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CHAPTER 5
ALL THE NAMES & PLACES ARE FICTITIOUS . Any royal titles, MEDICAL PROCEDURES, MEDICAL TERMS, MILITARY PROCEDURES, MILITARY TERMS, Punjabi terms, architectural terms, IT terms & programs, office hierachy, wedding rituals, etc. There also maybe some HINDU MYTHOLOGICAL references but they all are from my imagination hence THEY ARE NOT TRUE. If any resemblance to persons, places, events and stories it is purely coincidental! It has FANTASY (totally untrue) undertones to it. KINDLY READ IF ONLY COMFORTABLE!!!
ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS DOWNLOADED DO NOT BELONG TO ME BUT BELONG TO THE ORIGINAL UPLOADER. I HAVE JUST USED THEM AS THEY GO WITH MY STORY!
Location: MAHARAJ’s STUDY IN PALACE OF KSHITIJA
“Pitaji, what kind of “swayamvar” are you organising?”
“Raj, please keep your voice down as all the invited Kings, Crowned Princes and Princes are present down this corridor.”
An upset and furious Rajkumari Rajlakshmi continued lowering her voice, “I’ve never wanted to have this out dated and demeaning concept of “swayamvar”. But I was forced and pressurised to agree for the pride and prestige of Kshitija as well as the future of my younger sisters. I always wanted to get married to a person I love and respect. I’ve always felt that this kind of “swayamvar” is demeaning not only to the prospective bride but also to the prospective bridegrooms participating in it. As the choice in present times is no longer on the basis of the bride’s choice but on the bridegroom’s prowess i.e. sword fighting, archery etc. The concept “swayamvar” was originally coined to mean “Swayam” meaning “my” and “var” meaning “bridegroom” that meant “a girl (bride) choosing her own bridegroom among all the prospective grooms present.” But in the “swayamvar” you are organising as a King of Kshitija Pitahji, not only is the girl that means me is made to feel like a prized catch or a trophy but also men are treated like a genuine pigs. The person winning the contest is the “winner” and rest of the men “looser”. Aapne iss “swayamvar” ko humari apni swayam ki iccha se var chunne ki bajaaye Maharaj, aapne purushon ke beech mein hummein paane ki pratispradha (competition) baana di hai. Aur iss pratispradha mein hum kewal ek vijay chinh bann kar rahe gaye hain.” (You have made this “swayamvar” a competition among attending Kings and Princes. Thereby making me a trophy to be won instead of me choosing my husband.)
“Raj, aap humari baat…………” (Raj, please listen.......) A guilty Maharaj Gajendra tried to interrupt.
“Kshama kijiye Pitahji, aapne humare ‘swayamvar’ ko ek mazaak banna diya hai. Aapne elaan kiya thaa ki humare ‘swayamvar’ mein humare honewale var ko apni “talwaarbaazi” ki yogita dikhani hogi. Hum naa chahte huye bhi uss shart ke liye maan gaye kyunki ek pati ka kartavya hai apni patni ki suraksha karne ka. Kintu abb aap……” (Please forgive me father. You have made my “swayamvar” a subject of ridicule. You had informed me that the attending Kings and Princes will only have to show their Physical bravery by sword fighting. Despite of being totally against it I agreed for the sake of Kshitija’s honour as well as a husband should be able to protect his wife in times of need.)
“Talwaarbaazi” se ek purush ka kewal bal (strength) hi pradashith hota hai, uska “purusharth” (male prowess i.e. Physical bravery, protector of the family, capacity to earn or provider for the family needs,be truthful, believer of values etc.) nahi.” (“Sword fighting” only shows a man’s physical strength but not his male prowess i.e. physical bravery, protector of the family, capacity to earn or provider for the family needs,be truthful, believer of values etc.)
“Toh aapko lagta hai ki Rang Mahal ke uss sau (100) saal purane gupt kaksh ko dhoondh paane se aap ek purush ka ‘purusharth’ jaanch sakte hain? Gupt kaksh ko dhoondh paana itna kathin bhi nahi hai, ek acha aur anubhavi Architect yeh ek yaa do ghante mein patta kar sakta hai. Kintu aapne kabhi bhi iss baat par vichaar kiya ki jo Raja, Maharaj, Yuvraj aur Rajkumar, Architect naa hone kya yeh pariksha unke liye nirpaksh hogi?” (So you feel that by giving them challenge of finding hundred (100) years old secret room in Rang Mahal you can find out their male prowess? Its not so difficult to find the hundred (100) years old secret room as its just two hour work for an experienced Architect. But have you even thought if the invited Kings, Crown Princes and Princes don’t have any knowledge of Architecture how fair is this challenge for them?)
“Raj, humne toh yeh baat par……” (Raj, I did not consider this....)
“Toh aapko “swayamvar” ki goshna karne se pehle inn sab vishkyon par vichaar karna chahiye thaa Pitahji. Khair abb uss vichaar-vimarsh ke liye der ho gayi hai. Iss liye abb hum prasthaan karte hain. Maa-sa humari pratiksha kar rahi hongi.” (Then you should have thought of all the angles of challenges before making the announcement of ‘swayamvar’ father. Anyway its too late to make any changes. I have to leave now as mother is waiting for me.)
“Raj, kal ek bahut mehitrapoorn diwas hai Kshitija ke liye.” (Raj, tomorrow is the most important day for the Kingdom of Kshitija.) Maharaj said apprehensivelyseeing his daughter’s anger.
