Amar's Queries

Heer stared at herself in the mirror, and she looked a little pale, despite the professional makeup. Her heart raced like never before. This was her day, their day. Jaso and Asha were gladly helping the makeup artists and designers. They looked excited.

" Has Jija come?"Heer asked for the hundredth time.

" Ohho Ajabdeh Jija aa jaengi, unko bhi to do do jagah sambhalna hai na?" Asha frowned.

Heer was in a designer lehenga that Jaivanta had specially ordered from the best wedding lehenga designer. Everyone was staring at the dress as it arrived, especially her mother, who was gushing. Her Choli was Bright Orange with Maroon, Blue and Golden Embroidery. The Lehenga too had a tricoloured layer of the same. Her dupatta was deep orange with heavy, golden embroidered maroon borders. Her jewellery was specially made according to royal standards under Sajja's supervision. She wore a Navratna-studded mang tikka, with a Churamani on her head, covered by the dupatta. Her nose ring matched the necklace and earring set she wore along with a heavy gold antique Sitahaar. Her bangles were the wedding Chura, along with the Navratna bangles she was gifted in her Sagai and a pasha that also had an attached ring with a ruby in it. Her Payal was three-layered like her Kamar bandh and studded with stones. She looked elegantly royal with her maroon lips, kohl-smudged eyes and the simple red bindi.

Ajabdeh was late getting home. Jaivanta had told her to reach out to help Heer get ready, but she was sure that was already done, thanks to Amar, who was being clingy and complaining about his new clothes. He didn't like the fact that Dadisa had chosen the same shade of deep blue for him and his parents, and he was complaining about it. Ajabdeh convinced him to get ready in his blue sherwani, teamed with a cream half Jahar Coat with blue embroidery. She pinned the royal brooch on him before he ran to see Kakasa get ready, finally leaving her alone.

Shakti looked like he would faint. His brothers said so, as Pratap only smiled. Pratap was in a Rajwada Sherwani that was the same blue as Amar's, and he had a golden kurta jacket with it, giving in to his wife's Jodha Akbar theme. Shakti was in his Rust Golden Sherwani, with Maroon embroidered borders and a Maroon stole with

Heavy golden embroidery. His pagri matched his golden sherwani and adorned the Royal Brooch. Unlike Pratap at his wedding, Shakti had refused the Royal Necklace for the princes and was happy with the rings only.

" Where is my damn car key when I need it?" Ajabdeh was in a fix as Pratap entered. She was in a long flowing Anarkali that looked like a gown, it was silver-based, heavily embroidered with golden and maroon and was teamed with the chiffon blue dupatta with embroidered borders. She wore a pasha on her left lock of hair, to match the theme, along with a pearl-studded Sitahaar, a pearl necklace set and her wedding nose ring. Her hands adorned pearl rings and bracelets along with the traditional Mewari jewellery. She also wore a pearl anklet. Pratap stopped as her kohl-smudged eyes met his.

" My Keys!" She frowned.

" I gave them to Ramu kaka." " Why on earth..."

" No more Black beauty, Sarang or Chetak for the next few months. Call the driver, he will drive you there in the sedan." He left before she could react.

Amar Singh suddenly remembered his desire to marry Heer Mausi as he watched his Kakasa in better attire, grabbing everyone's attention with narrowed eyes. " Amar, how am I looking? Bolo Minion!" Shakti smiled as he saw the boy peek in. " Bad, Very Bad!" Amar ran away, leaving Shakti confused.

The ground was beautifully decorated with the Navy Blue and Golden colour theme that Pratap chose, not paying heed to Ajabdeh's neon fascinations. Orchids in white and blue were used for the decor, giving it an elegant and royal touch, matching the drapes on the mandap area. Shakti was made to sit for the wedding as Pratap stood behind him, his eyes searching the crowd. Amar was running when Pratap caught him.

" Ranima kaha hai?"

" Heer Mausi ko lekar aa rahi hai!" Amar spoke quickly before running away. He had already made some playmates there.

