Agreement

Heer hugged Ajabdeh as soon as she opened the door of the apartment. Rukaiya was there to help her set up the bed and food to comfort Ajabdeh after her release from the hospital and Jalal went to pick her up. A policewoman accompanied them, and Lata had asked them to open the guest room up for her till the court hearings.

All this scared Heer. She knew how deep these things went and were aware of the risk they involved. She hadn't gotten over losing her parents and Ajabdeh was the only family she had left. She couldn't afford to lose her.

Ajabdeh held her sister tight, amidst her sobs "Hushh. I am fine. Look, I am fine."

"Jija. Do you ever think what will happen to me if something happens to you?" Heer wiped away her tears " You always take reckless decisions for others and never think of yourself."

The moment she said it, Ajabdeh remembered the last conversation she had had with Pratap.

"Let her lie down now," Rukaiya spoke, taking her bag of things from Jalal. "I will make tea for everyone and get soup for her."

"Come to the room with me." Ajabdeh held Heer's hand "I want you near me."

"I am not going back to Delhi leaving you alone," Heer said firmly.

"Don't you dare miss classes like that! I am perfectly capable of handling things." Ajabdeh scolded "Jalal, please tell her. I will go change, and then I will hear all about your new friends."

As soon as Ajabdeh left and Rukaiya directed the lady officer to the guest room, she brought in a tray of cups and Jalal made Heer sit down. Heer noticed the grim faces and exchange of glances between the two and narrowed her brows.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"We need to talk to you." Jalal spoke as Rukaiya nodded."Alone."

"What is this about?" Heer asked scared "Is she okay?"

"She is fine." Jalal reassured, "Are you aware of your mother's last wish?" Heer noded. "Jija told me what happened."

"I think marrying him is a wise choice for her safety." It was Rukaiya who spoke now "They are the Sisodiyas, they won't mess with the Sisodiyas."

"What do you mean?" Heer asked worried "They can attack her even after this is over?"

"Think with a cool head Heer." Jalal spoke, "Only you can convince her."

"What about... Dadabhai?" Heer asked.

"He was ready that day itself. Hansa Aunty's wish is haunting him." Jalal spoke "I know him, he is a very emotionally driven person. He was moved by what happened to Ajabdeh."

"Does he...love her?" Heer asked almost in a whisper. Jalal shook his head

"I won't lie, I don't think he does... yet... But then his mother is ready to settle him with random strangers and Ajabdeh doesn't have any prospective grooms in her life. They at least know each other."

"The only thing that concerns me now is her life is in danger." Rukaiya reminded "Everything else is secondary." Heer and Jalal agreed.

Pratap paced his room with his phone in hand. Jalal had informed him about Ajabdeh's discharge from the hospital but he was too busy to reach out the entire day. He glanced up at the clock. Was it too late to call her? He sat down on the edge of his bed. Was he thinking too much over a call? Perhaps. Because this was Ajabdeh. He was still in a loop about what might offend her. She was intimidating and that was perhaps the best and worst part of her. He didn't know what to expect from her.

Pratap had expected her to be emotional about her mother's last wish. He couldn't quite place whether he was surprised or shocked at the way she reacted instead. He felt more affected by what happened than her. To make things worse she was on a reckless boundless spree of justice putting her life in danger as soon as the responsibilities of her mother were dealt with. Pratap strongly felt Hansa knew her daughter's nature. Hence she wanted to bind her down to someone else. But why him? Hansa barely knew him. She hadn't seen him around much. What made her choose him? Some answers died with people. Pratap sighed. As much as everyone around him was trying to make him forget it, the images of that day were vivid in his mind. Then he remembered Jalal's words. What about how he felt? This was a choice for a lifetime. He was not someone to back out. And he was aware of exactly how his mother felt. Could he go against the odds for someone he could barely even call a friend? He closed his eyes and fell back on the bed tired. The moment his head hit the pillow, images of Ajabdeh in the ambulance came back to haunt him. He opened his eyes again. She was too precious a life to be lost. She was too self-esteemed to use him or his name. Any other girl would jump at this opportunity but not Ajabdeh. Something about that was reassuring enough.

"You know what you are saying, Heer?" Ajabdeh looked confused "You are telling me to use him?"

