Never Ever

“But this time I am telling you, we are never ever getting back together.” ~ Never Ever Getting Back Together

The first person Jalal saw visiting Rukaiya once she was brought back home was, surprisingly, Pratap. He had expected Ajabdeh or Shakti or even Heer to drop by once Rukaiya was settled in, but Pratap’s car in the porch surprised him. Perhaps the incident moved Pratap or shook him more than Jalal expected. While the appointed nurses set up Rukaiya’s room to keep her under surveillance around the clock, and the mothers doted on her a little more than she wanted, perhaps Jalal could sense the surprise on her face the moment Pratap approached them. Rukaiya did not hesitate to ask about Shakti and Ajabdeh. Pratap eyed Jalal’s unreadable face at her mention and shrugged to inform Rukaiya that he had no idea about them since the wedding. He, on the other hand, wanted to talk to Jalal right after sharing pleasantries. It made more sense now. The moment Rukaiya and Jalal shared a glance, they knew that they were thinking the same thing. As soon as Jalal stepped into the room with Pratap, he seemed a little restless.

“Is something wrong?” Jalal asked, only to break the eerie silence of the room. 

“No, I… just heard that I will be sent off to Sarangpura to learn the trades for a few days.” He shrugged as Jalal raised his eyebrows. 

“But you just got here.”

“I know, but the company will be officially handed over to us in a month, and the parents want us to learn the trade at a root level before we take the reins.”

“We?” Jalal nodded his head as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I see.”

“I… Ajabdeh wanted to go alone.” Jalal was not sure where Pratap was going with it. “But they said…”

“You don’t want to go to Sarangpura?” There was a hint of disbelief in Jalal’s voice, and he didn’t try to hide it, “I mean … you loved the place.”

“I do but… I am not sure if … it's a problem going with her.” Pratap was not sure what to say anymore as Jalal frowned slightly. “A problem? To whom?”

Pratap was quiet as Jalal sighed, and a faint smile appeared in the corner of his lips. 

“I told you it is over, for good.” He shook his head. “We are friends, we will always care, but…” He paused as his eyes fell on a picture frame of his family on the table, and back at Pratap. “I have my priorities, and she has hers. If you think I will have an issue… we are never getting back together.” The last words came out more hurriedly and firmly than Jalal intended to. Pratap looked up at him as if he didn’t believe his words. “She helped me realise a lot of things. I appreciate that.” Jalal extended his hand before Pratap could ask any follow-up questions. “All the best for your training at Sarangpura. I hope to catch up with you once you are back.” Pratap shook his hand with a silent nod. “Keep in touch.”

“I will call you,” Pratap reassured him.

Ajabdeh had checked her speech for the hundredth time and placed a comma, making Shakti take her laptop away. 

“You know it is not an English period, and nobody will hear or judge your comma.” He spoke, a little annoyed. “Stop being paranoid.”

“It is my first impression.” Ajabdeh inhaled as if she had forgotten to breathe, “Can’t you see how important it is to be perfect on the first day?”

“First impressions are never the last,” Shakti said rather firmly. “Remember that.”

“It is in some cases,” Ajabdeh argued. “Haven’t you heard of love at first sight?” Staring at her in disbelief, Shakti tried to control his laughter and failed. He held his stomach lightly and rolled across her messy bed, making her frown as she watched him.

“You will say anything for the sake of winning an argument, Ajab. I don’t even know if that’s good or bad,” he shook his head with a chuckle. “Now, Heer will help you pack.” He pushed the empty trolley towards her as she shook her head. 

“There’s still time…” Ajabdeh protested feebly, “But the introduction is tomorrow.”

“And you will be great.” Shakti reminded her. “At least let's go visit Rukaiya?” His suggestion made Ajabdeh look away awkwardly as he frowned.

“What? Now you can’t visit her because of…”

“It is not that.” She shook her head firmly. “I am not sure he told his family yet.”

“Then talk to him.” Shakti shrugged. “Always better in person.” He pushed a reluctant Ajabdeh towards the closet. ”You need to get out for a while, this is a good excuse…”

“Is it because of Rukaiya’s incident that she wants nothing to do with our family?” Hamida asked the question to her son, as Humayun looked up at them.

“No,” he shook his head. “We decided that before we got the news.” Jalal wished the topic would be done with soon, but his parents seemed displeased for some reason.

