Hello people!!
Here's a one shot on PrAja / RoSal showing the journey of arrangement to the acceptance..! Hope you would like the read. Do give it a try! Let's begin
THE JOURNEY..!!!
More than a marriage, it was just an arrangement made for two individuals to spend rest of their lives together. More than to share feelings, share love or life, they had to share responsibility, an apartment and share a surname.
In the early stage of his career, he had obeyed his parents' orders as she obliged her parents' wish. Just for the sake of their elders' respect, love and happiness Pratap and Ajabde, tied their existence, their reality and their future with each other.
Pratap Singh Sisodiya - the youngest heir of the Sisodiyan Enterprises aspired to develop and expand their business of handlooms and handicrafts all over the world. Starting from the basics, he florished the crafts and culture in his own city Udaipur first.
Now as he had to have one of the strong believer, art lover and a pure talent, Ms. Ajabde Punwar as his consort, they would take the next step to elongate their pursuit to Delhi.
The duo had to move to Delhi for the progression and prove their efficient leadership. Just the perfect and passionate about their work, they both engrossed themselves to achieve the targets.
Going smooth on the work life and those shared walls of an apartment, helped them to lessen the awkwardness among their so called arrangement. As one can reach the destination step by step, they had started their journey as the simple business partners.
The humble, caring and stunning personality of his, complimented affectionate, warm and confidant of hers well. Though being a great professional match, they never expected each other to be the emotional companion as well. Though taking successful steps towards their ambitions, they had yet to start their personal lives together from base zero.
At one evening, Pratap came out freshening up and frowned on not finding the suit he kept on bed to wear at the function. He went to her in the hall asking
"Ajabde, Aapne mere kapde dekhe hai? Yahi rakhe..." His last few words got lost in his mouth as there she was, ready in red saree with golden borders, looking so elegant. She turned to his voice but unknowingly couldn't face his hazel brown eyes. Well, he looked so cute and adorable with wet hair.
"Woh... Trading clients hone k sath, Bhills are more like family. Mr. Sardar would love it if you'd wear traditionals at his son's wedding ceremony." She reasoned in low voice, unsure of how he'll react. Hopful she showed him a pair of red kurta with beige pajamas, she had just ironed for him.
Taking the clothes in a bit trance, he mouthed
"You're beautiful!"
which sounded more of a surprised realization than a compliment!
She wore a wondering soft smile at his unexpected words. It was her first, she had silently took a step entering his personal space while choosing clothes for him. She was a bit relieved and happy to see him smile bright on all the appreciation they received as wonderful couple looking great in traditional wears. Unaware that she knows it, he couldn't stop stealing glances at her every now and then.
With days passing, their apartment looked nothing less than a workshop itself. They worked anyhow, anywhere. On one such busy weekends, they were engrossed in completing some order
"You didn't have your coffee yet!?" She asked at mug kept for him for almost an hour or so. He just shrugged a little.
"Do you want anything else? Main kuch laau?" concern laced her voice.
"Well! No. Am good." His short and cold reply, just like the coffee beside him made her leave silently. The moment she left, it clicked him, even she wouldn't have had anything then. He sighed at the empty coffee mugs lying beside her, dried.
They were working since long now. She was into some sketches of designs that still need to be rectified before finalizing, when he reached up to her
"Would you mind tasting this?" She looked up at the smell of steaming hot tomato rice in front of her. There he was with two plates in hand, his face beamed hopeful.
"I..." She just stared.
"Work will happen anyway! You can't go weak" He made her come along for the dinner.
"Never knew, even tomato rice can be such tasty!" She had a spoonful and closed her eyes, as they chuckled. More than the hot food, his warm smile made her all the veins in the body warmed up.
As the time moved, they started to find comfort in friendship. Though with a little baby steps, they started to move on and live on too. The days ended smiling. There were healthy sharing of thoughts, ambitions leading to opening up for emotions as well.
As they decided to concede the destiny and keep on, life became natural. Slowly and steadily, they became important, special part of the other's world. But somehow, they ignored the unknown feelings blooming around. They barely paid attention to what brew inside them.
