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The One

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The Surajgarh Haveli had a lot of people running around the central hall, which was decorated wonderfully with marigold strands, lamps and petals. The huge rangoli in the doorway welcomed people into the large hall, the farthest corner of which had the marble-carved statue of Maata Laxmi and Narayan sitting on the Sesh Naga. A large silver Kalash was placed before her, along with everything required for the Pujas, the Bhog, the flowers, Sandalwood, leaves of the Mango tree and Tulsi that were considered auspicious. The other corner was placed with sofas and cushions for the people to sit on. 

The guests were to arrive shortly after the pujas, or so Uai Singh informed Ramrakh.
“The other royals, our kin and the local ministers. They come on every puja, and this one is special because they will meet Kunwarani Ajabdeh too.” Udai had smiled at Jaivanta’s nod as Ramrakh and Hansa shared a worried glance. Hansa and Jaivanta were sitting with the Panditji to check if he needed something more than what was already provided for the Havan, including the wood, ghee, leaves, and camphor. Ranisa looked elegant in a golden matt saree with self-embroidery and thin red borders, along with a velvet quarter-sleeved blouse and traditional jewellery, while Hansa chose her favourite shade of blue.

“What the hell!” Shakti looked alarmed at his brother wearing a blue bandh gala holding up his grey fitted pyjamas, confused.
“What happened now?” Shakti kept aside the Forbes he was engrossed with and walked up to him. Ready in his white Kurta pyjamas, looking handsome, he knew his brother would do with some help, especially after a sleepless night, he had pulled Pratap out of bed and managed to push him to bathe, and take out his clothes.
“Where is the tying rope?” Pratap sounded alarmed. “I can’t wear this.”
“Wait, I'm calling Kaka.” Shakti smiled.
“No… No…” Pratap sulked, “I need Ranima.”

Within minutes, like kids looking for their mother, the two princes “Ranima Ranima!” rang through the corridor, making Udai give Jaivanta a cold stare as she smiled awkwardly with 
“Uff these kids..." and rushed to their need.
“Nara?” She frowned at the brothers. “When will you two grow up…” she sat putting in the string as the two smiled at her. “Stop being kids now!” She frowned. “Your wives won’t tolerate this childishness, Kunwarsa! I won't be there forever…” made them stare at each other with frowns that turned to sly smiles as they rushed from either side to hug their mother tightly.
“Aree Pratap! Shakti! Leave me.” She stared at her older one, smiling as they tightened the hug, making her smile and pat them. " Both of you are wet!”
“Ranima, make my pagdi like you used to!” Shakti sulked like a kid.
“Mera bhi!” Pratap added.
“Mine first!”
“No mine!”

Heer saw the clock ticking away much like a time bomb as her sister lay least bothered, on the bed, sound asleep. She knew the last “Brahmastra” she could use.
Splash! 
Ajabdeh jerked up from sleep, all wet, as Heer stood with the bucket in hand, victorious.
“Fire! Fire!” she shouted, still unable to open her eyes.
“Hush, Jija! It's me!” Heer giggled.
“What the…” Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly, water still dripping from her locks, as Heer smiled and pulled her up “Time to get ready for the pujas!”
“Oh noooo!” She sulked.

In a few minutes, Heer was helping her put on an Orange and pink combined saree that Hansa had brought for the occasion.
“I'm telling you, Heer.” She sounded serious as Heer put her pallu in place with a safety pin and looked for a brooch in the box. “What if I trip?”
“I will be there, Jija, now you have to make a habit of this.”
“What if I fall?”
“You won't…”
“What if this thing opens and causes some wardrobe malfunction??”
“Jija! I'm helping you, na? Now hush!”
Ajabdeh knew this stubborn one was hard to convince, so she stayed mum as Heer put on her elegant traditional earrings and a neckpiece along with bangles and bindi and tied her hair in a stylish side bun with a flower pin in the middle. Ajabdeh stood in front of the mirror, admitting to herself that she did look nice. She stared at her sister, pinning her Olive dupatta to the matching Churidar as she smiled to herself.

