SS: Untying The Knots (PT Nazariye) (Part 04 Updated Pg 3) 1st Sep

A brief intro:

This SS is continuing from the track where Imlie was sent away to live with Cs after Malini's suicide. It was initially just a TS titled Nazariye showing Imlie and BK's pov during that track but since Abhita Akka wanted me to continue, I'm making this into an SS which shall be a story told in the characters' pov.

I N D E X:

Part 01: Imlie's pov: Pg 1

Part 02: Badke Kaka's pov: Pg 1

Part 03: Aditya's pov : Pg 2

Part 04: Author's pov: Pg 3

Part 01: Imlie's pov

I glanced at each of their faces without a single emotion showing on my own despite whatever I was feeling at the moment within me. All had their heads bowed, their eyes glued to the ground. None had the courage to look up at me. I did not understand what to make of it. I did not understand what to feel at this moment. Hurt? Angry? Betrayed?

A lone tear escaped my eyes as I pulled myself from Rupi Didi's supportive grip. If she hadn't been holding me, I surely would have slumped back. The silver bangles in my hand dashed against each other as I lifted my hand to wipe the tear, their clamour no longer having any effect on me.

I wonder what I have done such? What have I done so bad that I'm abandoned by all the people I love? Am I so easy to give up on? Why am I a burden people just wait to get rid of? This happy world of mine was just a mirage? All this while I was living in a world of illusion, is it? I felt my heart clench again. Just how much pain and hurt does it have to endure? Why can't anybody love me unconditionally? Why?

I felt a hand on my head, making me snap out of my thoughts. It was Badke Kaka standing infront of me with tears in his eyes. He and Rupi Didi were the only ones who really felt for me, this is a reality I realised today. I never meant anything to the rest! Maybe all of it had been a facade all along!

No! I can't think that about my family! Whatever they are doing, there's a reason behind it - this was what one part of my heart said while the other just remained lost in the gnawing pain and hurt. I hugged Badke Kaka tightly but did not let even one tear drop fall.

Maybe it was the hurt in me that was giving rise to such thoughts but I couldn't help but think that the love I held and still hold for this family which is my Sasural, despite them not knowing it, has been unconditional just from one side!

"Imlie, anytime you face anything or you need anything, I'm just one call away Beta! Study well and remember, be it whatever the others say, I have complete trust in you! I'm sorry I can't stop your departure but just know that I'm always with you"

His words felt like a small drop of ointment on my deep wounds. We parted and I nodded with a smile, a smile which I tried would look genuine as much as possible because my respect and love for him was indeed genuine and much greater than what I felt for the rest. Maybe even God was aware of who would stick by and who would abandon. That's why he built my closest relationships with Badke Kaka and Rupi Didi.

I bent down to touch his feet and he blessed me wholeheartedly. I moved to the others and just touched their feets and came away to Rupi Didi's side. I dint wait for them to speak because I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. This hurt was too much to bear and I knew I would burst out if I had allowed them to speak a word.

I could feel their eyes on me and I knew they were all guilty. But I couldn't bring myself to look at them. I hugged Rupi Didi tightly as she did provide that one moment of solace my bruised self needed badly. I wanted to cry out, shout loudly and let all know what and to what extent I was feeling but I knew I couldn't! I knew these wounds would only be ripped apart further when I move to English Madam's house and so I let myself derive some comfort from Rupi Didi's warm embrace. She said a lot of things but I just held onto her like a small child holds onto its mother.

It felt extremely difficult to let go of her and move but I knew I had to. Wish I could see Malini Didi and Babusaheb for one last time! Just the mention of both made my eyes fill up again. With great difficulty, I controlled myself from breaking down and moved towards Bhura Daku and English Madam.

Without turning back, I moved with them and got into their car. I knew all of them were looking at me but I did not have the strength to look towards them at all. As the car drove out of the Tripathis house, I closed my eyes with a resolve. Imlie had sacrificed herself completely and now what was remaining was a living corpse. The bubbly, chirpy Imlie had died her death today. She had been slowly dying all this while and had completely succumbed today because she had had enough people abandoning her! Imlie Tripathi had died her death today and she did not know if she would ever be able to regain herself!

