Jaivanta and Hansa were busy preparing for the journey from dawn. Pratap walked in as they frowned.
"Where were you so early in the morning?"
"We can't leave Sau and the baby behind, and you are sick. So I booked a private Jet. For us all." He sat down, busy with his phone "There is no way we are going by road, and the flights are all oddly timed and unfit for an infant."
"A private Jet?" Chaks looked wide-eyed. "The perks of having rich friends." He taunted.
"Nahi, it's for my princess, so shut it" Pratap spoke as he handed Chaks the details.
"I need to go."
"Aree, where to? Breakfast is ready." Hansa spoke up.
"I have some work on the project." And I need to know what she decided.
Heer walked down the stairs with Shakti on her toes.
"I am going to inform Bhaijaan and Aapa, and then I will come back to finish my packing," Shakti spoke up.
"More packing?" Heer frowned. "All night you packed your stuff."
"In general packing" he shrugged. "Not mine."
"So none of you will have breakfast now?" Jaivanta said worriedly.
"Ranima. Why are you worried?" Ajabdeh's voice of authority alarmed Heer and Shakti. They were always scared of this mood.
"Nobody will leave skipping breakfast." She announced and made Pratap smile. "Is that understood?" She stared at Shakti, who shook his head in quick agreement.
"I will go check on Sau and Aarchi." She told her mother and turned to go, "I have some work at the office, I will be late, so don't wait for me." She walked away as Pratap frowned.
Heer was at the Boutique with her manager, Veer.
"Listen, make sure the movers and packers don't break anything. And you can come to work with me in Delhi if you want. I can't lose you."
"Ma'am." Veer smiled. "I have a family here, my kid has school. I hope you understand."
"Yes, of course I do." Heer smiled. "I will miss you."
"Ma'am, whenever you come here, do keep in touch," Veer spoke teary-eyed as Heer hugged her.
"You go now, the packers will be here at dawn, and you are in charge."
"Yes, Ma'am, don't worry." Veer wiped away the tears as she said bye.
Heer looked around the empty boutique absentmindedly. So many memories. Right from the day she dreamt of being a designer, she had told Jija first. Then Shakti. Shakti is the one who encouraged her, while Jija readily made an initial investment, made her study at NIFT and got her this boutique. How could she ever repay all that? Maybe by giving Jija back everything she lost. Heer sniffed as she looked around, each corner of this small place she had made with her choice, each corner had memories, her clients, the first shipments to Delhi and Mumbai. The first awards and appreciation. She realised that in all this, every time, she had called Jija first, then Shakti. Shakti had never doubted her talent. She smiled. Her phone rang.
"Hello."
"Are you okay?" Shakti's concerned voice made her frown. "Yes, I am. I am not the first girl to ..."
The sound at the door made her frown as she turned.
"Sorry, we are... Closed." She stared at the door wide-eyed. "You?" Toranmal was glad to find her alone as he smirked.
"What are you doing here?" She exclaimed, annoyed. "Get out of here right now."
"Hello... Heer... who is there? Hello..." Shakti was scared as the phone got disconnected, and he grabbed his car keys.
"You are the first person I came to see as soon as I got my bail. You know why?" He taunted. "To see for myself how you became a better con than me."
"Toranmal, just leave." Heer looked scared and angry.
"I have just arrived." Toranmal sat down on the sofa beside the entrance as Heer gulped.
"You did well, emotionally blackmailing Kunwar Shakti Singh into marrying you using me. Royalty and all, huh!" His taunt angered Heer some more.
"It is none of your business ..."
"It is... It is... My family got its picture all over the media and the entire circus... All because of you... I have to take revenge for it." He got up. "Surajgarh ki Kunwaranisa. Heer Kanwar."
"Don't you dare step closer to me?" She stepped back.
"Why? Don't act all Sati Savitri. Not that we didn't... Or wait... will he leave you if he finds out?" Toranmal sounded amused. "Is it that easy?"
"He can never misunderstand or mistrust me." Heer believed her words as she said, "I don't want to speak to an animal like you."
"Oh, so much trust? Or love is it?" Toranmal taunted again. "You fell in love this soon? I couldn't in a year."
The door opening made them turn as a relieved smile filled Heer's face. Shakti stood there for a moment before asking, surprised, "Totamal? How on earth did you get out of jail?"
" I am here to talk to her; she is my ex-fiance." Toranmal looked at Heer, who was still helplessly staring at Shakti. Shakti did what Heer never expected of him. He stood between her and the man, his back to her as he said in a cold, firm voice, "She is MY WIFE."
