"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 decorated the rooms well." Jaivanta Bai looked around as she approached the Jharokha, looking over the Mahakal temple complex and Mandakini Kund and folded her hands in a prayer.
" 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.
" Ajabdeh! Ratan!" Hansa called out as the maids rushed to summon them. The girls came in and bowed to the queen, a little intimidated by her. Thirteen-year-old Ajabdeh preferred a simple lehenga in pink and a blue Dupatta, which was wrapped over her head. She was the first one to calmly bend down and touch Maharani's feet as a five-year-old Ratan followed.
" Ajabdeh 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 good talents, right? Then?" Ajabdeh smiled coyly at her mother's words as Jaivanta Bai smiled at her humbleness.
" Suniye Ajab!" Her mother's call made her stop in the corridor. " Ji Maasa?"
" Don't wear these types of lehengas at home." Hansa Bai whispered, drawing her Dupatta closer to her face.
" Ji?" Ajabdeh suddenly felt self-aware and confused as she raised her brows questioningly at her mother's words.
" I mean, Ranisa is here, dress up a little, and wear some jewellery." Hansa cupped her face with a smile.
" Maasa", Ajabdeh smiled. " Hum thik hai. You know I can not wear heavy things easily, and if Ranisa likes or hates me, it will be for my behaviour, not my clothes."
" Alright," Hansa gave in. " Sometimes I feel you are my mother." She was amused as Ajabdeh shook her head. They giggled softly.
" This food is excellent, Hansa Baisa. " Jaivanta complimented as she took some extra vegetables.
" Ranaji also said the same." Balwant gushed out of turn, making his mother stare at him sternly.
" Ajabdeh cooks the best in this house." Hansa smiled proudly.
" Maasa!!!" She frowned a little. "The cook helped."
Jaivanta smiled at her embarrassed face. " Is there anything she can not do?" Her words made Ajabdeh stare briefly at the queen, a little flabbergasted. Everyone laughed as Ajabdeh left the dining area, blushing at the praises.
After dinner, Jaivanta Bai decided to look for the open roof in the Rani Mahal to enjoy some fresh air alone. The last few days were full of stress as the war was going on, and tonight she was finally relieved. She felt lighthearted after a long time. She stepped out into the empty corridors and spotted a room still flickering with light at the other end of the corridor. She walked towards it eagerly, then stopped at the sound of a voice.
"And wherever you shall go, I will follow. If you live on fruits, so will I If you starve, so will I. It is my Dharma to share your sorrows and pains." Jaivanta peeped in to catch a glimpse of Ajabdeh, lost in the Ramayana, reading aloud at that hour. She was engrossed enough not to realise Jaivanta stood there watching her read aloud, the emotions of the dialogues of Sita, reflecting on her voice. Jaivanta smiled before she quietly retreated to the roof.
Early at dawn, Jaivanta Bai was looking for the puja Ghar when Ajabdeh spotted her loitering around the corridor.
" Ranisa, do you need anything?" She asked in a rather alarmed but soft voice.
" Ajabdeh! I was looking for the Pujaghar." Jaivanta Bai smiled at her, noticing that she had bathed and was in a fresh lehenga, ready for the day. Her wet hair was swept across her left shoulder, and she carried a flower basket in her hand.
" I am going there myself." She smiled a little. " Please come with me."
" Why are you awake so early?" Jaivanta Bai enquired as they walked down the corridor.
" I always wake early, the first pooja has to be done at the crack of dawn, and Maa Sa is too busy with housework at times and too tired, so I..."
" You are so understanding, Ajabdeh. I always wanted a daughter like you."
Jaivanta Bai praised her soft-spoken, gentle nature. She seemed very mature for her age. Jaivanta watched how easily this girl remembered all the rituals and mantras by heart.
Ajabdeh was sitting in her room at midday, doing some embroidery work she had recently learnt from Rama on her Chunri when Hansa Bai entered with Jaivanta Bai.
" Ranisa wanted to be here." Hansa Bai declared as Ajabdeh stood up, alarmed, to bow to the queen.
