The Marriage

“The knots of destiny were tied, fate sealed, and she knew she had lost her in him, as souls entwined.”

As soon as Ajbante Kanwar tilted the bowl of rice at the threshold of the Kumbha Palace at Chittorgarh, she felt a deep surge of emotions inside her. It had been a long journey from the time she had dreamt this dream to a struggle of the mind and heart, and finally, she had seen in his eyes a sense of respect she was looking for, for who she was. Today, the corner of her red veil was tied to his stole as she crossed the threshold into the Sisodia house, her soul knotted to him, for eternity. She felt like all her prayers had been answered. 

Ajbante Kanwar was, however, alert ever since she stepped inside the Ranimahal. From as much as she had heard of the Ranimahal, from her mother, newcomers were often tested here. It was a game of tactful survival and diplomacy; she had to make sure Kunwar Partap was proud of his decision. Her words and moves were to be accounted for very carefully in the next few months. All the royal ladies had surrounded the new bride: princesses, queens, foster mothers and elderly ladies, as merriment went on in the courtyard of the Ranimahal while the men rejoiced at court. The whole of Chittorgarh was celebrating the welcoming of their future queen.

Amidst all the celebration, eager questions and judging looks, Ajbante Baisa felt conscious. It was only when Maharani Jivanta Bai walked up to her along with Rani Sajja Bai did the eager questions stopped. Ajbante Kanwar looked up at the queen, for the first time from behind her veil. Maharani Jivanta Bai had kind eyes. There was a sense of humility in her that Ajbante Kanwar immediately connected to. She felt as much at home as Kunwar Partap did. The Maharani lifted her veil slightly and smiled at her. Ajbante managed to give a nervous, faint smile as the queen cupped her face and kissed her forehead. Ajbante’s vision blurred as she, in an impulse, hugged the queen's mother. She realised ever since the morning rituals, she had not had the time to miss her mother, Ratan Baisa or the place she left behind called home. This new place felt less like home, with so many unknown faces around her, and so much grandeur she never imagined. Rani Sajjabai smiled at her innocence, while some of the royal ladies frowned at her informal move. Hugging the Maharani of Mewar like that was unexpected. Jivanta Bai placed her hand gently over the new bride’s shoulder, making her fear her move as she drew away quickly. The Maharani sat in front of the new bride, cupping her face in her hand and wiping away her tears. Ajbante Kanwar looked up at her again, this time with more respect than fear. The Maharani placed a gold plate of jewellery, clothes and dry fruits covered with a red cloth in front of her as she was about to touch her feet.

“You are the Laxmi of my household, Ajbante Baisa, with you I got a lot of things I was looking for...” She was stopped by the queen’s words, “Today, I brought home a daughter, not the Kunwarani of Mewar. Remember that every time you have any questions and doubts, my doors are as open for you as much as it are for Kunwar Partap.”

Ajbante Baisa could now see where Kunwar Partap got his generosity from. She had heard of Maharani Jivanta Bai, but never had she imagined a lady so graceful. With gratitude, she smiled at the mother. “And call me Ranima.”

“Now it is my turn to bless the new bride.” Rani Sajja Bai stepped forward and smiled at her. She cupped Ajbante’s hands together and placed a small silver Baal Gopal on them. “This is my gift for you, Kunwaraniji. I heard you like simple things.” Ajbante Kanwar smiled at her words and touched her feet.

“Actually, Ranisa wants to tell you that we want good news as soon as possible; this was just an indication of that!” Someone spoke as the ladies laughed, making Ajbante Kanwar blush red.

The afternoon turned into dusk as the merriment continued and gifts poured in from all the nobles. It was almost around sunset that Ajbante Baisa could not control her yawn any longer, making some royal ladies roll their eyes at the new entrant. Maharani Jivanta Bai was too kind to immediately call upon Dai Kokoi and Rajkuwari Heer Kanwar to take the new bride to her chambers. Holding her cold hands firmly in her relatively smaller and softer ones, Heer Kanwar smiled, “Come, Bhabisa.”