“Chale?” Heer asked as she nodded.
At the steps, Ajabdeh tripped, making Heer gasp in worry.
“Am fine! just sleepy…” Ajabdeh smiled, making Heer nod in silent understanding.
“Where were you all night?” Once out of the cottage, Heer held her hand tightly and asked with a frown.
“You want details?” Ajabdeh’s face made Heer look wide-eyed with worry as she giggled.
“Oh my God, Heer! Look at your face! I WAS JOKING! We just talked. Sacchi!” Ajabdeh laughed some more, making her sister frown.

“Puja arambh kiya jae?” Panditji asked as Jaivanta nodded.
“Should we help, Ranisa?” Heer’s polite voice made her turn as Hansa smiled at Ajabdeh, looking rather awkward in the saree.
“Oh, you have arrived.” Hansa smiled at Heer and rolled her eyes, making Ajabdeh smile reluctantly at Jaivanta.
“That is good.” Jaivanta smiled at the duo and walked up to Ajabdeh. “Kunwaranisa will start the rituals, Panditji. Kasturi?” She called a maid as Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly. “Take her to the gaushala. ”
“Ji Ranisa.”
Gau what? Ajabdeh stared at Heer, clueless as she ignored the “SOS” glances and started helping Ranisa with the garlands. The maid was waiting for her to follow her out of the hall.

Pratap walked down to the hall when the Havan had already started, and he did notice Shakti smile at him before rolling his eyes once around the hall. Where was she? He spotted his parents doing the havan together. Ramrakh was sitting with Shakti, and Hansa was with Heer. He could see Heer helping Ranima, making her smile. There was no Ajabdeh. He came to the havan and sat between his brother and father, looking around for the second time.

“Gaushala se ayi nahi Ajabdeh?” Udai addressed his younger one, noticing the elder one looked around.
“Nahi Papa, main jaake dekhu?” Shakti asked, amused as Pratap realised the folly and folded his hands rather seriously, staring at the havan kund.
“Shakti..” he whispered in a minute.
“Hmm?”
“What's Gaushala?”
Shakti hid his laughter. “The cowshed, Dada bhai!”
“What is she….” Pratap sounded alarmed, but before he could finish, someone was at the door.

“Khamma Ghani!” Jalal looked rather handsome in his bottle green bandh gala kurta as Udai and Jaivanta smiled at him, and Pratap walked up to greet his best friend.
“Kika!” He hugged Pratap with a frown “They are here?” made Pratap roll his eyes at a rather amused Jalal.
“Why is Kunwaranisa so late?”  Panditji made Jaivanta stare at the door. Shakti was about to get up when she stopped him, “Jalal, please see… Kunwaranisa is at the …”
“Kuwa who?” Jalal frowned at Pratap, who tugged at his hand 
“Ajab yaar, come with me, I will explain to you!” He dragged him towards the door, making the parents smile at each other, and Heer looked worried for her sister as Shakti’s assuring nod caught her eyes and made her smile.

“Aww, Laxmi! You have a baby too! What’s your name, Baby? Huh? Huh!” Jalal and Pratap stood stunned at the scene in front of their eyes. Firstly, Ajabdeh Punwar was in a saree, looking all elegant and classy, and then, she was trying to pat a calf, which was scared and moving away, making her almost run behind it, making the maid smile.

“Come, eat this, na Baby, see Mamma is eating! Yum!” Ajabdeh tried to lure the calf with hay strands in her hand.
“Umm, Ma’am.” Kasturi interrupted politely, “She feeds on milk.”
“Aww, what’s her name?” Ajabdeh seemed disappointed. She so wanted to take this baby home!
“ Champa, Ma’am.” The maid spotted Kunwarsa and his friend, who gestured at her to not do the courtesy Khama Ghani so that Ajabdeh won’t be alerted. She understood the gesture and smiled.
“Tumhara naam kya hai Kasturi?” Ajabdeh smiled as she cluelessly asked, “Ji?”
“Have you not watched Sholay?” Ajabdeh giggled, making her smile awkwardly once at her and then at Kunwarsa as Ajabdeh almost tripped, making the trio gasp in worry as she stared at the boys.