" Ayiye na." Ajabdeh quickly got up to remove the clothes and needles to make a place for the ladies to sit.
" It's been a long time since I did some sewing." Jaivanta looked at the work, impressed. "But now that Kunwar Pratap is all grown up, I am thinking of devoting my free time to sewing again."
" Kunwar Pratap's bravery is so famous over Rajputana..." Hansa gushed, "You must have done some virtuous deeds in your previous life, that he is your son, Ranisa."
Ajabdeh stopped her needle and stared at her mother with warning eyes, who immediately stopped gushing. Jaivanta Bai noticed that.
" What can I say, Hansa Ji... Now that he has grown up, there is a new dilemma I am facing. Ever since we won the war, there has been constant eagerness from different kingdoms for marriage alliances. We refused so many because he was too young. But now we are really thinking of getting him married soon so that this stops for a while." Jaivanta Bai smiled.
" Yes, Ranisa, the princess he marries will indeed be lucky, not only because she will have Kunwarsa as a husband but you as a mother too." Hansa smiled. " We are also thinking of starting to look for a groom for Ajab. Her father knows a few Samants nearby if they have marriageable sons..." Ajabdeh got up, embarrassed and fumbled a small " I need to go" before leaving as fast as she could. Hansa Bai smiled at her daughter's shyness at the mention of the topic.
Ajabdeh was in the Kanha temple, sitting alone, lost in her thoughts as she helped sort some flowers for the evening Puja. Maasa is talking of my marriage now, my Lord, I am so scared. I am not even sure I am going to be a good wife. What if my husband scares me? What if... Ratan walked in with a smile.
" I heard." She declared, sitting down, cross-legged, beside her.
" What?" Ajabdeh asked, pushing the basket of sorted flowers away.
" That Maasa will marry you off soon." She seemed excited. " Tell me what kind of husband you want. Tell me, Jija." She gushed
" Ohho, Ratan!" She looked away, embarrassed. "I told you to stop eavesdropping on people. Didn't I? It's bad manners." She scolded as Ratan seemed to ignore her voice of authority.
" Tell me, see no one is here, tell me, Jija." Ratan continued to beg. Ajabdeh knew the only way to stop her sister before anyone else heard them and spread gossip among the royal grapevines was to answer her.
" Someone who will think of others before thinking of himself." She blushed, knowing that although she had thought of it many times in her head, she had never said her inner thoughts out loud before that day. "And?" Ratan urged. "Someone who will respect everyone, not looking into their caste and creed, but their skills and maturity." She made Ratan nod as she smiled to herself. "Someone who will respect his mother, sister and wife like he respects goddesses. Someone who takes his Karma as his Dharma. He should not fear to die even for a cause that is worth it." Ajabdeh stopped, realising she had said enough.
" Ohho, My Jija is so naive Kanha ji!" Ratan exclaimed, amused. " We have to build a groom out of clay because I don't think humans are like this," She giggled teasingly.
" Ratan!" Ajabdeh scolded as Ratan hugged her.
" I am going to tell Maasa." She smirked.
" Nahi ", Ajabdeh exclaimed as worry swept across her face. "You should not."
"Why not?" Ratan asked. Ajabdeh inhaled. "Because I am sure whoever Daata Hukum and Maasa chooses for me will be in my fate. And however he is, he will be my husband. And it will be my duty to be a good wife to him." She shook her head. "If you say these things, that would mean I am not ready to settle and adjust to less. Besides, you only said, such men don't exist." Ajabdeh cupped Ratan's face as she frowned slightly.
"So?" She enquired. "You are not wrong." She shook her head. "I will tell Maasa what kind of a man I want to marry when the time comes." Ajabdeh smiled faintly at her sister's disappointed face. Ratan was too young to understand the complexities of a marriage. She did not want to spoil her innocence with certain truths Ajabdeh witnessed around her, in the house, where her step-mothers did not have the same kind of duties and rights as her mother had, around the village, and even among her friends who were married.
