"What do you mean you will stay at your place? Absolutely not. You are staying here with us. So what if it's a month? Why will you stay in that empty apartment alone?" Ajabdeh looked up from her file at Pratap's words. He was on the phone and pacing the room. She looked up at him with questioning eyes. He stared at her and added, "Your Jija too wants that Heer. We can't let you stay alone after the memorial service. The anniversary party is not in another month."
"Shouldn't we have asked Ranima before inviting her to stay?" Ajabdeh asked as soon as he disconnected the call.
"Ask her what?" Pratap frowned. "Heer is your sister. We are her only family. Why will she stay alone for so long?"
"Well. She eventually has to stay alone once the course is over if she decides to settle here." Ajabdeh reminded him in a matter-of-fact tone.
"We will see about that. Right now, she will stay here." He walked away briskly "If Ranima can invite a thousand guests for an anniversary party, we can have Heer stay over for a month. I will go inform her." He left Ajabdeh alone in the room. She shook her head, watching him go. She was not getting into another mother-son duel.
A lot had happened in a year. Slowly and steadily, she had become part of this family. And this house became her home. Although she never approved of it much, the Sisodiya name helped her business boom even without any other form of help from them. They had shifted to a larger office and were setting up a separate official event management department alongside the wedding planning one. This expansion was to determine the future of their venture. Rukaiya had finally accepted Jalal's idea of dating him, after much persuasion. Khan Uncle was happy to have her around. Heer was doing well for herself. Shakti had joined the business rather reluctantly. Udai smartly made Ajabdeh talk him into it.
Jaivanta was slowly giving Ajabdeh more control around the house. She handled the lunch that would be sent to the office for the men as well as her own, the guest menus and most often the morning worship of their Kuldevi at the temple within their complex started with her prayers. She was also eager to hear Ajabdeh's ideas to improve her charities and NGOs. She even took Ajabdeh to some of her events, hoping she would someday take over them.
The first time Ajabdeh was forced to make a public appearance was at one of the charity events, the Royal Polo match at Jaipur. Shakti was playing, and Jaivanta decided it was time she and Udai let Ajabdeh and Pratap represent them. Jaivanta had taken extra care in going through the best designer collections to choose a polo dress and hat for Ajabdeh. A very nervous and self-conscious Ajabdeh's worries were put to rest by Pratap's reassuring hand on hers.
"I am here. This is no rocket science. Let the paparazzi get a few pictures; they won't bother you. Remember to courtesy bow to the other royals."
"Oh, my goodness." Ajabdeh inhaled. "I strongly sense I will screw up." Pratap had laughed. "I won't let you."
The paps went crazy as he gave his hand to her and they stood hand in hand in front of the event logo, ready to be photographed. He sensed her conscious nature and wrapped his hand protectively around her waist. She looked up at him. He smiled reassuringly at her. She smiled back.
The Page 3 tabloids that month were buzzing with the picture of them staring into each other's eyes, smiling. Jaivanta was satisfied with the outcome. It boosted her work even more. No sooner did the leading business tabloids want interviews with the "self-made" woman. She would have gotten no such exposure had she not been a Sisodiya. "A forgotten princess," some tabloids read. She used this exposure to talk about the charities close to her heart and how the privileged should step in. She made Pratap read them out proudly.
Heer arrived two days before Hansa's memorial service and thanked Udai and Jaivanta for letting her stay. She hugged Ajabdeh tightly and followed the same for Pratap. Both sisters wanted to go back to Bijoliya for their mother's yearly remembrance ceremony and wanted to hold the same jointly for their father because he never got a chance to go back home. Ajabdeh herself made sure all the arrangements were done as they would like them. The mansion was decorated with jasmine and tuberose, the fragrance of which was heavenly. Two large portraits of Hansa and Ramrakh in black and white were kept for the visitors to pay their respect to. Ajabdeh and Heer did everything from the decorations to the arrangements first-hand. They wanted somehow to make up for all the things they never did for their parents. Pratap understood. He didn't offer any help unless asked, but kept an eye on them. They greeted everyone who had been close to both their parents. At the end, amidst the crowd, Ajabdeh found Heer wrapping her hand around her arm tightly. They would always have each other.
It was emotionally draining for Ajabdeh to come back home after the services, thinking of how life would perhaps have been entirely different if her parents were there. Every night, she found solace in Pratap's embrace. He made sure she was always greeted at the end of a tiring day with a warm hug and a heartfelt kiss. He had become her return to peace after a day of hard-fought battle to survive in the rat race.
Jaivanta, in the meantime, was busy preparing for the first-anniversary party. She had invited the who's who and had hired an international planner for the event. Ajabdeh knew their schedules were too full for Rukaiya to take the responsibility, so she agreed readily, much to Jaivanta's surprise.
Nandini and Laura were to arrive with their baby boy, alongside her parents, Manwati, who now worked in Mumbai, would fly down for it and much to her dismay, her uncle and family RSVPed. They wouldn't miss a chance of hovering around potential men for Ratnawati.
It was not until the day after services that she had settled in her emotions, and Ajabdeh could finally have a heart-to-heart conversation with Heer. She made sure, despite her work and Pratap not being around, that Sajja took care of Heer. Even Udai had grown fond of her. Shakti had offered to show Heer around the place as she had arrived to stay for the first time in the private wing.
One evening, Jaivanta spotted them sharing a laugh in the garden. She observed Shakti going out of his way to entertain Heer for quite some time now. She looked worried. Ajabdeh had come home from work to find Jaivanta waiting to talk to her. She looked worried.
"Is everything okay, Ranima?" Ajabdeh asked, a little anxious.
"Oh, everything is fine. It's just that… umm… You know how I always wanted to choose my daughters-in-law." Ajabdeh looked up at her words. What was this about?
