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Pratap felt her hand on his shoulder as soon as the bike was on the village road. But he didn’t stiffen at her touch. It was midday, and village women who were coming back home with water and cattle watched them zoom past, and so did the children at play. He had insisted on her putting on the helmet for safety. She had frowned, saying it hurt her where the Mang tika was placed, but she had obliged. For once, he meant it only for safety. For once, he didn’t care for all the people who spotted him zooming away with a girl on the back of his bike. A turn from the short way, and they were on the fairly empty highway as the board of Surajgarh disappeared behind them.
“Where are we going?” He asked at last, as she removed her helmet, making the dupatta fly slightly in the wind.
“Where do you want to go?” She asked, looking at him through the side glasses.
“Anywhere is fine with me.” He shrugged. As long as you are there.
“Then we will first have lunch at a roadside Dhaba.” She insisted, “I am hungry.”
“Where did the kheer go?” He smiled, amused, eyeing her in the side view mirror.
He felt a soft slap of her hand, where she held his shoulder. He stopped at a fairly empty Dhaba and parked his bike. She got down to look around and walked to an empty table.
“Ghani Khamma.” A boy smiled at them “What do you want?”
“What do you have?” She asked, smiling as Pratap placed down the keys and helmet on the table and sat across from her.
“Lunch thali, rice, roti, Gatte ki sabzi, Kadi khichdi, Mawa khichdi, laal maas, ghevar, dilkhush, gujia...”
“Too many options.” Ajabdeh shrugged, staring at Pratap.
“Bring two lunch thalis.” He smiled at the boy watching him go. “You are sure you can have this without fainting and vomiting?” He stared at Ajabdeh, who frowned.
“I am just making sure....” He shrugged as the wonderful aroma of food filled the air, and the boy placed two steel dishes full of food in front of them.
“Dig in!!” She said, using her hand on the roti as he followed.
A group of musicians soon arrived at the Dhaba, making Ajabdeh stare at them eagerly.
“These people are usually very poor; they travel from place to place, with their families, the men sing, the women dance, and they earn free food with entertainment.” He stopped as Ajabdeh stared longingly at them, setting up their mats.
“I wish I lived like that.” She said almost in a reflex. “With nothing to hold me back yet.... having everything.”
“You have no idea how tough their lives are.” He shrugged at her innocence.
“I feel, nothing is hard, as long as the people who matter are with you. In the journey.” He looked at her walk up to them as he followed.
“I think if we are done here, we should...”
“Stay and listen to them sing.” She made him stare at her smile. “We can for some time at least.”
“We can.” He agreed and watched her smile and stand at a corner, a little away from the newly gathered crowd of onlookers.

Luk Chipp na Javo ji, manne deed karavoji, Pratap stepped up beside Ajabdeh in a corner of the crowd, carefully placing him between the crowd of onlookers and her, as she almost danced to the beats, Aree Kyun tarsavey ho, manne Sakal dikhav ji. He had never seen Ajabdeh smile so content. It made him smile as she stared back at him. Thaari Shararat sab jaanu main Chaudhari, Mahaarey se levo na pangaaji main kehan lagi. She smiled back as he removed his eyes from her and to the dancing women and girls. One of them was pulling people from the crowd to join them, and she came up to him. He shook his head, making Ajabdeh frown. Maahrey hivdhey mein jaagi dhaunkani, Rae chandaa main thaari chandni he saw Ajabdeh readily go with the girl, as he stared a little wide-eyed, smiling, amused as she tried in vain to match steps with them. Maney daaman mein baandhi khusi, Rae jhoom, jhoom, jhoom jhoom baa jhoomi!
“You had no idea what you were doing, right?” He smiled, amused as she handed the girl some money.
“But it was fun, why didn’t you join?” She asked, shrugging.
“Because it makes me self-conscious.” He shrugged.
She frowned at his words and said, “Let’s go.”
“Where to, now?” He asked.
“I chose the Dhaba, your turn.” She shrugged.
Pratap smiled. He knew exactly where he could take her.

