Party in Udaipur

"Get me the car, please, Kaka!" He kept his phone and turned to see her checking hers. A red Ferrari sports car drove up as the driver handed over the key to Pratap. Ajabdeh's eyes widened.

"Whoa!!! This is cool, man! You should mention having a car like this. Pata hota to Kuch aur pehenti!"

" No, what you are wearing is fine!" He opened the door for her.

" I can't believe this! " She gushed.

" What?" He frowned as he sat at the wheel.

" Wait, let me take a selfie!" He frowned at her some more.

She uploads the picture on Instagram as she says aloud, " Hashtag(#) Palace #Royalty #Ferrari #outwithaprince #omg"

He stares at her, amused, " Really? Out with a prince?"

" Kyaa?" She raised her eyebrows. "My friends in Delhi are always like Kaunsa Gaon mein You stay gal! This is my chance to show off a little!" She shrugged.

He shook his head, " I can't believe this!"

" Can I tag you?" She asked, ignoring his amusement.

" No! Wait... Do you follow me?" He asked.

" Ya so?" She shrugged.

" Nothing!" He looked surprised. "I didn't know that."

"I don't expect someone with a blue tick and thousands of followers to even know." She shrugged.

The car drove out of the archways as Ajabdeh waved to a much-surprised Kaka.

" Chalo Princy, where are the engaged specimens?" She said, turning to face him.

"First of all, Princy sounds like a dog! Secondly, what on earth are engaged specimens?" He asked.

"Haan! You see, let me explain..." He shook his head. It was going to be a long drive.

" ... They are getting married, so to all the unmarried people, they are like specimens. They go through the experiment, we learn from it..." Ajabdeh moved her hands animatedly as she spoke.

" Learn what?" He asked, eyeing her in his peripheral vision.

" That you should never get married. Ever!" She shook her head with a chuckle.

He laughed, amused. " I thought all girls have this prince on a white horse dream."

" Not this girl!" She shook her head. "I have more of a queen of my kingdom dream."

" Well, sadly, I have to get married." He sighed.

" Why?" She frowned.

" Royalty, sole heir, empire!" He shrugged.

" Like a Princess?" Ajabdeh narrowed her eyes.

" Maybe..." He shrugged with half a smile, concentrating on the road.

" Ewww, so typical. It's like a live fairytale." She looked away.

He stopped the car where another car was already parked. It was a white BMW. Chakrapani waved at his friend and stepped out, followed by Bhagwati, in a pretty white knee-length dress. Ajabdeh saw Bhago and forgot about her gown. " Eeee Bhago!!!!"

Within a few seconds, Pratap saw her get out of the car and rush towards a surprised Bhagwati and the next moment, with a loud thud, she was on the road. Ajabdeh Punwar had tripped on her gown.

She sat like a child, cursing, " Damn This Gown!"

Chakrapani was surprised but quick to help her up, and Bhago asked, " Are you all right?" Pratap just couldn't control his laughter at what had just happened before his eyes! She glanced, narrowing her eyes at him, then came up with a taunt, " Wow! So princely of you!"

" Now, I am with Ajabdeh Punwar, Kuch toh asar hoga na!" He laughed again, and all four of them started laughing.

They arrived at the party. The grand hotel made Ajabdeh say, "Whoa, you bought this thing?"

" Ya, I did!" He nodded.

They entered the private banquet as his friends and acquaintances scrutinised the girl with him.

" Guys, meet Ajabdeh Punwar, she is Ram Uncle's daughter and Bhagwati's childhood friend." He introduced her to his friends.

" I am Ven. Venkatesh. Pleased to meet you, I must say you are very pretty. " Ven held out his hand to her.

" Oh, I know that!" Her answer stunned him and made Pratap smile. He saw Chaks tell Ven by hand gesture that she was indeed a bit mad!

"I'm thirsty." Ajabdeh declared.

" Let me grab you a drink then." Ven insisted.

" Well, anything non-alcoholic!" She smiled.

" You don't drink?" Pratap asked, surprised.

" This girl needs no drink to have fun." She winked as he turned red and looked away.

" OMG, Princy, you are so shy!" She laughed.

" Here, juice!" Ven came with a glass, " Baojiraj is so shy that you are practically the first girl he is introducing us to."

" Really? Princy! Didn't expect this from you!" She took a sip. " Why?" He frowned.

" You look good, matlab thik thak, you are rich! Then there are all these girls staring at you right now." She smiled matter-of-factly.

" I won't say I enjoy the attention." He shrugged. "They see my status, not me."

"Deep. Profound. Boooring!" She shook her head.

" Speaking of girls!" Chak interrupted, " Baojiraj, run!"

" What?" Pratap stared at him, clueless.

