Sleepless

Kunwar Pratap woke up when it was still dark. He opened his eyes in the dimly lit room and could see her calm content face in the darkness, in deep sleep. Known to be a fighter, he had no idea how and when he developed these weird feelings. His Guruji had always taught him to be emotionless. Fighters don't have emotions. He was reminded again and again and yet, this time around, unsure of what was in store at Bhilwara he was .... scared? He shook off the feeling. Yes, tonight was about his promise to himself to make her his wife. Tonight, he had explored his feelings and hers like never before. But, in the back of his mind, even as he watched her sleep, he could not shake off the thought. I have to leave her alone here. What if.... last time there was Ratan, Balwant and Padma but this time she is alone... He touched her cheeks with his fingers with a smile as she leaned to his touch even in her sleep.

Ajabde woke up at the break of dawn. She had a lot of work to do before he left. She was about to get out of bed when she saw his hand hold hers. A shy smile curved her lips as she carefully freed her hand and was about to walk away when she felt a tug at her dupatta. Ajabde stopped wide-eyed and softly spoke up " Kunwar Pratap... I..." She turned around to see her dupatta stuck under his sleeping figure. She pulled at it in vain and decided to leave it there.
Mharo Pranam Banke Bihari Ji
Mor Mukut Madhyan Tilak Birajya
Kundal Alkakori Ji
Adhar Madhur Dhar Bansi Bajawa

Kunwar Pratap woke up to the sweet voice as he sat up on the bed and spotted his things all ready to be packed, including all his clothes, armies and amenities. He smiled knowing she did all that by herself, without being asked for, that is what Ajabde was all about. He got ready to leave as she came up with the aarti thal. Eyes smiled at each other, hiding the fears within.
" Your things are ready to..."
" I can see that." He spoke up as she was about to leave. " Ajabde." She stopped and turned back after keeping her thaal on the table.
" Ji?"
" Promise me." He held her hands. " You will take care of everyone as well as yourself."
" Only if you promise me to be safe first." She smiled as he nodded.

Maharani Jaivanta Bai was at the entrance to see off Kunwar Pratap.
" I will be back in a day or two. If things go well..." He told his mother as worry swept across his face.
" Everything will be alright." Ranima smiled at him and stared back at Ajabde. " It has to be when people pray for you day and night." Kunwar Pratap smiled a proud smile at Ajabde who looked away.
" Chalte hai." She nodded softly as Ranima approved. He walked up to Sarang and turned back to see her standing there with a smile. He left as she watched.

A few Hours later, in the Khema...
" Baojiraj, I think we should call Bhil Sardar for a talk before deciding anything."
" Yes Rawat Ji, I want to talk to him about their grievances first thing in the morning." Rawatji left with the task to find the Bhils in the forest.
Kunwar Pratap sat alone in his camp as he unpacked some things from the trunk. His eyes stopped at a wrapped thing. He unwrapped it and it was her Ramayana. A smile curved his lips. She sent a part of her in his trunk. Did she not know he carried a part of her in his heart? He sat down with the book, under the lamp.

" Today we are making our favourite dishes." Sajja Bai smiled excitedly as Ajabde entered the Paak shala. " You want to make something Kunwaranisa?"
" Yes Bhabisa make kheer please." Maan pleaded. Ajabde smiled in approval as Dheer bai entered the Paakshala.
Ajabde was busy making the kheer when she didn't put cashew nuts and Kesar as per the Raj traditions in the kheer. She was about to serve Maan when Dheer Bai interrupted.
" What are you doing?" She stopped a scared Ajabde.
" Giving Rajkumarisa Kheer...."
" No, where are the nuts and Kesar? Will my Maan eat what the villagers of Mewar eat? Have you forgotten you are not the Samantputri anymore?"
Her words struck Ajabde like an arrow yet she remembered she had promised him to take care of everything.
She smiled a polite smile saying " Rajkumarisa doesn't like nuts, so I thought... I will add them, Chotima." She gave the Katori to Maan adding " Never disrespect the food we eat Rajkumarisa no matter how simple it is. We never know what it's worth until we starve due to lack of food like millions of others."
Maan nodded impressively as Dheer Bai fumed, Sajja Bai praised Ajabde saying, " You are absolutely right Kunwaranisa. We must always be grateful for what we have because we never know when we will lose them all." Dheerbai left disturbed.

" Kunwaranisa." Ajabde walked out of the Puja Ghar at the call, delighted to see Majhli Maasa.
" Ji?"
" Come, read the Ramayana to me today." Ajabde happily followed Sajja Bai to her room.
" And she stayed a decade, bringing up Labh and Kush, aware that he missed her presence. That he chose to be the King rather than the husband."
" Sita was strong enough to live her life without his help. It was Ram who needed her more." Kunwar Pratap read aloud in silence as the lamp flickered. He stopped and looked at the light flickering in the lamp lost in thought. He missed her explanations. He missed her presence.

Ajabde walked into the room after dinner, with a sigh. She didn't need to wait today, but something told her she would be sleepless tonight as she lay staring at his empty place on her right. He walked up to the empty papers in a roll and sat down to pen down his thoughts. Not a soul knew that the valiant warrior Kunwar Pratap Singh was a poet at heart.

Gentle like a petal,

Pure like a conch
She touches every heart with Kindness,
She is elegant and full of grace.

He smiled at his own silliness and kept aside the paper, neatly in his trunk. Miles apart two souls waited to be united, as the moon and stars witnessed their sleepless night.

