Mehendi hai Rachne wali-PrAja vivah bhent SS [Epi6-Pg19] - Page 15

Episode-6
The sun was high in the sky. It was still afternoon here in Chittor. And Kunwar Pratap Singh had decided to retire to his favourite way of stress-relieval; dangal sthal me shastr-abhyaas. Like seriously, the way all his relatives were teasing him since they had returned from Chittor. With the amount of love and friendship you receive in a big extended family, it is really lucky to have one, but this luck also becomes the very factor of irritation when all of it changes to taunts and giggles. Ajabdeh this...Ajabdeh that...When he had first heard what had really happened there, his insides had started bubbling in excitement and he was atop the ninth cloud. But, but, but...as time passed by, the memories remained beautiful, but the taunts became irritating. So irritating, that he literally became furious whenever any of his relatives came up with any new strategy to embarrass him or make him blush regarding Ajabdeh. All the build up of his fury was now coming out by the means of his sword, which was slicing through the air at a lightening fast speed right now. As he continued with his exerting practice, the frown that was earlier governing his face, it had started resolving. He practiced on and on, with no sense of time. The sun was the brightest and hottest, and Pratap was covered in sweat, still, he didn't stop. But after all that time, his solitude with his sword and begone fury was interrupted by the tinkling of payals. Pratap stopped his sword with a jerk. Recognizing the sound, he gave a sigh.  Ye log yahan bhi aa gaye? Phirse nahi..!' he muttered to himself mentally. Soon, the sound took its full form and in front of Pratap's akhara stood not one or two, but five of his cousin sisters.
"Aap log, yahan kya kar rahi hain? Yahan kyu aayi hain aap sab?" Pratap asked indignantly, trying to keep his tone as polite as possible. But whatever he said, seemed to go unheard by his cousins in front.
"Hey Eklingji, kaisi uchch koti ki shat pratishat yogy aur sarv gunn sampan ardhangini dhoondi hai aapne hamare bhai Pratap ke liye...aapka bahut bahut dhanyawaad" said Kavisha as she joined her hands to the heavens. Pratap's brows furrowed.
"Arre behna, itni prashansa Ajabdeh ki! Aakhir aisa kya hai unme?" retorted Niki sarcastically, indirectly aiming the question at Pratap, who was watching them all with a horrified glance.
"Arr...?" interrupted Pratap at this verbal mess in front of him with no head or feet but before he could put forth his question, his speech was interrupted by Kamya, who seemed to give no notice that Pratap had said anything.
"Niki!" Kamya exclaimed, cutting Pratap's speech, "Ye kya keh rahi hain aap? Ve Ajabdeh nahi, Ajabdeh bhabi sa hain. Aap jaanti nahi, ki hamare bhai ko kitna krodh aata hai Ajabdeh bhabi sa ki virudh ek bhi shabd sunkar!" exclaimed Kamya, a little more than exaggerating things, hiding a smirk behind her hyper face.
"Arre ye..." again started Pratap, but yet again, no one took any notice.
"Achcha theek hai, theek hai, Ajabdeh BHABI SA me aisa kya vishesh hai jo hamara veeron ke veer, saksham yoddha ka hriday pinghal gaya?" asked Sejal, following the so-called rule set for calling Ajabdeh.
"Bilkul! Hame to laga tha ki Jaivathna mausi ji aur Rana ji ko sabhi raj gharano se dhoond-dhoondkar, vichaar-vivaad karkar, sabhi rajkumariyon ke gun parakhkar, kundli milakar aapke liye sabse upyukt rajkumari dhoondni hogi. Kyuki aap to kanyaon ko dekhne se rahe! Kintu dekhiye, unse pehle, aapne swayam pasand karli aapne kanya! Vahi nahi, unke saath prem ki door me bhi bandh gaye! Wah! Ab to hame sach me pata lagana padega ki aisa kya vishesh hai unme" stated Vrushali.
"Sahi baat. Ab dekhiye bhai Pratap, aap hame batate hain Ajabdeh ke bare me ya ham swayam kisise jaakar poochen?" asked Niki, winking Sejal from the corner of her eye, who grinned in turn, and then set her face straight. Because both Sejal and Niki knew, so did Sejal's elder sister Vrushali, that Pratap would definitely think that all the people would be spreading the exaggerated version of reality, which was highly irritating.
