RAABTA

Ajbante Kanwar found herself by the Menal waterfall that made enough noise for her to not hear Kunwar Partap approaching with the horses. She was lost in thoughts.  After two days of playing host to the royals of Bundi, yesterday the king had informed her father that they would start their journey to Chittorgarh early in the morning. As she snuck out of the palace she saw the pompous procession of elephants decorated with gold ornaments and horses with golden quilts over their seat being led out by the Bundi soldiers. The palace was awake earlier than she anticipated and she had to squeeze in a little time and excuse herself for her “prayers”. But as she sat by the waterfall she was unsure whether he could come. She looked up at the sky clearing into dawn as she sighed and shook her head. He must be preparing to leave. Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar stood up, brushing her lehenga as she turned to leave. If she wasted more time, Daata would scold her. She had not worn her warrior attire u...

 “I got these for you.”  Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar had just made her way to the other side of the temple premises, with her dupatta hiding her face, while her guards, attendants and palanquin waited at the other end of the Math premises at Menal. The moment she spotted Kunwar Partap across the temple complex near the forest with Bijli he straightened himself and held out a bundle of glass bangles. Ajbante Kanwar looked perplexed at his reassuring nod. “Me?” She asked, unsure of what she heard. He nodded again. “Bhai Shakti dragged me to the fair yesterday and I brought green bangles for Ranima so I thought…” He cleared his throat looking unsurely at the Magenta bangles on his hand. “Why?” Her question interrupted his chain of thoughts as his smile faded. “Did you not like it?” He looked unsure. He had never bought anything for anyone before except for Ranima. Ranima never disliked anything he chose for her. While Kunwar Partap scanned the shop, looking for a perfect bangle for ...

  Kunwar Partap was impressed with the kind of welcome the Bijoliya palace gave him and Kunwar Shakti. The streets were clean and decorated with makeshift gates of flowers and lamps, the main entrance had a Toran hoisted with the freshly cleaned idol of Lord Ganesha over it, smeared with Haldi and Kumkum and as their horses entered the guarded gates, attendants stood on either side sprinkling scented perfumes. From atop the entrance maids sprinkled flower petals on the princes as conch shells blew and they could now see Rao Ramrakh Punwar himself at the entrance of the palace flanked on either side by his kins and chieftains. Kunwar Partap dismounted from his horse as Kunwar Shakti followed him up the couple of stairs to the main entrance of the Bijoliya palace, watching Kunwar Partap fold his hands as Raoji did the same. Soon, Ramrakh Punwar stepped aside, letting his wife come forward, her veil drawn to her forehead, as she smiled at the princes and welcomed them with Aarti. Her ...

Rana Udai Singh had managed to upset some local chieftains especially the Bhills and Kunwar Partap had to play mediator between them. It was not until the situations of internal rebellion were dealt with that the marriage of Rajkumar Padmavati was planned. Dheer Bai was right, one extravagant celebration of the win was enough for the gossip to die down especially when Udai Singh openly praised and rewarded his first born with a sword. He was no longer the insecure king but a doting father. How short people’s collective memory was. With that, most of the Rani Mahal had also forgotten about the suspicions on Dheer Bai. All except Rani Jivanta Bai who still did not allow Kunwar Partap anywhere near her. Rani Dheer Bai had entered the inner hallway to find the king with his chief queen and Sajja Bai there. Upon her appearance, Sajja Bai smiled politely asking her to take a seat. “We were just discussing some of the festivities for the wedding. Come, Behena. Sit with us. Ranaji says you mus...