What's Going On??

What’s Going On?

“She fed me kadwe karele and a sweet dish made from neem leaves but maine bhi liya revenge alarm clocks laga aaye room mein. You know Chetak, yeh musibat is such a troublemaker but Shakti and Heer ki shaadi uski wajah se ho rahi toh am quiet warna I tell you. Aaj I made chocolate brownies because of her only.... I mean not her... Tum samajh rahe ho na?”

Chetak neighed as Pratap soothed his friend’s mane while he told him about everything that had been happening in his life. Riding him across the ground, Pratap felt happy. Chetak was the only one Pratap spoke about his life to, knowing that his four-legged friend was far more understanding and intelligent than many people he personally knew and the most important connection he had with Chetak was that Chetak was the last gift he had received from his late mother. He still couldn’t understand why he had felt an irrational wave of anger run through his veins when he had seen Ajabde hug Aafat and then the way she had stayed close to him, and how they smiled at each other. 

“Asli ki fiance thodi na hai. Sab pretence hai Shakti aur Heer ke liye... tum kaun hote ho to interfere in her life...”  he tried to reason with himself but he just couldn’t shake off how much she had began to affect him and his reactions. Her smile was intoxicating, her doe eyes were like magnets pulling one towards them, the hair was always swaying across her face in the gentle breeze... how he wanted to... 

“Dadabhai…Dadabhai ...wait for me!”  Shakti came on his horse Sarang bringing him out of his thoughts. “Let’s go for a ride Dadabhai “ Shakti smiled . Both the brothers had just returned to the front lawn when they found Heer, Ajabde and Jalal sitting together laughing over images he was showing on his camera. They walked towards them with a frown on their faces on their presence not being acknowledged by the girls. It was Chetak’s neigh that made Heer look up from the camera.

“Dadabhai aap waapis aa gaye chaliye ready ho jaayiye. We are all going out.” Pratap looked at his brother and then back at Heer who was beaming with excitement.

“Going out? but Heer...”  Shakti started knowing his brother might not want to go out but Pratap surprised him by nodding his head.

“Seriously yes?” Heer asked as a surprised Ajabdeh looked up at him.

“Haan.” His eyes travelled from Heer to her as she looked away. But before he could leave Ajabde got up.

“Excuse me Kunwarsa.” Her voice made Heer Shakti and Jalal stare a little amused at her serious tone.

“Yes, Ajabdeh?” He copied smiling inwardly.

“I am sorry.” She said it as fast as she could in front of the clueless crowd. “I shouldn’t have said like I said at the study and...”

“Thank you.” His voice made her stare surprised.

“Kya?”

“Thank you, I needed that.” He smiled with a nod as Ajabde smirked. 

“Main toh hamesha se janti hoon kya sahi hai aur jo main karti hamesha sahi hi hota hai!! Main toh hoon hi aisi koi kya kar sakta hai!” 

“Lo palti!” Jalal laughed as Heer and Shakti Joined.

“Haan, jaise kal raat ko kitchen mein bhi tumne sahi hi kia.” Pratap turned to leave as she gasped. “Jasoos kahika!” He walked away in his victory smile as Shakti followed in toe.

“Dadabhai agar aapka mann nahi hai toh...” Shakti tried to speak but Pratap ruffled his hair smiling.

“Heer ko dekha kitni excited and khush hai waise bhi yeh trip uske liye hi toh hai Shakti. Besides dinner ke liye toh jaana hi tha bahaar ...” but before Pratap could finish his younger brother hugged him tight. Ever since Phool fiasco his brother had turned into a mega introvert rarely going out for fun but he would do everything for his loved ones. His agreeing to go out was all for Heer whom he considered as a younger sister made Shakti feel overwhelmed.

Raja Hemant Solankhini smiled at his genius plan as he slowly walked out of the hotel room he had earlier checked-in to. He looked at his phone that he was using to track the whereabouts of his daughter who currently was in the Songara farmhouse.

“I have time for a cup of tea and snack uske baad I will check on you Heer!”

The man made his way to the restaurant and at the same time Rani Meera along with her Daima entered the lobby of the hotel to check into their own room.

“Daima aaj hum bhi adventure kar rahe hain” Meera’s excitement on being a detective was finally coming true and her excitement and enthusiasm made her Daima smile but she knew there would be trouble when both husband-wife would come face to face!

Pratap stepped out dressed in his comfortable casuals only to catch a glimpse of Ajabde Punwar dressed in a red knee length body con dress along with a black leather jacket and black ankle high heel boots. Her hair was left open and she looked absolutely ravishing. Ajabde pouted as she took yet another selfie when she saw Pratap standing in the corridor, he sighed when she whistled at him.

