Chances

Jalal’s car had brought the girls to their favourite cafe near their school, and they were chatting over a latte each while Pratap and Jalal sat at his office discussing paperwork. Pratap saw Jalal bite on a sandwich rather hungrily when he cleared his throat to ask…

“Umm, what's with her?”

“Who? Ajabdeh?” Jalal asked back, making him rub his hands together.

“No. Ruqaiya.” Pratap tried to study his face. “She is nice.”

“Yeah, good thing they are friends, huh?” Jalal gulped down his bite.

“Yeah, but that’s not what I mean.” Pratap studied his face with a smile.

“Is Jalal nice?” Ajabdeh sipped at her Latte as Ruqaiya stopped at hers.

“Hmm.” Ruqaiya studied her smiling face.

“He’s handsome, too.” Ajabdeh smiled thoughtfully, “And rich and successful.”

“Where are you going with this?” Ruqaiya frowned.

“I am thinking of proposing to him!” Ajabdeh sounded serious as Ruqaiya choked on her drink.

“What do you mean then?” Jalal frowned.

“Not every girl calls Khan Baba that!” Pratap leaned forward with a smirk.

“Umm, maybe that was a slip of the tongue.” Jalal seemed thoughtful “You know she must have heard me call him that…”

“Umm, maybe.” Pratap agreed, “Or not?”

“What do you mean?” Ruqaiya wiped her face with the tissue. “You can’t do that”

“Why not?” Ajabdeh frowned. “I like him!”

“But… But… what about religion?” Ruqaiya raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah, exciting, isn't it? We can be an example of secular India!” Ajabdeh smiled.

“Umm Ajabdeh…” Ruqaiya’s heart skipped a beat.

“What?” Ajabdeh tried hard not to laugh at her face.

“I don’t know Pratap.” Jalal shrugged, “Am not… umm…”

“Just don’t get hurt again.” Pratap placed his hand on Jalal’s shoulder. “Okay?”

“I am thinking of proposing.” Jalal seemed serious.

“Like…. Be my girlfriend?” Pratap raised his eyebrows.

“No.” Jalal took out the diamond ring he had seen before from his pocket. 

“Like be my wife.” Jalal stared at Pratap, sitting like a statue and looking at him like he was a ghost.

“What?” Jalal frowned.

“Umm… this ring… are you sure?” Pratap seemed scared. 

Jalal sighed.

“Can I tell you something I never shared, bro?”

“Ajabdeh I…. I… Ummm….” Ruqaiya looked funny.

“What?” Ajabdeh frowned.

“We like each other.” She seemed scared.

“Aha! I knew this! How was my acting?” Ajabdeh smirked as Rukaiya looked shocked. 

“What do you mean?” made Ajabdeh laugh.

“Me and Love?!” Ajabdeh laughed again 

“I'm still the old me, Ruqs! And yes, Parents! Tried to set me up with the Kunwar Pratap Singh.”

“Wow! Arranged?” Ruqaiya seemed pleased. “ He seems nice.”

“The drama is on! We will reject each other soon!” She dismissed Ruqaiya with a laugh.

“But why?” Ruqaiya frowned. “You two seem well off with each other, look lovely too.”

“Ugh! Stop it!” Ajabdeh placed down her empty glass “So, when is Jalal proposing? Should I ask him?”

“No No No!” Rukaiya seemed alarmed. “How’s your sister?”

“Don’t change the topic!” Ajabdeh warned.

“Then you tell me, why not Kunwar Pratap?” Rukaiya stopped to watch Ajabdeh think.

“Not him because… umm…. He's not like the others!”

“That’s good, right?” Rukaiya seemed confused.

“No No No! You don’t get it, na! Relationship pain, suffering, breakups …”

“Stop right there, Ajabdeh! It’s the most beautiful feeling in the world.”

“You must be kidding me!” Ajabdeh laughed. “Explain how.”

“Pratap, just because of one bad event in life, we can not live depriving ourselves of feelings that come naturally.” Jalal smiled. “Before Rukaiya, I also saw every girl like they were all replicas of Salima. The heartbreak had caused me that much pain. You know it?” 
Pratap nodded. 
“But with her, I saw her care for Baba. I saw her care for everyone around her.” 
Pratap couldn’t help having flashes of Ajabdeh with Heer, Patta and the animals. He shook it off and tried to concentrate on Jalal. He seemed hopelessly in love.

