Abhay frowned at the empty house. He had nothing to do. For two days, he had just been either lying in bed or walking around aimlessly. She could come to see him when he had an insignificant wound on the head, now that he had been shot, she had not even come to peep on him, he thought grumpily. The door bell rang. Abhay looked at the door, his face breaking into a smile. That would be the first time Phulwa would use the door, he grinned opening the door with a flourish. His face fell as he saw who was there. Arjun.
"Wow, you look really happy to see me," Arjun joked.
As always, not waiting for Abhay to invite him in, he just walked past him into the house. Abhay sighed then closed the door turning to him.
Arjun looked at him closely. He was wearing his vest and pajamas, standing barefoot on the wooden floor. It was so unlike Abhay to remain home doing nothing, that he got suspicious.
"What happened to you? You haven't been to the station for some days." He said as he started to sit down.
"My brother-in-law shot me." Abhay told him calmly.
Arjun got up quickly again within an inch from sitting down. He stared at Abhay incredulously.
"You are kidding right?"
Abhay was enjoying his stunned look. He smirked at him.
"No, I'm not. But it's actually my future bro-in-law." Abhay sat down and stretched on the sofa.
Arjun was still standing, looking at Abhay in complete shock.
"I had gone to ask for her hand and well he got angry." Abhay chuckled.
Arjun let himself fall on the sofa next to Abhay. He doubted he could stand with all these bombs Abhay was dropping on him.
"You went to ask for her hand?" He had on a blank stare which amused Abhay tremendously. "But who's her?" Arjun was almost scared to hear the answer.
Maybe Abhay had been replaced by an alien.
Abhay smiled beatifically at him, lost in thoughts of Phulwa.
"Damn it! Wipe that stupid expression off your face and tell me right now!" Arjun could no longer bear the suspense.
Abhay focused on him then grinned stupidly.
"Heard of Phulwa? She's the one." He said proudly.
Arjun gulped. Was Abhay talking about Dacait Phulwa there? THE Dacait Phulwa?
"Ok, stop joking around now. Dacait Phulwa indeed," he chuckled nervously waiting for Abhay to laugh and say it was a joke.
Abhay glared at him.
"If you don't want to have your face punched in, you better remove that Dacait from her name. From now on she'll be your Babhi." He said sweetly.
Arjun's eyes bulged. Abhay decided to put him out of his misery by telling him the whole story. Arjun looked dazed after it, making Abhay laugh.
"So, if I understand well, the Abhay who used to say he wanted someone soft and homey, now loves a Dac…"Abhay shot him a deadly look."Sorry, loves uhh…a strong woman?" he finished.
Abhay nodded happily.
"That's right. I realised homey is not my type. Only Phulwa is." he grinned "Now I just need to bind her to me forever."
Arjun let himself fall back on the sofa, glancing at Abhay. He had to believe him, how else would he be looking so happy with a bullet wound? His friend was in love. He was glad. But with a Dacait? Now that scared him. Abhay never did things like everybody else. He loved the law but still the woman he wanted was on his complete opposite side of it, he smiled looking at Abhay affectionately. Then he had a thought. Like everything else in life, they had to fall in love at the same time. Arjun suddenly realised what he had just thought. He swallowed painfully. Love? Where had that come from? Thinking about Aarti all the time did NOT mean he loved her, he reassured himself.
****
Phulwa wanted to see Abhay. She sat among the Kabila, not really listening to their easy banter. Two days felt too much suddenly. She wondered if his wound was alright, she sighed getting up then noticed Babu looking at Gauri as she served him. Was Gauri feeling the same way as she did when Abhay looked at her? Phulwa shook her head. She really should stop thinking about him. She decided to go see him so she could concentrate on other things. Her heart lifted a little as she walked through the woods. She could feel her herself opening, her wounds slowly being healed. The feeling was strange but it gave her wings.