Trapped from all sides, with no other option left, Pratap tried to keep his face and tone straight and tried to convey the reality without attracting much attention towards himself or his feelings.
"Vo..haan..." he said, trying to act casual, "usme kya hai. H..Ham bata dete hain aapko Ajabdeh ke bare me..." he said, trying to minimize his stuttering. Before he could go on, an excited Kamya came up with a new question, which was more of a statement, revealing everything.
"Haan haan, jaldi bataiye na, ki Ajabdeh kitni sundar hain, aapka kitna khayal rakhti hain, kitni guni aur sanskari hain, aur kaise unhone teen raato ke neend-chain ko tyaga taki aapke pran bach sake, kaise aapko unke saadharan swabhav pasand aa gaya, kaise aap apne din ka aarambh unka bhajan sunkar karte hain, kaise aapko sehen nahi hua jab Ajabdeh ke pran sankat me par gaye, sankshep me, kaise aapko unse prem ho gaya. Bataiye, bataiye, sab bataiye!" laughed Kamya as she said all this, but her laughter doubled at hearing Pratap's reaction to this, while the three new entrants of the Chittor palace looked in awe at these revelations.
"Arre!" Pratap exclaimed in utmost shock, "Aapko kaise pata chala ye sab? Ye saari to Bijolia ki baaten hain, bhala aapko kaise pata chala??" Pratap asked indignantly.
Other pursed their lips to hide a smile that came from Pratap's behavior while Kamya laughed uncontrollably.
"Bas bhai Pratap. Ab hamare bhi gupt sutr hain jinke bare me koi nahi jaanta. Ab hamare bhai PREM karne lage hain, to unki behen ko to pata hona chahiye na?!" said Kamya as she answered her astonished brother.
Pratap returned a dumd expression. He was hell irritated. He turned his face away in anger and said very bluntly, "Aap log jaiye yahan se. Hame abhyas karna hai. Aap log jaakar Rani maa ki sahayta kijiye. Hame abhyaas karne dijiye" and as he said that, he resumed his sword practice, keeping his eyes away from them.
"Hey Eklingji!!" exclaimed Kavisha, "Adbhut! Atiuttam! Wah!!"
Pratap jerked again. All eyes were on Kavisha.
"Jija, ye kya keh rahi hain aap? Vistaar se bataiye. Dadabhai ka shastr abhyaas to aapne dekha hi hoga, Phir aisa kya adbhut hai isme?" asked a curious Sejal on behalf of everybody.
Kavisha started narrating the tale. Everybody was listening intently, even Pratap. "Arre Sejal, aap jaanti hain, jab ham Bijolia gaye the na Ajabdeh ki shagun ki mehendi lekar, tab ham sabne ek choti si shararat kit hi Ajabdeh ke saath..."
"Kya? Ajabdeh ke saath shararat? Aap logo hame to shanti se rehne nahi dete, Ajabdeh ko bhi nahi choda!" Pratap exclaimed.
"Ajabdeh ke hone vali patidev, ham bhali bhanti jaante hai ki aap Ajabdeh ki bahut chinta karte hain" said Niki to silence Pratap. "Kavisha behna, aap aage bataiye."
"Haan to...ek shan. Bhai Pratap, apni behno ko doshi mat thehraiyega us choti si shararat ke liye. Matr ham hi nahi the, Ajabdeh ki behne bhi thi hamare saath." Kavisha stated clearly.
At this Pratap thought, Eklingji, ham nahi jaante the ki aapne Ajabdeh ko bhi aisi behne di hain. Na jaane kitna satati hongi ve unhe...'
Kavisha continued, not commenting on Pratap's lost eyes, "...to ham sabne bhai Pratap ka naam haas-parihaas me pukara. Aur jaisi hi bhai Pratap ka naam hamare mukh se nikla, saty keh rahe hain Ajabdeh SAB KUCH chodkar turant munder pe aa gayi. Aur unhe dekhte hi hame aabhaas ho gaya ki kaise hamare patththar jaise bhai Pratap apna hriday kisi kanya ko de baithe..."
"Ooohhh!!!! Itni sundar hain Ajabdeh bhabi sa?" exclaimed the three listeners in awe and excitement.
