The Promises

“Love comes unexpectedly, like a gust of wind in the summer afternoon.”

The morning was gloomy at Bijoliya. Rawat Chundawat and Rao Ramrakh Punwar sat with dejected faces that showed that they had been insulted enough for their idea of peace by the Rana. Kunwar Partap sat rubbing his hands with a frown. Kunwar Shakta fumed at his father’s irrational behaviour.

“I apologise.” Kunwar Partap broke the silence, “On his behalf, for your insults.” Rao Ramrakh looked up at the crown prince joining his hands before him, in shock.

“No, No Kunwarsa!” He held his hands humbly “You need not apologise. Ranaji is right. This is his decision, we cannot…” His words faded out as Rawatji placed his hand gently on his shoulder.

“It cannot be his decision if it is Mewar’s future at stake, Raoji.” Kunwar Shakta fumed. Kunwar Partap shot him a warning glance that made him stop. Kunwar Shakta was angrier at what Rawatji mentioned. Their father had even gone to the extent of breaking personal ties, mentioning, “There will be no marital alliances with Bijoliya henceforth." Kunwar Shakta clenched his jaws. He was sure the news had reached the Ranimahals, and Badima and Maasa would be disheartened. And what about Ajbante Baisa? For the past two days, Kunwar Shakta had observed changes in his Dadabhai’s behaviour towards her, with hopeful eyes. He had seen Dadabhai praise her cooking and heard her read to her siblings. He hated his father now. The man had no right to decide for people.

Hansa Bai wiped away her tears as she heard her daughter approach. She had heard the men speak from behind the jharokha, and she was sure so had Ajbante. She did not know of wars and politics, but the mother in her was worried about her daughter’s uncertain future and how to face her. She looked up at Ajbante’s calm face. She had no hint of pain in her eyes.

“I came to ask you what we should serve the guests for dinner, Maasa.” She spoke in her usual composure.

Hansa Bai did what she had never done in her life. She hugged Ajbante tightly to her chest and sobbed. Ajbante closed her eyes to stop the coming tears and held her mother tightly in her arms.

“Everything will be fine, Maasa.” Her words made Hansa Bai stare at the girl. Did she actually believe it?

“How can things be fine, Ajab?” She asked between her sobs.

“Even if it doesn’t go exactly like we plan, life always falls into place, and things are eventually fine, Maasa.” She smiled reassuringly, “You can never fight destiny.”

“Only Eklingji knows what is in your destiny.” Hansa Bai hugged her daughter tightly. Ajbante Bai let out a sigh, hoping her mother wouldn’t notice. She was, in a way, relieved. It was going to happen someday, and it did, just not the way she thought it would. She placed her hand gently on her mother’s hand and smiled, “Let me see what to serve for dinner.”

On her way to the kitchen, Ajbante stopped at the strategy room. Kunwar Shakta sat on the floor as Kunwar Partap was arranging the marks. She realised that they were going to make strategies for the impending war, and rubbed her hands thinking of his invitation for her to help them out.

“With Bijoliya not going to war," Kunwar Shakta’s voice made her frown, “We will be some thousand fewer.” Kunwar Partap agreed in silence. His mind was preoccupied.

“Why won’t Bijoliya go to war?” Her voice startled the princes as she realised she had overstepped her boundaries “I apologise…” she looked away.

“You tell me, Baisa, if you were at your father’s place, would you go after such an insult?” Kunwar Shakta’s voice was harsh; Kunwar Partap looked at his brother warningly. “I won’t!” Kunwar Shakta shrugged.

“I would.” Her words made Kunwar Partap stop at his marking and look up at her “For my service to my country doesn’t change with who is sitting on the throne and my personal issues. When my country needs me…” She stopped “I will talk to Daata. Maybe he is taking an impulsive decision, but this is not right.”

“Dhanyavaad.” Kunwar Shakta stared at his brother and back at the princess, who nodded understandingly.

“What do you think of this strategy, Baisa?” Kunwar Shakta pointed at the map in front of them, “Dadabhai made it, so be careful before giving your insights.” He chuckled to lighten the mood as Ajbante smiled slightly at him, and Kunwar Partap shook his head with a smile at him and moved away for her to inspect his markings. 

Ajbante stepped into the place where he stood and read the map.

She asked, frowning. "Does Mewar have enough allies?”