I got emotional when i read 'Imlie Tripathi' 😭 Good start 👍👏 thank you! 🙏😊

It felt like I was reading a novel...nice thoughts!!👏👏

Agreed with some thoughts but not all of it..

Very Good Start👍🏼 Looking forward to seeing others perspectives.

Part 02: Badke Kaka's pov

All of us walked into the house after she left. I knew all were still guilty because what they had done with her was quite unjust towards her. I do hope they had also seen the hurt in her eyes as she left the house without turning to look back even once! The last look in her eyes - it seemed so hollow that it scares me now. Has my child lost the essence she had within her?

I felt anger and disgust rise in me at myself. Caught in this storm of emotions , I just walked to my room and shut the door. I heard Radhaji calling me but I did not reply. I wanted to be left alone for now.

How could I allow this to have happened? Why dint I say anything when Anuji just went on and on maligning my child's character? Not one word escaped my mouth defending her except one or two lines. Devji's promise of giving her everything, taking care of her - I don't know how much it'll hold because I have never seen him successful in keeping his wife in control when she's spitting nonsense! Yes, all my respect for her despite her bitterness ceased to exist the moment she spoke rubbish about Aditya and Imlie!

I know both of them and they aren't capable of doing what she's claiming! My child is innocent and lively, naive yet mature and she's already been leading a difficult life. She's the daughter of this house and not some servant. Yet everybody chose to abandon her without any qualms and I too just sided by them? Being the elder of the house, couldn't I have explained that choosing between daughter and daughter-in-law is never a choice since both are family. We can't chose one abandoning the other!

It has been quite less time since I have known her as compared to my children Rupi and Nishant. But I know I love her as much if not more. And the father in me knows my child wouldn't do anything which can break a family apart.

Aditya and Malini - they have grown very distant. But there must be something big which has caused so much differences among them. Aditya is surely hiding something which is the reason these differences are increasing day by day.

Yes the next step to be taken is talking to Aditya. I'll have to find out what the truth is. That way I might be able to get Imlie out of the hell she's gone to. Taunts and rebukes are what she would be subjected to in that house and nothing else.

With these thoughts in mind, I rested my head against the bed rest. That's when my eyes fell on Radhaji's sindoordani.

Did Malini take such a huge step just because of Imlie wearing sindoor? Why did that agitate her so much given Imlie had explained why she wears it even? Why did all start connecting Aditya and Imlie? Was it just because of Anuji's words? Have her words seated so deeply in our subconscious that this has started creating a doubt in everybody's mind? Why dint any of them have even this bit hesitation while blaming Imlie? Was it forgotten that she's the daughter of the house? One incident and her status is reduced to that of a housemaid?

Just how much hurt my child would have been!

Now it's enough! This matter has to sort out. Three lives are suffering because of something and now the truth has to come out. I need to speak with Adi!

Part 03: Aditya's pov

Isn't it so ironic that the person who has always believed in the power of truth today is unable to decide whether to tell it or not? Malini is seated beside me and she looks very upset. This is when I remember her words about the reason behind her suicide - revival of feelings for a person she had once liked during college time. My brows furrow in confusion as our conversation before her suicide attempt plays in my mind. If what she spoke as the reason behind her suicide is true, then why did she expect me to have replied back to her I love yous? No it doesn't make any sense! And I have known her for 7+ years. Like I had no one she never did too. And nothing recently about her has hinted at feelings for another man! That's when it strikes me that it was a lie! Malini had lied that she loved somebody else!

So does that mean…...Oh God does that mean she still loves me??

I look her way and see her looking out of the window, clearly morose and upset.

But what will she get from this lie?

A throbbing pain shoots up in my head and I inaudibly sigh. Great, the stress of the previous few days has got to me!

I guess, rest of the speculation shall be for sometime after.

