RAABTA

“So here is where Maharana Pratap met his wife Maharani Ajabdeh Baisa, and years later her brothers would fight alongside him in Haldighati.” Roshni stopped as the group applauded.  “We never knew such a small place was so significant.” One of the elderly people in the group spoke. “And he also has such a wonderful love story.” One of the younger ones gushed. Roshni smiled.  “Thank you for being a part of my heritage walk. Do give your reviews and sign up online if you want a tour of Kumbhalgarh and Haldighati for the same.” She greeted them. Excusing herself as her phone buzzed, she checked her message and smiled. Turning to the guide, she spoke in Mewari, “Take the guests back to the hotel and drop me off at Menal.” “But isn’t your next walk at Chittorgarh?” The man asked. “Yes.” She nodded, “But my fiancé is working there, so I have to go see him,” she smiled. “I will go there afterwards with him and return to Udaipur together.” The ASI had cordoned off the Mahanal group of...

Jivanta glanced over to the hospital bench opposite hers, where Pratap sat, his eyes fixed on the corridor where they had wheeled Roshni to the ICU. She couldn’t understand anything. She had asked Roshni, and she had repeated there was no… what irked Jivanta was how she was genuinely concerned about a man she barely knew, who caused her so much humiliation. She didn’t give herself credit for being so kind or weak. She found a woman around her age approach, Pratap, as he got up at her sight, and hugged her tight.  “It will be fine.” The woman whispered as Pratap let out what Jivanta thought was a sob. Did he love Roshni that much? Jivanta sighed, trying to look away from them as Pratap brought the woman over to her. “This is my mother.” He spoke, his voice still hoarse. Jivanta looked up at the woman, who smiled faintly. “Roshni is a strong child; she will be fine.” Hansa sat down beside Jivanta as Pratap went to get them some tea, while they talked. “Did you… meet her?” Jivanta ask...

For two days, Roshni watched her mother happily humming a tune, going about her chores and telling every person who called or met that she had agreed to meet a groom. The more she saw her mother’s happiness, the more Roshni was sure of her decision. But when she called Vamshika, she immediately showed her concerns.  “A marriage proposal?” Her gasp was quite evident over the phone, “You went there to get married?” Mahek snatched the phone and spoke, “But what about your degree?” “I will finish college first.” Roshni wanted to sound convincing “Besides, it is just the first meeting. I am halfway through my project. I will be back next week or so.” “Don’t bother,” Mahek replied. “The Fest has been announced, and next week’s classes are off for us to work on that.” She sounded disappointed.  “Oh, okay, I will be back when the classes resume, then. Are you upset with me?” Before Roshni could even finish her sentence, the phone was disconnected. She sighed. Even if this went through...

Roshni came home a little sceptical of her mother’s reaction. Usually, Jivanta would see right through her and coming home in the middle of the college session was very unusual for her daughter. Roshni knew sooner or later her mother would ask questions about her plans. She spent most of the morning helping her mother with chores, and when she left for work, Roshni would sit with books and start working on her project. She had decided to start with the family tree Hansa was kind enough to give her, of the Maharani of Mewar’s lineage and then draw an outline of her character from the folklore she had heard. Midway through the character sketch, she tore the page into a ball and threw it away. It didn’t seem right. She tried again. By the time Jivanta returned home, for the third day in a row, she was welcomed by a cold lunch that was untouched way into the evening, heaps of discarded paper, books and pens lying around the floor of the bigger of the two rooms. Frustrated, she kept her pur...

The vibration of the cell phone at 6.30 in the morning made her stir in her sleep. A little sunlight escaped from the otherwise tightly shut curtains of the room and reflected on her face as she blinked awake, almost gasping for breath. Although just awake, her body felt tired. It was as though she hadn’t slept well in ages. Her hand searched for the cell phone under her blanket as it kept vibrating with a cuckoo tone mercilessly. She pressed it to stop and yawned, reluctantly sitting up on the bed. This had been happening for quite some time. She hardly woke up without gasping for breath. Her therapist and physician had talked to her so many times and run tests. She had no sleep apnea, and yet she couldn’t make anyone believe that she felt like she would stop breathing in her sleep. It kept her awake most nights. And on the days she was too tired and slept, she had unexplainable dreams. Her therapist insisted those were just a part of the symptoms of her anxiety. Her abandonment issue...

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, so 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 she...

The wedding preparations were in full swing. Survi's relatives and friends were surprised. A career-minded girl like her marrying this early was not something they expected. Jaivanta explained that it was a proposal too good to refuse. The wedding party was a small one of a hundred and eight people. They were all close friends and some relatives. As they got busy with weddings, they didn't get much time. Survi realised that with each dream, her past was clearer than her present. She was a happy bride. Pratap was tense. He remembered the past and dreaded losing her again. He kept an eye on her, making people feel he was a possessive groom in love. They teased Survi as she blushed. But he didn't mind any tag just to make sure she was safe. The wedding was going to be a low-key affair, or so she thought. She always liked things to be simple, but they always got complicated. Hansa was happy that her practical-minded, career-driven boy had found love in this perfect girl. She ...