“Oh my god! Am fine!” she stopped Kasturi from helping her. “Am fine.”
“Everyone's looking for you, and you are playing here?” Pratap frowned.
“Areee! Ranisa sent me here to….” She pointed at the white cow, “Do you know Laxmi Princy? Laxmi, do you know him?” The cow mooed, making Pratap stare a little surprised. First Chetak, now Laxmi, this girl is quickly making everyone her fan.
“Princy?” Jalal’s wide eyes made Pratap shake his head as he said, “Can we go now?”
“Hi, handsome!” Ajabdeh smiled, tilting her head a little at Jalal, who in turn hugged her, “You look gorgeous as well.”
“Like always?” She smiled.
“Like always!” He agreed.
“ If your flirting is done, can we go?” Pratap frowned at the duo still in half a hug as they pointed at him in unison, saying, “Jealous!”
“Ya right!” He shrugged and walked away, making them giggle and follow.

“Ab Kunwarsa aur Kunwaranisa aarti karenge.” Made Shakti and Jalal smirk at each other as Jalal took out his phone in silence to record the “grand event”
“What the…” Pratap stepped to take the Pancha Pradeep from the Panditji and stared to his left, where Heer had dragged a clearly reluctant Ajabdeh, with pallu on her head, as per her mother’s instruction. They gave each other a stare of helplessness, and she placed her hand on his to hold the lamp.
“What the hell is going on!” Ajabdeh sulked under her breath.
“Nothing seems to be working with these stubborn people.” He agreed.
“They are our parents!” Ajabdeh shook her head. “Let me think!”
“Fast!” he reminded.
“Umm…” He stopped the last round as Panditji put on the tilak on his forehead. “You look beautiful.” He walked away as she held the lamps that the maid had taken from her hand. Breathing in deeply, she smiled the fakest smile at Udai and Jaivanta before walking back to Heer.

The guests started coming soon after as the Kunwars played the perfect hosts to the royalties. Everyone was shocked by Pratap's presence at a family function, and Jalal impressed the ministers with his smooth talk. Jaivanta and Hansa welcomed their mutual friends as Pratap rolled his eyes around, a little worried to spot no Gauhar in the crowd. His eyes met her doe ones as she could read his mind and worry, and flashed a smile at him, making him smile in return, before an aunty blocked the view. Shakti noticed that as he brought Heer some fruits on a plate.

“I have had these, thank you.”
“As a host, I need to look after my guests. I guess you can have some more, for your new friend at least! Lunch will be rather late!” Heer took the plate, making him smile as he sat down beside her, making her move two centimetres away on the couch. He ignored that to stare at Pratap, smile at Ajabdeh, looking helpless with the royal ladies flocking to her.
“Did you notice them?” Shakti was trying to break the silence while Heer frowned. “Yes, they look like a mess, out of place and awkward.”
“Not that!” Shakti smiled.
“Then?” she frowned.
“Did she tell you anything?” He faced the confused girl who shook her head. 
“Bout what?”
“Dadabhai said she will help him with his dream project; they have a corporate meeting tomorrow!” He seemed pleased.
“What?” Heer’s eyes went wide. “Corporate work and Jija? Impossible!”
“I was thinking the same until I actually confirmed it from her a while ago.” Made Heer frown. 