"How is it using him if he wants it?" Heer suggested "He wants to honour her wishes. There is nothing wrong with that. Half this country gets married to people they don't even know. It is always a half-and-half chance at love. And it's your life we are concerned about."

"What about his family?" Ajabdeh reasoned " I don't think their idea of a daughter-in-law was this."

"It's his family. Let him think that. You think of me. Think of what will happen to me if something happens to you. If you don't want to do this for yourself, do it for me. Do it for Maasa."

Ajabdeh inhaled. Silence filled the room as Heer held her hand in between her palm.

"Jija, what are you scared of?" She spoke, "Tell me honestly."

"I don't know Heer. I have never done this before. Relationships are an alien concept to me. And he... he's too good a person. I can't ruin his life. Especially after whatever he had faced doesn't he deserve love?"

"And you think you are incapable of love?" Heer asked surprised "Jija you feel for people you don't even know, the animal rescue centre, the orphanage, everything you do is from your heart. I know that. You are in more ways capable than you think you are. Give yourself a chance. You can't be scared to try something you never knew."

"And what if he doesn't..." Ajabdeh reasoned again "I don't want him to be bound in a loveless marriage."

"That's understandable but the question arises only after both of you are ready to try isn't it?"

Ajabdeh nodded.

"I think Dadabhai is ready to try his luck. Are you?" Heer smiled hopefully at her sister "For my sake Jija."

"We need to talk." Pratap was startled by his thought as his phone buzzed with a message from Ajabdeh. Pratap remembered the Punwar Mansion deal and got up to check the file that had been lying on his study table for quite some time now. He had received it from his lawyers and was making up excuses in his head not to invade Ajabdeh’s personal space until she resumed work. He gathered Jalal must have mentioned it to her and she is the workaholic she was and didn’t want to make him wait.

"I will come by tomorrow." He replied.

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My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing Chotima?" A disappointed voice came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabde looked visibly displeased at the daasi who ran. " They are at the fort gates and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red Jora and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maa sa Maa sa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabde." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" Amar exclaimed

Chapter Three: Pedigree

The Imperial Police work was a tough job. The family had no idea what Superintendent Animesh Kumar Mukhopadhyay went through to provide for his family and their luxurious lives. Abhaya’s father never failed to let his family know that. Every time he drank down his sins. Every time he came home drunk. Every time he beat his wife. Abhaya would often sit awake all night, her pillow pressed against her ears as she sobbed silently, hoping that her mother’s begging sobs and father’s lewd language would stop. One day she had opened the door of her room slightly and was about to step out when her sister-in-law intervened. Her face was dark as she coldly told Abhaya to return to her room. She would be punished if her elder brothers found out about her trying to get out of her chambers at night. Abhaya at twelve knew one truth greater than others. Men were like this, women had to tiptoe around them to serve them as they demanded. She was intimidated by the regular chores the women of the hous

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in court with Rana Udai Singh. The Mughals were conquering a huge part of the north courtesy of Bairam Khan and Mewar on their routes to the ports of Gujarat. " Dajiraj we need to secure the roads leading to Agra and also towards the west. The attack-prone areas should always be under surveillance." " Yes Ranaji. Baojiraj is right." Rawatji agreed. In the Rani Mahal, everyone was preparing for a grand lunch. Ajabde was making a sweet dish for the princes and princesses and in a hurry, she forgot to add the Kesar and Badam on top. As she served the smaller princes including Kunwar Jagmal, Dheerbai came to inspect her eldest son's food. " What is this? Who made this? Kokoiaji?" She stormed to the kitchen with a bowl of sweet dishes. " Kunwaranisa did." Came a scary answer, from Veer Bai. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up

Struggles and Tests

Kunwar Pratap ran to hug his mother. Jaivanta Bai smiled pleased looking at him. Sajja Bai had accompanied her here with the Bhattiyani queen and had reached out to her sister in Marwar for shelter with the princesses until the war ended. She refused to stay like a commoner at Samant’s house. “Majhli Maasa.” Kunwar Pratap touched her feet and got a hug in return. “ Where is Chotima?” “She went to Mehrangarh.” Jaivanta Bai replied. Dressed simply in a blue lehenga and silver jewellery she still looked elegant. The sound of Payal made everyone turn as Hansa smiled at her daughter. “This is Ajabde. My eldest.” Ajabde stepped forward to touch the queen’s feet while Kunwar Pratap stepped back carefully watching the scene with a smile. Jaivanta Bai cupped her face and noticed her son’s reaction in silence. “Ajabde show them the guest rooms.” After the refreshments, Hansa Bai instructed her while Kunwar Pratap left in a hurry followed by Balwant who now kind of worshipped him.

