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 sound of anklets made him turn. He stared right at the forest from where the sound came and promptly got up.

The forest floor was now as familiar to her as the Haveli itself. She had played here with her sakhis, received herbal training at the Gurukul nearby, and most importantly came to the Bhimlat on foot. Time and again. But this time she promised herself it will be the last. She had received the news of the war and an impending alliance. The marriage of the favourite crown prince was indeed a happy affair for the whole of Mewar. But to her? She had brushed aside the thoughts. Would she lose a friend? Or perhaps more?

Adjusting her silver mang tika and yellow dupatta on her head properly she breathed in and forced a smile before showing herself. Her simple blue lehenga embroidered quite ordinarily with a pink choli certainly didn’t belong to her. She saw him standing there staring right at her, with a disturbed face. His warrior instincts always kept him on alert. She smiled. He wore the same blue angrakha he had worn the first day they had met. She smiled courteously as she walked up to him.

“What took you so long?” was his impulsive question. He stared at her face, calm and unreadable, as she looked away.

“I am sorry … Hukum.” He raised his eyebrows at her last word. “It is not easy to not get noticed in the haveli and…” she rubbed her hands in nervousness.

“I don’t have much time. The Camp is set and…as soon as I got your letter I…” He stopped closing his eyes and breathing in. With this restlessness, he might just scare her away.

“The war is on, I know Hukum.” She stopped him “You should be at camp rather than being here… But… I apologize that I …“

“I know what I am doing and where I should be Rajkumarisa!” His voice was louder than usual making her stare right at his face with a little shock.

“I…I…I am sorry if I crossed my limits, Hukum!” She stammered looking at his irked face.

“For Eklingji’s sake, Ajabdeh!” He stared right at her intensely “Stop being so formal. Please. That is the last thing I want right now.”

“Kunwarsa!” For the first time, her tone sounded worried. Worried for him.

His eyes immediately showed a flash of happiness that he disguised rather quickly. But not as quickly as she got what she said and looked away awkwardly. Silence filled the Bhimlat except for the sound of the waterfall.

“Where is he?” Rana Udai Singh frowned at his second born “I asked you something Kunwar Shakti Singh. Answer me!”

“He... took Sarang for a ride in the jungle.” A reluctant loyal brother pointed at the dense forests of Bhilwara.

“In this war situation, without any guards?” He was irked as he clapped his hands. “Send in some soldiers, we cannot lose our best Senapati.”

Kunwar Shakti’s fist tightened at the last words.

“Stop.” He ordered the man who was about to leave with the orders. “I will go and bring back my Dadabhai. You will not lose your best Senapati. I promise.” Kunwar Shakti left a rather irked Rana Udai Singh behind as he mounted his horse.

He stared at her face light up with a gentle smile as she offered some leaves she has brought with her to Sarang, and he happily obliged. She had noticed him smile at them. She patted the horse that neighed at her.

“Mewar needs you. More than anyone else ever will. And never forget your purpose in life. It’s for the motherland.” She stroked the soft mane of the horse as she spoke. He took a step back and turned to face the water away from her. He waited to clench his jaws as she giggled softly at Sarang’s antiques as he tugged at her dupatta for more leaves. Once Sarang was back to grazing she walked up to him, his back still to her.

“How bad is the situation?” She made him stare at her with a confused frown “I mean…” she looked away “At the war front”

“They have a large army but Marwar lacks good leaders. Rawatji said all we need to do is make sure the war is long and they will eventually sign a treaty. Rao Maldeo is not a very patient man.” He said recollecting Rawatji’s exact words from the night before.

“I heard…” She paused as he stared at her with a frown. She carefully chose her words. She needed to do this. “That there was another way to stop the war.” She looked away.

“And?” He looked disturbed. “You must have heard what my answer to that was as well?”

“Kunwarsa pardon me but… if that could save so many lives then…” she stopped at his stern stare.

“My parents had an alliance, Ajabdeh. You know very well they are simply not the happiest people on earth today!”

“And what about all the people who will fight in these wars? Who knows how many more will follow? Their families? Their children?” He stared at her admirably.

“ One alliance could save them all.” She spoke in a calm understanding voice.

“And what about …” He stopped to check himself “Who will save me Ajabdeh?”

“You.” She smiled “Are the saviour Kunwarsa.”

“Is this why you called me here Ajabdeh? To say all these? And I thought…” he paused as she smiled faintly, a hint of distance in her voice as she said “Let’s not talk about what could be. Who knows this can be the last time you will meet me.”

“What are you saying Ajabdeh?” His voice had a certain urgency and shock as he looked at her staring longingly at the Bhimlat.

“I am saying, go back to camp, and say you are ready for the alliance. I am saying be the saviour and stop this war.”

