Skip to main content

The Fallen Queen

Hansa Baisa had never imagined in her lifetime that she would see the princess of Jalore, the queen of Mewar, in a dimly lit hut on the outskirts of her fort. She felt anxious and guilty. She could not bow even when she wished to, for the maid who came with her knew that she was coming to meet a poor friend of hers who needed help.

“You look just like you used to when we were children.” Maharani Jivanta Bai said with a smile. Hansa Bai looked up at her words, quick to realise the act and played along. “You look well too…” She lied. “Parvati Baisa.” Hansa was seeing Jivanta Bai for the first time in her life. She was nervous and weak on her knees. The queen of Mewar wore a simple cotton lehenga, with a bandhani dupatta, and the room barely had any furniture. Jivanta gestured at the only piece of furniture, a makeshift bed, and told Hansa to sit. Hansa ordered her maids to wait outside the door as she sat down, holding her breath.


She was a little alarmed, sitting away from Jivanta as she shocked Hansa by pulling her hand. “Sit closer to me.” She said with a smile. “We haven’t met in ages.” Hansa nodded as her throat was dry. With trembling hands, she offered the food and clothes she had brought along with her, and Jivanta held her hand almost reassuringly as she looked up in awe at the queen. Her face looked grim and her smile tired, her eyes looked sleepy, and yet there was a radiance around her gracious presence. “Why did you not bring the children along?” Jaivanta spoke again, perhaps because Hansa was silent. “How many do you have?” Hansa found her voice. She loved speaking about her children.

“Three. Balwant is my only son who was born six months ago. He has learnt to sit up and respond now” She smiled.

“What about your daughters?” Jaivanta inquired. Hansa was not sure whether it was for the act or if the queen was genuinely interested. 

“Umm… There is Ajab… Ajbante. She is the eldest among my husband’s children.” Hansa smiled involuntarily. “She is now eleven. And the middle one is Ratnawati, she is five. My husband has more wives and sons from them…” Jivanta smiled. “Yours seems like a happy family. Are you his eldest?” Hansa nodded as she could sense the longing in Jivanta’s voice as she sighed. “Your daughters must be like your friends. I always wanted one.” Jivanta smiled faintly.

“Ajbante…She is my closest companion. She is very mature for her age.” Hansa stopped. Perhaps she was speaking more than the queen wanted her to. Jivanta did not seem displeased, but if she was, she hid it well.

“How about…” Hansa was not sure how to ask or if it would be deemed appropriate. “Um…”

“My son?” Jivanta could read her mind as she smiled. “He is looking for a job here. He is thirteen.” Hansa let out an involuntary gasp. “What odd job could he possibly do?” Hansa’s heart raced. It was Kunwar Partap in question. Could they sin by letting him do odd jobs in their fort? He was the heir apparent of Mewar.

“He will find something. He has to.” Jivanta Bai seemed determined. “He needs to learn that life is not easy.”

Hansa frowned at the words. She had always imagined royal ladies living a cushioned life and wanting the same for their children. But Jivanta seemed to be unprotected as a mother to the heir apparent. 

“If I may…” Hansa eyed the maids at the door. “He can come to work for us.”

“At the Haveli?” Jivanta asked. Hansa nodded. “Of course, why not? There are plenty of jobs there and we can find him one and…” She drew her Ghunghat close to her face and hid her mouth as she whispered. “It is safe.” Jivanta looked up at her words. It was then that Kunwar Partap arrived with flowers for his mother’s evening prayers.

“Look, Maasa. I found these in the…” He stopped, alarmed at the royal lady who now stood up. She looked his mother’s age by a glimpse, and he had never seen her before. Was she finally here with a message from his father? 

“Bow to the Patrani of Bijoliya, Kika.” Jivanta suggested. Hansa was alarmed to find the prince of Mewar readily bowing to her as she stepped back. 

“She wants you to work at the Haveli.” Partap frowned at his mother’s words first and then turned to Hansa, folding his hands. “That is very kind of you, but my skills are limited.” He eyed his mother. “I can clean, perhaps look after horses. Nothing more. Village life taught me you can’t find a job with those skills. Everyone has them.” He smiled a sheepishly humble smile. Hansa Bai shook her head. “We will find a job for you, and I will send someone with the information tomorrow.”

“No, he will go to the palace himself.” Jivanta insisted. “You are his employer; he should be the one going…” Hansa Bai could not protest. If the maids weren’t there, she was surely going to fall at Jivanta’s feet and seek her blessings. She had never seen such an enigmatic lady in her life. Hansa left the hut humbled.


Ajbante served her father as he was speaking to the Ashwapalak Pradhan, who had just arrived. 

“I recruited a boy. He is the son of someone who saved my life once, so don’t be hard on him.”

“Ji Huzoor.” The man bowed.

“He will come back tomorrow asking for the job. Send him inside first.” The man nodded again, his pagdi making his head wobble more than needed. Ajbante wondered as the man left. Who was this simple horse caregiver who was allowed inside the palace on the first day? These men never stepped onto the premises. 

“Why did you stop serving?” Her father’s gruff voice alarmed her as she poured some more Dal. Ajbante walked back to the kitchen slowly, lost in thought. She could guess but she needed to be sure. How could she be sure? She never saw him, did she? She only heard stories from her father. Ajbante spotted her mother in Balwant’s room on the way. She stepped inside.

“Where did you go in the afternoon, Maasa?” She startled Hansa. “I was looking for you.”

“I… went to see a friend.” Ajbante frowned at her mother’s words. 

“A friend? Why didn’t you take Ratan or me along?” Hansa looked up at her daughter’s confused face.

“Not that kind of friend. When I was younger, she was one of my playmates. Now she has fallen into hard times, and your father offered her son a job.” Ajbante inhaled as she nodded. In the flickering light of the lamp, she could see her mother avoiding her glances with little drops of precipitation appearing on her forehead even in the winter breeze. Ajbante turned to leave.


At dawn, Ajbante stood at the balustrade of her chambers, watching the sun slowly appearing on the horizon as the leaves rustled in the breeze and the birds chirped. She watched a flock flying over her head as she unmindfully straightened her tangled hair. Ajbante had not slept all night. 






Popular posts from this blog

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...