

“ What’s your problem? Keep quiet and enjoy a royal wedding.” Pratap said with a straight face as he kept his pagri.

“ But…”

“ No Buts Kunwarsa! It’s time we enjoyed a royal wedding. I have already written to Saubhagyabati; they will arrive on the wedding day .” A Daasi came to inform Rana Udai Singh is there.

Kunwar Pratap looked at Kunwar Shakti, who refused to leave. He went by himself as Kunwar Shakti walked to his room.

“ Gani Khamma Daajiraj.”

“ Kunwar Pratap, how is Kuwaranisa?”

“ She is fine.”

“ Where is your Bhai?”

“ Woh…”

Thankfully, Surajmal interrupted. With Jaivanta Bai.

“ I apologise for whatever happened, Surajmal Ji.” Udai Singh was ashamed that his son eloped with the princess.

“ Nahi Nahi Jijosa.” Surajmal thought it was an apology for the letters.

“ Let’s not talk of this anymore.” Jaivanta Bai put an end to the topic. “ Pratap, bring Ajabde and come to my room, we are selecting gifts.”

“ Ji.”

Pratap was in the corridors when Jasobai saw him walking towards her. At a glance, she knew who he was. His looks and bravery were both topics of discussion among the Princesses.

“ Kunwar Pratap Singh of Mewar?” She looked awestruck at a surprised and uncomfortable Kunwar Pratap.

“ I am the Chauhan princess Jasobai. May I offer you some pickles? These are our special mangoes, which are famous all over Rajputana. Please accept this token gift.” Kunwar Pratap was thinking of how to get away from this trouble in a pink lehenga when he noticed Ajabde coming towards them. He smiled.

“ Gift, you say? I like gifts a lot, but I don’t get any.”

“ Really?” Jasobai broke into a smile. “ Here, I have some shawls too, handwoven by our artisans. They are also…”

“ Kunwarsa…” Ajabde interrupted with a smile. “ Ranima called us to…”

“ Ohh yes, I so forgot. Pleased to meet you.” He then nodded at Ajabde and rushed off.

“ Woh…” Jasobai looked at Ajabde, smiling at her. This must be…

“ I am sorry I interrupted your conversation, actually…”

“ No, no, you must be Kuwarani Ajabde Punwar!” Jasobai smiled. “  Heer talks of you.” A confused Ajabde smiled at the unknown girl and nodded.

“ I must go…” Jasobai rushed to her room. Confused, Ajabde stood thinking Who was she… I forgot to ask!

She is not pretty, and neither does she look Royal, so what made him love her? Maybe he never met a princess… Jasobai’s thoughts were interrupted by Heer.

“ How am I looking for the sangeet Jaso?”

“ Beautiful.”

“ Come, let's go to the hall.”

“ Let me get ready, Heer.”

The ladies were singing and dancing as Heer sat pretty in her family heirloom jewellery and a pretty purple lehenga. Ajabde sat with Sajjabai, who was beaming happily. Some of the ladies dragged in Pratap at his Mami’s instructions.

“ Aree, what will I do among girls?” Everyone laughed as he helplessly complained. “ Ranimaa!!”

“ Kunwarsa, it’s our Bundi tradition that the Bride’s brother dances on the sangeet.” His Mami said, smiling.

“ Mamisa, you are making this up!”

“ Aree, ask your Ranima!”

“ Haan Haan, even the Bhabisa dances.” Jaivanta Bai added as Ajabde looked at her wide-eyed. Heer was still laughing. Jasobai saw Pratap smile at Ajabde.

“ No, Ranima, what will I do among the ladies… I'm going.”

“ Accha!” Sajjabai spoke up. “ You never said this in Bijolia Kunwarsa, what will you do in the Ranimahal. You came running whenever we called you. We wonder why.” She looked at Ajabde and Pratap, blushed and looked away.

“ Haan Sajja Behena, he never refused in Bijolia.”

“ Ranimaa!”

“ Dadabhai dances a little, and they will let you go.” Heer smiled.“ Bhabisa, you too!”

“ Nahi Nahi….” Ajabde was reluctant as Heer pulled her up. The dhol played, and the singers sang as Heer and Ajabde did two thumkas, and a blushing Ajabde saw Pratap copy them, making everyone laugh. She went and sat down with Sajjabai and started discussing what they needed for the mehendi and haldi rasam.

Heer had by now asked Jasobai to step in as she and Pratap danced like they did as kids, and Jaivanta Bai remembered it as she said, “ Bhabisa, look how time flies by.”

Heer stepped back as Pratap was lost in dancing, and Jasobai joined him, unnoticed.

“ He is a perfect prince, a husband every girl would desire.” Ajabde overheard two women talking as she sat with Sajjabai, hearing her list of things to be done. She smiled a proud smile.

“ Yes, he just got married, so a second one will be a year or so at least!”

“ But he is the crown prince; he will surely get a lot of admirers and proposals.”

“ This pairing looks good. Who is she?”

