Skip to main content

Law of Attraction

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 to her. The nights were getting longer. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...
6 comments
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Three

“Did you ask for me, Dadu?” Bondita asked as the old man smiled at her. She looked fresh, with her hair neatly braided and a cotton pleated skirt, Thamma sewn with a faded top of one of her cousins, as she stood before the old man sitting on the porch. “Yes indeed, Didibhai, you didn’t come for chess yesterday.” The man smiled. “Oh, Pradhan Jyatha wanted me to look out for the …” She stopped as she saw Aniruddha walking towards them down the corridor. She eyed him as the old man followed her gaze. “Oh Aniruddha Babu, come here. This is Bondita Das.” Aniruddha smiled at the child as she looked away. “She is the only girl in the village who has appeared for her final examinations this year. She is very intelligent and…” Aniruddha nodded “She helped me a lot yesterday.” He made her look up, with a cold stare at him as he smiled politely. “Yes, I have called her here to show you around the village. He wants to see the affected areas of the Adivasis, Bondita.” The old man made her nod. “But...
Post a Comment
Read More

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as ...
5 comments
Read More

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused.   " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...
8 comments
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Four

The group of youth provided by the Pradhan proved efficient for Aniruddha’s liking as they helped him survey the villages, create a set of data and provide a rough idea of how much fund was needed to rebuild the roofs and fallen walls. “What if we make them permanent? That way, the next cyclone will cause less damage. Pakka houses may also get other facilities like toilets and…” Aniruddha suggested as his eyes shone in the flickering light of the dimly lit kerosene lamp in the living room of Pradhan’s house. Drops of perspiration had formed on his forehead in the load-shedding, and the mosquitoes buzzed around them. For the first two nights, Aniruddha could barely sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings with buzzing insects, sounds of the unknown, and eerie animals here and there at a distance. Stories of snakes climbing up to the second floor through windows despite the mosquito net protecting his four-poster bed kept him alarmed. By the third day, after a day’s survey through the villag...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Six

Kalindi waited outside the hut, on the torn mat they usually slept on, using the hand fan to drive away mosquitoes as she stared at the empty path leading out of the house, the path Bondita had taken some time back. It was almost an hour. Did the foolish girl escape or land in trouble? To her relief, she could hear her nephew snoring away indoors, reassuring her that they were at least not caught by the villagers till now. She was sure Bondita would return empty-handed and hurt, and that she would have no other way than to accept the proposal from the Pradhan. That morning, her Kaka would accompany Sarkar Moshai to the adjacent village to talk to a family friend of the Sarkars. They were looking for a bride for their sixteen-year-old eldest son, who worked as a labourer in Sealdah. Kalindi had tears in her eyes. Not much had changed in these years; not much of women’s fate was different, wasn't it? Kalindi was about ten years old when her father took her to the Roy Chowdhury house ...
Post a Comment
Read More

A Heart at War

Legend has it that Pratap had to struggle for his father Rana Udai Singh's approval on his wedding with the daughter of Bijoliya's chieftain's daughter, Ajbante Kanwar Punwar. It is so because he was the crown prince and his first queen was supposed to be the next queen of Mewar. Hence his father expected his first bride to be a powerful princess who would aid his political needs. But stubborn as he always was, Kunwar Pratap had other plans. The water of the Bhimlat was still. The sound of the waterfall could be heard in the silent afternoon in the dense forest. A pebble caused ripples in the water and alerted the horse gazing nearby. He looked up at the source of the stone. Then began grazing peacefully once again. The source of the stone however was far from being peaceful. His face wore a frown as he stared around restlessly for the umpteenth time. He sat unmindful on the large rock on the bank of the water body watching the ripples closely, lost in thoughts. The soun...
Post a Comment
Read More

Purnota: Chapter Five

Aniruddha finished reading the book he had carried with him in the dim light of the bulb in his room and decided to pack it away. He was leaving in a few days and wanted to make sure he left nothing behind. The construction work on the school had started, and the Panchayat wanted to give him a thankful farewell he humbly refused. The spotlight should be on Trilochon to help with his next election campaign. Aniruddha did not want to associate himself with the party or the job. He contemplated going back home and telling his father that he had decided to pursue a career in India instead of his initial plan of going back to London. He had been giving it a thought for quite some time, and the day he said it out loud to Bondita, he knew in his subconscious mind he had already decided on it. The more he saw the village, the more sure he was that he was needed by his countrymen. Dadu put faith in him that he could be part of something bigger than himself and his career, and he intended to kee...
Post a Comment
Read More

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The maid-in-waiting ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai, who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room, followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The maid sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes could not believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed, shouting, " Quick. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabdeh. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. Sajja Bai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap had not noticed anything except her calm, unconscious face. Now that he noticed his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...
6 comments
Read More

Dreams and Wishes

At dawn, the Bhil women took the girls to the Kalika Mata Temple and the Jal Kund. Dressed in white a nervous Heer followed everything Ajabde knew and did, trying to explain the significance of the rituals to her. They prayed to Lord Ganesh. Kunwar Shakti and Kunwar Pratap were staying at Punja Ji's place as they were not supposed to see the brides before the wedding. Ajabde was dressed in her mother's lehenga, a mang tika Jaivanta Bai gave her as a family heirloom and the simple nosering Pratap had gifted. They made their hair into a simple bun with wildflowers before putting on her dupatta. Heer was dressed in traditional Bhil jewellery of silver and beads that the women had gifted her. They made her wear a red and white saree draped as a lehenga and a red chunri with it. She looked like a pretty colourful Bhil bride. Kunwar Shakti was a nervous groom dressed in a traditional bhil dhoti, kurta and cap. The bhil shawl hung from a side, making the white attire colourful. K...
5 comments
Read More