Tiny Steps

"Akhiyan Hari Darshan Ko Pyasi. Akhiyaan Hari Darshan ko Pyaasi.

Dekhio Chahat Komal Nayan Ko, Nisdina rehta udaasi."

Pratap's eyebrows narrowed before he slowly opened his eyes. He seemed to have fallen asleep, lost in his thoughts. When? He couldn't tell. Today, for the first time, he had missed the first rays of the sun. He sat up as the light of the morning sun fell into the room from the eastern window, a little to the left of the bed.

" Kesar tilak motin ki Maala, vrindavan ke vaasi."

Pratap had heard this song too many times from Ranima. But the voice was not Ranima's. He immediately looked to his left at the empty place separated by the pillows as realisation dawned. He quickly removed the pillows from between and placed them back before making his way towards the song.

"Neh lagaye tyag gayen trin sam dhal gaye gal faasi."

 
He stopped to spot the figure at the far end of the room. She looked fresh after a bath. Her back was to him, she was in simple jewellery and had changed into a bright yellow lehenga. She sat in front of Lord Krishna's statue, she decorated it with her own hand-picked flowers and garland and hands folded, eyes closed, she was engrossed in the Bhajan. He decided not to disturb her as he noiselessly walked across to the private bath and cupboard of the room, separated by half a wall.
 
When he was back in his orange angrakha and cream pagri, she was praying silently. As he moved around without putting his shoes on so that they didn't disturb her, he was about to open the main door to the chambers when he heard " Kunwarsa?" and turned, a little shocked at how she knew he was leaving.
" Take the prasad before you leave." She said, still not turning back.
He waited where he was as she walked up to him and handed him the sweet. He decided to concentrate on the Prasad, and she continued to move around the room, with her Puja Thaal, on which a camphor lamp was placed. She was waving the smell of the camphor around the room as he remembered he had kept his royal brooch on the dressing table. He walked up to it and to his dismay, it was filled with her jewellery and boxes and Sindoordaan. He couldn't find it anywhere as he looked, without touching her jewellery.
 
" You are looking for something, Kunwarsa?" She asked, making the bed, her back to him.
" No, Nothing."
He was still looking for it when she promptly walked up to the dressing table and sorted out the brooch, and instead of handing it to him, she kept it aside and walked away. He took it in his hand, before fixing it on the pagri and murmured a quick " Dhanyavaad."
Her lack of response made him feel she didn't hear it, as she was busy arranging the curtains, but she did hear it and smiled to herself. As soon as he walked out, five of Maharani Jaivanta Bai's maids were at the door, making her stare a little scared.
" Maharanisa told us to get you ready for your first puja at the Radhe Shyaam Temple." She nodded approval as she sat down on the chair placed before the dressing table, and the Dasis first started with her hair, smoothing it up with aromatic conditioners, then tying her long black hair into a braid with gold hairpins. Then they applied her alta, kajal and laali and also her bindi, which had faded overnight, now reddened. She was made to wear a heavy pair of earrings and a neckpiece along with a Sitahaar. Navratna-studded bangles and Kamar bandh were also added to her newlywed royal look. She applied the vermilion on her forehead by herself before the daasi helped her with the dupatta, putting it over her face to her neck.
 
"Bhabisa is here." The youngest princess came running as her mother stopped her, and everyone smiled. Shakti stared at Pratap, who chose to look at the idol while all eyes were on her as she carefully walked up the steps of the temple and touched the ground before entering the altar. Jaivanta Bai happily stepped toward her and gave her the puja thaal.
" Kunwar Pratap do the aarti with Kunwarani Ajabdeh."
Ajabdeh moved her hand to one side as he held the other. Udai Singh smiled at Jaivanta Bai as they remembered some past moments of their early days of marriage, and Ajabdeh slowly directed the aarti thali.
" Kuwaraniji." Udai Singh spoke up as soon as she handed him the prasad. " It's our ritual to give you something on the first day here. So you can ask me for anything you want today, Rana Udai Singh will fulfil any wish of yours today."
" Maang lijiye, Ajabdeh." Jaivanta Bai spoke in approval. She stood silent and confused as Pratap narrowed his eyes a little, and everyone stared at each other.
" Maangiye." Udai Singh spoke again.
" I ...I want...want..." She fumbled, confused. " I don't know." Everyone smiled at her innocence as Pratap's frown disappeared. She doesn't ask for things if she doesn't need anything. As he walked out, a call made him stop.
" Dadabhai."
" What now, Bhai?" He eyed Shakti, anticipating his eagerness.
" Tell me." Shakti walked up to him with a teasing smile.
" What?" He frowned.
" About yesterday." He shrugged.
" What about..." Realisation dawned as he stared at his brother coldly.
" See, you have to change if you want to stop scaring Bhabisa. Baat hui?" He smirked.
 
