AryLie TS - The AryLie Chronicles Part 2-Page 4 - Page 3

Originally posted by: komald718

You are the only person who does not want to know what I've thought for the madness.

I love you and you have my heart. And this is serious.❤️

I'm serious aru fan.

To hell with madness 🤣🤣

As long as she's safe back in his arms... That's all I care about.

This was lovely😍. Plz write imlie pov

This have to be one of the best OS of yours 😍😍😍😍 soo sooo beautifully written. Each day with new mood new grumpy baby aru.

You perfectly wrote aru's inner thoughts and turmoil. He will definitely go bawla with out her. Aj ki epi mei bhi yehi dikhaya...pagal bangaya tha bechara breakfast table par.

The best highlight point was valentine day dance (poor adi 😂😂😂😂😂😂) then dadda's coming back on her birthday. Ans then the boy went ahead and kissed her right there in front of everyone (adi margaya ) thank god forehead par hi kiya. Lips par karta to sare T's marjate 😂😂😂

Kash drama par bhi 7 days ke baad imlie ki yeh jaap khatam ho jaye

And yesss manifesting for imlie's side of pov please ❤

So, it's done. One from Imlie's POV. Hope you guys like it.

Day 1 - Friday

She had decided to expose Malini’s wrongdoings, so that the family is not seperated. She had decided to stay in the Tripathi Residence. Why couldn’t she, the house was hers afterall.

The house may be hers, but it didn’t feel like home.

Today, once breakfast was served, it felt weird that no one asked her to sit with them to eat it. It seemed like everyone expected her to eat later.

She felt like an outsider. It wasn’t an uncommon feeling when she was in this house, but it felt more prominent today.

God, she was missing them today. The Rathores.

She sighed as she left the kitchen, her breakfast untouched, and went to her room to get ready. As she was packing up her bag, waiting for ABP to call her while scolding her that they were getting late, she suddenly paused and groaned.

She was in the Tripathi Residence, not the Rathore Mansion.

No one was going to call her out here for being late for office. He was not out there to call her out for being late to the office. She shook her head, clearing it, took off her dupatta and went to the washroom to do her business.

It was as she was applying the gloss Arpita had given her that she heard her name being called out. Twice.

He was here?

Her eyes widened. He was here.

She rushed with the gloss and quickly picked up her dupatta and followed his voice to the living room. It was to him spilling the beans regarding what she was doing for the Tripathi Residence.

She didn’t want them to know, not yet when Aparna was still sick. Not yet when anything could trigger her condition to worsen.

She was quick to yell his name to stop him. He was quick to turn around at her exclamation.

She saw the anger on his face and the mirrored expression on Aditya’s face. This enmity and ego clash between them strained her mind.

She moved towards him, her expression hopefully clear to him, and was glad when she saw a flash of understanding on his face. Along with disbelief and resignation.

Disappointment.

She asked, trying to make him understand, “Tum eeha kaa karat ho Akkad Bagge?(What are you doing here, Akkad Bagge?)”

He answered her, not really serious, but no one else would think so, “Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho lmlie?(What are you doing here Imlie?)”

The thing was, she didn’t have an answer for him. An answer that would not disappoint him more. Yes, she was here to take care of her Ex-Mother-In-Law, but she was also here to make Aditya stay in this house.

She was here to end the reign of Malini in this house.

So she replied with a safe answer, “Hum yaha Maa ka khayal rakhe khatir aaye hai.(I have come here to take care of my Mother-In-Law.)”

And he didn’t believe it anyway. He scoffed in disbelief at her reply. Well, he couldn’t stop her anyway, and she knew him, he would try to, but she wouldn’t let him.

But he surprised her totally when he changed the topic, “Main yaha tumhe yaad karaane aaya hun. Tumhari iss nautanki ki wajah se agar Bhaskar Times mein tumhare kaam ko kuch farrak pada, toh---(I have come here to remind you, if your work at Bhaskar Times is affected by all this drama, then---)”

And she couldn’t hear anymore of it, “Haan, haan, hum taiyaar hai office jaaye ke liye. Hum humre kaam ko kachu naahi hoye dewat hai. Tumri buddhi main ee---(Yes, yes, I’m ready for office. I won’t let anything affect my work. Why can’t you get that through your thick head---)”, but she stopped then, seeing and remembering how he had been hurt.

Looking at his pinched eye and his bandaged eyebrow, she was frustrated with her own inability to take care of her things. If only she had not placed her heels where she had, he would be fine.

She tried to reach his wound, but he backed away from her. Like he did every single time. Seriously, she was getting more angry by the second.

She turned her furious gaze at him only for him to return hers with confusion. She exhaled her frustration and finally took a hold of his chin, turning his face to look at the wound.

Oh! That was too close to his eye and his head for comfort.

She saw the realisation of what she was doing go through his eyes. Then he shrugged out of her hold.

She felt fury rush through her. He was being a big baby, exactly like the day he was sick, avoiding his own care and carrying on like nothing was wrong.

She stepped towards him, and asked menacingly, “Tum ee haalat maan gaadi chalawat ho?(You are driving in this condition?)”

He stepped back from her, his carelessness bleeding out of his face, but still claimed, “Itni bhi buri chot nahi hai.(It’s not a big deal.)”

Her anger rose when she asked, “Tum kahe ki toka taakein lage rahe. Aur phir eeka bura naahi batawat ho.(You said there were stitches. And now you’re saying it’s not a big deal.)”

Sarcasm heavy, he answered, “Tumko kya. Bhool gayi, tumhari jooti ki wajah se hi lagi hain mujhe.(What does it matter to you? Did you forget, it was your heels that led to this injury of mine.)”

