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 apologize.” 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 apologize. 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 hear 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 compose.

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 fina 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 hands 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 realized 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 lesser.” Kunwar Partap agreed in silence. His mind was preoccupied.

“Why won’t Bijoliya go to war?” Her voice startled the princes as she realized she had overstepped her boundaries “I apologize …” 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 in, to 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.” 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 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 focussed 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 twinkled.

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 much 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 would know it, her father would surely fix her marriage elsewhere and he will 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 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 wish 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.

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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

Bondita hugged her mother as if to find herself again. "Are you okay?" Sumati smiled. Bondita suddenly noticed that her mother couldn't understand her state of mind just by looking at her face anymore. With that, she suddenly remembered how easily Aniruddha understood that she was upset. Once she asked her husband how he understood things without her saying it. Her husband explained to little Bondita in a way she would understand. Now that Bondita was grown up she could perhaps never ask him that question again. Meanwhile, Sumati hurried to get her some Muri Murki while she sat down on the bed. Bondita's eyes fell on her feet. He had said, "When you are happy, your anklet sounds different, and when you are sad, it is different." Bondita stirred her anklets unmindfully. Today she knew the difference was not in the sound of her Nupur but in Aniruddha's powers of observation. Why was she thinking about him? She came home to her mother. And she would not th...

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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