“Hello handsome!” she smiled while walking towards him. Pratap felt something was different about her the way she was speaking, acting, looking all hot was normal to him but it was her eyes ... they were sparkling, full of life and were no longer guarded rather they beamed happiness. He was jostled out of his thoughts when she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards her.

“Smile Kunwarsa” she angled the phone to click a selfie of the two but made a face when she didn’t like it. He took the phone from her hand.

“I’ll take a far better one after all ab pic leni hai toh acchi aani chahiye” he smiled as they both looked at the camera and that was how Heer, Shakti and Jalal found them – standing close to each other clicking selfies.

“Arey wahan kya kar rahe ho yahan aao sab...groupie lete hai” Ajabde exclaimed and everyone joined in with a smile. 

An hour later they all sat in the corner of a cosy little karaoke pub that belonged to Pratap’s friend Chakrapani urf Chaks as everyone called him. Chaks had been ecstatic on meeting his friend after such a long time ever since Maharanisa’s demise Pratap had shut himself and post the Phool fiasco he had turned into a recluse rarely meeting his friends or going out, all he did was work and work so to meet and hug him made Chakrapani very happy. As he served them all drinks he sat by his friend when Jalal asked him about the karaoke and then a sly smile came on his face.

“Ab jo hoga uske baad Humko free drinks dena” he stood up and pulled Ajabde by her elbow. Everyone stared at them with curious eyes as both the friends walked up on stage.

“Let’s karaoke everyone!!!”

10 minutes later everyone was holding their stomach laughing hard seeing Jalal and Ajabde totally destroy Bollywood songs. From Raja Hindustaani to Himesh Reshammiya’s surooooor they killed every melody, none of them could sing but did every trick available to win the competition and their antics made everyone laugh. Both Jalal and Ajabde joined back the group amidst loud cheer and claps seeing them finally get-off the stage. Heer had tears in her eyes from all the laughing and even Shakti was still trying to control his laughter but failing miserably. All the while Pratap had done nothing but drown drink upon drink seeing her laugh so carefree with Jalal, share a sizzling chemistry and hold hands looking eye to eye.

“Mere saath kyun na hasti yeh aise, am a coold guy and can sing far better than him.” Seeing them both return holding hands made him drown another drink. The hard liquor burned down the throat as he took it in one go.

“I swear” Chaks began “maine aaj tak kisiko bhi itna besura gaana gaate nahi suna jitna tum ne gaaya.” Jalal feigned hurt while Ajabde started to act like the Bollywood movie heroines all dramatic with hand gestures.

“Waah re zaalim tere pyaar mein hum bane Anuradha Paudwaal aur tumne Humko hi besura bol diya. Tod diya aaj tumne mera masoom sa dil....”

Her dialogues made everyone laugh harder while Pratap just shook his head as he played with his re-filled glass of drink.

“But you know what” Jalal spoke “jitna besura gaati hai utna hi bhayanak dance karti hai and ab jab drinks ho chuke hain gaane bhi gaa liye toh baari dance ki hai....”

Ajabde stared right at Pratap who seemed to be in a totally different world all together, stirring his drink. 

“Kyun Kunwarsa ho jaaye ek dance?” She smirked.

“I…” he looked up at the hopeful eyes, and her’s “I don’t dance.” Pratap spoke his recluse persona coming back but Ajabde had seen Shakti and Heer give each other looks and knew what she had to do...

“I dare you Kunwar Pratap Singh Songara!” she stood up with a sly smile on her face “mere saath ek dance and Chaks decide karega ki hum dono mein se accha kaun hai. If I win you promise to not oppose me taking Chetak out without informing you and agar aap jeete toh you can make me do 1 task anytime, anywhere you want...”

Pratap looked at her questioningly only to meet her challenging gaze,

“Koi nahi Kunwarsa if you are scared I’ll dance with Jalal.” she spoke only to see Pratap down his drink in one go.

“Rajput hoon darta nahi aur naa hi haarta hoon. Hope you are ready Ajabde ?” He spoke and pulled her by her hand towards the floor making everyone stare surprised as Jalal smiled sipping his drink.

Four pair of eyes looked at the dance floor when both Ajabde and Pratap took to it as music played. He pulled her closer as his hands went to her waist while she placed her hands on his shoulders as the melody began to fill the small room their bodies started to groove on their own.

