Shakti - Last part

3 months ago

MaDiee

@MaDiee

Here is the last part. Please read and review.

***

"Maharanisa, yeh hi satya hai!" Chakri said with a frown.

Maharani Jaiwantabaiji had called Pandit Chakrapani, noticing her son's wierd behavior. He increased his intense war practices, trained their forces harder, as if some war was looming on the doorstep, soon. He preferred staying outdoors for training, surveying or checking security posts more often.

'Hume vivah mein koi ruchi nahi hai' He had declared out of the blue.

He looked somewhat nonchalant, keeping more distance from ladies. Pratap was left restless on even mention of Ajabde's name or avoided anything related to her. Ranima tried to ask but Pratap clearly did not want to talk about her or marriage or anything in particular.

'Rishto mein thodi nokjhok to hoti rehti hai... Par aise aap rishto se muh nahi mod sakte'

She had reasoned, thinking Pratap and Ajabde might have had a fight. Over what, god knows.

'Ek baar baat kar lenge, to sab sulajh jaayega' she thought to herself but he was not ready to talk at all.

She asked Chakri to have a look into the matter. Finally, on one fine day in their akhada, during one of the practice sessions with Baujiraj Pratap, Chakri got successful, to get the storm of his life and heart get out. They were dumbstruck to know the vachan deal they had.

"Koi jhagda nahi hua hai Maharanisa. Haste haste baat hui, Vachan diye aur chalte bane."

"Mujhe lagta hai, Ajabde ka mansik santulan hil gaya hai" Bhagya put one hand on her forehead and other rested on waist.

"Woh to pata nahi. Par Baujiraj avashya hi apna mansik santulan kho chuke hai" Chakri shook his head, as Jaiwantabaiji nodded, frowning.

"Woh aise kaise apne prem ko kisi aur se vivah karne ke liye bol sakti hai?" Disturbed, Bhagya moved towards her husband.

"Aur yeh Baujiraj! Aise kaise bina soche koi bhi baat maan sakte hai?" Chakri was equally frustrated, as he questioned the queen.

But a mother in Maharani Jaiwantabaiji, was optimistic and proud too. Only thing they thought of doing at the moment, was to know, what Ajabde thought? 'Ajab does nothing without a reason', she was sure of that.

"Hum yeh anarth hote nahi dekh sakte." Bhagya's eyes moistened a bit as Chakri put his hand on her shoulder.

"Par hum yeh sab kaise rok sakte hai?" He looked in her eyes for a moment, which in turn shone with some unsaid confidence.

"Aapke dimag mein koi yukti aayi hai na?" He swallowed, asking in a somewhat lowered voice, his wife's ability to solve problems anytime with her ideas for mischievous antics, as all the eyes stuck to her.

"Weh vachanbaddha hai, hum to nahi!"

Jaiwantabaiji smiled hopefully, as Bhagya shared her thought. A shine washed over all the three faces, as they got ready to bring shine and happiness in the lives of their loved ones too.

"Aap chinta mat kariye Chakrapani" Jaiwantabaiji nodded, assuring him "Hume pura bharosa hai, hum kar sakte hai"

"Eklingji sath de! Bas jise jo karna chahiye... Woh wahi hi Kare!" She closed eyes, hoping for the best.

***

An official invitation was sent to all the princesses in rajputana, to celebrate the festival of gangaur with the Sisodiyas at Chittor palace. This time,  gangaur had to be special.

A special invite reached Rajkumari Phool kanwar too. Raja Rathore was happier for the celebration. He grinned thinking finally Chittor accepted defeat. It relaxed him.

The beauty of Phool kanwar baisa, was her pride. Her looks and charms made her win anyone. On just click of her fingers, people fell for her. Now, she was ready to win, her latest found interest, Kunwar Pratap Singh too;)

Reluctantly, Ajabde reached Chittorgadh with her parents, on insistence of Maharanisa, herself. Her decision was on one side and respect for the royals and ranima was at another.

Preparations for the gangaur utsav had been started. To entertain the invitees and guests, different entertainment programs were arranged. A fair was set up. Various competitions were held. It looked like the entire Rajputana and all the beauties out there were gathered under the one roof.

The gangaur pooja was performed by the ladies by observing fast, celebrating the love of God Shiv and Goddess Gauri. They light the diya and let it float on the water. Married ladies wash their husbands feet. They break fast drinking water and food from their hands. The unmarried, young girls also observe this sacred pooja, to be blessed with best husband like the god Shiv himself.

Usually Kunwar Pratap enjoyed the festivities much, but this time all the public, people flocking around him all the time, trying to impress him, trying to get his attention, all the staring, actually irritated him.

