Part 3
Ugh! To think that he would have grown up some but no he is still as stubborn as those mules he loves so much. These were Ajabde's primary thoughts when she told all the dasis to leave the kitchen. She knew him very well. If he said he will only eat the food cooked by her and that is what he will do. He will skip a meal if he had to. He had just come back from a battle he needs all the nutrition he needs. So, here she was making all his favorite foods. She was going to cook today anyways. How she had longed all these years to cook for him. She has sent the dasis away because this will be only chance she will get where she gets to do something for him by all her heart and people won't curse him for it. She had long ago stopped showing to other people that how much she loved him because every time she did something that showed her love and devotion towards Kunwar Pratap people cursed him for hurting her so much. How can Ajabde ever allow that? She made all his favorite foods- Khichdi, Ghewar, Kheer. She had just been informed that Pratap's little sister Princess Chaand has also just arrived to meet her Dajiraj and Dada Bhai. Most of the royal family was in her home today and she had created a royal feast for them. She was about to leave the kitchen when a girl came into the kitchen.
"Can you please make some ointment for my Dada Bhai? He got hurt in the battle." Princess Chand asked Ajabde thinking she was a dasi as she was still dressed in ordinary clothes
Pratap was hurt. Why wasn't she told about it and how come no one has called vaid ji to look at it? , "If Kunwar Pratap is hurt why hasn't anyone called the vaid ji? Why was I not informed?" Ajabde asked without bothering to correct Chaand who she really is.
"That is because he did not tell anyone. Now can you please make him the ointment?" Chaand asked impatiently. She was worried about her big brother.
Ajabde hurriedly made the ointment and handed it to Chaand quietly. She then left for her room to change, her thoughts surrounded by Pratap's injury. How bad was it? Why did he not tell anyone? Did he put ointment on it or not?
Pratap was arguing with Chakrapani and Chaand in his room, "I told you I am fine. I do not need any ointments." Pratap said in a final tone. "Did you send for my things that I requested Chakrapani and make all the other arrangements?"
"Yes, Bhaujiraj I did send for it. Now will you please put some ointment on your wounds," Chakrapani requested.
"Dada Bhai you are putting this ointment and that is final. I do not know what is wrong with this palace. First that dasi was asking her all these questions about you in the kitchen. Why will anyone inform a dasi about your injury? And now you are refusing to put this ointment on. And what kind of wife do you have Dada Bhai? She is not worried about you at all?" Chaand complained and ordered.
"Your Dada Bhai has an excellent wife. Whether he deserves her or not is an entirely different question Rajkumari sa?" Saubhagyavati said entering the room glaring at both Pratap and Chakrapani.
"Saubhagyavati you are talking about Kunwar Pratap here and do not forget that he is also your husband's friend. Bhaujiraj is trying to make amends." Chakrapani replied in a placating tone.
"Your friend has a funny way of making amends. I agreed to help you and Kunwar Pratap because I wanted to see Ajabde happy but after talking to Kunwar Pratap she has become sadder." Saubhagyavati replied.
"What are you trying to say Saubhagyavati?" Pratap asked bewildered.
"I do not know what you said to her Kunwar Pratap but she came to kitchen and told all the dasis to leave. She made all the food all by herself. She is fasting for Kunwar Pratap and then she had been out all day with people. And then I do not know what Rajkumari Chand told her but she left the kitchen worried than before." Saubhagyavati answered.
"Chand who did you talk to when you were in the kitchen?" Pratap inquired worried about Ajabde.
"Umm...Dada Bhai I only talked to a dasi." Chand replied.
"What was she wearing?" Pratap asked.
"A pale pink lehnga I think." Chand replied.
After hearing Chand's answer Pratap instantly left the room to see Ajabde. He just keeps making mistakes. He just wanted to eat the food cooked by her that does not mean that she had to do all the work by herself. She was still the same stubborn self and absolutely no regard for health. To think she would have grown up some. Pratap went to her room only to be told by dasi that she had gone to see his Dajiraj. When he reached his father's room he was told that Ajabde was here to invite his father for evening meal. When he reached the dining room he saw Ajabde and his father laughing whole heartedly at something. He stopped right outside the room to observe them. It seemed like they had cleared all their misunderstandings. For the first time in his life he was jealous of his own father. How easily Ajabde has forgiven him? Soon she will share the same laughter with him. She had told him a way into her heart unknowingly earlier. He had a plan and he has to concentrate on it. He will just have to add one more apology to his already long list, thinking that he stepped into the room with knowing smile on his face.
Ajabde sensed him the second he stepped into the room. Their eyes met. She looked at him trying to figure out where he was hurt. There were no visible wounds. Pratap took his seat without breaking eye contact with her. It was impossible to take his eyes off her. She looked ethereal in her royal clothes. Simple yet royal; no one does it better his Ajabde but it was the sindoor in her maang that filled his heart with joy. How could he ever doubt her devotion towards him? Pratap berated himself again. He had put her through hell and back but she still fulfilled all her duties as wife. Saubhagyavati was correct. It really is debatable if he deserves her or not. She was the answer to all his prayers. He doesn't need ointments for his wounds to heal. They don't work on the pain. It was and always has been Ajabde's love that had eased all his pains. He has acknowledged that even in years he had done his best to hate her and failed miserably at it.
