Eternal Love

Misunderstanding

Kunwar Pratap was happy to be back home. He was sitting in the Baithak of his own house, with Chakrapani discussing that they must visit their Guruji once. Bhago came into the Kitchen where a Daasi was helping Ajabde.
" Aree Bhago, when did you come?"
" Ajabde I need your help."
" What happened?" She grew worried.
" Woh... I couldn't tell Panditji the news." She blushed.
" What? He doesn't know yet? Bhago"
" Please tell him Ajabde..."
" Kya? Me??" She was surprised.
" Yes, you, how else will I tell?"
" I have a suggestion."

A piece of paper came flying to land on Pratap's shoes. Chakrapani was too busy with his counting to notice. Pratap picked it up and looked around. He could hear the sound of Payal in the corridor. Ajabde? He opened the paper and what he read, he read again. What? How? So soon? His eyes were wide and he sat for a moment. Then he got up.
" What happened Baojiraj?"
" I... I need to go." He left a confused Chakrapani behind.
" Where is Kuwaranisa?" He enquired at the Daasi.
" Maharanisa has called her."
He nodded his head, he needed to get her alone and ask what was going on.

" Dadabhai, Daajiraj has kept a grand lunch today come with me."
" Bhai, I..."
" It's such great news!" Shakti's words made him skip a heartbeat.
" What great news?"
" Ohh Dadabhai you are so modest!" He walked ahead with a smile thinking why his brother didn't consider such a win a piece of great news. Pratap followed confused. Great news? Does everyone know this?

They sat in the dining hall with all the chiefs and their brothers and father. Daasis were serving them delicacies. He looked at the jharokha hoping to see her there, but his mother was smiling at him. He looked around and everyone else was doing the same. Why on earth are they smiling like that... Ajabde, where are you?

He finished his lunch and thought of going to the Ranimahal to look for her. He stopped in the corridor. No, what am I doing? If the news is true also, I can not ask her in front of the queens. He nodded his head at his stupidity and headed home.

Ajabde was making the bed when he entered and stopped at her glance.
" Thank god you are here!"
" You want something Kunwarsa!"
" Tell me the truth, is it true?"
" What?" She looked at his confused face clueless.
" Who else knows about this? Everyone?"
" Kunwarsa...."
" When did you find out? When were you planning to tell me? Why is everything happening so fast?" He seemed to be asking the questions in a trance.
" Kunwar Pratap! I am not getting you..."
" Woh..."
Jaivanta Bai's coming was announced and Ajabde walked past him to welcome Ranima. She had a plate of sweets in her hand. She walked toward Pratap with a smile.
" Have some sweets, Pratap!" He pushed a laddoo in his mouth making Ajabde smile.
" You are going to be Kakasa soon!" JaivantaBai added.
" Ranima... wait ... Kakasa?" He looked at his mother confused and then at Ajabde.
" Ohho Ranima, see how bad a friend he is... everyone knows except him!"
" What?" He was still clueless.
" Chakrapani's children will call you Kakasa soon!" Jaivanta Bai smiled at him.
" Chakrapani's children?" There was a sign of relief on his face.
" Haan Haan Kunwarsa, Chakrapani's children!" Ajabde repeated.
" Go and see your friend." Pratap had this silly smile on his face. Phew, what I thought!
Jaivanta Bai left as Ajabde continued moving around the room, " Don't go empty-handed, take a shagun for Bhago. What were you saying to me?" She turned to face him, still wearing the silly smile. " Kunwarsa?"
" That paper... It wasn't for me... it was for him!"
"Of course, it was for... " Ajabde looked at him wide-eyed.
" Kunwarsa! You thought I...?? It's only been a month that we are married."
" That's what I was thinking!" He defended.
" Kunwar Pratap, I feel you are thinking too much!" She nodded her head as he looked silly. " Now go get a shagun for Bhago."
" All right, all right am going." He turned to leave.
" Wait ..."
He turned around to face his wife again.
" The thought is not so bad... maybe after a month or two..."
" Kunwarsa!" Her glance made him smile teasingly. " Okay, am going!"
He left her smiling.

Jaivanta Bai entered Sajja Bai's room hearing the soft sobs.
" What happened Behena?"
" Nothing Jija." She quickly wiped away her tears.
" Tell me, when did you start hiding things from me?"
" Kunwar Shakti. You remember that village he went to with Kunwar Pratap to save the people?"
" Yess...."
" He has gone there again, saying he needs to be busy. I Am scared Jija. I will lose him."Jaivanta Bai hugged the sobbing mother. She knew it was of no use talking to Udai Singh as long as Dheerbai is there. She needed to talk to her brother instead.

Kunwar Pratap entered his home, in the late evening, visibly disturbed.
" What..." Ajabde was about to enquire.
" Bhai Shakti left."
" Left? Where?" Ajabde's heart skipped a beat.
" That village near Bijolia we went to... he's there... he needs to be busy...Majali maasa is..."
" Ohh no Kunwarsa!"
" What is it Ajabde? What happened?"
" I... remember... Heer told me... if her letters stop coming then I should know it's time to make a move. I didn't get a letter today."
Pratap looked at Ajabde's worried face in the lights of the lamps.
" Get everything ready, we are leaving for Bundi first thing in the morning!"
" But Kunwarsa! What will we tell..."
" Leave that on me! Ranima will manage when I tell her." He left to meet his mother.

