Going Home

Bondita's Mama came to Tulsipur to meet his daughter. He was a poor man and wore a short dhoti and a Batik shirt. It was wrong to come empty-handed to the daughter's house, so two pots of sweets accompanied him. Reluctantly, he had to go to Roy Chowdhury's house. They were the Zamindar of Tulsipur, the master of the father-in-law of Sampoorna, and they needed to be respected. Apart from that, the fate of the sister and niece whom he was reluctant to shelter and spent day and night rebuking them about had turned; the same sister now handed over some money to him by the end of the month, because of the kindness of Aniruddha Babu. He did not have the luxury of pushing Lakshmi away. Hence, it was necessary to come to the landlord's house to meet his niece. In their house, servants also dressed better than he. Look at the fate of the girl. Where he had arranged for her to stay in a corner of an old man's house, now Bondita was living a queen’s life.

Zamindar Trilochan Roy Chowdhury did not hesitate to show it to anyone if he didn't like them. Bondita's uncle was one of those people. Trilochan Babu was shocked by what he heard from Bouma's mouth about how they treated her, and then even more surprised at seeing Bouma's affection towards them. But they were family. What could be done if someone arrived at his doorstep with sweets? It is not in the landlord's taste to disrespect a guest. Bondita took her uncle’s blessing and asked about her mother. How was she doing? Was she worried about Bondita and what Mama should tell her? Trilochanbabu knew that Bouma had not seen her mother for a long time.

"Then, Bouma, go with your Mama, come back in a few days." Trilochan's words make Bondita's eyes sparkle.

"Really, can I go?" Bondita asked in disbelief. Trilochan nodded his head. "If he doesn’t object..."

"No, no, why will I..." Bondita’s uncle smiled sheepishly, "If she wants to come..."

"Wait, Mama, I'll be right back." Bondita ran inside. While tying the bundle, her hand stopped once. Should she tell Barristra Babu? Should she ask his permission? Her ego got the better of her. He didn't want her to stay, didn't trust her, and Jyatha Shoshur Moshai told her to go. Why bother asking him again? She would go to stay with her mother. He would be fine, perhaps better off without her. He would not find his things; that would be good. He wouldn’t have to see her face, not stay out of the house angry with her, and he could sleep in his bed. He would be fine.

Absent-mindedly packing her things, Bondita did not realise when Aniruddha came and stood behind her. For a long time, he watched her pack a bundle, a frown on his face, fear in his heart. After that day, they didn't talk about anything but unavoidable things. He tried many times but couldn’t understand what to say to Bondita.

"Where are you taking these things?" Bondita was startled by his words. The comb fell out of her hand. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Aniruddha picking up the comb from the floor, a look of displeasure on his face.

“You? Why are you up?” Bondita suddenly asked, "So early?"

"Bihari said, Mama... what are these?"

"I will go home with Mama."

"Why?" Aniruddha tried hard not to sound agitated as Bondita jolted back.

"I mean, Jyathamoshai said I can go to see Mother..."

"You're not going anywhere." Aniruddha suddenly started taking things out of her bundle. "You don't need to go with uncle, I said I will take you to meet her." Bondita got angry at his demeanour. She forgot her vow to be grateful to him and stopped him. After so many years of a habit of arguing with her, Barristra Babu got the better of her.

"Why won’t I go?" Aniruddha stopped and looked at her, suddenly relieved by the tone in Bondita’s voice. It had a hint of right towards him, "Why won't I go to my mother with my uncle?" Bondita tried to snatch the bundle from his hand in vain.

"I said I will take you," Aniruddha said, lifting the bundle on his head, beyond her reach.

"Yes, you are taking today and tomorrow too. Give me back my things. Jetha's Shoshur Moshai told me to go." Bondita taunted.

"I said you are not going."

"So, are you preventing me from meeting my mother?"

“No. You know very well why I am stopping you.” His stare made her look away.

"No, I don't know." Protests erupted more strongly in Bondita’s voice. "You're acting like a madman."

"What?" Even Bondita was shocked at the words that came out of her mouth as Aniruddha looked flabbergasted. She was afraid that she had successfully angered him more.

"You called me crazy for your stubbornness?" Aniruddha's voice sounded bitter. "Bondita, you know well why you are insisting and why I don't accept that insistence."

"What's going on?" Seeing Trilochanbabu outside the threshold, Bondita pulled her Ghomta on her head quickly, realising it had fallen off in the middle of the argument. Aniruddha dropped the bundle, and a look of awkwardness was reflected on both of their faces. Trilochan Roy Chowdhury cleared his throat. He knew that the ghost of stubbornness often danced on these two, leading them to meaningless arguments he could never make sense of, but arguing like this, especially when there was a guest at home, what was wrong with them?

"Look, he won't let me go to my mother." Bondita startled Aniruddha with a complaint.

"No... I mean," Aniruddha looked a little lost for words in front of his uncle. “I say, why bother, Mama, I will take her.”

"When?" Bondita snapped. ”How many times have you said this in the past year? Did you take me there once?"

"Bouma is right, let her go with her uncle. You have been busy. And he is her Mama, it won’t bother him. You go and pick her up in a day or two, what's the harm?”

