Destiny

The war was almost won. A few of Marwar’s soldiers were left on the field along with Rao Maldeo Singh Rathore, their king and leader. He was thinking of retreating at the end of this day. As his sword clashed with one of the opponent generals as he eyed the opponent King now open and prone to attack. A little hope flickered in his mind as his eyes instructed his closest aide. The opponent was in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just sixteen, yet his bravery and valour reflected his blood and upbringing. He mesmerised the opponents and even Rao Maldeo with his clever war strategies and sword skills.

As Maldeo’s aide swung his sword at a taken aback Udai Singh, someone’s sword defended it as his body acted like a shield for the king. He killed the man in one go.

“ Ranaji, are you okay?”

“ Haan Raoji.” He nodded gratefully. 

By half the day, the Marwar army had retreated as the air filled with “ Jai Mewar! Jai Eklingji!” From the triumphant soldiers.

Rana Udai Singh of Mewar stood addressing the tired, wounded, yet happy cavalry.

“Today, we have defeated one of our strongest contenders. We are proud of what Eklingji has gifted us. And we are proud to serve and contribute to our Motherland. As a servant of EklingNath Ji, today I am proud.”

“ Rana Udai Singh Ji ki jai.” A roar broke out as he stopped the crowd with his hand.

“Today, I want to use this opportunity to thank some of the people without whom this victory would have been impossible. Mewar will always remember you proudly. First, my very close aide and friend, Rawat KrishnaDas ChundawatJi.”  A tall, strong man came up on the dais, and Udai Singh hugged him, smiling. He was grateful to this man not only for his service to the kingdom but also for his sons. Udai Singh, at times, failed to understand his own blood the way Rawat Chundawat understood and handled it. He was ever grateful to him because he was the father figure of both the eldest princess.

“ Next, I want to thank the person who saved my life today. Without you, we would have lost this war. Rao RamRakh Punwar. Ayiye.”

“ Ranaji, it is our duty towards Mewar to protect you. You don’t need to thank us for our Dharm. We owe our lives to Mewar.”

“ I never saw this man before.” A young man was telling another in the crowd.

“He is from Bijolia, he joined us with the army the day before yesterday. Bijolia is near here, so…” Another young man was explaining.

“ You know so much about everyone, Dadabhai, wah.”

“ It's my duty as a Senapati to know the chieftains, Bhai.”

“ Yes, after all, you are the future King.”

“That’s not the case, Shakti. If you want to know, you are eager to learn, you also can…”

“ I just want to go back home and live in peace in Chittorgarh, Ranima’s Modak is waiting for me there.”

“ Now, the last person who deserves a mention. It’s a moment of joy as a king, but as a father, I couldn’t be prouder.”

“Baojiraj Pratap Ki Jai. Baojiraj Pratap ki Jai” 

The crowd cheered as he walked up to his father. Today, he made his father proud. He felt a little uneasy at the praises, usually, but not today. He was so happy as his father hugged him. Kunwar Pratap Singh was a true warrior by the looks of it. His Kesar Tilak shone brightly as the sun of the Raghu clan, and his eyes reflected intelligence. The bruises he got from the wars and enemies, he flaunted with pride, he looked into the eyes of death for his motherland without a blink.

After a day, the camp was ready to move. Everyone was bidding farewell after the war, and Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakti were very happy to go home, but Udai Singh called them to his tent.

“ I am leaving for Eklingji from here. Your Ranima will meet me there for the Havan to show Gratitude for the win. Kunwar Pratap, you take the army and your brother back to Chittor.”

“ I want to go too, Dajiraj,” Pratap said eagerly.

“ No, Kunwar Pratap. Your wounds need rest and healing. You are not that tough yet; you need Rajvaidji’s care. So go home.”

“ Jo Hukum” He folded his hands before leaving with Shakti.

Sixteen years ago, in Mewar….

