"Before Jaivanta and her son comes back, I have to do something." Grunted Rani Dheerbai clenching her jaws.
Rana Udai Singh had already dispatched a formal letter asking the queen to return. At the end of the day, it was his character and reputation at stake.
People had begun gossiping about the fallout between the maharani and the Rana of Mewar. Rumors spread that all of this was Dheerbai's doing.
But the third wife of Rana Udai Singh, just didn't seem to bother; neither was the rana showing any interest in such baseless allegations against his favourite wife. After all, this wasn't the first time where people were speaking ill of his favourite queen.
"What are you going to do then?" asked the ten year old Kunwar Jagmal.
"Let me think," she muttered and then glanced at her son saying, "why don't you meet your daajiraj?"
The ten year old shrugged and went away. Kunwar Jagmal was Rana Udai Singh's favourite son. Born o
Ajabde stared at the dead body until she heard footsteps from behind her. Turning around she saw Kunwar Shakti, who looked visibly enraged.He looked at her for a moment and then began checking the dead body for a clue of any sort. Ajabde simply watched him without a single expression on her face.Finally Kunwar Shakti pulled out a scroll and glanced at Ajabde who's eyes finally narrowed looking at the letter."Let's go before someone comes here." Suggested Ajabde and led the way.Exiting the investigation bureau, the two went into her room.Opening the scroll Kunwar Shakti's eyes nearly fell out of his sockets."What is it?" she asked him and he simply handed the letter to her."The work should be completed." She read aloud in discombobulation and then looked at the bottom of the letter. "This is inner palace emblem right?" She asked looking up at him.
Ajabde sat with a beaten look across her face. Over the past few weeks she had tried to follow the plan that she and Kunwar Shakti had so gaily made; but it all fell flat as soon as the man who arrived from Chittor killed himself with lead even before he could get arrested.The whole matter came in front of Rao Ram Rakha and Kunwar Pratap who rigorously chastised her. Kunwar Pratap was furious that despite his order, Ajabde had secretly gone ahead with the investigation.Rao Ram Rakha was enraged that his daughter didn't find it important to tell him anything. She was confined to her room till the Bijolia fair began.The rest of the preparations were successfully completed by the three princes of Bijolia along with Kunwar Pratap's friends under his vigilance.Ajabde was still sulking in anger. She was irritated with Kunwar Pratap's stupidity and annoyed that her father himself refused to listen.
"I'll leave now Raoji," smiled Kunwar Pratap joining his palms. "I'm extremely grateful for everything you'll have done.""But...why are you leaving so soon? Weren't you supposed to go next month?" Asked a concerned Rani Hansabai."Maasisa...I actually have a lot of work left to do. So...it's best I leave. Khamma ghani." He greeted and left.Just then Ajabde entered the palace premises with Saubhgyavati and looked at Kunwar Pratap who was ready to leave.His eyes were fixed on her in an expectancy that she'd stop him; but Ajabde simply smiled and joined her palms saying, "Khamma ghani. I hope you have a safe journey."He gaped at her aghast thinking, will you not stop me? Did you only want me here for the fair? Is that it? "Dadabhai..." called Kunwar Shakti who had come along with Rawat Chundawat into the palace. "Let's leave tomorrow.""No bhai
"What's that!" She exclaimed as she picked up the old parchments lying on the floor.She flipped the pages, some were torn, some crumpled and the wordings obscure."Vidhi, I think it's something ancient." Suggested her friend peering into the displaced yellowed half eaten parchments. "But....I can't understand what this is doing here!""Neither can I," muttered Vidhi trying to comprehend the letters. "But what's this doing here in Chavand?""Look...Vidhi let's not waste too much time, it's going to be dusk soon!" Exclaimed her friend. Putting the book into her bag pack Vidhi and her friend left the village of Chavand. Sittin
1544He continued to stare at the huge portrait of his mother, without batting an eyelid. She had sacrificed a lot, she had jumped into the holy flames of jauhar and was no more.And right now, he needed her, needed her more than anybody else on this planet."What should I do ranimasa?" he asked, as his eyes stung with impending tears. "Since the day you left this aboard, things have become bad here."Sniffing back his tears, the young king sighed in exhaustion. Shutting his eyes, he seemed to harden his face, make up his mind and silently walk back into the durbar."I've decided to hand over the keys of this holy fort to Sher Shah Sur." He announced in a firm compelling voice."No Ranaji!" Exclaimed one of the chieftains. "This can't happen! We shall fight till our last breath hukum!""There shall be no war." Announced the king once more. "Chittor has yet not recovered from either the battle of Khanwa nor
