Hansa smiled a little, amused, remembering every time her older one did that, and stared at the younger one sitting on the back seat beside her, relatively quieter when it came to movements. Sighing loudly, Ajabdeh looked at the driver, “How much longer, Bhaiya?”
“Abhi thodi der mein Agra ka board aa jaega madam.”
Heer stared at her sister, yawning most informally and shook her head.
“It’s raining too much!” Hansa looked out of the window. “I hope it doesn’t spoil any wedding plans!”
“I had told Aapa that a monsoon wedding would be risky!” Heer stared with a warning, “See, it looks like the sky is breaking loose.”
“I insisted on that.” Ajabdeh’s trailing voice made Heer stare “I made her agree on a monsoon wedding.”
“But why?” Heer frowned at her silence. Hansa shook her head and stared out.
“Aur kitni der bhaiya?” Ajabdeh started again.
In another similar car, a few feet away on the expressway, carefully following them were the Sisodias. Jallal had insisted on sending the pickups from the Delhi Airport, and a reluctant Pratap had agreed. It was two days to go for the grand nikah of Jalal and Ruqaiya, and both wanted their friends to forget work and be there on time.
“ The monsoon wedding idea will be a disaster!” Udai Singh spoke up. “Whose idea was it anyway?”
“Whose do you think?” Shakti smiled, amused.
“She had a point; it usually doesn’t rain this much at this time. Drizzly monsoon weddings are magical.” Jaivanta had a defensive voice that made Pratap smile slightly in the front seat. “We had one.” She added, staring at Udai Singh, who nodded. Shakti, on the other hand, was bored. “Aur kitni der bhaiya?”
“Our car is following theirs, I hope?” Jaivanta checked with her firstborn.
“Yes, Ranima, don’t worry, neither of us is getting lost here!” Pratap shook his head. Then he stared out at the downpour.
“Stop it, Jija”, Heer warned, raising her voice, prompting Ajabdeh to pout like a kid, take her wet hand in and close up the window. She sat rubbing her hands together as Hansa cleared her throat. The siblings stared at each other, knowing very well that it was time for their mother’s “Instructions”
“Ajab, remember you are not only a Punwar now.” Heer breathed at ease, knowing she was not the target. She smiled at the frowning, clueless Ajabdeh, who stared back at her from the front seat. “You are soon to be a Sisodia too, and your conduct…”
“Mom, Chill!” Her wave of a hand made Heer giggle.
“That!” Hansa pointed, “...is what I am saying. Be graceful, composed, answer only when asked and…”
“Heeriye!” She interrupted, closing her eyes and leaning against the seat.
“JIja?”
“Remember all those times she instructed me how to behave?”
“Of course, Jija.” Heer tried hard not to laugh as their mother wore a look of hopelessness.
“What followed?” Ajabdeh stared, amused, with a devilish smile.
“Umm…. The list is too long to…” Heer stopped at her mother’s stare.
“So there.” Ajabdeh sighed. And picked up her phone.
Pratap had just clicked the droplets of rain against his window. He smiled at the “Artistic” picture and decided to upload it to Instagram.
“Caption?” He thought and smiled.
“What does the rain say to the earth?” Ajabdeh frowned at the unusual question that had popped up on her WhatsApp by the name of “Princy”
“Your Wait is over!” She typed. Put a heart beside it. Frowned. And backspaced the heart before hitting send.
“Don’t worry," He replied.
“About?”
“Brownie.” Ajabdeh smiled a little. He knew her worries. She had, for the first time, left a panic-stricken Brownie at the care of the pet hospital as he was not allowed on the plane.
Almost immediately, there was an Instagram post with the caption “What does the rain tell the earth? Your wait is over.” She frowned at it, taking a screenshot with a faint smile.
She opened the group Rukaiya had created for the wedding plans of the six of them. She had named it “Ruqlal Nikaah Gang”, and Heer had uploaded one of the pre-wedding shoot pictures she got. The boys, however, seemed to be very aloof from all the lehenga jewellery and sangeet talks if they ghost-stalked it.
She posted the screenshot with a caption #copycat
Heer smiled, amused, from the rear seat.
Jalal replied, Ahem!
Shakti almost immediately added Ahem Ahem!!
Ajabdeh smiled with a “Vicks ki gol gol goli lo khich khich dur karo!”
“Technically Jija”, Heer wrote, “It's heart-shaped!”
“Come fast, you dramebaaz people”, Ruks pinged.
Thank god the board said “Welcome to Agra” That made all of them excitedly put away their phones and their frowning Parents smile.
Bairam Khan’s mansion, on Fatehabad Road, was a beautiful heritage building of Mughal arches and domes that had been redesigned by Ruqaiya. The place had a heritage look and feel much like Surajgarh, only smaller. There was a pool area redesigned for modern-day use at the back and a front lawn and garden with a porch. The house also had an inner courtyard, and each side of the property, as well as the roofs, had domes for the Mughal look and feel. Bairam Khan had inherited the property from his father and happily passed it to Jalal. The old man insisted that all other Rasams leading to the Nikah and reception should be held at his haveli, while Jalal chose the Oberoi Amarvilas for the grand Nikah and reception.
The cars entered the lawn area and made their way to the porch as the sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds in the drizzle. Jalal and Rukaiya, along with her parents, were waiting to welcome them. Ruqaiya had insisted on a very small wedding, only with their near ones, friends and cousins. Jalal had managed to put in some business associates come friends on the list as well, much to her disapproval. In a bright yellow flowing palazzo and kurta, Rukaiya looked like a beaming bride as she came down the stairs to hug a smiling Hansa. Heer had chosen the traditional blue Anarkali and looked elegant as she smiled at Jalal and returned Rukaiya’s hug. The boys, in casuals, have by then reached Jalal.
