Pratap Singh had never expected the sight that he witnessed in front of his eyes. Ajabdeh had done an impossible feat. She had managed to drag Shakti out on a Sunday and that too for charity purposes.
Although Pratap had informed Shakti about the event he was almost sure that his little brother would find a perfect excuse for not going. He had left the house hearing he wasn’t in his room. Pratap had assumed he had gone to meet some friends. He was in for a surprise.
Pratap had reached the address Ajabdeh texted him to find a rather old rescue centre with a large hall full of enclosures, a lawn at the back and some stables beyond it. His eyes scanned the crowd to spot Ajabdeh in a pair of denim and a black top, with the animal rescue volunteer cap set above her ponytail. She was holding a puppy up for someone who looked like a vet inspecting it while much to his surprise his younger brother stood watching.
“You are late, Dadabhai.” His words made Ajabdeh turn to smile at him. Pratap shrugged.
“That’s a first. You are not.” He checked his watch.
“I figured I could put my Sunday to good use too. Ajabdeh works so hard throughout the week and doesn’t even take a Sunday off. It’s so inspiring.” Shakti grinned.
“Ohh stop it!” Ajabdeh looked awkward at the praise.
“That is so inspiring.” Pratap shook his head narrowing his eyes at his brother “It never occurred to you that both Dad and I have been working hard forever while you party your days away?”
“See! There it is. I told you.” Shakti pointed, making Ajabdeh nod much to Pratap’s surprise.
“What?” He asked.
Shakti shrugged “You just need an excuse to start lecturing me on life.”
“I am sure Ajabdeh is no different with Heer?” Pratap raised his brows hoping to get some support from Ajabdeh as the older sibling. She nodded.
“There you go.” The vet interrupted. “An injection tomorrow and he will be fine.” Ajabdeh held the puppy carefully in her arms like a newborn and carried it to one of the empty enclosures, whispering calmly into its ears. It squeaked in response.
“How can we help?” Pratap asked folding the sleeves of his shirt up one by one neatly.
“Well, it is some dirty work.” Ajabdeh looked alarmed at the way he dressed tidily. Pratap shrugged.
“Can I go look at the cats?” Shakti interrupted sounding almost like a child. “They look fun!”
Ajabdeh nodded. “Sure. Go on. Help wherever you feel like.”
“Do you really know about horses?” She asked, turning to Pratap, making him narrow his eyebrows.
“Why would you think that I lied?” She ignored his question.
“Come let me show you the two horses we have. One is old and was about to be put down when we rescued him, another, looked injured. We are still waiting for the farm vet for him.”
Pratap agreed.
Ajabdeh saw Pratap get down on his knees to inspect the injured leg of the horse, without worrying about the dirt or his clothes getting soiled. She leaned against the fence watching him inspect the animal as he spoke.
“I think it’s cut from something thorny; doesn’t look metal or anything to me. I guess you can wait for the farm vet. He looks just in pain but the infection hasn’t spread.”
“That’s a relief.” Ajabdeh sighed “They have been trying hard to get a farm vet to volunteer daily. But nobody seems interested.”
“It’s tough to find people working without pay these days.” Pratap got up on his feet and brushed the straw off his clothes. “But you didn’t say why you think I lied?”
“Well...” Ajabdeh smiled sheepishly “I assumed it was because Ratnawati asked and you couldn’t say no.”
“You thought I was trying to impress her?” Pratap asked, a little surprised.
“Not really.” Ajabdeh shook her head “But from what I observed of men, they usually act differently in front of certain people.”
“Is that so?” Pratap asked, crossing his hands over his chest. “Did any of them act differently in front of you?”
“I...” Ajabdeh looked a little funny “Yes... many times. It’s awkward.” “Why is it awkward if someone likes you?” He asked almost with a chuckle.
“Because ... well... I have nothing to offer.” Ajabdeh shrugged “I am never interested to invest in any sort of relationship or partnership that way...”
“Are you... afraid?” Pratap asked the question almost in a reflex. Ajabdeh looked away. Pratap instantly realised she was not comfortable and apologized.
“Sorry if that was out of ....”
“No. It’s just that I have always seen myself working; doing things for Heer. My mother. And I never wanted anything beyond. This is my world. I am happy with it. Five years down the line I will still be happy if this business works out fine and I can help a few more people.”
“And animals...” Pratap smiled.
“Yes, animals.” Ajabdeh looked around satisfied.
“I wish I was that self-content and selfless at the same time.” Pratap shrugged “That’s quite impressive.”
“Is it?” Ajabdeh narrowed her brows “I thought it’s a defence mechanism that comes naturally when grooms try to flirt with you at the very weddings you plan.” She let out a chuckle.
“Oh really?” Pratap asked surprised.”Did that happen too? My God!”
Ajabdeh nodded. “A lot of times. In fact, we have these secret code words for our female employees at each wedding just in case some drunken uncle or groomsmen hover around them. There was once a groom who tried to misbehave with me at the bachelor’s party.”
“What did you do?” Pratap asked curiously.
“I did what I felt right. I told the bride.” She shrugged. “I lost the wedding and they had a divorce within a year.”
“She went ahead with it?” Pratap looked surprised. Ajabdeh nodded. “Most do. Because weddings aren’t just marriages. They are business contracts.” Pratap nodded in agreement.
“I guess mine was too.” He said almost thinking aloud as she looked up at his face. “I mean the engagement; she always used to say our family businesses will flourish if merged.” Ajabdeh nodded.
“I am nobody to judge but can I ask you something?” Ajabdeh asked,
“Are you okay with that sort of a thing? I mean that day you said you prefer someone looking beyond your name and...”
“I just don’t think realistically I can find someone who wouldn’t like to use the name for her own benefits.”
“That’s sad to hear. And here I was, judging men only.” She shrugged.
“My apologies on behalf of my gender.” Pratap shook his head. “It must be more dreadful what you face every day.”
“Well the conditions aren’t ideal for women in business, but we have learnt to get our way through.” Ajabdeh stopped to put the gloves on along with the mud boots as he watched “Well I am going for the pig sty.” Ajabdeh smiled “You can find Shakti and help him out. Thank you again, for coming out here.”
“Can I go too?” He asked as Ajabdeh looked amused.
“In the muddy, smelly and dirty sty?” She asked. “Sure.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice he chose to ignore.
She watched him put on the boots as she warned “You may feel nauseating.” “I will be fine.” Pratap looked up at her “You seem to be doing it.”
“I am used to it.”
“I will get used to it.” Pratap stood up and opened the fenced gates of the sty for Ajabdeh to enter.
“I don’t think your parents would approve of you in such a mess,” Ajabdeh spoke, putting a mask on to cover her nose.
“I know Dad will be proud. Ranima is a bit.... conservative.” Pratap spoke, “But she is very kind at heart.” Ajabdeh nodded “I will be forever grateful to her for letting us stay.”
Pratap stared at her and he felt like her eyes shone a little. Ajabdeh looked away and he watched as she went into the mud and checked on one of the pigs. Pratap did feel nauseating, but watching her hold and touch the pigs as easily as she did the puppy made him feel nice by just observing her.
“I would like to come by and help once a month if that is okay with you?” He asked once they were out in the sun as he put his glasses back on.
“You are most welcome.” Ajabdeh smiled. “Both of you.” She added as Shakti approached them.
“It was fun but I think one of the kittens took away my button.” He pointed at a missing button on his shirt as Ajabdeh and Pratap laughed.
“We will see you around,” Pratap spoke as Ajabdeh nodded watching them leave before she went back into the rescue centre.
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