RAABTA

The family had got together for yet another wedding. This time it was different as Aarchi was toddling around Ajab mausi very possessively as the unknown people kept her occupied, much to poor Aarchi's annoyance. Ajabdeh had made it a point that their wedding would be a very private affair with a very small guest list and no media glare and rumours. Pratap never really minded any of her conditions as long as she was ready for the marriage. The only thing he did not mind was Ajabdeh inviting Phool to the wedding and her accepting the invite. Rukaiya had given birth to a beautiful baby boy, Salim, who, according to Jalal, looked like his mother. Jalal, much to Pratap's relief, has stopped his pranks with Patta, or so he thought until he sat on the Papad bed made by Jiwa and him as soon as he entered the hall of the wedding. Jaivanta had insisted the marriage should take place in Surajgarh as the place was away from the glamour of the cities, as well as where they belonged. The m...

Ajabdeh was getting ready for the office in Rukaiya's kaftan. She was too late to go home and change. The gossip last night with the snacks and giggles lasted till 5 am. She sat down at the table, waiting for Rukaiya's coffee and checked her watch. 9.30. She took the newspaper in hand. The morning newspaper made Ajabdeh frown. "Back In Paradise?" The Rajput Times read with a picture of them on the ramp, looking at the crowd, hands in each other's. The left section seemed to give a small throwback to his love life, and the right... featured a picture of Miss Phool Kanwar. Nothing on the Foundation or Event on the front page, so she turned to page 5 for a little detail on the project. "That's it?" She frowned. "What?" Rukaiya asked, handing her the brewing hot coffee. "This... paper... has nothing on the project... they... they..."  "Are hyped about Pratap Singh and Ajabdeh Punwar... we know." Sau smiled a smile that made...

The dawn broke as the line of cars drove out of Surajgarh Palace. The Royal white Land Rover had Jaivanta and Hansa with Patta, who seemed pretty quiet since the previous evening and worried Hansa. Jalal drove Rukaiya, Chaks and Sau with baby Aarchi, who was still in deep sleep on her mother's lap. Heer was having a pretty bad headache, so Shakti insisted they would start their journey as soon as she woke up, as it would be wrong to wake up a person who was talking and laughing to herself all night. Ajabdeh wanted to stay back for Heer, but Shakti's continuous pursuit made her realise he just wanted some alone time with the crazy side of a wife he handled so maturely last night. That left Pratap to keep aside the heaps of luggage in his car to make room for Ajabdeh and Brownie at the last moment as Kakasa ran to inform him at the porch to wait for Ajabdeh Baisa. Pratap nodded with a faint smile and stared back once at the lawns. Well, until next time! The sound of her footstep...

The Holika Dahan was scheduled for late evening. Ajabdeh was playing with Aarchi, who was dressed in a pretty red frock with a bow, as she lay comfortably on Ajabdeh Mausi's bed, surrounded by her toys. Ajabdeh was dressed in a lavender Anarkali gown, and her hair was braided in a fishtail. Aarchi grabbed her long earrings, making her wince a little and smile at the same time." Aww baby, you know how much fun Surajgarh Holi is... when... I was a child..." "She is understanding so much of your Holi stories." His taunting voice made her stare at the threshold with a frown. Pratap was in a casual black Kurta. "What is it to you ?" She asked with a straight face. "I am just here to listen... how much fun exactly was Holi in Surajgarh?" He appeared to be thinking. "As far as I remember, you spent all day following Ranima in the kitchen because you were afraid of colours." "That's rubbish, that's called helping. I am not sca...

Holi in Surajgarh was always traditionally colourful and nice, with delicious homemade sweets and Thandai and lots of childhood memories. The people were too happy to find the Royal Family back in Surajgarh for Holi. Away from the media and news, these simple people who still looked up to the Royals always wanted them to come back home, unaware of the happenings of the fast lives in the cities. Their small world would celebrate Holi like never before this year. Surajgarh was decked up as soon as it knew Ranisa was coming on Holi. Ranisa, much like Ajabdeh Baisa, was their god-sent angel, who solved problems like miracles, and the people loved and respected her. Jaivanta did a Khamma Ghani to the crowd in her elegant, gracious way that always mesmerised Ajabdeh. She smiled, inspecting the latest happenings with the Panchayat, much to Jaivanta's delight."Jija, we are here for the holidays, so please don't talk about work." Shakti dragged her away as she said, "But...

"What do I do!" Jalal sulked, "Khan Baba and Rukaiya threw me out..." Shakti broke into a laughter that stopped at Ajabdeh's stare as Pratap frowned "What did you do?" "Nothing." He looked away. "Bed honest Jalal, what did you do?" Pratap repeated. "Actually, umm... Ruk is pregnant." Heer Shakti and Ajabdeh smiled gleefully as Ajabdeh added, "That's wonderful! Congratulations!" "But." Pratap stopped them "What did YOU do?" "I... went home and Khan Baba told me he is very happy that his grandchild is going to arrive..." "Aww," Heer exclaimed. "Umm... I asked how?" "Aww, shit!" Ajabdeh exclaimed with a chuckle. "That's not all... umm... when he said Ruk told him... I said... how did that happen?" "And Aapa threw you out?" Shakti chuckled. "Can't say she is wrong." "Aww, poor Aapa, how are you like this Bhaija...