Home is...Where You Are!

The dawn broke with the first rays of the Sun touching the yellow petals as She fluttered awake. The Night seemed too long at times for the Sunflower as she waited for a glimpse of the Sun again, to feel his warmth again. At times, she wished she was a bird and could travel with the Sun, East to West every day. That way she never would be missing him! But sometimes she loved the feeling of longing, of waiting for daylight like her life depended on it. She was bound to her roots, she couldn’t set herself free from the Soil, her nurturing Mother. All she could do was raise her head and follow him, as he travelled clueless, about how long she had waited. The Sun had no idea that the Sunflower existed. He had a million others like her. But the Sunflower’s life and reason to live was the Sun. One day the rays took pity on her, as she yet again shed tears watching him leave behind a trace of red light on the western horizon. The Rays told the Sun about the Sunflower and her silent waiting. The Sun was amazed at how someone’s life is affected by him, and he was so clueless. One day as the Night put the Sunflower into a deep slumber, The Sun appeared in her dreams. “Why O Beautiful Yellow Heart, Do You wait upon this Clueless Soul?” He asked as she appeared speechless in her dreams. “ Don’t you fear my blazing heat? Don’t you fear it will dry you someday?” “ No My Love, I don’t!” She replied without a thought. “But Why?” He asked amazed. No one dared to look him in the eyes, let alone love him. No one was there to share his burdens or be a part of his journeys, he was always alone. “ Because you are my reason to live. Because you travel the sky, and I follow you in my heart, maybe I am attached to my roots but I am always with you, in my soul and heart.” The Sun smiled as his image faded in her dream. She woke to find a ray had reached her. Her wait was over for the day. She smiled. The Sun now looked forward to visiting the yellow patch of the field every day unknowingly, there she was staring up with hope every day. He smiled as he made sure a special ray reached her every day. He could never meet her, she could never be his. But their hearts spoke in silence every day. She knew the warmth was special to her. One day Ray had a message. From the Sun. “ Why do you wait upon the Love that can never have a happy ending?” She smiled at the Sun’s question. “Because Home is ... where You are!” He smiled to himself as she stared up, looking at each other, and the warmth of their love spread across the earth.

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See You Soon

Kunwar Partap entered the relatively quiet stable premises at the break of dawn checking on Bijli who was asleep, when he heard the sound of anklets near the cow shed. He walked up to the entrance of the stable, from where he could see her, her dupatta placed loosely over her wet hair, devoid of jewellery the way he never saw a royal lady, with a basket of flowers in one hand and a plate of sweets on the other. She was distributing sweets to the cow keepers, veterinarians and everyone who came by on the occasion of Lakshmi giving birth to her calf. “What will you name her, Hukum?” an old man asked. She smiled shyly, pressing her lips together. “Mandakini, Kakasa.” The old man smiled at her suggestion. “Like the kund? Very nice.” Kunwar Partap walked up to Lakshmi’s shed only after most people had dispersed to their work. Ajbante Kanwar heard footsteps behind her and turned with the plate that now had one sweetmeat left. Alarmed at his sight and at the lack of options she could offer fr...

Stable Boy

“Jija, I want to go to the stables too.” Ajbante was stopped in the corridor of the inner palace by Ratan Kanwar, followed by their half-brother, Akhil who was three. “We do.” Ratan corrected herself. The dawn had just set on the horizon and the birds were chirping in the gardens. Ajbante Kanwar had just taken a bath in the private pool and managed to grab her empty flower basket to go to the gardens still before that, she would visit the stables and cowshed, check how Lakshmi was doing with her newborn, and if Bijli was okay with the sudden changes her father made. Ratan Kanwar’s nagging made her sigh and nod. “Don’t make so much noise so early in the morning.” She scolded them as they followed her, giggling and skipping down the hall behind her. “Don’t touch the newborn Kunwar Akhil, you will scare Lakshmi.” The familiar alarmed voice made Kunwar Partap stop gathering hay as he placed them down, wiped his forehead and glanced over his shoulder at the cowshed. There was some gig...

