Dawn

Adhiraja Ishaan Dev was at the Lord’s feet in the temple shrine through the night as Neelambargarh prayed for their queen. Maharani Priyambada had fainted in the arena and had been attended to by the medicine men since then. It was Vrinda who rushed out of the inner palace towards the temple in urgency, looking for the Adhiraja to hold her breath and declare, “The Maharani is awake and looking for you. The heir is unharmed.” Adhiraja Ishaan Dev said a soft prayer of gratitude, wiped his eyes discreetly and followed Vrinda into the palace in urgency.

Maharani Priyambada clutched the pillow to her chest as she let out a wail. What had she done? She killed her mother. Would the gods forgive her for such a sin? Her mother! She looked at her now clean hands and beat her forehead with them, almost like a mad woman, making Urvi intervene.

“What are you doing, Maharani? You will hurt yourself.”

“What did I do, Urvi? Did you see that? That is not me. That is not…” She hid her face in the pillow and cried. Urvi wiped her tears and stood up as she heard the Adhiraja approach.

“Leave us alone.” He commanded as the maids and nurses flocked out of the chambers. Priyambada looked up at him as he rushed to hug her, and she sobbed again.

“Oh, what have I done! I didn’t ever mean to kill her.”

“I know. But she meant to kill you.” Ishaan Dev placed his hand on her head and reminded her gently as Priyambada looked up at his face, still horrified. “And if you don’t kill those who harm you, you will be killed. That is the law of war.”

“She was my mother!’ Priyambada shook her head and cried again as Ishaan Dev held her. “I know Priya. I understand.”

“And yet, I feel sorry for myself for having experienced this rather than being sad at her demise,” Priyambada confessed as though her voice was distant. “She was my mother, yet all I feel is sorry for myself, worried for my sin, my image and my state.”

“You are now a true queen.” Ishaan Dev reminded her. “It is never wrong to think of yourself first.”

“But what about my child? If I am so self-centred, do I deserve to be a mother? What if I end up like…”

“You will be nothing like your mother, Priya.” Ishaan Dev spoke firmly. “I wanted to let you know, while you were unconscious, I took the liberty of allowing Priyam Dev to do the last rites at the banks of Maya. He was escorted by the guards and would be locked up again, at dawn, hopefully for the rest of his life.” Priyambada nodded, wiping away her tears.

“We couldn’t do Father or Prithvi’s last rites.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “Oh, is Prithvi hating me right now? And father?”

“No, Priya. They are not. They were kings and princes. They know the price of the throne. If Prithvi were on the throne today and Priyam rebelled against him, he would have gotten Priyam executed. That is how it is. I am sorry you have to learn it this way.” Something in Ishaan Dev’s voice calmed Priyambada as she gasped for breath, tired of crying, as she clutched onto his clothes for dear life. Ishaan Dev tried to pacify her by patting her gently, and when she was calm enough, he ordered Urvi to bring food and water. Priyambada reluctantly let him feed her as the image of her mother’s blood-soaked body suddenly reappeared in her mind’s eyes, making her feel nauseated. Ishaan Dev stayed awake by her side all night, refusing the constant help Vrinda and Urvi offered as she vomited in disgust, slept tired and cried awake from nightmares.

Ishaan Dev didn’t know when he had fallen asleep beside her when her movement alerted him. When Ishaan Dev opened his eyes, he found the first rays of dawn lit up Priyambada’s pale face as she sat up on the bed, looking out at the sky turning a shade brighter. At least she wasn’t crying. Ishaan Dev noticed her rubbing her hand over her womb absentmindedly as he smiled faintly, placing his hand over hers. Priyambada jolted a little as he sat up beside her and placed her head silently on his shoulder.

“Will we be able to keep the child safe?” Her question made him frown.

“Of course, we will.”

“What if he rebels against you for the throne? Will you kill him then?” Adhiraja Ishaan Dev stared at his wife, a little taken aback by her question. “Of course, you will.”

“Or we will give him the throne and retire to Siyori for the rest of our lives. Like you once told me, your grandfather did.” Ishaan Dev tightened his grip on her hand, reassuringly trying to smile faintly. Priyambada shook her head.

“And what will you do there? Farm animals?”

“Why not? I am good with horses, ask Vidyut!” Ishaan Dev hoped to make her smile. Instead, Priyambada sighed. “A king is nothing without a throne.” She said firmly. “Grandmother always said so… but then father used to argue that it is the people who make a king, not the throne or the crown.” Ishaan Dev sat up and cleared his throat.

“I will agree with your father on that one. A true king is always a king wherever he goes.”

“I thought about something.” Her words made Ishaan Dev stare at her intently as she looked up at him, “About what you said about Prithvi…”

“I apologise.” Ishaan Dev shook his head. “I didn’t know how to calm you…”

“You were right.” Priyambada made him stop. “He would have done so. Once, when we were playing in the garden, Priyam took his dagger and ran. That dagger was given by Father on Prithvi’s declaration as heir. He was so mad he threatened to hurt Priyam with it.” Priyambada shook her head. “Kumar Viraj had intervened.” For the first time, Ishaan Dev observed Priyambada open up about her otherwise “perfect” brother’s flaws. He was a bit taken aback because Priyambada, subconsciously through her words and stories, had painted in his mind the picture of a perfect prince.

