Skip to main content

The One

The Surajgarh Haveli had a lot of people running around the central hall which was decorated wonderfully with marigold strands, lamps and petals. The huge rangoli in the doorway welcomed people into the large hall the farthest corner of which had the marble-carved statue of Maata Laxmi and Narayan sitting on the Sesh Naga. A large silver Kalash was placed before her, along with everything required for the Pujas, The Bhog, the flowers, Sandalwood, leaves of the Mango tree and Tulsi that were considered auspicious. The other corner was placed with sofas and cushions for the people to sit on. 

The guests were to arrive shortly after the pujas, or so Uai Singh informed Ramrakh.
“The other royals, our kin and the local ministers. They come on every puja and this one is special because they will meet Kunwarani Ajabdeh too.” Udai had smiled at Jaivanta’s nod as Ramrakh and Hansa shared a worried glance. Hansa and Jaivanta were sitting with the Panditji to check if he needed something more than what was already provided for the Havan including the wood, ghee, leaves, and camphor. Ranisa looked elegant in a golden matt saree with self-embroidery and thin red borders along with a velvet quarter-sleeved blouse and traditional Jewelry while Hansa chose her favourite shade of blue.

“What the hell!” Shakti looked alarmed at his brother wearing a blue bandh gala holding up his grey fitted pyjamas, confused.
“What happened now?” Shakti kept aside the Forbes he was engrossed with and walked up to him. Ready in his white Kurta pyjamas, looking handsome he knew his brother would do with some help, especially after a sleepless night, he had pulled Pratap out of bed and managed to push him to bathe, and take out his clothes.
“Where is the tying rope?” Pratap sounded alarmed. “I can’t wear this.”
“Wait am calling Kaka.” Shakti smiled.
“No… No…” Pratap sulked, “I need Ranima.”

Within minutes, like kids looking for their mother, the two princes “Ranima Ranima!” rang through the corridor making Udai give Jaivanta a cold stare as she smiled awkwardly with 
“Uff these kids..." and rushed to their need.
“Nara?” She frowned at the brothers. “When will you two grow up…” she sat putting in the string as the two smiled at her. “Stop being kids now!” She frowned. “Your wives won’t tolerate this childishness Kunwarsa! I won't be there forever…” made them stare at each other with frowns that turned to sly smiles as they rushed from either side to hug their mother tightly.
“Aree Pratap! Shakti! Leave me.” She stared at her older one smile as they tightened the hug making her smile and pat them. " Both of you are wet!”
“Ranima, make my pagdi like you used to!” Shakti sulked like a kid.
“Mera bhi!” Pratap added.
“Mine first!”
“No mine!”

Heer saw the clock ticking away much like a time bomb as her sister lay least bothered, on the bed sound asleep. She knew the last “Brahmastra” she could use.
Splash! 
Ajabdeh jerked up from sleep all wet as Heer stood with the bucket in hand victorious.
“Fire! Fire!” she shouted still unable to open her eyes.
“Hush Jija! It's me!” Heer giggled.
“What the…” Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly, water still dripping from her locks as Heer smiled and pulled her up “Time to get ready for the pujas!”
“Oh noooo!” She sulked.

In a few minutes, Heer was helping her put on an Orange and pink combined saree that Hansa had brought for the occasion.
“Am telling you, Heer.” She sounded serious as Heer put her pallu in place with a safety pin and looked for a brooch in the box. “What if I trip?”
“I will be there Jija, now you have to make a habit of this.”
“What if I fall?”
“You won't…”
“What if this thing opens and causes some wardrobe malfunction??”
“Jija! Am helping you na? Now hush!”
Ajabdeh knew this stubborn one was hard to convince so she stayed mum as Heer put on her elegant traditional earrings and a neckpiece along with bangles and bindi and tied her hair in a stylish side bun with a flower pin in the middle. Ajabdeh stood in front of the mirror admitting to herself she did look nice. She stared at her sister pinning her Olive dupatta to the matching Churidar as she smiled to herself.

