People's Princess

Pratap was surprised to find that instead of the stable, Patta was at the gates waiting for him. He was about to ask when the boy grinned at him, saying, “Baisa Hukum told us to wait here. We are going on a tour of the NGO with her.”

“We?” Pratap frowned at Patta’s words as the boy nodded and jumped on the back of his bike.

“She is getting ready. The driver and Chundawat will go with her in that big car.” He pointed at a maroon-coloured Rolls-Royce vintage edition with Surajgarh’s emblem on it. Pratap shook his head. As much as he was eager to see her accept her duties, he was not ready to neglect Chetak for it.

“But she was supposed to start riding and...”

“I gave Chetak his balm and fodder.” Patta spoke, “And Baisa said one day’s rest won’t harm him.” 

Pratap shook his head slightly and stared at the porch where Chundawat appeared, waving his hand at the driver, cleaning the car, to bring it up on the porch.

Another figure appeared behind Chundawat, as Pratap’s eyes widened slightly and Patta gasped in awe. Ajabdeh Punwar was draped in a white muslin saree, a blue velvet blouse with elegant strings of pearl around her neck, and a pearl and gold bracelet adorned her wrist. Her hair was tied up and covered with the loose end of her saree as she held it close to her abdomen. Wearing the same shades that she wore the first morning, she looked around and waved in their direction with a smile. Chundawat promptly followed her gaze and walked up to them.

“Follow the car through the estate, stop where we stop and do not talk until spoken to, understand?” He frowned at Pratap’s lack of response as he watched the princess get into the car.

“Yes.” Patta readily nodded back as Chundawat gave one more glance at Pratap, who nodded slightly at him, starting his bike while Chundawat went to take a seat beside the driver. The car drove off, and Pratap followed it closely on his bike.

“I still feel we should have taken at least one guard with us, Baisa Hukum.” Chundawat shook his head.

“We are going to meet our own people, Chundawatji, I don’t want to be guarded against my own.” Her voice was firm. Remember to treat them like you are one of them; you have to make them believe in you through your actions. She smiled as she remembered his words.

“Who taught you so much diplomacy in a day, Hukum?” Chundawat’s voice was almost like admiration, which made Ajabdeh smile. In the rearview mirror, she could see the bike following.

“I never asked where you stay. Who do you have at home, Chundawatji?” Ajabdeh spoke, changing the topic. The man was taken aback, for in the past few years that he had served here, none of the royals had asked him more than what was needed.

“... my mother, wife and two children.” Chundawat spoke, “I stay near Salumber. It takes an hour or so...”

“Your children wait for you to get home?” She smiled.

“Yes, every night.” He smiled back warmly. Ajabdeh reached out to her purse and held out four toffees she could find “Here, give these to them.”

“No No Baisa Hukum... I...”

“Take it. Tell them Ajabdeh Jija gave them.” She stared out of the window as he accepted the chocolates, a little taken aback at her gesture.

“We will stop at the Welfare centre for children and women. Many widows and orphans work there, and there is also a home for children.” Chundawat spoke in an official tone after some time. Ajabdeh nodded faintly. She stared at the row of huts, bound by a compound wall and gate, where the car stopped. Not waiting for Chundawat to open the doors for her, she got down and removed her shades. Pratap stopped his bike a few feet away as Patta jumped off, and he removed his helmet. 

He stared right at her and nodded reassuringly, as she flashed a smile and turned to the huts. Patta and he had followed them around in relative silence. There wasn’t much for them to do here, except hear Chundawat speak. Ajabdeh had talked to a few women. Some were very old yet working. She then inspected the orphanage and instructed some changes to be made and repairs to be done, which Chundawat noted down.

After spending an hour or so, Patta almost whispered to Pratap, “Why are we here?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged at the boy.

After the tour was done, Ajabdeh Punwar stared at her watch. It was almost time for sunset.

“I wish to go meet Meera Guruma now; you may leave with the driver.” Chundawat frowned at her words and stared at the equally taken-aback Patta.

“But I do not know of a gathering today, Baisa Hukum.” Chundawat frowned.

“Oh, you don’t stay in the village, Chundawatji, how will you know? There is a gathering, isn’t it, Pratap?” Taken aback at her words, Chundawat and Patta waited for his answer. All Pratap could do was nod.

“Pratap can drive me there, and Patta can take his bike home. Go home, Chundawatji. I am sure your family is waiting.” She smiled a genuine smile that made Chundawat nod.

“You are very kind, Baisa, you think of everyone.” He left bowing.

Patta grinned at Pratap and snatched his keys.

“It is rented, so be careful.” Pratap warned him, “One scratch and tomorrow you will tame Chetak on the grounds, you understand?”

“Yes, Bhaiya, I will just drop it off at your place, I promise.” Patta gulped.

Ajabdeh waved at Patta, leaving as Pratap sat at the wheel and stared worriedly at the boy riding away.

“Don’t worry, he will do fine.” Her words made him turn to see her sitting behind him, in the back seat. “Let’s go.”

