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 walked up to her, keeping aside the vegetables she was cutting.
" Ji Chotima?"
" Perhaps at a Samant's home, Kesar and Badam are used on special occasions, but now you forget to put Kesar and Badam in my Kunwar Jagmal's drink? How dare you?"
" Chotima, I will add them." She hurried to take the glass that Dheerbai threw on the floor, surprising her as she looked wide-eyed.
" Giving street dirt the place of a crown doesn't make them a queen. They are what their fathers are..."
" Chotima!" Ajabdeh's voice made everyone gasp louder. No one except Jaivanta Bai dared to mess with the Bhatiyani queen. "Stop insulting my parents on the slightest of issues." She was clear.
" Just how dare you? You will pay for this." Dheer Bai ran out. "Ranaji! Where is Ranaji?"
All eyes were fixed on Ajabdeh, who decided to stop the Bhatiyani queen and ran after her. Veer Bai knew the danger in the name of Rani DheerBai quite well by now, and she ran to the only person who could save Ajabdeh.
" Ranaji! Ranaji!" Dheer Bai barged into the hall as Rawatji, Ranaji and Kunwar Pratap looked up at her visibly disturbed face. Kunwar Pratap could hear Ajabdeh's payal in the hallway approaching as he frowned. In a few seconds, Ajabdeh appeared behind Dheerbai, breathless." Chotima."
" What is it, Dheer Bai ji?" Rana Udai Singh asked his favourite wife only after letting Rawat Ji go. Kunwar Pratap could see Ajabdeh rub her hands together; she was anxious and scared. What did Dheerbai do now?
" Kunwaraniji is new. I ignored her mistakes time and again, but today, she dared to raise her voice at me." Dheer Bai was teary-eyed.
" What?" Rana Udai Singh was shocked, and so was a silent Kunwar Pratap. How could Ajabdeh do something that could make Dheerbai blame her?
" I can not bear this insult, Ranaji." Dheerbai continued. " Now either I will stay or she will." Her last words made Ajabdeh look wide-eyed as Kunwar Pratap lost his cool.
" Kunwaraniji, what did you do?" Both Udai Singh and Dheerbai were shocked at his raised voice as Ajabdeh looked taken aback.
" I...." Really? Do you think I did something?
" Apologise to Chotima." He said in the same tone. " Apologise right now." I am just trying to save you.
Ajabdeh tightened her fists and took a deep breath. I am sorry, Kunwarsa, I won't apologise for something I never did. She chose to lower her gaze and remain quiet.
" See Ranaji, see the bride Jija chose for Mewar's future, she doesn't even respect Kunwarsa." Dheer Bai let out a sarcastic chuckle as Udai Singh tried in vain to calm her.
" Dheer Baiji, she is new and..." Jaivanta Bai's entrance made everyone stare as she saw Ajabdeh's eyes fill up. Kunwar Pratap still looked displeased.
" Apologise right now, Kunwaranisa." He repeated.
" I... Can't, Ranima." She spoke firmly in between sobs, her eyes lowered, as his eyes widened. "Chotima insulted my parents, my background, not only mine, she insulted all Samants."
" She is older than you, she can, you will apologise." Kunwar Pratap spoke up, " Now!"
" I don't apologise when I make no mistake." A strong, determined thought came from the side of her, which he always admired. Today, he was scared of what it would cost. And angry at how she was misunderstanding him.
" Then leave." His words made her look up into his deep brown eyes as Dheerbai smiled victoriously.
" Kunwar Pratap!" His parents spoke in unison as Ajabdeh turned and promptly left the room. He regretted saying that the moment she left. Ranima followed her.
" Ajabdeh! Ajabdeh stop." Ajabdeh turned around, teary-eyed, facing Ranima.
" Ranima, I really didn't...." She turned, wiping her tears as Jaivanta nodded.
" I know, it's all Dheerbai. But sometimes you may need to lose small battles to win bigger ones in life. Right now, she is trying to hurt him by hurting you. You have to be the shield and the sword."
" Ranima...why is she..." Ajabdeh frowned. "If you know then..."
" You will discover every shade of her yourself. Right now, come back with me and make things right."
" Kunwar Pratap, go after her." Udai Singh ordered. It was shocking to both Dheer Bai and Pratap, coming from the man who once asked his Ranima to leave with him. Perhaps this was political. If Ajabdeh left the palace, her loose tongue could tell people how the royal family had insulted the very Samants who fight for them. As Pratap was about to leave, Ranima came back with Ajabdeh. She held Ajabdeh's hand firmly in hers and told Dheerbai ji, " When two utensils are kept together, they are bound to make a noise; when many people stay together, there are bound to be misunderstandings. But Rani Bhatiyani, we are elders; they learn from us. And I don't think anyone's family and upbringing should ever become a matter of taunt." She looked at Udai Singh, who nodded. " As for Ajabdeh's apology, you have a big enough heart to overlook one small mistake, don't you?" Dheer Bai nodded, seeing that Ranaji was not on her side. Kunwar Pratap left the room without even looking up at Ajabdeh.
Pratap was at the Dangal, taking out his anger on the mannequins with his sword. I couldn't speak for her. I couldn't support her, I supported the wrong, knowing it. But what would she have done in my shoes? How would she have handled things? Am I not different from the father whose actions I resented?
He threw his sword and sat on the ground. Should I apologise?
Ajabdeh, too, was a determined soul. She was making garlands for her Sandhi Puja. She was visibly disturbed. He really thought I could insult Chotima without any reason? How could he say leave? One small mistake and he would abandon me? He walked in from Dangal, hoping to talk. She folded her hands and closed her eyes like she was lost in prayer. He freshened up to leave for the court soon. She opened her eyes, knowing she was alone, and then she left for the Pakshaala where she was on duty with Veer Bai.
