Hello all, I'm new to this forum and this is my first work here. The only platform I have been writing on is Wattpad. But then I wanted to write something on Imlie, so I'm here. This OS is kinda long I guess. Hope you guys like it. Do share your views.
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The Tripathi household was bustling with activity even as all the members could be seen running here and there to get the work done. All arrangements were being seen into and the last moment preparations were being done as well. The air was filled with immense happiness as after all, the daughter of the house, Imlie Tripathi was getting married to her "love" aka Sundar! The marriage was to happen in some hours so the preparations were being looked into. But seated in her room, the bride to be was drowned in melancholy. An overwhelming ache had consumed her since the time this decision had been taken but all she could do was fight it, suppress it because she knew the cure to this was beyond her reach! A lone tear dropped down her eyes even as she closed her eyes and swallowed hard to suppress the ache which was at its zenith within her today.
Why was it so difficult to move on? Why did she want to hold on to the relation she had with him despite crumbling each moment holding onto it? Why?
"You know the answer very well Imlie" her heart whispered and her lips curved into a sad smile. She very well knew the answer to these questions but she would never admit it. Not even to herself because she knew these feelings of hers had no future. He could never be hers. A sigh escaped her lips.
She stood up and moved towards her drawer. Opening it, she lifted the clothes kept on it and carefully pulled out the mangalsutra. She caressed it with tears in her eyes and kept looking at it with a sense of longing.She would be wearing this around her neck soon but not for him, not to show she belonged to him but for somebody else. She held it closer to her chest and memories of the times he had made her wear this flooded her mind. She had decided she would never force herself on him and had abided by it as well. She had also told him that he would be the only man in her life, that she would belong only to him and here she was marrying someone else, again just for him. Her feelings had begun to grow strong and she was too scared of its consequences. She knew she wouldn't be able to mask her feelings for long and had started maintaining her distance from him. She had started to grow distant assuming it would help her control her feelings. She had succeeded as well until he started stepping in her direction! He had started to pay more attention to her. He had started to warm up towards her, making it extremely difficult for her to bring about a hold to her feelings. But the last nail in the coffin, the thing that ultimately pushed her to this decision was English Madam's accusation that she was the reason Malini Didi and Babusaheb's relationship was falling apart, that she, a servant was trying to entice her master, that she a lowlife had such audacity to cultivate illegitimate feelings towards her master and eye his riches! She had heard a lot of comments, taunts and abuses hurled her way but this one had been too much to take. It wasn't just her character which was raised a finger at, yet again that hurt her so much. It was the name her feelings had been given, the way her shattered heart had been jabbed with these allegations that broke her more than she was already broken.
She hadn't asked or wished for too much in her life. She was a soul carefree, happy and content with just a few dreams gleaming in her eyes. Yet all that she got was hurt, pain and agony. All she wanted was to one day make her name on her own, to make her mother's head raise in pride so that she could give back to all those who had taunted them always. Was this too much to ask for? Yet all she had got was insults, taunts and the falling of her dreams. She had been accused for something she hadn't done, pushed into wedlock in the name of prestige,shunned and cast away like she wasn't a human with breaths, feelings and emotions, blamed for every mishappening, inconvenience, termed a nuisance and low life and even had been snatched off her right, her sindoor!
There's a point till a person can possibly tolerate and she had then reached that point. Now the only way she could hold herself from destroying 2 more lives apart from her own and breaking the hearts of the family who had welcomed her into their lives with open arms and had showered immense love on her without caring about that fact that she was a mere servant, was by going away from them. But she hadn't been successful in leaving as the family had caught her sneaking out with her potli and had emotionally blackmailed her into staying back. Her mind then took her back to the happenings of that day which ultimately brought her to this day.
After making sure they had put enough sense into her, Imlie was allowed to go to her room. She entered the room and locked herself. Collapsing on the floor, she cried her heart out. Why couldn't she get some freedom from this? She needed a closure but she knew she would never get it from him. So she decided she would end everything by herself, giving herself the closure she desperately needed now. But that option had closed down for her and she did not know what to do next. The knock on the door startled her and she jumped back onto her feet. Wiping her tears hastily, she plastered a fake smile and opened the door slowly.
"Bandar, what are you doing here? You have any work for me?" she asked.Sundar shook his head and entered the room. He had a serious expression on his face. He indicated to her to close the door and she did so, confused at his behaviour. He hadn't responded when she called him Bandar like he usually does and had a very serious expression on his face making her worried.
"What happened Sundar? Why do you look so serious and worried?"
"Were you crying Imlie?" he asked making her eyes widen
"N-no...why would I cry? I-I'm not crying" she said stuttering even as she looked everywhere but at him.
