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 touching her stone-cold hands.
Pratap was riding Chetak in the chill of dawn as Shakti walked out looking for him.
" Dadabhai!" His call stopped Pratap. " Badima is looking for you!" He nodded as he got down and patted his friend before handing him over to the stable boy. Shakti walked up to him.
" Are you all right?"
" I dunno Heer, am shit scared all of a sudden! Kal tak sab thik tha... am behaving like a specimen..."
" A... what??"
" Rehne do! Tum nahi samjhogi. I feel like ... I dunno... do mahine pehle main jab Surajgarh aa rahi thi... I ... was pretty sure he is not here... 5 10din ka plan tha mera... mujhe toh yakeen tha ke he won't even remember me." A confused Heer was looking at Ajab, hearing all this for the first time.
" Mujhe toh pata bhi nahi tha why I missed her, why I was so angry she never came back or contacted me... and two months later am standing here!"
" Dadabhai, are you thinking this is a mis..."
" NO! No No. It's just that... It happened too fast."
" Dadabhai, a decade is not fast, and the way you used to talk of her all this while to me or to Rosalina, we knew what it was even when you didn't. Bhabisa is a little... er..."
" Mad..." Pratap smiled.
" Unpredictable..." Shakti smiled back, " But you will do fine... am sure... "
" She would say I'm behaving like a specimen!" Pratap managed a laugh.
" What's a specimen?"
" Never mind! Ranima called?"
" Yes, yes, time for you to get dressed for Haldi."
Ajabde was dressed in a bright yellow lehenga with orange floral designs and an orange dupatta. Jasmine flowers made a pretty mang tika, neckpiece, earrings and bangles for her look, and she wore a red Chandan bindi, and her hair was braided and bunned. Fresh in the morning with a simple kajal and gloss, Ajabde looked simple yet pretty. The house was full of guests in yellow and white attire. Heer chose a yellow Saree belonging to her mother, teamed with silver jewellery and a black bindi. Mahek and Rohan were both in white, she in a saree and he in his kurta and blue jeans.
At the Palace grounds, Pratap came in a white dhoti and a yellow Kurta, looking rather uncomfortable as his Ranima, as well as Kakisa and all the other guests, were smiling and teasing him. Ranima stepped forward to apply the first Haldi, on his cheeks and his shoulders, knees and feet, in all smiles.
" Dekhiye Jija iss haldi se beta paraya ho gaya!" Shakti's mother giggled.
" Nahi Behena, Iss Haldi se toh meri beti aur aapni ho gayi." Ranima smiled at a blushing Pratap. One by one, all the married women were applying Haldi on him.
" Hamesha Jija ko toh Ajab ke siva kuch dihkta nahi." Kakisa was telling his Mami. " Accha hua ke Kunwarsa ko bhi pasand aa gayi, varna uski vidaai na hoti surajgarh se jab tak Jija hai." They giggled.
" Haan Haan main to kabhi kabhi confuse ho jata hoon, Bhabisa shadi kisse kar rahi hai. Badima se ya Dadabhai se!" Shakti moved away to avoid Jaivanta's outstretched hand to hold his ears.
" Waise yeh sab sunken Ajab zaroor khush hogi ke Ranisa Kunwarsa se zyada usse pyar karti hai, hai na?" Bhago smiled. Chaks Ven and Rosalina agreed.
" Kaun le jaega Ajab ke liye haldi?" Ranima asked the crowd.
" Waise jana toh Bajiraj chahenge." Chaks chuckled as everyone laughed.
" Chakrapani." His voice made him stop.
" Hum toh jaenge hi apne saheli ko haldi lagane aap hum e de dijiye." Bhago insisted.
" Arree Nahii!" Shakti's protest startled everyone. Pratap hid a smile.
" Kya Hua?" His mother asked, surprised.
" Woh hum keh rahe thee ki ... matlab Bhabisa akeli jaengi toh family se koi representative jana chahiye na like... umm... main chala jata hoon." He looked at Pratap, narrowing his eyes at him with a smile.
" Haan chale jaiye, jaldi." Jaivanta smiled.
