Jhalkari Bai

"Bundele Har bolo ke muh hamne suni kahani thi

Khub ladi mardani wo to Jhansi waali Rani thi" 

As an Indian, it would be shameful if you haven't heard of this poem before. The Queen of Jhansi. The woman whose eyes had burning embers, whose voice had rumbling of the thunder and sword had the swoosh of a breeze. It's a shame that while writing the story of our Jhansi ki Rani, A fierce warrior got lost. When the history was being written, Her name withered away but she could never be erased from the soil of her motherland. This is the story of JHALKARI BAI:-

"Jhalkari wait!"

All the people could see was a galloping horse and a girl sitting on it. The girl whose eyes were shining like diamonds and whose giggle had the ringing of a thousand bells. This was her turn to prove herself. She pulled the reins and chuckled a little as the people dispersed and ran for their life.

"Jhalkari!!" Oh no. Father. She turned around and beamed at him while mouthing 'Just One Hunt'. She went even faster leaving the villagers in clouds of dust and sand.

It was a lush dark forset and looked as if it trapped thousands of shadows in there. Shadows of people that never returned. It was quiet as a mouse but one could hear the wind whispering to the trees, the squirrels chatting and insects churring.

"These canopies are not scaring me but... that snake is RUN!"

They rushed through the woods terrified. The branches creaked, The leaves rustled, warning the little girl. After coming deep into the forest they halted.

"It was not a wise choice to come here alone," thought Jhalkari. "But it can't be undone" She shrugged and stepped down from the horse examining The greens and browns. The majestic beauty of nature. Impulsive as she was, She clambered up the tree broke a stick arduously and came down sliding. The next task was, The Actual Hunt.

Each step they took was filled with caution and vigilance. One wrong move could show them the door of death. Then it happened. Something moved, cutting the blanket of air. She meticulously glanced behind. It was wearing a yellow cloak embellished with rosettes. She was hawkeyed and hungry to prove herself. Just as the Leopard pounced she let go of the stick in her hand. One swift move and the leopard had his last breath.

The victorious young lady returned home with pride. Her act of bravery was being discussed all over. As she stepped into her house a woman stopped her.

"You are a Dalit and a Woman. Hunting does not suit you" She turned to her father "Keep her in check, No one likes a rebellious Dalit girl" She spat.

The way she said Dalit was like a poisoned sting that caused pain all over young Jhalkari's body. Was she really not meant to do what she liked? was she born only to be shackled? Instead of praise and honour when all she received was stupid guidelines as to how to behave like a real Dalit woman, A fire of rage got lit within and this fire would engulf any and everyone.

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YEARS LATER

*sigh* "What do you think?"

"It doesn't matter what I or anyone thinks, You'd make a great queen- It's a fact," Jhalkari said jumping into a pond and splashing the water all over, Even over Laxmi. The two girls laughed as Laxmi chased Jhalkari in the water hole trying to catch hold of the girl amid water being sprayed all around. As the little game ended, both took a seat along the edges breathing heavily from all the laughter. 

"We've soiled our nauvari" complained Laxmi, strangely smiling.

"Again" Added Jhalkari with an eye roll.

There was a brief silence. Not the good one, but the one filled with turmoil and gloom

"But really, none of them seem to be pleased by the idea of me ruling by myself." Laxmi terminated the silence, this was no joke, she was sober and low this time. Jhalkari examined the lines of chaos and haze that appeared on her face

"Hey, since when did you worry about their approval?and I am a Dalit, in the army. They don't define you... If a lion was being defined by the deers, it'd never be the king."

"Maybe you're right but, They won't let me take the throne so easily "

"That makes it even better, Easy things are no Fun." She said the last string of words in a whisper, which tingled Laxmis's entire body.

"Right then, It's a fight"

'Not a fight, a war for what's right"

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"Today, I Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, Has assembled you all to inform - The British can attack the kingdom anytime soon, and we need to be equipped and prepared. In light of what I just said, I have trained women from all over Jhansi and I appoint Jhalkari Bai as the commander of the Women's Wing"

"I promise to not break this thread of trust and do my duty with integrity and efficiency " Jhalkari bowed a little to show respect and honour.

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The entire place is filled with echoes of swords whistling and clashing, and screeches of the fighters. To the extent where the eye can see, you'll only find warriors with flames of freedom and Britishers who are trying their best to extinguish the fire Laxmi Bai lit. 

"We need to find LAXMI! " An officer growled.

"We are trying" A timid voice replied. Little did they know, the conversation was being overheard by our Women's Commander. She tore a piece of cloth and wrapped it around her face so only the scissor-sharp eyes were visible. It was the only thing needed to frighten the foreign invaders.

Her sword danced on her command, protecting her land at all costs, blood stains covered her ensemble. With every move she made, she knew she was closer to the heavens. Why? The brits had thought her to be RANI LAKSHMI BAI and she did not wish to break the deception.

Everyone who saw her couldn't remove the image. A woman who might scare fear itself, She looked like an avatar of Maa Durga itself. She fought like it was a game and she already knew she would win and she spoke of her land like there was nothing more significant and meaningful on the globe. Each wound that she had on her body, only made her look even more menacing. 

This was it. The moment she was born for, she thought. 

It was the British officer himself there to kill the thorn in his path, Laxmi. The battle kept on, Jhalkari giving off the energy of a wounded lioness, the one who is perilous. At once the officer felt like stepping back but there it was, a sword pierced through her body letting the blood-like nectar spill all over. The mask got yanked to reveal the much un-anticipated woman behind.

"YOU! YOU'RE NOT LAKSHMI" He snarled

"I am Lakshmi, Each woman has a Lakshmi inside her" declared the wounded tigress.

"What Rubbish?! You tricked me into believing you were her, just to die?"

"Weak are scared of death, I looked into its eyes and smiled."

"I mean you died because of Laxmi," he said trying to fight a laugh

"Your English is feeble, I died FOR Laxmi, FOR my motherland FOR freedom and I am proud of my decision. Not many get the chance to sacrifice themselves for a cause so noble. "

And as she took her last breath, She looked through the officer's soul and beamed at him, which jolted the man alongside terrifying him. 

And so, Jhalkari helped Laxmi successfully escape from the palace. Her husband died in midst of the war being fought which gave her enough pain. But her bravery which challenged worry all the time led her to make such a grand name. Not a Ksatriya, Not a Man but still One of the Best. This soil will forever remember her as a fond memory. 

"Macha Jhansi mein ghamasan, chahun aur machi kilkaree thi,

Angrezeon se loha lenein, ran mein kudee Jhalkari thi."