Chapter 7| The Maven Influencer

"I see..." mumbled Aachraya Raghavendra nodding his head sceptically. Something like this is quite expected from Kunwar Pratap. I would be surprised if he wouldn't decide to take sanyas. Thought the guru. 

"How do I convince him out of this?" asked Maharani Jaivantabai sounding desperate. 

"Exactly, dadabhai has completely gone into devotion!" added Kunwar Shakti. His voice had the sound of tremendous irritation. 

"Devotion isn't bad, but devotion used as a medium of escape from your duty is bad." Replied Aachraya Raghavendra. "Don't worry about him; when the time is right he'll come out of it."

"But Aacharya ji..." 

"Don't worry maharanisa," reassured the guru with a gentle smile. "When all human methods don't work, it's only Eklinji's hand that guides a man's path. Just trust him."

"Khamma ghani guru..." she immediately stopped seeing that he had visitors. "I apologize, I'll come later."

"No it's alright." Replied the aachrya gesturing Ajabde and Saubhgyavati to enter. 

Maharani Jaivantabai looked at the two girls and wondered aloud, "Aacharya ji, you teach girls as well?"

"I've made an exception, because Ajabde's an exceptional swordsmen." Said the guru, pointing at Ajabde who smiled and joined her palms in greeting towards the queen. 

"You are...Hansa's daughter right?" asked Maharani Jaivantabai with half a smile and a bright twinkle in her eyes.

Ajabde nodded and asked, "How do you..."

"I'm Jaivanta, I and your mother were best friends since childhood!" Exclaimed the queen in sheer delight. 

"Maharanisa!" exclaimed Ajabde, her eyes going wide like saucers in sheer astonishment.

Immediately she touched the queen's feet and was about to ask about her sudden arrival to Kashi and that too in commoners clothes; but quickly prevented herself from it. 

"I had no idea that you were aachrya ji's student!" She exclaimed gently cupping Ajabde's face. "I wanted to meet you and Hansa but something or the other always came up and I just couldn't visit you'll."

"Maharanisa, looks like...fate wanted us to meet in Kashi." Grinned Ajabde. 

Pointing at Kunwar Shakti, Maharani Jaivantabai said, "He's Shakti."

"Khamma ghani." Greeted Ajabde and Kunwar Shakti responded equivalently. 

"And Pratap is..." she immediately stopped herself and looked away. "He...is...gone to..."

"Take sanyas?" asked Ajabde in an unsure voice. 

Maharani Jaivantabai nodded, her eyes were dissolved in melancholy and angst. Yet she kept the glow of a self-esteemed Rajputani on her face. 

"Don't worry," reassured Ajabde. 

"Ajabde, I suggest you accompany maharanisa and help her settle down." Said Aacharya Raghavendra and Ajabde immediately nodded.

"Guruji...if Ajab is busy...then...it's fine...." Replied Maharani Jaivantabai shaking her head a little. 

"There isn't much that Ajabde has to do here." Replied the guru in a reassuring voice. "Also...Ajabde has been here for quite some time, she is familiar with the roads."

Taking leave, both the women went to Ganga ghat and sat down silently. The complete silence made Ajabde awkward. She had heard so much about the queen and her son who was a valiant warrior and here she was sitting beside the queen herself. 

"Woh..." muttered Ajabde nervously, "umm... maharanisa...do you....need some help...?"

Maharani Jaivantabai turned and smiled at the young girl and asked, "Why are you so apprehensive?"

Ajabde looked away and gulped a little saying, "Woh...you...are such a big Maharani...so..."

Maharani Jaivantabai gently tilted Ajabde's chin upward saying, "But here...I'm just living like a mother; so...call me ranimaa."

"But...how can I...?" 

"Because I wanted a daughter and never had one." Smiled Maharani Jaivantabai. 

Ajabde's eyes welled with tears at the queen's words. She simply smiled and replied, "If that's what you want, I'll call you ranimaa." 

