Bhuke Bacche

“Shakti, did Pratap go to pick them up? I haven't seen him since the morning.” Jaivanta frowned at her younger son, who seemed busy smiling at a text message.

“Umm… Yes, I called him. He has reached.” Shakti sat up, looking at his mother, who frowned doubtfully. “They are on the way.”

“Aree Rama.” Jaivanta turned to the maid in waiting.

“Ji Ranisa?”

“Make sure they get a proper welcome.”

“Ji.” She nodded and dashed off to make the arrangements.

“Welcome with Aarti?” Shakti raised his eyebrows, watching his mother prepare the lamp. “The last time Dadabhai got that was when he came back from the UK after graduation," Shakti had a hint of amusement in his voice. “What did he achieve today?”

“Bahu is coming home for the first time… Isn't it enough?” Udai smiled at his son, who laughed, amused.

“ First time? How many more will he bring, Papa?” Shakti laughed.

“ Ohho! Stop it, both of you. My Pratap is not that bad, he is just difficult to understand…” Jaivanta was overprotective of him as Shakti’s smile faded. Dadabhai, I hope your decision doesn't hurt Ranima!

The village seemed pleasant to the eyes as Ajabdeh smiled at the passing scenes unknowingly. The huts. The cattle. The meadows and trees. The Pond, the children running. The women with colourful Chunris and matkas. The men in turbans. She smiled as most of them stopped to join their hands and bow to their prince as the car zoomed past.

“They respect you a lot.” Heer sounded almost surprised at them as Hansa gave her a warning stare.

“They should, after all, we heard you have done a lot for them.” Ramrakh smiled.

“No, Uncle…” Pratap cut in, a little embarrassed, “I did nothing really, they just respect me out of fear of our family name. Everything is handled by Dad and Shakti.”

“Don't be so modest, Ranisa told us everything,” Ramrakh smiled as Pratap’s eyes widened a little. The last time he went to his designated office chamber was on the day of the annual report, when the media were there, and Shakti dragged him to the boring conference. Ajabdeh caught his expression and hid a smile, pressing her lips as the car entered the palace complex.

The Surajgarh Palace compound was built by Pratap’s great-grandfather and stood on a large acre of land, surrounded by the employees’ quarters, guest houses, cottages and servants’ quarters. The large gate with the sun disk emblem of the estate was opened by four men in security uniforms who stood in salutation as the car zoomed into the road with gardens on both sides, fountains and colourful flowerbeds in bloom.

“On the left are the employees' quarters, and on the right are the palace stables," Pratap said as they went past a fountain in the middle of the road.

The quarters had adjoining grounds for the children on both sides, and then started a huge orchard of tall trees and shadows.

“As kids, Shakti and I used to escape from the palace and hide here, and Ranima would send the security to catch us, and we had our own little game of hide and seek. Beyond these orchards lie the old ruins of the Palace of our ancestors, a watchtower, temples and stuff.”

“The one you told me about?” Ajabdeh sounded excited all of a sudden as Heer looked at them suspiciously, and the parents smiled. They take time out of flirting and drinking, and talk too?

“Umm Hmm,” Pratap nodded. “That part is now secluded."

Ajabdeh realised her mother’s smile and bit her tongue. Shit! I forgot to pretend we are not getting along!

As soon as the orchards gave way to the long road ahead, meadows and flowerbeds on either side, a huge palace made Hansa gasp inwardly. She had attended all of Jaivanta’s Kitty parties in their city farmhouse or at the hotels; they had never even been to this traditional palace property. The three-storeyed palace had a porch and stairs from either side that led up spirally to the entrance of the main palace on the second floor. There was a fairly new driveway leading to the gates that did not seem to be there when it was built.

“Behind the palace and the swimming area, there is another orchard and a few buildings in the premises for the use of the family as well as our employees, their families and guests. The school for the employees’ children was built by my great-grandmother, the library my grandfather donated his entire collection of books to, the Auditorium Hall where employees host their private events, and a small museum of antiques and weapons that is accessible from the Highway we just crossed through the village. And our Business Office as well. You can visit the Museum sometime.”

“Wow, it must cost a fortune to maintain all these," Hansa gushed as Ramrakh rolled his eyes.

“We have a Trust set up by my grandfather. The Sisodia Trust for Welfare in Surajgarh." He smiled as the car drove across the roads of the lawn to the porch.

“Oh yes, I remember you have NGOs under it as well,” Hansa murmured.

“Yes, old age homes, orphanages, workshops for underprivileged women and schools.” He smiled. “Ranima takes care of them all.” He seemed proud of his mother’s associations.

“What do you do?” Heer murmured loud enough to make her parents feel awkward as Pratap stole a glance at Ajabdeh, who was clearly amused at his intimidated face.

The car stopped at the porch, right where Jaivanta, Udai and Shakti stood smiling to welcome the guests, as Pratap felt relieved.