"I still want Shakti's partner to be my choice. I hope you understand." She smiled.
Ajabdeh opened her mouth, a little confused. "Do you want me to tell him?"
"Oh no. No. " Jaivanta dismissed "I am in no hurry now." She clarified. "I saw him in the garden with Heer today and thought you should talk to her." Ajabdeh inhaled at her words. "She looks mature; she will understand."
"Don't worry, Ranima." Ajabdeh flashed a reassuring smile "I am sure there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. My Heer is completely focused on her career. I would warn you about my cousin Ratnawati, though." Her protectiveness was reflected in her words as she excused herself. "Goodnight."
Ajabdeh walked into Heer's room and found her engrossed in a storybook.
"How was your day, Jija?" She smiled, getting up from her chair. Ajabdeh's faint smile made her look worried. "Is something wrong?"
Shakti walked into Heer's room with a knock and was surprised to find Ajabdeh there.
"Hey, you aren't ready yet?" He asked, scrutinising Heer. "We will be late."
"I… will stay with Jija. Sorry, Shakti, please carry on with your plans." Heer smiled.
"But you said you wanted to go check out the nightlife." He reminded her, looking at Ajabdeh, "Why the sudden change of plans?" Ajabdeh looked away and excused herself. Shakti shared a glance at Heer before following Ajabdeh back to her room.
"Seriously? What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing. I just want you and Heer to stay away from each other." Ajabdeh looked away.
"What? Are you kidding me, Ajabdeh? We are just becoming friends, what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. I don't want it to become something else." She inhaled and walked towards the window, her back to him.
"Wait a minute."Shakti frowned. "That's not your words. That's Ranima."
"Think what you may. I am Heer's guardian. I am answerable for her actions."
"Really, Ajabdeh? Are we kids?" Shakti looked cross.
"What's wrong?" Pratap's words at the threshold made both of them turn. He loosened his tie and asked, looking surprised, "You two are fighting?"
"No, we are not." Ajabdeh retorted.
"Your wife has just turned into Ranima." Shakti stormed out, making Pratap look taken aback and wide-eyed at Ajabdeh.
"Whoa. Your wife?" He looked amused. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." She looked up at him. "Well…"
"Ajabdeh." Pratap reasoned, "You know how Ranima is. Both Heer and Shakti are responsible adults in charge of their own lives. Neither you nor Ranima can control them." He sat down across from her. "And I don't find anything in their behaviour that says otherwise. You both are overthinking it. They are just friends. Two people of the same age gel better than others. It's a fact." Ajabdeh looked up at his words.
"I don't want to be held guilty of some sort by Ranima."
"If anything happens, I will deal with it." He reassured her. "Make up with Shakti now." He smiled, "He must be sulking."
The anniversary party was looking more extravagant in its few hours at the Sisodiya farmhouse than their entire wedding. Jaivanta had a special attraction for everyone: the dancing fountains. The designer was here to mesmerise with his planning. The cake was a five-tiered one with small replicas of things close to them on it. This time, Ajabdeh was happy that she could choose her pastel pink one-shouldered cocktail dress, which she teamed with her anniversary gift, a diamond set of earrings, necklace and bracelet that Ranima gifted. She was also in charge of choosing Pratap's red wine shade of evening suit that complemented her dress.
After a tiring day of attending to guests and being forced to dance in heels, much to the amusement of Jalal, Rukaiya and Shakti, Ajabdeh was relieved to be home. The moment she entered the room, she took off her heels and threw them in a corner.
"I get scolded when I do that," Pratap complained, closing the door behind him.
"Try walking in heels once." She snapped. "You get scolded because it's a daily habit." She winced as she put her feet up on the couch. He sat down, removing his bow tie and suit, at her feet and started giving her a foot massage. Ajabdeh tilted her head slightly at him and smiled. He smiled back, amused.
"You like this, don't you?" He asked. She nodded. "I hate heels."
"I hate you for not taking an anniversary gift." He sulked, "How can you not figure out what you want?"
"I am not sparing you. I am just taking my time." She reminded him with an amused smile. He suddenly pulled her closer by her legs, startling her. "Take all the time you want." He said, tickling her waist and making her laugh.
"Stop it." She slapped at his hands as he closed in over her figure and sealed her laughter with a kiss.
"So, have you decided?" Ajabdeh stood clueless at Mausi's words. It's been two days since the anniversary, and Mausi, Heer and the girls were supposed to leave that day, prompting Ajabdeh to take a day off.
"Ranima never asks me to take a day off for guests." Pratap had snapped. "You go if you absolutely need to."
"It's okay. Heer will be leaving too. I will drop her off at the airport. I won't see much of her around for the next few months." She had reassured him.
"Decided on what?" Ajabdeh looked at Jaivanta, who exchanged a look with Mausi. The elderly ladies were sipping tea on the lawn.
"Having children, of course." Mausi looked too obvious "Aren't you aware of the Sisodiya traditions? Jija had Pratap two months after her first anniversary. You younger generation…"
"We never… err… discussed it." Ajabdeh looked awkward.
"Then it's high time you did. Besides, you two love kids. You spend most of your Sundays at the children's homes." Ajabdeh looked up at her words. The words were spoken by her, but the thoughts were someone else's. "Besides, you don't need to stop working or anything. Nobody in our circles raises their own kids." Mausi smiled. "Right, Jija?"
"Absolutely." Jaivanta agreed. "Mine was raised by my mother-in-law over summer vacations and, of course, Sajja." She looked up at Ajabdeh. "Talk to him."
As Ajabdeh accompanied Heer to the airport, she was too lost in her own world to talk. She actually needed to have this conversation. She dreaded how Pratap would react. Furthermore, she dreaded what it would take to raise a responsible human being. Was she even ready to be a mother?
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