Today even Chakri was nowhere to be seen. Must be busy performing Pooja with his wife, even the thought made him feel down a bit more.

Pratap forcibly had to attend the function as per Ranima's orders, as it would be rude if the host prince will not be present to welcome and oblige the invited guests.

"Itne logo ki kya hi aavashyakta thi?"

He made a face, crossing the competition center, alert. Crowd calls for more trouble, making it easy for the dacoits or enemies to attack.

He tightened the security around the place and kept checking time to time, assuring that everything went smooth, without any tension.

Mumbling to himself, he was passing through the shops, where a loud, authoritative voice held his attention.

"Tum jaante nahi hum kaun hai" a beautiful young girl was fiercely arguing with the shopkeeper pointing a finger at him in anger.

Pratap recognized the voice as he closed eyes remembering his first meet with the princess in the morning.

"Rajkumari hai hum Marwar ki" The poor man lowered his head, shutting his mouth.

The usually overexcited, chirpy and arrogant princess, might be thinking her to be the queen of the world. May be her heart was clean, but her attitude had it all. Her over the top beauty mixed with impulsive nature, left no instance, tempting to woo him. Her not so humble side, wanted him to stay away from her.

He scoffed in mind, as the princess Phool Kanwar, bought the bangles in half the price, clearly not knowing how to go shopping. He hid behind the drape, as Phool left the shop, now looking out for Kunwarsa himself.

He then went to the shopkeeper and paid him the rest of the price. He blessed Kunwarsa gratefully as he smiled, purchasing two more set of bangles. One for his Ranima and one for...

Well, he has to check for the safety and security of these people; he reminded himself, blankly leaving the assemblage area.

He spared himself from the searching eyes and saved him at the lesser crowded bank side of the river. He inspected the surrounds, when suddenly air started to blow strong.

He turned to leave, when one set of the bangles fell from his hand and rolled stumbling on the steps going down to the water.

***

Ajabde was getting little restless. Her mother was behaving over protective of her, like some goons were waiting to attack her only. Then this Bhagya and Ranima too, they were not leaving her unaccompanied, even for a moment. It's not like she didn't like to be with them all, but... If that went on, how would she perform and complete her pooja!?

Although she made it clear, she no longer want to marry anyone, Kunwar Pratap in particular, it wasn't easy for her to get over of, the one and only love of her life! She was avoiding, even the presence of Kunwar Pratap from the moment, she put the step in Chittor. It wasn't like Pratap tried hard to meet her. But what hearts wanted, was something different only. She didn't observe the fast with everyone, but she couldn't eat anything too. She ah to keep the fast, for him, without getting noticed by anyone.

"Aaj in sabko ho kya gaya hai? Kuch ajeeb sa bartaav kar rahe" murmuring softly, she swiftly moved out of the pooja sthal, to a little far away unmanned area of the river bank. "Jaise kuch pal hume akela chhod diya to jeevan badal jaayega"

When all her covering ladies got a bit busy to perform the pooja and break their fasts, Ajabde grabbed the opportunity to sneak out of their invisible custody. When her prayer was done, she bent to the water to float the diya from her thaal.

A sudden tinkling sound startled her as she looked up to see reflex of Kunwar Pratap in water, rushing down to her. Widening her eyes, she turned around with a jerk, as her hair flew in the air. Picking up the bangles, Kunwar Pratap was trying to control his speed on the stairs, otherwise, he would crash onto someone.

"Sambhaal ke..."

He shouted just when she stood up to leave but hit him instead and all the flower petals in her thaal, flung in the air, showering the duo. She lost her balance on the wet stair, as he held her in reflex. The wind filled the background as their warmth filled their hearts. As if meeting after ages, their eyes intertwined forgetting anything around or within them.

The edge of Pratap's eyes moistened a bit on seeing his Ajabde after so long.

"Ajab..."

The letters slipped from his mouth, as lips curved into a beautiful smile. But his smile didn't last longer as his whisper broke their trance. She widened her eyes once again on the proximity they were in. Leaving his shoulder, she straightened up, balancing her thaal.

He was still holding her, when suddenly she started coughing. Before she could do anything, she was drinking water from his hand. He was quick enough to stop her cough by making her drink water from the small pot she held in her thaal. Without any intention and with the god's grace, her fast was broken successfully, by the one it was kept for and by the one she couldn't ask for.

The moment she gathered, it completed her pooja and fast, she lightly pushed his hand, stepping a step back. Her eyes welled up, making him frown.

"Ab humne kya galat kar diya?" He asked confused.

"Kya galat kiya?" She raised eyebrows

"Sab kuch hi to galat hai?" She asked back, her voice trembling a bit, little cause of the wind there, little from her turmoil inside.