With all the hidden care and concern and those unsaid emotions, their bonding started to flourish. Every relation has it's own space. They paced soothingly forwards. But they had yet to acknowledge certain newly found feelings to themselves, lest to the person in front.
They looked after their operations following passion. Apart from the relationship they had, something tied them with as pure as affection.
Though the friendship has no expectations, the upgraded emotions they felt, brought a bit uncertainty with it. Unsure of what is layering their heart, they carefully avoided to face off the feels. To show it, was out of the question.
"Ajab, woh quatations kal tak bhejne hai" Pratap reminded her from inside the room, buttoning up his shirt.
"Haan. Aur aapke meetings ke details mail kar di hai. Ek baar check kar lena" She said packing some food and snacks for his journey. They were getting ready for his short trip to the eastern side. If everything went well, they would get great opportunity for expansion, that would cover almost the half of India there.
As they briefed each other about their work routine planned up in coming days, they couldn't control but to give some personal instructions too.
"Time time pe phone karte rahiyega" She said softly, making him wear the blazer.
"Overtime kaam karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Time pe so jaaiyega" He said matching her tone. Eyes met in the mirror as they smiled a little.
"Thand mein zyada explore mat kariyega" She looked away first, handling him watch.
"Aap badi hi careless hai. Time pe khana khaya karna..." Putting his luggage down, he eyed her as the lost smile lingered on his face.
They didn't know how and what to express at the moment. After coming to Delhi, post marriage, this was the first instance, they had to stay alone, though for a few days. They knew, both of them will do well. But it's not easy, right?
"Apna khayal rakhna" Her eyes shone with uncertain twinkles as he was about to leave.
"Aap bhi. Don't worry! I'll be back soon!" Eyes entwined and moistened, as it appeased more than his words. She stood at the doorstep, as with a short assuring nod, he proceeded for their new venture.
Time being the weird factor of life, together it was like, it just flew away and apart, moments like hours while hours felt like months. This is the time, you get to know what actually your person mean to you. The time space force you to look out, what you actually ignore or run away from.
In these days, work was done as usual but the pleasure was at a miss. Neither coffee tasted good nor peace was anywhere in the sleep. Though he loved to travel, he missed the apartment they called home or something else? Their hard work did payoff well as he achieved most of the targets, he didn't find it complete until shared with her. Did he miss home or her!? He was not sure.
Experts at work, they were like newbies in the world of such feelings. They were naive enough to think, they are the only ones to feel so much attached to the other. They feared, in the process of moving from business partners to life partners, they'll might lose the friendship they've earned. May be this took them on a toll, to take that step to ask the other to accept them.
As the natural force, pure love can neither be stopped nor be hidden. Completing the mission successfully, it was a day of his return. On the way back home, certain accidental events made him take quite a little more time to reach than expected.
With no networks available to connect and no news of his whereabouts or safety, helped nothing for the insecurity she struggled with. The mere thought of loosing him, left usually calm and composed Ajabde with storming mind and stomping heart.
Few hours passed in a blink. With knock on the door, she skipped a beat as the doorbell rang. There was he, looking all exhausted and anxious to know how she was. She rushed to him the very moment. He stared her wet smile as she stopped a feet before in front.
"May I!?"
Avoiding his gaze, she asked before stepping forward and laid her head on his chest. However hard she tried to harden herself, the warmth in his embrace melted her heart, which made it's way through eyes! Her tears rested on his heart which he gathered the moment his shirt felt wet.
She realized it and pulled back immediately with a little jerk. He couldn't bear the sudden step back as he stopped her by holding her wrist. She froze there at his hold. He slowly turned her to face him and politely yet confidently asked her
"May I!?"
She frowned a little, unsure of what he meant. Before she could respond, she was wrapped up in his arms.
Her eyes again welled up as this time it was his first, he made a move. His action shown his acceptance. His hug felt like the world! The home she would love to stay, forever!
This time, she didn't care for the tears. She let her heart free to cry out any uncertainty, fear or that unknown heaviness to flow away.
His eyes twinkled at the content smile that curved up on her face. He smiled grateful, as he found home, in her happiness!!
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MaDiee