She blurted out then, “Fikar hai humka tumri---(I worry about you---)”, and stopped herself from blurting out the whole truth. She prayed to her Sitaa Maiyaa, thanking her for stopping her at the right time. Seriously, he denies even being friends with her. He absolutely did not need to know that she cared for him. So she saved herself by continuing, “---Mrs. ki. Ee haalat maan agar tumri Mrs. Lambi Gaadi ko kachu ho gaya toh?(---r wife. Mrs. Lambi Gaadi. If anything happened to her, what would we do then?)”

She grinned, she had saved that quite splendidly. But then she saw his face and she knew, she knew he knew what she was about to say.

Well that would be for later, for now she asked, “Chaabi do humka.(Hand me the keys.)”

He looked at her in disbelief. She was adamant and stuck her hand out for his keys.

She saw as his expression changed from disbelief, to strained and then to resignation.

She believed that she had won.

Then, as he handed her the keys, she held his wrist and started towards the door. Bidding everyone a “Jai Sitaa Maiyaa ki.”, she left for the office with Aryan.

She looked at him, glad that he was here.

She was glad that he had her back from day one.

Day 2 - Saturday

It was just her second day in the Tripathi Residence and she already wanted to go home. She missed the casual breakfast meetings she had with the Rathores. She missed Narmada, Arpita and her teaming up to tease Aryan. She missed singing made up songs to tease someone rather than to taunt someone. She missed sitting on the table crossed legged to have breakfast with her family. She missed messing up Aryan’s black coffee.

She missed home.

She shook herself to wake herself up. She was here on a mission. A mission that would not accomplish itself while she reminisced about the home she had left behind just a day before.

She sighed and called up Arpita.

When Arpita answered it was all pleasant good mornings and how are yous and how is everyone, from both their sides.

Then Imlie reached the gist of the matter, “Uu kaa hai na Arpita Didi, hum apni kachu cheez uuhi bhool aaye hai. Toh hum sochat rahe ke hum aajawat hai aaj dupehar maan. Issi bahane aap sab se bhi mil liye---(The reason I’ve called you Arpita is that I’ve forgotten some things at home. So, I was thinking, how about I come home in the afternoon? I’ll meet you and everyone---)”

Arpita interrupted her, “Arey, tu kyun aayegi, main kissi ke haathon bhijwa deti hun na.(Why would you come, I’ll send your things with someone, okay?)”

Imlie sighed and insisted again, “Arey hum aate hain na Arpita Didi, aap kaahe kissi ko pareshaan kare hai?(I’ll come naa Arpita, why trouble someone else?)”

Arpita scolded, “Iss mein pareshaani kaisi? Tu ruk wahi pe. Main bhijwati hun.(What’s the trouble in this? You wait. I’ll send someone over.)”

Imlie, realising that her visiting the Rathore Mansion was impossible today, agreed, “Theek hai Arpita Didi.(Okay Arpita.)”

And then they said their goodbyes and Imlie got to work.

She prepared breakfast, noodles, because there was one particular Rathore she was missing more than the other two, and set up the table for the Tripathis. She called up everyone for breakfast. She served everyone breakfast.

She was about to leave the table for the kitchen when she heard the doorbell.

Expecting someone to be dropping off her things, she told Sundar, who was leaving the kitchen to answer the door to wait, that it was for her. She proceeded towards the door with all her hopes of vivisiting the Rathores today fully dashed.

But then she saw who had come. It was her ABP. Akkad Bagga. She lost control of herself.

Smiling, giddiness rushed through her at seeing him. She practically skipped over to him and asked, “Arey ABP! Tum, eeha?(ABP! You here?)”

He grumbled at her, “Haan. Tumhara bag. Di ne diya hai.(Yes. Your bag. Arpita has given.)”

Happy to see him nonetheless, she continued asking, “Par tum kaahe aaye ho ee khatir? Koi aur naahi rahe ka ghar maan?(But why are you here for this? Wasn’t there someone else at home?)”

But then she realised that he was not actually here for her when he answered, “Meri yaha ek meeting hai. Main yaha ke baad wohi jaaunga.(I have a meeting around here. I’ll go there from here.)”

Imlie nodded anyway, and asked, hoping she wouldn’t have to miss breakfast again today, “Waise naashtha kiye ho tum?(By the way, have you had breakfast?)”

And his stomach, an old acquaintance of Imlie, answered her question for him by grumbling. She was amused, he was like an open book for her. There was hardly anything that was hidden. She grabbed his forearm and dragged him to the dining room, where he and the Tripathis greeted each other. Well, some of them did. Others just stared in irritation and anger.

He tried to leave after greeting them all, but she playfully glared at him, aware now, of how he turned even more Nakchada when he was hungry.

She pulled out a chair for him and urged him to sit down when he looked at her again, squashing his attempt of leaving. He sat down and she began serving him, something she never did at their home.

He stopped her by holding her wrist, turned to urge her eyes on him and said, “Banane tak theek hai, but I don’t like you serving me food. Chup chaap baitho, aur tum bhi naashtha khaao.(It is okay if you are making it, but I don’t like you serving me food. Sit down quietly, and eat you breakfast.)”

After that he began serving himself, like he did when they were at home. Oh the Rathores had many servants, but they prepared food and set the table, none of them served anything. That was what they did themselves.

She looked at the Tripathis and realised how different the Rathores were. She was finding so many differences between them nowadays. The Rathores and the Tripathis.

Then he noticed her just standing there, lost in contemplation. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down. He served her the noodles himself, and urged her to eat.

She wished at that moment that someone would make some noise, because if not, Aryan was likely to notice the pin drop silence and the staring happening right now.

But no one did anything. And he noticed it.

She saw that he looked around the table, trying to figure out what the silent stare was about when Aditya said something. He said something that would disappoint Aryan some more. That would make him see more of her weaknesses.

Aditya said, “Shayad itna samay Imlie ke saath rehne ke bawajood bhi aapko pata nahi Mr. Rathore, par Imlie breakfast nahi karti.(You may have been staying with Imlie for a long time, but then too you seem unaware Mr. Rathore, Imlie does not eat breakfast.)”

