Nice analysis. I agree with it in parts, which obviously means there are parts that I disagree with.
See , it's a bang on point you raised that Imlie never wanted to get married , not because marriage has no value for her , it's just the opposite, it has too much value for her so that she wanted to avoid it as she had other plans.
" jab tak ladki ki hatheli kori hai, tab tak lakeere bhi apni aur kismat bhi, pad jo ek bar mehendi lag jayi, to sab kisi aur ka. "
And this from the very first episode! So , her character has stayed true to her core beliefs. She knew what impact marriage will have on her. That's okay.
However having clarity inside your mind is not the same as transparency outside. It's not always appropriate or morally correct to speak the truth. She's completely entitled to think of the marriage as truth and stick to it , because as you said it's her conditioning. It's the belief system ingrained into her.
But it was not okay or if I may say it's immoral to speak the truth aloud to Aditya. One should know when to speak one's mind and when to hold silence. What about Malini ?? I may not at all like her character, but does that mean I have to pretend she doesn't exist or that she's Aditya's wife in the eyes of the world and society ?? She blindly trusts both her husband and Imlie. She couldn't even dream such a bond is developing between them. She calls her her little sister and actually treats her like one , and Imlie calls her her Didi. If she wanted , she could've stopped Aditya from marrying Malini, she was even given the opportunity by Aditya. She backed off and it was the right thing to do as she didn't want to burden Aditya with the forced marriage relationship as she understood " jabardasti se kono rista nehi jode jata. "
Or so she said.
Did she even realize that under the given circumstances and with an unsuspecting innocent person dangling between the two of them , saying that she considers only him as husband and will always do so and consider their marriage as valid when he does none of that, itself is an act of manipulation , an emotional blackmail. Emotional manipulation is not always over the top like slashing wrist to get your parents bend to your will , or go hungry for a night so that your spouse comes to you and apologize. It is often subtle and psychological and therefore most effective. She tells a man all these ,knowing she'll go back to his house and live under the same roof and will be in his eyes 24 Ă 7 , with the knowledge of today's conversation burning between them. Eventually of course that will effect his psyche, that this girl considers me as husband, I was married to her etc.
It's like playing a long game. And not a good one. Won't Malini be wrecked if she finds out that Aditya and Imlie signed up this convoluted peace treaty and started staying in the same house with this peaceful negotiation that is ethically as wrong as it could be. Aditya should immediately send her away to some where safe , like a hostel or boarding school. He's being too casual in his approach.
It breaks my heart to think that by that time Malini will find out about all these , Imlie has already stolen her husband's heart and effectively ruined her marriage. No matter how dull or boring , no way a married lady deserves this.
At this point ,from this moment onwards I'll see all Imlie's actions with a new color , with prejudice, with a grain of suspicion. My firm faith is her righteousness has suffered a big shock. She's not looking so innocent to me now. I'm sorry but openness is not always synonymous with goodness and frankness is not always kindness.