Our World

Holi in Surajgarh was always traditionally colourful and nice, with delicious homemade sweets and Thandai and lots of childhood memories. The people were too happy to find the Royal Family back in Surajgarh for the Holi. Away from the media and news, these simple people who still looked up to the Royals always wanted them to come back home unaware of the happenings of the fast lives in the cities. Their small world would celebrate Holi like never before this year.

Surajgarh was decked up as soon as it knew Ranisa was coming on Holi. Ranisa much like Ajabde baisa was their god-sent angel, who solved problems like miracles and the people loved and respected her.

Jaivanta did a Khamma Ghani to the crowd in her elegant gracious way that always mesmerised Ajabdeh. She smiled inspecting the latest happenings with the Panchayat much to Jaivanta’s delight.

“Jija we are here for the holidays so please don't talk about work.” Shakti dragged her away as she said “But…”

Patta met them with a not-so-convincing smile as Ajabde asked “What happened to you?”

“Nothing.” He frowned as she looked suspicious.

“Everyone can rest till Holika Dahan. Rukaiya especially.”Hansa spoke up. “And you?” Rukaiya looked down as she scolded.

“Mausi scold her, she kept me on my toes all the time now it is her turn.” Sau giggled.

“Aarchi is coming with Mausi” Ajabde smiled at the baby.

“Say bye to everyone.” She walked away talking to the baby in her room, while the others went to theirs. Pratap was playing ball with Brownie when he heard Shakti and Patta with Jalal in the corridor.

“What is cooking here?” He frowned. “Jalal if you do some mischief with them I swear I will…”

“No… am responsible.” He made a serious face. “Pratap trusts me.” Pratap frowned at his smile.

Jalal quickly walked away to his room as Pratap watched Shakti go to him. Jalal frowned at Rukaiya’s pale face as she was sitting in bed and having water.

“Ruk, are you okay?” He asked worriedly.

“Just a little nausea…” She smiled faintly.

“Umm… is it normal?” He hated when the doctor and the patient were the same people. It worried him that she would always hide something.

"Yes it is.” She giggled. “Do you remember my senior Dr Mahamanga?” “She seemed very motherly to you.” Jalal smiled.

“She will be looking at me personally.” Rukaiya smiled. “Relieved?”

“No, sleep.” He frowned. Rukaiya giggled at his worried face as he kissed her forehead and repeated “Sleep.”

“Aww, Aarchi…” Ajabde was playing with Aarchi who was smiling at Mausi. Pratap entered smiling at the scene.

“Look at her!.” Ajabde smiled excitedly. “I think she got a little taller?” Pratap looked clueless as she put a kajal tika on Aarchi’s forehead. “Nazar na lage meri princess ko.”

He sat down beside her staring as she smiled at Aarchi. The baby started crying as Ajabde promptly picked her up saying “Aww what happened….” She cradled Aarchi as Pratap frowned at how at ease she was with the tiny baby. “Are you hungry? Is Aarchi hungry?” She said worried and got up.

“Go to Kakasa I will bring your food from Mamma!” She promptly placed Aarchi on his lap as he tried to protest and ran out. Pratap looked terrified, eyes wide at the door as she ran.

“Oh God…err….” He looked terrified as the baby moved. “Hi, Aarchi.” He managed a smile but the baby pouted and started sobbing. He remembered how Ajabde was cradling her and that made her stop. “What do I…” He looked petrified. “Ok….erm… Aarchi… hush…” He tried in vain. Jalal walked into the room amused.

“Look who is taking care of Aarchi!” He smiled.

“Jalal!” Pratap was all smiles as he handed Jalal the baby. “What I… she is crying….” Jalal looked scared.

“Stop her, come on!” Pratap smiled relieved. “Practise.”

“Pratap! Yeh… umm… hush hush… Aarchi… hush….” He tried in vain as the sob turned to cries and Ajabde shouted “Am coming baby, Mamma is making your food…” The baby cried louder as Pralal looked at each other.

“hahaha! What's happening here!” Shakti smiled amused at the duo. “She is a baby, not a battlefield, let me try.”

Pratap and Jalal were happy to hand Aarchi over to Shakti who thought the baby would feel good if he twirled her. He used to twirl Patta all the time. Only he was a two-year-old and not a month. But Shakti gathered that all babies are the same. Two whirls and she stopped as the men smiled at each other, Shakti more proudly. A moment of silence later, the cry was louder than ever.

“I should hurry.” Ajabde looked worried as Sau smiled. " Let me see Pratap's condition now.” She giggled as Chaks agreed.

“ Aarchi is…” Heer entered spotting Aarchi on Shakti’s lap as the three looked terrified. Aarchi was all red from the crying.

