A New Side

Kunwar Pratap was determined to solve the issue without bloodshed, Bhils were friends, and their grievances were to be met from the heart and solved. The Bhil Sardar entered the Khema as he stood up.
" Kunwar Pratap! Gani Khamma. "
" Khamma Gani." He indicated the seat. " Tell me your grievances."
" The Mughals." He replied, still not taking the seat. " You know how close the forests are to Mughal camps. Every day, the Mughal soldiers come, attack the settlements, and take women and children. If we kill them more come the next day." Kunwar Pratap was visibly shocked and angry. He tightened his fist.

" Rawat Ji, why are no soldiers guarding the Mewar Forests and the borders near Bhilwara?"
" Woh Baojiraj, none are trained for..."
" This is ridiculous, select a team of the most competent soldiers and get them to Chittor by tomorrow morning, I will train them on camouflage and forest tactics."
" Ji Baojiraj."
" And also until they are ready, you are going to stay here and look after the settlement, the Bhils are friends we cannot lose." The Sardar was happy he meant every word. He folded his hands in gratitude." Kunwarsa, I think It's not safe for you to be here." His words shocked Rawatji. " I think you should leave. The Mughals..."
" I will leave once the borders are taken care of." The sound of horses outside made Kunwar Pratap frown as Rawatji smiled. In a few minutes, Raoji entered the Khema, hands folded.
" Raoji ?" Kunwar Pratap was shocked.
" Ji Ranaji sent me." He smiled at Rawatji. " I didn't inform you because then..."
" Kunwaranisa would have wanted to come," Rawatji added. Kunwar Pratap nodded with a grateful smile.
" Ayiye, I hope everyone is well in Bijolia."
" Ji Baojiraj. Ajabde..."
" She is fine."
" Baojiraj, I think you should return before dusk." He added.

" Kunwarsa padhar rahe hai..." A maid came running. " Kunwarsa..."
A happy Jaivanta Bai smiled at a blushing Ajabde. " Let's go give him a grand welcome."

Ajabde was helped to dress by the maids in a red lehenga and she took the remaining time to decorate the room with flowers from the palace garden. She lit the lamps and incense sticks. And made rangolis. She couldn't wait to ask about the trip.
Kunwar Pratap got down from his horse and looked at the receiving crowd. There he could spot his mother's happy face and Majhli Maa and Daajiraj too. He walked up the steps of the Kumbha palace and touched his parent's feet.
" Congratulations on your success Kunwar Pratap." Udai Singh was pleased. " Learn something from him, Kunwar Shakti." The one to whom this was directed looked humiliated as he quietly walked away
" No Daajiraj Bhai Shakti too..." Kunwar Pratap was trying in vain as Udai Singh gave a cold look to Sajja Bai for her son's audacity.
" Ranima..." Kunwar Pratap changed the topic quickly. " I missed Majhli Maasa's aachar." A smile appeared on Sajja's face as she said " You will get many achar options for lunch today, I will see to it." She walked away after Udai Singh left as Jaivanta nodded at her son approvingly.
The sound of a familiar payal made him look behind Ranima as she smiled at the approaching figure before walking away.
She approached him with the puja thali in hand. He put up a disappointed face at her saying " I didn't expect this from you!"
" Ji?"
" You came after everyone else to welcome me. I didn't expect this." His disappointed voice made her feel scared as she fumbled.
" Woh... Woh...I..." He laughed, shaking his head at her confused face.

" Ajabde, let's go. You want to hear what happened or not?" She nodded excitedly, quickly doing his aarti and then following him to the room.

She had totally forgotten to mention the rangolis as he stepped on one ruining it.
" Ohh no! Kunwar Pratap! I spent all morning on this!" She exclaimed as he stopped looking at his feet.
" You should have mentioned this to me."
" You are a warrior, you have to notice the smallest of details don't you?"
She frowned as he stared amused. He missed looking at her.
" Kunwarani Ajabde Baisa! You seem to know so much about warfare yet I see you not practising your skills or taking part in any planning or suggestions. Why?"
" Practise?" She asked, eyes wide.
" Why not? The Princesses practice." He shrugged. She smiled.
" They are Rajumari Kunwar Pratap not..."
" I will talk to Ranima about this." He spoke determinedly.
" Don't!" She exclaimed.
" Why not? Besides..." He stepped forward making her heart skip a beat as he leaned close to whisper " I can teach you a lot of things you don't know Ajabde!"
" I... I...." She was fumbling red as he smiled lovingly grabbing her by the wrist as daasi came calling.
" Maharanisa has called you Kunwarsa." He nodded and left her smiling.

