Sacrifices

The guests were arriving at the gateways of the main entrance of the Kumbha palace. The nagada announced each arrival as the 16 chieftains of Mewar arrived with their families to be personally welcomed and greeted by Udai Singh, Jaivanta bai and Dheer bai in turn as Rawatji introduced them to a preoccupied Kunwar Pratap.

He hadn’t slept all night; he had stayed awake trying to put himself in the position of his newly married, abandoned bride who had trusted him with her life. He had tried to figure out the right words of apology in vain. He knew his Ajabdeh. He knew how much it had hurt her.

The morning arrived with the palace welcoming eminent guests from all over Mewar and beyond for the wedding celebrations. Udai Singh, along with Dheerbai and the other queens, was joined at the Kumbha Palace gates by a reluctant Kunwar Pratap and Jaivanta Bai, folding hands before the guests.

“Aur kaun kaun aana baaki reh gaya Rawatji?”

“Saare samath aa chuke… bas kelwa ke Samanth padharne hi wale hai… aur bacche….” 

He stopped at the list.

“Kaun bachhe?” Jaivanta Bai asked.

“Maharanisa. Umm… humko nahi lagta ke koi padharne wale hai… umm … waha se …”

“Bijolia ke Samath Padhar Rahe hai!”

 The announcement made everyone look at the entrance with awe and shock as Udai Singh murmured, “Hansa baisa ne Balwant ko bheja?”

“Hum e lagta hai lajja ki matra hi paar kar chuke yeh log…” 

Dheerbai stopped at Jaivanta Bai’s warning stare. Kunwar Pratap’s eyes were still fixed on the gates. In his heart, somewhere, he wished it were not only Balwant.

The horses were visible as soon as the crowd stood with a questioning look at the figure on Samant’s horse and warrior attire. It was a girl, her face covered, her kohl eyes … ones that made his heart skip a beat every time. It was her. A faint smile appeared on his face to disappeared at her cold stare.

“ Hum samjhe nahi….” Udai Singh looked at Rawatji, who was smiling.

“Hukum Bijolia ka samant Balwant toh hai, lekin who chota hone ke karan, Baijilal hi ab….”

“Baijilal?” Dheerbai interrupted.

“Bijolia vaasi baisa ko Baijilal pukarte samman ke saath.” Rawatji’s words were spoken to Dheerbai, but something in Kunwar Pratap was stirred. 

He didn’t move from his position as she got down from the horse to touch Rawatji’s feet first, then walked up the stairs as the crowd gasped at their once-abandoned Kunwaranisa.

“Khamma Ghani Hukum.” Her eyes were lowered in respect and as per the rules of a Samant’s behaviour. 

“ Bijolia ki taraf se aapko subhkamnaye aur yeh uphar.” She indicated the five wrapped gifts.

“Ajabdeh.” Jaivanta Bai hugged her as Udai Singh seemed to have lost his voice, and she smiled composedly.

“Ranima.” 

The words made Kunwar Pratap look up with hopeful eyes at the person he knew by soul but seemed like a stranger now. She hadn’t even stared once at him like he was invisible. He had expected this, and it made him more guilty.

“Padharo.” Jaivanta Bai had wanted to escort her inside.

“Ji nahi Ranima hum e shama kijiye hum yaha nahi ruk sakte, hum yaha sirf islie aye thee taaki Bijolia ka aur asamman na ho Hukum ke nazron mein, unka amantran srikaar karke humne apna samant dharm nibhaya, ab hum ko agya de hum Saubhagyawati key aha rukna chahte.”

“Lekin Baijilal,” Dheerbai spoke up, making her look straight into her eyes. This Ajabdeh was not scared anymore. It somehow disturbed her. 

“Hum ne amantran mahal mein rukne ka bhi diya tha.”

“Ji aapne aamantran Kunwarsa ke vivah ki di thi, jo hum ne srikaar kia Choti Ranisa.” 

She smiled half a smile as he looked away, guilty.

“Iska matlab apko iss vivah se koi apatti nahi?” Dheerbai’s face lit up with a smile.

“Rajkumarisa Rajkumarisa!” The daasi ran in where Pur sat with her mother and Sajja Bai, watching Shakti and Vikram debate over the Afghan's intentions. 

“ Wohh… padhar chuki…”

“Kaun?” Sajja Bai got up with questioning eyes. Shakti smiled at Vikram, who was still in awe.

“Kunwaranisa Ajabdeh Baisa.” 

Her words made Sajja run to the gates with Shakti and Vikram in tow as Pur’s mother looked visibly displeased. As Pur bai got up to leave the room, her mother frowned. 

