Skip to main content

Epilogue: RTM


“Rishta Tera Mera”

“What are you reading?” The husband frowned as his wife remained hooked to the novel at hand, dismissing his presence.
“This book is so inspiring.” She placed it down on the table as she spoke. “A woman wrote it under a pseudonym.”
The man picked up the book and read the title “Barrister Babu?” He frowned “What is it about?”
“How a man encouraged a woman who dared to dream against society’s norms to follow her dreams and become a barrister alongside him.” The wife smiled.
The man shook his head, “All the fiction is eating up your head. Those stories are not true.”
“She claims it is. The writer claims she has witnessed this closely and knows these people.” She frowned. The man shrugged.
“She might have said so to sell her book.”
“True or not, some stories are worth telling because they inspire generations to come.” The woman shrugged. The man nodded silently.
“So you want to be a barrister?” he asked as she shook her head.
“No, after my matriculation, I want to study English. The author here says she was in Europe a good number of years before she came back to independent India.” The woman spoke dreamily, “Imagine if we ever go…” The man shook his head again.
“You and your novels. Why even read fiction?” He walked away.

True or not, some characters are worth believing in and getting inspired by. And with that hope, this author leaves you with a story very close to her heart, very special on its own and indeed worth sharing, over and over again.


The End


If you liked this story, don't forget to leave a review on Goodreads.

Popular posts from this blog

One Night

Happy Valentine's Day, readers! Hope you put your self-love and your love for reading right at the top when you celebrate today! The night was eerie; the veil of stars shone in the clear sky, occasional clouds travelling with the wind, playing hide-and-seek with the crescent moon. The leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, and somewhere in the forestland, the call of an animal broke the silence. Owls hooted somewhere, and in the darkness, one could see across the arid land, beyond the water of a lake, a fort wall was lit by the torches of the guards who were awake and alert. The sandstone castle in the middle of the small township was asleep. The corridors of the Mardana Mahal, where noblemen and princes were stationed, were heavily guarded tonight. The prince of Mewar was travelling through this small town, on one of his many campaigns.  The square-shaped palace had an inner courtyard for the ladies. Opposite the Mardana Mahal was the Andar Mahal, where the women resided. They shar...

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabdeh looked visibly displeased at the ladies who ran around. " They are at the fort gates, and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red lehenga and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maasa Maasa... 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. " Ajabdeh." 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!" A...

Begum Sahib: Forbidden Love

2nd June 1634, Burhanpur. " My heart is an endowment of my beloved, the devotee and lover of his sacred shrine, a soul that enchants mine."  The Raja of Bundi had arrived at Burhanpur after a win in the war of Paranda. He had met the crown prince Dara and was honoured with a sword and elephant before he came to pay his respect to the Padishah Begum as per the norms of the court. Jahanara was writing in her room. Her maid came with the news, “Begum Sahib, the Raja of Bundi has arrived at court; he is at the Bagh to pay you his respect.” “Tell him to sit in the courtyard of my bagh, I will be there.” She had risen from her place, covered her face in the veil of her dupatta and walked to the place where he waited. “ Begum Sahib," he had acknowledged her presence with a salutation. She returned the bow with a nod. She was sitting inside the arch while he was on the other side of the Purdah, the sun shining over his head as he took his seat on the velvet carpet th...

Rebel Love

“I can’t believe this.” Kunwar Shakti spoke aloud what was on everyone else’s mind. Kunwar Pratap held a scroll from his father as he read aloud the instructions. They were supposed to go on a battle with Dungarpur because the Rana liked a dancer girl he wanted to “possess” there, and he was refused by the king.  “We can’t be making enemies because he liked a dancer, Dadabhai.” He waited for his brother’s reaction. “Please tell me I am right?” Kunwar Pratap’s glance made Kunwar Shakti stop. The Rawat of Salumber and the Rao of Bijoliya were present there, and the last thing Pratap wanted was a rumour that the prince did not agree with the king. He cleared his throat. They were sitting in the Haveli at Kelwara, where Pratap was posted. Ever since his return to Chittor and the not-so-successful war against Marwar, both princes were posted away from home. Receiving the instruction at Mandalgarh, where Shakti was posted, he wasted no time gathering the two chiefs and arriving at Kelwar...

