by Ranjit Desai
Soyarabai left in a huff. Raje called for Balaji and dictated important letters for the key fort-keepers. By evening, his temperature had come down. Raje believed the fever was due to the exhaustion of the last few days but by night the fever had resurfaced. After a few days, the situation had not yet changed. He was getting weaker by the day. Seeing his deteriorating health, the whole fort was quiet and pensive.
#
On the fourth day, his temperature had come down a little. He was feeling extremely weak. He said, when Soyarabai came in, ‘Please send a horseman to Panhala and inform Sambhaji that I am not well. Call him here urgently, please.’
‘Yes, I will.’
The two physicians, Ganga Shastri and Ganga Vaidya, had examined Raje. They conferred and came to a conclusion that it looked like typhoid fever. Ganga Shastri said, ‘There is nothing to worry. He will feel better by tomorrow night.’
All those present felt relieved.
#
Though Ganga Shastri had assured everyone that Raje would return to normal health, his temperature continued to play truant. Soyarabai came in the evening and asked, ‘Did you send the palanquin for the younger queen?’
‘Yes, I did. Has she arrived?’
‘No, I am told she is not keeping well.’
‘We both have identical dispositions,’ Raje said, as he closed his eyes. Soyarabai left without saying a word.
As Raje slept, Balaji standing nearby could not resist asking Ganga Shastri, who was busy cutting a betelnut for his paan, ‘Tell me, Vaidyaraj, the medicine you gave Raje is supposed to be very effective for typhoid. Yet, it has not worked.’
‘That is right. I think it may be navajwar, the nine-day fever.’
‘Do the symptoms support what you think?’
Ganga Shastri did not respond, focusing on his paan instead. Those around looked grave. It was not a situation they were prepared to confront.
A few days had gone by with the fever rising and falling intermittently.
Raje said, as Ganga Shastri examined him, ‘Shastribua, I am not bothered about my lack of appetite but the ups and downs of the fever are becoming unbearable. What is happening to me?’
The physician was holding Raje’s hand to inspect his pulse. He said, quickly glancing at Manohari, who went out of the room, ‘Maharaj, based on my age and experience, I can tell you that till now, my doses have never gone wrong. But I am at a loss to understand why they have failed this time.’
‘You clearly want to say something, Shastribua. Please do—without hesitation.’
‘Maharaj,’ the physician began, as he licked his lips nervously, ‘did you eat something which you should not have?’
Raje’s lips quivered. He became restless and asked, ‘Is anyone in the room?’
‘No.’
Raje smiled and said, ‘Don’t raise such doubts. I have had similar experiences earlier. I want you to treat me the way you deem most fit. Don’t worry about the outcome. I shall recover if the Lord wills.’
The two physicians conferred outside Raje’s room. Ganga Shastri was nervous as he wiped the sweat from his face. He was restless, nervous and confused. He said, looking at the other physician, ‘Shall we try the gold and pearl vials? We have not given him a dose for vomiting yet.’
‘That is right. Let us administer this dose and see.’
The two men prepared the new dose, praying as they did.
#
The chamber was enveloped in total silence. The dim light of the lamp spread on the floor. It was nearly midnight but Raje was not asleep despite the high fever. His eyes felt heavy. He was desperate to sleep but it eluded him. He mused, My dream was to create the Lord’s kingdom. Fifty years! In the process, I lost many great warriors. What was more dear—Kondana or Tanaji?
The dream of Swaraj was incepted when I was a mere fifteen years old. I had seen how the kingdoms of Daulatabad and Vijayanagara had fallen to foreign invasions. I had seen how the jagir at Pune was ruined due to the displeasure of Adil Shah. My strength was limited but I won with unlimited devotion and dedication. So many sacrifices! Men like Baji Prabhu, Prataprao, Murarbaji and Tanaji—they gave up their lives for the cause.
Only those who truly love their land are willing to sacrifice themselves. Shiva the barber was willing to die to save me. Murarbaji, Tanaji and Pangera accepted the challenge. But who assured them that my mission would succeed?