A small part of her was disappointed and jealous of Shakti, as he knew something about her sister that she didn’t. This had happened for the first time in decades, and she stared at the smiling face of her sister, wondering. She felt an unsaid distance between them. Maybe it would just increase if she does marry… her eyes travelled to Kunwar Pratap helping an old man sit down… he’s not that bad… he’s… Heer couldn’t place what was bothering her, why she was even thinking all this. Jija had told her she was not going to marry, right? But Shakti said… why did she even want to believe him? She hardly knew him!
“Where are you lost?” Shakti waved his hand, confused.
“Excuse me.” She smiled politely and walked up to Ajabdeh.

“Excuse me. Jija, I need to talk.” Heer politely excused themselves from a few aunties as Ajabdeh frowned cluelessly. “What have I done now… am behaving well!” made Heer smile.
“You didn't tell me…” She stopped. “You are actually helping Kunwar Pratap in some corporate project? When did you start liking those?”
“Ohho Heeriye!” Ajabdeh patted her shoulder. “It’s not that, I am just accompanying him to some meeting, that’s it. It’s his dream and…”
“You want to marry him?” Heer asked doubtfully.
“Hell no! I never want to marry, he is  a friend, Heer!” Ajabdeh smiled at her sister, “I won’t lie to you.”
“Okay… okay….” Heer nodded happily.

“Excuse me, can I talk to her for a minute?” Pratap interrupted the duo as Heer murmured a “sure” and walked away, rolling her eyes at Ajabdeh, who smiled.
“Is she always in a bad mood?” He frowned.
“Jus with you around”, Ajabdeh smiled. “So you wanted to say that?”
“No! You know you are not supposed to impress these people, right?” he frowned a little. “I'm sure you are not doing that right.” Made her giggle.
“Kya karoon! I am naturally lovable!” She giggled.
“Ajab?” He frowned seriously.
“Don’t worry, Princy, once the guests leave, I have a Maha Ashtra! Your parents will reject me then and there.”
“What are you going to do?” Pratap sounded alarmed.
“Hush!” She walked away, making him stare in confusion.

After a traditional Rajwadi lunch, the men were on the lawn discussing business while the ladies were at the puja sthaan for the folklores of Maata Laxmi to be read by the Panditji at dusk.
“Maata Laxmi came out of the churning of the sea, with wealth and prosperity. And then her father, Sagar Dev, welcomed her. Vishnu knew she was his one…” Everyone stared at Ajabdeh telling the children the folklores, as the ladies sat to listen, much to Hansa’s delight as she saw an impressed Jaivanta smile and say, “It's time for the folklores!”

“Then?” an eager kid asked. “How did he know she was the one?”
“Umm… aa…. He... she was pretty …” Ajabdeh frowned.
“So is Maata Parvati and Maata Saraswati.” A girl said intelligently.
“She was powerful too…” Ajabdeh added.
“So are they….” The kids frowned, making the women smile.
“Now, Ajabdeh, answer her,  why did he feel she was the one he wanted to marry?” Jaivanta sat waiting for an answer as Hansa smiled nervously. Ajabdeh looked around at the smiling faces challenging her; she took a deep breath and smiled.
“Lord Vishnu is our protector. He protects us. From evil. And to protect yourself from evil, you need prosperity.”
“Wealth and riches?” One of the ladies smiled. “Power and money are related.”

“No, Aunty. I mean prosperity within. Our health, our mental wellness, the prosperity of the heart, everything makes us strong individuals and hence helps us gain confidence. Confidence acts as a shield against evils like criticism, people putting us down, bad vibes, etc. Vishnu chose Laxmi as she was the prosperity of his deed. Whatever he wanted to do in life, his purposes, through various avatars, time and again, she was his motivator, his willpower and strength… his one.” 
Ajabdeh stopped a little awkwardly as everyone stared at her in awe and silence, and Hansa broke it with “Kunwarsa, when did you come?” Everyone, including her, stared at the threshold where he stood a little stunned before saying, “Jus... just now… Ranima, Papa is calling you.” He turned and left as Ajabdeh kept staring at the door and then smiled back at the children, “Ha.. where was I…. The churning of the sea…”

“Ranisa is calling you.” Kasturi addressed Ajabdeh, who frowned, making Heer Shakti and Jalal smile, amused.
“Me? ”
“To her bedroom.” Kasturi left as Shakti sounded alarmed, “ She only calls us in her bedroom when we do something utterly wrong… where is Dadabhai?”
“I haven’t seen him since the evening.” Heer wondered.
Jalal smiled. He goes only to one place when he is missing, but why today? He stared at Ajabdeh, looking clueless as she walked towards Ranisa’s room.