Bairam Khan was a man who looked quite young and fit for his age. In a formal suit, with a brooch, he looked no less royal than Udai Singh, who returned his hug. Pratap, Heer and Rukaiya frowned at Ajabdeh’s door as she struggled for a good minute to open it and rushed out with a “Damn!” that made everyone stare at her. Then, with a dramatic “Aunty!!!!” at Rukaiya’s surprised mother, she tripped on her half-done laces and landed on her feet thankfully. Wearing ripped jeans with a side slit long red Kurta, she looked far from elegant, but she didn’t care, as she hugged Rukaiya and went on to hug Jalal as well. Bairam Khan stared at the lady, amused. She had owned the place in her own way for the last minute.
“You must be…” He extended his hand.
“Baba, she is…” Jalal was about to speak when Bairam Khan finished “Ajabdeh!”
“Pleased to meet you!” She shook it firmly, “ I must admit I am a fan!” which made him frown.
“ The poet behind the…” she couldn’t complete as Bairam Khan gasped. He had written a book of Shayari almost forty years back, before circumstances forced him to join the business. Although it was a success then, how did this girl…
“I happened to stroll through Jalal’s small library!” She smiled.
“When and how?” Jalal frowned.
“She should be with the National Intelligence!” Shakti smirked.
“My child, welcome home. And I wish you all the best for your book.” Bairam took Ajabdeh’s hand in his, and she did the unusual. She bends down to touch his feet. Pratap raised his eyebrows.
“We don’t…” Bairam started to stop her.
“But we do.” She smiled, taking his blessings.
“Come, let me show you my library!” He offered.
“Really?” Ajabdeh’s eyes beamed.
“What? Even I am not allowed in your…” Jalal was starting to feel jealous as Bairam dismissed him with “Jalal allot rooms to the guests, they must be tired, Ajabdeh, come with me!”
“Who else is… umm….” Udai Singh looked a little ill at ease, as Bairam laughed an unexpected laugh before leaving.
“Come, Uncle.” Jalal led the way.
Heer was in her room, which she was supposed to share with Ajabdeh, but there was no sign of Jija. She smiled, unpacking both their belongings, humming a tune when there was a knock on the door. Hesitant second knock, she frowned. Opening the door, she found Kunwar Pratap staring at her like he had seen a ghost.
“I… Umm… sorry!” He managed.
“Excuse me?” Heer raised her eyebrows.
“I mean… umm… I …”
“She is not here.” Heer stood at the door looking up at his face as he looked awkward.
“ I must have knocked on the wrong door.” His excuse made her smile as he turned to go.
“Kunwar Pratap.” She stopped him as he half-turned. “It’s okay if you look for Jija, I am not judging you.” She smiled as he nodded, staring at her. “The thing is…” She continued, “I have always been overprotective of her, and I don’t want her to be hurt and everything that happened…”
“I understand.” Pratap cut her short.
“ I trust you because she trusts you.” Heer smiled. “And because you are Kunwarsa’s brother.”
“Can I ask you for something?” Pratap seemed to have, for once, not been shaken by Heer’s presence. He gathered he had to get used to her being around all the time as well.
“Yes, Kunwarsa?”
“Can you not call me Dadabhai like Shakti does?” His request made her look a little wide-eyed at him, and she smiled with a nod. “Should I tell her you were looking for her then?”
“No. Please. Don’t.” The urgency in his voice made Heer laugh. She was not the only Punwar he was scared of it seemed.
He walked away rather briskly as she shook her head and turned around.
“What are you laughing at?” Shakti’s voice startled her as she turned.
“When did you… Why do you always sneak around like…”
“What were you…” Shakti was still frowning.
“ Kunwar Pratap just told me to call him Dadahai.” Her words made Shakti frown some more.
“But… But why? I call him that.” Heer was taken aback by the mature Shakti’s childish defence.
“I guess that’s his way of saying welcome to the family," She shrugged.
“Umm… call him Bhaiya, Dada, anything, not Dadabhai.” Shakti retorted defensively, “Please”
Heer giggled at his face. As much as she loved his adorable look, she loved the fact that he was as possessive of his brother as she was of her sister. He was really like the Laxman she loved reading about.
Ajabdeh was lost. Well, not literally. She was lost in the five books she had handpicked from Khan Baba’s library. He had insisted on being called “KB” because it sounded “Cool”, and Ajabdeh had even made a secret handshake with him. Talking of her book “Choices”, he had given his precious views, and just for one second, there Ajabdeh wished she had met him earlier. KD was the father figure she lacked in life, throughout. She shook away the thoughts as quickly as they came. She had taken his suggestion and picked up some philosophy and psychology books from the library to help her think better. In her room, tucked away in the comfort of the blanket, she was lost.
Heer frowned at her sister.
“You have skipped lunch. You didn’t step out. You have come to a wedding. Jija! Are you listening?” She shook her head. “At least get out and take some fresh air; everyone is having tea on the lawn. Ranima and Dadabhai have asked for…” She smiled as she got the attention she needed. Ajabdeh raised her head from the book with a surprised “Who?”
“Dadabhai Pratap.” Heer sat down beside her with a smile “ We talked and…”
“He is alive, I hope” Ajabdeh’s serious face made Heer laugh as Ajabdeh joined in.
A car has stopped at the porch, making everyone stare from their respective conversations. Pratap and Jalal were discussing business. Udai, Bairam and Ruqaiya’s parents were discussing wedding costs, while Shakti and the ladies chose to talk about the events that would lead up to the wedding.
“Oh no.” Udai sounded alarmed as Bairam patted his back lovingly “Come on, it’s been ages!”
A pretty woman in her mid-forties came out of the car, with a prettier girl, younger than Heer, in tow and looked around.
“Dheer.” Bairam welcomed her with a hug. “It’s been two years.”
