Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Fort gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows from above the towers. His troop was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. They had managed to hold the troops back for a day, but they feared they could no longer do so.

“Break the door”, Surtan ordered the elephants.

“Where is Ajabdeh?” Hansa looked around the cellar.

“Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last time I saw her.”

“Ajabdeh.” 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 Rani Mahal in search of Ajabdeh. 

Surtan’s troop had entered the palace, and he made his way to the Rani Mahal. 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 as he approached the ladies. Ratan took two steps back and bumped into her mother.

“ Khamma Gani, Ranisa.” 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 I am here to kill.” He smiled. "Khamma Ghani." He raised his sword as Ratan let out a shriek.

“Over my dead body!” Ajabdeh 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 of him.

She fumed at his stare. “Fight!”

“No, Ajabdeh.” 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 Ajabdeh in a corner. 

Within a minute, Ajabdeh cut the curtains loose, making them fall over him and escaped.

“I like this girl, I will take you with me once I'm done here," He smiled, "But who you are, similar to I can’t remember.” He made Ajabdeh fume.

“You remember me, Surtan?” The voice behind him made Surtan turn like he was facing a nightmare.

“Kunwar Pratap!” Jaivanta Bai smiled.

Ajabdeh acknowledged him with a slight 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 Ajabdeh’s sword. He was trapped between the two. Kunwar Pratap dropped his sword and shook his head.

“My hands are enough for you.” His fist landed on Surtan’s face.

As Surtan lay at Ajabdeh’s feet, Kunwar Pratap roared, “ Sshama mangiye.” His foot pushed Surtan’s head on her feet.

“Take him away,” Ajabdeh ordered the soldiers as Shakti arrived at the scene.

Kunwar Pratap was still fuming as he asked, “ You are fine, Ranima?” Jaivanta Bai nodded.

“Ajabdeh, you are bleeding!” Hansa exclaimed, looking worried at her hand, which made Kunwar Pratap frown at the injury as well.

“I am fine, Maasa, it’s just a cut, I will do the embalming. But first, someone sends a messenger to Daata at the front that Surtan is captured.” She glanced over her shoulder, "Find Balwant. Account for the injured and dead."

“ Arree Haan! I will send someone.” Shakti smiled before touching his mother’s feet. "The message just arrived from the front, Maldeo agreed to a treaty. The war will be called off."

“ I will prepare for the welcome of the troops.” Hansa took a visibly shaken Ratan away. Sajja joined them to prepare Shakti’s favourite dishes.

Ajabdeh turned to leave when Shakti said, “Who will introduce me to this Veerangana?”

“Kunwar Pratap will. Ajabdeh, I will keep the balms in your room.” Jaivanta Bai walked away as Ajabdeh nodded, “Ji.”

Kunwar Pratap’s smile did not escape his brother’s eyes as Ajabdeh turned to face them.

“Ahem!” Shakti scrutinised the two.

“This is Ajabdeh Baisa. Raoji’s elder daughter. Ajabdeh, this is…”

“Kunwar Shakti. Who doesn’t know?” She smiled. "Khamma Ghani."

“I am honoured.” Shakti nodded. “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 Ajabdeh looked red.

“ And you seem to know a lot, Dadabhai. I am too tired. Where is my room?”

“Ji Ayiye.” Ajabdeh led him down the hallway towards the Mardana Mahal, only before stopping and turning to say, “Kunwar Pratap, Maharanisa will be waiting for you 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. Ajabdeh forgot about her wound as she served people, a little conscious as his gaze followed her. Finally, after a long day, Ajabdeh 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 groaned softly. 

“I knew you were hurt.” She jumped at his voice to turn around as he said, “Hush.” He put his finger over his lips, alarmed.

“Kunwarsa. What are you…” Her eyes widened.

“You thought I would go to sleep without making sure you applied the balm?”

“I was going to.” She lied.

“I will now.” He insisted.

“No, no…” She resisted.

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 hand. Ajabdeh smiled, amused, 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 from Jaisalmer, 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. People flocked to see the royals as Udai Singh appeared before the people with Kunwar Pratap, Rawatji Raoji and Kunwar Shakti. Udai Singh apologised that their grievances about Surtan Singh went unheard for so long. The Rani Mahal 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. Ajabdeh 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 doorway 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, Jija, see.”

Ratan dragged a reluctant Ajabdeh out of the Kitchen and took her to the Rani Mahal Baithak.

“Ajabdeh, Ratan, come here,” Hansa called them. “ Ranisa, these are my daughters.”

“ Khamma Gani.” Ajabdeh 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 tow. Kunwar Shakti shot a glance at his brother, trying to catch a glimpse in vain when he added, “You know Chotima, Ajabdeh Baisa is so brave, she saved everyone here from Surtan Singh.”

“And also helped capture him.” Sajja Bai added excitedly, telling Dheer Bai how Ajabdeh 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. Dheer Bai’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… Ajabdeh 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.

Ajabdeh 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, Ajabdeh 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 Ajabdeh spoke softly and firmly.

“It is our duty for 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 Ajabdeh.

“This is not what I…” She fumbled.

“Ajabdeh!” Raoji’s voice stopped her “Don’t talk in between. Hukum, we need nothing.” He folded his hands. "It's our honour to serve you."

Ajabde was 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 that Kunwar Pratap stood there watching this happen without a word of protest.

“Ajabdeh, 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, Ajabdeh.” Jaivanta Bai walked away as more questions worried her. But why? Everyone loves Kunwarsa, so why? What’s her problem? Does Kunwarsa know about her? Does she know about us and thus attacked me, or did she guess Baijilal?