"I'm not a fool Imlie. The girl who keeps blabbering away to glory all the while is so dull and is even stuttering. She isn't meeting my eyes like she does each time, confidently. You were trying to run away from the house, that house which you consider your everything. Why? Why has there been so much pain in your eyes since the past few days? Why has your blabbering reduced all of a sudden? Why Imlie why?" Sundar questioned slightly raising his voice
"Because…" Imlie shouted but stopped immediately.
"Because?" he questioned
"Bandar, whatever you are thinking isn't right. There's nothing like that" she said looking down and not meeting his eyes
"Oh is it? Why did you shout because then? Why aren't you able to meet my eyes while saying this?" he said again She couldn't hold it any longer. She was emotionally weak at this point and the questions he was firing at her was too much to take for her all at once. She broke down sobbing, tired of masking her emotions and hiding her true feelings and thoughts. He dropped down next to her and caressed her hairs with affection.
"Let it out today Imlie. I know we haven't been such great friends but trust me when I say this, even if I cannot understand what you are going through, I'll surely listen to all that you want to pour out. Don't keep it all within Imlie. It'll just bring you down more" he said in a soft and assuring whisper. She looked at him with her tear filled eyes and he nodded giving her his assurance.
"First promise me that you'll not tell this to anyone!" she said and extended her little finger. He smiled and held her little finger with his, promising her.She then took a deep breath and started narrating everything that had happened in her life till the present day events and how her feelings have been giving her a hard time. When she was done, she could see anger in his eyes. He stood up and was about to head out when she caught him by his arm and questioned him through her eyes.
" What Aditya Sir did with you wasn't right Imlie! He has wronged you and he deserves to be punished." Sundar declared.
"No Bandar! It's not Babusaheb's fault! We both were pushed into this. Him not accepting me is understandable. And he had told me after the very next moment we had gotten married that I would mean nothing to him and that he doesn't believe in this relation" Imlie said
"Imlie, you are being exceptionally forgiving here! When you were his wife already, he had no right to get married to someone else! What he did was wrong, be it in whichever aspect you take"
"I don't know all that Bandar! I don't want to know as well. You are my friend right?"He shook his head in a yes
"Then leave whatever had transpired in the past and help me in conquering my present problems. I don't ask for help from others but here, I need someone. Just help me get out of all this. I want to move on. I'm tired Sundar. I'm tired of all this" Imlie said and slumped down even more, exhaustion clearly visible on her face.
"Imlie, just lie down for a while and take rest. And don't worry, I'll get you out of this" Sundar assured and left the room while she fell asleep too exhausted emotionally.The next day too, Babusaheb was off for some work to some nearby town. And all that the rest of the members did was tease her about Sundar as Nidhi had seen him come out of her room. Though she kept clarifying there was nothing such, they did not stop their teasing ultimately leading her to give up as despite it being false, this worked to divert her attention from her pain.
Coming to this decision of marrying Sundar was not an impulsive decision. They had talked it out and weighed all the pros and cons. They had come to a conclusion that their relationship shall be of companionship and friendship. That's how they would spend their entire lives and it would help her move on. As Sundar knew the truth, he would support her all along unlike somebody new to whom she wouldn't be able to reveal as well. And her mind put in as well that she would finally get some respect and care!They had decided that after marriage, they would shift to some other place. While she would continue her studies, which would be sponsored by the Tripathis, he would continue work here but they would live apart from the family. The family agreed readily as they knew the couple would need their privacy. But despite all this and her best attempts to forget him, she failed miserably because all that it did was, the agony grew even more tightening her chest to such an extent that sometimes she would find it difficult to breathe. Love - it was an emotion she had wanted to stay away from and was sure she would stay away as well because she did not intend to marry at all. But inadvertently, destiny had pushed her towards him and before she could stop herself, her respect and like for him had grown into love! But she hadn't accepted it even till this moment as she had been burning with embers on her soft heart, it's pain numbing and sparkling as well, suppressing and encouraging this emotion called love in her heart, leaving her in a puddle of mixed and entangled emotions!
The sound of the door knob turning made her place back the mangalsutra into the drawer and hurriedly wipe her tears. She moved far from the drawer and stabilising herself, turned with a fake smile which transformed into utter shock witnessing who it was at the door. Her eyes widened to such an extent that it felt they would pop out any moment looking at the person at the door.He walked into the room stumbling due to the effect of alcohol. Closing the door, he moved towards her, his gaze fixed at her, inexplicable emotions visible in them.
"Babusaheb what is this state that you are in? Hey Sita Maiyya, hope none of the family members saw you like this!" she exclaimed, unable to hold back the shock and concern at his state
"Why do you care in what state I am Jhalli? And don't worry no one saw me like this" he said curtly, his voice heavy even as he moved towards her.
"What do you mean by that Babusaheb? You come to my room at this time, in this state, just a few hours before my marriage. What else do you suppose I ask?" she said crossly as well.
