Originally posted by: 1HappyGrl
Indu, I read through Part 11 today and, once again, your storytelling is such a great read! 😃
He saw her expression change to surprise and then to confusion as she deterred. He realized he was being irrational as he insisted she give him company. Excuses came naturally as he made up a plea regarding the day being his birthday, which actually was still a couple of months away. With great relief he saw her relent. Yash had no idea what was driving him to act in this manner.
He waited as he took a bite of the burger'.Nothing'not a word. If he was expecting her to suddenly turn into a chatterbox, she was certainly not forthcoming, so he continued nonchalantly
So, he tried again, "Thank you so much. Believe me I don't normally go walking into shops looking for food. I really thought I had some money on me, but as it turned out, I didn't." He smiled amiably, hoping against hope it'll be reciprocated. He continued when she still didn't respond
He was astounded'Is it even possible that a girl could have so much empathy in her? That too for a complete stranger?
When she looked at him quizzically, he repeated, "Promise you'll come back?" She nodded, and he saw her walk toward the girl in the counter. He really shouldn't be doing this'making her pay for his food. But the situation was beyond his control at the moment. He would find a way to pay her back later. He saw her now, talking gently. There was a fragile softness in her entire bearing. She had on a pale yellow churidar suit, long silken hair, face devoid of any make up, except for eyes lined with kohl and lips glistening with light pink lip gloss'so simple yet so deep. The way her expressions danced across her face told him that there was no guile, no ulterior motives, and certainly no duplicity there.
Love these opening paragraphs! Yash's awareness of Aarti, his inexplicable identification of her with his mysterious journal writer, and his subsequent earnestness make me smile and, on occasion, laugh. His chattiness confounds her and unnerves her a little bit, lol, but I especially enjoy those parts that I re-quoted and bolded. For me, the haunting sadness he perceives in her eyes earlier is her personal understanding of humanity and pain, which taught her the empathy he sees and makes her the soulful woman he perceives. Without a doubt, this immense/intense soul connection Yash feels with Aarti is turning his brain upside-down and instead of fighting it, he's just riding it out.
I love seeing the way he notices little details about her that help him define her -- her empathy to his comment about not being paid yet, the simplicity of how she wears make-up, the gentle way she speaks, and the transparency of her gestures and expressions. As I read, I thought it amazing that he finds this definition in spite of his cynicism about women in general because he doesn't yet have confirmation that she is indeed the writer of the journal. That's why I also really like that you allow him to double-take/to wonder if he could be wrong about her and fooled once again. His natural draw to her understandably counters his natural caution after his long bad run with women. Nice inner conflict. I like, I like.
Just as he's processing his fascination with Aarti, he thinks he has competition in Sameer Singhania! 😆 After noticing Aarti's avoidance and Maansi's deflection, his subtle jealousy and intrigue are a strange mix of obsessive and endearing to me. He clearly doesn't understand what's prompting his immediate attachment to Aarti, but I love how instinctive his reactions are.
As he waited, he saw the back door open and Aarti step back into the shop and immediately looking at the table they had sat. He saw her gesture toward it and ask something. Maansi stepped forward and responded, at the same time giving her the jewelry box. He saw Aarti take it and listen to whatever Maansi was saying, which was obviously about that Singhania fellow. "Give it back, Aarti. Throw it. Prove me wrong." Yash found himself muttering under his breath. He staggered back a step as he saw her look at the box in her hand and then keep it her handbag.
Oh, I see! On his utterance in bold, this is his first quasi "test" for Aarti based on his experience with money-hungry women. Patience, Yash. Everything in its right time and you'll understand it all.
Re-enter Prashant who is still beating that very, very dead horse about marrying Aarti. And he wants to take control of Nannimaasi's house. I suspect we'll see more trouble with him. On the plus side, it's so great to see Naanimaasi quickly and sharply throws his true agenda back at him. Hopefully, Naanimaasi and Dadima will meet in the future. I think they'd be a riot together. 😆
Aarti stepped out only when she was sure the man was gone. She went and locked the door, and then walked inside the living room. Naanimaasi was standing with a picture of her husband in her hand. Aarti tip-toed to naanimaasi's back and laid her chin on her shoulder; naanimaasi lifted her hand and patted her head.
Aarti whispered, "He was so handsome. He loved you very much, didn't he?"
"Yes he did'so very much. There was none like my Raj." Naanimaasi kept the picture back on the mantelpiece, turned, and held Aarti's hands in hers. They both sat down on the sofa, as the old lady continued, "We didn't have any children, but he never made me feel that our life lacked anything. He was so full of life and laughter all the time. He was my friend, lover, guide as well as my kid. When he was alive we lived every moment of our life'That's why even though I miss him a lot, I have no regrets. You know before the illness took him away from me, he prepared me for the life without him. He taught me how to find my happiness without him, how I should live when he won't be there. He is no more, yet is very much alive in every little thing here. We made this house together. I see him in that corner, putting the ladder and trying to catch a firefly stuck in the spider's web, just because I asked him to'.I hear him singing loudly with Chris, both drunk, sitting on the stairs'.I feel his touch in the rain. He would always pull me out when it rained. This house has his memories, Aarti. He lives in those memories."
Aarti was spellbound. She reached across and hugged her grandmother, "We won't let this house go, naanimaasi. I will not let anyone take this house away from you, I promise."
So much love for this whole scene. ❤️ I love how strong Naanimaasi has inspired Aarti to be. She's the kind of mother to Aarti that I think Shobha would have been if she had lived. The way she recounts Raj's memories tugs at my heartstrings. Aarti's openness with her heartwarming as well, and I'm glad she knows about Singhania. Naanimaasi gave Aarti a chance to live, not only survive. Nevertheless, the stark differences in her present living remind her of where she's been, how she's been defined, and how she's been scarred. Truly, time doesn't heal wounds, but people's love and compassion can heal wounds in time; that's why I think I understand Aarti's train of thought here:
Three and a half years back she didn't know what a home was, till naanimaasi gave her one. She had given her more than a home'she had given her not only a new life but also a meaning to her life. If she had not come that day and rescued her, who knows what would have happened? Inadvertently, her hand went and touched her cheek and then the scar on her chest over her kurta'as she was sucked back once again to the memories of the years that were still gaping wounds inside her'wounds she had learnt to hide from naanimaasi.
Ah, Indu! You pull me in and hook me with your endings every time. 👏 Looking forward to seeing your next update.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Tum Se Tum Tak
Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