Raje laughed at himself. His thoughts continued. Faith: Its strength is infinite. Like an ocean! But each victory came at a cost. To put an end to my plans, they arrested the elder Maharaj saheb but we did not waver. I went to Agra knowing full well that I was entering the jaws of death. My men like Annaji, Moropant and others stood like rocks and protected the kingdom that remained after the treaty of Purandar. They never believed we would lose.
After escaping from Agra, I wore the disguise of a mendicant, losing my ego. And then the auspicious occasion of my coronation—an event unprecedented in a thousand years. It was an open challenge to the Mughals. But why did we become complacent even before defeating Alamgir?
My own Yuvraj desired power and Rani saheb was only interested in being queen. I reconverted our people who had been forced to adopt Islam. Aurangzeb did the same thing. Is that our concept of loyalty to our religions?
Raje was restless in his thoughts. He was also fatigued. But it is not the same thing! The Mughals came to our land from faraway places while I am a son of the soil, loyal to the land. Otherwise we would not have made Daulat Khan our admiral.
I took care of Shambhu when Sai passed away but I was not able to give him his mother’s love. I had promised Sai I would treat Sambhaji with care. I was not able to deal with him with the strict discipline with which I was treated by Maa saheb. I chopped off the hands of a Patil for his misconduct but for a similar offence, I could not punish Sambhaji. Not even when he defected to the enemy camp. It is my failure for not being able to punish my son. It is unpardonable!
Sai passed away but my wounds remain fresh. Kashi’s eyes remained unsatisfied while Putla is leading her life in the company of my shoes. Shambhu, dear to me as our family deity, does not know my mind! I have foresight but I am not able to see things close to me! The ministers do not trust Sambhaji’s capabilities. And Shambhu does not trust the ministers. What a dilemma!
I gave Sambhaji the independent charge of the Subha at Prabhavali but he did not manage it well. Will he have warriors like Baji and Tanaji and advisors like Moropant and Annaji to fight against Aurangzeb? Does he have the maturity to make his mind tenacious? And the elder Rani saheb believes the junior Yuvraj can lead the men with the support of the ministers. A young lad of ten!
Raje moved his hand across his forehead and his fingers touched the ash marks. He mused, Who knows what is in fate for me? I was planning to give the Mughals a tough fight a week ago and now here I am, lying in bed with a fever! Would the dream of a Hindavi Swaraj remain unrealized if I were to die?
I wonder how Samarth keeps the equanimity of his mind. He calls me shriman yogi but why do I not have the same equanimity? I am not scared of death. My only worry is that the kingdom should survive after me. The kingdom belongs to the Lord. It will survive the Mughal invasion. Even if it does not, the confidence I have given people as Shivaji will remain eternal. That will surely grow.
Raje could sense his sheets being moved. The physician had come to check Raje and was surprised to see him awake. He asked, ‘Maharaj, did you not sleep?’
Raje smiled. ‘I was staying awake for a peaceful sleep.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Nothing. Is it dawn now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then the sun should rise soon.’
Raje seemed to be in his own world. The Vaidyaraj, after checking Raje’s pulse, walked out of the room. His face could not hide his anxiety.
#
Raje’s deteriorating condition and the seriousness with which Ganga Shastri was attending to it made it clear
to everyone that it was not a simple case of fever. Raje was losing more weight each day and was looking visibly emaciated.
Soyarabai sat near Raje’s bed while outside, in the verandah, Hiroji, Mahadji and Balaji stood guard. Manohari and Mahadev would take care of Raje, pressing his feet.
That evening, Nischalpuri came with his disciples to ward off evil and touched him with holy ashes. At around midnight, the verandah was silent. Ganga Shastri was dozing while Mahadev stood guard. Manohari slept with her head on the bed, sitting on the floor. Soyarabai was sleeping beside the bed reclining against a bolster. Hiroji was napping with his head between his knees. Suddenly they heard someone cry, ‘Moropant, Moropant!’
There was a lot of confusion as it took them a few moments to realize that it was Raje who has calling, and they rushed into the room.
Raje was muttering, ‘Moropant, you have done an excellent job but the work at Raigad is incomplete.’
Hiroji called out to Raje but he was in muttering under his breath. His eyes were closed. The physician checked the pulse. As they came out of the chamber, all eyes were on Ganga Shastri.
Yesaji asked, ‘Shastribua, please be honest … how is he?’