"I had supposed a lot of things you'd ask but at the moment when it was needed, you did not ask anything Jhalli!" he said, hurt reflecting clearly in his voice. He was about to reach her when he lost his balance due to the intoxication and was about to fall, if not for her who held him tightly.
"Babusaheb sambhaliye!" she called out worriedly and led him to the couch nearby and made him sit. Just as she was about to get up, he pulled her back making her land directly onto his lap, in turn making her eyes widen and a gasp escape her mouth.
"B-Babusaheb y-yeh...what are you doing? Let me go Babusaheb" she said and tried to free herself from his grip and stand up but his grip was too firm, making her land on him again, unable to get up. Her breaths turned uneven and her heart started pounding vigorously in her chest, it's beats loud enough for him to hear.
"Shh! Kuch mat bolo tum. Stay quiet and let me speak! Let me tell all that I have been wanting to tell you but never could because I couldn't accept them myself!" he said, looking at her with such intensity that all she could do was lower her eyes and say hmm.
"Jhalli, look at me first" he said but she just couldn't look at him. He put his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face towards himself. Her eyes met his and both stilled for sometime, looking deeply into each other's eyes.
"Don't marry him!" he said breaking the silence.
"Why?" immediately shot out of her mouth though she was still staring deeply into his eyes
"Because you are mine" he said, making her breath hitch. Her eyes widened yet again and his statement kept repeating in her ears.
"Y-yours? No Babusaheb! I am not yours. You have no right over me. And it's better you let me go and yourself leave this room as well. If somebody sees you like this, they……"
"I don't care what anybody says or has to say! All I care about is what you have to say Imlie! Don't you feel anything towards me?"She gulped not knowing what to answer.
"Babusaheb, aapne bahut pee rakhi hain! Tabhi aisi behki behki baatein kar rahe ho aap! M-main neembu paani banake laati hun" she said and again attempted to stand up but yet again he did not let her go.
"Jab tak mere sawalon ka jawaab nahi de deti, main tumhe kahi jaane nahi doonga" he said
"Yeh kya zid hain aapki Babusaheb? Kyun isse mushkil bana rahe ho mere liye aap? Itni mushkil se khud ko samjhaya hain humne. Aap meri saari mehnat pe paani mat phiriye! Jaaiyein aap yahan se! Just leave!" she said looking away.
(Silence)
"I love you Imlie" he said making her turn to him in shock. Her mouth dropped open and a lone tear escaped her eyes. She immediately stood up, taking advantage of his loosened grip and started moving backwards shaking her head in a no. He stood up as well and started moving towards her, his hands outstretched.
"Nahi Babusaheb! You don't love me. You love Malini Didi. You have been with her since so many years. She is your love"
"What do you think you are then Imlie?"
"Your responsibility! A burden on your head. Nothing more Babusaheb. Nothing more"
"No Imlie! You know who you are? You are Imlie Aditya Tripathi, my wife, my first and last love!" he declared
"First love?" she murmured overwhelmed by his declaration of her being his wife.
"Yes Jhalli. You are my first love and my last as well. Malini, humne unse pyaar kiya hi nahi. Jo unke liye tha woh bas infatuation thi, jise hum galti se pyaar samajh baithe the! Hum tumse…"
"Bas kijiye Babusaheb! Bas kijiye! Hum koi khilona hain kya ki jab man chahe phek diye, jab man chahe khel liye? Hamari shaadi jabse hue, tabse har baar aapne hamari beizzati ki, hum chup rahe. Har baat ke liye hume doshi tehraya jabki aapko pata tha ki aapki tarah hume bhi iss zabardasti ke rishtey mein dakhela gaya tha, hum chup rahe. Baat baat pe hume daanta, hum chup rahe. Na hume hamara haq diya na ek basic respect di, hum chup rahe. Aapki aankhon mein hamesha hamare liye nafrat dekhi, jo hume har pal chubta, phir bhi hum chup rahe. Na aap pe kabhi kauno ilzaam lagaya na aap pe khudko thopa na ek patni ka haq maanga aapse. Har baar chup hi rahe. Par iska yeh matlab toh nahi na Babusaheb ki yeh khamoshi glaani ya kamjori ki ho! Hum bhi insaan hain. Hamar dil mein bhi jazbaat hain. Par aapne kabhi iss baat ki qadar hi nahi ki. Kabhi yeh nahi socha ki aapki wajah se hume kitni chot lag rahi hain ki aapki vajah se hume kitni takleef hoti hain har baar! Aapke ilzaam churi se bhi tez chubte the dil ko, aapki aankhon mein nafrat hume andar se jalake rakhta tha. Aur…... chodiye Babusaheb! Humne kabhi aapko apna dard nahi bataya, na aaj batayenge.