“Chale?” Heer asked as she nodded.
At the steps, Ajabdeh tripped making Heer gasp worried.
“Am fine! just sleepy…” Ajabdeh smiled making Heer nod in silent understanding.
“Where were you all night?” Once out of the cottage, Heer held her hand tightly and asked with a frown.
“You want details?” Ajabdeh’s face made Heer look wide-eyed with worry as she giggled.
“Oh my God Heer! Look at your face! I WAS JOKING! We just talked. Sacchi!” Ajabdeh laughed some more making her sister frown.

“Puja arambh kiya jae?” Panditji asked as Jaivanta  nodded.
“Should we help, Ranisa?” Heer’s polite voice made her turn as Hansa smiled at Ajabdeh looking rather awkward in the saree.
“Oh, you have arrived.” Hansa smiled at Heer and rolled her eyes making Ajabdeh smile reluctant at Jaivanta.
“That is good.” Jaivanta smiled at the duo and walked up to Ajabdeh. “Kunwaranisa will start the rituals Panditji. Kasturi?” She called a maid as Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly. “Take her to the gaushala. ”
“Ji Ranisa.”
Gau what? Ajabdeh stared at Heer clueless as she ignored the “SOS” glances and started helping Ranisa with the garlands. The maid was waiting for her to follow her out of the hall.

Pratap walked down to the hall when the Havan had already started and he did notice Shakti smile at him before rolling his eyes once around the hall. Where was she? He spotted his parents doing the havan together. Ramrakh sitting with Shakti, and Hansa was with Heer. He could see Heer helping Ranima making her smile. There was no Ajabdeh. He came to the havan and sat between his brother and father looking around for the second time.

“Gaushala se ayi nahi Ajabdeh?” Udai addressed his younger one noticing the elder one look around.
“Nahi Papa, main jaake dekhu?” Shakti asked amused as Pratap realized the folly and folded his hands rather seriously staring at the havan kund.
“Shakti..” he whispered in a minute.
“Hmm?”
“Whats Gaushala?”
Shakti hid his laughter. “The cowshed Dada bhai!”
“What is she….” Pratap sounded alarmed but before he could finish someone was at the door.

“Khamma Ghani!” Jalal looked rather handsome in his bottle green bandh gala kurta as Udai and Jaivanta smiled at him and Pratap walked up to greet his best friend.
“Kika!” He hugged Pratap with a frown “They are here?” made Pratap roll his eyes at a rather amused Jalal.
“Why is Kunwaranisa so late?”  Panditji made Jaivanta stare at the door. Shakti was about to get up when she stopped him “Jalal please see… Kunwaranisa is at the …”
“Kuwa who?” Jalal frowned at Pratap who tugged at his hand 
“Ajab yaar, come with me I will explain to you!” He dragged him towards the door making the parents smile at each other and Heer look worried for her sister as Shakti’s assuring nod caught her eyes and made her smile.

“Awww Laxmi! You have a baby too! What’s your name Baby? Huh? Huh!” Jalal and Pratap stood stunned at the scene in front of their eyes. Firstly, Ajabdeh Punwar was in a saree, looking all elegant and classy, and then, she was trying to pat a calf, who was scared and moving away, making her almost run behind it making the maid smile.

“Come, eat this na Baby, see Mamma is eating! Yum!” Ajabdeh tried to lure the calf with hay strands in her hand.
“Umm, Ma’am.” Kasturi interrupted politely “She feeds on milk.”
“Aww, what’s her name?” Ajabdeh seemed disappointed. She so wanted to take this baby home!
“ Champa Ma’am.” The maid spotted Kunwarsa and his friend who gestured at her to not do the courtesy Khama Ghani so that Ajabdeh won’t be alert. She understood the gesture and smiled.
“Tumhara naam kya hai Kasturi?” Ajabdeh smiled as she cluelessly asked “Ji?”
“Have you not watched Sholay?” Ajabdeh giggled making her smile awkward once at her and then at Kunwarsa as Ajabdeh almost tripped making the trio gasp worried as she stared at the boys.

