"Suno! Suno! Suno!
Kunwar Pratap Singh, our crown prince, is marrying Rajkumari Ajabdeh Baisa of Bijolia this week. And in this happy event, Sakhaveer and Baijilal, being our saviours, have been declared heroes of the state by Ranaji for helping capture Jalam Singh. Suno! Suno! Suno!
The messengers went around Mewar, rolling the drums as people rejoiced in the good news.
That night, when a group of goons attacked a village, Sakhaveer appeared alone and managed to scare them away. As the news reached the palace, a proud sister smiled. Sajja Bai looked confused.
"But Kunwarsa was here." She said aloud as Jaivanta Bai and Ajabdeh stared at her. "Who is this Sakhaveer?" Everyone present in the dining hall had the same question.
"Majhli Maasa." Kunwar Pratap interrupted.
"Sakhaveer and Baijilal are no two persons; they are the thoughts and ideals of a true Rajput. Anyone can be Sakhaveer." Ajabdeh nodded approval as everyone smiled at the thought.
"Waise, Kunwar Pratap." Udai Singh smiled. "Something tells me you know this Sakhaveer." Kunwar Pratap just smiled at his father, and then back at Ajabdeh, who smiled and looked away.
As Ajabdeh turned off the last lights in her room, a knock at the door made her frown. She opened it to go wide-eyed as he stood smiling.
"Kunwarsa! But..." She looked alarmed at the empty corridor behind him.
"You chose right." He smiled proudly.
"What?" She asked cluelessly.
"Patta, he is..."
"Perfect for the role, I know." She smiled. "But... he is alone..." She sounded worried.
"Sakhaveer can handle anyone alone." He teased with a proud smile that made Ajabdeh narrow her brows.
"Oh, really? Baijilal was never needed?" She asked, clearly displeased.
"No, I guess not." He shrugged, hiding a smile, seeing her fume.
"Then... Then.... what was Baijilal doing?" She asked.
"Umm... following Sakhaveer?" He questioned.
"Wha... No... I... Baijilal doesn't follow anyone! It was you who came after me that ..." She protested.
" I went to save Mewar." He shrugged again.
"Fine! Baijilal was never needed." Ajabdeh was about to shut her door when his hands stopped her.
"What?" She fumed. "Now what?"
"Ajabdeh." He chuckled. "You are so easily miffed by me."
"No, I am not!" She protested, rubbing her hands together, realising he was teasing. " I am... Subhratri..."
"Wait!" He held her hand as she looked nervously at the empty corridor.
"Sakhaveer always needs his Baijilal with him." He smiled as his eyes teased her. "Remember that!" He pushed a lock of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear with a smile as her heart skipped a beat, then walked away, leaving Ajabdeh a little flustered at her threshold.
The dawn in Mewar arrived with the Bijolia Palace decked up for the wedding. Flowers, drapes and lamps were everywhere, and guests arrived from all over Rajputana. The Tilak was to be done, followed by the wedding. Kunwar Pratap was in his chambers getting ready for the Tilak when a Sevak walked in. "A boy is here to meet you." He said at the threshold.
"Boy?" Kunwar Pratap asked, surprised.
"Yes. He says he needs to talk urgently."
Patta! "Send him in."
Patta arrived a little awkwardly and tensed as Kunwar Pratap ordered, "Ekanth."
"Kunwarsa. There is bad news." He looked anxious. "I don't think you know this... Ranaji had instructed not to tell..."
"What is it, Patta?" He frowned.
"Surtan had escaped."
"He has what?" He looked wide-eyed. "How?"
"Someone helped him. Someone... from the palace." He looked awkward spelling out the last words.
"What? From the palace?" Kunwar Pratap looked bothered.
"That is not all. I was ... out..." He sounded unsure.
"Tell everything clearly, Patta!" Kunwar Pratap ordered.
"Surtan Singh is in the Bhimlat jungles itself. Some people apparently spotted a man matching his ..." Patta frowned. "He may try to escape to Bundi, and if he does, he will be beyond our reach. The talks with Bundi to hand him over could turn futile."
"We need to go." Kunwar Pratap took his sword. Patta looked surprised.
"But... your wedding rituals?" He feared.
"Listen to me very carefully." Kunwar Pratap held his shoulders firmly.
"Jija." Ratan walked in and declared, "Ekanth." Ajabdeh was putting on her jewellery when she frowned at Ratan's serious face.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Woh...Patta is here, did he see you?" Ajabdeh shook her head and asked where Ratan saw him. Kunwar Pratap's mention made her narrow her brows in worry as Ratan sat by her and whispered, "I thought it had something to do with Sakhaveer, so I... Listened."
