Some Fun ??

As the sun rose in a bright red colour, Pratap stood in his Blue three-quarter pants, white vest and a light blue checked Shirt, teamed with his glares, that cowboy hat and a bright yellow belt and slippers. He checked his watch; it was 5.40 AM, and still no sign of her. He turned around, hearing her come up to him. She was wearing a royal blue and white striped, loosely fitted beach dress up to her knee, and teamed it with a flat blue ballerina. She wore a white hat and a white belt and had an orange sling bag across. Her lips were in a nude shade of orange while kohl highlighted her almond-shaped eyes as always. She smiled at him.

" You are late!"
" I overslept! Kal Mahek got really drunk and she was singing..." She stopped as he smiled.
" Reminds me of someone!" He chuckled.
" Ab chale?" She frowned.
She let him lead the way and then took out a map from her bag. There is an English Colonial settlement Fort nearby, we can see that and a church as well, not far from there."
" Then we can go to the other beach."
" All right!" She nodded excitedly. "Let's start with the Church."

They reached in time for the morning prayers as Ajabde knelt down, hands folded and eyes closed, he could hear her whisper a soft prayer.
" I hope Brownie and Sarang are doing fine without me, remind Papa to have his meds every day, and ... Ranima... is taking too much stress lately. Not good for her, you know. I hope Bhago stops all the things she has been doing lately, gives her some brains, and please make the Hospital and college faster."
He smiled, looking at her prayer like she could hear God talk back. They got out of the church, and Ajabde looked at a stall, excited as Pratap's eyes followed hers. A little girl was making and selling jewellery made of Beads.

" What's your name?" Ajabde smiled at the little girl making the neckpieces and earrings.
" Khetu."
" Aww, cute name! Let me buy some gifts from you!" Ajabde chose jewellery for Ranima and her mother as Pratap stood watching. She continued to chit-chat with the little girl.
" You go to School Khetu?"
" Ajab!" Pratap interrupted. The girl was surely looking way too poor to afford an education.
" Jani chahiye pata hai!" Ajabde continued. " Waha jaoge toh accha hoga, tumko pata hai, padhai karoge toh princess bann jaogi tum!" She continued to look through the jewellery.

" Aap princess ho?" Khetu asked wide-eyed.
" Ji nahi! Yeh! Yeh Prince hai, Princy! Hi, bolo!" Pratap looked awkwardly at the little girl staring at him like she was watching a live fairytale.
" Aisa kaise? Aapka ghora kaha hai?" The child frowned.
" Hai na Ghar pe!" Ajabde was convincing the child, " Princy batao na, kya main mazak kar rahi hoon?"
" Aap Sonali Pari ho?" The girl asked Ajabde in awe.
" Hein? Nahi main.... main Ajabde hoon! Pari lagti hoon? Wow!" She seemed so happy that she kissed the child. Pratap smiled and shook his head.
" Chale ab!" Ajabde got up and paid the child by giving her some chocolates, and Pratap stood still.

" Ek Minute." He knelt down before the kid and smiled. " Inn sab mein se tumhara favourite kaunsa hai?"
" Yeh wala." She pointed at an ocean blue necklace. He paid for it and turned to a confused Ajab.
" Piche muro...."
" Hein?" She looked confused.
" Turn around!"

She turned around, clueless as he removed the strands of hair from her neck and shoulder to her left. Her heartbeat increased as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. He placed the necklace on her neck and hooked it before moving away, smiling as she turned around.
" What..."
" A Gift... kisine bola tha ke gifts hamesha ek din ek pal ek moment ka yaad dilate hai, aur main yeh din hamesha tumhe yaad dilana chahta hoon." He smiled.
" Maine kuch aur phi bola tha!" She smiled back.
" Kya?" His brows narrowed.
" Princy Smile!"
" What"
Before he understood it, her hand was on his shoulder, and she smiled at her selfie cam. Snap! and she smiled at the screen, seeing Pratap's clueless face watching her, caught in the selfie.
"This is going on FB!"
" Stop!" He snatched her phone." Are you mad? No one knows we are here."
" Awww, you are right!" She nodded in realisation.
" Come now, we will take a cab to the fort!" He gave her his hand.

