One stare, and he smiled at her, making Jalal say, "Ahm, who is this?"
"Nice friend." Heer and Shakti smiled, amused as they said in unison, "Patta's."
Pratap was helping the older ladies take their luggage out while Sau and Chaks were dealing with a crying baby in vain. Brownie came running out of Ajabdeh's room with her in tow, shouting "Brownie, listen to me..." as Brownie looked at Shakti's trolley on his way, and Heer exclaimed a soft "Brownie, stop." Before Brownie bumped into it, the trolley was pushed down the stairs.
"Brownie Yaar!" Shakti exclaimed, running after the trolley that had ended up open on the landing, his clothes scattered everywhere.
"Shit, my watches, my watches!" He rushed after his bags to see if they were fine. Brownie looked amused as he took a tie from the scattered luggage in his mouth and ran up again, making Shakti shout, "My tie, Yaar Brownie", making Heer giggle, amused. Shakti stopped at her laugh as a smile curved his lips. Last night, he was sleepless on his side, knowing she was sniffing on hers, not sure what to tell her then. This smile was a welcome relief.
"Bad dog!" Ajabdeh caught hold of him before he could manage to run to Pratap and handed him Heer Shakti's tie.
"Are we going at all?" Rukaiya asked, confused. "Look at the mess here."
"Brownie no no no!" Shakti exclaimed, alarmed as Brownie was out of Ajabdeh's grip and running towards him again.
"Brownie." Pratap's call stopped him. "Come to D... Come here."
"Chale?" Ranima asked everyone as they gathered.
The flight was an insignificant one, where Jiwa was busy clicking selfies and group pictures, which Patta forbade her from posting. Sau was happy that Ajabdeh was taking care of Aarchi, giving her the needed time off Mommy duties as she munched on the unhealthy snacks that made Rukaiya frown. Brownie was a little hysterical about the carriage flight when Pratap reassured him gently, making him listen as he put him on the leash and guided him to his box. Ajabdeh observed worried, as Brownie wagged his tail at Pratap, Hansa doted on him, and Heer relied on him. Patta too seemed to have gone back to his old ways of turning to him at the slightest inconvenience. After they left Delhi, she thought she was successful in driving his presence out of their lives, but today she realised that they all missed him and pretended not to for her sake... She was scared of herself, for she was hoping and dreaming again ... what if he...
Heer looked out of the window at the familiar sight of Delhi she had missed. A new life with a new potential career waited for her to begin, and although a part of her was always left in Udaipur, another part of her could not wait for the new life to begin. Shakti stared at her faint smile before his eyes caught Jalal's hawkish ones watching him as he looked away.
The Sisodia Mansion in Chattarpur of Delhi was smaller than the one at Surajgarh. Three floors and a large area for the front lawn and garden, the large gate reads SISODIA'S, just like it used to when Ajabdeh left last time. Ajabdeh's home, as well as Jalal's, were adjacent apartments about five minutes from this place.
Last heard, Bairam Khan had taken over both his office and living space, and Jalal's rare occasional visits helped him. Bairam refused to go to Udaipur with Jalal even after Rukaiya requested him. He had remained unmarried and brought up his nephew, giving him the best upbringing with Hansa's helping hand. Choosing Hansa Mausi and Ajabdeh over him made him angry at Jalal at times. However, he was extremely glad when Jalal took him to Udaipur on a vacation, and he met Rukaiya and her parents. Rukaiya was the daughter Bairam now loved more than the nephew who chose his friend. Bairam was like a brother to Hansa when they lived here; it was true, but he, being a little old-fashioned, never approved of children making their own decisions. He was disappointed watching the news of Pratap's link-ups and more when Ajabdeh left following that. Not that he approved of teenagers in love. But he never believed Pratap was such a guy, and more because the distances increased and the elders went with the flow and made no effort to make them sit and talk. Elders being scared of children was so not Bairam's style of parenting. He was again disappointed hearing that Shakti and Heer's marriage had happened because of some con guy's deeds. But Jaivanta's call made him promise to come to the welcome party like all the other guests, much to Jalal's happiness.
The cars drove in through the large gates as Rukaiya observed the surroundings that Jalal kept talking of. Jalal sat beside her with a smile. The playing area, the parties he described, the first time he met Pratap and Shakti at Ajabdeh's place. Everything. Rukaiya could picture how attracted and attached Heer, Patta, and Ajabdeh must have been here, and how painful it was... Worried, she stared back from her seat at Ajabdeh as Sau's eyes met her concerned ones, and she also stared at Ajabdeh sitting beside her, her eyes fixed outside the window. Chaks sat clueless beside the driver, nostalgic. Ever since his parents were gone, he hadn't been to Delhi either.