Pratap sat, taking in the cool breeze of the evening with his eyes closed. Chavand was shrouded in darkness. The only light was from his car headlights in a distance that made him see the cenotaph and the lamp. He took out a cigarette and put it back in his pocket.
“What if…” He said aloud to himself. I feel that if I can’t trust, respect or be truthful to someone, love is out of the question. His blood runs in me. I can cheat and…
He smiled to himself. 
“There is no what if. All these girls are the same! She almost admits it!” 
He, for the first time, found it hard to believe.

He shook off the uneasiness in him that had shrouded him ever since he had heard her speak to the kids and wondered if he could talk to Jalal about why he was even feeling so weird. Was there some sympathy for what Ajabdeh went through?
No. He shook his head. Jalal doesn’t know how much his incident affected me. I can't make him feel the pain again, maybe even guilt. I need to talk to Ajab and tell her to leave soon. Maybe after tomorrow’s meeting….we will hatch a plan….
His phone rang.
“Dadabhai. Ranima called Ajabdeh to THE bedroom,” and made him frown “What did she do?”
“We don’t know.”
“Am coming!” Did she already do what she planned to do? If yes, you should be happy, Pratap! 
He ran to the car.

“Ranisa?” Ajabdeh knocked and peeped in.
“Ohh, come in, beta.” Jaivanta undid her earrings and kept them in the box. “Come sit.” She directed Ajabdeh to the sofa.
She sat in silence with a smile as Jaivanta took the seat beside her. “I wanted to talk to you alone.” She smiled. About what? Ajabdeh wondered.

“Woof!” Pratap jerked as a little pup jumped down from the car bonnet and tugged at his kurta. His brown furry coat and shiny black round eyes were the cutest Pratap had ever seen, but he had no time for this.
“Shoo! Am in a hurry.” He noticed it was no street pup to start with …
“Where did you come from?”
“Kunwarsa?” He turned to see a boy from the village, “Khamma Ghani.”
“Is this yours?” Pratap asked, rather irritated.
“Forgive me, Kunwarsa, he is…I was going to sell him, but nobody buys… he bites everyone and is stubborn…. This is the first time he's not barked at a stranger.”The boy looked upset. “I am in debt now, yet can't sell him.”
“Acha… umm… How much money do you need?” Pratap stopped in the boy’s dismay.
“No kunwarsa… I won't take help from you…” He was reluctant.
“Can I take him then?” Pratap smiled at the boy’s honesty as he saw the pup wag his tail.

Ajabdeh, where did you end up now? Where on earth is Princy? Agar she asks pasand hai ke nahi toh? Ajabdeh stared at Ranisa Jaivanta, waiting to speak while her eyes travelled to the framed picture of him smiling at her bedside table. Her mouth went dry.

“But what will you do with him, Kunwarsa? He is Trouble!” The boy frowned. “Ay! Come with me.” The pup refused to leave Pratap’s kurta and stared at him with cute drooly eyes.
“I…” Pratap remembered the girl with the cows. “Will gift him to someone!”
“But Kunwarsa… nobody can handle him…” The boy stopped as Pratap stuffed his hand with cash. 
“She is more stubborn than this pup!” He smiled as he picked up the pup and placed him in the back seat of his car.
Goodbye-gift? Pratap saw the Pup from the rearview mirror. Maybe.



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