1552 "No you're not taking her!" Exclaimed Hansabai aloud."Hansa..." groaned Rao Ram Rakha, "try to understand...I need...""I don't care! She's a girl, I'm not sending her to a battlefield!""Hansa...." growled Rao Ram Rakha once more and glanced at Kunwar Dungar expecting some aid. Kunwar Dungar was his first born and future samanth of Bijolia."Don't look at me daata!" exclaimed the eighteen year old immediately, throwing his arms up in the air. "You deal with your wife!"Rao Ram Rakha gave a throaty groan and once more looked at his wife pleading, "We need her and Saubhgyavati there.""Then even I'm coming along." Declared Kunwar Shubhkaran, the brave and stubborn sixteen year old."You are still sixteen," said Hansabai in irritation adding, "Neither Shubhkaran, Pahad, Ajabde or Saubhgyavati are going anyw
"The camp is ready." Announced the soldier.Ajabde gave him a curt nod accompanied with a thank you and entered the tent, tying the white overall over her lehenga."Has the battle begun?" asked Saubhagyavati in a soft voice."There's still an hour left." She replied, "I'll meet daata and dadabhai, and be back." Saying this she left.Riding her horse, she reached her father's tent, where all the armaments were kept, a few miles away from the medical camp.As soon as Kunwar Pratap had seen the girl entering the pavilion, he hid himself behind the tent desperately hoping that he wouldn't be spotted.Taking a peek in the tent he gritted his teeth thinking, why is a girl here? Go...go...go soon before I get caught...."You should be at the medical camp." Said her father, his brows pulled into a scowl."Since maasa isn't here to do your tilak, I came here." She said without beating around the bush.&n
"Vadji, insist on treatments for even the injured Afghan's. I'm leaving now!" She said in a hurry and dashed out of the medical camp with Saubhgyavati."Why are we in a hurry!" exclaimed Saubhgyavati trying to keep up with Ajabde's pace."Because I want to make ghevar for daata and dadabhai once they are home." Replied Ajabde. "Patta." She called aloud to the eleven year old. "Let's go!""No, no you'll carry on...I'm waiting for my daata." He insisted."Alright," replied Ajabde, "will you be going to Kelwa or...""I'll ask daata if it's possible to stop over at Bijolia because I want to have ghevar." Replied Patta, as saliva ran over his tongue and lips.Ajabde broke into a chuckle teasing, "Your most welcomed."Saying this the two girls dashed off on Ajabde's mare Lakshmi.Though the afternoon sun beat down on them, the light breeze which followed the galloping mare made
"I'll leave now Raoji," smiled Kunwar Pratap joining his palms. "I'm extremely grateful for everything you'll have done.""But...why are you leaving so soon? Weren't you supposed to go next month?" Asked a concerned Rani Hansabai."Maasisa...I actually have a lot of work left to do. So...it's best I leave. Khamma ghani." He greeted and left.Just then Ajabde entered the palace premises with Saubhgyavati and looked at Kunwar Pratap who was ready to leave.His eyes were fixed on her in an expectancy that she'd stop him; but Ajabde simply smiled and joined her palms saying, "Khamma ghani. I hope you have a safe journey."He gaped at her aghast thinking, will you not stop me? Did you only want me here for the fair? Is that it? "Dadabhai..." called Kunwar Shakti who had come along with Rawat Chundawat into the palace. "Let's leave tomorrow.""No bhai
Ajabde sat with a beaten look across her face. Over the past few weeks she had tried to follow the plan that she and Kunwar Shakti had so gaily made; but it all fell flat as soon as the man who arrived from Chittor killed himself with lead even before he could get arrested.The whole matter came in front of Rao Ram Rakha and Kunwar Pratap who rigorously chastised her. Kunwar Pratap was furious that despite his order, Ajabde had secretly gone ahead with the investigation.Rao Ram Rakha was enraged that his daughter didn't find it important to tell him anything. She was confined to her room till the Bijolia fair began.The rest of the preparations were successfully completed by the three princes of Bijolia along with Kunwar Pratap's friends under his vigilance.Ajabde was still sulking in anger. She was irritated with Kunwar Pratap's stupidity and annoyed that her father himself refused to listen.
Ajabde stared at the dead body until she heard footsteps from behind her. Turning around she saw Kunwar Shakti, who looked visibly enraged.He looked at her for a moment and then began checking the dead body for a clue of any sort. Ajabde simply watched him without a single expression on her face.Finally Kunwar Shakti pulled out a scroll and glanced at Ajabde who's eyes finally narrowed looking at the letter."Let's go before someone comes here." Suggested Ajabde and led the way.Exiting the investigation bureau, the two went into her room.Opening the scroll Kunwar Shakti's eyes nearly fell out of his sockets."What is it?" she asked him and he simply handed the letter to her."The work should be completed." She read aloud in discombobulation and then looked at the bottom of the letter. "This is inner palace emblem right?" She asked looking up at him.