She looked down, playing with her food.

The thing was, he could not be more wrong. Aryan knew more about her in these three months than all the Tripathis ever knew in the last year.

Because Aryan listened to her. He listened to her even when he disagreed with her. He understood her. He understood her when she didn’t understand herself.

And he proved it by saying, his signature eyebrows raising in defiance, “Shayad aap bhool rahe hai Mr. Tripathi, Imlie humare ghar mein rehti hai Mr. Tripathi, wahan kaam nahi karti. Imlie ab breakfast karti hai.(Maybe you are the one that’s forgotten Mr. Tripathi, Imlie lives in our house, she doesn’t work there. Imlie eats breakfast now.)”

He turned back to his food after saying so. He didn’t even bother with the sour look on Aditya’s face. He didn’t bother when she avoided his gaze.

He knew that she didn’t want to talk about it, at least with not this audience present.

So when he finished up and drank a whole glass of water before leaving, she let him, not stopping him.

She may not have visited the Rathores while missing them, but the one she missed the most came to visit her, reason being damned.

How could it be just the second day?

Day 3 - Sunday

Malini had organised a Pooja in the Tripathi Residence. A Pooja for peace and health for the members of the house. A Pooja so that all the bad energy that was residing in the house would go away.

The joke’s on her. She is the worst energy at the Tripathi Residence at this moment.

Imlie was asked, no, ordered by Malini to not attend the Pooja. While that was motivation enough for her to attend the Pooja, she had a deadline.

She had promised Aryan that she would not let whatever she was planning to do affect her work at Bhaskar Times. She had disappointed him many times, and she would not like to disappoint him again.

So when all the family members asked her to attend the Pooja, never mind what Malini says, she smiled and explained, “Waisan bhi humka bahut zaroori kaam hai. Aur agar hum ee kaam naahi kare toh humre Boss Babu humse naaraz ho jaayi hai. Aap Pooja shuru toh kijiye, hum aate hain na, aakhir mein Sitaa Maiyaa ke aage haath jode khaatir.(I have some important work anyway. Work, if not completed, would bring the wrath of my Boss Babu upon me. You start the Pooja, I’ll come in the end, seeking Sitaa Maiyaa’s blessings later.)”

Apparently, the work excuse was the right one to give because everyone stopped protesting at that.

She headed to her room, turned her phone on silent and immediately got to work. She had an article to write.

It was as she was writing the conclusion of her article that she felt his gaze on her.

Aryan.

She didn’t know when she had begun knowing what his gaze felt on her, but she always knew when he was looking at her.

She looked up, eyes widening in shock.

He entered her room, furious and began scolding her, “Tumne abhi tak apna article submit kyun nahi kiya hai? Maine kaha tha, joh bhi nautanki tumhaari yaha chal rahi, usse agar tumhaare kaam mein farrak pada toh acha nahi hoga. Tumhe pata hai tumhari deadline 8 baje---(Why have you not submitted your article yet? I’d told you, whatever drama you are unfolding here, if it affects your work in any way, then it wouldn’t be good for you. You know your deadline is 8---)”

She was amused at his diatribe, but she interrupted him nonetheless, “Shyaam 8 baje ki hai. Jisme aur pure 7 ghante rahe.(---p.m. It’s in the evening. Which is still 7 hours away.)”

She wiggled her eyebrows at him then, and saw him release a breath.

He was here, on a Sunday, worried about work, but here. She smiled internally. She patted the empty space beside her on her bed, and saw as he settled down beside her.

He asked, “Tum apna phone kyun nahi utha rahi?(Why are you not answering your phone?)”

She looked around to find her phone, remembering before unlocking that she had turned it to silent. She saw one missed call from her editor and five from Aryan.

She sheepishly showed him how her phone was on silent.

He complained then, “This is not done Imlie. Last time jab tumhara phone nahi lag raha tha tab---(This is not done Imlie. The last time you were not answering your phone, I was so---)”, and he paused then. But she understood.

For someone who denied being her friend so vehemently, he sure did care for her.

She teased him then, “Tab?(So?)”

He scoffed at her and turned the whole thing around, “Tab tum mujhe nashe ki haalat mein mili thi, gooniyon ke beech mein.(---It was so not fine. You were drunk, I’d found you between gunny sacks.)”

She was confused when she asked, “Uu humri galti kaisan rahi?(How was that my fault?)”

Aryan childishly replied, “Tumhare saath joh hota hai usme tumhari galti hoti kaha hai. Tum toh bas musibat dhoondti hon, magnet ki tarah. Aur yeh musibat ka magnet mere gale pad gaya hai.(When has it ever been your fault if something happens to you? You just look for problems, like a magnet. And this problem attracting magnet is now stuck on me.)”

She sniggered at his being a big baby.

But then she realised how worried he might’ve been and she stopped laughing, and told him, “Humra article bus finishiya gaya hai, hum bheje hi wale the, aur tum aa gaye.(My article is literally finished, I was just about to send it and then you came.)”

But then he was getting up to leave and she really missed him, and didn’t want him to leave. She just wanted a moment of calm in this madness she had jumped in.

So she held his wrist, stopping him in his place. When he turned his eyes on her, she dared to ask him, “Ruk jaao?(Stay?)”

When he sat back down and took his phone out she too resumed work, happy that he was staying.

That was how Rupali found them an hour later. Him on his back while scrolling through his phone and her on her laptop, editing her work while her back rested on the head rest.

She knocked, her eyes widening at their casual comfort in the other’s space and informed them that the Pooja was done.

Aryan left then, collecting some Prasad, he left Imlie at the Tripathi Residence.

Like she had any right to feel contrite. She was the one who left the Rathore Mansion first.