“Oh my god! Am fine!” she stopped Kasturi from helping her. “Am fine.”
“everyone's looking for you, and you are playing here?” Pratap frowned.
“Areee! Ranisa sent me here to….” She pointed at the white cow, “Do you know Laxmi Princy? Laxmi, do you know him?” The cow mooed making Pratap stare a little surprised. First Chetak now Laxmi, this girl is quickly making everyone her fan.
“Princy?” Jalal’s wide eyes made Pratap shake his head as he said “Can we go now?”
“Hi, handsome!” Ajabdeh smiled tilting her head a little at Jalal who in turn hugged her, “You look gorgeous as well.”
“Like always?” She smiled.
“Like always!” He agreed.
“ If your flirting is done, can we go?” Pratap frowned at the duo still in half a hug as they pointed at him in unison saying “Jealous!”
“Ya right!” He shrugged and walked away making them giggle and follow.

“Ab Kunwarsa aur Kunwaranisa aarti karenge.” Made Shakti and Jalal smirk at each other as Jalal took out his phone in silence to record the “grand event”
“What the…” Pratap stepped to take the Pancha Pradeep from the Panditji and stared to his left where Heer had dragged a clearly reluctant Ajabdeh, with pallu on her head, as per her mother’s instruction. They gave each other a stare of helplessness and she placed her hand on his to hold the lamp.
“What the hell is going on!” Ajabdeh sulked under her breath.
“Nothing seems to be working with these stubborn people.” He agreed.
“They are our parents!” Ajabdeh shook her head. “Let me think!”
“Fast!” he reminded.
“Umm…” He stopped the last round as Panditji put on the tilak on his forehead. “You look beautiful.” He walked away as she held the lamps, that the maid took from her hand. Breathing in deeply she smiled the fakest smile at Udai and Jaivanta before walking back to Heer.

The guests started coming soon after as the Kunwars played the perfect host to the royalties, everyone was shocked by Pratap's presence at a family function and Jalal impressed the ministers with his smooth talks. Jaivanta and Hansa welcomed their mutual friends as Pratap rolled his eyes around a little worried to spot no Gauhar in the crowd. His eyes met her doe ones as she could read his mind and worry and flashed a smile at him making him smile in return before an aunty blocked the view. Shakti noticed that as he brought Heer some fruits on a plate.

“I have had these thank you.”
“As a host, I need to look after my guests, I guess you can have some more, for your new friend at least! Lunch will be rather late!” Heer took the plate making him smile as he sat down beside her making her move two centimetres away on the couch. He ignored that to stare at Pratap smile at Ajabdeh looking helpless with the royal ladies flocking to her.
“Did you notice them?” Shakti was trying to break the silence while Heer frowned. “yes they look like a mess, out of place and awkward.”
“Not that!” Shakti smiled.
“Then?” she frowned.
“Did she tell you anything?” He faced the confused girl who shook her head. 
“Bout what?”
“Dadabhai said she will help him with his dream project, they have a corporate meeting tomorrow!” He seemed pleased.
“What?” Heer’s eyes went wide. “Corporate work and Jija? Impossible!”
“I was thinking the same until I actually confirmed it from her a while ago.” Made Heer frown. 

A small part of her was disappointed and jealous of Shakti as he knew something about her sister that she didn’t. This had happened for the first time in decades and she stared at the smiling face of her sister wondering. She felt an unsaid distance between them. Maybe it would just increase if she does marry… her eyes travelled to Kunwar Pratap helping an old man sit down… he’s not that bad… he’s… Heer couldn’t place what was bothering her, why she was even thinking all this. Jija had told her she was not going to marry right? But Shakti said… why did she even want to believe him? She hardly knew him!
“Where are you lost?” Shakti waved his hand confused.
“Excuse me.” She smiled politely and walked up to Ajabdeh.

“Excuse me. Jija, I need to talk.” Heer politely excused themselves from a few aunties as Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly. “What have I done now… am behaving well!” made Heer smile.
“You didn't tell me…” she stopped. “You are actually helping Kunwar Pratap in some corporate project? When did you start liking those?”
“Ohho Heeriye!” Ajabdeh patted her shoulder. “It’s not that, I am just accompanying him to some meeting that’s it. It’s his dream and…”
“You want to marry him?” Heer asked doubtfully.
“Hell no! I never want to marry, he is  a friend Heer!” Ajabdeh smiled at her sister “I won’t lie to you.”
“Okay… okay….” Heer nodded happily.

