Episode-4
The sunrise announced the next day, Ajabdeh had done her
morning pooja, just like she did every day. But, today's day wasn't anyway
similar to 'everyday'. Because today, it was the day for Ajabdeh's mehendi, her
vivah ki mehendi. Her hands and feet would soon be covered in intricate
designs, made by the mehendi, and hidden between them, would be Pratap's name.
Hours passed by in sweet silence and soon, the palace became chaotic, more than
every day, in full swing for the upcoming rasam.
Ajabdeh decided to go around the castle, meet people, and lend a helping hand. As
she walked in the wide corridors of the palace of Bijolia, she looked around at
all the preperations. Not just her, it felt as if everyone was happy and
overjoyed about her marriage with Pratap. The corridors were lined with dasis,
all of them busy with work and here and there, one princess or the other would
be directing them. She came across her cousin Rakhi, who was busy with the
flower decorations. At Ajabdeh's sight, Rakhi immediately spoke with a lot of
enthusiasm, "Arre Ajabdeh! Aap yahan kya kar rahi hai? Aapko to apne kaksh me
vishram karna chahiye, aapki mehendi hai aaj. Ham sab kuch sambhal lenge, aap
jaiye." Ajabdeh gave a faint smile and moved on. She came across a lot of other
people, all telling her one and the same thing, only in different words. After
all, for how much time could she sit in her room? She decided to go to the
kitchen and make kheer for everyone to pass her time. On reaching the kitchen,
which was as busy as the rest of the palace, she encountered her mother, Hansa
bai, who was directing the dasis for the food. As soon as she saw her, she
rushed in her direction.
"Arre Ajabdeh! Aap yahan? Kuch kaam tha aapko?" chirped Hansa bai.
"Nahi maa. Aisa koi kary nahi hai. Vo ham soch rahe the ki maa, mahal me itne
saare atithi aaye hue hain, kyu na ham un sabke liye apne haathon se vishesh
kheer banaye?" recommened Ajabdeh.
"Achchi yukti hai. Kitnu kheer dasiyan bana lengi. Aap apne kaksh me jaaiye. Ab
to aapke haathon ki kheer pe, sabse pehle Kunwar Pratap ka adhikar hai. Aur
haan, Ajabdeh, kuch der me rajkiy swarnkaar mahal pahunch jaayenge. Ham unhe
aapke kaksh me le aayenge, apke vivah ke liye gehne dekhne ke liye, theek hai?
Ab aap jaaiye" said Hansa bai, putting an end to all of Ajabdeh's questions and
arguments. She had no choice but to return to her room. Silently, she turned
back and started walking.
While returning, she crossed her father's court. The voices inside were loud
enough to be heard outside. Her father was directing the ministers about
something, but it didn't seem to be anything political. On hearing closely, she
realized that he was giving instructions about the big function that was going
to happen in the evening, her mehendi-sangeet function. She peeped inside the
room. Not only ministers, all her cousin brothers were also there, taking
responsibilities for one thing or the other.
" Sujamal ji, aapne sangeetkaro ko suchna de di...?" Rao Mamrakh was asking a
member of the court when he spotted Ajabdeh at the door. With a bright smile,
he said, "Arre Ajabdeh! Bhala aap yahan kaise? Aapko kuch chahiye? Ham aapki
kuch sahayata kar sakte hain?"
"Nahi dada. Ham to bas, yuhi...kuch karne ko tha hi nahi to ham bas mahal me
ghoom rahe the. Aap bataiye, ham kuch sahayata kar sakte hain aapki?" asked
Ajabdeh, but she didn't have high hopes. And as she had expected, Rao Mamrakh
replied accordingly, "Arre! Aap kuch kyu karengi? Vivah aapka ho raha hai, to
taiyaariyan ham karenge na. Aap kyu chinta kar rahi hain? Sab kuch ho jaayega,
ham hain na! Aap jaaiye, ham sab kuch dekh lenge..."
