CHAPTER-1B
Phool has dinner with Krishna Singh, who has recalled that today is the ten-year anniversary of their first meeting. It's clear that he has feelings for her " they were each other's first loves " but they're not in a dating relationship, not exactly. It seems complicated.
For instance, when she gives him a preview to her new exhibit regarding the old monarchy, he envelops her in a warm hug, and she stiffens. He understands that she's not reciprocating, but that's not the intent of his hug, and he keeps his arms around her.
He's proud of her efforts, and tomorrow will be a big day, with the president slated for a visit. He assures her that tomorrow, her talent and effort will be proven to the world.
Ajab makes her way home, where, to her surprise, her pass code is rejected. Her (adopted) sister " both girls were adopted from the same orphanage, answers the door in a surly mood, and flatly turns Ajab away for the night, saying that she wants to spend some time alone.
Without anywhere else to turn, Ajab sneaks into school to crash at the office " only she runs into Krishna Singh on her way in. He's quick to size up the situation but doesn't comment on it, and they share some cup of coffee as they chat.
Ajab casually asks about his supposed girlfriend, wondering if she's as pretty as rumored, and her heart sinks when he confirms it. She makes up an excuse to stay behind when he heads home, so she can settle on the couch for the night.
But first, she takes the opportunity to look around Krishna Singh's office, noting the book he is currently reading " it's the one he wrote, which deals with the last Crown Prince. Curiously, she notices that a co-author is listed, someone named Phool.
Immediately, she heads online to find out more about the woman, and realizes that this is the museum director, hence also his girlfriend (and, in her mind, her rival). Her hunch is confirmed when she sees that his computer wallpaper is a photo of Phool.
The next question she asks the internet: "How do I get rid of my man's woman?" Haha.
Having identified her competition, Ajab heads to the Museum of Rajput clan tomorrow for Phool's exhibit opening, where she catches a glimpse of Pratap Singh in the crowd. Whirling around, she ducks to keep out of sight and hurries along, accidently stumbling right into Phool's mini-photo shoot with a photographer.
Too bad Pratap Singh has already spotted her, and comes up right behind to ask if she followed him here. Ajab denies it, having been surprised to see him in the first place, and again ducks for cover when Phool looks in her direction.
Noting his curiosity over her reaction, Ajab refers to the offender and sniffs that Phool's not so impressive, really. She must be dating someone in the Sisodian family to have advanced this far in her career at such a young age.
So naturally Ajab is startled when Phool heads straight for them and greets Pratap Singh warmly. She tries to sneak away, but Pratap Singh grabs her back and doesn't let her off the hook, introducing her to Phool as someone "with a lot of interest in you."
After Phool is called away, Pratap assures Ajab that her assumptions are off-base, and identifies Phool as the recipient of the ring. He calls her the woman who's going to marry into Sisodian family, effectively putting an end to her protests and declaring his intentions. Or rather, he would be declaring his intentions if Ajab had picked up on the fact that we already know " that he's the Sisodia Dynasty's heir.
But no matter, because Ajab's just thrilled that this means Krishna Singh is free for her. In a chipper mood, she asks how it went last night with the rubber gloves, and gives him more advice about how to win her over; saying jealousy is the next tool... The sign of success??? When Phool betrays her suspicions by looking over at his lady companion and asking, "Who is she?"
As if on cue, Phool approaches with a big smile but asks hesitantly, "Who... is she?" Pratap Singh is surprised (and gratified that this means she IS jealous), so Ajab ups the HEAT by cozying up to him and introducing herself as "pratu's girlfriend," using a false name for good measure.
This isn't exactly Pratap Singh's style to lie, but Ajab has so far been right on all counts, so when Phool asks if it's true, he stutters, "U-uh... uh? Must be true..."
Throughout the subsequent coffee break, Pratap Singh surrenders the lead to Ajab, though not wholly eagerly. Mostly he focuses on his coffee while Ajab gushes that pratu is sooo attentive, and calls her his little Thumbelina who he'd like to carry around everywhere. And that Pratap Singh told Ajab that there's a lot of talk about Phool looking like a fox and having a complicated love life ( she had to get her dig in)... but that in reality she's quite sweet.
Phool picks up on an oddity in Ajab's endless litany praising Pratap Singh " about him making his own fortune in the world " and Pratap Singh covers for that by telling her that he hasn't told her the truth of his background yet.
The coffee date seems to get under Phool's skin a teeny bit, but not to the level that Ajab intended, so she figures they'll have to call out the heavy guns.
Ajab spots Krishna Singh in the crowd, and rather than have to explain why she's here at his girlfriend's exhibit, she ducks away and pulls Pratap Singh with her. She relocates them to the second floor, where they watch the opening officially get under way.
