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 at a glance, 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.

Sibling's Day

Shakti always had a very strict sibling equation with Pratap. Though they were only two years apart, the siblings had very different tastes and preferences. For Shakti, Pratap's disciplined and well-planned life looked like he was missing out on a lot of things. He sometimes didn't even approve of how impulsive Pratap was when he was emotional. Shakti, on the other hand, prioritised experiences over plans. He never found a need to feel deeply for anything the way Pratap did, and over the years, mostly in Pratap's absence from the family, he had managed to find a way with his parents. But he didn't really have any other elder sibling figure. All his cousins' sisters were close to him and younger. But with Ajabdeh, he had developed this very strong connection over the past few weeks. As a child, Shakti's playmate in the house used to be Sajja, while his father worked, his mother ran NGOs, and Pratap was always found with his head in a book. Ajabdeh was up for an...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Four

Aniruddha tapped his black loafers on the Italian marble floor of the entrance as he eyed his watch. It was almost half past five. He checked himself in the full-size mirror beside the coat hanger, looking fresh as he shaved and bathed, set his hair, chose a white summer blazer over his black shirt and trousers and abandoned the idea of a tie. He cleaned his glasses with the handkerchief, contemplating whether he should knock at Asha’s door, telling Bondita to hurry. He wondered what the women were doing there for such a long time. He could hear them giggling and gossiping as he walked past the room. He wondered what huge deal a party was that a woman needed another to help her dress up. He took out his phone and wondered if he should call her downstairs instead to avoid the awkwardness of knocking on the door. It was then that Aniruddha heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up in a reflex. He would give her a piece of his mind for wasting precious moments, especially when they...

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...

AAYA TERE DAR PAR DEEWANA

Pratap was outside the gates of Meera Girls College in Udaipur by the next afternoon, unsure of whether to go in and ask for her. He spotted a few girls walking out, and one of them kept staring at him suspiciously before approaching him. He stood in his spot, still awkward as she asked, “Aren’t you that ASI guy that Roshni met?” “I… what?” Pratap narrowed his eyes “I am sorry, I don’t remember you.” “I am Mahek.” The girl waved her hand and smiled, “I was with her at Chawand.” “Oh, I see.” Pratap sighed. “I found some information that might help her …err… project.” He stopped at Mahek’s suspicious frown. “So I thought…” “You came all the way here to give her some information about her project?” Pratap cursed himself inwardly. Indeed, that sounded lame when she repeated it. “Why didn’t you call her?” “I…” He cleared his throat “I lost her number, so… I was hoping that she would be interested in an on-field internship…” “Oh, wait, I will give you her number. But she isn’t here, and I do...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Five

Aniruddha stared at the clock on his chamber wall for the third time and verified its working condition by checking it with his watch. He had asked Bondita to come to his chambers at six. It was almost six-ten and there was no sign of her. The peon he had sent to call her in had also left. He wondered if she had gone home earlier than usual. But then would she not have informed him? He eyed the partnership deed he had prepared to be signed, going through the terms one last time before he decided to go downstairs and see where she was for himself. As soon as Aniruddha got up, taking the coat from behind his chair to go, gathering the paperwork of the deed, a knock resonated on the door as he straightened his glasses and found his most professional voice to ask her to come in. Bondita looked a little breathless as though she had run up the stairs and apologised in a hurry, “Sorry, sorry… Meghna had some issues with her computer.” “There is a tech guy for that.” He narrowed his brows slig...

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!" ...

Purnota: Chapter Forty Three

Trilochon and Kalindi were having tea in the morning in their living room when Binoy walked downstairs in his Pajama Panjabi, pipe in hand and found them. Watching him unusually in his home attire, Trilochon frowned. “Are you sick? I thought you had already left.” Binoy sat down on the single chaise chair beside the couch as Kalindi poured some tea for him. “ I told you, Dada, I am here to retire.” He said, putting his pipe in his pocket. “Today, Som is going alone. We will see how that goes.” Their conversation was interrupted by Asha coming into the house in a white and red saree, with a red sindoor Teep on her forehead. She had a basket with her, and Koeli was accompanying her as she offered them the sweets she had taken as Prasad. “Since it’s his first day at the new position, we went to the temple together.” Asha narrated to Kalindi. “He left for work from there.” “Do you not have school today?” Kalindi enquired as Asha shook her head. She smiled, eyeing Trilochon, who narra...

The Adventure of PI Ved: The Case in London

There is something funny about the phrase “as dead as a doornail.” Why? Because I am dead and I don’t look like a nail of any sort. I lie on my living room carpet, hands stretched out, the knife stuck to my back...such a backstabber. I hated them all my life! And what is the purpose of killing me? It is not like I would have lived much longer, I was eighty-five, for God’s sake! I lay here, the blood turning thick as I stared at the painting on the wall. It is such a hideous painting. I bought it for so much money, I was duped. I am waiting for the morning when my caregiver arrives to discover me on the floor. But I feel they are still around, looking for something. Searching every room. It is around 7 AM that she rings the bell. She bangs the door. She yells out, “Mr Smith!” Oh no, she is going back. Come back here, you fool! The criminal must still be upstairs. I hear them come down the wooden staircase and exit from the back door. Now the useless caregiver lady is back. Oh, she ...

Purnota: Epilogue

“Hello?” Saudamini’s voice was heard on the other end of the telephone as Aniruddha breathed in. “Mini, this is Aniruddha.” “Oh, Ani, how are you? How is Bondita?” Her voice changed from doubtful to excited. Aniruddha was standing by the couch in the living room with a phone book on the coffee table and a sheet of paper with a guest list in his hand. The mention of Bondita made him involuntarily eye the visible corridor to the dining area, where he could hear her voice, instructing Koeli. Ever since the marriage, she seemed to have taken up the job of ordering everyone around the house like a true landlord, and even he was not spared from her occasional orders. That is exactly how he had landed on the couch with a phone book. “Umm… she is good. Everyone’s good. I’m calling because…” “Oh, do tell her I truly apologise for not attending the wedding. I know she was disappointed with me and thought it was some payback for her not attending mine.” An amused smile formed on Aniruddha’s lips ...

Embracing Truths

Rana Udai Singh had sent his Senapati Kunwar Partap back to Chittorgarh because Dungarpur had summoned them to the battlefield. How did a friendly visit culminate in a war? Rumours spread faster than wildfires in Mewar. Rana Udai Singh was attending a Mehfil where he liked one of the King’s best dancers. He wanted to take her back to Chittorgarh, and the king, who took pride in art, refused to part with his best dancer. Udai Singh, at the height of intoxication, abused the king, insulted his dynasty and almost forced the dancer girl to follow him, leading to an altercation. What he expected now was for Kunwar Partap to lead an army to Dungarpur, wage a war and force the king to apologise. Kunwar Partap was appalled by what he heard from the soldier. Could the Rana not understand that he could not make any more enemies? He asked his troops to prepare to leave and informed Raoji. Ajbante Kanwar ran down the corridor to her chambers as fast as she could. She did not care if anyone saw her...

RAABTA

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