Nights and Stars

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 smiled at it, as he saw her face turn red in the dim lights, as he moved back to face her and sat down on his knees. He removed her payals, then her Kamar bandh and stood up to remove her bangles one by one. Then kissed her hand.
"I..." She managed a word as he put his hand on her lips.
" Hushh!" Her heart beat like she was going to have a heart attack, or so she thought.
He cupped her face with his left hand as his right one travelled to the dupatta, making it fall on the ground and then to her back, where the crisscrossed strings were holding her Anarkali tight. One tuck at it loosened the strings as she looked wide-eyed at his teasing smile. Then, to her utter confusion, he moved away.
" I got something for you." He whispered.
" Like??" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
" This." He held out an envelope.
" Hein? A paper?" She looked confused as he chuckled.
" Stupid!"
" How dare you?"
" It's a certificate from NASA." She still looked confused.
" You know there are thousands and billions of unnamed stars in the universe and ... people... can request and name them... like... with certain fees..."
" You mean rich people..." She pointed.
" Yes, usually celebrity fans do this and all... so I thought since you are so unique...."
" Oh My Gosh! You wasted a fortune to..."
" RW29002 from the Virgo Constellation is now Ajabdeh," He smiled.
" You wasted a fortune on a star we can not see." She repeated. " All we have is a paper!"
" Okay, give that back, then, I will name it after Phool." He frowned.
" Pratap Singh, how dare you talk to your wife like that?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
" I can if you ruin my moment with your ... whatever it is... Give that back." He tried to read the paper.
" No!" She moved it away from his reach.
" Yes, give it back!"
" No." She got ready to run.
" Don't you dare fall today!" He warned as she stuck out her tongue.

He walked forward as she moved back, hiding the certificate behind her back, then she made a dash for the other room, with the closets and mirrors. He followed suit as she quickly removed her shoes, giggling, and waved the certificate at him. He removed his shoes, more because they would make a noise, and the Palace was full of people. She ran up on the bed and down from the other side, throwing a pillow at him. He, on the other hand, had something else in mind as he walked around, blowing off the candles while giving her a chase. She giggled at his inability to catch her, not knowing that Pratap Singh always planned ahead.

When he was done with the candles, he smiled, saying, " That's it!"
" What ?" She asked, confused, a little breathless from the running.
He went straight up to her, making her stare a little taken aback, and before she could react, he lifted her up on his arms as her hands grabbed his shirt. He made her lie down right in the middle of the bed and pulled the pillows and cushions to a comforting position. Her hands caressed his hair as his fingers travelled, from her hair, down her nose and lips and neck, ultimately grabbing her waist and making her gasp a little. He liked the way he made her blush because Ajabde Punwar was not someone to give that reaction easily.
" I love you, Sunflower Girl." He whispered as he nudged her ears, making her smile.
" I love you, my Strange girl." He travelled to kiss her forehead, cheeks and nose as she closed her eyes and smiled.
" And I love you, Princy." She smiled as he frowned at the word and sealed a kiss.

Pratap was watching her sleep in the first light of dawn. Her hair was falling on her face, and she was making an uneasy face about it. He removed it as she unconsciously smiled at his touch. He smiled back at the sleeping figure.

Yes, he had a sleepless night, the best sleepless night he ever had. He had read in novels and love stories how authors glorified things with the words, " Two souls in one" He had found them rather funny until now. He felt it last night, more than once, as his wife gave in to his desires and his love. She was not the mad, crazy Ajabde he always knew and was frankly scared of at times. Last night, she was just a newlywed bride, nervous, anxious and happy. There were no Brownie, Ranima, Friends or Phones; she made an excuse of and he was glad that she didn't. The last thing he would want on a Suhaag Raat was a fighting wife.

Ajabde opened her eyes to see him watching her with a smile.
" Good morning." He whispered softly as she fluttered her eyelids.
"It's 4.30AM. It's far from morning, sleep!" She frowned, pulling her blanket over her head and then peeping through it. He smiled and kissed her nose as she smiled back, putting her hand on his cheek, " Sleep."
" Or ... we can..." He teased.
" Princy! I slept an hour ago, and am sleepy." She turned her back on him. His hand caressed her bare back until she slapped at it, making him chuckle before falling asleep.

Ajabde was rubbing her wet hair with the towel as she sat down on the dressing table. She was wearing a Kaftan kurta, which was electric blue with pink borders and pink leggings. She was putting on a sleek platinum earring studded with diamonds, along with her diamond-studded Mangalsutra and then took the box of Sindoor to apply on her forehead. He woke up, staring at how she was managing to look so pretty this early in the day. A smile curved his lips as he watched her apply the Kohl and lipstick and rub her lips before checking herself in the mirror. Then she grabbed her pink scarf and pulled her hair to one side. She was about to step out when he called.

" Arree suno."
" Kya?" She turned around, narrowing her eyes.
" Mera shirt to deti jao!" He teased with his eyes as she picked up the shirt from the floor and threw it at his face.
" 8AM nikalna hai, Ranima said."
" Kaha?" He frowned.
" Ohho, how you forget, Hum e Eklingji jana hai na? Then..."
" Then bhi hai?" He frowned again.
" Yeh mera addition hai." She giggled. " I want a tour of the hotels."
" Kya? Kyun?" He asked, surprised.
" Meri marzee! Main malkin hoon!" He continued to stare at her as she giggled and left.

