Perfect Rider

Perfect Rider

Pratap went running to the stable ground only to find Chetak’s place empty. He looked everywhere but couldn’t find a trace of him so he decided to call the cops when Heer came with a puja thaal; she had gone to the nearby temple alone as Shakti was still asleep. Seeing the servants and Pratap searching frantically she went to call Shakti from his slumber, a little worried. A few moments later Shakti joined them searching the orchard’s for his Dadabhai’s lost friend. 

“Chetak aise kaise jaa sakta hai?” Shakti pondered “He never gets out on his own and is extremely well mannered. Kisiko ride bhi toh nahi karne deta na...” but it was Heer who pointed them in the direction of the answer....

Chetak came into view with his silky white mane flying wild with the wind and riding him with ease and a smile adorning her face was none other than Ajabde Punwar aka Musibat. Pratap’s eyes widened as he saw her hair tied in a ponytail, dressed in riding habit with the boots, she was a vision that made his heart stop for a minute. All her curves were highlighted in the riding attire and the sheen of sweat only enhanced her appeal, she looked utterly ravishing on top of Chetak. A small gasp passed everyone’s mouth as Heer stared at Pratap for reaction. A smile curved her lips watching him stare at the scene wide eyed, impressed?

“I can’t believe it!” Shakti found voice first. “Chetak ne Ajabde ko ride karne diya aur mujhe kick maarta hai jab bhi I go near him! But main toh bhai hoon na inka...”he sulked like a baby while Ajabde got down and Heer seemed to feel a sudden rush of excitement when she saw Pratap not even reacting to Shakti’s voice as he stared at the scene.

Ajabde walked towards them adorning a hapy smile with Chetak’s reins in her hands, “I must say Kunwarsa aapka Chetak aapki tarah Kharus nahi hai.” She said rather plainly. “He’s such a fine gentleman. Haina Chetu?” She gently patted his mane making him neigh and shake his head. 

Never in his life Pratap thought he would see a day when he would be jealous of someone for sharing Chetak’s attention and here he was feeling a tad bit jealous of the girl who had turned his world upside down.

Post breakfast Pratap walked in the corridor lost in his own thoughts of Musibat. She had managed to make Chetak fall for him because everyone knew that Chetak was not a friendly horse he would rather kick than let someone ride him and today he had allowed Musibat to ride him and take him out of his favourite spot in the stables. He decided to go meet Chetak when he saw the servants were doing set-up of the photoshoot trial placing the props. He stared from a distance rather reluctantly when he realised that one was having trouble with the prop so he walked up to the person and helped him out. The servant was shocked and apologised only to have Pratap shake his head and smile. 

“That was perfect!” Jalal spoke up smiling as he looked into his camera “I must say Kunwarsa you are a natural!”

Aafat buttering kyun kar raha Pratap acknowledged his presence and decided to leave. Jalal saw Kunwar Pratap leave and decided to check out whether the man actually cared for Ajabde or not. Something in him told that these two had a lot in them.

“Arey Kunwarsa aap nahi rukenge for photoshoot?” he asked making Pratap stare at him like he was some puzzle. Pratap was about to respond when Ajabde came dressed in a pair of simple denim shorts and a white tee that had a graphiti in the centre of a Rajasthani woman with the words Internet Famous written in perfect calligraphy, her hair were tied in a messy bun. Pratap’s heart skipped and seemed to suddenly feel a kick of pain as she brushed past his shoulder only to stand close to Jalal with an endearing smile which was replied with a charming smile as they stared at each other. Suddenly Pratap felt like a third wheel and walked away abruptly ignoring Jalal and Ajabde’s presence. 

Ajabde followed behind the Kharus Kunwar who was by now ignoring her calls and even increased his pace a little. A stubborn Ajabdeh was irked by his odd behaviour by now and was determined to find out about his “problemo”. Ever since Jalal had arrived Kharus was behaving like a brat and his behaviour was getting on her nerves so when she saw him enter his study she knew what her next step would be. Pratap stood near the window trying to calm himself down when he heard the doors of the study shut behind him.

“Maine bola na ki mujhe….” He snapped. 

“I don’t care tum kya chaahte ho!”

Her voice made him turn around and for a minute Pratap got scared for he was all alone in the study with none other than Musibat aka Ajabde Punwar whose eyes  resembled a tigress’. She confidently walked up to him and pressed her finger on his chest, making his heart skip an odd beat before it thumped faster.

“What the hell!” He found voice unsure whether it shook a little.

“Baat Karo.”

“Listen you... you....” He avoided eye contact as she looked angry and took two steps away from her scent and touch as she lost her cool.

“Khudko samjhte kya ho? Koi aise behave karta hai? I mean bada bolte ho Kunwar ho that you follow a royal code of conduct and aise behave kar rahe ho jaise koi 5 saal ka baccha karta hai. What the hell is wrong with you? Jalal is here to give Heer and Shakti a memorable photoshoot and tum Dadabhai ho unke...samajh mein aata hai matlab Dadabhai ka?  Tumhaare bina kya karenge dono shoot? You know what main hi paagal hoon jo tumko invite karne aayi, rehne do mat aao hamesha ki tarah sirf apne baare mein socho after all you can only do that....”

