Chapter 2| A yen for acceleration

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 anywhere."

"I'm coming along!" Shouted fifteen year old Kunwar Pahad entering the room with huge strides. "Daata why do you only want to take dadabhai Dungar, Ajab and Bhago?"

"Nobody asked me if I wanted to go or not?" Came a voice from the threshold of the baithak or the common room. 

Shifting a little they saw their young eleven year old smiling at them. 

"Ajabde," began her mother, "I'm not sending you to the battlefield."

"And if Ajab is going I'm tagging along as well." Insisted Kunwar Pahad, stomping his feet like a tantrum child.

"Exactly," added Kunwar Shubhkaran, "she's only eleven and gets to enter a battlefield and here I have to stay home like a girl!"

Ignoring her brothers, Ajabde looked at her mother saying, "Maasa, what benefit is my knowledge and skill if it isn't used when required?" 

"But Ajab it's not..."

"Maasa," she sighed and held her mother's trembling hands in hers. "I'm not going to fight there, I'm going to treat the injured."

"But Ajab...it's a war..." Insisted her mother.

"Maa..." she insisted gently pressing her mother's hands. 

"Your father's pampering and excessive freedom has made you so stubborn!" Exclaimed Hansabai in agitation and walked out of the baithak. 

Ajabde chuckled and looked at her beaming father and older brother saying, "I'll join you'll along with Saubhgyavati." 

"That's my girl!" Chirped her father and hugged her tightly in his arms. While a sulking Kunwar Shubhkaran and Kunwar Pahad were given the responsibility to take care of Bijolia in the samanths or the vassal's absence. 

***

Touching their gurus feet, they stood up with joined hands. 

"Vijay bhava." He blessed them and giving them a faint smiled continued, "Though you'll have completed your training and education; this is still your gurukul. Feel free to come."

They smiled at their guru and nodded. 

"Guruvar," began Kunwar Pratap in a soft voice, "it's a blessing to have a teacher who'd be with you for life!"

Guru Raghavendra Rathore nodded replying, "Remember, do not let your emotions control you." 

Kunwar Pratap smiled nodding at his guru. Kunwar Shakti immediately smirked, "That's never going to happen guruvar!" 

"You need to control your rage." Reminded Aacharya Raghavendra narrowing his eyes a little at the thirteen year old. 

"Let's leave now," smiled Kunwar Pratap as they took leave from the gurukul. 

Since the age of five, both Kunwar Shakti and Kunwar Pratap had been training to be warriors. Spears, swords, arrows, shields, daggers, war strategies wasn't the only thing they learned. 

Their education also comprised of basic medicine, astronomy, religion, mathematics, agriculture, study of horses, mineralogy, ethics, values and principles of a Rajput prince. 

The two brothers reached the huge Kumbha Mahal where they were warmly welcomed by their mothers. 

"You'll must be starving!" exclaimed Rani Sajjabai, Kunwar Shakti's mother placing a kiss on his forehead. 

He recoiled a little in embarrassment sulking, "Seriously maasa! Not in front of everyone!" 

"Oh ho!" exclaimed Rani Sajjabai, as she placed a kiss on Kunwar Pratap's forehead. "Your dadabhai has no problem what is your hitch?"

Kunwar Shakti rolled his eyes replying, "Dadabhai is too sweet and emotional. So he finds a kiss on his forehead a very good gesture. But the fact is, it's quite awkward." 

"Bhai Shakti," warned Kunwar Pratap, "we have come home after year's! Obviously our mothers will be overjoyed."

"Yes...yes...my good brother," taunted Kunwar Shakti shaking his head. 

"Pratap, Shakti; go and seek blessings from your father." Said Maharani Jaivantabai with a firm voice. 

"Badi maasa, you know well that he seriously doesn't care if we are dead or alive." Replied Kunwar Shakti making Rani Sajjabai lower her gaze. 

She looked visibly hurt and distressed. Her son wasn't wrong but no one had dared to say this aloud, other than her ever rebellious, straightforward Shakti.

"Bhai," reminded Kunwar Pratap, "it's our duty as his..."

"Dadabhai," snapped Kunwar Shakti, "let me remind you, it's even his duty as a father and a husband to at least look at his wives and his sons. But he...only looks at that..." He stopped himself from saying anything further, shook his head and walked off. 

"Umm...I'll meet daajiraj and come." Mumbled Kunwar Pratap and walked off. 

Going to his father's chambers, he greeted him and touched his feet. Blessing the young boy he asked, "Where's Kunwar Shakti?"

"He...he's coming!" lied the prince and dashed off to the dining hall. 

Kunwar Shakti was busy eating the rich royal food that was served to him until Kunwar Pratap entered the hall exclaiming, "Go and seek father's blessings!"

Kunwar Shakti rolled his eyes replying, "If he's so bothered that his ego will shatter like fragile glass; then tell him to come here himself."

"Bhai Shakti that's enough." Snapped Kunwar Pratap. "Go right now and meet him."

Kunwar Shakti groaned aloud and stood up kicking his plate away. 

