AryLie FF - Aryan&Imlie - Epilogue Page 32 (Dt. 13 Mar) - Page 23

The Bejaan Things

Mr. Aryan Singh Rathore’s Wallet

Wallets often knew the most about the man carrying them. A wallet held the life of a man. His cash, cards, licences and documents. But, almost always, a wallet held what a man was most emotionally attached to. Pictures of families.

Aryan Singh Rathore’s Wallet was top notch. Premium quality leather, stitched with good quality threads, branded and classy. He’d been in Aryan’s possession for two years now. He was rough around the edges now, but he was still perfect.

Aryan Singh Rathore carried multiple things in him. His cash, a necessary amount, not too much. Two credit cards and a debit card. A hospital card. A driving licence. And finally, a picture. Four people smiling happily in it.

Wallet had been in enough of Aryan’s conversations to know that the four people were Aryan himself, his mother, his sister and his sister’s husband. He also knew that his sister’s husband was no more. Therefore, Wallet knew Aryan was a man that felt deeply.

For a year and a half, they both remained the same. Then Ms. Payal entered the secret hatch in him. And with the family picture Aryan carried around, there was a trace of another person that came to mean more to him. He never did talk to Ms. Payal. She talked too much like her owner.

No, that was a job Aryan took on himself. Aryan talked to Ms. Payal almost every other day. To the point that Wallet was jealous. But at the end of the day, she came back to him and all was well. At least until the next time Aryan took her out to talk to her.

And then she heard him squeal, because the idiots they belonged to were finally together and Wallet couldn’t help but cheer for his owner and that was that.

The next time something deeply emotional entered into the secret hatch he had, it was a silver coin. A Shagun ka Sikka. From his owner’s counterpart’s parents. He hadn’t been able to control the laughter that came out of him during that conversation.

Meethi smiled at Aryan, Imlie was in the kitchen, looking for ways to get over her hangover. Aryan smiled back at Meethi. Meethi raised her hand then, patting his head, and Aryan leaned down a bit, smiling and blushing.

Meethi said then, “Khush raho Aryan Babu. Hum Sitaa Maiyaa se prathna karenge, ki tohar dono ki jodi hamesha aisan hi rahe. Ki tohar bharosa aur vishwas ek dusre se kabhai uthe naahi. Tum humri bitiya ke jeevan maan aur uu tohar jeevan maan, ek dusre kaa hamesha saath dete raho.(Be happy Aryan Babu. I’ll pray to Sitaa Maiyaa that you both remain a couple always. That your trust and belief upon each other never fades. That you remain in my daughter’s life and she remains in your’s, forever.)”

Aryan had smiled back, before leaning down and touching her feet. Meethi had looked at Satyakaam then, almost sternly, and they both blessed Aryan.

When Aryan got up, Satyakaam moved towards Aryan, his step mildly threatening, but enough to make Aryan gulp. He looked at Meethi once before turning his gaze to Satyakaam.

Satyakaam placed a hand on his shoulder and explained, “Aryan Babu, tum humar bitiya ke khatir bahut kuch kiye rahe. Humri asha hai ki aage bhi humar bitiya ko jeevan maan konu cheez ki zaroorat naahi pade hai. Kaa hai na, ek aur lehke ki kaaran agar humri Imaliya ko kachu bhi sehna pada—(Aryan Babu, you’ve done much for my daughter. I hope that going forward in life too, my daughter doesn’t want for much. Actually, if another man becomes the reason my Imaliya had to suffer—)”

Aryan nodded and replied, “Yes, uh, yes sir. Absolutely. Imlie ko kabhi koi problem nahi hogi. Aur hogi bhi toh hum milke suljhayenge.(Yes, uh, yes sir. Absolutely. Imlie won’t ever have a problem. And if she has, then we’ll solve it together.)”

Satyakaam smiled then, looking at Meethi, and then looked back at Aryan. He put his hand in his pocket, and scared Aryan for a moment, before taking out a silver coin.

He turned Aryan, asking him to extend his hand, and placed the coin in it when he did.

He looked up at Aryan, serious, and said, “Shagun ka Sikka, toka saup rahe hai. Zimmedari ke liye taiyaar ho?(The auspicious coin, I’m giving it to you. Are you ready to take responsibility?)”