She smiled and nodded exhaling sharply. She was feeling extremely suffocated all this while, until she met Ajabde who eased her without the slightest of effort. 

"Ranimaa..." called Kunwar Pratap from behind them. 

Turning around they looked at Kunwar Pratap who was dressed as a brahmin.

"Ajabde, this is Pratap." Introduced the queen. "Pratap, this is Ajabde; Raoji's daughter."

"Khamma ghani." Greeted Ajabde. 

"I've seen her," replied Kunwar Pratap captivating both his mother and Ajabde by amazement. 

"When...have...you..."

"Weren't you the one who did raoji and dadabhai Dungar's tilak in the tent!" he exclaimed.

Ajabde nodded but the frown on her face didn't seem to leave, neither was her curiosity vanishing. "When did you...see?"

"I  happened to be veiling behind the tent, that's when I saw you." He replied with a smile. "I heard...you saved many of the injured and also ordered treatments for the Afghan's!"

Ajabde nodded replying, "It's...my job as a doctor."

Just as she was about to leave Kunwar Pratap asked, "Were you the one guruvar was talking about? He said he'd be here in Kashi because of you and..."

"Saubhgyavati." Added Ajabde. "You'll find the ashram a little towards the pipal tree groves." Saying this she wanted to resume walking but Maharani Jaivantabai stopped her. 

"Ajab, why don't we go together?" 

"Where!" exclaiming Kunwar Pratap almost immediately. 

Ajabde too was taken aback. Oh right! I'm supposed to help ranimaa. She thought shaking her head. 

"Chakrapani's parents had made arrangements for a house...would you...mind helping me settle in?" Asked Maharani Jaivantabai, hoping she wasn't troubling Ajabde. 

But the young girl immediately agreed and smiled exclaiming, "Chakrapani is here as well!"

"You know Chakrapani?" asked Kunwar Pratap immediately, to which she nodded saying, "I had met Chakrapani when he had come to learn basic astrology from the kulguru of Bijolia."

"Kulguru of Bijolia?" muttered Kunwar Pratap looking discombobulated. 

"Pundit Ram Van Shastri, my childhood friend Saubhgyavati's father." Replied Ajabde. 

"Umm...ok..." mumbled Kunwar Pratap wondering why on earth he was even asking such unwanted questions. Looking back at his mother he said, "Ranimaa tonight I'll be staying at Vishvanath Mandir."

"But Pratap..." called out his mother looking anxious.

"Ranimaa don't worry, I'll be fine." Smiling he took their leave, leaving his mother visibly disturbed. Glancing at Ajabde, she nodded at her to accompany her, home. 

Quietly the two walked along and reached the small house and entered it. Chakrapani had already cleaned the house on arrival and all that was left to do was light the lamps and arrange things. 

Walking towards a secluded section of the house, Maharani Jaivantabai kept the idol of Lord Krishna on the dias. She stared at the idol until tears welled up burning her eyes.

Her mind and heart were not at ease. She was desperate to remove her son from his emotionally influenced decision and began praying harder. 

Ajabde sighed looking at her and tip-toed away from the cloistered section of the house, to the wider space; where she noiselessly arranged the utensils and other necessary survival rations. 

Stepping out of the puja ghar, she watched Ajabde light the chula (stove) by fanning the flames over the wood which was in a contained wall of mud and clay. 

"I'm asking too much of you aren't I?" came Maharani Jaivantabai's voice from behind her. 

Getting up from the floor, Ajabde shook her head in denial with a smile. Taking a cup full of flour she began kneading it silently. Whatever Ajabde was doing was only because Aachrya Raghavendra had told her to help the queen out. The girl had no interest whatsoever to get involved with the royals, all she did was because she had to obey her guru.

"Ajabde," she called out to her, "leave all that."

