Second Chances

It was early dawn, on Saturday morning at Surajgarh. Kunwar Shakti had just stepped out of his room and was shocked at the number of people running about the main hall. Ranisa Jaivanta was running around the halls too, overlooking the preparations for the arrival of the guest. He smiled with a little shake of his head.

“Ranima, what’s happening?”

“Shakti, beta, do me a favour and check if the room upstairs is fine for Ajabdeh?” Jaivanta looked stressed. “I don’t want her to lack anything. The way she left the last time…”

“Ranima. Ranima.” Shakti held her shoulders with a laugh. “Breath.”

They smiled at each other. “I am so happy," Jaivanta patted his head, "I hope, for now, these two become friends…” She whispered, smiling, “Jalal has promised me…”

“I know Ranima, we all want them to be together.” Shakti smiled, “But let’s not make it obvious. When will she arrive?”

“I don’t know.” Jaivanta shrugged. “Pratap said Early morning, why don’t you ask him?”

“Dadabhai?” Shakti let out a chuckle, “It’s 6am, Ranima, his midni….” 

His eyes stopped at the spiral staircase, down which came the man in question, in his casual jogging tee and track pants.

“Pratap?” Jaivanta raised her eyebrows, worried, “You are awake?”

“You didn’t sleep?” Shakti added in equal surprise.

“I slept. And I am awake!” He frowned at the amused duo. “I… umm… “ the duo smiled, amused at each other.

“I think…” Shakti moved back two steps, acting lost in thought, “Someone can’t wait for someone to be here.”

“Shakti!” Pratap’s warning voice made Jaivanta smile, “Ranima. Say something!” He sulked.

“Ha Shakti, don’t poke your Dadabhai.” Made Pratap smile before Jaivanta added, “Can’t you see he is waiting so much for Ajabdeh’s arrival?” Shakti let out a laugh, hugging Ranima from behind.

“Ranima! I told you… that…” Pratap made a sulking face and decided to leave for a jog while the duo laughed.

“Pratap, check the room beside Shakti’s if it’s fitted to Ajabdeh’s needs.” Jaivanta stopped him.

“Ranima, why does she need to stay here? The guest cottages…”

“She is no guest here.” Jaivanta stopped him as Shakti smirked, “Besides, what will she do alone there? Here she can spend time with us.” Time with Us? Pratap shook his head. He knew where this was going, too well, all over again, but this time, he badly wanted it to, as much as he hated to admit it, even to himself.

The guest in question was, however, giving her sister a tough time. Sitting in a pretty floral Kaftan and jeans, with long feather earrings, she stared at her sister, frowning.

“So much for a weekend," Heer scrutinised her packed luggage as Brownie sniffed at it. “Jija, you are going to work, not for holidays, remember?” Ajabdeh frowned at her sister’s amused face

“I remember what I am going for, but I need my emergency clothes.” She shrugged. “In case…”

“Yes, Just In Case…” Heer emphasised sitting down on the couch beside her, “  Someone asks you out.”

“What?” Ajabdeh frowned for a second and realised what she meant, “Heeriye, zyada sapne maat dekho!”

“Ha ha, now it’s your turn to dream, right jija?” Heer’s giggle made her stare coldly.

“Fine! I am not going.” She picked up Brownie from the floor “Come, Brownie, let’s go sleep.”

“No No No No!” Heer sounded alarmed. “M sorry Jija, I am.” Ajabdeh laughed at her scared face.

“Waise…” she smirked, “I heard Ranisa has called you and me to dinner tomorrow after she heard about you and…”

“I am scared.” Heer interrupted.

“Now we are talking.” Ajabdeh sat down, dragging her beside, seriously adding, “Now let me tell you what you can do…”

“Oh, Madam Ajabdeh!” Hansa interrupted as Heer giggled, amused, “ First, learn some behaviour yourself. Listen carefully. Don’t talk loudly, walk slowly, don’t let Brownie loose, don’t start eating before others…” She went on and on as Ajabdeh sulked.

“And for god sake, don’t start a fight, you know it is going to be Heer’s sasural and…” Heer blushed as Ajabdeh got up a little irked.

