New Arrivals

Hello all,

It gives me immense happiness to announce that this update is my 101st post on my blog. I started this blog after facing some really harsh and negative situations on MRP's forum on IF. That place was my starting point as a writer. Up until now, everything I have written I owe it to the amazing support I have received from the MRP community. It's not only support but friendship, respect and care that I have gained from the people involved. I will not take names because you all know who you are and what you all mean to me.

Thank you for all of your support, kindness and love.

Stay with me as we undertake different journeys through my writings this coming year.

New Arrivals

Shakta smiled as he rode with his elder brother to the village where Baijilal was taking shelter. They had received a note from Balwant who had overheard his father and Senapati discuss the recent failed attempts of dacoits in a nearby village. The army chief had mentioned Baijilal, she had fought the dacoits and killed two of them. So, the young prince had hurriedly sent a note to Kunwar Pratap telling him about the village and Baijilal. Maybe if Kunwar Pratap catches Baijilal, then he would agree to call his Jija back from her trip. The sound of anklets made him look around but seeing no one the young prince went back to his daydreaming unaware of the female figure hurrying out of the palace.

Shakta had never seen his brother so impatient and desperate for the night to end. They had been forced to make camp as the night grew too dark for them to continue their way. As they both lay side by side aware that neither of the two was sleeping, Shakta decided to ask a few questions that had been troubling him,

“Dadabhai why did you not raise the doubt about the royal seal?” Pratap continued looking at the night sky as Shakta pestered him.

“You and I know very well that Rana ji was aware of the royal seal’s location. It is always under his care. For a decree to have the stamp, it means that...”

“It means that we have a traitor amongst us and Ranaji has the authority and power to deal with the traitor,” Pratap responded calmly. Shakta looked at his brother who finally gave in and turned towards him,

"Bhai Ranaji will make his decision whether we like it or not. Right now, my only concern is that if the enemies found out about the internal conflict, we have then Mewar would become an easy target for them. I cannot allow that to happen."

Shakta nodded his head for he knew that Mewar was their priority. More for his elder brother who had given his life to the protection of his motherland. 

He had prioritised to the extent that none of them ever thought he would marry. A political alliance perhaps for he was the crown prince, but Shakta remembered the day when Kunwar Pratap had announced in Ranaji’s court that he had chosen his bride and that he would only marry her and nobody else. He smiled thinking of all the fun they had during his wedding festivities and then the promise his bhabhisa had taken from him, “be his shadow for I cannot be with him all the time, bhai Shakta.”

Pratap stared at the night sky his mind filled with thoughts of her. Ever since he received the note from Balwant, the only thing he was focused was on Ajabde. He had hurt her in the worst possible manner. Promised to fill her life with colours and fragrances of the rose but gave her the thorns of his harsh words and behaviour. The day was still imprinted on his mind, the way her eyes had filled up with tears and walked away. Later he learned about her departure from Bijolia. His anger had subsided by then, and with a little investigation he had found out about Ajabde’s innocence, but it was too late. His father had declared another war with Marwar, and they would have lost if Rao Ramrakh had not come at the last minute.  

Kunwar Balwant tilted his head at the crown prince as the elders looked downwards. The little boy had no idea of the misdoings towards his sister.

“Jija should have come,” he complained. “Tell her that I’m angry with her,” he told Kunwar Pratap who knelt down in front of him.

“Your jija has gone on a trip to,” he stopped for a couple of seconds, “Kashi.” 

Kunwar Balwant frowned but then sighed, “jija and her trips, maybe she will get me sweets from Kashi.”

Shakta looked at his brother from the corner of his eyes and knew he was thinking about the lie he had told Kunwar Balwant. “Please be in the village, bhabhisa” he prayed, “be angry at dadabhai but please be there.”

The morning dawn saw two riders enter the village raising curiosity of the village folk. Patta greeted the men on his way to training when he overheard the children speak of the new arrivals.

“They must be travellers,” he thought, “well I should hurry and go for my training. Jija did promise me kheer for tonight’s dinner.”

Pratap bowed his head in respect at the village head who seemed pleased at his behaviour. Shakta and Pratap had arrived early in the morning and met the village head with the letter of introduction and aid from Rao Ramrakh Punwar.

“If Rao ji send you for our aid then I trust you both,” the head told them. “A house will be made ready for you with all ration and water. Until it is set-up, please do rest in my house.”

Shakta made a face at his brother as they walked towards the only security post of the village. The head was kind to offer them his place, but Kunwar Pratap chose to look at the border posts. Also, the names he had given them were utterly horrendous. Pratap knew of his brother’s frustration, but there was no way they could have stayed in the village head’s place. If Ajabde were present in the village, she would learn of his presence and leave. He could not risk her leaving, again.

Ajabde frowned as the children told her about the new entrants to the village. Two strong, well-built warriors had been sent for their protection against the dacoits. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard about them as a voice inside her spoke up, “he has come for you,” but her mind took her back to the day he had broken all his vows. She looked at the girls who were wielding blunt swords as they practised their moves and the boys were with Patta learning camouflage. 

The village head’s grand-daughter gossiped about the two men and looked at her,

“Jija did you know the two warriors are fighters, and they come from Bijolia.” Ajabde looked at her, “Bijolia?”

The girl nodded her head, “yes, the elder one is Ram Prasad, and the younger brother’s name is Laxman Prasad.”