Going by the length of my previous OS, I've cut this story into several parts. This is one of those stories which I came up with after a lot of hardships. It took me a lot of time to think up what would happen next. Not only that, I was also influenced by @Hiral_Halwa's work and the rain and some previous MP episodes in between. But even after all these hardships, I'm here with my second story! Do read and comment. Roses and tomatoes, all allowed :D :P .
Story time...!!
Till now: Chakrapani and Rao Mamrakh are badly wounded in the fight with Afghans. Ajabdeh, Hansabai, Phoolkanwar and Saubhagyawati are in the same room, all very scared about the Afghans entering their palace and nobody present to protect them, all except Ajabdeh. She is very confidant and trusts Pratap with her life that he will, he will surely save them. He won't let any harm happen. And 100% right she is, because Pratap has defeated and stopped the Afghan soldiers from destroying Bijolia and entering the castle.
Part-1
"Ajabdeh, Ajabdeh, Hansa massiji, Phoolkanwar, Ajabdeh,
Ajabdeh...kahan hain aap sab? Ajabdeh, Ajabdeh...????" Pratap was shouting around,
searching the whole castle for Ajabdeh, Hansabai and Phoolkanwar. Although he
had defeated the Afghan soldiers, he still wanted to make sure that everyone
was safe, especially Ajabdeh. She had sent her dupatta all the way to him, was
she okay? He went around calling their names, but no replies could be heard...he
was very anxious and a little scared as well...
But there wasn't any need to worry, cause he was already heard, he just didn't
know that...
When Pratap called out her name for the first time, Ajabdeh had heard him there
and then. She exclaimed with a big smile on her face and tears of happiness, "Maa,
hum bach gaye. Maaa, ab ham sab surakshit hain. Hamne kaha tha na maa, hamne
kaha tha, ki Kunwar Pratap hame kuch nahi hone denge. Dekhiye, ve aa gaye maa,
ham sab bach gaye..."
"Ajabdeh, aap theek to hain? Jaanti bhi hai ki aap kya keh rahi hain? Kunwar
Pratap kahan se aa gaye yahan? Konse vicharo me dekha aapne ye brahm?"
"Brahm dekh kar nahi maa, hum ye sab sunkar keh rahe hain aapse. Kya aapko nahi
sunai de raha? Kunwar Pratap ke chalne ki aawaz, Kunwar Pratap ki pukaar, kya
aap sabko nahi sunai de rahi? Suniye maa, Kunwar Pratap ab aapko pukaar rahe
hai, Phool aapko bhi, dhoond rahe hain ve ham sabko mahal me."
"Ajabdeh kya ho kya gaya hai aapko? Kahan se aapko Kunwar Pratap ki awaaz sunai
de rahi hai? Aap pagla to nahi gayi hain? Kya sun rahi hain apne kaano se aap?"
"Kaano se nahi maa. Kaano ki baat sune, to sab sunsaan lag raha hai. Hame to Kunwar
Pratap ki awaaz, apne dil me sunai de rahi hai. Hamara hriday hame sab bata
raha hai, ve yahin hain, hamare nikat, isi mahal me. Afghanon ko to ve kitne
samay pehle hara chuke hain maa. Ab ve yahin aa rahe hain, hame dhoondte hue..."
and very slowly, Ajabdeh turns and starts walking towards the door.
"Ajabdeh, rukiye Ajabdeh. Kahan jaa rahi hain aap? Kyu mrityu se haath milane
ke liye itni utavali ho rahi hain aap?"
"Maa ham rakshas se nahi, rakshak se haath milane jaa rahe hain." And she again
started walking towards the door. Hansabai called her a lot, but she didn't
listen now.
