Pratap had reached the lawn sharp at 6AM to
find Ajabdeh sipping on a cup of black coffee in a pensive mood. She was
clearly not a morning person. Her outfit of the day was a pair of casual ripped
denim teamed with a black top, and she frowned at his same clothes like he had
committed some crime.
“Look, I am on time.” She kept down her cup
in a monotonous tone and said, “Let’s go.”
He had followed her silently, keeping his
distance from the stable where Patta smiled politely at him and said, “He was
waiting for you, I guess. He kept neighing since the light of dawn.” He held
open the stable door no 9 in anticipation of perhaps a wild gallop, but the
horse stepped out with much poise and grace, making Ajabdeh smile at it while
Pratap held the reins just to be careful.
They took the horse out to the meadows, where Patta had already kept the ingredients Pratap had ordered for the balm.
Sitting on a haystack with her legs crossed, Ajabdeh stared at the boys making
the balm and applying it to the horse. Pratap felt a little awkward at being watched
and looked back at her twice, hoping she would remove her eyes from him. But she
smiled the warmest smile and kept staring. Pratap tried to ignore the same and
concentrated on the horse.
“How long will he take to heal?” Patta had
asked in curiosity, breaking the silence of the place, and Pratap eyed the
eager boy, smiling, “I guess a week or so with the balms, then we have to check
if he is fit enough to run. If you take really good care of him, he will be fine.”
“Why don’t you do that, and I will pay you
extra?” Pratap stared back at the princess, narrowing his eyes at her words.
“I don’t do that, Ma’am. I am not a
caretaker.” He was firm.
“Well. I just thought you would make a good
one.” She shrugged. “And he does love having you around.”
“Yes, Bhaiya.” Patta grinned, “And with you
around, I can learn a few things too. Please say yes.”
Ajabdeh had shrugged matter-of-factly like
she was offering him the best deal of his life, and he agreed with a silent nod.
“Can you please hold his rein while I
apply the bandage, Ma’am?” Pratap had turned to Ajabdeh, who moved towards the
horse with a smile, and she held the reins with one hand and patted him with
another in gentle strokes.
Ajabdeh’s hand slowly traced something hidden
beneath the fur of the horse’s neck, and she frowned as a golden chain revealed
itself. With it was a locket hanging right at his neck.
“Chetak?” Ajabdeh’s nails traced the nameplate on the locket, and she smiled, amused.
“Hey Pratap, come look here. We found your
Chetak!” He narrowed his eyes at her ungraceful chuckle and walked up to
the locket she was holding. It was a golden butterfly. Only the wings of this
one were wide open and not closed like the one he had, and in the open wings
was a name inscribed “Chetak.”
“How did you open the locket?” He asked in
a hurry.
“Huh?” Ajabdeh narrowed her eyes “See, there
is a button here. Great! He has a name.”
“I will see you tomorrow.” Pratap’s voice
was restless and in a hurry. “My time is over.”
“Pardon?!” Ajabdeh frowned. “You can’t
leave! There is still time...” She checked her watch.
“But, I have to go now.” He spoke in a
hurry and left before Ajabdeh could speak again. “I have something urgent, I
will do the time tomorrow.”
She turned to see him run as she frowned at
Patta “Do you think he can actually teach riding?”
Patta shrugged cluelessly and led Chetak away
as Ajabdeh patted him goodbye and stared at the path in front of her.
“Pratap, are you home?” Meera frowned at the
lack of response “How was the day?” She stood at his threshold to find him
looking in his trunk frantically. “What are you looking for?”
“Badi Maasa, where is the locket?” He asked
in urgency.
“Oh, the butterfly one? In that box.” She
had pointed. “Did you tell her about your father yet?”
She stared at Pratap, searched the locket very
keenly, and finally found a “C” shaped bend on the side. He pushed at it, and the
butterfly did not open. With trembling hands, Pratap tried again, but it looked
like the locket was jammed.
Meera bent over
his shoulder and asked, “What are you doing?” He frowned.
“It is not opening.” He tried in vain.
“It is jammed, maybe.” Meera spoke, “Give it
to me, I will take it to the jeweller, and if it opens, I will give it to you.”
She suggested.
“No, I will just keep it. It will break if
we try hard. Let it be.” He held the locket and sighed.”I just want to find out
whose it is.”
Meera
smiled matter-of-factly. “See.” She pointed at the locket.”It has been with you
for years; it must be yours. Maybe someone gave this to you.”
“Who would do that?” Pratap frowned “Why
would they?” He sat with his hand on his forehead.
“You are overthinking, Pratap,” Meera spoke
with a calm smile.
“ Badi Maasa I... today... I....
“Yes, Pratap?”
“No, nothing.” Meera watched him with a
smile.
“Do you remember the day you left Pratap?”
Meera asked, patting his back gently.
“Yes. Why didn’t you come with us?” He
asked restlessly, “I needed you.”
“No. You needed me here, waiting for you
to come back home.” He stared at Meera's smile as she kissed his forehead gently
and left him to his thoughts.
“I
don’t want to go.” He sobbed in between his words as his father packed their
bags in silence. He stared at his aunt in anticipation, “Can I stay with you?
Please.” He was begging.
“NO!”
He had never seen his father shout at him before. Shivering in fear, he had held
on to his Badimasa.
“I
was told to leave with you, and I will. I don’t know my mistake, and I don’t want
to as well. We will start afresh. I will get you enrolled on the best school I can find in Jodhpur.” His father was talking while his hands moved to pack
everything he could find.”We are not coming back.”
“What
will you do there, Udai?” Meera’s voice was composed.
“I
will contact a friend who has a carriage business there; they have horses, and
we can take care of them to start with. We will manage Bhabhisa, and once I get
a house, I will come and take you along.”
“No, Udai, I am needed here,” Meera spoke firmly.
“But
I need you, Badi Maasa.” He clutched her saree tightly.
“Yes, you do, Ladesar, which is why I will wait for you.” She had kissed away the pain
on his face and wiped away his tears “Always remember one thing, Ladesar, every story that begins needs to end.”
“I
will remember what you said, Badima.” He sobbed cluelessly at her words.