After everyone was seated, Pratap as usual sat opposite to Rana Uday Singh; Ajabde served everyone food. Pratap followed her every move while she served his father, then Kunwar Balwant, Chaand and Chakrapani. There was a smile on her face that could light up the whole Bijolia. She is happy, Pratap realized. Her family is here with her and she needs nothing else in this world. He followed her every single moment and loved bloomed a bit more when she served his father the Ghewar he loves so much; when she served Balwant and Chaand Kheer; when she served Chakrapani his favorite Puris and Daal. She still remembered what everyone likes. Now it was his turn to be served. He was anxious to eat the food made by his Ajabde after eons of time and that was an emotion he had not counted on feeling when he had told her that he will only eat food made by her.
Ajabde could feel his gaze on her and how his eyes followed her every movement. Her eyes moist she started serving him with his favorite daal and puri, Khichdi, Ghewar and Kheer. She was happy. Her whole family was here and she was serving them and her husband food. Ajabde never thought she would have this chance and decided to forget everything for now and enjoy these precious moments. Her back was to everyone else and her pallu shielded her view to Chrakrapani who was sitting right next to Pratap. Pratap took her hand when she was serving him puri, "Are you going to eat tonight?" Pratap whispered and Ajabde's eyes went wide in surprise.
"I am fasting Kunwar sa," Ajabde replied whispering while serving him.
"This fast is for my well-being and I am telling you to eat. Ajabde it's not healthy." Pratap got angrier as she kept on serving him food. "I won't eat if you won't eat Ajabde." Pratap replied in an angry whisper.
"Your choice Kunwar Sa," Ajabde whispered and turned to serve more puris to Rana Uday Singh.
Pratap closed his eyes agonized. She does not even say his name. It's always Kunwar sa or Hukum. Pratap stood up from his seat, "I am not hungry. Please excuse me." Pratap declared and left. Ajabde turned only to see his retreating back.
Rani Vir Bai ji called after him but Rana Uday Singh ji stopped her, "Let him go Vir bai ji."
"But Dajiraj Dada bhai is hurt. He did not put any ointment on and now he is hungry too." Chand reasoned with her father worried about her brother. Ajabde turned and looked at Chakrapani to verify.
"I tried but he did not listen Bhaujai sa," Chakrapani replied helplessly whereas he was happy secretly.
"This is dj vu," Rana Uday Singh ji smiled and concentrated on his food knowing Ajabde will take care of his stubborn son soon enough.
Later that night Chakrapani is trying to convince Pratap to eat something in his room but Pratap was paying no heed to any of his requests just then Ajabde entered with a thaal of food in one hand and a bowl of ointment in other, "Thank you Chakrapani, you can go now." Ajabde said politely looking at Pratap who had turned his back on her when she came into the room. Chakrapani left leaving two of them alone in Pratap's room.
"Please eat Kunwar sa. You have just come back from a battle you need the nourishment." Ajabde asked quietly tones of worry in her voice, "And why did you refuse to put ointment on you wounds?"
Pratap turned and looked straight into Ajabde's eyes, "Did you eat?"
"I told you I am fasting." Ajabde replied.
"And I told I won't eat until you eat and as far as the ointment is concerned it is just a flesh wound." Pratap countered.
"Why are you being so stubborn? If you will not eat you will not heal and that flesh wound can easily turn fatal if you do not out any ointment to cover and help it heal. I made all your favorite dishes" Ajabde reasoned with him.
"I said I will eat after you eat." Pratap replied simply and came to stand in front of her as if challenging her to test him.
If Ajabde has one thing in these past years it was that sometimes admitting defeat temporarily is the best strategy in winning the war. She took Pratap by his shoulders and made him sit on the chair while Pratap just looked at her with complete shock. She then took the chair opposite him, broke a morsel, ate it then broke another morsel and offered it to Pratap. Quietly they fed each other. Silence was saying things that they could not. Neither of them had felt such calm in these past years. Such a simple gesture from her part made his heart bloom.
"Now that I have agreed to your terms, you have to agree to mine." Ajabde said.
"Depends on what you ask Ajabde," Pratap said. What if she asked him to leave? He could not risk that.
"Show me where you are hurt Kunwar sa," Ajabde said.
"I am fine Ajabde you do not need to worry about me." Pratap replied with a plan in his mind.
"Chakrapani said it was bad enough for ointment. Let me put some on so that it will not get infected," Ajabde reasoned. Why does he have to be so damned stubborn?
"On one condition then," Pratap countered.
Ajabde closed for patience and opened them and said, "Kunwar sa please let me put some ointment on your wound it will get infected," Pratap simply looked at her with a simple smile on his face. "Okay what is you condition?" Ajabde sighed.
"You have not said my name ever since I came here Ajabde. It is always Kunwar sa or Hukum. Call me Pratap. I believe we have had this conversation before." Pratap propositioned reminding her of the conversation they had after their wedding.
"Kunwar Pratap please show me your wound," Ajabde said flatly. She have to do it does not mean she has to like it. It was like they were kids again. He argues her every point, using her every weakness to get what he wants.
Pratap knew that it was best he was going so he took of his kurta to let her apply the ointment. The cut was on his shoulder. He turned his head to side to see her. He just could not look at her enough. The pain in her eyes when she looked at his wound that was on his shoulder somehow soothed his heart. He knew she cared but to have it confirmed was reassuring. Ajabde took the bowl of ointment, took some in her hand and applied it onto his shoulder. She felt him flinch under her hand when the ointment came in contact with the wound. She put her hand on his cheek to soothe him just out of instinct. Their eyes met again and Pratap knew he had just won half the battle.
Okay so here is the next part. The pm's will be sent later. Sorry I did not have time to proof read. Comments and Complains welcome. Please reply.
Blues
Edited by Eternized_Blues - 10 years ago