Disguise

I am not going to lose so easily. I still have my last hope left. Baijilal, I am coming, Dheerbai smiled to herself as the Palki continued its journey. She had done everything, cried, fallen at Ranaji’s feet and sought forgiveness from Jaivanta Bai to make them believe her. She had won over Ranaji again, enough to accompany them on the journey. Kunwar Pratap smiled at the letter that arrived for him at Telhati. He read it thrice before telling Chakrapani “Ranima wants me to meet them at… Bijolia!” “Laxmi. Eat now, what is wrong with you?” Ajabde was in a bad mood as she scolded Laxmi who refused to eat. “Laxmi. Actually, people don’t know how to talk with love.” The voice behind her made her jump. "Please eat Laxmi.” He walked past her to Laxmi patting her towards the bucket gently. “You…You…” She looked scared. “I…I…” He smiled. “Here?” She frowned. “Here.” He nodded. “Why?” She dreaded the answer. “Because “ He stepped forward as she stepped back. “

Chapter Four: Imprisoned

Abhaya was thrown into a room without windows and the doors were chained shut. It was dark and damp and the walls smelled of gathered dust. She could sense the chains being locked as she heard voices outside. She tried to get up but her bruised knees and weak body failed her. She stumbled on the cold stone floor to notice the mattress on one side and a pot of water on the other. What were they going to do to her? Was she the only one here? Where were her parents? In the Summer heat also she felt a shiver in her body. She briefly remembered her house up in flames, the bottles of kerosene being thrown at the open windows. Torches around the house, chanting slogans. The screams of the women. The last time she saw her elder brothers was when they picked up the pistols and canes from around the house. She realised her father was not home when she ran down the corridor towards the chaos, her heart on her throat. The loud sound of the car burning and the screams of her mother made her freeze.

Destiny

The war was almost won. A few of Marwar’s soldiers were left on the field along with Rao Maldeo Singh Rathore, their king and leader. He was thinking of retreating at the end of this day. As his sword clashed with one of the opponent generals as he eyed the opponent King now open and prone to attack. A little hope flickered in his mind as his eyes instructed his closest aide. The opponent was quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 yet his bravery and valour reflected his blood and upbringing. He mesmerised the opponents and even Rao Maldeo with his clever war strategies and sword skills. As Maldeo’s aide swung his sword at a taken aback Udai Singh, someone’s sword defended it as his body acted like a shield for the king. He killed the man in one go. “ Ranaji are you okay?” “ Haan Raoji.” He nodded gratefully. By half the day, the Marwar army had retreated as the air filled with “ Jai Mewar! Jai Eklingji!” From the triumphant soldiers. Rana Udai Si

Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. “Break the door” he ordered. “Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar. “Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.” “Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried. “Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde. Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens… Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction. “ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword. Ratan took two ste

Friends?

Early morning, Ajabde walked into Saubhagyawati’s house as the Panditji looked relieved. “Baisa you are here now I don’t need to look after anything.” She walked into Saubhagyawati’s room and found her braiding her hair nervously. Her lehenga looked beautiful and only the maangtika was about to be put so Ajabde did the honours. Saubhagyawati held her hand and took a deep breath. “Ajabde have a confession.” “What is it Bhago?” She looked worried. “Are you scared?” “No no Ajabde it’s not that. I… met him… before…” “Whom?” “The one who is coming to see me.” She looked away scared. “What? How…” Ajabde looked at her with wide eyes. “woh… Both nights when I waited for you in the…” “Hai Bhagwan Bhago! What if he says that seeing you in front of your father?” Ajabde spoke up as Bhago looked shocked. Why didn’t she think that before? “What will we do now?” Bhago asked worriedly. Ajabde was lost in thoughts. No way could people know. The groom had arrived with

RAABTA

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