(Pause)
"Hum...hum thak chuke hain Babusaheb! Thak chuke hain ladte ladte. Hamare dil ko itni baar thez lagi hain ki ek aur chot woh bardaash nahi kar payega. Isliye aap. .aap meherbani karke yahan se chale jaaiyein! Humare zakhmon ko aur mat khurediye Babusaheb. Chale jaaiyein yahan se!"
"Imlie, hum jaante hain tumhe hamari wajah se kitna kuch jhelna pada hoga par hamari baat sunlo. Hum pyaar…."
"Pyaar? Aap pyaar karte hain humse? Kaise maane hum? Kal aap aakar kahenge ki Imlie jo hamare beech tha woh pyaar nahi infatuation thi. Hume bhool jao, hum kisi aur se pyaar karte hain, toh hum kya karenge bataiyega!" she snapped furiously. He opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it.
"Babusaheb, aap is waqt sahi haalat mein nahi hain. Nashe mein hain aap. Main neembu paani banake laati hun. Malini Didi aapko aise dekhengi, unpe kya beetegi yeh aap nahi samajh sakte. Aap yeh sab bhool jaaiyein and Malini Didi ka saath hamesha dijiye. Aur meherbani karke mujhe aage badh jaane dijiye. Yehi sahi hoga sabke liye. Main nahi chahti yeh parivaar hamari galtiyon ke vajah se bikhar jaaye. Isliye yehi behter hoga ki hum sab bhulake aage badh jayein!" Imlie said wiping the tears trickling down her eyes.
Just as she took a step forward, she heard somebody clapping. Imlie turned around and was shocked to see Malini Didi infront of her.
"Malini Didi hum.." Imlie started to say but was interrupted when Malini raised her hand gesturing her to stop speaking.
"Itna kaise sehen kar liya tumne Imlie? Main tumhari jagah hoti toh yeh kabhi na kar paati. Main kabki toot gayi hoti Imlie, kabki! Par tum bahut bahadur ho!" Malini said with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
"Malini Didi yeh aap kya kahat hain? Hum…."
"Mujhe sach pata chal gaya hain Imlie. Jabse tumhari shaadi ki baat Aditya ke saamne aai hain,woh pareshaan aur dukhi hi dikhe hain. He doesn't smile so often but since the time he heard about your decision to marry Sundar, he was hurt and dejected. Main bahut pehle samajh gayi thi ki mere aur Aditya ke beech jo hain woh pyaar nahi hain. But I kept quiet wanting him to realise this. Aur phir maine dekha how he had started inclining towards you. Unme woh saare signs dekhe jo kisi bhi pyaar mein pade insaan mein hote hain. He had started smiling more in your company, he had started transforming for the better in your company. I had realised long back Imlie ki woh tumse pyaar karne lage hain. Isliye maine phaisla kiya I'll bring you both together. Kyunki tumhara toh mujhe pehle se pata tha ki tum unse pyaar karti ho! Bas hamare serious patrakaar ko ehsaas dilana zaroori tha. Main unko hamare rishtey aur tum donon mein jo rishta hain, inke beech fark dikhana chahti thi. Par yeh hain ki…(rolling her eyes) he's hopeless I tell you (both Malini and Imlie giggle) Inko phir bhi ehsaas nahi hua ya shayad iss ehsaas se woh bhaagna chahte they, main nahi jaanti. Time haath se nikla ja raha tha aur inse mujhe ummeed bhi nahi thi! Mujhe laga yeh kuch toh karenge shaadi rokne ke liye par yeh toh kamre mein ghus gaye, rotlu shakal banake! Toh main aur kya karti... isliye maine…."
"Aapne?" Imlie asked bewildered by Malini's revelations
"Maine unhe thoda sa...umm... intoxicate kiya…" Malini said smiling sheepishly
"Aapne kya??Hey Sita Maiyya! Aapne Babusaheb ko….pila diya!!"
"Toh main aur kya karti?! Aur nashe mein insaan sirf sach bolta hain. Isliye maine...par maine galti se inhe thoda zyaada hi piladi galti se!"
Imlie sat down, too surprised to tell anything. Aditya on the other hand had fallen asleep on the couch, the drowsy effect of alcohol taking a toll over him.
Malini crouched down next to her and affectionately caressed her hairs.
"I'm sorry Malini Didi. Hum...hum aapke aur Babusaheb ke beech nahi...hum…"
"Shh! Mujhe pata hain. Shaant hojao pehle."
"Par Malini Didi shaadi? Gharwaale?"
"Tum uski chinta mat karo. Leave it to me. Tum bas apne pati ka khayal karo" Malini Didi smiled and said.
She smiled and hugged her tightly. The two sisters sat down. They then glanced at Aditya who was sleeping like a baby and smiled looking at him, Malini looking at her best friend and Imlie looking at her husband. Her love. Her Babusaheb!
Love,
PSR
CID
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