Runaway Bride

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Runaway Bride

The Chittor-Udaipur highway was fairly deserted apart from the few vehicles rushing towards their destinations. She stood on the sidewalks unable to get the attention of any of the cars to stop on their way. Maybe her attire made her look like some queen’s ghost. She frowned at the sangeet lehenga she had no time to change out of. When she saw the truck in a distance, as if the last hope, an idea struck her mind making her smile.

The truck driver enjoying the melodious voice of Lata Mangeshkar pressed the brakes hard as his eyes fell on a bag left abandoned on the road. His eyes widened. He got down from the truck and moved towards the abandoned piece of luggage. The bag looked new and expensive like one of the bags that he had seen at the Havelis. He was reluctant and looked around. There was none in sight, no owner, no onlookers. After all 5am in Mewar was like mid night dark. He folded his hands and looked up

“ Hai Ekling ji it’s your gift to this poor man. I won’t leave it here unattended.”

He picked it up but found it to be very light. He frowned disappointed. He shook the bag but no sound came from inside so he finally opened the bag eagerly and found it to be empty.

“Bhagwanji” he mumbled “playing jokes on a poor man like me. I shouldn’t have stopped in the first place. By now I would have reached the haveli. Am already late.”

While the driver was busy looking out for the man who played the prank on him the girl threw her backpack in first and then climbed in the truck careful enough not to get stuck by the heavy expensive lehenga that felt like a prisoners chain on her body.

“Jai Bhavaani mil gayi savaari. Chal beta Ajabde ab yahan se katt le”

The driver climbed back into his truck and went his own way unaware that the girl sat happily munching on the fruits kept in the back reading the quote of the truck.

“Buri nazar waale tera mooh kaala”

Kunwar Pratap Singh Sisodia sat in his immaculate study going over the business plans for the up- coming meetings. Pratap Singh Sisodia was known for his image as the young prince who followed all rules, led life by example, a hard working young individual for whom family, respect, traditions and honour came first before everything else. He completed his education in London where he also worked as an intern in a prestigious firm learning the ropes of business management before he came back to his ancestral home took over the reins of the family business. 

An upcoming project was making the rounds – a really prominent business group wished to restore all of the old palaces, havelis and other historical sites along side with the government and use them as tourist spots thus promoting Rajasthan as “The Historical Tourist Destination”.  The project focused on lesser known places in Rajasthan like Achalgarh, Chavand, Bhilwara, Bijolia and other towns. Pratap’s maternal home was in Kelwa and being an avid traveller he had seen many lesser known forts spread all over Rajasthan which if restored would serve as really good tourist spots and create more job opportunities for the people. He stared at the document on his MacBook that he had created for the proposal when a servant announced his presence 

“Baujiraj, Kunwar Shakti has returned”

He nodded his head at the servant who informed him of his younger brother’s arrival. He took another look at the blank document and shut his MacBook off as he proceeded to speak to his younger brother.

Kunwar Shakti Singh Sisodia, younger brother to Kunwar Pratap Singh was known for his charismatic personality, popular with the ladies he was the smooth talker of the family who could get out of almost all troubles and situations except ones that involved his mother Maharani Jaiwanta Bai ji. With just one look she would have him speaking the truth but it had been years since he had been on the receiving end of the look as Maharani Jaiwanta Bai had passed away after her husband’s scandalous affairs broke out. She had been hurt on learning of the presence of his new wife and children. Jaiwanta Bai had packed her essential belongings and left for her maternal home with her two sons after breaking every relation personal as well as professional with Uday Singh who had to face flak from everyone for his misdeeds. 

In the kitchen a lady overlooked the preparations for the dinner she personally checked all the dishes before the servants carried them out to the table. Dressed in a simple saree Sajja Bai Songara sister of Jaiwanta Bai ji made her way to the dining room where she saw both boys hugging each other. She loved the bond both brothers shared and smiled knowing that her jija was watching over them. Being childless she had decided never to marry as having a child was one condition everyone wanted fulfilled and then her jija had passed away leaving behind two boys. Sajja had raised them like her own and she still remember the day when both the boys called her Majhli maa.

"Majhli maa you made my fav dishes. I love you"

Shakti buttered her up as he bent down to took her blessings along with his Dadabhai

Sajja:  Stop buttering me up and come for dinner then we will discuss about the ceremony

The trio sat down in the living room going through the catalogues and the guest list for the upcoming ceremony. Sajja had already selected everything she just wanted the boys to see and finalise it. Pratap was going through the guest list when he noticed the absent names

Pratap: Majhli maa the Rathores are not mentioned here.

Shakti snapped:  Because they are not invited just like him.

Pratap: Shakti you need to understand the Rathores are one of the royal families and not inviting them would mean disrespect and ....

Shakti: Dadabhai inviting them would mean an invitation to Uday Singh as well after all the Rathores grand-daughter is Jagmal’s fiance besides it’s just a simple puja and I don’t want them here (made a stubborn face)

Sajja: Pratap I understand your view but Shakti is also right so I have a solution let’s not invite them for the puja rather we will invite them directly for the reception.

Shakti: I like this idea!

The elder two smiled at the antics of the young Kunwar whose eyes twinkled as Pratap finally gave in to their demands.