“Then why…” Humayun frowned.

“Sometimes you realise you want different things,” he shrugged at his father, who frowned some more, cluelessly.

“Then it must be about your sudden interest in adventure in your career?” Jalal smiled slightly at his father’s rebuking tone. “I bet the CEO of a company would never approve of something so unstable.” He grunted.

“It was she who pushed me to it,” Jalal said rather crossly. “Don’t get me wrong, we are still friends.” He observed his clueless parents exchanging a rather confused look. He did not blame them for not understanding him or Ajabdeh. They were married young and never befriended people of the opposite sex. Such kinds of ideas were quite alien to them. But before he could reassure them further, they heard Sultanam greet familiar voices in the hallway. Although Jalal tried very hard to keep a straight face, his mother still observed a sudden change as he looked away and excused himself as her voice rang through the hallway, greeting Rukaiya in a cheerful tone before she entered her room.

Ajabdeh found it hard to control her tears as she hugged Rukaiya, who seemed to melt in her arms.

“Don’t you ever do something like that again!” She snapped as Rukaiya smiled at her, teary-eyed, “I am sorry, I am… I put you all through…” Rukaiya sobbed, hugging her.

“Rukaiya.” Shakti shook his head as he placed his hand on Rukaiya’s head. “Stop. Are you feeling better?” She looked up at his face and smiled faintly. “I don’t know. But I will be better.”

“You have to be because in a month you will attend our CEO Ajabdeh Punwar’s official incorporation afterparty.” Shakti smiled as Rukaiya gasped, wiping her tears in a hurry.

“Wow, it's time! Congratulations.” She hugged Ajabdeh again. “I will be there with Jalal.” Ajabdeh smiled faintly at her with a nod as Shakti stood up and excused himself to go greet Humayun, and the ladies were left alone. Shakti stopped as he met Jalal in the corridor. He seemed to try to get out of their way, and Shakti greeted him. Jalal smiled faintly, unsure of how Shakti saw him or what he was told by his best friend.

“Didn’t expect you so early in the morning…” He tried to make light conversation as Shakti put his hand in his pocket and shrugged. “Ajab wanted to see Rukaiya.” He lied. “And I wanted her to get out of the house before she panicked for the speech,”

“Oh, it's… this week… how is she doing?” Jalal looked reluctant, and Shakti frowned as he approached him. “I thought you two were still friends.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, “Why don’t YOU ask her?” Jalal looked up at his implication as he excused himself and walked towards Humayun’s office.

“I heard from Jalal…” Rukaiya spoke as Ajabdeh held her hand firmly. “Are you sure?”

“About us not working out?” Ajabdeh sounded melancholic “As much as I wish otherwise, yes. And the fault is mine.”

“No.” Rukaiya protested feebly as Ajabdeh shook her head. “It is okay, and I am sorry. I was a horrible friend to both of you, and I intend to change for the better.” Rukaiya heard her speak genuinely as she nodded. “I just don’t want to hold him back when he deserves better.” Rukaiya understood; she did. Because, unknown to Ajabdeh, she had thought so to herself a million times. 

“Are you hurting?” She asked as Ajabdeh chuckled. “I came to see you. Today is not about me, Rukaiya.”

“No, I mean… I know Pratap is here. He came by this morning.” Rukaiya’s words made her frown. “This morning?” She wondered as Rukaiya continued. “Yes, Jalal and he talked for a long time.” Ajabdeh couldn’t help but wonder what their topic of discussion was. 

“I don’t know what they talked of,” Rukaiya said truthfully as if she read her mind.

“I can assume… I have been told to go to Sarangpura to learn factory work…” Ajabdeh shrugged. “And he wants to go alone, to prove I am incompetent.” She grunted. “I will prove he is…”

“Well, if you are friends like you said, you can ask him,” Rukaiya suggested. In some corner of her heart, she was sure that it wasn’t over, no matter what Jalal and Ajabdeh told her. She wanted to see for herself. She wanted to make sure Jalal was all right with this sudden choice he had made.

“That won’t be necessary. I need to go, but I will call you every day from Sarangpura.” Rukaiya frowned a little at her words. “Do you want to go alone?” She shook her head. “ Even if I wanted to, I can't…” Rukaiya’s lips tightened as she nodded. She tried not to judge the book by its cover, but was it a mere coincidence that the break-up was so perfectly timed?