On the month of Jyestha Sudi on the third day of Vikram Era 1597, Sunday at 47 Ghati 13 Pal past sunrise, Maharani Jaivanta Bai’s Labour room was filled with happy voices of the ladies present there. The smiles were surpassed by a Child’s cry. This year was really auspicious for Udai Singh. He had won back his home from his uncle now, and the first prince was being born to the seventeen-year-old Jalore Songara Queen. On the Ardra Nakshatra, his birth was considered not only auspicious, but the astrologers also made the prediction that the child would bring shining glory to the name of the clan. Thus, the heir to the throne was born.

“ Pratap.” Was the suggestion in unison from the royal couple as they smiled at each other, holding the Baby as the Rajpurohit suggested “ P” for the name.

“He will win overall, he will defeat death and bring glory to the clan.”

The Rajpurohit had repeated again and again. “He will be the one people remember this clan for." Jaivanta took these predictions as a task in hand; after all, a baby was like wet clay. The mother’s task was to shape him up for the future. He was her responsibility. Rarely did she agree with her husband’s principles, and she had the task of making her son live with hers.

Two Years and a few months hence,

It was autumn, and the chills of winter were already setting in. It was the month of Kartik, the warrior god. The Mahal in Bijolia was gloomy. The Vaids, Daima and nurses, along with several other women, were in the labour room of Hansa Bai Punwar, who was now at risk. The baby had slipped prematurely and was in an awkward position in the womb. Both mother and child were at risk as the vaids informed a tense Ram Rakh Punwar. He had clearly made his decision. He had chosen to save his wife over the unborn daughter. If it were a son, he would have given it a thought, but this was no heir. Not that he didn’t love Hansa, but having a successor was always more important than … The Vaid interrupted his thoughts.

“ Raoji, it’s a miracle… If I were not present here, I wouldn’t have believed this …”

“ Is Hansa all right?”

“ She is fine, Raoji. And your daughter, too. She is a born fighter. The way she fought to live was amazing! I couldn’t believe she beat the odds, ``Congratulations, Raoji, you have a Mata Laxmi at home now.” He smiled.

The astrologers were astonished at her birth; she was indeed born a fighter. They predicted whoever she was with would never lose a war. He would be undefeated in life. She is indeed Laxmi for whoever she connects with. Hansa was happy with her daughter. She would, at last, have a friend. 

When the astrologers suggested “A” for her, Hansa decided to give her daughter a unique name. 

“ Ajab Deh.” She whispered happily to the baby, who smiled.

“ Unique Body?” Ramrakh frowned.

“Unique soul.” Hansa smiled, promising to give her all the happiness in the world. “ My Unique Soul.”

The statue of the Lord stood tall in the Puja Ghar. The diyas were being lit one by one as dusk set in.

“ Baisa, let me do it.” A maid in waiting urged.

“ No, Rama, let me do it, it’s not something tough, is it?” She held a Diya in her hand, lighting another with it. She moved around the room, lighting all the diyas one by one, then proceeded to the hallway, and then to the rooms. The daasi followed silently. Soon before darkness set in, she had lit up the entire Mahal. She smiled and kept down the last diya on her study table.

“ Now I will be alone with the Ramayana Rama, thank you so much.” She smiled and let the daasi go.

“ Sita was always loved and cherished as Laxmi by her father. She was the fortune every man wanted. Prince Rama was…” She stopped as she looked up at the door, a little boy about five entered.

“ Can you tell me the story too, Jija?”

“ Come here, Balwant.” She patted the place beside her.

“ Tell me, Jija. How was Prince Ram?”

“ Maryada Purushottam, he always respected and treated Sita as equal, he loved his parents and siblings, elders' orders were his Dharm, he was a perfect warrior, King and husband.”

“Why so?”

“ He treated his subjects like his children, he fought without fear for his life, he loved Sita like she was his world.” She stopped.

“ Is there anyone like that today?” Balwant asked.

“ I don’t know. I don’t think there is. All the kings today are very political. They are brave, but they all fear death. I haven’t heard of a person who doesn’t fear death, Bhai.”

“ Ajabdeh!” Her mother’s voice interrupted them, “ Your Father is home, help me make dinner.”

