Reflection of the Past

" Ajabdeh!"

"Maharanisa!"

"Maaaaa"

"Daadisa?"

The palace echoed with the cries as she lay breathless in his arms. His world had frozen. His Ajabdeh was gone. He had grown into the man he was with her. She was the part of his life he was always thankful for. She made him believe Love and Family existed for good. She was his strength. Rana Pratap sat like a stone, watching her calm face as Mewar cried for its queen. He had failed to give her any happiness, he felt.

500 Years Later...

The Fort of Chittor was a special attraction for tourists. The story of its bravery and sacrifice was famous. As a student of history, she had the dream of seeing the place, and today her dream was coming true. She walked into the fort with her friends and classmates. They got busy clicking pictures as she looked for a tour guide. She finally found one and called out to them." Mahek, Purvi, and Disha! Come! He's gonna show us around." She straightened her backpack." This is the Vijay Stambh... the Kumbha Shyaam temple... Meera Maa Temple."Mahek was opening her shoes as she stared at her friend, looking around." Survi? You're not going inside the temple?"

" No, you carry on, I will look around..." She stared around the place and looked at the blazing sun with a frown. Then she took out her bottle and a cap. They were back soon, and the last place to visit was the Kumbha Palace. As they walked up the steps, she wondered why the place looked familiar. Ever since her father's untimely demise, all she has done is follow her dreams to be an archaeologist. Maybe reading too much about a place made it look familiar. They stepped into the ruins.

"Yeh tha ek zamane mein yaha ka shaan ab toh pata bhi na chalta ke kitne manzil thee, sab nasth ho chuka." The guide spoke up as they looked around." I think four, see three are visible," Disha spoke up." How come? There can be three and a roof too." Purvi spoke, irritated at Disha's know-it-all attitude." What do you think, Survi?" Mahek asked. She was unusually quiet." There were five, yes five, with half a roof of the Ranimahal, making it five and a half." She spoke unmindful."

"Where on earth did you read that?" Mahek's eyes widened. " As far as I know, no one knows this."

" I dunno, Mahek." She looked worried. " I must have read it somewhere."

" Or she imagined it." Purvi laughed." Yaha se ayiye." The guide stepped into the corridors. They crossed the corridor and she felt as if someone was calling her, but it was not her name...

" Ajabdeh..."

She had no idea why this name came back time and again like voices in her mind ever since she read about Maharana Pratap. She shook off the voices. They walked onto the ground with a large open area and some broken walls. The guide was about to speak up when she heard a sound of metal, like someone clinking them together. She turned around at the sound and saw no one. The sun is driving me crazy, and I'm not feeling well. She heard it again, this time it was more like ... swords clashing? But how on earth will she know how swords clashed?

"Yeh tha akhara aur Dangalsthal." The guide spoke up as her eyes widened.

"Dangal? Yaha... pass mein koi astabal bhi hai kya?"

" Nahi Babyji, asthabal toh... ab toh sab nasht ho chuka..."

" Survi! Now, where did you read about that?" Mahek was frowning." Mahek... I... am not feeling well... you people continue, I will take an auto and leave."

" Aree Survi...." Mahek called in vain after her.

"How far is Chawand from here?" She asked the receptionist at the hotel Pratap Palace when she was feeling a little better.

"Chawand?" The receptionist looked sceptical at her. "Nobody visits there, Ma'am."

"I want to, so I want you to hire a cab for me." She said firmly, eyeing the clock. It was around noon. The receptionist reached for the phone and dialled someone.

"It will take around three hours, Madam, maybe you can go tomorrow?" The gentle suggestion did not go down well with Survi. "I am going now if a cab can take me."

"Surely, Ma'am." The receptionist confirmed with a driver. "Tell my friends once they come back that I am just visiting for a few hours. I will be back soon."

She took out a diary from her backpack, where she scribbled down her findings. She read out the marked page.

"Maharani Ajabde Punwar died in Chavand, the capital of Maharana Pratap, in a moderate hideout. No date of her birth or death has been found, although it's estimated to be around seven to nine years before Maharana Pratap passed away."She sighed. She never told anyone about these voices and flashes. She was scared they would end up taking her to seek medical help. Or worse, not let her pursue her quest for the past. She had seen strange dreams ever since she was a kid, dreaming that she was lost in the jungles, trapped in a hut, and many other strange things that always made her feel unsafe. But the voices appeared only after she came to Udaipur and bought a book on the Maharana's personal life. Her thoughts were broken by the car horn.

"Hum aa Gaye."

She got down at the sight of the simple house in ruins. The tiles of a marble floor, a broken-down wall and an archway were visible. This was his capital; he and Ajabdeh Punwar died here. She walked up to the ASI chains, restricting entry into the area. Not only was the building collapsing, but the forest around it was thick with thorny vegetation and potential reptiles. Not many tourists were there, but she could hear a few birds. The driver informed her about a lake and a cenotaph they could visit at a distance. She looked for an office of ASI and found nothing but a makeshift tent where a few people seemed busy with pre-excavation work. As she reached the archways, her vision blurred. She thought it was because of the scorching sun above her head, but the flashes were back, this time more prominent than her dreams. She could see curtains on the jharokhas, red and yellow carpets, a seat, and a bed. She could hear her voice giggle. And a kid's.

"Ranaji... Ranaji... Pratap!" She was calling someone. Survi had goosebumps at the vision as she felt like she would faint. She caught the nearest pillar to balance herself.

" Are you alright?" Came a voice behind her. She was startled as the light reflected on his face that appeared before her. Dark brown eyes. " You okay?" He asked again. "You should not be here. This is not an area for tourists." He looked concerned at her sweaty, red face.

" I'm... dizzy... But fine... I need some shadow." She managed as he held her shoulders, giving her support, then took her to the tent. " Are you here alone?" She nodded a yes." Then let's sit you down in my office and I will get you some glucose to dehydrate you... Miss??"

" Survi Joshi."

" Pratap Singh." Her eyes widened as she heard her voice again in her head. "It's a more common name than you imagine." He smiled as though he could read her mind. She shut her eyes as she felt dizzy again. "Are you feeling unwell, Ms Joshi? Can you call anyone?"

" You... You are... " She stammered unsurely as he let her sit on a plastic chair in the tent, and one of his assistants turned the standing fan towards her. He offered her some glucose water he carried with him.

" I'm an ASI officer." He smiled. As she sat sipping her glucose, she asked, " Umm... what are the places to visit relating to Maharana Pratap? I am a student of history, too."

" You are?" He smiled, pleased. " Wait, I will write down the places for you, and advise taking the glucose everywhere. You won't find people in most places. Especially the non-touristy ones."

" Thank You, Mr Singh." She managed. " You are from here?"

"From Mewar, yes. From another place." He smiled.

" He is kind of a royal, too..." One of the other men teased him as he smiled humbly. " Royal?"

" Yes, my maternal side is from the Punwar Family of Bijolia. My full name is Pratap Singh Hada. We are family to..."

" Ajabdeh Punwar?" Her heart skipped a beat." Yes, Maharani Ajabdeh Punwar. My home is in Bijolia, and we have business in Udaipur, but History attracted me so, I am here!"

" Bijolia... It's..." She tried to recollect the name.

" Maharani's birthplace, there are palace ruins. Kunds, Mandirs... You can see them too... In fact, a few royal descendants still live there." He added that to the list.

"Thank You." She got up to leave. " Visit again,, He replied as he watched her walk up to her car.

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Towards You

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RAABTA

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