Skip to main content

Matrimony

Image
By
“Check this. Wanted. Fair Bride, Well educated, from an affluent family, for a 30-year-old…” he stopped reading the advertisement to his wife aloud as their daughter came and stood before them in her pink pyjamas and purple printed top, looking nothing less than a zombie. It looked like she was sleepless.
“Mom, Dad," she sounded a little unsure.

“Good morning, Ajabdeh, coffee?” Her mother swept her messy locks aside lovingly. She shook her head in a small no.
“Umm… You asked me yesterday if… I have someone in mind…”
“Yes? Do you?” Hansa smiled at her daughter.
“Actually, mom, I…” Before she could utter another word, the bell rang, prompting Ajabdeh to say, “I will open the door.”

“Good Morning, Beta.” Ajabdeh smiled, surprised at the guest. “Ranima? So early in the morning? You should have called me if there was something you needed help with...” Ajabdeh made way for the next-door neighbour to enter the house.
Business Partners, Udai and Ramrakh, had built their houses, side by side, with an attached rooftop. Their children had also grown up together as best of friends.

“Good morning!” Hansa offered Jaivanta a seat and tea.
“I need to talk to you about something, Hansa, but first, Ajab, can you do me a favour?” 
Ajabdeh nodded readily, “Yes, of course.”
“Pratap again skipped breakfast and left in a hurry,” She frowned.

Ajabdeh knew what she had to do; she rushed to the kitchen. Stuffed a Tiffin box with Puri and Sabzi, and ran out to her cycle, saying, “I will go drop this, Mom”
“Change your clothes at least.” Hansa frowned.
“Let her go, Hansa. She won't sit till he eats something,” her father laughed.

Since his father passed away, Pratap, now 25, has been running the business. He was efficient enough to manage both his father’s share and Ramrakh’s, as most of the time he insisted the old man rest at home. Ever since then, when at work, he forgot to eat or sleep. And there was no one except Ajabdeh, his best friend, schoolmate mate and college buddy, who his mother could rely on, to tame her stubborn son and make him listen. Ajabdeh had just finished post-graduation a week ago, and it was yesterday that her parents decided to tell her it was time they started looking for a groom. The introvert Ajabdeh was scared at the thought.

The cycle stopped at the office gate in a hurry. She got in as the guards stood alarmed at “Malik Saab's daughter’s arrival with the breakfast," which was a regular affair. Pratap had stared through the glass door at her, in her pyjamas, hair messed up in a bun, looking sleepy. He was in the middle of a very important meeting, too important to even laugh at the sight; he just nodded and told his assistant to take her to his chambers to wait.

Now Ajabdeh sat tapping a tune on the table that had a frame of her with his mother. The door squeaked, and without turning, she said grumpily, “The puri is cold by now, don’t blame me.”
“When will you stop running around in those night suits?” He sounded amused.
“The day you will start having breakfast at home, like responsible adults.” She shrugged indifferently.
“I assume Ranima sent you?” He sat down and opened the box to smell the food rather hungrily before digging in. She watched him savour it with a smile.
“What were you doing at my place so early in the morning?” He ate a spoonful of Sabzi and stopped. It wasn’t Ranima’s.
“Actually, she came home to talk to Mom and Dad about something.” Ajabdeh frowned as he stopped at his food and stole a glance at her.
“Umm… You know what they talked about…” He asked, unsurely.
“No Idea!” She shrugged, “Now hurry and finish your food! I need to go.”

“Did you say anything to them?” He asked with a rather straight face.
“Whom?” She frowned. He shook his head and resumed eating. He watched her rub her hands like she was talking to herself in her mind, an old habit of hers. It made him smile.
“You don't know whom? Are you sure?” He asked again, raising his eyebrows. She looked irked “One more question, and I'm leaving!”
“Okay, sorry, sorry!” he resumed eating his last Puri. The phone rang, and he picked it up like he was waiting for a call.

“Hello? Ha… Umm… Hmm… Yup, she is here… home? Okay… bye.” He kept the receiver and smiled at her, “Your mom has called you home. I will keep the food. You go.”
“Home?” She frowned doubtfully, “But why?”
“Actually,” he looked amused, “You have got a Rishta!”
“What?” she jumped up from the chair, making him smile “Stop it, this is not funny!”
“Why will I joke about it? Aunty said so.” He shrugged nonchalantly as she looked pale and confused.
“ But… Rishta… How is it possible… So quickly?” She sounded unsure.
“Go home now…” made her turn to leave, “And comb your hair. If you go like a destitute person, people might just reject you.”
He chuckled as she grunted, “Shut up, Pratap, Shut Up!!”