“And Ruq taught me that not every girl is like that. She refused to take payments unless people approved and appreciated her job, she said, not everything is about name, status or money. To top it all, she understands me, Pratap, my dreams and aspirations, and my expectations from life. She welcomes my opinions even though they differ from hers and never looks down upon my flaws. She says we are humans, and each of us has flaws. Love is about learning to love them as well. What else do I need in a life partner?"
Pratap stared at his friend like whatever he said was not only for him.
"Love does happen twice, Pratap, and much more true too, depends on who we choose to love. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and knowing someone can take a week, a month, a year or maybe a lifetime, that is the journey of love, the beauty in it...” 
Jalal stared at his friend staring at the glass of water on the table, unmindful. “ We should give Love its chances, and who knows, the strangest people can end up together,” made Pratap look up with a rather pale face.

“Kika?” Jalal seemed worried. “ Tell me, am I wrong?” 

His name made him look up at Jalal, and he fumbled, “No… You are not. Am happy for you.” Before Jalal hugged him. 

Pratap hugged back as the words played in his mind. She understands me… my dreams, aspirations…. What else do I need in a life partner… we should give Love its chances…

“You see, Ajabdeh… with him, life seems easier. Even sharing my darkest days seems less painful when he says it’s all going to be okay.” Ajabdeh’s smile faded at Rukaiya’s words. She cupped her face with her hand and added, “And?”

“He brings out the best in me, encourages my dreams, and knows my fears. To top it all, he cares like a parent. He never judges me for who I am.”

“So what, Ruqaiya?” Ajabdeh frowned. “You can find people like that all the time!” She shrugged.

“Oh, really? How many have you found, Ajabdeh?” Rukaiya’s question made her remember a name she had brushed aside quickly.

“Maybe a few… quite a few.” She lied.

“Then you are lucky, Ajabdeh, I am not that lucky; all I have is Jalal, and I want him there forever.”

“That’s why you should be friends, he will be there. No complexities of love or relationship!” Ajabdeh explained. “No pain!”

“ I can’t see him with anyone else. Neither can I wait to be with him forever.” Ruqaiya shook her head. “You don’t get it, do you? Love is beautiful, Ajabdeh, give someone a chance in your life, trust someone with it.” 
Ajabdeh was transfixed at her friend's words.

“But people hurt all the time, Ruqs…”

“You can not control falling for someone just 'coz you want to, Ajabdeh, when that person leaves, it will ache more than anything, trust me. Give love a chance to change your world once, Ajabdeh.” Somewhere, her words scared Ajabdeh as she got up.

“We should go back. Am happy for you.” She hugged her friend.

At lunch in Surajgarh, the parents noticed the duo missing and smiled appreciatively at each other while Shakti gave Heer an approving nod and began.

“So, Ranima, what did you want to tell us?”

“I was thinking of planning a family picnic.” Ranisa smiled. “We will get to know each other more, and so will they. Call up Jalal, too.”

“But where?” Shakti asked as the others approved the idea.

“Why don’t we ask Kunwar Pratap?” Hansa smiled, “He will choose.”

“I don’t think he will know family spots.” Udai sighed at Jaivanta.

“Umm… I have an idea.” Heer smiled, “We will ask them both and vote for the better one ?”

“Great! I will ask Dadabhai, you ask Ajabdeh,” Shakti smiled.

“Kunwar Shakti starts learning to say Bhabhisa now.” Jaivanta smiled eagerly. “We will be fixing a  Sagai date soon!” Heer made Heer look at Shakti, scared.

“Umm… Ranima, what's the hurry?” Shakti frowned.

“How is this hurried?” Udai frowned back at his son. “They like each other." 

Shakti and Heer chose to remain quiet and shared a glance with each other.

It was almost dusk when the car was driving back to Surajgarh. Preoccupied with thoughts, neither of them realised that an hour had passed in silence; they didn’t share a word or even congratulations. Both stared out from their sides at the highway, as the file of success lay in between.

“Music Hukum?” The driver broke the silence, startling them.

“Hmm.” Pratap nodded, stealing a glance at Ajabdeh, who was still staring out with a frown. Now, what’s troubling her? He decided to leave it alone.

The music filled the air.

Jab Kisi ki taraf dil… jhukne lage

Baat aakar zubaan par rukne lage
Pratap's eyes were on the rearview mirror as she stared out, her head resting on the glass. He looked away to look back and find her eyes meeting his in the mirror, before looking away.

Akhon akhon mein ikraar hone lage

Bol do agar tumhe pyar hone laage

Hone… Lage… Hone Laage…

Shakti smiled and then frowned at the paper. The girl had left him a clue to her name. He should do the same, then. He smiled.

“ Miss Detective, here are your clues. 
Power. Goddess. Find out my name! I will surely find yours!

