by Ranjit Desai
As Raje had said, the entire machinery got into action. And soon, everything was in place. The news of the bride’s family having reached Pachad was conveyed to Raje, who went down the fort to receive them personally. Putlabai received Raje warmly at Pachad and offered to serve him his meals and Raje agreed immediately.
She said, ‘The preparations for Bal Raje’s marriage are in full swing, I am told?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Is Yuvraj going to attend?’
‘What do you think?’
‘Maharaj, how can he not attend? He is the elder brother.’
‘It seems you trust him a lot.’
Raje asked, changing the topic, ‘I hope you got the invitation to the marriage? You are coming, aren’t you?’
Putla said, wiping her tears, ‘What is the need for an invitation? It is, after all, the wedding of one’s own child.’
Raje turned to go. Putla said, her voice agonized, ‘Wait a minute! I will come only to see you. If you feel I am not needed, I will stay here.’
Raje raised Putla’s chin with his hand and said, looking into her eyes, ‘Putla, it is my misfortune that you stay here. But here, at least, you don’t get insulted every day.’
‘I am willing to suffer anything for your sake,’ Putla said.
‘Fine then. I will send the palanquin to pick you up.’
#
Raje was busy writing letters in his chamber when Soyarabai arrived, followed by four servants carrying trays with jewellery. Raje was impressed at the work done by the jewellers. There were dazzling pieces of gem-studded wristlets, bracelets, toe rings, nose rings and such.
‘We have many gems in our store, and the craftsmen can make some fancy ornaments if these are not enough,’ Raje said, much to Soyarabai’s happiness.
‘I am told a palanquin arrived at the fort this morning?’
‘Yes, I had it sent to bring Putlabai here. She can lend a helping hand.’
Soyarabai was in a good mood and nodded, and said, ‘I agree. We must come together on such occasions.’ Looking at the letters, she asked, ‘Who are you writing to so early in the morning?’
‘We have not invited Yesu, Bhawani and Yuvraj yet.’
Soyarabai’s expression changed instantly. The tip of her nose turned red with anger as she asked, ‘Yuvraj?’
‘Rani saheb!’ Raje shouted.
‘I cannot believe that you are still pampering him,’ Soyarabai said, her voice trembling with anger.
Raje said, ‘Soyarabai, please calm down.’
‘Why should I? Despite whatever he does, I have to call him Yuvraj. He misbehaves with a Brahmin girl and is forgiven. The poor girl commits suicide but nothing happens to Yuvraj.’
‘Soyara!’ Raje shouted.
‘I cannot take it anymore,’ Soyarabai continued. ‘He joined the Mughals and became their Mansabdar. Yet, you regard him as Yuvraj. What does it mean to our Swaraj?’
‘Hold your tongue, Rani saheb! I don’t need to be taught politics by my queens. Yuvraj is lucky that he is my eldest son.’
Soyarabai had a twisted smile. She said, ‘Do you realize that while he may be the son of the eldest mother, I am the crowned queen?’
‘That is just the play of fate.’
‘But as per law, Bal Raje, being my son, is the Yuvraj.’
Raje was unable to believe his ears. His face turned pale. Soyarabai, on the other hand, having scored a point, looked triumphant, knowing she had hit where it hurt the most.
Raje said, controlling himself, ‘Remember yourself. Don’t overstep the position I have given you.’
‘Fine then. I will not hold the ceremony if Sambhaji is going to attend.’
The words hurt Raje deeply. He was now more disgusted than angry. ‘Rani saheb, in the argument about princely status and succession to the throne, let us not jeopardize the wedding. I was hoping that I would get Sambhaji Raje here on the pretext of the occasion and explain a few things to him.’
‘Like what?’
‘Sambhaji is a reckless person but he is basically guileless and emotional in nature. If you treat him with love, he may hand over the entire kingdom to Rajaram and go into exile.’
‘I presume Sambhaji Raje is not coming for the wedding then,’ Soyarabai said, her smile triumphant, as she moved out of the chamber.
#
Rajaram’s marriage ceremony was performed with all the pomp and show befitting the son of the Chhatrapati. The guests were overwhelmed at the hospitality shown to them. As Raje received the gifts given by the Brahmins, they blessed the couple and said, ‘Because of this bride, twelve generations of the past and twelve in the future will be uplifted. The girl is now yours.’