" Heer, zara dekhna toh gate ka canopy kaise bana hai..." Hansa was instructing from the kitchen.
" Ji Bua abhi dekh k ayi." She left Ajabde sitting on the sofa.
" Bhaiya isme aur thoda sa Red flowers daaliye naa..." Heer was instructing the man on the ladder. The sedan stopped behind her as Bhago walked out with the Haldi. Heer smiled.
" Aap aa gayi, Jija toh subah se pareshaan hai, sofa pe baithi hai."
" Main Haldi bhi layi... Hansa Mausi!" Bhago called out as she walked past Heer.
" Haan Bhaiya main kya bol rahi thi...." She turned to the man again.
" Ke aur red flowers chahiye." The voice behind her startled her, and she turned around to see Shakti in all smiles.
" Tum... Aap?" She bit her tongue.
" Tum Thik hai... saree??" He looked at her with a teasing smile.
" Haan kyun?" She asked, surprised.
" Matlab... suits you..." He shrugged.
They stared at each other as Heer couldn't help but notice his Kurta was of the same shade of Yellow as her saree.
" Heer! Kunwarsa! Ground pe aa jayiye." Bhago called out as Heer rushed in, followed by him.
" Bhabisa!" Shakti came and hugged Ajabde. " You look pretty!"
" Jhut! Don't lie! All these flowers!" She frowned.
" Ek bee ne bhi attack ki thi na?" Heer suddenly spoke up with a small laugh as Shakti and Ajabde stared at her, making her stop, embarrassed. Shakti smiled.
" Haan Bee... ne ... attack kiya tha..." Ajabde repeated slowly as her eyes moved like tennis balls between the two.
Hansa came out with all the ladies. They applied Haldi on Ajabde one by one.
Rohan came after everyone, saying, " Mujhe bhi lagani hai Ajab ko haldi, Bhai hoon!"
" Main bhi main bhi!" Mahek smiled excitedly. " Aaja Heer Tu bhi!" She pulled Heer by the hand. Ajab was defending her face from Rohan, " Zyada nahi Ro!"
" Aree Shakti! " Ajab's call made him turn his eyes from Heer to her. " Tum bhi lagao, Bhai ho na!" She smiled innocently.
As Shakti sat down in front of her, Ajabde's smile turned wicked as she grabbed the Katori and put some Haldi on his cheeks, laughing, " Fooled you!"
" Ajabde! Kabhi to normal behaves karo!" Bhago scolded as Shakti wiped his face, making Heer laugh.
" Yeh kya kiya tumne, Kunwarsa pe shagun ki haldi daal di!" Hansa exclaimed.
" Usse kya hoga?" Shakti asked, alarmed.
" Shadi jald se jald mubarak ho aapko!" Rohan hugged a surprised Shakti as his eyes travelled to Heer. Ajabde noticed Heer blush.
" Toh batao Brother, koi hai ya main dhundu? Bhabisa hoon!" She teased.
" Aap bas apne jaisa koi dhund do." Shakti smiled.
" Sorry, main toh one unique piece hoon, mere se kam acchi milegi." She shrugged, making everyone laugh.
" Chalega bas aap ka parchayi hona chahiye." He spoke as eyes met, and Heer looked away as Ajabde smiled.
Shakti was in his room, all smiles, remembering what happened when Pratap entered after his Royal traditional bath in a white Kurta. He frowned a little as Shakti neither noticed his knock nor his presence. He was just standing at the window, looking at nothing in particular, all smiling.
" Ahem!" He startled Shakti as the smile faded.
" You know what, Shakti!"
" What?"
" Ajab says insaan do baar akele hasta hai, ek jab woh pagal hota hai, dusra jab woh pyaar mein hota hai... Pagal toh tum ho nahi...."
" Dadabhai aap kya...."
" Hasne ka wajah?" And he noticed the Haldi on his cheek. " Yeh haldi kaha se..."
" Bhabisa tricked me!" He shrugged,
" She tricked you, too!" Pratap smiled, remembering their friends' wedding.
" woh... I need to go..."
" Bhai!" His call stopped Shakti at the door. " If you love someone, don't let her go without knowing how you feel. I can tell you it feels terrible living in uncertainty." Pratap smiled as Shakti nodded before he left.
