The Resort was a beautiful one right beside a lovely lake within its premises, with some greenery, lush green lawns, gardens and private cottages. Pratap had booked two adjoining riverside cottages for them. One for Bhago and Ajabdeh, and another for Chaks and himself. Ajabdeh followed the Room Boy to her room and lay down on the soft white bed on the left. She had chosen the one beside the window overlooking the boy's cottage.
"Whoa, this is perfect! So soft. Am sleepy." Ajabdeh yawned.
" Get up." Bhago had already opened her bags. " We need to go to the temple, you know, Ajab. Then you can come back and rest. Chaks and I will spend some alone time looking around the place a little. Tomorrow we can go shopping and... " She went about, first changing into a sky blue salwar, then dressing up all pretty while Ajab lay her eyes closed, nodding her head. "Hmmm."
" Get up now!" Bhago commanded.
"Ugh!" She got up and started unpacking when Bhago left.
In about ten minutes, Ajab had bathed and changed into a beautiful light yellow salwar. The leggings and the top up to the abdomen were white and a light yellow semi-transparent silk wrapped around like a Kurti dropping till the knee. The front was cut open from where the top ended to make her belly button visible. She wore her Kajal and lip gloss, and her eyes fell on the matching yellow bangles.
" If I wear these, Princy will tease..." She was talking to herself. " But Ajab, why do you care!" She wore them all on her left hand. Then she carefully pulled the dupatta over them so that they wouldn't be visible. A knock at the door made her glance over her shoulder.
" Come in." She watched the door open slightly.
Pratap entered as his eyes fell on the revealed belly button, and then her long, wet, flowing hair.
" Bhago is calling, not ready yet?" He asked in a low voice.
" Just a minute, I will tie my hair!" She said, grabbing the clutch.
" Umm... Why is your... umm. dress so revealing?" Pratap made her stare at him judgmentally.
" What?" She looked at the belly button and then back at him.
" Yeh, Fashion hai?" He asked, narrowing his brows.
" Ha to?" She asked.
" It's like a torn cloth!" He shrugged.
"Ohh no! Princy, you are back in Surajgarh Chaap from UK Chaap again." Ajabdeh shook her head. "Kya karu main tumhara?"
He shrugged and was about to leave as she turned around to comb her hair. A sound made him stop and turn. Bangles. On her hand, as she moved to comb her hair. He smiled and left as she was lost in combing her hair.
After the pooja, he was tying his shoelaces at the stairs of the temple when he heard her laughter. Turning around, he saw her distributing chocolates among the beggar children. He walked up behind her.
" Bhaiya yaha dekhne ko kya kya hai?" She was asking a local.
" Madam Garden hai, park hai, mandir hai, lake hai, peak hai, kuch dur qila hai aur ek Lovers point hai!"
" Yeh lovers point kya hai?" She asked eagerly.
" Ajabdeh!" He called from behind, " Chalo."
" Wait a minute, Princy, kya hai bhaiya?"
" Kehte hai waha apne pyaar ka naam lo to echo hota hai Madamji, kisi aur ka nahi hota!"
" What crap?!" She murmured to herself.
" Haan Madam ji."
" Kaha hai?" She enquired.
" Ajabdeh, Chalo," Pratap called again.
" 5 min dur." The man pointed in a direction.
" Ok, thank you! Ghani Khamma!" She folded her hands.
The guy left them clueless as she turned to him. " Chalo Princy!"
" Kaha?" He asked.
" Lovers Point!" She smiled.
" What? No!" He shook his head.
" Yes, you shout Foooooooollllll! We will check if it works!"
" I don't believe this! I'm not going." He was firm.
" Chalo Naa" Before he could protest, she dragged him by the hand towards the point.
" Choro mera haath." He was suddenly aware of the people around them, thinking they were a couple.
" There is no science to this. How does it work?" She murmured, lost in her thought, as they walked uphill to the point.
