What's in the Name?

What’s in the name?

Raja Hemant of the Solankhini clan was not a happy person because his wife was being stubborn. She knew that for him traditions played a vital role in life so what did he do wrong in asking if Kunwar Pratap had someone special in his life? After all Kunwar Pratap was the elder one and whoever he married would be elder to his daughter in the household. He just wanted to meet that girl who would live along his daughter after her marriage but no his wife had to be stubborn and give the ultimatum.

Apni maasa par gayi hain he thought when he heard anklets and turned.

His wife was passing by with the puja thaal in the room and totally ignored him after she waved off the vapours from dhunki she passed the thaal to her daima who gave the arti to him.

“ Daima ji Meera ji ko bol dijiyega ki Business awards night ke liye ready rahe aur Heer bhi. Humaare kapre bhi ready karwaake office bhijwa dijiyega. Hum wahin se aayenge venue.” He spoke staring at his ignorant wife as Daima hid a smile.

Rani Meera Solankhini heard every word but refused to respond to her husband. He started the fight first aur ek baar sorry bol denge toh kya bigad jaayega. Ghar jaane ki baat boli but no reaction

“Bilkul apni maasa par gaye hain”

She saw his retreating figure and sat down on the bed. Her daima rubbed her head softly.

“ Aise bhi kya naraazgi Meera. Aap dono bade hain chaliye apna jhagda khatam karke baat kijiye ek dusre se.” Daima spoke reasonably.

“ Iss baar unko maafi maangni hogi. Hamesha galti unki hoti hai aur maafi main maangu?”

“Arey aap bacchi hain kya?”

 Heer entered the room. “ Mom aap yahan hai hume aapki zaroorat hai. Humaare kapre dekhiye for the business gala night...”

“ Hum aate hain Heer aur haan daima iss baar unko bolna hoga hum nahi bolenge iss baar. Unko first step lena hi hoga...”

Evening of the Gala Awards 

Pratap fixed the buttons of his shirt when Shakti walked in like a child

“ Dadabhai yeh theek karo na” He stared clueless at his bow.

“ Majhli maa ke paas nahi gaye?” Pratap smiled at his younger sibling.

“ Nahi socha aapke paas aayein” He smiled innocently.

Pratap fixed his brother’s bow to see him staring at his face.

“Kya baat hai Shakti?” 

“Dadabhai I’m really sorry” He looked a little disturbed.

“Bhai...” Pratap shook his head with a smile putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“ I know aapko lies bilkul na pasand and hum jo kar rahe hain that it is a lie. Aap ek baar bolo I promise hum iss pretend ke rishta ke saath aage na jaayenge....”

Pratap hugged his brother tight before he finished.

“Kunwar Shakti aapki shaadi hogi that too Rajkumari Heer baisa ke saath. Unko promise diya hai ki unki maasa ko rokenge hum besides iss pretend ke rishte se mera hi advantage hai....”

“ Kya?” Shakti looked wide eyed and doubtful.

“ Aapki shaadi hogi, Majhli maa ko unki bindini milegi, Heer ke parents ka jhagda solve hoga and ....”

“ and aap? Ismein aap kahan ho dadabhai? Apki khushi...”

“ Jaake Majhli maa ko leke aaiye. Hum baithak mein milenge”

Pratap walked towards the room only to stop in his tracks as Ajabde Punwar came out of her room. Dressed in a royal blue saree with her hair tied in a messy side bun, wearing royal neck-piece with a brooch and just a watch on her hands she reminded him of his Ranimaa who dressed in a similar manner. Simple and elegant. A small black bindi, Kohl smudged eyes, pink lipstick and a beautiful pair of earrings completed her look. These earrings were.... Ranima’s? Maybe Majhli Maa had given... He couldn’t help stare at her.

Ajabde knew she was being watched by the one on the other end of the corridor as she adjusted her pallu and decided to give someone a hard time and check him out as well! After all it hadn’t escaped her notice that Pratap Singh was a well-built handsome man, most girls would drool over.

Pratap narrowed his eyes at her drooling stare making him uncomfortable.

“Aap yeh kya kar rahi hain?” He asked at last making her smile as she looked at his suited up figure from head to toe one last time.

“ Tumko check out…” She giggled and something in him felt uneasy. “I mean like ....you were checking me out!” She smirked making him go all red before he looked away.

“Umm... funny…chaliye...” He managed to sound normal avoiding her smiling amused glares. “Waise wahan Tumko Tum aisa mat kariyega....”

“ Kyun?” She frowned.

“Royal Manners!” He smiled amused.

“ Toh phir kya bulaaun aapko main…” She appeared thinking...”I know !! Pratu darling…ya Pratap baby…ya babu... ya shona.... ya....”

“ Humaare yahan ladies name na leti” Pratap interrupted her overacting.

“ Theek hai toh babu bulaau?” She smiled.

Pratap shook his head adding “chaliye please.”

He turned around and walked away leaving her behind to follow him.

“ Arey rukiye…yeh toh bata dijiye aapko kya bulaana hoga” she giggled behind him.

Pratap had just walked in the baithak to see both Sajja and Shakti waiting for them. Pratap picked up the glass of water kept for him and had taken a sip when he heard her anklets .

“ Agar apne Jal grahan kar liya  ho toh chale …..swamiiii?”

Pratap choked on the water while Sajja and Shakti tried hiding their laughter in vain.

Ajabde acted all worried patting his back. 

“Swami aap theek toh hain?”

Pratap looked at her angrily only to find her holding a pallu over her head and biting one end of it. 

“What the hell!” His expression made Sajja laugh harder.

“ Aur koi term hai jisse bulaau aapko ya swami final?” Ajabde’s puppy eyes made Shakti smirk.