****
Aarti was confused and unnerved. Arjun had been completely charming to her on the dinner even though she had only snapped and glared at him during the whole deal. The man was certainly perseverant, she thought with a sigh. It was only after two days that she managed to call the mechanic. Though Arjun had promised she would not see him after the dinner, he had still come to the police station with the excuse of meeting with Abhay. But to Aarti's slight disappointment, he had not talked to her. I should be glad, she told herself. The mechanic suddenly removed the carrot from the exhaust showing it to Aarti. She could not help herself, she laughed her head off surprising herself and the mechanic. The man looked at her strangely. He knew Aarti Memsaab from so long that it was an extraordinary sight. She was the most serious person he knew. Aarti stopped laughing with difficulty then thanked the mechanic paying him for his trouble. Arjun was the first man who could both irritate her and make her laugh. She sighed. Such a man would never settle down. What he wanted was a bit of flirting. That was it. Now that he had what he wanted, she doubted she would be seeing him as often. In any case, she should stop thinking about him, she thought.
****
Arjun insisted on checking Abhay's wound again before leaving. As Abhay sat alone on the sofa, he suddenly could not take it any longer. He was going to meet Phulwa and that was it. He shrugged on a white shirt and faded jeans then drove to the edge of the woods. Big drops of rain started falling on the windshield. He looked at them, thinking it was just their conspiracy to keep him away from Phulwa. Well that won't happen, he thought getting down from the car. He got soaked almost instantly.
****
Phulwa walked through the woods annoyed that the rain had to fall right then. Her clothes were clinging uncomfortably to her and the ground was spongy making her progress slow. She sighed thinking it would be better to turn back. Thunder roared overhead. Then she saw him. She blinked in surprise making water get into her eyes. Abhay was walking through the puddles of water, unaware of her presence. He lifted his head, their eyes locking together then they both started laughing at the same time. Abhay walked to her, smiling into her eyes. Phulwa sighed. She was so glad to see him then she remembered the wound and frowned at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked irritated. "You should be in bed." She placed her hand on his chest then looked around. She knew there was a shelter somewhere near.
"What are you looking for?" Abhay looked at her then clasped the hand which lay on him.
"Come on." She pulled him further into the woods.
Abhay went along with her, amused.
"You are not going to tie me to a tree like Badodhia, are you?"
Phulwa glanced back at him.
"Well if you continue talking, I just might."
Abhay laughed then was surprised to see them standing in front of a ramshackle shelter. Phulwa pulled him inside. The shelter was dark and appeared to have put up with a lot campers. They waited for the rain to reduce to a light drizzle, grinning at each other all the while, before venturing out again. Abhay drew her to the car and motioned at her to get in.
"The other day, you came stealthily to my house," Phulwa's eyes widened. He knew! He laughed at her expression then continued. "I'll show you around properly today." He grinned at her.
****
Abhay stood in his room with Phulwa looking at her drenched clothes with interest.
"I like your maroon kurta better." He said mischievously.
Phulwa was wearing a dark green one today, she glared at him at the comment. Abhay gave her one of his white kurta and pajamas then pushed her towards the bathroom. Phulwa looked down at the clothes in confusion then at Abhay.
"You don't plan on staying in those clothes, are you?" he asked her then grinned. " Come on, go change or else I'll come to help you with it."
Phulwa blushed at him then closed the bathroom door with a snap. Abhay smiled at the closed door then removed his wet clothes and bandage carefully before rummaging through his drawer and getting into a dry t-shirt and soft slacks. He turned just as Phulwa was coming out of the bathroom. He sucked in a breath at the sight. She was swimming in the too large kurta which reached below her knees but at least the pants are ok even though she had had to roll it up, he thought. Seeing her in his clothes had a strange effect on him.
Phulwa lifted both her arms looking at the long sleeves in exasperation. She looked like a scarecrow, Abhay thought. He laughed feeling tenderness overwhelm him then walked to her. He very slowly rolled up the sleeves until her hands were visible then grinned into her eyes. Her lips twitched then she started laughing, her head thrown back a little. Abhay could only look at her. She looked beautiful, the sound of her laughter was like millions of beads falling onto a glass surface. It was a clear, pure and free sound which resonated in Abhay's heart. He wanted to hear it forever. He was still awed that she was standing with him, here and she loved him, he smiled feeling like the happiest man on earth. He pulled her to him, making her stop laughing and look at him in surprise. He kissed her nose, his eyes never leaving hers even for an instant. Phulwa sighed at the peace she felt in his arms. She hugged him back, her head on his shoulders. Abhay buried his face in her hair then his eyes fell on the bed. He coughed causing Phulwa to draw back.
