Chapter 5

Hello Ladiesss... Thank you so much for showering your love on the previous part.. So Here I am again with another part of this SS.. Sorry to keep you all waiting but WFO is taking away all my time.. But more because this part was toughest for me to write.. And I am still not sure how it came out.. But Hopefully, this part compensate my delay ...

Sorry in advance to all of you if this part didn't met your expectations and is not worth the wait.. Rest leaving to all of you to judge

So here you go...

(Banner Credit : aye-masakalii.. Thank you Dear )

Part 5:

Unaware of the upcoming storm named Aryan Singh Rathore making his way back to his home, Imlie was at the place where she knows she will get that much needed peace – Temple. Even though she knows that she can talk to her mother or even Arpita regarding everything that has been going on with her, but she knows that she cannot talk with either of them for both of them have their own reasons to look the situation differently and with that Imlie will once again caught in the same whirlpool from which she is trying her best to escape. And hence she came to talk to her only best friend who can show her the correct path at this moment – her Seeta Maiyya!!

Events of that night kept on flashing in front of her eyes and as she recalled the hurt and pained eyes of Aryan she felt her heart being clenched with the feeling that has now started suffocating her. Strange isn’t it, even Aditya was hurt by her words few hours back but she never felt the same way like she is feeling right now. Why? When did Aryan become so important to her that now his mere absence is killing her?

No matter how much she tried to forget about Aryan’s marriage proposal to her or no matter how much she wanted to understand the reason behind him doing the same, she cannot come to any conclusion. Nor she could feel at peace. All she was feeling right now was a certain feeling of suffocation as if someone has locked her in a dark room where an iota of light is not present and no matter how much she tries to escape from that room, she is unsuccessful in her every attempt. As if the person who had locked her in the room has hidden the key somewhere and no matter how much she tries to find that key, it is not visible to her.

“Kaun se bhanwar me tum humko fansa di ho Seeta Maiyya? Tum to humse yahi kahi rahi na ki tum sab sambhaal logi aur humein bas aage badhne par dhyaan Dena chahie, par hum aage kaise badhe Seeta Maiyya jab humein aage badhne ka koi raasta hi nazar naahi aa raha hai? Ek baar fir se humek aise majhdaar me fans gaye hain ki hum chaah kar bhi usme se nikal nahi paarahe hain. ABP ne us raat aisa kyon kiya, Wo Kya tha jo us raat wo humse kehte kehte ruk gaya, humaare man me is samay ye bechaini kyon ho rahi hain, Kyun Aditya Sir ki baaton se ab humein koi fark nahi padta hai; humein kuch bhi samajhme nahi aa raha hai. Tum hi humko batao na Seeta Maiyya ki hum kya karein? Tumhi kauno raasta dikhaao humko.” A lone tear escaped Imlie’s eyes as she tried to find the answer to the turmoil of her heart but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t find any.

[On which whirlpool have you trapped me Seeta Maiyya? You were the one who has said that you will handle everything and I should simply focus on moving forward, but how can I move forward Seeta Maiyya when I am not seeing any road ahead? Once again I am feeling myself trapped in a crossroad from where I am unable to move forward even if I want to. Why ABP did all that on that night, what was that thing that he couldn’t complete and stopped in mid, Why I am feeling so restless in my heart, Why Aditya Sir’s words don’t affect me now; I am unable to understand anything. You only tell me Seeta Maiyaa what should I do now? You only show me some way.]

“Beta agar tumhein bura na lage to kya main yahan baith sakti hoon?” As Imlie was lost in her thoughts she heard a voice beside her and as she turned to look at that voice she found an elderly lady standing beside her while smiling at her.

[Dear, if you don’t mind then can I sit over here?]

Though that woman is stranger to Imlie but being a kind hearted person, Imlie can’t let that elderly woman stand as well, hence she shifted a bit in order to make some space for her on the platform of temple. Looking at that elderly lady sitting beside her Imlie gave her a weak smile and then again started looking into oblivion lost in her thoughts. None of them spoke for some time but that elderly lady’s eyes were just on her noticing her each and every expression.

“Bahut pareshaan lag rahi ho beta? Koi dikkat haikya?” looking at Imlie so lost and forlorn that elderly couldn’t help asking her after a while and listening to elderly lady’s voice all of a sudden Imlie gotstartled a bit and then looked at her confusingly.

[You are looking very tensed my child? Is there any problem?]

“Maaf karna beta meri poti bhi tumhaari hi umar ki hai. Tumhe dekha to uski yaad aa gayi to tumse pooche bina reh nahi paayi.Tum chaho to mujhse apni baat keh sakti ho. Samajh Lena ki kisi apne se kehrahi ho?” Looking at Imlie’s confused face that elderly lady smiled at her as she spoke to her making Imlie more confused.

[I am sorry dear but my grand daughter is of your age only. Seeing you remind me of her and hence I couldn’t help myself from asking. You can share your heart with me if you want. Just think that you are sharing it with someone of your own.]

“Par aap to…..” Imlie didn’t understand how to frame a proper sentence when that elderly lady interrupted her yet again.

[But you are…..]

“Ajnabee hoon? Yahi kehna chahti ho na? Jaanti hu beta ki main tumhaare liye ajnabee hoon lekin tum to mere liye ajnabee nahi hona. Mera matlab hai ki Maine bataya na ki meri poti bhi tumhaari hi umar ki hai aur ek maa ke lie to uske sabhi bacche apne hi hote hai. Tum apne dil ki baat mujhse keh sakti ho. Tumhara man halka ho jaaega aur kya pata tumhe tumhaari pareshani ka hal bhi mil jaae. Aur ek ajnabee kabhi bhi tumhe galat salaah nahi dega.”That elderly lady smiled at Imlie and listening to her Imlie’s eyes welled up as she looked down while sighing heavily and silent tears dropped down from her eyes while that lady caresses her head lovingly seeing her so helpless and lost.

[I am a stranger? That’s the word you were looking for, right? I know my child that I am stranger to you but you are not stranger to me. I mean to say that I just told you that my grand daughter is of your age and for a mother all her children are same. You can share your heart with me. You will feel lighter and who knows you will get a solution of your problem as well. And a stranger will never give you a wrong advice.]

