Chapter 02: START

Well this chapter is going to be quite long and a Twist is waiting for all of you at the end. Also I ended up doing some research on UP foods hence you may find some traditional food names in the story

CHAPTER-02

Start(Gaho) K-Ost Language: Korean

It's always exciting to start over

Like you're gonna get through everything

Like the clock hand that chases time

I want to get ahead of myself

Beyond the drawn line

Each of us have to face the life

Sometimes you'll blame it

But don't cross that line first.

I can fly the sky

Never gonna stay

Let's start from now

Whatever the reason,

whatever the excuse

I need courage right now

If it doesn't shine,

I'll cheer up my dream

and have that last one

Even if I tun on one foot,

I'll continue my way

I won't stop keeping my promise now

If you get ahead of others

They will catch up with you soon

I'll have everything I want

Because that's my dream

Nothing's changed

Hang in there

My dream will be stronger

I'll start again

Don't want to lose myself again

Because I bet my everything for this

I'll have everything I want

Because that's my dream

Nothing's changed

Hang in there

My dream will be stronger

I'll start again

START

The next few days were quite hectic for Imlie, she had spent her time working to save up money for her immediate plan. She knew she would lose her power over her life once Aditya visit Pagdandia, hence she decided the one month according to her needs. As luck was on her side, she ended up getting a good amount of harvesting jobs at other’s fields, with harvesting she also did jobs of sowing seeds. She took trivial jobs in the marriages taking place in the village and also cattle managing jobs like washing and grazing them helped her to earn some extra cash. These odd random jobs were something she never did in her last life as it didn’t become a necessity but this time to stand on her own legs without anyone’s help Imlie knew this was something she needed to do. She just doesn't have any other choices available in her platter.

Meethi wasn’t very happy about such things as she wanted her daughter to study but she never got a chance to scold her as Imlie vanished at dawn, only to return at night extremely tired. And she couldn’t force herself to talk anything much about it. Two weeks had already passed in this very manner and one morning Meethi actually found Imlie at home after waking up, she was getting ready to go somewhere.

“Gudia”, Meethi exclaimed.

“Oh Amma, you woke up” Imlie replied.

Meethi couldn’t held her unpleasantness regarding Imlie’s manual jobs and ended up questioning her, “ Imlie why are you doing these? You should have just focused on your studies. Why are you trying to be like me and waste your life? You have a bright future ahead”

Imlie looked at her mother’s eyes, she could feel Meethi’s utmost good will behind her words yet Imlie has no answer to give in return. She can’t explain the reason why she is doing the hard work only to save up a few pennies.

“Amma, all of my high-school exams have finished and the results have not been declared yet. So I am just doing some random jobs for pocket money”

Pocket money is the excuse which could easily be used by naiive teenagers and Imlie knew she wouldn’t be questioned much if she framed her sentences that way. After all, most of the teenage girls in India would love to own up to more than a single pair of earrings and pocket money is the source to get that dream fulfilled. Now 'how much money you are earning' is the question which no one would like to ask in terms of pocket money. 

“Meethi, let her do these odd jobs, it suits her perfectly. Who would like to marry a girl with no identity of her father? Even the poorest section of our village won’t accept her as daughter in law”, Imlie’s grandmother spoke.

Imlie’s grandmother had never liked her, not because she has no father and her mother Meethi got pregnant as an unmarried girl. The hostile nature she holds against Meethi and Imlie has it’s deep roots with Meethi being her step child. 

Imlie smiled as she knew that one day this lady who was currently spitting venoms will love both her and her mother.

“Nakli naani, I will bring something for you too with this pocket money”

“What? From where will you bring?”

“From Chautaalgarh” Imlie said with an enthusiastic smile.

“Chautaalgarh? The nearby village… Why are you going there?”

“To fill up my college examination form”, replied Imlie.

“College? Where are you planning to study? No, why are you planning to study?”

