“Shit Shit Shit!!”
Before Pratap could react, Ajabdeh was
running down the steep cliffy road rather frantically with her heels in her
hand, her long hair getting all over her face in the breeze.
“Wait for me! Ajabdeh?” He panted a little, cursing himself
for not jogging like Shakti each morning.
“ Khamma Ghani kakasa!” Ajabdeh stopped at the gates where
an old watchman seemed to have just arrived for his duty.
“Baisa! You are here… who is this?” The old man frowned
as Ajabdeh, for the first time, had company who, by now, had sat down in the
middle of the road from all the running.
“He's... a friend… Princy, give him something.”
She ordered in a tone, making Pratap stare as the old man said “Nahi
nahi…”
Her tone made him take out a
hundred-rupee note from his purse while she snatched it and handed it to the
old man.
“Is everything okay? You weren't here at night?” She seemed genuinely
worried.
“Baisa… my daughter is sick…”
“Ahem!” Pratap cleared his throat. “I think we were late?”
“Aree ha!” Ajabde beat her forehead with her palm and
walked out of the half-open gate “Okay, bye Kakasa, I will send you some money.”
“And he's…?”
“The night guard… his daughter is very good at studies, so I help them out sometimes.” She
smiled, making him shake his head as she looked around.
“OH shit, where is the car?”
Pratap looked at the empty spot “Maybe he was just a drop service.”
“Shit, what do we do now?” Ajabde looked distraught.
“Wait, calm down. Let me call Shakti.”
“Hurry up, Hurry up!” She checked the time, “We have to
reach before Baba finds out!”
Shakti soon arrived with Pratap’s car as well as a Land Rover
in tow. He smirked at his brother and his company, who both seemed quite
sleepless and in their previous night’s clothes.
“What's up?” He stood with his hands in his pockets with a
wide smile as the duo shared a glance and ran past him to the Rover, and Pratap
shouted, “Take the Ferrari and the driver back to Surajgarh, I'm taking this one
to pick them up in time, bye!”
Before Shakti could react, Pratap had almost thrown the
driver off the Land Rover, and Ajabdeh had taken the seat beside him as they
rode off.
“Aree but… Dadabhai….” Shakti saw the dust from the car as
it went out of sight. “You are still in your party clothes…. Ahh, never mind!”
“Roko Roko Roko!” Pratap slammed the brakes, surprised at the
shout from beside him.
“Where is the gate? I'm seeing a boundary wall.” He looked
around with a frown.
“ I have a plan.” Ajabdeh sat with her feet up on his seat as he glanced and ignored it.
“What plan?” He asked cluelessly. Frankly, all he needed now was sleep.
“Are you an idiot?” Ajabdeh started as Pratap protested, “Hey!”
“ You need to get changed, we can't get up to the front door and say hi like that.” Ajabdeh chuckled.
“What do I do now?” Pratap asked worriedly, checking the messed-up party clothes.
She got out of the car and looked around.
Besides
the huge boundary walls of the Punwar House was a narrow lane. She stood there
and whistled. Three times. A puzzled Pratap stood closing the door to his car as a small boy
about eight or nine seemed to appear there out of nowhere.
“Hi, Jija!”
“Patta! Thank God.” Ajabdeh patted his head. He ran into the lane and came back with a
ladder, all smiles.
“ Park your car here.”
“I am holding the ladder, Jija, you climb up.” Ajabdeh hugged the boy and turned back to Pratap.
“What? I have to...” His mouth dried.
“Yes… You will land in the orchard, wait for me, as I
climb…”
“I have never…” Pratap took two steps back.
“Do you want to get married then?” She narrowed her eyes, pointing her finger at him.
“No fine!” He took the ladder. “Please hold on to it, Baccha!” He stared at the boy like he was an alien.
“His name is Patta!”
“Jija is he your...?” Patta smiled, his white teeth shining at Ajabdeh.
“He's a friend.” She frowned as she saw Pratap struggle with the ladder.
“Doesn't seem so,” Patta murmured, giggling.
“What did you say?” Ajabdeh shot him a warning glance.
“Nothing. Your turn, Jija.” He stood holding the ladder.
Kaha fass gaya Pratap Singh? He murmured under his breath as
a leap of faith landed him on the grass beside the tall trees. Her sound made
him move away as she jumped in and adjusted her dress.
“You okay?” she asked as he nodded.
“This is my escape route, and Patta is my angel! He is the gardener's kid.”
“Now what do we do?”
“Let me call Heer.” She checked her phone. "My battery died, give me your phone."
In the next fifteen minutes, Pratap had run through the
orchard like some thief, escaping the eyes of the guards, and had to climb up
another ladder that Heer had lowered for them. She was finally smiling, seeing the
spoilt brat suffer as he struggled on the ladder while her Jija cheered him
from below.
“Come on, Princy, you can do it!”
“Just shut up and let me focus here!”
