RAABTA

Pratap calmed his racing heart as he looked at her reflection in the mirror. He removed his suit and was now in his shirt and trousers. " You lied." Her allegation made him frown a little. " What?" " Yes, you lied, you didn't take me to meet Brownie." " Ranima took you away, how could I..." " I dunno, you lied." She sat down on the dressing table seat and tried to remove her nose ring. " Damn, this hurts!" " Then why did you wear it in the first place?" He chuckled. " Ranima made me." She frowned. He walked up to her, held her nose ring and took it off carefully, his eyes not leaving hers. Then, without her saying a word, he proceeded to the maangtika, earrings, and necklace. She felt her stomach having a funny, nervous feeling as he moved behind her and removed the pins from her hair, letting her hair fall open. Then he slid the hair to one side and kissed her bare neck, making her gasp. He ...

Pratap was dressed in a cream-white waistcoat suit with a maroon shirt, and his royal brooch made him look elegant, along with diamond cufflinks.  All the other men were in bowties and suits. The ladies chose to wear sarees as Ajabde was being helped in her new room by three attendants with a three-piece golden bronze floor-length Anarkali suit. She wore an orange shade of lipstick, with golden shimmered dark kohl highlighted eyes and her hair was done in a side bun with royal brooches and clips attached to it. Her neckpiece and earrings were the traditional antiques of the Royal household, and her head was adorned with the tiara of the Kunwarani of Surajgarh. She wore the newlywed red bangles of the bride and also some bangles Jaivanta gave. Her Payal made a twinkling soft sound, and her armlets had the royal seal on them, marking her as a royal. The Palace Hall was decked up for the royal reception in an elegant, classy party look, with soft music, dinner and drinks. People ...

Pratap sat up, scratching his head. It had been barely an hour since he had napped. Ajabde was not on the couch. With a frown, he looked into the empty room and found her trying to rearrange the necklace and Sitahaar that seemed to have tangled together. " Can I help?" He asked, amused. " No, I can....!" He nodded and was about to leave. " Princy!" He stopped looking at her. She got up and walked to him. " Bolo." " Can I take a selfie?" She smiled. " In this tired look?" He frowned. " Who cares?" She shrugged, taking out her phone. " Only if you don't pout!" He smiled at the snap. As the knock resounded, she managed to drop her veil over her head, making him smile before he opened the door. It was a smiling Heer, followed by Mahek, Bhago, Jaso, Asha, and Rosalina, followed by an almost chuckling Shakti, Ven, Rohan and Chaks. Sangram seemed to be accompanying them unwillingly to increase heads...

The wedding ground was decorated with red and golden drapes, canopies of red, white and yellow flowers, roses, lilies and marigolds. Yellow decorative lights were placed, and the mandap was made in a round shape, with a Red Carpet and a Yajna Kund in between. The four pillars of the mandap were shaped like an  S,  and they met at the temple-designed top made of a beautiful canopy of garlands and drapes, from where a jhoomar hung. Ram Rakh was checking on all the arrangements in his cream-white Sherwani and maroon dhoti teamed with a white pagri with a red border. Being the Bride's father seemed to be the toughest job in the world. Hansa arrived behind him in a deep Maroon saree embroidered with golden Zari, and her hair was done in a bun with roses in it. She wore her own wedding necklace, earrings and large stone rings, looking nothing less than a royal herself with her maroon lips and Kohl highlighted eyes. Ajab seemed to have her eyes. " Ram, is everything arranged?"...

The dawn broke in Surajgarh with the sounds of conch shells and Nagadas. Yes, it was the day Surajgarh had always waited for ever since a baby was born in the Royal Family, the Royal Wedding. This one was special for the Surajgarh villagers as they already knew and loved their crazy commoner Kuwarani in all her antic, pure ways. Ajabde was awake with the first light of dawn. To tell the truth, she hadn't slept so much at all, maybe a small nap or so. Her heart was pounding with jitters she wanted to shake off. Even playing ball with Brownie at 5AM only woke up Heer, but didn't help her at all. Her hands were cold, her face a little pale. Heer sat up, sleepy, watching her Jija in her Pink overalls, playing ball with her dog. " Jija, it's 5AM, you were told to wake at 6!" " I know... woh..." She decided against speaking her mind, " I felt like playing a little with my Jaan!" " Jija, are you okay?" Heer looked shocked at her touchi...

The Palace grounds were decorated with white and peach Orchids, with orange and white curtains and white lilies and orange wildflowers making a perfect canopy at the entrance. Yellow and Orange round lanterns in traditional Fanoos style hung from the canopy and lit up the whole ground. The centre stage was also highlighted with white focus lights in a corner, and on the opposite corner, another smaller stage was set for the thrones of the Bride and Groom, and it too had a canopy made of Orange and peach flowers. The guest chairs and sofas were put in between these two corners in small white groups, with tables where waiters served food and drinks. The guest tags were placed on each chair, and a little space near the centre stage was kept empty for some dancing as the DJ set was just beside the stage. The ground was set for the Sangeet of Kunwar Pratap Singh and Kuwarani Ajabde Baisa. " Chakrapani, please check the arrangements once again." Udai Singh seemed tensed, RamRakh...