“Humka… Humka kachu samajh me nahi aa raha ki humkaa kare? Ek alag hi bhanwar me fans Gaye hain hum. Aur chahe hum jitni hi koshish kyon na kar le hum chaah kar bhi us bhanwar se nikal naahi paa rahe hain.  Hume laga tha ki hum aage badh gayen hai par ab aisa lag raha hai jaise ki hum aage badhna to chahte hain lekin ateet ki abhi bhi koi kadi, koi zanjeer hai jo abhi bhi humein usi ateet me baandhe hui hai. Hum aise naahi rehna chahte hain. Apni zindagi me aage badhna chahte hain, lekin apne man me chal rahi in uljhano ke saath hum chaah kar bhi aage naahi badh paa rahe hai.  Kabhi Kabhi humaar dil karat hai ki hum sab kuch chod chad kar kahin door chale jaayein, ek aisi jagah jahan kauno humko na jaanat ho. Jahan humko thoda sukoonmil sake.” Imlie shared her woes to that elderly lady who though was stranger to her but surprisingly whose presence was giving much needed peace to her.

[I…. I don’t know what to do? I seem to be trapped in some different kind of whirlpool. And no matter how hard I try but I just couldn’t get myself free from that whirlpool. I thought that I have moved on in my life but now I feel that as if though I want to move on but there still some chain, some link is left which has still tied me to my past. I don’t want to be like this. I want to move on in my life, but with all the restlessness in my heart I am unable to move on even if I want to. Sometimes I feel like that I should just run far away somewhere leaving everything behind, some place where no one knows me. Where I can get some little peace.]

“Mann ki uljhan to suljhaane se hi sulajhti hain na beta aur agar in uljhano se bach kar bhaagogi to ye uljhanein suljehngi nahi balki aur zyada ulajh jaaengi. To usse accha to yahi hai na ki apni is uljhanka koi hal dhoondho.” That elderly lady’s words confused Imlie a bit as she looked at her puzzled.

[Restlessness of heart can only be solved when you want to solve it and if you will run away from all this then this restelessness will not be solved, instead it will grow 10 folds. So it’s better you find a solution to your restlessness.]

“Uljhan ka hal? Hum kabse wahi karne ki koshishkar rahe hain par humka kachu samjh hi naahi aa raha hai. Aur jab humka kachu samjh hi naahi aawat hai to hum kaise apni is uljhan ka hal dhoondhe?” Imlie looked at that elderly lady all confused and seeing Imlie all confused like a small child that elderly lady smiled with her wrinkled eyes.

[Find solution to the restlessness? That’s what I am trying to do from so long but I am not able to understand anything. And when I am unable to understand anything then how will I find the solution to this restlessness.]

“Baat kar ke. Kehte hain is duniya ki har badi se badi pareshaani ka hal baat kar ke nikal sakta hai. Mujhse ek baar baat kar ke dekho. Tumhe tumhaari pareshaani ka hal zaroor milega.” That elderly lady caressed Imlie’s head with all the affection and her words encouraged Imlie to open up her heart without any hesitation.

[By talking. They say that you find the solution to world’s biggest problem just by talking. Try talking to me once. I am sure you will find the solution to your problem.]

And after that Imlie started narrating her whole story to that elderly lady. Right from her life at Pagdandiya to her meeting with Aditya to their forced marriage followed by her coming to Mumbai and her stay at Tripathi’s for whole 1 year. She didn’t felt the need to hide anything from the woman who in spite of being a stranger was so affectionate towards her. And hence Imlie narrated everything about the change in dynamics of her relationship with Aditya and Malini and how once sweet and supporting Malini had became so vile that she didn’t hesitated once before trying to kill her and has no stones unturned in order to create rift between her and Aditya in which she has become successful as well.

Neither did Imlie hide the fact that how she met Aryan one day and how her life has changed for good. How in every step of her life Aryan did nothing but encouraged her to move forward. Though his ways were strange and he himself is a puzzle to Imlie yet Imlie couldn’t help herself from feeling awe for the person who has shaped her into what she is today. Later she also told to her how Aditya has crossed all the limits when he accused her of having an affair with Aryan, such that he went all the way to publish the same in newspaper as well thus tainting Imlie’s character publicaly.

And if that was not enough Imlie has to watch Aditya getting married to Malini in front of her own eyes. But Aditya didn’t seem to be stopped after that as well as he kept on accusing Imlie of infidelity, taunting her again and again that what all she has achieved till now is just because of Aryan’s favors to her and she was still not capable of achieving anything on her own.

And with all this Imlie also told her how Aryan helped her in exposing Malini and how her life was after whole Malini’s expose episode. How Aditya kept on pestering her to come back into his life and how Aryan has proposed to her that night on her birthday and how she has hurted him with her vile words and how Aryan has went missing since that day thus leaving her all restless.

“Ek minute bhi naahi laga Babusa… humaar matlab hai ki Aditya Sir ko humaar charitra par ungli uthaane me.. Ek minute naahi laga uka humka baar baar ee ehsaas karaane me humaar ander kauno kaabiliyat nahi hai aur humka aaj tak jaun kuch bhi haasil hua hai oo sab Akadbagge ki meharbaani hai.. Halanki ab Aditya Sir ke saamne Malini didi ka saara sach aa gawa hai lekin abhi bhi wo is baat ko manne ke lie taiyaar nahi hai ki hum apne dum par aage badhe hain.. Oo abhi bhi yahi maanat hain hume jaun bhi kaamyaabi haasil hui hai oo sab Akadbagge ki wajah se haasil hui hai jo na jaane AdityaSir se kaun sa badla lena chahta hai.” Imlie sighed heavily as she narrated her life to that elderly lady and she herself didn’t realized when she kept her head into the lap of that elderly lady just like a child keeps her head into her mother’s lap while in return that elderly lady kept on caressing Imlie’s head just like a mother does to her child as Imlie shared her heart to her.

[It didn’t take a minute for Babusa… I mean for Aditya Sir to point out at my character.. It didn’t took him a minute to make me feel every now and then that I don’t have any capability in me and whatever I have achieved till date it’s because Akadbagga has done favor on me. Even though now Aditya Sir knows the true face of Malini Didi, yet he is not ready to accept that whatever I have achieved, I have achieved that on my own.. He still thinks that whatever success I have achieved it is because of Akadbagga who wanted to take god knows what kind of revenge from Aditya Sir.]