All eyes were at the door, where a beautiful lady, about nineteen, had entered in a red, backless dress, and the male eyes hovered on her. She looked around and smiled at Pratap.

" Damn! How could she spot me with so many people around so easily?" Ajabdeh heard him murmur.

" Hi, Pratap!" The girl waved with a smile. " Rajkumari Phool Kanwar!" He smiled back.

" Call me Princess Rathore." Ajabdeh's loud slurp turned the attention to her. " Who is she?" The princess seemed to judge her.

" Ajabdeh, my childhood friend." Pratap smiled, leaning a little towards her as Ajabdeh looked surprised.

" No, I am not his childhood friend; I have known him since childhood." Ajabdeh moved away, a little.

"Pratap, you..." Phool started as Ajabdeh took another slurp.

" Ajab, you wanted to dance, right? Come!" He snatched her drink, keeping it down, dragging her by her hand to the dance floor before she could react with her mouth full of juice. She gulped it down, saying, " What? Me? When did I?"

" Keep quiet and dance." He spoke. " I can't," She shrugged.

" Follow me!" He sighed.

" By the way, I thought her name was Fool!" Ajabdeh giggled.

" That only you can think,, He smiled.

" You... umm...dating her?" She asked as he eyed her.

" You think? No, she is a college mate, an acquaintance." He shook his head. "She keeps coming at me at every party..."

"I hate slow songs." Ajabdeh startled him with her complaining tone. " DJ DJ!!!" She started waving, grabbing some unnecessary judgmental stares.

" What do you want?" Pratap held her shoulders and asked. " A louder song... more hippy! " she smiled dizzily.

" Ajabdeh. Are you alright?" Pratap frowned at her.

" Yes, I loved the juice." He shot a glance at Ven, who was smiling. He shook his head, "Damn!"

The music grew louder. " I want to go home!" She let go of his hand and collided with another guy.

"Sorry!" she was quick to apologise.

" Home? But you wanted louder music!" Pratap asked, surprised.

" Are you mad? I hate loud music. Take me home, Pratap. Now!" She sulked like a baby.

" Did you just call me Pratap?" He asked, surprised. " Hushhhhh! Princy!" She started giggling, "You are too loud." She whispered almost into his ear.

" Let's take you home!" He shook his head and dragged her away from the crowd by her hand.

He made her sit in the car and went to grab the keys. She moved to the driver's seat, shouting, " I wanna drive this Baby, now! Where is the Key?"

" Have you ever driven sober?" Pratap asked, amused. " I drive better than Lewis!" She shrugged.

" Lewis? Who is that?" He raised his brows. " Buddhu!!! Hamilton!" She giggled.

" Ajabdeh, you are making no sense. Move aside." He opened the door. " No, I'm driving, bhrooom bhrroooom gooooo Ferrari!"

He pushed her to the other side.

" Music," Ajabde commanded.

" No." He shook his head.

" Main Tenu Samjhawan ki... Na tere bina lagta jee" Her melodious voice filled the air as he drove out. In the next thirty minutes, she sang the song on a loop before falling asleep. He smiled at her sleeping figure and smiled. " So much fun you are!"

Arriving at the Palace, he tried in vain to wake her up. He opened the car door and picked her up. He laid her down in her pink room and removed the hair locks falling on her face, then covered her with a blanket. He instructed the maid. " Be with her if she needs anything."

Jaivanta Bai watched a disturbed Pratap drive out of the Palace. He needed to give Ven a piece of his mind. What he did to Ajab, even as a joke, was uncalled for.

The Legend of Maharana Pratap: An Introduction

Itihas ke Har Panne Ki Ek Bohot Bada Uddesh Hota Hai Jo Aap Aur Main Kabhi Samajh Nahi Paate. Shayad, Meera Bai Ki Bhakti Ki Panna Dhai Ke Sahas Ki Chittor ki Jauhar ke askon ki Ek Bohot Bada Uddesh Tha. Ek Pratap Ka Charo Or Phelne Ki Mewar Ke Suraj ki Roshni Ki. Mewar, a land in Rajputana, is nestled between the serene Aravallis. With its beautiful lakes and forestland, the yellow soil that witnessed warfare, and the mighty temples that stood as a testament to the Bhajans of Meera Bai, its history and folktales reflect stories of bravery, rebellion, and loyalty. Rana Sanga, the most famous of rulers who sat on the throne of Mewar, died unexpectedly, leaving Mewar in a state of uncertainty. Here is where this story begins. The year was 1535 CE, and Mewar's capital, Chittorgarh, stood invincible on the plateau surrounded by the Aravallis. The danger that loomed large after the king's demise was to the throne. Ratan Singh, the king's secondborn, was coronated rather quickly...

Queen of the Heart

Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabdeh decided it was fair to know his strength before she summoned him. 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 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. Ajabdeh again peeped at the grounds to see that 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 ... walking by......