“Excuse me, can I talk to her for a minute?” Pratap interrupted the duo as Heer murmured a “sure” and walked away rolling her eyes at Ajabdeh who smiled.
“She is always in a bad mood?” He frowned.
“Jus with you around” Ajabdeh smiled. “So you wanted to say that?”
“No! You know you are not supposed to impress these people right?” he frowned a little. “Am sure you are not doing that right.” Made her giggle.
“Kya karoon! I am naturally lovable!” She giggled.
“Ajab?” He frowned seriously.
“Don’t worry Princy, once the guests leave I have a Mahashtra! Your parents will reject me then and there.”
“What are you going to do?” Pratap sounded alarmed.
“Hush!” she walked away making him stare confused.

After a traditional Rajwadi lunch, the men were on the lawn discussing business while the ladies were at the puja sthaan for the folklores of Maata Laxmi to be read by the Panditji at dusk.
“Maata Laxmi came out of the churning of the sea, with wealth and prosperity. And then her father Sagar Dev welcomed her. Vishnu knew she was his one…” Everyone stared at Ajabdeh telling the children the folklores, as the ladies sat to listen much to Hansa’s delight as she saw an impressed Jaivanta smile and say “It's time for the folklores!”

“Then?” an eager kid asked. “How he knew she is the one?”
“Umm… aa…. He.. she was pretty …” Ajabdeh frowned.
“So is Maata Parvati and Maata Saraswati.” A girl said intelligently.
“She was powerful too…” Ajabdeh added.
“So are they….” The kids frowned making the women smile.
“Now Ajabdeh, answer her,  why he felt she is the one?” Jaivanta sat waiting for an answer as Hansa smiled nervously. Ajabdeh looked around at the smiling faces challenging her, she took a deep breath and smiled.
“Lord Vishnu is our protector. He protects us. From evil. And to protect yourself from evil you need prosperity.”
“Wealth and riches?” One of the ladies smiled. “Power and money are related.”

“No Aunty. I mean prosperity within. Our health, our mental wellness, the prosperity of the heart, everything makes us strong individuals and hence helps us gain confidence. Confidence acts as a shield against evils like criticism, people putting us down, bad vibes, etc. Vishnu chose Laxmi as she was the prosperity of his deed. Whatever he wanted to do in life, his purposes, through various avatars, time and again, she was his motivator, his willpower and strength… his one.” 
Ajabdeh stopped a little awkward as everyone stared at her in awe and silence as Hansa broke it with “Kunwarsa when did you come?” Everyone including her stared at the threshold where he stood a little stunned before saying “Jus... just now… Ranima, Papa is calling you.” He turned and left as Ajabdeh kept staring at the door and then smiled back at the children “Ha.. where was I…. The churning of the sea…”

“Ranisa is calling you.” Kasturi addressed Ajabdeh who frowned making Heer Shakti and Jalal smile amused.
“Me? ”
“To her bedroom.” Kasturi left as Shakti sounded alarmed “ She only calls us in her bedroom when we do something utterly wrong… where is Dadabhai?”
“I haven’t seen him since evening.” Heer wondered.
Jalal smiled. He goes only to one place when he is missing but why today? He stared at Ajabdeh looking clueless as she walked towards Ranisa’s room.

Pratap sat taking in the cool breeze of the evening with his eyes closed. Chavand was shrouded in darkness. The only light was of his car headlights in a distance that made him see the cenotaph and the lamp. He took out a cigarette and put it back in his pocket.
“What if…” He said aloud to himself. I feel if I can’t trust, respect or be truthful to someone, love is out of the question. His blood runs in me. I can cheat and…
He smiled to himself. 
“There is no what if. All these girls are the same! She almost admits it!” 
He for the first time found it hard to believe.