Raje was overwhelmed as he hugged the bride’s uncle. They were both in tears. Raje said, as he extricated himself from the embrace, ‘I miss Prataprao dearly today.’
As the bride and bridegroom moved forward towards the temple, Putlabai, resplendent in a green sari, stepped in to perform the aarti. Seeing her, Soyarabai shouted, ‘Bai, don’t!’
Everyone around was stunned. Putlabai, looking bewildered, stopped in her tracks when Soyarabai said, ‘You are a childless woman. You can’t bless the couple on this occasion.’
Snatching the tray from her, Soyarabai moved forward to welcome the newly wedded couple, leaving Putla standing there haplessly. The ceremonies went off as planned but Putla was nowhere to be seen thereafter.
#
Night had descended on the fort. The marriage celebrations had tired everyone out and the courtyard wore a desolate look. The chiefs sat chatting and enjoying betel leaves, knowing that Raje was relaxing in his chambers.
Manohari, having completed her chores, was passing by Putlabai’s room to find only a few lamps burning. She stepped in to light the tall lamp, and as the room turned bright, she was surprised to see Putlabai sitting in the corner, looking out of the window. She had not even changed the sari she had been wearing at the marriage pandal. Her eyes looked tired. Evidently she had been crying for a long time.
She said, before Manohari could speak, ‘I feel bad, Manu, that this should have happened in Raje’s presence. Bai should have shown some sense.’
‘Have you eaten, Rani saheb?’
‘No,’ Putlabai, said, wiping her tears. ‘I will leave the fort and eat. I don’t feel like eating anything here now.’
Manohari was about to leave the room when she heard footsteps. Soon, Raje was standing at the door. Putlabai said, adjusting her sari over her head, ‘I thought you must have retired to bed.’
‘I will stay here tonight, Manu,’ he said. ‘Send a message to my chamber.’
‘I would have come to your room, had you sent for me,’ Putlabai said.
‘No, Putla. I wanted to see you. I was feeling restless. I see that you have not eaten. Please, will you eat?’
‘I don’t feel like it,’ Putlabai said.
‘I feel very restless, Putla. I’m totally fed up, you know!’
Putlabai was surprised to hear his voice sound so tired. Raje held her hand and said, looking into her eyes, ‘I am used to my loneliness now, Putla!’
‘Maharaj!’
‘I am Maharaj to the people, not for you,’ Raje smiled dejectedly. ‘You know, from the window there, I can see Maa saheb’s mansion at Pachad? I can see the sun as it disappears into the valley, though I cannot see it touching the horizon. Just as it rises suddenly, it sets too!’ He added, after a pause, ‘The way Sai did!’
‘I can understand,’ Putlabai said.
‘I don’t know who can, Putla. People believe I have achieved everything by being a Chhatrapati but very few people know the facets of failure in my life. Sai passed away suddenly. Unfortunately, the elder Rani saheb is only interested in being queen and nothing else. Shambhu has never responded to my love, despite all my efforts. That is my biggest failure. He defected to the Mughals and now the elder queen wants to be called the mother of Yuvraj. I am not at all at ease, Putla!�
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Putla got up to get a glass of milk for Raje. But by the time she returned, she found that he had dozed off. Extinguishing the wicks of the lamp, Putlabai looked at the reclining figure of Raje. It was already dark outside.
#
The next morning, as the sun rose, Raje was disappointed to see Putlabai ready to leave.
He said, picking up a shawl from the bed, ‘I got this for you,’ and stretched his hand to hand it over to her. Their fingers touched each other as Raje’s hand lingered for a while.
‘I shall come and see you at Raigadwadi whenever I get the time.’
Putlabai responded with tears in her eyes. Pressing the shawl to her breast, she hurriedly left the room. As Raje moved to his chamber, Rajaram met him on the way. He fell at Raje’s feet to seek his blessings. Raje moved his hand over Rajaram’s back but left without saying a word. On his way to the temple, Soyarabai stopped Raje to say, ‘I am told that the priest suggests the marriage party should leave after the new moon day. What do you say?’
‘Do as the priest says. I have no interest in it,’ Raje said as he walked away.
