To Bijolia

“ Mahek, I am going to Bijolia….”

“ Where?” She asked.

“ Bijolia” She replied. “ There are … Jain Temples there.”

“ But we are going to Kumbhalgarh tomorrow. Everything is fixed.” Mahek frowned.

“ You all carry on, I will be joining you,” Survi replied.

“ Kya Hua Bhaisaab?”

“ Mem Saab, tyre puncture ho Gayi.”

“ Aise highway pe?” She frowned. “ Dusra…”

“ Nahi hai Mem saab.”

“ Oh, no shit!” She stepped out of the car.

A black heritage car was passing by, it suddenly stopped before her. He peeped out.

“ Miss Joshi?”

“Mr Singh?” She asked surprised. “ Can… I get a lift to the nearest bus stop?”

“ Please come.”

She stepped in with her backpack looking a little guilty as she murmured “ Thanks.”

“ You seem to be in trouble every day.” He looked amused.

“ Story of my life!” She shrugged.

“ Where are you off to Miss Archeologist?”

“ Umm… I took your advice. Was starting with Bijolia when the car broke down.”

“ Bijolia? Then you don’t need a bus. I am going home for the Janmashtami Holidays.”

“ Thank You. Again.”She said. He nodded.

“ Mr. Singh, you studied history and you are a local, so tell me what do you know about Ajabdeh Punwar?”

“ The Maharani?” He saw her take out a diary. “ Well, she … was queen consort, mother to the crown prince… and supported him. She was Bijolia’s samant Putri and she died early.”

“ That’s it?”

“ That’s it. But why are you …”

“ I am writing a project on women of Rajputana so…” She lied. She had to. She was not going to be a mad woman.

“ Ohh, we are here.” She got down looking lost as he got down after her.

“ This is the Jain temples.” He pointed.

“ I want to see something related to…”

“ Her… okay, come with me… there are temple ruins from that area… the palace ruins are a little further away at the Kalan, but this one is near my house.”

He took her through the ruined corridors of what was once a temple.

“ Parvati temple for the royals,” he said. “ There is Mandakini Kund nearby.”

Ajabdeh… Ajabdeh….

She turned around at the noises.

“ What is it?” He asked.

“ I thought… someone was calling me…” She said unmindful. “ I mean… I thought I heard something.” He smiled.

“ There must be something in these corridors then.” He concluded.

“ Pardon?”

“ I sometimes heard my name too… as a kid… like someone is calling… I feel…” He seemed to take it so lightly. “ What did you feel?”

“ Leave it, it's… nothing.” She looked disturbed.

“ Can I ask you something, Miss Joshi?” He seemed thoughtful.

“ Yes please, call me Survi.”

“ Have you been to Chittor? Did you feel something there?” He seemed awkward asking.

“ Like…. “ She felt uneasy as she said, “ Swords clashing?”

“ At the dangal.” He looked at her surprised as she stared wide-eyed.

“ And… I don’t know how… I thought the palace had 5…”

“ 5 and a half…” He added. “ Maybe it’s coz we read too much and….”

“ Imagine things.” She added quickly.

“Ms Joshi, do you have any … Rajasthan connect apart from the books?”

“ I…. My mom is … from Jallore.” He nodded.

“ Is there any place where I can read old historical books or find old texts?” She asked. I need some answers. Everything happens for a reason.

“ Yes “ He smiled. “ My house has a room full of them. I will ask Mom.”

“ But… I … It’s getting late.”

“ Miss Joshi you have already missed the last bus, it leaves at midday and it’s almost evening.”

“ Oh shit! But… Your house? Are You Sure?” He nodded.

The car stopped at the porch of the Haveli. A lady came down the stairs looking worried.

“ Pratap Beta… why are you so late? Main… Who is this?” She asked alarmed.

“ She is Ms. Joshi. She is a student of history and she wants to help with a project, she is writing about your family, the Punwars.”

“ Survi. Joshi. “ She smiled touching the lady’s feet.

“ She is researching Maharani Punwar” He added.

“ Ajabdeh?” The name gave her goosebumps again. Not because she heard it so often but because the voice that called her In the temple corridors sounded just like this lady's voice.

“ Who?” She asked surprising Pratap.

“ Ajabdeh Punwar?” The lady asked again. She was now sure, the voice was hers. But why?

“ Hansa ji, dinner is ready.” The cook came calling.

“ Chaliye.” Pratap’s mother smiled.

After Dinner, Ajabde was taken by Pratap into a room full of old texts.

“ This is a treasure chest.” She smiled impressed.

“ Yes, even we don’t know what all is here.” He was dusting off some dirt. They sat down on the floor with the books.

Her hand stopped at a line. Jaivanta Bai Songara, the Maharani of Udai Singh and mother to Pratap Singh was born in Jalore. She shut the book sweating. Then she stared at the stranger in front engrossed in his book.

“ I need to make a call.” She excused herself and called Mahek, telling her everything about the car breakdown as she added “ I think I will stay back a little, You people go on and do convince Mom for me please.”

She came back with a question. “ Have you ever been to Jallore Mr Singh?”

“ No, I have never even been to Haldighati.” He smiled.

“ I want to see everything around here. You were talking of some palace ruins…”

“ Yes at Bijolia Kalan. Stories say the Maharana and Maharani got married there.”

“ I want to see that!” Survi said curiously.

“ But there is nothing to see now, just rocks and bases,” Pratap added.

“ Still, I want to go. I want the voices to stop.” He looked at her. “Varna main pagal ho jaungi. No one will believe me.”

“ I know, I tell no one what I feel.” He agreed.