“Aap kaha jaa rahi hai?”

“Jija se Milne.” She smiled before running towards the entrance while her mother shouted in vain, “Suniye, ruk jayiye!”

“Iska matlab Ajabdeh ko koi apatti nahi, Vivah kal hi ho sakti haina Ranaji?” Dheerbai smiled at the silent Ranaji.

“ Ji apatti?” 

Ajabdeh’s frown made Jaivanta smile, and the others were confused as she smiled, adding. 

“ Hum, ek sadharan samant kaun hote hai Chittor ke bhavi Rana ke vivah mein apatti karne wale?” 

Her words silenced Dheerbai as Kunwar Pratap felt an invisible arrow hit him right where it ached to see her.

“ Ajabdeh aap sirf Bijolia ki samant….” Sajja decided to speak up as she smiled, “ Shama kijiyega Majli Maasa, lekin jaha taak hum e yaad hai, hum sirf aur sirf Bijoliya ke Samant hi hai, aur koi nahi. Chalte hai.” 

As she turned and got down the stairs to leave, Kunwar Pratap looked at the retreating figure, wishing for some courage. Some courage to face her, hold her hand, and never let her go. But he stood fixed to the spot.

“Dadabhai rokiye bhabisa ko.” Shakti murmured behind him as he shut his eyes. 

“Rok lijiye unko.”

“Ruk jaiye!"

Ajabde stopped holding her horse’s reins as her eyes widened. Everyone stared at the figure who dared to call out to her. Kunwar Pratap looked up for the first time at his bride-to-be as she ran down the stairs in her lehenga, and ran towards Ajabdeh.

“Pur Baisa?” Dheer Bai’s eyes widened.

“Ruk jaiye.” Her mother called in vain as Sajja pressed her hands. 

Kunwar Pratap was not sure what was happening as he saw Pur run to Ajabde and hug her, surprising her even more.

“Ruk jaiya jija !” Pur was panting as Ajabde stared at the girl. Younger than her, she looked pretty, her eyes scared. “Hum… Hum….”

“Hum e pata hai aap Pur Baisa hai.” Ajabde was her calm, composed self as Pur smiled at her recognition.

“Humne apko jija bulaya na ? Toh saare purani baatein bhale aap na bhule, lekin iss naye rishtey ke liye, aapne behen ke liye ruk jaiye jija.” 

Ajabde was surprised as Pur held her hands, begging. The princess’s hands were stone cold. 

“Hum e apki zarurat hai.” Her last words made Ajabde stare at the girl and then back at her mother and Dheerbai, as reality hit her.

A princess, from the Solankhinis clan, who knew Kunwar Pratap’s past and present, who knew she was never his one, was marrying him… willingly? Of course not. Maybe she lacked a voice, needed a friend… But Ajabdeh? She was the reason for her complicated life. Her troubles with an unsure marriage. Why her? Her confused look made Pur smile as she said 

“ Hum ko aapke jaisa banna seekha dijiye jija shayed tabh hum bhi apki tarah swabhimaan aur atma samman ke saath jeeye… bina kisi ke parva kiye….” 

Her words made Ajabde smile. This girl was more courageous than she looked.

“Rahengi na aap?” Pur’s words came out as soon as Sajja walked to the duo and said 

“Ha ha avashya rahenge, hum abhi inke rehene ka vyavastha apke saath karte hai, theek jija?” Jaivanta’s nod met Ajabde’s eyes as she agreed and was welcomed with another warm hug from Pur Baisa.

“Apka bohot bohot abhaar Jija!” Ajabde hugged the girl back as, somewhere amidst these known strangers, in her own battle, she felt at home in Pur Baisa’s warmth.

“Dekha jija, inko dekh ke hum e humara aur aapka yaad aata hai, haina?” Sajja smiled as Jaivanta agreed, “Ha behena hum bhi toh saath reheke sab seekhe, ab inki baari.” Dheerbai stared at the pleased duo and decided to walk away as Pur dragged a reluctant Ajabde by her hand inside. Kunwar Pratap seemed to have lost his voice as Ajabde walked past him, without even staring once in his direction.

At the Dangal, he sat confused, trying to gather his thoughts on what had just happened. Somewhere deep inside his heart, he was thankful to Pur for bringing Ajabde to the palace; it was a start. Shakti walked up to him, reading his thoughts as he asked, “ Ab aage kya?”

“Hum e nahi pata bhai Shakti. Ajabdeh humse baat karne ko bhi taiyyar nahi hongi itna hum ko pata hai.”

