...
"Aapko kaise pata Babitaji, aap toh uss waqt thi bhi nahi?", Khatri asked, in his infamous filthy tone.
"Mera mann kehta hai, ki Hanuman Singhji ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Woh ekdum bekasoor hain", she said, sternly, looking at him right in the eye.
His gaze fell off as he sighed, said a word or two of his regular contemptuous talk and left, feeling that the dramatic bargain was over for the day, sensing her deep resolve.
Hanuman Singh felt a sensation in his heart. He took a heavy deep breath and turned his eyes away, lest they should convey his overwhelmed emotions so easily. His eyes swelled with reassurance and faith. Even if he lost the case now, or even if he was never relieved of Imarti's guilt, he would be happy and content, knowing that there's someone special who feels, infact believes that he is innocent.
...
"Woh mhaare saath hai Imarti. Dekha tune? Kaise thaaath se daughter ki mother ne Khatri so ekdum se chupp kara diya", he said, crying in happiness, and lovingly caressing Imarti's photo. "Aaj pehli baar mhanne aisa lage hai ki yeh thaanedaar Hanuman Singh ab akela naa hai, iss duniya mein", he said, smilingly and wiped away his tears.
He rested back into the cushion, feeling relaxed. His eyes were burning with pain, yet he was unaffected. A certain, unfathomable calmness had swept his senses, as he felt like retiring to sleep, without feeling the need to resort to alcohol.
...
A sudden flash startled him.
He woke up, with only darkness around him.
"Yeh bijli ko ke hua?", he remarked to himself.
He got up, to check on the wiring box, when he heard the soft anklets. It didn't take him a minute to recognize, it was her - Imarti. He looked up involuntarily.
He could see her descend down the staircase, looking heavenly and ethereal as she always did, holding her favourite lamp. The bright light was remarkable in the blackness around him - it felt as if light itself was advancing towards him.
Chann chann chann, her payal resonated with his heartbeats.
He refused to blink or look away, fearing that she might disappear the moment he took off his gaze, for a millionth part of a second. He sat absolutely transfixed. He wanted that second to be kept alive for the rest of his life, and to remain forever, in front of his eyes.
A strong gust of wind forced his eyes to shut. He knew she might've gone away. He felt that he didn't have it in him to endure that emptiness again. He couldn't survive her delicate image fade away for the billionth time.
He opened his, dejectedly, to find her still standing there, on the last step.
Alarmed, he got up.
A keener look at the figure suggested that it was Babita. Yes - it was her.
He couldn't move, in shock and in exasperation.
After much struggle, he got up. And extended his hands towards her.
Imarti wasn't a person to him. It was an emotion - of security, trust and support. Of standing up for what is right. Of fighting against all odds. Of being a better human with each passing day. Of respect. Of LOVE.
She kept the diya in his extended palm and smiled at him.
He blinked again, only to see Imarti standing in front of him, again.
He realised something. He had found his Imarti - for the second time. He needn't long for her anymore. Imarti Hanuman Singh would always remain alive in his heart, but the emotion was now replaced with the form and feel of Babita - the ever so compassionate and loving mother of his brave daughter.
He closed his eyes and felt the anguish evaporating. He could feel that Imarti's incomplete grasp and his longingness for her, was slowly fading away, as only her laughter and the ring of her anklets solidified in his heart.
Chann chann chann
Slowly, as he opened his eyes again, this time rather fearlessly, he embraced the daylight with peace and contentment.
...
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