Doubts

Doubts

The Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace & Resort had been chosen to host the business gathering for the Historical Tourist Development Project led by the Punwars. Rooms had been booked for the guests as well as the team from Punwars. Ajabde sat in the Fateh Sagar Boardroom going through all the details for the upcoming event; they were hosting a dinner party for the esteemed guests and their family members in the Jai Sagar lawn in the evening. The presentations would take place in the Swaroop Sagar boardroom that could host up to a hundred guests. She sat working on her laptop going through all the details for the press conference when one of her team members came to show her the menu for the dinner, she took a good look at it and made some last minute changes to it making sure that the hotel management would have no issues with it. She scrolled through her emails when her cell pinged she picked it up hoping it was a message from him but turned out to be an advert from her network operator.

“Kya fyaada yeh plan activate karaane ka kharus toh na hi message karta aur na call” she thought as she recalled their conversations since her departure from the Songara haveli. Both of them were busy with work and she was getting regular updates from both Heer and Shakti over his change in behaviour. She smiled as one of the servers came with a message

“Ma’am Mr Punwar would like you to join him for evening tea and snacks in the restaurant.” She nodded her head as she shut her laptop and walked to be with her father.

Rani Meera walked into her husband’s office greeting everyone when the secretary smiled and directed her towards the conference room where both her husband and daughter were working on the final presentation. Before entering the room she requested the secretary to send tea and snacks for them. She smiled as she saw the scene in front of her; Heer was making notes as her father told her about the changes while explaining to her the importance of it

“Daata why are we focusing on the small historical places none heard about rather than the important bigger ones? Aren’t they more revenue earning?” She asked her father who smiled as he responded

“You see Heer, The Punwars started this project with a hope to establish every corner of Mewar in to a household name and tourist spot. Am sure most entrants will miss out on places like Chavand and Bijolia where we will use them as our tourism development USP.”

“Well I am sure all can forget and not a certain Pratap singh “ Heer smiled.

“Focus lady! Here you are a competitor!” Her father smiled back.

Seeing the father-daughter duo made her smile as she made them aware of her presence, as she saw her daughter yawn and even her husband looked tired.

“Tea time” she said as she walked in with the peon following her carrying the tray with tea and snacks.

Sajja Bai stared in horror at the mess the young prince had made in his room Shakti stood in front of the mirror holding two jackets trying to figure out the clothes he’ll pack for the short trip to Udaipur.

“Kunwar Shakti” she exclaimed as she looked all over the room figuring out the path she needed to take to reach the boy who looked like he had won the lottery.

“Manjhali Maa aap bataao which one looks good- navy blue jacket with white shirt Or this blue shirt with the white jacket??”

 She shook her head as she took them both and folded them neatly keeping them in his bag.

“Wear the white one during the dinner and the blue one during the presentation and Shakti clean the mess” she looked at him and pointed at the mess all over his room while he hugged the lady and kissed her on the cheek

“Aapke bina mera kya hota Manjhali Maa??” He said as he sat on the floor keeping his hands in her lap when his elder brother entered.

“Kya hota” Pratap pretended to think “sab kuch gadbad hi hota” he ruffled his brother's hair as he sat opposite to him and both the brothers placed their heads on her lap. She rubbed their heads smiling when Pratap spoke

“Manjhali Maa final presentation ko leke darr lag raha hai”

Shakti and Sajja looked at the elder one who seemed lost in thoughts as he continued

“This project means so much not only in the business – profit sense but personally bhi after all Heer ka pehla presentation hai and she’s going to face Rathores and they’ll be there too” his voice trailed off as both understood whom he meant by “they”

Sajja Bai smiled, “aap sab apna best dijiye aage bas aur result ki tension kyun lena, yaad hai na aapki Ranimaa aapko kya sikhaai, bas karam karo phal ki chinta nahi karo. Apni taraf se poori mehant karna and dekhna sab accha hi hoga”

She continued patting their heads as both the boys recalled the moments when their mother would tell moral tales from the Puranas and made them listen to the Bhagavad Gita as children.