Two maids had accompanied Ajbante Baisa from her home, and they followed in their footsteps silently behind them as Heer Kanwar walked her through the corridor to her chambers. Ajbante looked around to landmark a few statues and vases to make sure she did not lose her way into the Rani Mahal if left alone. Once they reached the beautifully decorated room of the newlywed bride, Heer Kanwar spoke with authority, asking the maids to help the Kunwarani change into something more comfortable. Dai Kokoi had opened ajar the door to her room and left them there till dinner was announced. As the maids opened the trunks, Ajbante Baisa noticed Heer Kanwar examine her dagger carefully.

“You must be the princess of Jallore.” She spoke softly as Heer Baisa flashed a smile.

“How did you know that?” She asked eagerly.

“Well...” She lied, “I assumed.”

 Ajbante Baisa did not want to tell her about the long letter she had received from Kunwar Shakta on his engagement with Heer Kanwar Baisa, complaining about the sudden alliance. She had smiled at it, amidst the wedding rituals, remembering how Shakta’s reasons were somewhat similar to those of his elder brother. However, on her wedding day, she heard that both families had gone ahead with the alliance.

“You can use this?” Heer Baisa stirred her from her thoughts. She nodded shyly.

“And the sword too?”

“Yes, Baisa.”

“Can you please teach me, Bhabisa? Please, Please!” Heer Baisa held her hand, begging her with excitement. In a moment, Ajbante Baisa felt like she was talking to Ratan Baisa instead. She smiled at Heer Kanwar and hugged her tightly instead of making her frown.

“What’s wrong, Bhabisa? Do you miss home?” Heer Baisa sounded worried.

“You reminded me of my... younger sister.” She smiled as she felt something heavy in her throat.

“I am...” Heer Baisa smiled, “Your younger sister, Bhabisa.”

For the rest of the evening, they bonded over their childhood stories and family tales. Heer Kanwar felt a little awkward when Ajbante mentioned Kunwar Shakta and her rakhi exchange stories, and noticed her blush a little. The maid had arrived to announce that the royal dinner was ready. Ajbante Kanwar was dressed in a fuchsia pink and green lehenga, heavily designed with golden zari work and her jewellery set was changed to a Navratna set that the Maharani gifted her. Holding Heer Kanwar’s hand, she walked across the corridor back to the courtyard hallway.

The ladies were all waiting for a meal together because it was only during such festivities that they were allowed to have a little informal gossip over dinner. Ajbante Baisa sat down with Heer Baisa on one side and Rani Sajja Bai on the other, while Maharani Jivanta Bai headed the round sitting arrangement. The plate in front of her lay empty, and the Maharani frowned at it, clapping her hands.  In a moment, another lady she had not noticed since the morning rituals arrived at the hall in a rush. She was of wheatish complexion, beautiful, and had a baby boy tucked under her arms.

“I apologise for being late.” She spoke before the Maharani, who nodded in silence. She was about to sit down when the boy started crying, and the Maharani indicated to Dai Kokoi to take the child away.

“I think Kunwar Jagmal is old enough to sleep alongside his brothers and maintain the decorum of the palace.” Ajbante felt goosebumps at Maharani’s firm words directed at the lady.

“I will keep that in mind, Maharanisa.” The lady was too quick with her apology.

“Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani.” Heer Kanwar whispered to Ajbante Kanwar, “Something is wrong with her attitude, I tell you.” She shrugged.

Ajbante Baisa kept mum and stared across the hall towards the lady. Although she was careful enough not to show her opinion to Heer Kanwar, this lady gave her unpleasant vibes. She kept staring at the new bride, scrutinising how she ate.

It was almost when the moon was way up in the sky that the door to her room creaked open, and Kunwar Partap made his way into the dimly lit room. The fragrances of flowers, jasmine, tuberose, marigolds and tulips filled the air, and he found his new bride sitting near the jharokha from which the moonlight made patterns on the cold floor. His Ranima had checked with some astrologers and given him time to come to her chambers. He did not know why it was important, but he was too tired to bother.

Ever since Raoji placed her hand on his during the Kanyadaan, and she stared at him with hopeful eyes while he filled her hairline, Kunwar Partap felt a sense of authority and responsibility towards Ajbante Baisa. As much as he enjoyed meeting his nobles at court, he was also thinking of how difficult the new surroundings were for Ajbante Baisa. He wanted to talk to her. Truth be told, he had not had a chance for a conversation with her except in the few letters they exchanged in the past few weeks.

