RAABTA

The morning saw a real hustle in the guest cottages as well as the Palace itself. Hansa was running around behind her daughter with a homemade remedy to make her skin “glow” before she went out with the apparent groom while Heer just shook her head and decided to get ready for the palace tour. She was planning on ending it early with Ranaji’s permission and going to the library for some reading. She smiled at Ajabdeh making a face like she would puke as Hansa applied her home remedy and showered her with advice. “Remember beta, no loud laughter, walk gracefully. Let him talk. Listen” “Haa Haa Maata Rani Haa!!!” “What's this Maata Rani thing now?” Heer frowned as Hansa looked fed up. “They call their mom that, remember!” Ajabdeh smiled all teeth out. “Hey Bhagwan, Jija that was Ranima!” Heer laughed as Hansa gave a cold stare. Ajabdeh was taken by surprise at the revelations as she choked laughing with her younger sibling. “ Kya karu main iss ladki ka !” Hansa contro

Heer sat in her Royal Blue Long Kurti in beautiful pink motifs and stared at the Business Times on the coffee table. The front page had a picture of Udai Singh with Pratap and Shakti in the same types of bandh gala coats and the royal brooch on it. Posing. The headline read  WHO IS THE HEIR? HRH UDAI SINGH VI ANSWERS   She was about to pick it up when she heard a soft knock on the door as it swung open and she froze to see Shakti walk in, in a bandh gala black kurta looking rather royal. “ You are here?” Heer stood up from the sofa of the Sisodias study room as Shakti spoke. “Yes.” She frowned at the confused Shakti. “Ranisa summoned me.” “One minute.” Shakti stopped her with his hand gesture. “Ranima summoned you? Are you sure?” “Yes.” Heer frowned. Does he think am stupid? “A maid came and specifically told us that she summoned me.” “But Dadabhai called me here.” He frowned. “Kunwar Pratap? Why would he ask for me?” Heer looked at the younger prince rather suspiciou

“Shakti, did Pratap go to pick them up? I haven't seen him since the morning.” Jaivanta frowned at her younger son who seemed busy smiling at some text message. “Umm… Yes, I called him, He has reached.” Shakti sat up looking at his mother who frowned doubtfully. “They are on the way.” “Aree Rama.” Jaivanta turned to the maid in waiting. “Ji Ranisa?” “Make sure they get a proper welcome.” “Ji.” The lady in waiting dashed off to make the arrangements. “Welcome with aarti ?” Shakti raised his eyebrows watching his mother prepare the lamp. “The last time Dadabhai got that was when he came back from the UK after grads” Shakti had a hint of amusement in his voice. “What did he achieve today?” “Bahu is coming home for the first time… Isn't it achievement enough?” Udai smiled at his son who burst out laughing. “ First time! How many more will he bring, Papa?” Shakti laughed. “ Ohho! Stop it both of you. My Pratap is not that bad, he is just difficult to understand

“Shit Shit Shit!!”  Before Pratap could react, Ajabdeh was running down the steep cliffy road rather frantically with her heels in her hand, her long hair getting all over her face in the breeze. “Wait for me! Ajabdeh?” He panted a little cursing himself for not jogging like Shakti each morning. “ Khamma Ghani kakasa!” Ajabdeh stopped at the gates where an old watchman seemed to have just arrived for his duty. “Baisa! You are here… who is this?” The old man frowned as Ajabdeh, for the first time had company who by now had sat down in the middle of the road from all the running. “He's... a friend… Princy give him something.”  She ordered in a tone making Pratap stare as the old man said “Nahi nahi…” Her tone made him take out a hundred rupee note from his purse while she snatched it and handed it to the old man.  “Is everything okay? You weren't here at night?” She seemed genuinely worried. “Baisa… my daughter is sick…” “Ahem!” Pratap cleared his throat. “I t