" Sundar? Arre, ve itni sundar hai mano chandrmaa ne swayam apna sondary unhe diya ho. Mukh par aisi laali mano pushpon ka rang. Aisa lagta hai ki dhartimaa ne swayam apni putri ko itne sehej aur sundar roop ka aashirvaad diya hai" praised Kamya. "Kyu? Sahi keh rahe hai na ham bhai Pratap?" Kamya shot at Pratap and everyone started laughing yet again.
An irritated Pratap answered, "Aap log to hamari baat maanenge hi nahi. Phir ham bhi nahi dhyan denge. Hame shastr abhyaas karne dijiye" and once again, Pratap resumed his sword practice.
"Bilkul!" exclaimed Kavisha at Pratap's words, "Jaisa Ajabdeh ne kaha tha, inhone bilkul vaisi hi pratikriya ki hamare satane par! Arre behno, hame pehchaante hi sabse pehle shabd jo Ajabdeh ke mukh se nikle, to vo yahi ki ham log bhai Pratap ko Chittor me kaise satate honge aur ve poora samay dangal sthal me shastr abhyaas karte honge. Tabhi to ham keh rahe the ki Ajabdeh kitni yogy aur sarv-gun sampan kanya hai hamare bhai Pratap ke liye."
"Sach?! Phir to sach me Ajabdeh  se achchi jeevan saathi mil hi nahi sakti bhai Pratap ko. Itne achche se jaanti hai ve inhe??!! Sach keh rahe hain, bhai Pratap ko poori tarah se samajhna aur jaanna kisi bhi stri ke liye asambhav hai. Matr Jaiwantha mausi ji hi hain jo inke har bhaav ka sahi sahi arth samajh jaye. Aur ab Ajabdeh bhi! Wah!" expressed Vrushali in an awestruck tone.
"Arre, Ajabdeh bilkul Jaivantha mausi ji ki parchai hain!" told Kamya.
"Bilkul. Hame to vishvas hi nahi ho raha. Itna gehra rishta hai bhai Pratap aur Ajabdeh ka! Jitne avishvasniy hai ye, utna hi prashashniy bhi. Matlab, sach me, ye dono to do shareer aur ek aatma hain. Bilkul jaise pati patni ko hona chahiye" said Niki.
Pratap was looking at all of them with a slight smile on his face. After these last talks, he was feeling peace at heart, as if Ajabdeh had just descended in it. She had removed all his anger and agony just by her essence. Although he was looking at his cousins, but his eyes were not focused, cause actually, he was seeing Ajabdeh in his heart and not his surroundings. Noticing this, the princesses decided to make a revelation, but in a slightly twisted way.
"Kintu sach kahen, ham bahut dukh anubhav kar rahe hain dadabhai Pratap ke liye" Sejal broke the silence with a sad face.
"Arre arre! Aisa kyu? Chittor ko Ajabdeh jaisi bahu milne vali hai, isme kaisa dukh?" asked Vrushali, pretending to side with Pratap & Ajabdeh.
"Vo isiliye kyuki ab ye dono prem-panchi ek doosre se mil nahi payenge" Kamya said with a fake sad expression.
"Kya???" Pratap burst out, "Ham Ajabdeh se mil nahi sakte? Bhala aisa kyu?" he asked, words spilling out of his mouth with speed.
"Aap nahi jaante bhai Pratap? Aaj saanjh samay Ajabdeh ki mehendi ki rasam hai. Uske baad, poore do din bachenge aapke vivah ko" Niki explained.
"To kya?" Pratap asked.
"Arre! Var-vadhu ka apne vivah se do din pehle ek doosre se milna mana hai. Na aap dono ek doosre ko dekh sakte hain, na baat kar sakte hain.   Tabhi to, aaj Ajabdeh ki mehendi sampan hote hi, na Ajabdeh, na aap, aur na hi aap dono ka koi part aapke mahalon se bahar jayega" revealed Kavisha.
Pratap was shocked. Like what? He couldn't meet Ajabdeh, or even hear from her for two days. Two whole days? No. Never. The princesses continued chatting and making remarks, but all fell on deaf ears.