“Aur jis ABP ko legar Aditya Sir ne hum par ilzaam lagane ka koi mauka nahi choda aur jise lekar aaj tak Aditya Sir yahi kehte aa rahe hain ki wo apna kauno maksad poora kare khaatir humaare lie wo sab kuch kar rahe hain, hum jaanat hai ki oo aisa kuch kare ke khaatir soch bhi nahi sakta. Maante hain ki humka duniyadaari ki shayad utni samajh naahi hai par fir bhi hum jaanat hai ki ABP kabhi bhi janaboojh kar aisa kachu naahi karega jisse humka aur humre vishwaas ko chot pahunche. Haan ooka tareeka humesha Atrangi hota hai, tareeka to kya oo khud hi Ajeeb Bikat Praani hai par usne humesha humko duniya ka saamna karna sikhaaya hai, humesha hume strong banaya hai, kabhi bhi hume is baat ka ehsaas nahi hone diya ki hum kisi se kam hai. Humaar sabse accha dost rahe wo. Humaar 50 – 50 partner.” Imlie had a sweet smile on her face as she told about Aryan to that elderly lady while she listened to Imlie without interrupting her for she knows that Imlie had to let her heart out before she will be able to understand her own feelings.

[And the ABP regarding whom Aditya Sir has not left any opportunity to hurl accusations on me and regarding whom Aditya Sir has kept on saying that he is doing everything for me because he had a motive of his own, I know he can’t even think of doing anything of that sort.  I agree that I may not know how the world is around me but still I know that ABP will never do anything of such sort intentionally that can hurt me. Yes, his ways are strange, and not just his ways he himself is strange, Ajeeb Bikat Praani, but he has always taught me to face the world, had always made me strong, he had never let me felt that I am less than anyone. He was my best friend. My 50 – 50 partner.]

“Aur humne apne usi dost ko itni badi chot pahuncha di. Jaun insaan humesha humaar khatir khada raha usi insaan par ilzaam lagaane me humka ek minute ka samay naahi laga. Kaisan hum apne us dost kii aankhon ka dard naahi dekh paaye jisne humaare dard me humaar saath naahi choda. Kaa fark reh gaya aaj humaar aur Aditya Sir ke beech? Jaun tarah unhe ek minute naahi laga hum par aur humaar charitra par sawaal uthaane se wahi tarah humka bhi ek minute naahi laga Akadbagge aur uki neeyat par sawaal uthaane se. Aditya Sir Malini Didi kii baaton me aa kar humka chot pahunchaae aur hum Aditya Sir kii baaton me aakar ABP ko chot pahunchaa diye. Humka..Humka khud se nafrat ho rahi hai is samay. Hum kaise aisa kar sakat hai aur oo bhi ABP ke saath. Us ABP ke saath jaun duniya ki is bheed me kabhi bhi humaar haath naahi choda humaar saath naahi choda. Aur usse bhi zyada takleef humein is baat se ho rahi hai ki us raat ke baad se humne Akadbagge ki shakal tak naahi dekhi hai, ooki aawaaz tak naahi suni hai. Pichle 10 dino se hum apne aapse yahi sawaal pooch rahe hain ki aakhir aisa kya ho gaya jo ABP ne is tarah se hume shaadi ke lie…. Pichle 10 dino se hum khud se yahi sawal kar rahe hain ki wo kya tha jo ABP us din kehte kehte ruk gaya tha… Pichle 10 dino se hum intzaar kar rahe hain Akadbagge ke ek phone ka taaki hum oo se maafi maang sake, oo  se pooch sake ki us raat usne jo kiya wo kyon kiya ya wo kya tha jo wo oo din kehte kehte ruk gaya. Lekin humaar ABP jaise kahin kho sa gaya hai aur hum chaah kar bhi oo tak pahunch naahi paa rahe hain.” Imlie’s smile faded from her lips and once again it has been replaced by her tears as she recalled the night where she has hurted Aryan with her words and once again she felt the same pain in her heart that she was feeling from past 10 days.

[And I have hurted that same best friend and that too so bad. The person who always stood by my side, it didn’t took me a minute to accuse him. How can I not see the pain in the eyes of my same friend who had never left me alone in my pain? How am I any different from Aditya Sir? Just like it didn’t took him a minute to question me and my character, in the same way it didn’t took me a minute to question Akadbagga and his intentions. Aditya Sir has hurted me by coming under the influence of Malini Didi’s words and I have hurted ABP by coming under the influence of Aditya Sir’s words. I.. I hate myself at this moment. How can I do this and that too with ABP? The same ABP who has neither left my hand nor left me in the crowd of this world. And more than that it hurts me to think that I haven’t even caught a glimpse of Akadbagga’s face after that night, nor had I heard his voice. From past 10 days I am asking myself the same question again and again that what has happened all of a sudden that ABP has asked me for marriage like that….. From past 10 days I am asking myself the same question again and again that what was that which ABP couldn’t complete and has stopped in mid… From past 10 days I am waiting for Akadbagga’s one phone call so that I can say sorry to him, so that I can ask him that why had he done all that on that night or what was that sentence which he couldn’t complete. But seems like that my ABP has been lost somewhere and no matter how hard I try I just couldn’t seem to reach him at all.]

“Ek baat poochoon beta?” After listening to Imlie’s turmoil that elderly lady asked her after a while to which Imlie simply nodded her head while still keeping it on her lap.

[Can I ask you something my child?]

“Tum abhi bhi pyaar karti ho us ladke.... kya naam bataya tha uska.. haan Aditya se… Pyaar karti ho usse?” The sudden question of that elderly lady startled Imlie and she felt loss of words for a while as she raised her head from her lap and looked at that elderly lady while frowning her eyebrows.

[Do you still love that guy.. what was his name…yes Aditya.. Do you still love him?]

“Batao beta.. abhi bhi pyaar karti ho usse?” Seeing Imlie being quiet for a while that elderly lady once again repeated her question and listening to her Imlie took a deep breath.

[Tell me my child… Do you still love him?]

