Glimpses

Glimpses

Ramrakh couldn’t believe the audacity of the young man seating in front of him. The good for nothing loser wanted to be the official partner in their most important project on the basis of the failed relationship and sentiments of a runaway bride’s father. 

“Dekhiye Punwarji, I respect you and admire you but truth is that Ajabde bhaag gayi. Main toh yahin hoon and I just want to be a part of ....”

“The Historical Tourist Destination Project or the family ToranMal...?”  Ramrakh couldn’t control the sarcasm because he finally saw the man for what he truly was... a good for nothing coward. He had learnt about his loans from one of the money lenders who had dropped by earlier to ask for his share of money back from ToranMal and not receiving it, decided to speak to the father of the bride.

“Punwwarji, the project is a dream come true and by being a part of it I will…” Toranmal cleared his throat.

“...Be able to pay all the money-lenders?” Ramrakh smiled a sarcastic smile. ToranMal gasped as he realised that Raoji knew of his loans.  Raoji kept his pen back on the table and directly stared into his eyes as Toranmal clearly looked shocked. 

 

“All I can and will do is to make sure your name is on the final list of contenders. There are going to 5 top contenders who will each give their presentation for the project. The best one will be taken on board as the official partner for it. There is going to be a committee and special jury who will decide the partner. Now if I were you I would leave and start working on the presentation !” Ramrakh looked back at his paperwork.

ToranMal stood up and dashed out of his office leaving behind Ramrakh, who opened up the drawer on his table to pick up a picture frame out – it was Ajabde on her graduation day. One of the happy days they both had shared together. His eyes sparkled a little as a slow smile appeared.

“I miss you Ajab…Ummed hai ki tum safe ho... jaha bhi ho khush ho....”

The Songara office was in a celebratory mood as they had just received the email notifying them as one of the top finalist for the Historical Tourist project. Pratap was ecstatic on receiving the mail and his already better mood escalated into another level of happiness. Shakti was stunned when his Dadabhai came running and hugged him tight as he told him the news. As the office celebrated Shakti looked at his brother offering sweets to the people working in their office, he smiled. 

“The magic seems to be working...” That was his Dadabhai Pratap and not Mr Ruler he was seeing. 

Sajja smiled as she saw another one of the pics she received from Heer this one had both the brothers hugging joyfully after they received the news that the Songara group was one of the leading contenders for the Historical Tourist Destination project. After a really long time Sajja was seeing glimpses of her old Pratap who laughed openly, hugged people and his eyes finally sparkled. She wiped the tears that had welled in her eyes.

“Jija dekh rahi hain aap?  humaare Kunwar Pratap phir se muskuraa rahe hai...” She whispered at the frame.

DheerBai smiled at her elder sister Uma Devi as they both looked at Phool who was occupied in her cell phone. Uma Devi made a face at her grand-daughter’s ignorant behaviour and left the two alone .

“Phool aap jaanti hai ki Jagmal is one of the contenders for the Historical Tourist Project?”  making the princess look up at her .

“Lagta hai aapke contact ne apna kaam kar diya warna sab jaante hain ki Jagmal ke bass ki baat nahi hai.” Her plain words made the elder woman stare at her with irritation. Phool kept her mobile on the side table and looked at DheerBai ji blatantly.

“Kaam ki baat par aayiye. Aap yahan hume Jagmal ki fake victory news sunane ke liye nahi aayi hain....” Phool smirked.

“Hume pata chala aapke aur Jagmal ke beech kuch misunderstanding hui thi. Hum uski ko clear karna chaahte hain.”  Phool looked at her waiting for her to go on...

“Aap dono ka rishta is new and couples mein choti fights hoti rehti hain Phool and...”

“Ek minute! you think Jagmal ka mujh par haath uthaana is choti baat?? DheerBai ji....” Phool couldn’t control herself anymore and she refused to be a victim as she recalled the horrible moment when her son had laid his hands on her.

“Ab aap meri baat Suniye! agar aapke bete ne mere par phir se haath uthaaya toh I will go straight to the police and uske baad poore media ko bataaungi ki Jagmal physically abused me. I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m Rajkumari Phool Kanwar Rathore and sab jaante hain Rathores ka status aur aapke bete ka. Apne bete ko samjha lijiyega warna Sisodias ke liye accha na hoga....”

She stood up gathering her stuff from the table. Dheerbai stood shocked at being talked back at like that. “ I have a lot of work to do so kindly excuse me and haan meri baat dhyaan mein rakhiyega...”

 

With her head held high Phool walked out of the room feeling like she had finally taken charge of own life again.

Raja Hemant Solankhini stared at Kunwar Pratap’s fiance like she had grown a new head. His wife seemed pleased with her idea but allowing his daughter for a weekend gateway with Kunwar Shakti that too before their wedding didn’t seem like a good idea to him

“Kaka sa I assure you both Kunwarsa and I will personally chaperone Heer and Shakti at the farmhouse. It’s just I wanted to gift both of them something that they would cherish forever and a pre-wedding shoot seemed like a really nice idea...” Ajabde was smiling confidently.

“It’s a great idea “ Meera added her own views “I trust both you and Kunwar Pratap will look after Heer. “

“Kakasa we won’t ever do anything without your blessings “ Ajabe stared at the father of the bride who somehow reminded her of her own.

Raja Hemant Solankhini looked at Ajabde and then at his wife who was making faces at him and if he was honest he didn’t want his wife to get angry with him again so soon after they had patched up. So he did the thing he knew his wife would appreciate the most.

“Aap Heer ko leke jaa sakte hain farmhouse Ajabde Baisa”

“Dhanyawaad Kakasa” Ajab dashed off like a little child to tell Sajja the news.