"Ranimaa," smiled Ajabde glancing up at her, "it's evident that right now you are too upset to eat nor do regular chores. Why not...compose yourself first? Perhaps...guruji asked me to help you out because you....are melancholic."

Maharani Jaivantabai sat beside her and began chopping the vegetables. "What would you do if...you were in my place?"

The sudden question, took Ajabde off guard. She frowned at the queen not really knowing how to reply. Pursing her lips she remained silent for a moment and then looked up saying, "I...would let go."

"Let go!" 

"Hmm..." she nodded, "there's no point stopping and changing someone's mind by force."

"You mean if you were in my place; you'd let Kunwar Pratap take sanyas!?" Maharani Jaivantabai couldn't conceal the astonishment in her voice. 

"It's...easier said than done but...yes I would." Replied Ajabde without batting an eyelid. 

Maharani Jaivantabai smiled faintly at the girl and said, "This isn't the first time I've left the palace. When Pratap was four...Rani Dheerbai...pushed him down the stairs."

Ajabde simply nodded at the queen. She had heard of rumours about the royals and knew that none of it was new.

"He...was severely injured on his head and...I was so helpless..." Continued the mother as tears rolled down her eyes. 

Slowly taking the knife from the queen Ajabde continued chopping the vegetables while the queen continued her sad story. "When I tried to tell Ranaji about this..." She exhaled sharply and shook her head continuing, "he ever listened. I left the palace with Pratap who was still not fully recovered. For few months I stayed in Jalore and then stayed with the Bhils where they name Pratap- Kika..."

Ajabde smiled faintly nodding at the queen. She found it quite strange that the queen had told her so much without knowing who she was or what her nature was. 

But Maharani Jaivantabai seemed to find the perfect companion in Ajabde. A mature and understanding young girl who was pure of heart yet wiser beyond her age. The sense of calm and composure on the girls face had eased her tremendously.

"Then...only because people were talking...Ranaji took me and Pratap back to the palace but...I sent Pratap away to study at the gurukul and told him to live there only...."

Ajabde left an audible sigh from her lips and the queen chuckled saying, "I might have freaked you out by telling you so much."

The girl immediately shook her head replying, "Ranimaa...if you feel at ease by sharing your fears then there's no shame in doing so. Also...if you think I will tell anyone anything then...that's not going to happen..."

"I know you won't say anything," interjected the queen gently cupping Ajabde's cheek. "Hansa is also a secret keeper, so her daughter also is one."

Ajabde smiled and nodded at the queen and both of them continued their work. Just then Kunwar Shakti entered and asked, "Did you pay the pilgrimage tax to the Afghan's?"

Turning to face him, Ajabde noticed that his glare was on her. She simply nodded her head in agreement. 

"Unbelievable! How could you!?"

"Why not?" countered the girl, "Kashi is ruled by Shamsher Khan and as per state axiom, a Hindu should pay jizya."

"Just because Shamsher Khan is ruling, you will simply give in!?" growled Kunwar Shakti.

"Shakti," scolded Maharani Jaivantabai glaring at him a little. 

Ajabde stood up from the kitchen floor and walked towards the prince saying, "Kunwarsa, when you are in someone else's kingdom; learn to live by the rules. If this were Mewar, I wouldn't have been paying jizya."

Kunwar Shakti immediately declared, "I'm not paying them a single coin."

Ajabde shrugged without a word and got back to her work. 

A month lulled by, without much improvement in Kunwar Pratap who mostly stayed at the temple.  His mother, his brother and his guru were fedup and had given up on him.  

Ajabde was back in gurukul struggling with archery. Aacharya Raghavendra had left her under Kunwar Shakti's scrupulous eyes and skills. 

She took her stance as Kunwar Shakti continued to stare at her without a single expression on his face. She shifted a little, flustered by his impassive look. 

Even Aacharya Raghavendra never peered at her like that. Trying her level best to focus, she moved her right foot behind her left and raised her arms to fire the shot. 

