RAABTA

Once upon a time in the Mystic Desert lived a Princess. In a tower, that overlooked the yellow horizon, she watched the sun rise and set every day in the sand dunes. Her heart longed to stand in the middle of the desert, touch the sand, feel it under her feet; smell the air, and see the vast sky turn from blue to black. But alas, she couldn't. Imprisoned by Norms and Virtues, she dreamt of Home, in the desert and open sky, or somewhere far beyond it. The Wanderer never saw home. He had seen mountains, seas, forests and waterfalls. His horse was his home as was the world. Alone and aimless he had travelled half the world. Every night a certain emptiness filled his heart. He couldn't tell why. One star-studded night, on one of his many journeys, his horse grew tired in the sand dunes and looked around for water. The fort towers caught his eyes. "Anyone home?" He said looking around the deserted ruins. Silence replied him as he frowned. "Such a huge place and

Pratap had rushed into the courtyard of the house as the noise of his bike made Meera walk out feebly with a curious face. It was pouring heavily, quite unlike the winter around the area, and he was almost shivering in the cold, dripping wet. Meera rushed inside to grab the first dry piece of cloth she could find. Pratap walked in, still shivering, but least bothered about it. He stopped her hands, while she was trying to wipe the dripping water off his head, and Meera could see his eyes were red. “What happened? Is everything fine?” Her questions made him hug her, tightly, resting his face on her shoulder and weep. “Ladesar?” She asked with a frown. The party was probably nothing like Pratap imagined. It was a lot more lavishing than even his greatest imagination. He and Patta were given the duty to overlook the bar counters, and standing at one end of the hall, he could see the entire crowd. The princess looked happy; her hand was entwined with her fiancee’s and so did her parent

“Where are you going?” Ajabdeh stopped, alerted by the voice behind her. She turned to find Heer asking the question as she stood at the threshold of the entrance to the palace in her riding pants and boots. “I... it’s 6AM, it is...” “Jija. Tomorrow is my engagement party and you want to go riding?” Heer asked almost with a hint of disappointment in her voice “It can wait till I get engaged. I need you now. Besides, the stables are being cleaned.” “I will be back in a few minutes Heer.” Ajabdeh shrugged “I have just developed a habit to start my day by meeting Chetak. As long as I am here...” She stopped as Heer’s smile faded. “He can wait till later Jija when the guests come; you take them to the stables and show off Chetak as much as you want.” Heer smiled holding her by her hand, “Come with me now.” Chundawat had called on every employee who worked in and around the palace, in the morning, briefing them about the extra hours they needed to work till the engagement which

Pratap was putting the reign on Chetak when he heard not one but two pairs of footsteps at the stable. Patta bowed with a smile “Choti Rajkunwarisa Khamma Ghani” and he turned to see Ajabdeh being accompanied by another lady who acknowledged Patta. She looked nothing similar to Ajabdeh, except for the smile both of them shared, and she was indeed more beautiful. The gossip around the village was that she got engaged because she was prettier and it hadn’t escaped Pratap’s ears. She looked far timider and less confident than Ajabdeh. “This is Pratap.” Ajabdeh flashed a smile making him bow slightly at the lady. “The man who tamed Chetak.” Heer smiled appreciating as Pratap looked at her a little taken aback and at Ajabdeh who smiled at her sister.   “This is my sister, Heer.” Ajabdeh stared at Pratap who immediately withdrew his eyes off her. “Congratulations on your engagement Rajkunwarisa.” He had smiled at Heer. “Ma’am the horse is ready.” Ajabdeh frowned at his formality a