READ STORY HERE

Comments

See You Soon

Kunwar Partap entered the relatively quiet stable premises at the break of dawn checking on Bijli who was asleep, when he heard the sound of anklets near the cow shed. He walked up to the entrance of the stable, from where he could see her, her dupatta placed loosely over her wet hair, devoid of jewellery the way he never saw a royal lady, with a basket of flowers in one hand and a plate of sweets on the other. She was distributing sweets to the cow keepers, veterinarians and everyone who came by on the occasion of Lakshmi giving birth to her calf. “What will you name her, Hukum?” an old man asked. She smiled shyly, pressing her lips together. “Mandakini, Kakasa.” The old man smiled at her suggestion. “Like the kund? Very nice.” Kunwar Partap walked up to Lakshmi’s shed only after most people had dispersed to their work. Ajbante Kanwar heard footsteps behind her and turned with the plate that now had one sweetmeat left. Alarmed at his sight and at the lack of options she could offer fr...

Stable Boy

“Jija, I want to go to the stables too.” Ajbante was stopped in the corridor of the inner palace by Ratan Kanwar, followed by their half-brother, Akhil who was three. “We do.” Ratan corrected herself. The dawn had just set on the horizon and the birds were chirping in the gardens. Ajbante Kanwar had just taken a bath in the private pool and managed to grab her empty flower basket to go to the gardens still before that, she would visit the stables and cowshed, check how Lakshmi was doing with her newborn, and if Bijli was okay with the sudden changes her father made. Ratan Kanwar’s nagging made her sigh and nod. “Don’t make so much noise so early in the morning.” She scolded them as they followed her, giggling and skipping down the hall behind her. “Don’t touch the newborn Kunwar Akhil, you will scare Lakshmi.” The familiar alarmed voice made Kunwar Partap stop gathering hay as he placed them down, wiped his forehead and glanced over his shoulder at the cowshed. There was some gig...

I Saw You

Kunwar Pratap was in his brown Dhoti, off-white angrakha and a piece of brown cloth tied to his head when he entered the palace premises. He was standing in the courtyard, eyeing the lofty towers and domes, wondering whom to talk to as some soldiers galloped their horses out of the stables on the right and some people were gathered on the left. The main entrance and two guards on either side and he decided to go towards the stairs leading up to the inner palace when the guards stopped him. “Who are you looking for?” “Rao ji?” He asked unsurely. “Rao Ramrakh…” “What audacity, boy?” The old guard scolded, “Say, Hukum!” “Yes, Hukum.” He nodded. “I came to tend to the stables.” “Then go to the stable, why are you loitering around the private gardens?” One of the soldiers said in a gruff voice. “He must be the one we were told about…” The other one reminded him. “Oh, go to the stables anyway, Hukum is busy practising, I will summon you once he is on the premises.” Pratap nodded at his words...

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...

Queen of the Heart

Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabde decided it was fair to know his strength before the big competition. Sword in hand, in a white female warrior attire with only her face visible she hid behind one of the large watchtowers of the Dangal watching him move. She heard Rawatji say, " Your left hand is still weaker than the right one with the moves. Both should be perfect." A smile curved her lips. Knowing an opponent's weakness always helps, which is one rule of the war she always remembered. Kunwar Pratap swung his sword with his left hand and turned around. He could sense someone watching, his sixth sense was never wrong. He looked around and hatched a plan. Ajabde again peeped at the grounds to see it was empty. He had left. She walked towards the empty ground, sword in hand. Suddenly, the cold blade of a sword was felt on her neck. She stopped still. " So someone was spying on me." His voice had a hint of taunt. " No, I was...

Prologue: Impulsive Hearts

1576 CE. The dark clouds circled over the Haveli of the Chieftain at Avadgadh, one of the unimportant posts on the western borders of Mewar, Rajputana. It was the arrival of the rainy season, with occasional downpours over the green veil of the Aravallis on the horizon and the streams that often meandered around the hills now surged like rivers. The monotonous life in the little settlement was stirred by the arrival of guests in the Haveli. It was not usual for the old chieftain to receive so many guests, especially women and it sparked curiosity and rumours among the villagers. Who were these people? Some of them looked like royal ladies and some not. In the inner palace of Avadgadh, on a balustrade that was designed with Jali, nymphs adorning its pillars that looked over the Aravallis in a distance, covered with dark clouds, the gusty wind blew the new curtains almost toppling a vase kept by the window. She caught it, alarmed, almost out of the force of habit to be alert about her su...

Unexpected

" 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 decorate the rooms well." Jaivanta Bai looked around. " 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. " Ajabde! Ratan!" Hansa called as the girls came in. 13-year-old Ajabde preferred a simple lehenga in a pink and blue Dupatta clad over her head. She was the first one to calmly bend down and touch Maharani's feet as a five-year-old Ratan came running. " Ajabde 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 your good talents, right? ...

Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. “Break the door” he ordered. “Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar. “Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.” “Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried. “Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde. Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens… Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction. “ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword. Ratan took two ste...

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The Daasi ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The Daasi sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes couldn't believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed shouting " Jaldi. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabde. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. SajjaBai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap hadn't noticed anything except her calm unconscious face. Now he looked down at his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. " Kunwar Pratap! Tell me what happ...

You Deserve More

Ajabde woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm clinging to her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly but he was holding it so tight. Ajabde's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused. " Am I..." In love? Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on his bed as he again looked back at the rain. Then he looked back frowning as she shivered. He closed the windows of the room, to make it cosy then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it in th...

RAABTA

Search This Blog