“Ji Maharaj. Aapko humari ore se koi asuvidha nahi hogi.” (Yes Your Majesty. You will not have any inconvenience from my side.) Rajkumari Rajlakshmi bowed her head in respect and left the study with her head held high with attitude and anger.
Maan hid himself in an alcove near the study before Maharaj Gajendra or Rajkumari Rajlakshmi could see Maan there eavesdropping on their private conversation.
Whole night Maan could not sleep after hearing the conversation between Maharaj Gajendra and Rajkumari Rajlakshmi. Maan was so surprised as he had never thought that Rajkumari Rajlakshmi would also have reservations and dislike for her “swayamvar”. Maan was in deep thought how to make Rajlakshmi his without causing unpleasantness between Ramgarh and other kingdom whose Kings, Crowned Princes and Princes were attending Rajkumari Rajlakshmi’s “swayamvar”. Now that he had found the girl of his dreams he would not let her escape. But before he could think anymore Rudra joined Maan saying, “Bhai-sa, jaisa aapke kehne par hummein talwarbaazi ke abhyaas karne ke liye prashikshan mahal mil gaya hai. Chaliye!” (Bhai-sa, on your request we have got a time slot for practicing sword fighting in the Palace’s Gym.)
NEXT MORNING
All the Kings, Crowned Princes and Princes were dressed and ready in the arena to start sword fighting (talwarbaazi). They were 14 participants in total and each was given a number. Also their faces were covered so that their identity could not be revealed before the sword fighting was over. Soon a medium height young man dressed in traditional fighting attire came with a sword and everyone had to fight against him. His head was covered with a white turban and the end of the turban was tied across his face tightly leaving a slit for his eyes and forehead. The forhead was smeared by a tilak in red vermilion giving him a royal elegance but his physique was slim and non muscular. Looking at youngman’s slim and non muscular physique other Kings, Crowned Princes and Princes relaxed feeling that they will be able to over power the young man any moment without any resistance. But Maan was observing the young man in great detail i.e. his body posture, his sharp and clear gaze and the way he was moving his sword slashing through the air to warm up himself before the challenge.
“Bhim Singhji, yeh kitna durbal talwarbaaz hai. Maharaj Gajendra ko koi aur yodha nahi mila. Yeh toh pehle vaar hi mei parajit ho jaayega.” (Bhim Singh, he is such a fraile swordsman. Couldn’t Maharaj Gajendra find a better swordsman, he will be defeated in one slash!) Rudra said what everyone else in the arena was thinking.
“Aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain Rajkumar. Humara Kshitija aana vyarth hua.” (You are absolutely right Prince. I think we have wasted our time in coming to Kshitija.)
“Aap dono iss yuvak ka kewal roop dekh rahe hain iske gunn nahi. Iss yuvak ko parajit karna itna bhi aasaan nahi hoga. Dekhiye jiss tehre yeh talwaar chala raha hai.” (You both are only seeing his physique not his skill. It will not be so easy to defeat this youngman. See with what skill he is moving his sword!) Maan suddenly spoke pointing towards the young man’s sword slashing through the air as well as warming with his practicing opponent.
Soon the competition started and the youngman had now changed his attire making him look more aggressive.
As Maan had predicted after being announced on the mic, “SAVADHAAN”
(Attention/ON GAURD!) no opponent lasted most than ten minutes. Either the opponent’s sword fell on the floor or the opponent himself ended up on the floor. In one and a half hour all 13 opponents had lost and now was Maan was the last competitor left. Majority of competitors accepted their defeat with grace except Rajkumar Devdutt Rathore.
He refused to accept his defeat. Maharaj Gajendra, Diwan Vidyasagar and Munshi Shambhu Nath did not know how to avoid embarassment without offending Rajkumar (Prince) Devdutt Rathore as well as the invited Kings, Crown Princes and Princes. Just then Maharaj Digvijay Rathore (Prince Devdutt Rathore’s father) came into the arena and said few clipped words to his son and took Rajkumar (Prince) Devdutt with him out of the arena. Few minutes later, Maharaj Digvijay called Maharaj Gajendra on his mobile and apologised for having to withdraw Kingdom of Vallabhgarh (FICTITIOUS NAME) i.e. Rajkumar (Prince) Devdutt Rathore due to family emergency. Maharaj Gajendra, Diwan Vidyasagar and Munshi Shambhu Nath were relieved that stressful situation for Kshitija had passed but Maharaj Gajendra showed disappointment his voice so that Maharaj Digvijay doesn’t feel humiliated with his son’s act. As soon as the King and Prince of Vallabhgarh exited the arena and sat in their car, Maharaj Digvijay thundered, “Rajkumar Devdutt, yeh aap Kshitija mein kaisa aacharan kar rahe the? Aapko Vallabhgarh ke maan evam samaan ka tanik bhi dhyaan nahi raha.” (Prince Devdutt, how were you behaving in Kshitija? Did you even once think about Vallabhgarh’s pride and prestige before acting in such a way!)
“Dad, I’ve heard that Princess Rajlakshmi is very beautiful therefore I wanted to claim her as mine. Also I’ve always got what I’ve wanted.”
“Princess Rajlakshmi is not in your destiny as your mother has already fixed your alliance with Princess Naintara of Vaishali. Your mother just informed me an hour back of this situation. I’m so glad that you did not win the contest as well as I reached the arena in time before results were announced otherwise it would have been very embarassing for both Kingdom of Vallabhgarh and Kingdom of Vaishali!” Maharaj Digvijay said with relief on his face.
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