She decided to unpack his things before he comes back and wants to read. She was keeping away his things as two Daasis helped when she came across a paper neatly kept between two rolled maps.

Woh Komal jaise Pankh koi... Her eyes widened as a smile curved her lips. Is he a poet? He never...She kept it back between the maps, smiling to herself at the lines.

Kunwar Pratap walked back into the chamber expecting her to be busy reading. Instead, she was sitting with paper and ink.
" You are writing a letter?" She didn't reply. He frowned and walked up to her.
" What are you doing Ajabde?" He hoped for a reply.
" Writing down my deepest thoughts." She responded without looking up, he smiled taking a seat in front of her.
" What are your deepest thoughts?"
" That you hide things from me!"
" Kya?" He was surprised as she looked up, with a serious face.

" Haan! I feel there are things we still don't know about each other."
" All right, things like?"
" I like pigeons more than peacocks. I don't like the gaudy beauty the peacock flaunts in vain." Ajabde wondered.
" And ... I should know this because?" He smiled amused.
" Leave it!" She got up as he held her by the wrist.
" No No No, let's do this, Okay? My turn! I... Like archery more than swords. Few people know that!"
" I like spears!" She smiled. " And sewing."
" I like writing." He stopped alarmed. " I mean writing down my..."
" I never saw you write." She frowned.
" When do I get the time?" He shrugged.
" Now." She sounded excited. " Write something."
" Now?" He asked surprised as she nodded. He thought for a while.
" How can I write something just like that?" He frowned at the empty paper.

" Then show me something you already wrote." She smiled. One look at her and he could read what she was up to, so he decided to play along.
" All write. I wrote this... " He showed her a paragraph on Mewar he had penned down.
" Something else?" She looked disappointed.
" No."
" No? Kunwar Pratap you must have..."
" No Ajabde, I don't remember writing something else." He shook his head. She got up disappointed again.
" I...need to go ...see if dinner...."
" Where did you keep it?" He got up after her as she stopped frowning.
" Ji?"
" Where did you keep the paper you found?" It made her look away as he stared at her amused.
" I found nothing. What pap..."
" Ajabde." He shook his head. " Learn to lie properly if you want to try." She looked up at him with narrowed eyes as he smiled.

" Kunwar Pratap Singh naam hai humara. It's not easy to fool me." He smiled. She looked defeated as she stepped away and stopped at the threshold and turned.
" People say Ajabde Baisa can fool enemies with the sword in Bijolia." She smiled.
" This is Chittor and Kunwar Pratap Singh is not a fool." He smiled back, throwing a challenge.
" I defeated you once Kunwar Pratap." Eyes were locked still.
" That was a ring, this is a sword." He nodded.
" And I will win again." She smiled intimidatingly.
" Even if you do, it's my win! Because you are mine." His words made her blush as he smiled victorious, as she walked away and he sat with the paper with a smile. Let's see how you fool with the sword Ajabde Baisa... I will like to see this side of you Soon!

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My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. 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 came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabde looked visibly displeased at the daasi who ran. " They are at the fort gates and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red Jora and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maa sa Maa sa... 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. " Ajabde." 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!" Amar exclaimed

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in court with Rana Udai Singh. The Mughals were conquering a huge part of the north courtesy of Bairam Khan and Mewar on their routes to the ports of Gujarat. " Dajiraj we need to secure the roads leading to Agra and also towards the west. The attack-prone areas should always be under surveillance." " Yes Ranaji. Baojiraj is right." Rawatji agreed. In the Rani Mahal, everyone was preparing for a grand lunch. Ajabde was making a sweet dish for the princes and princesses and in a hurry, she forgot to add the Kesar and Badam on top. As she served the smaller princes including Kunwar Jagmal, Dheerbai came to inspect her eldest son's food. " What is this? Who made this? Kokoiaji?" She stormed to the kitchen with a bowl of sweet dishes. " Kunwaranisa did." Came a scary answer, from Veer Bai. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up

