The Peace Talk

“True Love grows slowly, in the tender heart, like a sapling grows into a tree. It is this love that survives all storms.”

It was dusk when Kunwar Partap was alerted by the sound of a familiar anklet walking towards his guest quarters. He stopped shining his sword and turned to see Kunwar Shakta at his threshold with a very reluctant Ajbante Kanwar in tow. She was nervous from the looks of it, and unlike all the other times, her dupatta was not laid over her head, and her hair was neatly tied in a braid, falling over one side of her shoulder while her dupatta occupied the other side.

“I wanted you to hear what Baisa has to say, Dadabhai.” It was Kunwar Shakta who met his approving nod and entered his room as she stood at the threshold.

“Come in.” He spelt it out for her, making her look up from the carpet momentarily at his face before she crossed the threshold and entered his chambers. Ajbante Baisa could not help but notice the small idol of Mata Bhavani that was kept in a corner of his chamber and smiled. Kunwar Shakta offered her a seat on the couch while he occupied the bed, and Kunwar Partap stood leaning on the side of the bed, waiting. Ajbante refused the offer to sit in silence and stood a little unsure.

“What is it that you wanted to talk about?” Kunwar Partap’s voice was monotonous as he addressed his brother.

“Baisa came to me with a very valid point we happened to miss out on altogether. So I thought you should hear her out.” Kunwar Shakta spoke. Kunwar Partap eyed the silent girl and urged his brother to continue.

“She thinks we should not go to Daajiraj with the peace suggestions.”

“Why not?” Kunwar Partap frowned at the words and turned to the girl, asking the question himself. He had assumed in the conversation at the hall that it was Ajbante Baisa who had convinced her father of the peace talk, much before he came with the proposal. What was it that made her feel otherwise? Kunwar Shakta urged Ajbante to speak. She cleared her throat, carefully choosing her words.

“Pardon me if I am wrong, Kunwarsa, but I feel he or his close aides may feel that his sons are going against their father and his respect, with this.” Kunwar Partap knew what she was talking about. The differences between his parents and his father’s inclination toward some women in his Ranimahal were known all across Mewar. He could think his sons were plotting against him, especially with his constant turmoil with Kunwar Shakta. He stared at the girl in awe. This possibility had escaped his mind completely.

“So what do you suggest?” Ajbante Kanwar was taken aback by his words. She was sure that he would be angry or irritated with her opinion on their personal equation with their father. That is why she chose to speak to Kunwar Shakta instead, and here he was asking for her suggestion.

“I....” Her mouth felt dry. “What will I say?”

“Tell us what you think, Rajkumarisa.” Kunwar Shakta urged.

“Kunwarsa.” She turned to Kunwar Shakta, “I feel... Daata and Mamasa should go instead, as representatives of Bijoliya and Salumber, not the Princes of Mewar.”

“So be it then.” Kunwar Partap had turned to Kunwar Shakta “We will tell them so at dinner.”

“I will go write to Maasa and forbid her from telling anyone that we met them.” Kunwar Shakta spoke in urgency, “They should know you and I are at Mandalgarh, right, Dadabhai?”

With an approving nod from Kunwar Partap, Kunwar Shakta walked out of his chambers. Ajbante Baisa turned to follow him out. Kunwar Partap watched them leave and sighed at the empty room, hearing the sound of her anklets fading in the corridor.

Ajbante Baisa was making her way to the nearest temple of Lord Shiva at the crack of dawn. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the discussion that had happened at dinner. The senior officials, Rawat Chundawat and Rao Ramrakh, would be heading to Chittorgarh in two days to propose a peace treaty. The speaking of the Princes against their father’s plan of war could be treated as a breach of conduct by the Rana. Rawat Chundawat felt that they should stay put and not inform anyone of their meeting, just as Kunwar Shakta suggested.

Ajbante Baisa was worried. She hoped that Rana understood their worries. Everyone wanted the best for Mewar. Her heart was restless with the worries of the consequences if the Rana misinterpreted the intentions of either the princes or her father. She had heard of days when Maharani Jivanta Bai had walked out of the palace with eleven-year-old Kunwar Partap and stayed in hardship over a fallout with her husband. Ajbante failed to understand what could cause such a rift between them. Sometimes she felt politics was more than what she understood of it.

Kunwar Partap walked out of the temple premises in his white dhoti and a yellow stole wrapped over his shoulders. He was unmindful since Ajbante mentioned his father misinterpreting their intentions. He hoped and prayed that Rana Udai Singh would ask his mother for her advice on this, and his mother showed him a way. For Kunwar Partap knew how his Ranima could read his mind. His thoughts wandered to another image. She rubbed her hands in nervousness just like Ranima. Was it strange that Kunwar Partap noticed it? He could not place why he was so restless ever since she had ignored him each time they were gathered at the hall the previous day. She also seemed extremely formal in his chamber. Was it because she was no longer interested in the past, or was it because of the scrutinising glances of the family? Maybe because she wanted him to feel at ease at her home. Was it not she who sent him those letters?

