PrAja SS: Ek Duje Ke Liye Chapter 38 page 56 ( Completed) - Page 2

Back at the palace Rao Ramrakh was shouting at the servants to work properly. She walked in scared.

" Ajabde, where were you?" He was visibly angry.

" Woh...Woh..." She fumbled.

" Stop fumbling and go and help your Maa sa in the kitchen, useless you are!" He scolded as she rushed inside.

" Maa sa?"

" Ajab, its good that you are back, make the kheer and the sabji, please."

" Yes Maa sa. But... can I go feed Laxmi first?"

" Okay go, but come back quickly."

" Laxmi you know I was so scared , there was no carts available, and I thought I won't be able to return. Then a cart came and I had to share it with a stranger. He was very polite and he looked like a warrior. He was coming to Bijolia too... Hey Eklingji, I didn't ask the name!"

" Jija! Jija!" Ratan came running breathless, " Kunwarsa is here Jija, and Maa sa is looking for you." She got up in a hurry to leave the cow shed. Ratan held her hands excited.

" Ohh Jija he is so charming, every girl there is looking at him."

" Ratan" She scolded. " Don't say or do anything that might harm Daata's reputation."

She went inside the palace. The hall room was crowded and she knew where her mother was.

" Ajabde, come here I was looking for you. Kunwar Pratap, this is Ajabde." Two men who were blocking her view stepped aside as they said in unison.

" Gani Khamma." Both looked at each other wide eyed.

This is Ajabde!

Kunwar Pratap was on the cart with me!

" Ajabde?" Her mother's voice broke her chain of thoughts. He looked away.

" Ji?"

" Take Kunwar Pratap and show him around the palace."

" Hansa Bai he must be tired." Raoji interrupted.

" Ji Nahi Raoji, I want to see the palace." Pratap looked at the girl before him now dressed very differently with a smile. She stepped forward as he follwed her through the corridors.

" This is the strategy room, those are the watch towers, that's the arena, there is the garden and orchard, here are the servant quarters..." She went on as he followed her observing.

"This is your room." She stopped." And that's the Kanha temple view from your room."

" Ji Dhanyavaad." He was about to step in to his room.

" Suniye?"

" Ji?"

" Please don't tell Daata I went to the temple alone."

He nodded without a question. She went to the kitchen.

He was looking for the Pooja ghar after freshening up. A daasi showed him the way. The beautifully decorated Pooja Ghar reminded him of his mother's one in the palace.

" Aree Wah, this is exactly like Ranima's pooja ghar." He thought aloud visibly pleased.

" Ajabde takes care of it." Hansa's voice from behind startled him. " She is the one who prays here."

" Kunwarsa your friend is here asking for you." A servant interrupted.

Chakrapani had brought Sarang from Chittor for him. He patted Sarang and hugged his friend.

" Ajabde, take Kunwar Pratap to the stable, show him where to keep his horse."

" Ji." Chakrapani noticed a strange smile on his friend's face as Ajabde told, " Ayiye."

She pointed at an empty place in the stable, next to her cowshed. Pratap patted Sarang and directed him there.

" Laxmi you still didn't finish your food?" Ajabde's voice from the cowshed reached his ears. He was surprised to see her talk to the cow like a friend. He smiled and patted Sarang to have the pail of water in front of him. Ajabde was about to leave when she turned around asking,

" What's his name?"

" Sarang." Pratap stepped aside giving her the space to come up and pat the horse.

" You are beautiful Sarang." She said to the horse.

" And Brave!" Pratap added proudly. " He's the one who takes me to wars." She smiled.

That night at dinner, the first thing he tasted was the Kheer.

" This is my favourite." Hansa Bai smiled, " Ajabde made it, she cooks really well."

" Maa..." Ajabde was embarrassed in front of an impressed Pratap.

" I need to repay you for this delicious dinner Ajabde."

" No no Kunwarsa it's my duty."

" You want to learn sword fighting?" His question startled her as well as her father. " I will teach you, from tomorrow at Dawn! Will that be ok Raoji?" A reluctant father smiled as a scared Ajabde looked at him.

What are you doing Pratap? You are here to work or teach sword fighting? What were you thinking? His thoughts trailed as he entered his room to be greeted by a smirking Chakrapani.

" What is it?"

" Baojiraj, Ajabde Baisa is so good. She takes care of everything so well for her age."

" Yes..." He smiled.

" You like her don't you?" Chakrapani's question angered him.

" How dare you? How can you say whatever you think you can say?" his anger scared his friend away.

Ajabde could not sleep. She felt restless, she didn't know why. At the break of dawn she was at the arena, dressed in a warrior's attire, her face covered with dupatta, her kohl smudged eyes, were only visible. He was already at the arena, swinging his sword. She stood behind him quietly as he turned around with a smile.

" Ready?" She nodded.

He taught her to hold a sword properly, and swing it. She was uneasy. He held the handle of the sword as support, as their hands brushed each other's he looked in to her Kohl smudged eyes.

" Baojiraj!" Chakrapani interrupted the moment as Ajabde stepped aside awkwardly. He saw the two move away with a smile.

" Yes Chakrapani?" He asked.

" I fed Sarang for you."

" So?"

" Nothing." Pratap was shocked at his friend's strange behavior.

" I have to go..." Was a murmur behind him as he turned around and watched her leave.

