New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Ramrakh wasn’t surprised when Kunwar Pratap dropped by his office hoping to meet him. He was aware that it was Kunwarsa who had given shelter to his daughter post her runaway stint and as per Khan sahib, “dono bacche mohabbat mein hai”

It wasn’t that he didn’t like the person nor had any qualms about him on the contrary he had heard only praises about Kunwarsa and his accomplishments. He was very similar to his daughter maybe except for the impulsiveness. As Kunwarsa greeted him Ramrakh realized that the time had finally come when an able gentleman would whisk his daughter away and for that moment he truly did not like Kunwar Pratap Songara.

Heer was staring at her cell like Amitabh Bacchan was about to call her personally. Daima had already told her to pay attention to the milk kept on the stove but the girl was lost. Rani Meera came just in time to see the milk about to spill over.

“Hey Ekling ji Heer kahan dhyaan hai aapka!!” She scolded her daughter who finally looked at the milk and mumbled, “oopsie”

Rani Meera stared at her daughter who had gone back to staring at her cell and when her mother pinched her on the shoulder she jumped like a rabbit

“Maasa abhi Jalal bhaijaan ka call aane waala hai with news. Dadabhai jija ke papa se baat karne gaye hain and uske baad he’s going to propose her”

Meera smiled, “sacchi yeh toh bahut acchi khabar hai”

“Kya acchi khabar hai?” Raja Hemant joined his family in the kitchen only to see his wife’s very excited face

“Aapko phirse koi necklace pasand aa gaya hai Ranisa ya koi new designer bag?” his words made his wife glare at him while heer giggled

“Daata Dadabhai jija ka haath maangne gaye hain Kaka sa se”

Raja Hemant nodded his head and walked out of the kitchen without uttering a word. He was very happy for the children especially Pratap and Ajabdeh who had come to him individually and apologized for the lies that had now turned into the truth. He had advised Pratap to meet with Ramrakh ji and take his blessings because he did consider Ajabde as his own daughter.

“Hi Shakti” Ajabde spoke to the younger prince who was sulking like a baby. She offered him the gift wrapped package which he took and then went back to sulking. She sighed because she knew the conversation would be quite a long one,

“Shall we order our drinks ya aise hi convo chaalu karna hai?” she asked as Shakti nodded his, “go for the triple hot chocolate- bahut yummy hai. Mera fav drink hai”

As the server placed the two triple hot chocolate on their table Shakti finally began the conversation, “why didn’t you tell me about your real identity Ajabde?”

“Shakti you knew my name… introduce kiya tha maine remember? Ajabde Punwar” she tried to diffuse the situation by making a small joke but seeing the serious expression she knew it wouldn’t be that easy

“I mean Raja ji knew, Manjhali Maa and Ranisa also found out, Dadabhai knew about it even Heer got to know before me!”

He had been feeling really hurt that he was the last one to find out about her identity as the Head of the Historical Tourist Destination Programme and Vice-President of the Punwars.

“I thought we were friends Ajabdeh and dost koi secrets nahi rakhte ek dusre se” He went back on sipping his hot chocolate waiting for Ajabde to respond. She smiled at him,

“We are friends Shakti and I didn’t deliberately hide my identity as the Vice-president from you all. At the time I didn’t think it was wise for me to go about telling everyone ki I was Ajabde Punwar the VP of Punwars and the Head of the Historical Tourist Destination project. To be honest when we all met I was just trying to find a shelter to hide and then I got a chance to help you out so I introduced myself as Ajabdeh… bas aage ke title ko add nahi kara maine. Waise bhi the first person to find out about me was Raja ji and aapke Dadabhai found out about it the night I left and all he knew was that I was the VP of Punwars, main project ki head hoon yeh baat sabko press conference mein pata chali”

Shakti nodded his head, “I was so hurt jab tum bina bye bole chali gayi but Dadabhai promised Heer ki agar tumne waapis aane mein time lagaaya toh we all would come to take you with us”

Ajabde went red hearing her Kharus kunwar’s choice of words and she smiled as Shakti finally gave her his signature charming smile that had all ladies fall for him.

Ramrakh stared at his wife’s picture that he had placed on his table,

“Humaare Ajab ke liye rishta aaya hai that too ek rajkumar ka, aap kehti thi ki aapki beti shaadi ek rajkumar ke saath hogi liye aaj humne uss rajkumar ko haan bol diya. Hansa Bai ji aaj agar aap jeevit hoti toh kitni khush hoti, Ajabde ki shaadi ki saari taiyyaariyan apne haathon se karti aap”

The intercom rang interrupting the moment as he was informed about the presence of Raja Hemant Solankhini and his wife. He went personally to greet them and invited them to his chambers. Rani Meera had been ecstatic and urged her husband to talk with Mr. Punwar  when he had shared his dream with her, they wanted to be a part of Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde’s marriage and they would do it from the bride’s side. He smiled as they spoke to him and nodded his head,

“Aapne hi toh uska dhyaan rakha jab main nahi rakh paaya aur aap toh mere bhai jaise hain.” The man was sincerely thankful for their presence as well as the offer

“Toh humaare Ajabde ki shaadi mein uske Kakasa aur Kakisa taiyaari karwaayenge”

Rani Meera smiled as she decided to do all the rituals for Ajabde that a mother does for her daughter.