He shook off the uneasiness in him that had shrouded him ever since he had heard her speak to the kids and wondered if he could talk to Jalal about why he was even feeling so weird. Was there some sympathy for what Ajabdeh went through?
No. He shook his head, Jalal doesn’t know how much his incident affected me, I can't make him feel the pain again, maybe even guilt. I need to talk to Ajab and tell her to leave soon. Maybe after tomorrow’s meeting….we will hatch a plan….
His phone rang.
“Dadabhai. Ranima called Ajabdeh to THE bedroom” and made him frown “What did she do?”
“We don’t know.”
“Am coming!” Did she already do what she planned to do? If yes you should be happy Pratap! 
He ran to the car.

“Ranisa?” Ajabdeh knocked and peeped in.
“Ohh come in beta.” Jaivanta undid her earrings and kept them in the box. “Come sit.” She directed Ajabdeh to the sofa.
She sat in silence with a smile as Jaivanta took the seat beside her. “I wanted to talk to you alone.” She smiled. About what? Ajabdeh wondered.

“Woof!” Pratap jerked as a little pup jumped down from the car bonnet and tugged at his kurta. His brown furry coat and shiny black round eyes were the cutest Pratap ever saw, but he had no time for this.
“Shoo! Am in a hurry.” He noticed it was no street pup to start with …
“where did you come from?”
“Kunwarsa?” He turned to see a boy from the village “Khamma Ghani.”
“Is this yours?” Pratap asked rather irritated.
“Forgive me Kunwarsa, he is…I was going to sell him but nobody buys… he bites everyone and is stubborn…. this is the first time he's not barked at a stranger.”The boy looked upset. “I am in debt now yet can't sell him.”
“Acha… umm… How much money do you need?” Pratap stopped in the boy’s dismay.
“No kunwarsa… I won't take help from you…” He was reluctant.
“Can I take him then?” Pratap smiled at the boy’s honesty as he saw the pup wag his tail.

Ajabdeh where did you end up now. where on earth is Princy? Agar she asks pasand hai ke nahi toh? Ajabdeh stared at ranisa Jaivanta waiting to speak while her eyes travelled to the framed picture of him smiling at her bedside table. Her mouth went dry.

“But what will you do with him Kunwarsa? He is trouble!” The boy frowned. “Ay! Come with me.” The pup refused to leave Pratap’s kurta and stared at him with cute drooly eyes.
“I…” Pratap remembered the girl with the cows. “will gift him to someone!”
“But Kunwarsa… nobody can handle him…” the boy stopped as Pratap stuffed his hand with cash. 
“She is more stubborn than this pup!” He smiled as he picked up the pup and placed him in the back seat of his car.
Goodbye-gift? Pratap saw the Pup from the rearview mirror. Maybe.



READ CHAPTERS HERE
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...
6 comments
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Three

“Did you ask for me, Dadu?” Bondita asked as the old man smiled at her. She looked fresh, with her hair neatly braided and a cotton pleated skirt, Thamma sewn with a faded top of one of her cousins, as she stood before the old man sitting on the porch. “Yes indeed, Didibhai, you didn’t come for chess yesterday.” The man smiled. “Oh, Pradhan Jyatha wanted me to look out for the …” She stopped as she saw Aniruddha walking towards them down the corridor. She eyed him as the old man followed her gaze. “Oh Aniruddha Babu, come here. This is Bondita Das.” Aniruddha smiled at the child as she looked away. “She is the only girl in the village who has appeared for her final examinations this year. She is very intelligent and…” Aniruddha nodded “She helped me a lot yesterday.” He made her look up, with a cold stare at him as he smiled politely. “Yes, I have called her here to show you around the village. He wants to see the affected areas of the Adivasis, Bondita.” The old man made her nod. “But...
Post a Comment
Read More

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused.   " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...
8 comments
Read More

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as ...
5 comments
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Four

The group of youth provided by the Pradhan proved efficient for Aniruddha’s liking as they helped him survey the villages, create a set of data and provide a rough idea of how much fund was needed to rebuild the roofs and fallen walls. “What if we make them permanent? That way, the next cyclone will cause less damage. Pakka houses may also get other facilities like toilets and…” Aniruddha suggested as his eyes shone in the flickering light of the dimly lit kerosene lamp in the living room of Pradhan’s house. Drops of perspiration had formed on his forehead in the load-shedding, and the mosquitoes buzzed around them. For the first two nights, Aniruddha could barely sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings with buzzing insects, sounds of the unknown, and eerie animals here and there at a distance. Stories of snakes climbing up to the second floor through windows despite the mosquito net protecting his four-poster bed kept him alarmed. By the third day, after a day’s survey through the villag...
Post a Comment
Read More

