Heer and Shakti were glad to meet the relatives and their friends as they showered the couple with blessings at the party. The guests dispersed only later at night as Heer sat tired, taking off her heavy jewellery.
"It was fun, right?" Shakti appeared from the adjacent room after changing into his vest and pyjamas.
"Haan, Dadabhai danced! I still can't believe it."
"I guess love makes you do stuff you can't imagine." His words met her surprised glare as she smiled, amused. "Such deep thoughts?" He sat down beside her and changed the topic. "A few of my friends have decided to throw a party for us."
"Another Party?" Heer raised her eyebrows. She was not a party person. All parties she ever went to were post-show ones where she went for work."Yup, umm... theme is cocktail and all my friends will be there..." he smiled. "They all want to meet you. Even Emma." His last words made her look up as she nodded a yes. "Great, I will inform them. I am sleepy, you should also rest." He walked to his side of the bed as Heer looked worried.
Ajabdeh was watching the skyline of Delhi after a long time. Brownie was running about on the roof as she appeared absent-minded. "Hey, Buddy." His voice behind her made her smile. She turned as he smiled at her. He walked up to her as she frowned a little and said, "Someone looked pretty today."
"I know. Choti." She smiled.
He shook his head with half a smile and asked, " Did you talk to Ranima?"
"About what?" She frowned as eyes met, and he smiled. She blushed and looked away as he held her waist, surprising her. " You know we have guests."
"And Mami is here too." He smiled, amused.
"Why are you after her?"
"She was going to faint today watching us dance." He chuckled.
"But everyone is happy..." She smiled. He pulled her closer, forcing her to rest her hands on his collar. "I am more."
"Jija" Heer's voice made him frown with a soft "Not again," as she pushed him aside.
Heer appeared tense as Pratap frowned "What happened, Choti?"
Rukaiya was packing her bags to go to Khan Baba in the morning. "I am so excited when we will tell him we will move here forever, and not go back. He will be so happy, right?" She smiled. Jalal nodded happily. He pulled her close, stopping her hands at the bags as she frowned. "We have chores." "They are always there," His words met her surprised eyes, as he thought the same. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Not tonight?" "Haan." She blushed, smiling.
Ajabdeh's cold eyes met Pratap's chuckle as she stopped."Ohho Choti." She held her confused sister's hand. "Shakti knows how you are. Why are you so worried?"
"She is right, Choti, what you wear doesn't matter to him, he is proud of you and flaunts you right?" Pratap added as she said, "I don't know."
"Choti, go and choose your best dress, and everything will be perfect," Ajabdeh said, reassuringly. "Yes, enjoy yourself," Pratap added. Heer frowned at the duo. "What's wrong, you are teaming up today?" She asked, surprised. "I need to sleep, come, Brownie." Ajabdeh walked away as Heer smiled, amused at a taken-aback Pratap.
Heer sat on her side of the bed, lost in thought. He had mentioned Emma would be there. Does he still love her? She stared at Shakti's sleeping figure as an empty feeling made her eyes tear up. I am not the kind of girl he ever wanted. He looked so awkward even telling me about a party. Am sure he took others to parties at ease. I don't know why I feel so miserable... he's my best friend ... She remembered Toranmal's words. No, Heer, this can't be. You can't be in love with him. He's... My husband... She remembered how, with authority, he had said, "My wife." How every time he went out of his way to make her smile, make her happy. She let the tears flow. She was in love with her husband. Yet, it seemed like the most complex thing in the world right now.
At dawn, the Sisodia Mansion woke to a scene that was quite familiar in the last decade. Jaivanta was doing the morning aarti as Hansa lit the lamps. The children appeared behind them in silence, hands folded. The scenes were repeating themselves. Patta was eyeing the laddoos as Shakti gave him a bunt on his head, making him frown as Sau and Heer smiled, amused. Heer stared at him, smiling back at her as her heart skipped a beat and she looked away, confusing him. Ajabdeh was singing the bhajan alongside Ranima as eyes met and smiled, followed by Patta's ahem that made them look away. The same scenes used to happen a decade ago, only, Heer's heart didn't beat like this, nor did Shakti feel awkward staring at her. Jalal and Rukaiya walked down with the luggage as Jaivanta asked, "You are leaving already?"