Once again disappointed, she went back to her room. With nothing to do, she
replayed the previous day in her head. Jaivantha bai and Sajja bai bringing
shagun ki mehendi for her, Pratap's sisters praising her, Pratap missing her,
his letter, that locket, those bangles, that beautiful sleepless night, all of
it just came flashing in front of her eyes. She had loved every bit of it. She
turned to her bedside and opened that gift again. She retrieved the locket from
there. All that Pratap had said in regard to it played in her head. She smiled
and wore it. Apparently, with everyone busy, she really needed a consoling
force that could keep her contended. The moment she wore the locket, a certain
calm and satisfaction descended over her mind and heart. And in that pleasure
and peace, came the memories of Pratap. All those beautiful moments, right from
the first time she saw him, the first time they met, everything. Brimming with
emotions and happiness, she decided to confide in her state of mind to Laxmi.
She proceeded to leave the room, but before she left, Hansa bai appeared at the
door, followed by the jeweler and a parade of girls, who turned out to be her
sisters only.
"Aap kahi jaa rahi thi Ajabdeh?" asked Hansa bai.
"Nahi maa...aisa kuch nahi hai. Aa...aap aaiye..aaiye na..." said Ajabdeh and
welcomed everyone inside her room. All settled around the long table in her
room, the jeweler on the long sofa behind the table with all his stock of
ornament, Hansa bai and Ajabdeh on couches at the two corners of the table and
all the girls kneeling besides the remaining side of the table. One by one, the
jeweler opened his collection and showcased a variety of sets of jewelry, each
having different work, jewels, material and design. Everyone gave their
suggestions. After a long hour of debate on each piece of jewelery, everything
was finally selected. Everything, starting from her mang-tikka to her kamarband
and even her payal. Ajabdeh didn't go
for any heavy jewelry. She chose light and sober pieces for herself. But, under
the will of all her cousins, it was difficult for her to adhere to her
simplicity.
"Ajabdeh!" said Sweta in a disappointed tone, "Aap ye gehne pehnengi! Vo bhi
apne vivah pe! Kaisi baaten kar rahi hain aap...Vivah ke din to dulhan ko bhaari
gehno se lada hona chahiye. Aisi saaj-sajja ka avsar jeevan me matr ek baar, keval
vivah ke samay milta hai, isme bhi aap aise gehne pehnegi!"
"Satyavachan. Ajabdeh, aap Mewar ki Kunwarani banne jaa rahi hain, ab to aapko
apni sadharan samanth putri ki vesh-bhusha chod deni chahiye" said Rhea in
agreement with Sweta .
After packing up the collection of
payals that the jeweler possessed, he put forward a suggestion to Hansa bai, "Rani
sa, abhi abhi hamne bhin-bhin prakar ke kaam vali chudiyan banayi hain. Aagya
ho to, bai sa ke vivah ke liye, ve bhi dikha de?"
"Arre! Isme aagya kaisi??? Dikhaiye, dikhaiye!" exclaimed Hansa bai with
happiness.
The jeweler put forward the huge collection of bangles in front of them, every
single set varying in colour, shape, design, jewels, intricacy, all together
giving off colorful lights. Everyone was amazed. All of Ajabdeh's cousins gave
their suggestions, but Ajabdeh rejected all of them by saying, "Ye rang bahut
bharkila hai" or "Ye bahut bhaari hain" or "Nahi, ye hamare lehenge se mel nahi
khati.." something or the other.
"Offo Ajabdeh! Saari chudiyan dikha chuke hain aapko. Ek bhi nahi pasand aayi?
Aise kaise chalega.." said Jesmin to Ajabdeh, trying to persuade her to select
something.
"Nahi jija. Vo...baat ye hai ki...hame chudiyon ki aavashyakta nahi hai. Hamare
paas hain chudiyan" told Ajabdeh in a reassuring voice.