Ajabdeh ki mehendi sampan hote hi ham unse nahi mil payenge' Pratap thought. Kintu...unki mehendi abhi sampan kahan hui hai?' he said to himself. Pratap looked up at the sky. The sun was still high. Maybe...maybe he could...ride his horse at top speed, then maybe he would be able to...

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 It was late afternoon, rather, the onset of evening. All of Ajabdeh's cousins had settled themselves in different corners of Ajabdeh's big room. Ajabdeh herself was sitting on the bed, deep in thought, while others sat on sofas and couches around the room, tired of all the work. Through the multiple curtains which separated the long balcony and the room, orangish and golden hues of sunlight were falling inside and dancing inside the room, its floor and walls, intervened only by the long shadows of the pillars. In a few hours' time, the rasam of Mehendi would start. And then, for two long days, she won't be able to be in touch with Pratap in any way. Two long days, she wondered how she would pass them. And she kept on thinking and thinking, while others sat in silence, recharging their enery levels for the upcoming ceremony. After a while, two dasis came hurrying into the room, closely followed by five more, each of them carrying huge ornamental thaals, laden with royal jewelery, accessories and outfits embroidered with real stones and strings of gold and silver. One of them spoke up, "Khamma gadi. Mehendi ki rasam ek peher me aarambh ho jayegi. Isiliye ham Ajabdeh baisa ko taiyaar karne aaye hain."
"Kya?" Ajabdeh said in disbelief, "Hame taiyaar karne? Arthat ye sabhi vastr aur shringar ki vastuen hamare liye hain?"
"Aur nahi to kya Ajabdeh? Vivah aapka hai, ham sabka nahi" Jesmin told her.
"Maa bhi na!" Ajabdeh continued after the clarification, "Itne bhaari bhaari aabhushan aur vastr chune hain hamare liye. Arre! Ye to matr ek rasam hai, itni aabhushan to dulhan vivah ke din bhi nahi pehenti!" she sighed in irritation.
"Nahi ji Ajabdeh. Vivah vale din dulhan isse bhi adhik aur isse bhi bhaari aabhushan aur vastr pehenti hai. Aapko bhi pehenne padenge" said Madhura in ultimatum.
"Err...achcha..." said Ajabdeh after a pause, she hadn't expected that statement to be put down. "Kintu abhi to ek poori peher hai samaroh aarambh hone me! Ham kya itna samay bas taiyaar hi hote rahenge? Bhala itna samay thodi na lagta hai! Ham baad me..." Ajabdeh started walking out of the room to escape this whole three-hour dress up session. But before she could proceed, Rhea came and stood in her way.
"Ajabdeh bai sa, agar aap bhool gayi hain to ham aapko yaad dila dete hain ki aap Dulhan hain. Aur vivah ki har rasam-samaroh me dulhan ko sarvshreshth dikhna Aavashyak hota hai. Sabse adhik khoobsurat dikhne ke liye saaj-sajja, shringaar-aabhushan to karna padega, aur usme, thoda to samay lagega na!" explained Rhea which a playful and naughty smile.
Ajabdeh, again disappointed. She again came up with a new argument to avoid this tedious make over, that too only for a rasam. And moreover, it was only her family watching her, Pratap or any other Chittor family people won't be there to look at her appearance. Then what was the need to dress up? So she said, "Kyu hame shringaar ke liye vivash kar rahe hain?  Ham aapki har baat maan gaye, kintu, itni saari dasiyan!!! Vo bhi keval hame taiyaar karne ke liye!! Ek to itna adhik samay, upar se itni sari dasiyaan ek saath! Agar ye sab saath me hamara shringaar karne lag gayi, satya keh rahe hain, ham to saans hi nahi le paayenge..." Ajabdeh sighed. And this time, before any of princesses could reply, a new voice was heard, its source unseen.
"Arre! Hamare hote hue hamari Ajabdeh ko dasiyan kyu taiyaar karengi ? Ham swayam apne haathon se Ajabdeh ka shringaar karenge!" said the voice with pride. Everybody looked at each other faces to detect the speaker. But when all the princesses shook their heads in disapproval and confusion, the dasis parted and came into view two beautiful young woman, each of them wearing bright clothes and beautiful smiles.
"Hina jija!" Ajabdeh exclaimed as she saw the first one and she ran to hug her.