"I think we should move to some other room before….." he trailed off.
Phulwa looked at him in confusion.
"Before what?" then her eyes followed his and color darkened her cheeks.
Abhay chuckled.
"Yeah, in a few days, this will be your room." He told her happily.
He wanted to say this will be your bed too but he had a feeling Phulwa might hit him. Then he became serious.
"Phulwa, are you sure you can't tell me what it is that you have to do? I can help." He said softly.
He wanted to know what prevented her from moving on but more than anything he wanted to hear it from her mouth. Phulwa looked down, unsure of what to do. She wanted to tell him everything but would he understand? She was scared of mixing her past and her present. Abhay looked at her then sighed. He felt hurt but he knew Phulwa would not share her pain easily. He tried to lighten the mood and grabbed his police cap from his bed table, pushing it on her head. She looked up in surprise. She looked cute in the kurta and cap, he thought. Abhay's eyes warmed on her.
"You are looking like Inspector Aarti right now." He grinned at her.
Phulwa narrowed her eyes at him.
"Who's inspector Aarti?" she asked a little miffed.
Abhay's eyes widened a little. His Dacait Rani was jealous! He wanted to laugh and hug her at the same time but she was looking at him, waiting for his answer. He settled on teasing her.
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Oh no one in particular. Just your replacement in case you delay too much in accepting my proposal." His eyes twinkled mischievously.
Phulwa knew he must be joking but she could not help feeling jealous. She was sure it was the woman she had seen close to him the other day.
"Don't you dare! I'll….I'll kidnap her then I'll kill you." She gritted her teeth.
Abhay looked innocently back at her. She looked so sexy when she was angry, he remarked again.
"Well, all you have to do is just say yes at the earliest possible otherwise……" he let his words hang.
Phulwa glared at him then pulled his ear hard making him growl in pain. She laughed, taking the towel from around his neck and vigorously scrubbing his head dry while he showed off his dimples at her. She knew he would wait for her even if she took an eternity to say yes.
****
Abhay threw her clothes in the dryer, explaining its function to her when he saw her looking at the machine suspiciously. She probably thinks I'm throwing away her clothes so she can't go back, he chuckled at the thought. He wanted to do just that in fact.
He stretched on the sofa while Phulwa diligently applied another bandage to his wound. He felt elated. She had been here for a few moments only and the house already looked like a home. This was how he wanted it to be, he wanted a home. Nothing less would do. He pushed Phulwa so that she was sitting back too, their shoulders touching, her hand clasped in his. Then he suddenly sat up, looking at her with a frown.
"You are coming tomorrow also." He ordered.
Phulwa raised her eyebrows at him, looking at him in amusement. Not yet married and he's was already ordering me around, she thought. Abhay recognized the look and smiled wryly.
"That's my right." He said softly taking Phulwa's face between his hands.
Phulwa felt a glow. She would never have believed that she would someone be happy at being ordered around. But there was no need to tell him that.
"I don't know, maybe…" she said casually.
Abhay was mildly irritated at that.
"Ok, if it's like that, you are signing a contract." He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from his work table then turned back to her.
Phulwa frowned at them.
"What is a contract?" she asked unsure of what he was about to do.
Abhay grinned.
"It's just a paper where you agree to do something and if you don't honor the arrangement well then you are punished by the law." He was suddenly gleeful. "This time, you'll sign to say you'll come and if you don't…." a wicked glint came into his eyes "I'll decide on the punishment."
He handed Phulwa the pen then his arm went round her back to clasp her right hand and the pen. He placed the tip of it on the paper. Phulwa looked at him over her shoulder. She would never be able to gauge the depth of her own love for him, she thought.
"Stop looking at me and concentrate, will you?" he said forcing her to look back at the paper.
He started writing very slowly, making sure she could feel the shape of the words and mouthing them at the same time so she would know what he was writing.
