Originally posted by: lovereading14
Part 1
As the sun dipped below the horizon Imlie and Aryan quietly walked side by side. Soaking in the gentle breeze they made their way through the local night market of Gwalior. The city’s annual night market was bustling with activity, from vendors yelling out to customers to the chatter of the visitors as they made their way through the intricate alleyways. From the screams and giggles of children to the loud announcement over the microphone. Gwalior was up and alive, adorned with the soft glow of the yellow string lights that guided the visitors through the market.
Their work in Gwalior had finished this afternoon itself, but on the team's insistence, or rather on a particular someone's puppy eyes, Aryan had agreed to let them spend one more night here before returning back to Delhi. Swamped by work previously, none of them had the time to actually explore the town. So today, they were all out, making their way through the town, some winding through the various temples and others wandering through the night market.
A comfortable silence had enveloped the duo. Occasionally their hands would brush, other times they would literally be shoved into each other as they made their way through rather narrow and definitely over crowded pathways. The only difference was, they wouldn’t spring apart at mere contact with each other.
Whatever this was, Imlie did not know, but she had admitted to herself she quite liked it. Her relationship with Aryan had moved on from an employee-intern relationship rather quickly. She would have called it friendship had the man not vehemently denied it every time she brought it up.
And now, she too knew this wasn’t friendship… But then what was it? It wasn’t love because she had loved babusaheb, but she never felt like this with him. She had never found herself breathless by his proximity, she had never felt butterflies from his gazes, she had never felt heat crawl up her neck and flood into her cheeks when he praised her. And she had definitely never been able to reprimand or scold him like she did Aryan.
And while neither Imlie nor Aryan had the courage to find a name for this bond, they both relished it; they savoured every moment they spent in each other's company. This was a comfortable in between the both of them had found. Where they did not yet seek each other's embrace but did not spring apart at the slightest contact of skin. A comfortable in between it indeed was.
Their pace slowed as they reached the town's open air theatre. Imlie pulled Aryan’s coat that hung loosely around her shoulders tighter as the wind picked up pace. A crowd seated around the stage intently watched as the drama unfolded. Under the blanket of stars a dramatic depiction of Ramyana’s famous scene was being enacted.
Imlie was quick to settle down on the grass lawn pulling Aryan with her, though irritated he silently obliged by sitting beside her. Unfortunately for her, she realised a little too late that the play was in its final stages. Sita Maiyya was handing over her twins to her husband, Lord Ram, before leaving him for forever.
"Oh god, I can't see this anymore," Imlie whispered, her voice hoarse as she slowly wiped her wet eyes suppressing the building urge to cry.
"There is nothing left to watch also, so get up. Let's get moving." Aryan stood up instantly and stretched his hand towards Imlie to help her stand up.
"Poor Ram and Sita, why couldn't they have a happy ending?" Imlie whispered as she placed her hand in his, getting up from the grass.
They slowly resumed walking, and she fell in step beside Aryan.
2
"There is nothing to pity if you ask me." His nonchalant tone irked Imlie
"What! They did not have a happy ending!" She complained, glaring at him almost as if challenging Aryan to contradict her.
"And whose fault is that? Isn't it his?" Aryan replied, still as unconcerned as before.
Imlie gaped at him. Her eyes widening in pure shock.
"How is it his fault, huh? He was just being a righteous king-" Imlie immediately jumped to the lord's defence.
"A Righteous king by abandoning his wife for his people? Ignoring the negativity is also a king's duty, isn't it?" Aryan spoke his eyes searching hers.
Imlie stared back at his chocolate brown orbs as a weird feeling took root in her stomach.
"If that was me, in his place, I would annihilate every soul that dares to think wrong about my wife. If that was me," Aryan's hand crept around her waist flushing her against him, "I would brutally massacre this empire if it meant I could keep my wife safe with me."
Aryan’s hushed words sent a chill down her spine. Imlie’s eyes floated back up to meet his. And no matter how much she tried, that feeling only anchored itself in the pits of her stomach; it refused to leave.
However, that night, that minute Imlie was too lost to notice the darkness in his eyes and the sheer destruction in his words. That she would, however, see for herself very soon.
***
I really hope you guys liked the story! I would love to hear your views so please please please comment!
Got late!! But I loved this one!! Specially when Aryan held Imlie and told her that He would never leave his wife for this damn world.
Arjun
