Reassuring Gift

 “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 his Ranima, he spotted these, and immediately her face came to his mind’s eye. 

“Umm… It's not that…” Ajbante Kanwar looked unsure, if not scared. “Nobody ever got me…” She bit her lips. Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar realised she had never asked her parents for anything apart from what she needed, and being the eldest sibling, all her visits to the Haat or Mela were about spending for what her siblings wanted, not what she did. “Then… why?” Kunwar Partap looked a little perplexed. He expected her to be happy, maybe deny the gift at first and agree upon his insistence. But what he did not expect was for her to ask the reason. He had not thought about a reason. Kunwar Partap had never been so speechless. He gathered his thoughts as the curious pair of eyes hovered on him at the first light of dawn. 

“Because you took good care of Ranima when she was here.” He managed with a sheepish smile. Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar looked unsure at his answer as she narrowed her eyes a little. His gaze caught her suspicious stare and he looked away. Kunwar Partap had never been this intimidated by someone’s stare before. He felt uneasy. 

“I will accept the bangles if you accept what I am going to say.” Ajbante Kanwar eyed the bangles in his hand as a smile returned to the edge of his lips. He nodded readily, “Agreed, here.” He brought the bangles up to her as she shook her head. “Hear me out first, Kunwarsa.” She said softly, pressing her lips. “I am afraid you won’t quite like it.” He narrowed his brows as she rubbed her hands together.

“I thought about… this idea of us meeting here… for Bijli…” She eyed the Mare and the prince. “I would be scared if anyone found out…”

“How will anyone find out?” He interrupted. “I thought you said it was very normal for you to visit Menal a few times a week and…”

“Yes, but unlike you, I can never come alone. My entourage can also inform Daata. And if they know Bijli is missing… I will get into trouble.” She bit her lips and lowered her face as Kunwar Partap realised what she implied. “Rajkumarisa.” His jaws tightened. “Are you afraid that I will let anyone question your character?” She looked up at his tone as he shook his head. “ I will do everything I can to protect you. I promise that…”

“And I don’t doubt that Kunwarsa, trust me, I don’t. But with the wedding party here, Daata is looking for an alliance for me and everything else, I am afraid there is not much information in control as far as gossip goes and I…”

“You seem to be afraid a lot, Ajbante.” His sudden, informal tone made her heart skip a beat as he sounded frustrated. “I think more than anything else, you are scared of riding Bijli.”

“No, I am not. Absolutely not.” Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar was a little taken aback by her informality as she lowered her voice and added, “Kunwarsa.”

“Then prove me wrong. Ride her today, and then I can consider your request.” She was taken aback by his suggestion. “Show me that is not the reason for you to refuse a lesson.” A part of his pride was hurt. He, the heir apparent of Mewar, who never offered riding lessons to anyone, was being refused by Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar because of some excuse she made up overnight. Ajbante Kanwar inhaled as she held Bijli’s reign at his challenge. “Come on, Bijli. Let’s do that.” She was sure that if she could manage to ride Bijli once and prove how courageous she was, he would not persuade her anymore. Under her lehenga, Ajbante had worn her warrior angrakha carefully concealing it with the dupatta around her. Kunwar Partap held Bijli’s rein as she struggled to mount the horse.

“Daata used to take me riding as a child.” She murmured like she could hear him think. “I have not mounted a horse in the past few years.” He nodded, slightly aware of his glance that made her answer the question he never asked, and he let her hold the reins.

“You will lose the left one a little and hold the right one…” He had barely let go of the reins as Bijli bolted, Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar holding on to her reins with dear life, struggling to stay mounted. But she was careful enough not to scream. She was fully aware that her scream would alert the troops in the silence of the dawn, and if they found her with Bijli, she would be in trouble. There was an unspoken faith in her that he would come after her to make sure she was fine. Bijli ran across the stream, splashing water all over Ajbante Kanwar’s attire as she made it across the forestland on the other side and reached a meadow where she threw Ajbante Kanwar off her back and neighed. Ajbante jolted as she suddenly hit the ground, saving her head from hitting the ground with her hands, suffering bruises on her hands and knees as she turned over to see the mare speed at her.

“Bijli!” She called authoritatively, while her heart raced in her mouth, and the mare stopped right before galloping over her body, putting its feet up in the air and neighing. “Stop. Bijli. I said stop.” She gathered her strength to sit up, rubbing the bruises that tingled with the dirt as she watched the Mare stand still, staring at her. That was when she heard the rustling of leaves that made her aware as she drew her dagger out of the waistband. The first thing they taught princesses in defence class was to draw the dagger when alarmed. The gallop of another horse was heard coming towards her as she struggled to get up and realised how much her knees hurt. She eyed the clearing standing between the sound and Bijli. That was when she spotted Kunwar Partap on Sarang.

