Challenge Accepted
Heer and Patta sat with long faces unable to get their sister’s words out of their heads. In the morning, the gang had celebrated their first victory – their father had performed the puja at the temple instead of Champak Lal, and all of them saw Raoji receive the ashika post the puja from the chief priest. Jagmal had gloated in front of Ajabde about their success, and she had laughed at their antics. Her words had them all shocked,
Ajabde couldn’t control her laughter as her siblings looked on,
“She seems to have gone into shock” Maan looked at the others who nodded their heads, but Ajabde could not stop her laughter.
“I’m sorry” she tried to stop only to fail miserably. After two long minutes, her laughter ceased, but her face held the same amused expressions.
“I knew it,” she told them, “all of you are going to make this so easy for me.”
“What do you mean?” Heer asked her voice tense,
“You seem to be celebrating the fact that Rao ji performed the morning puja at the temple but my silly little siblings,” Ajabde glanced at all of them, “that puja had nothing to do with the wedding. That’s the reason why I or anyone from our side wasn't present at the temple.”
“next time when your wife tells you something,” she told him, “listen to her.”
Watching their face fall and hopes shatter Ajabde knew this was the time,
“Anyways if you truly wish to stop me then we are going to do this the right way.” She typed quickly on her phone and smiled.
“I have sent an email with the complete itinerary to every one of you,” they looked at her shocked as she continued,
“The mukh dikhai rasm is going to be held today at 1:00 PM in the zenana. Let’s see if you can stop the groom from watching his bride’s reflection.”
Shakti sighed as he stood in front of his wife and brother-in-law, “are you going to sit here or do you intend on accepting Ajabde baisa’s challenge?”
Heer stared at her husband who looked right back at her; he looked handsome with the sunlight falling on him. She knew her husband was good looking with a well-maintained physique, but there was something different about him. Ever since they had arrived in Bijolia, Heer had seen him help the servants out with heavy tasks and even small ones. She loved watching him play with the children in the mahal; he would be the happiest at those times more than he was when they were together.
“But what are we going to do?” Patta asked him only to see his wife join them.
“I have an idea” Jiwa spoke timidly, “if you would like to hear it out.”
An hour later, the gang had taken their positions in the zenana with the girls in the main areas while the guys were in the periphery.
Hansabai smiled as she walked towards the jharokha as requested by her daughter and the other ladies. The woman had stopped asking questions because she wouldn’t receive the right answer instead her child would either sing her a lyric or shayari. At least Ajabde’s shayari is better than Jalal’s lame ones; she smiled to herself. She reached the jharokha and gasped, for standing near the kund was none other than her husband all dressed up in his royal attire.
“Mission Accomplished”
Ajabde smiled from the corner watching the scene unfold and looked at her phone; she could see the entire gang celebrating. Her foolish siblings had accepted her challenge.
Now this is interesting
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