“Maaa! I know how to behave, am not a kid, all right?” She shrugged, “Can I go now?” Hansa smiled before she hugged Ajabdeh tightly. 

“Enjoy your weekend," making Heer frown.

“Jija.”

“I know I know WORK!!!!!” She made Heer smile. They saw the car with Surajgarh’s emblem leave, as Brownie’s paw waved Goodbye courtesy of Ajabdeh’s hand, Hansa let out a worried sigh.

“Don’t worry, Maa, they will be fine, Bhaijaan said.”

“I hope so, too.” Hansa smiled before dialling Jaivanta’s number.

Pratap checked his social networks carefully, hiding the phone from Shakti. The Instagram story made him smile. There was a photo of Brownie, sitting pretty on the seat of the sedan, with the caption “Life rarely gives us second chances, if you find it, grab it and make the best out of it – AP” He smiled. I will make the most out of it and won’t let it go. He smiled. Only if you want me to.

Keeping the phone, Jaivanta announced, “Ajabdeh is arriving; she left an hour ago.”

Udai Singh nodded with a smile before getting back to the newspaper, and Shakti eyed Pratap from behind his file with a smile as Pratap acted like he was busy on his laptop, but his face was funny.

“ An hour till she comes.” Shakti said, “I will go to my room with these files, till then”

“I… Me too… I mean, an hour is a long time.” Pratap got up too, with his laptop, as Udai and Jaivanta stared at each other.

“Especially when you are counting hours in seconds, it's really long” Udai Singh got back to his paper as soon as he said that, making Jaivanta and Shakti laugh as Pratap stood shocked at his father for a moment and shook his head, rather fed up and red, and ran to his room instead.

Shakti followed in his footsteps and closed the door behind him, acting all within his files as he sat down beside Pratap on the couch.

“Umm… Ajabdeh will surely love the designs Tanwar made, right?” Shakti stared at the open picture on Pratap’s laptop.

“Yes, umm… I am thinking of making the sheesh mahal our private suite in the hotel”

“That will be great, ask Ajabdeh’s views. After all, they are Partners.”

“Shakti?”

“Hmm?”

“Do me a favour and don’t tease in front of her. You know how unpredictable she is.”

Shakti laughed a little and stared at his brother with a scrutinising face

“Kunwar Pratap Singh? How do you feel?” Shakti smiled, acting like a reporter.

“ I… dunno," Pratap shrugged, “Happy, scared. I dunno!”

“Scared?” Shakti frowned.

“Yes, I don’t want to repeat mistakes.”

“Oh, please, My Dadabhai never repeats mistakes, just know something here.” He spoke, keeping his file aside. “ For Heer and me, you two are most important, and I don’t know what you two will decide for the future…”

“Shakti, she…”

“ All we want is for you two to be happy, and with each other, be it like friends.” His words made Pratap nod with a smile. He watched his brother leave and sighed at the screen.

Weekends close to you. I don’t know why I feel the way I feel, Ajabdeh, but now, I don’t want to screw up or lose you. Your friendship is more precious to me than… His heart skipped a beat, and his throat dried at the thought of my feelings ever will be. I don’t want to lose you. And my feelings will not come in the way unless you want them to; that is a promise. This time, there will be no mistakes.

“Yes, Brownie, we are going… home? …Umm… to Princy’s Palace! Promise to be a good boy while I work! Ha?” She smiled, hugging Brownie as he licked her hand excitedly.

A weekend at Surajgarh … a year ago, gave her different kinds of Jitters. This time, she was looking forward to it. Maybe because she wanted Heer and Shakti’s happiness, maybe she wanted to see Pratap’s parents proud of him, or … Pratap? She smiled, shaking her head. I am glad we are on the same page. After that day, the only time they talked was over text, asking her about her arrival time. She had replied very formally. What was in store, who knew? All she knew was that she felt responsible now. She felt what she did or said might affect Heer’s future, and she needed to be careful. Work, she reminded herself. This was a business trip, or was it?