Aryan had nodded, resolute, and promised, “Zindagi bhar ke liye.(For my whole lifetime.)”

Satyakaam had smiled then and patted his head too, and Meethi had smiled at Satyakaam bonding with the man Imlie loved.

And that was how Mr. Wallet gained another compartment in his hatch.

He hadn’t ever imagined that Aryan Singh Rathore would be hoarder. But alas, that was the case.

Wallet liked the weight he had now too.

Ms. Imlie from Pagdandiya’s Choti(Braid)

Imlie’s Choti actually had very few people she liked. She didn’t like the Tripathi’s at all. They were downright cruel with her owner. But before that, there was one woman she hated vehemently. And that was Nakli Nani.

That woman was not only cruel, but unfair and ridiculous to Imlie. As many times as she had oiled and made her, she had pulled and tugged Imlie’s Choti. She didn’t forgive Nani completely, but during the time she stood by Imlie when the Tripathi’s were being unfair to Imlie was the time when Choti began seeing a whole new side of Nakli Nani.

Choti fully forgave Nani when Nani asked Imlie to be happy.

With Aryan.

Choti loved Aryan. She wasn’t always present when Aryan and Imlie were together, but she knew everything. The hair with which she was made told her everything. When they told her how they had splashed Aryan Singh Rathore’s face when their owner was living in the office, Choti had rejoiced. She missed the first touch, but so what, there would be many others.

The first time Aryan touched Choti, it was a very emotional moment for Imlie. Usually, she didn’t like it when she was untangled, but Imlie’s honour was at play here, and Choti was not anything if not loyal.

But after, when she was made again, she had longed for Aryan’s fingers to run through her to untangle her again.

That never happened, but hair, she had many encounters with Aryan’s face, because Imlie, the stupid brave girl that owned them, had a habit of falling on Aryan all the time. They were there for it.

But, coming back to Nani, she was being made when the conversation was happening. And she was agreeing with everything Nani was saying.

Nani was saying, “Ab ee ka jaaye naahi dena. Lehka bahut acha hai. Umar maan tere uss naaspeete se chota hai. Paise maan uu se bada hai. Shakal surat toh uu se achi hi hai.(Now don’t let this man go. He is a nice boy. He’s younger than that accursed man. Certainly richer than him. And handsome also.)”

Imlie groaned, “Ae Nakli Nani, tum ee ha ee sab karne aayi ho? Humka aise paath padhane aayi ho?(Hey Nakli Nani, is this what you’ve come here to do? You’ve come to teach me all this?)”

And Nani tapped Imlie’s head again, “Arey, bail buddhi. Toka kaa? Tohar hisaab se chale naa, toh nau mahina pehle pura hot rahe aur tohar byaah baad maan!(Hey, bullheaded girl. What about you? If we go according to you, then nine months will pass by, and you’ll not be married yet.)”

Imlie was confused, “Nau mahina?(Nine Months?)”

Nani slapped her own head and said, “Tu uu ke saath rahi naa, jhopde maan. Pata naahi kaa hue rahe ee baar. Pichli baar toh humka galat saabit kar di. Par ee baar toh prem pehle hi rahe naa?(You were with him in the hut, right? I don’t even know what happened. Last time you proved me wrong. But this time, love was already at play here.)”

Imlie’s eyes widened, and not only because of what Nani was saying, it was because Aryan stood in the balcony above, listening to them. Imlie closed her eyes and repeated, “Ae Nakli Nani, kachu naahi hue rahe humar beech. Band karo ee nautanki.(Hey Nakli Nai, nothing happened between us. Stop this drama.)”

Nani was not stopping, “Ae Kalmuhi, Nani ke saath masti naahi. Hum kahat hai na, shaadi kar leyo. Baaki sab tohar Sitaa Maiyaa dekh liyes.(Hey dark-skinned, don’t play games with your Nani. I’m saying get married. Let your Sitaa Maiya handle everything else.)”

Imlie groaned again, but didn’t say anything, knowing she would be adding fuel to fire with her Nani.