He watched her leave as he dialled a number, “Ranima?”
“They were happy… But they want to ask her first.”
“I know her answer.” He blushed slightly, keeping the receiver down.
Ajabde was cycling through the busy roads of Chittorgarh in a haze, as last night’s conversations flashed on her mind.

It was half past one. Still no sign of him.
“Damn yaar, where are you?” She stared at the closed door of their rooftop, both roofs connected through a passage. She checked that he had read her WhatsApp message.
“Sorry.” He smirked sheepishly as she narrowed her eyes at him
“Now you have time?”
“Aree sorry babah, Ranima was chatting away, I was with her, sorry na.” He caught her hand as she shrugged it off.
“Get lost.”
“Why are we here? What's wrong?” He insisted.
“Why should I tell you?” She snapped.
“Tell me.” There was a moment’s silence as Ajabdeh inhaled the fresh air and stared at the star-studded sky. Pratap took his seat on the bench beside her in silence.
“They want to get me married off.” She spoke up.
“Wow yaar, congrats! It will be so much fun at your wedding…” he stopped at her, slapping his hand.
“I don't want a wedding!” She frowned.
“Ajab beta.” He imitated her mother, making her narrow her eyes at him, a smile lingering on her lips, “I had kids at your age…”
“Stop it, Pratap!” She hit him playfully, making him laugh. “Hush," she grew alarmed.

“Okay, tell me, why do you not want to get married?” He asked in a rather serious tone.
“ You know my dreams and my bucket list…”
“That stupid list still exists?” he smiled.
“Nobody will understand my dreams…” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“ Yes, nobody is as understanding as me, right?” He smirked.
“ What if it's someone stupid? Someone I can't even have a nice conversation with?” She sulked.
“By God, it will be epic entertainment,” He laughed at her.

“Praataap!!!!” She pushed him to the edge of his seat.
He grew alarmed, “Ajabdeh!”
“What?” she frowned.
“How much more time do you need?” He asked, still smiling.
“What?” She narrowed her eyes
“With your dreams and…” he looked at the stars again.
She did a mental calculation and said, “Two years.”
“Then let Aunty know you need some time… She won't force you.” He shrugged casually.
“I tried. She said to stop having unrealistic dreams, you are not a kid anymore.” She looked at him, nodding.
“Point is valid," He shrugged.
“You always take her side!” She looked disappointed.

“Beer or…” He offered.
“Chai!” She smiled.
“Chai??” He looked surprised.
“Yes, the Pratap special Masala tea.” She smiled at him.
“Okay, Madam, presenting to you, the world's best masala chai, courtesy Pratap Singh” He bowed, making her laugh.
“Go make it, quick!” She pushed him towards his rooftop.

She stared in silence at the night sky, a shiver running down her bones, as she rubbed her hands together, lost in thought. He was back soon, with a kettle of steaming tea and two steel glasses.
“Remember how this tea kept us awake on nights before the exams!” She smiled.
“And your lectures, Madam.” He folded his hands.
“Such wonderful days.” She poured the glasses.
“Careful," he warned, “Yes, and now you will be married. Things will change.”
“Why change?” She frowned.
“We will not... share memories at midnight or stay awake on the roof till dawn anymore.”
“Why…” she stopped as realisation hit her “No worries, we will still call each other and you can video call me any time!”
“Yes, but this… won’t happen!” There was a deadly silence at his words. She looked like a statue staring at the floor, lost in thought. "I will miss you."
"I am not getting married now. Please." She snapped. "You are making me more panicked than I am."
“What kind of a man do you want?” He broke the silence, finishing his glass and pouring another.
“Someone like you,” she said rather in a reflex as eyes met and grew awkward.
“What?” He asked a little wide-eyed.
“I mean, who will understand me like you do, know my worries without telling them and stuff you know…”
“That will be difficult.” He smiled, “He won't know you since your diaper days.”
“Then you teach him.” Another silence followed.

 “If I could just buy some time.” Her voice seemed distant.
“Idea!” made her stare at him as he smirked. “Tell Aunty you have a boyfriend. That will stall things.”
“Why will I lie? She already asked, Where will I get a guy now?” She frowned at his stupidity.
“Umm… Then tell the guy who will come over… Sorry, I have a boyfriend…” He shrugged.
“What if he asks my parents?” She asked thoughtfully.
“Point… So?” They sipped their teas in silence.