Kunwar Partap had whistled at Sarang the moment Bijli ran off and followed the horse into the clearing. From a distance, he could see the mare throw her off as it charged towards her, and he had readied his spear to hurt the mare if needed to save the princess. But instead, Ajbante Kanwar bravely commanded the mare to a standstill. Then he heard her become aware of his presence as she drew her sword. Her dupatta had fallen off her shoulder to the ground, and beneath the layer of her lehenga, he could now see the dirty warrior attire with the dagger tucked in it. She drew her weapon into a perfect stance and stood in front of Bijli, ready to defend the very mare that almost killed her. Kunwar Partap stopped Sarang as she spotted him, clearly impressed as she was suddenly aware of herself. She drew the dupatta over her messy hair as she breathed heavily, and he dismounted from Sarang and rushed to her.

“Are you hurt? Should I take you to Vaid ji?” He insisted. She shook her head silently. “It's just bruises.” She managed. “She listened to my command.” She seemed astonished. “She stopped when I…”

“I saw that…” He nodded. Ajbante Kanwar frowned at his words. “Then why did you not interfere?”

“I had the spear out just in case…” He stopped at her gasp as she put her hand on her mouth. “You were going to kill Bijli?”

“Maybe hurt her enough so that she doesn’t kill you?” He insisted. Ajbante Kanwar shook her head. “I told you this is a bad idea. I should not have…”

“You are not scared anymore, are you?” He smiled victoriously as she realised that though she would return home with dirty clothes, messy hair and unexplainable bruises, instead of thinking of all the questions she had to answer, she was only thinking about how she could command Bijli to stop. Kunwar Partap looked happy at her shocked face. “Now that you are brave enough, I will see you the day after tomorrow, at the same time.”

“But…” Ajbante Kanwar protested as he held out the bangles again.

“Thank god these aren’t broken.” He smiled, “Come let’s go back.” Ajbante Kanwar looked aware and unsure as she eyed Bijli. Kunwar Partap laughed. An uninhibited, informal, amused laugh. “You are going on Sarang, he is a good boy, I am taking Bijli.” He reassured.

Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar had lied to her mother that she had fallen down in the temple premises. She hid her attire in the trunk before anyone came into her room and her worried mother applied balm on her bruises telling her to be careful. The next day went in preparing for the guests to arrive while she waited to see him again.

The next riding lesson went better than they expected. Bijli did not resist the princess, and with a little help from Kunwar Partap and a guide from Sarang, they even took a few slow rounds around the temple. It was when the bells of the temple started to chime, Rajkumari Ajbante Kanwar looked aware of the time as she gasped. Her mother would want the garlands for her morning prayer, and she was running late. The groom’s side was supposed to arrive at Bijoliya by midday, and although they never spoke of it, both Kunwar Partap and Rajkumari Ajbante knew that they would not find time for riding lessons over the next few days. But since she was running late, Ajbante bowed in a hurry and left, as he stood with the horses.

The procession from Bundi arrived in the next few hours. The extravaganza, fireworks and finery were a treat for the eyes of everyone in Bijoliya. People flocked the streets to see the bridegroom atop an elephant while an entourage of his friends and family followed in horses and palanquins. The women of the palace ran to the roof to watch the grandeur as the procession made its way through the street with drums and horns declaring the happy occasion, and the women commented on the extravaganza.

“I have never seen something like this in my entire life.” Ratan Kanwar gasped.

“You are still young, Ratan Baisa, I have not seen anything like this in my life.” One of her step mothers shook her head. “I guess every prince and princess have such huge processions.”

“So many people… look there, Akhil. A juggler.” Ajbante Kanwar pointed at the man juggling balls around and then quickly adding knives into the mix, making her gasp inwardly.

“Oh, that must be the groom.” One of her siblings pointed at the man sitting on the elephant. He was tall, about Kunwar Partap’s age, had a thin line of moustache and a royal gold sword tucked at his waist. He waved and folded his hands as the people showered him with flower petals and cheered. The elephant then entered the gates of the palace.

“Your mother is so lucky to be welcoming him.” One of Rao Ramrakh’s wives told Ajbante Kanwar. “Seeing the prince up front.”

“Oh look, there is Kunwar Partap, hugging the groom.” Akhil pointed. Ajbante Kanwar’s cheek grew warm as the women imagined the grandeur would be twice had it been Kunwar Partap’s marriage. Her eyes involuntarily travelled to the bangles she wore, to match her Magenta dupatta, or so she made herself believe.