Nani was done with Choti in the next moment, but continued to stroke Imlie’s head. She sighed, and confessed, “Pichli baar humse galti hui rahi. Ee baar hum toka kachu kare khatir majboor naahi karenge. Toka ab byaah naahi karni toh theek hai. Par ek duje ka khayal rakhiyo.(Last time I made a mistake. This time I won’t force you to do anything. If you don’t want to get married now, okay.)”

Imlie turned around and smiled amused at Nani. Then she pounced on her and hugged her.

Nani let it happen for a moment, before she began again, “Bas kar Karamjali, maaregi kaa humka?(Stop it you accursed girl, will you kill me?)”

And Imlie let her go. Still grinning. Nani snorted then, and in a loud voice, a voice that could be heard from the balcony, said, “Waise aisan do premi ka bina byaah kiye saath rehna sahi naahi hai. Toh byaah ki taiyaari shuru karaye leyo. Warna hum Imaliya ko le jaaye hai yaha se.(By the way, it is improper for two people in love to stay together like this. So start preparing for the wedding. Otherwise, I’ll take Imlie with me.)”

Imlie began laughing at Nani's antics and Choti was happy at what Nani was instigating.

If it led to Aryan Singh Rathore’s fingers untangling her again, she was ready to get her owner married to her counterpart.

Ms. Choti wanted what was the best for Imlie, after all.

Ms. Imlie from Pagdandiya’s Payal(Anklet)

Payal had had a tough life with Imlie. Imlie was a ball of energy that never realised when she was leaving things behind, so she wasn’t surprised when Imlie didn’t notice her fall behind.

But Aryan did.

Aryan Singh Rathore, her owner’s new boss? Friend? Counterpart?

Whatever.

Imlie at least talked to her, this man, she knew wouldn’t talk to her.

When he placed her in a hatch in his Wallet, she was sure that she would be done for, in a prison cell forever. She even tried to talk to her jailor, Mr. Wallet, but he never responded. And after some time, she gave up.

But she shouldn’t have worried about being alone. Aryan Singh Rathore talked more to her than Imlie ever did.

Only he didn’t talk, he scolded her.

To the point that her loyalty to her owner began shifting to Aryan.

Every stupidity that Imlie did, was conveyed to her. All the time when they were fighting, Aryan was always yelling at her. How did she tell this guy that she wasn’t responsible for her owner’s actions?

But for all the yelling and the scolding he did, he took care of her.

Just like her owner.

And then they were together.

She even heard Mr. Wallet squeal that day, because the idiots they belonged to were finally together and Payal was stupidly excited for them.

She still remembered the day his mom and sister finally goaded him to give her back to her owner. His sister already knew about her, but his mother had smiled brightly when he had taken her out of Mr. Wallet.

Narmada asked, “Kya matlab hai tera jis Payal ke baare mein Imlie baat kar rahi thi woh Aru ke paas hai? Aru?(What do you mean when you say that the Payal Imlie lost is with Aru? Aru?)”

Aryan sighed and finally took her out of Mr. Wallet and presented her to his mother.

Narmada said, “Toh yahi hai woh Payal, jo kho gayi thi.(So this is the Payal that was lost.)”

Arpita smiled, “Jo chori ho gayi thi Maa. Jo aapke Aru ne chura li.(That was stolen Maa. Your Aru stole it.)”

Narmada got up, taking her away from Aryan and bringing it to eye-level. Looking at her in wonder, she asked, “Aru! Kabse?(Aru! Since when?)”

Aryan looked away and mumbled, “Tripathi’s ke Mehndi Function se.(Since the Mehndi Function at Tripathi's.)”

Narmada huffed a laugh and looked at Arpita. Arpita got up to tease her brother, “Arey yeh toh kuch nahi hai Maa. Isse puchiye toh, ke kitni baar jab Imlie se kuch nahi keh paata tha toh isse baat ki hai isne. UNB!(This is nothing Maa. Ask him how many times he’s talked to this Payal because he couldn’t talk to Imlie. UNB!)”

Narmada turned astonished eyes at her son while Aryan looked at his sister in betrayal.

Narmada sighed, and then opened Aryan’s palm, placing Payal right there, and closing the fist.