Ajabde was sent to rest in her room with Brownie. She made Brownie wear a Chunri and some neckpieces, much to his amusement, and she decided to click a pic. A thought crossed her mind, and she smiled.
" Ping Ping!" Pratap's video call tune rang. He frowned a little. Usually, the only video calls he had were business-related, and today, he had clearly stated he won't take any. The ID made him smile as it read " Strange Girl." He fixed his hair, looked at the mirror, and ran to lock his door, and he came back to press " Accept."
" Hi, I'm Brownie! I want a pretty Bride."Ajabde was giggling. The screen showed Brownie in a necklace and her dupatta as he sniffed at the camera and wagged his tail, seeing Pratap on the screen.
" Hey, Buddy! You look better than the bride." He smiled.
" Haww, how dare you? You didn't see me!" Her voice sounded disappointed.
" Then show me!" He smiled.
" Ji nahi bilkul nahi."
" Toh video call kyun kiya?"
" Maine nahi Brownie ne kia."
" Accha?"
" Haan! Tumhe pata hai, aj kya hua tha ..."
" Apna face dikhao."
" Shakti ko sab tease kar rahe thee..." She ignored him.
" Apna face dikhao!"
" Aur usne bola he wants a girl like me."
" Show me your face."
" Uff! Khud aake dekh lo." She bit her lip for saying that.
" Okay, I'm coming!" He was about to disconnect.
" Nahi nahi are you insane?" She shouted.
" Main jaake bol dunga tumne bulaya, you called me." He chuckled.
"Hai itni himmat?" He could see her hands in Mehendi, patting Brownie as he wagged.
" Dikhau himmat?" He smiled.
" Uff nahi naa... jao ab mujhe bohot kaam hai..."
" Jaise ki?"
" Taiyaar hona hai.... kisike liye..." She put up a taunting tone.
Brownie knocked over the laptop, making Ajabde's face visible only for a second.
" Bad Manners Brownie!!!!" He heard her say as he chuckled.
" Good Boy, you will get a treat from me!" He said before Ajab disconnected.
A knock resounded as Heer, Mahek, Bhago, and Rosalina entered with two professionals.
" Lappie se kya kar rahi ho?" Mahek smiled.
" Photos dekh rahi thi."
" Mujhe laga honeymoon destination decide kar rahi thi!" Mahek chuckled.
" Main kyun? Woh kare!"
" Baat aise kar rahi dekho..." Bhago taunted. Heer took her laptop and Brownie out of the room. Seeing the wedding attire, the girls gasped in awe.
Pratap was looking at the Golden three-piece sherwani as the professional helped him with it. The way the belt and everything were complexly placed, in Red, even a heavy embroidered shawl in red, matching with his Pagri, he was sure he wouldn't be able to get out of this attire without professional help. Ranima walked in, in a light orange traditional Mewari lehenga with golden zari work. Her dupatta covered half her face like it was in the royal traditions, as her Maangtika and naulakha set from her wedding were barely visible. As soon as she walked in, with a thaali in hand, the professionals left them alone as Pratap smiled at her. Ranima's eyes twinkled with tears as Pratap's smile disappeared.
"You are crying?"
Ajabde's red lehenga was teamed with a Jodha-style neckpiece starting from her neck up to her abdomen, studded with the nine gems. Her round jhumka earrings were attached to her hair by a chain as she wore a round Maangtika, attached with a diamond-studded gold chain from both sides. Her hair was braided, and gold chains were attached to it with gold pins. Her eyes were in a dark Kohl smudged golden look, and her lips were a dark shade of maroon. A hint of pink blush on her cheeks added to her natural blush. Shimmers were used on her eyelids, and her hand was filled with royal rings and bangles. Her Kamar bandh was Ranima's marriage, one with three bells on one side. Her anklets were double-stringed ones attached to gems. Hansa entered with the chunri and sehri that Ranima had sent, and stopped at her daughter's glance as the professionals were drawing her red bindi.
" Ranima!" Pratap hugged his mother, confused. " What's wrong?"