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabdeh looked visibly displeased at the ladies who ran around. " They are at the fort gates, and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red lehenga and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maasa Maasa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here, I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabdeh." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" A...

Scheme of Things

The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...

Happy Ending

Dheer had a sleepless night. Yes, she had killed the Maharani, but to seek revenge for her son. Jagmal was all she had for a dream, and Rana Pratap's first decision was to banish him. He had never been that tough with his other brothers, who went with Akbar, so why him? Just because he wanted to be a king? Just because they brought a false letter and bought a few witnesses? Her son died in Ajmer, so young. And she had always blamed Ajabdeh Punwar for Rana's hard decision. After all, ever since she came as a support for Jaivanta Bai, she had been like his shield, even though creating misunderstandings didn't help Dheer Bai Bhatiyani. Ajabdeh had done the impossible, showing him the real face of his Chotima. What bothered Dheer now was whether he remembered anything, and most importantly, if she did. Dheer had turned pale at the song and smile Pratap gave, but if he knew she had killed Ajabdeh, it meant Survi remembered her walking to a dying Ajabdeh and confessing that she...

Legend of Maharana Pratap: The Parents

The day in Kumbhalgarh started with grey clouds and the pitter-patter of the rain. The Kumbha palace entrance saw a movement of horses and soldiers. Palanquins, decorated with royal Rajput motifs, made their way through the Pol Gates. To an onlooker, the fort was going about its usual business in Kumbhalgarh. People were praying at the Mahakal Temple. Cowherds took their buffaloes out of the fort. Peacocks roamed the courtyards. The marketplace buzzed with people buying and selling things. The movement of the entourage towards the Kumbha Palace, horses, palanquins and soldiers, was unusual. The curious eyes of a fifteen-year-old princess peeped from behind the curtain of the palanquin. Her eager eyes spotted the domes and jharokhas of the Kumbha Palace with a smile. Jaivanta Bai was accompanying her father, Akshay Raj Songara, to a significant meeting she knew very little about. All she knew was that her father said it could change their political alliance with Mewar. Ever since Banbir...

The Queen

“Some remain immortal in deeds, others, in the hearts of their loved ones.” Kunwar Partap had left Kumbhalmer a little reluctantly with his chieftains to claim the throne that was rightfully his, at his father’s funeral at Gogunda. It did not come as a surprise to either Maharani Jivanta Bai or Ajbante Baisa that Rani Dheer Bai had tried to put her son on the throne of Mewar and ally with the Timurids. As Amar Singh rode away, excited, beside his father, Ajbante stared at them go, with a heavy heart. Today was the start of a new journey, a new title and new responsibilities, but all she could gather was that her baby was not a baby anymore. She felt the way she felt when she had first come to the house, alone in a crowd. A sudden tap on her shoulder jolted her from her thoughts as she turned to see Rajmata Jivanta Bai standing before her with questioning eyes. “What is it that worries you today, Ajbante?” Jivanta Bai asked, reading her face, “Is it not some sunshine after ...

The Fear

Fatehpur Sikri was indeed a paradise in red sandstone. The more Rukaiya stayed in the fortress, the more she fell in love with Jalal’s dream city. Every detail of the curving on the walls and pillars, its domes and arches, gates and palaces, was well detailed and reflected Jalal’s thoughts and ideals. He was later a bit inclined towards secularism. He had built temples in the Rajput Harem. If it was from his soul or just for the sake of Politics that he preached secularism, Rukaiya Begum didn’t understand. All she knew was that she had never approved of him celebrating every festival of every religion himself. The zenana had many more festivities with the inclusion of his other queens, including Holi and Diwali, with the growing Rajput members, and she made sure they were celebrated with equal grandeur as much as Navroz or Eid. But never in these occasions had she or the Turk kins stepped out to celebrate like the Emperor. She woke to the music of Tansen’s melodious voice ...

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...

Begum Sahib: An Introduction and chronology

Note to the readers: Women behind men in history fascinate me. I had been reading about the mothers and wives who changed men’s fortunes. But what about daughters and sisters? A few months back, I was looking for books on Mughal Ladies, mainly Noor Jahan and her work. In the bibliography credits, I had chanced upon “The Life of A Mogul Princess” By Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan. I had no idea about the book and thought it was another autobiography. Previously, I had read only about how she was imprisoned along with her father at Agra, and her involvement with Dara Shikoh, her younger brother, in connecting the two realms of Hinduism and Islamism and the establishment of Sufism. All of these and the chronological events of history can be found in various books. As I read each page of her diary, cross-checking each point with Jagunath Sircar’s “History of Aurangzib” and R.C. Majumder’s “Mughal Empire” as well as numerous other sources on the Mughal Harem, I discovered ...

RAABTA

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