RAABTA

Pratap woke, alarmed and frowning, at the knock on his door. It was 8AM as he checked the clock. “Come in” Shakti peeped in with urgency. “Dadabhai”, he looked scared “Where is… Ajabdeh?” “What do you mean?” he looked at his brother, rather clueless as sudden flashes of last night came to his mind, and scared him. What did he mean? Where was she… “She is not in her room, or anywhere around, her luggage is here, but Brownie is missing… “ He reached for his phone in an impulse, making Shakti say, “Heer has already tried that.” “What the…” Pratap looked a little pale “Shit.” Shakti promptly closed the door behind him and sat down beside his brother with a scared “What happened yesterday?” “So?” Jalal offered Ajabdeh a cup of tea, but she refused.  “Why did you tell me to send a car and tell no one? That too at dawn!” Ruqaiya stared at the duo, Brownie curled up in her lap. “I…. I can’t stay there, I can't do this project!” she frowned at Jalal. Then looked away...

Dear… Guy to whom I am writing my last letter, It’s been a long time since I wrote to you. I was busy. But I am sure you have no complaints since you don’t reply to any of my letters anyway. No, I am not disappointed. I am stopping here. There will be no more letters. Not to you or anyone, anymore. The day you left, I feared you leaving me more emotionally than physically. You made me believe that was impossible. I trusted you. I am glad I did. At least now I don’t regret anything. I will never need to look back and think “What if I gave myself that chance?” I am glad we shared a wonderful journey. From being complete strangers to a beautiful bond of friendship and understanding that ultimately bloomed into the feeling I feared the most… Love. I still remember the day you left. It was pouring heavily. The sky did what I couldn’t as I smiled strongly, holding back my tears. You were chasing your dreams; I couldn’t be your weakness.  You had promised me nothing w...

“Check this. Wanted. Fair Bride, Well educated, from an affluent family, for a 30-year-old…” he stopped reading the advertisement to his wife aloud as their daughter came and stood before them in her pink pyjamas and purple printed top, looking nothing less than a zombie. It looked like she was sleepless. “Mom, Dad”, she sounded a little unsure. “Good morning, Ajabdeh, coffee?” Her mother swept her messy locks aside lovingly. She shook her head in a small no. “Umm… You asked me yesterday if… I have someone in mind…” “Yes? Do you?” Hansa smiled at her daughter. “Actually, mom, I…” Before she could utter another word, the bell rang, prompting Ajabdeh to say, “I will open the door.” “Good Morning, Beta.” Ajabdeh smiled, surprised at the guest. “Ranima? So early in the morning? You should have called me if there was something you needed help with...” Ajabdeh made way for the next-door neighbour to enter the house. Business Partners, Udai and Ramrakh, had built their hou...

The land rover with Surajgarh’s emblem stopped at the now-constructed hotel area. Kunwar Pratap walked out in his usual blue work suit, secretly cursing himself for being late on Ajabdeh’s first day. He had fallen asleep, and if not for Ranima walking into his chambers and telling him it was way past his office hours, he wouldn’t have managed to be here at all today. He shook his head and walked in, only to stop at the sight in front of him. What a greeting indeed! He nodded, approving the employees who greeted his presence, eyes fixed on the spot. Ajabdeh, in a white self-embroidered kurti, denim and a multicoloured scarf around her neck, had bunned up her hair with a pencil as a pin and looked rather simple, in her work ‘avatar’. She had a pen tucked in between her lips as she checked out a file. Rukaiya was waiting for her approvals on the final designs of the interiors, and holding the file was none other than Shallavan Tanwar, who looked extremely happy at Ajabdeh. He frowne...