“Three grown men can't hush a baby?” Heer looked disappointed as she took Aarchi and tried to make her stop, as she sobbed softly. “Bhaijaan I didn't expect this of you!”

“What did I do?” Jalal frowned. “Pratap made her cry.” He pointed.

“I didn't…” Pratap defended as Ajabde rushed to the baby with the feeding bottle and Sau and Chaks smiling in toe. Heer and Aarchi left for the baby room as the trio looked terrified at Chaks and Sau.

“Welcome to our world.” Sau giggled amused. “It's terrifying,” Pratap said wide-eyed.

“Petrifying.” Shakti agreed.

“Oh no!” Jalal could see himself in the next few months. “I need to start looking for a new place after Rukaiya throws me out.” His serious tone made them all laugh at his pale face.

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Of Faith and Fate

Series Announcement! Historical Fictions are special, so here is one, short but special tale close to my heart after a really long time! This story is a special one because it is completely historical fiction with very little connection to the fan fiction I have written previously. However, I have maintained the sequence of events, reading history books on the context. This is not a story of a man and a woman, their love and trust. This one is about the tests time often puts people through, forcing them to change. My protagonists in this one are hence, two princesses of the same age. Ajabdeh Punwar or Ajbante Kanwar Baisa, as she is locally called is the princess of a very significant district of Bijolia in Mewar. Bijolia lies in the seat of political events, at the border of Bundi and Mewar. Having her lineage from the mighty Chauhans, her forefathers once ruled Mewar. Her father is an officer in the army of Mewar under Rana Udai Singh and she is a lady of princip...

Preparation

It has been a tradition since time immemorial in the face of the earth that the men marched to war, seeking glory for their states and kings, adorning their bodies with bruises no less gaudy than the most precious gems of the land, while the women waited and prayed for their safe return. No war was easy or certain. At least that is what they grew up learning. But does it stop the war? Or the need for power? Absolutely not. The royal blood demands shedding it. Kumar Viraj could have left Maanwari as a child but Maanwari had not left his veins. That was perhaps why he was braver and more skilful than men his age. When Adhiraja Ishaan Dev offered him Neelambargarh’s mighty troops to capture Maanwari, he knew they would surely outnumber his uncle’s one by hundreds. But he made sure he refused Adhiraja's personal help. Battles made Ishaan Dev’s adrenaline rush. He wanted to lead Kumar Viraj to victory. But when Kumar Viraj said that it would only demean his claim to be ready for the thr...

Eternally Yours

Ajabde woke up to find neither the pillow nor the husband beside her. That was really unusual. Has she overslept? No, it was dark and the first birds were singing. She sat up to find that he had neatly arranged the pillows and made his side of the bed and put his blanket over her. She checked the changing room. No, he was not there, but unlike other days his clothes were not in a mess. She freshened up and reached the dressing table. His brooch was not there. Where is he? Has the war... Her heart skipped a beat. What if he had left and not even woken her up? " Daasi? Daasi?" She called as one of them walked in. " Ji Kuwaranisa?" " Where is Kunwarsa?" " He left early in the morning for Dangal and then a visit to the village. Do you need anything?" " No, You may go now." She put on the sindoor in a worry. Maybe something urgent has come up. She walked to the Puja room and was shocked. Her garlands were made, the Chandan was in place and ...

The New Capital

“Some dreams are once broken often come back as haunting nightmares.” The Padishah Begum received the news of the birth of a baby boy to Harka Bai at Sikri. She had arranged for a feast and celebration at Lahore and thanked the Almighty herself for this happiness. She prayed that the boy was safe. Hamida Banu had herself sent a messenger to the Padishah Begum at Lahore. The ladies celebrated for a week. The Padishah Begum had given away coins, and clothes to the needy and new clothes to the kin. The Emperor was on his way to Sikri as well. She had smiled at the happy faces savouring the wine and sweet dishes. She greeted and congratulated everyone around the Harem. The Timurid blood would be safe on the throne. Jalal had visited once in the past few months, giving her the good news of Harka Bai conceiving again. He feared that people were conspiring at Agra. Hence, Harka Bai’s firstborns died, unnaturally. Ridiculous rumours were spread, about the Emperor killing his o...

What If...

Ajabdeh, played all night with the newfound puppy who was already keeping her on her toes. First, he jumps into the trolley bags and inspected her clothes, alarming Heer and making her laugh. He had fallen in love with a pink lingerie Ajabdeh tied to his head like a bow, laughing harder as he tried to open it, going in rounds. Heer saw her carefree laughter with a smile. She may not like the guy, but he did make her sister laugh. Heer shook her head. Something in her felt really awkward as she cleared her throat to ask "Jija??" "Hmm?" "Do you... umm... like Kunwar Pratap?" Heer looked scared to ask. "What?" She frowned and then smiled as the puppy licked her face. "Of course I like him! He is a friend." "Jija I meant..." "Good night Heeriye." She hugged her sister then picked the pup up and snuggled in her blanket as Heer stood watching. "Let's name you baby?" She heard Ajabdeh talk. "Umm...

