Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabdeh decided it was fair to know his strength before she summoned him. 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 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. Ajabdeh again peeped at the grounds to see that 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 ... walking by..." She lied, with a frown as he removed his sword from her neck and faced her, as their eyes met.
" Really? I thought the Ladies Dangal was inside the Rani Mahal and nowhere near here. " He inspected her attire as he realised she was in the practice.
" I was... going to practise with... Rajkumari Maan Kanwar sa and ... I... thought..." She fumbled.
" You thought you would know your competition's weaknesses and thus work a strategy." He smiled. " That's intelligent." Her eyes shone at his praise. " But Ajabdeh Baisa, I have no weaknesses... umm maybe one..."
" And that is?" She raised her brows.
" You!" He walked away as she blushed.
" Dadabhai!" Maan called him out as he walked into the ladies' Dangal and was taken aback by the presence of spectators. Kunwar Shakti seemed to be giving his Bhabisa some sword tips. Maan and Saubhagyawati were there to support Ajabdeh while Chakrapani was on his side. Ajabdeh must have told them all. So much confidence, Kunwaranisa? He smiled at the ladies cordially and walked up to Chakrapani.
" Baojiraj, Today Baojiraj Shakti will be the judge of the competition."
" Why?" He frowned. He will always be biased towards her.
" Dadabhai, don't worry, I am a Judge by principle and not influenced." Shakti smiled.
Ajabdeh hid a smile, but he could spot and read her eyes.
" Let the fight begin!"
Clash!
Swords met as she used her shield to block her right side, prompting him to use the sword in his left hand. A smile curved his lips as he realised what she knew. But even a left-handed Kunwar Pratap was a tough competition for Ajabde. His moves impressed her. Now she knew why he was the best. She had heard tales from her father about how he had defeated Afghans and killed some ruthless men. Today, she wished she could witness those scenes. Her defence impressed him. This Samantputri of Bijolia was indeed his soulmate in every way. When was the last time he saw a lady fight and defend like this? He never did. He felt like praising her. His eyes did that as her eyes blushed. The clueless crowd was just seeing the swords meet. Her sword made him drop his shield, and as he swiftly sat to pick it up, her sword was down on him, and his hand held her wrist in defence. Eyes met as he teased. Impressed by how she was using opportunities. His touch made her uneasy in front of the spectators as he realised and loosened his grip.
"Dadabhai lost a point there!" Shakti spoke happily. Kunwar Pratap straightened himself. Focus, Kunwar Pratap, this is a competition that she has to lose! He took a position with his sword again. She responded. This time, Kunwar Pratap was smart enough to use her weakness. Soon her sword was on the ground as she tried to pick it up, and he kicked it away. Within a second, Ajabdeh picked up the shield and gave him a push with it. Taken aback, Kunwar Pratap was not ready for such an unethical attack; his sword fell too, as she picked him up and pointed it at him. Eyes wide, Kunwar Pratap looked at the smiling Ajabdeh.
" Bhabisa wins!" Kunwar Shakti smiled.
" But... But... her sword fell first, what she did with the sword was unethical!" Kunwar Pratap said in vain as Maan hugged Ajabdeh.
" Everything is fair in love and war." Her voice made a sulking Kunwar Pratap smile as he turned around to spot her back in her royal look, with her book, as she entered their room.
" And that was?" He teased her.
" War!" She replied coldly. " My Revenge!"
" I thought the Daal was your revenge." He smirked as she looked all red and embarrassed. " I ate that."
" I... am... sorry." She fumbled.
" Ajabdeh." He took the book from her hand, put it down and held both her hands. " You are the bravest girl I've ever seen! After all, you agreed to compete with Kunwar Pratap Singh!" He flaunted.
" And win also." She added.
" That was by cheating."
" No, it was not."
" Yes, it was."
" No Kunwar..."
" Maharanisa called you for the puja, Kunwaranisa." A daasi interrupted as she walked away, and he followed her.
The queens were present there too, along with the children. Sajja Bai held Ajabdeh's hand and asked, " So I heard something today. You won a sword fight with Kunwarsa?" Everyone smiled, amused at a wide-eyed Ajabdeh, while Kunwar Pratap gave Shakti a " I am going to kill you" look.