" Sometimes things are unexplained! Choro mera haath!" He tried to free his hand, but she held it firmly and kept dragging him along.
" But how? I need to see this." Ajabdeh shook her head.
" Choro!" He kept telling Ajab, who kept babbling. " Kaise? How's it even possible..."
They reached the hill point, overlooking the foggy hills, and small seats occupied by
Lovers, it embarrassed Pratap as she was still holding his hand. " Leave my hand..."
" First shout your name, then... " She turned around and smiled. "Hers."
" Ajabdeh!" The sound echoed through the valley as he shouted at her angrily. " Leave me alone! Kabse am telling k haat Choro!" He looked at her angrily, but her face lit up, eyes sparkled.
" My name echoed! See, I told you it's science! Try yours now, then fool! Oh, let me try mine! Ya, you try again, Ajabdeh Bolo. Bolo. Bolo!" She looked amused.
" Ufff, Happy now that it doesn't work? Now let's go back!" Pratap didn't wait for her to leave as he started walking out.
" No, let's go see a garden, Princy." She sulked. "Please"
Pratap was sitting on a bench checking his emails as Ajabdeh sprang around, clicking random photos and selfies, with flowers, trees, and running after squirrels. Bhago had called to inform him that they would be meeting up for lunch there, then they would rest a little and go to dinner at the Resort restaurant itself. Bhago was such a planner that no one bothered to plan anything but followed her instead. The couple came, looking excited.
" Baojiraj, guess what!" Chaks came up to him.
" What?" Pratap asked, cluelessly.
" The lovers' point here really works!" He gushed.
" Kyaa??" Pratap's voice was a little louder than usual, making Ajabdeh turn and stare. Then she came forward, smiling at Bhago.
" Yes." Bhago continued where Chaks left off. " I shouted Chak's name, and it echoed, but when I shouted mine, it didn't."
" What Crap! It doesn't work! Princy took... " Ajabdeh pointed with a frown.
" I'm hungry!" Pratap cut in, "Let's go back."
" Hungry? Yes, yes, me too!" Ajab forgot all about what she was saying, much to Pratap's relief.
As they sat for lunch, he just couldn't discard what his friends told him. He absent-mindedly stared at his food, lost in thought. If it works, why didn't it work for me? A strange voice in his head said it did. He shook off his thoughts as he looked at Ajab playing with her food like a kid.
" Princy!" Her call made him turn as he was about to enter his cottage.
" Yes, won't you stop calling me that?" He looked irked.
" Kunwarsa! Humare specimens pagal ho gaye hai!" She giggled.
" Humare? You mean Tumhare?" He pointed out.
" Lovers Point wali believe I think we should tell them that you..." Ajabdeh made him stare.
" No!" A strong voice came as she looked up at him, confused. " No?"
" I mean, they are happy, let them be ..." He shrugged.
" You are right... Okay, see you at dinner, Princy!" She waved goodbye.
At the restaurant for dinner, Pratap was busy reading the Menu when Chaks said, " Aa gaye!"
He looked up to find not theirs, but all eyes at the door as Ajabdeh Punwar decided to arrive in a black top teamed with a red mini skirt. His eyebrows raised to fall again as she came up smiling, all eyes following her legs. As she sat down beside him, he stared around and then at how clueless she was about the attention. He took the napkin from the table and placed it on her bare legs as if he meant it for her lap.
" What the..." She frowned.
" Why did you wear this?" He asked.
" What's wrong with you, Princy?" She retorted.
" What's wrong with me? Or with you? This is not Delhi, people stare!" He reminded her.
" I know! I have the legs to flaunt!" Her face lit up with a smile. " Am so pretty, Ohh My Gosh!"
" Oh my Gosh!" He replied in her tone, taunting her, nodding his head, thinking What the hell, she thinks they stare as she looks pretty?
She took the fat menu in hand and went through it twice, clueless.
" Menu hai ya dictionary! I haven't read so many things even when I studied!"
