Wanderers 22-Broken Glass

Around two months later.

“Jija ab toh humne ek mahine ka saman teen mahine tak chala liye…hum kya karenge jab joh hai woh samapth ho jayega??”

“Phool hum toh teen nahi hafte ke saare din bhojan nahi karte…sirf phal khate hai…”

“Kya??”

“Phool aap yeh kisi ko nahi batayenge”

“Jija aap bhojan kariye warna hum bhi sirf phal khyenge…”

“Nahi Phool”

This conversation was heard by one more person.

“Ranimaa bhojan nahi karti…ab se hum bhi humare bhojan ka aada ek din mein karenge aur dusra aada dusre din mein…”

“Humari ek din ka bhojan ranimaa karenge…”

Thus Kiran began having only half roti every day and one fruit instead of two. One such day, she tore her flat bread into half and ate one half and kept the other half in her hut. This was witnessed by Pratap.

He was heartbroken to see his daughter suffering. He thought how his life was when he was is age, he used to luxuriously live in a palace and have nice food and his children had no option but to sacrifice. He was hurt badly.

One more arrow poked his heart when he saw the piece of flat bread his daughter had saved was carried away by a cat and when his daughter began crying. All this could not be seen by Pratap. he was guilty, he felt he was the sore reason for this pain. He had lived a wonderful life as a prince but his instincts poked him and told that now his children who were prince and princess by right were living life like a commoner for his dreams which may not come true.

He now clearly understood what Ajabde always told him, they were mere “Wanderers”.

Soon he knew the other supplies will also stop and he would not be able to do anything. He knew what exactly he needed to do. He personally told only Ajabde about the plan. Even after her continuous trials he was not agreeing to change his decision.

“Rana ji hum nahi jante ki apko aisa karna kyu chhate hai parantu yeh humare sapno ka…”

“Ajabde aap kuch na bole…hum nahi jante ki apko kya lagta hai parantu hum yeh nahi dekh sakte hai ki humare putra aur putri kasth nahi sekhen kar sakte….”

“Paranru aap atmasamarpan kyu kar rahe hai??”

“Humne keh diya toh keh diya…”

“Rana ji…”

“Bas Ajabde bas”

“Rana ji…”

“Humne joh taan liya woh tumne taan liya…”

“Rana ji aap aisa nahi kar sakte hai…”

“Humne itna sab kuch…”

“Rana ji….”

He did not heed to his wife’s wishes for once.

A letter arrived at the headquarters of the great Mughal minister who was a Rajput and great admirer of Rana Pratap. After reading the letter, disappointed with the thoughts of Rana Pratap of surrendering, he immediately wrote a letter for Pratap. It read,

Pranam. Aaj tumhe tumhare iccha purthi hote dekhega, tum crude mughal. Agar aaj tumhe kushi chahhiye toh lo mein tumse kehta hu ki tum Chittor rak lo aur Udaipur bhi. Dust mughal hi mein tumhe pukara karunga yu? Isliye kyu ki tumne mere pita saman Rawat ji ko maar dala, bhai saman Patta ko eshwar ko bej diya aur dhajiraj se Chittor cheen liya. Unke mruthyu ka karan tum ho!!

Aaj agar tumhe yeh patra prapth ho raha hai toh sirf ek jungle billi ka hi karan hai. Tumhe uss billi ka shukar karna chahiye. Tumhe mein batadu ki tumne hume mahel se bahar nikhal diya parantu hum nahi haare, tunhe humse humara sab kuch cheen liye hum tumhe dosh maane magar aaj, aaj sirf ek billi ne meri putri ka roti cheen liya aur isliye tumhe Chittor mil raha hai aur yudh nahi hoyega.

Mein de raha hu parantu kabhi na kabhi tumse Chittor hum cheen lenge aur tumhe pata chal jayega.

Rana Pratap