" Vadhu ko Bulaye." Made both Shakti and Pratap look at the gateway to the mandap as Ajabdeh held one corner of a chunni over Heer's head. As the wedding progressed, Ajabdeh came to stand beside Pratap.

" I can't believe this is happening. Oh My Gosh!"

" You please sit down, Main..."

" Ohho!" She frowned at him before finding a seat." Tumhare behaviour se logo ko shak ho jayega pata hai?"

" Kab tak chupaogi Ranima se?"

" Kal subah tak. Heer ko Ghar to le jaane do raat ko, rasm e hai." " Thik hai jo Hukum."

" How am I looking?" She asked with an enthusiastic smile.

He stared at her, narrowing his eyes like she was setting up some trap for him. " Kya?" She frowned.

" Why are you asking this?"

" Coz you don't compliment me anymore! Purana ho gayi na main." That made him laugh as he said, " Kya bolu? Tum hamesha achi dikhti ho."

" Saach?"

" Except in those joker clothes you call printed pyjamas. Palazzos. And Jumpsuits!" " Haww!That's fashion. Tumhe kya pata?"

" Toh tum puchi kyun?" He shrugged.

It was time for the gant bandhan as Heer smiled shyly, catching Shakti's eyes for a few seconds, and Ajabdeh jumped up, saying " Main karungi!"

She tied the knot and patted Heer's head with a smile as Pratap dragged her away from between them, saying, " Bohot ho gaya, chalo." As the flowers reigned, Amar appeared excited as he concluded that the wedding was a fun game as Heer Mausi and Kakasa were going round and round.

" Why are they tied together?" He asked Dadisa, frowning.

" So that they don't run away from each other!" Jaivanta smiled. " Tabhi toh Papa aur Rani Maa ko bhi baandh do!"

" Uski jarurat nahi hai, tumhare Papa aur Ranima waise bhi ek dusre se nahi bhakti. Hansa smiled at him, then at Jaivanta.

Amar was too happy to see everyone throw flower petals, so he decided to collect some in his handkerchief and spotted his Ranima sitting with Mahek Aunty and Bhago Aunty. He sneaked behind her and shouted, " Surprise," Before raining the petals on her.

" Amar!" Ajabdeh exclaimed as she wiped away the petals. " Kya kar rahe ho baby?" " Apko flower shower!" He said excitedly as Ajabde kissed her baby.

" Main jaake baalon se yeh churwake aati hoon!" She walked away. Seeing the sindoor daan, Amar asked Bhago, " Yeh kyun karte hai?"

" Isko shaadi bolte hai na!"

" Aisa kitni baar karte hai?" Mahek laughed at his question. " Ek baar hi."

" Par Papa toh kabhi kabhi aisa laga dete hai Ranima pe sindoor, maine khud dekha hai curtains mein chupke!" He was thinking aloud as Mahek and Bhago looked at each other, bewildered.

" Bhanwar Ji aise chupke dekhna galat hota hai." Bhago added, " Never do that again."

Ajabdeh was in the room adjacent to the dining hall, trying to brush the petals off her hair.

" Are you unwell?" His voice startled her. " God! Stop stalking me, Princy !"

" What's wrong?"

" Amar! I am removing the petals he threw at me."

Pratap smiled, amused, before helping her as she stared at him and smiled. " Kya?" He asked.

" Tumpe gaya hai." She smiled.

It was time for Heer's Bidaai as she cried, hugging her sisters and mother, as Shakti felt helpless. Pratap knew this feeling and patted his brother's back with a smile. To his astonishment, he found Amar consoling Ajabdeh as she sat sobbing at the scene.

" Don't cry, Ranima, I will give you my chocolates." Pratap smiled and patted the boy's head before turning to Ajabdeh. Amar decided to go to console Mausi instead. " She is coming to you. Why are you crying?"

" Kyunki..." She sobbed, " Kyunki mujhe apni yaad aa rahi."

" Baat aise kar rahi ho jaise Japan mein rehti thi aur Switzerland mein shaadi hui tumhari, har waqt Ranima Ranima bolke wohi toh rehti thi!"

" Shut up, Princy!" She threw the handkerchief at him.