“Jija aapke samaan yaha rakhe hai, aur aap yaha humare saath so jana theek? Apko vishram karna chahiye na… hum bhi kaise murkh hai, baatein kiye jaa rahe….”

“Rajkumarisa.” Ajabde’s call stopped Pur as she smiled 

“Nahi nahi jija, yaha hum bas apke liye Pur hai, ya toh aap hum e apki choti behen maan sakti hai!”

“Pur… behena… hum apse ek sawal puche?” Ajabde kept down the sword, which he had once gifted her, on the nearest table.

“Avasya.”

“Aap hum e kyun….” She looked confused 

“Rokne ko boli? Hum nahi chahte ke humari wajah se aapko aapki khushiyaan…”

“Jija! Apko pata hai humari khushi kab milegi? Aapse mala guthna seekh ke, apke saath subah ka bhajan gaake, aapse har ved puran ke gyaan sunke, aur aap jaise khana pakake… jab se hum iss mehel mein aye hai, hum ne bas yehi suna hai… aap kaise khana banati, apke silai, apke baatein, apke vichar, apke bhajan… sach to yeh hai Jija ke bas aap yaha thi nahi lekin yaha sabhi na chahte huye bhi apke aur Maharanisa ke yaad mein jeete hai… sach yeh hai Jija ke aapkejo adhikar hai, jo sthaan hai, iss mehel mein, Mewar mein ya phir unke jeevan mein who hum toh kya koi nahi le sakte… kyunki hum sab kar bhi le phir bhi aap toh aap hai.” 

Pur smiled as Ajabde’s eyes filled up. 

“Hum Pur hai, hum kabhi unke Ajabdeh bann hi nahi sakte kyunki who toh bas ek hi hai…. Apko yaha humne humare swarth ke liye hi rakh li samajh lijiyee.”

“Apka swarth?” Ajabde found her voice trembling at her words.

“Haa, hum itne swarthy hai ke hum ko aapke parchai banna hai jija, hum se woh banna hai jisse dekh ke saare bole yeh toh ajabdeh ki parchai hai. Apko pata hai apke jaise swabhimani humne aj tak nahi dekha Jija, aur jab humne suna ke aap Bijolia ki Baijilal hai, Hum ko aisa laga ke kaash hum aap ki tarah itne bahadur hote, hum mein itna himmat hota ke hum apna khushi chune ya apke liye khade ho sake. Hum apse prerit hona chahte.”

“Ohh Behena.” Ajabde hugged Pur as tears flew for the first time in this mehel since that day she walked out. Pur wiped her tears and her own and said in her gleeful voice. 

“Chaliye aap vishram kijiye, hum apse milne shighra padharenge, aur haan…. Kal aap humare saath Shyaam mandir jaenge?”

“Shyaam mandir?” Ajabde smiled at the suggestion. “Avashya.”

Kunwar Pratap sat silent as his brothers exchanged glances. The sound of payal made them look up, but not him. He knew it was neither her nor his Ranima; anyone else didn’t matter.

“Pur behena.” Shakti stood up, eyeing Kunwar Pratap, who still sat like a statue. “Aap?”

“Hum e aap…. Sab se…” She stole a glance at the one and continued, “Baat karni hai…”

“Baat kya hai?” Vikram frowned.

“Kal sawere hum Jija ko Shyaam mandir le ja rahe hai.” Her words made Kunwar Pratap look up at her face for a few seconds as he got up and stared at Shakti, who asked, “Ji aur?”

“Hum chahte hai ke Jija ko waha apne saare sawalo ke jawab mil jaaye.” Her words made Kunwar Pratap look up as she turned to leave.

“Suniye.” He managed to find a voice as Shakti and Vikram decided to leave in silence.

“Ji?” Pur did not turn to face him as he continued, "Dhanyavaad.”

“Ji?” Pur smiled, confusing him, “ Shama kijiyega Kunwarsa, ho sakta hai ap ko lag eke Rajkumari Pur Bai apne swarth ke liye Kunwaranisa ko ….”

“Nahi hum…”

“Hum bas yehi chahte ke humare jija ke saath jo anyay hua hai woh aane wale samay mein koi udaharan na bann jae aur Jija ko unke sacche hone ka….”

“Hum vachan dete hai.” His trembling voice made her turn as he looked at the grounds, speaking “Hum vachan dete hai, ke Ajabde ko mana lenge hum, unko firse Bijolia nahi….”

“ Sajja bua theek kehti thi….” 

Her smile made him stop as she looked away from his face. 