“You have stopped communications!” Dheer frowned.
“Your daughter? You are prettier than your mother.” His words clearly made the mother blush.
Udai Singh grunted. He had always hated the way his second cousin from his maternal side, Dheer, being his mausi’s daughter and a regular guest at Surajgarh, had been so close to Bairam. Dheer had tried in all possible manners to make the eligible bachelor Bairam marry her, and after a short affair and turn of events, Bairam had decided not to marry. Dheer had, however, continued being friends and her daughter Maan was the apple of the eyes of her three brothers, Jalal, Pratap and Shakti. Udai had never ever approved of her flirtatious ways with Bairam.
“Bhabisa” Dheer greeted Jaivanta as per decorum “Ahh, Hansa Ji, how are you? You haven’t been to the Kitty parties in a while, your daughter?” She pointed at Heer, who managed a polite smile.
“My younger one, Heer.” Hansa introduced.
“Say Choti Bahu, the rumours travel faster than you think, Bhabhisa.” She snapped at Jaivanta, who smiled politely with a “We have not made any official announcements as of yet.”
Dheer dismissed it with a rather eager “But Shakti before Pratap?”
“Umm… Dheer Bua, how are you?” Shakti hugged her as she patted him gently. “ I guess the rumours are still not news as they are not accurate enough, Bua”, made her frown.
“What? What do you mean?”
“ There is a double wedding.” Jaivanta broke into a smile, “Rather a double Sagai. Soon.”
“Who….”
“ Where is Ajabdeh?” Hansa addressed Heer in a hurry, noticing her elder one missing as Heer shrugged and looked around.
“Wah, Hansaji, you pushed both the daughters…” Dheer’s tone was cut short by Jaivanta’s firm “ Both are my choices”
“Hi, Maan!” Shakti had meanwhile hugged his sister lovingly.
“Hi, Choti Bhabhisa.” Maan waved at Heer, making Shakti frown at the way she dismissed him. “Where is Badi Bhabhisa?”
“There!” Shakti’s startling stare made them look up at one of the domes that looked like a guardhouse. On top of the dome, sat Ajabdeh, in her morning dress still, staring at the horizon.
“Ajabdeh!” Shakti waved at her, making his mother stare as he said a soft “Bhabhisa.”
“Shakti, come here, watch the sunset, it's so….” Hansa stared at her firstborn’s antics as Dheer looked horrified, as if some royal rule was broken, and Maan stood amused.
“I want to see the sunset.” She was excited and ignored her mother’s glance as she ran up to the dome, and used her feet to get up on the wall, and Ajabdeh helped her up.
“Whoa! What a view.”
“Hi Ajabdeh Punwar.”
“Hi am Maan Bhabhisa, am Dadabhai…”
“Whoa, please, call me Ajab.” She stared at Maan like a ghost.
“Umm… you see, I am much younger…”
“Fine, call me Jija at least!” Ajabdeh stared at the horizon “I love sunsets”
“Me too.” Maan gushed.
“Bua.” Pratap had come to hug his aunt when he noticed them staring up. He looked up first with a frown, then amusement.
“Looks like she made another fan”, Shakti smiled, amused at Dheer, who was not very comfortable with the girl.
“Ajabdeh, come down, now!” Hansa’s stern voice made her frown.
“The view of the…”
“I said now.” Hansa signalled to Rukaiya, who added, “I need you”
“This is Ajabdeh”, a beaming Jaivanta stared at Dheer, scrutinising the human being in front of her from head to toe. Her hair was messy in the wind, bits and parts of dirt and mud on her clothes, and a torn book in her hand; she looked far from fit to be a royal.
“Is she Pratap’s choice?” Dheer stared right at Pratap as Heer and Shakti shared an amused glance. Pratap looked away awkwardly.
“No, she is mine.” Jaivanta smiled at a frowning Ajabdeh. She clearly didn’t like this aunt as well.
“She writes amazing”, Maan gushed at her mother.
“I will talk to you later, Bhabhisa. I need rest.” Dheer walked away as Maan jumped to hug Pratap with a smile.
“Don’t worry about Maasa, Jija, she takes time, but she will surely become a fan!” Maan gushed. Ajabdeh flashed a smile that Kunwar Pratap dreaded. What was she thinking?
“We have a shoot tomorrow at the Taj Mahal.” Rukaiya interrupted his thoughts.
“Another shoot?” Shakti sulked.
“Yes, all of you will be in it, including Maan!” Jalal smiled. “Rukaiya insisted on a wedding shoot at the epitome of Love.” He held her hand, smiling.
“Aww, so sweet.” Maan smiled. Ajabdeh was frowning.
“What’s wrong?” Rukaiya asked her as everyone stared at her.
“Nothing!” Ajabdeh lied.
“Ajab, you better tell what you are thinking, or you will not be able to sleep, you know that right?” Jalal’s tone made everyone laugh.
“It’s the Taj Mahal," She frowned.
“Now you have a problem with that, too?” Shakti smiled, amused. Ever since Rukaiya made her the “Wedding in charge”, Ajabdeh seemed to be in a role to reject things.
“Well.” She stared at everyone, “It is not actually an epitome of love when she was his third wife and died trying to deliver his fourteenth child! I mean, where is love?” She stared at the people looking at her in shock.
“Oh my god!” Maan broke the silence, “You are my favourite, it's official” She hugged Ajabdeh.
“That was…” Shakti couldn’t find words.
“Unnecessary.” Pratap gathered.
“Scary.” Jalal nodded.
“Jija!” Heer shook her head.
Everyone stared as Rukaiya said in a hysterical voice, “She is right, the shoot is off, I don’t want the Taj!”
After a moment of silence, it was first Shakti who broke into laughter, followed by the rest.
The evening dinner was under a canopy in the garden, where all the guests sat around the grand round table on the lawn, and thankfully, the weather didn’t intervene.
