Khamma Gani Kunwarsa!!

Khamma Gani Kunwarsa!!

Everyone took their places for the press-conference in the boardroom where the presentation had taken place early. Bairam Khan smiled as he greeted all of them and chatted with Mr. Punwar and Mr. Chundawat. In one of the suites Jalal sat nibbling on the snacks while Ajabde got dressed for the press-conference; she will soon be introduced as the official Head for the project. She stared at her reflection on the mirror; wearing a royal blue saree with quarter sleeved blouse in black with royal golden embroidery on its back. She fixed the royal brooch of her family and adjusted the pallu. She smiled as she felt jitters all over after all she would finally come face to face with Kharus Kunwar and everyone else, for who she actually was. Will they be angry at her for hiding her identity and refuse to even acknowledge her? “No!” she thought as memories came floating back, they won’t be angry at her.

Ruqaiya looked at her fiancé who was busy stuffing his mouth with pakoras and then at Ajabde who came out dressed in her mother’s saree with her hair tied up in a neat bun; she had accessorised it simply with the watch her father had given her and the Punwar house brooch. Jalal gave her thumbs up while Ruqqaiya stood up,

 “Ek cheez ki kami hai” she looked at her head to toe and smiling at her confused face rubbed some kajal off the corner of her eye and made a small dot on the back of Ajabde’s ear. “There, now all done.” Ajabde responded with a tight hug.

Jalal smiled and joined in with “mere bina this group hug is adhura” They shared a laugh as Jalal stretched both of his hands towards the girls.

“Shall we, my ladies?…everyone awaits your presence Miss Punwar” He gave her his hand.

In the boardroom Mr. Punwar smiled as everyone had taken their places. The interactive session with the other businesses had been a huge success as majority of the families wished to contribute to the project and now they were gathered to address the media. He took a quick glance at the room full of people who were both directly and indirectly involved in the project- from the hotel staff to the people from Punwar’s, business families to the media personnel, Mr. Chundawat and Jaimal Ji’s presence meant a lot to him but he knew the one person who was responsible for everything and deserved the credit was holed up inside the room making sure that everything went smoothly. As Chundawat Ji gestured him to start the press conference he nodded his head, time was of the utmost importance and today he will make sure everyone knew the time his daughter had put into in making this event and project a reality.

Heer was nervous as she wrapped the corner of her saree in her hands; an old habit of hers that she got from her mother. Looking at the camera’s flashes as well the number of people sitting in front of her, she somehow felt like a 1^st grader standing on stage to deliver her poem in the recitation competition. There was no way she would be able to answer the questions but then all of a sudden she felt his hand in hers... Shakti held her hand underneath the table, a smile on his face as he looked at the press and before she could realise her other hand was also enveloped this time it was her father who smiled at her and Dadabhai gave her thumbs up as she nodded her head, it was her time to shine and shine she would just like the stars in the sky.

The media was raining questions on the people sitting in front of them and were very impressed with the responses they had received. They were already informed that only questions to the project would be answered and no personal questions were allowed as they wanted to maintain the focus on the project itself. One of the journalist’s asked a question that made Ramrakh ponder for a while.

Mr.Punwar did you select Kunwarsa only on the basis of the presentation or were there any other factors that played a role in the selection?

Well up till today all the selections were made on the basis of the presentations we had received but today I was definitely looking for something more. Not many are aware but the whole idea of the Historical Tourist Development project is actually not mine but someone who’s very close to me. This person did the research, made a proposal and submitted it to the board after receiving proper investors for it. As I sat with the jury I was sure of 1 thing- I wanted the official partner to be as dedicated and as passionate about it as that person is and when I heard Kunwarsa I had to choose him because his views were exactly the same as the person who began this project and will head it.