Kunwar Pratap sat down for a meal. The drama had made him skip lunch, and he was starving. He looked around for her in vain as the Sevaks served. Ranima smiled, watching his eyes wander.
" Ajabdeh made the daal." She declared as his hands stopped at the bowl. A smile appeared as he tasted it. It soon disappeared as he coughed and drank his glass of water. It was unbelievably spicy. Why would she... Realisation dawned.
"What happened, Pratap?" Ranima asked worriedly.
" I just choked, nothing, Ranima." He nodded and resumed eating.
He was back late in his room when he saw her, back at the door, reading. Watching him walk across the room, keeping his sword and turban, she began to read loudly.
" Thus Lord Rama said If you support wrong, then you, being a silent spectator, are equally guilty." He smiled inwardly as he walked up behind her and cleared his throat.
" Ahem." She ignored him.
" So if I kill Bali by trick, you and I will be equally guilty, Sugriv, as will all the people who watch the wrong in silence."
" The food was spicy." He spoke up. " It was nice. Especially the Dal." She frowned. Really? He liked my Chilli-dipped daal? This can't be. She remained silent.
" Lord Rama is right, in this err... context." He sat down on the couch as she purposely sat in the middle of the bed. She continued reading.
An hour later, Ajabdeh realised the silence of the room as she looked at the couch through the corner of her eyes and saw him lying asleep. Guilt filled her as she shut the book and walked up to him. Her hand stopped as she was about to touch his forehead, and she drew away. His voice rang in her head. Then leave. She took his blanket from the bed and put it on him. Then she lay on her side, her back to him. Kunwar Pratap's neck was stiff on the uncomfortable couch. He got up to find her in deep sleep and smiled at the blanket. Then he walked to his side and lay down comfortably, hatching a plan to apologise.
Ajabdeh woke up to find herself alone in the room. There was no sign of him. She looked around. No, her flowers were not ready either. Where was he? She went through her daily chores. Her eyes searched the Dangal from the corridor jharokha and also the gardens. He was nowhere. Did he actually want her to leave? Was he angry at her behaviour and went somewhere? Worry swept across her face. Things were just looking bright for her, and had she ruined it with her own hands? A lady-in-waiting walked up to her, saying, " Kunwaranisa, Kunwarsa is looking for you." A smile appeared full of hope as she asked, " Where is he?"
" He is in the backyard of the Ranimahal." The backyard? But it's just empty ground, why is he... She walked towards the empty yard. He was standing there, his back to her, as her payal made him turn. He looked into her eyes as she looked away.
" You were busy?" He asked softly.
" Yes, packing! For Bijolia." She replied angrily, looking away.
" You know you are not going anywhere." He smiled.
" I don't know anything. Why am I being summoned here?"
" I need to show you something." She frowned at his words as he clapped his hands, and a Sevak appeared with a sword. He took it and dispersed the man.
" Here."
" A sword?"
" My First sword. For you." He insisted.
" For me?" She asked, surprised.
" Yes." He nodded.
" Why?"
" So that you can protect yourself when even I can't." His words made her look up as his eyes shone. He looked guilty.
" Kunwar Pratap...."
" No, Ajabdeh, I understand why you are upset; you have the right to be. I couldn't..."
" Kunwar Pratap." She stopped him as their eyes met. " You protect Mewar; I am just a small part of that."
" No, Ajabdeh, you are...." He stopped, at a loss for words. Sometimes silence spoke more than words ever could. It did so now also. As she blushed, he held her hand and gave her his sword.
" It's time, Kunwaraniji, to show your skills to me."
" I ... No... I am out of practice and I..."
" You have a week and no more excuses." She nodded reluctantly at him.
" Kunwaranisa." A maid interrupted. " Saubhagwati Baisa is here with..."
" Parvati?!" Ajabdeh smiled a gleeful smile, making him stare at her as she ran inside. She stopped at the doorway and turned back once as he nodded, smiling. He had no idea that fights between a husband and wife were so quickly forgotten, unlike with others. Until now.
" He gave you his sword?" Saubhagyawati was admiring it as Ajabdeh played with Parvati.
" Accha hai, when you have a baby ...."
" Bhago!" Ajabdeh stopped her blushing, alarmed that someone might hear them.
" What? It's been almost a year, and Mewar awaits its first heir from Kunwar Pratap!" Bhago chuckled as Ajabdeh blushed.
" I think I should tell Ranaji that it's time we looked for a princess for Kunwar Pratap. The alliance will be good too, especially with the Mughals surrounding and capturing places." Dheer Bai smiled at Kokoyiya, cutting her betel nuts.
" But Ranisa... won't they wait for an heir from Kunwaranisa?" Her Sakhi suggested.
" Huh! That girl, I don't think she can give Mewar an heir at all. Kunwar Pratap doesn't even like her." Dheer Bai shook her head. "Perhaps someone from the Bhatiyani clan could do him good."
" Kunwar Pratap, you need something?" She was concerned about his untimely early arrival. He smiled at her.
" I can't come into my room if I don't need something?" He asked teasingly.
" No, No, that is not... " She looked embarrassed as he pushed back her locks behind her ear, forcing her to stare at him. She lowered her eyes as she rested her head on his chest. He held her close, as silence spoke their unsaid words. She had all the security and protection she needed in his arms, and he felt at peace in hers. He kissed her forehead and left her blushing, waiting for the night to unfold.