“You only said no one would marry me. So it’s better for me to find a job in future and support you, Amma and Dadda. And I am planning to study in the city”, Imlie purposefully refrained from saying that she would study in Delhi because she knew right now her grandmother will overreact even in the name of ‘city’, Delhi is a far-fetched dream.

“City? What city? Even your mom had played with a city man. Wow you are also walking in the same path as your mom”, Imlie’s grandmother started yelling and walking front and back around the room.

Meethi’s face had an expression of relaxation when she heard Imlie's future plans yet a big fear was visible in her eyes for her daughter.

“I had already discussed with ‘dadda’. He had no problem. Right Dadda?”, Imlie asked, looking towards Satyakaam who just entered the house.

Satyakaam, the leader of the separatists movement in Pagdandia. He might become a terrorist soon in the eyes of government, but had still not been because of his good deeds for his village people. Satyakaam was always a righteous person but Imlie knew that when you look from below you can only see the obstacles near yourself but everything changes when you see from bird view. The government had no idea about the corruption in the village only leading to the protesters being terrorists in their eyes as it didn’t fit to the system. She had already told Satyakaam to be careful and dropped some hints to never cross a certain limit, at least not till the time she becomes powerful enough. But as she couldn’t share much hence her words would mostly be taken as a kid’s word and she knew that. Somewhere down the lane everything puts a pressure on her to gear up her speed and get an identity to help her family. 

As she was pondering about the circumstances she was brought back to reality by her grandmother’s yelling, “Hey Sita Maiyya! This girl is also going to ruin the name of the village as her Amma”

Meethi got extremely sad and confused amidst her step mother’s yelling. Imlie decided to keep her mouth shut and let Satyakaam explain to others. She had put enough effort to get him on her side and that was the smart work she put in to not waste time and energy on her grandmother as well as the other villagers.

“Imlie wants to study in the city and more than that she would be studying in Delhi. It has already been fixed”, Satyakaam said with a firm voice.

“Delhi? It’s not even in U.P” exclaimed Meethi.

“Satyakaam, you want to send this ‘Najayas’ to the city even when you hate cities and their people so much?” said Imlie’s grandmother in anger. She already had always been angry at her nephew for liking her step-daughter but now sending the girl to the city and him standing with her made her feel going numb in anger.

“Yes, I may hate cities and their people but I do love my daughter.” Stayakaam replied.

“Satyakaam, she is not your daughter. She is the daughter of that city man who ruined our name in this village”, said Imlie’s grandmother sternly.

“She is my daughter and always will be, “ said Satyakaam with a determined voice as a befitted reply.

Imlie looked at Satyakaam’s face, the pride he takes on her gives her strength. She always believed that he is the only one whom she will always consider as her father. She just needs to make him her legal guardian in this life too. Dev Chaturvedi is not even worthy to establish any relationship between them. He might be a sweet guy but he was the epitome of destruction in both her and her mother’s life.

“Imlie are you ready?” asked Satyakaam.

“Yes Dadda”

“You guys won’t have breakfast?” asked Meethi as she saw the duo was already on the verge of leaving.

“Amma I already packed some 'Fara' in a tiffin box. We will eat in the bus, we need to leave, the bus will arrive in thirty minutes”, replied Imlie.

Meethi saw Imlie had already made Fara for breakfast and packed some for herself and Satyakaam.

Satyakaam and Imlie started to walk to the bus station but Imlie stopped in front of Chavi’s house which falls on the way to their destination.

“Imlie is there something?” Satyakaam asked.

“Dadda Chavi wanted me to buy her something from the Chautaalgarh Haat Bazaar. Since we are in front of her house, let me ask her. I will only need five minutes.”, said Imlie.

“Okay” Satyakaam replied.

Both of them went inside the gate and saw Chavi’s father sitting on a chair in the middle  of the courtyard.

“Ram Ram Dulariji” Satyakaam greeted.

“Ram Ram Satyakaam, what brings you here?”

