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When Jijabai and
Laxmibai returned to the manor that day, Vishwasrao was standing there
with his back towards them. Jijabai smiled and said �poor guy, he was
crying with joy!�
�Hum� Vishwasrao
said as he turned around. The grave expression on his face made
Jijabai stop in her tracks.
�What is the matter
Vishwasrao?�
�Not a very good
news madam.�
�Tell me�
�Shahaji Raje
revolted against the southern Vijapur dynasty. So they sent Murar
Jagdev to Pune for revenge. He has burned Pune down without any
respect or regard towards life or property. Now he is camped in Pune.
Most valuable place for Sahahji.�
�And my husband?�
�He is safe.�
Vishwasrao said. But Jijabai could not control her tears and ran out
of the room.
Bad news never
travels alone! Jijabai was trying to deal with one shock, and second
shocking news came in. Jijabai�s co-sister, Shahaji Raje�s cousin�s
wife was kidnapped by Mahabat Khan as she was returning home after a
holy bath in river Godawari. With this Jijabai lost her will even to
go out for walks. She was enraged and feeling helpless. Everybody was
trying to ease her grief. But then one day, everybody became quiet all
of a sudden. Everybody started avoiding Jijabai. Nobody would even
meet her eye. Jijabai sensed that there was something wrong, but could
not put her finger on it.
Finally she called
Vishwasrao in and asked him what the matter was. But he kept evading
the answer.
�Vishwasrao�
�Yes madam?� |
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�I didn�t come to
stay here just because we are family friends. I agreed to stay here
because I see you as my younger brother.�
�I am aware of
that.�
�Then tell me what
you are hiding from me.�
�Nothing madam, did
you hear something?�
�No, but I know
everybody has been avoiding me�
�You misunderstand
madam�
�Be frank with me
Vishwasrao. Or I might consider moving out. I have been thru some
tough times; I can handle anything you have to tell me.�
�Madam�, Vishwasrao
let go his sob, �madam your father � Lakhuji Jadhav � was murdered�
�My father?
Murdered? Who did it?�
�Your father had
gone to visit the king of Daulatabad with three of your brothers. King
refused to receive him. And then before he knew, men came in and
murdered all of them. I think it was preplanned.�
Vishwasrao looked
at Jijabai, she was leaning against the wall, and her face had turned
white. Jijabai was saying, �My father is gone. Pune has been
destroyed. People who made the kings as powerful as they are, are
getting murdered in open courts. Their servants are kidnapping our
women and girls. Vishwasrao, tell me, where is God? Or is he asleep?�
Everybody ran to support Jijabai, as they saw that she was collapsing.
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