He was huffing and puffing profusely, which urged Heer to
offer him water. He gulped down half a bottle and sat on the Jhula on the
balcony while Ajabdeh climbed up.
“Now what?” He asked. “Do I need to climb anything else?”
Heer let out a soft laugh as Ajabdeh rolled her eyes.
“Now you are feeling the heat of Ajabdeh Punwar's friendship,” Heer
spoke at last.
He folded his hands “Heer, please, save me.”
“Hello?” Ajabdeh frowned.
“I was bringing her home with me, but you stopped me.”
Heer reminded with a smirk as Pratap looked awkward.
“Heer do me a favour!” Ajabdeh clapped her hands, surprising them both.
“No?” She sulked.
“Run to Baba's room and discreetly bring something from the wardrobe which he can wear.”
“What?” Heer and Pratap spoke in unison, staring at her.
“He can't come to pick us up in party clothes, and we don't have men's wear.”
“Why me? Why don't you go help your friend?” Heer gave Pratap a cold stare.
“If he gets caught, so will I…”
“And so will you!” Pratap reminded him as Heer looked
scared.
“I will go!”
As Heer left the room, Ajabdeh started packing frantically.
“Tell me quickly, does your place have some dress codes?”
“Well, puja is traditional”, he said as she threw things
in her trolley. Everything else is allowed, I think!”
“You think?”
“I don't stay home much.” He shrugged with an innocent smile.
“Okay, you go freshen up in the washroom, and I will hand you the change when Heer
comes. We don't have time.”
Heer walked in with a big sigh of relief and looked around
“Where did he go?”
“Washroom, are these enough for two days?”
“Umm… Jija…” Heer sat down beside her pile.
“What?” Ajabdeh stopped to look at her sister's smile.
“We are going for a week.”
“What? Why?” Her shout was louder than usual.
“Parents want you to spend more time together and get to know each other… they seem serious…. You know….” She stared at the shut door of the washroom and back at her, "Don't screw it, I...."
“Shit yaar.” Ajabdeh sat down. “Have to think of something.”
"Think of what?" Heer asked worriedly.
"Nothing..." She stopped as Pratap peeped from the shower.
“Umm, Ajab….” Pratap called from the washroom as she rushed
with Kurta, “Ohh, m sorry I forgot.”
Heer stared at the scene like she was watching her parents.
“Where were you all night?” She looked suspicious.
“My Favourite place!” Ajabdeh smiled, packing.
“What?” Heer frowned “You took him? You never take anyone…”
“I know, but…” Ajabdeh started only to stop at what caught her eye.
“Now what?” Both the girls stared at Pratap, who had walked out of
the Bathroom in the all-white Kurta pyjamas, his hair messy and wet and looking
utterly confused.
“Now go back the same way you came.” Ajabdeh giggled.
“What? Climb ladders again?” Made Heer giggle too.
“Yes, and then come by the door as if you came to pick us up.” Ajabdeh smiled.
“Ohh. Smart!” Pratap nodded.
“Go Go Go!” She pushed him to the Balcony. “Hurry up, Heer, get me ready!”
“Ajab.” Pratap turned and took the first step on his ladder.
“Now what, Princy?” She came running as Heer went looking for her
clothes. “Don’t tell me you are scared!”
“I… enjoyed a lot yesterday… thanks!” Pratap smiled as
Ajabdeh sighed.
“Kunwar Pratap Singh! We can talk about this at Surajgarh, I'm staying a week, now move!”
“Wait… a week? Not a weekend??” He raised his eyebrows
“Don’t tell me they…”
“I push you down?” Her devilish eyes did the
job.
The doorbell rang as Ramrakh walked out to welcome Kunwar
Pratap.
“Hello, Beta. You must be Pratap…” Ramrakh stopped frowning a
little at his Kurta. He stared back up at the stairs leading to the bedrooms
and back at Pratap, who smiled awkwardly.
“Khamma Ghani, Mr Punwar.” He promptly touched his feet, making him smile a little.
“Hansa? Hansa? Kunwar Pratap has arrived.” Ramrakh gestured for the maid to call her mistress.
“Please, Beta, sit down, the girls must be getting ready… You must be tired….”
“A lot…” Pratap murmured under his breath.
“What?”
“Nothing, Sir, it's just a two-hour drive from home.” He forced a smile.
“Ohh… Coffee? Chai?” Ramrakh offered.
“No, thank you.” Pet mein chuhe daur rahe hai!!
“Umm…” An awkward silence followed as Ramrakh rubbed his
hands together much like Heer did the other night at the party. Pratap noticed
that and smiled. Hope baap beti jitni daravni serious na hai….
“Umm…. Nice Kurta beta, I also have a similar one...” Ramrakh
smiled awkwardly.
“Ohh… same same… umm its a common one…” Pratap smiled
back “Generally…"
“Pratap.” He got up, relieved a little as Hansa came smiling.