Narmada explained then, “Ab toh tujhe mil gayi hai na Imlie. Ab usse wapas de de.(Now you’ve got Imlie, right? Give it back to her now.)”

Aryan sighed reluctantly, but one flash of his mother’s eyes and he was on the way to Imlie.

Payal waited for Aryan to do it, waited for him to reach Imlie and return Payal to her owner.

He changed his direction, moving towards the garden again. The gazebo.

Letting her fall from his fingers again, he looked at her, in the way he looked at her owner, and how didn’t she fall in love with him sooner, Payal didn’t know.

He closed his finger around her again, and sighed, “Not today. Maybe someday. But not today.”

And then she was back in the hatch, Mr. Wallet her ever present jailor sighing at her return.

She humphed at him, and relaxed in her prison.

Mr. Aryan Singh Rathore’s Car, a.k.a Mrs. Lambi Gaadi

Aryan’s Car loved Aryan. The guy was nice, he didn’t smell, he didn’t wear bad shoes, his clothes didn’t feel rough and his hands were always in control.

The first time she met Imlie, she pushed her on the ground. Aryan didn’t help her. That is why Imlie got her all muddled up. And then Aryan drove her roughly.

After Imlie’s entry in her life, she began hating both of them. It was just for a moment. But she did.

She witnessed many things that happened between them. The first time Aryan picked Imlie up. The happiness that Imlie shared with Aryan as her article made the front page. The help Aryan extended Imlie when she was homeless. The pain they both shared with each other. The moment Aryan allowed Imlie to drive her.

The moments were endless.

But between them, Imlie’s care for her was also something that impressed her. If she was Aryan’s Car, she was Imlie’s Mrs. Lambi Gaadi. Even when she knew that Imlie was calling her Aryan’s wife, she didn’t mind Imlie anymore.

Mrs. Lambi Gaadi’s life became difficult after they were finally together.

The hand holds, the waiting around, the smiles and the giggles were almost too much.

But her owner was happy. And after a long time too.

She should have known that the moments that she had witnessed were endless, but she still wasn’t prepared for when the first actual intimate happened between them. Why would they do this to her, she didn’t understand, but they did, and Mrs. Lambi Gaadi was so done with the both of them.

They were on a, what Imlie would call an outing, and what Aryan would call a date. They had just bought Ice Cream and were eating her in the Car, and all she wanted to do was scold them.

She was wishing the whole time that none of it falls on her, but midway she realised it would be better if the Ice Cream did fall on her.

Not one drop dropped.

It was after that embarrassed her.

After his Ice Cream was done, Aryan’s fingers were full of cream. Just as he was taking out his handkerchief to wipe it off, Imlie was there.

She took his hand, and looking Aryan in the eyes, she leaned forwards and licked his middle finger. Aryan’s exhale was heard all over the car. As if that wasn’t enough, Imlie took the finger in her mouth, and sucked on it. This time Aryan didn’t just exhale, he outright moaned.

As Imlie let go of his finger with a wet pop sound, she licked around his finger with her tongue.

And apparently, Aryan had had enough, so he grabbed Imlie by her neck, and pulled her into a kiss. With tongue. Which went on for at least twenty seconds before she stopped counting.

If Mrs. Lambi Gaadi was any colour other than black, she would have blushed hard.

What were these kids upto? Didn’t they realise they were in public?

She watched as Imlie backed off the kiss, panting.

She watched as her stupid owner went back for another kiss.

She thanked the Car Gods when Imlie stopped him.

Aryan gave her a questioning look and Imlie sighed, “Kaa karat ho? Humri sautan bura maan jaayi hai.(What are you doing? Your mistress will be upset with me.)”

Aryan looked at her incredulously, and Imlie ran a hand over her dashboard, “Hai naa Mrs. Lambi Gaadi.(Right, Mrs. Lambi Gaadi?)”

Aryan huffed out a laugh, and leaned back in his seat muttering Nautanki(Drama-Queen).

Mrs. Lambi Gaadi just thanked Imlie. If this Nautanki hadn’t interrupted, Aryan wouldn’t have stopped before taking them out on a long drive.

Aryan&Imlie FF