She let it go, and turned around to go to her room when she heard Aditya spewing nonsense again, “Kya kaha tha tumne uss din? Ke ek gair mard ke saath tum akele mein baat nahi karogi? Aryan Singh Rathore ka toh bada aana jaana laga hai, tumhare ghar pe, tumhare kamre mein.(What did you say that day? You wouldn’t talk to unknown men alone? Aryan Singh Rathore sure does visit you often, in your house, in your room.)”

And seriously, she was so tired of his continuous blame games regarding Aryan that she wanted to just--- she turned around and with fury, answered him, “Hum kahe the ki hum shaadishuda gair mardon se akele mein baat naahi karat hai. Pehli baat, Aryan Sir aur hum gair naahi hai. Doosri baat, Aryan Sir shaadishuda naahi hai. Aur teesar baat, hum bhi ab shaadishuda naahi rahe, joh hum soche ki koi humare uuke saath hone ke kaaran humse naraz ho jaayi.(I had said that I will not talk to unknown married men alone. First, Aryan is not unknown to me, nor am I unknown to him. Second, Aryan is not married. And third, I too, am no longer married. So I have no one to think of when I spend any time alone with anyone.)”

And with that she turned to leave, back to her room. She had had enough of him insulting one of her most wholesome relationships.

It was the third day, and she decided that she would answer every insult he placed upon Aryan and her.

Day 4 - Monday - Valentine’s Day

It had come, the most pretend romantic day of the year. In actuality, it was one of the most dreadful days of the year.

People celebrated love on this day, but they celebrated it with such constraint.

Like it bound the colours of love in red.

Love was not only red. There were multitudes of colours.

Love was white, pure in it’s beginning. Love was black, dark in it’s end. Love was orange, a careful balance. Love was purple, passion and compassion. Love was green, fresh. Love was yellow, bright. Love was pink, young. Love was blue, mature. Love was red, envy. Love was transparent, trust and faith and belief.

Imlie has been scorched by love. But she’s never given up on it.

It was just this day. She hated it.

So she did everything she could to avoid anything that could remind her of it. She ran away from office, following a story so she didn’t have to see Aditya. She followed leads, and actively avoided any market places where there would surely be excessive PDAs.

She ran the whole day only for it’s reminder to slap her in the face when she reached the house.

Malini had organised something again. A party this time.

She was so ready to get this truth exposure done. If she’d just had something solid.

She sighed, entered the house, bleurghed at the decor and headed straight to her room.

There she found Aparna and Rupali, one holding a phone, talking to Narmada, and one holding a range of Sarees.

Aparna showed her the phone, distress clear on her face. She sighed, took her phone and began talking, “Kaaki Maa, humka aapko milke kitne din ho gaye rahe. Aapko aur Arpita Didi ko toh aayke hi padi.(Narmada, it’s been so long since we’ve met. You and Arpita have to come.)”

Narmada exhaled and began explaining, “Par Imlie, you know naa, Valentine’s Day Party, hum kya karenge yaha pe.(But Imlie, you know right, Valentine’s Day Party, what would we even do there?)”

Then a lightbulb lit up in Imlie’s head, with an evil grin on her face, she replied, “Apan Akkad Bagge ke liye lehki dhoondhe khaatir ee se acha mauka kaha mil hi aapko?(Where would you get a chance to find a girl for our very own Akad Bagga if not here?)”

And she heard Arpita cackling in the background. Knowing that Narmada wouldn’t refuse, she told them, “Bus toh final, aap aa rahi hai. Apan saath Arpita Didi aur Akkad Bagge ko bhi laayi hai.(So it’s final. You are coming. Bring Arpita and Akkad Bagga along too.)”

Narmada sighed before agreeing on the other end and Imlie smiled.

And then she turned to Rupali, who excitedly showed her the Sarees.

She huffed and selected one. The White One. It was apt, she thought, her love was dead after all.

She smiled at their instructions to be ready at nine, and began preparing for a gruelling evening.

And it was one. At least until the Rathores were here.

One moment she was sipping on a glass of water and the next she felt his gaze on her.

She turned to look at him, but he looked away.

She moved towards him, and asked, “Aur ABP, tum eeha? Valentine Day per?(And ABP, you her? On Valentine’s Day?)”

He muttered, “Di ne kaha.(Arpita said to come.)”

She teased him while laughing at his plight, “Ab aa hi gaye ho toh tumre liye bhi dhoond le konu ko?(Now that you are here, let’s find you someone too?)”

And he scolded her in return, “Ab tum bhi shuru mat ho jana.(Now you too, please don’t start.)”

Imlie continued her giggling and found Narmada already talking to a girl, pointing at Aryan, and said, “Uu dekho, Kaaki Maa toh shuru bhi ho gayi.(See, Narmada has already begun.)”

He turned to look at his mother and closed his eyes. She laughed some more at his plight.

But then he opened his eyes and his hand found hers, brushing along the bangles on her wrist, and gazed at her in challenge. And damn it all but Imlie was weak in the face of a challenge.

She grumbled in acceptance and let him lead her to the dance floor.

He twirled her and then placed one of her hands on his shoulder and took the other one in his own. He placed his other hand on her bare waist and a zing went through her. A zing that she hadn’t ever felt before. A zing that she could not define.

‘Tujhse Hai Raabta’ came on and he placed her other hand on his shoulder too, and placed his other hand on her bare waist. The zing, again.

She closed her eyes for a moment. They were not dancing, they were swaying. And she felt a calm rush over her. She felt so safe.

She opened her eyes in panic, and then reminded herself why this was happening. She looked up at him and asked without asking if she could ask him something. She braced herself at his permission and asked, “Tum shaadi kaahe naahi karna chahat ho?(Why are you not ready for marriage?)”

He shrugged, “I guess, kyunki mujhe karni nahi hai.(I guess, because I don’t want to get married.)”