"He doesn’t have to go."Bondita protested. "He's so busy he can't bring me home, so you must send Bihari."

"I can. I can bring you home.” Aniruddha protested firmly, and Bondita eyed him.

"Then what is the problem? Get her the day after tomorrow. Bouma, come quickly, your uncle says the train will leave if you don’t go now.” Trilochan Babu still did not understand why his son was protesting like this. But he never tried to understand all that he did or said. What's the point? "And Aniruddha, you should make Bouma a lawyer." He jokingly added, "She can argue better than you."

Before Aniruddha could understand, Bondita snatched the bundle of clothes from his hand and packed the rest of the things in a hurry. Standing with folded hands for a while, Anirudha watched her. Then she took out a saree to change into, took the key from the lock, and said, "I will put it in this drawer; you will need it." She went to the washroom to change her saree. Aniruddha tied some loose change in a handkerchief, "You may find it useful." He said, offering it to Bondita, raising his eyes and observing his wife’s pale face.

"Believe me, I will go there myself. I will bring you back." Bondita lifted her eyes at him briefly. "Everything you think is not true. I... ” Suddenly afraid of what Aniruddha wanted to talk about, the subject Bondita stepped back.

"It's getting late, I need to go." Suddenly, she took his blessing, interrupting him mid-thought and left the room. Aniruddha sighed and stood there for a while. "Dugga Dugga." He said to himself.

Happy Ending

Dheer had a sleepless night. Yes, she had killed the Maharani, but to seek revenge for her son. Jagmal was all she had for a dream, and Rana Pratap's first decision was to banish him. He had never been that tough with his other brothers who went with Akbar, then why him? Just because he wanted to be a king? Just because they brought a false letter and bought a few witnesses? Her son died in Ajmer, so young. And she had always blamed Ajabdeh Punwar for Rana's hard decision. After all, ever since she came as a support for Jaivanta Bai, she had been like his shield, even though creating misunderstandings didn't help Dheer Bai Bhatiyani. Ajabdeh had done the impossible, showing him the real face of his Chotima. What bothered Dheer now was whether he remembered anything, and most importantly, if she did. Dheer had turned pale at the song and smile Pratap gave, but if he knew she had killed Ajabdeh, it meant Survi remembered her walking to a dying Ajabdeh and confessing that ...

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...

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!" ...

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...

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......

Begum Sahib: An Introduction and chronology

Note to the readers: Women behind men in history fascinate me. I had been reading about the mothers and wives who changed men’s fortunes. But what about daughters and sisters? A few months back, I was looking for books on Mughal Ladies, mainly Noor Jahan and her work. In the bibliography credits, I had chanced upon “The Life of A Mogul Princess” By Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan. I had no idea about the book and thought it was another autobiography. Previously, I had read only about how she was imprisoned along with her father at Agra, and her involvement with Dara Shikoh, her younger brother, in connecting the two realms of Hinduism and Islamism and the establishment of Sufism. All of these and the chronological events of history can be found in various books. As I read each page of her diary, cross-checking each point with Jagunath Sircar’s “History of Aurangzib” and R.C. Majumder’s “Mughal Empire” as well as numerous other sources on the Mughal Harem, I discovered ...

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in the 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 Surat. " Daajiraj, 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. Ajabdeh was making a drink 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. " Ajabdeh Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabdeh walke...

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 ...

PI Ved: The Miniature of Kalimpong

There are some things you must do when you are spending an extended weekend in the mountains in India. Take a long coat along for good pictures, have some Wai Wai Noodles and Momos, and wait for the fog to clear for a view of the mighty Himalayas. After a hearty meal of pork momos and Darjeeling First Flush tea, I walked out of Gompu’s Bar and Restaurant near the clock tower in Kalimpong’s main market area. The weather was slightly rainy, so my parents decided to return to the hotel while I walked down the busy road on the other side through the market. Tourists like me were flocking around the souvenir shops and departmental stores selling shawls and caps. I lazily checked out a few Jap Jantra and magnets, deciding to come back later. One could easily distinguish between tourists and locals simply by how they dress anywhere in the world. The locals treated this as summer weather in Kalimpong and walked around in half-sleeved shirts and loose pants, while the tourists found it hard not...

The Royal Accident

And thus they spend 30 glorious years fighting with each other, all because of a royal Accident. Some people called it a mismatch, but to me, they are the perfect match I will ever see! The writer put down his pen. " Are you done yet?" His wife came in with coffee. An eager child, barely three, peeped in. " Dad!" He was impatient. " Tell me a story" " Hush! You will ruin the surprise." He scolded. " No, I won't," The boy shrugged, " Ranima TV dekh rahi hai aur Papa toh Bua ke saath Chess khel rahe hai niche." He informed me. " Karan!" His mother scolded. "Don't disturb Dad." " Aarti ," He called as she stopped and turned back." One minute." He took his pen and, right below the last line, he signed Amar Pratap Singh Sisodia. " It's completed." He smiled. " Let me be the first reader." She smiled enthusiastically. A few days later, " Karan! Who wants to...

RAABTA

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