I, Phulwa, promise to be with Abhay tomorrow. Non-respect of the contract on my part will result in due punishment decided by Abhay.
Signed
Phulwa
His hand stopped at the 'a' in Phulwa but he did not lift the pen. Phulwa looked at him, there was a strange expression on his face for a flitting moment then it was replaced by confidence. He continued to write but this time he did not say the words aloud. He released her hand and sat back, looking satisfied.
Phulwa frowned at him.
"What did you just write?" she asked narrowing her eyes at him
Abhay shot her an innocent look.
"Me? Nothing." He shrugged.
Phulwa pushed her finger in his belly, making as if it were a gun. Abhay laughed but Phulwa was serious.
"Tell me," she urged. "otherwise I won't come."
Abhay sighed.
"I wrote…..Phulwa Rai Singh." He said softly looking sheepish.
He waited for Phulwa to pull his ear again but her eyes softened then she placed her head on his shoulder and heaved out a breath both in exasperation and contentment. He would never change, she thought, and that comforted her. He tightened the circle of his arms around her. After all, that will be her name soon, he told himself grinning happily.
****
Phulwa gently disentangled herself from Abhay. He was sleeping peacefully. She kissed his brow then changed back into her now dry clothes. She closed the door softly behind her, looking at him a last time.
****
Thakur Daroga Singh surveyed the scene with disgust. He could see Phulwa getting out of Abhay's house from where his car was parked. He punched his seat in anger, his face distorting into an ugly mask. So he had been right, that abhorrent girl had again managed to bring one of her own foes to her side. He wanted to scream. His hatred for her knew no boundaries. That was why Abhay had not caught her yet. The fool was in love with her. The thought made Thakur want to kill someone preferably Phulwa. He told the driver to reverse the car. This time I will not let you succeed Phulwa. Your death has been written by my hands, he thought smiling terrifyingly.
****
Phulwa sat on the stairs, concentrating on the piece of paper in her hand. She was trying to reproduce the shapes of the words Abhay had written. As a child she had always been sharp. It was not difficult for her to remember the hardest things but till now she never had a reason to learn. Now she had Abhay, she smiled at the thought, her heart lifting a little. She was both exhilarated and scared. Then her smile dimmed as she realised she still needed to accomplish her mission before she could embrace the life Abhay was offering her. She jumped a little at the feel of a hand on her shoulder then looked up to see Gunta Ma.
"You went to meet him?" she asked gently. "How is he?"
Phulwa blushed a little then nodded. Gunta Ma smiled at that. She had never seen Phulwa blush this much, in fact she had never been one to blush before. The man had a good effect on her little girl, she thought. It made her happy.
"He's fine. Back to his annoying self." She said grinning.
Gunta Ma smiled, delighted then became serious.
"You still have not accepted his proposal, have you?" she asked.
"No, I haven't, Gunta Ma. And you know why. This is my battle and there is no need to drag him into this." She said anxiously.
Gunta sighed then sat down beside her.
"That's where you are wrong, Phulwa. He deserves to know. He loves you, he'll understand."
Phulwa shook her head refusing to see the truth in Gunta Ma's words. Gunta Ma grabbed her shoulders angrily forcing Phulwa to look at her.
"Happiness has eluded you for so long. Now that it is knocking on your door, why are you insisting on waiting, Phulwa? That man snatched everything from you, why are you letting him ruin this also? Why don't you see that Abhay has been sent as a support to you?" she asked desperate for Phulwa to understand.
Phulwa had always been like that. She sacrificed everything for others. Her childhood had been cruelly snatched from her and she had to take up guns at an age girls dressed up and when life smiled at them. Gunta Ma could not bear to see her pushing away her chance at getting all that back again. She knew Abhay would be the one to grant her little girl all that she deserved and had never gotten.
"Accept his proposal, Phulwa. You will only become stronger because you know better than me that Abhay will never leave your side whatever happens." She said gently.
