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“ I like shiny things, but I will marry you with a paper ring.” - Paper Ring. Ajabdeh Punwar could not tell why she was feeling guilty when she saw four pairs of eyes on her, satisfied when she stated she did the “needful.” She believed in her heart that she had, no matter what Pratap tried to convince her. She was not going to fall for it again. Well, Ajab, you said it the last time, didn’t you? She lay with her face in her pillow, heart sinking, stomach churning, wondering what she would do. She had not strongly refused Pratap when she should have. How could she after he… Ajabdeh inhaled. But she could not betray her parents? Could she? How bad would it be if she kept her word to them and stayed away from him? She closed her eyes, and the memories of Jodhpur came haunting back. His taste on her lips, his touch on her skin. Ajabdeh jolted, as if to do away with the thoughts. She sat up, opened her laptop and began to work. Work was the only way she could prove her genuine commitment t...
“Don’t say yes, run away now. I will meet you when you are out…” Speak Now “Please, either remove the mask, or the sunglasses, or the cap. You are attracting attention and looking like a militant.” Pratap tried to lighten the mood as he eyed Ajabdeh, sitting beside him as he drove the car down the busy street of Delhi towards the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. “I can’t risk being seen with you again by some stupid paps.” That was the first time she spoke; her voice sounded heavy and nonchalant. She had been waiting in the parking lot in her car, as he had said. She had texted him the car slot number, and he had come around right in front of her and gestured at the passenger seat. Ajabdeh had locked her car and stepped into the passenger side seat and fastened her seat belt as they drove off. She had no idea where they were going and why. Pratap smiled faintly at her words and shrugged. He parked the car in a fairly empty place by the park now that people have started to disperse, a...
“He wanted a bride, I was making my own name” - Midnight Rain. Ajabdeh woke up to a constantly vibrating phone as she sat up on her bed, a little disoriented. The sunlight was peeping through the drawn curtains as she yawned, and her attention shifted to the constantly vibrating phone. There were missed calls from several unknown numbers from Media agencies, messages from friends and family, her cousin's group buzzing constantly and thirty-five unread messages from Shakti. Even Jalal and Rukaiya had called her within minutes of each other. She was unable to understand what was wrong. She eyed the clock. Was it not a Sunday, and she was late for work? She shook her head and opened Shakti’s messages. The first one was a link, the second was about his father being furious, the third was that he had no idea where Pratap was since morning and asking if she was with him and then a string of long emotional messages letting her know what a terrible friend she was. Ajabdeh inhaled as she cl...
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Last updated: February 4, 2026.
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