In the Cab, he was humming a tune as she looked out at the sea, travelling alongside them, on the beautiful seaside road with a hill and the fort atop it visible at a distance. She turned to him with a frown.
" Gaana hamesha dil khol ke gaani chahiye khas kar tabh jab voice acchi ho!" She widened her eyes as he smiled. " Accha?"
" Main... Main apni tarif kar rahi thi..."
" To tum suru karo!"
" Acha thik hai..."
Hum jo chalne laage chalne laage hai yeh raaste... ahahaha manzil se behetaar, lagne laage hai yeh Raaste.... Her sweet voice filled the air as she stared out with a smile. He smiled at her face as he joined in Ao kho jaaye hum, ho jaaye hum yun laapata... Ao Milo chale jaana kaha na ho pata.... Hum jo chalne laage chalne laage hai yeh raste... He held her hand as they looked out, their voices gave each other such peace and serenity with a feeling of completeness that they couldn't imagine.

Ajabde was clicking pictures on the old abandoned fort as he looked at the sea from a distance.
" I always wanted a cruise trip with friends..." She said, looking at him staring at the sea.
" Maine movies mein dekhi bohot mazaa aata hai." She jumped.
" Utna bhi maza nahi aata, sea sickness hota hai, films asli nahi hoti." Pratap's tone was monotonous.
" Kya baatkar rahe ho... Har film kisi na kisi ki kahani hoti hai..." She was serious.
" Really?" He chuckled, taunting.
" Haan, jaise dekho let me explain. Hum dono Yaha hai, iss waqt... shayed hum kisiki kahani ho! Woh likh rahi hogi humare baare mein, waise waise chal raha hoga humara kahani..."
" You can't be serious." Pratap's eyes widened.
" Humare life, sab ki life ek ek story book hi to hai, bas chapters kabhi kabhi same ho jati hai."
" Ajabde Punwar, aapka gyan samapt ho gaya ho to hum Beach chale?" He folded his hands, begging.
" Yay, Beach!"

Ajabde literally threw her hat and bag at Pratap before opening her shoes and running into the water. he said, " Aree tumhara Butler hoon kya? Mere liye ruk jao!"

Shakti was drunk and asleep in his room, still in his waistcoat and tee from last night. All he remembered was that he was dancing with a very pretty girl in a yellow dress and a pink mask. She was sweet, shy, and so gentle. Her thought made him smile. He wished he could ask her name before a strange girl in a blue dress almost forcibly took her away as she kept staring back at him. He scratched his head, and after that, it was all a blur. He remembered Ven and Rohan entering him in a challenge with a Goan man on who could drink the most shots of tequila. The tequila had its effects on him still, as his head felt heavy. He stared at the room in front, where his brother was staying, sharing his suite. Shit, Dadabhai will kill me. He jumped up and slowly knocked at the door, no response. Another knock and he turned the door knob. The room was neatly made, just as proper as Pratap himself, but the owner was missing. He searched for his phone now as a knock resounded at the front door.

Heer was asleep when Rosalina's push woke her up. Last night was her night of dreams as for the first time, a guy swept her away, dancing all night, pouring all his attention on her. Until a drunk Mahek dragged her away. He seemed so familiar yet a stranger, and she would never meet him again. His expressive eyes and the black mask were floating in her dreams, too.
" Why are you still in last night's dress, Heer?"
" I... was tired.... and Mahek Jiji was ... singing all night..." She explained as a knock resounded.

Ven had dragged a still-hungover Shakti out of his room and to the one Ajabde shared with Heer. Ven had bumped into none other than Rosalina in the early hours of the morning. Ven thought he was daydreaming until she kind of slapped him out of his hangover, much to the onlookers' amusement. One thing led to another as they realised how Bhago had planned this. Chaks had left drunk the previous night, and there was still no sign of him; neither had the girls seen Bhago. They decided to group up and then reveal themselves.

As Rosalina opened the door, " Ajab is not here." She shrugged, " But I found Heer and Mahek are freshening up."
" Shakti. Rohan was with me for a jog, he is coming too." But two pairs of eyes were staring wide-eyed at each other like they saw ghosts.
Yellow Dress? Heer?
Waistcoat, Kunwar Shakti? 
" Heer!" Mahek barged in between the eye lock, hugging her. " Where the hell is Ajab?"
" Woh..." Shakti found a voice." Dadabhai is not there either."