She was a regular at his mother’s Kitty parties, but he had no idea that their
friendship could lead him into such a mess.
“Hansa Aunty… umm…”
“Call the girls, he’s waiting …” Ramrakh was a little
irked “How much longer will they take?”
“No, no, Mr. Punwar, it’s okay.”
“Please call him Uncle.” Hansa insisted as Pratap let out
another smile forcibly and looked around the poshly decorated Living room.
His eyes stopped at the stairs, while Hansa followed his
gaze to find both the girls, dressed in Kaftan Kurtas, Ajabde in yellow and Heer
in a shade of light pink, walking down the stairs with their trolleys. Simple and elegant, both girls chose matching pairs of silver earrings and kohl to complement their eyes. Heer always braided her hair while Ajabdeh preferred flaunting it.
“Pratap, meet my younger daughter, Heer.” Ramrakh smiled as Heer
smiled back coldly at Pratap. Pratap nodded with a smile. Kharus Kahiki.
“And Ajabdeh, you of course met her yesterday.” Hansa smiled at her
elder one as she struggled with the trolley and stopped at her mother’s words.
“Umm…Hi…” Pratap was not sure if he even said the right
thing.
“Hi.” Ajabde made a face that almost made Heer chuckle like
a giveaway as Pratap managed it with a quick “Uncle, should we leave? It is getting late.”
Pratap got his car keys and said, “Let me bring the car up front.”
“Umm, that will be best.” Ajabdeh smiled, adding.
“He is not your driver, Ajab. Go with him.” Hansa snapped.
“I…. Ji….” Heer smiled as Ajabde frowned at her and
followed Pratap out.
“Suniye,” Hansa called Ramrakh, who was watching Pratap maintain a safe distance with his daughter in awkward silence as they walked out of the premises. "Let Ajabdeh take the front seat beside him, okay?"
Heer laughed at her mother’s
instructions as she snapped, “Stop laughing!”
"Today was one hell of an adventure, right?" Pratap smiled. "I never sneaked home like this."
"That is my daily routine!" She smiled.
"But I must warn you not to try this at Surajgarh; we have guards who report to Ranima."
"Hold on! Princy, are you planning for me to stay captive there?" She looked wide-eyed and gulped.
"No, I meant this week when we..." He defended immediately.
"Ohh, thank god." Ajabdeh laughed, "Sorry for the trouble."
"Beautiful girls shouldn't say sorry and thank you," He smirked.
"Geez! You are super cheesy!" She laughed.
"It does impress women." He shrugged with a sly smile.
"Who is impressed by your surname, not who you are. Big deal!" She dismissed him with a wave of the hand.
"You seem to know everything?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Yes, I am very experienced." She smiled back.
Patta was sitting on the bonnet of the car, much to Pratap’s irritation, and seeing them, he jumped off.
“Best Guard!” Ajabde praised.
“Sa’ab chai paani?”
“What?" Pratap looked a little surprised.
“Chai paani, not free service, Sa’ab.” He handed the kid a hundred-rupee note as Ajabdeh smiled, “Are you studying?”
“Haan jija, full speed!”
“Good boy!” Ajabdeh patted his head and promptly got into
the car.
Pratap was about to follow when Patta called from behind, “Umm, listen”
“Me?” Pratap raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, Jija is very nice! Never hurt her, or I'll break your bones. Chalte hai.” He dashed off into the lane, leaving
Pratap shocked.
“What happened? Let's go!” Ajabdeh frowned as he got in.
“I think I got threatened by a ten-year-old if I hurt you.”
Ajabdeh tilted her head, laughing. “he doesn't know I am going to run away before that!”
“We will race out of the Mandap.” Pratap started the car.
She clapped, amused, “It will be epic, imagine the headlines.”
“Done.”
“Done.”
Heer sat behind as Ramrakh and Hansa took the middle and
smiled at Ajabdeh from behind, making her frown. The car drove onto the highway. Heer checked her phone as it beeped.
“Everything okay?” It was an unknown number.
“Who is this?” She replied with another message.
“Shakti, I'm sorry I got your number from one of Mom’s
friends’ daughters.”
“It’s okay. All's well till now.”
“How are they?” Made her look up at the one driving and
another staring out as the car was filled with awkward, boring silence.
“Hungry. Sleepy. Alive.” Her text made Shakti smile as he
saw his mother run about the Haveli looking after the decorations as the guests
were about to arrive.
Pratap was sure he would fall asleep while driving, so he
asked no one in general, “Music?”
“Ajabdeh loves music.” Hansa smiled.
“MAA….” A warning tone followed.
“Of course she does….” Pratap’s sarcastic tone escaped
everyone except Ajabdeh as she looked out and inhaled inwardly with a smile.
“Welcome to Surajgarh”, the signboard at the crossroads read
as the car zoomed through the village.