Ajbante Kanwar adjusted her veil nervously at his presence. He walked up to her with a slightly narrowed pair of questioning eyes and asked, “Aren’t you feeling cold?”

“No.” She spoke softly, “The bed was too soft.” This made him laugh. He had often stayed in straw beds and wooden ones during his camps, but never had he imagined someone would complain about a soft bed.

Watching him laugh made Ajbante Kanwar conscious of what she said.

“I meant...” She fumbled nervously getting up to face him, rubbing her hands together. “I am not used to...”

“I understand. But the floor is too cold. Let’s sit over there?” He had pointed at the couch, laid with soft cushions, while she nodded, stealing a glance at his tilak-clad face.

“So you met everyone?” he asked, sitting down and facing her as she smiled a little, confused.

“I may have forgotten who is who...” She was quick with the truth. He smiled.

“It’s okay, you will start recognising them soon enough.” He reassured.

“I... Heer Baisa is very kind...” He agreed to her words. “And energetic too.” He added with slight laughter. “She will keep Bhai Shakta in tow.”

“He seems a little...” Ajbante Baisa was unsure of whether to talk to Kunwar Partap about it.

“He will come around, he is my brother!” He shook his head with a smile, “The faster we are as warriors, the slower we are with emotions!”

This made Ajbante Baisa look up at his smiling face, and her coy glance met his glittering eyes. He held her hand in between his and stared at her red-painted fingertips for a moment. Then he looked back at her with more love in his eyes since the day he had confessed his feelings and tightened his grip on her hand.

“Ranima gave me this.” She pointed at the necklace she wore with a smile as he stared at their reflection in the mirror. “So she told you to call her Ranima?” Ajbante Kanwar nodded happily, making him smile.

“Who else do you remember?” He asked as she recollected a few names.

“And oh, there was umm... Rani Dheer Baisa.” Ajbante inspected his reaction to her name as Kunwar Partap frowned a little.

“Did she tell you anything?” There was a sudden urge of concern in his voice.

“No, she was just late for dinner and Ranima...” He interrupted her words with “Do as Ranima says always, especially around the Ranimahal. She will teach you things and...”

“I won’t disappoint you, Kunwarsa.” She placed her free hand over his, holding her other hand in between.

“I never doubt you or your capabilities; it is the other people who concern me.” Kunwar Partap smiled at her proudly.

Ajbante Baisa nodded understandingly as he said with a smile, “I hope everyone else liked their Kunwaranisa?”

“Liked?” Ajbante Baisa smiled with a spark of intent back in her eyes “They loved her!”

“I bet they did, but not as much as...” Ajbante Kanwar’s cheeks flushed with warmth as he stopped teasingly, making her smile at him and blush.

“As?” she asked, looking away as he withdrew his hands from hers, making her frown.

“I have something for you.” His words made her narrow her eyebrows. He took out a carved wooden box from one of his chests and handed it to Ajbante Kanwar, who stared at him cluelessly. He urged her to open it, and there were rolls of paper inside the boxes waiting to be read.

“I have some interest in scribbling my thoughts.” He confessed rather awkwardly, “I had been saving up the best, so I gathered...”

“Can you read them out for me?” She smiled as he stared at her, a little embarrassed.

“All right, one maybe.” Ajbante Baisa took out the rolls of paper and handed one to him to read out to her. He cleared his throat and started, “I wish I were a bird, not caged by the borders, free as the soul, they can go wherever they feel like. I wish I were the wind, a gust of which is like the soothing touch of a mother to a farmer working in the hot sun. I wish I were the river, providing for everyone. I wish I could come back again and again to this soil because one life is not enough to repay her debts.” Ajbante Baisa sat smiling at him, making him stop.

“Go on.” She frowned.

“No, you will read the rest.” He rolled away the papers and gave the box to his bride. She walked up to the chest, her anklets making music in the otherwise silent night, and placed the box back where it belonged.

