The Perfect Match

The Perfect Match

Heer watched as the doctor took her father’s vitals and took notes. Ramrakh Punwar had moved back home after his elder brother’s arrival who had taken charge of the family as well as the business. Ramrakh knew Heer was hiding something important the way she was fussing about every tiny little thing. She had screamed her head off at the maid assigned by Meera for being careless with the pillows after Ram had felt a little discomfort. She had taken charge of everything from his comfort to his food, medicines, clothes and schedule.

“Heer” he called out to her and patted the space beside him with a smile. She sat down making sure everything was in place- a glass of water, fruits and his medicines.

“So, what did you do?” he asked warmly as she looked down instead of meeting his eyes. 

“Remember the time you decided to bring home a stray cat and hid it in your bedroom” he recalled the moment a black cat perched itself top of Patta’s head as the young boy screamed his lungs off.

“Patta was at fault he decided to check my room,” she looked up and met his eyes. Ram placed his hand on top of hers, “so who are we hiding this time- I hope it’s not a boy”

She shook her head and then looked at their hands, “I went to Ajabde baisa’s office to meet her. I begged her to perform the transplant as she is a perfect match for you.”

 Jiwa kept the broom down after realising that the person on her doorstep was not media personnel. After the sudden appearance of Heer Punwar at the office everyone was talking about the Chauhan-Punwar connection. She had been dealing with journalists and media channels hounding her for some insider scoop.

“Shama kijiye” she kept the broom down seeing the startled look on his face, “I thought you were somebody else.”

He nodded his head, “I came to meet Vajra Singh ji. If he is not here then I can come back later…”

She shook her head, “Baba is on his way back. You can wait inside.”

The small two-floor house felt cosy, warm and welcoming as he looked around while she prepared tea for them. On the walls were pictures of her parents, childhood but there were two pictures that stood out. He took off the picture and stared at the young man dressed in a simple white shirt tucked in the trousers with his hand around a young woman dressed in a red saree with a simple gold set. Standing beside the young man were two army men and by the woman stood an elderly man may be the father and another young man.

“That’s Ramrakh ji and Hukum’s wedding picture,” Vajra Singh spoke up. “They opted for a registered marriage instead of full-blown ceremonial one as we were hit with famine and they decided to donate the money to the farmers. Beside Ramrakh ji are his elder brother Jaimal and one of his closest friends Hemant. That is Hukum’s father and me by her side”

Vajra Singh looked at the young man who stood before him warmly and affection because he knew that the young man was ready for the truth. “Come sit down and let’s talk.”

Pratap greeted Panna Dai as she guided him to the master bedroom. He was surprised by receiving a message from the matriarch of Chauhans who wished to meet and talk with him about something very near and dear to her. Post the royal ball everyone seemed to be investigating the truth behind Chauhan-Punwar connection but one step from Ajabde had stopped it all. She had sued media platforms for defamation and won, individuals who were posting about it and claiming it was inside information suddenly found themselves in police station facing charges under cybercrimes. She had sent out a loud and clear message to the people and they had to listen. His eyes widened on seeing Hansabai who seemed to have aged and appeared frail than the last time he met her

“Hukum,” he walked towards her but she smiled at him. Pushing the photo-albums away she made space for him to sit beside her,

“So, Kunwarsa what are your intentions with my daughter” she asked the guy who had managed to break down her daughter’s defence system.

 Ajabde came home to the sound of her mother playing the piano. It had been some time since she last played the piano kept in the ballroom of their haveli. The song transported her back to childhood pyjama days when her mother would play the piano and Nanosa sing. She entered the room and stood in the back taking in everything happening in the ballroom.

Her mother was playing the piano while Pratap sang alongside as the children, employees and other servants of the haveli listened to the duo attentively. Ajabde’s eyes were fixed on her mother’s fingers as they ran smoothly over the black and white keys.

“Welcome home, Ajabde” her mother spoke up without looking at her. “Come play with me” she called out for her and Ajabde couldn’t refuse.

Pratap was stunned to see the jugalbandi between the mother-daughter and their instruments. While Hansabai’s instrument was the piano her daughter knew two – the flute and sitar. Ajabde chose to play the flute because it was her Nanosa’s favourite instrument. For five minutes everybody sat spellbound as the mother-daughter played music for their audience. 

Perfect harmony, symphony and synchronisation between the duo had everyone enjoy the music

“They are a perfect match,” someone spoke up, “the mother-daughter duo is the definition of a perfect match.”