" Just tell me what you feel like having, and I will order." He suggested.
" Kebabs. Ohh, and roti and Chicken Tikka Masala, achar too. Maybe ice cream!" She sounded excited.
" Sab akele khaogi?" He stared in surprise.
" No, I can share, but do princes share?" She taunted.
He shook his head and ordered, deciding to share whatever she was having. After dinner, Pratap ordered a beer and sat outside his cottage in a deck chair. The cold night had made him wear his leather jacket over the black t-shirt he was wearing. He was going to have a quiet sip when the miniskirt legs appeared, blocking his view of the moonlit lake.
" That guy is in there with her, Romancing! And I am sleepy!" That was more like a tone in which a child complained.
" So?" He asked plainly.
" That stupid guy!" She looked around.
" Stop calling him that. Do you want anything to drink?" He asked politely.
" No, I just want my bed!" She sat down on the chair beside him. " Can I use your room until he..."
" No!" He was firm. " Ajab! You sleep like a dead log! I am not picking you off my bed."
" Why not?" She giggled. He looked serious as she nudged him.
" Uff! I was drunk asleep that night!" She frowned. "Don't be mad. It's just for a nap."
" No, I said." He shook his head.
"Fine, order me a Coffee... Mocha with chocolate chips on top, hot!" He dialled the order and took another sip of his beer.
" Ohho!I am feeling cold!" She shivered.
" Huh! Show some more skins... ohh, I'm so pretty!" He laughed.
She stared at him, narrowing her eyes. He walked inside and came back with a blanket. She smiled gleefully as he threw it at her face! He sipped at his drink as the silence of the place filled him with peace. The same silence was killing her. She started humming a song...
" Raat Banjar si hai... kaale khanjar si hai.... bol mein kya karu... aise halat mein... ang laga de re..." She stopped, realising she was singing something inappropriate. He realised her thought and smiled secretly.
" Hmmm... Ummm.., Seedhe saadhe sara sauda sidha sidha hona ji... maine tujhko..." She stopped as he stared at her.
" You cannot sit quietly?" He interrupted.
" No!" She shrugged.
The coffee came, and she took a sip in a hurry, spilling the coffee and burning her hand.
" Ouch!!"
" Why are you in such a hurry? Is it hurting?" Worry swept across his face as he brought ice from the mini-fridge. She looked at his worried face as he held her hand with one hand and applied the ice with the other.
" Umm... I'm fine, really." She took her hand away. " Happens to me every day!" Her chirpy tone was back as she walked up towards the lake, leaving the blanket. He followed her as her hair blew in the breeze across his face. What's wrong with me? Her hand was burned. Why did I overreact?
" Cold Cold Cold!" Her voice startled him as she shivered.
" Here I have my jacket." He offered.
" No." She was firm.
" Have it." He put his jacket on her.
" Oooo, Princy! Chivalry!" She giggled in a sarcastic tone.
" Stop taunting everything." He sounded offended.
" Why are you so serious?" He couldn't tell why his mind was disturbed.
Quack! Quack! Quack! He was startled to see her run after some white swans who were running and shouting in fear.
" Ajab! Leave them alone! You will wake the other guests." He sighed.
Chaks interrupted Ajab's happy chase as he said, " Ajab, I need your help!" His face was serious, and Pratap and Ajabdeh looked at each other and then at him.
" My help?" She stopped, alarmed.
" Yes." He nodded, eyeing a frowning Pratap.
" Did you get her pregnant or something?" Her suspicious, serious question startled the boys.
" Hell no!" Chaks was loud with his protest. " We don't... I can't decide on a wedding gift!"
" Do I look like some wedding planner?" Ajabdeh pointed at herself.
" No." Chaks shook his head.
" Shaadi ho gayi meri?" She asked in a serious tone.
" Nahi."
" Do I have a boyfriend?" She asked as Chaks shrugged.
" I don't know."