When she walked back in, he was setting his hair, in his track pants and vest.
" Ranima ne bulaya hai for breakfast. She said aj Eklingji nahi jana, kal Jana, she will go too, aj hum hotels dekhne jaenge."
" Jana zaruri hai?" He smiled teasingly as she looked away.
" Ji haan!"
She was about to leave when he grabbed her by the waist.
" Aree, door..."
" Khula rehne do, koi na aega."
" Aur agar aya toh?"
" Toh kya? Biwi ho meri."
" Chi Princy tumhare royal codes of crap ka kya hoga!" she giggled.
" Woh kya hai na, tumhare saath rehte rehte woh sab bhool gaya."
" Really?"
" Really!"
" Jaane do!" She struggled to free herself.
" Nahi!" He held tight.

" Dadabhai!" Shakti's call made them move away, right in time before he walked in, a little disturbed.
" Main jaa rahi hoon, dono ka Bharat milaap khatam ho toh aa jana."
" Bhabisa, wait! I need to talk to you both!" She looked at Shakti and then at Pratap, who told her to be quiet.
"I'm leaving tonight for London." Pratap was about to open his mouth to say something when Ajab spoke up.
" Brilliant, and you are never coming back!" There was a hint of anger in her voice.
" Ajab." Pratap tried to calm her down.
" No Pratap let him be. Happy Journey, Shakti!" She stormed out, leaving the duo stunned.

At the breakfast table, Pratap arrived in his usual avatar, his blue suit and white shirt, as he stared at the odd 20 people looking at him. He ignored the teasing glances as he sat beside Shakti, who looked drained.
" Are you all right?" He asked as Shakti nodded. Ranima walked in with the breakfast as the servants served the guests.
" Aj ka breakfast Ajabde ne banaya hai."
" Is it edible?" Shakti asked Pratap as Chaks seemed to say the same out loud, making everyone laugh.
" Nahi, tumhare liye edible nahi hai." Ajabde stormed in, taking his plate and making Bhago laugh.
" Okay, okay, sorry!" Chaks took his plate back. " Tevar dekho Kuwaranisa ki."
" Kha ke bolo jaldi!" Pratap stared at Ajabde, remembering his first taste of her food. So she does that to everyone.

Ranaji walked in, making everyone go quiet as he sat down, and Ranima gestured at Ajabde to serve him.
" Aj breakfast Ajab ne banaya hai." Jaivanta beamed at Udai Singh, who in turn looked at Ajabde.
" Tabh toh zyada khaani chahiye." He smiled.
" Aur nek bhi dijiye" Ranima urged.
After breakfast, Udai Singh called Ajabde and Pratap to his study. They followed Ranima in, and Ranaji got up and came to Ajabde.
" Tumhe Iska Ferrari bohot pasand hai na?" She looked at him wide-eyed as Pratap looked at Ranima, smiling.
" Toh kyunki tumko nek dena hai, maine aur tumhare Ranima ne socha... chalo tumko dikhate hai." The trio followed Ranaji to the car shed, and a brand new black Ferrari sports car stood there, right next to Pratap's red one. " Here's the key."
" Oh My Gosh!" Ajabde exclaimed with a quick, gaining composure, " Thank you, Ranaji." That made Pratap hide a laugh.

" Can I take this thing today itself, Ranima?" Ajab pleaded like a child pleads to play with a new toy.
" Ji nahi bilkul nahi." Pratap interrupted.
" Kyun nahi?" She frowned.
" Haan Pratap kyun nahi?" Ranima repeated, making Ajab jump a little.
" Yay! I should name him too!" Ranima walked away smiling as Pratap stood watching Ajab inspect the car.
" How do you know it's him, not her?" He asked, amused.
" Kya?"
" The car! You said you will name him."
"Colour se! Dekho Pink Red, etc are her cars, and Black, grey, white are his cars!"
" What crap!" He exclaimed at her explanation, " Mine is no she car!"
" OMG, it is," She giggled.
" Ab chale ya late hona hai?"He frowned as he sat beside her reluctantly.
" Maine naam soch li iska!!"
" Kya Naam Socha?" He asked, amused.
" Black Beauty!"
" Wow kitna original naam hai!" He taunted as she narrowed her eyes at him.

" Pata hai, I met Brownie subah, he was so happy!"She spoke as she drove, her scarf over her head, and sunglasses on.
" Oh really? Bola usne?" he taunted, chuckling.
" Haan bola please mujhe apne saath kamre mein rakho!!"
" Ajab, we already discussed that." He became serious.
" I know." She frowned.
" Can I get jalebis and laddoo?" She turned excited.
" Tumhara car, tum driving jaha rokna hai roko. Bas thokna maat kahi bhi!" He shrugged.

" Music!" She joined her I pod to the car stereo.
....Jisse zindagi dhoond rahi hai, kya yeh woh makaam mera hai, yaha chain se bass ruk jau, kyun dil yeh mujhe kehta hai, jasbaat naye se hui hai, jaane kya asaar yeh hua hai, ek aas mili phir mujhko jo qubool kisine kiya hai....

Pratap stared right at his wife, singing and driving, her hair and scarf flowing in the wind, her newlywed sigh, the red and white bangles made a piece of tinkling music to his ears. She noticed his stare but decided to concentrate on the song and driving instead until his hand travelled to touch her, making her heart skip a beat as he smiled.
" Ab accident hoga toh don't blame me!" She said with such a serious face that it made him laugh. They headed past the toll gates with the sign " Welcome To Udaipur."