“Imlie wanted to meet Chavi. We are going to Chautaalgarh for some business and Imlie remembered Chavi wanted something from the Haat Bazaar so she came to ask”
“Oh, Imlie Chavi is inside, go and meet her. Though we have misbehaved with you a few times Chavi had said only you were her friend in school. We are extremely sorry for our behavior beta”

“It’s okay Dulari kaka” Imlie said and ran inside the house.

“Jay Sita maiyya Kaaki '', Imlie greeted Chavi’s mother on the entrance door who came out to see the morning guests.

Chavi's family belongs from the richer section of the village but they do respect Satyakaam for his virtuous nature.

 After greeting them Imlie went inside to Chavi’s room only to find her lost in some thoughts.

Chavi stood straight from her bed and exclaimed, “Imlie?” when she saw her entering her room. 

“Chavi, Is everything ready?” Imlie whispered to Chavi after finding her alone.

Chavi immediately went through her cupboards and brought out a file and took out some xeroxed papers and handed them to Imlie. Imlie keeping an eye on the surrounding she put them inside in her own file which was filled with her certificates.

To avoid suspicion Imlie said loudly, “Chavi jhumkas and what do you need? Oh okay I will get you all of them” 

Chavi handed Imlie two thousand rupees. She gave fifteen hundred from her pocket money which Imlie put in her pouch and came out with the five hundred rupee note in her hand.

“So what did my daughter ask to bring?” Dulari Laal asked.

“Jhumka in both silver and gold plated. She gave five hundred for it” said Imlie showing the five hundred rupee note.

Unaware of their daughter’s and Imlie’s plan both of Chavi’s parents gave a smile.

“Ram Ram Dulariji we are leaving. If we stay here for a few more minutes we will miss the bus” said Satyakaam.

“Ram Ram” replied Dulari laal.

As Imlie and Satyakaam secured their seats in the bus, they had their breakfast. Once the bus starts there would be instances when someone will vomit and it would be impossible for them to eat. The bus started at sharp 9:00 am. Imlie looked outside the window, the view felt like she was seeing after ages. This kind of bus journey was in extinct mode from long back in her life. Even trying hard to not remember she found herself in the lanes of her memories. It was her twenty fourth birthday,

“Wifey Happy Birthday”, Aryan wished Imlie.

“Only Happy Birthday, ABP where the hell is my gift?” Imlie said pouting her face.

After meeting Aryan, he had always showered her with gifts and eventually spoiling her to no return. 

“What do you want wifey?”

“How about I drive your Mrs. Fast forward?” said Imlie with a smirk.

Imlie had not driven for a long time as Aryan used to drop her to the office. As Aryan was about to move to the main office of Rathore Group of Companies as Bhaskar Times was no more in loss, she didn't know when she would be in the driving seat of her husband’s imported car again. She loves driving Mrs. Lambi Gaari as it is really smooth to drive.

“No,” Aryan replied surprising Imlie.

Her husband normally don't say 'No' to her.

“Why? I drove before. Imported cars are real pleasure for driving”

“Nope”

“ABP” Imlie pouted, held her husband’s vest coat and shook him up to make him say yes to her wishes.

Aryan looked at his wife’s childishness fondly. He could never resist her cute side.

“Please, please ABP”

“Only if I get a kiss,” Aryan said with a smirk.

His 'jungly' wife was shy at first but he noticed she was getting bolder and bolder from last two years. As they were in the Rathore Mansion’s garden, he thought to tease her a little thinking she could never complete his request. But to his surprise Imlie pulled his collar and kissed him on his lips. He looked at her shocked to his core.

“Now?” she asked innocently.

“What the hell? Did you just kiss me?”

“Yes”

“In broad daylight?”

“Yes”

“That too in the garden?”

“Yes” replied Imlie this time nodding her head.

“You are turning into a shameless girl these days”, exclaimed Aryan.