Kunwar Shakti came closer, placed his foot beside Ajabde's right foot and gave a sudden push. She fell on her knees with a soft groan. 

"Rule number one, you must constantly be aware of sudden attacks." He said in a firm voice. "Rule two, it's prerequisite that you be comfortable in your own skin. GET UP."

Dusting her knees, she got up and nodded at him. Taking the bow from her hand, he took an arrow and released it.

It hit the center and he threw a glance at Ajabde saying, "Aachraya ji told me to train you and you are technically my first pupil, don't fail me."

"Is...guruji vexed that I couldn't..."

Kunwar Shakti simply shook his head in denial replying, "He has new students but that doesn't imply that he is annoyed that you were unable to learn. I'll teach you but..."

"But?"

"But to be warrior, you must step over your inhibitions in using your body itself as a weapon. The position you take, the stances you take determine if you'll be dead in half a second or you'd at least last an hour." He paused for a breath. "And from what I've observed so far, you are apprehensive to straighten your shoulders, loosen up for legs; just because I was keenly observing you?"

Ajabde looked away awkwardly at him.

"For me as a guru; you're my first pupil and when I teach, I don't see male or female." 

Ajabde raised her eyes and nodded in response. 

"Begin." He ordered, stepping aside. 

Ridding herself of all inhibitions and angsts, she took her stance and fired the shot. 

"Bullseye!" exclaimed Kunwar Shakti. "Keep at it." 

For the next two hours Ajabde was given rigorous training by Kunwar Shakti who showed no sympathy nor mercy whatsoever even when she was exhausted and had to leave for her Shastras. 

Heer sat beside Saubhgyavati in the temple wondering what was taking Ajabde so long. She never had been late, but here she was running dilatory by an hour. 

"We'll begin." Said Vitthal Rao with no more patience remaining in him. 

"Why didn't you let me go?" groaned Ajabde in irritation. 

"Because you aren't perfect yet. Precision in everything one does, makes a person's skills sparkle like diamonds." Adviced Kunwar Shakti. 

Ajabde gave a deep throaty groan and  grabbed the bow, took two arrows and fired them simultaneously taking Kunwar Shakti completely by surprise. 

She glanced at him with a slight smirk and he helplessly nodded his approval with a grin. Handing her a sword, the two began having a fierce duel. 

Kunwar Shakti being much stronger and experienced than her seemed to have an upper hand; but Ajabde being leaner and swifter and with her knowledge of pressure points in the body attacked him with much ease. 

"YOU'RE AWESOME!" Exclaimed Kunwar Shakti ducking his head as soon as she swung the sword. "TAKE MY WORD FOR IT! I DON'T...PRAISE PEOPLE."

Ajabde exhaled sharply replying, "I'm honoured to have this duel with you!"

"Likewise," smiled Kunwar Shakti clashing swords with Ajabde. 

The two pushed with all their might until...

"BHAI SHAKTI!" 

Immediately the duel stopped and Kunwar Shakti frowned seeing his older brother glaring at him. 

"How can you raise your weapon on a girl?" asked Kunwar Pratap in rage.

"Do I need to tell you about what I do, whom I'm with...what I should and shouldn't do?" Back answered Kunwar Shakti, equally enraged with his brother. 

"Bhai Shakti...don't you..."

"Guruji asked Kunwar Shakti to train me." Interjected Ajabde, before the two brothers could end up in a brawl. 

Kunwar Pratap looked at Ajabde for a moment and then asked, "Was he too harsh on you?"

"Dadabhai I hope you realize you've taken sanyas and shouldn't be here." Snapped an annoyed Kunwar Shakti and threw the sword down with a clang marching off. 

"Kunwarsa don't worry about your brother," smiled Ajabde, "he's a gentleman."

The astonishment and the furrow on his brows didn't seem to leave the princes face. "He's a gentleman!" he exclaimed aloud. 

