Head Over Heart

Head Over Heart

Maasa when will Papa come home? A six-year-old Ajabde asked her mother during bedtime. The school was organising an event for Father’s Day and the little girl wanted to go to the event with her father.

“Champa’s Papa brought her a doll all the way from London,” she told her mother who gently patted her head. “Maasa I don’t want a doll or any toy but can you please ask Papa to come to my school for the Father’s Day event.”

“You write a letter to your Papa and we will ask postman uncle to send it to him,” Hansa told her daughter who smiled at the idea.

Ten days later, Hansa smiled sadly as her father pacified a hurt Ajabde. “He is always working,” she sobbed, “he could have taken a day off or called in sick. Why does he not want to spend time with me? I promise I will be good”

Hansa’s heart ached on seeing her child in pain but she was too young to be told the truth about her father.

Two years later, their entire world had shattered. Hansa had rushed back from office on receiving a call from home. Back home, her heart ached on seeing her child sob in arms of her grandfather. 

On the floor beside them were the letters that her child had written to her father. Letters that had been returned back to them as their delivery had been refused by the recipient.  She looked at her father whose eyes spoke of the action they needed to take for the betterment of their lives.

In the middle of the night, they found Ajabde back in the study room except for this time she was completely calm and holding the bundle of letters in her hands.

 “You, nanosa and I are a family and we do not need anybody else in our family,” she told them and threw the letters into the fireplace. “I will never ask for him ever again.”

Hansa kept quiet as she saw her daughter walk out holding on her nanosa’s hand. All she wanted for her daughter was to experience love, relationships and family but circumstances had revealed the ugly side of reality. All hope was lost for head had won over the heart.

“My Ajabde no longer believes in love or miracles. I pray that someone comes into her life who will teach her to love, to trust and to choose her heart” she smiled sadly holding on to the half-burnt letters.

Surajgarh

An eight-year-old Pratap laughed as he laid down on the grass alongside his father. As per their ritual, the father-son would play out in the lawns, chasing each other, laughing and enjoying themselves after a long day.

“Let’s cook for Ranimaa,” his father suggested stretching out his hand for his son. Pratap nodded his head and held his father’s little finger tight.

In the kitchen, Pratap sat on the counter drinking milk while his father prepared dinner. The servants looked shocked except for Bade Sahab's butler who smiled at the scene. Pratap giggled seeing his father struggle with the onions but soon enough aroma filled the kitchen making the young boy swoon.

Jaiwanta Bai returned home along with her father in law after a long day of visits and meetings. Being the sole heiress meant she had to keep up appearances especially in front of certain relatives who were keen on taking over the family.  The day had been stressful so she went straight to bed after saying harsh words to the duo.

Pratap sat dejected and refused to have dinner. His father found him sulking in his bedroom,

“Kunwar Pratap you did not come for dinner on time,” he told the young boy who looked up from the book he was reading. “You have to follow the rules – always be on time for meals or else no food.”

He nodded his head and looked down at his book again. Udai Singh knew his son was acting out because of his Ranimaa.

“Pratap, your Ranimaa had a headache and she was really tired that is the reason she went straight to bed. Your Ranimaa has to look after certain stressful situations that require her to think in a more logical manner. Do not take her words to heart.”

He looked up, “she could have at least smiled. If Shakti was here then she would be doting on him. She never dotes on me. She does not love me”

“Never say that Pratap” his grandfather spoke up, “your Ranimaa loves you more than anyone in this world. She might not show it but she cares.”

Next morning, Pratap found all of his favourite dishes on the table for breakfast. His Ranimaa had woken up at crack of dawn and cooked a feast for him.

Sangram Singh sat quietly in his study reading Hansa’ s letter. She had talked about Ajabde’s change in behaviour after discovering the letters. He kept the letter back and took out an old photograph.

In the photograph, a two-year-old Pratap sat beside a baby who held his finger in her tiny hands.

‘Praja first meet’ Sangram Singh smiled at Hansa’s cursive writing but it was the message that ached his heart

Choose the heart over mind – Let love be their light 😊

Current Day:

Sangram Singh smiled as the girl ordered his grandson around as an assistant. Pratap and Shakti had arrived a couple days back to prepare a surprise homecoming party for Udai and Jaiwanta. The girl was from the event management company they had contracted with for the occasion.

She had not shared her name with anyone but Sangram Singh knew her very well. He might not have met her in person but he did receive news about her on a regular basis. He took a pic from his phone and saved it

“Praja- Second Meet”

May they find their way to Love