Rituals and Rights

Rituals and Rights

Ajabde stared at the henna being applied on her hands for the puja. Majhli Maa and Meera Maa both of them had given stern orders to her and Heer to get dressed up for the occasion. Heer looked radiant as the lady wrote Shakti’s name on her palm with henna while she looked at the name written on her palm – “Pratap”. The name itself gave rise to tingles in her body- the dance, his song, their fights, pranks and the kiss, each and every moment had imprinted itself in her memory. So lost she was in her thoughts she didn’t realise Heer was calling her.

“Jiji khaayalon ki duniya mein hai abhi” one of the girls teased making other giggle. Ajabde smiled a little not knowing what to make of her feelings. Heer sent them away as she looked at Ajabde

“Aap theek hain Jija?” she asked concerned for the girl who was the reason her marriage was even taking place. “I mean meri wajah se aap ko yeh sab karna...”

“Heer... Mujhe tumne ek itna accha behen diya, will I complain?”

Ajabde smiled at her as they were taken to get dressed for the puja. Sitting all dressed up Ajabde looked at her reflection in the mirror- the traditional Mewari jewellery was heavy, her red saree complimented it well, her was tied in a bun as the pallu was placed over it for a moment she felt like a newly wedded bride.

“You are not his bride Ajabde! Sab fake hai” her inner self reminded her “tumhaara rishta was all pretence taaki Heer-Shakti ek ho sake yaad hain?”

Pratap stood waiting for everyone in the baithak as the servants placed the gifts in the cars. Shakti walked out in his royal bandh gala kurta pyjama with pagdi looking handsome as Majhli Maa did nazar utaaran for both the brothers. Sajja Bai handed the thaal to the servant when the sound of anklets made them look towards the door. Ajabde entered all dressed up for the occasion. Pratap’s heart stopped for a minute as he stared at musibat who was looking like a newlywed bride herself. Shakti whistled making Ajabde roll her eyes at him while Sajja Bai took a bit of her kajal and put it behind her ear.

“Kisi ki nazar na lage aapko baisa. Bahut sundar lag rahi hain aap”

Ajabde smiled at the motherly gesture as the ladies walked out leaving the brothers behind. Shakti observed his Dadabhai who seemed to be in awe of the girl who had taken his breath away.

“Dadabhai chalein?” He asked with a smile as his brother looked at him

“Huh…?”

“Dadabhai chaliye Majhli Maa aur Ajab gaye bahaar...”

Pratap nodded his head as they both walked out as well. The ride to Heer’s place seemed like an eternity as Pratap drove the car while Shakti sat beside him playing with the music system only to stop when the song came on

“Chhuteya na chhute mose
Rang tera dholna
Ik tere baajo dooja
Mera koi mol na”

Eyes met on the rear view mirror.

“Bolna mahi bolna
Bolna mahi bolna....”

Unknowingly two eyes met time and again as memories were relived unaware that someone was observing them. Shakti smiled as Jalal’s words floated in his mind.

“Pyaar hai bas push dene ki zaroorat hai. Jab time aayega dono milenge zaroor

And agar push dena pada toh hum hain na!”

“Tere sang hasna main
Tere sang rona
Tujhme hi rehna main
Tujhme hi khona

Dil mein chhupa ke tujhe
Dil naiyo kholna
Marke bhi maahi tosey
Munh na modna
Bolna mahi bolna
Bolna mahi bolna”

Ajabde was happy to see the Solankhini residence knowing that she would finally get some space from Kharus Kunwar, the ride seemed forever, and his cologne made her fumble badly. For the last few days she was not seeing him as kharus rather she was finally seeing Kunwar Pratap Singh Songara – the guy who had a golden voice, who was loved and respected by everyone around him, who played pranks with his brother, the shield who stood tall to protect his loved ones and the man for whom she had fallen hard and fast. 

The haveli was beautifully decorated with marigold flowers and lights, rangoli welcoming the guests, dancers and musicians had been called to celebrate the festivities.

The ladies took the thaalis meant for the pujas as Rani Meera guided her daughter and Ajabde for the rituals.

“Heer ne subah se kuch nahi khaya.” Shakti spoke watching his Dadabhai’s eyes fixed on the other one who smiled while lighting her lamp.

