The dawn broke in Mewar. Since the first rays of light, Eklingji Temple was bustling with activities as devotees flocked in from all over Mewar to visit their lord.
" Jai Eklingji! Keep my brother safe my Lord. Daata and Maa Sa waited too long for him." was a soft prayer that came from her lips.
She had a lamp (diya) in hand to do the aarthi of the God and Lord of Mewar, Ekling Ji. Her green and yellow lehenga was nothing gaudy or royal as she had traveled all the way from Bijolia to the temple to pray to the lord for the well being of her new born baby brother. She had closed her eyes in prayer.
Dressed in a commoner's attire he entered the temple. He had a diya and some flower for offerings. A war was won and his mother insisted he visited the temple before resuming his duties for his motherland, this time in Bijolia as per his father's orders. The temple housed their Kuldevata for ages since Bappa Rawal's time. He was looking for something to light the diya with. He came across her diya as she prayed to the Lord eyes closed, hands folded. He was shy to ask. He stood there beside the unknown stranger, waiting to be noticed.
She opened her eyes and saw him. A warrior by built, he was handsome and there was something about him that he could be easily noticed in the crowd. She saw the reluctant face, diya in hand, she held out her diya with a smile.
" Here, use mine."
" Dhanyavaad."
A smile crept in his lips. She heard what he meant to tell. He lit the diya and started his prayers as she came out putting her diya on the foot of the lord. There was not a cart in sight, she was alone, and she had not informed her father where she was going. She needed to be home before twilight. Her face clearly said she was scared.
" Jai Eklingji! Always keep your hand upon our heads as we serve our motherland, my Lord."
He finished his prayers and kept the diya unknowingly right beside hers. He stepped out and found a bull cart coming from a distance.
" Rokiye!" Their shout in unison startled the driver as they looked at each other.
" Listen it is very important for me to reach home , please let me take this cart."
" But I stopped it first." Came a surprised answer.
" Where to?" The cart driver inquired.
" Bijolia!" Again their answer shocked them. The driver smiled.
" Then why are you two fighting? Come on, share the cart and I will drive you to Bijolia, there are no carts available in this hot summer."
Reluctant they agreed. She went up on the cart and sat in a corner and he occupied the one opposite to hers. The travel began. The silence was killing them yet they didn't know what to talk of. The cart driver was humming a folk tune on his own.
" So you stay in Bijolia?"
" Ji."
" Am from Chittor." She smiled with a nod. They didn't know what more to say.
Meanwhile, Jaivanta Bai had written to both her son and her friend Hansa Bai that he is going to stay at her place while working in Bijolia with her husband the Samanth of Bijolia. He was on his way to Hansa Mausi's place. He had heard of them so much since childhood he felt he knew them already. Jaivanta's closest childhood friend from Bundi lived so close by yet their social differences prevented them to meet as they pleased. After all she was the Maharani of Mewar and Hansa a Samanth's wife.
The letter had reached Bijolia this morning just after she had left. Her mother was happy that she finally had the fortune to meet the brave future of Mewar. His thoughts trailed... Jaivanta had told him about Hansa's family, her two daughters, the elder one was almost his age, what a strange name she had, Ajabde! Her name grabbed his attention amidst the whole story his mother narrated to him time and again. Recently Hansa Mausi had a son, the future Samanth.
She was lost in her own thoughts. She needed to go home and feed Laxmi. She was surely waiting. Then she had to cook and teach Ratan some Veer Gatha. Ratan was becoming so naughty for her age, she worried a lot for her sister. Now the cart driver broke the silence.
" Why were you people visiting the Lord?"
" I went to thank him for..." He stopped. " Success... My successful venture recently." He looked at her for an answer.
" I went to pray for my baby brother."
" nothing for yourself?" His question surprised her as she nodded a small no.
" You must love your brother a lot. I have brothers too, back home."
" I have a sister, she is five."
" Am the eldest too. In the family."
" You work in Chittor?" First time she asked something.
" Yes. I work in Chittor." He smiled.
At Bijolia the Mahal was being decorated for the Prince's arrival. The roads were being cleaned and people were very excited at the news of his arrival. She got down from the cart and payed the driver. He was asking the driver some direction she didn't care to listen.
" Baisa!" A maid grabbed her hand in the crowd.
" Aree Kasturi? Is everything fine?"
" Yes I was looking for you, Raoji is looking for you, Kunwar Pratap is arriving today at your palace."
" Hey Eklingji! Come lets hurry back home." She ran with the Daasi.
He paid the cab driver and turned around, "Aree, where did she go?" He wondered aloud. " Didn't even tell her name!" She was sweet...He smiled.
Next Chapter:Page 4
Jhanak
