Friends?

Early morning, Ajabde walked into Saubhagyawati’s house as the Panditji looked relieved.

“Baisa you are here now I don’t need to look after anything.”

She walked into Saubhagyawati’s room and found her braiding her hair nervously. Her lehenga looked beautiful and only the maangtika was about to be put so Ajabde did the honours. Saubhagyawati held her hand and took a deep breath.

“Ajabde have a confession.”

“What is it Bhago?” She looked worried. “Are you scared?”

“No no Ajabde it’s not that. I… met him… before…”

“Whom?”

“The one who is coming to see me.” She looked away scared.

“What? How…” Ajabde looked at her with wide eyes.

“woh… Both nights when I waited for you in the…”

“Hai Bhagwan Bhago! What if he says that seeing you in front of your father?” 

Ajabde spoke up as Bhago looked shocked. Why didn’t she think that before?

“What will we do now?” Bhago asked worriedly.

Ajabde was lost in thoughts. No way could people know.

The groom had arrived with his parents and a friend of his. Or so the daasi reported. Ajabde ordered Bhago to stay put as per the plan and walked out. As the curtains parted, Ajabde entered with the Daasis giving the thandai as she looked worried and rubbed her hands together.

“Ajabde Baisa? What’s wrong?” The pandit ji asked as Kunwar Pratap now looked up at the figure.

“Woh… Pandit ji… you may not know this but… umm… “She did not look up at the guests or the man. 

“ Dadisa always said that in your family the bride and groom don’t meet in front of the family but alone…. Umm…. Now that neither Kakisa nor she is here I thought I should remind you…” I am sorry for lying, Bhagwan ji forgive me.

“Baisa really? You remember such details… I don’t remember what happened during my marriage… I… all right, bring her here veiled. Then if the groom likes they can meet alone.” 

At this, Ajabde looked up right at Kunwar Pratap and was clearly shocked to find him there. He managed a smile as he added “I am staying at Raoji’s place Kakisa. Ajabde Baisa is his daughter.” Ajabde smiled an approving smile saying “Let me bring the bride.”

She arrived veiled and answered the curious parents’ questions about her interests, talents and learning. Chakrapani’s mother wanted him to see the bride and talk to her alone. That scared both Ajabde and Saubhagyawati. Chakrapani was not comfortable with the idea so he added, “I want him to come with me too.” At which Kunwar Pratap frowned.

“Ajabde…” Bhago whispered as she said, “I'm here.”

Ajabde led them to an adjacent room and unveiled her before making her sit down before him. Kunwar Pratap had stopped at the door rather awkwardly. As Ajabde moved away Chakrapani looked up awkwardly then stared wide-eyed and exclaimed “You! You are…. That girl in the forest” 

This made both Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde skip a heartbeat as they exclaimed “What?”

“She…. I… she goes into the forest at midnight I saw her…” Chakrapani looked like he had discovered something.

“So do you,” Bhago exclaimed as Kunwar Pratap decided to interrupt.

“There is nothing strange in that… umm… many people do… roam…. Umm…”

“Yes… many… Bijolia’s nights are that beautiful.” Ajabde smiled adding. Unknowingly they looked at each other with relieved smiles.

Chakrapani was surprised that this girl looked pretty today, as much as he hated to admit it even to himself. His stares made her blush as she decided it was time to go and got up surprising him.

“He is my childhood friend.” Kunwar Pratap explained to Ajabde as they stood at the doorway hoping their friends would now start speaking, in vain.

“She is mine.”

“I am surprised you have friends.” He spoke up regretting the moment they came out.

“Why so?” She asked surprised as he looked embarrassed.  “Tell me.”

“Well, all day you are helping people around and spending time with your animal friend.”

“She is Laxmi.” Ajabde smiled at how unknowingly he noticed a lot. He was awkward at the same thought.

“ Laxmi. I didn’t expect human friends” He smiled adding “I don’t mean to be rude.”

“No No… I… It’s true… she is the only one. Her mother died young and Dadisa was sick so Maasa helped them at times by bringing Bhago to our house. We used to play together” She smiled at the memories.

“After that since your childhood, you have had no friends?” He asked surprised as she nodded a no.

“But…. How can you live without friends? Don’t you feel lonely?” He asked imagining what life would be without Chakrapani, Veni and Bheem. He missed Som still.

“At times yes. Now that she will be gone…” Ajabde looked at the sited duo. “I will…”

“Then we can be friends.” Kunwar Pratap smiled without a thought. “If you want. You can share your thoughts with me too.”

Ajabde looked up at him wide-eyed. Kunwar Pratap Singh was offering her his friendship. Was she even worth that? She nodded in approval with a smile as a smile came on Kunwar Pratap’s lips as well. As Saubhagyawati got up, Ajabde rushed to her side.

The groom’s family left after confirming the marriage a week later much to everyone’s delight as Chakrapani tried to look at the face behind the veil one more time. Kunwar Pratap stopped at the gates and turned to Ajabde.

“You are coming home?”

“Ohh yes… Bhago…” She gave her a tight hug before leaving.

She got into the palanquin and he rode beside it to the Mahal. Hansa Bai was waiting eagerly for news as Ajabde got down from the Palanquin. She nodded a positive smile and Hansa smiled back before turning to Kunwar Pratap and saying “You rest now; I will call you for lunch.”

Kunwar Pratap was writing a letter to his mother in his room. He had no idea what he would write. There were times in Chittorgarh when not a day passed without telling her what happened throughout the day. And now a letter a week was not enough to say everything. He missed home. He didn’t know his fault why Daajiraj wanted him to leave. He must have done something wrong. He mentioned Bijolia’s beautiful lakes and forests, and Raoji and Hansa Mausi’s care. Chakrapani’s wedding. And… he was thinking when he heard the sound of Payal and looked up.

