Eternal Love

Happiness

The Ladies had reached the Rani Mahal early at dawn to prepare for the grand welcome. Ajabde was instructing the Daasis on the decorations. The Rani Mahal was well decorated with flowers and curtains handpicked by Ajabde herself. Dheerbai was walking through the corridors seeing the beautiful royal decor.
" This Samant Putri has a taste." She found herself praising Ajabde aloud.
" Dhanyavaad Choti Ma." She was startled to find Ajabde standing behind her with all smiles. She hated that victorious smile.
" Kuwaranisa, Ohh you are so naive. I feel so bad for you!" Ajabde's smile turned to a surprise as she raised her eyebrows, " Ji?"

" Haan, I feel so bad, here Jija didn't let you, the future Maharani of Mewar stay in the Ranimahal, and she claims to treat you equally and Rajkumari Heer Baisa gets a room in the Ranimahal."
Ajabde smiled again, " Chotima, am sure Ranima had done this thinking of me only. I am very happy to get to look after a household with full control from now on. Ranima wants me to learn early. After all, I have to look after the whole Ranimahal someday."
Dheerbai's smile disappeared as she walked away. Jaivanta Bai had witnessed this from a distance. She walked up to Ajabde saying, " Come to my room."

They walked to Jaivanta Bai's chambers and she shut the door behind them.
" Ajab, you have always been my daughter you know that right?" She said holding Ajabde fondly.
" Yes, Ranima. I always am." she smiled.
" Then tell me truly, do you feel I treat you differently?"
" Yes you do Ranima, you love me more!" She hugged a smiling Jaivanta Bai.
" You know why I..."
" I know Ranima... For my safety. I know! And I can never question you. I trust you blindly. You are my mother. And as for what people say, Ranima as long as you and Kunwarsa are with me I am happy here."
" You know Ajabde, no princess could have been better than you for Mewar!" Jaivanta Bai smiled proudly.
" Maharanisa..." A Daasi came in. " The new bride is here."
" Let's welcome Heer Baisa Ranima."
They went out to meet SajjaBai at the main entrance. Flowers were laid down for the new bride t walk on. Sajjabai did the aarti, followed by Jaivanta Bai who surprisingly ignored Dheerbai and handed the thaal to Ajabde. Shocked at first Ajabde took the aarti thaal and stepped forward with a smile.
" Ajabde has the first right on her Devrani now. Be careful Heer!" Dheerbai taunted as Shakti sarcastically replied, " That's the best thing that could happen to her in this RaniMahal." He stopped at Pratap's nod and glare. Ajabde's smile travelled from Shakti to Pratap as eyes met and remembering the fight he chose to look away.

The ring-finding game was going to happen as Shakti proudly said, " I will win this!" Heer glared at him like a lioness making him smile. The ring was thrown in by Ajabde who again looked up at Pratap who looked away. Heer won the contest as Chakrapani teased Shakti saying, " Noone wins against the wives. Even our Baojiraj the greatest sword fighter lost a sword fight to Bhabisaa." Everyone laughed as Ajabde turned red and Pratap stared at Chakrapani.

That night Pratap was busy with some paper works when Ajabde entered the room.
" Kunwarsa I was thinking..."
" Not now, am working."
" Not anymore!" She blew off the lamp on the desk.
" Ajabde, let me work."
" Work tomorrow."
" Why?"
" Because we haven't talked all day, I want to talk."
" And fight about something again?"
" Kunwarsa! I asked Ranima. She said Kelwara is not that dangerous. Then why are you not taking me? Do you plan on meeting some princess there?"
" What?" She could see his surprised expression in the pale moonlight. She bit her lips.
" Yes, like they all found your and Jasobai's pairing ...."
" Hahaha! Looks like someone is jealous!"
" No!"
" Yes!! I loved that."
" What?"
" Your possessiveness. That day." He pulled her close. She smiled at him. He held her hand and took her to bed.

Two days hence, Ajabde was busy setting up Heer's room, making her comfortable when Jaivanta Bai came in smiling.
" Ajabde, Daima had visited Saubhagyabati and she said the baby is a daughter. Go meet her once." Ajabde nodded smiling as Heer asked, " Can I go too?" Jaivanta Bai nodded.

