CHAPTER 4
''Khamma Ghani Chittor wasiyon. Aaj aap sabhi ko Chittor ke mahal ek mahatvapoorna soochna ghoshit karne bulaya hai.''
Rawatji addressed all the people who were at the doorstep of the entrance gate of the palace.
''Aap sabhi se yeh baat chhupi toh nahin hi hai ki hum sabhi, kuch din poorva Dilwara gaye the Ekling Ji ke darshan ke liye aur Chittor ki sukh-shaanti ki prarthna karne. Darasal baat yeh bhi hui thi ki Darshan ke baad, humare Baojiraj Pratap ka vivaah Nischit karne saara parivaar Bijoliya gaya tha.''
Everyone stared at each other in amusement. They never knew the conversation would escalate to a topic like this.
The mere inclusion of Ajabde in the talk was all it took for Kunwar Pratap to travel back to their eye-lock, maybe for the thousandth time now!
When they had left from the temple complex that day, the way Kunwar Shakti had teased him had taken a toll on Kunwar Pratap. And as if to add hot oil on his nerves, Kunwar Shakti even told about this to Chakrapani and his sisters!
Padmavati had been giving those naughty looks to Pratap ever since then.
Maan, though smaller than Padma, being the most mature of them all had taken the responsibility to protect her elder brother from her notoriously evil sister.
And then Chand..well she was so small she didn't even understand half of it. Just the bits, like marriage, Bijoliya, Rajkumari, Ajabde, Bhabisa, etc. these were heard.
And all it took for her to be extremely happy about the wedding was the mention of new jewellery and clothes and gifts for everyone!
Anyways, Rawatji informed them that the wedding was to be held after ten days starting today. The procession would leave for Bijoliya two days before the wedding, and they were to leave for Muh-Dikhayi tomorrow.
He further added that for the wedding the whole of Chittor was invited, and that it would be a pleasure for the Royal family and ofcourse, for the Groom himself!
Therefore, the meeting was adjourned and everyone returned to their respective houses.
''Chakrapani, hum kal mooh-dikhayi ke liye Bijoliya jayenge, hai ki nai?''
''Ji baojiraj.''
''Kintu mooh-dikhayi ki toh avashyakta unhe hain na jinhone ek doosre ko-''
Suddenly he was 'enlightened' with where he was going with the conversation.
A jolt of awkwardness engulfed him into its arms and he was totally dumb-struck as to what to say nOw that would divert his attention from the previous talk.
''Uhh...umm..nahi..humara arth....uhh..''
His link was broken by Kunwar Shakti who came laughing, laughing so hard that he had to hold his stomach due to the pain.
Annoyed would be an understatement for Kunwar Pratap. He felt anger rising in him.
Arrey here he was so damn confused as to where his life was leading him and here his brother was doing nothing but mock!
''Bhai Shakti..ek baar mein baat samajh nahin aati na aapko?...'' He rigorously shaked his head in an affirmative manner. ''Theek hai..ab toh aapko aapke JEEVAN ke liye daud lagaani hi padegi!''
Both the audience's eyes widened, one in fear and the other in amusement.
Kunwar Pratap paid no heed to them as he took his position to literally pounce upon his prey.
''Arre Dadabhai..humein maarke kya milega aapko?...''His serious scared tone suddenly changed to a naughty and muschievious one as he added, ''Mann ki baat adhik samay tak chhipi nahin rehti!'' And once again laughed.
Hearing him say this even Chakrapani couldn't control his laughter.
Unknowingly Chakrapani and Shakti teamed up against the helpless guy and started making even more hilarious jokes about him.
Amidst their giggles, they took a look at Kunwar Pratap. What they saw was surely to be imprinted in their minds for the whole of their lives!
THE Kunwar Pratap!
Was BLUSHING!
He had a slight orange tint on his cheeks and he had lowered his eyes, unable to meet their gaze.
Shakti and Chakrapani exchanged glances first between each other and then at Kunwar Pratap wide eyed.
''Kya aap bhi..Bhai Shakti...''
He mumbled as he slowly turned back.
Kunwar Shakti and Chakrapani were fixed to their spots.
Suddenly Kunwar Pratap turned back to them and with lightening speed made a dash for the both of them.
Shakti and Chakrapani never knew what hit them as Kunwar Pratap beat the black and blue out of them.
''Kya keh rahe the? Mann ki baat? Hum batate hain aapko humare mann ki baat!''
Jaiwanta Bai who was walking at a distance towards Rani Sajja Bai's chambers, saw her son beat his accomplices.
''Pratap! Yeh kya kar rahe hain aap?''
Kunwar Pratap's attention diverted to his Ranima's words and taking advantage of it ran Kunwar Shakti and Chakrapani, with marks on their faces and dust on their clothes.
''Kahan jaa rahe hain aap dono? Mann ki baat poori nahin huyi ab tak! Bataye aur??'' He yelled at them.
''Ab aap yahan se baayi disha mein jaaye, aur wahan se doosre kaksh mein pravesh kijiye. Wahin aayengi...uhh..woh.''
Kunwar Pratap was confused. 'woh'?
Apni putri ka naam lene mein kaisi jhijhak hai Rao Ji ko?
