RAABTA

  "I said small mirrors. Don't you understand simple instructions? Do you want to get fired?" The intern looked scared as Ajabdeh Punwar grilled him. "It's on your list. Take it back. Now." "But Ma'am. We didn't find…" He stopped at her stare. "Then you haven't looked everywhere. Find it." She said. "I don't work with excuses. I want everything to be perfect and exactly like the bride wants. Got it?"  She sighed as he left in a hurry. "Hello, boss." Shakti's words made her turn as she checked the watch. "You are five minutes late." She reminded him.  "But the traffic." He frowned.  "When Dad told me to treat you like the others he meant it Shakti. Now off you go. There is a truck loaded with gifts for the kids at the NGO. Take them there." She pointed at the driveway of the Punwar mansion.  "But I was supposed to work in the accounts department of your…" he st...

  Pratap's phone rang and he jolted a little. It was too late at night. He didn't know when he had fallen asleep, crying. The screen flashed Heer's name on it. His heart skipped a beat. Was she okay? "Hello." There was urgency in his voice. "Is everything okay?" He asked almost in a reflex. "I… hello. It's me. My phone battery died so…" Ajabdeh's voice made him sigh in relief. "Oh. How can I help you?" He checked his tone. He could hear her sigh. "We need to talk." She said. "There is nothing left to…" "No. I mean… I mean…" he waited with a narrowed pair of brows as she stammered. "You left something here by mistake." "Oh. Must have got into your luggage." He said. "Let it be." "No. Why don't you come along and take it tomorrow?" "Ajabdeh I am sure it's nothing important." He scrutinized the things spread around him in heaps. "I have e...

Ajabdeh woke up with a heavy head and still felt sleepy. She sat on the bed and drew the blanket over her bare shoulders as she remembered the night. A smile curved her lips as she looked out at the midday sun. She suddenly looked alarmed. It was mid-day. They were supposed to leave after breakfast. Why did nobody wake her up? Where was he? She quickly got dressed. Her mind was running. So many things were said and done the day before. She needed to talk to him. She was greeted at the door by the packed luggage and Kasturi.  "I packed your luggage for you, ma'am. Sir said I should pack you some snacks so I made sandwiches." "Where is he?" She asked looking around.  "He is yet to come downstairs." "Why did you not wake me up, Kasturi? We were supposed to leave two hours ago." She narrowed her eyes at the clock.  "I am sorry ma'am. Sir instructed us to let you sleep." She smiled thanking her for her service and insisting she took ...

  Pratap tried hard to ignore Ajabdeh's silence at the breakfast table followed by her last session with Dr Sekhawat.  "Well." The doctor smiled as Pratap came down to see him off. " She said she wants someone closer to her home so I recommended Dr Sen to her." "But Dr Chundawat was looking after her." Pratap frowned. "he had been her doctor since…" "Oh not anymore." Ajabdeh interrupted as Dr Sekhawat waved goodbye. "He is your family doctor. I want to get checked by someone else…" "But he has been your doctor for so long. He knows…" "Thank you for the suggestion. I am not comfortable sharing my health issues with your mother via him." Her voice seemed distant.  "What?" Pratap looked a little taken aback and remembered. "Look. I am really sorry for everything she put you through and I was clueless about." He stopped Ajabdeh from walking away by blocking the doorway. "I truly am ...

"They will be here in…" Pratap stopped at the threshold of Ajabdeh's room a bit alarmed. He assumed Kasturi was there to help, but she wasn't. His eyes stopped at his wife struggling with a necklace chain that was stuck to the zipper of her knee-length black dress. Her hair was held up in tangled locks over her head with one hand as she struggled with the zipper with the other hand.  "Damn it. I will be right downstairs. Can you send Kasturi up to help?" She said half turning to him.  "I… okay." Pratap turned back and shut the door behind him. He took a deep breath as memories of their wedding night haunted him. He sighed. He then knocked at the door and peeped in.  "I couldn't find her. Do you need help?" He asked looking away.  "Yes. Get this thing out. It's stuck." She said swiftly. He walked into the room and closed the door shut behind him. She held up the locks of hair out of the way with both hands and face the wa...