Many hands rose in the air- all wanting to know the name of the person who started the project

Sir kindly share the name of the person who began this project and will lead it

It wasn’t he, who responded rather Chundawat ji stood up as he smiled,

“Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me immense honour to invite here up on stage the person behind the Historical Tourist Destination Project. It is her efforts that today we all have gathered here today with a hope that our history will be shared with the people all over the world and it makes me really happy that this project was the fruit of hard work, dedication, sleepless nights, passion and a determination of the daughter of this very soil. Allow me to introduce you Head of the Historical Tourist Destination Project and Punwar Ji’s daughter

 Rajkumari Ajabdeh Punwar Baisa of Bijolia”

All eyes turned to the doors as Ajabde Punwar aka Kharus Kunwar’s musibat, Heer’s jija and daughter to both Sajja Bai and Rani Meera entered gracefully, a gasp ran across the hall. A smile adorning her face she humbly folded her hands in greeting as she took her place beside her father who nodded his head with pride clearly showing on his face. She sat by her father’s side as the questions once again started,

“Ma’am if you were to describe the project in one sentence what it would be?”

Ajabde smiled, “it’s my dream”

“Will you share a little about your dream with us Baisa?”

Ajabde seemed thoughtful as she began, “as a child meri daima would tell me stories of our brave rajputana and she always said to me,

Kya hai Hindustan ka Itihas Rajputo ke bina,

Aur kya hoga Rajasthan ka itihas Mewar Bina?”

Pratap and the others looked at her surprised as she had uttered the very same words that he had said during the presentation.

“Mera sapna hai ki humaare itihaas ko sab jaane, jo already famous places hai unko hi nahi balki har uss corner ko hum duniya ke saamne laaye  jo humaare itihaas ka sakshi hai. Jab tourism  ki baat aati hai sab Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, jaana pasand karte hain because they are well known places, hum Kelwara, Haldighati, Chavand ko bhi sabke saamne laana chaahte hain. Yahan ki hawa mein itihaas hai ussi hawa ko har taraf phelna chaahte hain. “

As everyone applauded Udai Singh sat blown away by the girl’s words for they were exactly the same as his elder son’s who was looking at her with pride and love? He had heard about his eldest being involved with someone but he wasn’t sure who the girl was but seeing him steal glances of Ajabde Punwar he smiled, his son had found someone just like him!

“Baisa can you please elaborate on the women welfare programme too.”

Ajabde nodded her head; “the women’s welfare programme is going to be an integral part of the entire project. We will highlight all the traditional handicrafts as well as train women of all ages and include them in the team. The programme aims to make the women independent by helping them achieve their dreams through their skills. Naari ki balidaano ko sadev bhulta aya hai itihas.

This programme will focus on the brave ladies who were and still are the driving force of Rajputana. “

The press conference ended on a high note as everyone applauded the people who were going to bring back the light on the history of the land that had witnessed some of the most brave soldiers fight and protect its motherland. As everyone made their way out Ramrakh was making sure Ajabdeh met everyone who had come for the presentation. Raja ji and Rani Meera were speaking to Mr. Chundawat and his wife while Sajja Bai ji was seen talking to one of the interviewers, DheerBai glared as she heard her say

“I’m a proud mother as all my children did exceedingly well. I was a little nervous but was confident that they will give their best in the presentation.”

DheerBai and Sajja Bai came face to face with Sajja easily reading the other woman’s mind and knew she wanted to stir trouble but before DheerBai could even utter her husband entered the scene. Udai Singh folded his hands in greeting and spoke to the woman who had raised his sons.

“Sajja ... ji... you have done an amazing job raising the boys. They are epitome of what we want our sons to be. You are a really good mother not many are capable of doing the same. Congratulations and may they continue to rise just like today”

He glared at his wife and gestured for her to leave with him. Sajja Bai ji was stunned as after her sister’s separation the man rarely spoke to her or the boys. She knew he kept close tabs on them growing up but today he had made the move and his words felt sincere. She hoped that his wife didn’t do something that would cause trouble later.

Pratap and Shakti greeted another one of the guests when Udai Singh finally approached them. Seeing their estranged father none of the boys showed any emotions but the rest of the room held their breaths waiting for the scene to unfold. Udai Singh stretched his hand in front of Pratap

“Congratulations Kunwarsa. A very well deserved win. Everyone including me here hopes you will continue to make us proud.”

Pratap shook his head as he stared into his father’s eyes, “Thank you.” Shakti also shook his hand though he kept silent.

Ajabde stared at the scene from a distance and smiled as an idea popped into her head. She quickly sent a message to Jalal who in return responded with a smiley emoji. She mingled with the others when she saw her idea come to life, one of the interviewers had requested a picture of the three men who agreed and as the cameras flashed she noticed the similarities between them.