"Kintu Ajabdeh...Aapka vivah hone jaa raha hai...Kam se kam vivah ke din to aap
apni vahi halki, purani chudiyan mat peheniye...Ye dekhiye, kitni sundar chudiyan
hain aapke saamne, inme se koi..." suggested Chitra, knowing very well that how
less Ajabdeh bought anything dressy for herself. Ajabdeh interrupted before she
could finish her sentence.
"Arre Chitra massi ji...hamare paas nayi chudiyan hain...aur vo bahut khoobsurat hain! Aur
hame ve bahut pasand bhi hain!" Ajabdeh told everyone. Hansa bai grew
suspicious at this sudden revelation.
"Nayi chudiyan? Ajabdeh, aap jaanti hain na ki vivah ke dino me ladki ko apne
ghar se nikalna mana hota hai? Phir aap nayi chudiyan kaise aur kab layi?"
Hansa bai asked, her brows furrowed.
"Haan maa, ham bhali bhanti jaante hain. Ham mahal se bahar nahi gaye. Vo
chudiyan to...ermmm...bahar se aayi hain hamare liye..." answered Ajabdeh,
lowering her eyes as she approached the end to hide her shyness and nervousness.
"Kaisi baaten kar rahi hain aap Ajabdeh? Bahar se chudiyan...ham sab me se to koi
aapke liye bhent me chudiyan nahi laya hai, ham to kangan laye hain, aur, bhala
dasiyan aapki pasand ki chudiyan kaise jaan sakti hain?" said Khushboo
interrogatively.
"Khushboo jija, aap to hamse aise prashn kar rahi hain jaise aap apne pita ji
ke darbar me nirdosh ko nyay dene ke liye prash-uttar karti hain! Ham keh rahe
hain na ki ye chudiyan bahar se aayi hain!" said a hyper Ajabdeh.
"Paheliyan bhujani band kijiye Ajabdeh! Spasht bataiye ki ye chudiyan kahan se
aayi hain aur kisne bheji hain" insisted Madhura with a strong commanding
voice.
"Vo..." Ajabdeh stuttered, "...errmm...Chittor se aayi hain.." Ajabdeh told the
partial truth, her cheeks turning red.
"Chittor se? Kitnu Hansa bua ji...shagun ke uphaar to hamne aaphi ke saath khole
the. Unme kade(broad bangles) aavashy the, kintu chudiyan? Aapne dekhi thi
chudiyan Hansa bua ji?" asked Mahnaz.
"Nahi to. Hamne to nahi dekhi thi chudiyan uphaaron me. Phir..." Hansa bai's
suspicion growing.
"Vo maa...chudiyan alag se aayi thi..." Ajabdeh trying hard to make her understand
without revealing the fact that the bangles she was talking about were sent by
Pratap..
"Kintu Chittor se to bas mehendi aayi hai shagun ke baad. Phir chudiyan..." Hansa
bai came up with another fact to support her suspicions.
"Arre maa! Aap kitne sawal poochti hain! Ham abhi dikha dete hain..." Ajabdeh got
tired of this question-answer session and stood up to fetch the bangles in
order to stop this interrogation. She went to her bedside, opened the red
cloth, and carefully picked up the bangles, smiled, as the image of Pratap came
to her mind. She gave herself a satisfied smile, followed with a cute blush,
and without wasting any time, headed to the table.
"Ye dekhiye maa, ham keh rahe the na, hain hamare paas chudiyan!" Ajabdeh
expressed her exhaustion at the continuous questioning that had happened
moments ago.
"Hey Eklingji. Itne khoobsurat chudiyan! Hamne to aaj se pehle aisi chudiyan
nahi dekhi...ye kahan se aayi?" Hansa bai exclaimed at the very sight of those
glittering bangles.
"Dekha Rati jija. Hame to aarambh se hi sandeh tha ki hamne shagun ke uphaaron
me chudiyan dekhi hain. Hansa mausiji, aapko yaad nahi, hamne swayam dikhai thi
aapko..." said Anousha excitedly.
"Kintu Anousha, yaad kijiye, ve chudiyan aisi thodi na thi...ve to in chudiyon se
bahut alag thi..." told Rati with a suspicious voice.