“It’s a Western tradition, but I like how people make speeches at Christian weddings; I would like to have made one as well”, Khan Baba declared.
“Then make it.” Jalal smiled.
“Here?”
“Yes, why not?” Jalal stood up to address the table. Everyone except Ajabdeh stopped eating and stared at him. Dheer stared at Ajabdeh, savouring a croissant with both hands. Seeing her glare, Heer nudged to stop Ajabdeh with a frowning “What?” that made everyone stare at her.
“Khan Baba would like to say something.”
“Well, this boy has grown up under my care. There had been times that I was scared to even think about how I would manage a child without a mother, although Jaivanta Bhabhi filled in a lot, and he turned out wonderful. There have been quite a few dating rumours.” He stopped as everyone smiled “There seemed to be some kind of competition among these two” He stared at Pratap, who shook his head as everyone laughed “But in the end, I had faith in my upbringing, our upbringing. That one day, both of them will end up finding partners like their own mothers. And I was not wrong.”
Jalal shared a quick glance with Ruqaiya, who seemed to have moist eyes, and Pratap stared at Ajabdeh, smiling in admiration at the old man.
“ So welcome to the family, Rukaiya, Ajabdeh, Heer, hope you can make men out of our boys!” Rukaiya, in her spur of emotions, hugged Khan Baba as everyone smiled and clapped.
Ajabdeh whispered to Heer, “I am seeing bridezilla syndrome”
“What?” She frowned, confused.
“And since this was so beautiful, I want someone else to make a speech as well for us. Someone who knows us both so well.” Jalal smiled. Pratap frowned with an “O hello?” as Jalal said “Ajabdeh?”
“What? Me? Speech?” Ajabdeh got up abruptly, almost knocking over the chair as she stared at everyone.
“Umm, okay… Rukaiya… I have known you since…. Like… we were both crazy teenagers, doing random things, but then… umm… You grew up.” She stopped as everyone laughed. “ We have seen each other through ups and downs, and I am glad you found umm… someone… err… in Jalal.”
“What is she saying?” Pratap frowned “I could say better.”
“Hush!” Jalal stopped him.
“I am horrible at speeches, so I'd better write down things.” Everyone laughed again, “ But haan! I know I'm in charge, but please don't be Bridezilla, and if I shout at you, then know that I love you, okay?”
The dinner ended with a hearty laugh.
“I would like to raise a toast to the couple.” Bairam Khan spoke as everyone sat around the lounge area with their drinks. Ajabdeh, who was on a call, came back in like she had seen some ghost.
“What’s wrong?” Pratap said it before Hansa could.
She stared at him like she was blank, and she said, “I have a deadline.”
“Oh?” Jalal frowned. “That’s good, right? Your novel will end and …”
“It will be published soon!” Heer smiled, hugging Ajabdeh, “Congratulations, Jija”
“Toast to Ajabdeh’s book!”
Everyone raised their glasses as Ajabdeh forced a smile, and Pratap frowned. Why was she not happy?
Kunwar Pratap had decided that a late-night walk with Maan would be a good way to talk about their lives. Maan was tense about her future plans.
“I want to study literature, but Maasa says Doctors have a future, so I should definitely go for medicine.”
“ Do what your mother says, she knows right.” She frowned at this advice coming from Kunwar Pratap.
Her eyes fell at a distance and narrowed, amused. “Isn’t that Jija? Is she jogging at this hour?” Kunwar Pratap followed her eyes to the jogging track.
Ajabdeh was in a vest and jogging pants, running in circles, her hair up in a bun. Before he could react, Maan called her, making her stop and wave.
“Jija do suggest,” They were sitting by the pool, Ajabdeh and Maan’s legs in the water and Pratap on the deck chair, beers in hand. “What should I do?”
“What your heart says always!” Ajabdeh smiled.
“Even if that means going against Maasa?” Pratap looked alarmed at that.
“She will be happy if you are happy.” Ajabdeh smiled and nodded, making Pratap frown a little.
“Waise… I heard from Dadabhai Shakti… about your first date adventures!” Maan looked teasingly at the duo as they raised their eyebrows with a “What date?” in unison.
“ You… umm… Bhaijaan’s party…” Maan looked confused.
“That was not a date”, Ajabdeh exclaimed.
“We never…” Pratap stopped as Maan got up to leave.
“Well, you should. Goodnight Jija.”
“Goodnight, Maan.” Pratap watched her leave before he stared at Ajabdeh, still sitting as he sat beside her, and put his feet in the cold water.
“So?”
“I love this place.”
“And?”
“KB is the coolest.” She smiled.
“What’s troubling you?” Pratap stared at her frown.
“Troubling me?”
“Stop acting.”
“Umm… deadline….” She sulked.
“Why?”
“Coz I don’t know how I should end the book!” She looked confused, “ Moving the reader, making them think or abruptly!”
“How does the deadline make a difference?”
“Well, you, Mr Businessman, work on deadlines. I prefer freedom.” She breathed in, “Deadline stops my thoughts.”
“I hate deadlines too. And Mr Businessman will be Papa, not me!” He laughed. They sat in silence, sipping.
“I know.” He smiled, “Tell me what you would like to do if you had a week to live?”
“What?” She frowned.
“ Treat the deadline as the book’s life. What would you do? How would you like your ending?” He stared at her doe eyes, sparkling with a smile.
“ At peace. On the calmest night. At Moti Magri.” She smiled, “Not alone.” She added, smiling at the water.
“Not alone?” He smirked, “Then?”
“I meant with Brownie.” She giggled as he frowned “Thank you. Peace it is, how it ends.”
“You are welcome, Captive Princess.” He smiled, making her frown and get up to leave. He held her back by her wrist, making her frown and stop, her back to him.