“Rajkumari Jasobai Chauhan”

Ajabde turned to the centre, noticing that her husband was dancing and smiling with a princess who was now the topic of discussion in the room. This is the corridor girl….

She excused herself and moved to the corridor, fuming. Pratap stopped noticing all eyes were smiling at him as he realised the girl he was dancing with was not Heer. Embarrassed, he looked around as Jasobai’s smile faded at his “ Shama Kijiye!” 

He looked around for Ajabde and left.

He found her busy with people, carefully ignoring him, his eyes hovered on her as she fumed. I will have to talk to her when she comes to the room tonight. He thought of an apology speech.

He waited eagerly for her to come that night, and he smiled as she entered with an angry face. His smile faded seeing Kunwar Shakti behind her.

“ Kunwarsa, he will sleep with you tonight.”

“ But…”

“ Dadabhai! They have taken over my room to prepare for the wedding.”

“ I have worked all night, Subhratri.” Ajabde left a stunned Pratap with a smirking Shakti. He sat in bed asking, “ What happened?”

“ She… I… Kind of accidentally danced with a princess.”

“ You… What?? Oh, someone is in trouble. Bhabisa is fuming.”

“ I know I wanted to apologise.”

“ Oops! Tonight you have only me, Dadabhai.” He was amused.” I can’t believe she scares you so much!”

“ Go to sleep!”

The next day, all the ladies were busy applying mehendi.

“ Mine should have the best colour!” Jasobai ordered as she eyed Ajabde, checking Heer’s mehendi and hers.

Kunwar Pratap just needed an opportunity to talk.

“ Ranima… “ He came in as all eyes turned to Ajabde.

“ Pratap! You need something?” Jaivanta Bai asked. Jasobai was pleased.

“ I… yes… No… Ranima, you have mehendi na, so let me feed you!”

“ I have already eaten, Pratap. That was so thoughtful of you. You can feed Ajabde; she is still hungry.”

“ Yes, Dadabhai.” Heer gushed.

“ No, no!” Ajabde protested.

“ Eat Kuwaranisa. When he marries more princesses, you won’t get these special treatments anymore. He will divide his time, hai na Jija?” Sajjabai smiled teasingly as everyone laughed, including Pratap, shocking Ajabde. Jasobai saw her shocked and smiled.

As he fed her, she ate silently, not looking up at him. He thought about where to start. His laughter came back to her mind as she accidentally bit his finger with the roti.

“Aah!” Pratap was acting more than it hurt him still. Ajabde looked away. He seemed to apologise with his eyes.

After feeding her, Pratap was in the corridor smiling by himself when Jasobai smiled at him and walked up, surprising him again.

“ I heard you are very good in Vedas and Purans as well as fighting Kunwarsa.”

“ Ji?” He smiled. “ Am not as good as Ajab… Kunwaranisa, though, she knows everything by heart.”

“ And I have heard that you like poetry.”

“ This also comes a bit from her love for poetry. She…”

“ She seems very talented.”

“ She is, even with the sword. “ He smiled.

Jasobai nodded as he walked away.

Lost in her thought, she entered Heer’s room when she saw everyone flocking around Ajabde as her mehendi had the best colour. Jasobai looked at her faded mehendi, and an unknown pain crept in as she left to sit on the balcony quietly.

“ Are you okay?” Ajabde’s voice startled her.

“ Yes, Yes am fine, Kuwaranisa.”

“ Rajkumari….”

“ Please call me Jasobai.”

“ Then you call me Jija. If you are upset about the mehendi colour, those are just sayings you know…”

“ You are very lucky, Jija.”

A little taken aback, Ajabde asked, “Because of the Mehendi?”

“ No.” She smiled. “ Because You are there in everything Kunwar Pratap does or says.” She left a smiling Ajabde there.

Pratap was sure he would have to spend this night with Shakti, too, when the sound of her payal made him smile. She closed the door behind her as eyes met.

“ Ajabde, I am… “

“ It’s fine. “

“ No, it’s not, I didn’t know…”

“ You really want to apologise?”

“ I do!”

“ Then I want something.”

“ Anything as long as you are asking for yourself and not others. “ He smiled, making her laugh.

“ I want a Baal Kanha ji from Mathura.”

“ Done, I will send someone tomorrow itself.” He smiled.

“ Dhanyavaad, you were complaining no one gives you gifts, huh?” She was showing anger as he held her close.

“No one.”

“ What gift do you want?”

“ A real baby, Kanha!” He smiled teasingly at his bewildered wife.

“ Kunwar Pratap!” She pushed him away.

“ Kya? You heard the bhils say… And you promised me to do anything for our subjects!” He was amused as she blushed red.

“ Kunwar Pratap! We have a wedding to attend tomorrow. Sleep.”

“ Kunwarani Ajabde Baisa, Hum apse bohot prem karte hai.”

“ Ji?” She looked at him wide-eyed.

“ Ji! Subhratri!” He walked past her to the bed, smiling as she realised this was the first time he had ever said that out loud.