Scene after Adi is saved by Imlie and Aryan and they are both brought to Meethi's home.
Adi is safe and is resting in the hospital.
And yes this OS is the same one I talk about in todays DT! Couldn't help myself! Sorry if it's a bit rushed!
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Aryans POV
Meethi: "Dekho tum log aaj ke raat aaram kar sakat ho. Itna sab hogaya hai. Waise bhi kal to beetiya ki bhi chuti hai. Itna din hum inse door rahe, is bhane yeh hamare saath kuch waqt reh sakegi."
Aryan, didn't want to stay in such proximity to Imlie. Her eyes seemed to always search for Aditya. It was painful to see her always going back to the man who had hurt her so much.
"Thank you, lekin mujhe koi problem nahi hai ki Imlie yahan par ruke. Lekin mujhe jaana hoga, Ghar par bhot saara kaam hai, aur-
"Aur doosri aur teesri baath tum udhar rak sakat ho. Poora permission hai tumhe. Baaki ka tum chup chaap jao ghar mein. Aur jaisa Ma ne kaha hai woh karo."
"Imlie stop this-" Aryan tried to continue.
"Hum bilkul hi stop nahi karenge. Tumhare Mr.India face mein abhi chot lagi hai. Aur humne bhi dekha tha ki woh attankwadi kitna tumhare peethe mein kohni maar rahe the. Chup chaap jao abhi."
Aryan groaned. He was never going to admit it but he didn't have the energy to fight with her. She was right after all. But the thought of being without internet and the connectivity problems was giving him a headache. And worse still was that he would be resting in her childhood home. Imlie had already become so free with him recently even within the confines of the office, what would she be capable of doing in her own territory was beyond him.
"Jao beta. Aaram karo Itna toh hum kar sakat hai na tumhare liye", Meethi reassured him.
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Aryans POV
"Ouch" he grimaced as he struggled to take off his jacket.
"Ruko ruko", Imlies voice came from behind him. Aryan groaned.
"Tum ab itna fast forward mein nahi ja sakat ho. Aao hum madat karte hai."
"Imlie--"
"Chup!!" Imlie growled.
Aryans breath seemed to stop within his chest. He refused to make eye contact with her as she came behind him and helped him out of his jacket. Before he knew it, her hands were on his collar unbuttoning his shirt and she stood right in front of him.
How was this girl so quick and fluid in her movements, he thought!
Despite his insistance on not looking at her, his eyes having a mind of his own followed her movements.
First the button closest to his collar, and then the 2nd one. Her hair fell on her eyes and she blew them away as her fingers worked down along his shirt. The warmth of her breath touched his skin and he shivered gently against her touch. Soon she was behind him again pulling the button down shirt away from his body.
At that moment, it seemed that Imlie realized the situation that they were both in and turned away...wait did he see it correctly. Did she blush?
He swallowed and grabbed one of Satyakams shirts that Meethi had laid out for him. Imlie fiddled with her hair with her back towards him.
Oh this is when she decides to give me privacy, he thought to himself.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. Meethi was at the door with a bowl in her hand.
"Aryan babu, yeh meine haldi ka lep banaya hai. Tum laga lene. Aur Imlie, kya kar rahi ho. Aryan babu ko zara matad karo"
Aryan gulped again. Imlie had already helped him out enough. If she even touched him again he wasn't sure what he would do. His mind was slowly but surely loosing control.
"Nahi nahi, sirf sar par dard hain. Woh mein khud laga loo ga."
"Ha Amma, tum bekar mein itna chinta kar rahi ho. Chalo. Mr. Akkadbaga ko ab humari koi zaroorat nahi hai chalo chalo", Imlie hustled out of the door with Meeti right behind her.
Aryan took in a deep breath and sat on the bed. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.
The bowl of haldi rested untouched next to him.
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Aryan's POV
The next morning
Aryan didn't know what woke him up, it might have been the suns glares gently carving their way into the room. Or was it a sound...and before he registered what it was Imlie barged into his room.
"Ut gaye tum."