Toranmal looked up at Shakti's eyes as he continued, "And next time I see you, or your family ever near her, I will punch you in the face, now get lost!"
"Oh, I am leaving, but just because you are rich, it doesn't make facts untrue, does it? She has trapped you. Did she tell you how many times we were intimate..." A punch made him fall to the ground as Heer gasped, "Shakti!"
"Next time, I will kill you." His words scared Heer.
"Hello Udaipur Police, Kunwar Shakti Singh of Surajgarh speaking." Toranmal sat on the floor, holding his bleeding nose, wailing and groaning in pain as Shakti talked to the police, who took him away. Heer felt like the last thirty minutes were in a trance. As they were left alone again, Shakti turned to face her.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I ... did not call him here..." Heer looked pale.
"Hush." His finger on her lips stopped her as he said, "I know."
"How..." Her mouth dried up as he removed the finger. "How do you know?"
"Because I know you."
He smiled as she hugged him in an impulse. She couldn't thank him enough for being there every time. She could never have done what he did for her all this time. Heer closed her eyes as she felt his heartbeat and let her tears flow. Seeing that man in front of her made her emotional again. He was the reason Shakti was dragged into his mess.
Shakti froze at the moment, like a statue, as she hugged him. He feared she could feel his heart beating faster. He felt strange and complete as he hugged her back tightly, as her sobs haunted him. "Hush." He remembered the time Jija and Aapa had asked him if he loved her. He had denied them immediately. But today, what if they ask him? Could he deny it so fast? He was not sure. Her sobs stopped seeing that he was quiet; had she offended him with the hug? What was she thinking?
Heer drew away as a sudden feeling of something missing ached in his heart. He looked into her tearful eyes and smiled an assuring smile, wiping away her tears.
"Let's go home, shall we?" He asked as she sniffed. "I still have some work left. You leave."
"Are you sure?" He asked worriedly.
"Haan", she smiled reassuringly.
"Call me if you need me, ok?"
"Haan." Heer saw him turn to leave. "Shakti." Her call stopped him as he turned with a smile.
"Don't tell this at home. The mothers will be worried." Her words made him agree before he left.
Ajabdeh was in her office. Her wall now displayed two new frames, one of herself with Archi and another of Heer and Shakti with her and Ranima at the wedding. She was busy with the files she needed to take and the ones Mr Das needed to take care of. The knock on her door made her look up as Heer walked in, worried.
"Choti?" She frowned. "Weren't you at the ...."
"Jija, Toranmal came by..."
"What?" She frowned. Heer narrated the incident as she sat in silence with a frown. Heer looked worried as Ajabdeh stood up.
"Shakti came at the right moment." Her words made Ajabdeh smile. " But, I am worried."
"Why?" Ajabdeh asked, confused.
"He threatened to kill Toranmal if he came by again..."
Ajabdeh was amused as she said, "Shakti did the right thing."
"He punched the man." Heer still looked startled. "His nose was bleeding... I was..."
"You were...?" Ajabdeh gave half a smile as the door opened without a knock, and Pratap entered to see Heer there.
He was a little taken aback as he hoped to find Ajabdeh alone, and Ajabdeh frowned at his lack of knocking.
"Choti? What's wrong?" He asked worriedly.
"Shakti punched Toranmal." Heer's hands were on her mouth.
"What?" Pratap looked wide-eyed as Ajabdeh smiled, and he broke into laughter.
"Dadabhai, you are laughing, and I am still shivering." Heer frowned.
"Come again, who punched whom?" He chuckled, amused.
"Shakti..." Pratap laughed again, making Heer go, "Leave it." She walked out as Pratap called after her, "Aree Choti ..."
"He punched someone!" Ajabdeh spoke in awe with a faint smile.
"For her." He smiled as eyes met. "I... wanted to..." The door opened again as Ajabdeh frowned some more.
Patta peeped at Pratap and Ajabdeh.
"Why are you here? College..." Ajabdeh stopped as he entered with a sheepish smile, with a girl about his age in tow. She was in jeans and a top, her hair semi-curled and held back with a hairband, and she looked a little uneasy.
"Who is this?" Pratap asked with an amused smile.
"Jija, we wanted to talk to you..." Patta looked at Pratap, confused, "But if you are busy..."
"We?" Pratap raised his eyebrows at the duo. "Yeah... Jiwa hai." Patta smiled.
"Hi." Jiwa gave an unsure smile to Ajabdeh, and Pratap walked up to her. "Hi Jiwa, Pratap Singh here." He shook her hand.