We reach home and all I want to do right now is make sure Malini is safe in her room and have some hot tea made by Imlie. That shall surely help me calm down. The sooner I calm down the faster I can analyse things and get everything back in place. We step out of the car and I help Malini walk towards home as she's still weak. As expected I find everyone at the door. Everyone except her! My eyes scan around for her but I don't find her. By now Maa has taken Malini's hand from mine and she and Taiji are enquiring about her health. Papa is just looking at them, a mix of concern and guilt in his eyes. Wait, guilt about what? Why does it seem something is grossly wrong? And where is she? Why isn't she here? She loves Malini so much. I'm sure she wouldn't miss being at the doorstep awaiting her for anything! My eyes then fall on Tauji and he looks right into my eyes. There's a certain firmness in them and before I can actually react or even ask, I see him signalling me to come with him before moving away himself. Maa seems to be saying something to me but I just don't stop to listen as I make my way in the direction Tauji just left.

I see him entering his room and I enter behind him.

"What happened Tauji?" I ask him.

"Close the door first" he replies.

I nod and close the door. He signals me to take a seat infront of him and I do so immediately. The last time we had a conversation like this was sometime in high school!

"Look Aditya. You aren't any child and whatever are the problems between you and Malini, I know you're mature enough to handle them which is why I hadn't deemed it right to interfere. But today I need to because things have gone really out of hand. So let me put whatever I have to ask and say first and then you can reply. And remember, I need the truth. Just the truth!" he says and I nod obediently. Maybe this could actually pave way ahead for me as regards to what has to be done about the truth.

"First things first. Imlie isn't home! She's gone to Dev Ji's house to live with them. A…."

"What? Why? Don't you all know how she's treated there? Then why?" I burst out interrupting him right in the middle. I really can't help it. What on earth or heavens happened such that she had to go there? There of all the bloody places!

I'm raging but he just looks at me without a single expression on his face for an entire moment. He crosses his hands and looking right into my eyes asks

"You love her don't you?"

My eyes widen instinctively and I go silent. My inner voice tells me to open my mouth and speak before Tauji makes any wrong assumptions. But something seems to hold me back and the throbbing in my head increases. I instinctively clutch my head and press it mildly but to no relief. He gets up and is back with a glass of water and crocin. I take it from him silently and gulp it down.

He sits down infront of me again.

"I'm not going to judge you for anything Adi. Neither you nor Imlie. But you have to tell me the truth now. I wouldn't say it is right but love isn't something which is in our hands. Just tell me everything now. We'll see what can be done after I hear the complete truth" he says calmly.

I sigh deeply and rest back against the chair I'm sitting on.

"It's complicated Tauji" I say

"It's not complicated Babusaheb. Infact it's very simple. It's just you who hasn't understood that" Imlie's words from the time we had that conversation before she left for Pagdandiya echo in my ears.

"We'll decide that after you tell the truth"

I nod and say

"But tell me why she's gone there before I tell you the truth"

He sighs and that's when I see guilt rise up in his eyes. He takes a moment more and then reveals everything. My fists clench as I feel rage course through me.

"Whatever problems me and Malini have, that's between us. Why is Imlie being punished for it? It's always been my mistake and her paying for it! How could you let her go despite knowing what she'll face there? Our problems, we should have been confronted, not her! For how long shall she keep paying the price for my mistakes?" I burst out.

"I know we were wrong, Adi. But let's get to what we can do now so that we can bring her back soon" he says and I nod

"What's been your mistake? What price has she paid?" he asks.

I take a deep breath before answering

"The price of being my first wife"

Love,

PSR

Beautifully written!

This makes so much more sense than what we saw on TV!

Loved it! Can't wait to read the next part. Please update soon :)

Originally posted by: Sunshine23456

Loved it! Can't wait to read the next part. Please update soon :)

Thank you ☺️

PSR.. we have always missed good Fanfic in this forum!!! i loved the way you write.. please keep writing.. you are amazin in it!!