“I would like my waits to end like the Earth’s. Sooner than the rain grants it, though.” She smiled at his words.
“Desserts don’t have rainfalls, deal with it!” She shook her hand off his grip and walked off with a giggle.
“If you can make a rose grow on a deserted heart, captive princess, you can make it rain in the desert too!” He smiled as she turned around, narrowing her eyes with a smile.
“You know what you need, Princy?” She smiled, “ A few drinks and a dance”
“No! I cannot guarantee what will happen if…”
“Shut up!” She stopped him with a giggle and made a run before he caught her again.
“Wait!”
“Why?” She frowned.
“A little longer.”
They stopped at the rooftop garden, looking at the moon and the thousands of stars above them.
“You know Heer…” He managed as she smiled.
“Yes, she told me the news of the year!” Ajabdeh spoke rather dramatically. He narrowed his eyes at her, adding, “Ranima said once we are back, the engagement will be announced.”
“And that would mean?” She asked, still staring at the sky.
“Some media coverage on where we go and what we do, I guess.” He shrugged.
“ Let’s make sensational news!” Ajabdeh’s eyes glittered.
“Just stay put till the wedding, then make as much sensation as possible.” He chuckled.
“Why, Princy, Why?” She frowned, “You can’t be this boring!”
“I can’t lose you either.” He stared right at her, intending, “ For your fault or mine. Not Again.”
She smiled, pressing her hand over his and staring at their locked hands.
“Kabhi kabhi baatein acchi kar lete ho tum!” She giggled as he shook his head and smiled.
"May you find your happy ending!" He smiled.
"I think I found it." Her words made him stare tongue-tied at her beaming, happy face.
Only, his hand gripped hers, tighter, as if to say Mine!
“Brownie.” Ajabdeh smiled a little. He knew her worries. She had, for the first time, left a panic-stricken Brownie at the care of the pet hospital as he was not allowed on the plane.
Almost immediately, there was an Instagram post with the caption “What does the rain tell the earth? Your wait is over.” She frowned at it, taking a screenshot with a faint smile.
She opened the group Rukaiya had created for the wedding plans of the six of them. She had named it “Ruqlal Nikaah Gang”, and Heer had uploaded one of the pre-wedding shoot pictures she got. The boys, however, seemed to be very aloof from all the lehenga jewellery and sangeet talks if they ghost-stalked it.
She posted the screenshot with a caption #copycat
Heer smiled, amused, from the rear seat.
Jalal replied, Ahem!
Shakti almost immediately added Ahem Ahem!!
Ajabdeh smiled with a “Vicks ki gol gol goli lo khich khich dur karo!”
“Technically Jija”, Heer wrote, “It's heart-shaped!”
“Come fast, you dramebaaz people”, Ruks pinged.
Thank god the board said “Welcome to Agra” That made all of them excitedly put away their phones and their frowning Parents smile.
Bairam Khan’s mansion, on Fatehabad Road, was a beautiful heritage building of Mughal arches and domes that had been redesigned by Ruqaiya. The place had a heritage look and feel much like Surajgarh, only smaller. There was a pool area redesigned for modern-day use at the back and a front lawn and garden with a porch. The house also had an inner courtyard, and each side of the property, as well as the roofs, had domes for the Mughal look and feel. Bairam Khan had inherited the property from his father and happily passed it to Jalal. The old man insisted that all other Rasams leading to the Nikah and reception should be held at his haveli, while Jalal chose the Oberoi Amarvilas for the grand Nikah and reception.
The cars entered the lawn area and made their way to the porch as the sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds in the drizzle. Jalal and Rukaiya, along with her parents, were waiting to welcome them. Ruqaiya had insisted on a very small wedding, only with their near ones, friends and cousins. Jalal had managed to put in some business associates come friends on the list as well, much to her disapproval. In a bright yellow flowing palazzo and kurta, Rukaiya looked like a beaming bride as she came down the stairs to hug a smiling Hansa. Heer had chosen the traditional blue Anarkali and looked elegant as she smiled at Jalal and returned Rukaiya’s hug. The boys, in casuals, have by then reached Jalal.
Bairam Khan was a man who looked quite young and fit for his age. In a formal suit, with a brooch, he looked no less royal than Udai Singh, who returned his hug. Pratap, Heer and Rukaiya frowned at Ajabdeh’s door as she struggled for a good minute to open it and rushed out with a “Damn!” that made everyone stare at her. Then, with a dramatic “Aunty!!!!” at Rukaiya’s surprised mother, she tripped on her half-done laces and landed on her feet thankfully. Wearing ripped jeans with a side slit long red Kurta, she looked far from elegant, but she didn’t care, as she hugged Rukaiya and went on to hug Jalal as well. Bairam Khan stared at the lady, amused. She had owned the place in her own way for the last minute.
“You must be…” He extended his hand.
“Baba, she is…” Jalal was about to speak when Bairam Khan finished “Ajabdeh!”
“Pleased to meet you!” She shook it firmly, “ I must admit I am a fan!” which made him frown.
“ The poet behind the…” she couldn’t complete as Bairam Khan gasped. He had written a book of Shayari almost forty years back, before circumstances forced him to join the business. Although it was a success then, how did this girl…
“I happened to stroll through Jalal’s small library!” She smiled.
“When and how?” Jalal frowned.
“She should be with the National Intelligence!” Shakti smirked.
“My child, welcome home. And I wish you all the best for your book.” Bairam took Ajabdeh’s hand in his, and she did the unusual. She bends down to touch his feet. Pratap raised his eyebrows.
“We don’t…” Bairam started to stop her.
“But we do.” She smiled, taking his blessings.
“Come, let me show you my library!” He offered.
“Really?” Ajabdeh’s eyes beamed.