" Then why the hell are you asking me?" She laughed.
" Really, Chaks, why are you asking her? I can even suggest something better!" Pratap shrugged.
" Waise Bhi..." Ajabdeh looked at the shining water and continued, "Gift waise honi chahiye jo dil se dil ko connect karein, Kuch aisa jisse dekh ke kuch din, kuch pal, kuch memories yaad aye and makes you smile."
The guys look at each other, stunned. " Wow." Chaks spoke up as Pratap continued his disbelieving stare at her," Tumko kabhi mila aisa gift?"
She looked at Pratap and remembered Churiyaan; she didn't know why. She looked away quickly as eyes met, and she said, " Kabhi Nahi." The words were spoken strongly, like she wanted to believe them but couldn't. She looked utterly confused as Chaks murmured, " Kya du main..."
" What about that necklace you keep talking about?" Pratap spoke up.
" What necklace?" Ajabdeh asked.
" Bhago said she wanted the necklace she saw at the mall the other day, but it did not match the wedding jewellery, so..." Pratap reminded him.
" Go buy her that!" Ajabdeh smiled.
Chaks was about to leave when he turned around to say, "One thing, Ajab! Ummm, can I stay ten more minutes with Bhago?"
" Jao Jao! Apna ki kamra samjho!" Her taunt made Pratap laugh as Chaks turned red and left.
Ajabdeh sat down on the dew-wet grass. Pratap sat quietly beside her. " Suppose... you leave for Delhi. What will you miss?"
" Everything!" None of them stared at each other.
" Then why do you wanna go?" He asked.
" You know jab main jaa rahi thi, what did Ranima say?" She eyed him.
" Kya?" He asked curiously.
" Go and come back to make Surajgarh a better place. So that future mein koi Ajab apne ghar chor ke na jaaye." Her eyes twinkled.
" That's so Ranima!" He smiled. She nodded.
" Yeh Dekho." He opened an email on his phone and showed her. " Kya hai?"
" Govt approval. Jald Hi, Surajgarh will have its college. The high schools are running pretty well, we are building a hospital, and with this college..." He stopped as he noticed her staring at him, wide-eyed and smiling.
" Saach??" Her eyes lit up.
" Yes. " He smiled back.
" Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.
" Tum bolne do tabh na!" He laughed.
" Toh iska matlab... iska matlab..." She seemed excited.
" Iska matlab no Ajab will ever leave home again." His words seemed like a dream.
" I'm so happy, Princy!" She hugged a taken-aback Pratap, who slightly leaned against her weight. Her head was on his chest, and she could hear his heart beating fast. His mouth dried up as he placed his hand on her shoulders. She kept smiling, eyes closed.
" Ajab!" He found a voice as she realised what she had done.
" I'm so sorry, I was just so... happy. I'm so sorry!" She got up and walked away before he could react.
Chaks was coming their way when a disturbed Ajabdeh walked past him like he was invisible. Pratap was sitting on his bed, numb, his heart still beating fast, as Chaks looked at him like he had eaten a dead lizard!
" What happened?" He asked.
" Nothing. Goodnight!" Pratap walked off.
" Ajabdeh!" Bhago called in vain as she pulled the blanket. "Listen na... itna sleepy ho?"
Stupid Girl! What would Surajgarh Chaap Princy think? Ajab? But I was so happy.
Why did her name echo? Why was I bothered seeing people eyeing her? And when her coffee fell uff, what's wrong with you, Pratap Singh.. tomorrow am gonna be fine. I just need some sleep.
This is so embarrassing, Ajab! Tomorrow I will be back to my old friendship with him ... oh god, he's not my friend! He's just Ranima's son by accident! Ajabdeh, stop thinking, it was just a hug, and you are overreacting, maybe the UK chaap in him thought nothing, right?
It was just a hug, a friendly good news hug, my heart was beating fast coz it was cold. Yes. Yes. It was so cold.