“Maine bhi na khaya.” Shakti smiled.

“Kyun?” Pratap frowned looking at him. “Musibat ne tumhara khana bhi kha liya aj?”

“Dadabhai! Ajab ne bhi subah se kuch nahi khaya...” Shakti shocked him. “Main Rajaji se milke aata hoon.”

“Usne fast rakha? For real?” Pratap thought aloud as a smile appeared to disappear “par kyun?”

Ajabde felt his eyes travel wherever she went. Even towards the pool that acted as the pond for today. Her heart skipped a beat feeling him walking towards them, as she placed her lamp on the water.

“Heer” Pratap spoke from right behind her. “Manjhli Maa told to meet her after the rasm.” His voice made her close her eyes to check her heart beat.

“Ji Dadabhai.” Heer got up. “Bas ho chukka.”

Ajabdeh opened her eyes only to spot his reflection on the crystal clear water as she gulped remembering Kakisa’s words; you see his reflection on the water and pray for him. A soft prayer passed her lips unknowingly “Pratap ko ... project mil jaye.”

“Kuch kaha tumne?” She jerked at his frowning voice.

“Na...Nahi toh...” She gathered her lota and turned only to bump in to him as the water fell on his clothes.

“What...”

“Am so sorry!” Ajabdeh was quick with her apology and left in a hurry leaving him at the pool side in a fix.

Shakti smiled from the roof top watching the duo.

“What are you smiling at?” Heer frowned “Chalo feed me.”

 

“Pehle you feed me varna I will faint!” He saw her giggle.

“Manjhli maa chaliye khana khaa lijiye.” Pratap interrupted the ladies.

“Aree Kunwarsa yeh do thaal kiske liye laaye aap?” the women teased as she looked up to see him look away.

“Ajabde ke liye hi laye honge” Meera smiled. “Jaiye Ajabde.”

“Ji?” she gulped scared, alone with him?

“Unse thaal le lijiye.”

“Ji.” She took the plate of food from his hand carefully avoiding contact as the women giggled.

“Thank You.” She murmured as he looked at her face, her eyes not meeting his gaze as he frowned and left. Ajabde watched him go as a smile curved her lip. The thaal had all her favourite dishes, handpicked, by someone who knew her choices well.

Later that night Ajabde sat in front of the vanity slowly removing all the heavy jewellery one by one. She kept them back in their boxes and arranged them on the thaal. Her hair now open blew with the gentle breeze freely as she stiffened feeling his presence in her room. She closed her eyes thinking it was her hyper imaginative brain at work again but when she found herself being pulled towards his hard body she realised he was really there.

“Tum…yahan…iss waqt” she asked as he stared at her wide eyes. The way he looked at her made her feel warm all over; he pressed her closer to him.

“Tell me to leave” he spoke huskily.

“Huh?”

“Tell me to leave Ajabde and I’ll go aur phir tumko kabhi pareshaan karne nahi aunga.”

“What if...” She shuddered as his hands pulled her locks off her face.

“...I don’t want you to go?”

She stopped only to have Pratap press his lips against hers. He pulled her closer to him. Her hands travelled around his neck as she returned the kiss with the same fervour. The kiss like their first one was full of fireworks... every nerve ending had come alive making her feel every touch of his. He tilted his head deepening the kiss as her hands fisted his shirt in them while his explored her body. Still dressed in the red saree she had been wearing earlier Pratap teased her with his fingers moving on her bare skin of the waist. As soon as their hands entwined Pratap felt the coldness of her ring. It was like someone had thrown ice water on him as he slowly moved back making her frown at him. She looked to where his gaze was and realised his hesitation. Pratap’s eyes widened as Ajabde took a step back and removed the ring from her finger only to throw it away as she pulled him by his collar and pressed her lips again against his.

Pratap sat with his back to the wall while Ajabde lay beside him with her arms going over his chest, her head on his heart , their breathing matching the other’s; Pratap realised that his life couldn’t get any better than this. He had fallen for Musibat and he didn’t want her to leave him ever. He pressed his lips to her forehead as she snuggled closer to him, he allowed himself to dream again, to smile again. To Love Again.