“What? Even I am not allowed in your…” Jalal was starting to feel jealous as Bairam dismissed him with “Jalal allot rooms to the guests, they must be tired, Ajabdeh, come with me!”
“Who else is… umm….” Udai Singh looked a little ill at ease, as Bairam laughed an unexpected laugh before leaving.
“Come, Uncle.” Jalal led the way.
Heer was in her room, which she was supposed to share with Ajabdeh, but there was no sign of Jija. She smiled, unpacking both their belongings, humming a tune when there was a knock on the door. Hesitant second knock, she frowned. Opening the door, she found Kunwar Pratap staring at her like he had seen a ghost.
“I… Umm… sorry!” He managed.
“Excuse me?” Heer raised her eyebrows.
“I mean… umm… I …”
“She is not here.” Heer stood at the door looking up at his face as he looked awkward.
“ I must have knocked on the wrong door.” His excuse made her smile as he turned to go.
“Kunwar Pratap.” She stopped him as he half-turned. “It’s okay if you look for Jija, I am not judging you.” She smiled as he nodded, staring at her. “The thing is…” She continued, “I have always been overprotective of her, and I don’t want her to be hurt and everything that happened…”
“I understand.” Pratap cut her short.
“ I trust you because she trusts you.” Heer smiled. “And because you are Kunwarsa’s brother.”
“Can I ask you for something?” Pratap seemed to have, for once, not been shaken by Heer’s presence. He gathered he had to get used to her being around all the time as well.
“Yes, Kunwarsa?”
“Can you not call me Dadabhai like Shakti does?” His request made her look a little wide-eyed at him, and she smiled with a nod. “Should I tell her you were looking for her then?”
“No. Please. Don’t.” The urgency in his voice made Heer laugh. She was not the only Punwar he was scared of it seemed.
He walked away rather briskly as she shook her head and turned around.
“What are you laughing at?” Shakti’s voice startled her as she turned.
“When did you… Why do you always sneak around like…”
“What were you…” Shakti was still frowning.
“ Kunwar Pratap just told me to call him Dadahai.” Her words made Shakti frown some more.
“But… But why? I call him that.” Heer was taken aback by the mature Shakti’s childish defence.
“I guess that’s his way of saying welcome to the family," She shrugged.
“Umm… call him Bhaiya, Dada, anything, not Dadabhai.” Shakti retorted defensively, “Please”
Heer giggled at his face. As much as she loved his adorable look, she loved the fact that he was as possessive of his brother as she was of her sister. He was really like the Laxman she loved reading about.
Ajabdeh was lost. Well, not literally. She was lost in the five books she had handpicked from Khan Baba’s library. He had insisted on being called “KB” because it sounded “Cool”, and Ajabdeh had even made a secret handshake with him. Talking of her book “Choices”, he had given his precious views, and just for one second, there Ajabdeh wished she had met him earlier. KD was the father figure she lacked in life, throughout. She shook away the thoughts as quickly as they came. She had taken his suggestion and picked up some philosophy and psychology books from the library to help her think better. In her room, tucked away in the comfort of the blanket, she was lost.
Heer frowned at her sister.
“You have skipped lunch. You didn’t step out. You have come to a wedding. Jija! Are you listening?” She shook her head. “At least get out and take some fresh air; everyone is having tea on the lawn. Ranima and Dadabhai have asked for…” She smiled as she got the attention she needed. Ajabdeh raised her head from the book with a surprised “Who?”
“Dadabhai Pratap.” Heer sat down beside her with a smile “ We talked and…”
“He is alive, I hope” Ajabdeh’s serious face made Heer laugh as Ajabdeh joined in.
A car has stopped at the porch, making everyone stare from their respective conversations. Pratap and Jalal were discussing business. Udai, Bairam and Ruqaiya’s parents were discussing wedding costs, while Shakti and the ladies chose to talk about the events that would lead up to the wedding.
“Oh no.” Udai sounded alarmed as Bairam patted his back lovingly “Come on, it’s been ages!”
A pretty woman in her mid-forties came out of the car, with a prettier girl, younger than Heer, in tow and looked around.
“Dheer.” Bairam welcomed her with a hug. “It’s been two years.”
“You have stopped communications!” Dheer frowned.
“Your daughter? You are prettier than your mother.” His words clearly made the mother blush.
Udai Singh grunted. He had always hated the way his second cousin from his maternal side, Dheer, being his mausi’s daughter and a regular guest at Surajgarh, had been so close to Bairam. Dheer had tried in all possible manners to make the eligible bachelor Bairam marry her, and after a short affair and turn of events, Bairam had decided not to marry. Dheer had, however, continued being friends and her daughter Maan was the apple of the eyes of her three brothers, Jalal, Pratap and Shakti. Udai had never ever approved of her flirtatious ways with Bairam.
“Bhabisa” Dheer greeted Jaivanta as per decorum “Ahh, Hansa Ji, how are you? You haven’t been to the Kitty parties in a while, your daughter?” She pointed at Heer, who managed a polite smile.
“My younger one, Heer.” Hansa introduced.
“Say Choti Bahu, the rumours travel faster than you think, Bhabhisa.” She snapped at Jaivanta, who smiled politely with a “We have not made any official announcements as of yet.”
Dheer dismissed it with a rather eager “But Shakti before Pratap?”
“Umm… Dheer Bua, how are you?” Shakti hugged her as she patted him gently. “ I guess the rumours are still not news as they are not accurate enough, Bua”, made her frown.
“What? What do you mean?”
“ There is a double wedding.” Jaivanta broke into a smile, “Rather a double Sagai. Soon.”
“Who….”
“ Where is Ajabdeh?” Hansa addressed Heer in a hurry, noticing her elder one missing as Heer shrugged and looked around.
“Wah, Hansaji, you pushed both the daughters…” Dheer’s tone was cut short by Jaivanta’s firm “ Both are my choices”
“Hi, Maan!” Shakti had meanwhile hugged his sister lovingly.