As Phool addresses the crowd, she unveils her thing she'd vaguely alluded to with Krishna Singh as her "secret" " which is Emperor Sangram Singh's lost letter.
This is the artifact that Krishna Singh had been studying, and given that he had written an entire book with Phool about the topic, it's a pretty sneaky thing she has accomplished, keeping him out of the loop, basking in the glory of her solo discovery. I'm sure you could argue that what she did wasn't exactly unethical, but to a good friend and colleague, it sure smacks of betrayal. Krishna Singh realizes this and stalks out, fuming.
Watching from above, Ajab is once again transfixed by the Sanskrit letters on the letter " she recognizes them from tapestry hangings at home.
She prods Pratap Singh into buying her dinner (in exchange for her girlfriend-wooing advice), and her enthusiastic exclamations have him bowing his head apologetically for the disturbance. He's going about his courtship all wrong, she decrees, especially as he bought the ring to propose with. No, no, no " he can't propose until she's absolutely dying to be proposed to!
It's cute how he doesn't know how to handle her " she both amuses and embarrasses him " while Ajab is blithely unconcerned and continues dispensing her advice.
She orders Pratap Singh not to buy Phool anything further, even on her birthday; he is to call her instead, and give her the gift a week later saying, "I didn't want my gift mixing with the others." swearing practically guaranteed.
Ajab gets a call from Mom, who's off to Kedarnath for the weekend to pray that sister Ratan passes her upcoming exam. Ajab balks at the request to feed the dogs at Mom's rural bed-and-breakfast, but then she realizes that an empty house is just another opportunity for her to make some extra cash. HOW exactly she intends this we don't know, but Ajab's flights of fancy are hardly rooted in realistic expectations, and she just sees this as a quick way to rustle up plane fare for her trip to Egypt.
Pratap Singh doesn't approve " he's showing himself to be a rather strait-laced, conservative type, isn't it? " And even threatens to call her mother to warn her... what her daughter's been up to.
He's called away with an emergency, and hurries to his father's bedside. The ruler has had a heart episode, triggered by overexcitement wrought by good news. Pratap Singh tries to speak to his pa, but the only words that the old man ekes out are "...Ajabde..."
A conversation with the secretary clarifies that Ajabde is a girl to whom his pa owes a debt. Pratap Singh's frustration bubbles over yet again, because the father he knows would never be indebted to anyone, or feel sorry about it. With one exception, that is: the man whose grave he periodically visits.
Pratap Singh guesses that this Ajab character has something to do with the dead man, and while the secretary concedes that he's right, it's not his place to tell him the full story. That, he'll have to get from his father... But first, Pratap Singh must go and bring the girl here.
Pratap Singh does not, and his cynical thoughts have taken him in the other direction. He asks one last question: Is this Ajab person his father's (secret) child? Or his grandfather's?
Phool arrives to catch the end of this conversation, and we realize that she is the secretary's daughter. She considers herself part of the family and wheedles her father for the story, but he won't divulge information that is not her concern.
That night, as Pratap Singh looks at a photo of his father with tears in his eyes.
In the morning, Pratap Singh arrives at Ajab's doorstep, though it's her sister who answers. He hasn't been able to get a hold of her via phone, so he leaves his card and asks for Ratan to let him know when she's back.
Ratan eyes him with interest, and offers the information of Ajab's current whereabouts, adding, "If I tell you now, can I still call you later?" He's taken aback at the advance, which is hilarious. Oh, Pratap Singh and your awkwardness around forthright ladies. Bless his heart.
He drives down to the out-of-the-way bed-and-breakfast, where he sees a woman feeding the dogs in the yard. It takes a few moments for him to recognize her, but when he does, he's utterly stunned.
She still hasn't noticed him, and he pulls out his phone to call her number. She answers readily with her name, confirming that she is Ajab, and that seems to make him even angrier, for whatever reason, and he hangs up.
Ajab rings him back, and when he answers, she finally looks up and spots him across the yard. Not registering his grim face, she breaks out into a wide grin and greets him warmly, only to have him accuse her of lying.Unruffled, she explains that she'd used a false name with Phool because jealous women often look up the offending party online; she was just protecting herself. However, Pratap Singh charges her with knowing who he was from the beginning, and asks accusingly if she'd approached him intentionally. Innocent Ajab just laughs it off, as she has no idea what he's talking about, or even who he really is. He heads for the house, announcing that he'll stay the night. That reminds Ajab that she's about to make some money, so she throws open her arms and welcomes him to her abode.
WELL FIRST CHAPPY ENDS HERE ...ALL SORTS OF SUGGESTIONS AND HEALTHY CRITICISM ARE ACCEPTED
DO HIT LIKE AND COMMENT PLEASE😊
Current Affairs