" Just how dare you?" A voice from Chak's room in the suite he shared with Ven and Rohan startled them. It was Bhago. As Rohan was already in the suite, he was first to reach, followed by the others, as Heer tried to get out last and bumped into Shakti.
" Sorry." They said in awkward unison before rushing towards the door.
" But I... " Chaks was hiding behind the bed as Bhago threw pillows at him. " I didn't cheat."
" Yes, you did!"
" I asked you to give me company."
" You didn't realise it was me, and you were drunk and tried to..."
" I knew it was you all along, Bhago, I swear!" Another pillow came to his face as she shouted, "Liar!"

"He's telling the truth!" Ven intervened smartly. " He called me, saying he saw you. He was going to fool you!"
" He did?" Bhago stopped, surprised.
" I did? Ohh, I did! Of course, Ven!" Bhago sat down sobbing as Chaks came out.
" I am so sorry, Baby, you knew it was me all night!" She hugged him as the others watched in awe.
" Ahem!" Rohan spoke up, " But where the hell is Ajab and Kunwar Pratap.
" Jija said she will be roaming the island today. She left early. " Heer spoke up as Shakti watched.
" Wait a minute... He said the same!" Ven exclaimed. Everyone stared at each other.
" These two were outplaying us!" Mahek seemed to laugh more due to the hangover.

Ajabde was all wet and running around the beach as Pratap watched. She sat down on the Beach, as her wet air blew in the wind. Pratap's senses were tingling like an alarm. This time, without the alcohol under broad daylight. He looked away to the sea and gulped. Ajabde closed her eyes and lay on the sand, much to his difficulty as he stared at her.
"Let's go." He said in a hurry.
" Hein? You said we have to be back by lunch, it is 11 am"
" Yes, I changed my mind. Let's go back!"He said, looking away as she sat up. She scrutinised his red face for a moment before their eyes met, and she could read his heart. Eyes widened as Ajabde smiled, hugging a taken aback Pratap.
" Aww, Princy! You are so cute and Chivalrous." She let go of the hug as his throat dried up. "Let's go!" She ran towards the resort, shoes in hand, as he followed with her bag and hat.

Ajabde entered her suite and found Heer and Rosalina there.
" Hi, Rosa... Heeru... Baby, you are still in this? Change!" Ajab seemed to be in a cheerful mood.
" Aap kaha thi?" Heer asked.
" Main... Beach mein! Paani Paani aha!" She smiled.
" Aur saath kaun tha?" Heer asked as her smile faded.
" Koi nahi!"
" Who did you leave with last night, Ajab?" Rosalina asked, managing to keep a straight face. Ajab dropped her hat and bag.
"No one. I was with no one!"
" Dadabhai ka naam No one kaise bann gaya Bhabisa?" Ajab turned around as Shakti, in all her smiles, came out of her room. Her eyes widened. " Kunwar Shakti? You?"

" No one ... I was alone... err... at the church." Pratap looked at Ven and Rohan and scrutinised them. A knock resounded. Rohan opened the door as Ajab stormed in, much to Pratap's shock, followed by a laughing Shakti.
" I swear it was Princy's idea! I swear!"
" What the hell! Ghumne kisne bola?" He looked at her, narrowing his eyes.
" Secret rakhne ko kisne kaha? Aur party wala message?" She pointed out.
" Tum aye kyun?" He replied.
" All right, stop it!" Rohan raised his hand, " Thank you, both! For you, we saw an epic scene you missed!"
" What scene?" Both asked.

Mahek went on to describe Chaks and Bhago's incident as the duo was out shopping now. Chaks was paying for his sin with dresses, apparently. They were all laughing as Ajab told them all that she saw in the fort, and amidst the laughter, Heer and Shakti's eyes seemed to dance in perfect coordination, to and fro, to and away from each other together. Pratap stared at them, narrowing his eyebrows as he elbowed Ajab, who smiled back at him in glee, seeing the duo.

Pratap was in his room after another session of laughter, as his eyes stopped at the bedside table. There was a note with a Sunflower. A smile curved his face as he picked up the note.
" Thank You For Being You." He smiled at it as he walked to one of the other suites to find everyone gathered there as Shakti was dancing with Ajabde, holding her hand to London Thumakda. As Ajabde was busy giving thumkas, eyes met and smiled as he whispered, " I love you," and she turned away, back to her dance, blushing a little.