Sleepless

Kunwar Pratap woke up when it was still dark. He opened his eyes in the dimly lit room and could see her calm, contented face in the darkness, in deep sleep. Known to be a fighter, he had no idea how or 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 were Ratan, Balwant and Padma, but this time she is alone... He touched her cheeks with his fingers with a smile as she leaned toward his touch, even in her sleep.

Ajabdeh woke up with the first light 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 holding 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, arms and amenities. He smiled, knowing she did all that by herself, without being asked for; that is what Ajabdeh 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. " Ajabdeh." 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.

" Baojiraj, I think we should call Bhil Sardar for a talk before deciding anything." Rawat Chundawat suggested as he entered the tent.
" Yes, Rawat Ji, I want to talk to him about their grievances first thing in the morning." Rawatji left with the task of finding 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 Ajabdeh 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 a lack of food, like millions of others."
Maan nodded impressively as Dheer Bai fumed, Sajja Bai praised Ajabdeh, saying, " You are absolutely right, Kunwaranisa. We must always be grateful for what we have because we never know when we will lose it 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.

Ajabdeh 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.

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. 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 was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...

His Wife

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

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in the 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 Surat. " Daajiraj, 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. Ajabdeh was making a drink 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. " Ajabdeh Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabdeh walke...

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 in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just sixteen, 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 ...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Three

Trilochon and Kalindi were having tea in the morning in their living room when Binoy walked downstairs in his Pajama Panjabi, pipe in hand and found them. Watching him unusually in his home attire, Trilochon frowned. “Are you sick? I thought you had already left.” Binoy sat down on the single chaise chair beside the couch as Kalindi poured some tea for him. “ I told you, Dada, I am here to retire.” He said, putting his pipe in his pocket. “Today, Som is going alone. We will see how that goes.” Their conversation was interrupted by Asha coming into the house in a white and red saree, with a red sindoor Teep on her forehead. She had a basket with her, and Koeli was accompanying her as she offered them the sweets she had taken as Prasad. “Since it’s his first day at the new position, we went to the temple together.” Asha narrated to Kalindi. “He left for work from there.” “Do you not have school today?” Kalindi enquired as Asha shook her head. She smiled, eyeing Trilochon, who narra...

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. 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. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

Purnota: Chapter Forty One

Kalindi stood looking at the Ganga in the distance as Trilochon watched her. It was later in the night, and the stars were veiling the clear summer sky. A cool breeze blew from the Ganga, relaxing Kalindi’s restless heart as she took a stroll. Trilochon had spotted her in the garden from his balcony and walked up to her. She did not turn as he came up behind her and cleared his throat. “I apologise for storming off like that.” He was the first to speak. Kalindi inhaled. “Have you heard that she went to borrow a saree from Bouma to wear to some party?” Kalindi spoke rather monotonously. “Yes, Bouma said so.” Trilochon cleared his throat. He left out the part where Asha enthusiastically told him about Bondita blushing and her idea of telling Bondita to confess her feelings. Instead, Trilochon added, “The senior is very influential. He can have some good contacts for Bondita. Perhaps enough for her to get a job in Kolkata, like you wanted.” Kalindi could hear through his unconvincing...

Purnota: Chapter Forty

“ Ei Bondita,” Asha called her from the stairs as Bondita placed down some papers Aniruddha wanted from the office and was leaving the house. “Come up to my room.” She waved. “ Aschi, Boudi.” Bondita walked up to her room, removing the waistcoat from over her Kurti. She sat down on the edge of Asha’s bed and closed the door. Bondita looked perplexed. “What… is wrong?” “Where is Dadabhai? Is he here?” Bondita shook her head. He was probably still working. “Sir.” The newly recruited junior knocked on the chamber door of Aniruddha’s office as he looked up from the screen. “Your father is here.” Aniruddha frowned a little at his words. Binoy never visited the office. He asked the man to bring him in. Binoy walked in, in a polo-necked navy blue t-shirt over a pair of beige pants, as Aniruddha observed him remove his glasses and look around. “What brought you here?” He enquired after waiting a little in vain for him to speak. “Just came by… for a chat.” Binoy sat down on the seat acros...

Eternally Yours

Ajabdeh woke up to find neither the pillow nor the husband beside her. That was really unusual. Has she overslept? No, it was dark, and the first birds were singing. She sat up to find that he had neatly arranged the pillows and made his side of the bed, and put his blanket over her. She checked the changing room. No, he was not there, but unlike other days, his clothes were not in a mess. She freshened up and reached the dressing table. His brooch was not there. Where is he? Has the war... Her heart skipped a beat. What if he had left and not even woken her up? " Daasi? Daasi?" She called out as one of them walked in. " Ji Kuwaranisa?" " Where is Kunwarsa?" " He left early in the morning for Dangal and then a visit to the village. Do you need anything?" " No, you may go now." She put on the sindoor in worry. Maybe something urgent has come up. She walked to the Puja room and was shocked. Her garlands were made, the Chandan was in plac...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Four

Aniruddha tapped his black loafers on the Italian marble floor of the entrance as he eyed his watch. It was almost half past five. He checked himself in the full-size mirror beside the coat hanger, looking fresh as he shaved and bathed, set his hair, chose a white summer blazer over his black shirt and trousers and abandoned the idea of a tie. He cleaned his glasses with the handkerchief, contemplating whether he should knock at Asha’s door, telling Bondita to hurry. He wondered what the women were doing there for such a long time. He could hear them giggling and gossiping as he walked past the room. He wondered what huge deal a party was that a woman needed another to help her dress up. He took out his phone and wondered if he should call her downstairs instead to avoid the awkwardness of knocking on the door. It was then that Aniruddha heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up in a reflex. He would give her a piece of his mind for wasting precious moments, especially when they...

RAABTA

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