"Of Course, Sir! Everyone knows you." She appeared star-struck.
"Ahem!" Ajabdeh's voice made him let go as Patta looked worried "You are here because?" Ajabdeh's stern voice made him gulp.
"Actually, what happened is... We are going to Delhi and..."
"Excuse me", Ajabdeh frowned. "Who told you everyone is going?"
"He did." Patta pointed at Pratap. "He called me."
"You have classes at college..." Ajabdeh ignored Pratap's glances seeking her decision.
"That's the thing, it's a holiday and Jiwa, she is a history student, she is doing a project on Rajputs and Mughals."
"So?" Ajabdeh looked at the duo, a little amused.
"So she needs to visit Delhi for that. Can she come along?"
"Of course!" Pratap spoke before Ajabdeh could open her mouth.
"Of course, after all, she is your friend, right?" He smiled at the blushing duo.
"Wait a minute." Ajabdeh stopped the excited bunch. "Your parents..."
"They are fine with it as long as I am with his family..." Jiwa opened her mouth.
"It's fine, she is sometimes like Hitler, don't be scared." Pratap's words made Patta look wide-eyed and hopeful as Ajabdeh ignored him.
"But what will we tell Maasa?" Ajabdeh looked away as Pratap frowned at her. Patta and Jiwa looked relieved.
"Mr. Das. Please order some coffee for us. Jiwa came for the first time." Pratap smiled as Ajabdeh said a small "But my office..."
In five minutes, the trio had occupied the sofa in her chamber and had begun to chit-chat. Jiwa looked around and spotted Aarchi's picture as she said without a thought, "Is she your daughter? Very cute." Ajabdeh looked up wide-eyed as Pratap smiled, amused, and Patta gulped.
"My niece, thank you. Can this chat session go to the waiting area, please?" The last words were meant for Patta, who was about to get up, but Pratap caught his hand and made him sit down again. He loved to irk her.
"Jiwa, tell us about your research?"
" It was briefly on Mewari Royals, Rana Sanga and Maharana Pratap ... how his family helped him in his battle and sacrifice is amazing..,"
"Hmm," Pratap seemed too interested as Patta took a sip of his coffee, looking at Ajabdeh and staring at them from her seat, fed up.
"And his wife..." Patta choked on his coffee as Jiwa looked worried. "What was her name again?"
"Okay, that's it." Ajabdeh stood up as the trio looked wide-eyed. "In the waiting area, right NOW!" Patta took Jiwa's hand as he almost ran out, as she appeared clueless, and Pratap picked up his coffee and left calmly with a smirk.
Heer was in the waiting area, on the phone with Rukaiya, when she kept and turned to see her younger brother running towards her, holding a girl's hand.
"Patta!" She exclaimed, surprised as Patta stopped before her.
"Heer?" Patta let go of the hand as Heer stared at it, amused. "She..."
"This is Jiwa... She is..." Pratap walked behind them with an amused smile. "She is?"
"Umm... My nice friend." Patta spoke as Heer murmured, "Nice." With a smile.
Shakti entered the office to see Heer and frowned "Patta? Who is this?"
"His nice friend." Heer smiled, amused as Shakti smirked, "Ohho Nice Nice!" and surprised him with a hug. "Dadabhai, what are you doing here?"
"I was..." Pratap stopped giving him a cold look. "What are you doing here?"
"I had some work with Jija..."
"None of you care to see the details if I miss them..." Ajabdeh stormed out of her chamber with Mr Das in tow, murmuring quick apologies as she stopped at the sitting area and frowned.
"Why are all of you here? Are you homeless?" She spoke to Heer as she looked away.
"Jija, I need to ..." Shakti started as Ajabdeh stopped him.
"Talk? Today, everyone does. Come with me." She walked back to her chamber as he followed.
"I know what happened." Ajabdeh sat down.
"We can file a harassment case because for us to put a restraining order, we need to prove he is dangerous enough to kill..."
"I have talked to the lawyer." Again, Pratap walked in without a knock as Ajabdeh spoke up, "There is a door there, isn't it?"
" He will see to it." He spoke to Shakti, ignoring her.
"I am worried for Heer; she was upset." Shakti frowned absentminded as Pratap and Ajabdeh shared a glance.
"And?" Ajabdeh asked hopefully.
"And she cried, I felt helpless..."
"And?" Pratap smiled.
"There was a strange..." He looked at the duo as he regained his composure and said, "What and?"
" You..." Ajabdeh started the question he dreaded.
"No, I don't love her, I don't, I don't!" Shakti spoke, a little alarmed as Ajabdeh looked amused, adding, "I didn't even ask that!"
