Impulsive Choices

All of the girls you loved before, but I love you more ~ All Of The Girls.

Ajabdeh had no idea why Shakti invited their classmates over. They barely talked to him. She looked around the groups of people scattered around the game room, some near the bowling alley, some near the foosball table and others inspecting the Xbox while Shakti attended to them all. Her attention was immediately grabbed by a girl who had wandered off outside the sliding door to the pool area. Ranima had said the pool was off-limits. Ajabdeh was quick to her feet and walked up to the girl.

“Excuse me?” The girl stopped and turned and seemed a little flabbergasted at her sight. “You aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Ajabdeh Punwar?” The girl asked as she nodded unsurely. “I am such a fan!” Ajabdeh was taken aback by the sudden hug from her. “I am new to the school, and I wanted to join the debate team, but they said…”

“Wait.” Ajabdeh stopped the girl from going any further and eyed the pool as she spoke. “I am sorry, but this area is off-limits.”

“Oh, I am so sorry. Is this your house?” The girl was curious again, following her back into the house as Ajabdeh slid the door closed. 

“You are at a party and don’t even know whose house it is?” Ajabdeh raised her brows suspiciously. The girl seemed intimidated.

“Umm, sorry I…. No, the address was given in the school group and… “ Ajabdeh gasped. Shakti had invited everyone without even knowing them all. So immature of him. She was sure it had something to do with Pratap and his friends coming over. Pratap! She had to find him. She was about to leave when the girl stopped her with eager eyes.

“Umm… no. This is Shakti's house, I am his neighbour…” Ajabdeh managed.

“I am Rukaiya.” The girl extended her hand. “It's an honour to meet the undefeated debate champion.” Ajabdeh shook her hand, a little amused. She had never had someone in the school hail her for that achievement. “I just moved here from Lucknow, and we also have a business in Agra which is handled by my uncle…” She spoke as Ajabdeh offered her some snacks and juice. “Umm… you may know him. Jahan Marbles?” Ajabdeh’s attention was now on her.

“You know Jalal?” She asked as Rukaiya nodded. “Yes indeed, he is my cousin… I mean, not really, but our great-grandfathers were half brothers, so… my mother calls his father her brother.” Her eyes lit up. “Are you his friend?” Ajabdeh shook her head. “But I know someone who is…” She wanted to get out of the room and find him fast. “Excuse me, I will see if… someone in the kitchen needs my help.” She excused herself and walked away.

“I don’t know if it's something Varun said…” Pratap looked at his friend whispering to him while the others debated over the budget at the table. The sun shone on his eyes, making him frown a little as he looked sternly at Jalal.

“How does it matter?”

“What do you mean? Pratap! Ajabdeh has a crush on you, and she… lives right here.” Jalal made a frantic hand gesture at her house as Pratap stopped him quickly, fearing they would attract attention.

“Must be one of her stupid bookish ideas.” Pratap shook her head. “Ask her, and she will say Oh, it's just something I read in a book.” He taunted in Ajabdeh’s dialect.

“Why does she make your skin crawl?” Jalal frowned at him, “She is a nice girl.”

“Well then, date her yourself!” Pratap let out a chuckle as he patted Jalal’s back. Jalal was not convinced, so Pratap sighed and continued, “I am sure it's all something Varun made up in his little head.” Although Pratap convinced Jalal, his thoughts travelled to the day he had asked his brother and her about what Varun said, and they didn’t answer. If this were true, what was Ajabdeh thinking? She wasn’t a child anymore. Their families were tied in a business and personal equation. Such things could ruin ages of hard work. Their’s was not an equation to ever be emotional about, especially when you are fourteen. Besides, what made her think he could even like her? His eyes travelled to his friends. She wasn’t like any of them. They were feminine, sophisticated and not people who would publicly shame others. He remembered the charity ball event like it was yesterday. Miss Punwar wore a reused dress from her wardrobe instead of a designer one and went ahead and told the media that she found it an unnecessary waste of money that could be given to the poor to spend on designer clothing lines. Their textile business nearly lost a few clients over her little debacle. Yet his Dad and her father never bothered to give her a piece of their minds. They found her free-spirited. The right phrase for that would be someone who spoke without thinking of consequences. Pratap found such behaviour extremely problematic, especially given their social hierarchy. 

His eyes caught the attention of his classmate Samaira Rathore’s laughter ringing over someone’s joke. Someone like her. He would like that. A smile formed on the corner of his lips. Someone he could be seen with in public and not be embarrassed about it, someone who is diplomatic and knows how to behave and appear in the public eye. Someone beautiful and talented. Jalal’s eyes travelled with his to Samaira, and he shook his head.

