Chapter Six
The Betrayer
Scene 1
Rani jaivanta bai, Hansa, patta and Ajabde had reached the palace.
They entered the palace through the hidden chambers so that no one would be able to look at the state of ajabde and think any worse.
Saubhagyawati had come running and became stunned at seeing the condition of Ajabde.
She was taken to her room immediately and upon Hansa's command, Saubhagyawati had gone to the kitchens to get some home made remedy that relaxed the nerves.
Ajabde was crying continuously. She had put her head in between her knees and clasped her both legs wtih her arms. Hansa and jaivanta were sitting besides her caressing her head. Hansa told her her not to cry and that the situation was not that bad as the man who did carry out those actions were none other than Pratap, her husband.
But this did nothing to ease her pain, rather it worsened it, that her husband would stoop to such a level and harm a woman who, he knew, had not recognized him.
Jaivanta understood her situation and explained to Hansa how this must make her feel worse. They decided to leave her alone for a while after Saubhagyawati had fed her the homemade herbal tonic.
Pratap, had reached his home. He did not have the nerves to go back to rajmahal and face any of the women.
Ye maine kya ker diya-this is what he had been telling himself all the way back to his home. he did not even realize the bleeding on his shoulder was getting worse.
Baujiraj, Screamed Chakrapani. His voice full of worry as he saw his friends clothing drenched in blood.
He ran to bring the vaidh.
Pratap was just remembering how Ajabde hated his face and her pure spite when she looked at him. His heart ached as he remembered how she refused to look at him when jaivanta declared that he was her Pratap.
'her pratap? he thought
he was disgusted by himself.
What did I do? why did I do that to my own wife. I could not face her and that is why I had to make such a low grade plan?
No what I did was not a punishment for me but once again I had harmed her, ranima was right. I am a coward. I have brought shame upon my family. What should I do?
Chakra was looking at his friend with concern. The vaidh had managed to stitch his skin and pratap did not even flinch. He was unaware of the world around him.
Baujiraj, Baujiraj..said chakra shaking his friend.
That brought his senses back and as if a shock had run, the immense pain he had been feeling, which he thought was causing cause of his heart, came rushing to his shoulders. He noticed his bandaged shoulders.
Just then saubhagwati came running into their chambers.
Suniye, she said her voice full of worry
She addressed chakrapani
ajabde baisa behosh ho gayi hain. abh jald hi vaidh ji ko vahan bejhiye. Main unkay ghar gayi thi tho pata chala ki voh yahan aye hue hain.
Pratap sat upright, he started towards the door when
rukhiye, aap kahan ja rahe hain. said saubhagyawati with disgust
Chakrapani entered in between and told her about who Pratap really was. Saubhagyawati understood as to what might have happened in the forest and why ajabde had suddenly fainted. The shock of Pratap being her husband and his action must have shaken her deeply
Though saubhagyawati did not say anything pratap could read her eyes and it showed how he was termed the betrayer.
But, he did not care. He rushed towards the palace and the guards let him in once Saubhagyawati informed them about his reality.
Pratap rushed towards the main entrance where he saw his mother and hansa sitting in the main hall.
They got up at once as they saw pratap running. Realizing that he must have gotten the news they sat back into their chairs and looked away from his direction. Hansa did make a gesture to get up but jaivanta had advised her against it.
Ranima, ajabde kahan hain? he asked panting. He had been running
Jaivanta did not reply. She looked away
Pratap did not want to waste time
'Hansa ma kya mujhe anumati hai ajabde se milnay ki? he as desperately with folded hands.
But jaivanta answered,
jo dasha thumnay uski ki hai, kya humsey puch ker ki thi. Abh kiyun agya mang rahe ho? jo kerna hai karo lekin meray samnay math aao. She said with anger
Hansa looked a bit apologetic but then fell silent.
Pratap ran towards Ajabde's room. The doors were open and there she was, his ajabde, lying on the bed unconscious.
He ran and sat besides her head. He touched her head and just then the vaidh entered.
He got up and quickly walked along side of the vaidh.
'Ye inko kya ho gaya? aap dekhiye zara.
'ji kuwar pratap. said the vaidh as he started to examine ajabde.
he checked her pulse and her eyes.