"I'm just so... happy." She sniffed. He wiped away her tears with a smile.
" What's this?"
" Sit down." He did as he was told as Ranima took a big brooch from the thali, which was diamond and emerald-studded and put it on his Pagri.
" This belonged to your great-grandfather Pratap; it's been passed on to the eldest son for generations on their wedding days." He smiled at his mother. She took a necklace of Navratnas now.
" This one, too, belonged to the Crown Princes. Now it's yours. Some day your son will own it." She placed it across his neck before placing his pagri. She then took the thaal, pressed her thumb on the Kesar and did his Tilak. " Now you look like Surajgarh's Prince!" She smiled as he touched her feet.
" Ajabde." Hansa's exclamation worried her.
" I look too much..."
" You look so Royal." Hansa cut her words. She came forward to say, " Dekho Kaise glow Kar rahi hai hai na Bhago?"
" Maa aap taiyaar kyun nahi hui?"
" Abhi honge, pehle rasm to nibha loon."
She put the chunri over Ajabde's head, covering her full face.
" Shit, I can't see anything!" Ajabde complained as the girls laughed.
" Dekhna, jaimala Kunwarsa ko hi pehnana!" Bhago giggled as the others joined in.
" We can see your face a little. Why can't you see anything?" Rosalina asked, surprised.
" It's all in her brain, Rosa; she can see too." Mahek smiled. Ajabde sat staring through the veil.
" Haan humne suna hai ke Royal family ka tradition hai ke kal subah ki mu dikhai taak yeh ghunghat na hategi," Hansa spoke as Ajabde's eyes widened as her mother was stringing the sehri to the side.
" Haan mausi aj toh sirf Kunwarsa can see her." Bhago giggled.
" Woh kyun dekhe? Woh bhi na dekhe!" She frowned.
" Accha?"Bhago sat down beside her " Toh bina dekhe woh sindoor pehnaye?"
" Bas Bas, ab aarti bhi karne do, pareshhaan baad mein karna isko" Hansa stopped the girls.
The villagers had gathered outside the Palace gates to give Kunwarsa their best wishes. Ranaji was in the same shade of Sherwani as Ranima and an orange pagri with the royal brooch of the king and a bavanlakha haar. The trio walked out, hands folded as Dancers danced in the Palace garden to traditional folk songs they had prepared for the day, and the villagers cheered " Rana Udai Singhji Ki Jai. Kunwar Pratap ki jai." The sight was like it was some historical time, 500 years back and not today. Pratap humbly nodded at the love as Ranima prepared the thaal for the final aarti. A white Ghori was brought too.
Kunwarsa jao Bindi Lao, iss ghar ko khusiyon se sajao ab aise naa lajao Bane jo dulhe hai....Kunwarsa Dhanya huye Prajajan baisa aane waali hai, kaise bataye shabdh nahi hai Ajab hi ek khushhaali hai... Le chalo ghodi kunwarsa jaldi lao Baisa... The village folks were singing along with the singers as the royal family smiled. Shakti, who was now in a Plum coloured sherwani with golden Zari and a royal brooch, was busy making a video of the crowd. Jaivanta was doing Kunwarsa's aarti when Udai told Shakti, " Call everyone, the cars are here. Let Kunwarsa get on the horse first."
" Jaldi Jaldi"
Everyone seemed to be rushing to and fro at Ajabde's place as three cars stood at the door. Ajabde was sitting in her heavy lehenga on the sofa, nervous as she saw her friends and family run helter-skelter, putting the last touches of makeup and hairdos, forgetting their purses and phones. On any other day, Ajabde Punwar would laugh at this scene and make a joke of it. But not today. Today her heart pounded as she was escorted to the car by Heer, who was in a plum-coloured lehenga with heavy golden jewellery, her dupatta on her head like a traditional Mewari.
Today, Ajabde stepped out of her room, her home, as she turned back one last time to catch a glimpse as she rode to the grounds that awaited her arrival. She would enter the grounds as Miss Ajabde Punwar today and would leave as Kuwarani Ajabde Pratap Singh Sisodia, with a new life, new dreams and new hopes waiting for her.