Understandings

After counting days, Ajabde was happy that she was going to Bijolia. She knew how eager her mother and Ratan would be to know about her new life. She couldn't wait to hug her mother and feel like... Home. She was selecting gifts for her parents and her siblings as per Ranima's instructions. Then suddenly an idea struck her mind. Her new family welcomed her with so much love and support. Especially Ranima and Majhli Maa Sa. She wanted to give them something. Suddenly she remembered that Ranima had loved her embroidery work on dupattas back in Bijolia so she called a Dasi and ordered some plain Chunris and embroidery threads. She had a lot of work to finish in a day before leaving. Kunwar Pratap came back into the room to see her on the floor, right in the middle of the room with red, green, yellow, and pink all sorts of dupattas scattered. " What's all this?" He asked not sure if he should be asking. " I am making gifts. For Ranima, Majhli ma, Rani Dheer Bai...

Neelambargarh

The fort of Neelambargarh was named so because it stood on a cliff above the low-lying plains surrounding it as if it was ready to touch the sky. The fort was surrounded by hilly forestland on three sides and extensive plain lands used for agriculture on another. The road winding up to Neelambargarh was guarded by three gateways and a secret tunnel, known only to the Neelambargarh royal family, led down from the five-storey palace to the river in the forestland. The kingdom of Neelambargarh was known across the land beyond the Heemdevi Mountains for its art and architecture. True indeed, like the myths it held, the stone walls of the fort and the castles shone in the sun like fire swayed by the wind. The gateways had extensive architecture and tales of Neelambargarh’s rich past and kings, engraved in stones, alongside nymphs and the several forms of their chief deity, The Wind, and his tales of miracles. Above the gate in local scriptures was poetry written in honour of the past ...

Sadh Puron

Rasmo ka mela yaha pe khel rahe hai saare Aaja shamil ho isme zara thoda muskura de Seven months into her pregnancy, Bondita realised, almost to her amusement, that there were certain prejudices that even Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury gave in to. Ever since Koeli arrived, to help her out, as instructed by Kakababu, to her utter surprise Aniruddha gave in to Koeli putting a kajal tika behind her ear every time she stepped out, to avoid bad omens. He even willingly gave up the bedroom at one phone call from Trilochan insisting that the woman needs her space during her pregnancy. He ended up having a makeshift mattress as a bed, in the middle of the living room in the apartment, and he was more than willing to sleep there while Koeli stayed with Bondita. Although she liked to have the entire bed to herself, she sometimes missed their pillow talks. Aniruddha also made sure the household never ran out of supplies of pickles and sweets. Koeli didn’t lose a turn to tease Bondita about how th...

Patralekha

Mujhse ye rishta jo, aa usse hai sawaare Chal sayane se thoda nadan bann ja tu Ashapurna walked out of the room with questioning eyes as Somnath shook his head. He had called Aniruddha as soon as Bondita complained of pain and uneasiness. He was already off to court and his house owner had reassured him that the news would reach him soon. He was supposed to come with the allopathic doctor. “I think it is time.” Ashapurna almost whispered to Somnath as Koeli rushed in with wet towels to comfort Bondita who appeared in a lot of pain. “Talk to Jetha Shoshur Moshai, please.” Somnath nodded and rushed downstairs where Batuk paced the room as Trilochan and Binoy sat on the couch. Ashapurna’s mother had taken Ashutosh with her for the day as soon as she heard. “What do we do now?” Somnath broke the silence. “She was not due so soon.” Batuk frowned as his uncle gave him a disapproving stare making him stop. “Som, go and call Dai.” He insisted as Somnath remained frozen in his place. “We c...

Trouble In Paradise

Kyun na jaane teri chinta ho rahi hai mujhe Har ghadi ab kyun hai dhyan tera. "Eyes on the road." Aniruddha scolded almost in a reflex, putting his right hand vigilantly over the steering wheel. Bondita's painted hands were on the wheel but her eyes kept wandering to the cattle on either side of the road. "You can't be distracted while driving. You will kill someone." He said in a rather monotonous voice. His hand didn't leave the steering wheel nor did his eyes leave the road. But he made sure instinctively that his hands stayed furthest away from her touch. Bondita breathed in as the morning breeze hit her face. She had removed the saree from over her head when they had stopped by the road to exchange places. "If you push the car into a tree again, it's your last lesson." He had warned while she giggled. Bondita couldn't tell Aniruddha why she was distracted the last time. It was almost dusk and while he instructed her on the wheel,...

RAABTA

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