"You two are no less than bullies! You know that?" He stared at them as they could read his thoughts. Could Heer too? He rushed out as Pratap called after him, "Bhai ..."
He was running towards the door when he bumped into Heer, and their foreheads collided.
"Ouch!" Both stared as Patta laughed, amused.
"You two look so good together." Jiwa's compliment made them look awkward as they murmured, "Thank you." In unison.
"Let's go home, Shakti Dadabhai." Patta spoke as Heer followed with Jiwa, adding with a smile, "Jiwa should come to meet everyone," as she blushed.
"Yes, after all, she is Patta's nice friend." Shakti smiled at Patta.
Pratap smiled at the door before turning to Ajabdeh, who was back at her file.
"I have arranged for cars from the airport."
"Accha..." She didn't look up.
"So that everyone can go." His words made her look up as he gave half a smile and added, "I will see you at home." Before he walked out, she smiled at her file.
Ajabdeh walked in after a tired day to find a bunch of excited people in the hall. Jiwa was between the mothers on the sofa, talking about her research. Patta was staring with a smile. Shakti was showing Jiwa the places they could visit on the Delhi trip. Sau was helping with dinner.
Chaks was holding Aarchi as she slept, and... she looked around to spot Brownie running towards her excitedly. She smiled and knelt, patting the dog.
"Hey, baby." She giggled softly at the lick. ''Yes, yes, I am home."
Her eyes stopped at him on the stairs. He was running after Brownie, but had stopped midway as all eyes were on them, even though they acted otherwise. Pratap walked down and stared at the crowd as they looked away. Only poor Jiwa was still talking about her project, clueless.
"We are going to have an early dinner," Hansa told Kaka as Pratap walked over to Chaks and smiled as Aarchi blinked her eyes.
"Mausi, I am on dinner duty." Sau smiled.
"We told you to rest." Hansa frowned at Sau.
"Choti?" Ajabdeh's words made everyone stare at Shakti as he murmured, "Umm...packing?" Ajabdeh shook her head at his cluelessness and walked up the stairs with Brownie in tow.
Heer was teary-eyed as she put a framed photo of her with Jija in the last bag. Ajabdeh stopped at the threshold as Heer controlled her tears. Ajabdeh walked in and sat beside her on the carpet. A small silence was followed by Heer's sniff as Ajabdeh asked a soft "All packed?"
"Haan", she tried hard to sound normal as she looked away, appearing busy. Ajabdeh held her hand as she looked up at Ajabdeh's teary eyes and lost composure. Heer hid her face in Ajabdeh's lap as she caressed her sister's hair.
"Both of you will have to leave someday." Hansa was braiding Ajabdeh's hair, and she, in turn, was braiding Heer's as they sat in a line on the floor of their home. They had just come back home from a wedding, and Hansa smiled, pleased as everyone praised Ajabdeh's nature. Jaivanta told her, "When will they grow up and ..." watching Pratap and Ajabdeh together.
"First Ajab then..." She added with a smile.
"Why me first? I don't want to." Ajabdeh frowned. "Heer can go."
"Why?" Heer smirked, " Did you fight again?" Ajabdeh looked wide-eyed at her as Hansa hid a smile and walked away. Ajabdeh pulled Heer by her hair as she said, "Ahh Jija!"
"I told you not to in front of Maasa, remember?" she scolded.
"Ohho, Jija, as if she doesn't know what happens every morning when Ranima does her puja!" Heer giggled.
"What happens?" Ajabdeh frowned again. "Shakti and I saw..."
"What did you see? Don't make up..." She pointed her finger with a red face. She always thought it was a sheer coincidence that every time she looked at him, he was looking at her. She had made her heart believe in coincidences a lot lately.
"Aakhon hi aakhon mein ishara ho gaya... baithe baithe..." Heer started singing as Ajabdeh got up to chase her.
"Choti." She ran through the corridor and to the garden after a giggling Heer.
"Ouch!" Ajabdeh laughed as Heer crashed into Shakti, and both were on the garden path.
"What are you doing?" Shakti rubbed his head hard. "Why are you even running?"
"Oh, you will miss this when I get married and leave." Heer's serious voice met his laughter as he said, "Heeriye, who will marry you?" and laughed again.
"Dadabhai." Heer rushed to Pratap, who had just entered clueless, and their eyes met. "Look, he is teasing me."
"Jija", Shakti taunted in her tone. "Look, I am teasing her."