“Wohh theek keheti thi ki Kunwarani Ajabdeh ka sthaan aur mahatwa Kunwarsa se adhik kisike liye nahi hai, woh toh kar hi nahi sakte apne Ajabde se koi gussa, samajh ji nahi sakte unko galat.” 

Her words made her eyes tear up, as he was at a loss for words. 

“Hum yeh avashya maangenge Shyaam ji se ke aapko aapka Ajabdeh Baisa mile aur humare Jija ko unke hisse ki khusiyaan. Aur hum dhanyavaad bhi kahenge unse ke unhone hum e aap dono se milwaya.”

Kunwar Pratap looked stunned at the retreating figure as she decided not to look back as she ran to the Mahal, hiding her tears as fast as she could. Pur sat at the feet of the Kanha idol in her puja room, wiping her tears as Ajabde appeared behind her in a lehenga, which Pur had insisted on gifting her. Ajabde looked worried as she asked, “Aap theek hai na?”

“Haan jija, apka vishraam…” She wiped the tears to face Ajabdeh with a smile, but Ajabdeh knew she had cried. “Behena hum ko yaha se chale jana chahiye… aap samajhti kyun nahi ke …”

“Aree jija, yeh kya… apne sringaar nahi kiya…. Chaliye ayiye, hum karvate hai na aaj apka sringaar….”

“Nahi behena suniye…” 

A reluctant Ajabde found herself being dressed up by an over-enthusiastic Pur Bai with her jewellery while she stopped at the maangtika.

“Sindoor kaha hai?” Pur’s words startled her from her thoughts as she pointed at the box of vermilion. Pur took it out and held it for her as she held Pur’s hand, saying, 

“Aap bohot acchi hai Pur Baisa par…. Yeh jo aap….”

“Sindoor Jija! Iske baad hum ko samaroh mein jana hai.”

“Kaisa samaroh?” Ajabde asked, taking the box from her hand.

“Aree hum toh batana hi bhul gaye ke saare amantrito ke liye samaroh hai, ab aap Bijolia ki Samant hai, apko bhi toh waha hona hoga.”

“Aree ha… toh hum ko chalna chahiye.” She stared at Samant’s attire as Pur stopped her. “Waise nahi, aise, jaise Ajabdeh Baisa hai waise…. Yaha koi yudh bhumi toh hai nahi ke aap talwar leke chale…”

“Parantu pur….”

“Sindoor lijiye, aur phir hum apko humara sab se pasand ka chunri denge. Hum abhi aate.”

“Rukiya Pur….” Ajabde saw her vanish into the next room as she sat worried at her own reflection. 

After months, she was looking like the newlywed Ajabdeh who had stepped into this Mahal with a lot of dreams. She gulped down the lump in her throat and proceeded to fill her hairline.

He stopped at the threshold, watching her fill her hairline with the vermilion of his name as memories of the wedding flashed on his mind. He had been looking for Ranima in vain, and one of the Daasis had wrongly assumed Ranima was with Pur Baisa. What he had forgotten was that Ajabdeh was here too. Her hand stopped as she spotted his reflection in the mirror and stood up, visibly displeased.

“Pur behena humara chunri layiye shirgh!”

“Aree jija dekhiye yeh…” Pur stopped watching the duo as she silently put the Chunri on Ajabdeh’s head, noticing Kunwar Pratap steal a glance. She smiled to herself as Kunwar Pratap found his voice.

“Wohh hum Ranima ko dhund… shama kijiye….Humara pagri nahi bann rahi toh… Shama…” 

He turned to leave as he heard her voice.

“ Ranima Meera ma ki mandir gayi hai.” 

Pur stared at Ajabdeh, surprised, not expecting a reply, as Kunwar Pratap smiled, pleased and turned to see her face in the mirror. 

“ Pagri hum bhi bana sakte.”

Pur moved away as Kunwar Pratap stepped forward, visibly happy at her words.

“Dhanyavaad.” He tried to sound normal as she added, “Yeh toh humara Samant hone ka dharm tha ke hum apke sahayeta kare.” 

She finished tugging the last part, carefully avoiding his glances, and straightened her chunri, saying, “Chaliye behena.”

Kunwar Pratap looked at Pur, looking confused and apologetic at him before following Ajabde out as he smiled at himself in the mirror. Somewhere in the Baijilal, he saw all day, in these few moments, he had found his Ajabdeh, the one he loved and lost, and would never let go again. The one who was hurt and angry with him, but could never stop caring. He smiled at her sword that was once his before walking out towards the courtroom.

“Hum apko mana hi lenge.”