On their way back Ajabde and Heer took the garden route to the Ranimahal that passed their home and the Dangal Sthal. Ajabde knew why Heer insisted on taking the route as the princes practised there. She smiled and ignored the obvious. Their voices interrupted the sword duel as Shakti stared at them from a distance with a smile. Ajabde stepped forward with the news.
" Chakrapani will be having a daughter soon. Daima said."
" What? How could she tell?" Shakti was suspicious.
" That's what I asked." Heer gushed.
" They can tell, I saw about Bhai Balwant."
" Yes, and even Maan and Jagmal too you remember Bhai Shakti?" Pratap added to a clueless Shakti.
" Bhago is very happy."
" And Chakrapani?" Pratap asked.
" Scared to death." Heer laughed. Ajabde held her hand," Let's go back, it will be time for Ranima's puja soon." She nodded.
On her way back she felt a little dizzy.
" Umm... Heer... I am not feeling well."
" What happened?"
" I don't know."
" Let's go to your home, Jja, you can lay down a little." Ajabde nodded at a scared Heer.

" Badi Maa Badi Maa." Heer was out of breath. " Woh... Jija is not feeling well."
" What happened?" Jaivanta Bai rushed to see Ajabde sitting on her bed drinking juice from a Dasi.
" Aree Heer, you called Ranima? Am fine really. "
" What happened Ajabde?"
" I just felt a little dizzy. It's so hot outside maybe that's why..."
" Daasi call vaidji."
" Aree nahi nahi... Am fine Ranima. Vaidji will cause Kunwarsa some tension."
Pratap stormed into the room all worried.
" Ohho Heer Baisa why are you calling everyone?" Ajabde complained.
" What happened Ranima? She is ill?" He looked worried.
" No am fine" Ajabde protested. The vaid checked her and went away with Jaivanta Bai. Pratap sat down worried facing her on the bed.
" Why don't you take care of yourself?" He said once they were alone.
" Kunwar Pratap see how you worry without a reason. That is why I was telling you I will go with you so that you can take care of me." She smiled.
" Ajabde why are you so stubborn?"
" Pratap!" Jaivanta Bai entered as he got up.
" Ji Ranima?"
" Go meet Rawatji, he is waiting at the Baithak."
" Ranima, can I go to Kelwara too?" Ajabde interfered as Pratap looked at her angrily.
" No Ajabde you can't." Pratap smiled as Jaivanta Bai spoke.
" See Ranima won't allow you." He said and left.
"Ranima why can't I go?" Ajabde asked as Jaivanta Bai smiled and hugged her.
" Because you need extra care now, especially with my Nanha Pratap coming I can't afford to let you go out of my sight!" Ajabde looked at Jaivanta Bai shocked as realisation dawned and she blushed red.

" Ranima! " Pratap interrupted clueless. " We are leaving at dawn."
Jaivanta Bai looked back at Ajabde telling, " Tell him by dawn." She nodded shyly.
" Tell me what?" Pratap asked as soon as she left.
" Nothing. Let's pack your things." She walked past him and was about to go out of the room when he shouted, " Ajabde!" And made her stop.
" You are not leaving until you tell what Ranima is telling."
" Uff Kunwar Pratap, I will but not now!"
" What kind of excuse is that?"
" Let me go."
" No! Tell me."
" All right!" He stared at her face waiting. She looked here and there.
" Woh.... Woh... Humm.... "
" Yes?"
" You... I mean we...."
" You are making no sense!"
Ajabde breathed in heavily, " I need to go see Daimaa tomorrow!"
" Why? For Saubhagyabati?" She nodded a no.
" For me."
" Why would you need...." He stopped surprised and stared right at her blushing red face. " Ajabde! Hey Eklingji. Really?"
" Yes." She replied embarrassed as he hugged her.
" Why are you standing here? Sit down. No, Lie down! And you haven't eaten yet, Daasi Daasi!"
" Kunwarsa! Kunwarsa!" She stopped him by her hand. " Am fine."
" You don't decide that! We do!"
" We?"
" We... Me and him... or her! I need to go tell Rawatji to postpone the trip by a day. We will go see Daima."
" No, you don't! You forget the vows?"
" Wha..."
" First Mewar, then Ranima, Then me... us." She reminded smiling as he stared at her.

At dawn, he was ready to leave as she came out with the aarti thaal.
" You shouldn't have woken so early."
" And missed doing your aarti?"
" Stay with Ranima and don't eat anything from anyone and...."
" I know, stop worrying and concentrate there! I will write to you."
"Every day!"
"Kunwarsa!"
" No, Promise me!"
" All right, every day!"
" Take care of yourself and him..."
" ... Or her..." She smiled. She did his tilak and he got on Sarang. He then got down and walked up to her surprising her with a tight hug.
" Take care Ajabde."
" Stop worrying and come back soon."
" I will."

He rode off as she stood there before leaving for Ranima's chamber to wait for his arrival in a month or so.