The car upfront had Patta pointing out to Jiwa their special corners while Shakti smiled at Heer and Hansa, and Jaivanta stared at Pratap, who was checking the car at the back, worried, through the rearview mirror. Ajabdeh sighed as her vision blurred. The moment she entered the gates, she remembered the day she left, Ranima had stood at that very gate repeatedly asking her, "Are you sure?" She had run to hug Ranima one last time before they departed. She stared back at the lane till it was visible and controlled her tears in front of her worried father as her mother held her hand firmly. She remembered how often she would cycle down from home across the gate, hoping to spot his car or him, to make sure he was home before she arrived to meet Ranima. She always sent Heer with the notes and study materials when they had a fight that would force Pratap to come to Jalal's house for a match or some notes, as he rang the bell asking about Hansa Mausi's health and looked across her to the one who ignored his glances.
She remembered the first time he played his guitar here at a party, surprising his parents and the guests with his voice. She could see the corners where they used to have lazy afternoons or evenings sitting around while she said something she had read, and Patta, Heer and Shakti would listen eagerly while Jalal and Pratap made fun of them. To them, Jija was always the knowledge bank. She remembered how disappointed she felt every time he was engrossed in Jalal and Chaks and didn't even see how she looked at parties while she appeared busy with Sau, then again, he would surprise her with a compliment in front of everyone, making her feel uncomfortable and loving the reactions. She remembered everything. She now felt so stupid to run away like that. But could he not have picked up the phone? Could he not have reached out once to say, "Ajab, it's all a lie, come back home."
Home? For half a decade, she had tried to believe whatever she made in Udaipur was home. Away from Family, friends and Delhi. But if she hadn't... would Heer and Shakti still be... Destiny. She smiled as she remembered Shakti's words last night.
"Ajabdeh?" Sau called softly, unsure. Ajabdeh closed her eyes to regain composure and smiled back at Sau "Hmm?"
"Are you okay?" Sau asked worriedly as she smiled. "Haan." Smiling at Jalal, who nodded reassuringly. The cars stopped as Jaivanta instructed everyone to stay put while she and Hansa went in. In a while, she was back with the ladies–in–waiting, ready to welcome the bride home.
Rukaiya held Heer's hand as she stepped out, putting the drape over her head as Shakti followed in tow. Sau carefully walked out with the baby in her arms as Chaks held her with a smile. Patta and Jiwa were exploring the lawn already.
Ajabdeh stepped out in her long Karachi kurta and shut the car door. He walked out of his side just then as eyes met. He looked concerned, not sure of her reaction. Her faint smile put his worry to ease as, unnoticed, he waited for her to come over to his side, and they stood behind the crowd on the porch stairs side by side. First, Jaivanta did Heer's aarti and rasm as Patta giggled, "She is the first bride doing this for the third time." Making Hansa give him a cold stare.
"Wait, Sau." Hansa stopped them as Pratap and Ajabdeh stood right behind them.
"What happened, Mausi?" Sau asked, confused as Jaivanta came with another aarti thali.
"Just like you are Hansa's daughter, Chaks is also our son; should I not welcome my granddaughter properly?" Jaivanta smiled at a surprised and glad couple.
"Of course, Kakisa..." Chaks was happy as Jaivanta did Aarchi's aarti.
"Step inside now." The mothers turned around as Heer kept her left foot over the rice kalash, and Sau entered with the baby while the conch shell was blown.
Ajabdeh was about to follow Rukaiya and Jalal when Pratap held her back by the soft, unsure hold of her wrist as she looked a little scared and turned to face him with a questioning face. He smiled at her as he stepped ahead, her hand still in his as they stepped over the threshold together, and he let go of her hand and moved away. If anyone had noticed, Ajabdeh, she was red and feeling the same old feelings creep in as she tried to control her heart thumping and a lump in her throat, making her feel like she was about to explode with pent-up emotions.
Sau carefully sat down on the couch so that she didn't wake Aarchi while Jaivanta served thandai and sweets to everyone. Ajabdeh got up to help and walked to the kitchen, which seemed to have been renovated.
"Ranima." Her call made Jaivanta smile. "Come here, Beta."
"Can I help..."
"No, today I will play host, my Bahu is home..." She smiled reassuringly at a concerned Ajabdeh.
"Yes, but does that mean you will stop listening to your daughter?" Ajabdeh frowned as Ranima looked at her with a smile, saying, "Who can win with you?"
"Leave this then.." She pulled the tray towards her. "Aree aree... Ajabdeh..." Ranima protested.
"Ranima, the room..." Pratap stopped seeing the tug of war with the tray as the cook and helpers smiled, amused.
"It's mine, you go sit down." Ajabdeh snatched the tray and walked past him as he smiled, but she chose to look away.
"Aree Beta Ajab!" Ranima called in vain after her and noticed Pratap's smile faded at her glare.
Ajabdeh placed down the tray while the group grew nostalgic around the place, and Ranima walked out, followed by Pratap, when a car honked loudly, making them all stand up.
"Khan Baba is here." Jalal smiled at the door.
"Oh shit, Jija hide her." Patta pointed at a surprised Jiwa as Ajabdeh looked wide-eyed, and Shakti chuckled and stopped at Heer's glare.