"Bhai Shakti don't waste..."

"Dadabhai, you can be father's goody two shoes; not me!" Saying this he marched out of the hall. 

"It's all my fault," came a soft delicate whimper. 

Turning around he saw Rani Dheerbai, Rana Udai Singh's third and favourite wife. The day the woman had entered their house in 1544, the king had forgotten about Maharani Jaivantabai and Rani Sajjabai. 

He had even forgotten that he had two sons who wanted his love and attention. Life for the two boys became even sour after Rani Dheerbai gave birth to Kunwar Jagmal a year after her marriage. The little prince had become the apple of his father's eye.

Kunwar Shakti took all of this very seriously and grew up to detest and loath his father while Kunwar Pratap continued to be the docile, obedient son. 

"No...chotimaa you know that Bhai Shakti is sensitive." Mumbled Kunwar Pratap slightly uneasy. 

Rani Dheerbai gently cupped his cheek and said, "But...since the day I've come here....ranaji has literally forgotten you'll...and after that Jagmal....was born and..."

"No...that's not true," denied Kunwar Pratap with a smile. "Umm...I'll..."

"I've made kheer for you," she said, "sit. You know I love you more than Kunwar Jagmal..."

He nodded and sat down as she fed him kheer. Though he wasn't hungry, he silently ate. 

Rani Dheerbai was too sweet to him all the time, something that his mother had warned him about. Though he never really understood why his mother was so apprehensive of the younger queen, he simply decided to obey and stay away from the woman as much as possible. 

But now that he was back in the palace once more, avoiding people wasn't easy. Rani Dheerbai would make it a point to buzz around the young prince showering her love and affection on him at every possible moment. 

Eating his fill, he left and sat in his room. Palace life wasn't something he enjoyed. Since the age of five, Kunwar Pratap and his young brother Shakti had been sent to the gurukul for studies. 

Kunwar Pratap was accustomed to eating with everyone, doing normal everyday chores on his own, talking and enjoying with commoners who were his best friend's, wandering about in the jungles and learning from the best teacher's- mother nature herself!

Life in the palace was nothing but a farce. Everything felt spurious, begining from the every obedient servants who nodded their heads like dodos without a question; to the sweet queen Rani Dheerbai who was only filled with nectar each time she approached him. 

He stared out of his window mindlessly until his eyes settled on the Afghan flag that fluttered on the Vijay Stambh. His jaws clenched as his eyes stung in rage. 

"When will I remove that flag..." He growled. 

"Very soon Kunwar Pratap," said Rani Dheerbai from behind him. 

He turned around with a slight frown wondering what that meant. Rani Dheerbai smiled at him saying, "Ranaji has finally planned a war against Shams Khan."

"Is it!" he exclaimed. His eyes twinkling with delight. Finally he'd get to do something for his motherland. 

She nodded at him and continued, "But...there's one problem."

"What's that?" he asked almost immediately. 

"Ranaji doesn't want any of the prince's in the palace during the war. After all, you are the future of Mewar. If something happens to you...then...."

"Then what's the use of all my education?" retaliated Kunwar Pratap shaking his head. 

"Education never goes waste." Came the loud voice of his mother from the threshold of his chamber. "When the time is right, you too shall do things for your motherland."

"Then I'll join daajiraj for the war!" he exclaimed.

"No." She replied, "not right now. There's time for that."

"But ranimaa..."

"Kunwar Pratap, your ranimaa is right." Smiled Rani Dheerbai. "Everything in its time. Till the right moment, you will have to satisfy yourself by victory's in petty competitions held in the gurukul." Saying this she walked out. 

"Ranimaa I too shall...."

"Pratap," she interjected, "in an attempt to do something for your nation do not sway in emotions."

"What emotions ranimaa!" he exclaimed in exasperation. "I've been seeing that disgusting green flag on our house since age four!"

Gently holding her thirteen year old by his shoulders she said, "You have just finished your training, do not be in a hurry to brandish what you know."

"But I'm not...."

"A battlefield is much more different than the arena in your gurukul. Slowly you will get used to it. But right now, you must go to Jalore." She said. "And it's an order."

Kunwar Pratap sighed and nodded reluctantly walking out of his chamber. 

I'm sorry ranimaa, but I had sworn to remove that flag with my own hands when I first saw it. He thought squaring his shoulders. I'll have to steal my way into the army. 

***

"We need more herbs." She said nudging her friend. 

"Ajab...we have lots already!" Exclaimed Saubhgyavati pulling few more neem leaves. 

"Hmm...." nodded Ajabde without much of a word and finally glanced at her friend saying, "the war will be within a  week from today and we have no idea about the possible casualties. It's best to be prepared."

"Help....help...." came a cry from behind them. 

Turning around they saw a boy, exactly their age running crazily towards them, as he pushed against the tall bushes and tree stems making his way towards them. 

Ajabde's brows pulled into a frown and glanced at him from toe to crown and asked, "Why are you dressed like a brahmin?"

"Because..." he panted, "maasa thought she could make a brahmin out of me..."

