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“I was tired of waiting, wonderin’ if you were ever coming around, my faith in you was fading ~ Love Story. Ajabdeh took a deep breath as she adjusted her microphone on the podium with her newly done nails, careful enough not to breathe into it. She cleared her throat, stared at the paper she had put down and then briefly at the shadow of the crowd sitting in front of her. Just in front of her eyes were her father and Bade Papa. Udai Singh smiled briefly at her as if to nod and say, “Go on.” Ajabdeh started addressing the gathering. She had been on the stage so many times before, in front of cheering school kids at their school functions or even at the rowdy judging college crowd at fests, her guitar slung across her shoulder as she sang her heart out. Never had she imagined that speaking would make her so nervous, especially in front of these corporate people whose eyes seemed to judge her every move. The media presence did not help either. Was she going to be confident? Would she sli...
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“But this time I am telling you, we are never ever getting back together.” ~ Never Ever Getting Back Together The first person Jalal saw visiting Rukaiya once she was brought back home was, surprisingly, Pratap. He had expected Ajabdeh or Shakti or even Heer to drop by once Rukaiya was settled in, but Pratap’s car in the porch surprised him. Perhaps the incident moved Pratap or shook him more than Jalal expected. While the appointed nurses set up Rukaiya’s room to keep her under surveillance around the clock, and the mothers doted on her a little more than she wanted, perhaps Jalal could sense the surprise on her face the moment Pratap approached them. Rukaiya did not hesitate to ask about Shakti and Ajabdeh. Pratap eyed Jalal’s unreadable face at her mention and shrugged to inform Rukaiya that he had no idea about them since the wedding. He, on the other hand, wanted to talk to Jalal right after sharing pleasantries. It made more sense now. The moment Rukaiya and Jalal shared a glance...
The voices were so loud, saying, Why did you let her go? ~ I Bet You Think About Me Jalal was the last person to approach Rukaiya's bedside after the parents had left to talk to the doctor about her discharge. "Hi." He managed as she smiled faintly at him. Rukaiya could see he was avoiding eye contact with her, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable, and she patted the bedside, gesturing at him to sit there with her. He complied, still unsure of how to start a conversation. "So, I heard Pratap is here." Rukaiya's words made him stare at her pale face as she smiled. "Did you two meet?" He nodded. "And?" "He was here too, with Shakti and Ajabdeh." Rukaiya nodded, implying that she perhaps knew that from her mother already. "I am sorry I ruined the wedding for you." She managed as Jalal stared at her disapprovingly. "You know, before I got the call, I was coming back home anyway. Coming back to tell you what happened...
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Last updated: February 4, 2026.
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