Arylie TS: The Parting Gifts

A two-chapter story on the current leap track of Imlie as I sway between enjoying well-made episodes and the crying over how out of character they've made our Aryan Singh Rathore. The story reflects that as he hangs between being out of character and in character!

The Parting Gifts

*** trigger warning: dark main character with suicidal tendency ***

Pagdandya - Present Day, Outside Meethi's Home

Imlie stroked Cheeni's hair in a zigzag pattern, trying to soothe her down to sleep. But the little girl had other ideas.

"Imlie?"

"Yes Cheeni?"

"School is fun, bohut too much fun," she giggled excitedly. "I went and learned something from all the classes while Naani talked to the teachers."

Imlie's heart ached a little, Meethi had gone to get Cheeni admitted to a school in the nearest town. That school was better than the local one in Pagdandya but legitimacy was an issue. Cheeni had no birth certificate. For the first time in 5 years, she contemplated a move back to a city. Cheeni deserved the best education. Can Imlie be a coward and deprive her of that? But she recalled Malini's face, Aryan's face and tried hard not to imagine their faces together even though that one news clipping burned her thoughts every single day. Cowardice was nice.

"Imlie, where are you lost?"

"I'm right here, Gudiya," the name slipped out as she hugged the tiny body closer to herself. They were lying on a cot outside their house and the sky was shining with bright stars.

"Do you know what that is, Imlie?" Cheeni said excitedly as she pointed at a star. "I heard it in school today when I was waiting outside a class! It's called Dhruvtara, it guides people in the right direction!"

"No it doesn't," Imlie replied automatically, flinching a little at a once cherished memory.

"Were they lying in school then?" Cheeni's eyes widened. Uh no. Trouble.

"No no, they don't lie. They are right, only it is supposed to guide you but you can't put your faith in it, because sometimes in your darkest night, he leaves you alone, hides behind a storm cloud so dark that it consumes you too, then you lose yourself, no, Cheeni, never trust in any Dhruvtara. Use a compass, or better trust in your own sense of direction."

"Imlie?" Cheeni yawned.

"Yes?"

"I've no idea what you just said. So many words," she yawned again. Imlie laughed. "And may you never find out my baby, now go to sleep, I'll sing you a lullaby."

***

Delhi - Present Day, Rathore Mansion

Aryan considered sticking his whole head inside the freezer when he found the ice dispenser empty. His jaw was throbbing. Then his eyes landed on the stack of frozen food and he grabbed a pack of nuggets. His nephew lived on these junks. Good lad. He could hardly feel the cold though, when he pressed it under his chin. He increased the pressure until a soft wince escaped his lips. Better. He knew he'd become a glutton for pain and punishment and it was unhealthy. F*** that, nothing in my life is healthy.

"Aru?"

He cursed inwardly, if his mother was awake at this time then it meant she was waiting for him only.

"Ma?"

"Did you just arrive," she came forward and glanced at him dressed up, "or are you leaving now?"

"Both," he replied shortly and threw the pack of nuggets back in the freezer. "See you in the morning."

"Wait, Aru, wait, listen to me," Narmada pleaded. "You need to stop Aru, what are you doing with your life? You spend all your nights out, doing God knows what, this is not the right way to live! You were my zimmedar son and now look at you! When was the last time you even went to work?"

"Kaisi zimmedari?" he demanded, "Biwi hai mera? Baccha hai? Nothing, nada, I don't have any responsibility, Ma. All I have is a truckload of money. So, I'm going to spend that money and have some good time, anywhere I want, with whomever I want, doing whatever I want. You can't stop me."

"I know I can't, but I can ask," she was in tears now. "What about your nephew? Don't you care about him?"

"Ma, my nephew has parents, parents who made it abundantly clear that my influence was not welcome in their kid's life."

"Aru, you know Arpi didn't mean it like that," Narmada sighed. "And what was she supposed to do, you were covered in bruises and blood."

"Whatever Ma, don't really care," he put his sunglasses on, he knew he looked like an absolute douche wearing those flashy glasses at 12.30am. He hesitated a little before kissing his mother's head, "Go to sleep, Ma. Don't waste your worries on me, you've a complete family with your daughter, son-in-law and grandkid. Let me be."

He pretended not to see her wiping the corner of her eyes as he strode out of the house.

***

(continued below)

Pagdandya - Present Day, Meethi's Home

Imlie paused her work and looked up at Meethi, who was pacing the small space between the bed and the

wall. Cheeni was fast asleep and Imlie was working on adding English subtitles to her latest sting operation video.

"Amma, is everything alright? You look tense?"

