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Rukaiya burst into laughter as Ajabdeh looked annoyed. They were sitting in Ajabdeh's office chamber with coffee and taking a break when Rukaiya asked her about the trip. Ajabdeh had opened up to her about this strange feeling that was bothering her lately, and she expected some wise words instead of the roll of laughter. Rukaiya wiped away the tears that formed in the corner of her eyes.
"Now, what is so funny?" Ajabdeh snapped. "I should never have shared with you."
"Oh, Ajabdeh! You read so many novels, planned so many weddings, witnessed so many romances, have you learned nothing?" Rukaiya looked alarmed.
"Romance is an escapist idea. It actually doesn't exist." Ajabdeh shook her head. Rukaiya looked at her keenly.
"Oh, really? Is that so?" Rukaiya sounded amused "Then how do you define what you felt when he was near you?"
"I was cold." Ajabdeh shook her head and spoke firmly, stirring her already cold coffee. "It wasn't because of him."
"Oh, stop it." Rukaiya frowned. "At least don't lie to yourself." Ajabdeh looked away at her words. "Accept that you hoped for something else to happen."
"No, I did not." Ajabdeh protested louder than usual. "I was … I was shocked. With whatever happened."
"Oh, is that so?" Rukaiya had a hint of taunt in her voice. "He is your husband, Ajabdeh. There is absolutely nothing wrong if you feel attracted to him. In fact, it's very normal that you two…"
"What if he doesn't?" Rukaiya stopped at her words. "What if it's only me?"
"So that's what has been bothering you." Rukaiya sighed. "Have you not seen him, Ajabdeh? He has always treated you like a wife."
"No. I mean… this is different." Ajabdeh looked a little red.
"Different?" Rukaiya raised her eyebrows, leaning back on the couch "It is a part and parcel of being married."
"You seem to be an expert in this!" Ajabdeh shook her head. "I wonder what's up with you."
"Actually, I have been meaning to tell you." Rukaiya kept her cup down on the coffee table. "A lot happened." Ajabdeh raised her eyebrows suspiciously.
"Like what?"
"Like Jalal thinks I like Shakti." She laughed again.
"Do you?" Ajabdeh asked, a little surprised.
"Of course not!" Rukaiya shook her head, "I didn't even expect you to ask."
"But why is Jalal so bothered?" Ajabdeh's frown met Rukaiya's stare, and her hands went up to cover her mouth in excitement.
"Oh, my God!" Ajabdeh looked excited "He likes you."
"Apparently." Rukaiya shrugged.
"Why are you so less enthusiastic about it?" Ajabdeh looked disappointed "Don't you like him?"
"Honestly, I never thought of it." Rukaiya shrugged again.
"And now?" Ajabdeh held her hands in anticipation.
"Now? It's not a bad idea." Ajabdeh hugged Rukaiya, making her smile.
"Oh, you won't regret it. He is the best human you can ever find. He will make the best partner, I am sure."
"Calm down. It's not reached that point yet. I agreed to meet him a couple of times outside work hours. But I doubt he would be the best partner...More than that husband goal of yours?" Rukaiya teased.
"The husband-goal of mine isn't even talking to me properly after the…" Rukaiya noticed her sulking as Ajabdeh stopped consciously.
"So you do something about it." She said thoughtfully.
"Me? What should I do?" Ajabdeh looked clueless.
"I don't know. Something that will make him normal with you again." Rukaiya suggested.
Ajabdeh had got home to find Jaivanta in the hall alongside Sajja and a few maids. She checked her watch. It was half past nine. Way over the light-off time. Jaivanta looked up as she approached and noticed her office suit.
"You aren't wearing your red bangles?" She took Ajabdeh by surprise "Didn't suit your attire, did it? At least you cared enough to put the sindoor on." Ajabdeh was a little taken aback and stared at Sajja, who smiled reassuringly.
"I was afraid they would break, so I…" She stopped at Jaivanta's stare. "Why are you up so late, Ranima?"
"Well, this house will stop running without me. Wouldn't it?" She spoke with her eyes still on the list she was holding.
"You are the last person I can rely on for running this house, aren't you?" Jaivanta spoke without looking up. "At your age, I had two children, I worked, and I never let my mother-in-law complain about running the home."
Ajabdeh inhaled. She looked at Sajja, who gestured at her to keep quiet.
"Anyway, you have your first Teej next weekend. I know neither you nor Pratap would believe in something like that, but…"
"I will do it." Jaivanta looked up at her words. "Just tell me when and how."
Jaivanta shared a surprised look with Sajja. She expected a protest. Or an insight into how the patriarchal society created these rituals to oppress its women. Instead, Ajabdeh was ready for it. That was unlike her.
"Excuse me. I will go get changed and come down to help you with it."