“Shakti looks more like him and Kharus ki nose is…” she thought when Sajja Bai ji joined her.

“Itne time baad I have seen all three together” She hugged Ajabde who looked so happy and pleased to see her. Sajja continued, “He was not a good husband for sure but he always tried to be a good father but the circumstances were such that he couldn’t be there for them and...”

“Fear of being rejected stopped both the sides to take the step” Ajabde finished the sentence. “Kakisa aap aaj raat rukenge yahin” she requested as the elderly lady smiled, “hum nahi ruk sakte kyunki hume kal mandir jaana hai kuldevi ke. Rani Meera humaare saath jaayengi isiliye hum unke saath nikal jaayenge. Heer aur dono Kunwar yahin ruk rahe hain to finish the official formalities” she smiled as she saw Ajabde frowning, “waise bhi ab toh aana jaana laga rahega and aap hume manjhali maa bulaaaiye”

“Ji Manjhali Maa” she hugged the woman again before Ruqqaiya joined them.

Later in the evening once everyone had gone back Ajabdeh did the final formalities. The hotel making sure the guests who had stayed back received the best care from the staff. She signed the papers and handed it to the manager. She walked out to the entrance hoping to catch a cab only to see the black BMW stop in front of her and she smiled.

“Chalein ?” she looked at the guy standing beside her looking like he had walked out of a GQ photo shoot wearing the royal blue shirt she liked on him. Pratap drove the car out of the gates his one hand on the steering and the other holding the hand of the woman who had taught him to live, laugh and love again.

“I really like you shirt” she teased him as they drove through the city. He smiled, “I planned on wearing bright orange shirt with a lemon yellow tie but mujhe kisine bola tha to wear only royal blue shirt and no ties”

She giggled as she recalled the rules she had made for him, “Waise aap Rajkumari Champa se kuch zyaada hi baat kar rahe the”. He raised his eyebrows at her, “you saw that aur phir bhi save nahi kiya mujhe”

“Awww Kharus kunwar needed rescuing” she pouted.

They both laughed as he stopped the car in front of a dhaba. She looked at him, “how did you know ki yeh mera fav spot hai?”

He looked at her surprised, “this is mera fav spot. Chalo sab log pauch gaye already”

“Ajabdeh!!!!” She heard the voices as she saw familiar faces sitting on the cot outside. Shakti, Heer, Ruqqiaya and Jalal sat as together as they joined them

“Let’s order” Jalal suggested. One of the servers came to take their order; Shakti looked at him, “khichdi aur ghevar.” Pratap nodded his head when a voice rang out

“Arey Sisodia sahib ki khichdi aur ghevar taiyyar hue ki nahi. Aate hi honge sahib ji”

Ajabde looked at the server, “Yeh Sisodia sahib kaun hai?”

The server smiled, “Udai Singh Sisodia ji. Aapko pata hai bahut bade businessman hai, yeh lambi gaadi hai unki aur hamesha apne bete se haar jaate hain and yahan aake khichdi aur ghevar khaate hain. Bolte hain unke bacchon ki pasand hai. Kaafi time se aa rahe hain. Aaj bhi aayenge TV par suna tha phir haar gaye”

Udai Singh stopped the car at the dhaba and smiled, “chalo ek aur haar ka jashn manaate hain”. He got down and walked straight inside not paying attention to the group especially the two boys who were staring at him.

Udai Singh in the corner spot as one of the server boys ran to him, “kakasa aaj phir haar gaye aap” and he nodded, “aaj toh bahut buri tarah se haraaya mujhe isiliye aaj khichdi mein ghee zyaada dena”

“Zyaada ghee khaane se cholesterol ho jaata hai” Udai singh looked up to see his younger son staring at him. Shakti looked at the server, “saath mein acchar bhi chahiye”

Pratap had joined them as he brought water to the table, “bina paani ke you can’t eat Shakti” and as they sat down even the nature rejoiced on the reunion of the father with his sons. Rains drenched the thirst of the dry earth, wiped the dust of the leaves and gave a new lease of life as everyone saw Udai Singh feed his sons just like he used to when they were kids.