“Brothers fight like that.” Ishaan Dev shook his head. “Whatever I had, Ravi always wanted the same one. If he got the same one, he always thought mine was better.” He smiled a little at memories of his childhood, which he had long forgotten in the turmoil of kingship. Memories of Trishaan Dev, Ravi Varman and himself being a unit, stronger than everyone around them, once upon a time. The bond of the boys often made Rajadhiraja Trikal Dev say that they would be invincible when Ishaan becomes king, Ravi Varman his prime minister and Trishaan Dev his advisor. He wasn’t sure anymore.

“I have something to tell you.” Priyambada interrupted his chain of thoughts as he nodded.

“I also have something to ask, about General Unmukt saying…” Ishaan Dev was unsure if the scars were too raw to discuss, but he wanted to know.

‘I was going to talk about that only. I met him in the prison cell.”

“Alone?’ Ishaan Dev gasped. “That is not safe for you, Priya.”

“Devdoot was with me.” She reassured him as she continued. “He said the person he met for aid wasn’t Trishaan Dev. Or at least him alone.”

“Who else was it then?” Ishaan Dev sat up with a frown.

“Rajputra Ravi Varman.” Priyambada studied Ishaan Dev’s face as soon as she uttered the name. She perhaps anticipated surprise, but Ishaan Dev showed none. Instead, he smiled, shook his head and sighed.

“I expected that of him. It is Trishaan’s actions that hurt me more. But what can we say? You were right, Priya. Kingship knows no kinship.” He looked up at her. “I am all alone in the place I call home and among the people I call family. I can trust nobody and…” Priyambada made him stop by putting her cold hand over his lips.

“The place you call home is here, and your family is us.” She placed his hand over her womb. “And we are here with you.”

“You are.” Ishaan Dev agreed and appeared to be thinking.

“What is the next course of action?” Priyambada seemed to read his mind.

“I will inform Father of this treason. He will do the needful with the bastard.”

Trishaan Dev held the letter with the broken seal of Neelambargarh over the burning lamp and watched it turn to ashes with a smile. He had read the contents of the letter, from Ishaan Dev to the Rajadhiraja, accusing Ravi Varman and him of treason against the crown prince of Suryapali and an attempt at assassination on his wife, for which he mentioned there was proof. He heard footsteps outside his chamber and was quick enough to sweep the ashes under the rug before Rajkumari Mandakini Devi appeared before him at his threshold.

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

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...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Five

It took Trilochon half a day to figure out something was wrong at home. Since he was back, Somnath did not talk to him at all, and Aniruddha looked visibly upset. They avoided each other at the dining table and the living room. Trilochon was not comfortable with asking Ashalata anything. In the evening, as Kalindi poured tea from the pot, Trilochon groaned inwardly. “It’s not even six months since he got married, and she has started a war between brothers.” Kalindi stopped pouring the tea as she turned to him. “What?” She asked, a little cluelessly. “If I had chosen a bride…” Trilochon stopped at Kalindi’s disapproving stare. “What makes you say that?” She asked rather calmly. “Well, I never saw Som and Aniruddha fight until she came here.” Kalindi looked amused at his words. “You are the type for whom people hate in-laws.” “Pardon?” Trilochon narrowed his brows. “What do you mean?” “Bondita. Ask Bondita.” Kalindi shook her head. “I told her it was a bad idea to work with him.” “You ha...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty One

The morning after the Chief Minister of the state attended the reception party, Binoy wrapped the newspaper that had just arrived at their threshold, eyeing the picture of him and Trilochon with the chief minister smiling proudly, made a mental note of framing it for his office in Siliguri and stepped out to see the car waiting for him in the entrance to take him to the station. He glanced over his shoulder at the house, still asleep and watched Bihari put his luggage in the back seat. Bihari had been with the Roy Chowdhury House since he was a teenager. He eyed Binoy as he lit his pipe and straightened his jacket when Bihari approached him. “Boro Saheb, should I inform Kotta Moshai once?” Binoy eyed Bihari with a disapproving glance. “If I wanted to tell him, I would have done so myself, Bihari. Where is the driver?” He checked his watch. Bihari sighed as he ran to check on the driver. Bondita stopped on the gravelled path leading from the entrance to the main gate as she watched...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Four

Aniruddha let the shower run as his skin erupted into goosebumps under the cold water. He breathed out and removed the locks of wet hair from his face. He turned off the shower, wrapped the towel lowly around his waist and walked back to the room, not caring about the wet floor from the water dripping down his torso. He lay on the bed as his body soaked the blanket. He stared at the ceiling, stretching his arms over his head. Bondita’s promise played on his mind in a loop. “I will not leave… I will never leave.” He wanted to believe her. He wanted one person he could fall back on, trusting them to catch him when he stumbled. But his experiences proved him otherwise. He remembered that day as vividly as if it were yesterday. He had bought a scarf for Bondita from Palika Bazaar as a truce because he felt bad leaving home after fighting with her. He had tried to be patient with her and sat her down numerous times to make her understand why boarding school would benefit her. Aniruddha...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Two