She turned and walked out without looking back but not before closing the door with a loud thud that shook the vase kept on the side stool. She took a moment and breathed in to cool herself down before joining the others as she wanted the shoot to be perfect for Heer and Shakti.  She considered Heer as a younger sister and wanted to give her all the happiness in the world!

Agar meri choti behen hoti toh bilkul Heer jaisi hoti haina Maasa? She thought to herself with a smile as she saw Jalal instruct Heer who sat looking like the perfect bride on the couch while Shakti stood beside her looking a little bored of the instructions. She joined them and became Jalal’s assistant helping out Heer with the dress, adjusting props and doing poses with Jalal to make it easier for the couple to follow. An hour later Shakti and Ajabde sat on the grass extremely exhausted while Heer sat on the couch with her legs tucked underneath the heavy dress looking at the pictures along with Jalal. She looked satisfied much to Shakti and Ajabde’s satisfaction. Both Shakti and Ajabde were feeling hungry so when the smell of freshly baked brownies reached them they stood up only to see a sight no one was prepared for.

Kunwar Pratap Singh walked in with his shirt sleeves folded holding a heavy intricately carved tray that carried the plate with the freshly baked ....

“Brownies!!! “ Shakti ran like a kid to his brother and picked up one and took a bite, “ouch ohh...hot…it’s hot and so yummy!! I love you Dadabhai” He hugged like a kid makin Heer and Jalal smile at them.

Pratap laughed seeing his younger brother’s antics as he kept the tray on a small stool that Jalal had moved for him.  “Thanks man” he said as he offered him the brownies. Jalal took a bite and was lost in the chocolatey gooey goodness of the brownie.  

“I have personally never tasted such amazing brownies. Kunwarsa” he addressed Pratap; “I want to kiss the chef who made these yummy delicacies for us.”

“Phir toh kar lijiye Dadabhai ko kiss Bhaijaan because yeh brownies Dadabhai ne banaai hai for sure!” Shakti said with his mouth full making both Heer and Pratap shake their heads at him. 

“Ab Dadabhai hoon iska matlab yehi hua na ki tumhaare aur Heer ka poora dhyaan mujhe rakhna hoga” he added staring at the girl who was still whete she stood, a little in awe of this avatar, “waise bhi I know  my responsibilities acchi tarah se...” made her look away as he smiled inwardly.

“Jija aapne toh brownie nahi liya” Heer asked Ajabde who had discreetly kept the brownie back on the plate after she heard Kharus Kunwar’s dialogues. “I’m not hungry Heer you guys enjoy I’m going to my room.” Her frown didn’t escape Jalal’s eyes though as he stared at Kunwar Pratap.

Pratap saw her retreating figure as his failure.He frowned only to realize Jalal staring at him.He had baked the brownies hoping to make it even with Musibat. She was right, he was behaving like a bratty toddler so he decided to do the one thing he knew would be appreciated the most... he cooked. Heer loved baked goods, Shakti would eat anything as far as his Dadabhai made it and he had seen with his very own two eyes Ajabde Punwar devouring down chocolates so he chose to make chocolate brownies. As soon as he had placed the fresh brownies on the plate he was sure that no one would be able to deny them but he had forgotten that musibat was an entire different species. 

So lost he was in his thoughts that he didn’t realise when Jalal had moved closer to him.

“Kunwarsa...” he breathed down his ear as he placed a kiss on his cheeks. “Thank you for the amazing brownies.” He walked away as Shakti laughed while Heer giggled and Pratap shook his head in shock, yeh aafat kahin gay toh nahi? I’ll maintain mera distance isse!

Later Pratap walked towards the stable with a smile on his face as he had seen something that had made him feel like he felt when he held an award every time. 

He was walking towards the kitchen thinking about a plan to get Musibat to eat some of the brownies,he couldn’t lose. As he was passing by her room he frowned to find it empty. She had chosen the room closest to the kitchen because she sometimes would get hungry in the middle of the night or get cravings for snacks at odd hours so she wanted access to the pantry. All of a sudden Pratap walked quickly towards the kitchen and hid behind one of the pillars, he looked through the decorative mirror that was giving him the complete view of the kitchen and ofcourse his Musibat!

Ajabde Punwar sat on the counter devouring brownies, her hands, mouth, shirt everything was stained with the gooey chocolate. The smile she wore made him happy.

“Mmmmm this is so yummy” she moaned as she took another bite of the brownie. “Maan gaye kharus Kunwar you can actually cook “she spoke out loud “kaash tum apne mood swings ka bhi kuch kar lete... You could have been a complete package!”

Pratap smiled as recalled her messy self “Dekha Musibat main itna bhi bura na hoon!” he spoke to himself as the smile refused to leave his lips.