Saubhgyavati rolled her eyes replying, "All you know is to fight! When it comes to Shastras you are a complete illiterate!" 

"It's boring!" he squawked stomping his feet on the grass, making a fresh crunching sound. 

"But you have to learn." Shrugged Ajabde and continued pulling the tender eucalyptus shoots with her thumb and pointer finger. 

"I'm joining the war." He declared and the two girls stopped their work immediately and turned to look at him. 

"Your still eleven!" They exclaimed in unison. 

"There's no age for fighting for your motherland." He implied with pride.

"That's true," reasoned Ajabde, "but what you learn is always different from practicality."

"That's why I'm going along with daata. My father, the samanth of Kelwa, Rawat Jagga Chundawat will be pleased to have his son Patta Chundawat accompany him!" 

"Did Sajjan maasisa agree?" snapped Saubhgyavati plainly. 

"No." Replied Patta flatly. 

"Then forget it." Replied the brahmin girl Saubhagyavati and turned to continue her work. 

"Ajab, you convince maasa." Said Patta looking at her wide eyed and over optimistic, that Ajabde would be able to persuade his mother. 

"I can't," she replied and turned to walk deeper into the forest that surrounded the Bundi Bijolia border. 

"Please...." he pleaded joining his palms, "she listens to you." 

"Patta there's time for everything." Insisted Ajabde. "I'm going to the battlefield as a doctor. I haven't trained much myself in warfare neither have you!" 

"I'll fight and die for my motherland." He declared in sheer stubbornness. 

Ajabde exhaled sharply and turned to face him saying, "Look, it's better to live for a nation than die for one. A dead body does nothing other than consume wood and fire. Do you earnestly want to die without having done anything!?"

Patta nodded with a slight frown. She had clearly made a point. 

"So...if you really want to do something for... Mewar, you can guard the medical camp!" Suggested Saubhgyavati with a grin. 

"Can I do that?" he asked glancing at Ajabde in excitement. 

Ajabde nodded at him with a smile saying, "You've learned enough to at least guard the camp with a group of soldiers." 

Patta smiled and exclaimed a huge thank you and dashed away. The two girls watched him leave and chuckled to themselves. 

"Everyone wants to do something or the other for this war, even if it means simply supplying food for the army." Smiled Ajabde. 

"Everyone's awaiting the moment when the flag of Mewar will be hoisted on Chittor!" exclaimed Saubhgyavati, making Ajabde nod in agreement. 

"We must all do our part, even if it's little." Smiled the girl, back at her childhood friend. "After all....how long shall any Mewari bear the Afghan's on our land!"

***

Keeping the glass of thandaai stealthy he pretended to collapse in his mother's arms. 

"My brother, Man Singh Songra is here, he'll take the children to Jalore." Said Maharani Jaivantabai in a firm voice. 

Loading the children into the cart, Man Singh Songra left that very night from the fort premises. When they were a safe distance away, Kunwar Pratap opened his eyes and clandestinely made his way down from the moving cart. 

He had learned how to be silent with every move he made thanks to the Bhils he met during his schooling days. They had taught him how to walk and move silently and fight without making a single noise. 

He heaved a sigh of relief when he neared the bastion and slipped into a moving cart which entered the fort. 

As long as I don't get caught by anyone I'll be fine, he thought and tip-toed out of the cart and hid himself behind a pillar. 

"Khamma ghani ranaji, we have bought the arms and ammunition from  Bijolia." Said Rao Ram Rakha Punwar as he greeted the king. 

"It's good that your here with your army." Said Rana Udai Singh with an approving nod. 

"Ranaji, my son Dungar will also fight this battle alongside us." Said Rao Ram Rakha. 

"That's good raoji," replied the king, "come on, let's go to the meeting room, the rest of the chieftains have arrived."

The king walked a little ahead while Kunwar Dungar and Rao Ram Rakha walked behind, a little distance away from the king. 

Leaning a little closer to his son he asked, "Have Ajabde and Saubhgyavati set up the camp?"

"Yes, it's five kilometres away from the battlefield, which means that there would be no possibility of an Afghan attack there." Replied Kunwar Dungar. 

"Is there nobody guarding the camp?" Asked the anxious father in Rao Ram Rakha. 

"Patta is there along with few soldiers from Kelwa." Replied the prince. "Ajab knows to fight daata, don't worry."

I better follow them, thought Kunwar Pratap and with light nimble steps followed the father and son duo to the meeting room. 

Hiding behind a huge chair he began eavesdropping on the battle plan. 

"Rawatji, you and I will lead the main army towards the battlefield." Began Rana Udai Singh. "Raoji, you and your son will take care of the flag post."

"It's our honour ranaji," said Rao Ram Rakha Punwar with a curt nod. "I, my son and the army of Bijolia will be near the Vijay Stambh and try and find a way to hoist the flag of Mewar. Once we hoist the flag, the trumpet will be sounded indicating our victory."

This means, I have to find a way to get into Bijolia's army, he thought narrowing his eyes. Maybe now's the time where I can finally do something for my land.