Eternal Love

Wind of Change

Jaivanta Bai was worried. She had noticed Dheerbai part with her favourite Kangan. The Kangan she held so dearly that she even refused to let the daasis keep it. Now she had willingly given It to Heer. This meant something was playing on her mind. SajjaBai said all of a sudden, " Jija did you notice Dheer gave her favourite..." Jaivanta Bai looked at Sajja Bai and she came and held her hand saying " Jija please do something. Please protect Heer she is too innocent."

Pratap's eyes were searching the corridors. The Mahal was full of guests and the inner Ranimahals were occupied by the family. He entered the corridors of the Ranimahal and ran his eyes through the tulsimanch the arena and the cowshed.

" Where is she..." He murmured to himself nodding his head. He headed for the puja Ghar but was stopped by giggles coming from the kitchen. He looked through the curtains and found Ratan and Ajabde supervising the cooking and sharing a light moment. What he didn't notice was Hansa Bai standing behind him and watching him with a smile.
" You want something Kunwarsa?" Her voice made all three turn as Ratan smiled at Ajabde amused. Pratap was a little startled.
" Woh... Umm... Pani..."
" Paani? There is a jug in your room na?'' Ratan spoke amused as Ajabde looked away. Hansa smiled.
" Ratan, come I have work for you. Ajabde, give Kunwarsa a glass of water." Hansa left followed by Ratan who smiled at an embarrassed Pratap.
" Paani." Ajab handed him a fresh jar as eyes met.
" Where were you? I was looking all over for you. You didn't come to meet me."
" What? Kunwarsa... There are so many guests here.. So much to do..."
" yes... You are the only one with work. I sit idle all day..."
" why are you being so childish..."
" Ajabde... I ... "
" Here's your water..."
'' Ajabde, I can't wait to take you home." He said it so deeply she looked up at him.
" What If I don't go?"
"Oh, you have a choice?"
" yes, what If I don't go..."
" I will go marry some princess instead... I am Kunwar Pratap Singh of Mewar... I will find some beautiful princesses"
" Then, I will also..."
" Ajabde!" He stopped her with his hands. He was taken aback and angry.
" Never say that! You are mine and I won't let you go."
" We will see that when we are older and you marry a beautiful princess..."
" Am not marrying for alliance ..."
" yes, you are..."
" Ajabde, you should be the one not wanting it..."
" I told you Kunwarsa I have some responsibility towards Mewar too."
He nodded his head accepting his defeat in this debate like every time. The sound of voices in the corridor made them walk out. It was Shakti and Heer.
" No, No, No..." Heer was shouting at an amused Shakti.
" you don't believe me ask them... Bhabisa tell me cant I marry some beautiful princess after her?"
" I won't let you." Heer was clear.
" see her. Learn!" Pratap told Ajabde who ignored his comment.
" Stop fighting on this. Heer comes to help me with some decorations." Ajabde called in vain. Heer walked off angrily as Shakti told Pratap "Come, Dadabhai let's find Rawatji."

Heer was walking through the corridor alone and angry when someone called her name. She stopped. It was Dheerbai.
" Come to my room Heer. You look upset." Her smiling face was calling. Heer stepped into her room and gasped. So many beautiful things lay before her eyes. Gaudy jewellery, lehengas, mirrors, perfumes, and boxes. She was looking at the things in awe.
" These are all for you. I was selecting what you will get when you come to Chittor. Your welcome should be grand, you are a princess after all. A royal by blood."
" You are doing this for me?"
" of course, you are like a smaller version of myself... I remember my childhood seeing you. I so wanted my daughter to be like you. And besides. You will be Mewar's first Royal Kuwarani. Thanks to Pratap's choices."
" Jija is..."
" She is like an angel. She is perfect for him. I know. But am a mother. My heart desires the best for my favourite son. I wanted him to marry a princess. He deserves one. Was It wrong for me to want the best for my son?"
" No Choti ma."
" you are a princess. You know the ways around the palace. She is yet to learn. You should be the one teaching her. But here I see you follow her around."
" But Kunwar Shakti likes it..."
" Kunwarsa is strange. He doesn't seem to see anything except Pratap and Ajabde. But you are the one who should guide him. You should make him understand she should behave like you, you shouldn't be learning from her. Anyways, leave that. See this necklace you like it?" Dheerbai looked at Heer's happy reflection in the mirror. Half her job was done.
" You are so nice Chotima. People misunderstand you."
" Am glad you understood me, my dear."