"Hina jija! Aap yahan! Vo bhi is samay! Hame to lag raha tha ki aap aur Bohni jija aayenge hi nahi..." Ajabdeh blurted out at a very fast speed.
"Lag to hame bhi yahi raha tha. Hamari praja ke punar-vaas ke liye itne kary baaki hain, ki kya batayen. Kintu dhanyawaad aapki Bohni jija ka. Unhone saara uttardayitv apne kandhon par le liya taki hamare parivaar me se koi ek jana to aapke vivah me aapko poore parivaar ki ore se aashirvaad de sake" Hina told her.
"Arthat Bohni jija nahi aayi?" asked Ajabdeh with disappointment.
"Ajabdeh," reassured Hina, "Aap to jaanti hain na apni Bohni jija ko. Ham sabki khushi ke liye ve kuch bhi kar sakti hain. Bilkul aapki tarah. Unhone apni kshama to bheji hi hai, kintu saath me uphaar bhi bheja hai!" Hina told her.
"Sach?!" Ajabdeh asked with a big grin. Hina nodded with a big smile in reply. Before comtinuing the conversation, she turned to the second girl who was standing with Hina. She didn't recognize her, but the fact that she was wearing a big and beautiful grin on her face made her feel nervous.  She tried to return the smile without reflecting her nervousness, and then plucked up the courage to ask her, "Vo...kshama kijiye, kintu hamne aapko pehchana nahi..." Ajabdeh said slowly. The girl grinned even wider.
"Arre! Aise kaise pehchaan lengi aap hame? Aap to hamse aaj tak mili bhi nahi hain!" said that mysterious girl in a joyful tone. Ajabdeh was taken aback at the reply.
"Kintu, phir aap kaun hain? Aur hame kaise jaanti hain?" Ajabdeh asked curiously.
"Hame apna parichay to dene dijiye. Ham Pari hain, aapke mamaji, Rawat Chundawat ki putri" Pari introduced herself to everyone.
"Aap Mamaji ki putri hain?" Ajabdeh repeated in surprise.
"Ji haan. Kunwar Pratap ko to ham bachpan se jaante hain, hamare bhai saman hain ve. Kintu jab aapki maa ne hamare pitaji ko raakhi baandhi, hame to tabhi pitaji se keh diya tha, ki ham to Ajabdeh ke mehendi-sangeet me aavashya hi sammelit honge. Bhai Pratap ke saath to kitne samaroh dekhe hain hamne, kintu apni behna ke saath bhi to hame samay bitane ka avsar milna chahiye, isse pehle ki bhai Pratap inhe apne paas rakh le!" Pari told everyone.
Everyone laughed. Even Ajabdeh smiled. Finally she said, "Aapka Bijolia me bahut bahut swagat hai."
"Arre Ajabdeh, swagat to hota rahega. Kitnu samaroh ke liye shringaar me kitna samay lagega! Aap shighr baithiye, aaj aapki behne aapko taiyaar karengi. Aur haan, aapke mama-shri ne aapke liye bhent me bahut saare uphaar bheje hain. Ve bhi to dekhne hain. Ab chaliye, shighr baith jaiye..."

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Pratap Singh had his plan ready in his mind. This was it, the last time he could meet Ajabdeh before she became his...wife. Pratap bit his lips at the thought but subdued it the second it came. He was on a mission; he couldn't let his brain go out of focus. He had to sneak out of the castle of Chittor without anyone noticing and doubting. The problem was the castle so heavily populated that it was nearly impossible for him to go out without anyone noticing. He had already bumped into Rini ("Arre bhai Pratap! Aap kahan jaa rahe hain? Aap jaante hain, hamari Rani maa aur aapki Rani maa saath milkar aapke liye vastr chun rahe hain. Aapko nahi chun ne?") and Hiral, who crossed him and stopped him in his tracks with a deep, suspicious note in her voice, "Bhai Pratap...kahan jaa rahe hain aap?" and when Pratap tried to suppress her suspictions, she became even more curious, "Itna kya soch rahe hain hamare saral se prashn ka uttar den eke liye?" Somehow he got away and came face to face with another cousin of his, Krupali. She greeted him with a smile but his hurried reply made her brows furrowed, "Arre! Kahan jaane ke liye itne tatpar ho rahe hain? Aisi konsi shighrta?"