Shakti was at the Village where the Bhils greeted him with so much love and affection. He was given the same hut they had when he met his Bhabisa for the first time. He looked around and smiled at the memories. Some children were flocking around the hut and he got himself busy teaching them sword fighting. The next dawn, a little boy came knocking at his door. He opened it, asking.
" What happened?"
" Kunwarsa, a lady is here to see you."
" Lady?" As the boy ran away he was left wide-eyed. Heer stood looking tired and drained, a bundle of clothes in hand.
" Heer!"
" Kunwarsa! Save me!" Her tears wet his clothes as she hugged him, surprising him some more.
" Heer... Heer, calm down!" He made her sit on his bed. " Tell me what happened. How did you find me?"
" I was... I was..." She sobbed. He patted his head.
" Hush... it's fine. Calm down. You are scaring me." She started telling him what happened.

Heer's father had reached Bundi to declare he was looking for a groom for her. She overheard her parents say, Kunwar Vikramaditya of Bikaner was the crown prince and perfect for her. She entered the room, determined to know why her parents were doing this!
" I need to know what you are hiding from me Father! I demand to know now!"
" It's for your good Heer, it's for you, we are your parents."
" You know where my happiness lies." She left without hearing what he had to say.
" Tell me Rajaji, why are you doing this?" her mother enquired.
" It's for Jaivanta, one more Bundi Princess at Chittor, Jaivanta's happiness is at stake too." He broke down. Heer had heard what she had to. Did he care for his sister and not her?
" What will you do now Sakhi?" Jaso Bai was scared. She was younger than Heer too.
" Tonight, am leaving, and I need your help."
" My help?"
" Send your guard to know where Kunwar Shakti Singh is... then help me reach him. You have to do this much Jaso."
Shakti was stunned at her.
" You ran away?"
" Dadabhai told you to wait na? He told us to have faith."
" I don't want to drag Dadabhai or Jija in our Battle. They are happy."
" Heer...."
" Marry me Kunwarsa."
" What?" He was wide-eyed.
" Marry me here, in this village."

At dawn, Pratap and Ajabde had gone to meet Ranima. They touched her feet and she nodded saying, "Whatever you two decide, let me know, am with you. "
" I will write to you Ranima." Ajabde nodded.
They left with two-foot soldiers, her Palki and Sarang.
Dheerbai met Jaivanta Bai in the corridor.
" Where is Kunwaranisa this morning?"
" I send them to Bijolia and Eklingji darshan for a week." Jaivanta Bai walked away. Dheerbai sensed something amiss.

On the way to Bundi as they crossed by Bijolia, a messenger from Bundi stopped them on the way.
" Kunwar Pratap, I was going to you with your Mamasa's message, here."
" What is it?" Ajabde asked.
" Heer... has eloped!"
" What??"
" I told her to wait didn't I?" Pratap nodded his head.
" I did too. We need to find her." They both shared a glance.

It was raining as the Bhil boats were on the river, fishing was an enjoyable occupation for them.
" Heer, come back here!"
" No Kunwarsaa, I will go on that boat, you are coming or not?"
" You don't know swimming Heer!"
" So what? You know!" He laughed at her childishness.
" Chaliye!" She urged. He took her hand and entered the boat.

" Where are they?" Pratap looked around the village clueless.
" There!"
Ajabde pointed smiling as the boat approached them. Heer and Shakti were dripping wet and laughing. Pratap was stunned. It's been so long since he had seen Shakti that pleased. His anger vanished. Getting off the boat, Heer's eyes met Ajabde's. She stopped. Shakti followed her eyes to them and his smile faded as Pratap approached them.
" Heer! You ran away!" He looked angry. Ajabde hid a smile.
" Woh Dadabhai, I swear I didn't know she will!" Shakti defended himself.
" Kya? You are putting me in more trouble Kunwarsa!" Heer shouted at him. Ajabde just couldn't hold her laughter. Pratap smiled.
" If you had to run, couldn't you say that to us at least?" Pratap's smiling face made Heer hug him.
" Dadabhai!"
Shakti and Ajabde smiled at each other.

" I am going home, and making lunch, Heer stay with Kunwarsa, today your Dadabhai will help me." Ajabde smiled.
" What? Me? Help in the Kitchen? No No, I will stay with them"
" No, you are coming with me." Ajabde stared at him, indicating to leave the duo alone.
" All right." He gave in.
She was keeping down things in order when he walked up behind her with a smile.
" Kuwaranisa... that was a nice trick"
" What trick?"
" To spend some time with me."
" Ji Nahi, I wanted them alone. You get me some water from the well."
" Water? Well?"
" Ji."
" Kunwar Pratap Singh, you learnt a lesson today!" He said to himself.
" What lesson?" She asked.
" No matter who you are, your wife is the boss. At your service Kuwaranisa!" He bowed making her laugh.
" Jaiye, it's getting late." She turned around smiling as he left smiling.