"Ranisa, why are you standing at the door? Let's go inside." Hansa came up from behind, breaking Jaivanta's chain of thoughts. Ratan turned to see her mother enter with the Maharani.
" Maasa, you know what...." Ratan was about to speak when Ajabdeh held her mouth, alarmed.
" Puja time, Ratan!" Ajabde held Ratan's hand and warned her. "Come with me." She dragged her away from her confused mother. Hansa looked at them, a little worried.
"What happened to her?" She thought aloud. Jaivanta Bai smiled reassuringly.
"Oh, it's nothing. Two sisters are talking about the kind of husband they want. They are too embarrassed to tell you. Nothing you and I haven't done when we were young." Jaivanta Bai reassured her as Hansa Bai let out a sigh.
" Pata Nahi... Ajabde's morals and ideologies are so different, I sometimes feel she is the only person in the world to think like that. How will she match someone else's ideologies?" She was thinking aloud as Jaivanta interrupted.
" You taught her well, Hansa Bai. Every Rajputani should have her ideologies; that's what makes us Veeranganas." She reminded gently.
" I guess... It's all my doing; now I can't complain. I was the one to force Raoji to teach her administration and archery. One day, I was so mesmerised by the way she said she would prefer dying in Saka than doing a Jauhar. She was only nine and..."
" There is nothing wrong with that, Hansa Bai, then why are you guilty?" Jaivanta Bai asked.
" I'm just worried, Ranisa." She sighed. " My Ajab is very naive yet brave."
" You know something." Jaivanta held her hand reassuringly. " Hearing about Ajabdeh and seeing her, I really wish she were my daughter."
" Ranisa, I couldn't be happier. Because you, being Mewar's luckiest mother, are saying this about my daughter." Hansa Bai wiped a few happy tears.
Ajabdeh was in the corridor of the Mardana Mahal after an audience with her father, when she saw Udai Singh looking for something in his chamber.
" Ranaji, can I help you?" She asked, her head bowed, pulling her dupatta a little down on her face.
" Yes, Umm... Water... you are Ramrakh Ji's daughter, right?" Udai Singh stopped to observe her as she nodded.
" Ji... Ajabdeh." She bowed and was about to take the empty jug when he protested.
" No, you don't have to... call someone please...." He insisted.
" Ranaji, it's just water. And I have learnt Athithi Devo Bhava from my parents... don't deny me the pleasure of serving god..." She left as Rana Udai Singh smiled at the girl's intelligence.
" Jija, Jija!" Balwant ran to Ajabdeh with a small sword made of wood in his hand. Jaivanta stopped at the other end of the corridor as she spotted them.
" Look here!" He posed. " Ain't I a brave warrior?"
" Bhai," Ajabde exclaimed with a smile. " What did you do to become one?" Balwant had no answers.
" What will I have to do to become one?" Ajabdeh was about to answer when Jaivanta Bai walked up, amused.
Ajabdeh smiled at her as Jaivanta smiled at the boy. " Firstly, a true braveheart doesn't speak for himself; his actions do. People's praises do. And as for what you can do to become one...You need to wake before everyone else, as the first light of dawn doesn't touch the ground. Then you have to perform your daily chores and puja, to thank the lord and seek his blessings. Then you have to practise your skills religiously. Never be vain or think you are the best. There is always someone above you. Always respect your friends and your enemies. Protect the weak."
" Jija says Lord Rama was like that", Balwant gushed as he eyed Ajabdeh, who nodded slightly.
" Yes, he was...." Jaivanta realised she also knew someone else who was like that; she was proudly his mother. " So are some other people..."
" Who?" Balwant was eager.
" No more questions, Balwant, please! Let Ranisa rest now." Ajabdeh dragged him away after sharing an apologetic glance with Jaivanta, who smiled reassuringly at her.
The villagers were flocking to the palace gate with their problems that morning. They seemed unhappy about something. Raoji and Ranaji were out on administrative work near the Bundi borders, and it seemed like the villagers badly needed reassurance on something; otherwise, they would break in. Jaivanta Bai decided to go ahead and speak to them. But before she reached the Jharokha for appearances, someone else was there, her face covered by the dupatta as she waved her hands to silence the crowd. Jaivanta Bai had least expected such crowd-controlling skills from her.
