A Royal Accident

A Note and A Name

It had been three days since they returned from the vacation to an excited Surajgarh getting decked up and ready for the wedding of the decade. Pratap was sitting in his room In his cream kurta and pyjamas. The downstairs hall was full of relatives and friends, aunties, girls, and sisters he never saw, all gossiping over the Mehendi Rasm. He had a puja to perform at dawn and after that, he was getting bored until Hansa Mausi came with Brownie.

The crowd at Ajabdeh's place was scaring Brownie to such an extent that he was sitting on Ajabdeh's lap, refusing to get down. The Mehendi rasam was going to be held. So Hansa had no option but to take him to Pratap. Now Brownie was on the couch playing with his favourite rubber bone. Shakti, Vikram and Sangram had gone to roam the village with Ven and Rohan and Chaks were helping Udai Singh deal with the wedding planner. Pratap was patting Brownie and throwing him the toy to fetch.

Shakti walked in as Brownie went sniffing at his feet. " Dadabhai kya subah se aap yaha baithe hai... "

" The whole Mahal is full of strangers!" Pratap nodded his head. 

" And Girls!" Shakti laughed. " I have an Idea!"

" Kya?" Pratap looked at his brother like he was a saviour. " Chaliye horse riding!" Shakti beamed.

" Ab?" Pratap asked, confused. 

" Haan why not!"

" Okay, piche ke siri se ground challenge, Ranima ko pata chala..." He got up. " Isko bhi..." He pointed at Brownie.

" Haan Haan Badima won't know ab chalo aap." They were soon at the stable with Brownie.

"Brownie, don't bark here okay? Chetak will be scared." Pratap patted the dog as he wagged his tail. Chetak neighed seeing Pratap holding a dog.

" Chetak, meet Brownie he is Ajabdeh's friend like you are mine." He patted reassuringly. Shakti was looking for a horse when he decided to choose Sarang.

" You chose the wrong one Bhai. Meet Sarang, he is Ajabdeh's " Pratap chuckled.

" Ohho! Get me another one, Kaka." Shakti smiled at the stable keeper.

Heer was at the Mahal to take back Brownie and Ranisa directed her to Pratap's room with Rosalina. Rosalina knocked twice before getting into the empty room confused.

" Hope he didn't run away!" She murmured under her breath. Heer walked across to the window overlooking the grounds.

" There! He is there, and Brownie too." 

" Ohh Yes, can you go alone?" Heer nodded her head. Rosalina left for her room as Heer made her way to the grounds.

The sight in front of her eyes stopped her. Kunwar Pratap was not alone, he was with his brother on horseback, in their Indian attire. Shakti was wearing a sky-blue Kurta much lighter shade than her own Anarkali suit. She stared wide-eyed as he rode in rounds, a smile on his face. The same smile curved on her face as she hid carefully behind a tree watching. But Brownie gave her position away as he ran up to her. Pratap stopped Chetak watching Brownie run to Heer who sat down patting him. Pratap's eyes travelled to Shakti who was smiling at the sight. He cleared his throat making Shakti stare back at him as he got down from Chetak and walked up to Heer followed by Shakti in all smiles.

" Heer, I guess you are here to take Brownie..." Pratap asked.

" Yes woh... Ajab Jija was missing him and she refused to apply Mehendi until Buaji permitted her to take Brownie back." She looked confused as Pratap smiled.

" I will go get my car and drive you two home, Brownie can be a real pain if you walk him." He smiled and walked away leaving Heer and Shakti with Brownie.