“Am I? But the fault is of your lips. It’s getting plumper as days are passing. Thanks to your Baby Lips”

“What the…” Aryan got red at the mention of the softness of his lips.

“Now let’s go driving” Imlie took his hand and they ended up pulling him to the garage.

Imlie drove the car and both of them went on a long drive. She could clearly remember Aryan's giggles sitting next to her. The next day when she woke up she found the real gift of her birthday, A Porsche Panamera was standing in front of their main door. As tears rolled down Imlie’s cheeks when Aryan said that this was her actual birthday gift but came a day late, Aryan, Arpita and her mother-in-law Narmada pampered her with affectionate hugs. That day both her and Aryan didn’t go to the office and went out to eat with the whole family. Imlie had her own car that day and Aryan named it Mr. Lambigaari.

Imlie was brought back to reality by a call from Satyakaam that they had reached their destination. Imlie rubbed her cheeks which had traces of tears. She didn’t even know when she started to tear up.

“Imlie what’s the matter?” Satyakaam asked.

“Nothing Dadda, feels like something went inside my eyes”

"Are you okay?"

"I am perfectly fine. Now let's go Dadda there are tons of works today" 

The first stop for Imlie and Satyakaam was the bank. She opened a savings account for herself and deposited the money she saved up which was luckily near nineteen thousand rupees. After thinking a little more she ended up adding thousand rupees from the ones Chavi lent her. Her hard work paid off but she needed more money so she decided to work more three days and then use the next two days to study for the entrance examination.

After dropping Imlie at the internet cafe which was their next stop Satyakaam went to do some personal jobs regarding his  protest movements. He has supporters in Chautaalgarh too. Imlie felt quite relaxed when Satyakaam left as she had to do all the stuff that she can’t even share with her dadda. She took the corner most computer of the cafe which was nowhere near a real cafe as there were only five computers. She had to wait fifteen minutes to get that free space.

The first thing she did was filling up examination forms of City College and St. Frederick’s College as both of them have examinations on the same date. St. Frederick’s was also a reputed government college like City College and it was also the dream college of Chavi. The examination would take place next week which would give Imlie a little gap of one week between the examination and Aditya’s arrival to Pgadandia. And results would be declared on the day of his arrival which was pre decided. She would leave for Delhi on the day of his arrival with her Amma. A perfect plan all set. The next thing she did was pay the examination fees from her account through internet banking. She ended up filling forms of some scholarship exams for herself and the last thing she kept for some other time was applying for an education loan. She had different plans to makeup Chavi’s college fees. As she was thinking, Satyakaam came and both of them left for the Haat bazaar after printing the immediate admit cards. They brought some earrings for Chavi and bags for Imlie. They had roti and dal for lunch and returned back to Pagdandia by the last bus which leaves at 3:00 pm. 

Satyakaam noticed Imlie bought something unusual and couldn’t help his curiosity and ended up asking, “Imlie why did you bought these color powders?”

“Oh I would use this for rangoli,” Imlie replied immediately.

“Only yellow, green and red?”

“Yes Dadda, it’s enough. By the way I brought a Maa Sherawali picture for nakli naani.”

Satyakaam smiled at the innocence of Imlie. His daughter is glowing, what more does he need as a father?

Imlie had freshened herself up and took a nap, it was already 6:30 pm. She came outside in the small courtyard and sat on the ‘khatiya’ near the chulha which was lit by Meethi. She has already started to make dinner.

“Amma Chai please. I am having a bad migraine” said Imlie.

“Okay Gudia. Today was a tough day for you.”

"Everyday is a tough day though" Imlie whispered to herself. 

As Imlie stared at the night sky Chavi entered through the bamboo gate.

“Imlie”

Imlie looked up at Chavi.

“I came to take the earrings”, said Chavi with a smile.

Imlie smiled back at Chavi and requested Meethi to make Chai for Chavi too. Her grandmother had joined Meethi and was cutting the vegetables. 