" Shanth Shanth!" She spoke louder than the shouts to silence them. "Someone, just one of you, tell me the problem."
" No offence, Baisa, " The leader came forward. " But I don't think you can..."
"Daata Hukum is not here, and being the eldest child since Balwant is still young, in his absence, you are my responsibility. So tell me. If I can't solve it, we will wait for Daata to arrive by day's end." She was clear and reassuring with her tone.
Jaivanta stood carefully, hiding from view to watch the scene,
" Baisa, since last week, a gang of looters has been coming into the village and attacking us; we fear they are Afghans from the camp across the river."
" But we have soldiers at the riverbank bank right?" Ajabdeh frowned at their dilemma.
" No Baisa, they were out posted there, but since they returned from war, no one patrols..." The crowd was abuzz.
" Rama! Call the commander here at once; he needs to answer this. And I want to know why you people did not come here earlier? They loot you and you let them? All of you are equally responsible for Mewar like its soldiers, Samants and kings. Don't you understand? All of your actions will make Mewar safe." A man walked in as the crowd stared angrily.
" Baisa..." He bowed.
" Senapati Ji, where are the riverbank outposts? There is repeated loot by the Afghans." Her voice was soft but firm this time.
" I will see to it, Baisa." He eyed the angry villagers. "At once," Ajabdeh commanded. He ran off without another word, clearly guilty of not doing his job properly.
" I promise you all, go home. Once Daata Hukum is here, he will look into the matter himself. There will be no loot in your villages, henceforth."
" Baisa, we believe this because you are reassuring us." They left to bless her.
"How can two people who have never met be so alike?" Jaivanta thought aloud as she sat down by the garden path in the evening. The dusk was setting in, and her husband eyed her. He had seen her being absent-minded since they met in the garden.
" Who?" Udai Singh's voice startled her.
" No one, Ranaji. I am going to write a letter to Sajja Behena."
" Letter? You can live without Pratap, but not Solankini Bai? You will meet after two days only." Udai Singh seemed amused.
" I need her before that." Jaivanta Bai murmured. Udai Singh walked away confused. He never understood his wife.
Sajja Bahena.
I am writing to you because I am in a fix. I know you are usually always confused, and I suggest, but this time it's different. Because this time it's about someone's life. You know very well how my ideologies differ from Ranaji's. Our fights and clashes over everything really made me believe that Pratap, being like me, should always have someone who shares his ideology with him. Hence, ensuring his private life is at peace. But frankly, I never believed such a girl existed. You are well aware of the wedding proposals coming, and I feel it's time, too. Now here is the problem.
I am at Samant Rao Ramrakh Ji's place, and I met his eldest daughter. She is two years younger than Pratap, and to my surprise, she is a lot like him. I think they will make a lovely pair. But will my Pratap be bothered if the first wife I choose for him is not a princess of some state? I know that Ranaji will be opposing the match at first, but will eventually give in. But I am scared about Pratap now because she will not only be Mewar's first Kuwarani but maybe also the future queen. I feel so much burden of responsibilities on me now that I seek your opinion before asking for her hand.
From Jija.
Jija,
I am sure if you like someone, she has to be special. As for Kunwar Pratap, all I know is that he will always cherish your choice over anyone else's. I think you should talk to Ranaji. See you soon.
Sajja.
Udai Singh was in his room when Jaivanta Bai came in the next evening.
" We are leaving tomorrow, so make sure..." He stopped as his wife approached him.
" Ranaji, I have something to talk about." He looked briefly scared. No one knew better how such conversations often led to unbridgeable differences between them.
" Umm... can't we talk after we go home?" He was scared of offending her again.
" No, it needs to be done here." She sat down. " I was thinking of Kunwar Pratap's marriage."
" You said that no girl was suitable for...." He reminded her.