“Idea.” He said again with a smile.
“Please stop it.” She sulked, dismissing him.
“Last!” he stared at her, "Promise.”
“Tell me," she agreed, staring at him.
“Tell him alone, and I will accompany you. We will act like we have something going on…”
“Like we used to shoo off boys in school?” She smiled at memories.
“And college too, remember?” he smiled back.
“Haha, best couple of the year!” She laughed.
“You made me do that for free Pizza coupons!” he pointed at her.
“So? It was just a compatibility test, and we know everything about each other. Why spoil the chance?” She giggled.
“That was a couple's quiz," he shrugged.
“But we won, right?” she pointed.

“I will miss you, too, you know. And this banter.” He stared at her, his eyes twinkling a little.
"Hence, the boyfriend plan," he reminded her.
“Oh, stop making it scarier for me now.” She looked away. Closing her eyes.
“I will also get married after yours!” He spoke after inhaling.
“Why?” Her voice was louder than usual.
“What, why!” He shrugged casually.
“How will you randomly get married? Because I am?” She asked, rather irked.
“Why can't I? At least my nights will have better use than this.” He smirked at her wide eyes.
“ How rude, Chi!” She got up to leave. He held her back by her wrist as she struggled.
“Don't go.” He smiled.
“Let me go.” She struggled in vain, using one hand to free the other from his grip.
“Sorry.” He stopped that hand, taking both in his.
“Let my hand go, Pratap,” she struggled.
“I won't let you go. What will you do about that, huh?” He got up to face her as she stopped struggling, and he pulled her into close proximity.
“You can't….” Eyes met, and she looked away “Hold on to me all your life. Go, find a wife. You don’t need a best friend”
“Oh, really? Aren't you the one leaving me alone here?” He frowned, still eyeing her.

“If given a choice, I wouldn't have.” She stared back at him, eyes twinkling.
“There is a choice, but the question is, will you choose that?” He spoke softly, eyes not leaving hers.
“What choice?” She narrowed her eyes at him. He smiled.
“ Think about it.” He stepped back three steps and let go of her wrist.
Suddenly, she realised the close proximity they were in, she had never been in before with him, or anyone, and to her surprise, it didn’t feel awkward. She stared at the retreating figure as the birds began to chirp even before sunrise.

The cycle stopped at the gates as her heart raced. Was he talking about….? She opened the gates, heart thumping, and hands trembling. Her vision blurred with a smile, with no sight of any guest cars on the porch.


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Begum Sahib: Forbidden Love

By
2nd June 1634, Burhanpur. " My heart is an endowment of my beloved, the devotee and lover of his sacred shrine, a soul that enchants mine."  The Raja of Bundi had arrived at Burhanpur after a win in the war of Paranda. He had met the crown prince Dara and was honoured with a sword and elephant before he came to pay his respect to the Padishah Begum as per the norms of the court. Jahanara was writing in her room. Her maid came with the news, “Begum Sahib, the Raja of Bundi has arrived at court; he is at the Bagh to pay you his respect.” “Tell him to sit in the courtyard of my bagh, I will be there.” She had risen from her place, covered her face in the veil of her dupatta and walked to the place where he waited. “ Begum Sahib," he had acknowledged her presence with a salutation. She returned the bow with a nod. She was sitting inside the arch while he was on the other side of the Purdah, the sun shining over his head as he took his seat on the velvet carpet th...
Read More

His Wife

By
" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabdeh looked visibly displeased at the ladies who ran around. " They are at the fort gates, and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red lehenga and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maasa Maasa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here, I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabdeh." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" A...
Read More

Begum Sahib: An Introduction and chronology

By
Note to the readers: Women behind men in history fascinate me. I had been reading about the mothers and wives who changed men’s fortunes. But what about daughters and sisters? A few months back, I was looking for books on Mughal Ladies, mainly Noor Jahan and her work. In the bibliography credits, I had chanced upon “The Life of A Mogul Princess” By Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan. I had no idea about the book and thought it was another autobiography. Previously, I had read only about how she was imprisoned along with her father at Agra, and her involvement with Dara Shikoh, her younger brother, in connecting the two realms of Hinduism and Islamism and the establishment of Sufism. All of these and the chronological events of history can be found in various books. As I read each page of her diary, cross-checking each point with Jagunath Sircar’s “History of Aurangzib” and R.C. Majumder’s “Mughal Empire” as well as numerous other sources on the Mughal Harem, I discovered ...
Read More