"Yes, Khan Baba will be waiting." They hugged the newlyweds and friends goodbye. Ajabdeh and Heer were in the kitchen making breakfast preparations when Pratap appeared in relative silence, making Heer smile at Ajabdeh."Do you need something, Dadabhai?" She smiled. "Water? Food?"
"No..."
"Jija?" Heer's amused voice was met with Ajabdeh's cold stare as she said, "I will bring the Poha" and walked away.
"Why are you hovering?" She frowned. "Get ready after breakfast." He smiled.
"Kyun?"
"Surprise." He grinned. "We will have lunch."
"And what will we tell the others?"
"Meeting." He smiled, amused as she shook her head.
"Rukaiya Beta welcome." Bairam hugged her. "Now your Bahu is here, are you happy?" His nurse smiled as he frowned. "Bahu? I don't have a son." Jalal frowned at his words. "I have a daughter." Bairam Khan sat down on the sofa as Rukaiya went in with the luggage. "Khan Baba." Jalal's words were made with a frown. "I..." He stopped as the man looked away. Sometimes, even old people act completely childish. He smiled. Jalal did what he should have done a long time back. He went up to the man and hugged him tightly. "Leave me." He looked irked. "I won't leave until you keep your hand on my head." "Jalal." Bairam Khan scolded as Rukaiya looked amused. "No." Jalal was adamant."Okay, here you are." He put his hand on Jalal's head. "Happy now?" Jalal smiled at the man who smiled back at him. "Now, why this drama? Khan Baba." Rukaiya sat down at his feet on the carpet beside Jalal. "We decided that..." She stared at Jalal, who nodded in approval. "We will shift here, permanently."Shift?" Bairam Khan raised his eyebrows. "What about Hansa Behen?" " Pratap will take care of her." Jalal smiled. Bairam Khan frowned unmindfully. He did not seem quite happy trusting Pratap again.
At the breakfast table, everyone gathered as Mami stared at Jiwa with a smile, saying, "What kind of a cousin are you?"
"What?" Jiwa looked a little confused first at Patta, then at Sau. "Bua's side, right?" Sau smiled as Jiwa nodded."Accha..." Mami was not convinced, especially after seeing her with Patta the previous evening. She stared at Patta unmindfully. Ajabdeh walked behind Heer, who announced the breakfast menus. She placed down Ranima's bowl of boiled veggies, making her frown at it, then added to Shakti, "Mr Das will be coming over for the MFS project Funds. Chundawat Uncle will meet him?"
"Yes, Jija." He bit his apple and said a mouthful with doubt, "But are you busy?" making Heer frown at him.
"I..." Ajabdeh exclaimed wide-eyed as all eyes were on her. "We have a meeting." Pratap's normally calm voice made her frown. "With a few people."
"MFS ?" Mami frowned cluelessly.
"Why do you want to know everything?" Mama intervened. "I just asked." She frowned.
"MFS was our father's dream project." Pratap got up with a smile, " All of us are working on it."He walked past the crowd at the table as Mama said, "We will take your leave now."
"You are leaving already?" Shakti asked wide-eyed with glee, then controlled with a "That's sad."
"Yes, I have work..." Mama smiled at him. "Heer do come home someday."
"Ji Mama ji." Heer smiled as she took his blessings. Ajabdeh was leaving the hall when Hansa stopped her with "What is your meeting about?" Heer and Shakti smiled, amused as Ajabdeh looked away, saying, "The project...."
"Accha?" Hansa looked a little doubtfully amused at Jaivanta before adding, "Jao."
Heer was smiling to herself as she watered the newly arrived rose plant. Shakti walked up behind her, saying, "You seem happy. What happened?" startling her.
"I am very happy for... Jija and Dadabhai." She smiled at him. He couldn't tell why her eyes looked sad. She read his thoughts as she looked away. "Anything else?" He asked with a frown." Nahi." She smiled, lying. He seemed restless as her eyes said otherwise. Now, why was she sad? "We will leave at 8 for the party, okay?" He smiled, "Tell me what I should wear."
"What will I say?" She smiled faintly.