Meera smiled as she saw Heer sleeping in her room. She walked away quietly doubts surrounding her heart and mind, her daughter was about to give one of the most important presentation of her life and she would do that as a representative for her family business. As a mother she was proud and scared for her only child, she sat in the garden lost in her thoughts when her husband found her.

“Ranisa aap itni thand mein bahaar kya kar rahi hain” He asked her only to see her worried face,

“Raja ji I’m scared” She looked at her husband “this presentation means so much to Heer and she will be facing the Rathores as well as Kunwar Pratap and Shakti. I know Kunwar Pratap supports her and will be cheering for her but Rathores….sab jaante hain they never play fair agar kuch gadbad hui…meri Heer won’t forgive herself….”

Raja Hemant stared at the gardens in front, “Ranisa yeh jo project hai belongs to the Punwars. Ramrakh Punwar is the head of the entire business but this project has been conceived by none other than his daughter Jisko hum sab jaante hain”

She looked at her husband with confusion as he took the name that made her smile.

“Ajabde Punwar.” Made her look at her husband a little shocked. “ Ji ha wohi  Ajabde baisa jinko hum sab jante hai woh Ramrakh ji ki only daughter hain and she has created the name for herself. Jitna I found out uske hisaab se she has been the top student throughout her life, her business projects revolve around the development of the Rajput community as well the region. She’s quite good at her job but what makes this project more special is ki she fought for this project…unke liye this is not a mere project rather it’s her dream.”

Rani Meera nodded her head as she asked with a smirk, “Does it mean ki project Kunwar Pratap ko milega?”

Raja Hemant Solankhini shook his head, “Nahi. There will be a jury who will take the final decision and the jury includes Ramrakh Punwar, Mr. Ramdas Chundawat and Mr. Jaimal Rathore. All these men are just, fair and honest in their decision. Jo deserving hoga usko hi milega project. Aapke doubts clear ho gaye honge toh chalein….we have a trip to make!”

The Radisson Blu welcomed the morning greeting the guests arriving for the esteemed Historical Tourist Destination Project gathering. Though there were only three main contenders but the rest of the community was also invited to the programme to see how they can participate in the project. Servers walked across the halls carrying drinks for the guests checking into the hotel, bell boys carried off luggage into the rooms, the concierge helped with the valet services. Pratap did the formalities along with Raja ji for their respective check-ins and walked towards their suites.  He had arrived early with Raja ji as they wanted to have the rooms ready before Shakti arrived with the ladies, they were going to come a little late as they had to visit the temple. The Songara’s suite was a little down the corridor as he walked observing the décor of the hotel and saw the Fateh Sagar lawn being prepared for the evening’s dinner. Pratap smiled as he saw a beautiful floral arrangement of white and pink lilies with a card kept in full view

Khamma Gani

Aapka Udaipur mein swagat hai Mr Ruler!!

Because I know you love rules, yeh rahe tumhaare rules

1)    Wear Blue- royal blue. Tum par suit karta hai. Also no tie

2)    Please raat bhar apne Mac Book mat lage rehna- you need poora 8hrs of beauty sleep, grouch

3)    Doosri girls se flirt karne ki sochna bhi mat- I’ll know

Mere jasoos har jagah present hai Kharus Kunwar!!

Kuch bhi gadbad kari toh dekh lena- neem and karela barfi milegi for dessert :D

All the best for the presentation

Tumhaari :P

The card had him smiling, “Musibat ab jo ties pack kari hain unka kya karu?” He shook his head as he kept the card in his pocket and made his way towards the lobby to receive the family members.

Ajabde looked at the on-going activity through the security monitors in the boardroom while she checked in with the room services about the welcome basket that was placed in all the rooms for the guests. All four suites, and the superior deluxe rooms had been booked for the guests, trips to tourist destinations were made for the family members who were going to be present for the event as well. She looked at the menu for the night’s dinner and gave her approval for it. Just then the door opened making her smile as Jalal entered with a few bags in his hand.

“It’s show time Miss Punwar!” he smiled as she took a deep breath, it was show time indeed!