Nandini noticed how cold the vibes were at the morning breakfast table as she and Laura prepared to mock review the estate in the company of Ratnawati. Something was surely amiss between Dadabhai and Ajabdeh and she somehow felt she was the reason for it. At the breakfast table, Pratap was engrossed in a conversation about horses with Ratnawati while Ajabdeh ate her meal quietly and walked away. No courtesy or good morning was exchanged and they ignored each other’s presence. By mid-day, Laura’s friend confirmed their tickets so they informed the duo about leaving after lunch. Even at lunch much to Nandini’s surprise Pratap exchanged numbers with Ratnawati. Ajabdeh was nodding her head at whatever Mrs Punwar said rather disinterestedly. It was not until they were back on the road towards the railway station that the four of them had privacy.
“I am buying the estate.” Pratap declared when the silence in the car was making him sleepy. “I called up the office, they will be here tomorrow and the deal will be done as soon as possible.”
“Wow Congratulations Mate.” Laura smiled as Nandini agreed. “That’s good news.” They stared at Ajabdeh “Isn’t it?” She nodded with a courtesy smile. After they had collected their belongings from their friends’ place and reached the railway station Nandini felt a little sad. She didn’t know when her family would accept her for being who she was nor was she sure she would find someone as helpful as these two anywhere. Ajabdeh hugged her with a smile.
“All the best for your future.” She said as Nandini nodded and turned to hug Pratap who was clearly uncomfortable. After finding their coach and settling them in, Pratap and Ajabdeh walked back to the parking area and switched on their phones after almost a day. Immediately Ajabdeh’s phone flashed with messages and colour flushed from her face.
“What happened?” Pratap asked worriedly.
“I need to go.” She started looking around for a cab.
“I will drop you.” Pratap held open the car door “Please.”
“To the office.” She managed. “Rukaiya had called and messaged. They ransacked it.” She looked scared. “At midnight.”
“Who?” Pratap asked and was met with her silence.
Pratap didn’t just drop Ajabdeh. He followed her inside to inspect the damages himself. The work looked quite professional.
“Hired goons.” He murmured under his breath as they walked past the broken glass and tables of the reception.
Rukaiya was in what used to be her chamber, ransacked, looking devastated and in tears. Jalal stood there, his hand gently on her shoulder as they looked up at Ajabdeh.
“Who did this?” Ajabdeh managed. The damages were too much. This would take a fortune to be repaired. Rukaiya looked up at her words and then across her at Pratap. She looked pale. Jalal handed Ajabdeh a note, which was snatched by Pratap before she could take it. “That’s it.” He murmured under his breath. “Come with me.” He looked up at Ajabdeh.
“Where to?” She asked cluelessly.
“Songara Mansion. Someone needs to apologize.”
“You want me to go there again?” Ajabdeh asked a little taken aback. “We will sort this out, Mr Singh.” It was Rukaiya who spoke now “Thank you.”
“I will arrange for you to temporarily set up an office in my building,” Jalal spoke as she nodded. Ajabdeh sighed.
“No.” Pratap said firmly “Come with me Ajabdeh.”
Ajabdeh was about to say something when he gave a dead cold stare. She decided Pratap was too angry to be able to take no for an answer now. She wasn’t sure what he was doing. What was done couldn’t be sorted. Yet she quietly followed him back to the car.
Shakti looked up from the lawn as the car screeched to a halt. He ran to see his Dadabhai and was a little surprised to see his angry face. Pratap briskly walked up the stairs as Ajabdeh walked towards Shakti and shared a glance of cluelessness with him.
“Mausi. Ranima? Mausi.” The ladies were having tea when his voice made them walk to the hallway alongside their husbands. They were surprised to see Pratap was back and worse, not alone.
“What did you do?” His voice boomed through the empty hallway. The servants stood still. Jaivanta and Udai looked clueless. “I am asking you Mausi what did you do?”
“What did I do?” She looked angry “You are asking me that?”