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 touching her stone-cold hands.
Pratap was riding Chetak in the chill of dawn as Shakti walked out looking for him.
" Dadabhai!" His call stopped Pratap. " Badima is looking for you!" He nodded as he got down and patted his friend before handing him over to the stable boy. Shakti walked up to him.
" Are you all right?"
" I dunno Heer, am shit scared all of a sudden! Kal tak sab thik tha... am behaving like a specimen..."
" A... what??"
" Rehne do! Tum nahi samjhogi. I feel like ... I dunno... do mahine pehle main jab Surajgarh aa rahi thi... I ... was pretty sure he is not here... 5 10din ka plan tha mera... mujhe toh yakeen tha ke he won't even remember me." A confused Heer was looking at Ajab, hearing all this for the first time.
" Mujhe toh pata bhi nahi tha why I missed her, why I was so angry she never came back or contacted me... and two months later am standing here!"
" Dadabhai, are you thinking this is a mis..."
" NO! No No. It's just that... It happened too fast."
" Dadabhai, a decade is not fast, and the way you used to talk of her all this while to me or to Rosalina, we knew what it was even when you didn't. Bhabisa is a little... er..."
" Mad..." Pratap smiled.
" Unpredictable..." Shakti smiled back, " But you will do fine... am sure... "
" She would say I'm behaving like a specimen!" Pratap managed a laugh.
" What's a specimen?"
" Never mind! Ranima called?"
" Yes, yes, time for you to get dressed for Haldi."
Ajabde was dressed in a bright yellow lehenga with orange floral designs and an orange dupatta. Jasmine flowers made a pretty mang tika, neckpiece, earrings and bangles for her look, and she wore a red Chandan bindi, and her hair was braided and bunned. Fresh in the morning with a simple kajal and gloss, Ajabde looked simple yet pretty. The house was full of guests in yellow and white attire. Heer chose a yellow Saree belonging to her mother, teamed with silver jewellery and a black bindi. Mahek and Rohan were both in white, she in a saree and he in his kurta and blue jeans.
At the Palace grounds, Pratap came in a white dhoti and a yellow Kurta, looking rather uncomfortable as his Ranima, as well as Kakisa and all the other guests, were smiling and teasing him. Ranima stepped forward to apply the first Haldi, on his cheeks and his shoulders, knees and feet, in all smiles.
" Dekhiye Jija iss haldi se beta paraya ho gaya!" Shakti's mother giggled.
" Nahi Behena, Iss Haldi se toh meri beti aur aapni ho gayi." Ranima smiled at a blushing Pratap. One by one, all the married women were applying Haldi on him.
" Hamesha Jija ko toh Ajab ke siva kuch dihkta nahi." Kakisa was telling his Mami. " Accha hua ke Kunwarsa ko bhi pasand aa gayi, varna uski vidaai na hoti surajgarh se jab tak Jija hai." They giggled.
" Haan Haan main to kabhi kabhi confuse ho jata hoon, Bhabisa shadi kisse kar rahi hai. Badima se ya Dadabhai se!" Shakti moved away to avoid Jaivanta's outstretched hand to hold his ears.
" Waise yeh sab sunken Ajab zaroor khush hogi ke Ranisa Kunwarsa se zyada usse pyar karti hai, hai na?" Bhago smiled. Chaks Ven and Rosalina agreed.
" Kaun le jaega Ajab ke liye haldi?" Ranima asked the crowd.
" Waise jana toh Bajiraj chahenge." Chaks chuckled as everyone laughed.
" Chakrapani." His voice made him stop.
" Hum toh jaenge hi apne saheli ko haldi lagane aap hum e de dijiye." Bhago insisted.
" Arree Nahii!" Shakti's protest startled everyone. Pratap hid a smile.
" Kya Hua?" His mother asked, surprised.
" Woh hum keh rahe thee ki ... matlab Bhabisa akeli jaengi toh family se koi representative jana chahiye na like... umm... main chala jata hoon." He looked at Pratap, narrowing his eyes at him with a smile.
" Haan chale jaiye, jaldi." Jaivanta smiled.