"One should take advantage if the wife is a fashion designer, so do tell." His back was to her as he inspected his wardrobe, and Heer's heart skipped a beat as she gulped a lump in her throat. "What did you wear to parties before then?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you going to tell or not?" Shakti asked, raising his eyebrows, making her smile as she looked into his wardrobe. "What is this?" She pointed at a box. Shit, I shouldn't have. "Come sit here." He took her by the wrist, made her sit down, and opened the box. A little taken aback, Heer smiled. "What is this?"
"When I was in the hostel, you made me promise..."
"A letter each week." She nodded.
"This... the first and last letters of my life." He shrugged as she smiled faintly. "It felt so nice when the postman called out my name, it felt so important!"
"You are..." He looked up to make her look him a little pale. "Important." An awkward pause followed as she looked away with "I should check on Aarchi." And left as he watched her go with a smile.
Ajabdeh was in front of her scattered luggage and open wardrobe with a frown as Brownie sniffed around. "What should I wear?" she asked with a frown. Brownie wagged his tail with a woof! A smile curved her lips. "Let's play with Princy's mind!"
"How am I looking?"Ajabde asked with a gleeful smile at Chak's 18th birthday party. Her knee-length floral dress looked pretty.
"It's too... short." He frowned as he looked around. "They are hovering."
"Really?" She hid a smile at his jealousy. "Who?"
"You are looking bad." He pointed.
"Who said so?" She frowned." Sid said I am looking so pretty," she smiled.
"Who?" He frowned.
"Sid."
"He knows nothing!" He said with a "Huh!"
"And you know everything?" Ajabdeh frowned.
"Yes, I know how pretty you look in a saree." He smiled.
"Accha? And I don't in this?"
"You do but...It is not as elegant... the revealing" He said awkwardly.
"Why do you have a problem?" She raised her brows. " It is my choice what I wear."
"Of course it is, as am I entitled to my opinion of how you look." He shrugged.
"And you won't keep it to yourself. Why?" She frowned. "Come on, Princy, say it!"
"Why won't I?" He shrugged.
"Exactly... Why will you..." She looked disappointed.
"Let's dance!" Pratap caught her hand, trying to divert the topic.
"I don't want to."
"Chalo!" He dragged her to the floor.
"It was fun, right?" Shakti appeared from the adjacent room after changing into his vest and pyjamas.
"Haan, Dadabhai danced! I still can't believe it."
"I guess love makes you do stuff you can't imagine." His words met her surprised glare as she smiled, amused. "Such deep thoughts?" He sat down beside her and changed the topic. "A few of my friends have decided to throw a party for us."
"Another Party?" Heer raised her eyebrows. She was not a party person. All parties she ever went to were post-show ones where she went for work."Yup, umm... theme is cocktail and all my friends will be there..." he smiled. "They all want to meet you. Even Emma." His last words made her look up as she nodded a yes. "Great, I will inform them. I am sleepy, you should also rest." He walked to his side of the bed as Heer looked worried.
Ajabdeh was watching the skyline of Delhi after a long time. Brownie was running about on the roof as she appeared absent-minded. "Hey, Buddy." His voice behind her made her smile. She turned as he smiled at her. He walked up to her as she frowned a little and said, "Someone looked pretty today."
"I know. Choti." She smiled.
He shook his head with half a smile and asked, " Did you talk to Ranima?"
"About what?" She frowned as eyes met, and he smiled. She blushed and looked away as he held her waist, surprising her. " You know we have guests."
"And Mami is here too." He smiled, amused.
"Why are you after her?"
"She was going to faint today watching us dance." He chuckled.
"But everyone is happy..." She smiled. He pulled her closer, forcing her to rest her hands on his collar. "I am more."
"Jija" Heer's voice made him frown with a soft "Not again," as she pushed him aside.
Heer appeared tense as Pratap frowned "What happened, Choti?"
Rukaiya was packing her bags to go to Khan Baba in the morning. "I am so excited when we will tell him we will move here forever, and not go back. He will be so happy, right?" She smiled. Jalal nodded happily. He pulled her close, stopping her hands at the bags as she frowned. "We have chores." "They are always there," His words met her surprised eyes, as he thought the same. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Not tonight?" "Haan." She blushed, smiling.