‘Don’t ask me anything,’ Ganga Shastri said, blowing his nose. ‘I feel defeated. My medicines are not working. Raje is falling into a coma, I fear.’
The soft sobs of those around penetrated the silence of the night.
#
The next morning, as the fort came to life, all eyes were on Raje’s chamber. Soyarabai was in the verandah. She said, heaving a sigh, ‘Maharaj has entrusted the whole responsibility to Bal Raje. He is still young and you all must support him; I wish Annaji, Moropant and Hambirrao were here.’
‘Rani saheb need not worry. Please command us.’
‘Then close the gates to the forts.’
‘Yes, Rani saheb,’ Balaji said.
‘I don’t want the rumours to spread. If the news of his failing health goes out, it will create problems. And no one should leave the fort without my permission,’ she added.
People were bewildered but did not voice their opinion. They were anxiously waiting for Raje to recover. Raje would be conscious intermittently. He muttered, as he opened his eyes to look at Soyarabai, ‘Water …’
Taking a golden vessel of water, Ganga Shastri helped Raje to sip a little. Raje waved a limp hand towards Soyarabai who stepped forward. He said, ‘Why has Shambhu Raje not come yet?’
‘I am not sure. He should have.’
Raje looked at Soyarabai fixedly, who struggled not to lower her eyes. He smiled, ‘I understand now. The palanquin was sent to bring the younger queen, and she did not come. Nor has Shambhu Raje arrived.’
‘Do you think I am lying? Ask Balaji if you wish.’
Raje’s expression turned grave. ‘Rani saheb, stop it! Shambhu may not like you but he loves me very much—he would have come flying had he been told of my illness.’
Soyarabai angrily glanced at Raje and turned her back. Raje said, ‘Shun your anger for this moment at least. Do you think I collected crores of hons for luxury? All my efforts were only for that decisive battle between Alamgir and I. And neither Sambhaji nor Rajaram can fight it. One is thoughtless and the other one immature. If I had been in good health for another year, my wish would have been fulfilled.’
Tears streamed down Raje’s cheeks. He continued, ‘The kingdom would have been safe after the installation of the Lord at Kashi. But I could not make that happen. Something has gone fundamentally wrong.’ Raje closed his eyes but the tears continued to flow.
Yesaji stepped forward and wiped them as he started sobbing. Raje opened his eyes and said, stroking Yesaji’s hand, ‘Yesaji, you are the one who fought an elephant. Why you are weeping now?’
Yesaji got up hurriedly and pushing the edge of his shawl in his mouth, he rushed out of the room.
Suddenly Raje was restless and shouted, ‘Fire the guns … Baji is fighting tooth and nail and he is waiting to hear the guns. Where is Tanaji? Why is he not around? Tie his hands and bring him before me? How can he leave without my permission?’
It was clear to everyone that Raje was sinking. Soon, he was unconscious and slept fitfully. No one was in the mood to eat or drink. Raje continued to be in and out of consciousness. The Brahmins had begun to recite the Mrityunjaya mantra. That evening, Raje was awake and called the men around. He said, ‘Don’t lament. You must do whatever that has to be done with full responsibility. If your intent is good, the result will be fine.’
Janardanpant said, ‘Maharaj, have courage!’
‘I am not afraid of death, Janardanpant. But at this juncture, men like Sambhaji, Moropant, Annaji and Firangoji should have been here. Death rules over time. That Baji Prabhu fought till he heard the guns was only because of time. My escape from Agra was due to the Lord’s grace. Today, when I am breathing my last, none of these men are with me. When I escaped from Agra, I wandered as a mendicant and went to Kashi. I felt blessed after the darshan and offered my gems to the Lord. That endangered my life as the priests wondered how a mendicant like me could have such gems. As a result I had to leave Kashi immediately.
‘I lost precious men while toiling for the kingdom, accepting success and failure on the way. I surrendered barefoot with my hands tied to the back and my son held as a hostage by the enemy. I faced imprisonment.’
Raje looked at Prahladpant. He said, ‘Raje, if Samarth comes to know of it …’
Raje folded his hands and said, ‘Are you a fool to inform Samarth?’
Raje soon dozed off.