"Before Jaivanta and her son comes back, I have to do something." Grunted Rani Dheerbai clenching her jaws.Rana Udai Singh had already dispatched a formal letter asking the queen to return. At the end of the day, it was his character and reputation at stake.People had begun gossiping about the fallout between the maharani and the Rana of Mewar. Rumors spread that all of this was Dheerbai's doing.But the third wife of Rana Udai Singh, just didn't seem to bother; neither was the rana showing any interest in such baseless allegations against his favourite wife. After all, this wasn't the first time where people were speaking ill of his favourite queen."What are you going to do then?" asked the ten year old Kunwar Jagmal."Let me think," she muttered and then glanced at her son saying, "why don't you meet your daajiraj?"The ten year old shrugged and went away. Kunwar Jagmal was Rana Udai Singh's favourite son. Born o
"Who?" Enquired a baffled Rana Udai Singh."Shams Khan," repeated Rawat Chundawat with a proud smile. "Baujiraj killed him in front of everyone in Kashi!""Ranaji, I suggest you bring maharanisa and Baujiraj back to Chittor." Suggested Rawat Jagga in a firm voice."Maharani Jaivantabai left the palace on her own accord that too once more." Said the king in a sharp voice. It was like his ego was bruised by the queen and her son's behaviour."But ranaji, it's been a year now since they've left." Insisted Rawat Chundawat. "If you do not bring them back it will clearly have a wrong impression on the people."Rana Udai Singh sighed aloud pressing his temples and glanced at Rani Dheerbai who smiled at him, through the semi-transparent drapes.The courtiers looked at one another disgusted with the public family strife. They knew, that neither was their auspicious Maharani respected nor was his exceptionally valiant son.Bot
"I'll sincerely miss you." Smiled Ajabde embracing Heer.Heer touched Maharani Jaivantabai's feet for blessings followed by Aachrya Raghavendra's feet and sighed sadly, "I hope one day I can come to Mewar.""Of course you can," smiled Kunwar Pratap. "Umm...but how exactly will you be going back to Amer?""Dadabhai Bhagwan Das has come to pick me up." She replied with a smile.Bidding a final farewell to them, Heer left for Amer. Maharani Jaivantabai looked at both the boys saying, "We also should leave now.""But...badi maasa, are we going back to Chittor?" asked Kunwar Shakti unable to understand where else they would go.They had stayed for a year in Kashi and after Shams Khan's death, Kashi would no longer be safe for either of them to reside. Shamsher Khan would soon be behind Kunwar Pratap and Aachrya Raghavendra suggested that it would be better if they left."Ranimaa, why don't you'll come to Bijolia?" suggest
"Alms!" exclaimed Kunwar Pratap looking at his mother."Yes. I need to offer Eklinji bhog today." Said his mother with a straight face. "There's a village nearby, go there and get something.""Yes." He replied and left. Immediately Maharani Jaivantabai turned towards the Shivling and began praying desperately, that the plan would succeed.For a moment she wondered which mother would voluntarily send her child into danger and here she was doing exactly the same thing, hoping that he'd come out of his comfort zone.Walking around the village, Kunwar Pratap began asking for alms. Some shunned him away and others simply said they had nothing to offer him. Embarking ahead his eyes went on his brother and Ajabde who were walking around the market."We need to get the map." Muttered Kunwar Shakti under baited breath. "Every Afghan soldier carries a map with them to guide them around this place. Do you know to pickpocket?"
"I'll kill him myself!" exclaimed Shams Khan, the moment he heard that Kunwar Pratap was in Kashi."Not now Shams, not now." Replied his brother Shamsher Khan with a wicked grin on his face. "Let's lure him and then trap him.""What do you plan to do?" asked Shams Khan impatiently.Shamsher Khan simply smirked at his brother in response without giving a definite reply.***"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that." Muttered Ajabde sitting opposite him in the temple.The night sky was filled with the chirping of crickets and the gentle swish of the waters against the rocks. The waves of the Ganges were like a music that prevented the night from being eerily silent."Ajabde!" he exclaimed peering in the darkness. "Why are you here? At this time?"She looked away and muttered, "Woh...umm...I...was quite rude..."Kunwar Pratap broke into a slight chuckle taunting, "So you came all the way
"I see..." mumbled Aachraya Raghavendra nodding his head sceptically. Something like this is quite expected from Kunwar Pratap. I would be surprised if he wouldn't decide to take sanyas. Thought the guru."How do I convince him out of this?" asked Maharani Jaivantabai sounding desperate."Exactly, dadabhai has completely gone into devotion!" added Kunwar Shakti. His voice had the sound of tremendous irritation."Devotion isn't bad, but devotion used as a medium of escape from your duty is bad." Replied Aachraya Raghavendra. "Don't worry about him; when the time is right he'll come out of it.""But Aacharya ji...""Don't worry maharanisa," reassured the guru with a gentle smile. "When all human methods don't work, it's only Eklinji's hand that guides a man's path. Just trust him.""Khamma ghani guru..." she immediately stopped seeing that he had visitors. "I apologize, I'll come later.""No it's alright." Replie