"Jija, hame bahut aavashyak kary karne ke liye mahal se bahar jaana hai. Kintu koi hame jaane nahi de raha. Har koi prashn kar raha hai. Aise me vilambh to hoga na. Aur vilambh hoga to hame bhi shighrta dikhnai padegi" Pratap replied. Krupali, who didn't restrain him from doing anything having faith in his ability asked no more questions and let him proceed. But, this wasn't the last obstacle on his way out of Chittor. The moment he reached the main doors, he found his way blocked by two more cousins, both of them flashing naughty smirks in his direction.
"Bhai Anshul.Bhai Vaibhaw. Aa-aap dono yahan?" Pratap stuttered, thinking of ways to go past them without any further questions.
"Hamari chodiye, aap yahan kaise bhai Pratap? Abhi thodi der pehle jab hamne aapko ashv-rohan ke liye bulaya tha, tab to aapka shastr abhyaas sampann hone ka chinh nahi dikha raha tha. Aur ab achanak hi, mahal se bahar! Aisa konsa kary hai?" Anshul taunted him with a proudy air.
On the outside, Pratap remained still as a statue. But in his mind, he had held his head in irritation. Aunts:-they wouldn't let him say anything and still laugh at him for no reason at all. Sisters:- they would talk, taunt, tease, giggle, and go away. Fine. But brothers! They wouldn't leave him easily. They would get to the root of everything. They wouldn't laugh, but still succeed in embarrassing him.
"Kya soch rahe hain bhai Pratap?" Vaibhaw said as he waved his hand in front of Pratap's eyes to bring him out of his thoughts.
"Err-vo-kuch nahi! Ham to bas yahi soch rahe thi aap dono ne ashv-rohan ka abhyaas itni shighr kaise sampann kar liya..."Pratap answered with made up words.
"Bhai Pratap, hamne achche se abhyaas kar liya, hamari chinta mat kijiye. Aap kahin jaa rahe the...aapko jaana nahi?" Vaibhaw responded with a slightly twisted tone.
"Haan, hame shighr jaana hai. Ham chalte hain!" Pratap exclaimed in a hurried tone, and lunged to exit the door by crossing them from between. But before he could do so, Anshul and Vaibhaw took a step inwards to block the little space that was left between them.
"Pehle ye to bataiye ki jaa kahan rahe hain!" Anshul and Vaibhaw exclaimed in unison.
Pratap was in a mess. He could think of no way to get past them. He was just kicking himself in his thoughts and praying to God for some way out when Anshul's voice got him back to reality.
"Bhai Pratap, ek to aapne abhi se hi vivah karne ka man bana liya hai. Ab dekhiye, bhabi sa se milne ke prayatn me apne bhaiyon ko bhi bhool gaye! Aise thodi na hota hai! To, vivah ka nirnay aapke liye..." he taunted Pratap when a voice interrupted him.
"Kunwar Anshul, Kunwar Vaibhaw, aap log yahan kya kar rahe hain?" came the words of Man Singh, Jaivantha bai's brother, as he proceeded inside the castle from outside.
"Khamma gadi Dajiraaj!" was Anshul's swift reply while Pratap and Vaibhaw said, "Khamma gadi Mama ji."
"Ham to bas bhai Pratap se yahi pooch rahe the ki ve kahan jaa rahe hain" Anshul answered his father's question.
"Kunwar Pratap kahi jaa rahe hain?" Man Singh asked curiously and turned to Pratap, "Aapko kahi jaane ki kya aavashyakta par gayi Kunwar Pratap?"
Pratap was stuck. Now what should he say to his mama ji. He stuttered for a while, thinking of the correct words. But before he could answer, another voice became a part of this session.
"Aap aa gaye?" It was Jyoti bai, she had reached the main doors of the castle after the dasi's message of Man Singh's arrival. She was surprised to see Anshul and Vaibhaw there.
"Ji" Man Singh replied to Jyoti bai's question, "Aapne jo bhi saamagri kahi thi, sabka bandovast kar diya hai hamne."