That night, the men were alert. The room was lit with a diffused light of the lamps. Seeing Raje clench his fists, Hiroji got up. They knew the symptoms. Raje said, opening his eyes, ‘I brought the Ganga from Kashi but it could not reach Rameshwar. All my efforts were wasted. Sai? Where is Sai? Where is my elder Rani saheb? Where do these people go when I need them? Call them!’
The bhajans were being sung outside in the verandah. The rhythmic sound of the tal and the percussion was at a fast tempo. Raje remembered Samarth’s words, ‘Raje, be introspective. Concentrate on yourself.’ Raje remembered the way Samarth had fondly caressed his back when they had embraced each other. Calmed at the thought, he dozed off again.
#
At dawn, Raje woke up to the sounds of the bhajan. The chamber was silent but he could sense someone pressing his feet. It was Manohari.
‘Manu!’
‘Yes, Maharaj!’
‘Bring me some water, please.’
‘Ganga Shastri, standing at the door, brought the water.
‘What day is it?’ Raje asked.
‘Saturday.’
‘It is a full moon day, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, the eleventh day since you fell ill.’
‘The Rudras too are eleven, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, Maharaj.’
‘Shastribua, it seems to be a good day. I feel better. You must take some rest. You have done your job. Please go now.’
That morning Shastri administered a dose to Raje and felt his pulse.
Raje smiled, ‘What are you worrying about, Shastribua? A collapsing bastion cannot be supported by a peg. Today seems to be a good day. Don’t worry.’
Shastri could not utter a word as he watched Raje carefully.
Soyarabai came in and asked, ‘Can I do something?’
‘I am not seeing who I want to, and am instead seeing those I don’t want!’
Soyarabai turned away fretfully. As Shastri stepped out of the room, Hiroji asked, a little optimistically. ‘Is he better today?’
Shastri smiled dejectedly and said, ‘What you see is different from what it really is!’
The men were speechless. Manohari appeared at the door and said, ‘Maharaj is calling all of you.’
They gathered around the bed. Hiroji called softly, ‘Maharaj!’
Raje opened his eyes. He looked at Rajaram and said, ‘Bal Raje, you have to shoulder a l
arge responsibility now. May Jagdamba be with you! And remember that it is tolerance that makes people great. Don’t get tired of it.’
He looked at the men around and said, ‘Don’t be afraid. Everyone has to die someday. Sit outside and let me remember my Lord.’
They all left silently. Manohari continued pressing Raje’s feet. Hiroji was standing nearby, just outside the door. Ganga Shastri was at Raje’s feet, looking at him.
Raje said, ‘Manu, can you wipe the sweat off my face?’
Manohari wiped Raje’s face and as she was wiping his neck, she burst out crying.
‘What happened?’
‘The wreath of cowries …’
‘It is broken, isn’t it?’ Raje smiled. ‘It seems Jagdamba has withdrawn her support.’
Manohari, tears flowing down, bent to collect the cowries.
‘How many cowries have broken?’
‘Four.’
‘That means I am with you all for four hours more at the most,’ Raje said, raising his hands.
A strange fear gripped Manohari. She started weeping.
Raje raised his hand with great difficulty and said, moving his hand over her head, ‘Are you weeping for me?’ As he held her hand, he saw Saibai’s coral ring on her finger. Raje moved a trembling hand over the ring. ‘Don’t weep, Manu. I could not involve myself in anyone but unknowingly, I got involved in you. Being that as it is, I am going now. Shastribua …’
Ganga Shastri reached Raje’s bed.
‘Shastribua, give me the gangajal and the tulsi leaf now. Please put the holy ashes on my forehead.’
Shastri, Hiroji and Manu sobbed silently. Raje sipped the water and Shastri touched his head with the ashes. Taking the tulsi leaf on his tongue, Raje folded his hands. Seeing Mahadev enter, Raje said, ‘Mahadev, your watch is almost over now.’
Mahadev could not look at Raje and rushed out of the room, sobbing.
The hymns were now in full progress. Raje was losing his grip over himself. His eyes had a blue tinge in them. ‘Alamgir was looking at me peacefully, you know. His eyes had the confidence and power of a cobra, with the ability to penetrate deep into you. There were only two people who could look at me like that—Alamgir and death!’