Imlie smiled at his answer, that was such a non-answer. She nodded and guessed, “Ee bhi sahi hai. Tumka maalum naahi ki tumka shaadi maan kaa chaahi toh tum abhi taiyaar naahi ho.(This too is right. You do not know what you want from a marriage so you are not ready for a marriage.)”

He shook his head and repeated his answer, “Aisa nahi hai, mujhe maalum hai ki mujhe shaadi se kya chahiye. Bus main wait kar raha hun, uska joh mujhe chahiye.(It’s not like that, I know what I want from my marriage. I’m just waiting, for what I want.)”

She was confused, did he want to marry or not? Her confusion must’ve shown, because he answered, “Jab mujhe aisa koi mil jaayega jiske saath mein life bitaana chahta hun, I’ll marry them.(When I find someone I want to spend the rest of my life with, I’ll marry them.)”

Was it that easy? She asked him, “Itna aasan rahe?(It’s that easy?)”

He replied, “Shayad nahi, par aasan hona zaruri nahi hai, saath sahi hona zaruri hai.(Maybe not, but it’s not necessary that it’s easy, the necessary part is that the person you choose is right.)”

Tears itched at the back of her eyes at his answer. The right person. She’d thought she had found the right person. She could not have been more wrong. Him knowing his right person was good for him. She teased him, “Tum toh romantic nikle ABP.(You are a closet romantic ABP.)”

He smirked at her, and replied, “Isse romantic nahi, isse practical hona kehte hai.(This is not romantic, this is being practical.)”

Imlie smiled then, only Aryan Singh Rathore would say that finding the right person for them was practical. Finding the right person is the most romantic thing in the world. The right person for you is a person just for you.

She corrected him, “Isse romantic hi kahat rahe.(This is romantic.)”

She watched him get confused. She watched the space between his eyebrows wrinkling, and she felt a burst of warmth rushing through her. This guy, Aryan Singh Rathore, was one and only.

But she should’ve known her happiness would not last long. She knew that every single thing she was doing was driving Malini towards the edge, and it may be what she wanted, but she certainly didn’t want to be near her when she fell off the edge.

It was after the party. They were clearing up some things.

It started with Rupali asking about Aryan’s marriage. By now, everyone in the house knew that Narmada wanted Aryan married. However, before she could answer, Aditya interrupted, “Uski chinta tum kyun kar rahi ho Rupi, jaanti nahi, Imlie aur Aryan ek dusre se pyaar karte hai, aur bahut jald ek doosre se shaadi bhi karne wale hai.(Why are you worrying about that Rupali, don’t you know, Imlie and Aryan love each other, and are gonna get married to each other soon.)”

And while those words tingled her brain, Aparna scolded Aditya, “Adi, yeh kya baat kar raha hai.(Aditya, what are you talking about?)”

Aditya replied bitterly, “Sahi keh rahe hai hum Maa. Aryan ne yeh khud kaha hai.(I am talking about what's right, Mom. Aryan himself said this.)”

The fog in Imlie’s mind cleared and she remembered when he had said that. She tsked at Aditya and cleared, “Uu joh bhi Aryan Sir tabhi kahe rahe, uu aapke kaaran kahe rahe. Uu ee isiliye kahe kyunki aapne apan shok sandesh maan humri itni bezati kar di thi, ki saare office waalon ka sabak sikhaye khaatir Aryan Sir uu kahe rahe. Agar aap tanik ruk ke uu ki baat sun lete toh aapko bhi pata hoyi hai.(Whatever Aryan had said then, he said it because of you. Because you insulted me in your condolences and all the staff continued where you left off. Aryan said that to teach them a lesson. You would’ve known if you’d just stop and listen to all he had to say.)”

And malini came forward to reply, “But sach toh yahi hai na Imlie, ki tumhare aur uske beech kuch hai. Ek din aisa nahi gaya hai ki tum yaha ho aur woh yaha nahi aaya ho?(But that’s the truth, right Imlie, something is going on with you. There’s not been a single day that he hasn’t come here for you.)”

And Imlie burst, “Kaa hai? Kaa hai humre beech? Aur agar kuch hai bhi, toh uu Aryan Singh Rathore hai. Dusson business ke maalik. Pichle paanch saal se Top 30 Under 30 ke list mein. Former Mr. India Runner-Up.(What is it? What is that something between us? Even if there is something, then he is Aryan Singh Rathore. Owner of tens of businesses. Top on Top 30 Under 30 list for the last five years. Former Mr. India Runner-Up.)”, Imlie chuckled bitterly as she said this.

She looked at all of them and asked, “Aisan kaunsi kayanaat hai, jisme uu Aryan Singh Rathore aur ee Imlie ka mel hai?(In what universe anything between that Aryan Singh Rathore and this Imlie is possible?)”

And the silence was shattering in the Tripathi Residence, Imlie’s broken self-esteem staring right at them in their faces.

She looked up at Aditya and confessed, “Hum ek baar apan umeed ek namumkin rishte par laga chuke rahe, humse ee wapas naa hopayi hai.(I’ve placed my hopes on an impossible relationship before, I can’t do it again.)”

And she left them.

Her fourth day was spent peacefully, except for the part where she showed them how much they’ve destroyed her.

Day 5 - Tuesday - Imlie’s Birthday

Imlie has spent eighteen of her birthdays the same way. She started her day with a visit to her Sitaa Maiyaa, spent her morning with her Amma, the afternoon with her Dadda, and her evening with both of them together. These were the happiest birthdays of her life.

Then her nineteenth birthday came to mind. She had talked to her mother on the phone and then she had spent the rest of the day doing various chores at the Tripathi Residence, and then her surprise birthday party.

She had felt happy, but it was not a perfect day. She had felt the absence of her Amma and Dadda.