That morning, as Raje said in the state office, he asked Annaji, ‘Where are our troops stationed now?’
Moropant answered, ‘Maharaj, my forces are in Nashik–Trayambak region while Hambirrao’s are in Karhad–Panhala region.’
Raje asked, ‘When is the solar eclipse?’
‘After three days,’ Annaji replied.
‘If the powerful sun god too can be eclipsed, is it a wonder that common men like us have to suffer?’ Raje asked rhetorically and, without waiting for an answer, he left the room. He seemed lost in thought.
#
Moropant came to see Raje in the afternoon, while Firangoji and Raje sat playing chess. ‘What is the matter, Moropant?’
‘We have news from Aurangabad—Alamgir is descending on the Deccan.’
‘We need to strategize right away. Bring Annaji, Hambirrao and Prahladpant to the office at once.’
Firangoji said, moving his fist over his whiskers, ‘This old man was getting tired of sitting in one place in any case. It would be good to get some action going!’
Raje conferred with his ministers later that afternoon. Moropant handed over the letter they had received. Glancing at the letter, Raje said, as he stroked his beard, ‘What do you make of it?’
‘I don’t think Alamgir is personally going to move to Aurangabad. His forces may be gathering though.’
‘Is this wishful thinking or do you really believe it?’ Raje asked Annaji.
Annaji asked, ‘Do you believe Alamgir will come?’
‘Certainly! I have been expecting it since my childhood and have worked hard in anticipation of this danger. Hambirrao, what is the strength of our army?’
‘We have one lakh and five thousand cavalry,’ Hambirrao said proudly.
‘What about our treasury, Annaji?’
‘We have twenty-one lakh gold coins, nearly ten thousand kilos of gold, a large number of gems besides a crore of Chandrama coins, twenty-five lakh specially minted hons and an equal number of other hons.’
‘And what about our forts, Moropant?’
‘We have the original fifty, and have built another hundred and eleven and captured seventy-nine from Karnatak, totalling two hundred and forty forts.’
Raje could not conceal his joy. He said, ‘Moropant, I have been amassing all these for a decisive battle. The ones we have fought so far were not of a decisive nature, but the one with Alamgir will be. Whatever survives will be God’s kingdom.’
‘If we succeed, our joy will know no bounds,’ Hambirrao said.
‘There cannot be any ifs and buts, Hambirrao. Ours is the Lord’s kingdom. I took the responsibility to create it. I did not allow my desires and passions come in the way of achieving our Swaraj. It is not that I did not make mistakes. But I never coaxed or encouraged these mistakes. Maybe that is why Samarth calls me rajayogi.’
He continued, ‘Today, the Rajputs are serving under the Mughals faithfully while in the past they fought with him while their women performed sati whenever they lost. Aurangzeb will want to destroy us off totally. The Rajputs will wait for the right day to take their revenge. I am sure the way things are going on in the north, nobody is resting easy. The Jats are uneasy in Punjab, with the beheading of their guru Tegh Bahadur; the Sikhs are itching for action. I feel I know Alamgir and he knows me better than anyone else. It is my dream to wrest Asirgarh from the Mughals and open the door to the north once closed by Akbar. We will also close the door to the south forever.’
The reference to Asirgarh got the assembly excited. They looked at Raje with a renewed sense of confidence. Raje said, looking at Moropant, ‘Ensure you give news from the north regularly, and not just from Aurangabad. We need spies in the north, and Hambirrao, you must be able to predict which route Aurangzeb will take to reach here.’
Hambirrao said, ‘I believe he will first come to Aurangabad and then march towards Pune. Even Shaista Khan and Mirza Raja did the same.’
‘But I think otherwise. Look at the way he destroyed the temples in Kashi and imposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims. He will come via Tuljapur, Pandharpur, Kolhapur and then to Rajapur. That way he can break up our kingdom and Karnatak into two pieces. The shrines at Tuljapur, Pandharpur, Shikhar Shingnapur and Kolhapur will be destroyed. On reaching Rajapur, the Portuguese and the English would be more than happy to support him. If we cannot protect our shrines, we cannot get the trust of our men.’