“Hi, Choti Bhabhisa.” Maan waved at Heer, making Shakti frown at the way she dismissed him. “Where is Badi Bhabhisa?”
“There!” Shakti’s startling stare made them look up at one of the domes that looked like a guardhouse. On top of the dome, sat Ajabdeh, in her morning dress still, staring at the horizon.
“Ajabdeh!” Shakti waved at her, making his mother stare as he said a soft “Bhabhisa.”
“Shakti, come here, watch the sunset, it's so….” Hansa stared at her firstborn’s antics as Dheer looked horrified, as if some royal rule was broken, and Maan stood amused.
“I want to see the sunset.” She was excited and ignored her mother’s glance as she ran up to the dome, and used her feet to get up on the wall, and Ajabdeh helped her up.
“Whoa! What a view.”
“Hi Ajabdeh Punwar.”
“Hi am Maan Bhabhisa, am Dadabhai…”
“Whoa, please, call me Ajab.” She stared at Maan like a ghost.
“Umm… you see, I am much younger…”
“Fine, call me Jija at least!” Ajabdeh stared at the horizon “I love sunsets”
“Me too.” Maan gushed.
“Bua.” Pratap had come to hug his aunt when he noticed them staring up. He looked up first with a frown, then amusement.
“Looks like she made another fan”, Shakti smiled, amused at Dheer, who was not very comfortable with the girl.
“Ajabdeh, come down, now!” Hansa’s stern voice made her frown.
“The view of the…”
“I said now.” Hansa signalled to Rukaiya, who added, “I need you”
“This is Ajabdeh”, a beaming Jaivanta stared at Dheer, scrutinising the human being in front of her from head to toe. Her hair was messy in the wind, bits and parts of dirt and mud on her clothes, and a torn book in her hand; she looked far from fit to be a royal.
“Is she Pratap’s choice?” Dheer stared right at Pratap as Heer and Shakti shared an amused glance. Pratap looked away awkwardly.
“No, she is mine.” Jaivanta smiled at a frowning Ajabdeh. She clearly didn’t like this aunt as well.
“She writes amazing”, Maan gushed at her mother.
“I will talk to you later, Bhabhisa. I need rest.” Dheer walked away as Maan jumped to hug Pratap with a smile.
“Don’t worry about Maasa, Jija, she takes time, but she will surely become a fan!” Maan gushed. Ajabdeh flashed a smile that Kunwar Pratap dreaded. What was she thinking?
“We have a shoot tomorrow at the Taj Mahal.” Rukaiya interrupted his thoughts.
“Another shoot?” Shakti sulked.
“Yes, all of you will be in it, including Maan!” Jalal smiled. “Rukaiya insisted on a wedding shoot at the epitome of Love.” He held her hand, smiling.
“Aww, so sweet.” Maan smiled. Ajabdeh was frowning.
“What’s wrong?” Rukaiya asked her as everyone stared at her.
“Nothing!” Ajabdeh lied.
“Ajab, you better tell what you are thinking, or you will not be able to sleep, you know that right?” Jalal’s tone made everyone laugh.
“It’s the Taj Mahal," She frowned.
“Now you have a problem with that, too?” Shakti smiled, amused. Ever since Rukaiya made her the “Wedding in charge”, Ajabdeh seemed to be in a role to reject things.
“Well.” She stared at everyone, “It is not actually an epitome of love when she was his third wife and died trying to deliver his fourteenth child! I mean, where is love?” She stared at the people looking at her in shock.
“Oh my god!” Maan broke the silence, “You are my favourite, it's official” She hugged Ajabdeh.
“That was…” Shakti couldn’t find words.
“Unnecessary.” Pratap gathered.
“Scary.” Jalal nodded.
“Jija!” Heer shook her head.
Everyone stared as Rukaiya said in a hysterical voice, “She is right, the shoot is off, I don’t want the Taj!”
After a moment of silence, it was first Shakti who broke into laughter, followed by the rest.
The evening dinner was under a canopy in the garden, where all the guests sat around the grand round table on the lawn, and thankfully, the weather didn’t intervene.
“It’s a Western tradition, but I like how people make speeches at Christian weddings; I would like to have made one as well”, Khan Baba declared.
“Then make it.” Jalal smiled.
“Here?”
“Yes, why not?” Jalal stood up to address the table. Everyone except Ajabdeh stopped eating and stared at him. Dheer stared at Ajabdeh, savouring a croissant with both hands. Seeing her glare, Heer nudged to stop Ajabdeh with a frowning “What?” that made everyone stare at her.
“Khan Baba would like to say something.”
“Well, this boy has grown up under my care. There had been times that I was scared to even think about how I would manage a child without a mother, although Jaivanta Bhabhi filled in a lot, and he turned out wonderful. There have been quite a few dating rumours.” He stopped as everyone smiled “There seemed to be some kind of competition among these two” He stared at Pratap, who shook his head as everyone laughed “But in the end, I had faith in my upbringing, our upbringing. That one day, both of them will end up finding partners like their own mothers. And I was not wrong.”
Jalal shared a quick glance with Ruqaiya, who seemed to have moist eyes, and Pratap stared at Ajabdeh, smiling in admiration at the old man.
“ So welcome to the family, Rukaiya, Ajabdeh, Heer, hope you can make men out of our boys!” Rukaiya, in her spur of emotions, hugged Khan Baba as everyone smiled and clapped.
Ajabdeh whispered to Heer, “I am seeing bridezilla syndrome”
“What?” She frowned, confused.
“And since this was so beautiful, I want someone else to make a speech as well for us. Someone who knows us both so well.” Jalal smiled. Pratap frowned with an “O hello?” as Jalal said “Ajabdeh?”