“What about YOU?” he took a step forward making her stare at him and fall back two steps as she stared at his twinkling eyes.

“What about me?” she smiled faintly with a twinkling teardrop.

“You know exactly what I am saying Ajab… since when do we need words to…” Kunwar Pratap calmed his racing heart as she looked away.

“I am a very ordinary girl Kunwar Pratap. My father has a very small province under Hukum and…”

“You know that doesn’t matter to me!”

“It matters to Mewar. It matters to everyone.” She looked at him intending.

“It’s my life.” She knew he was stubborn, but she had never seen him this stubborn.

“Your life.” She smiled “Is Mewar’s dream.”

He stood silenced as she quickly wiped away the coming tears.

“Save your soldiers Senapati Pratap that is what you should do.” Her voice was more like an order. It was probably the first time she had asked him for something.

“Then you have to do what I say. Promise me you will choose what will be best for you where ever it may be and you will never again sacrifice anything for anyone. Promise me Ajabdeh.” His voice choked as he stopped. She looked up at his eyes as hers blurred with tears. Her silence was his answer. She could never make false promises.

“Ajabdeh…” he said her name slowly and sunk it in like it was the last time. Her smile made him make up his mind.

“I promise you that I will save Mewar’s soldiers. But not this way. We are Rajputs. We are born to fight. You called me Mewar’s bravest soldier. I will fight like one. For Mewar and for everyone who matters. And I promise you, the day I lose a war you can give up on the US, not before that.” His determined answer was not to be questioned. Ajabdeh stared at him sinking into what he had said.

“Can I do your tilak?” she asked wiping off her tears quickly. He nodded in approval, his eyes still on her face. She took out her dagger, and cut out a part of her thumb. The bravest soldier of Mewar winced uneasy at the sight of her blood. She smiled ignoring his worried face and her blood did his tilak “ Jai Mewar.” She smiled.

He promptly took out a piece of cloth from his angrakha and tied it to her thumb. “Take care of yourself.” He nodded.

“I will. Take care of Mewar.”

“I will.” He nodded as in his impulse he had held her hand tightly. She placed her hand on his.

“Dadabhai. Dadabhai” Kunwar Shakti’s voice was followed by the sound of hooves as they moved a few feet apart.

“I guess it’s time you go.” She spoke smiling at him.

“I should before he comes here.” He nodded.

“And Kunwarsa.” She added with a smile “I will never give up on us. Even if destiny has other plans.”

“I don’t believe in stars Ajabdeh, we make our own fate. I will make mine. Only with you. I promise. "

He rode away as the dust from Sarang’s hooves settled. She stood there watching him go. She stared at the waters of the Bhimlat, wiping away the tears that came, this time in happiness. The warrior was ready for the hardest battle he would ever fight. All she had to do was be his strength. Love had just promised her a strong fight with destiny.

Comments

Protisruti

প্রতিশ্রুতি বন্দিতা মা কে জড়িয়ে ধরে যেন প্রাণ ফিরে পায়। “ভাল আছিস?” জিগেস করে সুমতি। বন্দিতা হঠাৎ খেয়াল করে আগের মতো তার মুখ দেখেই তার মা আর তার মনের অবস্থা বুঝতে পারেন না। তার সাথে হঠাৎ মনে পরে কত অনায়াসে অনিরুদ্ধ বোঝে যে তার মন খারাপ। একবার জিজ্ঞেস করেছিল সে স্বামীকে, কি করে তিনি বোঝেন তার মন খারাপ। ছোট বন্দিতাকে তার মতন করে বুঝিয়েছিলেন তার স্বামী। আজ বন্দিতা বড় হয়েছে কিন্তু সেই প্রশ্ন সে আর করতে পারেনা। বন্দিতাকে খাটিয়ার উপর বসিয়ে এর মধ্যেই সুমতি যায় তার জন্য মুড়ি মুড়কি আনতে। বন্দিতার চোখ পরে পায়ের নূপুরের উপর। তিনি বলেছিলেন “তুমি খুশি হলে তোমার নূপুরের আওয়াজ অন্যরকম হয়, আর তোমার মন খারাপ হলে অন্যরকম।” বন্দিতা নূপুরটা বাজিয়ে দেখেছিল সেদিন। আজকে সে জানে পার্থক্য তার নূপুরের শব্দে নয়, অনিরুদ্ধের পর্যবেক্ষণ শক্তিতে। আবার কেন তার কথা ভাবছে সে? বাড়ি এসেছে মায়ের কাছে। আর ভাববে না সে, হয়তো দু তিন দিন পর ত্রিলোচনবাবু পাঠাবেন বিহারী কে বন্দিতাকে বাড়ি নিয়ে যেতে, ততদিন মায়ের কাছে একটু শান্তিতে থাকুক না সে। দুপুরে আম দুধ দিয়ে ভাত দেয় তাকে সুমতি। “তোর প্রিয় খাবার দেখ, মাম...