“Chavi, let's go inside. The earrings are in the bag”

As both the girls came inside Imlie showed her the print of the admit card and the examination date. She also handed her the earrings. On Chavi’s insist Imlie kept the documents as well as the five hundred rupees with herself.

“Chavi, do you know the next step?” asked Imlie.

“Yes, don’t worry, I have already started our next plan. I am begging my parents day and night. By the way thank you for choosing the nearest city as examination center”

“We are quite lucky that both the colleges had arranged examination center in our nearest city”

“Imlie will I be able to study like you?”, Chavi sounded a little emotional than usual.
“Of course if the plan goes right, soon both of us will end up in Delhi. I assure”

 Chavi’s facial expression revealed that she found hope in a never ending abyss. Imlie still wasn’t sure about everything to end up according to her plans but she felt hopeful.

“Chavi let's go outside and have chai” said Imlie.

Chavi went outside and Imlie’s eyes went to the old radio set. She smiled when she remembered how much music played a great role in controlling her moods. And whenever she was having sex with Aryan it was a habit of hers to set up the mood with music. She grabbed the radio set and brought it outside. She turned it on and tuned its frequency with an F.M station.

She sat on the ‘Khatiya’ with the glass filled with tea, she looked up at the starry sky. Imlie felt her heart broken into pieces as she could resonate with the song playing in the radio so much. She was hoping for a cheerful song to come but to her dismay the song felt like it was played only for her.

MUSKURAANE KI WAJAH TUM HO(Arijit Singh)

'Dhoop aaye toh, chhaanv tum laana

Khwahishon ki baarishon mein

Bheeg sang jaana' 

Imlie’s feelings were all in disarray, she was even feeling like the starry sky was pitying her. She sighed at her own helplessness. The passing time felt so slow that she just wanted to throw everything and meet Aryan and tell him that she is his wife. She wanted to hug him, kiss him and comfort herself being in his arms.

'Jiya jaaye na jaaye na jaaye na

O re piya re..

Jiya jaaye na jaaye na jaaye na

O re piya re.. piya re...'

But she doesn't even know where he is at the current moment. She doesn't know what he is feeling and she doesn't know what he will feel for her when the circumstances would be different this time when they will meet. Or will they ever meet?

'Jo mile usme kaat lenge hum

Thodi khushiyaan thode aansu baant lenge hum

Jo mile usme kaat lenge hum

Thodi khushiyaan thode aansu baant lenge hum'

Tears had always been a way of our communication thought Imlie. His tears would reach her and her tears would end up on him. Imlie and Aryan didn’t need to speak up to convey their emotions their eyes would speak the most for them. And now those memories were haunting her with the unsure feeling of meeting each other ever in this life.

'Jiya jaaye na jaaye na jaaye na

O re piya re..

Jiya jaaye na jaaye na jaaye na

O re piya re.. piya re..'

“Kaakimaa Imlie feels so lost. Did something happen to her?” asked Chavi after hearing Imlie sighing for more than thrice.

“That girl must have fallen in love. It would have been nice if she could arrange a love marriage for herself as there are so many love marriages in our village these days. Else who would marry this ‘Najayas’?” remarked Imlie’s grandmother.

Imlie’s ears went to the conversation between the three females in front of her.

Imlie replied, “Don’t worry there is one person who would treat me like a queen and I will be his wife”

“Who? Aryan Singh Rathore?” asked Imlie’s grandmother.

Imlie was taken aback by the sudden words of her grandmother.

“Nakli naani… How do you know this name?” 

“Gudia you take this name a lot in your sleep,” replied Meethi but she hid the fact that she had seen her daughter crying in her sleep, held her hand thinking of her as Aryan and requested never to leave her.

“Who is Aryan?” asked Chavi.

“Her dream man who doesn't exist” replied Imlie’s grandmother.

