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Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates.
“Break the door” he ordered.

“Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar.
“Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.”
“Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried.
“Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde. 

Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens…

Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction.
“ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword.
Ratan took two steps behind and bumped into her mother.

“ Khamma Gani Rani sa.” Surtan Singh smiled “ I assume this is one of your dau…”
“Don’t you dare touch her?” Jaivanta Bai’s voice made Surtan stop.
“You must be Maharanisa. The one am here to kill.” He smiled.

“Over my dead body!” Ajabde stood between him and the ladies as Hansa gasped.
She was in a yellow warrior attire, her braids flowing, and sword in hand.
“Now you will fight me?” He smiled eyeing the girl in front.
She fumed at his stare. And said, “Fight!”

“No Ajabde.” Hansa gasped holding Ratan as swords clashed. Surtan stepped back a little taken aback.
“How dare you step into our homes and look at our mother Surtan Singh!” She was angry.
“You remind me of someone! Who I cannot remember…” Surtan smiled as he trapped Ajabde in a corner. 

Within a minute Ajabde cut the curtains loose, making them fall over him and escaped.
“I like this girl, I will take you with me once am done here” He smiled “ But who you are similar to I can’t remember..” He made Ajabde fume.

“You remember me Surtan?” The voice behind him made Surtan turn like he was facing a nightmare.
“Kunwar Pratap!” Jaivanta Bai smiled.
Ajabde acknowledged him with a slight smile and nod. He stared back at her and then at Surtan.
“Who will you take Surtan?” He stepped forward as Surtan stepped back and his back met Ajabde’s sword. He was trapped between the two. Kunwar Pratap dropped his sword.

“My hands are enough for you.” His fist landed on Surtan’s face.
As Surtan lay at Ajabde’s feet Kunwar Pratap roared “ Sshama mangiye.” His foot pushed Surtan’s head on her feet.
“Take him away,” Ajabde ordered the soldiers as Shakti arrived at the scene.

Kunwar Pratap was still fuming as he asked “ You are ok Ranima?” Jaivanta Bai nodded.
“Ajabde you are bleeding!” Hansa exclaimed worried looking at her hand that made Kunwar Pratap frown at the injury as well.
“I am fine Maasa it’s just a cut, I will do the patti. But first, someone sends a messenger to the front that Surtan is captured.”

“ Arree Haan! I will send someone.” Shakti smiled before touching his mother’s feet.
“ I will prepare for the Vijay Utsab.” Hansa took a visibly shaken Ratan away. Sajja joined them to prepare Shakti’s favourite dishes.

Ajabde turned to leave when Shakti said “Who will introduce me to this Veerangana?”
“Kunwar Pratap will. Ajabde, I will keep the balms in your room.” Jaivanta Bai walked away as Ajabde nodded “Ji.”
Kunwar Pratap’s smile did not escape his brother’s eyes as Ajabde turned to face them.

“Ahem!” Shakti scrutinized the two.
“This is Ajabde Baisa. Raoji’s elder daughter. Ajabde this is…”
“Kunwar Shakti. Who doesn’t know?” She smiled.
“I am obliged.” Shakti bowed. “The way you handled the man, not many can.”
“She is not like many.” Kunwar Pratap spoke up adding “I mean she knows warfare and…” He looked away as Ajabde looked red.

“ And you seem to know a lot Dadabhai. I am too tired. Where is my room?”
“Ji Ayiye” Ajabde led him down the hall only before stopping and turning to say “Kunwar Pratap, Maharanisa will be waiting for your Vijay Tilak at the Mandir, you should go.” He nodded with a smile.


Rana Udai Singh soon arrived at the Bijolia Palace with Rawat ji and Raoji and the evening went in preparing for dinner. Ajabde forgot about her wound as she served people, a little conscious as his gaze followed her.

 Ajabde was in her room after the whole palace was asleep. She spotted the bowl of balm Jaivanta Bai had ordered for her neatly sitting on her dressing table as she sighed tiredly and closed the door. Her injury hit the doorknob as she softly said “Ahh.”

“I knew you are hurt.” She jumped at his voice to turn around as he said “Hush.”
“Kunwarsa. What are you…”
“You thought I will go to sleep without making sure you applied the Balm?”
“I was going to.” She lied.
“I will now.”
“No no…” 

She protested softly as he made her sit on the couch and held the injured hand with his left hand and applied the balm with his right one. Ajabde smiled as he looked up with a frown.
“What is making you smile,” He asked seriously as her smile faded.