"Ajabde?"

"Aap yaha kyun aaye Kunwar Pratap!?" A drop of tear rolled down to her cheek.

"Ajab..." He moved forward but she stepped back.

"Humse dur rehne ka vachan diya tha na aapne?" Her questioning look hurt him.

"Hume nahi pata tha aap yaha hai" He answered uncomfortably

"Pehle diya tairaate, aapka pratibimb hume uss paani mein dikha" She ignored him

"Aur ab paani pila ke aapne hamara vrat bhi khulwa diya" She shook her head, as some more tears dropped from her eyes.

"Nahi Ajab, hum to.." He tried once again but

"Ajabde. Ajabde Punwar." She corrected him, that ached a little too.

"Hum Ranima ke samne to kuch keh nahi sakte, to hume akela dekh ke aap..."

"Bas Ajabde. Ab aap kuch adhik keh rahi hai" He stared at her.

"Hum adhik keh rahe hai?" She threw back "Aap adhik kar rahe hai" she shook head.

"Aapne ab tak vivah kyun nahi kiya?"

"Kya?" He asked "Ab isme hamare vivah ki baat kaha se bich mein aa gayi?"

"Haan to... Aapne vachan diya tha. Jab humne kaha tha ke Rajkumari Phool Kanwar se vivah kar lijiyega, to ab tak aapne kuch kiya kyun nahi?"

"Humne vachan sirf aapse dur rehne ka diya tha Ajabde." He said firmly "Aur yeh bhi spasht kaha tha, hamare jeevan mein kisi aur ke liye koi sthaan nahi" straightly looking into her eyes.

"Kyun aap samajna nahi chahte?" Ajabde questioned but he cut her of midway.

"Kyun aap hath kar rahi hai?"

"Humpe bharosa rakhiye Kunwar Pratap, yeh hi uchit hai" Her voice raised a bit.

"Aap par bharosa hai, tabhi to hum kuch bhi bina puche, pichhe hat gaye Ajabde" He matched her tone "Par aapke alawa hamare liye koi bhi, kuch bhi uchit nahi hai" He was firm.

"Hamare sath kuch bhi surakshit nahi hai" She exclaimed. Widening eyes, she realized what she said and immediately turned to leave from there.

"Ek kshan, Ajabde" Pratap stopped her by holding her wrist, as she closed her eyes.

"Kya kaha aapne? Aapke sath kya surakhshit nahi?" He asked.

"Kuch nahi, Kunwar Pratap" She tried to release her hand but he tightened his grip "Rajya surakshit nahi hai"

"Baat badaliye mat Ajabde" He made her face him "Hume sach sunna hai"

"Aap Rajputane ka bhavishya hai. Hamari matrubhumi aur praja ki surakshitata ke liye aapka suraksit rehna aavashyak hai" She sighed, lowering her head "Aur hamare aapke sath hone se, hum aap sab ko khatre mein nahi daal sakte" Tears made their way from her eyes.

He looked in her eyes making her say everything. Right from the attack on her, she told him everything she knew. She digged into the details, what would interest Rao Maldeo Rathore to attack a samantputri out of a blue. Afghans were planning something big to attack on their land.

In such an emergency, all the states in Rajputana need to fight against them together, not with each other. Just because of her, one of their biggest state, Marwar, was on the verge to go against their own people. They would only join hands with Mewar, if Kunwar Pratap would marry their princess.

"Jab humne aapse pucha, tab aapne humse kyun nahi kaha ke aap par hamala hua tha?" Pratap gritted his teeth, learning the complete truth.

"Hamare praan ka koi mahatva nahi hai Kunwar Pratap"

"Aap hamare praan hai Ajab" His gaze was piercing "Aur kya mahatva ka hai, kya nahi, yeh hum bhali bhaati jaante hai."

"Aap Rajkumari Phool se vivah kar lenge to sab sulajh jaayega"

She looked on hopefully. This political alliance will become stronger and they would easily convince others to join them to fight against the intruders.

"Raoji ko pata hai? Ya sab khud akele hi kar rahe aap?" He ignored her.

"Aap Rajputane ka kal hai" but she continued.

"Aur aap hamara aaj, Ajab." Leaving wrist, he held her hand.

"Hum Marwar se yuddh nahi chahte. Hum ekta chahte hai. Par aapki ki kimat pe nahi."

"Aap jaanti bhi hai, aap kya keh rahi hai?" Pratap and Ajabde turned to look at the source of that voice.

Rajkumari Phool kanwar stood there, flaring nose, clearly shocked in anger. Bhagya reached there just a step later.

