“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 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 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 lesser.” 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 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 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 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 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 would know 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.
