Silent Communications
It was another battle he had won against the Mughals yet it was different. He has stepped into this palace so many times roamed and played in its corridors yet it was different. He had fell in love in this palace, expressed his love here to the love of his life, received love from the King and Queen of this palace yet it was different this time. He had won a battle yet he had no sense of fulfillment today. He was proud of the valiant soldiers of his army yet ashamed of their commander. He felt love warm his heart yet stoned against swarming emotions. Standing at the entrance of Bijolia Palace in their battle gears with his father Rana Uday Singh, his best friend Chakrapani, his wife's adoptive brother Fattah he was worried. For the very first time in his life the Prince of Chittor Kunwar Pratap Singh of Mewar was scared. He came here seeking forgiveness from people he loved. Securing the borders was huge step winning the people Bijolia and it looked like a good start as the welcome today was warmer than he got last time. But there was more to be done. He has to win their dear Ajabde Bai Sa again to make them happy. But he wanted to win her for himself. This was the only time his people had taken a backseat.
Two months ago he came to Bijolia disguised as a commoner to investigate Fattah's complaints. The people of Bijolia were unhappy with their king for neglecting the interest and safety of the people of Bijolia. They were angry at him for his cruelty towards their beloved Bai Sa. He had found that Fattah's complaints were indeed true. These people were poorly fed. They paid unnecessary taxes. There were no guards from the royal army guarding the borders against foreign entities. His love for his land and people demanded that he rectified the situation immediately. He went back to Chittor and asked for the royal records and accounts regarding Bijolia. The stated that Bijolia was well looked after. On paper there were many troops assigned to Bijolia but only guards he had seen were soldiers from Bijolia. He had seen royal servants collecting unacceptable amount of taxes from the citizens. He decided to investigate the matter personally as there was definitely some miscommunication.
He had found that all the messages and letters from Bijolia was being blocked by a guard who worked for Choti Maa. He had found all letters tucked away in a box at the guard's home in which he had sneaked into. There was also a letter from his Rani Maa stating the real reason of her decision to leave the palace and it had nothing to do with Ajabde. In that moment of revelation he had felt that his whole world had come to a halt. He wanted to massacre everything around him and inside him for mistreating and not believing Ajabde. All these years he had blamed her for all his misery when in reality he was responsible for it all by himself. But even in that guilt of the injustice he had caused his Ajabde he felt the hole in his fill which has been there all these years. When he took all the proof he had collected to his father there was a huge confrontation between his father and Choti Maa. Pratap just could not believe that his Choti Maa could lie to him and cause him such grief. During that confrontation Rawat ji brought the news of Bijolia being attacked by the Mughals. He had left immediately with his father for the battle.
And now here he was standing at the doorstep of the palace of Bijolia with his on his sleeve. His eyes searching for one person he longed to see. They were met by Rani Veer Bai ji at the door with a thaal in her hand for their vijay tilak. She had come to Bijolia to help out the families of soldiers during the battle. Behind her was the queen Hansa Bai in her simple clothes but Ajabde was nowhere to be seen. Well, she had every right to be angry with him. Rana Uday Singh ji folded both his hand in front his chest apologized to Rani Hansa for their mistreatment of her daughter and people of Bijolia. He asked her permission to enter her palace to discuss the matter further. She graciously nodded granting them permission to enter her home. Rani Veer Bai ji did Rana ji's tilak, then Kunwar Pratap, followed by Chakrapani.
When she raised her hands to do Fattah's tilak he stepped back holding both his hands together, "I apologize Rani Sa but the only person who will do my vijay tilak is my jija. She had promised me that if I fought alongside Kunwar Pratap and was cordial to him and Rana ji she will do my tilak and make my favorite food by herself." Pratap's heart skipped a beat when Fattah finally mentioned Ajabde. Now Pratap understood the reason why Fattah has been reluctantly cordial to every person from Mewar. "Rani Maa, where is jija?" asked Fattah looking at Rani Hansa. Pratap looked at her hopefully thinking finally he will see her. Then his mother-in-law said the words that stopped his heart for a moment, "Ajabde is not in the palace Fattah, she went into the city to give people the good news that we have won this battle against Mughals and console the families of injured and dead soldiers."
"She would have definitely stayed if she knew you were coming Rana ji." Veer Bai ji put in after noticing the shocked expression on Rana ji and Pratap's face, looking expectantly at Hansa who replied, "We did not expect all of you to come here on your way back home. If we would have known then she would have not left. You please come inside, I will send for Ajabde." Pratap cringed internally at Hansa Bai Ji's words. His Ajabde has become so used to his ignorance that she did not even think that there was chance that he could show up at her doorstep. He had no one to blame for this other than himself. Reluctantly, he stepped into the palace with his father but he could not find the courage in him to out one foot in front of another. He looked at his father's retreating back discussing with Choti Maa about Ajabde. He felt Chakrapani's hand on his shoulder for support. He was about to take another step when he heard his Hansa massi.
Hansa Bai ji then turned to Fattah, "Go into the city and inform you Jija that Rana ji and Kunwar Pratap are here. Also take her clothes and jewelry with you. Tell her I said that there no need for those ordinary clothes anymore as Kunwar Pratap is safe and has returned home."
"I just don't understand Rani Ma that why does Jija give up all her royal clothes, jewelry and shingar every time Kunwar Pratap goes on a battle or out of country?" Fattah asked exasperatedly.
"These are her wedding vows. Every girl gives it to her husband Fattah and you know your Jija takes her promises very seriously. It doesn't matter if the other appreciates it or not; or does not show same kind of loyalty." Hansa Bai ji said not realizing that Pratap was within earshot.
"What wedding vows ma sa? How many vows have Kunwar Pratap fulfilled till date? Why does Jija have to fulfill all her duties and he gets away with fulfilling none?" Fattah got more annoyed.
"She does not do it because it's her duty. She does it because for some reason that you and I don't understand she still loves him even though Kunwar Pratap has done nothing to deserve that love." Hansa explained. "Now go get your tilak done by your Jija and then send her here." Hansa Bai ji said handing him a thaal of Ajabde's royal dress and jewelry.
Fattah turned without taking the thaal looking straight into Pratap's eyes, "Jija loves him not me and I won't support her in something that hurts her no matter how much she wants it."
Pratap felt his heart being ripped into two pieces. This guy will get a vijay tilak from Ajabde. The people of this state get to share their happiness and sorrow with her and she will share her grief and relief with them. Somehow he felt that there was no space for him in her life anymore. He remembered Hansa Massi ji's words about how Ajabde wears no shingar when he away and that she still loves him. That soothed his heart like rain soothes barren land. She has waited years for him, he can wait a few hours for her.
Few hours later Pratap was furious at her. His wife has absolutely no sense of safety. It was almost night time and she was nowhere to be seen. He was pacing in his room worried to no bounds. How irresponsible of her? What if something happens to her? When he had mentioned his concerns to Hansa Massi ji she had smiled and said, "These are her people Kunwar Pratap, they will not hurt her." He understood that this was her city and people here loved her but that is also true that every city has good and bad people. And circumstances are always tense after a battle. What if some thinks she is responsible for their child death that has instead died valiantly in battle and attacks her? Battle brings a lot of grief with it no matter if you win it or not and grief makes people irrational. "I am going out to look for her." Pratap announced to Chakrapani and picked his sword up. Chakrapani was about to stop him when he heard a dasi announcing that Ajabde Bai Sa was home hence bringing his world came back to its axis.