Jyoti bai smiled in reply. She then remembered all of a sudden, "Arre, aap Jaivantha jija se mil lijiye. Unhe aapki sahayata chahiye." She then turned to Anshul and Vaibhaw, "Aur aap dono, chaliye hamare saath. Rajkiy vastrkaar aa chuke hain. Aap logon ko vastron ka naap lena hai. Chaliye."
"Ji maa" Anshul replied. He proceeded to leave with Vaibhaw. Before leaving, both of them gave a taunting look to Pratap and left, followed by Man Singh who went to help his sister.
Finally seeing his path clear, Pratap left the palace.

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There in Bijolia palace, Ajabdeh's dress up was in full swing. Debates were still on about how many necklaces, and which design of earrings would Ajabdeh wear for the current ceremony. And the whole thing was taking double time with Ajabdeh's constant requests of the lightest jewellery possible. Everyone listen to her, but nobody payed attention. Half of her cousins were busy dressing her, while the others took care of the last minute preps of food or last checks on decoration or welcoming the guests.  The ones around her were busy with something or the other. Moumi and Poulomi made her bangles sets, Khushboo and Roshini were busy doing her hair, Aru and Anjori were setting her dupatta, Celana and Nidhi were applying aalta on her feet and hands and also putting on her payals, Aashna and Kaushitaki were making her wear her jewellery, her heavy necklaces precisely.
"Arre Ajabdeh, kyu hatt kar rahi hain! Pehen lijiye naa!" Aashna exclaimed in irritation as Ajabdeh refused to wear her necklace.
"Aashna behna, aap jaanti hain na, itne bhaari aabhushan pehenna nahi pasand hame? Phir aap kyu hatt kar rahi hain hame ise pehnane ke liye? Kaushitaki jija, aap hi samjhaiye na inhe!" Ajabdeh turned to Kaushitaki for help.
" Ajabdeh..." Kaushitaki left the haar and kneeled beside Ajabdeh, "Dekhiye, aapka vivah hone jaa raha hai. Har maa ka sada se ye swapn hota hai ki uski putri ka vivah ek suyogy rajkumar se ho. Aap jaanti hain, ek maa apni putri ke janm aur vivah pe kitni prasann hoti hain? Aur, aapka vivah to Kunwar Pratap se hone jaa raha hai, jinse vivah ka swapn to har kanya dekhti hai. Aapka vivah us vyakti se hone jaa raha hai jise aap pasand karti hain, aur jo aapse prem karta hai. Bhala is baat pe aapki maa prasann nahi hongi? Antim din hain unke paas apni putri ke saath. In dino me ve aapko vishv ki har khushi dena chahti hain, in dino ko aapke liye anmol smritiyan banana chahti hain, aur saath hi saath, aapke vivah ko aapke jeevan ka sarvshreshth din banana chahti hain. Tabhi to unhone ye sab bheja hai, ye vastr, ye uphaar, ye gehne. Aapko ve apni rajkumari banake rakhna chahti hain Ajabdeh aapke in aakhri dino me. Ab aap aise hatt karengi to unhe achcha nahi lagega" Kaushitaki consoled her. Ajabdeh lowered her eyes,thinking about all that she had said.
"Aur aap aur Kunwar Pratap ek doosre se prem karte hain Ajabdeh. Aur jo prem karte hain, unhe naino ki aavashyakta nahi hoti. Ve to ek doosre apni man ki aankhon se hi dekh lete hain" Kaushitaki continued, giving a new perspective to Ajabdeh.
"Ajabdeh, aap jaanti hain ki har stri shringaar kyu karti hai?" Kaushitaki asked.
When Ajabdeh shook her head slightly, Kaushitaki told her, "Har kanya apne pati ke liye shringaar karti hai. Shringaar is baat ka prateek hota hai ki kanya vivahit hai. Ye maang tika, ye nathni, aur ye baaki sabhi aabhushan, aap apne liye nahi, apne pati, Kunwar Pratap ke liye pehen rahi hain. Aap inhe mana nahi kar sakti. Samjhi?" Kaushitaki explained her calmly.
Ajabdeh nodded shyly. All other princesses who were watching this conversation giggled for a while making Ajabdeh blush and went on with their work. And this time, Ajabdeh made no arguments.
Soon she was ready and the time for the rasam was knocking on the door...