Ties that Bind

* Due to technical issues, I had to pull down Scorpion: The Sting of Death story. As of now, I'm trying to retrieve the story but till I get it back, I decided to share with you all a new story. Scorpions will be shared as soon as I'm able to retrieve it and finish it.
Join me in this new crazy adventure, hope you all enjoy it

Ties that Bind

Paperwork

She nodded her head at the servant who stood with the tea-tray in his hands and his companion carried the snacks.

“Green tea is for Dheerbai Ji” she reminded him, “and make sure the snacks are kept on the side table.” 

The servants bowed their heads in affirmation and walked out of the kitchen. She glanced at the kitchen and walked out as well, there was no point in hiding anymore. As the daughter-in-law of the family, she had certain responsibilities and duties to perform especially in the absence of her mother-in-law. Fixing her hair and then her saree, she joined the ladies on the balcony while the men were in the baithak going over the legal paperwork.

All the ladies sat in a semi-circle under the chhatri as the servants placed the tea and snacks for them. Dheerbai Bhatiyani was nowhere to be seen,

“She’s in the baithak making sure Rao ji signs the papers” Sajja Bai answered her unasked question. Her sister-in-law looked at her trying to hide her worries but failing miserably. 

Sajja Bai patted the girl’s head, “everything will be alright, Heer”.

Heer Kanwar nodded her head, “I know but it doesn’t feel right to me. It seems like we are giving up without a fight.”

“Jija, we are not giving up but buying time to regroup and plan our next step” the young daughter-in-law held Heer’s hand as she sat by her side.

“Patta ji said that by doing although the Punwar group will become a part of  the Sisodia empire but still we will hold decision-making power and overlook the working of the business and this step will bring Maaji sa back to us” Jiwa looked at her confident of her husband’s explanation and hopeful for the same outcome.

A servant informed the ladies to join the others in the baithak where all the paperwork had been completed. In the baithak, Rao ji sat in the centre along with Udai Singh Sisodia, on the left to them were Rawat Chundawat and Hemant Solankhini and to the right sat Shakti Singh Solankhini and Fateh Singh Punwar who was known by his nickname Patta.  Dheerbai stood by the legal team who were holding the paperwork that was signed a couple of minutes before the ladies joined them.

Sajja Bai ji acknowledged her husband and the others as she took her seat followed by Heer and Jiwa.

“All the paperwork has been done” Dheerbai told the ladies, “just like the Solankhini, Punwar group is now a part of the Sisodia’s”.

“Ajabde Baisa has arrived”

The announcement surprised everyone especially Rao ji and Dheerbai Bhatiyani who never expected to see the return of the firstborn of the family.

Draped in an organza saree with her hair tied in a braid and her mother’s pearls, Ajabde Punwar entered the Punwar residence with an air of authority. Her presence could be felt in every corner of the residence as all the servants smiled and bowed to her. The men stood up seeing the eldest child enter the baithak,

“Ajabde” Rao ji spoke up only to be completely ignored as the young woman made a dash for DheerBai Bhatiyani

“I knew it” Ajabde exclaimed “only you would be able to carry out such a low-lying task and I could not be happier”

DheerBai looked at her perplexed, “what are you talking about?”

Ajabde tilted her head to the right, “don’t be so modest now Dheer buasa, you got Rao ji to sign the divorce papers. I can finally get a father of my choosing” Ajabde embraced the woman in a tight hug and kissed her on the cheek as the others stared at them in surprise.