In not less than an hour he had finished his practice and was making his way inside the palace when it started to rain. The first rain this year, always beautiful. His eyes stopped at the sight at the open balcony. In the heavy rain, was Ajabde, in all smiles, dancing with Ratan. She never looked so carefree, her reserved nature and formal tone was always like a shadow. The Ajabde he saw now was a different one, the child in her. He smiled at the scene in front. It reminded him of his carefree days with his brothers at Chittor.

Ratan caught a glance of Pratap watching them.

" Kunwarsa!" Her voice startled both of them. Ajabde stood in the rain, red and embarrassed. he had witnessed the side of her only her sister knew. Pratap was embarrassed at being caught watching.

" Come get wet Kunwarsa." Ratan offered innocently.

" Ratan!" Ajabde scolded.

" No it's okay..." He was reluctant.

Chakrapani came up behind him, " Lets go get wet, we haven't done that in ages Baojiraj."

Ratan danced in the rain as Ajabde stood, facing Pratap who stood some feets away carefully, pretending to listen to Chakrapani's useless banter. Their eyes never left each others. Ratan smiled at this. She had never seen her Jija blush so much at someone's name like she did to his. Hansa was walking through the corridor when she noticed the children in the rain, she smiled and walked away.

At dinner, everyone sat silent having their food when a sneeze broke the silence.

" Kunwarsa are you okay? Should I..." His sentence was cut short by another sneeze, from his daughter. Ajabde looked scared, " Shama Kijiye." Pratap was looking at her in awe, she stole a quick glance at him. Hansa came to the rescue.

" The weather is making everyone sick." She told her husband.

Next day Pratap woke to the shouts and cries at the palace. Grabbing his sword in a reflex he walked out to find Hansa Bai sobbing.

" What happened Mausi?"

" Woh... Ajabde!" His heart skipped a beat.

Chakrapani filled him in. Ajabde had gone to the river for a puja and the Afghans had attacked, they now had her with them in their camp by the river. Before he could say anything else, Pratap was out of the palace on Sarang.

" Kunwarsa, wait for me." was Raoji's cry in vain.

She stood infront of the scary looking afghans who were scrutinizing their prey.

" Who are you?" She looked away.

" What is your name?"

" Answer us, orelse!"

" Stay away from our motherland." Ajabde's reply stunned the invaders.

" Don't be a coward trying to be brave girl!" A man came forward as she closed her eyes in fear.

A sound of hooves and a swing of sword and she opened her eyed to see Kunwar Pratap standing in front of her, as a wall, his sword out.

" Kunwarsa!"

" Stay where you are!" He ordered as he fought ten of them single handedly. She stared in fear as he slayed them. The soft and shy Kunwar Pratap was now a fiery lion. They all lay injured or dead before her eyes.

" What in the world were you thinking?" he shouted at her. Some villagers had by then gathered in the scene and stood silent. She looked up at him, fear in her eyes. She felt like hugging her savior.

" What made you walk to the borders alone? Don't you know it is dangerous? Or did one sword lesson make you brave and stupid?" His tone shocked her.

" Now don't stare at me with that innocent face, you are making me more angry."

He grabbed her wrist tight before she could say a word. He dragged her with him to the palace. His grip hurt her, what hurt more was his anger. She was quiet. Her red bangles broke at his grip and cut her wrist.

He let go off her hand at the palace gate and ordered, " Take her inside, and tell Raoji to get the men ready, we are going to hunt down every single Afghan in Bijolia, they dared to step across the border and hurt our pride and honor. "

He went away without even looking at her. In a few minutes she heard his men leave.

She sat in her room, applying balm and bandage to her wrist. She remembered how angry he was, she could see his fear of losing her in his eyes. She knew he cared. A fear crept in. She was lost in thoughts.

Slaying a few intruders calmed him down as Chakrapani asked, " Baojiraj, what's that blood on your hands?"

He hand barely noticed it, he had held her with this hand, which now had her blood. I hurt her. Guilt crept in as he hurried back to the palace.

Ajabde was sitting in her chamber, untying the bandage. His reflection fell on the mirror and she stood up.

" Kunwar.."

" I am sorry Ajabde, I am sorry I hurt you, I was just..." Their eyes met as he paused. " Worried."

" I know Kunwarsa, I am fine. I heard your expedition was successful."

" They won't dare to attack any time soon." His eyes fell on the balm and bandage. He picked up the new bandage she had kept to replace the old one.

" I will manage." He turned a deaf ear to her plea. He held her wrist and tied the bandage as she looked up at him in silence. He left without another word.

At dinner, Raoji's eyes fell on his daughter's hand, " What happened to you?"

His question made both hearts skip a beat as they looked at each other.

" Woh... I was opening my bangles in a hurry and broke so..."

" Why are you so careless?" His father scolded.

" I would like to take your leave." He got up eating half his plate.

" But Kunwarsa your food?"

" I am done Raoji Thank You."

He walked away, visibly disturbed as Hansa looked at Ajabde's disturbed face. Ajabde enters Pratap's room after him.

" Kunwarsa..."

He turns around with a smile, " Dhanyavaad, you lied to Raoji for me..."

" Some things are not meant to be said." She was startled at her own words and so was he, an awkward silence followed as she left and he stared at her retreating figure.

A guard came in with a letter from Ranima.

" Hansa has invited me to the Gangaur puja at her place, I will be arriving tomorrow morning, can't wait to see you Pratap. Jai Eklinji"

His eyes filled up. Ranima! He needed her hug and advise the most now that he was clueless about what his mind and heart were restless about.