" Heer, zara dekhna toh gate ka canopy kaise bana hai..." Hansa was instructing from the kitchen.
" Ji Bua abhi dekh k ayi." She left Ajabde sitting on the sofa.
" Bhaiya isme aur thoda sa Red flowers daaliye naa..." Heer was instructing the man on the ladder. The sedan stopped behind her as Bhago walked out with the Haldi. Heer smiled.
" Aap aa gayi, Jija toh subah se pareshaan hai, sofa pe baithi hai."
" Main Haldi bhi layi... Hansa Mausi!" Bhago called out as she walked past Heer.
" Haan Bhaiya main kya bol rahi thi...." She turned to the man again.
" Ke aur red flowers chahiye." The voice behind her startled her, and she turned around to see Shakti in all smiles.
" Tum... Aap?" She bit her tongue.
" Tum Thik hai... saree??" He looked at her with a teasing smile.
" Haan kyun?" She asked, surprised.
" Matlab... suits you..." He shrugged.
They stared at each other as Heer couldn't help but notice his Kurta was of the same shade of Yellow as her saree.
" Heer! Kunwarsa! Ground pe aa jayiye." Bhago called out as Heer rushed in, followed by him.
" Bhabisa!" Shakti came and hugged Ajabde. " You look pretty!"
" Jhut! Don't lie! All these flowers!" She frowned.
" Ek bee ne bhi attack ki thi na?" Heer suddenly spoke up with a small laugh as Shakti and Ajabde stared at her, making her stop, embarrassed. Shakti smiled.
" Haan Bee... ne ... attack kiya tha..." Ajabde repeated slowly as her eyes moved like tennis balls between the two.
Hansa came out with all the ladies. They applied Haldi on Ajabde one by one.
Rohan came after everyone, saying, " Mujhe bhi lagani hai Ajab ko haldi, Bhai hoon!"
" Main bhi main bhi!" Mahek smiled excitedly. " Aaja Heer Tu bhi!" She pulled Heer by the hand. Ajab was defending her face from Rohan, " Zyada nahi Ro!"
" Aree Shakti! " Ajab's call made him turn his eyes from Heer to her. " Tum bhi lagao, Bhai ho na!" She smiled innocently.
As Shakti sat down in front of her, Ajabde's smile turned wicked as she grabbed the Katori and put some Haldi on his cheeks, laughing, " Fooled you!"
" Ajabde! Kabhi to normal behaves karo!" Bhago scolded as Shakti wiped his face, making Heer laugh.
" Yeh kya kiya tumne, Kunwarsa pe shagun ki haldi daal di!" Hansa exclaimed.
" Usse kya hoga?" Shakti asked, alarmed.
" Shadi jald se jald mubarak ho aapko!" Rohan hugged a surprised Shakti as his eyes travelled to Heer. Ajabde noticed Heer blush.
" Toh batao Brother, koi hai ya main dhundu? Bhabisa hoon!" She teased.
" Aap bas apne jaisa koi dhund do." Shakti smiled.
" Sorry, main toh one unique piece hoon, mere se kam acchi milegi." She shrugged, making everyone laugh.
" Chalega bas aap ka parchayi hona chahiye." He spoke as eyes met, and Heer looked away as Ajabde smiled.
Shakti was in his room, all smiles, remembering what happened when Pratap entered after his Royal traditional bath in a white Kurta. He frowned a little as Shakti neither noticed his knock nor his presence. He was just standing at the window, looking at nothing in particular, all smiling.
" Ahem!" He startled Shakti as the smile faded.
" You know what, Shakti!"
" What?"
" Ajab says insaan do baar akele hasta hai, ek jab woh pagal hota hai, dusra jab woh pyaar mein hota hai... Pagal toh tum ho nahi...."
" Dadabhai aap kya...."
" Hasne ka wajah?" And he noticed the Haldi on his cheek. " Yeh haldi kaha se..."
" Bhabisa tricked me!" He shrugged,
" She tricked you, too!" Pratap smiled, remembering their friends' wedding.
" woh... I need to go..."
" Bhai!" His call stopped Shakti at the door. " If you love someone, don't let her go without knowing how you feel. I can tell you it feels terrible living in uncertainty." Pratap smiled as Shakti nodded before he left.