“Don’t tell me you like her?” Pratap frowned at his judgmental tone.

“What if I do?” he asked. 

“Well then, go tell her.” Jalal’s tone was challenging and made Pratap frown. “I just don’t think you do.”

“Oh, I do. And I will.” He said stubbornly. What was not to like in Samaira? Most guys would be dying to date her!

Jaivanta sent Ajabdeh upstairs to call Pratap and his friends down for lunch. She didn’t like the staff doing that to guests and preferred Ajabdeh inviting them down to the dining hall instead. Ajabdeh decided this was a good time when Pratap let the others go before him out of courtesy so she could corner him and have a quick conversation. That way it won’t be dwelling or awkward. Ajabdeh reached the threshold and froze in front of everyone, wooing and clapping as Pratap and Samaira held hands and smiled. For a moment, Ajabdeh felt like she was paralysed in her spot and couldn’t move. Her voice was lost. It was then that Jalal noticed her from his corner of the roof and waved, “Ajabdeh?” Pratap followed his gaze to her as the others were still busy gushing over what happened around Samaira, who was blushing. Who would have known Pratap Singh Sisodiya had a crush on her?

“I … umm… Ranima called everyone downstairs.” Before she could see their reactions, Ajabdeh turned and ran down the stairs in a hurry. Pratap stepped forward almost in a reflex with narrowed brows, trying to stop her when he saw Jalal smile at him. Realising what Jalal was thinking he clenched his jaws and turned to divert his attention back to Samaira.

“Are you sick?” Shakti’s words startled Ajabdeh as she sat by the poolside alone.

“No.” She shook her head. “Well, you didn’t eat much or socialise…” he tried to talk. Everyone had left, and the dusk was painted in an orangish hue. 

“I don’t like small talk…”

“I thought you made friends with Rukaiya.” Shakti frowned.

“She befriended me.” Ajabdeh shrugged. Shakti didn’t know what else to say, and he gathered it was best to let her be. After he left, Ajabdeh heaved a sigh and wondered why she felt so numb. She could understand if she felt sad or teary or even annoyed, but no, she could not understand her feelings. Maybe they were yet to sink in. When a pair of footsteps came closer again, Ajabdeh was annoyed.

“I am fine, Shakti, what is wrong with…” She glanced over her shoulder and found Jalal standing behind her with his hands in the pockets of the sweatshirt he wore. Ajabdeh inhaled. Jalal noticed her annoyance as his faint smile disappeared. 

“What do you want?” She asked suspiciously as Jalal sat down uninvited beside her.

“Just checking on you, if you are okay?” He tried to study her as she looked away, locks of her hair blocking his view of her face.

“Why won’t I be?” Ajabdeh retorted as Jalal raised his eyebrows. 

“Well. I can tell you some reasons if you want me to. But would you like that?”

Ajabdeh looked a bit taken aback and scared as she asked softly, “Does he know?” Jalal nodded in silence as Ajabdeh shook her head. “Shit shit shit!” She hid her face with her palms in embarrassment. “He was not supposed to find out!”

“Calm down, it is not the end of the world!” Jalal frowned at her reaction.

“Easy for you to say!” Ajabdeh looked up at him, annoyed. “If you have come here to sympathise, I don't want your pity. I just want all this to go away…”

“I have not come here to sympathise…” Jalal shook his head and got up, interrupting her. “I came here to thank you.” Ajabdeh frowned at his words.

“Why thank me?” She asked, surprised, getting up to face him.

“Well, Rukaiya doesn’t have many friends here. Her mother moved here after her father passed away, and my parents are helping them out financially. She told me you were nice to her. It means a lot.” He bowed, almost making Ajabdeh take a step back as her brows shot up. Jalal smiled, “So thank you,” and left briskly as Ajabdeh watched him leave. She realised she needed to be genuinely friendly towards poor Rukaiya. But a part of her felt hollow. She knew it was going to be a long night of crying into her pillow and waking up pretending as if nothing had happened. Maybe it was for the best, as it would help her get over her silly crush faster. Samaira was… so different. She had no idea Pratap even liked her. She had been at loggerheads with the girl once, over the practice hall for the fest. Ajabdeh shook her head, desperately trying to stop herself from losing composure there and made her way home. From the balcony overlooking the pool below, Pratap watched her go as his brows narrowed with a sigh. Was it his fault that she was hurt? Sooner or later, she would have been. But why was he so bothered about it? Wasn’t it a happy day, and he should be focused on Samaira instead? He shook his head and walked back to his room and dialled Samaira’s number.