Known-Unknown

Known-Unknown

BLK Super Speciality Hospital

The elder nurse’s eyes softened as the girl looked away biting her lower lip trying her best not to look scared.

“They surely must be related,” the nurse thought as she saw the gentleman who just like the girl looked away from the needle and for a nanosecond, she thought he had bit his lower lip as well.

The hospital was hosting a blood donation camp that saw many well-known figures, politicians, businessmen and page 3 celebrities attend the event. Out of all the guests, these two stood out in terms of their mannerisms, behaviour and reaction to needles.  She had been assigned to both of them.

Saubhagyawati hid her amusement as her best friend sipped on the juice box like a child. They pulled out of hospital parking after meeting with the organizers and getting their pictures clicked together. As per her friend’s work schedule, it was the last event she had to attend before going back home. The flight was in the evening so they had a good couple of hours together.

“Wait, you missed the turn,” Ajabde pointed the exit for Dhaula Kuan as her friend drove past it on the ring road. She looked at her friend who seemed to be determined and then horror hit her,

“no…no…no…” she spoke up scared, “Bhago jaan please”

“Nope. Your Flight is at 7:00 pm and I will drop you at the airport at exactly 5:30. Right now, we are going to Chandini Chowk to check out the cloth samples and designs for my bridal trousseau.”

“But I gave blood,” she reasoned, “I will feel dizzy or maybe nauseous” as the car came to a halt at a red light. Her friend pointed towards the front deck and smiled

“I have cold-pressed juices, protein bars, mixed fruits, as well as chocolate bars all, kept for you.”

Ajabde opened the deck and stared with eyes wide open at the bottles of cold-pressed juices, packs of mixed nuts, protein bars and 5-star mini bars stacked in the small space. She looked at her friend who was grinning in victory aware that Ajabde did not have a come back for her.

“Fine,” she sulked, “but you are taking me to lunch- at my favourite place”.

Chauhan Haveli

The lady smiled as the photographer took another picture of her. She was giving interviews promoting social causes she was involved with as a royal as well as a business. The media session had been planned for the whole morning with the last one being a photoshoot that would wrap around mid-noon.

The photographer roamed around the ancestral palace that still retained its identity. The architecture, furniture, ornamental pieces as well as the royal portraits told a story of the royal heritage.

“His Royal Highness” the photographer read the name underneath the portrait when another person joined in

“That’s my father,” Rani Hansabai Chauhan the current custodian of the Chauhan family and CEO of Chauhan group spoke up. “He loved photography and one of his favourite things was to take portraits of his family members, but he hated taking his own photographs” she recalled smiling.

Hansa looked at the young photographer, “if my father met you today then he would have spent the whole time asking you questions and actively engaging in the session unlike me.”

“Hukum,” the photographer spoke up, “you may not remember but I’m here because of you. Years back, you attended an exhibition in an all-girls’ college and you told us to follow our dreams”

Hansa recalled the visit, “yes, I remember that one. It was you who presented the shades of woman- depicting women in a household but in different capacities. Now, I know the reason you felt so known. What’s your name, child?”

“Khetu” the girl smiled holding the Canon camera in her hands.

Parantha Gali- Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala

Ajabde looked for her friend holding two kullars filled with lassi from Sharma Bhojnalay. They had visited several shops, and local vendors in search of materials as well as bridal designs. 

Finally, after two and a half long hours of roaming and nodding head at dresses and dress materials, her friend had declared their shopping trip over.

“Here we go,” Saubhagyawati brought two plates of piping hot kachori dipped in aloo subzi. They found a corner table free and quickly hopped on it before somebody else kept their stuff.

“Noor Mahal is a good option,” Ajabde said as they talked about their respective businesses. “I have heard good things about the property and it’s proximity to Delhi makes it a contender.”

Saubhagyawati nodded her head, “forget about work, Ajab. Is it true you are looking for him?”

“I just…” she stopped and looked at a little girl enjoying kachori with her father, “I just want to know the reason behind his actions. Why did he have to hurt so many people?”

Ramrakh Punwar’s eyes softened as he saw the little girl giggle as her father tickled her. He had finished meeting an old acquaintance and the acquaintance’s words still rang in his head

“Ranisa and our Baisa are happy and well. Baisa Hukum travels all over and checks on the satellite offices while Ranisa carries out the social engagements as well as her royal duties at home. Recently, she acquired Maan Singh’s factory and made me in charge of it. My daughter works as her personal assistant and just started travelling with her.”

He sat down in a corner and ordered her favourite dish. It had been ages since he had been able to enjoy her favourite delicacy. Every bite of the spicy aloo curry and crisp kachori reminded him of the known even though he was leading a life of unknown.