“Ranisa Sajja gave me this.” She pointed at the Bal Gopal she had placed in his puja room. “They were teasing me over it.”

“Were they?” Kunwar Partap walked up to his bride, who blushed red and looked away. He gathered her in his arms, and she placed her hand gently on his chest as it thumped loudly. Closing her eyes, Ajbante Baisa felt his heart make music. His hands traced her waist and back, and as she lifted her head up slightly, touching his nose with hers, he kissed her forehead, right where the vermilion ended. It was their night of uniting, in love and emotions, perhaps unknown to them before. Ajbante Kanwar had shuddered nervously at the realisation of it as he held her firmly and carried her to the decorated bedspread.

It was early in the morning that Kunwar Partap woke up to find his new bride missing. He looked around for her in the adjoining rooms and made his way out in the corridor, after a shower and dressing up for the morning prayers. He searched the corridors buzzing with activities, maids running about, guests hovering over the place and the queens making their way to the temple. He frowned slightly, acknowledging some familiar faces, searching for one in vain. It would perhaps be too embarrassing to ask anyone.

Rajkuwari Heer Kanwar called him from behind, watching him roam around the corridor beside her room, cluelessly “Dadabhai, are you looking for someone?”

“Yes... No... I...” He stopped as the princess giggled.

“Bhabhisa must already be at the temple with Maharanisa. Let’s go, we will be late.” He agreed to her suggestion, and they made their way towards the Badi pol that led to the Shyaam Temple complex.

The Queens usually gathered with their children for the Morning Prayer at the temple, and Kunwar Partap pushed through the crowd to reach his Ranima. He frowned, looking around yet again as he saw no sign of his new bride.

“Kunwarsa!” Sajja Bai greeted him with her usual charming smile “Where is our new bride?” His frown made her look around, and Maharani Jivanta Bai stopped inspecting her ingredients to walk up to her son.

“Why didn’t you bring her along, Kunwar Partap? She is new here and...”

“She was not in the room when I woke up, Ranima.” He shrugged, “I thought she was here.”

In the next few moments, everyone gathered for the morning prayers was looking all over the Ranimahal for the new bride. Kunwar Shakta frowned as he hurried on his way to the temple to find everyone in the Ranimahal instead. He gulped, thinking he had missed the Morning Prayer altogether and was going to face Badima’s wrath when Rajkumari Heer Kanwar hurried towards him with a rather informal and urgent tone, asking, “Have you seen Kunwaranisa?”

“Bhabisa?” He asked, a little taken aback. “No, I... what happened?”

“She is missing!” Heer Kanwar shrugged, “Maharanisa thinks she must have lost her way somewhere.”

“I will go look for her.” Kunwar Shakta turned to go.

“We already did.” Heer Kanwar shrugged.

“Have you looked EVERYWHERE?” his question made Heer Kanwar frown.

Kunwarani Ajbante Baisa was humbled at the sight that stood in front of her. Clad in new yellow attire, she had gathered some flowers in a basket for her morning rituals way before sunrise. It was not long before she realised that she had lost her way in the garden and walked away towards the orchard. A Pol was visible in the distance, and she had walked towards the archway, hoping to find the right path. But it led her further down to the magnificent tower that stood in front of her. The Vijay Stambh was shining like gems in the morning sun. She stood there for a brief moment, eyeing the marvellous architecture through her veil and turned right towards what looked like a palace ruin. She climbed up the stairs of the secluded ruins and reached a gateway. There was a door, closed from the outside with chains and a large lock that attracted her attention. She was about to inspect it when she was called on from behind.

“Bhabisa.” Kunwar Shakta and Rajkunwari Heer Kanwar frowned at each other. Kunwarani Ajbante Kanwar withdrew from touching the locks with a very alarmed “I lost my way and...” Rajkunwari Heer Kanwar was quick to hold her hand and take her away towards the Shyaam Temples.

“Bhabisa.” Kunwar Shakta’s words stopped them. “Just tell everyone we found you at the Vijay Stambh.” Ajbante Baisa did not know why she was being told to lie, but she trusted Kunwar Shakta enough not to ask either.