The winter morning was pleasant, especially when the sunshine hit the dewy grass on the lawn, and Bihari set down the porcelain cups for Trilochon and Kalindi to start their day. Kalindi had just taken up some orders to knit sweaters and mittens for some of the neighbourhood kids as she wrapped the thick brown shawl tightly around herself, on the chilly morning as she sat down on the lawn chair with her needles, pin and colourful balls of wool, as she knit a pair of mittens while waiting for Trilochon to join her. Bondita hurried out of their place and stopped at the sight of her sitting alone, unsurely. “Do you need something?” Kalindi raised her eyes briefly from the wool and asked as she shook her head. “I was hoping to talk to Jyatha Moshai…” She shivered a little as Kalindi scolded her to find a sweater first. She rushed indoors as Kalindi spotted Trilochon in a thermal t-shirt, a pair of pants and a shawl walking towards her with the cane in hand. He stopped as he watched her kni...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty

Trilochon’s only desire for Som’s wedding was for it to be so grand that the entire Chandannagar remembered it for the longest time. He had also invited the leaders of the opposition, ministers and even the CM, and if rumours were to be believed, he would accept the invitation. That meant trying to impress him for a ticket to the next Lok Sabha elections. He knew the only way to do so was also to showcase Som as a prodigy. Their family name was enough to earn votes for the party in the area. “Perhaps you could tell him about Somnath Babu’s involvement in some of the projects here. Like the slum area where water was flooding the pathways…” Poritosh had suggested. “But it was done by…” Bapi Da had stopped as Trilochon shook his head, “How does it matter who did it? What matters is that we say Som did it.” They agreed. “Jyatha Moshai.” Bondita walked into his room, not expecting the elderly men from the Party office to be there. “ Bolo, Maa. ” “The Gaye Holud is here.” She smiled. “How a...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Three

“So the question is, do the slum dwellers get their dues to relocate, or do they protest on the road, grabbing media attention? If one of them mentions the sewage project where all this started, we can’t guarantee not dragging certain names then. It will be beyond our control.” Bondita breathed in as she eyed everyone at the table. The conference hall of ARC & Associates had an oval table with a whiteboard, projector and podium and sitting around the table were a stenographer, Bondita’s secondary attorney, Debashish Ghosal, the contractor and his attorney Biswas, the representative of the NGO with the Union leader of the slum, Trilochon, Somnath and Aniruddha. The people of the NGO appreciated her strategy with a nod. Ghoshal looked perplexed as his lawyer whispered something in his ear. Somnath did not look up from the table as Aniruddha passed a note to Trilochon in writing. “Now the decision is yours.” Bondita continued. “We are keen on out-of-court settlement if our basic ...

Purnota: Chapter Nineteen

“Wake up, wake up!” Bondita smiled, amused at Aniruddha and Batuk sleeping on his bed, hugging each other like children. She removed the curtains, and the room was flooded in daylight. “Urgh.” Batuk stirred as Aniruddha sat up. “What is wrong with you?” Batuk threw the pillow Bondita caught before it hit the floor. Her wet hair shone in the sunlight, with droplets of water lingering on its tips as she adjusted her well-pleated orange saree with a blue border and opened the window. A gust of cold breeze blew in from the Ganges, prompting Batuk to pull his blanket over his face. “Let me sleep, Daini !” He murmured. “Is it not enough that you all gave away my room to guests?” Aniruddha was stretching and yawning as Bondita chuckled, amused, pulling her wet hair to the side of her shoulder. “Why are you dressed up?” Aniruddha asked, suppressing a yawn. “Oh, you should be, too. Jyatha Moshai said We are going to Kalighat.” She raised her brows, amused. “Oh shit,” Aniruddha murmured, hitting...

Purnota: Chapter Twenty Six

Bondita was surprised to find Binoy in the living room of the Roy Chowdhury house as she entered the premises early in the morning. Trilochon sat with his brother, looking serious as they discussed some paperwork, as Bihari walked out with tea. Noticing Bondita so early in the morning, Trilochon looked up questioningly. “I have some errands to run before the office.” Bondita smiled as Trilochon nodded. She had to pay some bills and deliver some of the orders Kalindi had finished because her ankle hurt in the morning. Trilochon enquired about her need for medicines as Bondita reassured him that she had made sure of it. Bondita briefly eyed Binoy, who did not take an interest in her or the conversation, as he did not look up from the papers. Bondita cleared her throat, informing Trilochon that she should be on her way. “I think you should show her the papers, Binoy.” Trilochon stopped her as he suggested to Binoy, who eyed Bondita briefly. He looked unsure as Bondita opened her mouth wit...

RAABTA

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