Picture Us

The morning arrived with Ajabde’s melodious voice coming from the small Mandir of Kanhaji, which she had made for her mother in the southeast corner of the ground. Pratap sat on the sofa in the living area as the first rays of the sun fell on the carpet from the window. He remembered it was an important day. As the voice was heard, he froze. This was not the first time that an important day had started with her Bhajan. He had never noticed it to be so precious before. He was too late. He saw his mother and Hansa walk out to the Mandir.

Heer sat in front of the mirror as Sau and Rukaiya did her Sringar for the Haldi. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her life was changing. But not the way she planned it.

Jalal put his hand on Shakti’s shoulder as he managed a faint smile. Jalal had no clue what he should tell Shakti now. Shakti looked at himself in the mirror, worried about Heer.

Ajabde sat in the middle of the white marble temple, in her simple Kurti, her dupatta over her head, eyes closed. The priest was doing the aarti. Jaivanta and Hansa saw her and smiled, then proceeded towards the Mandap to check it. Ajabde sang as she stared at the Kanha idol, and her eyes twinkled.

Pratap stood up. He walked up and stopped at Heer’s door, seeing Heer look so beautiful and scared. He frowned. He walked out and towards the voice. He stopped at the temple steps. When did he last enter a temple? He couldn’t tell. She opened her eyes as if she felt something. She shook her head and closed it again.

Pratap removed his slippers and walked up the stairs. He saw her and stopped behind her. She realised his presence but didn’t open her eyes or stop. Unknowingly, a smile curved on their lips as both seemed to have travelled back in time.

Ajabde was singing in the Sisodia Mansion’s mandir, putting flowers in

her garland as he sat staring, then sprinkling petals on her with a smile as she frowned between the lines. Eyes met and looked away as Ranima arrived with the Bhog.

Today, the distances were too much to endure. Both hearts felt so. He jolted out of his thoughts at her voice. They were still Pratap and Ajabde, but everything had changed.

The priest handed her the aarti as she got up, and Pratap moved back three steps. Then turned to leave before she saw him there. Taking the thaal in hand, Ajabde turned to see him walk away. And her smile faded. Her eyes twinkled as she said

“Panditji, please give everyone the offerings. I am getting late.” Pratap stopped on his track and turned back to see her walk away towards the house.

“Pratap Beta Prasad.”

“Panditji, I… don’t take…sorry.” He walked towards the Mandap, disturbed.

The haldi preparations were made by Saubhagyawati and Rukaiya while Hansa and Jaivanta instructed them. The ground was set for the Haldi, and a yellow semi-transparent drape separated the bride’s corner and the groom’s. Ajabde walked out in her office attire, a grey corporate suit and a black satchel. Hansa frowned at her.

“Ajabdeh…” She interrupted as the others stared. Pratap, however, looked away to scrutinise the Mandap decorations.

“I'm so sorry, Maa, an important work came up, and no one else can handle it.” Sau and Ruk exchanged a look at each other and then at Pratap, who appeared aloof.

“But beta…” Jaivanta spoke up, trying to stop her from the Haldi Rasm. “I need to go… sorry, sorry, sorry!”

She ran to the car as Hansa shook her head. “She skipped Breakfast also.” The last words hit him as he looked at the car drive out of the Gates.

Ajabde Punwar sat in her office room looking like a mess. The office was empty as she had given a day off for Heer’s wedding beforehand, and the only person she had called upon was her Manager, Mr Das. He was a single man who stayed in Udaipur for work and was happy to arrive at just a call anytime. She had sent him out to get some paperwork ready as she sat absent-mindedly. Her table had a picture of Heer and Patta from Holi, smiling at the camera for her. And the walls of the chamber displayed her certificates and awards proudly. She couldn’t just shake off the feeling of last night’s hug. Neither could she leave Pratap from her life. He was everywhere, in everything. No matter how much she worked and avoided his name, not a day had passed that something or other hadn’t reminded her of him. As much as she hated to admit it, she never stopped loving him. She sighed and took out a key from the top drawer and opened the bottom one. She took out a box. And from it a picture. She smiled at it faintly as her eyes twinkled. It was from that Diwali she had made Laddoos and he had eaten five and was teased by Heer and Shakti, and made awkward faces, making her blush. It was a picture of them when they were….

