Chapter-3: Pratap's manipualtion

He was crowned as king at the age of thirteen. He was asked to prove his worth time to time. And proved he did. He proved that not only was he worthy to be a king but also that he was the only one deserved the title of ‘Shehanshah’.

Jalal could no longer dream small things because that would be insult to the power entitled to him. Dreaming big was no longer his habit but also his duty towards his kingdom. He have to dream big and reach there. He had the duty to make the throne and his ancestors proud. He have to reach the places where they couldn’t. All these years he had only dreamt for his kingdom but he wanted something for himself. Phool Kanwar. The beautiful princess who dared to steal Shehanshah-e-hind’s heart and he knew exactly how to punish her for her crime.

“Shehzaadi Phool Kanwar… Hum aapse milne ke liye beytaab hai..”

“Jahanpanah… hum nikalne ke liye tayyar hai..” Behram Khan said as he came inside the tent.

“Aur hum bhi Pratap ko maar kar Phool kanwar ko haasil karne ke liye tayyar hai.. Khan baba..”

Jalaluddin Muhammed got ready. That day was the day where he would finally cut all the ties with that Rajput Prince.

Meanwhile in Bijolia, the said Rajput prince couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Aap yeh kya keh rahi hai, Ajabdeh? Aap Chittor nahi aa rahi..”

Ajabdeh shook her head, “Nahi.. hum nahi aa rahe hain”

“Parantu kyun? Yadi Raoji ne aapko mana kiya hai toh hum baat karte hain unse.. Ve humari baat nahi taalenge..” He turned to leave. He had to talk to Raoji as soon as possible. He didn’t know why but he did not want to leave Bijolia without her.

“Kunwar Pratap.. Chittor na jane ki nirnay haumara tha.. Daata ka nahi..” She called behind him causing him to stop.. He turned to look at her. She looked hurt but he could see her unbreakable resolve in her eyes.

“Kyun?.. Aap kyun aana nahi chahti humare saath?” He asked feeling the sort of helplessness which he never felt before.

“Hum aana nahi chahte.. bas.. ” She said. He noticed that she started twisting her hands just like his mother. She was nervous. He walked towards her. He needed an answer.

“Kya humse koi bhool hui hai?” She shook her head. “Kya humne aapko kisi tarah ka kasht pahunchaya hai?” She shook her head again. “Toh phir kyun?” He asked his voice raising with his impatience.

“Hum aapko woh kaaran bata nahi sakte…” She said slowly. He noticed that she tried to avoid any type of eye contact with him. This action hurt him the most.

“Bata nahi sakte ya batana nahi chahte?” He asked angrily. He had enough of it. “Yadi aap hume kuch batana nahi chahti to humara samay vyarth na kare… Hum jaate hai.. ”

“Rukiye Kunwar Pratap..” She called him again when he was about to leave. He stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Boliye” He grunted.

“Phool ye baat nahi jaanti.. Aur hum unke har haav bhaav se parichit hai..yadi jaane se pehle unhe ye pata chalta ki hum nahi aa rahe to ve hatt kar baitegi…”

He felt more irritated. It was like Ajabdeh was testing every bit of his patience. What could be the reason that she was so unwilling to come to his palace? More importantly weren’t they close enough for her to disclose whatever was bothering her? He thought they were close enough for that. Or was it only for him? Did that mean she never considered him as that close to her?

“Humne unke liye ek patra mein sab kuch samjhake likha hai” She said walking towards the table. “Sambhavata.. unhe yatra ke madhya, ye pata chalta hai ki hum unke saath nahi hai toh ve vichilith ho jayenge.. Ye bhi ho sakta hai ki ve aage badne se bhi mana kare..” She took the roll from the table. He noticed his bajhuband on the table half undone.