Bairam Khan was now a man in his sixties, his hair a little grey but handsome and full of attitude. One could easily say Jalal got his good looks from his uncle. He was in a bandh gala suit and wore a heavy gold chain around his neck. His glasses were dark, and he used a stick of ivory he didn't need. He walked in as Jaivanta and Hansa walked up to greet him while the children stood in a row. They were always scared of him, all except Jalal and Ajabdeh.
He gave a hawk-eyed stare to the group. Jalal Rukaiya, Chaks Sau with the baby, Patta and a girl? Heer and Shakti, Pratap and Ajabdeh... together? He smiled at Pratap faintly before Jalal walked up to him to do a greeting.
"How are you?" He ignored his nephew and asked Rukaiya, who smiled at him.
"Khan Baba ..." Jalal's smile faded as he stopped him with a hand gesture.
"You went through with the wedding without informing me, so why bother inviting me now?" He turned to Jaivanta as Heer and Shakti stared at each other.
"Bhaisaab, we know you are upset and rightly so, but you know how things..." He turned to Heer and Shakti as she stopped.
"Will you two just stand there or greet me?" His gruff voice made Brownie hide under the centre table.
Heer and Shakti promptly walked up to him, and he touched their heads with a smile, "Be happy."
"Bairam Uncle... greet your granddaughter as well..." Sau brought Aarchi and placed her in his arms as he smiled ", You look like your mother, Shehzaadi." Sau smiled as Chaks frowned. The man never liked him!
"Ajabdeh? He turned to Ajabdeh, who ran to hug him, saying, "Khan Baba, how are you?"
"Lonely." He stared at Jalal, who looked away.
"You can come to Udaipur..." Rukaiya's words stopped at his "No."
"Who is she?" Jiwa looked wide-eyed as the man pointed to her, making Patta gulp. Everyone stared at each other as Bairam turned to Pratap.
"Pratap, who is this girl?" made him stare with a pale face first at Ranima and then at Ajabdeh. "His girlfriend?"
"No, Uncle. She is my sister." Chaks interrupted as he gave a cold stare.
"Since when do you have a sister?" He frowned.
"Umm, I do." Sau smiled a silly smile, adding, "She is a distant cousin..."
"Jiwa take his blessing." Chaks pushed her forward as Bairam said, "It's okay, no need."
"Bhai Sahab, we are so happy you came." Hansa smiled.
"I had to come! See my granddaughter after all. Hahahaha!" He sat down on the sofa with a loud laugh that made Aarchi cry out on her mother's lap, and Brownie ran for the stairs.
"Brownie!" Ajabdeh exclaimed as she ran after him.
"I scared her." Bairam sounded alarmed as he lowered his voice. "No worries, Uncle, she..." Chaks shook his head.
"Seems like she has taken after her father." Chaks frowned at him while Jalal and Shakti exchanged an amused stare. "Hahahaha" His laughter once again echoed in the living room.
"Brownie stop. Baby, I told you to stop!"
Ajabdeh entered the room Brownie had entered after him and stopped, alarmed. It was Pratap's. The balcony overlooked the gates and the road, the small adjacent room that led to the bathroom was now a closet for his clothes, and the master bed was at the centre. But that's not what attracted Ajabdeh's attention. The wall above the bed had a large portrait. Brownie was in the middle, Pratap and Ajabdeh knelt on either side, holding him, and in a way, each other's hands. On Ajabdeh's side, her father was on the couch while her mother, Patta and Heer stood in a line behind him and on Pratap's side, Ranima and Shakti were standing behind Ranaji as well. This black and white frame was taken on their last Diwali at the Surajgarh Palace.
That was not all, on the left of it was a corner with her pictures with Brownie, Heer, Ranima and Ranaji. She swept her hand over her smiling face, holding Ranima. On the right was a timeline frame. Their first picture as children, with Sau Chaks, with Jalal, with the siblings, school farewell, first reunion, college freshers, awards, every occasion, every festival, their couple pictures made their way to this wall. Her eyes stopped at the last picture at the airport, and from a hook there hung his medals, his singing awards from fests, all of which he dedicated to her. His guitar was in a corner where Brownie sniffed. This room was a picture gallery of the past.
Heer entered her room, which was Shakti's previous bedroom, and the large portrait of her with her family attracted her attention beside the wedding pictures. She smiled at it as Shakti said, "So that you don't miss home."
She turned to see him standing at the threshold with a smile as she nodded gratefully.
"Keep things the way you want." He shrugged as she looked around. Heer smiled.
"Can I... have a rose plant on the balcony?" She asked unmindfully. "Sure, why not?" He smiled.
Ajabdeh felt numb. For all these years, she blamed him for everything. She never once in her ego felt that a part of her could be wrong, too, a part of her could be unreasonable. There she was trying to forget him, while here, he built a home and life around her memories. He lived like she wanted him to, followed her principles and wishes, and yet never tried to point out to her that he was miserable without her. Why? Had Pratap thought she had moved on? Tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought. He had so much pain hidden in him, yet she was the one who looked vulnerable to all. Ajabdeh felt guilty.