Koi pareshani ki baat nahi hai , lekin inko koi gehri pareshani ya sadma laga hoga jiskay vajay sey ye murchit ho gayi hain.
main aavshadi de detha hun aur thoday hi dair main ye jaag jayengi. Lekin ye bohot kamzor hain. inkay andhar khoon ki kami lag rahi hai.
Pratap looked extremely worried and guilty.
inko dekhbal ki bohot zaroorat hai.
Hansa and Jaivanta had joined in the conversation.
aap nishtinth rahiye , hum inki puri dekhbal karengay said jaivanta.
She threw a dirty glance at pratap and then walked away with the vaidh, hansa and saubhagyawati.
Pratap climed the bed and sat down besides ajabde. he slowly caressed her head. Tears were flowing from his eyes.
Mujhe kshama ker do ajabde. he kept saying
He placed the blanket on her and started walking back and forth in her bedroom.
After a little while he stood besides the window and then he heard a little shiver.
The cold night air was making Ajabde shiver. He quickly closed the curtains and ran towards her bed. He touched her hands and then felt her feet. They were ice cold.
He quickly called saubhagyawati , who had gone with the vaidh to get the herbal medicine.
When she did not come he knelt down in front of the bed and started rubbing Ajabde's feet one by one.
He kept rubbing her feet continuously for 30 mintues and only then did her feet became a bit warmer.
Jaivanta and Hansa had stopped by and noticed Pratap rubbing Ajabde's feet. Hansa wanted to interrupt but she was stopped by Jaivanta.
Saubhagyawati returned with the medicine. Which Pratap took at once and started to mix it in milk.
He then slowly placed Ajabde's head on his shoulder and with a small spoon started feeding her the mixture. He could feel the heat coming out of her head.
He remembered how Ajabde had placed the cold cloth on his head when he was sick.
'Saubhaghawati , aap jaker meray liye kapda aur tanda pani le ker aayiye. Ajabde ka matha bohot hi garam hai'
Sabhagyawati immediately went away from the room.
Pratap placed Ajabde's head on his lap and started slowly pressing it. He saw then touched her hands and then he saw the burn mark.
Why did she have the burn on her hands? What could have happened ? did it burn while cooking?
While the thoughts raced in his mind, saubhagyawati had come and when she saw Ajabde's head on his lap she immediately looked down and without making an eye contact , she placed the bowl and the cloth on the table besides the bed.
Ek min said Pratap
ye Ajabde kay haath main ye zakhm kaisa?
he asked.
Voh baujiraj, humay pata nahi ki kiyun , lekin ek din ajabde bohot hi vichlith hoker ghar aayi thi. Unka pura jism bhegha hua tha aur maine dekha ki ve apna haath arthi kay diye per rakh ker apnay aapko kisi baath ka dand de rahi thi.
As she was speaking Pratap immediately understood. It was again him. He was the reason she had once again punished herself. He had made her feel that she had some how crossed the mariyada of being a married woman and this was the punishment she had given to herself.
This must be the reason. The tears were flowing from his eyes as he took her palm and then gently placed a kiss on the burnt area.
He did not care that Saubhagyawati was standing right there witnessing the whole thing. But he let his tears flow.
Mujhe maaf ker do Ajabde. he said slowly placing her palm on her body and then placing the cloth on her forehead
It was 2 Am in the night. He had changed the cloth many times by on and Ajabde's head was lying on his lap
Saubhagyawati, Jaivanta and Hansa came in to check up on Ajabde every now and then but did not let Pratap know of their presence.
Soon it was dawn. Pratap had closed his eyes and fell asleep. The ray of sunlight hit Ajabde's eyes when she opened her eyes. She felt a lot of pain in her body but then she realizd that she was lying comfortably on someone.
There he was , pratap Sleeping while resting his head on the bed's headboard. She noticed how he had a cloth in one of his hands and his other hand was rested on her head.
She slowly removed his hand away from her head and then quickly got up from the bed, but her weakness got the better of her. She could not easily move.
She managed to gather enough strength and slowly made her way out of the room.
Scene two;
Saubhagyawati , she said but her voice was hoarse. Hear head was spinning and then she saw, her friend running towards her.