“Pata nahi.. Hum naahi jaanat hai ki humaar dil me Aditya Sir ke lie ab kachu hai bhi ya nahi. Haan ek samay tha jab humaari poori duniya unhi ke ird gird ghoomti thi.. Humaar dard, humaar dukh, humaar khushi sab unse shuru ho kar un par hi khatm ho jaati thi.. Wo dukhi hote the to hum dukhi hote the aur wo hanste the to hum bhi hanste the… yahan tak humne patrakaar banne ka sapna bhi unhi ke khaatir hi dekha rahe… Par ab… ab wo sab bahut puraani baatein lagti hain… ab unka dard humka dard nahi deta.. Unki takleef humka takleef nahi deti… unka humaari zindagi me hona na hona ab sab ekbarabar hai… yahan tak ki ab wo agar humaar aas paas hote bhi hai to humaar khud hi unse door jaane ka man karta hai.. Par aisa kyon ho raha hai ye hum chaah kar bhi samajh nahi paa rahe hain… humein to khush hona chahie tha ki sab kuch theek ho jaane ke baad Aditya Sir ek baar fir se humse shaadi karna chahte hain lekin hum khush nahi the, balki humko aisa lag raha tha jaise ki agar humne haan keh di to hum apan zindagi ki koi bahut badi galti kar baithenge.. Shayad ab hum unse pehle jitna pyaar nahi karte ya shayad pyaar hi nahi karte.. Haan dil se aaj bhi hum unka accha hi chahte hain lekin pyaar… shayad nahi…” After thinking for a while Imlie said that to the elderly lady who just smiled after listening to her.

[I don’t know.. I don’t know if there is something left in my heart for Aditya Sir or not.. Yes there was a time when my whole world use to revolve around him.. My pain.. My sadness.. My happiness…everything seems to start from him and ends on him.. If he use to be sad then I use to feel sad.. If he use to smile then I use to smile.. In fact, I have dreamt of being a reporter also just because of him… But now… now all those things seem to be a tale of some other time… Now his pain doesn’t pain me… Now his hurt doesn’t hurts me.. His existence in my life doesn’t matter to me at all… In fact, now if he is anywhere present near me then I myself feel like going far away from him.. But no matter how much I try I am unable to understand why all this is happening to me.. In fact, I should be happy that after everything falling into place, Aditya Sir wants to marry me once again, but I was not happy.. In fact, I felt like that I will commit the biggest mistake of my life if I will say yes to his proposal.. May be now I don’t love him like before or may be now I don’t love him at all.. Yes in my heart I always want best for him but Love…. may be not…]

“Aur wo jo dusra ladka hai… Tumhaara ABP ya Akadbagga? Jab tum uske saath hoti ho to tumhe kaisa mehsoos hota hai?” Elderly lady asked yet again and listening to her question a small smile crept onImlie’s lips.

[And that second guy… Your ABP or Akadbagga? How do you feel when you are with him?]

“Surakshit.. Khaas.. balki bahut khaas… Humka aisa laagat hai jaise jab tak wo insaan humaare aas paas hai is duniya ki koi bhi buraai humka choo bhi nahi sakat hai… Kehne ko to bas kuch hi mahine hue hain humein us insaan se mile hue lekin in kuch mahino me jitna wo insaan humein jaan paaya hai utna aaj tak kewal humaari Amma aur Dadda hi humein jaan paaye hain. ABP hai wo insaan.. Ajeeb Bikat Praani kyonki ooki har baat ajeeb hai… Agar humka kachu sikhaana ya samjhaana bhi ho na to ooka bhi wo seedhe se sikhawat ya samjhawat naahi hai balki ajeeb bikat tareeke se samjhaawat aur sikhaawat hai. Par ooki har baat ne humka strong banaya hai.. hum jab bhi kisi musibat ma pade hai to na jaane ABP ko kaisan pata chal jaat hai aur oo jhat se humka har musibat se bacha let hai.. maano ki ooke ander kauno sensor fit ho .. Imlie sensor… Imlie kisi musibat me ho to uske Akadbagge ko apne aap hi pata chal jaat hai…. Humaar khaatir oo poori duniya se lad jaat hai… Dhaal ban kar humesha humaar saamne aise khada ho jaat hai jaise ki humse zyada zaroori ooke lie aur kachu ho hi na… Hum jab bhi kamzor pade hain, usne apni baaton se humein himmat di hai… Humaare girne se pehle hi humein sambhaal leta hai…” When talking about Aryan Imlie though had a lost look on her face as she reminsced all the moments with Aryan but her lips were curved in a sweet smile which didn’t went unnoticed from the experienced eyes of that elderly lady.

[Safe… special… in fact more than special.. I feel like nothing in this world could harm me or even touch until and unless that person is there with me. Though it’s been just few months since I first met him but the way he understood me in these few months, only my Amma and Dadda has understood me like that. He is an ABP… Ajeeb Bikat Praani because his all antics are strange.. If he has to teach me something then that also he will not teach me or make me understand in a straight manner rather he chooses strange ways to taught me or make me understand something. But all his antics, all his words had made me strong… Whenever I am in any kind of trouble I don’t know how but ABP gets to know about it and he instantly saves me from that trouble.. As if he had a sensor fit inside him… Imlie sensor… If Imlie is in any kind of trouble then his Akadbagga gets to know about it automatically… He fights with the whole world for me.. Always stands like a shield in front of me as if nothing in this world is more important for him other than me.. Whenever I feel weak in my resolve, his words have provided me much needed strength..  He holds me and support me even before I fell down..] 

