Emotional Confusions

Emotional Confusions

Jalal smiled as he placed his order an espresso coffee while his crazy best friend and his fiancé gossiped. What’s with women and gossips? He wondered looking at them from the order counter. They start anywhere and everywhere. Ajabde and Ruqqaiya were really good friends; sometimes way too good as they kept him in the dark about things he wished he had an inkling off. He walked back carrying their drinks only to hear part of the conversation.

“Ruqqs I’m telling you, just wear the pasha with the turquoise dress it will look so elegant and go for heavy ear-rings and no neckpiece, a statement ring would also look amazing.” Jalal made a face as he heard about the dresses, jewelleries and hairstyles. He did not bring Ajabde away here to talk about fashion!

“Ajabde...” he interrupted “I don’t want you to talk about fashion with her, because I’ll end up paying the huge bills” his words were followed by cold gaze from his lady love which he ignored as of now, “... besides we didn’t come here for that; I want to know if you are alright?”

“Alright! Of course I’m alright! Mujhe kya hona hai?” She stated sarcastically smiling at him making him frown at her. “Waise bhi, all I have done is run away from my own wedding and not just any ordinary wedding... rather a destination wedding that most girls only dream of. That’s an achievement!” she stopped as Ruqqs had held her hand tightly in her own. Jalal stared at the hands and back at Ruqqs who nodded assuringly.

“I ran away knowing that I was bringing shame on my father who always supported me and my dreams. I hurt him in the worst possible manner and my best friend, my childhood buddy is asking me if I’m okay...”

“Ajabde, you could have informed your so called ‘best friend’ and he might have had an alternative...” Jalal stopped her blatantly and stared at Ruqqs who gave a shake of a head making him stop.

Ruqqaiya sat quietly seeing the regular banter of sarcasm between Jalal and Ajabdeh, clearing matters out the way they always did, there was no need for her to speak. Her role here was to act as a catalyst but she knew Jalal had zero patience and so he had taken upon himself to ask the questions rather than letting her speak for herself. Jalal had told her about his friendship with Ajabde; shared every moment joyous or sad with her and that’s why she felt closer to Ajabde even though she had known her for a few months. She still remembered Jalal explaining to her the reasons why Ajabde did what she did; and was the way she was.

He had often mentioned her father who had stood by her in thick and thin. 

“Beti toh beti hoti hai, vansh aage bete badhaate hai” Many had told her father. “Usko zyada barhava maat do, waise bhi bina maa ke bacchii...”

Ajabde defeated their sons, shutting their mouths, making them jealous as she won all the prestigious titles and trophies and every time Jalal would see both the father-daughter duo smile at the world and their outdated thoughts, as winner. The best picture he had taken of them was from Ajabde’s graduation that had a place on his wall as well.

It was a bright sunny day with the sun rays warming up the cold earth and bringing forth the multitude of colours that mother earth hid in her bosom. Jalal smiled as he took his place beside Ramrakh Punwar in the front seat along with the distinguished guests for the graduation ceremony.

“And this year’s winner of the Rana Sanga Gold Medal given to the best student who has shown leadership skills, academic prowess and is an all-rounder is Miss Ajabde Punwar!!!”

A confident young girl dressed in a cream coloured saree with golden embroidery covered with the graduation gown took the stage to take her medal. After receiving it she had run to her father and took his blessing before hugging him.

Sarcasm was always Ajabde’s ways to cope with the world. Seeing Ajabde so hurt Jalal did the one thing he knew of...he dialed a number on his phone and gave it to her. “Talk to him Ajab, please, you know he’s worried.” he pleaded but she was so scared and hesitant, shaking her head her hands trembling as she took the phone and heard her father’s voice on the other side.

“Ramrakh Punwar speaking” His voice made her feel she stopped breathing as she sighed. “Umm….Hello” He frowned due to the lack of response. The number was Jalal’s... was it Her?

Taking a deep breath she finally uttered the words...

“Gani Khamma Daata”

Ramrakh Punwar’s heart seemed to stop as he heard his daughter’s voice after such a long time. He could feel the fear and the hesitation in her voice very well after all she was his daughter and he had raised her well.