Tears glistened in Phulwa's eyes and she swallowed. She knew Gunta Ma was right. She wanted to be healed completely and the only one who seem to do it was Abhay. Suddenly, she straightened her shoulders, her heart no longer torn in two. She looked into Gunta Ma's eyes and nodded. Yes, she would accept Abhay's proposal and she would tell him everything when she would go to meet him tomorrow, she decided.
Gunta Ma laughed happily then pulled Phulwa into a tight hug. She felt this would be the beginning of an endless road filled with love for Phulwa.
****
Thakur Daroga Singh paced in his house. How could Abhay had fallen in love with her? What else could explain the fact that he had not yet arrested her? He knew Abhay from childhood and Abhay respected him like a father. The boy had lost his parents young and for some time, he had been the one providing for him. But what the boy did not know was that he had been helping him with his own money. Thakur laughed evilly. He had been the one to steal Abhay's father's lands when he died. But nobody could doubt the falsified papers. Abhay had been too young to understand these matters. He laughed uproariously, he would sow the seeds of hate in Abhay's heart and lay such a trap for Phulwa, that the damned girl would never be a nuisance again.
****
Abhay decided to go to work the next day. He was bored sitting at home and he felt better already. He smiled as he entered the police station thinking of Phulwa. She would come to meet him later. To his surprise, he found Thakur Daroga Singh seated in his office. The imposing man turned as he came in, smiling broadly at Abhay. Abhay smiled back coming to shake his hand. Thakur Saab was the only other person he knew apart from Arjun in Chambal. He had been a friend of his father's.
"Abhay, my boy," he put his arms around Abhay, his booming voice resonating in the office. "How are you? You have been in Chambal for so long but never bothered to come and meet me." He told him, his beaded eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.
"I'm sorry Thakur Saab. There was so much going on that I never got the chance to. How are you?"
Thakur brushed his words aside with wave of his hand. Abhay smiled. The man rarely talked about himself. He wished the other thakurs of the village had been like him.
"I heard you have taken a special interest in Phulwa's case." He said as he sat back, crossing his legs.
He observed Abhay's reaction carefully. Abhay's face closed off instantly confirming thakur's suspicions. That Phulwa had really ensnared him! Thakur was consumed by hatred but he kept his tone light.
"So where have you reached? By now you must have caught her." His tone was sugary.
Abhay sat across him, placing his cap on the table.
"You are wrong Thakur saab. I have no intention of arresting Phulwa right now." He replied gently.
He hated having Phulwa talked about like that but Thaur Saab could hardly know how she was and what she meant to him. He controlled his anger, keeping the smile intact on his face.
Thakur sharpened his gaze on him.
"Why not?" he asked.
Abhay looked at him dead in the eye.
"I'm sorry Thakur Saab but my job prevents me from discussing this case with you. Because I know you, all I can say is that she is not in my priority list of criminals." He said, his teeth clenched.
Thakur nodded slowly. He did not want to put off Abhay. After all he needed him on his side. He smiled phonily.
"You know your job better Abhay. I have full faith in your judgement."
Abhay smiled gratefully at him. He preferred not to have anyone having such thoughts of Phulwa. He steered the conversation to Thakur's family, asking about them. The Thakurain had been very kind to him when his mother had died and he felt indebted to her. She had dropped in to see him at his grandma's place whenever she came to his city. Thakur told him she was alright dismissively. He was the one to make sure his wife was never alright, he thought with a cruel glint in his eye.
He talked with Abhay for some time then got up to go. Abhay accompanied him to his car. Thakur opened the door then turned to him before engulfing him in a choking hug, acting fatherly.
****
Phulwa's heart was singing. Gunta Ma was right, she thought. She should grab the happiness Abhay was sending her way. She hardly felt her feet touch the ground, it felt like she was floating. She was going to say yes to him, she smiled. She knew Abhay was not at home, his car was nowhere to be found. She could have waited but she was impatient. She walked in direction of the police station, stopping at a distance where she could see the station but could not be seen from it. She had a small laugh, she would just wait until Abhay got out. Then her blood froze at the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Abhay was smiling, the arms of a man around him. The man patted him on the back. Phulwa felt her world crumbling around her. She staggered back. The man she loved with the one who had destroyed her life…….
Anupamaa