And today, on her twentieth, she wasn’t sure she would be even happy. She was on a mission that was leading to nowhere because she was trying to drive Malini to the edge by irritating her and confronting her, and using all the things she had done against her, but she had no actual proof.

It also didn’t help that having some proof would make no difference. Last time Aditya had destroyed all evidence on his own.

When she came back from the temple it was to pleasantries and wishes from the Tripathis. She touched the elder’s feet, hugged the others and avoided Aditya and Malini.

She had taken a half-day from the office today, so she would meet Aryan later in the day. Also, she was hoping to go to Rathore Mansion before going to the office today. Meeting Narmada and Arpita too, for their wishes and blessings.

She smiled and went to the temple of the house to set down the Thaal. She heard the doorbell and turned around after keeping the Thaal, to Aryan standing there. She smiled, and went to the door to tease him only to pause when her Amma and Dadda came into view.

They were here. They were here.

A sob escaped her as she ran past him, past the threshold of this house and crashed into her Dadda’s embrace. He was here and he was free and he was laughing and he was hugging her. She felt her Amma join them and she was the happiest she had ever been on her birthdays. She was the happiest she had ever been.

She left the embrace to look at them, trying to believe they were really there. At both their nods, she hugged them once again.

When she finally left them, she turned to Aryan to thank him, but her feelings overwhelmed her and she hugged him. She hugged him like she had hugged him that day. She was crying instead of laughing. But the tears were happy. She was muttering Thank Yous in his shirt, wetting it with her tears, because he had made her so happy.

She felt one of his hands on her back, and his other brush her hair. She felt him kiss her head, and she felt more than heard him mutter a Happy Birthday.

It was then she backed away from him. It was then that she looked at him with tears still in her eyes. It was then that she took a deep breath and let him go.

He looked at her awkwardly and then left her there, at the threshold of the Tripathi Residence, in her Amma and Dadda’s embrace.

And as he left, another voice followed, “Ab bhi kahogi, ke tumhare aur uske beech kuch nahi hai?(Now what do you have to say, do you still deny there’s nothing between you?)”, asked Aditya bitterly.

But before she could say anything, her Dadda said, “Aditya Babu, ab bas---(Aditya, stop now---)”

“Warna kya, aap phir se hum par goli chalayenge?(Or what, you’ll shoot me again?)”, interrupted Aditya.

Her Dadda, never one to back down, continued, “Uu toh hum naahi kar sakat hai, kaahe ki Aryan Babu ne bahut mehnat ki hai humka humri bitiya ke pass pahunchaye khaatir, par hum kissi se karwa sakat hai.(I can’t do that right now, because you see Aryan has worked a lot to unite me with Imlie, but I can certainly order someone to do it for me.)”

And Aditya ignored all that, and focused on just one thing, “Aur kyun ki Aryan ne itni mehnat? Kyun aaya Aryan yaha par? Aakhir maan kyun nahi leti ke tumahare aur Aryan ke beech kuch chal raha hai.(And why did Aryan work so hard? Why did Aryan come here? Why don’t you admit that something is going on between Aryan and you?)”

Meethi was the one who came to defend Imlie then, “Aditya Babu, dayre maan rehkar baat kare.(Aditya, stay in your limits.)”

Aditya scoffed then, “Dayre? Apni beti ko samjha---(Limits? Ask your daughter to stay---)”, but before he could finish he was interrupted by Imlie, who was looking as Aryan left her here, “Dayre? Kaunse Dayre?(Limits? What Limits?)”

She turned around then and asked, “Dayre maan toh rishte baandhe rahe naa Aditya Sir. Humara kaunsa rishta hai ab?(Limits are for relationships, right Aditya Sir? Pray tell, what is the relationship between us?)”

And Aditya looked as if he had bitten a lemon. But Imlie was not done, she continued, “Jon rishta tha, uuke dayre todne waale pehle aap rahe. Jon dayron ki aap baat karat hai, uu ko paar kare waale aap hi rahe.(The one to break the limits in our relationship was you. The one to cross the limit of our relationship was you.)”

He scoffed then, but before he could speak, Imlie was still not done, “Agar Aryan Sir aur humar beech kachu hai toh aapka ka? Aap toh ee rishta tod diye rahe. Toh aapko kaa haq rahe, humre aur Aryan Sir ke rishta maan baat kare ke liye?(If there is something between Aryan and I, then what does it matter to you? You broke our relationship. With what right are you talking about my relationship with Aryan?)”

She entered the house then, but turned around, “Aap saare haq gawa diye rahe Aditya Sir.(You’ve lost all rights Aditya Sir.)”

That day, every member of the Tripathi Residence avoided her. That day, she spent planning how to end this once and for all. Because she too was tired of the constant insults and questions.

She too knew, that this house, not her home anymore.

So she planned, with her Dadda. Who told her to get the phone in which the confession was recorded. Who told her to talk to the gynaecologist handling Malini's case. Who told her that she would get there. That she would win.

But it was her Amma who made her think of the consequence of her exposing Malini. It was her who asked, “Tu jaanat hai na, ki ek baar sabka maalum par gaye hai ki Malini kaa cheez hai, ee tohar Aditya Babu ke saath waapas jodne ki koshish kare hai?(You know right, once everyone knows what this Malini really is, they’ll try to get you back together with Aditya.)”

And honestly, Imlie hadn’t thought of that. Imlie hadn’t thought that far. But if she was sure of something it was this one thing, “Hum aisan naahi hone denge.(I’ll not let this happen.)”

Her Amma smiled at her, happy to see her caring for herself and nodded to her.

That marked the end of her fifth day in the Tripathi Residence, and she finally had some semblance of a plan.

Day 6 - Wednesday

Today was the day. She could feel it. She could feel that today would bring an end to the madness that she had jumped into.