“Humka to Vishwaas hi nahi howat hai ki ye uhi insaan hai jisne pehli mulaakat me humein sadak par hi gire rehne diya tha aur dusri mulaakat me humaar munh par paani phenk diya tha.. Jaun humse apni Mrs.Lambi Gaadi saaf karaye rahe kyunki humne ooki gaadi ko keechad se rang diya tha.. Lekin ye uhi insaan bhi hai jisne Imlie ko aage badhna sikhaaya, jisne Imlie ko tab apne ghar me jagah di jab Imlie beghar ho gayi thi… Jaun har waqt apne ajeeb bikat tareeko se humka apne dar ko face karna sikhaata raha… Jaun ke lie humaar izzat, humaar khushi sabse zyada zaruri rahe…  Jaun humaar jaan bachawe ki khaatir apni jaan ki chinta nahi karta hai… Jaun humaar haath pakad kar humka apne parivaar ka hissa bana liye rahe kyunki oo waqat humka apna kahe rehne waala koi na rahe.. Jaun humaari har atrangi harkaton me humaar partner ban kar humaar saath deta hai.. Jaun se ladte rehne ki ab humka aadat hui gayi hai.. Jaun ko hum jab tak pareshaan na kar le aur jab tak ooke munh se ek baar Jungli shabd na sun le, tab tak humka bhi chain nahi aawaat hai… Jaun se humaari badbad suni nahi jaat hai lekin jaun se humaari khaamoshi bhi bardaasht nahi hot hai… Jaun baat baat par ee kahat hai ki oo humaar dost naahi hai lekin humka choti si bhi takleef me dekhkar poora ghar sir par uthaa let hai… Jaun ke saath hum ek baar fir se hansna seekhe hain, sapne dekhna seekhe hain… Jaun ke hansne, rone se humka fark padna shuru ho gaya hai, Jaun ki takleef se ab humka takleef hoti hai.. Jaun se humko pyaar……” Imlie stopped in mid as she realized what she was about to say and as soon as realization hits her, her eyes widens in shock while she covered she covered her mouth from her palms.

[I cannot believe that he is the same person who had left me fallen on road during our first meet and has splashed water on my face during our second… Who had made me clean his Mrs. Lambi Gaadi because I have painted his car all over with the mud… But he is the same person as well who had taught Imlie to move on in her life, who had given Imlie a place in his house when Imlie was homeless.. Who every time with his strange ways teaches me to face my fears.. For whom my dignity, my happiness matters the most… Who had not cared about his life for even once before saving mine.. Who has held my hand and made me a part of his family because at that moment I don’t have anyone to call my own.. Who always supports me in my strange antics by becoming my partner in them… To whom until I don’t irritate and from whom lips until I don’t hear the word ‘Jungli’ for me, even I don’t feel at peace.. Who cannot hear my blabbering but who cannot bear my silence either… Who keeps on saying every now and then that he is not my friend but if I am in slightest of pain then he takes the whole house on his head… With whom I have learned to laugh once again, dream once again… Whose smile and tears has started to affect me now… whose pain started to pain me now… Whom I have started loving.....]

“Bolo na beta, chup kyon ho gayi? Jaun se tumkya?” With a small smile on her face that elderly lady asked Imlie while Imlie was still very much shocked with the fact that she was about to utter something like that and that too for Aryan.

[Say it my child, why did you stopped? To whom you have what?]

But why and most importantly when? Since when had she started to feel so intensely for Aryan? Yes she cares about him, yes she considers him as one of her own, but Love….. She cannot love Aryan… no… this is not right…. She has already been in love once, then how can she fall in love once again? All these questions were running in Imlie’s mind when she felt that elderly lady’s touch as she kept her wrinkled hand on her shoulder.

“Kya soch rahi ho beta? Dil ki baat ko zubaan par laane me itna kyon hichkichana? Pyaar karne lagi ho na apne ABP se? To fir ye hichkichahat kyon?” Seeing elderly lady speaking exactly the turmoil she is feeling made Imlie more restless and she felt her eyes welling up yet again.

[What are you thinking my child? Why are you hesitating to say what’s in your heart? You have started loving your ABP, don’t you? Then why this hesitation?]

“Par ee galat hai. Hum Akadbagge ke lie aisa kachu pheel nahi kar sakat hai. Humka kauno haq nahi hai. Humaar byaah ek baarho chuka rahe.. Bhale hi ab na sahi par ek samay par hum Aditya Sir se pyaar karat rahe.. Fir hum ABP se kaise? Aur… Aur hum par talaak shuda hone ka daag laga hai.. Fir hum kaise ABP ke lie? Aur agar hum ee maan bhi le ki hum ABP se pyaar... (Imlie closed her eyes for a second as she tries to absorb this feeling), par hum ABP ke lie sahi naahi hai.. Oo ek bahut hi acchi ladki deserviyavat hai.. Kya hai se ki Khandit Murti Mandir me naahi rakhi jaat hai aur naa hi murjhaae hue phool bhagwaan par upar chadhaye jaat hain. Humaar jaisi ladki ABP ke lie sahi naahi hai… Oo ke ghar ke lie sahi naahi hai.. Aur hum jaanat hai ki ABP bhi humse kabhi pyaar naahi kar sakat hai.. Oo kaise humaar jaisi ladki se pyaar kar sakat hai? Oo Aryan Singh Rathore hai.. desh ke 1percent billionaire me se ek.. Bhaskar Times jaise dasiyo business ka akela Maalik.. 30 under 30 list ka number 1 aur phormer Mr. India runner up… Fir oo Humaar jaisi ladki se kaise pyaar…” Imlie looked down as fresh tears spilled from her eyes while she tried to express her insecurities to that elderly lady.

[But this is wrong. I cannot feel something like this for Akadbaggha. I don’t have right. I have been married once. May be not now but there was a time when I use to love Aditya Sir.. Then how can I with ABP? And.. And I am tainted as a Divorcee.. Then how can I feel like this for ABP? And for once even if I agree that I love ABP…(Imlie closed her eyes for a second as she tries to absorb this feeling), but I am not right for ABP… He deserve the best girl in this world.. The thing is that broken idols don’t adorn temples nor do withered flowers are offered to Gods.. A girl like me is not right for ABP neither she is right for his home.. And I know that even ABP also cannot love me ever.  How can he love a girl like me? He is Aryan Singh Rathore… He belongs to the one percent billionaires of this country.. He owns 10 other several businesess other than Bhaskar Times… He has been at the top of the ’30 under 30’ list and former Mr. India runner up… Then how can he love a girl like me….]