“This is beautiful.” She stood looking up at the waterfalls in awe. “In the middle of the jungle! I didn’t know such a place existed.” The pool at the foot of the waterfall gave way to a narrow stream, and on the other bank were two swans, frolicking.
“Neither did I," He shrugged “Patta told me a legend, and I asked him where this was.”
“Legend?” She sat down on a rock with her feet dangling in the cool water of the stream.
“Yes.” He came to sit on the rock beside her, but she shifted a little, making enough space for him. “Of a hero in disguise who saved the villagers from bad people; someone by the name Sakhaveer.”
“Superhero!” She smiled. “And?”
“He used to meet his partner here. She was a warrior in disguise, too. Baijilal.”
“Sounds like too good a plot to be true.” She frowned, “Although I wish I could do something like that!”
“Save people in disguise?” he frowned, surprised.
“No, meet someone like that.” She stared at the waterfalls, “In disguise.”
“Excuse me?” he stared at her with a hint of disbelief in his voice “What exactly is the princess of Surajgarh doing now?”

She stared back at him, realising what he said, and her eyebrows arched up with a little hint of amusement. “Oh. Oh.” She smiled, amused, and chuckled at herself as he shook his head and smiled, watching her laugh at herself. She stopped laughing, watching him stare, and her smile slowly faded into a blush. At that moment, Pratap looked away, at the waters.
“But I didn’t get you a thank-you gift for all the efforts here.” He said. “This is perhaps the most memorable birthday I will ever have.”
“How are you so sure?” She frowned “The next can be better.”
“I don’t think so.” He shrugged. “So tell me what I can do for you as a return gift?”
Ajabdeh stared at him with a twinkle in her eyes that made him suddenly aware of some impending danger.
“Dance with me.” She said. “Let me see how conscious you are.”
“What?” He frowned, “No. I ...” She held him by the wrist in an attempt to pull him up and failed to make him move an inch from his place. “Come on... “ She sulked “Be a sport.” She poked suddenly at his waist, making him jump up at the ticklish feeling as she chuckled.
“What are you doing?” He frowned, “I can’t dance!”
“Let me teach you then!” She said, “It is very easy.” She insisted on facing him, holding both his arms, putting one on her waist.

Almost like a reflex as his hand touched her bare skin, Pratap moved it away and stepped back. She frowned at him. “Come on. Can’t you just let go, for one day, for me?” Her words made his heart beat faster. He could, perhaps. He could take this day, each and every moment, and turn them into lifelong memories. He nodded, much to her surprise, giving her his hand. Ajabdeh took it firmly, with a smile lingering on her lips.
“But music?” He smiled slightly as she shook her head.
“Pratap Singh!” She suddenly came closer, making his smile fade “ You hear the sound of the water... And here.” She took his hand in hers and pressed his palm against the fast beats of his own heart, thumping in his chest. “That’s our music.”

“I will teach you how to dance also.” She clapped her hands as he frowned at her words.
“I don’t like that, it is girly.” He snapped. “And you said we can play.”
“We can play, ride, and dance.” She smiled, “Now that we are friends, we have all the time in the world.”
“We have?” he asked, surprised.
“Of course. I will see you the day after tomorrow once the swing is ready.” He had nodded at her hopeful smile.

Ajabdeh's eyes smiled at his. She stepped back, making him step forward, smiling, and covering the distance between them, and his eyes were not hesitant to meet hers. His cold fingers touched her smooth, bare waist, as they trembled a little perhaps against her skin, making her shudder. So she grabbed his hands, in hers, perhaps to ease the hesitance in his conscience. She twirled, holding his hand, and he pulled her back, towards him, their eyes twinkling. He had stepped back, giving her both his hands, as she took them firmly, and then held his collar, as he put his hand back on her waist, a little more confidently. Ajabdeh could feel his breath on her skin. Her cheeks reacted with sudden warmth. Pratap could smell the lavender shampoo on her hair now. It made him breathe heavily, made him want to hold on to the feeling and her. He dreaded his own thoughts. All of a sudden, he had realised they were so closely entwined that an onlooker would think they were in an embrace. Ajabdeh’s eyes twinkled as he stared at them. He had suddenly let go of her hand, making her stare as he turned with his back to her and stopped. She held him back by his wrist, coming closer, with a faint smile. He half turned to her and looked into her eyes, scared, if he stayed here a minute longer, it would make him weak, it would perhaps make him say and do things he would end up regretting. She read his fears like her own, perhaps, as gently she let go of his wrist.
“We should...” He cleared his throat. “We should... go back?” His voice was hoarse and a little rough, and she stared at him as he repeated, “Let’s go back.” More firmly making her smile. She had expected this.
“Okay.” Ajabdeh agreed to watch him hurry to his bike and hold the helmet out for her. She took it and sat all the way back to the back gate of the palace, in silence, holding his shoulders firmly.




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