"I will marry a model someday, while you find a monkey." Shakti shrugged as Ajabdeh said, "Enough now, Shakti, you know she will start crying. Who wants some Kheer?"
The moment she said that, Heer and Shakti raced to the kitchen.
"Careful." They smiled in unison at the running duo and then at each other.
Ajabdeh sat on the floor braiding Heer's hair as they sat lost in memories in silence.
"I will be all alone, Jija." She spoke at last. "Once you come back..."
" Why will you be alone? Ranima is there..." Ajabdeh reassured, combing her hair.
"But you are not... From the time I can remember, I have always needed you." She choked on her words.
"Choti." Ajabdeh held her hand. "I am a call away, and Shakti is there too..."
"So is Dadabhai..." Heer added, wiping her tears. "I know. Jija, I don't know why I feel I stole your fate..."
"Heer!" Ajabdeh exclaimed, stopping her. "Stop this overthinking! Pagal Ladki." She hugged her sister tight. "You know how happy and reassured I am that Shakti..."
"Jija, if Dadabhai wants to talk, please talk to him." Heer held her hand. "For me."
"Fine, for you. I will talk if he wants to." Ajabdeh gave a faint smile.
"Promise?"
"Pinky Promise." Ajabdeh's words met Heer's smile as she hugged Ajabdeh. Heer spotted Shakti at the door with a worried face that made her smile a reassuring smile as he smiled back.
"Ahem! What is happening here? Why is she getting all the love? What about me?" Shakti frowned at Ajabdeh, who wiped away a tear.
"What about you?" She frowned.
"At least hug me." He shrugged as Heer said, "Jealous!"
"Huh, Jealous, she is my Ajab gazab." He made Ajabdeh smile as Heer shook her head. "I need to talk to you." He looked serious as he followed Ajabdeh to her room.
"Bolo." She indicated the couch, but he sat on the bed instead. "What happened?" She frowned at the silence. "Bolo?"
"Jija." He looked up like he was telling his mother that the principal had called.
"Shakti?" She asked again.
"I love her. OH shit!" He hid his face with his hand and made Ajabdeh stare wide-eyed for a moment before she burst into a hearty laugh.
"Now don't be like Dadabhai and laugh at me..." He sulked. Ajabdeh stopped laughing and managed to say, "Look at your face." Before sitting beside him.
"Shakti, I think you should tell her this instead of telling me, right?" She scrutinised his face.
"Are you crazy? I can't even tell myself without sounding weird..." He made Ajabdeh smile again. "How will I ever sound convincing to her?"
Brownie came running from Heer's room, followed by Pratap saying "Ajab woh..." and he stopped spotting his brother, who smiled a gleeful smile he ignored.
"Shakti, I still think you should..." Ajabdeh started as Shakti stopped her. "Jija Jija! We will talk tomorrow, okay?" He walked back a few stairs as Ajabdeh opened her mouth to stop again, seeing him run.
"What happened to him?" Pratap frowned as his eyes met Ajabdeh's happy smile. He could read that face.
"Really?" He asked wide-eyed as she shook her head. "I came to say..."
"Aarchi is crying." Ajabdeh sounded worried. "Kya?" he asked, surprised.
"Aarchi..."
"Ajabdeh." Sau stood clueless at the door and a little taken aback seeing Pratap.
"What happened, My Princess?" Ajabdeh ran after her.
"Buddy, let me talk to you since everyone is busy, right?" Pratap sat down beside Brownie on the floor. "Now... where to begin... I was an idiot five years ago and stubborn for the rest..."
"Ohho princess. Calm down. Hush Hush!" Ajabdeh calmed the baby on her lap as she walked through the room.
"She seems to love Ajab", Sau smiled, relieved ", Calms down at her voice so easily."
"Aarchi is as stubborn as her Mausi." Chaks shook his head.
Sau took the sleeping baby from her hands as she came back to her room to find Brownie on the floor with Pratap.
"Now Shakti also..." He stopped at her sight as she looked amused and confused.
"What is going on here?"
"We were having a deep, meaningful conversation, right, Brownie?" Brownie was bored as he wanted to play and ran past Ajabdeh to the roof as they ran after him.
"Brownie!" "Buddy!"
"Come to Mommy!" "Come to Daddy!" They stopped staring at each other awkwardly as Brownie gave a loud "Woof!"
"Hush! Aarchi is asleep!" Ajabdeh sounded alarmed as she held Brownie.
"Umm... Goodnight... Brownie... get ready by 5.30...umm... let me take you home?" He smiled awkwardly as she looked away, and he ran down the stairs, leaving her smiling at the dog.