DheerBai and her son stared in confusion as they saw Rajkumari Phool Kanwar walk out of the mansion with Udai Singh who seemed to be smiling as he saw her off. He went back inside ignoring the duo walking behind him

“Ranaji Phool yahan kyun aayi thi?” DheerBai asked only to see her husband’s glacial eyes set on her son who hid behind her. Udai Singh stared at Jagmal as he spoke to him in a cold voice

“How many times did you raise your hand on her?” Jagmal gulped down a lump as he saw his father’s voice get colder by the minute. His breath hitched as Udai Singh pulled him by his arm

“Is this what you were taught Jagmal? Tum ko Sisodia khaandan ka Kunwar kehne mein sharam aati hai mujhe. Tumhaari wajah se we are going in loss, you don’t respect the employees, kaam kar nahi sakte aur Sisodia’s ka name use karke apni man maani karte ho”

“Ranaji” DheerBai tried in vain to help her son only to have her husband show his palm to her, “do not get in the middle of this”

Jagmal stared at his stunned mother and then back at his father, “She started it Daajiraj, sacchi uss Pratap ke bare mein baat karne lagi and I just said ki was she still in love with him toh she lost it and said so much ki mujhe bhi gussa aa gaya. Waise bhi this is sab uss Pratap ka fault and he got the project he’s in a relationship with that Punwar”

Udai Singh had enough as he gave a tight slap to the useless fellow, “Kunwar Pratap has proven his worth you fool. Songara empire khada kiya along with his brother Shakti, dono ne mehnat se apni dedication se uss business ko iss mukaam par pauchaaya aur tumne kya kiya Jagmal- you ruined everything I built. I saw the presentation you sent for the Historical Tourist Destination project; you plagiarized the entire thing from another source. Your shortcomings have nothing to do with Kunwar Pratap and you dared to hit a woman!!”

Udai Singh couldn’t even stand to look at him, “DheerBai ji apne bete se bol dijiye to pack his bags and go to his uncle’s place. He will stay there and learn some manners. I’m throwing him out of the business and also Rajkumari Phool has broken the engagement and I agreed. She deserves far better than him”

Ajabde looked around the garden where Kharus had invited her for dinner but the place was empty and he was nowhere to be seen. She was about to leave when she heard the strings of the guitar and his voice

Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Yoonhi pahlu mein baithe raho
Yoonhi pahlu mein baithe raho
Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo

Haaye mar jaaen ge ham to lut jaaen ge
Aisi baaten kiya naa karo
Aaj jane ki zid naa karo

 He sat on a chair his fingers teasing the strings of the guitar, his eyes closed as he sang for her. As he sang she realized the place décor was changing with twinkling lights coming on and there a few steps behind him stood a beautifully decorated gazebo. 

Kitna masoom rangeen hai yeh sama
Husn aur ishq ki aaj mairaaj hai
Husn aur ishq ki aaj mairaaj hai
Kal ki kis ko khabar jaan-e-jaan
Rok lo aaj ki raat ko
Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo
Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo

Haaye mar jaayenge
Hum toh lutt jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo..

He opened his eyes to see her looking at him with the doe like eyes adorned with kohl that made his heart skip a few beats. She looked radiant in the blush pink saree with the off-shoulder blouse. He walked up to her and stopped a few steps away from her. She looked at him questioningly trying to figure out what he was doing when her Kharus Kunwar went down on his knee and looked up to her as she gasped

“I always dreamt that one day I would become a big man and Ranimaa ko hamesha apne paas rakhunga, khush rakhunga after everything that had happened. Shakti ko kabhi bhi akela nahi chodunga. Manjhali Maa bhi humaare saath rahengi and hum roz Chetak par ride kiya karenge and uss duniya mein koi sadness nahi hogi. Fate had other plans, Ranimaa chali gayi and then I found out ki yeh saare dreams sirf dreams hi hote- sacchai kuch aur hi hoti hai. Jab tumse mila toh after a really long time I felt the emotions jinko ek box mein band kar lock kar diya tha. Aaj uss box ka lock open kar diya, tumne mujhe majboor kar diya Musibat- phir se wohi sapna dekh raha hoon farq yeh hai ki tumko apne paas dekh raha hoon. I want to make tumhaare dreams mere and milke unko poora karenge- ek duniya banaayenge jahan hum honge and humaare loved one honge- aafat bhi aa sakta hai bas tumse dur rahe. Rajkumari Ajabde Punwar will you marry me?”

A tear ran down her cheek as she fumbled, “ye…Yes”. Seeing the happiness that shone in his eyes Ajabde knew she had found the one jiske saath she would spend the rest of her life with as an equal partner. Kharus was all hers and she was his Musibat!!!