“Ajabde? beta kaisi hai aap?” His shaking voice made Ajabdeh sob in silence as Ruqqs tightened her grip making Jalal happy that she was there for Ajab as much as he was.

“Hum... Hum....” She sobbed “kaise hai aap daata?”

Jalal saw the father daughter clear out their misunderstandings and rant their fears as Ajabdeh ended the call with “Hum jald hi wapas aa jaenge aap apna dhyaan rakhiyega aur...” She paused awkward “Kisi se maat kahiega hum ne call kia tha.” Her father knew very well who she meant by that and agreed.

Later as they finished their food and coffee, Ruqqs asked her the most important question.

“Ajabde do you plan on telling them tumhaare baare mein? I mean who you really are... after all unke ghar mein itne din...”

Ajabde smiled as she shook her head, “I don’t want them to know as of now. It can change a lot of things. I may need to go back before helping Heer out like I promised to start with. Also the media will be running after Daata, he is clueless back home. Waise bhi they’ll know soon enough...”

“I think...” Jalal began smirking at her “that’s actually a good thing... besides I would love to capture Ajab ke kharus Kunwar ka reaction when he finds out his runaway fake princess is one heiress herself!” 

Ajabde glared at him but it was Ruqqaiya who wanted to know more as she asked,

“Kharus Kunwar who is that now?”  She looked at the two as Jalal began telling his fiance all about the “sub plot of the tale” as he called it where kharus Kunwar who happened to be Ajabde’s fake fiance. He occasionally eyed Ajabde’s face for reactions whenever he mentioned how well they danced together. He hid a satisfied smile seeing her look awkward at the mention of it as Ruqqs seemed to be quite sad that she missed such a show and more drama!

Pratap had just finished speaking to his PA who had updated him on the recent projects. He knew Shakti and Heer were in the stable where Shakti had taken Heer to befriend Sarang but he had no idea where Musibat had gone off to. A sudden thought striked like thunder. Where was Aafat?

 Suddenly he heard laughter and saw Musibat walk back holding the upper arm of none other than Aafat himself. She had a few bags with her, seemed like they were out shopping. He frowned. If she wanted to go shopping she could have asked him and it wasn’t like he would say no to her. The closeness she shared with Aafat, the carefree laughter, giggles and whispers all made him envious of the bond the two shared. He wanted to share a bond stronger than that with her. He wanted to be the one to hold her hand, make her laugh and giggle, talk endlessly. He wanted to kiss her when no one’s looking, making her blush and shudder, hold her close like he owned her. The thought of calling her his own... suddenly made him feel empty.

They were by now, settled on the couch going through the various pictures he had clicked earlier that day, totally dismissing his presence there when Pratap approached them firmly. It was time he did it.

“Mr Jalal, may I have a word with you?” he spoke in the most polite manner he could master at the moment, making them look up at him. His expressionless face yet stiff jaws made Jalal smile seeing he was seething with jealousy. Ajabde stared at the two a frown marring her forehead, kya baat karna chahta hai kharus Kunwar? She thought a little scared.

“Mr Jalal” Pratap continued “I would like to settle the cheque for your services.” He held out a cheque as Ajabde’s frowned deepened while Jalal looked at him and then back at her not sure if he was supposed to accept it.

“Kunwarsa...” he began only to be stopped by Pratap, “I’m grateful to you for doing the pre-wedding photo shoot for my brother and sister-in-law.” He smiled politely, well, tried to. “You have invested your time, skills, equipment as well as props and other materials so it deems important that I pay for everything. I insist!”

“Excuse me? The photo shoot was a gift for Heer and Shakti!” Ajabde finally spoke up seeing his jealous avatar in its full glory. She pushed Jalal back as she faced Pratap herself.

“You don’t have to pay Jalal anything. This is on me Kunwarsa.” her words were simple and clear but Pratap was angry at her so he spoke without even paying attention to the audience they had gathered. Shakti and Heer stood clueless as Shakti and Jalal exchanged a look.