At dinner, Ajabde was helping the maids serve the food. All the guests had eaten and so have the elders. Everyone insisted Ajabde and Pratap eat early because it was their Haldi the next day but Ajabde refused followed by Pratap. As the boys Sat to eat, Pratap's gaze was fixed on Ajabde as it was their last meeting before the wedding. Ajabde ignored his glances as she instructed Ratan to add fruits and nuts to the dessert.
" Here, let me do this." Heer took the tray from Ratan. She was adding more nuts than necessary and Ajabde said " Heer, don't put so many nuts. It's fine."
To everyone's surprise, Heer snapped back "You see Jija we Royals can afford this much nuts, you also will get to like more of it when you become one. " Shakti fumed in anger as Heer got up to leave.
" Adding ingredients depends on the cook and the delicacy Heer. Not on your blood. Your Royal cook is not a Royal by birth is he?" Ajabde's polite reply made Heer look back and Pratap smile.
" Besides, she said 'cause I don't like nuts." He added.
A shadow behind a curtain moved and Heer followed it out.
" What's wrong with her? Bhabisa I apologize..."
" No Bhai she is our little sister." Pratap interrupted.
" Yes. Now finish your food and promise me you won't talk to her about This." Shakti looked stunned at Ajabde's order. After dinner, she was leaving for her room when a pull at her hand almost made her shout. He put his hands on her mouth.
" Hushh. Its me."
" Kunwar Pratap!"
" Hushh." He had trapped her between the pillar and himself. She breathed heavily.
" I wanted to tell you something."
" Ji?"
" I want to see you after Haldi."
" Ji? No... No. No. No. It's a ritual. You can't. You can only see me in the evening."
" You know me Ajabde... What I want to do I do It. "
" You will land us in trouble. Please..."
" Okay okay, all right. I won't. I was just scaring you. I will see you at the .... Umm..."
" the..." Ajabde repeated.
" The best moment of your life. I will see you then" he smiled back and disappeared into the darkness. She was worried. He meant It when he said he wanted to meet.

The next morning Ajabde sat in a yellow lehenga, dressed in floral jewellery in her room while the married ladies were at the grounds applying Haldi on a beaming Pratap and a reluctant Shakti couldn't save himself from some smearing by his mothers as well. Pratap was looking at the jharokhas again and again hoping for a glance. His mother saw his eyes travel and smiled saying, " Learn to wait Pratap. All your waiting starts today. You can not see the bride so easily." Everyone laughed as he turned red.

Ajabde sat heart pounding as a Daasi came in saying "Your mother called you for the pujas Baisa." Her mind was still on his last night's words. " I want to meet you after Haldi."
She was forcing her heart to believe he said it without a reason.

As Pratap went for a bath he said to himself, " Kunwar Pratap doesn't wait Ranima, I will see her that too before the wedding." It was like a challenge to him now. He noticed Shakti walk towards Ajabde's side of the Mahal.
" Aree. Where are you going?"
" To be Bhabisa's brother. She needs a brother for her tilak rasm and she told me to be one when she needs it. Balwant is too small." He replied to a smiling Pratap.
" you are going to be Ladkiwala?" Heer was asking surprised.
" yes, so?"
" So treat us well, we are the groom's side, your guests, right Dadabhai?'' Pratap looked at Shakti smiling and said, " There you go. The wifely drama has started." He chuckled at Heer who narrowed her eyes at him. Then left. Heer looked at Shakti saying " So?"
" So I will see you in the evening." He walked away with a nod and a smile as she stood watching him.