Separated

Sacrifice

The guests were arriving at the gateways of the main entrance of the Kumbha palace. The nagada announced each arrival as the 16 chieftains of Mewar arrived with their families to be personally welcomed and greeted by Udai Singh, Jaivanta bai and Dheer bai in toe as Rawatji introduced them to a preoccupied Kunwar Pratap. He hadn't slept all night; he had stayed awake trying to put himself in the position of his newly married abandoned bride who had trusted him with her life. He had tried to figure out the right words of apology in vain. He knew his Ajabdeh. He knew how much it had hurt her. The morning arrived with the palace welcoming eminent guests from all over Mewar and beyond for the wedding celebrations. Udai Singh along with Dheerbai and the other queens were joined at the Kumbha Palace gates by a reluctant Kunwar Pratap and Jaivanta Bai folding hands before the guests."Aur kaun kaun aana baaki reh gaya Rawatji?""Saare samath aa chuke... bas kelwa ke Samanth padharne hi wale hai... aur bacche...." He stopped at the list."kaun bachhe?" Jaivanta Bai asked ."Maharanisa. Umm... humko nahi lagta ke koi padharne wale hai... umm ... waha se ...""Bijolia ke Samath Padhar Rahe hai!" The announcement made everyone look at the entrance with awe and shock as Udai Singh murmured "Hansa baisa ne Balwant ko bheja?"

"Hum e lagta hai lajja ki matra hi paar kar chuke yeh log..." Dheerbai stopped at Jaivanta Bai's warning stare. Kunwar Pratap's eyes were still fixed at the gates. In his heart, somewhere he wished it was not only Balwant. The horses were visible soon as the crowd stood with a questioning look at the figure on the Samant's horse and warrior attire. It was a girl, her face covered, her kohl eyes ... ones that made his heart skip a beat every time. It was her. A faint smile appeared on his face to disappear at her cold stare." Hum, samjhe nahi...." Udai Singh looked at Rawatji who was smiling."Hukum Bijolia ka samant Balwant toh hai, lekin who chota hone ke karan, Baijilal hi ab....""Baijilal?" Dheerbai interrupted."Bijolia vaasi baisa ko Baijilal pukarte samman ke saath." Rawatji's words were spoken to Dheerbai but something in Kunwar Pratap was stirred. He didn't move from his position as she got down from the horse to touch Rawatji's feet first then walked up the stairs as the crowd gasped at their once abandoned Kunwaranisa."Khamma Ghani Hukum." Her eyes were lowered in respect and as per the rules of a Samant's behaviour. " Bijolia ki taraf se aapko subhkamnaye aur yeh uphar." She indicated at the five wrapped gifts."Ajabdeh." Jaivanta Bai hugged her as Udai Singh seemed to have lost his voice as she smiled composed."Ranima." The words made Kunwar Pratap look up with hopeful eyes at the person he knew by soul but seemed like a stranger now. She hadn't even stared once at him like he was invisible. He had expected this and it made him more guilty."Padharo." Jaivanta Bai had wanted to escort her inside."Ji nahi Ranima hum e shama kijiye hum yaha nahi ruk sakte, hum yaha sirf islie aye thee taaki Bijolia ka aur asamman na ho Hukum ke nazron mein, unka amantran srikaar karke humne apna samant dharm nibhaya, ab hum ko agya de hum Saubhagyawati key aha rukna chahte.""Lekin Baijilal." Dheerbai spoke up making her look straight into her eyes. This Ajabdeh was not scared anymore. It somehow disturbed her. "Hum ne amantran mahal mein rukne ka bhi diya tha.""Ji aapne aamantran Kunwarsa ke vivah ki di thi, jo hum ne srikaar kia Choti Ranisa." She smiled half a smile as he looked away guilty."Iska matlab apko iss vivah se koi apatti nahi?" Dheerbai's face lit up with a smile."Rajkumarisa Rajkumarisa!" The daasi ran in where Pur sat with her mother and Sajja Bai watching Shakti and Vikram debate over the Afghan's intentions. " Wohh... padhar chuki...""Kaun?" Sajja Bai got up with questioning eyes. Shakti smiled at Vikram who was still in awe."Kunwaranisa Ajabdeh Baisa." Her words made Sajja run to the gates with Shakti and Vikram in tow as Pur's mother looked visibly displeased. As Pur bai got up to leave the room her mother frowned "Aap kaha jaa rahi hai?"Jija se Milne." She smiled before running towards the entrance while her mother shouted in vain "Suniye, ruk jayiye!"

"Iska matlab Ajabdeh ko koi apatti nahi, Vivah kal hi ho sakti haina Ranaji?" Dheerbai smiled at the silent Ranaji ." Ji apatti?" Ajabdeh's frown made Jaivanta smile and the others were confused as she smiled adding " Hum ek sadharan samant kaun hote hai Chittor ke hone wale Rana ke vivah mein apatti karne wale?" Her words silenced Dheerbai as Kunwar Pratap felt an invisible arrow hit him right where it ached to see her." Ajabdeh aap sirf Bijolia ki samant...." Sajja decided to speak up as she smiled " Shama kijiyega Majli Maasa, lekin jaha taak hum e yaad hai, hum sirf aur sirf Bijiolia ke Samant hi hai, aur koi nahi. Chalte hai." As she turned and got down the stairs to leave, Kunwar Pratap looked at the retreating figure wishing for some courage. Some courage to face her, hold her hand, and never let her go. But he stood fixed to the spot."Dadabhai rokiye bhabisa ko." Shakti murmured behind him as he shut his eyes. "Rok lijiye unko."Ruk jaiye!"Ajabde stopped holding her horse's reign as her eyes widened. Everyone stared at the figure who dared to call out to her. Kunwar Pratap looked up for the first time at his Bride to be as she ran down the stairs in her lehenga, and ran towards Ajabdeh."Pur baisa?" Dheer bai's eyes widened."Ruk jaiye." Her mother called in vain as Sajja pressed her hands. Kunwar Pratap was not sure what was happening as he saw Pur run to Ajabde and hug her surprising her even more."Ruk jaiya jija !" Pur was panting as Ajabde stared at the girl. Younger than her, she looked pretty, her eyes scared. "Hum... Hum...."