Before he knew it, at the turn behind the temple premises, at the break of dawn, Kunwar Partap bumped into a veiled figure, and the Lota (a type of pail) dropped from her hand, startling them both.

“Sorry…” Their hands stopped touching each other simultaneously over the Lota as eyes met.

A soldier had arrived behind her, perhaps alerted by the noise.

“Is everything all right, Hukum?” his words made them look away.

“Yes. It’s just, this fell…” He spoke before her, pointing at the lota he had picked up.

The soldier walked away as she extended her hand rather silently for the utensil. He frowned a little, confused, then immediately gave it to her, murmuring, “I didn’t see…”

“Umm… same here.” They stood, about half a foot away from each other, in silence.

“I…could not tell it yesterday... but...” He stopped thinking, carefully choosing his words, “...I really appreciate that you think the peace talk…” He smiled faintly, looking away. There weren’t many who thought the same.

“I hope Daata Hukum and Mamasa succeed in this agenda.” She smiled faintly, staring at her own hands.

“Me too.” He said as she nodded with a faint smile and turned to walk away.

“Ajbante.” Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and she calmed her racing heart with a deep breath to turn and face him again.

“Yes, Kunwarsa?”

“Thank you for the letters.” Kunwar Partap was not sure if he wanted to say it just after it came out of his mouth. A little wide-eyed Ajbante stared at his face, with a slightly open mouth and gulped.

“I… I hope it helped, Kunwarsa.” She managed not to fumble over it.

“It did. And…” Kunwar Partap stared at her hands, tightened around the lota and back at her. “If you are free once your father returns, Bhai Shakta and I will be discussing some strategies in case the war happens. I assume he will invite you even if I don’t, but…” He stopped at her surprised stare, “I wanted to, myself.”

“I will be there.” Ajbante smiled politely before walking away. Kunwar Partap returned the courtesy smile and watched her go.

Back in his chambers, Kunwar Partap stared at his own reflection in the mirror for a few seconds if he did not recognise the shadow of himself that fell on the mirror. He recollected whatever had happened in the past few minutes and shook his head rather disapprovingly at his own behaviour. Never before had he looked at a woman in the face and talked, let alone noticed how her eyes were shaped like those of a doe, and her eyeballs rolled in nervousness. He didn’t even apologise for the accidental touch. It was so unlike him. Never had he thought he would mention the letters without even being sure it was her, let alone “invite” her for some strategies. Really? What was wrong with him? She was being perfectly courteous to him as a host, and perhaps it was he who was crossing the lines. She perhaps didn’t refuse his offer out of politeness. He did not need to do this, especially with Kunwar Shakta around. Was he thinking too much?

“Maharanisa.”  Her maid had arrived with one of the maids from the quarters. Maharani Jivanta Bai looked up from her book and nodded approval for them to enter the chambers.

“Her name is Rashi. She has something to tell you.” Jivanta Bai eyed the scared maid.

“I swear on Eklingji Ranisa, I did as I was told by Kunwarsa.”

“What did Kunwarsa tell you?” Jivanta Bai frowned. “You need not be scared.”

“Kunwarsa gave me a letter and told me to take it to Bijoliya.”

“Bijoliya?” Maharani Jivanta Bai could not help but notice how her maid looked a little amused.

“Yes, Maharanisa. I do not know what it contains. Kunwarsa told me to hand it over to the girl who comes with letters every week.”

“Someone from Bijoliya comes with a letter each week? For Kunwar Partap?” Jivanta Bai raised her eyebrows, surprised.

“Yes, Maharanisa. I do not know who sent them. I am telling the truth.”

“You may go.” She smiled at the maid, giving her a silver coin “Not a word on this to anyone.”

“Ji Ranisa," the maid left relieved as Koki stood staring at her Maharanisa's smile.

“What do you think?” she asked a surprised maid.

“I think your Kunwarsa is growing up, Maharanisa.” She saw the queen smile.

Ajbante’s heart raced as she ran down the fairly empty corridor to her chambers and fell upon the cushions of the couch. Her hair spread over her face, and her cheeks were warm and red. She couldn’t help but smile. His scent still lingered on the tip of her fingers that had touched his and had sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t help but notice his bare, well-built torso and arms before she looked away. Ajbante hid her face in the cushions at her own thoughts. His brown eyes, awkward and calm, had a spark of intelligence. She could not believe it, and as she decided to walk away to reduce the awkwardness of the event, it was Kunwar Partap who stopped her to talk. He invited her for a strategy-making session. He called her by her name. Ajbante took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. Was he having a change of heart?

The battle of 1556 was important because Kunwar Partap showed his leadership skills by showing his strong opinions against meaningless battles of egos (the cause of the battle was the daughter of a chieftain, Veer Bai Jhalla, who was married to Udai Singh instead of Rao Maldeo), and it gave the Mughals a strong upper hand knowing that the Rajputs were not united against them. Mewar had lost Alwar and Merta's provinces to Marwar, owing to Haji Khan, an Afghan aide, changing sides after an ego clash with Udai Singh. He showed his men that sometimes it was more diplomatic to go for a peace treaty than to fight.