Post trauma from today’s episode. I guess I like angst and this is my take on how things got messed up today. Probably two or three chapters to finish. Do let me know.
Aditya dragged Imlie out of the Tripathi house, stating that she an outsider was not welcome there anymore. Imlie tried and tried to pull herself away from him, Aparna and rest of the Tripathi’s begged, yelled even threatened Aditya but he was not listening.
He was still agitated that this chit of a 19 year old girl would dare show him his place, would dare tell him a senior reporter when he should submit his report. He had, had enough.
As Aditya finally reached the threshold of the T house he said, “That’s it Imlie, I do not want you to ever set foot in my house, someone like you who would degrade herself so much is no longer welcome here. I want to move on and you are a thorn on my side, a festering wound, destroying not just my life but my marriage and my family” with this he pushed her out and slammed the door on her face.
Imlie almost fell face first on the stairs but was saved just in time by Aryan, who had somewhat witnessed the vitriol that Aditya was spewing on this girl who still did not understand who was her family and who was using her for their own benefit.
He held and noticed that she was in a state of shock, while angry and wanting to beat up Aditya black and blue, Aryan figured that this may not be the best place to do so.
The cold and calculative business man in him woke up, he put his emotions on the back burner “Imlie, I had given you one job, think with your brain for today and take over my responsibilities. Instead you left office not even half way in, there is still a mountain of work left and now you are back to ignoring everything that even your mother told you back in PD.”
“I am very disappointed in you, Imlie”
With this he lead her to his car.
Imlie on the other hand was still processing everything. Her BS had said to her about how she was the reason his marriage or his family life was in shambles. She was glad Aryan was here but the moment he had caught her, he too turned in to something cold and lifeless that it was giving her chills.
Imlie was not sure how the day turned on her like this, she was working so hard to control her emotions after Aditya turned in his resignation, why did she have to go and call Aparna Ma. Why did she get this worried over the family that she left her work midway.
And Aryan, he was ill and he came all this way after her. Oh God, how badly did she mess everything up.
Aryan despite being sick , dropped off Imlie at the Rathore mansion, strictly asking his mom and sister to leave Imlie be. Saying that, he changed and went back to office to clean up the mess she made today.
Aryan knew deep down he would/could not be too hard on her, she had become an inextinguishable light in him that made the darkness bearable but he could see her being humiliated like this and he could not stand how she kept throwing away every opportunity she got for a family like the Tripathi’s.
After some careful planning and some well paid detective work, he found out what happened.
That evening Aryan went home, he was tired and badly needed a nap. His mom and sister had discovered what had happened with the Tripathi’s, they were in debt and needed to be bailed out.
His mom was ready to approach him to loan them the money when he stopped her. He called out to Imlie “ Imlie, I’m sure you found out that the Tripathi’s are under debt of about 5 crore. They will lose their home, all their savings if someone does not give them the money.”
“I am willing to help them even though I know they can never fully repay me back.”
Imlie wanted to retort about how it would be inhumane to not help them when Aryan, simply looked at her and said “ I did not make this money by doing charity Imlie, and this money is the blood, sweat of every employee who has worked int he Rathore Industry. Would you prefer that I help one family and potentially doom 50 others”
Imlie, still did not understand the gravity of the situation wanted to argue with Aryan about how this was her Ma and baba who were in trouble and she wanted to help them without Aryan.
Aryan pretty much exploded at this instant and asked her how did she plan on getting this much money without a collateral that only Aryan could provide. She had no money, after today possibly no job or even a roof over her head.
Both Arpita and Narmada were shocked at this declaration, they both had come to love Imlie as their own and did not want her to leave.
Ignoring their protests Aryan, sat down on the sofa, loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. he stated “Imlie, think logically for once, you are 19 and in no position to help them, I can but on what grounds. Aditya resigned and I cannot in any way shape or form lend money from my company to an ex employee, he can’t pay me back and 5 crores is not a small amount”
“So I will however do something, but I expect a quid pro quo. If and it's a big if, I help the Tripathi’s so that they are not homeless I want you to sign a contract taking on the responsibility of paying back every cent I am loaning them.”
“You will no longer be an employee of Bhaskar Times, there is too much of a mess there and I am not putting you there to add to it, instead you will go to Bombay, I have another publishing company there, you will work as a feature writer, you will not contact the Tripathi’s or see them or tell them where you are because if you do I will ensure they are all back to being homeless like today. Until and unless every single penny that will be used to help them is paid back you will not set foot in Delhi. You can meet your mom but that’s it”
Saying this he got up and left for his bedroom.
Imlie was transfixed to the spot in the living room, she was not sure how to react, what to say and how to say it. Tears rushed to her eyes seeing that somehow both Narmada ma and Arpita di could not overrule Aryan. She was sad that this Aryan in front of her was not the one who she could call made up names or run after, this was a man who had built so many walls around himself that she could not even approach him.
Not knowing what to do she decided she would agree to his terms, maybe that way she could do some penance for all the trouble she put Aryan through.
Later that night when Imlie told her Amma everything, even her Amma was disappointed in her. Especially reminding Imlie, how this was supposed to be her test and how she spectacularly failed at it. But Meethi being her mom, calmly explained how Imlie needs to remember that she is young girl who is not responsible for other people’s mistakes. If the Tripathi’s were in debt that was their doing, she could lend them moral support but from far and should not interfere in their family anymore as the were no longer her family.
Meethi also reminded her how Aryan had promised her to ensure Imlie thinks of herself first.
Imlie cried herself to sleep that night, finally understanding how much she had messed up today.
Aryan had decided until Imlie learned her lesson he would not let any of his emotions or feelings for her be known, if she figured out the depth of his feelings he could very well be hurt and he needed to be there for his family not just Imlie. They could not handle another mishap.
Next morning, Aryan pretty much ignored Imlie, when she tried to follow him, without mincing words he informed her that she need not come to work as a punishment for her insubordination. The rest he would deal with in the evening and she could either go to college or wait for him in her room. He also informed her that should Imlie decide to leave and see the Tripathi’s he will withdraw any monetary help he have wanted to offer them.
Rooted to the spot and with tears in her eyes, she watched as Aryan Singh Rathore walked away from her.
Aryan kept a close eye on his home that day, he was surprised that Imlie did not leave or do anything to jeopardize the help he would give to the T’s. He was also upset that Imlie still considered them family or more than family for all that she went thru at their hands.
Using many of his shell companies Aryan offered T’s assistance through Dev Chaturvedi. Anu and Malini Chaturvedi were made to feel that they were helping Tripath’s while it was Aryan who was pulling the strings. There were conditions attached to this help including a payback clause at market rate within 5 years.
In the evening he brought the contract to Imlie who signed it without any questions. Even when Imile tried to act silly Aryan simply pulled himself away from her and stared at her with a look so cold that it froze her soul.
A small part of Imlie realized that she lost something very precious that day.
After that day, no one in Rathore mansion realized the pain Aryan went thru in drawing himself back from all the joy that his life was to have with Imlie in it. He helped her move to Bombay, his sister and mother would occasionally visit her. Aryan was providing everything to Imlie but he himself never went near her. Even if he were to pick up any calls from Imlie, he would pass the phone to his mom without even so a word to her.
This Imlie was truly heartbroken and realized how much she missed having Aryan around to talk to, to laugh with and kid around with. He was another part of her soul that took its time to reveal itself to her.
But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, her penance for breaking Aryan’s trust would be over in 5 years and she eagerly waited for that day.
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