“Woh… I was thinking if someone saw you. What will they think? Kunwar Pratap! The Kunwar Pratap Is applying balm on a Commoner Samant Putri’s hand?” 
He held her wrist firmly and pulled her close making her stop. They stared at each other as he smiled to make her heart beat louder.
“They don’t know Kunwar Pratap’s life resides in that commoner Samant Putri. She is not just anyone. She is his Baijilal.” He smiled.
“Hush. Someone would hear you.” She blushed.
“Tomorrow, Chotima will come for the Vijay Utsav, and then Ranima will talk to Daajiraj.” He smiled holding her hand. “About us.”

“It’s late, go now; someone might know you are not in your room.” She looked away blushing.
“Sakhaveer will see Baijilal at the old temple tomorrow night.” He smiled.
“Why?” She asked surprised.
“Sakhaveer has something to say.” He walked away keeping her wondering.

The morning dawned with great celebrations in Bijolia for the victory against Bundi. People flocked to see the royals as Udai Singh appeared before the people with Kunwar Pratap. Rawatji Raoji and Kunwar Shakti. They thanked the people for believing in them and Udai Singh apologized for all the misdeeds of the Bundi king. The Ranimahal was decorated with drapes and flowers and Ratan gasped seeing Maharani Jaivanta Bai and Rani Sajja Bai in their usual avatars. They looked so elegant. Ajabde was busy in the Kitchen supervising the food when Kunwar Pratap was passing by.

“ Do the vegetables faster, we need to make the kheer and jalebis. Quick Rama hand me the…” 
Her gaze stopped at the door as he watched smiling and her eyes widened as she looked around to see if anyone else saw him. Rubbing her hands together she fumbled. “ D..Dal … Rama!” He smiled inwardly before walking away.

“Rani Bhattiyani is here.” Ratan ran into the kitchen amused. “She is so pretty! Come to Jija see.”
Ratan dragged a reluctant Ajabde out of the Kitchen and took her to the Ranimahal baithak.
“Ajabde, Ratan, come here.” Hansa called them. “ Ranisa, these are my daughters.”
“ Khamma Gani.” Ajabde stepped forward to touch her feet but she stopped her with a hand gesture saying “It’s okay!”

“ Khamma Gani Chotima.” Kunwar Shakti arrived with Kunwar Pratap in toe.

Kunwar Shakti shot a glance at his brother trying to catch a glimpse in vain when he added “You know Chotima, Ajabde Baisa is so brave, she saved everyone here from Surtan Singh.”
“And also helped capture him.” Sajja Bai added excited, telling Dheer bai how Ajabde saved them.

Dheer Bai stared at the innocent girl in front of her, but the description of bravery she got somehow didn’t match this innocent creature. Her eyes froze at Kunwar Pratap, beaming with pride like the praises were his. DheerBai’s clever mind caught what Shakti’s eyes did, and suddenly she remembered… 

Do you really think Kunwar Pratap will take the help of a girl… Baijilal and Sakhaveer stood revealed in front of her eyes as she smiled. All she had to do now was catch them red-handed.
“Aree Wah… Ajabde Baisa you have done something very brave indeed.” She spoke up with a smile. “Ranaji should know about this.” She walked away to meet Udai Singh.

Ajabde was really nervous that Udai Singh had called her to court. She walked in as Kunwar Pratap nodded approvingly before she stared at the man in front.
“I heard you have done a brave deed Ajabde Baisa. “ He looked at Dheer Bai who smiled. Jaivanta Bai looked worried.

“ As a token of appreciation, I want to give you” He took out a ring from his finger. “This.”
“No Hukum, it's…” Raoji protested as Ajabde spoke softly and firmly.
“It is our duty since ages to serve the Royal family. If I take this, it will be an insult to my forefathers. It’s our duty, as samants to serve Mewar.”
“ Her thoughts are so high.” Rawatji praised.

“She is right, Samants are employed on remuneration to serve us Ranaji, if you want to reward her it should be… like a bonus? Monetarily?” Dheerbai’s words shocked Ajabde.
“This is not what I…”
“Ajabde!” Raoji’s voice stopped her “Don’t talk in between. Hukum, we need nothing.”

Ajabde was clearly fuming behind her veiled face. The Bhattiyani queen had compared her love for her motherland with some mere Mohurs, putting a price on her patriotism. What hurt more was Kunwar Pratap stood there watching this happen without a word of protest.

“  Ajabde come with me.” She was grateful as Jaivanta Bai spoke up and left with her.
Following Jaivanta Bai down the corridor a thought shrouded her mind.
“Ranima Can I ask you something?” She made Jaivanta Bai nod in approval before continuing 

“The one who guesses who Sakhaveer is and is after him it's her!” She spoke up scared “Isn’t it?”
“Baijilal is intelligent enough, Ajabde.” Jaivanta Bai walked away as more questions worried her. But why? Everyone loves Kunwarsa then why? What’s her problem? Does Kunwarsa know about her? Does she know about us and thus attacked me or she guessed Baijilal?



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