The bleak picture painted by Raje made everyone worried. Raje continued, ‘The attack on Somnath by the foreigners was not just to loot but also to destroy the faith of the people who will lay down their lives for the sake of their god. If Alamgir wants to destroy our faith, it is easiest for him to destroy our deities before he attacks us.’
‘Why should we allow him to do that?’ Firangoji asked.
‘We should not. I propose to catch up with him before he does so, let us send our forces via the harbour at Dabhol into Gujarat to wipe out the rear of his army. Before Aurangzeb reaches the south we must crush him at Asirgarh in Gujarat. What do you say, Hambirrao?’
‘Just command us and we will go, Maharaj!’
‘Don’t be so impatient! I am expecting Qutb Shah and Adil Shah to help us out for their own selfish reasons. Annaji, you move to Konkan while Moropant goes to Nashik and Hambirrao goes to the Karhad–Panhala region and organize the troops.’
The trio saluted. Raje said, ‘Moropant, train the elephants and camels to carry guns. They must get used to the sound of the drums, horns and trumpets. I can imagine our troops shouting “Har Har Mahadev!” as they quash the Mughal forces. But we cannot afford to be careless. Our aim is not to merely defeat Aurangzeb but to destroy the throne in Delhi and install the Lord at Kashi Vishwanath. The hands of my men and the will of the Lord will make it happen.’
Firangoji came forward, tears in his eyes. Raje exclaimed, ‘Firangoji!’
‘Maharaj, had Maa saheb been alive, she would have performed an aarti for you.’
‘I miss her very much today. Not just for her to ward off the evil eye but her mere presence would have been so encouraging.’ The meeting ended as the sardars saluted and left.
#
The next morning, the ministers conferred again, finalizing their plans. Hambirrao asked, ‘Maharaj, what about Yuvraj?’
Raje was silent for a while and then said, ‘This is the time for all of us to work together. I think that excluding Yuvraj will not be good for us. In fact, he will lead our army. I don’t doubt his capabilities.’
The men saluted and left. While seeing them off, Raje said, ‘Annaji, Moropant, Hambirrao—be careful. And come back once you have made all the arrangements. I will be waiting for you.’
Raje called for Firangoji. As the old man presented himself, Raje said, ‘Firangoji, I have a big responsibility for you. I believe you can make Sambhaji understand his job. He is the Yuvraj. He has grow
n up in your presence—to an extent, you have reared him, and he respects you greatly. I want you to go to Panhala and talk to him. Ask him to forget the past and use this opportunity presented to him.’
Firangoji’s whiskers quivered as he said, ‘Maharaj, I will leave for Panhala right away. I am sure I will be able to make him understand.’
An enraged Soyarabai was waiting for Annaji in her apartment. She said, when he walked in and saluted, ‘Is that true—what I have heard?’
‘Yes, Rani saheb. Raje was quite displeased with Sambhaji and wanted to entrust the governance of the kingdom to Rajaram but he loves Yuvraj a lot. And once Sambhaji Raje meets him, it will not be long before they reconcile. When the Mughals are invading us, Yuvraj will take that opportunity to unite with Raje and all will be forgiven.’
‘So what is your advice?’ Soyarabai asked.
‘I am your servant, Rani saheb. I cannot advise you. These are matters for you to settle among yourself, in private. My advice, if at all I can call it that, is to set aside such misgivings and be happy with your current position.’
‘So you too have turned you back on me?’
‘You misunderstand, Rani saheb. I am always there to support you but I cannot be disloyal to Raje. As long as Raje lives, I am at his feet.’ Annaji saluted Soyarabai, walked back three steps, and left. His last words rang in Soyarabai’s ears.
#
The solar eclipse and the puja thereafter went off as planned. Raje enjoyed the post-wedding feast and other ceremonies. However, within a few days he had fallen ill. His throat was dry and he ran a high fever. The physician was called in and Rajaram and Soyarabai looked restless.
Soyarabai asked, ‘Are you not well?’
‘Who says so?’
Soyarabai was startled by the question. She said, ‘Your face looks drained, and you would not be confined to your bed otherwise.’
‘Faces can be deceptive, Rani saheb. Don’t worry.’
Soyarabai was enraged and said, trying to control her anger, ‘You don’t have to be sarcastic all the time.’
‘Well, I have been asked to take rest. You may leave me alone now.’