Who were they? She frowned. Her hand was carelessly on his shoulder as she smiled for the picture, and he was smiling at her, not in a ready pose. The phone rang, making her startle, and the photo jumped out of her hand and onto the carpet.

“Ms Punwar here.”

“Ms Punwar, we are calling from Gate 5 Securities. A man here is asking for you, but without an appointment, he’s coming from Delhi just for this deal. Should we send him in?” She frowned. From Delhi? Did Chundawat Kaka send him?

“Send him in.” She said over the phone as she hurriedly removed the box from the table and opened a file to look busy. A knock resounded.

“Come in.” She said in a stern voice. He entered in a maroon bottom and white Kurta.

“Ms Punwar.” His voice made her frown as she looked up at Pratap’s face.

“What brings you here?” She frowned, showing displeasure.

“Strict business.” He sat down before she could protest and handed her the black file he was carrying.

“What is this, Mr Singh?” She kept a straight face.

“Kunwar Pratap. Prince of Surajgarh.” He corrected her. “My father’s dream project.” He spoke up seriously, without looking up at her, mostly because the hair on her face was bothering him. “The Mewar Foundation Project, which was always his dream, was to help the poor.”

“And you are here because…” She knew the reason and wanted to hear it.

“It was not my father’s dream alone. Unc… Mr Punwar also dreamt the same thing; they planned it together, and it was supposed to be a Punwar-Sisodia partnership.”

“But practically speaking, Mr Singh Sisodias is capable. You don’t need a…”

“Sometimes it’s better to think from the heart than the mind, Ms Punwar.” He smiled sarcastically.

“Sure, if you have a heart.” She murmured loudly enough for him to hear. “Wait here.”

She walked back to her closet and took out a red file. She went through it once, standing there while a knock made Pratap stare at the door.

“Come in, Mr Das.”She spoke without looking up. “Ma’am…” He stopped spotting a stranger.

“Mr Das, meet Mr Pratap Singh; he’s here for the Mewar Project.” She spoke without looking up as Mr Das looked overwhelmed to meet the celebrity. Pratap stood up to shake his hand as she spoke again. “Mr.

Singh he is the one looking after the project now.”

“What?” Pratap frowned. “You started without me?” His informal tone made Mr Das confused as Ajabde shot a glance and added

“Mr Das, arrange for my breakfast, please. I am hungry.”

“Anything for you?” Mr Das asked Pratap as Ajabde looked displeased. “Coffee.”He smiled as the man ran.

“You….” He turned back to her. “Started Mewar Foundation without me?”

“People don’t wait forever.”

Her hand stopped at the file as soon as the words came out, and he stared at her, visibly hurt. She took a deep breath and turned around, her back completely to him as he shut his eyes to regain composure. As he opened it, he saw something lying on the carpet.

He promptly picked it up, and he stared like he couldn’t believe his eyes. A hope that had died out was alive again. His eyes twinkled.

“Here are the te…” Her heart skipped a beat seeing what he was

holding. She looked away. A smile curved his face as he said, “I assume this is yours?”

“No.” She looked away. “The terms of our foundation. Take a look and sign.” She handed him the red file.

He took it with a sly smile that made her angrier and signed without taking a look.

“I said, read the terms and then sign.” She frowned.

“I am ready to accept any terms and costs for this partnership, coz I do have a heart, Miss Punwar.” He spoke without looking at her. Then he took the picture and waved it. “Still not Yours?”

“No.” She looked away. He smiled, amused. “Okay then, main hi rakh leta hoon.”

She fumed in vain as Mr Das accompanied the peon with breakfast and coffee.

He sat down on the sofa at the far end with the coffee as Mr Das waited for her instruction.

“Tomorrow, take him and show him the ongoing projects.” “Ji Ma’am,, He nodded and left.