“Nakli naani he does exist and I would go to any length to fight my fate and bring him in my life”

“But Rathore seems like a Rajasthani surname. We are from a scheduled tribe. How is a Rajput available here to marry you?” Chavi raised the question.

“I don’t know where he is right now. But I will only marry him” answered Imlie with determination.

“That’s why I said he doesn’t exist, '' replied Imlie’s grandmother.

Chavi laughed as Imlie frowned at her grandmother's words.

'Muskurane ki wajah tum ho

Gungunane ki wajah tum ho

Jiya jaaye na, jaaye na, jaaye na

O re piya re..'

“He exists and all of you will meet him one day. Just know he is the reason I could smile, sing and believe in myself. For him I had a strong will and for him I learnt to be myself. I would achieve any lengths if it is for him” said Imlie lost in Aryan’s thoughts.

“You love him that much?” asked Chavi raising one of her eyebrow.

Imlie smiled and replied, “If you remove his name from my side my existence would get erased too. That’s the love I have for him”

Imlie wanted to say ‘we’ in place of ‘I’ but stopped as fate had tossed her in the pit of time and she came back again to the year of change which brought the changes in her life.

 The night passed as usual after that. The next day started with the Rooster’s cock-a-doodle-doo and Imlie went ahead with her schedule. She finished bathing the Sarpanch’s ox 'Mangal' when she was asked by someone to go to the post office as a call came in her name. 

Imlie was utterly confused as to who would call her when she had not even gone out of the village. With a little bit of curiosity she ran to answer the call. When she reached the post office she saw the caller was still waiting for her. She picked up and said , “Hello, Imlie speaking right now”

…

“Hello” she said this time a little louder.

Nope just like before there was no reply.

This time Imlie’s patience was reaching its limits.

“Hello, who are you? Why are you not saying anything? Why are you wasting my time?” said Imlie angrily and the line got hanged up from the other side.

“Strange caller” remarked Imlie.

“Imlie’s who’s calling?” asked the postmaster.

“Don’t know kaka, that person didn’t even say hello. Okay I have to go to cut the sugarcanes from Hari kaka’s fields too. I am leaving, Jay Sita Maiyya”

“Jay Sita Maiyya”

Imlie left after saying a goodbye to the postmaster.

On the other side tears rolled down over Aditya’s cheeks. He just woke up with a dream. Now to confirm whether the dream was actually true or just a foreshadowing hint of the future he called the number of the Pagdandia post office and demanded to know whether a girl called ‘Imlie’ did exist in reality. He remembered this number from his dream. Such a vivid dream had already shaken him up and after pondering for more than three hours from the morning he came with the judgment that it was not a dream but the past memories of his last life. But why didn’t time flow? This question made him baffled but he murmured, “This time I won’t let Malini and Aryan come between me and Imlie. If I am not wrong, Satyakaam interview proposal will be offered to me soon and next month I will go to Pagdandia. When I bring Imlie here I would tell everyone of her being my wife whether Malini likes it or not. And if I declare it then she would not be able to marry me. That way I could save Malini’s innocence too.”

Though he had shown his inner dilemma, his heart has been convinced that what he saw is the truth. He had always believed in himself the most and he decided not to change fate. Fate might have pitied him hence gave him a chance to come back and rectify everything. Imlie was ought to be his. Fate is on his side thought Aditya.

Someone had said before that Fate is unpredictable, you may try to fight your fate without knowing the fight is also a crucial part of your fate. Who would win this race against time? Imlie who decided to change her path for not wanting to get hurt like before or Aditya who wants to go through the same path as before to have Imlie in his life? Who will win this end game?

Songs Used: 

~Start(Gaho) [Itaewon Class]

~Muskuraane ki wajah tum ho(Arijit Singh) [City Lights]

Well this was long but how was the twist? I hope everyone will enjoy it and give their precious views on the story. 

Also I bought 3 babylips lipbalms after FK preached them being his choice

Yours Mimi

MiuniS2022-04-10 12:04:45