The car entered the rather familiar compound, across the project area where a tall building now stood; she smiled proudly at Pratap’s achievement in concrete. The car zoomed past the orchards, and the palace was in view. She straightened her Kaftan and checked herself in the rearview mirror, adding the chain to Brownie’s red collar. “There you go.” She smiled.

“The car is here,” Jaivanta called out at no one in particular as Udai and Shakti came to the door with her.

“Where is Pratap?” Jaivanta frowned, looking around.

“I am checking.” Shakti rushed upstairs. 

Opening the door to the room, he smiled. His brother was asleep on the couch in his tee and jeans, his laptop still on, and he was half sitting between work.

“Pakka, he was sleepless all night.” Shakti shrugged to himself, closing the files.

“Dadabhai?” he called, gently pushing Pratap, who was startled awake.

“Who what?” he rubbed his eyes.

“Come downstairs, she is here.” Made him stare for a second to realise who was where. He got up in a hurry, making Shakti smile.

“You didn’t sleep all night? Isn’t it?” His amused tone was ignored by Pratap.

The servant opened the car door, and before Ajabdeh could hold the chain, Brownie jumped out and ran towards the porch.

“Brownie. No! Boy! Come back here!” She let out a surprised call as Jaivanta and Udai saw a full-grown Brown dog running towards them at breakneck speed and moved aside, surprised. Brownie ran past them into the hall.

“Woof! Woof!” his voice echoed through the quiet hallway.

“Brownie.” Ajabdeh jumped out of the car and made a dash towards him. Running past Ranaji and Ranisa, who stood surprised, she said a quick “I am so sorry”

“It’s okay, beta… Ramu, see the dog!” Udai Singh called out as Jaivanta saw Ajabdeh chase the chain and Brownie run across the hall in circles.

“You will break something, bad boy!” Ajabdeh frowned, scolding, then looked sheepishly at Jaivanta Bai “He is just not used to long drives, I'm so sorry.”

“ Aree Ramu, catch him! There there!” Udai Singh looked excited.

Brownie swiftly ran, under the table, across the vases and towards the armour.

“Come back here, you!” Ajabdeh made a dash for him.

Pratap and Shakti stood stunned at the scene as three of the elderly servants and Ajabdeh seemed to be playing ‘catch me if you can’ with Brownie, who was running around the huge area very gleefully. Shakti ran down to help as Pratap followed him, his eyes on the girl whose eyes said she was amused, but her face didn’t.

“I got him!” Ajabdeh caught his chain just in time, making Shakti stop on his way with a smile.

“Quiet now, down boy.” Ajabdeh stared at Ranaji, Ranisa, Shakti and Pratap, who were staring at her, dog in hand, along with the huffing and puffing servants, all amused by Brownie’s antics.

“Am sorry.” Ajabdeh let out a sigh, “ I am so happy nothing broke!” With that, she leaned on what she thought was the wall as Shakti said an alarming “Ajabde careful” Too late, as the armour dismantled and she sat on the floor, with the age-old antique armour scattered in pieces around her. Brownie gave an alarming shriek and again ran, just in time for Pratap to catch him, as the rest of the people ran to check on Ajabdeh.

“Ajabdeh”

“Beta”

“Are you all right?” Ajabdeh rubbed her head, which had hit the helmet and looked around a little wide-eyed with “Oh no, I broke this… thing!”

“No, no beta, it can be reinstalled.” Udai Singh added, reassuringly, as Shakti gave him his hand to get up. “I think.” Udai Singh looked at the pieces.

The servants rushed to clean them as Jaivanta asked worried, “Are you hurt?”

“No, but… It’s broken!” She rubbed her head, getting up with Shakti’s help.

“All your fault, bad boy!” She whispered to the dog as Jaivanta smiled, “Come, let’s take you to your room, you can freshen up, eat something and then go to the site. Shakti will take care of Brownie” Shakti nodded in affirmation.

Pratap, who had by now pacified Brownie, walked over to hand him over to Ajabdeh, adding, “Welcome back, Ajabdeh,” making her stare as he smiled, amused, “Now this...” He looked around “Looks like YOU have arrived!” She narrowed her eyes at him as everyone laughed, embarrassing her a little.