“What? Me? Speech?” Ajabdeh got up abruptly, almost knocking over the chair as she stared at everyone.
“Umm, okay… Rukaiya… I have known you since…. Like… we were both crazy teenagers, doing random things, but then… umm… You grew up.” She stopped as everyone laughed. “ We have seen each other through ups and downs, and I am glad you found umm… someone… err… in Jalal.”
“What is she saying?” Pratap frowned “I could say better.”
“Hush!” Jalal stopped him.
“I am horrible at speeches, so I'd better write down things.” Everyone laughed again, “ But haan! I know I'm in charge, but please don't be Bridezilla, and if I shout at you, then know that I love you, okay?”
The dinner ended with a hearty laugh.
“I would like to raise a toast to the couple.” Bairam Khan spoke as everyone sat around the lounge area with their drinks. Ajabdeh, who was on a call, came back in like she had seen some ghost.
“What’s wrong?” Pratap said it before Hansa could.
She stared at him like she was blank, and she said, “I have a deadline.”
“Oh?” Jalal frowned. “That’s good, right? Your novel will end and …”
“It will be published soon!” Heer smiled, hugging Ajabdeh, “Congratulations, Jija”
“Toast to Ajabdeh’s book!”
Everyone raised their glasses as Ajabdeh forced a smile, and Pratap frowned. Why was she not happy?
Kunwar Pratap had decided that a late-night walk with Maan would be a good way to talk about their lives. Maan was tense about her future plans.
“I want to study literature, but Maasa says Doctors have a future, so I should definitely go for medicine.”
“ Do what your mother says, she knows right.” She frowned at this advice coming from Kunwar Pratap.
Her eyes fell at a distance and narrowed, amused. “Isn’t that Jija? Is she jogging at this hour?” Kunwar Pratap followed her eyes to the jogging track.
Ajabdeh was in a vest and jogging pants, running in circles, her hair up in a bun. Before he could react, Maan called her, making her stop and wave.
“Jija do suggest,” They were sitting by the pool, Ajabdeh and Maan’s legs in the water and Pratap on the deck chair, beers in hand. “What should I do?”
“What your heart says always!” Ajabdeh smiled.
“Even if that means going against Maasa?” Pratap looked alarmed at that.
“She will be happy if you are happy.” Ajabdeh smiled and nodded, making Pratap frown a little.
“Waise… I heard from Dadabhai Shakti… about your first date adventures!” Maan looked teasingly at the duo as they raised their eyebrows with a “What date?” in unison.
“ You… umm… Bhaijaan’s party…” Maan looked confused.
“That was not a date”, Ajabdeh exclaimed.
“We never…” Pratap stopped as Maan got up to leave.
“Well, you should. Goodnight Jija.”
“Goodnight, Maan.” Pratap watched her leave before he stared at Ajabdeh, still sitting as he sat beside her, and put his feet in the cold water.
“So?”
“I love this place.”
“And?”
“KB is the coolest.” She smiled.
“What’s troubling you?” Pratap stared at her frown.
“Troubling me?”
“Stop acting.”
“Umm… deadline….” She sulked.
“Why?”
“Coz I don’t know how I should end the book!” She looked confused, “ Moving the reader, making them think or abruptly!”
“How does the deadline make a difference?”
“Well, you, Mr Businessman, work on deadlines. I prefer freedom.” She breathed in, “Deadline stops my thoughts.”
“I hate deadlines too. And Mr Businessman will be Papa, not me!” He laughed. They sat in silence, sipping.
“I know.” He smiled, “Tell me what you would like to do if you had a week to live?”
“What?” She frowned.
“ Treat the deadline as the book’s life. What would you do? How would you like your ending?” He stared at her doe eyes, sparkling with a smile.
“ At peace. On the calmest night. At Moti Magri.” She smiled, “Not alone.” She added, smiling at the water.
“Not alone?” He smirked, “Then?”
“I meant with Brownie.” She giggled as he frowned “Thank you. Peace it is, how it ends.”
“You are welcome, Captive Princess.” He smiled, making her frown and get up to leave. He held her back by her wrist, making her frown and stop, her back to him.
“I would like my waits to end like the Earth’s. Sooner than the rain grants it, though.” She smiled at his words.
“Desserts don’t have rainfalls, deal with it!” She shook her hand off his grip and walked off with a giggle.
“If you can make a rose grow on a deserted heart, captive princess, you can make it rain in the desert too!” He smiled as she turned around, narrowing her eyes with a smile.
“You know what you need, Princy?” She smiled, “ A few drinks and a dance”
“No! I cannot guarantee what will happen if…”
“Shut up!” She stopped him with a giggle and made a run before he caught her again.
“Wait!”
“Why?” She frowned.
“A little longer.”
They stopped at the rooftop garden, looking at the moon and the thousands of stars above them.
“You know Heer…” He managed as she smiled.
“Yes, she told me the news of the year!” Ajabdeh spoke rather dramatically. He narrowed his eyes at her, adding, “Ranima said once we are back, the engagement will be announced.”
“And that would mean?” She asked, still staring at the sky.
“Some media coverage on where we go and what we do, I guess.” He shrugged.
“ Let’s make sensational news!” Ajabdeh’s eyes glittered.
“Just stay put till the wedding, then make as much sensation as possible.” He chuckled.
“Why, Princy, Why?” She frowned, “You can’t be this boring!”
“I can’t lose you either.” He stared right at her, intending, “ For your fault or mine. Not Again.”
She smiled, pressing her hand over his and staring at their locked hands.
“Kabhi kabhi baatein acchi kar lete ho tum!” She giggled as he shook his head and smiled.
"May you find your happy ending!" He smiled.
"I think I found it." Her words made him stare tongue-tied at her beaming, happy face.
Only, his hand gripped hers, tighter, as if to say Mine!
