Meeting the Friend

 “And if you’re ever tired of being known for who you know, you know you’ll always know me.” Dorothea

"Don't worry, Phool." Udai Singh reassured her as she paced the chambers of her grandfather's office. "A deal is a deal for the Sisodiyas. I assure you, the wedding will not be called off." 

Maldeo Rathore, the patriarch of the Rathore Royal Family, was sitting in the high chair, watching Udai Singh, resting his wrinkled hands on his chin. 

"I hope you remember it is the Sisodiyas who will benefit more from such an alliance." He spoke gruffly. 

"Of course, Raoji." Udai Singh agreed. "You are pulling us out of a major setback in the business, and I will forever be grateful for your endeavours." He rubbed his hands together. The man thought he was a fool, did he? The entire circle was aware of Phool's late-night adventures into the house of a notorious movie star that led to a much-publicised breakup. She wasn't much sought after as a bachelorette herself. 

"What do you expect me to do, as far as the child is concerned?" Phool asked in a rather monotonous and professional tone. 

"Meet him," Maldeo suggested. "And be friendly. His approval will surely set aside all doubt Pratap has, if any." Udai Singh nodded at his suggestion.

"Are you coming to pick me up tomorrow?" Amar's voice melted Ajabdeh's heart. 

"Oh, Kakasa will drop you off at my hotel in Delhi. Khala is here too. Are you missing me?"

"Yes." Amar nodded. "Is Salim with you?" 

"Yes, he is. We will travel back in Khala’s car and might stop on our way back for a little sightseeing if Amar wants?” Amar sounded excited as he agreed. “So what are you doing today?" Ajabdeh asked.

"I am going to the amusement park today!" Amar's excited voice made Ajabdeh smile over the phone. 

"Oh, are you?" She asked. "Be careful on the rides."

"Oh, don't you worry. Papa will be there." Ajabdeh's smile faded at his reassurance. In two days with the Sisodiyas, he had already learnt to trust Pratap. "With his friend!"

"His friend?" Ajabdeh frowned a little.

"She is a real princess, Dadosa said. Amar smiled.

"Of course she is." Ajabdeh sighed. He was introducing his son to her. Ajabdeh felt like a fool keeping Amar in the dark about this.

 "Can I… speak to him?" Ajabdeh asked, unsure, "Is he around? Your Papa?"

"You want to speak to Papa?" Amar looked intimidated. "Is something wrong? Will you fight?"

"No, Amar." Ajabde reassured calmly, "Why will I fight?"

"PAPA!" Ajabdeh heard Amar run and knock on a door. "Papa!"

"What is it? Are you ready already? Is that Kakisa's phone?" Ajabdeh's jaws stiffened at his voice. In two days, Masi had changed to Kakisa. He was surely hell-bent on winning this battle.

"Mamma wants to talk to you." Ajabdeh couldn't understand the silent pause. She thought the phone was disconnected. "Hello?" She asked, unsure.

"You wanted to…" Pratap stared back at Amar's scrutinising eyes, at his cold voice.

"I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Amar doesn't know… I thought… he said he's going to the amusement park with you and…" Ajabdeh stopped. It was a stupid idea. She should have let him handle it.

"Don't worry. I know what to tell my kid and what not to do. I am learning, you see. Coz I never got the chance to…" Ajabdeh disconnected the call. Pratap inhaled. He was not going to let her ruin his day with Amar. He was not going to let anyone ruin it. Even his father's insistence on letting Phool accompany them didn't dampen his spirit. He had no plans to tell Amar anything more. Ajabdeh, of course, had to intervene. That was always her. Bossy and in control. He handed the phone back to Amar. 

"Give Heer back the phone, and we can go."

"What about your friend?" He asked.

"She can join us there." Pratap shrugged.

The first time Phool set eyes on Amar, she was rather surprised by the striking similarities he had with Pratap. The child seemed to observe her with hawk eyes from head to toe. She wore a polo dress and was dressed too improperly for the amusement park. He looked back at Pratap. For the first time, he saw his father in jeans and a T-shirt in the last two days. 