“Quick, girls. Ranisa needs you downstairs to serve the food with her.” One of the older women called out, making Ajbante Kanwar draw the dupatta over her face as she followed the other woman downstairs.

The dining hall was decorated with fresh flowers and colourful drapes, and small stools were kept by the individual mats prepared for the guests to sit on. The smaller section only had four seats: for the Rao Raja of Bundi, his son, the groom, Kunwar Partap and Kunwar Shakti. They were to be served by Hansa Bai and the princesses. Separated from the goldware and expensive mat, there was the section for the kin and chieftains that contained silverware and was to be served by attendants. Besides that, separated by a wooden partition, was where the women sat down to eat, served by the royal women of Bijoliya.

Kunwar Surjan Singh was telling Kunwar Partap and Kunwar Shakti about their smooth journey from Bundi and about a leopard he had killed recently when the ladies entered with food and bowed. The aroma of freshly made food hit their nostrils as Hansa Bai introduced herself to the king and served him first. His guard tested the food so that he could start his meal. Hansa Bai followed with the groom first and then the two Mewari Princes.

“Keep space for the Kheer and Ghevar, Your Highnesses.” She smiled as Kunwar Partap’s attention was diverted from what Surjan Singh boasted of to the one who entered with the sweets. Her face was veiled, she uttered not even a word of pleasantry as she bowed to the king before serving. Kunwar Surjan Singh did not spare a glance or utter a word of thanks as he continued speaking, and Shakti continued listening, and she walked up to his plate. His eyes fell on the bangles in her hand as he smiled to himself, eyeing the outline of her face in the dupatta. She looked up from behind the veil at his smile as a rush of warmth filled her being, like she was feverish, and her heart raced. He noticed. She placed some Ghevar and Kheer on his plate, and a little more than she served the others, making him eye her mother as she smiled to herself, and she stood up to leave. He took a morsel of the Ghevar and smiled at its taste.

“Mitra Surjan, I think you should stop for a while to enjoy the Ghevar. Whoever made this truly has magic in their hands.” The princes stopped talking at his words as they took morsels of the Ghevar.

“Kunwar Partap is right.” His father said, “One should enjoy the meal and not speak so much.” Surjan Singh’s smile faded at his father’s words. Kunwar Shakti did not miss the look on his face as he concentrated back to his food.

Ajbante Kanwar walked back to the kitchen with a smile that refused to leave her lips. She eyed the bangles and wondered if she could ask for lessons the next dawn, or would that be too soon since she thought they would stop once the guests arrived. But she had overheard her father speak to the king that he did not wish the journey to Chittorgarh to be delayed and wanted to start in two days. It meant she had two days till he left again. Unsure of how to bring it up, Ajbante Kanwar entered the princes’ chamber with the excuse of lighting the evening lamps around the guest house. A maid followed her with a plate of lit lamps as she placed them around the corridor and let the soldiers light their torches before she let the attendant announce her arrival at his room last. There were only three lamps left, and she asked the maid to bring her some more as she eyed Kunwar Shakti’s empty side and watched Kunwar Partap walk back into the room from the balustrade upon hearing about her arrival. He watched the maid bow and leave with the reason to bring more lamps as she placed the last one down by the mirror. He eyed her reflection in the mirror, dancing in the light and shadow of the lamp she lit with a calmness on her face. He was about to decide what he could say when she looked up at him through the mirror and said, “I will be going to Menal at dawn. After all…” She eyed the attendants, “I had an unfortunate accident the previous day, and my puja remained incomplete.” He smiled at her words with a nod.

“I see…” He sat down on the edge of the bed as the maid came back with the lamps. His gaze followed her around the room as she placed down the lamps one after another, aware of his eyes following her around as she cleared her throat in vain.

“Kunwar Shakti?” She enquired as he smiled. “He is hosting a musical evening for the men in the garden.” He shrugged as she narrowed her brows questioningly at him. “I did not go because…” He could not find an excuse. Could he tell anyone how his father’s love for such events and the women therein made him detest such unnecessary pleasures? She stopped at the threshold. “My mother reads Puranas to us every evening. If you want to, you can join us.” He shook his head at her offer as she smiled coyly and left him to himself. He noticed how her dupatta matched the bangles he had brought and wondered if it was intentional. He was happy that she liked the bangles enough to wear them on such an occasion. Then his thoughts ran to when Raoji informed him that the groom’s side wanted to make their way to Chittorgarh as soon as possible. It meant leaving Bijoliya in two more days. He wondered if that was why she wanted to see him. A part of him wanted the stay to be extended. Perhaps if someone fell sick, or the weather did not permit it. He looked up at the clear sky, finding himself secretly wishing it rained unseasonably that day. Kunwar Partap shook his head, aware of his thoughts. What was wrong with him?