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Ajabde looked around the unfamiliar surroundings nervously. The last two days have passed like a dream. The Marriage, the Vidaai and the arrival at Chittorgarh. She was now sitting in the room she called her own, yet seemed so unfamiliar. She got up to see whether anyone was there keeping an eye on her. A little relieved, she took the lota from the centre table and placed it on the bedside table.

As soon as she placed it three daasis appeared at the door asking “You need something Kunwaranisa?”

Eyes wide and nervous she replied “N…No… I was just…”

“Maharanisa has told us to be at your service for every need.”

“I… don’t… need….” She was scared at the thought that three daasis will be at their toes for her needs.

“Disperse now.” Sajja Bai’s voice made her feel relieved.

“I will get Kunwaranisa dressed for Kunwarsa’s arrival.” She smiled at a nervous happy bride.

Kunwar Pratap’s eyes were not easy to be outsmarted. He caught Rawatji in the corridor running out of Rana Udai Singh’s room worried.

“Rawatji.” His voice stopped the man. “What happened?”

“Baojiraj. Nothing. You…”

“Rawatji, tell me.”

“News is that Surtan Singh has joined hands with Bairam Khan and your Daajiraj is worried. Also, Badshah Khan is active with the Afghans, we are afraid they will also ally with the Mughals.”

“Badshah Khan? “ He frowned. “Shams Khan’s son.” Rawatji nodded.

“The Afghans have attacked at Kelwara in the evening,” Rawatji said absentminded.

“What? You are telling me now?” Kunwar Pratap looked disappointed. “I will be getting ready to…”

“No Kunwarsa.” Veer Baiji stopped him. “Your new bride…”

“Veer Baiji. “ Dheerbai appeared behind her “I am sure Ajabde knows her duties as …”

“Don’t worry Chotima. Ajabde will be happy to let me go.”

The new bride was sitting with nervous expectations as he entered the room worried about how to put it. Kunwar Pratap had forgotten that his new bride was Baijilal.

One look at his face and she frowned “What happened?” Her question made him smile faintly.

“Ajabde.”

She walked up to him and asked again. “What happened?”

“Badshah Khan attacked …”

"Who?" She frowned.

"Shams Khan's son. He attacked ..." Pratap looked angry.

“What are you still doing here?” She looked displeased as he looked up at her face. She walked away towards the adjacent room and came back with his sword as he stood confused at her behaviour.

“You get ready I will do the puja.” She reassured with a smile.

As she turned to leave he held her back by her wrist making her stop.

“Ajabde.”

She turned with a smile as his eyes twinkled proudly.

“Kunwarsa…”

He hugged her tight, as she found peace in his arms then moved away from his embrace shyly.

“Go. You are getting late.” He smiled with a nod.

As Kunwar Pratap got ready for the mission, she put down her aarti thal from her puja placed on the table in the room beside his sword. As she opened the door she saw a daasi standing.

“Maharanisa has called upon you both Kunwaranisa.”

“Ji.”

She nodded as he heard the orders and eyes met with a nod.

Jaivanta Bai smiled at the newlyweds as Ajabde handed him his sword. Rana Udai Singh walked in and stopped as Jaivanta Bai smiled at him proudly. He nodded with a faint smile as she did his aarti. Pratap and Ajabde smiled at each other as he walked behind his father. Maharani Jaivanta Bai urged her to follow to the Rani Mahal gates.

As Kunwar Pratap turned around at the gates she smiled. He smiled back faintly before looking at his mother who gave a reassuring nod before he left. As his horse went out of sight, suddenly Ajabde felt a cloud of loneliness around this unfamiliar place. She needed to shake off the feeling. It was home now.

Ajabde turned around as Jaivanta Bai said “Come stay with me tonight Ajabde.” She smiled faintly with a nod.

" You know when Pratap was just three, we used to live in Kumbhalgarh, he..." Jaivanta Bai knew her mind and soul needed to ease. They spend the night, telling and hearing childhood tales, mostly of Kunwar Pratap's adventures.

Jaivanta Bai smiled at the sleeping figure as she caressed her head with a sigh and whispered a small prayer. For her, mostly for him.