Answers

Aniruddha could not work all day. It started raining heavily outside, the curtains of the room swayed in the gusty wind, and things around the room toppled over. Koeli came to pick them up, to see if he wanted to eat anything but Aniruddha wanted to be left alone. Countless questions and fears raced through his mind. Bondita never went home like she did that day. Rather, once a year, even before Jamai Sasti, she checked the household chores a hundred times. If Batuk had a test, if someone was sick, she was reluctant to go. She just packed a bundle so quickly and left for her mother’s place. Had she distanced herself from Aniruddha? Was it his fault? Anirudha started thinking. Could she not take him as a husband because he pushed her away and hurt her? Aniruddha repented for his actions. If indeed Bondita denied their relationship knowing the truth behind it, could she be blamed? But was that why she was pretending to be asleep even though she was awake that night? What did she think ab...

Promises

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Choices

The winter rains and gusty wind were unpleasant weather for Adhiraja Ishaan Dev. The Suryapalian capital was far more tropical weather of the plain lands than that of Neelambargarh, situated on a plateau rather close to the Heemdevi. It rained more in Neelambargarh, and the winters were cold. The wine did very little to comfort him as he kept the lamps of his chamber lit in an attempt to feel warmer. On the contrary, he observed how Priyambada complained that the winter isn't cold enough. It had been a quarter of the moon cycle since Maharani Priyambada met Kumari Advika of Mait. Although Ishaan Dev was eager to know what the ladies did talk about, he wasn’t sure whether to ask Priyambada. So he waited for her to tell him something, anything! But Priyambada seemed to act like the meeting never happened. She didn’t even disclose anything to Smriti as per Kumar Viraj. Ishaan Dev was perplexed. What was talked of in the meeting? Worse, did Advika mention him? She must have. The last t...

Going Home

Bondita's Mama came to Tulsipur to meet his daughter. He was a poor man and wore a short dhoti and a Batik shirt. It was wrong to come empty-handed to the daughter's house, so two pots of sweets accompanied him. Reluctantly, he had to go to Roy Chowdhury's house. They were the Zamindar of Tulsipur, the master of the father-in-law of Sampoorna, they needed to be respected. Apart from that, the fate of the sister and niece who he was reluctant to shelter and spent day and night rebuking them about had turned, the same sister now handed over some money to him by the end of the month, because of the kindness of Aniruddha Babu. He did not have the luxury of pushing Lakshmi away. Hence it was necessary to come to the landlord's house to meet his niece. In their house servants also dressed better than him; Look at the fate of the girl . Where he had arranged for her to stay in a corner of an old man's house, now Bondita was living a queen’s life. Zamindar Trilochan Roy Ch...

Uttor

উত্তর সারাদিন কাজে মন বসেনা অনিরুদ্ধর। বাইরে অঝোরে বৃষ্টি হতে থাকে, ঝোড়োও হওয়ায় ঘরের পর্দা দোলে , জিনিসপত্র এলোমেলো হয়ে যায়। কয়েলি আসে ছোট মালিকের জিনিস গুছিয়ে দিতে, তিনি কিছু খাবেন কিনা শুধোতে কিন্তু তাকে চলে যেতে বলে ঘরে খিল দেয় অনিরুদ্ধ। একা থাকতে চায়। তার মনে আনাগোনা করে অসংখ প্রশ্ন এবং আশংকা। যে ভাবে বন্দিতা স্বেচ্ছায় মায়ের কাছে গেল আজ, সেরকম সে কোনদিন যায়না । বরং বছরে একবার জামাই ষষ্টিতে যাওয়ার আগেও একশো বার বাড়ির কাজকম্ম দেখে শুনে যায়। বটুকের পরীক্ষা, কারুর শরীর খারাপ হলে তো কথাই নেই। সেই বন্দিতা আজ হঠাৎ বাড়ি যাবে বলে কি তাড়াতাড়ি পোটলা গুছিয়েছে। এতই কি দূরে চলে গেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের থেকে? তা কি তার নিজের দোষে? ভাবতে থাকে অনিরুদ্ধ। সে দূরে সরিয়ে দিয়েছে বলে অভিমান না কি তাকে স্বামী রূপে গ্রহণ করতে পারেনা বন্দিতা? অনিরুদ্ধ পশ্চাতাপ করে। সত্যি যদি বন্দিতা সব জেনে তাদের সম্পর্ক অস্বীকার করে, তাকে কি দোষ দেওয়া চলে? তবে কি তাই সেদিন রাত্রে জেগে থাকা সত্যেও ঘুমের অভিনয় করছিল সে? কি ভেবেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের ব্যাপারে? কেন চারিদিক বাছবিচার না করে এমন করল অনিরুদ্ধ? নিজের প্রতিজ্ঞ...

