RAABTA

Over the past months, Ajabdeh Baisa had trained her mind and body to be Bijolia’s Baijilal. Bijolia’s very own “Ajbandeh” was now everyone’s Baijilal running the administration and defence for the Punwar house. She had grown into what her mother thought was a reflection of the woman she always admired, Maharani Jaivanta Bai. She feared to mention that even to herself lest wounds are reopened and cause pains that can never heal. Ajabdeh had made Bijolia and her subjects her life, ever since that faithful day she broke the norms and took oath as Samanth. She vowed to be the son her father wanted. However, although Bijolia was more than happy knowing they are in Baijilal’s safe hands, she was clear her position was just as Balwant’s representative and nothing else. As per the norms, the news had reached the Kumbha Palace. Rawat Chundawat was walking down to the court when he could spot the messenger from Bijolia. His heart had skipped a beat worried for her. In the court, discus...

She woke to the empty restless feeling that refused to go. She checked if her pillow was still wet from the tears. No? She put it aside and folded her hands thankful for another day. Another day to breathe, smile and live in. For everyone. She stepped out of the four-posted  beds in the east wing of the small palace of Bijolia. Home? No. The home was where he was, or so she had vowed ten days back. A smile filled her lips. Irony. Who knew she would be here now? Fate. Maybe. Her payal alerted the daasi who stepped in to help her get dressed. The  jewellery . The royal lehenga. The signs of marriage. She was braiding her long hair neatly in silence. She wished the Daasis would speak to her. Maybe, they were scared of what to tell. What would she tell a girl who was thrown out of her Sasural three days after her marriage? Clueless about her mistakes. Humiliated by the King and his Queen. What would she have told a girl whose husband abandoned her, for the moth...

Ajabde was getting ready for the office in Rukaiya’s kaftan. She was too late to go home and change. The gossip last night with the snacks and giggles lasted till 5am. She sat down at the table waiting for Rukaiya’s coffee and checked her watch. 9.30. She took the paper in hand. The morning newspaper made Ajabde frown. “Back In Paradise?” The Rajput Times read with a picture of them on the ramp, looking at the crowd hand in each other. The left section seemed to give a small throwback to his love life and the right… featured a picture of Miss Phool Kanwar. Nothing on the Foundation or Event on the front page, she turned to page 5 for a little detail on the project. “That’s it?” She frowned. “What?” Rukaiya asked, handing her the brewing hot coffee. “This… paper… has literally nothing on the project… they… they…” “Are hyped about Pratap Singh and Ajabde Punwar… we know.” Sau smiled a smile that made Ajabdeh frown. The girls seemed more than pleased with it. “I am going to work.” She go...