Ajabdeh left Jaivanta smiling.
"You see, ma'am. She is slowly blending into being the Bahu of the Sisodiyas."
"Or doing it to keep me pleased. Either way, it works." Jaivanta smiled as Sajja agreed.
It was late at night when Pratap came home and tiptoed to the room. He expected Ajabdeh would still be working. He had informed her of a dinner meeting via text. But she never slept until he arrived home. He turned the knob of the door and peeped in. He was surprised to find her with a list in hand and inspecting some things kept on the table. They looked like things needed for some puja.
His questioning eyes were met with her stare as he dropped the suit on the accent chair and stood in front of her.
"Ranima wants me to help her prepare for Teej." She spoke as his brows shot up.
"What?" He frowned "You don't believe in all that stuff, do you?"
"It will make her happy." Her voice was monotonous.
"How will your fasting make her happy? You are the last person I expect to give in to the social norms, Ajabdeh." His tone was one of rebuke. Ajabdeh shot him a glance.
"What do you expect me to do?" She stood up, asking, her arms folded to her chest. "Protest?"
"Yes?" Pratap looked obvious.
"You can't change the world like that, Pratap. Once in a while, you have to give in to certain things because it makes other people happy." Ajabdeh shrugged, "At the end of a busy day, I don't have that kind of energy to speak against her."
"That is exactly how you change the world, Ajabdeh." Pratap looked very cross at her words. "It starts at home. If you can't change the people you have an impact on, how will you change those who are strangers?"
"What's the harm if it makes her happy?"Ajabdeh snapped.
"Wasn't doing a charade of a wedding enough to make her happy?" He lost his temper "Now you have to fast. Next, she will ask you for something else. The list of expectations will never end. Do you not get that?"
"Wait… so this is what it is about, isn't it?" He frowned at her words. "That is the issue. You don't want it. Like you didn't want the wedding."
"What?" Pratap looked taken aback. "I never said… He looked at Ajabdeh storm past him and out of the room.
He followed her down the corridor to the open terrace garden. "I was telling you about your health. You don't need to fast over a stupid ritual."
"It is not stupid to some people. They care." She snapped. He had never seen her use that tone on him. At work, to her employees, yes, but him?
"But…" Pratap frowned slightly.
"I understand you don't want it. Like you didn't want the wedding. Wasted your precious time." She shook her head as she put some of the things down near the store room.
"Stop that. I never said that. I…" Pratap protested.
Ajabdeh dismissed his presence and sat down on the garden chair once she had put everything in place. He stood behind her, still in his office wear, the tie loosened around his neck, hands on his hips, clueless.
"Seriously, Ajabdeh?" He asked. "Now you are angry?" The silence from her annoyed him.
"Okay, I apologise. I won't interfere in this." He frowned at her lack of response. "Let's go back to the room."
"I am staying here." She was firm.
He inhaled. "Fine. So am I." As soon as he sat down on the garden chair opposite her, she got up to leave. She turned to see Shakti at the threshold. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at their silhouette in the dark.
"Are you two fighting?" He asked, alarmed.
"No", came a protest in unison.
"Oh, romancing then?" He smirked.
"Shut up." His brother snapped.
"Whatever you are doing, stomping around the house at midnight woke me, so keep it quiet." Shakti shrugged.
"Sorry. Goodnight." Ajabdeh walked past him. He frowned as Pratap followed Ajabdeh back to the room.
Pratap found her acting asleep with her back to his side when he came out of the washroom. He sighed and kept the wet towel on the accent chair and proceeded to his side of the bed.
"You put the wet towel on the chair again." She spoke without looking back at him. He frowned first at her figure, then at the towel and picked it up. He then lay on his side. Her hair strands were on his side of the bed.
"You know I never meant…"
"Goodnight," Ajabdeh spoke without turning.
"I will fast with you." He turned to her side as he spoke. "That way I won't feel like it's wrong at least." At this, Ajabdeh half turned to face him.
"What about Ranima?" She asked, alarmed, "She will disapprove."
"She doesn't need to know. Does she?" He asked as their eyes met.
"I am sorry you have to do all these." He added.
"I am sorry I snapped." She bit her lower lip, looking guilty. He smiled.
"I never meant it like I don't want it. Not that I do. But I was telling you about your health. You know." He explained. She nodded, looking at him.
"I know." Ajabdeh stared at him.
"I don't like fighting with you. We are supposed to be on the same team." She added truthfully. He nodded.
"Against the world." That made her smile.
"Against the world." She agreed. At the moment, she wished he would hold her. At that moment, Pratap wanted to kiss her forehead. Eyes met in longing. As though they could read each other's thoughts. She drew away and turned her back on him. He lay on his back for her. The nights were getting longer.
