*Rewritten on 3/9/24*
When she opens her eyes, the world around is a monotone, the smell sterile and the beep of monitors a new constant. Her entire body feels heavy but there is no overwhelming pain. She feels exhausted, completely exhausted and there is a drowsiness clouding her. Despite all of it, she still tries at a little more consciousness, needing to see a familiar face in this impersonal setting she recognises as a hospital in the periphery of her mind. It is then that she feels a warm, soothing caress on her head, one that lulls her to give in to the drowsiness. The touch is familiar, warm and motherly and causes her to finally give in, slipping into a deep slumber.
Tears of relief slip past Aparna's eyes as she continues caressing Imlie's hair even as her child slips into a well-deserved rest.
The door to the room opens and Aparna turns to see Malini slowly entering. Gently closing the door and without making any noise, she moves to the other side and sits on the stool, delicately clutching Imlie's hand in hers.
"She is okay Malini and she will be fine soon. The doctor has administered the electrolytes. She just needs some rest"
"I know Maa. But till she is up, healthy and smiling, my heart will know no relief. I cannot bear to see her like this"
"I know Malini. None of us can too. But we need to be strong, to know and believe that she will be okay because she needs us. I just wish she had told us, if not me then at least you or even Rupi. Why did she have to weather it alone?" Aparna says, her voice shaking with her tears.
"Because she has been doing the same all these years. Who has been there Maa, back in her village to administer a pain killer whenever things got worse. Who has been there if things have ever gotten this worse. What do we even know about the girl we all love so much!" Malini says as the epiphany strikes her.
"You are right Malini! She is new but she is already family and that has been enough for us in these few weeks that we have known her. But now, it is time to truly know and understand her. She is as much a part of our family as anybody else and she has to know it so the next time, she has us for whenever it gets bad!" Aparna says, a firm resolve forming in her mind.
_
The lodge he is put up in is a small one but it is sufficient for his temporary stay for a lead he has got. He gets into the bed, a lingering restlessness in him that refuses to cease, coursing through every pore of him. It is after a lot of effort that he manages to fall asleep only for it to be disturbed by dreams all night.
She is sitting with her knees pulled to her chest, her head resting on the folded legs. Her outfit is a completely plain white saree. He walks towards her, not understanding the pull that has beckoned him close. It is when he reaches her that he finally sees the sadness dripping down her cheeks like nectar from flowers. Her hair is open, unbound and they flow down her back while a barbed wire lies tied around her legs. Her hands are fisted, the nails digging deep into her palms, drawing blood.
Imlie- her name escapes his lips in a shocked whisper. She looks up then and what he sees paralyzes him completely, the void, bereft of life and the essence that makes her, evident in her eyes. And then like the unleashing of terror, her features distort. Her white saree begins staining in blood. Bruises bloom like winter flowers all over her body, something that is the physical manifestation of all the scars she has borne on her soul so far but he does not know it yet. The piece of wire tying her legs suddenly seems to become a thick rope full of sharp thorns, tightening their grip around and soaking her saree with even more blood. She is still looking at him, void in her eyes, scars on her body and her blood everywhere in sight yet without a single whisper.
He wakes up with a jolt, sweat beading his forehead. The nightmare still remains like it is printed in front of his eyes. It makes him agitated and disturbed, rattled even.
Why would he even have such a dream? And why would he see her like that? He shudders as the image of her eyes replete with void flash in his mind again. The blood, God there had been so much blood!!
But why? Why such a dream and why now? Why him and why her? Is it a sign? Is it related to his outburst? Is it even the truth or a twisted manifestation of his own conflict? Is she okay? What if she isn't? What has happened? His family would surely inform him if something is wrong wouldn't they? He had been in the midst of things when he was 19 and no one had bothered so he will be informed if something is wrong when he is 28 right.
But try as he might, he cannot brush away the questions, the restlessness. So he picks up his phone and dials the one person whom he can call - Malini.
_
The name Aditya flashing on the screen of her phone causes her to freeze. Why is he calling now? Is he okay? Oh God, please let him be okay because she cannot bear if otherwise. She picks the call and immediately blasts him with her questions
"Aditya!! Is everything alright? Are you okay? Why are you calling so late? Please tell me everything is fine"
"Malini, I'm fine, everything is alright here. But why would you even assume all of this and why are you so awake this late? And why does it feel like something has happened there and I haven't been informed? I called because I have been feeling restless, like something is wrong!"
"I.." Malini falters in her response, not knowing if telling him is a good idea. But she cannot lie to him, not when he has been restless and troubled about something being wrong with the family like he received a premonition.
"Hello? Malini? Why are you silent? What has happened?" he asks, now truly panicking. It makes the decision for her.
"Aditya, please calm down. I... everything is not right here Aditya. Imlie...she...."
"Imlie what?" he asks, voice lowering to a panicked whisper.
"She is in the hospital. We had to rush her in when we found her unconscious in her room"
There is silence from the other side of the phone and it makes Malini frantically add
"She is okay now. She is out of the critical zone and she will even be discharged tomorrow"
"O--okay. I-- I'll come back as soon as I can. Just....take care and keep me updated" he forces out and cuts the call before she can even respond. She sighs as she looks at the phone.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
Fanfic------ Can Be Read As General Fiction ------ One night. One event. Lives of two people altered completely. When Aditya Kumar Tripathi, Chief Executive Reporter at Bhaskar times stepped into Pagdandiya and met Imlie, he did not know how his life woul...