At dawn, She woke and stepped out of the room she was given by a generous Hansa. Her nature was so warm she felt at home. She walked down the dark corridor in search of a balcony as she bumped into someone.

“ I’m sorry.” They spoke in unison. Then stared at each other.

She had sent her car, which came after a tyre change yesterday to the hotel in Udaipur to bring back her luggage. For the night she was in his mother’s saree. He stared at her looking typically Rajasthani in the attire and asked surprised,

“ Miss Joshi…”

“ Survi…” She corrected.

“ Survi, you are up so early?”

“ I always get up at dawn.” She smiled.

“ Me too.” He smiled back. She looked different in that attire and the messy let loose hair spread across her back.

“ Umm… “ She saw him smile and stare as she looked away from the dark brown eyes. “ I don’t know how to thank you and Aunty, I was in such a mess and…”

“ No No, it’s all right. You see, about the voices, I was wondering all night.” His words made her stare at him.

“ I think you are right, they are not normal, there has to be some reason for them and I also want to know what.” She smiled as he said it. Maybe he can help me.

“ By the way, I made arrangements. We can go to the Kalan today, then you can go back to Udaipur when you want for the rest of the trip.” She nodded happily and added a “ Thanks.”

READ ALL CHAPTERS

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Chapter One: Masquerades

“Reginald Dyer is yet to apologise for the incident which was criticised worldwide. Punjab is on high alert.” The transistor in the living room broke with the morning news. “On other news the League of Nations…” Meera wiped the already clean surface of the showcase for the second time while listening to it. One of the servants came around and switched the channel to a station where a Raga played. Meera tip-toed up to the transistor and looked around before lowering the volume. She was standing outside the door of the Magistrate’s home office, clad in a saree borrowed from Nimai’s mother, who worked at her Pishima’s house. “I need it for my maid back where I work.” Meera lied with a straight face. Nimai’s mother did not care; she was getting Didimoni’s beautiful blue Jamdani instead of her tattered clothes; she would not think twice about this unharming exchange. Meera tried to listen. The gardener sang outside, tending to the flowerbeds as his scissors snipped the bushes back to shape

His Wife

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

Protibimbo: Characters

Before Indian Independence Movement gained its prominence and momentum in the year 1930 across Bengal with the weaponry loot by Surya Sen, attacks across the offices of British Raj in Bengal by Bengal Volunteers, Jugantar Dol and other prominent anarchists, and Binoy-Badal-Dinesh stormed into Writers' Building, the 1920s were a built up to the movement when several large and small scale anarchist groups worked underground to strike the system of British Governance. It was a time when Indians realised that conferences did not bring independence to colonies, they had to pick up arms against the British Imperialists. This story is fictional. But in its core, every character represents several hundred unnamed heroes and sheroes of our freedom struggle whose names do not appear in the pages of history. " Protibimbo " meaning reflection is a story that reflects on relationships, freedom, sacrifice and battles fought within the society of that time. Characters: Abhaya: 15-year-o

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 quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 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 Si

Chapter Two: Catastrophe

Abhaya was suffocating as she could now taste the soot and ash in her mouth. She could see the smoke engulf her. The boxes around her turned into shadows in the blurred vision. She opened her mouth to breathe but the choking air wanted to make her cough. She ran, stumbling upon some boxes and utensils towards the window on the other side. It was shut firmly and her weak hands could do little to move it an inch. She placed the end of her saree over her face and coughed, hoping not to be heard from the outside. The sound of chaos and footsteps outside was increasing. She heard a scream. Was it her mother? Her sister? Or one of the sisters-in-law? Were they escaping? Should she try too? She tried to find something to break the window with, but instead, she froze at the sight of flames entering through the cracks of the door she had shut behind her. Abhaya said a soft prayer. This is how it ends. This was not the country her father served. This was not the country her mother read stories o

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. 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 came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha

Struggle of Thoughts

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde had both by the first week known each other's schedules well and they made sure that their timings didn't clash, be it in the puja Ghar, dressing room or elsewhere. They tried to stay out of each other's way as much as possible, giving each other the space they needed. Ajabde had learned that Kunwar Pratap preferred cold sharbat and desserts over steaming hot food, he liked to wake up with the first bird's call at dawn, he didn't like any disturbances at work or at the Dangal Sthal, and he loved his mother the most. Kunwar Pratap had learned that she was intelligent enough to decipher unsaid words between the lines of any novel, epic or book she read. She was very much into spending most of her time reading or sewing and when outside he always spotted her in the garden tending to flowers with his sisters. What he saw was how similar her lifestyle was to his mother's in a very weird way. She liked things simple, preferred to make her own

Love?

“I swear I can kill that Sakhaveer.” Balwant swung his sword at the Dangal as Ratan and Ajabde looked on. Ajabde hid a smile as Ratan looked amused. “Like you did last time?” Ratan’s chuckle made Ajabde press her hands with a soft no as Balwant stopped his sword and looked angry. “What do you know Ratan?” He roared angrily. “What do girls know anyways about fighting??” “Jija can fight better than you.” Ratan looked angry and defensive. “Ratan! Leave it.” Ajabde insisted. “No!! Jija, I saw you, you are better…” “Then let’s have a duel Jija.” Balwant insisted. “No.” Ajabde looked surprised and shaken. “It’s been such a long time since I have …” “No excuses Jija, teach him! That girls can be…” Ratan insisted as Balwant handed her a sword she took rather reluctantly. She tied the corners of her dupatta together and her braid in a bun. Kunwar Pratap was making his way out at the Dangal when he heard swords clash. He gathered the father-son duo would be at the Dangal

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

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as

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