Timeless

Reflection of the Past

" Ajabdeh!" Maharanisa!" Maaaaa" Daadisa?"The palace echoed with the cries as she lay breathless, in his arms. His world had frozen. His Ajabdeh was gone. He had grown into the man he was with her. She was the part of his life he was always thankful for. She made him believe Love and Family existed for good. She was his strength. Rana Pratap sat like a stone watching her calm face as Mewar cried for its queen. He had failed to give her any happiness, he felt.

500 Years Later...The Fort of Chittor was a special attraction for tourists. The story of its bravery and sacrifice was famous. As a student of history, most had the dream to see the place and today her dream was coming true. She walked into the fort, with five friends and classmates. They got busy clicking pictures as she looked for a tour guide. She finally found one and called out to them." Mahek, Purvi, and Disha! Come! He's gonna show us around." She straightened her backpack." This is the Vijay Stambh... the Kirti Stambh... Meera Maa Temple."Mahek was opening her shoes as she stared at her friend looking around." Survi? You not going inside the temple?"

" No, you carry on, I will Look around..." She stared around the place and looked at the blazing sun with a frown. Then she took out her bottle and a cap. They were back soon and the last place to visit was the Kumbha Palace. As they walked up the steps she wondered how the place looked familiar. Ever since her father's untimely demise, all she did was follow her dreams to be an archaeologist. Maybe reading too much about a place made it look familiar. They stepped into the ruins." Yeh tha e zamane mein yaha ka shaan ab toh pata bhi na chalta ke kitne manzil thee, sab nasth ho chuka." The guide spoke up as they looked around." I think four, see three are visible" Disha spoke up." How come? There can be three and a roof too." Purvi spoke irritated at Disha's know-it attitude." What do you think Survi?" Mahek asked. She was unusually quiet." There were five, yes five, with half a roof In the Ranimahal making it five and a half." She spoke unmindful." Where on earth did you read that?" Mahek's eyes widened. " As far as I know no one knows this."

" I dunno Mahek." She looked worried. " I must have read it somewhere."

" Or she imagined it." Purvi laughed." Yaha se ayiye." The guide stepped into the corridors. They crossed the corridor and she felt as if someone was calling her, but it was not her name..." Ajabdeh..." She had no idea why this name came back time and again like voices in her mind ever since she read about Maharana Pratap's consort. She shook off the voices. They walked into the ground with a large open area and some broken walls. The guide was about to speak up when she heard a " CLASH!" like someone clinked two metals together. She turned around to the sound and saw no one. The sun is driving me crazy, am not feeling well. She heard it again, this time it was more like ... swords clashing? But how on earth will she know how swords clashed." Yeh tha akhara aur Dangalsthal." The guide spoke up as her eyes widened." Dangal? Yaha... pass mein koi astabal bhi hai kya?"" Nahi Babyji, asthabal toh... ab toh sab nasht ho chuka..."" Survi! Now, where did you read about that?" Mahek was frowning." Mahek... I... am not feeling well... you people continue, I will take a cab and leave."

" Aree Survi...." Mahek called in vain after her." Bhaiyaa yaha se Chavand kitna dur hai?" She asked the driver feeling a little better." Ek der ghanta toh lagega...."" Hum abhi jaa sakte hai?"" Haan kyun nahi..."" chaliye..."She took out a diary from her backpack where she scribbled down her findings. She read out the marked page." Maharani Ajabde Punwar died in Chavand, the capital of Maharana Pratap, in a moderate hideout."She sighed. She never told anyone about these voices and flashes. She was scared they would end up taking her to some medical help. She had seen strange flashes ever since she was a kid, dreamt that she was lost in the jungles, trapped in a hut, and many other strange things. But the voices appeared only after she came to Udaipur and bought a book on the Maharana's personal life. Her thoughts were broken by the car horn." Hum aa Gaye."She got down at the sight of the simple two-storey house in ruins. This was his capital, he and Ajabdeh Punwar died here. She walked inside. Not many tourists were there but she could hear a few birds. An office of the ASI was adjacent to the main house. As she entered the dark cold room, her vision blurted. She took it as coming into darkness from the sunlight thing but no, the flashes were back, this time more prominent. She could see curtains on the jharokhas, red and yellow, a couch, and a bed. She could hear her voice giggle. And a kid's." Ranaji... Ranaji... Pratap!" She was calling someone. Survi had goosebumps at the vision as she felt like she would faint. She caught the nearest pillar, to balance herself." Are you all right ?" Came a voice behind her. She stared at the door palely as the light reflected his shadow then his face appeared before her. Dark brown eyes. " You okay?" He asked again." I'm... dizzy... Fine... I need some fresh air." She managed as he held her shoulders giving her support then took her out of the place. " Are you here alone?" She nodded a yes." Then let's sit you down in my office and I will get you some glucose to dehydrate you... Miss??"

" Survi Joshi."

" Pratap Singh" Her eyes widened as she heard her voice again in her head. She shut her eyes." Are you feeling unwell Ms Joshi?"

" You... You are... "

" The Curator of the Museum, ASI officer." He smiled. As she sat sipping her glucose she asked " Umm... what are the places to visit relating to Maharana Pratap? I am a student of history too."

" You are?" He smiled pleased. " Wait I will write down the places for you, and advise taking the glucose everywhere. You won't find people in most places."

" Thank You, Mr Singh." She managed. " You are from here only?"

" Yes actually... am kind of a royal too..." She saw him smile humbly." Royal?"

" Yes, my maternal side is from the Punwar Family of Bijolia. We are family too..."

" Ajabdeh Punwar?" Her heart skipped a beat." Yes, Maharani Ajabdeh Punwar. My home is in Bijolia, and we have business in Udaipur, but History attracted me so, I am here!"

" Bijolia... It's..."

" Maharani's birthplace, there are palace ruins. Kunds, Mandirs... You can see them too..." He added that to the list." Thank You." She got up to leave. " Visit again" He replied.