“Yadi ve aisa kare, toh aap unhe yeh patra dijiye.. ve shaanth hojayegi” She said holding the letter towards him. He could see that she was trying her best not to cry but that did not stop him from feeling angry. All he could see was the standing proof that she considered him as an outsider, after all that had happened between them. For him, she had become an indispensable part of his life but it seems that he was not able to create the same effect in her mind.

He snatched the letter and went towards the table. He looked at her reflection in the mirror. She really looked sorry. Their eyes met “Hum Chittor jaake theek karvayenge ise apni Ranimaa se” saying this he took his bajubandh and stormed off the room.

He passed Gauharjaan on his way. She noticed that he was particularly in a bad mood. She tried to look as normal.

“Ab inhe kya hogaya? Kahi inhe pata toh na chala Shehanshah ke hamle ke baare mei?”

But before she could think more about someone muffled cry reached her. It was from coming the room from where Kunwar Pratap exited. She peeped into the room to see Ajabdeh was crying into a pillow. She was crying her heart out. Gauharjaan somewhat understood the situation. Now, she understood the sacrifice which Ajabdeh was making.

“Afsos toh yeh hai Rajkumari ki aapki yeh kurbani ka koi fayda nahi hai…Phool Kanwar ko Shehanshah Haasil kar hi lenge… Aur aapko isse zyada tadapna padega.. jab Mewar ke rajkumar ka katl Jahanpanah apne haton se karenge…Humare dil mein aapke liye haumdardi toh zaroor hai par hum bhi kya kare.. Hum pehle aapke dushman hai..”

Pratap’s friends knew something was troubling him as they were riding back to Chittor.

“Baujiraaj… Koi samays hai kya?” Venidas finally decided to ask unable to handle the tension.

Pratap didn’t answer just then. He looked behind and said slowly, “Humare mann mei toh bahut kuch hai.. mitr... parantu abhi ek baat hai jis par hume sabse adhik dhyan kendrit karna padega…Hum sab ko abhi satark rehna padega..” His face showed that he was dead serious.

“Kyun Baujiraaj.. kya aapko lagta hai ki hum par koi aakraman karne wala hai?” Bheem asked looking around. Venidas also stiffened.

They were nearing the Bijolia border. He felt his heart tighten. He somehow felt empty leaving Bijolia without her. He had a slight hope that she would come to her senses and change her decision but alas that did not happen.

“Baujiraaj?” He heard Venidas call him.

“Haan.. hume aisa lagta hai..” He said. It was all Ajabdeh’s fault that he was not able to concentrate on important problems.

“Aap theek se toh batayiye Baujiraj..” Bheem said irritated.

Before he could answer, he saw the palanquins stop. The three boys stepped off their horses to meet a restless Phool.

“Kya hua” Pratap asked although he could assume what the reason was.

“Kunwar Pratap.. hume Bijolia mahal wapas jana hai”

“Wapas Bijolia mahal? Par kyun?”

“Ajabdeh, Humera saath nahi aayi aapka dhyan gaya iss baat par?”

“Hum jaante the.. Ajabdeh ne hume bataya ki ve humare saath nahi aa rahi hai” He said mechanically.

“Unhone aapko yeh baat bataya?” She looked hurt. Seeing her like this, Pratap found a chance to be exploited.

The fire burns up when you blow air into it properly… If it has too much or too less force then the fire would die down. A successful person also sees everything as an opportunity. Pratap was not the one to give up. Ajabdeh had to come to Chittor. Now all he wanted was some carefully constructed sentence.

“Parantu Kunwar Pratap hume iss baat ka bilkul bodh nahi tha ki Ajabdeh is yatra mein humare saath nahi chal rahi.. Hum jaha bhi gaye hai sada Ajabdeh ke saath hi chale hai…Unke bina hum kahi nahi gaye..”

Pratap composed his face to look surprised, “Phir toh ye ashcharya karne waali baat hai.. Aap unki itni pakki sakhi hai.. phir bhi unhone aapse yeh baat chupayi..” he said stressing on the ‘pakki sakhi’

Phool looked slightly disturbed.

