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Wild Flowers

It was almost evening when Pratap entered his father's chamber at the palace, after a site inspection at the hospital.
" Papa, there's a problem."
" What is it?"
" The invited ministers and Royals for the college inauguration...The problem is that there is a Eur Asian Business Meet in London starting next week, so no one is available for a long time after that. I think it's best to hold the inauguration program this week itself. "
" That's ... I understand ... But..."
A servant interrupted. " Ranaji Ajabde BabyJi is here to see you, she is saying it's urgent!" Udai and Pratap stared at each other as he opened his mouth to say, " I... I... Have to..."
" Stay." His father's words stopped him. " Bring her in."

She walked in, in yellow jeans and a white, floral-printed brown top. Her hair was bunned up.
Sunflower... The thought crossed his mind, making him smile. She ignored his existence completely.
" Ranaji, I have been doing some surveys in the villages."
" What survey?" Ranaji was about to ask the same, but it was a surprised Pratap.
" I was asking them about their problems, water, basic needs and all... and I have a serious issue here!" The way she said it made it sound like a world war.
" What issues, Ajabde?" Ranaji asked calmly.
" Here!" She took out a paper. It's a people's petition. They want their children to study, but their poverty is a factor that is pushing them to labour. What's the use of college if no one passes school to go there? Only the Royal Employees and their families are not enough!"
" What are you suggesting?" Udai was engrossed in conversation as Pratap picked up the paper.
" I think you should arrange scholarships for the brightest ten or something, through exams. So that they get a chance at education."
"That's good...."
" These have no names!" Pratap interrupted.
" Excuse me?" Ajabde asked.
" These fingerprint signs... they should have their names written beside them."
" I... Oh shit! The first one is Pappu's father, and the rest... I... " She thought a little, " I have to go back!" She was about to rush out when Udai stopped her. " It's okay, it's fine, I don't need them, I will let you know tomorrow!" She smiled and nodded before leaving.

He walked out and saw her in the garden scolding the gardener.
" Kya Kaka? Bola tha na humne, yeh kya kiya apne?"
" Sorry, baby ji woh..."
" Kya hua hai?" Pratap interrupted.
" Mere rose plants, mere baby baby rose plants ko Kaka ne paani daal daal ke doob marwaya!"
"Baby ji..."
" Aap jaiye kaka kuch nahi hua!" Pratap let the man go.
" Kaise kuch nahi hua, mere baby plants marr gaye!"
" Dusra la denge woh."
" Kya dusra la denge!!"
" Tum bhi kya haar kaam perfect karti ho? Bina naam ke anguthe chaap ka kya kaam?"
" Ab jo likhna na jaane, kaise likhe woh naam?"
" Tum bhi likhna nahi janti kya?"

" Ohho! Yeh kya ho raha hai?" Ranima interrupted. " Ab kis baat ki ladai ho raha hai iha?"
" Ranima dekhiye na..." Ajabde wailed, " Mere gulaab ke..."
Pratap nodded his head and was about to leave.
" Accha thik hai Ajab, tum dono meri ek kaam karoge?"
" Aap batao kya karni hai bas!" Ajabde answered.
" Woh... Meri NGO ke liye, humne aas pass ke gaon mein jo centres khole hai, unke weekly visit pe jana hai, par ab college ki inauguration ki taiyyari hai, I can't go tum dono chale jaoge please?"
" Wow! College inauguration hai aur mujhe kisine bataya nahi!" She stared at him. " Main na school ki bacche se ek play karvaungi function pe, thik hai Ranima?"
" Jaisa tum chaho!" Ranima smiled.
" Khud to ek drama queen hai, upar se drama!" He murmured to himself.
" Kya kaha?" She raised her voice.
" Kya kya kaha? Kuch nahi kaha maine!"
" Ranima, mujhe akele hi jaani hai NGOs."
" Yeh lo, Acchi khasi Nainital mein kho gayi akele jaegi gaon! Registan mein bhatakti hui aatma!"
" Dekho tum..." She stood up excitedly.
" Thik hai bas bas! Ho gaya! Ajab ghar jao, kal subah dono nikal jana!"
" Ji Ranima!"

She was walking away, and Ranima walked into the Palace when he followed her.
" Suno!"
" Kya?"
" Sorry...woh... kal... main..."
" Sorry exactly kis baat ke liye bol rahe ho?" Her question startled him, " Explain karke bolo!"
" Drunk hoke chillane ke liye... baki sab ke liye nahi." He smiled teasingly as she looked away, turning red.
" Toh Phir thik hai!" She was walking away when she spotted something and stopped.

" Princy! Princy! Come here!"
" Uff kitni baar maine bola tumhe..." He stopped watching her smile down at a purple wildflower.
" Yeh yaad hai?" She smiled.

Chakrapani had collected a bunch of wildflowers after school for Bhago. They were all sitting on the palace lawn, Pratap on the garden chair, and Bhago on the ground, while Ajabde was scrutinising the different flowers. 
" Here, these are for you, Bhago." He had beamed.
" Wow, flowers... But why?" Bhago had frowned.
" Because I like you and I wanted to..."
" When you like someone, they give roses, Chaks!" She had frowned. " Dad gives na? Dekha na tumne? Tumko kuch bhi nahi pata!"
" Accha? Next time main..."
" Mujhe koi pasand ayega toh main toh Jalebi mangungi!" Ajabde had interrupted.
" Bhukkar!" Came a cold comment!
" Kya kaha tumne?"
" Mujhe koi pasand hogi toh main usko sabse common ek phool dunga puch kyun Chaks?" Pratap looked at his friend and then eyed the girl, frowning at him.
" Kyun?"
" Kyunki she will be in a special ke simple sa flower will be special because she wears it."
" Wah Baojiraj aap to UK jaate poetic ho gaye!" They laughed.
" Main apne favourite wildflower dunga usko, meri favourite colour ki."
" Sab apna apna favourite colour bolo!" Bhago asked. " Me Red!"
" Me Green!" Chaks replied.
" Purple!" Came answers in unison. 
" Baojiraj mil gaya aap ka flower!" Chaks had shown him the flower, as Ajabde snatched it and ran.
" Give that back, strange girl, main aadeshh deta hoon!"
" Haan haan! Princy, you can't catch me." She had bumped into Ranima.
" Kya ho raha hai?"
"Isko koi pasand aye toh he will give her this flower!" Ajabde gushed, surprising the trio.
Pratap turned red, " No, I..... Shut up!" Ranima had smiled.

 Pratap bent and picked up the flower.
" Mujhe pata nahi tha yeh ab bhi hote hai yaha!"
" Ab pata chal gaya thanks to me!" He stared at her, smiling.
" Ahem!" She turned her back on him, giving him her bun. He smiled a little shyly before placing the flower on her bun.
" Tumne toh ussi din le li thi..."

" Kya?"
" Flower."
" Accha main jaa rahi hoon, bye!" She ran and tripped on the road, then balanced herself from falling.
" Ajabde!"
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" He smiled, watching the strange colourful thing, full of life, walk away!






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Comments

  1. SujataTuesday, August 11, 2015

    Good if she puts her studies to some use of Surajgadh. I like the amalgamation of their memories with the present situations in all the updates....

    ReplyDelete
  2. SuranyaTuesday, August 11, 2015

    They lived with those memories confused, they discovered it was love only now, so.... the memries aare special

    ReplyDelete

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