“Thank you Miss Punwar but I don’t like to take favours especially from strangers. So if you will excuse me I need to settle the bill....”

A gasp escaped Heer’s mouth as Ajabde stood in shock as her eyes went wide making Pratap stop. She fell back two steps as she reeled from his words, don’t like to take favours especially from strangers. She met his gaze coldly as she told Jalal

“Accept the cheque and don’t forget to charge for your travel as well after all Kunwarsa ko hisaab barabar karna hai!”

She walked away only to hear Pratap instruct everyone, “we are leaving early at dawn as I need to go for an important meeting. Be ready at 5:00AM sharp!” She didn’t feel the need to stand there as she hurried to pack her bags and even dismiss the servant who had called her for dinner. She was definitely not hungry tonight.

Pratap lay on his bed unable to sleep as the conversation played in his head.

“Thank you Miss Punwar but I don’t like to take favours especially from strangers. So if you will excuse me I need to settle the bill...”

Yeh kya bol diya tumne Pratap he admonished himself Musibat stranger nahi hai? He shook his head at his stupidity as he admitted in himself she’s so much more than a stranger. He shook of the feeling rather quickly before it got the better of him as he thought Usne hamesha Heer ki happiness ka dhyaan rakha hai and photoshoot bhi uski ke liye tha, you need to apologise to her. He got up from bed to go to her only to realise it was pretty late in the night. And he didn’t trust himself at all when it came to his hormones in front of her.

“Kal I’ll apologise musibat se waapis jaake.” he thought when a random thought scared him “Are you even sure ki jo tumne bola uske baad she’ll go back tumhaare saath kya pata uss aafat ke saath chali jaaye?” He frowned at himself.

At 4:45AM sharp Pratap found Ajabde hugging Jalal whose bags were already placed in his car. He didn’t show it but their hug and goodbye seemed like some Bidaai ka scene of a marriage. Jalal moved a few strands of her hair behind her ear subtly eyeing Pratap who seemed to be getting irked by their show of PDA. He smiled as Ajabde hugged him tight and gave him a thousand instructions of what and what not he should be doing like a doting mother.

“Are you sure ...”  he asked her for the hundredth time, she looked at him and then back at Pratap who decided to focus on his phone as she sighed and smiled, “Heer needs me Jalal. I have to be there for her. Ajabde apne promises hamesha nibhaati hai. You know me. I’ll be home soon don’t worry!”

She waved her hand as Jalal’s car drove out of the farmhouse leaving Pratap and Ajabde alone as Heer and Shakti were bidding goodbyes to the people at the farmhouse.

“Waise” Pratap asked in a neutral tone his eyes still on his phone as she turned to him, “aaj ka plan kya hai? I mean kahin jaana ho ya kisi se milna ho toh ...”

She let out a deep breath that she had been holding back and looked at him in the eye, with the coldest possible stare, telling him rather clearly “ Tum...mere boyfriend nahi ho...” His eyes went a little wide as his mouth dried. What is so sexy about those eyes? “... aur na hi mere secretary ho...” She looked away rather awkwardly from his glance as it travelled to her lips and back at her eyes”umm...jo tumko bataaun ki main kya karne waali hoon.” She took two steps back making him realize she was uneasy of the way he stared as he looked away. She started to walk away but stopped.

“ Waise bhi I’m a stranger Kunwarsa so meri life mein itna interest kyun ho raha hai aapko?” She spoke with her back still to him.

As she walked away from him she heard him mumble

“I’m really sorry Ajabde... I didn’t mean...” 

“Dadabhai...” Shakti interrupted as Ajabdeh smiled at Heer.

“Wapas chale?” He smiled as Ajabde nodded an affirmative.

“Thank you Jija.” Heer hugged her tight making the brothers stare. “For this wonderful idea! I really enjoyed this shoot ... I will always remember this trip... forever!”

“Me too.” Shakti smiled. “Thanks Ajabde. It meant a lot.” He smiled at Heer. 

What they didn’t see was two pairs of eyes look at each other as they spoke a silent 

“Me too... Forever.”