" Tell me something. Raoji saved your life, right? You owe him..." She cut him off.
" Yes, of course, had he not been there..." Udai Singh nodded.
" Then we should reward him." She smiled.
" What do you want to reward him for?" He asked.
" I want to take something from him. It will be the best gift ever to repay...."
" Jaivanta Baiji... You want to take something and thank him?" He asked, surprised.
" His daughter." She smiled." For my Pratap."
" What?" Udai Singh was taken aback.
" Why not?" She shrugged.
" Because...Because... he is my Samant." He shook his head.
" Who saved you?" His wife raised her brows suggestively. Udai Singh could feel he was losing the argument already, the way he always did.
" Kunwar Pratap deserves a princess." He reasoned, at least hoped he had.
" He deserves the best person." Jaivanta Bai was firm.
" She will be Mewar's future." He shook his head.
" Do you have any doubts about my choice, Ranaji?" He knew this could go on all night, and he eventually had to give in. When it came to Kunwar Pratap, Jaivanta's words were always final.
"Ajabdeh's Kundli?" Hansa asked as her heart skipped a beat.
"Haan, Hansa Bai. I am going back to Chittor to show it to our Kul Purohit ji and also ask Kunwar Pratap for his decision. Though I assure you, my decision is his decision. Ranaji is talking to Raoji about it."
" But Ranisa... Kunwar Pratap for... for... my Ajabdeh?" Hansa's heart skipped a beat, scared of the implications.
" She is worth that Hansa Bai, trust me." Jaivanta smiled.
A pair of payals made a tinkling sound down the parallel corridor and into her room. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She did not know what she had done to deserve such a dream. She feared it was going to break, and she would wake up. Kunwar Pratap Singh Sisodiya. The brave and valiant Kunwar Pratap. Her... Her... Husband?? Ajabdeh sat down on the floor as a smile curved her lips. Her cheeks were red and her ears warm. Truth be told, every girl in Mewar admired him, desired a husband like him. She had heard her friends gush about stories of his days at Bhilwara, amidst the Bhils and at Jalore. His bravery was shown when he single-handedly won battles with his strategies. He looked a lot like his mother, her father had said. He who didn't fear to face death... yet was kind to everyone he knew.
" Ranima!" Pratap came running, a little surprised to see all his mothers and sisters flocked to Ranima's room, staring at him with weird smiles.
"What? Vivah?" His expression made everyone laugh as Sajja described it, "Like Kunwarsa heard this is the last day of the world."
" No. No. NO." He shook his head without listening. But he did hear the important parts... Bijolia... Samant Putri... Ajabdeh...
Pratap was in the Dangalsthal, confused and angry. First, his mother left him alone, and now she was back fixing his marriage to some girl in Bijolia. He didn't even know Raoji well yet, and his daughter? He knew his life was always for his motherland; he lived and wanted to die for her. What if the girl didn't understand? What if she became an obstacle to his plans? He was breathing heavily as he sat down on the ground, and Shakti came smirking.
" Congratulations, Dadabhai."
" Bhai, please leave me alone." His tone made Shakti stop smirking.
" What's wrong?" He asked with a frown.
" I don't want this marriage, that's it..." He spoke in a hurry.
" But why?" Shakti asked, confused. The last person he saw getting married was Chakrapani; rather, he heard from the war front, and when they saw him in all his smiles, he thought marriage made the groom happy.
" Because I don't want someone to be unhappy as well as become an obstacle in my..."
"Oh, Dadabhai! Matribhoomi prem is good, but this much? You need a life outside war, we all do." He shrugged.
" But she...." Pratap narrowed his brows. "We don't know her."
" Let's find out about her, then you can decide on the marriage," Shakti suggested.
" But how?" He looked confused.
" By going to Bijolia ourselves, in disguise." Shakti's excitement was not suppressed.,
" What?" Pratap reacted in shock as Shakti smirked again. "I don't have time for such..."
" Be ready by dawn! We are going to gather information on Bhabisa." Shakti left abruptly as Pratap stood in the arena, more confused than ever.