"Imlie yeh kya tareeka hai. Tum knock nahi kar sakti ho aur- AAAHHH"
Imlie became startled at Aryans grimace. "Kya hua?", she asked as she walked quickly next to him.
"Oh", she sighed.
Aryan followed her eyes and it landed on the untouched bowl of haldi ka lep that was still sitting there.
"Meri Amma itna pyar se laayi thi tumhare liye aur tumne isse use tak nahi kiya."
Aryan looked down and started twiddling with his fingers. "Sorry Imlie. Please Meethi ma ko na batana. Woh mujhe pata hi nahi chala. Kab meri aank lag gayi aur-
Before he could utter even another word, Imlie's hands were once again on him. His confusion didn't know any bounds.
"Imlie!" he screeched as she put the ointment on his forehead. Next he knew, his shirt had been opened again and she was spreading the lep on his chest.
He grabbed her hand to stop himself from groaning again. This movement only brought Imlie closer to him in proximity.
"Dard" she whispered. She quickly cleared her throat and began again "Kya bhot dard ho raha hai?"
"Haan", Aryan answered. At that moment it was Imlie's breath that got caught in her throat.
Seeing her uncomfortable, he let go of her hands.
Imlie put the bowl next to him again. "Agar tumne kal laga liya hota toh itna dard aaj nahi hota. Koi baat nahi. Abhi ke liye tum aaram karo. Dard khud chala jayega" With that, she hurried off.
Aryan caught himself still looking at the door long after Imlie left.
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Imlies POV
Imlie did not know what was coming over her. She felt herself following Aryans every movement in PD. Even when she wanted to wonder how Adi was, her footsteps would already be going into the bedroom where Aryan was currently residing.
Even the thought of him in pain resorted in such a lump in her throat that her entire being fought to bring ease back to Aryan.
She didn't understand him. Here she thought all he cared about was money. But instead he came with her all the way to PD and put his life in danger because she was worried sick.
But this worry, where was it directed to? Who was it directed to? Yes she had at one point loved Adi, but seeing the love of her life put sindoor onto Malini didis maang had jolted her into a cold reality. He was never hers not even when he said that he was.
But Aryan had made no such promises, he hadn't said anything. Yet here he was. Giving himself to her little village and making himself a little corner in her home.
And had she heard him right. Had he just called her Amma, Meethi Ma? She bit back a tear. How was this man carving a space for them with so much ease? The identity she had struggled so hard to find in PD, he just gave willingly and with ease.
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Aryans POV
The next few hours went by fast. After Imlie left he had gotten back in bed and had quickly fallen asleep. Meethi Ma had come and brought him food and he had engulffed it in a heartbeat.
When he asked where he would be able to wash up, Meethi guided him to the bathroom where a pail of water had been left. The steam still came off of it and upon asking further he was told that Imlie had left it for him.
After his shower he got himself dressed once more in Satyakams clothes. They had a very distinct smell that reminded him of his childhood. He snuggled deeper into them and walked into the courtyard.
Chuaari was there biting on the grass, but right behind her was a baby goat still struggling to walk. Before he knew it, the baby goat had stumbled up to Aryan only to topple over. Aryan smiled to himself and he couldn't help but reach down and pick it up himself.
The goat was so cute and fluffy. He snuggled into the soft fur and gave little kisses on its forhead. Before he knew it, the goat was licking all over his face and a big gurgle of a laughter came out of him.
He hadn't known this peace in so long. All he wanted to do was keep this baby goat safe and warm and just snuggle close to it. The years of pain melted off his face and his shoulder got lighter.
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POV Imlie
Imlie came out of the shower and noticed that Aryan was no longer in his room. Her wet hair still wrapped in a towel, she found him in the courtyard. Sitting on a hay stack and playing with the Kid. She had never seen him so content. As she walked closer to him, she heard a big throaty laughter escape his lips. She smiled. Here was Aryan Singh Rathore, playing with a baby goat in Pagdandiya. Eating our food and finding himself totally at home. Her smile caught in her throat and she realized she hadn't taken her eyes off of him in the last 10 minutes. He belonged here and somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew he belonged with her as well.