"Ye...s..."

"Why isn't guruvar himself training you?" He demanded once more. 

"Guruji is training the new students, they need more attention than I do. Kunwar Shakti and I were just having a friendly duel, so...I think you should apologize to him." Suggested Ajabde. 

"Right..." he muttered under his breath. "I think I misunderstood..."

"If I may dare to ask..." fumbled Ajabde, "what were you thinking when you shouted at your brother?"

"I..." sputtered the prince, "I...thought...ha...I thought that he went mad with rage and raised his sword."

Ajabde burst out laughing hysterically much to Kunwar Pratap's confusion. "Did it really look like that!" she exclaimed in between her giggles. 

Kunwar Pratap nodded his head at her making her shake her head saying, "Go and just apologize."

"Umm...but bhai Shakti himself could have told me that..."

"Kunwarsa, the way you roared at him made him feel humiliated." Replied Ajabde, with a smile still on her lips. "And...I think you know your brother well; when he's irritated, even if he's right he'll never give a straight reply."

Kunwar Pratap smiled at her exclaiming, "Wah! you know him so much already!"

Ajabde nodded with the smile still lingering over her lips. "Go on..." she reminded, seeing that he hadn't gone yet. 

"Ah...yes...hmm..." he nodded and turned to leave when he stopped and turned towards her asking, "Is... ranimaa alright?"

"You should visit her." Came her unusual reply. 

He looked away wistfully chuckling, "I've heard that a sanyasi doesn't meet his family or friends."

"Then...when you know that, what bought you here?" 

Ajabde's question made him look straight into her eyes. To him it seemed like she had read him like an open book and here he was, unable to fathom the girl at all. 

She was annoyingly composed and her face as blank as a slate. Her emotions and feelings seemed to be hidden under a thick veil where no light had ever been shed. 

"Kunwarsa... you...know that you're still attached to your relationship with ranimaa, your brother and your guru; and...with that being said you can't really be a snayasi." She implied. 

He exhaled a smothered breath of disgruntlement blubbering, "Then what do I do Ajabde! I can't believe a mother can kill a son just because of a damned position!" 

Tears streamed down his eyes as soon as he said that, brushing them away he continued, "I trusted her and...now because of all this resentment and avarice my ranimaa is forced to live like a widow!" 

Ajabde frankly didn't know how to react. Without knowing anything about her, Kunwar Pratap had gaged up everything that had happened in front of her. 

"Now you yourself tell me...why will I not consider myself as a problem and go away?" he demanded brushing his tears away. "Afterall, this is my fault only...if I wasn't born only..."

"If you weren't born, Shams Khan wouldn't have been defeated." Came Ajabde's flat reply. "Do you honestly think that by blaming yourself for something of others doing, you're doing the right thing?"

"Then whom do I blame!" he grumbled sniffing away his tears. "Just think about it, if someone has to undergo so much of humiliation only because of you, would you like it?"

Ajabde simply smiled asking, "If someone has to endure the brunt of your emotions, would that be fair?"

He looked at her for a minute or so asking, "What do..."

"What I mean is, your decision has made the whole of Mewar question their safety and security. When the Gaduliya Lohars presented you with that sword, they shouldered upon you the responsibility of their protection. When the army was entrusted to you, each and every soldier in the army surrendered their life into your hands." She said in a clear undeterred voice. "But what did you do? You ran away."

"IT'S NOT AS APPARENT AS IT SEEMS." He replied in provocation. 

"Yes I agree," she replied in a firm voice, "but how you choose to live will either make you a hero of your story or a victim."

He looked up at her unable to argue another word against what she had said. 

"I hope that you don't victimise your people, your motherland and yourself." Saying this she bowed and walked off, leaving Kunwar Pratap pondering on all that she had said. 

Aacharya Raghavendra smiled to himself, "At least this will set him thinking. For the first time... someone could influence his decision."