“Yes, I am. You have no right to ruin someone’s hard-earned money when they save your daughter.”
“Save her? What do you mean to save her?” This time her husband spoke, “She humiliated the clan.”
“How exactly?” This time it was Shakti who spoke. “Did she murder someone?” “Shakti!” Jaivanta warned her younger one.
“No Jaivanta.” Udai stopped her “Let them speak. What are they accusing of?”
“She sent goons to ransack Ajabdeh’s office.” Udai and Jaivanta shared a startled glance at each other at Pratap’s words. “Who gave her the right to do that?”
“That is a criminal offence.” Shakti spoke in dismay “I can’t believe you stooped down this low.”
“Jija.” Jaivanta’s sister now turned to her “You know how we were humiliated because of that...” She held her sister’s hand as Jaivanta stood quietly.
“Apologize to her right now.” Udai’s words made Ajabdeh stare up at him. “You did wrong.”
“No.” Jaivanta shook her head. “Apology is not enough. Pay her the damages.” “No really I...” Ajabdeh stopped at Pratap’s stare.
“I am sorry you had to face this.” It was Udai Singh who walked up to Ajabdeh and spoke. “I will make sure your office is restored.” Ajabdeh felt slightly embarrassed.
“It is okay really. I didn’t... I am sorry too.” Ajabdeh spoke a little awkwardly. “You should be.” Jaivanta spoke, “You helped her.”
Ajabdeh was about to open her mouth to speak when Pratap said “But I am not sorry, that I helped her.” The elders stared at him in shock and Shakti was amused.
“Also.” He turned to Udai Singh “I am buying the Bijoliya estate to invest in the expansion of the business.” Udai looked at his wife who seemed hopeless now.
“Shakti?”
“Yes, Dadabhai?”
“Make sure Ms Punwar is dropped back to her office.” Ajabdeh stood there as Pratap walked away and everyone watched him go.
Shakti himself decided to drop Ajabdeh back mostly because he wanted to know the other side of the story and the last person he could ask was his brother.
“Has he always been like this?” Ajabdeh asked after she finished the story.
“Always like what?” Shakti smiled, a little amused. Ajabdeh, unlike women her age, didn’t seem very impressed by Dadabhai.
“Umm... am sorry I...” Ajabdeh felt she had crossed her boundaries. Shakti shook his head. “I have no business association with you Ajabdeh, my family does. So cut the formalities with me. Am eager to know. Like what?”
“You know...” Ajabdeh carefully thought out her words so that they didn’t come across as judgemental on her part “He’s easily angered, rushing with action... and thinks a lot.... umm... “
“Emotionally?” Shakti filled in.
“I was going to say impractically...” Ajabdeh shrugged “But yeah... emotionally?”
“Yeah, he is a bit like that. He can’t stand good people suffering or people being denied their rights. But he barely shows his care in words or gestures. He doesn’t like telling the world he did something for someone.”
“Interesting.” The word came out almost like a reflex murmur from Ajabdeh’s lips as Shakti smiled a little amused.
“You don’t sound very impressed.” He said.
“Well, I ...” Ajabdeh shrugged “I am very practical even though I do believe in stopping wrong hence I did help Nandini. But I wouldn’t have come barging home, with just an unnamed letter being so sure, accusing my kin of a crime... '' She sighed “That too for strangers.”
Shakti nodded. “We know what our kin are capable of so he was kind of sure, and so is Dad actually.” Shakti spoke, “And he does sometimes think practically, hence can run the business.” Ajabdeh felt Shakti defended his brother as her opinion offended him. She chose to nod silently.
“Is he actually buying out your estate?” Shakti asked.
“I... suppose so...” Ajabdeh shrugged “I advised him against it. It is a lot of work.” Ajabdeh got off and thanked him. Shakti nodded, adjusting his rearview mirror.
“Maybe this too is an emotional decision. He just doesn’t know it yet.” Shakti smiled to himself.
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