Back in the palace, a surprise was waiting for Maharana Uday Singh.
His younger queen Bhatiyari was wanting for him. She had put on her finest jewellery and was dressed to kill.
She was an exquisite beauty. Naturally old Maharana was head over heels in love with her. It was truly a case of ‘no fool is like an old fool’. Jagmal was born to her. He was a handsome youngman and was good natured. His mother wanted him to descend on the throne.
But he failed on every count. In swordry, horse riding or wisdom he was no match for Pratap Singh or Shakti Singh. Then, he was junior prince.
Being the eldest Pratap Singh was already the crown prince. By Sisodiya tradition also only the eldest prince of the king inherited the throne provided he suffered no physical or mental disqualifications. All the courtiers and ministers too wanted Pratap Singh as their future king.
So, the queen Bhatiyari’s case for her son was finding no favour. But on that day she was all set to use her beauty and the king’s mad love for her as her veto power to win the crown for her son. The queen displayed all charms and coquettishly invited the king to her chamber.
The king was getting bewitched by her irresistible beauty as always.
His old body was trembling with excitement and his heart was beating like a drum.
After he sat down on the bed the queen sat beside him warming up the King’s left side. She was deliberately arousing the passion of the king.
The old king was breathing fast unable to resist her charms.
Seeing the king fully under the control of desire for her she repeated her wish to see her son Jagmal wear the crown of Mewar.
Perhaps, the king was too excited to hear. He didn’t reply and tried to fondle her pursing his lips that were drying up fast due to the old body getting heated with passion.
She pushed Maharana’s hand away and repeated her wish in clear words making sure that the king’s ears registered them.
This time Maharana heard her words.
He tried to argue that her wish was unjustified although he was finding it difficult to articulate as his voice affected by rising passion had become hoarse and he was lisping badly.
He was fast arriving at his weakest moment. The crafty queen struck when the iron was red hot. She refused to cooperate in playing the cupid game with her husband unless her demand was met.
The king was desperate.
He got up on his weak legs and lurched towards the door where he sheepishly ordered his door man to announce that the Maharana had decided to make Jagmal the crown prince in place of Pratap Singh.
The doorman obediently conveyed the message to the palace commander of guards who was shocked as was expected. When the message was relayed to the ministers they too were stunned.
But nobody had any power to counter the king’s order.
That was how things were then.
The announcement of Jagmal being the king’s choice to inherit the throne was duly made public for the information of all.
Shock waves swept the kingdom of Mewar. The courtiers and the ministers were unhappy. Everyone knew how the young queen had engineered things in her way. But no one could do anything about it.
The king’s order was final.
The youngmen were dismayed because the prince Pratap Singh had already become their hero. Pratap Singh was not very much surprised. He had been hearing about the secret moves of his step mother for quite some time. Her wish was no secret.
Several times some close friends had hinted towards this possibility.
Pratap Singh could easily imagine how the young queen could put his father under pressure. He was not angry at his father or his irrational move. An old man can have little resistance to his young wife.
Pratap Singh only had sympathy for his father and he had a great respect for him. So, he did not protest and accepted the decision.
The aged king was sad for the injustice meted out to Pratap Singh by him for his weakness. He was as regretful as Raja Dasharatha was in exiling his son Rama.
It showed on his health.
He fell sick and did not last long.
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