Ajabdeh's cold eyes met Pratap's chuckle as she stopped."Ohho Choti." She held her confused sister's hand. "Shakti knows how you are. Why are you so worried?"
"She is right, Choti, what you wear doesn't matter to him, he is proud of you and flaunts you right?" Pratap added as she said, "I don't know."
"Choti, go and choose your best dress, and everything will be perfect," Ajabdeh said, reassuringly. "Yes, enjoy yourself," Pratap added. Heer frowned at the duo. "What's wrong, you are teaming up today?" She asked, surprised. "I need to sleep, come, Brownie." Ajabdeh walked away as Heer smiled, amused at a taken-aback Pratap.
Heer sat on her side of the bed, lost in thought. He had mentioned Emma would be there. Does he still love her? She stared at Shakti's sleeping figure as an empty feeling made her eyes tear up. I am not the kind of girl he ever wanted. He looked so awkward even telling me about a party. Am sure he took others to parties at ease. I don't know why I feel so miserable... he's my best friend ... She remembered Toranmal's words. No, Heer, this can't be. You can't be in love with him. He's... My husband... She remembered how, with authority, he had said, "My wife." How every time he went out of his way to make her smile, make her happy. She let the tears flow. She was in love with her husband. Yet, it seemed like the most complex thing in the world right now.
At dawn, the Sisodia Mansion woke to a scene that was quite familiar in the last decade. Jaivanta was doing the morning aarti as Hansa lit the lamps. The children appeared behind them in silence, hands folded. The scenes were repeating themselves. Patta was eyeing the laddoos as Shakti gave him a bunt on his head, making him frown as Sau and Heer smiled, amused. Heer stared at him, smiling back at her as her heart skipped a beat and she looked away, confusing him. Ajabdeh was singing the bhajan alongside Ranima as eyes met and smiled, followed by Patta's ahem that made them look away. The same scenes used to happen a decade ago, only, Heer's heart didn't beat like this, nor did Shakti feel awkward staring at her. Jalal and Rukaiya walked down with the luggage as Jaivanta asked, "You are leaving already?"
"Yes, Khan Baba will be waiting." They hugged the newlyweds and friends goodbye. Ajabdeh and Heer were in the kitchen making breakfast preparations when Pratap appeared in relative silence, making Heer smile at Ajabdeh."Do you need something, Dadabhai?" She smiled. "Water? Food?"
"No..."
"Jija?" Heer's amused voice was met with Ajabdeh's cold stare as she said, "I will bring the Poha" and walked away.
"Why are you hovering?" She frowned. "Get ready after breakfast." He smiled.
"Kyun?"
"Surprise." He grinned. "We will have lunch."
"And what will we tell the others?"
"Meeting." He smiled, amused as she shook her head.
"Rukaiya Beta welcome." Bairam hugged her. "Now your Bahu is here, are you happy?" His nurse smiled as he frowned. "Bahu? I don't have a son." Jalal frowned at his words. "I have a daughter." Bairam Khan sat down on the sofa as Rukaiya went in with the luggage. "Khan Baba." Jalal's words were made with a frown. "I..." He stopped as the man looked away. Sometimes, even old people act completely childish. He smiled. Jalal did what he should have done a long time back. He went up to the man and hugged him tightly. "Leave me." He looked irked. "I won't leave until you keep your hand on my head." "Jalal." Bairam Khan scolded as Rukaiya looked amused. "No." Jalal was adamant."Okay, here you are." He put his hand on Jalal's head. "Happy now?" Jalal smiled at the man who smiled back at him. "Now, why this drama? Khan Baba." Rukaiya sat down at his feet on the carpet beside Jalal. "We decided that..." She stared at Jalal, who nodded in approval. "We will shift here, permanently."Shift?" Bairam Khan raised his eyebrows. "What about Hansa Behen?" " Pratap will take care of her." Jalal smiled. Bairam Khan frowned unmindfully. He did not seem quite happy trusting Pratap again.
At the breakfast table, everyone gathered as Mami stared at Jiwa with a smile, saying, "What kind of a cousin are you?"