"Ratan." Ajabdeh gasped at her sister's audacity as she shrugged. "What? Someone had to tell Baijilal, and I think they wouldn't." She shook her head. Ajabdeh grew worried and also disappointed at being kept on loop by both Kunwar Pratap and Patta.
"I overheard Patta and Kunwarsa...." Ratan inhaled. "I think you should know this."
"Someone call Kunwarsa to meet the guests," Ranaji instructed in the Baithak as Sajja Bai ji got up. She knocked at the closed door, and Patta gulped nervously. Another knock and he answered, "Kunwarsa is getting ready."
"Tell him people are waiting." She insisted.
Sajja Bai walked across the corridor to Ajabdeh's closed door.
"Ji?" Ratan asked with a pale face.
"Ajabdeh?" Sajja Bai sounded unsure.
"I am bringing her down in... umm.... once she is ready." She was nervous. Jija! Come back fast!
Sajja Bai walked into the Baithak to sit beside Jaivanta Bai.
"Pratap?" She asked.
"Woh... both are... getting ready." Jaivanta Bai frowned at her words slightly.
"Did you see them?" She asked immediately.
"No, the door was...." Jaivanta Bai's eyes went wide. She had heard about Surtan and instructed everyone to not tell Kunwar Pratap, fearing just this.
"What happened? Why are we all here?" Raoji asked, surprised as Dheer Bai smiled.
"Where are the bride and groom, Raoji?" Her question made Udai Singh look at Jaivanta Bai, who looked away.
"What do you mean, Dheer Bai ji?" Ranaji asked. Sajja Bai and Hansa Bai looked scared as Balwant dragged a scared Ratan and a nervous Patta by the hands into the room.
"Tell them." Dheerbai looked at Ratan.
"Woh... Woh..." She gulped.
"Sakhaveer and Baijilal went to capture Surtan Singh," Patta said without a pause.
"What? " Everyone looked at the duo in shock.
"Ratan, why didn't you stop her?" Hansa scolded.
"Well, your daughter is so stubborn she never listens, maybe," Dheer Bai spoke up. "A bride is doing this on her wedding if anyone knows, the family names...."
"Dheer Bai ji." Udai Singh interrupted. "Kunwar Pratap went first, I guess. He is the more stubborn one. He could tell me, we have an army. Ajabdeh must have followed him, like a true Rajputani should follow her man into danger."
" Shama Hukum," Patta spoke up. "He said he could trust no one, as somebody helped Surtan escape. Somebody of our own. From the palace." As he spoke the last line, he stared coldly at Dheer Bai ji, making her heart skip a beat. What did this kid know?
"Sakhaveer." Her call made him stop in the foliage of the deep jungle. He turned back wide-eyed to see Baijilal on her brown horse.
"Baijilal is not needed?" She fumed.
"Aja... Baijilal! What are you doing here? They will search for you." He sounded alarmed.
"And they won't for you?" She taunted.
"I put Patta on..."
"I have Ratan, let's move." She rode ahead as he followed with a shake of his head. "We'd better get him before our enemies do."
"Who gave you this news?" He whispered, looking around.
"Next time, make sure no one is at the closed doors, and don't speak so loudly." She smiled faintly.
"I will remember that for sure." He murmured.
"Where are we headed?" She asked.
"Well, your spies didn't tell you that?" He teased.
"My brother told you, so tell me!" She ordered.
"Do you know who you are ordering?" He frowned.
"Yes! My...." She stopped to check herself.
"Your?" A teasing smile she could read in his eyes made her blush.
"Where are we headed?" She asked seriously.
"There is a small cliff across the lake. He is there, in a cave. Patta saw him sneak in, with about twenty soldiers."
"Why didn't he attack?" She frowned.
"Don't get so hard on him." He spoke softly. "He is a beginner. He did the best he could."
They kept their horses a few feet away and stealthily moved towards the cave opening. They spotted two men in commoners' attire at the mouth of the cave.
"They have daggers." She whispered.
"Bundi soldiers," he added. With an approving nod to each other, they attacked.
Baijilal was engaging three soldiers when she saw Surtan move to Sakhaveer's back as he engaged in war with two more.
"Look out!" She shouted as he turned and slayed Surtan across his chest. The soldiers ran. Sakhaveer held Surtan's head as he tried to escape one last time.
