Originally posted by: Ps143
Part 39: Kal
Balmy fragrances emerging from the colourful flowers decorating the pedestal and the beautifully sculpted idol of the Goddess, wafted in the air accompanied by the aroma of jasmines emanating from the scented agarbattis. The exquisitely sculpted idol of the Goddess which was different from the other regular idols, had been bestowed to the Tripathi Niwas when Adi was just 10 and now had been ornately decorated adding to the majestic aura of the idol. Plates of fruits and flowers were placed infront along with the other necessary Pooja items. Tall and short lamps and diyas were appropriately arranged, decorated with small garlands of flowers. All in all, the entire set up emanated divinity and brought in a certain solace and devotion which none could ever refrain from.
Yellow was the colour chosen for all to wear and Aparna had given a yellow chudidar set which she held close to her heart, to Imlie. The young girl had awakened that affection in her which she had stored away in her depths after what had happened years back. Seeing her made Aparna feel as if she had come back to her.
Imlie wore the salwar given to her and neatly combed her hair into a plait. Wearing the simple necklace and earring set given to her, she completed her look with a small bindi. She then wore the dupatta around her head and walked out of the washroom. Walking to her corner, she placed her used dress neatly and moved down to the kitchen to help. She had already prepared the prasad and was halfway into preparing the rest of the items when Aparna had walked in and forced her to go get ready first. Imlie had tried to delay as much as possible but Aparna hadn't relented and she had to come up and get ready. If left to her, she wouldn't have come out of her corner at all. The previous night had been peaceful, sleeping in Aparna's lap and being surrounded by that motherly affection she had been missing since she had left behind her Amma. But the next morning when she woke up, Aparna hadn't been there and she had woken up with the flashes of her marriage. Their marriage! Since then she had been perturbed and restless and hence wanted to just finish the work and come back to her corner. Imlie sighed as she reached the kitchen. She had to be here and this was unavoidable. So she resolved to stay in the kitchen itself and not step out at all.
Imlie entered the kichen, making Aparna look up from the kadhai. As soon as her eyes fell on Imlie, tears filled them.
"Wow Maa! Yeh colour kitni acchi hain! I loved it!"
(This colour is so good)
"Isme yeh waala design karvana Maa. Neck aise dena aur sleeves yahan tak aane chahiye"
(I want you to get this particular design done Maa. Neck shall be like this and sleeves should come till here)
"Jaldi karvana Maa! Main Meenal Didi ke sangeet me yehi pehnne waali hoon"
(Get it done soon Maa! I'll be wearing this to Meenal Didi's sangeet)
"Choti Kaki?? Why are you crying? What happened?" Imlie worriedly asked wiping Aparna's tears. Aparna looked at her silently for a whole moment. She then shook her head in a no and caressing her face said,
"Bahut sundar lag rahi hoon. Kisiki nazar na lage"
(You're looking really beautiful. May no one cast their evil gaze on you)
Then taking a small speck of her kajal , she put it behind Imlie's ears. Imlie smiled a wide smile like a small child and hugged her.
"You can go and see the arrangements outside Kaki. I'll do the rest" she said parting from the hug
Aparna nodded and left the kitchen while Imlie began her work.
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Rupali sat at the corner of her room which was completely veiled in darkness. The curtains had been drawn and all around was seemingly imperishable darkness! Her knees drawn to her chest, tears rolled down her eyes incessantly. Her mind was stormed with bitter memories of her past along with her own inner voice mocking her, telling her what a despicable human she was because she couldn't even hold herself strong enough to attend her brother's wedding functions! Those voices arising from within her mocked her endlessly, breaking her bit by bit by questioning every aspect of her and holding up her failure right infront of her. Those voices shouted accusations of how incompetent a wife she had been that her husband had to seek love and pleasure outside, of how poor a mother she was that she had all but held onto her bitterness towards her family forcing her own daughter to fear her and seek comfort from her mother, Radha, of how horrible a sister, daughter, aunt and sister-in-law she had been, pulling her down. This continued for some more time before the other half of her began voicing its thoughts. It spilled out in provoking words of how she had been wronged, of her bitterness and how she was right. It pushed her resentment towards her family's response towards what had happened to her and fuelled those overwhelming negative emotions in her by pointing out that none from her family had even bothered to come and ask for her!
Anger and bitterness surged through her again combined with her awoken pain. She'd not attend any wedding! Nobody cared about her! Nobody did!
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Malini walked into the Tripathi house buzzling with last moment additions and deletions as the Pooja would commence in about 15 mins. She was dressed in a pale yellow saree and had tied her hair in a french braid. She dragged her mother behind her who hid all her vulnerabilities and fears behind an arrogant and disinterested expression. She hadn't wanted to come. But then Dev had been urgently called for some work and she dint want Malini to be disappointed like last time. And however, how long could she run away from all of this!
After the round of formal greetings (curt ones from her side), Anu was dragged to the kitchen by an eager Malini to introduce her to her newly made sister - a village girl by the name Imlie. The name brought in peace as well as a sort of disturbance and discomfort in her. Her fears played in her head repeatedly and she firmly decided, she'd never let anything of what happened to her, happen to her daughter!
Love,
PSR
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