The dawn broke with the first rays of the Sun touching the yellow petals as She fluttered awake. The Night seemed too long at times for the Sunflower as she waited for a glimpse of the Sun again, to feel his warmth again. At times, she wished she was a bird and could travel with the Sun, East to West every day. That way she never would be missing him!
But sometimes she loved the feeling of longing, of waiting for daylight like her life depended on it. She was bound to her roots, she couldn’t set herself free from the Soil, her nurturing Mother. All she could do was raise her head and follow him, as he travelled clueless, about how long she had waited. The Sun had no idea that the Sunflower existed. He had a million others like her. But the Sunflower’s life and reason to live was the Sun. One day the rays took pity on her, as she yet again shed tears watching him leave behind a trace of red light on the western horizon. The Rays told the Sun about the Sunflower and her silent waiting. The Sun was amazed at how someone’s life is affected by him, and he was so clueless. One day as the Night put the Sunflower into a deep slumber, The Sun appeared in her dreams.
“Why O Beautiful Yellow Heart, Do You wait upon this Clueless Soul?” He asked as she appeared speechless in her dreams. “ Don’t you fear my blazing heat? Don’t you fear it will dry you someday?”
“ No My Love, I don’t!” She replied without a thought.
“But Why?” He asked amazed.
No one dared to look him in the eyes, let alone love him. No one was there to share his burdens or be a part of his journeys, he was always alone.
“ Because you are my reason to live. Because you travel the sky, and I follow you in my heart, maybe I am attached to my roots but I am always with you, in my soul and heart.”
The Sun smiled as his image faded in her dream. She woke to find a ray had reached her. Her wait was over for the day. She smiled.
The Sun now looked forward to visiting the yellow patch of the field every day unknowingly, there she was staring up with hope every day. He smiled as he made sure a special ray reached her every day. He could never meet her, she could never be his. But their hearts spoke in silence every day. She knew the warmth was special to her.
One day Ray had a message. From the Sun.
“ Why do you wait upon the Love that can never have a happy ending?” She smiled at the Sun’s question.
“Because Home is ... where You are!”
He smiled to himself as she stared up, looking at each other, and the warmth of their love spread across the earth.
Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him. The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And his spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. One of his aides
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