Wherever You Stray, I Follow (Kunwar Pratap/Ajabde [PrAja])

1//~bhagyavati~

A/N: Please don't hate me  😖 🙇‍♀️. I promise this is my final re-write. I SWEAR. I had a horrible writer's block in the last re-write and it was heading in the exact same direction as the previous one. Now that felt wrong so I decided to ditch the time travel trope altogether. No time travel! I hope you like this one- 'cause it's my final version.

***

and in every life
we fall like stars into each
other's skies and we dream our way
into each other's destinies ❃
-butterflies rising

***

Pune, Maharashtra...

 The Bhonsle Vada echoed with the sound of drums and laughter. The walls were no longer visible as every square inch was covered with flowers. Everyone from the ministers of the court to the common people participated in the naming ceremony of the newest addition to the Bhonsle family.

Born to Shahji Bhonsle and Jijabai Bhonsle was the first baby girl after seven generations in the family. She was born on the day of the battle in which Shiva Raze conquered Pune. Her birth marked the liberation of the Marathas from the merciless Adilshahi. Due to unforeseen circumstances, her naming ceremony had to be delayed for months.

The baby girl slept soundly in her mother's arms without a care in the world. Jijabai rocked the baby back and forth admiring her lovingly. Any mother thought their child was perfect but Jijabai knew her daughter was perfect- there was just something about her.

Shivaji Raze entered the room smiling and went straight to his younger sister. The little girl had everyone in her clutches within a few days of her birth. Her father and her older brother Sambhaji were away for an important event or else even they could not resist her.

"Aai Sahib, kya hum bhi apni chhoti behen ko apne haatho mein khela sakte hain?" Shiva Raze asked his mother already holding his hands out before his mother could even reply. Jijabai nodded and handed the infant to her son.

Shivaji held his sister in his arms. As he held her, she slowly opened her eyes rising from the sweet sleep. Her tiny mouth opened and a huge yawn shook her small frame. She raised her arms at looked at Shivaji. Recognizing him, she gurgled happily waving her small fists and kicking the air with excitement.

He held out his finger and she took hold of it happily smiling.

 Shivaji's heart swelled with pride as she took hold of his finger (as it did every time she held onto his finger). It made him feel special that his sister always chose him by taking his finger and everybody was too dazzled by the sight of Shivaji Raze (who had never held anything but a sword) playing so gently with his sister that nobody broke his bubble to let him know that she held everyone's fingers.

"Dekha Aai Sahib, humari behen humesha humari hi ungli pakad ti hain. Isse saaf hain ki veh humse sabse adhik pyar karti hain," Shiva Raze said. His mother nodded in agreement