She had repaired the phone, which her Dadda had found for her. The recording was intact. She found the gynaecologist, and pretended to collect Malini’s reports on her behalf, only to be shocked when a bribe was demanded from her for the reports. The fake reports.

She had a plan in place, she had made everyone leave the house and she had made sure Aditya Sir was busy at the office till the time she wanted him at home.

Yes, her plan mostly relied on chance, but she was taking no chances this time. She had arranged a live show that would come on the app Imlie had installed in every member’s phone, when she confronted Malini.

But she was reluctant to leave. She was afraid. She was scared that it would all lead to nothing again. She was afraid that it would fail. But she was afraid that it would succeed too. She was scared of what would happen then. She was scared of how she would leave the Tripathi Residence then. She was scared that they would try to stop her. She was scared that she would.

She had much to worry about.

So she went to find peace in one place she had last felt something positive. She went to Aryan’s cabin.

And she collided into him.

She was scared of him too.

He asked her, tiredly, “Yaha kya kar rahi ho? Ghar nahi jaana?(What are you doing here? Don’t you want to go home?)”

She glared at him and asked back, “Tum eeha kaa karat ho? Tumka ghar naahi jaana hai kaa?(What are you doing here? Don’t you want to go home?)”

He glared back and said, “Tumse matlab?(What’s it matter to you?)”

And she replied, “Uu hi toh, tumse matlab.(Exactly, what’s it matter to you?)”

She saw him as he visibly calmed himself and asked her again, “Kya hua hai? Ghar kyun nahi jaa rahi ho?(What has happened? Why are you not going home?)”

She couldn’t tell him she was scared. She couldn’t tell him she wasn’t ready. So she shook her head and told him, “Kyunki humka naahi jaana hai.(Because I don’t wanna go.)”

And then he snapped at her, “Phir se kya kiya unhone? Aisa kya hua---(What did they do again? What happened now that---)”, but he stopped himself and then got lost in thought.

She didn’t know what he was thinking and she was so damn tired.

But he snapped at her again, “Ho gayi insult? Ho gaya drama khatam? Ab bhi wahi jaake rehna hai? Imlie maine kuch nahi kaha hai in paanch dino mein, iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki joh tumne kiya woh sahi hai.(Are you insulted now? Is your drama over now? Now do you wanna stay there? Imlie, I’ve said nothing in the past five day, this does not mean that whatever you did, or are doing is right.)”

And Imlie snapped right back, “Tumka kaa? Hum kahi bhi jaaye? Aur uu humar parivaar hai---(What does it matter to you? Wherever I go? They are my family---)”

Aryan interrupted her, “Oh please Imlie, woh log tumhara parivaar nahi hai. Woh log sirf tumhe use kar rahe hai. But phir bhi agar tumhe unke pass hi rehna hai, toh chalo.(Oh please Imlie, they are not your family. They are just using you. But then too if you want to go to them, then come.)”

And the thing was, she knew, she realised, but she was Imlie. And once Imlie considered someone their own, they were her own. But he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to his car, and she assumed he was taking her to Tripathi Residence.

And he didn’t say anything.

When they reached, he wouldn’t even look at her. So, to make him look at her, she opened and closed the car door, hoping he would look in this direction once she was no longer there.

And he did.

But she still didn’t know what to say to placate him, so she just looked and he looked and this was going nowhere, so she looked down and cracked her fingers to fill the silence.

Her breath rushed out when his hand covered hers. She looked up at him, to see him still looking at her.

She sighed and asked, “Ek din, sirf ek din kaa waqat maange hum tumkaa. Ek din aur, phir hum iss ghar maan waapas nahi aayenge.(One day, that’s all I’m asking of you. One day. And then, then I’ll never return to this house.)”

He scoffed, “Waade aise karo joh nibhaa paao Imlie.(Make promises that you can actually keep Imlie.)”

And her heart broke, because he may be right. She herself didn’t know if she could keep this promise.

But then she remembered the feeling of home, the feeling she had missed for the last six days, and she promised herself, she would not fall in this trap again. Even if it meant destroying what she had built here.

She turned to him and said, “Ek din maan ee ghar ki kaaya palat ho jayegi. Tab hum naa iss ghar ko apan ghar maanat hai, aur naa ee ghar humko kachu maanat hai. Ee ghar humra sirf naam maan reh jaayi hai.(In one day, everything is going to change in this house. Then I’ll not consider this place my home, neither this house will consider me anything. This house will be mine only in name.)”

She would leave this house. She would not fall for their tears if she succeeded. She would give up if she failed. But she would leave this house in any case.

She squeezed the hand covering hers, and left the car.

She had a mission to accomplish.

Her week was almost done, just a day remained, and she waited with baited breath, it didn’t matter if she wins or loses, she just wanted to go home.

Day 7 - Thursday

She had done it. She had won. She had brought out Malini's truth in front of everyone.

Everyone knew what Malini had done.

Everyone expected Imlie to continue living in the Tripathi Residence now.

She had narrowly dodged everyone in the morning, and headed straight to the office. Then to further avoid running into Aditya Kumar Tripathi, she had run away from office too.

She knew she couldn’t run away forever, but till she had all her thoughts in place, she was running away.

But it was time, a few hours had passed, she had still not figured out what she would say, but she knew what she wanted to say.

So that evening, when she entered the Tripathi Residence, it was to cheers and welcomes. It was to happiness and togetherness. It was to hope and happenstance.

She ate with them, happy to see them happy. She sat with them, relieved after a long time. She celebrated with them, her win was their win.

But at the end she brought a suitcase out of her room.

This was not her home. It was time these people realised that.

She saw as everyone looked at her in astonishment.

Obviously, it was Aparna who came to Imlie first, “Yeh kya kar rahi hai tu Imlie?(What are you doing Imlie?)”

Imlie turned to look at her, “Ghar jaat hai.(I’m going home.)”