Ajabde was sent to rest in her room with Brownie. She made Brownie wear a Chunri and some neckpieces, much to his amusement, and she decided to click a pic. A thought crossed her mind, and she smiled.
" Ping Ping!" Pratap's video call tune rang. He frowned a little. Usually, the only video calls he had were business-related, and today, he had clearly stated he won't take any. The ID made him smile as it read " Strange Girl." He fixed his hair, looked at the mirror, and ran to lock his door, and he came back to press " Accept."
" Hi, I'm Brownie! I want a pretty Bride."Ajabde was giggling. The screen showed Brownie in a necklace and her dupatta as he sniffed at the camera and wagged his tail, seeing Pratap on the screen.
" Hey, Buddy! You look better than the bride." He smiled.
" Haww, how dare you? You didn't see me!" Her voice sounded disappointed.
" Then show me!" He smiled.
" Ji nahi bilkul nahi."
" Toh video call kyun kiya?"
" Maine nahi Brownie ne kia."
" Accha?"
" Haan! Tumhe pata hai, aj kya hua tha ..."
" Apna face dikhao."
" Shakti ko sab tease kar rahe thee..." She ignored him.
" Apna face dikhao!"
" Aur usne bola he wants a girl like me."
" Show me your face."
" Uff! Khud aake dekh lo." She bit her lip for saying that.
" Okay, I'm coming!" He was about to disconnect.
" Nahi nahi are you insane?" She shouted.
" Main jaake bol dunga tumne bulaya, you called me." He chuckled.
"Hai itni himmat?" He could see her hands in Mehendi, patting Brownie as he wagged.
" Dikhau himmat?" He smiled.
" Uff nahi naa... jao ab mujhe bohot kaam hai..."
" Jaise ki?"
" Taiyaar hona hai.... kisike liye..." She put up a taunting tone.
Brownie knocked over the laptop, making Ajabde's face visible only for a second.
" Bad Manners Brownie!!!!" He heard her say as he chuckled.
" Good Boy, you will get a treat from me!" He said before Ajab disconnected.
A knock resounded as Heer, Mahek, Bhago, and Rosalina entered with two professionals.
" Lappie se kya kar rahi ho?" Mahek smiled.
" Photos dekh rahi thi."
" Mujhe laga honeymoon destination decide kar rahi thi!" Mahek chuckled.
" Main kyun? Woh kare!"
" Baat aise kar rahi dekho..." Bhago taunted. Heer took her laptop and Brownie out of the room. Seeing the wedding attire, the girls gasped in awe.
Pratap was looking at the Golden three-piece sherwani as the professional helped him with it. The way the belt and everything were complexly placed, in Red, even a heavy embroidered shawl in red, matching with his Pagri, he was sure he wouldn't be able to get out of this attire without professional help. Ranima walked in, in a light orange traditional Mewari lehenga with golden zari work. Her dupatta covered half her face like it was in the royal traditions, as her Maangtika and naulakha set from her wedding were barely visible. As soon as she walked in, with a thaali in hand, the professionals left them alone as Pratap smiled at her. Ranima's eyes twinkled with tears as Pratap's smile disappeared.
"You are crying?"
Ajabde's red lehenga was teamed with a Jodha-style neckpiece starting from her neck up to her abdomen, studded with the nine gems. Her round jhumka earrings were attached to her hair by a chain as she wore a round Maangtika, attached with a diamond-studded gold chain from both sides. Her hair was braided, and gold chains were attached to it with gold pins. Her eyes were in a dark Kohl smudged golden look, and her lips were a dark shade of maroon. A hint of pink blush on her cheeks added to her natural blush. Shimmers were used on her eyelids, and her hand was filled with royal rings and bangles. Her Kamar bandh was Ranima's marriage, one with three bells on one side. Her anklets were double-stringed ones attached to gems. Hansa entered with the chunri and sehri that Ranima had sent, and stopped at her daughter's glance as the professionals were drawing her red bindi.
" Ranima!" Pratap hugged his mother, confused. " What's wrong?"