" Behna." Jaivanta Bai spoke up, " I think we should now make Ajabdeh Mewar's Senapati." Ajabdeh looked wide-eyed at Ranima as everyone laughed, and Kunwar Pratap interrupted.
" She won because Bhai Shakti judged." He was quick.
" No, Pratap, she won because she is the wife." Jaivanta Bai smiled. " Wives always win. They can manipulate a husband's thoughts. Hai na, Dheerbai ji?" An amused silence filled the room as Kunwar Pratap and Ajabdeh stared at each other, amused, then at a taken-aback Dheerbai.
" I... Jija, you know better. Ranaji always hears you and agrees with you." She smiled sweetly.
After the Aarti and Puja, Jaivanta Bai sent Ajabdeh to Ranaji to give the prasad while she and Sajja Bai sat with Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakti to hear about the latest developments of the Mughals. Dheerbai walked back into the room to everyone's surprise.
" Jija, I have something important to tell you."
" Say Dheerbai ji."
" Woh..." She looked around at the small group and continued.
" You know the Chauhans from the west... they have a princess, and they are afraid Akbar might want her hand in marriage. I... think we should help."
" Chotima, who is this Chauhan king? Tell me, I will surely contact him for aid." Kunwar Pratap reassured.
"Jija, she is a princess and alliances are very much needed in Mewar." Dheerbai's words made everyone frown.
" I mean, I think it's time we talk of a Marriage alliance with them... they..."
" Marriage alliance? Whose?" Sajja Bai asked, surprised.
" Kunwar Pratap's. She is a princess after all, like he deserves and...."
" Ajabdeh?" Jaivanta Bai's voice cut her words as Jaivanta spoke, looking behind her. Kunwar Pratap's eyes travelled to the door where Ajabdeh stood with a pale face. His heart skipped a beat.
" Ranima, your... Thaal." She kept it and moved back a few steps in silence before walking away. Her eyes shone.
" Chotima, I have no intention of alliances right now. I can help otherwise. And one more thing. I am more than happy with Ajabdeh. She is perfect." He stormed out, leaving Dheerbai wondering if she had heard right. He searched the corridors, their room and the garden for her. A daasi informed him that she was on the roof feeding pigeons. He walked up behind her as she sat absent-minded. Her mind was so disturbed that she couldn't feel his presence. He sat beside her as she gathered her senses to ask.
" You want something?"
"Yes... No... what are you doing here?"
" Feeding them..." She pointed at the pigeons while he joined her.
They sat in silence as she looked at his gloomy face and started in a cheerful voice, " Where are the Chauhans from?"
" I don't know, and I don't care." He answered plainly, still staring at the birds.
" Kunwar Pratap, I think..."
" You think wrong."
" Ji?" She asked, surprised.
" I am not doing it."
" But... Kunwarsa... you have to... for Mewar and..."
" I can help, but not that..." He shook his head and stared at her.
" Some day or other you have to, you know that."
" Not this soon, Ajabdeh. Not now." He seemed to plead. " Right now, we have dreams to achieve."
" Kunwarsa, she is a princess and..."
" You are my queen. You are the One." His voice choked. " If I ever know what Love is for you, Ajabdeh. You inspire me." A drop of tear appeared on her cheeks as he wiped it away, and she hugged him. He leaned slightly on her weight as he smiled.
" You are a very bad wife, you know." He said, wiping away his tears.
" Why?" She frowned, sniffing.
" You should be like he is mine, rather than run away like that!"
" How can I claim you to be mine when you are not?" She smiled.
" Ajabdeh?" He frowned.
" You are and always will be Mewar's son. No one else has the right over you." She smiled.
A smile appeared on his face as she spoke, like the mirror of his heart. She was irreplaceable. She was unique. She was his Ajabde. She found peace in his arms. Their hands were entwined with each other. She knew she had to face this reality sometime in the future, maybe draw herself away a little to convince him, too. But right now, she loved the way he wanted her in his life as the sole authority over his heart. She didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing. He would love to keep losing to her, keep losing his heart and soul to her, time and again, in this life and all the many more to come.