''Ji Rao Ji. Dhanyawaad.'' He gave a courtesy smile to him and walked away.
Whike walking, different kinds of thoughts came dashing in his mind.
Aaj mooh-dikhayi..kal Chittor ke liye prasthaan..phir haldi..phir sangeet..phir-
Ek kshan! Phir?? Phir kya Kunwar Pratap! Jeewan badal jayega aapka. Tayyar rahiyega naye padhaav ke liye.
Kaisi hongi ve..shaant..ya bohot bolne wali?
The thought itself made him stop mid-way. His eyes widened.
Hey Ekling Ji! Nahin chahiye humein adhik bolne wali patni. Hum to bolte hain nahin..ab yadi swayam se baat karne lagi tohh???
He heard some giggling sound beside him and he immediately looked to his right. He found no one there, and he frowned.
But as he travelled a little down, maybe to his waist level, he could see a small girl with her hands on her mouth trying to hide her giggle.
''Kshama kijiye..aap kaun?''
Annoyance gripped Ratan as her hands travelled to her waist holding her sides softly.
''Nahin ho sakta yeh vivaah!'' She frowned at him. Lips tightly pursed in a pout.
Kunwar Pratap himself frowned at her statement.
''Kyun nahin ho sakta yeh vivaah?? Aur aap HAIN kaun?''
''Kyunki buddhi nahin hai aap mein!''
Kya bakvaas hai yeh? Aaj tak kisine nahin kaha humse aisa!
''Koi bhi dekhke keh sakta hai. Ki hum humare jija ki chhoti behen hain!''
''Arre kintu aapki jija hai kaun? Hum kaise jaane unhe?''
Ratan gasped sharply. Her eyes litterally popped out.
''Ab toh bilkul nahin ho sakta yeh vivaah. Bhala apne hone wali patni ko kaun nahin jaanta?''
Kunwar Pratap was left astonished. His eyes widened slightly.
Toh yeh hai Ratnawati Baisa. Hey Ekling Ji, naak kataa di humne.
''Boliye? Apni hone wali patni kaisi dikhti hai, yeh nahin jaante aap?''
He studied her face for a second. She really did look like her sister. He thought how stupid he was to not realize such an obvious fact.
But in no way he was about to bend down.
Especially in front of her.
So he thought it was in his best interest to keep the things like they were meant to be, and he spoke.
''Kintu Ratnawati Baisa, hum aapki jija se ab tak mile nahin hain. Abhi tak unhe dekhna baaki hai humara. Samajh rahi hain aap?'' He talked to her like he was teaching her something.
''Aaj mooh-dikhayi hain na? Toh wahi jaa rahe hain hum, jahan aapki jija hai, theek hai? Jaye hum ab?''
Ratan thought for a while.
''Theek hai jijusa. Sahi hai aapki baat. Isiliye jaane dete hain aapko. Anyatha yeh vivaah kabhi nahin hone dete hum.''
Kunwar Pratap nodded and turned to leave.
''Hum to samajh gaye. Kintu kya..AAP samjhe humari baat?'' Ratan was trying hard to keep him engaged for a conversation with her.
Pratap looked up at her in annoyance.
Apne jijusa se aise koi baat karta hai kya? Pratap...kya hoga aapka! Ek aisi, to doosri ka aisa hona to nischit hai!
''Dekhiye..'' Pratap lifted his finger to point it at her, but then controlled his fury. ''Ratnawati Baisa...humein jaane dijiye aapki jija ke paas..? Theek hai?''
''Theek hai jijusa. Jaane diya.''
Pratap again turned to leave.
''Waise.....''
He closed his eyes tightly. What nuisance if a girl she was!
''Milkar accha laga aapse jijusa. Khamma Ghani.''
''Haan..humein bhi..Ratnawati Baisa.''
Bilkul accha nahin laga milke aapse.
''Ghani Khamma.''
He literally had to dash further for her to not say anything, again!
Once he reached the room, the known nervousness in him crept back. He was even panting by then.
Suddenly he heard faint sounds of a payal. He went near the water filled pot and waited for his to be bride to come.
His heart was thumping due to the 'excercise' his sister in law made him do, but it was mainly due to...well..you know..?
The sounds of payal were now clear, he could make out she was moving forward with a very slow pace, and every step she took was steady.
She too, was alone, he thought.
He waited for her in the pot for her reflection to fall into it.
Slowly, her head was visible. It was...
Green?
A frown came onto his face as he stood confused.
As she came closer, so did her face.
He saw a green semi-transparent veil with a purple embroidered border adoring it.
He sighed slightly, and thought how silly his thoughts were.
Her eyes could be seen now. Her red bindi, her small eyebrows, plain, without-the-slightest-frown forehead, everything about her seemed to make a picture of its own in his mind.
His eyes studied her, how her eyeballs moved from left to right, in nervousness.
How everytime she would try to take a look at him, she would refrain from doing it, embarrassed at what he might think.
Now her whole face was showed, and all he could do was attent his eyes on her, completely!
-X-X-
A/N: Really really sorry for the delay and thanks to y'all that I wasn't critisized in a single, slightest way.
Enjoy😊
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