"I am glad I could join you." Phool smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Pratap nodded. 

"Do you want to go on a ride with me, Amar?" She asked, observing the boy.

"I want to go on a water ride." He spoke, not to her but to his father. 

"Very well then." Pratap agreed.

"But… It's all wet and…" Phool stopped.

"It's okay, Aunty. You can stand here and watch us." Amar held out his hand to Pratap, who took it, and they strode away, leaving Phool with little patience. The child didn't like her.

Amar was on the ride for the kids when Pratap stood watching and waving from a distance. Phool walked up to him, hoping to talk.

"You are so good with kids." She smiled.

"I usually am not. I guess it's different having one's own." He said without removing his eyes from Amar. Phool looked up at him.

"Pratap, did you tell Amar… who I am?"

"Of course, I told him you are a friend." He said nonchalantly. 

"Am I just a friend, Pratap?" She frowned. "I mean, last month…"

"My life turned upside down in these few weeks, Phool," Pratap said, interrupting her. "I never knew I had him; I never knew a lot of things. I need to sort things out and be the father who was absent for so long from his life. I want to prioritise him." He snapped, "Is that wrong?"

"No. No. But Pratap… I just wanted to know where we stand and…" Phool stopped as Amar ran to Pratap's arms. She got his message loud and clear, even if he did not spell it out to her. Amar was a priority, and everything else could wait.

Every time she tried to strike up a conversation with Pratap, Amar made sure he was heard and given attention. 

"I want cotton candies."

"Can we go on that one?"

“Papa, take a picture of me here.”

After a point, Phool stopped trying to have a conversation. She quietly followed them around the park till her heels hurt.

"I think I should sit down for a bit." She said,

"Are you okay?" Pratap asked because he had to.

"No, my heels hurt." She sighed.

"You shouldn't wear heels to the amusement park." Amar snapped, "Mamma says so."

"Perhaps your Mamma should teach you not to talk out of turn, too," Phool murmured almost to herself.

"Did you say something, Aunty?" Amar frowned.

"Not at all. I will be here. You two go on. Have fun." She smiled.

Pratap didn't wait even a second after she spoke, as he took Amar's hand, and Phool saw the two of them chattering away as she lost them in the crowd at the food court.

"I don't like your friend," Amar said, with his mouthful of the noodles he had ordered.

"What?" Pratap seemed lost.

"Your friend. That Aunty." Amar pointed. Pratap nodded.

"Ohh." Pratap shrugged, "She is not my friend."

"Then?" He asked.

"Her father is my father's friend." He said, watching Amar make a mess of the ketchup over the noodles. He took the bottle away and mixed the already-fallen ketchup with the noodles.

"So, Sau Masi is Mamma's friend, and Aarchi is mine. Like that?" Amar spoke as Pratap shook his head.

"No, not that close either." Pratap shook his head.

"Then why is she here?" Amar frowned. "I thought it would be our day out."

"Why do you not like her?" Pratap asked, observing him sulk.

"Because she pretends to like me. But she doesn't. I can tell." Pratap looked a little wide-eyed at the child. 

"Well, then let's get rid of her and do something fun." Pratap’s smirk surprised Amar. He thought he would be scolded for speaking his mind.

"Like what?" Amar asked.

"You tell me," Pratap asked instead. "Anything."

"I want to go have ice cream. Mamma and I go for ice cream every Sunday." He smiled. Pratap smiled back.

"Amar is very tired, and he wants to go home," Pratap said as Amar looked sad. "We have to head home. Should we drop you somewhere?" He asked Phool, who got up, almost relieved. 

"No, thank you. I came here on my own, and I can leave too. It was nice meeting you, Amar."

"Bye bye, Aunty'' he waved with a smile. Pratap waited for Phool to leave before they ran to their car. "Let's go get ice cream, Amar."

"Yay!" Amar clapped happily.