"What?" Jiwa looked a little confused first at Patta, then at Sau. "Bua's side, right?" Sau smiled as Jiwa nodded."Accha..." Mami was not convinced, especially after seeing her with Patta the previous evening. She stared at Patta unmindfully. Ajabdeh walked behind Heer, who announced the breakfast menus. She placed down Ranima's bowl of boiled veggies, making her frown at it, then added to Shakti, "Mr Das will be coming over for the MFS project Funds. Chundawat Uncle will meet him?"
"Yes, Jija." He bit his apple and said a mouthful with doubt, "But are you busy?" making Heer frown at him.
"I..." Ajabdeh exclaimed wide-eyed as all eyes were on her. "We have a meeting." Pratap's normally calm voice made her frown. "With a few people."
"MFS ?" Mami frowned cluelessly.
"Why do you want to know everything?" Mama intervened. "I just asked." She frowned.
"MFS was our father's dream project." Pratap got up with a smile, " All of us are working on it."He walked past the crowd at the table as Mama said, "We will take your leave now."
"You are leaving already?" Shakti asked wide-eyed with glee, then controlled with a "That's sad."
"Yes, I have work..." Mama smiled at him. "Heer do come home someday."
"Ji Mama ji." Heer smiled as she took his blessings. Ajabdeh was leaving the hall when Hansa stopped her with "What is your meeting about?" Heer and Shakti smiled, amused as Ajabdeh looked away, saying, "The project...."
"Accha?" Hansa looked a little doubtfully amused at Jaivanta before adding, "Jao."
Heer was smiling to herself as she watered the newly arrived rose plant. Shakti walked up behind her, saying, "You seem happy. What happened?" startling her.
"I am very happy for... Jija and Dadabhai." She smiled at him. He couldn't tell why her eyes looked sad. She read his thoughts as she looked away. "Anything else?" He asked with a frown." Nahi." She smiled, lying. He seemed restless as her eyes said otherwise. Now, why was she sad? "We will leave at 8 for the party, okay?" He smiled, "Tell me what I should wear."
"What will I say?" She smiled faintly.
"One should take advantage if the wife is a fashion designer, so do tell." His back was to her as he inspected his wardrobe, and Heer's heart skipped a beat as she gulped a lump in her throat. "What did you wear to parties before then?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you going to tell or not?" Shakti asked, raising his eyebrows, making her smile as she looked into his wardrobe. "What is this?" She pointed at a box. Shit, I shouldn't have. "Come sit here." He took her by the wrist, made her sit down, and opened the box. A little taken aback, Heer smiled. "What is this?"
"When I was in the hostel, you made me promise..."
"A letter each week." She nodded.
"This... the first and last letters of my life." He shrugged as she smiled faintly. "It felt so nice when the postman called out my name, it felt so important!"
"You are..." He looked up to make her look him a little pale. "Important." An awkward pause followed as she looked away with "I should check on Aarchi." And left as he watched her go with a smile.
Ajabdeh was in front of her scattered luggage and open wardrobe with a frown as Brownie sniffed around. "What should I wear?" she asked with a frown. Brownie wagged his tail with a woof! A smile curved her lips. "Let's play with Princy's mind!"
"How am I looking?"Ajabde asked with a gleeful smile at Chak's 18th birthday party. Her knee-length floral dress looked pretty.
"It's too... short." He frowned as he looked around. "They are hovering."
"Really?" She hid a smile at his jealousy. "Who?"
"You are looking bad." He pointed.
"Who said so?" She frowned." Sid said I am looking so pretty," she smiled.
"Who?" He frowned.
"Sid."
"He knows nothing!" He said with a "Huh!"
"And you know everything?" Ajabdeh frowned.
"Yes, I know how pretty you look in a saree." He smiled.
"Accha? And I don't in this?"
"You do but...It is not as elegant... the revealing" He said awkwardly.
"Why do you have a problem?" She raised her brows. " It is my choice what I wear."
"Of course it is, as am I entitled to my opinion of how you look." He shrugged.
"And you won't keep it to yourself. Why?" She frowned. "Come on, Princy, say it!"
"Why won't I?" He shrugged.
"Exactly... Why will you..." She looked disappointed.
"Let's dance!" Pratap caught her hand, trying to divert the topic.
"I don't want to."
"Chalo!" He dragged her to the floor.
