Torn Pieces

3. Challenge

As decided, Ajabde and Jaiwantabai headed back after the first puja at dawn the next day. Ranima pleasantly surprised her by hiring a horse for the trip. She had made arrangements for Ranima's letter to reach Kunwar Pratap through Acharya who was with Chakrapani at the outskirts of Chittor. Things had gone way smoother than Ajabde had expected. Though she knew she had not done anything, she kept going over that day, trying to understand if she had offended Ranima in any way. If Ranima had been angry, Ajabde was ready to grovel and beg for forgiveness for the safety of Bijolia. Ajabde knew that Ranima would never turn her back on the motherland. She felt much more anxious at the possibility of seeing Kunwar Pratap in the next few days than she had felt at the possibility of meeting Ranima. Meeting Ranima had loosened the burden on her shoulders and Ajabde wished even more that her peaceful trip with both her companions would never end. But alas, they reached the border of Bijolia soon. Ajabde's guru took leave from there, reminding them to take the secret path so as to avoid Afghan suspicion. They walked through the path, because it was too rocky to ride with horses. Suddenly Ranima stopped. "What is that Ajabde? Looks like burnt land."

Ajabde's expression turned grim. "The Afghans had attacked that village. We rescued as many as we could and cremated the rest of the villagers. The next night, we showed as if there was a celebration happening at the village. When the Afghans entered again, we retreated into secret tunnels and the forest, and set the village on fire from all sides. A huge component of their army was killed, including their commander. This was a month ago. That is our base for security now. Every week, we try and make efforts to push back the Afghans but in vain. Acharyaji wanted to send some Bhils but I refused. If Chittor still doesn't respond, I will have no choice but to immediately do 2 things." Ajabde stopped speaking abruptly.

"Don't stop now. Tell me Ajabde." Ranima urged.

"First, I will accept the Bhils' help and second I will try to make BIjolia an independent state."

"What are you saying? On whose advice are you thinking about this? Acharyaji...what does he think of this idea?"

"Ranima I will not put him in a difficult position by asking his opinion on this. As from where I got the idea from, as a vassal, we are losing more now by being a part of Mewar." Ajabde let a tear flow. The land she had always worshipped as a part of herself since she could remember, was no longer going to be so.

Ranima gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please do not make any decision in haste."

Ajabde smiled. "I promise I won't. But we will have to hurry if we plan to reach today."

Little did they know that an Afghan soldier had lost his way, found them talking, and was now following them, with an intention to kill.

Kunwar Pratap's procession, including Acharyaji and Chakrapani, was nearing the border of BIjolia. Kunwar Pratap refused to believe that the Afghans had camped outside for so many months while Chittor had no idea. But the situation became clearer as Bijolia drew closer. Villages on the outskirts of Bijolia had Afghan soldiers mixing with the crowd. A village lay burnt, surrounded by Afghan tents. Kunwar Pratap wanted to attack at that very moment, but Acharyaji stopped him.

"Why are you stopping me Guruvar?"

"Because your anger at yourself has made you blind to political situations. If you give yourself away now, the Afghans might also attack Bijolia without warning. According to your duty as a prince, your people come first. They need to be first reassured of Chittor's acceptance and attention. Do not make hasty decisions now, you have already made enough."

"How did I make such a mistake Guruvar? Where was my so-called intelligence, so-called sense of justice?"

"This is not the right question. Try again."

"How will you convince Bhabhisa?", Chakrapani asked.

"I will take whatever punishment Ajabde gives me. But, she is a peace-loving soul. She is not capable of hate. Her supposed punishment may not even be 1 percent of the crime I have committed."

"That is not for you to decide." Acharyaji smiled internally. "You are going to be surprised for sure, Kunwar Pratap."

Kunwar Pratap was internally bubbling with happiness at the thought of reuniting with his wife. The past 8 months had been torture, a battle with his own self, his own ideas and ideologies, a part of his own heart that he never wanted to share with anyone else. But he was as anxious as he was happy, as ashamed of himself as he was proud of Ajabde for handling the difficult situation. He decided to take a trip with Ajabde, to whatever destination she wanted to go to, to buy her whatever she wanted, and have all the experiences that would make her happy. As the palace came into view, the memories of Ajabde that had painfully plagued his mind in these months, now returned without any guilt. The clang of swords clashing brought him out of his reverie. An Afghan soldier was attacking a female warrior in white attire, who was defending his attacks with fervour. Behind her stood his Ranima. The warrior seemed to be instructing her to go into the palace and get help. Pratap galloped his horse faster but in the few minutes that he took to reach, the warrior had already killed the Afghan. Hands stained with blood, tilak on her forehead, only cold and angry eyes visible, dressed in white warrior attire and confidence radiating from the tip of her fingers holding the sword to her feet strongly placed into the ground to her head held up proudly; his wife was unrecognisable.