"I'm just so... happy." She sniffed. He wiped away her tears with a smile.
" What's this?"
" Sit down." He did as he was told as Ranima took a big brooch from the thali, which was diamond and emerald-studded and put it on his Pagri.
" This belonged to your great-grandfather Pratap; it's been passed on to the eldest son for generations on their wedding days." He smiled at his mother. She took a necklace of Navratnas now.
" This one, too, belonged to the Crown Princes. Now it's yours. Some day your son will own it." She placed it across his neck before placing his pagri. She then took the thaal, pressed her thumb on the Kesar and did his Tilak. " Now you look like Surajgarh's Prince!" She smiled as he touched her feet.
" Ajabde." Hansa's exclamation worried her.
" I look too much..."
" You look so Royal." Hansa cut her words. She came forward to say, " Dekho Kaise glow Kar rahi hai hai na Bhago?"
" Maa aap taiyaar kyun nahi hui?"
" Abhi honge, pehle rasm to nibha loon."
She put the chunri over Ajabde's head, covering her full face.
" Shit, I can't see anything!" Ajabde complained as the girls laughed.
" Dekhna, jaimala Kunwarsa ko hi pehnana!" Bhago giggled as the others joined in.
" We can see your face a little. Why can't you see anything?" Rosalina asked, surprised.
" It's all in her brain, Rosa; she can see too." Mahek smiled. Ajabde sat staring through the veil.
" Haan humne suna hai ke Royal family ka tradition hai ke kal subah ki mu dikhai taak yeh ghunghat na hategi," Hansa spoke as Ajabde's eyes widened as her mother was stringing the sehri to the side.
" Haan mausi aj toh sirf Kunwarsa can see her." Bhago giggled.
" Woh kyun dekhe? Woh bhi na dekhe!" She frowned.
" Accha?"Bhago sat down beside her " Toh bina dekhe woh sindoor pehnaye?"
" Bas Bas, ab aarti bhi karne do, pareshhaan baad mein karna isko" Hansa stopped the girls.
The villagers had gathered outside the Palace gates to give Kunwarsa their best wishes. Ranaji was in the same shade of Sherwani as Ranima and an orange pagri with the royal brooch of the king and a bavanlakha haar. The trio walked out, hands folded as Dancers danced in the Palace garden to traditional folk songs they had prepared for the day, and the villagers cheered " Rana Udai Singhji Ki Jai. Kunwar Pratap ki jai." The sight was like it was some historical time, 500 years back and not today. Pratap humbly nodded at the love as Ranima prepared the thaal for the final aarti. A white Ghori was brought too.
Kunwarsa jao Bindi Lao, iss ghar ko khusiyon se sajao ab aise naa lajao Bane jo dulhe hai....Kunwarsa Dhanya huye Prajajan baisa aane waali hai, kaise bataye shabdh nahi hai Ajab hi ek khushhaali hai... Le chalo ghodi kunwarsa jaldi lao Baisa... The village folks were singing along with the singers as the royal family smiled. Shakti, who was now in a Plum coloured sherwani with golden Zari and a royal brooch, was busy making a video of the crowd. Jaivanta was doing Kunwarsa's aarti when Udai told Shakti, " Call everyone, the cars are here. Let Kunwarsa get on the horse first."
" Jaldi Jaldi"
Everyone seemed to be rushing to and fro at Ajabde's place as three cars stood at the door. Ajabde was sitting in her heavy lehenga on the sofa, nervous as she saw her friends and family run helter-skelter, putting the last touches of makeup and hairdos, forgetting their purses and phones. On any other day, Ajabde Punwar would laugh at this scene and make a joke of it. But not today. Today her heart pounded as she was escorted to the car by Heer, who was in a plum-coloured lehenga with heavy golden jewellery, her dupatta on her head like a traditional Mewari.
Today, Ajabde stepped out of her room, her home, as she turned back one last time to catch a glimpse as she rode to the grounds that awaited her arrival. She would enter the grounds as Miss Ajabde Punwar today and would leave as Kuwarani Ajabde Pratap Singh Sisodia, with a new life, new dreams and new hopes waiting for her.