“But there is no gathering.” He frowned.”And Badima is probably at the temples for her evening prayers.”

“I know.” Ajabdeh pulled off the end of the saree from over her head and checked her hair in the rearview mirror “Drive to somewhere from where I can see the sunset.” Pratap frowned at her words.

“I think you forgot I am equally new here as you are and...” Pratap stared at the wheels “Good lord! I am driving a Rolls-Royce.” 

This made her chuckle at his words, and she said, “Mandakini Kund. I asked my maid, and she said it is a small artificial lake from where the sunset can be seen between two hills. I will give you the map.” She took out the maps app and pushed it into his palm. Pratap reluctantly started the car.

“You must be thinking Why did I get you to do all these random things for me?” She smiled, watching him in the rearview mirror.

“No.” Came a short protest.

“It is because I know you won’t tell people. My secret is safe with you.” She murmured. “And I owe you thanks.”

“For what?” He frowned.

“For making me believe that I can be my people’s princess too.” She stared out of the window at the scene of meadows and trees passing by.

“I just said what I felt was right.” He shrugged.

“Did I do a good job?” She asked, looking ahead, pointing to a signboard that said “Mandakini Kund” and pointing left, where the off-road was very narrow.

“How will I know? I have never seen a royal before.” He shrugged matter-of-factly, stopping the car “I guess we have to walk from here, Ma’am.”

In between the shrubs and bushes was the road that led to a water body in sight, the banks of which were once carved with glorious sculptures, now standing in ruins. It can easily be said that the place is not maintained, but the water being used is clean.

Pratap walked ahead, eager to catch a full glimpse of the kind, while Ajabdeh struggled on the muddy road with her saree.

“Wait.” She called out. “Give me your hand, I hate these heels.” She stretched out her right hand to him, carefully holding her saree with her left as he stared awkwardly at her hand and at her.

“Do you want me to fall down? Hold my hand.” She almost shouted at him as Pratap looked around to see if anyone could hear her. In this sudden alertness, he reached out and grabbed her right hand with his left one. Her skin was soft, her long nails painted, and her fingers cold.

“Are you feeling cold?” He frowned.

“No, why?” Ajabdeh stood beside him, on the broken bank, sighed and let go of his hand.

“Your umm... fingers...” He looked awkward.

“Oh.” She rubbed her hands together and spoke, “I was just nervous about the day. I am glad things went well.” She smiled at him and at the yellow sun. “How much time till sunset do you think?”

“Umm... ten minutes.” He said, looking at the yellow sun.

“Then we should sit down.” She opened her purse, took out a handkerchief and laid it down on the broken stairs that led to the water. He sat down on the stairs below hers, his hands on his knees.

The birds were chirping in the trees that stood on the other bank of the kund, overlooking the hills, returning to their nests. The water shone in the light of the setting sun that was finally turning a little orange, and the serene nature was otherwise wrapped in silence.

“Sunsets or sunrises?” Ajabdeh broke the silence almost with a whisper. “What do you prefer?”

“Sunsets.” He said, staring into the horizon.

“I thought you were a sunrise person.” She frowned.

“Why so?” he asked.

“Who else takes riding lessons at 6AM?” She shrugged, “And doesn’t even let me ride.” The second part came almost like a murmur and complaint that made him smile slightly.

“You could have just told me 6AMs are difficult for you, and we could do somewhere around 8 then!” He shrugged.

“No, let it be.” She shook her head. “Why do you like sunsets?”

“I don’t know. I never gave it much of a thought.” Pratap shrugged.

“I like sunsets because, despite the nature separating the day and night for the whole time, the day finally decides to plunge into the darkness of the night, at sunset, with dusk.” Pratap stared at her face as the red hues of the sun fell on her calm face and made the pearls and her eyes shine. “The day is not scary anymore, to unite with the night. Much like two completely different people in love.” She stopped, realising he was staring at her in disbelief as she cleared her throat, making him look away.

“What?” she frowned at his lack of response “...was that too much?” He shook his head.

“I am beginning to feel Badimaasa will have quite a disciple in you, Ma’am, finding romance in a sunset.” Pratap spoke, staring at the sun going down, “That is....rare.”

“I am rare Pratap Singh.” She smiled, “I am the Princess of Surajgarh.”

“I thought you weren’t, " he shrugged, "Because you were average and...” he tried to remember what she said.

“Only to people who know me, I will never be a princess first.” Ajabdeh stopped him as he stared at her.

 “I am trying to figure out if you are the same person I met at the meadow.” He narrowed his eyes at her and checked his watch “Come, let me drop you home, Ma’am.” She was about to follow him when he turned and said monotonously, “Oh, and these were extra work hours, I hope I get paid for them.”

“It will be taken care of.” Ajabdeh reassured as he offered his hand for assistance, but she shook her head with a small “I will manage, let’s go.” As she walked ahead, and he followed her, the dusk slowly plunged into more darkness.