"I can't seem to get his life back on track," Jaivanta spoke sipping tea. "Ever since that girl ruined his faith in love, he has been running around thinking of everyone else in the world except for himself."
Udai sat with his face buried in the newspaper unresponsive and Sajja stood beside her chair serving tea.
"Are you even listening?" Jaivanta asked irked.
"Well let him do it then." Udai seemed uninterested "You tried and failed. You liked someone who ended up being a criminal, clearly, your choices are questionable."
"I can't believe you said that over one mistake." Jaivanta inhaled "I chose you."
Udai folded his paper and kept it down on the coffee table.
"No, your father did." He smiled. "And that was exactly my point Jaivanta. One mistake doesn't make someone wrong. He also chose the wrong person once. Let him have a second chance."
"I fear the worst." She snapped.
"What can be worse than a criminal?" Udai seemed amused "You do realise you liked Ajabdeh for her pedigree and work before you realised she affects him right?"
"Ajabdeh?" Jaivanta shot her husband a glance "Where did she come from?"
"You tell me." Udai smiled, getting up "Sajja please tell her to stop interfering in his life if she doesn't want to push him away."
Jaivanta placed her cup down on the table looking worried as he walked away.
"Sajja." She spoke, "We can look for a suitable man for Ajabdeh instead right?" She looked hopeful "After all that's what Hansa wanted, us to look after her girls. Then Pratap would stop feeling guilty and running to her at every beck and call."
"Sorry Ma'am but ... I don't feel that is what Hansa Ma'am meant." Jaivanta looked up as Sajja was silenced.
"What do you mean there is a fire? Where is Ajabdeh?" Jalal stood up looking pale. Rukaiya sobbed on the other end "I don't know. I really don't know. One of the employees called me saying the NGO caught fire... and people are trapped inside... she can't find Ajabdeh. I am sure she was in there."
"Who else did you call?" Jalal asked, grabbing the keys to his car and dashing out of the house.
"I... Shakti..." Rukaiya fumbled "I can't call Heer, she is miles away."
"That's a wise decision. I am on my way."
Udai paced the room and stared at the vintage grandfather clock. Jaivanta sat with her hand on her forehead, eyes moist. Sajja sat on the floor beside her, holding her hand tight.
"I should call Shakti," Udai spoke. "It's been hours."
"My children didn't need to go. There will be firefighters and rescuers there. I am sure." Jaivanta sobbed " What was Ajabdeh doing there at night?"
"Rukaiya said they couldn't find her," Sajja said softly. "How did the building catch fire...."
"It didn't." Udai spoke as he picked up his phone "This looks like sabotage." Jaivanta looked up scared at her husband.
"Will Ajabdeh be okay?" For the first time, Sajja was pleased that Jaivanta asked about her. " I am glad Hansa isn't here to face all this."
" She will be fine. They just need to find her."
"You are not understanding, Officer." It was Lata who intercepted Pratap and Shakti trying to break out of the police barricade. "She is stuck in there."
"I know Mr Singh and the professionals are doing their best to locate her. Please cooperate with us."
"What do you mean to cooperate?" Shakti looked angry "We have been standing here and watching the place burn. She is a friend and she is inside."
"Look she is my friend too." Lata spoke calmly, putting her hands up to stop the men "Being impulsive won't work here, we can't go inside. There is protocol."
"Screw your protocol," Pratap said under his breath as he clenched his jaws and his heart beat faster watching the smoke rise and fill the sky above.
"Have they found her?" It was Jalal who had pushed through the crowd towards Lata. "Hello, I am Jalaluddin Mohammad, nephew of the NGO trustee head here. What happened?"
"Great we have been calling your home number for a while now. Come with me." Lata said directing him away "We need to talk. and I need an employees list."
"Sure, please wait a moment." Jalal turned to Shakti and Pratap. "Stay here, don't do anything stupid."
"And watch the place burn to the ground?" Jalal didn't expect that from Shakti but he spoke first "She is IN THERE!"
"Oh, there she is," Lata exclaimed as one of the firefighters emerged out of the smoky building with an unconscious Ajabdeh in his arms. "Quick the Ambulance."
"She is breathing faintly" The man managed to speak in between gasps. "Take her to the hospital she is bleeding."
"Bleeding?" It was Pratap who moved towards her unconscious body being wheeled away. "I will go with her."
"I will follow in the car," Shakti spoke.
"Keep me informed." Jalal watched them leave.
Pratap's eyes were fixed on the beeping monitor. The sound brought back a familiar memory as he looked at her cold hands between his. Her clothes were bloody and soiled. The nurse in the van was cleaning away blood from her forehead.
" Head injury, minor burns, suffocation." He heard her talk on the phone as the ambulance zoomed through the city.