"Tell me who helped you. Tell me who told you about Maharanisa being in Bijolia and who helped you escape." Kunwar Pratap needed to know the traitor.
"Mah... Maha...." He gasped for breath.
"Speak Up!" He fumed. Baijilal put her hand on his shoulder.
"Let go, Sakhaveer. He is dying!" She insisted.
"Speak!" He seemed miffed.
"Dhee ... Dhee..." Surtan breathed his last as Sakhaveer got up wide-eyed. Baijilal looked worried at him.
"I need to go tell Daaji..." He turned around to walk as she remembered Jaivanta Bai's words and shouted, "Stop." He looked back at her, surprised.
"Don't!" She said calmly.
"What?" He looked surprised.
"Don't! We have no proof; a dying enemy's words are not proof enough." She looked at Surtan lying cold. He knew she was right.
"Besides..." She added. " We will need her for talks with Marwar. Don't forget Jalam Singh." She reminded him as he nodded.
"You always think ahead." He praised as eyes met.
"Let's go back before anyone finds out that we are missing." She spoke up as he approved.
"A traitor amongst us?" Raoji asked, surprised. "What are you saying, Patta?"
"I am saying right, Raoji. Someone let Surtan know Maharanisa was in Bijolia when Jija saved them. How did they know when no one except the Royals did? How did he escape?" Patta spoke up as everyone approved.
"Listen to me. From today onward, Baijilal, Sakhaveer, Kunwar Shakti, and Kunwar Pratap, everyone will only report directly to me. No one else. Is that clear?" Ranaji spoke up. " And no discussions will take place anywhere except the strategy room under guards."
"Climb up." Kunwar Pratap held the drapes he used as a rope as she nodded, he looked around to keep an eye as she climbed up and into the room through the open balcony. Stepping into the room, Baijilal froze wide-eyed. Kunwar Pratap climbed up the rope and jumped into the room, saying, "I don't think anyone..." with a smile, but soon it faded as he looked at the crowd in front of him. Then at her.
"Welcome back, Sakhaveer and Baijilal." Balwant hid a smile as they looked at each other through the corner of their eyes. In the room were Ranaji, Raoji, Jaivanta Bai, Sajja Bai, Patta and Ratan with Balwant. Ajabdeh gave a cold stare to Ratan. She looked nervous.
"What's the news?" Ranaji asked as they looked up.
"Surtan is dead," Sakhaveer answered. "And he said there is someone who helped him." He shot a glance at Baijilal, who softly nodded, "Someone very close to the family." Ranaji looked disturbed.
"All right, my saviours. Now that the work is done, can we get back to the rituals?" Jaivanta Bai smiled as she stepped forward to take Ajabdeh's hand.
"And can we expect that the bride and groom will arrive at the wedding on time and not go on a rescue mission?" Sajjabai teased and smiled.
"Yes." He looked away awkwardly as she blushed.
"Let's take her for the Puja jija." Sajjabai smiled as Jaivanta approved.
The
Golden Sword was in the Puja room when Ajabdeh appeared elegant in her bridal
orange lehenga and the traditional jewellery gifted by Jaivanta Bai. She folded
her hands while the Rajpurohit did the Bhavani Puja.
“Jai
Bhavani.”
The ladies folded their hands as Ajabdeh took the sword and looked up
at the idol.
“Let
this sword protect my motherland.” She whispered a prayer.
“Say
protect me, that’s the rule," Dheerbai interrupted.
“Chotima,
if it protects Mewar, then I will be protected too.” Her words made everyone
smile.
She
gave the sword to Rawatji and made a slow exit until she would be called again.
Kunwar
Pratap walked in, dressed in a royal golden and orange sherwani. Rawatji was
instructed to give him the sword.
“Kunwarsa, accept this for the Tilak.”
“But
Rawatji, why is giving a sword necessary?” He asked curiously.
“
Because you are a Rajput.” Jaivanta Bai explained. “ Because you will protect
your motherland and her honour with the sword.”
“If
that’s the reason, then I have no right to receive this alone, Ranima.” He
smiled.
“Ajabdeh.”
Jaivanta Bai spoke up. “We want you to receive the sword on his behalf.”
“Me?”
She asked, surprised.
“No.
Baijilal.” Kunwar Pratap’s words made her and everyone smile as he handed her
the sword. Holding both ends together, they stared at the idol of Maa Bhavani.
“
We promise. To Protect. And Honour.” They stared at each other with content smiles.
