Wanderers Chapter 7- Won't Let You Down

Back in the Udaipur palace one laid on the bed with silence which was broken occasionally by the cough of the ill person. It was the king of Udaipur, Rana Udai Singh. He was always surrounded by two people, one his favourite wife, Dheer Bai Bhatyani and her evil brother Raimal Singh.

Both were the devils in the life of Mewari’s and especially the royal family. Udai Singh had fallen sick before a few days when the royal doctor informed that it was time for him to breathe last. Dheer Bai’s motive was just to make her son, the one with all bad habits sit on the throne.

Jagmal Singh, her son was not interested in the throne but the post of king and the powers. The kingly powers were the one which made him jealous of Pratap, the crown prince.

The days passed by and the condition of the king worsened. He too understood that his end was near. He knew that it was time to write his order and will. But before death his wish was to meet his son Pratap. He requested Dheer bai to send someone and bring Pratap atleast to meet him and be with him till last.

Dheer bai being a selfish and a self-centered person never bothered to fulfill her husband’s wish.

“Jao Dhaman Singh, jaake Kunwar Pratap ko keh do ki Ranaji unse milna chahte hai”

“Jo aagya Ranisa”

“Rana ji hum abhi aate hai”

“Dhaman Singh tum kahi nahi jaoge, yahi Mewar mein rahoge aur haan chupke rahoge”

“Ek din bad ek patra ke sath mahel mein aana aur ranaji ke samne kehna ki…”

“Jaisi Ranisa ki iccha”

She went back and waited for the next day.

The other side Pratap and Ajabde walked down the forest till the Horse and palanquin. This path was tough. Ajabde was tired and she couldn’t walk. She walked without complaining. But because of the dense forest, a thorn pierced her foot. She screeched in pain.

But Pratap was always there. He rescued her and immediately carried her till the place. She was reluctant about this. She did not want him to carry her in such a way to the place.

“Kunwar Pratap, hume niche chodiye”

“Ajabde apko kuch bhi ho jaye humara dhadkan rukh jata hai aur agar phir se apko koi chot lag jaye toh humara kya hoga…”

“Kunwar Pratap apke hote humara koi kuch bhi nahi begad sakta hai”

“Magar Ajabde humare liye aap hi sab kuch hai aur rehenge”

“Kunwar Pratap chod dijiye na aur waise bhi ek kanta hi toh hai”

“Ajabde apke joh bhi keh de hum nahi chodenge apko neeche”

“Kunwar Pratap....”

“Nahi”

The fight continued but soon a horse came towards them. This alerted Pratap. The sound was only the hooves of one horse but the smoke arising around was as though there were many horses approaching them.

The horse came and stood in front of them like it was bowing down. Pratap soon identified it; it was none other than his loyal friend Chetak. He immediately made Ajabde too sit on Chetak in front of him as the palanquin had not arrived and he himself sat.

“Kunwar Pratap utariye hume neeche”

“Ajabde abhi palki nah iaayi hai aur hume vilamb bhi ho raha hai”

“Kunwar Pratap hum chal sakte hai”

“Ajabde humne pehle bhi samjhaya hai ki humara dhadkan ruk jaate hai jab aap ko kuch ho jata hai toh”

“Kunwar Pratap hume kuch nahi ho sakta hai”

“Uska toh pata nahi ki kab apko kuch ho sakta hai aur kab apko kuch nahi ho sakta par hum toh yeh jante hai ki agar hum kuch hone ki sthan hi na de toh kuch nahi ho sakta hai”

“Kunwar Pratap band kijiye yeh sab baate aur hume niche uttariye”

“Nahi matlab Nahi”

“Krupaya karke hume uttariye”

“Nahi”

“Haan uttariye”

“Nahi”

Both rode as the fight continued. They reached the camp in just a jiffy. It was just as if Chetak did run but he flew to the camp or maybe Pratap had flown it.

Ajabde refreshed and got ready for her evening prayer while Pratap broke out the news. All had gathered in the small temple built under a tree for a temporary purpose. They were after all wanderers who did not have any place to live now. Something they could call theirs was only this earth, this nature.

The prayers began. Ajabde being the Kunwarani did the aarti and distributed the Prasad. After the prayers like always the ladies took over the kitchen and made dinner for the day. All the men continued their talks to make their camp a secret one.

The next day…

In the city palace of Udaipur the king’s health had deteriorated. Dhaman Singh returned when Udai Singh was awake and both Dheer Bai and Raimal were there.

“Ranaji hum Kunwarsa ko Ranisa ke aagya par yeh batane gaye the ki aap unse milna chahte hai”

“Un..ka…kya keh..na hai??”

“Ranaji unhone hum keh beja hai ki woh Udaipur mein tab tak nahi aayenge jab tak unhe Chittor na mil jata”

“Kya??Apne humari sthiti batayi??”

“Ji ranaji unhone aur Kunwar Shakti ne apse milne aur Udaipur mein aane se mana kar diya”

“Kya Kunwar Pratap ne… Kunwar Pratap ne aisa kaha?? Yeh nahi ho sakta hai…Ranaji hume toh kuch thik nahi lag raha hai”

“Dheer Bai ji humare liye ek patra le aayiye…hume abhi apne uttaradhikari ka goshna karna hai”

“Joh aagya Ranaji”

The letter was brought and Rana Udai Singh scribbled down something and handed the letter to Chundawat ji who had arrived few minutes back.

“Ranaji hume lagta hai hi hume ek aur baar Kunwar Pratap se baat karna chahiye”

“Dheer bai ji ab se hume unse koi lena dena nahi hai”

“Magar ranaji”

“Yeh humara antim aadesh hai”

They topic ended there. But there was no one to enlighten the king of her evil deeds. The Maharani of Mewar, Jaiwanta Bai, the supporter of truth and fair practices was not in the town, she had gone to Bundi for some festival.

She was the only one who could stop Rana from all this but she was not there. It was a difficult situation. This grief could not allow the king to rest. His health slowly declined. And eventually he was on the death bed. The news reached Kunwar Pratap’s settlement.

Both the brothers hurried to the Udaipur palace. But before their reach the king breathe his last. The palace was mourning and Pratap was filled with guilt that he could not fulfil his father’s last wish; the wish of meeting his son for one last time could not be completed.

The will was read out in the court.

Sabhi darbariyon ke liye yeh Rana Udai Singh dwara likha hua patra hai. Aap sab soch rahe honge ki humara uttaradhikari kaun hai. Hum jante hai sab chahte hai kiKunwar Pratap hi Rana bane. Humara yeh nirnay hai ki Rana Kunwar Pratap…nahi…Kunwar Shakti…bhi nahi…Kunwar Jagmal banenge…aur yeh humara nurnay hai.

Rana Udai Singh.

All were shocked to hear that Kunwar Jagmal was to be crowned. Pratap accepted the fact and decided to head with the corpse to have the last rites done. He was accompanied by Kunwar Shakti also for the doing the last rites.

According to the traditions the heir to the throne who was to be crowned after the death of the king will not accompany the corpse for the last rites. Jagmal Singh too did not accompany the corpse for the final ceremonies.

By the time all the people returned from the final rituals, Jagmal was crowned. No one was happy. Pratap and Shakti returned back. Udaipur was under wrong hands. He called many dancers and under half conscious state he saw the dance, danced along and spent his time with them. All this did not suit the king. Soon the courtiers felt that Udaipur will soon be lost in such a way of ruling.