Pratap stood with his hands folded on his sides and looked straight at Shakti.
" What happened... that you can't tell?" He smiled, moving three steps away.
" Bhai Shakti, you have spoken enough. I give you ten seconds to start running for your life."
Shakti stared wide-eyed before they ran. Shakti looked back to see Pratap almost grabbing his collar when he ducked, hoping Pratap would miss. Pratap bumped into him as he stumbled, and to regain his balance, he held Pratap's upper arm, but by mistake, he held onto Pratap's Bajubandh, which broke.
" Bhai Shakti." He exclaimed. " Look what you have done."
" You chased me." He shrugged.
" Ohho!" he picked up the broken, scattered pieces and made his way to Ranima's room, hoping she would fix it like always.
 
" So what can you cook?" Dheerbai asked as Ajabdeh entered the Paakashala.
" I ... um..." She looked intimidated by the queen's question. Something in her demeanour suggested she did not quite like her. But Ajabdeh had barely known her enough to upset her.
" Can you make Jalebi?" Sajjabai asked. She nodded.
" Kheer?" Veer Bai asked. " Kunwar Pratap's favourite." She nodded.
" Yes, make kheer for him," Dheerbai replied. Kunwar Pratap only likes Jija's kheer; he will not even taste yours.
" Ji Ranisa." Ajabdeh obeyed the orders and got to work.

" Ranima, Ranima. " Kunwar Pratap entered in haste.
" Pratap?" his mother stared back with a question.
" See, Shakti broke my Bajubandh, can you ..."
" Keep it there." He nodded and left as Jaivanta Bai smiled.
 
At lunch, the princes sat in the dining hall between the Rani Mahal and Mardana Mahal while the queens stood by, waiting for the food to be served. The princess, along with their new Bhabisa, was preparing the adjacent hall for the ladies' lunch.
" Kunwar Pratap, start ." Sajja was excited as the servant spread out the lunch. Dheerbai was about to tell what Ajabdeh made, but Sajja stopped her. " Let him find out, Behena."
 
Pratap had seen his favourite kheer and had kept it to have last. Dheerbai smiled, thinking he had already rejected it. At last, he took the Katori and took some as Sajja smiled. This is not Ranima's. But it tastes almost like hers. It's good. 
" How is the food Kunwar Pratap?" Sajja asked again.
" It's all good, Majhli maasa." He nodded with a smile.
" What did you like most?" Veer Bai asked eagerly. He stared at his mother, saying, " Kheer, my favourite." The queens smiled at each other as Dheerbai was a little taken aback.
" Kheer! Aree Wah Jija, He likes Ajabdeh's kheer!" The moment Sajja spoke, his eyes went wide and his cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
" Aree wah Dadabhai! You recognised her cooking on the very first day, take some more!" Shakti teased as everyone laughed.
" I'm full, I should go!" He walked out embarrassed.
 
Behind the pillar, she was standing, hoping and praying he liked her cooking, and as the praises were heard, Ajabdeh smiled victoriously, but before she realised he was there, almost bumping into her, she stepped back. Eyes met briefly as he looked away, and both started " S...shama kijiye." They looked back at each other, both faces embarrassed, as he walked away.
 
After spending a day on pending meetings, Pratap was back in his bedroom and stunned to see what seemed like a fair. All the Rani Mahal's ladies-in-waiting were in his room as boxes of clothes and heaps of lehengas were spread across the floor. He found Ajabdeh there, instructing a maid to separate the normal ones from the gaudy ones. Her eyes fell on him, and she stopped. Everyone else got up to bow.
" What is this?" He was a little surprised to no one in particular.
" I am so ... you all may go." Ajabde hurried with her order as she picked up two dupattas from the bed.
" No, it's okay, you can carry on." He turned to leave.
" No, it's fine, they can go." She stopped him.
The maids stood confused as the two commanding authorities in the room spoke, looking away from each other.
" You may go." She spoke the final word as she picked up the lehengas from his path. He sat down on the couch with the scrolls he had brought with him while she rushed to the other room.