Ye kya ker rahi ho ajabde.
Ajabde started to cough and when saubhagyawati turned her around towards her room, Ajabde shook her hand in a no.
Kiyun asked Saubhagyawati
when Ajabde did not answer.
She understood that Ajabde did not want to talk about her husband. Not just yet. There was a smile on her face and with care, she brought ajabde to her room instead.
Ajabde laid down on Saubhagyawati's bed, but her eyes were awake. She was wondering how did Pratap come to her room and what was he doing with her head on his lap.
As if she had read her mind, Saubhagyawati answered her questions. She narrated to her how she had gone to search for the vaidh and how she found him in Pratap's room. Then how he had ran to the palace upon hearing of Ajabde's condition.
Voh, aapkay sameep baite rahe puri raath. Aur bohot dair tak aapkay...
saubhagyawati stopped. She was not sure if she wanted to say
Ajabade looked at her accusingly. If she said this much why stop now?
Aapkay pairon ko dabathay rahe aur sar ko bhi.
She added without looking.
Ajabde felt very conscious at that moment. he had touched her feet? and rubbed them?
phir...saubhagyawati continued
there is more? thought ajabde
Then she narrated how he had asked about the burnt hand and kissed her palm when she had told him what she saw.
Ajabde turned red. She did not want to blush but somehow the feeling overtook her anger. She remained silent and then closed her eyes.
It was morning now. The Sun had completely risen. Pratap had the habit of waking up early but being awake the entire night, he could not get up at his usual timing.
He slowly opened his eyes. The light had hit his eyes and he could not see for a second. Then his mother came into his vision. He immediately got up and looked around.
Ranima Ajabde kahan hain? he asked worried
Jaivanta did not answer him and then just left the room.
Pratap then ran out of the room looking around. He started searching Ajabde all around the palace. He tried the main room , the dining, the kitchen, the prayer area but he could not find her.
Shayad voh apnay kaksh wapis aa gayi ho? he thought to himself and then he saw saubhagyawati walking in the halls.
suniye,he called
Ajabde kahan hain he asked.
ve humaray kaksh main hain she said.
lekin kiyun? aur kab gayi thi ve aur unhonay mujhe jagaya kiyun nahi? abh kaisi tabiyat hai unki?
Acha chodiye,...apka kaksh kahan per hain? he asked authoritatively
then he realized how desperate he probably sounded
Saubhagyawati pointed to him the direction of her room. Pratap immediately left towards that direction and then opened the room's door.
There she was, sitting on the bed resting her head on bunch of pillows.
She immediately took her pallu on her head when she saw Pratap coming into the room and then, looked away.
Pratap , who had opened the doors so forcefully now had become completely sheepish. He slowly approached her bed
a..ap kaisi hain? he asked slowly
Ajabde did not answer him. She had a granth in her hand that she was reading.
He approached her bed and then slowly came besides her.
Ajabde's heart started to race. Now what she tought to herself. Why is he coming near her? Does he think I will forgive him this easily? she thought angrily as she continued to ignore Pratap.
Pratap raised the back of his hand and placed it slowly on her head.
'Aap tho abh teekh hain' he said smiling foolishly
and then when he saw ajabde glare at him angrily , he immediately took his hands off and backed away. In his haste he stumbled on a footstool and fell back on the floor with a thud.
Ajabde immediately looked away from him and smiled.
Pratap got up and then started to leave the room. He felt like the young Pratap , who had always been so taken by Ajabde.
And as chakrapani rightly said, that only a girl could even make him weak in the knees. And that girl was sitting right in front of him. His Ajabde.
As he started to leave the room ,he turned around and saw ajabde look at the book. He knew that she was stealing glances to look at him.
He then started to come towards her bed again. Ajabde's mind and heart started to race again thinking what he will be doing now. Then Pratap cooly took the book from her hand and placed it in the correct position.
Chittor ki Kuwar ki Patni ko agar padna bhi nahi aye tho log kya kahengay. He said.
Ajabde did not dare look at him. She had been holding the book upside down. IN the haste to avoid any eye contact with him she took a book that was lying besides her bed and had started to pretend to read.
With this remark , Pratap left the room.
Ajabde smiled at herself.
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