" Yes, we are reaching the hospital now." Shakti disconnected his father's call as he drove behind the ambulance.
Pratap had barely let go of her hands as she was wheeled away when he noticed Shakti's hand on his shoulder.
"Do you think it's them?" Pratap asked, looking perplexed.
"Possible." Shakti spoke, "Veer Singh does have his connections."
"This is all my fault. I gave away her name to Tara." Pratap spoke as he sat down on the bench with his hands on his head. Shakti noticed the blood on his sleeves.
"She suffered blood loss. She must have been..."
"Attacked." Pratap finished. "I shouldn't have left her alone."
"Stop blaming yourself Dadabhai, even if you didn't name her, they would have found out anyways and tried to eliminate the only eyewitness before the court appearances. We know how it works."
"The world is too corrupt. What if something happens to her Shakti? What will we tell Heer? How will I face..." At that moment he realised how all the while Hansa knew her daughter inside out and chose him to look out for her. He'd failed her too.
"Calm down Dadabhai." Shakti sat down beside him and said, "Nothing will happen." Footsteps made them look up as Udai and Jaivanta approached them. Shakti moved from the seat and let Jaivanta sit beside her firstborn.
"Blood?" Jaivanta started in panic "Are you..."
"That's hers," Pratap said, his emotions hard to decipher. Jaivanta looked up at Shakti "How is she?"
"Alive. Till now." It was Pratap who answered. Jaivanta got up and walked away with Shakti.
"Will she be alright?" She asked eyeing Pratap.
"I think so." Shakti spoke "Someone attacked her. They rendered her unconscious before the fire. There is enough evidence of sabotage. The hearing is in a month, so the police will provide security. But I don't think she will accept..."
"I just want her to get better. Heer has been informed?" Jaivanta asked. Shakti shook his head "Rukaiya said that won't be a good idea."
"I will call her once she is conscious." Jaivanta spoke, " Have you spoken to Jalal?" Shakti nodded "He is being questioned."
"My goodness. All these are heard of. But it's completely different first-hand." Jaivanta wiped some sweat off her forehead with a tissue "I am glad Hansa didn't witness this."
"Ranima?" Shakti asked, "Why are you so against... umm...."
"I have nothing against Ajabdeh, but I do have a problem with your Dadabhai and his decisions. He can't assume something Hansa said and marry a reckless girl like that. Do you think he loves her?"
"No." Shakti nodded confidently. "But somehow he feels he needs to look out for them because of what Aunty..." Jaivanta nodded.
"I am so worried, Shakti. For him. For her." Shakti held his mother's hands.
"Are you okay?" Pratap looked up at his father's question. Never had those words ever been heard from his father's mouth. Not when he got stitches falling from a cycle. Not when he came second by two marks and was terribly upset, not when he left home to study abroad, and not when his engagement broke.
" I feel like I have failed Hansa Aunty's expectations," Pratap said truthfully. "Honestly we are not even friends yet I am concerned. If anything happens to her... I will not be able to forgive myself."
"Nothing will happen to her." Udai was firm with his reassurance. "She will be fine. And stop feeling guilty. Some things are beyond our hands, hence it is fate."
Pratap nodded in silence. The nurse walked out of the closed doors as the Sisodiyas approached her.
"She has regained consciousness. You can go meet her. Two persons at a time, for five minutes."
"Jaivanta you go meet her, I will check if Jalal needs help," Udai spoke. " I will see you back home."
Pratap sat back on his chair, as relief swept across his face.
Jaivanta placed her hand gently over the bandage as Ajabdeh struggled to open her eyes.
"I..." her voice was feeble as she tried to get up in vain.
"No, stay." Jaivanta said almost like a scolding "You are weak, rest."
"How do you feel?" Shakti asked as Ajabdeh smiled faintly. "What happened?"
"I... stayed back as it was late, and the cab I booked cancelled. I checked on the children and turned the corridor lights off. And took out my phone to dial Heer." She said very softly "Then something hit me. I blacked out. I regained my senses and I was here."
"Did you see anyone?" Shakti asked. Ajabdeh shook her head. "I felt a burning sensation on my back."
"They set the NGO on fire," Jaivanta spoke. "Jalal is there with Lata. They won't be spared."
"Oh, my god." Ajabdeh sank into the bed almost in distress. "Is everyone okay?"
"They are safe, don't worry." Shakti spoke, "But Lata will urge you for police protection."
"Or we can arrange a private bodyguard." Jaivanta suggested, "If you want."
She shook her head. "I am fine."
"You saved Pratap from that girl so I am grateful." Jaivanta spoke, "If you need any help let me know."
They left soon, and Ajabdeh closed her eyes tired from all the thoughts running in her head. It was Rukaiya's sob that woke her up.