And Aditya, who was quite happy since yesterday, said sourly, “Yeh tumhara hi ghar hai.(This is your home.)”

Imlie shook her head and said, “Ee ghar humra naahi hai. Ee sirf makaan humra hai.(This is not my home. The only thing that’s mines is this house.)”

And Aparna turned her by her elbow to look at her, “Tune kaha tha naa ki ek baar Malini iss ghar se jaayegi toh tu yaha waapas aa jayegi.(You had said right, that you’ll come back once Malini leaves.)”

Imlie cried then, “Uu barson puraani baat hai Maa. Tab Aditya Sir ka gunah sirf uuke bache ke baare maan soche rahe ka tha. Ab, ab uuke gunah bahut badh gaye hai Maa.(That was ages ago Maa. Then, Aditya’s only crime was caring about his child. Now, now his crimes are countless.)”

Aditya laughed bitterly then, “Humare gunah? Humne gunah kiya hai, toh tumne paap kiya hai Imlie.(My crimes? If I’ve committed crimes, you’ve committed sins.)”

And Imlie chuckled through her tears, “Humne paap kiya hai, kaa paap kiya hai humne?(I’ve committed sin, what is this sin I’ve committed?)”

And Aditya answered, “Tumne aur uss Aryan ne, uss kamre mein, naa jaane kya kya kiya---(You and Aryan, in that room, who knows what you’ve done---)”

Imlie slapped him. the sound of that slap reverberated throughout the Tripathi Residence.

Imlie was grabbed by her elbow and turned, the person’s other hand raised to slap her. But she stopped her. She stopped Aparna.

She laughed then, “Ee hai aapka beti ke liye prem? Ek thapad pada aapke bete ko, aur aapka sara prem khatam?(This is the love you have for your daughter? One slap to your son, and all your love has what, evaporated?”

Aparna released her hand from Imlie, ashamed.

Imlie continued, “Sach toh ee hai ki Aditya Sir humka dhokha diye. Humka hi naahi, uu Malini Didi ko bhi dhokha diye. Aur phir uu humka talaak bhi diye, aur jab uuka pata chale ki talaak ke kaagazaat bhejne waale hum naahi rahe, phir bhi uu Malini Didi kaa hi saath diye.(The truth is that Aditya has betrayed me. Not only me, he has betrayed Malini too. He then divorced me, and when he came to know that I wasn’t the one to instigate divorce, then too he sided with Malini only.)”

She looked at all of them then, their eyes avoiding hers and continued, “Uu hum par Aryan Sir ke saath sone kaa ilzaam lagaye, uuke pehle uu humpar Aryan Sir ke dosti ke khaatir kaam maan aage bade ka ilzaam lagaye. Uu ke pehle uu humpar Aryan Sir ki daulat ke peeche lalchi hone ka ilzaam lagaye.(He blamed me for sleeping with Aryan, before that he blamed me for using Aryan’s friendship to further my position in the office. Before that he blamed me of being gold digger.)”

She paused, took a deep breath and then said, “Ee sab humre beech maan kam tha, toh uu Bhaskar Times pe humre rishte ke baare maan chaap diye.(As if all of this happening amongst us was not enough, he printed about it in the Bhasker Times.)”

She turned to look at Aparna then, and asked, “Agar aisan kachu Rupi Didi ke saath hue rahe toh aap kaa kari hai? Hum bataate hai, Rupi Didi ke saath aisan kachu hui hai, aur uuke pati ab jail maan hai.(If something like this had happened with Rupali, what would you all have done? I’ll tell you, something did happen with Rupali, and her husband is in jail for that.)”

And Aparna looked up at her with pleading eyes, while Pankaj avoided her gaze, ashamed of his son.

She turned to Aditya then, “Dooi din pehle aap chahat rahe ki hum aapke ghar maan naahi aaye, aur ab jab Malini Didi jaa chuki hai, tab aapko yaad aawat hai ki ee humra ghar hai.(Two days ago you wanted me out of this house, your home, and now when Malini is finally out of your life, you are reminded of how this is my home too?)”

She pushed him away from her and said, “Ee janam maan mil gaye rahe Aditya Sir, agle janam maan naahi milo.(You’ve met me in this life Aditya, hope I never meet you in my next.)”

She looked at the rest of the Tripathis and said, “Aryan Sir ee ghar ke contract maan clause rakha hai, ki ee ghar paanch saal tak humre hi naam par rahe hai. Toh paanch saal baad, hum tohar ghar, tohar lauta diye hai.(Aryan has put in a clause in the contract for this house, that this house would remain in my name for the next five years. So after five years pass, I’ll return your house back to you.)”

She turned to leave then, crying, laughing, relieved, angry, calm, tired, energetic.

She left the threshold of the Tripathi residence for the last time.

She knew she could go on her own, but then too she dialled Aryan.

She dialled Aryan and when he picked up the phone, hearing his voice made her let out a sob. She controlled herself and asked him, “Tum humka lene aa sakat ho?(Can you come pick me up?)”

And her heart beat calmed when he answered, “Of course. Phone pe raho. Main aa raha hun.(Of course. Stay on the line. I’ll be there.)”

She sighed in relief. He was coming here.

It would all be okay.

Like it was with him.

Tags silsila continues

Res for comments because OMG that's a long one, and I have to work but I'm so exciiiiiiiiiiiiited!!!!!

and im done tagging

Sorry if I forgot anyone.

Yeahhh ! Imlie’s POV is here 😄 Reserving this to read at the eod !

It was adorably cute & full of love from Aryan's side and emotional one from Imlie's pov. It is one of the beautiful TS on Arylie. So beautifully written!! Imlie's really has gone through so much and Aryan's unwavering support has my all heart.❤️

Hey, this is heartwarming story. The change in Imlie is so naturally written. Thank you for making Imlie realise the toxicity and make her go away from there. I loved it.