Meethi shook her head but kept pacing, "nothing, nothing, you do your work Gudiya, it's nothing."

"Amma come on," Imlie pushed her laptop a little away, "I know you as much as you know me, something is bothering you, you have to tell me, maybe I can help."

"NO," Meethi nearly screamed, "You are going to do nothing, you will stay put here, and not move an inch."

"So, it is something to do with me," Imlie replied slowly, as she saw her mother getting more agitated. "Tell me, Amma, please. Is this about Cheeni?"

Meethi hesitated. Should I tell her? Should I tell her that her Dadda has gone to meet Aryan Singh Rathore with a loaded gun?

"It's your Dadda, he's gone on a dangerous mission," Meethi chose half truth.

"Oh, he didn't tell me anything," Imlie wondered, "Is his life in danger?"

"Not his life," Meethi muttered under her breath. "Don't worry, I'm just panicking too much, your Dadda knows what he is doing. Go back to your work."

"Okay, if you are sure," Imlie didn't look convinced but didn't question her further. Meethi continued her pacing. This morning, she had accidentally overheard Satyakam talking to someone and realized where he was going. He didn't confide in her before leaving.

Why now, why after all these years? Is it because of the rumors of engagement circulating the Delhi news circle?

Meethi looked at Imlie. It was a good thing that Imlie didn't check Delhi's news anymore.

Sita Maiyaa sambhal lena.

***

Delhi - Present Day, Unknown Bar

He sat on the barstool and motioned the bartender forward, a flirty smirk on his face.

"What can I get for you?"

"Something to spice up my life?" he replied without losing a beat. The bartender narrowed her eyes. "I'm the spiciest thing available here."

"I know, that's why I asked," his voice was all charm. She looked even more suspicious. "You know the code words, but you look way too sober, sorry honey, gotta try somewhere else."

She turned to leave but he grabbed her wrist. "Darling, don't go by the face, sometimes to know a man, you have to look into his eyes," he removed his glasses. The girl seemed a bit taken aback by his bloodshot eyes. "Wow, so you are a junkie, who could have guessed, heh."

"At your service," he shrugged and wore his glasses back. She seemed thoughtful, "who told you about me?"

"Simon."

"Hmm, okay, meet me at the back after ten minutes."

**

(Continued below)

Aryan stood leaning against the back wall of the notorious bar for a long time after the bartender-girl slipped a small packet of white powder in his pocket. He should have felt glad, things were finally near culmination. But the thing was, he felt nothing. He lit a cigarette and smoked quietly for a minute. He could just see the outline of his car from here. It was an ostentatious looking mint colored vintage Cadillac. He hasn't driven any of his black luxury sedans since Imlie. He let out a humorless chuckle. Once he thought his life would always be described as before & after Imlie happened. Never thought about the third option, after Imlie left. Universe could've kept the third one an Udhaar, that bitch.

Both 'universe' and 'bitch' reminded him of Jyoti and he dropped his cigarette angrily. He watched the smoke spiral up for a measly second, then it puffed out. The street had a thin layer of water courtesy to the continuous rains.

Maybe I can crash the car, he thought absentmindedly as he turned to leave. He felt their presence before he could see them. Four men, big, burly, only one reeked of alcohol, all of them smoked.

"Gentlemen, please state your reason for this lovely visit before you start hitting, once that is done, I won't reply to anything," he said almost lazily, goading the men.

"Shut up, Aryan Singh Rathore," The biggest of them hissed and like a lightning, held a wicked looking knife to his neck. "You and your smart mouth are getting a bit out of hand, what are you up to? Fighting in every goddamn ring of the city, getting beaten everyday while you could easily beat eighty percent of your opponents, you've made some questionable connections, and now you are dealing in drugs? You have a purpose, what is that?"

"Purpose," he scoffed, "I can assure you that you won't find a man with less purpose than me in this whole city. Try."

(continued below)

Wow! This is amazing! Can't wait to see if Satyakam gets to Aryan and what he does or does imlie find out before something goes wrong!

Outstanding plz do continue

Wow please continue. It's exciting

No Aryan what are you doing to yourself😢

Will Satyakam bring aru to Pagdandiyan?? So Exciting

Please update soon☺️

Wow this is amazing story.

I really like the fact the imlie is still working!

Update soon.

Just read all 3 chapters. Each person is facing the demon alone, Meethi is worried of what Satyakam is going to do. Imlie as no idea of what is happening in the city with the printed articles in the newspapers (if it is true)

Birth certificate is required but how?

please continue

I just can't seem to get the hang of using this site

The whole thing is on wattpad with the same title, if anyone is interested.