I Saw You

Kunwar Pratap was in his brown Dhoti, off-white angrakha and a piece of brown cloth tied to his head when he entered the palace premises. He was standing in the courtyard, eyeing the lofty towers and domes, wondering whom to talk to as some soldiers galloped their horses out of the stables on the right and some people were gathered on the left. The main entrance and two guards on either side and he decided to go towards the stairs leading up to the inner palace when the guards stopped him. “Who are you looking for?” “Rao ji?” He asked unsurely. “Rao Ramrakh…” “What audacity, boy?” The old guard scolded, “Say, Hukum!” “Yes, Hukum.” He nodded. “I came to tend to the stables.” “Then go to the stable, why are you loitering around the private gardens?” One of the soldiers said in a gruff voice. “He must be the one we were told about…” The other one reminded him. “Oh, go to the stables anyway, Hukum is busy practising, I will summon you once he is on the premises.” Pratap nodded at his words...

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him. The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And 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. One of his aides...

Queen of the Heart

Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabde decided it was fair to know his strength before the big competition. Sword in hand, in a white female warrior attire with only her face visible she hid behind one of the large watchtowers of the Dangal watching him move. She heard Rawatji say, " Your left hand is still weaker than the right one with the moves. Both should be perfect." A smile curved her lips. Knowing an opponent's weakness always helps, which is one rule of the war she always remembered. Kunwar Pratap swung his sword with his left hand and turned around. He could sense someone watching, his sixth sense was never wrong. He looked around and hatched a plan. Ajabde again peeped at the grounds to see it was empty. He had left. She walked towards the empty ground, sword in hand. Suddenly, the cold blade of a sword was felt on her neck. She stopped still. " So someone was spying on me." His voice had a hint of taunt. " No, I was...

Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. “Break the door” he ordered. “Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar. “Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.” “Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried. “Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde. Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens… Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction. “ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword. Ratan took two ste...

Unexpected

" This is your room Ranisa." Hansa opened the door to the well-furnished large guest room of the Bijolia Palace. The diyas were lit and the room was neat and clean. " Your Daasis decorate the rooms well." Jaivanta Bai looked around. " Oh, Ranisa. all these... " Hansa smiled proudly. " All these are done by my daughter." " Your daughter?" Jaivanta Bai smiled surprised. " Milwayiye ." Jaivanta Bai was eager to meet her. " Ajabde! Ratan!" Hansa called as the girls came in. 13-year-old Ajabde preferred a simple lehenga in a pink and blue Dupatta clad over her head. She was the first one to calmly bend down and touch Maharani's feet as a five-year-old Ratan came running. " Ajabde is very talented in sewing, gardening and home decor. She can also...." " Maa Sa...." Ajabde's soft protest stopped Hansa as Jaivanta Bai smiled. " Accha, I won't tell but these are your good talents, right? ...

You Deserve More

Ajabde woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm clinging to her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly but he was holding it so tight. Ajabde'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 his bed as he again looked back at the rain. Then he looked back frowning as 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 in th...

New Dawns

Ajabde entered Jaivanta Bai's puja Ghar to push through the crowd and reach the front. Standing beside Ranima she prayed. Eyes closed. Hands folded. Please protect Kunwarsa Kanha Ji. I won't ask for Bijolia's protection because I know, that once he is safe, so will Bijolia. She calmed her racing heart and her worries, to stand by Padmavati. With her impending wedding she was the most vulnerable now, Ajabde thought. Rana ji walked in for the aarti from Ranima as Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakti followed. His eyes searched the crowd of hidden faces and found hers. How? She couldn't tell. But she felt good that he could find her. He stared at her, his eyes full of worry as she nodded with a reassuring smile he could make out, beneath the semi-transparent veil. He knew she was just trying to reassure him when she needed the same. He looked away as fear crept in. Kunwar Pratap Singh was never in turmoil going to war, he had always looked forward to it, facing his enemies, a...

Escapades

Ajabde was making a garland out of the marigold flowers in the Rani Baithak. The Princesses and Queens were all there making Preparations for the wedding. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had made sure she assigned everyone one responsibility or the other for Padmavati's wedding. To her, these occasions brought a family together as a unit no matter how many differences they had. Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakti were sent to the market to a vigil on the list of things Sajja had ordered for the wedding. As they entered the Rani Baithak with the sevaks carrying the things, Kunwar Shakti was checking them with the list again while Kunwar Pratap's eyes travelled around the room full of people. His relatives were there too, and so were all those from Sajja's side helping in the wedding, he smiled at them cordially as his search didn't end. Where are you? His Ranima saw his eyes hover as she smiled, calling " Ajabde." She came out of the adjacent room, three garlands in hand. ...

RAABTA

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