Adornment

The rainy night had given way to a rather pleasant summer morning in Suryapali. The temperature was no longer soaring and a gentle breeze blew through the plains of Suryapali. The sun peeped out through the floating clouds occasionally. Priyambada walked into her chambers after a luncheon to find trays laid with drapes and jewellery, waiting for her. “The Maharani sent this for some celebration in the evening,” Vrinda spoke, bowing at her mistress who nodded silently. Priyambada eyed the trays and exhaled. She wasn’t sure if anyone talked to Ishaan Dev about the rituals. She dismissed Vrinda and decided to read the scripture. As Priyambada sat down on the edge of the bed, scripture in hand, her thoughts travelled to the happenings of the night and she inhaled as her throat felt dry. Why did he stop? Did he feel that he had offended her? Priyambada wondered. She walked up to the attire laid down for the evening and picked up the drape wrapped into a bodice and wrap-around skirt. They w...

Ghore Fera

ঘরে ফেরা বন্দিতার মামা মেয়ের সাথে দেখা করতে আসেন তুলশিপুর। গরিবের ঘরের ছা পোষা চেহারা তার, পরনে খাটো ধুতি ও ছিটের জামা। মেয়ের শশুরবাড়িতে খালি হাতে আসা অন্যায় তাই দুটি মিষ্টির হাড়ি সাথে। অনিচ্ছা সত্তেও রায় চৌধুরী বাড়িতে যেতে হয় তাকে। তারা তুলশিপুরের জমিদার, সম্পূর্ণার শ্বশুরের মনিব, তাদের সম্মান করে চলা মঙ্গল। তা ছাড়া যে বোন ও বোনঝিকে আশ্রয় দেওয়া নিয়ে দিনরাত কথা শোনাতে বাঁধতো না তার, সেই বোন এখন মাস গেলে তার হাতে টাকা তুলে দেয়, অনিরুদ্ধ বাবুর দয়ায়। হাতে আসা লক্ষ্মী পায়ে ঠেলার বিলাসিতা করার মত মুরোদ নয় তার। অগত্যা বোনঝির সাথে দেখা করতে জমিদার বাড়ি আসা। এদের বাড়ির চাকররাও তার থেকে ভাল পোশাক পরে; ভাগ্য দেখো মেয়েটার। কোথায় কোন বুড়োর বাড়ির এক কোণে পরে থাকার ব্যবস্থা করেছিল সে, এখন বন্দিতা রাজরানী। জমিদার ত্রিলোচন রায় চৌধুরীর যাকে পছন্দ নয় তাকে তিনি সেটা বুঝিয়ে দিতে দ্বিধা বোধ করেন না। বন্দিতার মামা তার তেমন এক অপছন্দের পাত্র । বৌমার মুখে তিনি যা শুনেছেন তারপর বৌমার তাদের প্রতি টান দেখে আশ্চর্য হন ত্রিলোচন বাবু। কিন্তু কুটুম্ব তারা। হাতে কর...

Trust

Ishaan Dev woke up at the sound of the hourly bells and trumpets and found himself alone in bed. It took him some time to realise that he had perhaps overslept as he looked confused, half asleep first at the hourglass and then at the sun rays coming into the chambers through the swaying curtains. He sat up to suddenly remember the happenings of the night, as his eyes travelled to the blood stain on the sheet and he sat in contemplation for a good few minutes. He finally had his moment with Priyambada and it was nothing like he had imagined it to be. A part of him that yearned to touch her and taste her was satisfied enough to realise that his longing for her was not only physical. When bodies entwined in the union, and he had pushed himself in, as he had with a hundred other women before her, something in him felt a different sense of completeness and fulfilment that he realised was missing from his life. He had seen Priyambada react to the sensations that were completely new to her, m...

Gratefulness

Aniruddha did not return home that night, he informed on the telephone that he was stuck in urgent work so he would return home the next day after spending the night at the client's house. Bondita spent a sleepless night. What would she tell Barrister Babu? And why would he believe it? She was lost in her thoughts twisting and turning in bed all night. She was hurt. Was her husband so reluctant towards their relationship that he did not wish to return home because of her? Once he was busy with some work and was pacing in the study room. Bondita was a child. Her Jetha Shoshur Moshai had taught her to serve her husband. She used to see Bihari take a cup of tea to the study room every day. Despite Bihari's resistance, she picked up the cup of tea that day. "Don't do this, Ginnima ," Bihari was terrified. “Barrister Babu does not like to talk or be disturbed during his work. If he gets angry, I will lose my job.” Bondita ignored his words and entered the study room w...

RAABTA

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