Scheme of Things

The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...

Queen of the Heart

Kunwar Pratap was in the Dangal Sthal practising his moves. Ajabdeh decided it was fair to know his strength before she summoned him. Sword in hand, in a white female warrior attire with only her face visible, she hid behind one of the large watchtowers of the Dangal, watching him move. She heard Rawatji say, "Your left hand is still weaker than the right one with the moves. Both should be perfect." A smile curved her lips. Knowing an opponent's weakness always helps, which is one rule of war she always remembered. Kunwar Pratap swung his sword with his left hand and turned around. He could sense someone watching; his sixth sense was never wrong. He looked around. Ajabdeh again peeped at the grounds to see that it was empty. He had left. She walked towards the empty ground, sword in hand. Suddenly, the cold blade of a sword was felt on her neck. She stopped still. " So someone was spying on me." His voice had a hint of taunt. " No, I was ... walking by......

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. 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 was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...

Love Struck

A new dawn was about to break in Mewar. Kunwar Pratap shifted in his bed as the lamp shone in the darkness. He was now facing her sleeping figure. Her hand rested on the pillow between them, the pillow he chose to keep there in the first place, but now it seemed like the symbol of the distance he wanted to bridge between their hearts. He stared at it, lost in thought. I promised myself to make you mine, but how? What if you... He stared at the sleeping figure, admitting in silence that no one, even the bravest enemy, scared him like her calm, composed self did. I am thinking like a typical husband. He smiled. What to do now, Ajabdeh? I am terrible with my words, unlike you. Pratap Singh! You need to learn a few things! He looked back at the ceiling in his thoughts. What if I drop hints? She knows me so well, maybe she will understand without me actually speaking for myself. The thoughts made his face light up. Yes, yes, that will be perfect. Let's try this. But... First things fir...

The Queen

“Some remain immortal in deeds, others, in the hearts of their loved ones.” Kunwar Partap had left Kumbhalmer a little reluctantly with his chieftains to claim the throne that was rightfully his, at his father’s funeral at Gogunda. It did not come as a surprise to either Maharani Jivanta Bai or Ajbante Baisa that Rani Dheer Bai had tried to put her son on the throne of Mewar and ally with the Timurids. As Amar Singh rode away, excited, beside his father, Ajbante stared at them go, with a heavy heart. Today was the start of a new journey, a new title and new responsibilities, but all she could gather was that her baby was not a baby anymore. She felt the way she felt when she had first come to the house, alone in a crowd. A sudden tap on her shoulder jolted her from her thoughts as she turned to see Rajmata Jivanta Bai standing before her with questioning eyes. “What is it that worries you today, Ajbante?” Jivanta Bai asked, reading her face, “Is it not some sunshine after ...

Alliance and Love

Ajabdeh sat quietly on the palace balcony, her baby sound asleep on the Jhula . Unlike traditional Princesses, she did not let her firstborn be taken care of by Dai Ma . After all, she was the future Maharani and had to make sure the heir to the throne was safe. After all, she was one of the few to know how manipulative her stepmother-in-law was. The Bhatiyani Queen hated her husband. Suddenly, she heard footsteps and grew alarmed. "Baiji Sa..." She was relieved to see her Daasi .  " Yes, what is it?" She asked, eagerly. " Maharani Sa sent you a message to be ready. Kunwar sa and Rana ji will be arriving back in Chittor any time soon, and it's been twenty-one days, so Maharani Sa wants you to welcome Kunwarsa yourself." As the Daasi left, she picked up her newborn, kissed his forehead and whispered, " Kunwar Sa will see you for the first time." Her eyes twinkled with joy. He had written to her continuously these last few months when he cou...