Next update is here!!! It is a long one so expect the next update tomorrow😛
Chapter 8
People had started gathering in Bundi for the trip - tents were being set-up near the temple itself and security was increased for the area. Surtan Singh was taking full advantage of the situation and presenting himself as a responsible ruler where in reality all he wanted was access to the ladies area so that he could see all the princesses that were coming for the puja.
Pratap and his team had entered Bundi as migratory workers and involved themselves in preparations for the puja and the special mela that was being organised to commerate the occasion Surtan Singh was in charge of the Mela and made a lot of rounds to keep a check on the progress allowing Pratap to learn his schedule. One day as SS was busy making the people work under harsh sunlight a messenger came and informed him of the arrival of the ladies from Bijolia as well as Pratap's mothers. Both Shakti and Pratap went into high alert mode as they took in the lecherous expression on SS when he told the messenger to send flowers for Rajkumari Ajabde. Shakti deliberately picked up a huge rock in pretence of taking it to the next station and on the way dropped it on SS's feet making him squeal like a girl
SS: You - you- ahhh it hurts
Shakti: Forgive me please it was so heavy but you ordered it to be kept there... I'm sorry... tell him please I'm sorry (he looks at Pratap)
Pratap: He is really sorry. Please allow me to help you and then he takes the hurt foot in his hand and stretches it making the bone crack and SS cries out in more pain... Now take rest for the next 48hrs and your foot will be new
His messenger sends them away as he takes a limping SS back to the palace. Some of the rebel soldiers had seen Pratap and Shakti create trouble for SS which got them thinking so few of them decided to keep an eye out for them hoping that they would join the rebellion when the time was right
The campsite had been set-up and all the ladies were talking amongst themselves when Ajabde excused herself to go for a walk. She did not go far from the campsite but walked only towards the river where she sat taking in the view - so peaceful and calm yet there was thing unspoken electric energy that made her senses alert when she felt his presence - well for starters she felt someone watching her but instead of being scared she felt relieved and then there were goose bumps on the back of her neck as he came closer to her and finally he sat by her gathering her in his embrace
Hmmm you know it is not safe for a princess to be all alone by herself
Ajabde looked at him: I missed you too
Chapter 9
She sat comfortably in his embrace telling him about everything back home
Ajabde: You know Lakshmi gave birth to two calves and everyone came to see them and they worshipped Lakshmi and... are you even listening to me?
Pratap: Yes I am listening besides what else can I do?
She looks at him with narrowed eyes and he gives her his charming smile.
Pratap: You are not telling me everything Ajab
Ajabde: No I told you everything Kunwar Pratap
Pratap: You told me everything - then that means those letters are nothing important
Ajabde stared at him wide-eyed: How do you know about those?
Pratap looks at her and she sighs: Kunwar Jagmal has been sending me letters - I read the first one in which he proposed marriage and went on and on about how he intended on marrying me soon after Rani DheerBai also sent the Shagun which I respectfully returned and in simple terms said No to the entire thing but since then everything seems to be falling apart - Daata said the council is busy trying to figure out about Sakha-Veer while DheerBai is planning something and Kunwar Jagmal keeps on sending me those letters which end up in large empty pot that is about to get filled
Pratap: Now that was not that hard
Ajabde: No but now you are angry
Pratap: Yes I'm angry and I wish to break a lot of things and hopefully I'll get my hands on Jagmal as well - he needs to be taught a lesson but as we know Ranaji is busy with other stuff
Ajabde did not say a word on the topic- she had promised him she would listen to all his problems but will not say a word till he asked for her help and in this case his own father was involved and she needed to let him know: You know Ranaji told Daata to increase my security when I refused the proposal
Pratap looked at her surprised and then pulled her back to him: So everyone here has come prepared for the puja
Ajabde: Yes you know for a puja there are a lot of soldiers involved and all the people seem to be readying themselves for something even the children are being careful- it is scaring me
Pratap: don't be scared I'm here and listen to me- stay close to the elders and if anything happens stay with RaniMa or Maajli Ma. I know your brothers are here as well and as we speak Bhai Shakti is giving them an update on the scenario
Ajabde: You will be fine right?
Pratap: Yes I will be fine. It is getting late and you should go back now
Ajabde: Okay
They both stand up ready to depart but before she could make a move he pulls her close and gathers her in his embrace- kissing her forehead he says: I love you and then he leaves
Ajabde returns to her camp where Subho was waiting for her
Chapter 10
Kunwar Jagmal was on his way to Bundi where the girl of his dreams was attending a puja. Well Ajabde was not his girl of dreams rather she was a means to an end- if he got married to the girl his elder step-brother wanted then it would be a huge victory besides Ajabde was considered as a very fortunate and good-luck bringing kind of person seeing since her birth Bijolia had prospered. He had already conveyed his arrival to Surtan Singh who had made arrangements for him in his palace now Surtan Singh was another fool if he believed that Jagmal had no idea about his mother and his (SS) affair- the bigger fool was Uday Singh his father who knew everything but still remained silent over the matter
As he rode he dreamt about getting everything he wanted - the throne of Mewar, Ajabde Punwar as his first wife (he intended on marrying quite a few times just like his father) and Pratap on his knees as his servant. So lost in his day dream he did not realise that the horse had seen a snake on the way and jerked backwards - the jerk was so strong that Jagmal ended up lying on the ground on his back groaning in pain- ahhh my back!!!