“Welcome,” Udai came forward to shake hands with Ramrakh as Hansa hugged Jaivanta.

“You need help?” Heer shook her head as she quickly stepped out of the car to share a courtesy smile with Shakti before turning to her sister.

“I am fine. I think.” Ajabdeh held her dress to step out of the car.

“Don’t fall.” Pratap chuchkled under his breath.

“Shut up!” Ajabdeh’s voice was louder than usual as everyone stopped to stare at her getting down. Her eyes widened a little as Shakti and Heer shared a glance at them and at the elders as Pratap seemed amused.

“I was… talking to Heer.” Ajabdeh pointed at her sister, who frowned. Pratap shook his head and took his place beside Shakti.

“How are you?” Shakti smiled.

“Tired, hungry, sleepy.” He murmured.

“Where were you two all night?” He seemed amused.

“Hush! I was...” Pratap stopped a little awkwardly as Heer touched Udai and Jaivanta’s feet, prompting Ajabdeh to do the same in return, of which Jaivanta was happy to bring the aarti thaal.

“What was the need of such….” Hansa smiled, placing the Chunri over Ajabdeh’s head as Pratap received a cold, helpless stare from her. He shrugged.

“How is it not important when my Laxmi came home for the first time?” Jaivanta smiled.

“Dadabhai?” Shakti murmured under his breath, leaning into his brother's ears.

“Hmm?”

“Does Ranima know that who she is assuming to be the Goddess of prosperity is Mata Chamunda as well?” Shakti’s serious voice made Pratap smile as he pressed his lips.

“You all must be hungry? Come have breakfast, then Shakti will escort you to your cottage.” Jaivanta smiled, leading the way into the large hall with beautiful jharokhas, large candelabras and paintings on the walls.

"I am very hungry." An awkward silence followed as Pratap and Ajabdeh spoke in unison and then stared at each other.

"Jija!" Heer warned, whispering.

“What? I'm hungry.” Ajabdeh murmured as Heer warned, “Slowly and gracefully, Jija, remember?”

"The children are hungry and rightly so, come along please!" Udai smiled, welcoming Ramrakh, who smiled rather awkwardly as Hansa gave Ajabdeh a warning stare.

A text on Pratap’s phone read PLAN NEXT STEP! As he looked across the table at Ajabdeh, who had just put down her phone and smiled as Hansa praised the palace.

The table was laid with a variety of options from cornflakes, bread, and a variety of cheese to desi parathas. Everyone stopped to notice how two plates were filled with every possible option they found, much to the parents' embarrassment.

“Did Jalal not serve dinner, Pratap?” His father’s warning voice rang a bell as everyone laughed a little, and Pratap froze with his plate in hand.

“No, I... the dinner was good…” He stared across the table at the one who seemed to be in a different world with her cheese omelette melting in her mouth.

“I had dinner in my hotel room.” Shakti sounded indifferent. “I left early.”

“Why?” Jaivanta frowned.

“I had to drop someone off….” He stopped, amused as Heer’s fork landed on the ground with a sound.

“I'm sorry.” She murmured.

“Don’t be clumsy.” Her mother warned.

“Jalal is their friend by the way, Jallaluddin Mohammad Akbar,” Udai informed, nodding to Ramrakh.

“Oh, he is the next big thing in the textile industry, I have heard!”

“Yes, he cracked a major deal recently.” Udai Singh agreed.

Udai smiled at Shakti and stopped as he observed how disturbingly his elder one was using both his hands on the cheese sandwich, in a way that some melted cheese fell on his plate. His eyes rolled to stop at Ajabdeh licking the melted cheese off her fingers as Heer caught his gaze and pinched her sibling to stop. Udai Singh shook his head and sighed.

“Shakti, show the guests their cottages. We arranged one for the girls and another one for you two.” Jaivanta smiled. “Please rest, we will see you all at lunch.”

“Ji Ranisa, thank you so much” Ramrakh smiled as they got up to take leave, prompting Ajabdeh to get up with an apple in hand. Her mother gestured at her to keep back.

“Are you not fed at home, Ajab?” she scolded under her breath.

“But I'm hungry,” Ajabdeh whispered back, making Pratap stare back at her.

“I'm going to finish the rest in my room.” He picked up his plate as Shakti got up to show the Punwars their cottages. “Excuse me.” His father opened his mouth to protest, but he left nevertheless.

“He must be hungry.” Jaivanta defended her elder one rather awkwardly.

“It’s okay.” Hansa smiled as it faded, with Ajabde picking up the apple again.

“Take it, Beta, eat it on your way to the cottage.” Jaivanta smiled as Ajabdeh smiled back, biting the apple and making her parents stare at each other. “Please come with me.” Shakti smiled at Ajabdeh’s antics and led the way to the cottage.