"Hamare Dada aisa kuch nahi kar sakte" She knew, Raja Maldeo loved her very much. But he can't make a deal, of her, herself.

"Yeh Sach hai Phool baisa" Rana Udaisinghji said, coming to the spot with Raoji and Chakri. He explained how Rao Maldeo threatened the security of Pratap and their people, if the alliance with Rajkumari Phool and Pratap did not happen.

"Hum Kunwar Pratap ko pasand karte hai, par unhe paane ke liye hum koi khel nahi khel sakte. Kisi ke praan sankat mein nahi daal sakte" She tried to reason.

"Par woh kar sakte hai. Unhone Hume dhamki bhi di thi" Raoji said, looking at Ajabde. She was like him only. They both didn't tell each other about him or threat, just to save the other from worry.

"Ek hamari pasand ke liye, Dada samast rajputane ko khatre mein nahi daal sakte" a tear dropped from her eye, as she tried to convince her.

"Hum to sirf aapki khushi chahte the Phool." Rao Maldeo Rathore stood there. Maharani Jaiwantabaiji and Hansabaiji stopped a step behind him.

"Dada" Phool walked up to her grandfather. "Kya aap jaante the, ke Kunwar Pratap kisi aur se prem karte hai!?" She asked, hoping to get a negative answer.

But The Rathore king stood there speechless. Tears flew from her eyes, as he lowered his head.

"Kisi ke prem ko maar kar, apne rishte ki neev kaise daalte hum? Jab weh kisi aur ko praan ki tarah prem karte hai, to unke bagair, unke sath hum khush kaise reh paate Dada!?" She asked crying and hugged her grandpa, who sadly hugged her back.

"Hume kshama kar dijiye Phool" he wiped her tears. "Ranaji. Raoji" He joined hands in front of Ranaji and Raoji too, as they responded with the same gesture.

"Afghan ya kisi bhi shatru se ladne ke liye, Marwar hamesha aapke sath hai" He smiled "kisi bhi shart ke bina" He hugged Ranaji as others folded hands happily "Rajniti apni jagah, baccho ki bhavnaae ek jagah" he apologised to Ajabde as well and admired her strength. They all left for the palace for the rest of the festivities.

"Inhe to sari duniya pasand karegi, par Kunwar Pratap, aap hi ke hai Ajabde baisa" Princess Phool left from there, with a wet smile.

Bhagya came beside Chakri and nudged him happily.

"Kya sahi samay par le aayi aap Phool baisa ko" he patted her shoulder.

"Ranaji se, Rao Maldeoji ko amantran bhejna bhi aapke liye aasan nahi hoga" she smiled wide.

"Maharanisa humne kar dikhaya" Chakri grinned at Jaiwantabaiji, at their way back home.

"Kaha tha na, woh vachanbaddha hai, baki sab nahi" Bhagya was all smiles as queen caressed her hair.

***

As everyone left from the river happily, PrAja stayed for a while.

"Aap kaha jaa rahi, Ajabdebaisa!?" Pratap held her back.

"Ab to hume vachan mukta kariye" He said pouting cutely. She blushed, nodding affirmative.

"Aur hume ek vachan dijiye..." She looked on surprised "Fir se kabhi hume yun aapse dur jaane ko nahi kahenge." His eyes twinkled, as she put hand on his hand tightly.

"Aapki ek aawaz par, sab matrubhumi ke liye praan nyochhavar kar dete hai. Hum bhi apne se ho sake, woh prayas kar rahe the" By staying away from him, she thought to keep him and their people safe.

"Itni saralta se aap chhut nahi sakte Ajab. Agar aap bhi apna hissa dena chahte hai, to hamara sath de kar dijiye. Humse dur rehne ki bajay, hume himmat aur protsahan dijiye, ke apni matrubhumi ke liye humse Jo ban pade, hum kar sake..."

Pratap told her, holding her shoulders. She nodded smiling, wrapping hands around him. He rested hands on her back.

"Waise humse bhul Jane ka vachan le kar, khud hamare liye vrat rakh rahi..." Pratap teased her.

"Haww. Par aap yaha kyun aaye?" To hide her blush and avoid answering, she asked back once again.

"Arre, hum to yaha inki vajah se" He raised his hand to show her the bangles he came after. The tinkly little rings shone with the shine of water, matching exactly the colours of chunri Ajabde wore.

"Aap hamari Shakti hai Ajab!" Pratap smiled "Sath rahiyega"

"Hamesha rahenge!" Ajabde held his hand.

Her eyes smiled ear to ear, as Pratap himself made her wear, her favorite bangles. Wind complimented it's tinkles as PrAja stepped a step ahead to the forever of togetherness!

**************

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MaDiee