" You are having hormonal mood swings." He concluded, sounding happy as she got up quickly.

" Bade aye, doctor! Let's go home!" She walked off.

At the palace, Sajja was doing the aarti to welcome the new bride home. She finished and turned to Ajabdeh, " Beta, now you do it."

Ajabdeh remembered that when she was having Amar, Ranima had told her that women don't do these during pregnancy. She was looking for an excuse now.

" Main... woh.... nahi... aap hi kariye na. Main pics le rahi hoon." She waved her phone as Jaivanta stared at her.

She was in Heer's new room, overlooking the decorations as a maid walked in saying, " Ranisa has called you to her study."

Jaivanta was sitting on the sofa as Ajabdeh entered.

" Tumne Aarti Kyun nahi utari unki?" was the question that made her go wide-eyed. " Woh.. main... Ranima..." She searched for excuses. Jaivanta smiled as she got up

and hugged Ajabdeh in a tight embrace.

" Mujhe pata tha jab tumne refuse kiya, I became sure. Am so happy, Princess."

She kissed Ajabdeh's forehead. A knock resounded as Jaivanta said, " Come in." Pratap entered, looking at the duo, narrowing his eyes. He seemed to have done something wrong again.

" When are you telling Amar?"

" Telling him what?" Pratap asked, giving a confused glance at Ajabde. Jaivanta walked up to Pratap and caught his ear as Ajabde giggled.

" Kabhi Kabhi tum dono bhool jaate ho ke main Maa hoon tumhari!" She looked at Ajabdeh and added, " I will tell him."

" Jo apka hukum, mera kaan toh chodiye Ranima!" Pratap was acting like a kid as Ajabde and Jaivanta laughed.

Pratap was going through a file. Well, he was acting like he was. Ajabde was stirring her morning tea. Amar was called by Dadisa for breakfast this morning, and his parents were scared of his reaction as Dadisa broke the news to him. Ajabdeh stared at Pratap and managed to say, " What if he... ?"

" He is a kid." Pratap cut her off. " Stop worrying." He seemed to be telling himself. Sometimes, being a Parent to a kid like Amar, he had learned not to expect anything, as Amar kept surprising him every time.

" Ranima Ranima!" Amar came running in breathless. He stared at his parents and then ran into Ajabdeh's arms.

" Yay Baby Aega, Baby Aega!" Amar smiled excitedly as Pratap and Ajabdeh looked at each other with relief in their eyes.

" Aapko khushi hui?" Pratap asked, dragging the boy near him.

" Haan." Amar nodded. " Baby aega, main uske saath khelunga, usko khilaunga, jaise Aarchi Didi ke dolls hai, woh bhi mera doll hoga aur... aur. "

" Amar, baby doll nahi hote." Pratap nodded.

" Hote hai na, Dadisa ne kaha unko khilana parta hai, nahana padta hai, kapre change karne hote hai, aur yeh sab toh Aarchi didi dolls ke saath. "

" Haan Haan Amar." Ajabdeh cut him off, " Yeh sab tum karoge."

" But..." Pratap looked at her.

" Yay kab aega baby? Usko boliye na kal aa jae, Heer Mausi aur Shakti Kakasa ke London jaane se pehle aa jaye."

" Nahi Amar." Pratap smiled. " Baby ko aane mein der hai, aur Baby jab ayega tab sab ayenge usko dekhne, apke Kakasa aur Mausi bhi."

" Kaha se aa raha baby ke kal tak nahi aega?" He frowned.

" Bahut dur se naa..." Ajabdeh smiled and caressed his hair. " Jaise dur se aake woh Rosa Aunty ke pet mein hai na, waise hi Ranima ke..."

" Nahi Nahi Nahi." He frowned. " Mere Ranima ke nahi, dusre Ranima ke..."

" Amar, tumhara Ranima agar baby ka Ranima nahi hui toh baby nahi rahega tumhare saath phir tum kaise kheloge?"

" Haan.... thik hai... main jaake sabko..." He got up to leave.

" Nahi!" Was a shout in unison from his parents as he stopped.