Uday Singh knew his wife was planning something terrible to get Ajabde ready for the marriage but he had no solid evidence against her. He had informed his friend to increase his daughter's security but her presence at Bundi was a bit unsettling as the civil unrest there was dangerous. Not only Ajabde but his two wives were also present there so he decided to visit the place with puja in his mind but he had to go without taking DheerBai with him or else everything would be ruined. He gathered a few men and sent the message he was going to inspect the borders when in reality he was going to take the border route to visit Bundi and attend the puja
All the rebels of Bundi usually met at midnight at the temple where the puja was slated to take place. An elderly man (Bade Daata) sat listening to the tale of two brothers who hurt Surtan Singh the tale was narrated by his grand-daughter Khetu. Khetu was not related to him by blood rather he had saved her after her family was punished by Surtan Singh for not obeying his ridiculous rules that man had slaughtered the entire family but Khetu survived as her father had dropped her at the elderly man's place in the morning. Her father loved the man like his own father so once Khetu was born the elderly man who had been so desolate and alone started living again with the little girl as a happy grandfather. He taught her everything from fighting skills to hiding techniques if anyone was to see Khetu without knowing her personally then they would think of her as a beautiful damsel when in reality she was the deadliest of them of all
BD: Hmmm so these two young fellows have been creating troubles for Surtan Singh
Khetu: Yes Bade Daata earlier they had broken his leg and the recently one of them spoke to his horse after which the horse refused to let Surtan ride him and when he forcibly tried to sit well the horse kicked him hard in the rear making him fall on a pile of dung!!!
Everybody cracks up when a young lad speaks up: Then we should ask them to join our forces Bade Daata
Khetu: NO!!!
Everyone stares at her incredulously
Khetu: We do not know a thing about them for all we know they could be spies form Surtan Singh trying to impress us and then they will bring downfall for our entire plan
Young lad: That could be but I also heard that Sakha Veer and his allies disguise themselves and go to places where people are being ill-treated and exploited so there is a chance that these guys maybe Sakha Veer's allies
BD: Either of the two can be true so for the time being keep an eye out for them and continue with the plan - keep digging the tunnels and get as much weapons you can after all if we go down fighting then it should be a fight the Rajputana will remember for centuries
Another man comes running in with the latest news
Bade Daata Kunwar Jagmal is in Bundi
Khetu: This is old news Bhaiya
Listen to me Khetu - Kunwar Jagmal is not the only man in Bundi his mother Rani DheerBai is also coming in guise of the puja and one of the spies just informed that Rana Uday Singh is also heading to Bundi to check out the situation along with his advisor Rawatji and a small battalion of army soldiers and that is not all Sakha Veer and his allies have also arrived!!!
Everyone looks at each other when Bade Daata cracks a smile: Looks like the audience is gathering for the show. We need to double up our efforts and remember we win and live or we lose and we all die but there will be no survivors to face the backlash
A sudden noise coming from the front makes them all cautious so Bade Daata decides to investigate but Khetu goes ahead instead. She calmly walks out to find one of the princesses sitting on the staircase
Khetu: I apologise for disturbing you but
Ajabde: Ohh I'm sorry did I bother you? It's just that I had a bad dream which really scared me so I thought of coming to the temple and sitting here for some time as it relaxes me. I'll leave if there is some issue
Khetu: No that's alright Rajkumarisa
Ajabde: Ajabde my name is Ajabde you don't have to be formal with me after all I think we are both nearly the same age now
Khetu: Ji Baisa...I'm Khetu
Ajabde: Nice to meet you Khetu, will you like to sit down?
Khetu stares at her and sits down beside her: So how far have you been running Ajabde Baisa?
Ajabde: Ji?
Khetu: You are sweating bullets I do agree that you witnessed something that scared you real bad but it could not have been a dream as from the state of your clothes it looks like you have been running - your hair is also not carefully tied rather it looks dishevelled and let's not forget the hard breathing and the distance between the temple and campsite is not much so will you tell me the truth
A sudden explosion causes them to look at the distance where fires erupt with black smoke blowing up in the sky Khetu looks at Ajabde who seems a little relieved but her eyes still hold fear in them
Khetu: Allow me to escort you back to the camp Ajabde Baisa
Ajabde: Thank you Khetu
They both walk back to the camp through the forest way and Khetu helps Ajabde get in without disturbing anyone but the explosion had already caused many of the people to up and so when Khetu was returning back to the temple she got caught by a soldier od Surtan Singh who held a dagger to her neck staring her coldly
Soldier: What were you doing in the camp?
Khetu in one go holds his hand with the dagger and twists it around making the dagger fall down she proceeds to kick him in the groin with enough force that has the man rolling on the ground. She then picks up his dagger and runs away