“Agar wo tumse pyaar nahi karta to usne tumhaare liye wo sab kuch kyon kiya jiske baare me tumne abhi abhi mujhe bataya? Wo tumse pyaar karta hai ya nahi ya tum uske liye sahi ho ya nahi iska faisla tum apne ABP ko hi lene do na beta. Tum akele kyon ye faisla le rahi ho ki tum uske liye sahi nahi ho? Ho sakta ho ki usne tum me kuch aisa dekha ho jisne tumhe uski nazro me sabse khaas bana diya ho.. Aur waise bhi kya kami hai tum me? Itni kam umar me tumne itna kuch dekha hai lekin fir bhi tum tooti nahi balki apni har mushkil ka saamna kar ke tumne apni khud ki pehchaan banaayi hai, fir koi kaise tumhaari jaisi ladki se pyaar nahi kar sakta? Aur waise bhi Tum keh rahi thi na beta ki us raat wo tumse kuch kehte kehte ruk gaya tha? Agar jo kuch bhi tumne mujhe bataya hai wo sab sach hai to Ho sakta ho ki us raat wo bhi tumse yahi kehna chaah raha ho ki tum uske lie kitni khaas ho lekin tumhaari hi tarah wo bhi apne ehsaas se lad raha ho aur isliye wo apni dil ki baat na keh paaya ho jaise ki is samay tum nahi keh paa rahi ho ki tumhe apne Akadbagge se pyaar ho gaya hai.”  Elderly lady smiled at Imlie while Imlie tried to process her words but her facial expression clearly stated that she is still not ready to accept her feelings due to all her insecurities.

[If he doesn’t love you then why has he done all that about which you have just told me? Let your ABP decides the thing whether he loves you or not or whether you are right for him or not my child. Why are you alone taking this decision that you are not right for him? May be he has seen something in you that has made you special in his eyes. And I don’ tunderstand, what is lacking in you? You have seen so much in such a young age yet you didn’t break rather you have faced everything and ahs made your own identity, then how can anyone not love a girl like you? And anyways you were saying that he stopped in mid while saying something to you that night, right? If whatever you have told me, all of that is true then may be that night he too wants to express that how much important and special you are to him, but just like you he too is fighting with his own feelings and hence he couldn’t say what was there in his heart, just like you are not able to say at this moment that you have fallen in love with your Akadbagga.]  

“Tum ek insaan ho beta aur insaano ki zindagi kisi ke liye nahi rukti. Tumhaare saath jo kuch bhi hua maana ki wo bahut galat tha lekin usme tumhaari to koi galti nahi thi na. To fir tum khud ko kis baatkii saza de rahi ho? Tum jab tak apni pehli shaadi me rahi tab tak tumne uss haadi ko apni poori imaandaari ke saath nibhaaya lekin ab tum us shaadi me nahi ho to fir tumhe aage badhne se kya rok raha hai? Kis baat ka guilt hai tumhe? Jab tumhara pehla pati tumse rishta todne ke baad shaadi kar sakta hai to fir tum kyon nahi? Sirf islie kyonki tumhe is baat ka dar hai ki log tumhaare aur tumhaare ABP ke baare me kya kahenge? Are beta logo ka to kaam hi hai kehna, are logo ne to bhagwaan tak ko nahi choda fir tum to fir bhi insaan ho na.. Kab tak Agnipariksha ki zimmedari sirf hum Aurton ki rahengi? Kab tak ek toote hue rishte ka bojh apne kandhon par saari zindagi utha kar apni imaandaari saabit karne ki zimmedari hum Aurton ki rahegi? Kya humein apni khushi ke baare me sochna ka koi haq nhi hai? Tum to apni Seeta Maiyaa ki bhakt ho na fir tum kaise is samaaj ke saamne kamzor pad sakti ho.. Duniya tumhe har kadam par todne ki koshish karegi beta lekin ye tumhaare upar hai ki tum us duniya ka saamna kis tarah se karti ho – ya to is duniya ke banaye hue raaste par chalo, ya apni Seeta Maiyya ki tarah apna khud ka raasta banaao.. Zindagi baar baar kisi ko mauka nahi deti beta islie agar aaj zindagi tumhe ye mauka de rahi hai to use is tarah se yun apne haath se jaane mat do. Main ye nahi keh rahi ki tum apne pehle pati se pyaar nahi karti thi… karti hogi… par ye to kahin nahi likha hai na ki pyaar dobara nahi ho sakta. Ye koi niyam thodi na hai ki pyaar jeevan me sirf ek hi baar ho sakta hai. Agar tumhe dobara kisi se pyaar hota hai to iska matlab ye to nahi ki tumhaara pehla pyaar jhootha tha. Ya ye bhi to ho sakta hai ki pehle jise tum aaj tak pyaar samajhti aayi ho wo darasal tumhaare pati ke liye tumhaari dil me basi izzat ho. Pyaar kabhi bhi tumhe baandh kar nahi rakhta hai beta balki tumhe unchi udaan bharne ke liye pankh deta hai. Ab tum khud hi faisla lo ki tumhaare kaun se pyaar ne tumhe baandh kar rakha hua tha aur kaun sa pyaar tumhe udne ke lie pankh de raha hai.”That elderly lady caressed Imlie’s head lovingly and listening to her Imlie felt her thought being cleared to much extent yet a slight hesitation was still there.

[You are a human my child and human’s life doesn’t stop for anyone. I agree whatever happened with you was very wrong but it was not your fault in whatever has happened, right? Then what are you punishing yourself for? Till the time you were in your first marriage you were loyal to your husband and that relationship, but now you are not in that marriage anymore then what is stopping you from moving on? What are you feeling guilty for? When your first husband can marry someone else after breaking up with you then why can't you? Just because you fear about the world that what will the world say about you and your ABP? My dear child, this world has nothing better to do other than poking their nose in other’s matters; in fact they haven’t left even the Gods then you are still a human, right… Till how long will it be the duty of us women to give Agnipariksha? Till how long will it be the duty of us women to prove our loyalty by carrying the burden of a broken relationship for whole of our lives? Don’t we have right to think about our own happiness? You are the devotee of your Seeta Maiyya right? Then how can you fall weak in front of this world? This world will try to break you in every step of yours but it’s up to you that how you face this world – either you follow the path that this world has carved for you or just like your SeetaMaiyya you make your own path… Life doesn’t give second chances to everyone again and again my child so if the life is giving you a second chance then don’t lose that chance from your hands. I am not saying that you have never loved your first husband.. You may have… But it’s not written anywhere that you cannot fall in love second time.. There is no such rule that love can happen only once in lifetime. If you have fallen in love second time with someone else then that doesn’t mean your first love was not true. And this may also bhi possible that thing which you have kept on considering as love until now that was just a respect which you have in your heart for your husband. Love doesn’t tie you down my child rather it gives you wings so that you can fly higher. Now you only decide which love of yours had tied you down and which love of yours is giving you wings to fly.]