“Par chaliye.. Jo hua so hua..hume aage badna hai” He turned to leave. And just as predicted,

Phool called him.

“Kunwar Pratap.. Chaliye na.. Bijolia mahal wapas jaate hai.. ”

Phool tried her best to convince Pratap. Pratap showed as though he was not interested and tried to stop Phool. After all he now knew that Phool does the opposite of what was told. He remembered the letter she gave him. He pulled it from his rucksack and extended it towards her, “Aapki Saheli ne yeh hume diya.. yeh padiye aur shanti se palki mein baitiye. Humare paas na toh na samay hai na hi sayam hai” This was the last blow to the nail. He knew that there was nothing more to do. Phool started thinking in the direction he wanted to.

Phool looked at the letter. She couldn’t believe it. Ajabdeh was abandoning her at this juncture of her life? She needed Ajabdeh the most at this time. What was Ajabdeh thinking?

And the thing which most irritated her is that Kunwar Pratap was informed but not her. Wasn’t she her best friend? Why was Ajabdeh suddenly ignoring her? Now she wanted answers. And only her so-called best friend could give them.. that too directly.. not with some stupid letter. Seriously, Did she really think that Phool would be pacified by a letter? Well.. She was Phool Kanwar Rathore, princess of Marwar. And she gets what she wants.

She took the letter from Kunwar Pratap’s hand and threw it aside.

“Aap yeh kya kar rahi hai?” He asked. He was trying his best to keep his face blank as he could see his plan working perfectly.

“Hum kuch nahi jaante.. Ajabdeh humare saath aa rahi hai… bas..” She said. She stamped her leg with a determination. “Hum unhe bulake le aayenge.. aap hum dono ka yahi pateeksha karana.. hiliyaga nahi.. hum abhi Ajabdeh ko leke aayenge”

Saying this she ordered the palanquin bearers to move towards Bijolia. Laalbaiji also left with her. Even though his friends were asking him to stop Phool, he didn’t. He couldn’t. He smiled knowing that there was no way that Phool would lose now. Ajabdeh was coming to Chittor.

With him.

Somehow Phool’s stubbornness calmed him. Rest assured, Ajabdeh would come in some time.

He could now discuss his plan with his to friends.

He shared his suspicions on Laalbaiji. He was sure she was working for someone else.

Someone much more big.. someone who wanted him dead no matter what? They discussed the possible enemies but not for long because Pratap didn’t want to waste time on assumptions but wanted a fool-proof plan to capture whoever it was. He needed more man power. If it was only him.. then there was no worry.. but now he had the responsibility of two girls.

“Humne pehle hi Rawatji ko Sandesh bhej diya hai.. ve sena ki ek tukdi saath mei leke aayenge.. Parantu.. uske liye samay lagega.. Tab tak..”

Venidas interrupted, “Baujiraaj.. Boondi humari sahayata kar sakta hai.. hum abhi isi samay nikalthe hai.. ”

Pratap thought about it. It was a nice idea.. Boondi was closer.

“Aur Baujiraaj.. Hume lagta hai ki hume seedhe Chittor nahi jana hai.. Mandalgarh paas main hai.. jungle ki wajah se who jagah acha hoga.. Hum aakraman se bhi bach sakte hai aur.. Humare shatruvon ke liye ek jaal bhi bicha sakte hai..”

Turning the route to Mandalgarh was a bright move but then, his attacker would know his plan. He cannot turn just yet… He had to find out who the coward was, who tried to kill him from behind.

“Bheem aap Mandalgarh ke samant ke paas jaayiye aur unse kahiye ki unke sene ki ek tukdi ko bej de.. Sambhavatah jo hume marna chahte hai ve humari prateekha kar rahe honge.. Hume bas woh sthaan pata lagana hoga..”

He opened the map and the three discussed the possible locations which his enemy could use to attack. There were not many. The dessert and the forest was making it difficult to place a suitable location. They looked and looked at the map.