"Why are you crying? I am fine."
"I was so scared... I..." Rukaiya held her hand "Are you alright?"
"Yes I am." Ajabdeh lied.
"None of this would have happened if you were some big shot name and not another common person. They wouldn't dare mess with big names." Pratap stopped at the threshold at Rukaiya's words which came out almost like a rebuke. " I bet if Jalal or Pratap were witnesses they wouldn't dare touch them!"
"I am sorry I am in so much trouble, Rukaiya. I make it worse for everyone." Ajabdeh said genuinely as her eyes travelled to the door "Mr Singh?"
Rukaiya looked at Pratap at her words and picked up her bag, wiping away her tears. "I will come back in the evening." Ajabdeh nodded with a reassuring smile.
"How are you?" As soon as Rukaiya left Pratap walked up to her side of the bed.
"I am fine" Ajabdeh winced in pain "Just hurt a little."
"Ajabdeh I am so sorry I had no idea that this could..." Pratap looked distraught. He hadn't slept and his hair looked messed up.
"You are not at fault here. Please stop apologizing." Ajabdeh noticed the blood on his shirt " I am sorry for the trouble. Please go home."
"But I..." He looked lost.
"Thank you for coming over." Ajabdeh said firmly "The police are here for me now."
"They were not letting us inside. I tried but that officer..." Pratap relived the moments.
"Perhaps because the building was on fire?" Her voice was almost amused.
"You were trapped inside and they couldn't find you, so we were very scared." He reasoned.
"I am sorry for the trouble again, please go home now." Ajabdeh's words made him turn to leave but he stopped. "Ajabdeh we need to talk."
"About what?" She asked with a frown. "I am not refusing to be a witness."
" I am not saying that… but...Your safety... Rukaiya is right, none of this would have happened if you were a big name." Pratap almost blurted.
"If her comment hurt you I apologize..." Ajabdeh's voice was monotonous. "She didn't mean…"
"No, what I mean is, perhaps Hansa Aunty was afraid of this knowing you. Hence she... did that... umm.... thing." Pratap looked down at her hand, taped in the blood and saline pipes, awkward.
"My head is hurting." Ajabdeh looked away "Please let me rest now."
" But I..." Pratap looked at her and sighed "Think about it. Please."
Ajabdeh shot him a glance. Her face looked amused.
"What's so funny?" He was rather annoyed at her.
"Do you even realise what you are saying?" Ajabdeh asked glancing at him "I hope you know that Mrs Singh thinks I am one of those typical middle-class girls with high ambitions and limited resources hoping for a lottery ticket."
"No, she doesn't." He defended.
"And she is not wrong about some of it. You are that lottery ticket." She continued ignoring his protest. "But I don't want it. I can take care of myself. I get that all of you were worried I am sorry for that. But what you are asking for is too much." She looked away. "What my mother thought of, is too much."
"It is not more than the cost of your life. I know you think I am some kind of an emotional fool Ajabdeh. I know you are aware of what my mother wants. I know I am not in love with you. I won't tell you otherwise. I am perhaps acting out of guilt. But we both know it is your mother's last wish. And it will be logical to honour it."
"My head is hurting Pratap." She spoke again looking away. "Go home." Pratap walked away, faster than he usually did.
Jalal caught him in the parking lot, with Lata in tow.
"We have news." Lata spoke "I intercepted a suspect, a paid goon. Things don't look good Mr Singh. Honestly, her life is in danger even now. I posted a police constable outside her chamber. After the court hearing, I will have to lift the security around her as per protocol. But the people like Veer Singh don't forgive and forget. They have close aides roaming free seeking revenge."
"What do we do?" Jalal asked concerned "Should we tell her to leave the city? Maybe go stay with her sister?"
"That can harm her sister too." Lata dismissed, "Unfortunately the law can take action only if something happens. My hands are tied, from preventing something."
"I understand," Jalal spoke.
"Tell me honestly, officer." Pratap spoke lost in thought "Would any of this have happened if it was me or him?" Jalal frowned at his words "They wouldn't dare mess with big names and become front-page news it?"
"Of course not. Besides they would fear the consequences too." Lata agreed.
"Where are you going with this?" Jalal interrupted.
"There is only one way then Jalal." Pratap looked up as Jalal shook his head "You know she will never agree to save herself at the cost of ..."
"Heer will understand won't she?" Pratap asked, "She can't lose her sister."
"What about your family?" Jalal asked, "You can't only think of saving her."
"I know Dad will be proud of me. Ranima will eventually understand." Pratap sounded distant "Her life is more important."
"What about yours?" Jalal asked " Have you thought about it? This is for a lifetime."
Pratap stood in silence.
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