From. Mr Ajnabee!” he smiled at the note he put in his pocket.

Andhiyon ko dabane se kya faida

Pyar dil mein chupane se kya faida?

Jaan se pyara jab dildaar hone lage

Bol do agar tumjhe pyar hone lage….

Heer sat playing ball with Brownie as the Radio played on, and she didn’t hear the knock on the door until Brownie barked at it.

“What is it?” Heer frowned, lowering the volume of the music system “Someone at the door?” She ran to find Shakti at the door.

“Woof!” Shakti smiled, startled.

“Who is this?”

“Kunwar Pratap’s gift to Jija, my nephew Brownie.” Heer cleared the way for him to sit and pat the puppy, who was not very pleased with the stranger.

“He bites, Jija said,” Heer warned.

“ So they now even have a dog to share, and you still doubt?” Shakti raised his eyebrows as Heer frowned.

“What? I…”

“I saw your face there when they were talking of…”

“I know my Jija, she would run from the Sagai.”

“ I know, so would he. You see, that’s the point!” Shakti smiled.

“What?” Heer was clueless.

“ Sometimes Love happens in the strangest ways to the strangest people. Maybe they don’t realise it yet.” Shakti’s eyes caught Heer’s as she skipped a beat.

“H…How do…” she cleared her throat.

“I know?” Shakti smiled at her nervous face. “I just know.” He shrugged. 

“Trust me. Things are just perfect. We will wait till the engagement declarations. If they deny, then we will meet Bhaijaan and we will talk to them, okay?”

Heer nodded in approval. “Bhaijaan?”

“Yes, Jalal Bhaijaan. He knows Dadabhai more than anyone else.” He sat to catch Brownie’s ball. “Come now, let’s play ball, Brownie” He smiled reassuringly at a still unsure Heer.

“Aree Volume …” Shakti raised the volume of the stereo as Heer sat beside him, watching him and Brownie in a most innocent play.

Uski khusboo agar apne saaso mein ho

uska sapna agar apne aakhon mein ho

Jab na dil ke behelne ki surat laage

Jab Koi zindagi ki zarurat lage

Aur jeena bhi dushwar hone lage

Bol do agar tumhe pyar hone lage

Heer smiled as Shakti giggled with Brownie and caught his eyes. She looked away.

Pyar toh hona hi tha…. Pyar toh hona hi tha…

“Sorry,” The hands stopped hers on his at the file as eyes met, and the car zoomed into Surajgarh.

“Let’s drop you at the cottage.” Pratap’s words met her approving nod.

As she got down from the car, she was pleasantly surprised to find Brownie running out to her, but frowned as he went past her to Pratap.

“Hey, boy!” Pratap smiled first time ever since the meeting heartily as the puppy wagged his tail. He then narrowed his eyes, questioning as his brother came out with Heer to welcome them.

“Woh Jija….” Heer started in an emergency tone as Shakti cut in with “We planned a picnic. You two will choose the location!” He smirked.

“Am too tired to think,” Pratap spoke in a hurry. “Whatever Ajab decides will be fine.” 

Shakti noticed that none denied the plan as Ajabdeh added, “I will let you know tonight, Shakti, will that do?”

“Sure thing!” Shakti smiled. “Goodnight.” 

He waved at the girls and began to follow his brother out.

“Umm.” Pratap stopped as Shakti walked past him to the car, and Heer picked up Brownie to walk inside, turning once at the porch.

“Ajab.” Pratap started once they were alone.

“Hmm?” Ajabdeh looked up at his face. Worried or tired?

“Thank You for the…. Umm…. Motivation for this project.” Pratap smiled.

“It was my duty as a friend, Pratap.” She smiled back, “Goodnight.” The car left as Ajabdeh couldn’t help but notice how she had emphasised friend as if to convince herself. 

Did he notice it too? He seemed too formal with the Thank you. Watching Brownie play, she had a plan in mind. A perfect return gift.

“Ruins of the old palace.” She texted Shakti.

“I need your help with a surprise.” She texted Jalal. Smiling, satisfied, she kept the phone and picked up Brownie. 

Somehow, he will always remind her of Pratap, won’t he? Will that…. Pain? She hugged the puppy tighter than usual.

“Friend” Pratap shook his head as he sipped his coffee. He smiled at it, remembering their first meeting. Great! Now even the coffee reminds you of her. What's wrong with you? He shook his head. Jalal just screwed up your brains momentarily! He breathed in. Go with the flow, Pratap! She needs this to break, and you will do that! Focus. He inhaled, closing his eyes. Focus! Just a few more days and…. She will be gone… his heart skipped a beat, scaring him.