"Arre! Ye chudiyan kahi aur, kisi aur bhent ya shagun me kaise ho sakti hain? Ye
to vishesh roop se hamare jiju sa ne bheji hain hamari Ajabdeh jiji ke liye!"
exclaimed Aashna out of the blue. Nidhi, Aru, Poulomi and Moumi started
giggling with Aashna at the comment, while all the eyes turned towards them,
except Ajabdeh's, which had found their place at the floor to hide their
nervousness at the revelation. Only god knew what new taunts were in store for
her...
"Ye aap kya keh rahi hain? Ye chudiyan...hamare jiju sa, yani Kunwar Pratap, unhone
Ajabdeh ke liye bheji hain? Kintu ham me se kisi ko kuch kaise nahi pata?? Aur
aap sab kaise jaanti hain?" asked Anjori in surprise.
"Arre arre, saas to le lijiye Anjori. Ek saath kitne prashn poochengi!" said
Aru, from the middle of her laugh.
"Achcha theek hai! Nahi poochte ham prashn. Kintu aap batiaye to sahi!"
exclaimed Anjori getting indignant.
"Theek hai. To suniye...jab us din Chittor se shagun ki mehendi aayi thi, tab jiju
sa ki behno ne hame Ajabdeh ke liye jiju sa ki ore se ek prem-bhara uphaar
vyaktigat roop se diya tha..." started Nidhi, exaggerating things a little.
Moumi continued, "Aur jab hamne vo bhent apne haathon me li Ajabdeh ke saath
thoda parihaas karne ke liye, tab hame bhaan ho gaya tha ki us laal...makhmal..."
continued Moumi, stretching the words in the description of the gift to make it
look more romantic,"...ke kapde ke neeche chudiyan hain..."
"Kintu Ajabdeh, hame poora vishvas hai, uske saath kuch aur bhi tha na?" asked
Poulomi, her eyes twinking with mischief.
"Errr...vo...vo to bas..." stuttered Ajabdeh helplessly, soon greeted by a wave
of laughter. She was red with embarrassment.
"Hansa bua ji, aap hi bataiye, kabhi dekha hai aapne Ajabdeh ko ITNA lajjate
hue?" said Roshini, the smile not leaving her face.
"Ab Roshini, Kunwar sa, oh kshama kijiye, Jiju sa, ab ve aise prem jatayenge to
lajja kaise nahi aayegi!" answered Khushboo with mischief and pleasure.
The laughter grew. So did Ajabdeh's blush. Ajabdeh sneeked up a look at
everyone's laughing faces. Before she could think of anything, she saw Roshini
winking her. She immediately looked down at the floor, pursing her lips. She
just wanted to run away from everyone, and hide herself at a place where she
could avoid the taunts and live peacefully with the magic of Pratap's gift
still ensnaring her senses, those bangles in her hand, that locket in her neck,
and Pratap's letter...rather, Pratap himself near her, his warming and
comfortable presence, maybe a place where she could be only with Pratap...
Ye raha! Kripya bataiye aap sabko ye kaisa laga...jaisa aap sab dekh hi chuke hain, is bhaag me ham aakhirkar takreeban sabhi gharatiyon ka pravesh kara chuke hain...aur agle bhaag me, hamara vachan, ham takreeban sabhi baaratiyon ka pravesh kara denge...to ab adhik samay pratiksha nahi karni padegi aap sabko...aur haan, phir ek baar kshama mangna chahte hain...taki sabhi sadasy is kahani ka bhaag ban sake aur koi bhi alag ya adhoora mehsoos na kare, hamne sabhi sadasyon ko is kahani ka bhaag banane ka prayas kiya hai. Kintu aisa karne me, sambhavtah, ham sabhi ko adhik samay nahi de paye hain...kintu ham sabhi ko us sunehre kshan ka bhaag banana chahte the, unhe bhi ek mahatvpoorn ang mehsoos karana chahte the, isiliye aisa ho gaya...iske liye, hame kshama kar dijiye...
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