Torn Pieces

2. Action

The situation in Bijolia had somewhat stabilised. But Ajabde knew that danger was lurking just at the outskirts in the name of the Afghans. Chittor had not sent any provisions in the 8 months from the incident, nor had they replied to her urgent letters for border security control in the past 5 months. She had not paid the tax in the past 3 months, mentioning the rule that allowed vassals to do so in exceptional circumstances. Again, there were no replies or acknowledgements. They would only pay attention to her for one thing, and she had made slow but consistent efforts in trying to meet Ranima. Saubhagyawati was constantly following Ranima, but she hadn't yet been allowed to meet her. Ranima was undergoing a strict penance but the Janmashtami celebrations would make her step out more. Her mission tomorrow was to step out of Bijolia for the first time after she came back and sort out this issue. Tonight, she devoted her whole mind, body and soul to destroy all hopes of going back to Chittor as Pratap's wife, as the daughter-in-law of the Sisodias.

The next dawn saw Ajabde astride her brown horse, in yellow warrior attire, riding out of Bijolia with her guru. She had left an assuring Patta, a worried Maasa and a teary Balwant who just didn't want his Jija to leave standing at the steps of the Bijolia palace. Oddly enough, the trip was improving her mood. The fresh air, the expanse of green and brown land, the familiar clip clop of the horse's hooves and a companion who not only kept up with her but also used every opportunity on the road to teach her gave her a new perspective. The anonymity and power that her attire afforded her made her imagine a life where she was free from every relation, every duty except the one that she had towards her motherland. She wanted to ride on for an infinite amount of time, only stopping to sleep. But she had to snap out of it, and finish her mission. On the third day at noon and a day before Janamashtami, Ajabde and her guru reached Vrindavan. The festivities were already in full swing. The whole city was colourful and decorated. The citizens were milling about, happy and lots of travellers had reached the city. They rested for a bit before Ajabde, dressed in a simple lehenga, headed towards the temple complex. As reported by Saubhagyawati, there was a small line of huts behind the compound of the temple. She could see various types of bhakts going about their daily chores, devoted to Krishna bhakti. Outside the hut closest to the temple, Ajabde could make out Ranima's silhouette, hanging clothes out to dry. She walked towards Ranima, trying to be discreet in the crowd, lest she recognized her. By the time Ajabde reached the yard outside the hut, Ranima was handing out sweets to children. Ajabde's eyes teared up without her permission for the first time in 5 months.

"Can I also get a sweet Ranima?"

Ranima froze, her eyes widened. She handed the whole plate to the children and told them to disperse.

"Ajabde!" Ranima hugged her. If there were any small doubts in her mind about whether Ranima was actually angry with her, they all immediately vanished.

"How are you? How is Pratap?"

That started a very different line of questions in Ajabde's mind. She sighed.

"Let us go inside and talk, Ranima. I am afraid that whatever has happened in your absence is not for anyone else's ears."

Over a glass of water, Ajabde narrated the sequence of events.

"How is Hansa?" was Ranima's first question. "And Raoji?" was the next.

"They are alright. Not how they were when you last saw them but doing the best they can."

Ranima was about to ask her next question when Ajabde stopped her. "Ranima, I understand your anxiety. Believe me, I have a lot of questions too. But there is a bigger issue we need to solve first. Bijolia is in danger because of the resultant neglect from that incident. The only way that I can draw attention to our plight and force them to respond is through you. I don't mean to use your presence as a means to an end but the Afghans are at our doorstep."

"I understand completely. Tomorrow morning, after my first puja of the day, I will leave with you for Bijolia. In the meantime, I am writing a letter which you need to send to Chakrapani, who will obviously give it straight to Pratap."

"No interceptions."

"Exactly. I will tell him to meet us at Bijolia with the army."

"Will he believe it is your letter?"

"If he has already accepted a letter that was not written by me as such, then he should have no issue accepting this one."

"Ranima, can I ask why...?"

"Some questions cannot be answered straightforwardly. But be assured, the reason was not you. But I think we both know who could have written a false letter to blame you. But we will have to look for proof."

"I don't care about clearing my name Ranima. I just want Bijolia to flourish, to be protected, to get what it deserves for being an important part of Mewar."

"I am extremely sorry.."

"You had no fault in this. In fact, you are a victim because your words were used against your consent, to sway the situation against your ideals."

Ranima gently took her hand in hers. "Somebody had told me once, bitterness in the mind often festers into deep wounds that poison our whole being."

"I think the poison has already taken effect." Ajabde smiled sarcastically.

"Please don't say that Ajabde. You are so young, too young to give up like this."

"I am not giving up, Ranima. If fate has never treated me like a child who needs to be shielded, why should I? In fact, I have come to realise that I can now see everything much more clearly. I used to blindly trust but the world is changing. I need to change with it too."

"I don't know what will happen between you and Pratap but you will always be my child who I want to shield from the whole world." Ranima said lovingly.