In the evening, Jaivanta Bai called Pratap to her room. He was so engrossed in administrative activities that he had no time until it was past dinner. He rushed to his mother's room, knowing she would be waiting.
" Ranima?" He called softly as she smiled, " Ayiye." She took the fixed Bajubandh and said, " Dekhiye! "
He smiled happily and said, " Dhanyavaad, Ranima."
" Don't thank me. Ajabdeh fixed it." Jaivanta Bai's eyes didn't skip the fact that every time her name came up, Pratap made an awkward face.
" I err...." He looked away while his hand tightened around the Bajubandh.
" What are you doing running around the palace so late? Your new bride will be waiting for you. Go now! You have some responsibilities towards her." His mother scolded.
Kunwar Pratap nodded and left his mother's room with the Bajubandh in hand.
 
Ajabdeh had spent all day unpacking her books and clothes. Then she was called by the Maharani, and as she entered the large chamber scared all her fears were put to rest by a warm hug and the fact that " Maharanisa '' was now her " Ranima". She fixed Kunwar Pratap's Bajubandh as his mother told her his childhood tales, which made her smile, and for the first time in the Mahal, she felt at home. Then she was back in her room when it occurred to her how alone and scared it seemed. So she decided to read to herself aloud in these unfamiliar surroundings. As she was almost through half the book, she was sure he had totally forgotten about her and had gone off somewhere without informing her. That's his nature, Ranima had said.
 
" I believe he is coming for me. I believe he is looking for me. As My Lord searches me, I, his Sita, would stare North and wait for him."
She was reading out loud from the adjacent room as he entered and kept his Bajubandh down on the dressing table. Then, removing his shoes, he decided to walk into the other room. He stopped to see, she was so engrossed in the tale that she didn't notice him or the fact that her dupatta had fallen off her head. She was in the previous night's white and red lehenga again, and her simplest jewellery.
" You should start teaching the Princesses some Ramayana and Veer Gantha in your free time; they are becoming spoiled day by day." He spoke quite casually, remembering her teaching the children as she jumped, scared and searched her dupatta to cover her head in utter nervousness and confusion. He stepped back the moment he realised he had startled her and looked away, adding, " You carry on. I should go and change."
 
She was quick to close the book and go to her side of the bed. This time, she was arranging the pillows in between when he came out, frowning, " Where are my clothes?" Ajabdeh gulped at his displeased stare.
" Ranima said..." She stammered.
" WHO said...?" His voice was suddenly annoyed. Did she just call MY Ranima, Ranima?
" I ... Maharanisa... Maharanisa said... I can call her Ranima." She looked scared. Kunwar Pratap smiled inwardly as she lowered her gaze, clasping her hands together, stammering.
" She asked me to keep your clothes in ... in the... another one." She was soft and scared as she pointed at the cupboard, and her hand trembled a little.
" Oh, that's fine then." So much for her bravery and for winning over me every time. I scared her. Pratap was pleased with himself that he had some authority over this newcomer who now seemed to occupy every part of his life.
 
When Pratap walked back into the room, she had turned to her side and was acting asleep. He blew out the candles and went over to her side to blow out hers.
" Don't!" She should startle him as she jumped up, and her hand was almost up to his mouth to stop him from shouting back. They froze, both staring at her hand. She removed it, saying " Sh.. shama kijiye... I ... am scared of..." She bit her lower lip, unsurely as she didn't plan to use the word scared.
" Of the dark?" His tone was taunting.
" Of the dark in unfamiliar places, alone." She eyed him briefly, not missing the amusement in his voice.
" You are not alone." As the words came out of his mouth, like the general information that it was, they both stared at each other a little awkwardly as they said " Shubh Ratri" in unison, and he was quick to go back to his side, leaving the lamp on her side on.
Pratap lay on his side, once again, ready to be disturbed by the " Noises" of her payal all night.