At dawn, Dheerbai ji walked into the decorated room of the newlyweds and frowned to find it empty.

“You need something Chotima?” Ajabde’s voice startled her as she turned to see her, in a red and yellow lehenga, ready after a bath, with puja thali in hand.

“No… I…. Kunwar…”

“Kunwarsa and Ranaji have gone to stop Badshah Khan, remember?” Ajabde smiled.

“He…went?” Dheerbai managed a sly smile . “Leaving his bride on the wedding night?”

“He went.” She nodded. “For his mother needs him to save her.”

“I feel so bad for you.” Dheerbai faked a concern.

“I feel so proud that I am his wife.” She smiled as she meant every word.

Kunwar Pratap and Ranaji reached in time to scare away the small troops of the Afghans but something in Kunwar Pratap said it was not over so soon. Shams Khan’s son wouldn’t stop. He made sure the borders were secured as of now, every bordering state needs alert.

Shams Khan's son was hiding in a khema in the Mewar forest after his escape. Pointing at a fort on the map he looked at his generals.

"Kunwar Pratap will pay for killing my father. And this is how. Prepare to attack the eighth day from now."

"But Huzoor, why here?" A man asked. Badshah Khan smiled faintly.

"Because according to their Rajput rasm, this is where we will find his heart, alone, in seven days. You rip his heart out, you devastate him, revenge taken." He smiled pleased and confident. He had all the information he needed to gather on the Samant family, Bijolia and the New Bride. Well, all the information he knew about!

Kunwar Pratap looked at the Mewar map in his khema with a frown. He circled out three places. Shook his head. He was missing something. What was he missing? The doorman announced Rao RamRakh's arrival. He folded up the map with a smile.

"Kunwarsa... you are going back to Chittorgarh, I am leaving for Bijolia at the earliest."

"Ji Raoji, I will give Ajabde your regards." He smiled.

"Actually, am here to invite you for the pakfera there on the seventh day, and like the rule, Ajabde would.... stay back till the tenth... Hansa Bai will write to Maharanisa." Raoji's words made him smile like he found something. Raoji stopped confused.

"Don't worry we will be there." He nodded as Raoji turned to go.

"Raoji...." He stopped the man. " Keep your armies ready. In case." He nodded.

Kunwar Pratap opened the map and circled the fourth spot with a frown on his face.

However, he was happy that in just two days they would be back in Chittorgarh.

In these two days, Ajabde learned many things with Sajjabai’s help. At first, she thought she needed a map around the palace of Rana Kumbha. She knew the road leading to the mandir and garden, others she dared not use out of fear. The princesses were in awe of their new Bhabisa as they showed her around the garden and the mandirs. Meera Ma’s mandir filled her imagination with the lady’s tales.

In the evening she read out to the eager bunch as she missed Balwant and Ratan. She missed home. She prayed twice daily for his safety. He who made her call this unfamiliar place home.

The news of his arrival filled her heart with happiness and her mind with nervousness as Jaivanta Bai Ordered the Daasis to get her ready in her wedding attire and jewellery before he arrived. He needed to see her just the way he left her.

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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

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

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

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in 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 Gujarat. " Dajiraj 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. Ajabde was making a sweet dish 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. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up

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

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

Soul Meet: Anticipated Encounter

This post is a part of the series "Soul Meet" so if you have not read previous posts kindly read it here. Ajabdeh submitted her paper and shut her laptop down for the weekend. Her home desk had pictures on the walls. Pictures he had clicked of her on every trip they took together. Across the country. Sometimes planned, sometimes unplanned. Long distance was tough, but in between the struggle of constantly being active on their phones to keep in touch with calls, texts, emails and video calls there was a sense of individuality, identity and liberty in it that she enjoyed. Now and then they would meet at a spot in between somewhere and go on trips. Hike to mountains, laze at beaches and try adventure sports. Everything she experienced in the past year was ticked off her bucket list. Each memory now sat glued to her desk wall, in pictures he clicked. He was a good photographer and she: his muse. She was surprised when he called the previous day saying he would be coming to se

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

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

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