“ Daata!” Balwant ran eagerly to see his father.

“ The war was almost lost, we lost hope, but the way Baojiraj motivated and guided us, he is so small in age, but so skilful at war. It’s like he doesn’t fear death.” Ajabde’s hand stopped giving Balwant the daal as he smiled at his Jija.

“ So he is like Lord Ram,” Balwant spoke up as everyone smiled.

Maharani Jaivanta Bai’s palanquin stopped at the temple complex. She got out in a maroon and yellow lehenga as two maids came with the puja thali and daala. Jaivanta took the thaal and was about to light the diya. Rajpurohit stopped her.

“ Wait till Ranaji is here Ranisa. If the Diya flickers out, then that’s an ill omen.”

“ He is here, Rajpurohit Ji.” She replied calmly from behind her veil. Rajpurohit frowned; he was not in sight.

“Rana Udai Singh Ji ki jai!” A cheer was heard from the gates as he walked barefoot and hands folded in the Eklingji Temple complex.

“ Adbhut!” Rajpurohit exclaimed. “ How can you tell whenever Ranaji or Baojiraj is nearby…”

“ Gani Khamma Rajpurohit ji.” Udai Singh addressed the man. “ Chaliye.” The three of them walked barefoot into the temple for the Havan.

After the havan, Jaivanta Bai was giving away Prasad to the poor. Her heart still had a lot of questions. Udai Singh walked up to her and said, “ I know you have a lot of questions in your head right now. I have sent Pratap and Shakti back to Chittor, they were injured and…”

“ I want to go to Bijolia.”

“ Bijolia? But why?” Udai was shocked at her request.

“ There is a Sambhu Parvati temple there, I want to visit before going home, Ranaji. I want to thank Maata Parvati.”

“ All right, then we must leave immediately to reach there by dusk.”

“ Ranisa, Ranisa Baojiraaj is here, along with Kunwar Shakti and the rest of the Sena"

“Really? My Shakti is here!” Sajja Bai ran through the corridor of the Rani Mahal to the smallest room at one end.

“ Veer Behna!” The call made the young woman skip a heartbeat. Was it bad news? She felt guilty enough that her stupidity had caused an ego clash between kings. Kunwar Pratap had always reminded her, “ It’s all about fate and destiny “ He was the sole friend she had here.

 “Ji Majhli Ranisa?” She hurried to the door.

“ Come quickly, Kunwar Pratap is home with Kunwar Shakti and the others. They were victorious. Did someone tell his Choti Maa?” Sajja asked the maid

“ Yes, Jija, they did, I will do Kunwar Pratap’s aarti.” Dheer Bai Bhattiyani walked down the corridor with a proud smile. Although married third, she was her husband's favourite queen, her beauty unmissable, and she knew that in the way she carried herself.

The palace entrance was decorated with a path of marigold petals for the Prince. He humbly folded his hands at the cheering crowd. He walked up the five steps to his Choti Maa, who happily did his aarti. Sajja hugged Shakti, much to his annoyance. 

“ Ranaji, it’s our pleasure to have you and Maharanisa in Bijolia. I have a small request for you, Hukum.” Raoji had rushed to the temple the moment he heard of the King’s arrival.

“ Raoji, you have saved my life. I owe you. Tell without fear.” Rana Udai Singh smiled.

“ I know my Mahal is very small, but I would like to have you there at least for a day, as guests, Hukum. It will be my…”

“ Only a day, Raoji? I was thinking of two!” Udai Singh frowned as Rao Ramrakh got scared.

“ Hukum, I didn’t mean…”                                                                    

“Ohho, Raoji, I know, I know. Chaliye.” Rana Udai Singh laughed, patting Samant’s back as Jaivanta Bai followed.

“ Kya? They are staying in Bijolia?” Kunwar Pratap was clearly displeased by the news. He wanted to see his Ranima, and here she wrote to Majhli Maa that she is staying there for three days at Ramrakh Ji's request. Kunwar Pratap shook his head and left for the Dangalsthal, angry.