Decisions

Decisions

The adjacent boardroom saw the jury working on the decision as Ajabde guided the server to set down the tea and snacks for them, she made tea for them while Jaimal ji laughed and said,

“I’m a very happy man today and can’t wait to see Jhalim Singh and baaki ka reaction when their name won’t be announced” making the other two men shake their heads. Ajabde handed him the tea cup and he asked her,

“Ajabde beta did you see their presentation?” She nodded her head, “I was confused ki presentation project par hai ki unke surname par” she honestly confessed.

“To be honest” Rawatji spoke up, “I’m impressed with Rajkumari Heer Bai Solankhini, and she did amazing considering it’s her first major presentation. She only lost to Kunwra Pratap by a margin of 2 points”

“Where did she lose the points Kakasa?” Ajabde asked as Rawatji showed her, “the Solankhinis are an old family but their reach is not everywhere in the state bas yahin par they lost. The Songara empire has reached out to the smallest of towns and made sure they have a working centre set up, Kunwar Pratap has created a lot of jobs opportunities by opening these centres. This will be a major help in the dream!”

The three men knew that the winner was Pratap Singh Songara but Ajabde was busy thinking of something and she got her answer.

“Kakasa I was thinking if we can get the Solankhini family on-board for our project’s women welfare department”, Rao ji looked at his daughter waiting for her to elaborate and she did explain her idea in detail with the advantages.

Heer sat waiting for her drink that her fiance had gone to get for her, she was about to leave when Maharani Uma Devi came with her sister DheerBai Bhatiyani all smiles.

“Rajkumarisa you did a fantastic job presentation mein” Dheer began “but we all know that project would either go to the Songara group or the Rathores. After all Solankhini group is not that known world-wide.”

Heer smiled knowing the game the cunning woman was playing, “of course I know that Ranisa but that won’t stop me from giving my best. Rajputani hoon haar nahi manti and meri toh haar mein bhi jeet hai after all Dadabhai jeete toh meri hi jeet hui. Besides I won the moment we were chosen to be the final three contenders. Excuse me please Kunwarsa is waiting for me .”

Everyone had gathered back into the boardroom for the results. Almost everyone had congratulated both Pratap and Heer for their presentations. Jalal had joined them as well along with Bairam Khan who was all praises for Heer and extended an invitation to the Solankhini group for a meeting. Mr. Punwar took the stage as he looked at everyone,

The Historical Tourist Destination project is our pride.

We at the Punwar group have always tried to make sure our projects help our community and our people. So when the pitch for this project was made to me I was on-board but it took a lot of effort to get everyone else on board because our project in their thoughts was just a fluke that everyone dreams about but cannot turn to truth.

I would like to thank everyone present here today for actively participating for this project and letting everyone know that we as a community stand together for the betterment of our people. The decision was a very hard one as each and every one gave your best to the presentation. Without further delay I’ll request Rawatji and Jaimal ji to announce the name for the winner

Both the men stood smiling while he gave the mic to them, Jaimal ji gestured at Rawatji to do the honours.

Rawatji took the mic, it gives me so proud to say that the official partners for the Historical Tourist Destination project is…

Everyone held their breaths as he took the name

“The Songara group, Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakti kindly join us on stage please”

The boardroom erupted with loud applause as both the boys took blessings of their elders and went on stage to greet the jury. Heer was genuinely happy for her Dadabhai had won and knew she had given her all so this defeat was her learning step towards her bright future. But the next announcement had everyone clap harder than they had done for Pratap

Jaimal ji smiled, “However, today there was one person who and I say this for all three of us here, won our hearts with their presentation. The way this person spoke about the project like it was not just a project but so much more than that and wanted to make sure that all small cottage industries as well as the common people got the chance to contribute in it, we decided to choose them as official partners for the project’s women & children welfare programme which is an integral part of the main project. So I humbly request Raja Hemant Solankhini and Rajkumarisa Heer Kanwar to join us as the Solankhini group has been chosen as the partners for the Women & Children Welfare programme”

Raja Hemant Solankhini stood as a proud father as he brought Heer along- the entire presentation was because of her dedication and hard work. She had proved all the gossip mongers wrong and won. Rani Meera wiped her tears as they threatened to spill out seeing her loved ones standing tall and proud, posing for the photograph. The press conference was scheduled post lunch and then there would be the official photo shoot for the entire project team.

Ajabde sat grinning ear to ear seeing everything on the monitor and thought of all the reactions she was about to get when she would enter as Miss Ajabde Punwar ,Daughter of Mr Ramrakh Punwar, Head of the Historical Tourist Destination Project.