“Ya kahin aisa to nahi ki Aditya ne tumhaare ABP ke baare me jo kuch bhi kaha hai us par tumhe vishwaas…..”

[Or is it that whatever Aditya has said about your ABP you are believing……]

“Naahi!!! Aisa kachu naahi hai!!! Hum Jaanat hai ki ABP aisa kachu naahi kar sakat hai!!” Imlie instantly cut that elderly ladyin between and seeing Imlie defending her ABP in front of a stranger made that elderly lady to smile wider.

[No!!! it’s nothing like that!! I know that ABP can never do something like that!!]

“Bas apne isi bharose par bharosa rakho beta aur Apne man se saare shak, saare dar aur saare sawaalo ko nikaal do. Kyonki jahan par bharosa hota hai wahan sawaal nahi hote aur jahan sawaal hote hain wahan par bharosa nahi hota hai. Tumhare pehle pati ko tum par bharosa nahi tha aur isiliye wahan par sawaal the lekin tumhaare ABP ke saath tumhaare rishte me bharosa bhi hai, imaandaari bhi hai aur saajhedaari bhi, isliye yahan par kisi bhi sawaal ki koi jagah nahi honi chahiye. Ho sakta ho ki is samay tumhe lag raha ho ki tumhara ABP tumse kuch chupa raha hai lekin mera vishwas karo beta agar wo tumse saccha pyaar karta hoga to wo kabhi tumhaara bharosa nahi todega. Wo kabhi bhi aisa kuch nahi karega jisse tumhaare man me kisi bhi tarah ke koi bhi sawaal aaye. Tum bas apni Seeta Maiyya par bharosa rakho aur baaki sab tumhaari Seeta Maiyya sambhaal lengi.” Elderly Lady wiped away Imlie’s tears as she still seems lost.

[Then just have trust on this trust of yours my child and remove all the doubts, all the fears and all the questions from your heart. Because where there is trust there are no questions and where there are questions there is no trust. Your first husband had not trusted you enough and hence there were questions but in your relationship with ABP there is trust also, loyalty also and partnership also, and that’s why there shouldn’t be any space left for questions over there. May be at this moment you must be feeling that your ABP is hiding something for you but trust me my child if he truly loves you then he will not do anything that can break your trust. He will not do anything because of which you will get any kind of questions in your heart. Just trust your Seeta Maiyaa and rest your Seeta Maiyya will handle.]

After all, it was not easy for her to accept all these things all of a sudden. Till now she has lived with the concept of one life, one love and one marriage… And now all of a sudden the concept of giving life another chance, giving love another chance seems to be alien to her. And to be honest somewhere she was scared as well – What if her heart gets broken once again? What if her trust gets broken once again? What if she will be left alone yet again? Will she be able to collect the broken pieces of herself that time? Will she be able to survive that time?

“Wo tumhe kabhi bhi akela nahi chodega beta, kabhi tumhaara dil nahi todega. Apni Seeta Maiyya par bharosa rakho. Maine kaha na ki tumhaari Seeta Maiyya sab sambhaal lengi” As if reading her thoughts that elderly lady said to Imlie with the softness in her eyes while Imlie looked at her shocked.

[He will never leave you alone my child, he will never break your heart. Just trust your Seeta Maiyya. I said na your Seeta Maiyya will handle everything.]

Did she said that out too loud? That was the only question running in Imlie’s mind right now but she didn’t have time to find its answer for that elderly lady continued speaking further.

“Aur agar abhi bhi tumhaare man me thoda sa bhi shak hai to apni Seeta Maiyya ka naam le kar apni aankhen band karo aur khud apne dil se poocho ki use kya chahie. Apne dil se poocho ki jab bhi tum pyaar ke baare me sochti ho, jab bhi tum khushi ke baare me sochti ho, jab bhi tum kisi ke sath ke baare me sochti ho, jab bhi tum ek sacche humsafar ke baare me sochti ho to tumhe kiska chehra dikhta hai aur dekhna tumhe tumhaara jawaab miljaaega aur tumhaara wahi jawaab tumhaari har bechaini ka hal hoga. Apni SeetaMaiyya par bharosa rakho beta, wo humesha tumhe sahi raasta hi dikhaaengi. Ab apni aankhen band karo aur batao ki tumhe kya dikhta hai?” Saying this thatelderly covered Imlie’s eyes with her hands and as adviced by that elderly ladyImlie closed her eyes and started to look through her heart keeping all herideologies behind.

[And if you still have tiny miny doubt in your heart then take the name of your Seeta Maiyya and close your eyes and as your heart yourself what does it want. Ask your heart whose face does it see whenever you think about love, whenever you think about happiness, whenever you think about someone’s companionship, whenever you think about your soulmate and I bet you will get your answer and your that answer will be the solution to all of your restlessness. Have faith on your Seeta Maiyya, she will always show you the right path. Now close your eyes and tell me what do you see?]

As Imlie closed her eyes, she saw a happy carefree girl running into the fields of her village Pagdandiya. She was smiling without any worry of the world.. Playing with her friends.. Eating Panipuri with them.. Dancing in the rains.. All the while her smile has never left her lips as she enjoyed her life to the fullest – that happy girl was she herself!!! Imlie saw herself in the vision all happy and dreaming for her bright future.

And then she saw herself swinging on the swing on a banyan tree all the while smiling and laughing and suddenly she felt her swing getting slower every passing second, as if something is stopping her to take the flight she desired. She tried hard to push the swing in order to get the needed speed so that she could touch her desired height but it seems to be impossible and she felt like she will fall off the swing any second now. Just when she was feeling distressed due to the roadblock in her flight to the sky, she felt someone holding her from behind while giving her a slight push from behind but that push didn’t made her fall instead it saved her and gave her swing the needed speed once again which was required for her flight towards the sky and hence once again she was touching the sky like before.

But wait? Who was the person who gave her that needed push and saved her from falling at the same time? Imlie felt like she recognize that touch, that smell but still she was unable to put her finger on as to whom that touch, that smell belongs to.

“Maine kaha tha na Imlie, main kabhi bhi tumhe girne nahi doonga. Main humesha yahi tumhaare saath, tumhaare peeche khadara hunga Imlie taaki jab bhi tumhe apni manzil tak pahunchna mushkil lage, main isi tarah se tumhe Halka sa ‘Push’ kar sakoon.” Now not only the touch and smell, Imlie felt even the voice also very familiar. That baritone voice that whispered in her ears – Imlie felt as she has heard it somewhere. Yet she couldn’t think anything clearly.

