Part 26:
Imlie watched Aditya surreptitiously as she drove their newly rented car. Aditya was making a great show of being peppy and upbeat with Emmy at the back, but Imlie was sure that he was hiding his sorrow.
Imlie: I wish you would just express yourself for once.
Aditya: Excuse me? Where is this coming from?
Imlie: You just gave up your job, a job you have had for some 20 years. It cannot be easy. I wish you would just talk to me about it.
Aditya: I have had a month to prepare for it. I am fine. We knew this had to be done. Let's not make a big deal of it.
Imlie earnestly: But are you happy?
Aditya: Yes. I am very happy. You are here. Emmy is here. We are going where you and I first met...
Imlie: But...
Aditya: But nothing. You were right, I dug myself into this hole. So I am paying a small price for it. But in any case, even if I hadn't. It's not like I wouldn't leave the job for you.
Imlie: But you may have been able to do it digitally.
Aditya: No, I could not. I would have to leave once we married anyway.
Imlie: We might have done long distance.
Aditya: I would never do long distance with you. Wasn't ten years enough for you? Do you need more space?
Imlie looked at Aditya on the mirror and saw that he was being sarcastic.
Imlie: I just want you to grieve if you need to grieve. Don't keep it bottled up inside.
Aditya: I won't. I have had that career at Bhaskar Times for a long time and I was able to rise through the ranks and learn a lot in the process. I got what I wanted out of my career. But I have lived the last ten years without a family and you, that is what I want the most. And now, I want to make amends with you, Amma and your Dadah. That is all.
Imlie: I spoke to them about the wedding and everything. They will be expecting you.
Aditya: But not with great thrill, I imagine, because they didn't want to speak to me on the phone or over Skype.
Imlie smiled: Can't expect a warm welcome in Pakdandiya every time, Jamai Babu.
In Delhi's Haus Khas...
Alex took multiple pictures of the ruins and kept up the polite chatter as Rupi showed him around.
Alex: I see this is some sort of dating spot.
Rupi laughed: Yes, a lot of teens in the nooks and little hideaways.
Alex: Sometimes I wish I was that young again. I could have done some things differently.
Rupi, wishfully: Ah, that's a universal feeling, I think. The wish to start over. I tell my daughter this all the time, that she needs to live her life to the fullest and try new things. Not be afraid of making mistakes or live in fear.
Alex: Is that what you did?
Rupi: Huh?
Alex: Be afraid? Live in fear?
Rupi: No, I didn't really get to live at all. I was married off before I even knew what I wanted out of life. When that failed, I flailed around looking for inspiration in different courses, careers, etc. Finally I ended up a kindergarten teacher. You know, those who can't do...teach.
Alex grimaced: That sounds rather bleak. I would say being a teacher is rather noble, if you enjoy it. And what is better than hanging around kids?
Rupi: No, that part of the job, I like. I finally found what I enjoy doing. It just took a lot of mistakes to get to this point.
Alex: It sounds like you lost your exploratory stage though, to an unhappy marriage.
Rupi: It is far more common here than you know.
Alex: I am sorry.
Rupi sighed: So I want to go back and do things differently too. Anyways, should we head to our next destination?
Imlie stopped the car in front of a large farmhouse. Aditya looked around. This was the nicest building in the village, that was for certain. It was rather grand.
Imlie was barely out of the car when her family came rushing forward. They hugged and kissed her and fawned over their little grandchild who basked in the attention. Aditya got out and stayed back to give them space.
Imlie called: Come here.
Aditya came around and said his greetings to a stony faced Amma, Sattyakam, and Naniji.
Imlie: Now, don't give him a hard time. We have come a long way.
Naniji mumbled audibly: Back to the same...
Sattyakam stopped her with a look: I want to apologize, Jamai Babu, for the old misunderstanding.
Aditya grabbed Sattyakam's hands: No, please don't say that. I know the full story now. I am sorry. If I had not made all the mistakes I did, it never would have happened.
Sattyakam: But I was still wrong to shoot you. I am blind when it comes to my Imliya.
Aditya smiled at Emmy: I think I understand that feeling a lot better now.
Amma and Naniji did arti and welcomed them inside. They sat in the living room over snacks and caught up while Emmy played on the carpet in front of them.
Imlie: I want to take Emmy to go see the animals. It will be like a petting zoo for her.
Sattyakam: I will take her. You two rest up, it has been a long journey.
The conversation died with Emmy's leave. Aditya looked from Amma to Naniji and then to Imlie.
