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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Towards You

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RAABTA

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