[I told you Imlie, I will never let you fall down. I will always be here with you, standing behind you Imlie so that whenever you feel difficulty in reaching your destination, I should be here to give you light ‘Push’ just like this one.]

And just then she saw a familiar shadow appearing from her behind and coming in front of her as it moved towards the car which was standing on the road. And just when Imlie thought that she will never be able to see his face that shadow turned towards and stood near his car as he rested his back against it all the while watching her with a small smile on his face.

“Main aa gaya hoon Imlie. Ab tum safe ho.” He said in a soft voice as he watched her with all the love in his eyes.

[I am here Imlie. You are safe now.]

And that was the moment when Imlie finally saw the face of the person who was now standing against his car and looking at her like her guardian angel while she was happily swinging on the swing yet again knowing very well that now nothing in this world could harm her or stop her from reaching her destination. Because now he is here - The person who had never let her fall, the person who was always there for her, the person who has always been true to his words and has always given her his unconditional support, care and love – Her ABP, her Akadbagga, her Aryan!!!!!

Flash!!!

Imlie’s eyes opened with a start as she tried to recollect the images of her vision.. Her chest heaved up and down as shebreathed heavily with the realization of what she just saw. And as Imlie recollects the images of her vision, all the moments that she has spent with Aryan started to flash in front of her eyes like a movie – their first meet, their bickering, him making things difficult for her which has in turn made her stronger, him taking her to his home thus making a part of his family, him supporting her, taking care of her every time she felt like falling, him taking stand for her and standing in front of her like a shield every time someone tried to harm her, him  hugging her outside the Mirchi Bazaar as if his life dependent on her and all the small and big moments started to flash in front of her eyes as happy tears started to fall from her eyes while her lips curved into a big smile for she finally got all the answers of her question.

“Humka samajh aa gava ki hum…..” she turned to look at the elderly lady to let her know that she finally got her answer but to her surprise that elderly lady was nowhere to be seen.

[I understood that I….]

Confused Imlie stood up from her place and looked here and there searching for that elderly lady but it seems like she vanished into the thin air.

“Bhaiya yaha par humre saath ek Dadiji baithi rahi na? Aap ne dekha ki oo kis taraf gayi hai?” Imlie asked a man who was passing by after offering his prayers to god.

[Brother, there was a grandmother sitting with me over here? Have you seen where she went?]

“Par Yahan par to koi bhi nahi baitha tha. Maine to kisi ko bhi nahi dekha.” Confused with Imlie’s words that man said to her and his words surprised Imlie more.

[But there was no one sitting over here. I haven’t seen anyone.]

“Arey Aisan Kaisan yeeha kauno nahi tha? Oo yahin par to humre sath baith kar humka……” Imlie stopped in mid as she realized something while that man left from there after giving Imlie a strange look.

[How can no one can be here? She was here only sitting with me and telling me…..]

“Wo tumhe kabhi bhi akela nahi chodega beta, kabhi tumhaara dil nahi todega. Apni Seeta Maiyya par bharosa rakho. Maine kaha na ki tumhaari Seeta Maiyya sab sambhaal lengi”

[He will never leave you alone my child, he willnever break your heart. Just trust your Seeta Maiyya. I said na your Seeta Maiyya will handle everything.]

“Apni Seeta Maiyya par bharosa rakho beta, wo humesha tumhe sahi raasta hi dikhaaengi.”

[Have faith on your Seeta Maiyya, she will always show you the right path.]

Imlie recalled that elderly lady’s words and everything started to make sense to her now. It was not a coincidence that a stranger had come to her and started talking to her. It was no coincidence that the same stranger has showered motherly love to her which made her open up her heart to her. It was no coincidence that she felt at peace while talking to that stranger and felt a sense of recognition towards her because she was not a stranger, she was someone whom Imlie knows her from her childhood. Someone who is her best friend and has been her companion in her every step of life. Someone who has always shown her the right path – She was her Seeta Maiyya who has yet again shown her the direction where she needed to go.

Imlie was confused and restless and she was her Seeta Maiyya’s favorite child as well then how come a mother can not come to an aid for her child who needs her the most at this moment and hence calling her. And hence like any mother her Seeta Maiyya came yet again in order to show her right direction.

“Thank you Seeta Maiyya. Thank you ek baar fir se humka sahi disha dikhaae khaatir. Humaar khaatir humaar saccha humsafar dhoondhe ke khaatir Thank You Seeta Maiyya.  Ab tumhri Imaliya tumhre dikhaae raaste par hi chalegi aur kabhi bhi kamzor naahi padegi. Ab tumhri Imaliya apneABP ke saath tumhri dikhaai disha me hi aage badhegi. Hum aawat hai ABP, toka apan dil ki baat bataane aur tohaar akad kii peeth par kohni maarne.” Imlie smiled amidst her tears as she left for Rathore Mansion while thanking her Seeta Maiyya once again all the while smiling.

[Thank you Seeta Maiyya. Thank you for showing me the right direction once again. Thank you for searching a right soulmate for me. Now your Imaliya will walk on the path that you have shown to her and will not fall weak ever. Now your Imaliya will walk on the path that you have shown her with her ABP. I am coming ABP to tell you what’s there in my heart and also to shatter that ego of yours.]

Her steps seems to get new zeal as the feeling of love seeped through every pore of her body thus giving her a new meaning to everything around her yet again…..

Phew!!! Finally done updating it .. I know all of you have missed Aryan in this part but trust me this was important.. As I said before this part was the hardest and longest one to type..  Believe me I am typing this part since the start of this story but every time I just don't get the right words to express Imlie's turmoil.. I still haven't but I didn't want to keep you all waiting as well.. 

Also, many of you may find Seeta Maiyya waala part a bit cliche but trust me it is inspired from one of my incidence of my own life so I had shaped it over here... 

And the dream sequence was the last minute addition to this part as initially I have thought of something else but changed it in the last minute so that also may seem a bit rushed...

All in all I tried my best to keep this part up to your expectations, though not sure how far I succeded ..

I am leaving up to you guys to judge... Hopefully you gonna like it

Comments/Criticism always welcome

Lots of Love

Aakriti 

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