“Allies?” Kunwar Shakta asked, “Yes, there is Sirohi and Jallore.”

“You think we need more?” Kunwar Partap’s question surprised his brother as it was directed to Ajbante Baisa.

“I don’t know. Asking smaller states can be of help. I wonder what Marwar is thinking.” Ajbante spoke absent-mindedly.

“What do you mean?” Kunwar Shakta frowned.

“Would you agree to a war, just over fallout over a marriage?” Ajbante frowned.

“This is more about Rao Maldeo’s personal ego clash with Daajiraj Hukum.” Kunwar Partap spoke.

“They forget they are kings. Kings should never have personal wars.” Kunwar Shakta blurted.

“Or perhaps, Marwar wants to show it is mightier than Mewar, to the growing power of the Turks. Perhaps Rao Maldeo is asking Afghans for help over common enemies.” Ajbante frowned “I heard Rao Maldeo had once promised Humayun some help when he lost his empire.”

“He did not give any thought.” Kunwar Shakta shrugged.

“Maybe that is why he wants...” Kunwar Partap’s voice trailed “To serve his ego and his...”

“I do not understand how people survive with such false pride.” Kunwar Shakta spoke in remorse before walking out.

Ajbante watched him leave, and worry swept across her face. She was about to follow him out as well.

“Let him be, he is impulsive, he will come around.” Kunwar Partap stopped her on her track as she turned to face him.

“I am sorry if my words upset him.” Ajbante Kanwar was worried.

“He is upset about something else altogether.” Kunwar Partap bit his lips as soon as he said it, making Ajbante Kanwar look up at him briefly. "Actually, Baisa, I am sorry, because of me, Raoji…”

“You need not apologise, Kunwarsa, it is our duty to serve Mewar, and we will continue to do so.” She smiled reassuringly, but there was a tone of formality in her voice that disturbed Kunwar Partap.

“I…” he thought, if he should speak of it, then he remained silent. Ajbante understood and smiled, “It is good that it happened this way, either way, someday or the other…”

“I did not expect him to be so insensitive towards…” Kunwar Partap stopped at his own words. Emotions? Did he care about her emotions when he wrote a letter of rejection two years back, or did he think of the consequences? Was he even the right person to judge his father for doing the same? Kunwar Partap’s eyes travelled to the girl in front of him. In the flickering light of the lamps at dusk, her face was calm. In an eerie way, she reminded him of Ranima today, and how she handled family crises. He was sure her mother was hurt too, and here she was, worried for Mewar more than her own uncertain future. In his heart, Kunwar Partap always admired Ajbante’s efforts and self-esteem. Today, he respected her soul.

Ajbante smiled faintly “It is time we probably need to focus on the war, and do not worry. Before you leave, I will convince Daata to go with you on the war; it is a Samanth’s daughter’s promise to the Senapati of Mewar.”

Kunwar Partap felt relieved at her words. “I… we will be leaving the day after tomorrow.” He said rather monotonously. Yet something in him felt restless as he looked away from her and focused on the map.

Ajbante’s smile faded a little as she murmured softly, “Excuse me, I should go and check if dinner…” She walked away from the room in slow, dignified steps as her eyes sparkled.

As the moon shone through the jharokhas that night, and the wind brought fragrances of flowers from the garden, Ajbante sat holding her cushions tightly as she wept. She had dared to keep on dreaming of things long after they had ended in reality. She had put him on the throne of her heart, and no one could ever replace him there. A sudden thought came to her mind. This was probably the last time she saw him. Before she knew it, her father would surely fix her marriage elsewhere, and he would eventually marry some princess. They would never meet again. Sending him letters would be inappropriate for her. Ajbante felt like she was losing a part of herself. In trying to prove him wrong, over the past two years, she had discovered sides of herself that even she hadn’t known. She had found herself trying to win his heart. She had promised him to convince her father, and she would keep her promise. She could probably take the path of God, much like Meera Ma did, but could she even be truthful to God, for her heart would always belong to him? Ajbante felt like she was losing her grip on her emotions. A part of her wanted to go and face Kunwar Partap. Tell him everything she ever felt. And a part of her wanted to tell him that she respected him immensely and wished him success. Torn between her thoughts, Ajbante was restless. She couldn’t sleep till the first lights of dawn entered her chambers, and she decided to wipe her tears and talk to her father and remind him of his duties.