Pratap saw an area near the lake.. “Hume lagta hai ki woh humara yaha prateeksha kar raha hai.. Iss cheel(lake) se seema par kar aana aur jaana saral hai.. aur yahan pe jo parvath hai woh akraman karne walon ke liye saamrik sthaan bhi hai.. Inn parvatoh ke beech chup bhi sakte hai aur unke paas agar sena hai to choti ke upar se hi aakraman karna hithkaari bhi hai..”

“Baujiraaj.. Hum Mandalgarh ke liye abhi nikalte hai..” Pratap nodded. “Agar humara anumaan sahi hai toh Laalbaiji hume iss cheel ke paas hi rokengi.. tabhi hum aapko sandesh bhejte hai..”

“Venidas aap boondi jaake Rao Surjan singh se baat ki jiye.. ve humari avashya madad karenge.”

And both of them left immediately. Pratap went through the plan in his mind again. He then sent a messenger to Rawatji with his message detailing about his plan. He hoped the location he decided was the correct one. If he was attacked anywhere else, it would take some time to let everyone know about the location. The princesses relied on him for their safety.

He was just thinking of any other strategy when he heard the palanquins approaching. One glance at that side told him that Phool was successful in convincing Ajabdeh. He thought to have some fun. After all she had to feel bad for hurting him like that in the morning. He led he people some place where he was sure that they couldn’t spot him.

As he had expected, they got scared that they were left behind. Ajabdeh was trying to calm a jittery Phool.

“Yadi woh sach much hume chodkar chale gaye toh yeh unka ashist vyavahaar maana jayega..”

He rode back to them. He got down his horse smiling. “Aapne kuch.. ashisht vyavahar jaisa kaha tha.. humne suna tha..Yadi aapne aisa kaha hai toh … apni sakhi ko bataye bina unke saath nahi aana.. hume kshama kijiye.. kya woh shisht vyavahaar mana jaayega?”

He teased her. She blushed a beautiful shade of pink. Her hands started twisting themselves.

He kept staring at her. And once their eyes met, she looked away shocked.

“aapko aisa hume darana nahi chahiye tha” she said looking everywhere else except him.

“Aapko bhi kisko kya karna chahiye aur kisko kya nahi aise aise updesh nahi dena chahiye”

He said. He was happy to see her but he still wanted to scold her for making him feel bad till now. He saw her twisting her hands more forcefully.

“Sahi toh keh rahe hai Kunwar Pratap. Kitna naak ragadwava humara aapne aaj pata hai na”

Phool said smiling a brightly at her friend, who bowed her head.

Pratap saw Laalbaiji’s eyes scan the area like a vulture. “Aapke mitr nahi dikhaye de rahe hai”

She asked in a sweet voice. Pratap knew what she meant. He decided to play along. After all he was not really going to lie.

“Ve nahi ruke.. chale gaye”

Laalbaiji smiled. He knew she believed him. Now she was in the position where he wantedher to be. His eyes met Ajabdeh’s eyes. The doe-like orbs were painted with the colours of regret and embarrassment.

“Har kisi mei…” He paused to look knowingly at her.“humare jitna dhayrya kaha hota hai” he continued to tease her. Her eyes widened to which he smiled again, this time with a playful glint in them. Her mouth opened slightly as she saw that. She blushed more profusely and looked down to avoid his eyes.

“Phool..” She tried to escape. “Hume lagta hai ki hume palki mein baitna hai..”

“Akhirkaar.. aapko humare saath aana hi pada..” He smiled amusingly as she rushed inside the palanquin. Phool followed the suit. He saw Laalbaiji scan the area again and step inside her palanquin.

Now, if all went well, he would meet the weakling who tried to use such deceitful methods to kill him.

For some unknown reason, he remembered his friend from Dwaraka. Even he used underhand method to tie up those Afghan soldiers.

“Aapko khel khatam karna nahi aata..”

One day, he would meet him again and end the game which they started. He promised himself that.