“There she is!” Rani Dheer Bai’s voice made everyone gathered back at the temple premises turn as Rajkuwari Heer Kanwar brought a visibly disturbed Ajbante Baisa to stand before the Maharani.

“On her first day itself, she...” Ranisa Dheer Bai stopped at Kunwar Partap’s glance and looked away.

“I apologise for the inconvenience, Ranima.” Ajbante Baisa’s voice shook scared. “I was lost in the gardens and before I knew it...”

“We found her near the Vijay Stambh.” Kunwar Shakta’s words made his mother narrow her eyes, amused, first at her son and then at the princess.

“It is your first day here, and you are new. Do not wander about the premises without a maid or guard.” Ajbante Baisa could not make out whether the Maharani was disappointed with her. She looked scared at Kunwar Partap, who chose to look away. She feared she must have angered him as well.

Back in the room after the morning prayers, Kunwar Shakta had explained the truth to Kunwar Partap. When Ajbante Baisa arrived in the room, he was leaving and greeted her politely before walking away. Kunwar Partap sat concentrating on fitting a brooch on his safa.

“I... I am sorry... I truly am... I didn’t know I would get lost and...” She stopped as he turned to look at her.

“Do you know where you wandered off to?” He asked in a rather disappointed tone, “No one is allowed there if Ranima gets to know that you walked off to the Jauhar Kund...”

“The... what?” Ajbante Kanwar thought she had heard wrong. The locked room did have a sense of eeriness to it, but she hadn’t imagined it to be the holiest place in all of Mewar. Since her childhood, she had heard of the place and the Rajputani’s sacrifices.

“The Jauhar Kund.” He spoke matter-of-factly, “No one is allowed there. And who told me to walk off like that without guards and maids? This is Chittorgarh Ajab, not your Bijoliya.” As soon as he said it, Kunwar Partap knew that he had made a grave mistake. She looked up at him, her eyes hurt at his words, and her lips trembled with a very soft “I didn’t know... I didn’t know...” before she turned to leave.

In an impulse, Kunwar Partap held her wrist and stopped her.

“I didn’t mean that...” he took a deep breath and spoke genuinely, “I was worried. For you. Everyone was.”

“I am sorry, Kunwarsa, I truly am.” She spoke as a lone tear appeared on her cheek, “Will I be punished if Ranima finds out?”

Kunwar Partap held his bride close to his chest at her words. “ Ranima was not angry, Ajab; she was as worried as I was. This place is not the safest...”

“But it is home, right?” She spoke troubled, “Aren’t homes supposed to be the safest places?”

Kunwar Partap smiled at her words.

“Not when there is a throne and future at stake.” He hugged her reassuringly, “Do not worry, you will learn.”

Kunwarani Ajbante Kanwar frowned as she placed her head on his chest absentmindedly. If she had to be alert in a place she called home, perhaps she needed to unlearn a lot of things before she learned a bit about life in a palace. In a moment, Ajbante Baisa wished theirs was a normal home too, with close kin and rooms where she would never be lost. Today, she felt she had not gotten lost in the Palace premises, but a part of herself was lost too in the heavy title of “Kunwarani” she received a day back. Her world was changing fast; Ajbante Baisa was clueless about how she would cope with it.

Unlike popular belief, Rani Dheer Bai was actually one of the less important queens in Udai Singh’s rani mahal, who rose to prominence only after there was a rift between the family and the capital was shifted to Udaipur in 1562. Married in the rainy season of 1557, to Kunwarani Ajbante and perhaps around the time of the Chittor Siege to his fifth queen Phool Kanwar Rathore (Daughter of rebel prince Ram Singh Rathore of Mehrangarh, the son of Maldeo), Kunwar Partap married Pur Bai Solankini, Jaso Bai Chauhan and Champa Bai Jhati, under his father’s alliance policies between 1558 to 1567. As far as I understood his life, there was no alliance made on his part before the birth of his heir, Amar Singh I, in 1559. His second wife, Pur Bai, was a relative of Sajja Bai Solanki, thus tactically strengthening the bond between the two brothers, Partap and Shakta. His third wife, Jaso Bai, was a Chauhan princess of Bhilwara who happened to be a distant cousin to the Kunwarani Ajbante Baisa as well, as per the folklore.