Understandings

After counting days, Ajabde was happy that she was going to Bijolia. She knew how eager her mother and Ratan would be to know about her new life. She couldn't wait to hug her mother and feel like... Home. She was selecting gifts for her parents and her siblings as per Ranima's instructions. Then suddenly an idea struck her mind. Her new family welcomed her with so much love and support. Especially Ranima and Majhli Maa Sa. She wanted to give them something. Suddenly she remembered that Ranima had loved her embroidery work on dupattas back in Bijolia so she called a Dasi and ordered some plain Chunris and embroidery threads. She had a lot of work to finish in a day before leaving. Kunwar Pratap came back into the room to see her on the floor, right in the middle of the room with red, green, yellow, and pink all sorts of dupattas scattered. " What's all this?" He asked not sure if he should be asking. " I am making gifts. For Ranima, Majhli ma, Rani Dheer Bai

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 quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 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 Si

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him. The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And his spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. One of his aides

Friends?

Early morning, Ajabde walked into Saubhagyawati’s house as the Panditji looked relieved. “Baisa you are here now I don’t need to look after anything.” She walked into Saubhagyawati’s room and found her braiding her hair nervously. Her lehenga looked beautiful and only the maangtika was about to be put so Ajabde did the honours. Saubhagyawati held her hand and took a deep breath. “Ajabde have a confession.” “What is it Bhago?” She looked worried. “Are you scared?” “No no Ajabde it’s not that. I… met him… before…” “Whom?” “The one who is coming to see me.” She looked away scared. “What? How…” Ajabde looked at her with wide eyes. “woh… Both nights when I waited for you in the…” “Hai Bhagwan Bhago! What if he says that seeing you in front of your father?” Ajabde spoke up as Bhago looked shocked. Why didn’t she think that before? “What will we do now?” Bhago asked worriedly. Ajabde was lost in thoughts. No way could people know. The groom had arrived with

Chapter Three: Pedigree

The Imperial Police work was a tough job. The family had no idea what Superintendent Animesh Kumar Mukhopadhyay went through to provide for his family and their luxurious lives. Abhaya’s father never failed to let his family know that. Every time he drank down his sins. Every time he came home drunk. Every time he beat his wife. Abhaya would often sit awake all night, her pillow pressed against her ears as she sobbed silently, hoping that her mother’s begging sobs and father’s lewd language would stop. One day she had opened the door of her room slightly and was about to step out when her sister-in-law intervened. Her face was dark as she coldly told Abhaya to return to her room. She would be punished if her elder brothers found out about her trying to get out of her chambers at night. Abhaya at twelve knew one truth greater than others. Men were like this, women had to tiptoe around them to serve them as they demanded. She was intimidated by the regular chores the women of the hous

Struggles and Tests

Kunwar Pratap ran to hug his mother. Jaivanta Bai smiled pleased looking at him. Sajja Bai had accompanied her here with the Bhattiyani queen and had reached out to her sister in Marwar for shelter with the princesses until the war ended. She refused to stay like a commoner at Samant’s house. “Majhli Maasa.” Kunwar Pratap touched her feet and got a hug in return. “ Where is Chotima?” “She went to Mehrangarh.” Jaivanta Bai replied. Dressed simply in a blue lehenga and silver jewellery she still looked elegant. The sound of Payal made everyone turn as Hansa smiled at her daughter. “This is Ajabde. My eldest.” Ajabde stepped forward to touch the queen’s feet while Kunwar Pratap stepped back carefully watching the scene with a smile. Jaivanta Bai cupped her face and noticed her son’s reaction in silence. “Ajabde show them the guest rooms.” After the refreshments, Hansa Bai instructed her while Kunwar Pratap left in a hurry followed by Balwant who now kind of worshipped him.

Love Struck

A new dawn was about to break in Mewar. Kunwar Pratap shifted in his bed, as the lamp shone in the darkness. He was now facing her sleeping figure. Her hand rested on the pillow between them, the pillow he chose to keep there in the first place but now it seemed like the symbol of the distance he wanted to bridge between their hearts. He stared at it lost in thoughts. I promised myself to make you mine, But how? What if you... He stared at the sleeping figure admitting in silence that no one, even the bravest enemy scared him like her calm composed self did. I am thinking like a typical husband. He smiled. What to do now Ajabde? I am terrible with my words unlike you. Pratap Singh! You need to learn a few things! He looked back at the ceiling in his thoughts. What if I drop hints? She knows me so well, maybe she will understand without me actually speaking for myself. The thoughts made his face light up. Yes, Yes that will be perfect. Let's try this. But... First thing first... so

RAABTA

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