Imlie: Aren't you two going to say anything to Babusahib?
Aditya warned: Aditya.
Imlie: I call him Aditya now.
Amma sniffed and Naniji grumbled.
Naniji: I don't see why you had to go back to him.
Imlie: I didn't go back! He came to me (she smiled). We waited for each other. I told you all this over the phone. Now, don't be cold to him.
Amma: And Malini?
Aditya: I haven't seen her since the divorce ten years ago. I only spoke to Dev saab a couple of times, that too was years ago.
Amma: Hmm. I guess that's a good thing.
Imlie: It's a very good thing. We are not in a complicated relationship, Amma. We are married, legally and religiously.
Naniji: It doesn't change everything.
Aditya: I know I made some serious mistakes. I am sorry for them. Trust me, these past ten years, I have paid.
Naniji: Some! Some mistakes!
Amma: Your family never accepted Gudiya, Aditya Babu. How can you two make it work?
Aditya: I am not staying with my family and I am a grown adult. They will have no part to play in this. We are going back after the break. I promise you, I will protect Imlie from any criticism by my family this time.
Naniji: Good, because she will be no naukrani this time!!
Aditya, grimly: Imlie will not visit Tripathi house. We have decided that.
Amma: But, if you two married again, it's customary to take blessings.
Imlie, concerned: I know, Amma, but it is not guaranteed, is it?
Aditya, sternly: You don't need their acceptance. We will be fine.
Amma: I think you two still should try once. If they feel the same as before, Gudiya, you can walk away.
Aditya: I have thought about this too, I don't want Imlie to try. She doesn't owe them anything.
Rupi showed Alex around Jamme Mashjid and the Red Fort.
Rupi: Down there is Chandni Chawk. The grand bazaar. Can you imagine what it looked like back then? It is said, Princess Jahanara got on her elephant and crossed from the Red Fort right down that main alley to see all the traders and visitors. People came from all over the world. They all spoke at least 7 or 8 languages, the traders. There were merchants from Venice, traders from what is now the Netherlands, and so much more. The mosque was set up as a resting place for people to pay respects, if they chose to, or relax.
Alex: You know a lot about history.
Rupi smiled: I was a history graduate.
Alex smiled: It certainly has stood the test of time. Should we go check out the market?
Rupi: What would you like to buy?
Alex: I thought maybe something for Emily and Emmy. Something colorful. They both love bright colors.
Rupi looked at him for what seemed a little long to Alex. He looked away.
Rupi: I hope you don't find this too forward, but, I would like to ask you something.
Alex winced and looked away again: Emmy not mine. I know people think that, but she's not.
Rupi: I know that. I know Imlie too well to question that. I had a different question.
Alex relaxed: Oh? Alright then.
Rupi: How long have you been in love with Imlie?
Alex's jaw dropped: Am I so transparent? I rather prided myself on being unreadable. (He said more to himself) I need to be unreadable.
Rupi: It's only obvious to people who know what it is to love someone who doesn't love you back.
Alex sighed, but his throat was too tight to speak.
Imlie showed Aditya around the farm.
Aditya: You said to Alex that coming here would be slumming it, but it is hardly that.
Imlie took his hand and crept closer: That is because I wanted to have this time to ourselves. Pakdandiya is special to us. I wanted it to be just us.
Aditya smiled: I have missed this village. I missed our memories here.
Imlie looked up: You avoided it for me?
Aditya: I swore to you I wouldn't seek you or yours.
Imlie leaned into him and gave him a side hug: I am sorry I was so strict.
Aditya put his arm around her: I think your family thinks you could have done better than go back to your faulty husband. I am glad we didn't bring Alex then.
Imlie: Oh stop! They don't think anything like that. They are just a little cross with you.
Aditya: The logical me also thinks that you would have done better.
Imlie: Don't you start! We were always married. There was never going to be anyone for me, no one but you.
Aditya sighed: And how will you make do with an unemployed husband?
Imlie: I will be more than thrilled. You will find your identity again, I promise.
Emmy waddled up to them and grabbed Imlie's leg, giggling. Sattyakam followed behind with a smile.
Imlie picked her up: Oh, well done! You walked from Dadah all the way to mommy, baby!
Sattyakam: She nearly lost it when she saw the new lamb.
Imlie: Did you pet the baby lamb, honey?
Aditya fondly brushed Emmy's hair out of her eyes.
We are here in PD.
Edited by Marybarton - 3 years ago
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
