Wanderers Chapter 16- Last Talk

The next morning was a different morning. Before leaving her home she meet all her sisters and handed her duty to Solankani Bai and told her all she had to do in her absence.

In the kitchen,

“Solankani behena, ab se aap humare jagah humara kaam karenge…”

“Ab se aap shaniwaar ko sabko kuch seek dengi”

“Phool aap Amar,Chanda aur Chand ko woh sab kahani batayengi joh humne apko bachpan mein kaha tha…jab hum mitra the…”

“Aur aap sab pehle ki tarah ek saath beheno ke tarah rehengi…”

Ajabde takes Phool aside.

“Phool hum chahte hai ki aap humare iss parivaar ko kisi bhi tarah bekarne na de...aap janti hai ki dhajiraj ke parivaar ko kya hua tha…hum chahte hai aisa kabhi humare parivaar ko aisa hone na de…”

“Jija hum dekhenge ki aisa kuch na ho”

“Dhanyawad Phool”

In Jaiwanta Bai’s hut, both the mothers were waiting for Pratap.

“Ranimaa aap Ajabde ka dhyaan rakhiye aur apka bhi…”

“Hum rakhenge humari putri ka dhyaan aur humara bhi…apko hume batane ki koi aawashyakata nahi hai”

“Manjali maa aap bhi apna dhyaan rakhiye…hum kabhi kabhi Shakti ko apse milne bej denge…”

“Rana Pratap hai aap…aap toh kuch bhi kar sakte hai… hai na??”

“Manjali maa apka yaha rehna surakshit nahi hai… isliye hum apko yaha se bej rahe hai…”

“Rana ji aap Ajabde ko bhi humare sath…aap dono ke beech kuch??”

“Nahi maa…ranimaa apko bata dengi…”

“Aur haan Manjali maa aap hume Pratap hi bhulayiye…hum apke liye koi rana na hai…”

“Joh aagya hukum…”

In Pratap’s hut where Ajabde was waiting.

“Ajab aap apna dhyaan rakhiye…”

“Haan Rana ji”

“Ajab aap humare liye patra na beje…kisi ko yeh pata nahi lagna chahiye ki aap kaha hai aur waha kyu hai…”

“Toh hum apse baat kaise karenge…”

“Ajab jab Shakti aayenge toh unke hatho bej dena patra…”

“Thik hai…”

“Ranimaa humne suna ki aap kahi jaa rahi hai…”

“Amar hum toh yahi mandir jaa rahe hai…kuch dino ke liye…”

“Ranimaa aisi baat hai toh hum bhi ayenge…”

“Amar ap nahi chal sakte hai…apko yaha rehkar apne dhajiraj ki sahayatha karna hai aur yudh ki tyaari karna hai…”

“Ranimaa aap jald hi aa jayegi na??”

“Haan Amar”

“Aur hum aate samy apke liye kuch layenge!!”

“Kya Ranimaa…”

“Woh hum nahi jante...par hum kuch layenge…”

“Thik hai ranimaa…hum apki pratheeksha karenge aur ab hum jake dadisa se mil lete hai…”

“Thik hai Amar”

“Royiye na Ajab…kuch dino ki baat hai…”

“Rana ji hum apse durr pehle baar…itne dino tak…Amar ko dekhiye na…humne unse juth kaha ki hum mandir jaa rahe hai… ”

“Ajab waha apko humari aur Amar ki yaad ayengi parantu apko toh yeh bhi lagega na ki humare bacche ke liye yeh sab hum kar rahe hai…”

“Rana ji hum sheegr apse milne ayenge…”

“Ajab hum bhi yeh hi chahte hai…”

“Chaliye Ajabde…samay ho raha hai…”

“Haan Rana ji”

For the last time they had a talk. Everything was being sacrificed for an unborn. All were sad about the separation. Ajabde for the last time embraced her son and her husband. The palanquin was lifted and they were safely taken to Bundi under Shakti’s supervision. For one last time Ajabde looked back and saw her happy family which will soon have one more member, she was parting away for one more being.

They reached Bundi safely and Shakti rode back to inform Pratap that they have reached. From them Pratap put himself into practice and training. He himself chose soldiers and trained them rigorously.

The training was based on the training given to the Bhills. Guerilla warfare and Bhill techniques were taught to every soldier. Bijolia’s samanth, Rao Balwant, Pratap’s brother-in-law joined the battle trainee group which included the king himself and his guru along with the Bhill head.