“He’s the…” Pratap asked.

“Manager. Right hand. Everything.” She took her sandwich and opened his file, hoping he would leave soon.

He finished his coffee and stared at her. “So…” “So?” She frowned. He got up.

“Shakti sent me here. To take you. Heer needs you.” “I said I have a…”

“Ajab.”

His voice stopped her. “Stop blaming yourself. They are fine.”

He spoke sincerely as she looked up. He could still read her thoughts. She looked back into the file and said, “I will be there in an hour.”

He smiled, genuinely pleased as he walked out of her chamber. Sitting in the car, he reached into his pocket for the key and along with it came out the Photograph. He smiled at it. It had given him back the hope he lost last night. She was trying to push away the feelings. He would bring them back. Determined, he left the Punwar office. Ajabde watched him go from the window.

“He came for them.” She smiled a disappointed smile and closed the files.

Heer looked pretty in the yellow lehenga with silver lining, while Shakti wore a cream-coloured Kurta with a Dhoti. The separating yellow semi-transparent cloth between the two divided the ground. With Heer were Ruk and Hansa. Patta was shooting the Haldi rasm. Jaivanta, Shakti and Jalal with Chaks and Sau were on Shakti’s side. The elders were all applying haldi on the about-to-be-wed when Jalal took a handful and smeared Chaks, saying, “For the new Bapu too.” He ran as Chaks followed, and Ajabde was walking up the garden path unmindful, she saw them rush towards her shouting “Hato Hato”.

Eyes wide, Ajabde was fixed on her position as they ran past her and she frowned.

“Grow up, guys”

Pratap was on the open balcony above her, instructing the workers on the lighting and flower decorations. He was holding three marigold garlands and putting them on the railings to show how to décor when one slipped out of his hand and landed on Ajabde’s head.

“What the…”

She looked up as eyes met, and he appeared pleased. She threw the garland off her shoulder, shouting, “Kaka, where are you?” with a frown as she walked away.

As Ajabde entered the ground, she saw the ladies divided on both sides, applying haldi on the bride and groom. Shakti’s side was empty as they had moved to Heer’s to apply the Haldi first on her. Shakti’s eyes met Ajabde’s between the rasm, and he smiled happily that she was here. Heer was looking pretty and smiling faintly at everyone around. Ajabde couldn’t imagine her emotions right now. She looked away to notice Shakti. He was looking at the Drapes, trying to read Heer’s face, looking as worried as she was. Ajabde smiled happily. Shakti spotted Ajabde and noticed him as he looked away, embarrassed.

“Did you see that?” Jalal spoke up behind Ajabde.

“See what?” Chaks frowned. “What?” He was clueless.

“Yes.” Ajabde smiled.

“He cares, that’s enough for now,” Jalal assured her as she nodded in agreement.

Pratap walked out in search of the garland and frowned, adding “People throw away important stuff like garbage, Hadd hai!” and stared at her as she looked away. Jalal didn’t miss this as Pratap walked past him and picked up the garland. Rukaiya asked, “What?” her expression as Jalal smiled “Nothing.”

Jaivanta followed her gaze and smiled, saying, “Aa gaye beta, go and get ready.”

“Ji Ranima.”

As she was entering the house, they almost clashed at the door as Pratap murmured, “After you,” and she walked ahead. Shakti and Heer looked at each other through the drapes, at this, unknowingly, before realising and looking away.

Something is up with Jija and Dadabhai. They could read each other’s thoughts and worries.

Ajabde was in her room after she had changed into the peach lehenga Heer had actually chosen for the occasion, when Jaivanta walked in, surprising her.

“Ranima? Do you need anything? Aap bula leti toh main…”

“Beta aisa rasm hai ke Shakti ki pagri mein yeh brooch lagana hoti hai. Tum yeh…” She handed Ajabde the royal-looking brooch.

“But Ranima…” She knew the Rasm well, it was a Bhabhi Devaar rasm that… she had no right over.

“Please do this for me, Ajabde.” Ranima handed her the brooch before she could protest and left.