Ajabde appeared at his door, rubbing her hands together in nervousness at how to call him. She couldn’t say Kunwarsa. Even the walls had ears. She didn’t want to show disrespect by taking his name. He smiled as she appeared lost.

“Ajabde Baisa? You wanted to say something?”

She looked relieved as she nodded with a smile “Maasa is calling you for lunch.” 

She was about to go when he called again. “Suniye.”

“ji?”

He was looking at the letter as she walked in. 

He looked up at her and said “Now that we are friends Baisa…”

“Please call me Ajabde.”

“then help me with something here. I am not really good with words… Putting what I feel in words mostly… Please help me out with a formal letter to my Chotima.”

“Me?” She rubbed her hands again as he noticed that and smiled.

“You know Ajabde… you remind me a lot of my Ranima.” He got up from his place and stood in front of her. “She also rubs her hands when…” 

Ajabde quickly put her hands to her sides as he said that not looking up at him.

“Thik hai, after lunch I will come to help you.” She smiled. 

She was about to leave when he said “And next time you have to call me, do say, Pratap, now that we are friends.” 

She looked up at him as he smiled and said “Chale?” She nodded and followed him.

At lunch, Raoji seemed a little disturbed. Kunwar Pratap noticed that and Ajabde went ahead to ask the reason as she served her father.

“those saviours were back yesterday” made Kunwar Pratap smile. “But this time, they made Surtan Singh angry.”

“Who is that father?” Balwant’s question made Raoji angry.

“Start remembering political things, Balwant! You are my successor. He is the king of Boondi.”

“So?” Hansa Bai asked “Why are you worried?”

“Because now that things involve kings I have to send this news to Chittorgarh, to Ranaji that these two people are…” Ajabde looked worried.

“But Raoji.” Kunwar Pratap stopped him. “This happened once and Surtan Singh was looting a Mewari Village right?”

“How do you know?” Raoji asked surprised as Kunwar Pratap added “I heard. So wait, maybe Surtan won’t come back and so won’t these two and Chittor doesn’t need to know.” 

Raoji nodded in approval deciding to wait. Ajabde sighed in relief.

Ajabde stood at his threshold as he said “Aree, come inside, come.” He gestured for her to sit.

 “Now help me, it’s that I am writing to my Ranima about my stay here but all the queens love me so much it will be unfair if I write only to her. Especially Majhli maa and Choti maa. I need to write a formal letter for each but… I have never. … So…”

“But… Kun…”

“Pratap.” He corrected.

“How can I say what you should write if I don’t know how they are or how you are with them? Each person has a different level of understanding with another… “

“I will tell you then. Majhli Maa is very simple and very chirpy. She pulls my leg like I am a friend. Bhai Shakti… My younger brother… is her son. With his hyper ego clashes with Daajiraj…” He stopped seriously as Ajabde looked at her face.” She is not fine… but… She …”

“I understand.” Ajabde nodded.

“ And Chotima… she is … “ He stopped checking himself. “ She is Daajiraj’s favourite queen.” There was a strange tone that Ajabde couldn’t decipher. 

The afternoon rolled into the evening with his stories. She understood that he missed home; he was clueless about why he had to leave, even when he didn’t say either aloud. It was dusk and she got up making him stop.

“I… Sshama Kijiye… I need to go for my Sandhi Puja… I will come back for the letters after that…”

“It’s all right, time went so fast… and I haven’t written a line… you go on Ajabde I will complete my letter to Ranima while you do your puja.” 

She nodded and was about to leave when she turned saying

“Can I say something?”

“Yes?” He looked up.

“Sometimes we don’t know why Bhagwanji is testing us but always believe it is to get a reward so good that you will never regret the tests.” She smiled at him.

He was a little taken aback at how she read his mind as he added “ Dhanyavaad Ajabde. I couldn’t tell anyone all these here, I am glad I can tell you.”

“I will be back.” She responded as he watched her go.

He sat down to complete the letter as her voice Akhiyaan haari darsan ko pyaasi filled the air. He wrote “And I am happy I found a friend here Ranima. I don’t feel lonely anymore.”

Ajabde and he had made separate letters for everyone and had laughed at childhood memories together. His first lessons of horse riding and hers. He was surprised that she knew all that also. It was until dinnertime when a daasi interrupted their conversation and they were both embarrassed that they hadn’t realized the time. She had left reminding him to send for the messenger. 

Ratan had found Ajabde in her room smiling to herself late at night. She had sneaked in and exclaimed, “So you spend all day with that aswapalak doing what?” Ajabde was startled at her sudden question and scolded “Ratan! I had told you…” That made Ratan giggle.

That night Kunwar Pratap slept a content sleep, after days. He didn't know why there was a sense of a positive vibe he got from her words. The Reward is so good you will never regret the tests. He hoped to be Sakhaveer and helping his people was that reward. Ajabde Baisa reminded him in so many ways of his Ranima that he felt eerie. Or maybe it was just that he missed home and she was a friend in need. Whatever the reason was Kunwar Pratap was too tired and content to decipher and hence slept a peaceful sleep.

Ajabde had scared away Ratan and closed her door shut. She sat down with a smile. Such a brave heart and he doesn't know how to speak out or write down his feelings? He clearly misses home, why doesn't he say that? He was so humble to offer me his friendship. I should be grateful. I feel bad he is all alone and away from home. I hope Eklingji, Kunwar Pratap gets his happiness back. Unknowingly Ajabde folded her hands for a prayer, and for the first time without realizing she prayed for someone she barely knew, as she looked up at the star-studded night sky.

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