Ajabdeh closed her eyes, took a deep breath and
involuntarily smiled and opened the door. She stepped out into the sunlit corridors of
the Bijolia castle, her eyes still closed. It felt like a new day, a new sun, a
new hope, a new light. She didn't look around for Pratap. With her closed eyes,
she listened to her heart, turned to her right, and said very calmly, "Kunwar
Pratap..." and as she opened her eyes, she heard a very familiar voice with the
same calmness and a hint of surprise, "Ajabdeh..." Both of them, looking at each
other, with a silent smile, paused for some moments, and started walking
towards each other, very slowly. It was as if the time had stopped, the world
had stopped. It was only the two of them in that moment. They both could not
stop looking at each other and admiring each other's presence. All of it felt
so positive and there wasn't anything that was hindering their ultimate, selfless
smiles and twinkling eyes. These seconds were one of the happiest moments in
both of their lives. Pratap came to his senses first and asked (although the
answer was quite clear from Ajabdeh's smile), "Ajabdeh, aap yahan? Aap theek to
hain? Aapko kuch hua to nahi? Vo aapki chunni, Laxmi hamare paas layi thi, hum
to tabhi samajh gaye the. Parantu hame thoda sa bhi vilambh to nahi hua aane
me? Aap sab surakshit..."
"Shant ho jaiye, Kunwar Pratap, shant ho jaiye. Ham sab theek hain. Aap bhi,
ham bhi, hamara pariwar bhi. Aapne samay se pahunchkar, ham sabko bacha liya.
Ab to aap ke liye ham sab ka jeevan rini(under debt) hai."
"Auron ka to ham nahi jaante, parantu aapka to bilkul nahi hai. Aapne hamari
jaan bachayi, hamne aapki..."
"Parantu vo to hamara kartavya tha..." both of them confessed together. They
looked at each other with a taken aback look, and then broke into a smile. Then
both of them started walking towards the room.
"Lekin sach me Kunwar Pratap, Bijolia ki raksha ka sara shrey aapko jaata hai.
Aaphi ne ham sabko bachaya hai."
"Ajabdeh...sara shrey hame nahi jata. Aaphi hume bataiye, ki agar aap apni
chunni Laxmi ke saath nahi bhejti, to hume kaise pata chalta?"
"Agar hamne aapko yahan se jaane ko nahi kaha hota, to aapko pehle hi pata chal
jata" said Ajabdeh, with guilt in her voice. Both of them stopped. No one said
a word. Then they resumed walking.
They were almost at the door. Pratap was walking but suddenly, Ajabdeh had
stopped in between.
"Kunwar Pratap.." she called from behind. Pratap turned. "Hame shama kar
dijiye. Hame aapko yahan se jaane ke liye nahi kehna chahiye tha. Hame laga tha
ki aapke jaane se dada ko apne tanaw se mukti mil jayegi, parantu, aapke jaane
ke baad se toh, ve apne pran dene ko aur bhi zyada utsuk ho gaye. Hame shama
kar dijiye Kunwar Pratap, hame shama kar dijiye..." Ajabdeh joins her hands and
lowers her eyes.
Pratap walks back to her, "Ajabdeh...hamne kaha tha na aapse, ki apne is nirnay
ke liye swayam ko dosh mat dijiyega. Aap thodi na jaanti thi ki aapke nirnay ka
yeh parinam niklega. Aur vaise bhi, agar aap maanti hain ki sach me aapse bahut
badi bhul ho gayi hai, to yeh bhi maan lijiye ki Laxmi ko bhejkar, Bijolia ko
bachakar, aapne apni bhul ka prayashchit kar liya. Theek...?"
Ajabdeh smiles. "Arthat, ab aap Bijolia me rukenga na?"
"Ab aapka nimantran hum kaise thukra sakte hain? Aavashya rukenge!"
They both go inside the room together. Pratap comforts everyone by telling them
that he got Ajabdeh's message in time and everyone was safe. Hansabai becomes
so happy at hearing the news that she instantly pulls both Pratap & Ajabdeh
in a hug at the same time. They both look at each other, and smile.
There it is Part-1. I wrote this a long time back, when the attack had happened. But I'm posting this now. Do tell me your views in the comments and hit the like button(if u think that this story deserves it).