A Heart at War

Legend has it that Pratap had to struggle for his father Rana Udai Singh's approval on his wedding with the daughter of Bijoliya's chieftain's daughter, Ajbante Kanwar Punwar. It is so because he was the crown prince and his first queen was supposed to be the next queen of Mewar. Hence his father expected his first bride to be a powerful princess who would aid his political needs. But stubborn as he always was, Kunwar Pratap had other plans. The water of the Bhimlat was still. The sound of the waterfall could be heard in the silent afternoon in the dense forest. A pebble caused ripples in the water and alerted the horse gazing nearby. He looked up at the source of the stone. Then began grazing peacefully once again. The source of the stone however was far from being peaceful. His face wore a frown as he stared around restlessly for the umpteenth time. He sat unmindful on the large rock on the bank of the water body watching the ripples closely, lost in thoughts. The soun...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Six

Kalindi waited outside the hut, on the torn mat they usually slept on, using the hand fan to drive away mosquitoes as she stared at the empty path leading out of the house, the path Bondita had taken some time back. It was almost an hour. Did the foolish girl escape or land in trouble? To her relief, she could hear her nephew snoring away indoors, reassuring her that they were at least not caught by the villagers till now. She was sure Bondita would return empty-handed and hurt, and that she would have no other way than to accept the proposal from the Pradhan. That morning, her Kaka would accompany Sarkar Moshai to the adjacent village to talk to a family friend of the Sarkars. They were looking for a bride for their sixteen-year-old eldest son, who worked as a labourer in Sealdah. Kalindi had tears in her eyes. Not much had changed in these years; not much of women’s fate was different, wasn't it? Kalindi was about ten years old when her father took her to the Roy Chowdhury house ...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Five

Aniruddha finished reading the book he had carried with him in the dim light of the bulb in his room and decided to pack it away. He was leaving in a few days and wanted to make sure he left nothing behind. The construction work on the school had started, and the Panchayat wanted to give him a thankful farewell he humbly refused. The spotlight should be on Trilochon to help with his next election campaign. Aniruddha did not want to associate himself with the party or the job. He contemplated going back home and telling his father that he had decided to pursue a career in India instead of his initial plan of going back to London. He had been giving it a thought for quite some time, and the day he said it out loud to Bondita, he knew in his subconscious mind he had already decided on it. The more he saw the village, the more sure he was that he was needed by his countrymen. Dadu put faith in him that he could be part of something bigger than himself and his career, and he intended to kee...
Post a Comment
Read More

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The maid-in-waiting ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai, who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room, followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The maid sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes could not believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed, shouting, " Quick. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabdeh. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. Sajja Bai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap had not noticed anything except her calm, unconscious face. Now that he noticed his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...
6 comments
Read More

Unsaid

"Keep the Lehenga in this one, that jewellery in the box." Jaivanta Bai was ordering the ladies in the Ranimahal around. Kunwar Shakti entered with an equally stunned Kunwar Pratap at the scene as the hall turned into a mini market thanks to their mothers. " Kunwar Pratap is here." Dheerbai smiled at the duo as she walked up to them. " Choti ma, what are all these?" He asked, surprised. " Shagun!" Sajjabai answered excitedly."For Kuwaranisa. She will be blessed with these for the Sagaai. " Sajja Bai smiled at Jaivanta Bai, who nodded. "What Sagaai ?" Kunwar Pratap frowned at his mother. "Your engagement , aree , no one told him?" Sajja giggled a little, amused. " The four of us are choosing separate gifts of our own choice for your bride, Kunwarsa, come and see." Veer Bai urged him.   "The Sagaai is in three days, followed by the wedding on the Seventh, Rajpurohitji had said," Dheerbai informed ...
10 comments
Read More