Behke behke nain, cheenay dil ka chain
Toh yeh pyaar hai,
Koi intezaar karde bekaraar
Toh yeh pyaar hai...

People moved away as Pratap held Ajabde’s waist close.

“Salsa?” He smiled.

“Ohho? Can You?” She dared, eyes not leaving his...

“Try me!”

Yaadein, dil ko tadpayein
Saansein, ulajti jaaye
Aankhein, sapne dikhlaye
Jab anjaane
Aankhon, se tu gabhraye
Raaton, mein so na paaye
Haathon, ko malta jaaye
Tu deewane

Hote hote ....oh yeah
Ho jaane do na pyaar!

They were both doing the salsa lost in each other’s gaze, endearing smiles unaware of the many mobiles that were capturing there awesome dance routine. Even Jalal, Chaks, Shakti and Heer were stunned at the fabulous dance performance.

“This is a takkar waali Jodi” someone spoke up as Ajabde’s did a twirl and landed in Pratap’s arms His hands played like the keys of a piano on her waist making her smile. Every twirl, dip, shake of the waist had them both ignite each other so badly. It was pure passion that was coming out in form of the dance!

Dhoondti hai nazar, ik haseen ko agar
Koi armaan leke
Toh prem mein nagar ki taraf hai safar
Dil ka sauda leke
Pighla sa pighla sa ho ju mann
Sundar sa sundar sa ho ju tann
Dil jo dhadakte hain shole bhadakte hain, hosh toh khota hai, pyaar jab hota hai

Hote hote ....oh yeah
Ho jaane do na pyaar!!

Pratap and Ajabde were completely and utterly lost in each other. Their hands were traveling the bodies igniting all nerve endings and they never once broke their eye contact. As the song came to an end the huge round of applause broke them apart. Pratap suddenly realised their position and all of a sudden took two steps away from her as per propriety. Ajabde on the other hand tried hard to control her crazy heart that was beating way too fast. The entire dance performance for her felt like a surreal dream... she never had a partner who was this amazingly well-trained and every step with Pratap came naturally to her. His hands on her waist felt so comfortable but as soon as he took those two steps away from her she also stepped back. Girls looked at him dreamily and some took the courage to speak to him.

Seeing the girls try to flirt and him returning their attention made her blood boil and she excused herself and went to the washroom before she did something drastic. Inside the washroom she splashed her face with cold water trying to get out of her reverie.

Kyun tum itna effect kar rahe ho mujhe Kharus Kunwar? Kyun tumhaare closeness mereko drunk feel karaati hai? Kyun jab tum kisi aur girl se flirt karte ho to mereko lagta hai jaise koi volcano burst ho raha ho?  Humaare beech aisa hai kya jo I feel so attarcted towards you…am I in…Nahi Ajabde this is... no…. Tum sirf Heer aur Shakti ke help kar rahi ho…remember usne kya kaha tha...

I’m a stranger merely helping them out aur mujhe meri limits mein rehna chahiye but why do I feel this weird uske aas paas...

 She wiped her face with the tissue staring at her reflection in the mirror. His moves, his scent, his closeness all sent a raging sensation down her body she had never experienced before.

The door of the washroom was swung opened as Pratap entered, his sudden appearance made Ajabde gasp as she turned. Somehow with him inside the washroom the place felt smaller while he seemed so big, his sleeves were folded, his collar was a bit crooked, the top button of his shirt was open but it was his eyes that captured her gaze.

“I was looking all over for you.” He frowned his voice a little cutely gibberish coz he was drunk.

“Tum…yeh…girl’s ka…washroom hai ...” she stammered but Pratap seemed different. He took two huge steps and pressed her against the wall

“That’s it.” He stepped towards her, eyes not leaving her’s as she felt cornered.

“Huh?” Ajabde’s heart thumped louder than usual as he neared her, his gaze so serious that it scared her.

“I’m done fighting this feeling.” He cornered her some more as the tissue fell from her hand.

“Huh?”

The next thing Ajabde could comprehend was Pratap kissing her. His frame covered her body completely it was like they were both perfect puzzle pieces meant to be together. Her eyes closed of their own accord as his hands traveled down her back then her waist before one traveled to move back up towards her hair. Their lips moved in complete sync and before she knew Pratap had tilted her head deepening the kiss. Both of them were so lost they didn’t hear the gasp or the closing of the door behind them. He held her head closer by his hand on her hair while hers traveled to hold his collar then the nape of his neck, as they kissed passionately breathless; sinking in to all the feelings they had never felt before. It felt like at this moment, here, right now, was everything “Completeness” stood for.