The Wounds of Love

By
The procession had stopped at a clearing. The women and children needed to rest for the day. The maids and guards who had followed them into this life of difficulty and sacrifice quickly laid the tents for rest. The young crown princess, still a child, was not used to the extreme conditions of the open air and the desert sun. She was slightly feverish. In the tent, her mother put her hand on his warm forehead, worried. There were sounds of footsteps, and she grew alarmed. The tent curtains parted. Ajabdeh Punwar entered the tent she shared with Pur Bai Solankini, a little worried. She managed a smile at Pur Bai as she checked the princess's fever. She checked the medicines kept by the bed and, after a reassuring nod at Pur Bai, stepped outside the tent where an eager Amar waited for her. "Keep vigil on your sisters." She ordered the eight-year-old as a pang of pain hit her. She did not want to take away his childhood and innocence with the weight of responsibilities so so...
Read More

One Night

By
Happy Valentine's Day, readers! Hope you put your self-love and your love for reading right at the top when you celebrate today! The night was eerie; the veil of stars shone in the clear sky, occasional clouds travelling with the wind, playing hide-and-seek with the crescent moon. The leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, and somewhere in the forestland, the call of an animal broke the silence. Owls hooted somewhere, and in the darkness, one could see across the arid land, beyond the water of a lake, a fort wall was lit by the torches of the guards who were awake and alert. The sandstone castle in the middle of the small township was asleep. The corridors of the Mardana Mahal, where noblemen and princes were stationed, were heavily guarded tonight. The prince of Mewar was travelling through this small town, on one of his many campaigns.  The square-shaped palace had an inner courtyard for the ladies. Opposite the Mardana Mahal was the Andar Mahal, where the women resided. They shar...
Read More

Scheme of Things

By
The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...
Read More

The Difficult Times

By
Rana Pratap rose to prominence as the new hope for Mewar after his coronation on Holi, 1st March, 1572. His subjects and chiefs had a lot of faith in his ability to remove the Timurid influence from Rajputana. In the year 1573, in February, June and November, Raja Man Singh, his father Bhagwan Das and Todal Mal came to persuade the Rana on alliances respectively. Although he received the fellow Rajputs cordially, their purpose remained unsolved. These frequent visits to his court from alliances of Akbar made Gogunda vulnerable as a capital. He decided to move to a small village at Girwa, about 8 miles from Haldighati. Not being able to reach him anymore, Akbar's chieftains were forced to prepare for war against the Rana. Under the leadership of Man Singh, Akbar's army reached Haldighati, the chosen battlefield on the banks of the Banas River. The brave Rajputs, having only half the army's strength, fought bravely, and an injured Rana was taken to safety by his favourite ...
Read More

The Maharana and his Prodigy

By
We do not know exactly when Ajabde Punwar passed, but it was after the capital was shifted to Chawand, and we can assume it occurred  between 1583 CE and 1597 CE. During the last few years of his reign, especially after the birth of his first grandson, Karan Singh of Mewar (Born on 1st August, 1583, according to Veer Vinod), to Aarti Bai Chauhan and Amar Singh I, Maharana Pratap decided to leave most of the administrative work to Amar, while he focused solely on rebuilding an army to regain the outpost at Chittorgarh which was under his half brothers rule who had joined the Timurids. The timeline also coincides with the time when a young Prince Salim, in one of his early expeditions, was injured in Mewar, and that prompted Akbar to remove Timurid outposts from Mewar (according to Akbarnama). However, the real reason was the constant attack on these outposts by Mewari Soldiers, and the cost of movement of these soldiers proved to be expensive for the emperor, who, after the Battle o...
Read More

My Everything

By
Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing, Chotima?" A disappointed voice was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...
Read More

The Final Battle

By
The Battle of Haldighati was fought in June 1576. However, Akbar had planned an attack on Mewar in February 1576 when Rana Partap Singh refused his peace treaty for the third time in four years. He wanted Rana Partap's defeat in his hands. He was the only one who didn't seem to fear the mighty Timurid domination. He needed to be taught a lesson. Rana Partap was disturbed by the constant visits of Man Singh to Mewar in the last two years, that too with Akbar's peace treaty. Chittorgarh had fallen to the Timurid power, and Mewar had lost its bravest. He wouldn't forget that till his last breath. There was no way he could bow down to the Timurid. 17 Mewari villages were under Timurid dominance. He needed to free them. But his morals of showing no enmity with any Rajput always made him most hospitable towards Man Singh. He was looking for a way to start a war. Man Singh came with a peace treaty in the years 1573 and 1574. It is then that Rana Partap decided that the areas n...
Read More