Climbing the water tank as fast as she could, she reached up and collapsed on the ground crying. Why couldn't she stay happy even this bit? She was so happy when she received the certificate, was emotional when her Amma spoke about her pride in her and then everything good had transformed into sadness all because of the woman who had God knows why made it her life's mission to make their lives miserable.
What she had told Nakli Nani were indeed true. And she knew it. She wasn't crying because this was the supposed end of her dreams. She was crying because it hurt her that her own grandmother had ruined her happiness. And after all, Imlie was still a lot young. And anyways, it wasn't the first time she was hiding her tears from others!
Meanwhile
Satyakam had returned to Pagdandiya for a short two day visit. Being a tribal activist, fondly called Dadda by the villagers, he was a revolutionary person who was like a protector of the locals who were being exploited. Satyakam was a man of morals. He was a man with immense courage and dedication and also love. After seeing what had happened with Meethi, whom he loved, Satyakam who was an ordinary farmer decided to become empowered and empower others so that no "shehri babu" could ever exploit them in anyway possible.
But since he was an activist, he was much wanted by the police and hence wasn't stationary at a particular place for long.
Satyakam loved Imlie as his own daughter and knowing it was the day her scholarship was to be announced which he knew with surety would be given to her only, he had come down to Pagdandiya.
He walked towards Meethi's house only to find her crying holding few pieces of paper. His eyes then fell on Nakli Nani, sitting on her cot and stuffing her mouth with motichoor laddoos, looking very happy.
"What has happened Meethi? Why are you crying?" he questioned in his deep baritone causing both the women to look up. While one sighed in relief, the other sat still in fear. Satyakam was the only reason Nakli Nani hadn't tried to kill Imlie again, when she was in Meethi's womb and he was the only person she feared.
Meethi stood up and narrated all that had happened truthfully, making him glare hard at a shivering Dulari (Nakli Nani).
He picked up the pieces and fixed them with tape, all the while pride gleaming in his eyes. This made Meethi smile as well, seeing Satyakam's orbs glow with a fatherly pride. He fixed the certificate and said
"Meethi, make some more Motichoor laddoos and something nice to eat. We'll celebrate this occasion. I'm going to bring Imlie." Satyakam said
"I know where you'd be now Imlie" Satyakam smiled and walked towards the water tank.
Satyakam reached the tank and saw Imlie sitting on the ground and sobbing.
He moved towards her soundlessly and kneeling down behind her, closed her eyes.
"Dadda!" Imlie exclaimed and removing his arms jumped onto her feet immediately, simultaneously wiping her tears. Satyakam stood up too. She immediately hugged him tightly. He caressed her head with fatherly affection.
"Dadda! You here? When did you come?"
"I came here because I knew I was needed here. And I have something for you!"
"What?"
"This" Satyakam said and showed her the torn certificate he had fixed. Her eyes twinkled and a wide smile lit up her face immediately.
"But Dadda, this was...."
" It was torn but I fixed it. Nothing in life is impossible to fix Imlie. Yes, it might be difficult to do so but remember always, difficulties are what truly make you move forward. They are what shape you. You'll encounter many such people who wouldn't be happy with your progress, who would put you down. But they can't stop you as long as you want it because the power to stop us or destroy us lies with us, not with others! This road is your struggle to make an identity for yourself and it won't be easy at all. You can't shed tears at each loss. And I know, you are my strong and brave girl." Satyakam said and Imlie smiled, motivated immensely by his words.
"Thank you so much Dadda! You are my inspiration! Without you, I wouldn't have been able to take this first step as well!"
Satyakam smiled and put his hands into his pocket and took out a rupee note and a coin. Imlie looked on, her eyesbrows slightly frowning and curiosity in her eyes
"This is a rupee note but it's nothing without this shagun ka ek rupaiyaa! You are my ek rupaiyaa Imlie and you are very precious! Very very precious! Remember that each time somebody tries to put you down" Satyakam said to which Imlie nodded with tears in her eyes and hugged him tight.
"Now come let's go home. I have asked your Amma to make something special for you. We'll celebrate this achievement of yours!"
"Sacchi Dadda! Thank you sooooo much!!!" Imlie squealed while Satyakam chuckled.
(Really Dadda)
And then the two headed home.
Meanwhile
(Trigger warning)
Sitting on his stool, his eyes fixed at a painting of a young woman, Dev sat, his eyes red of having cried for sometime. This wasn't the first time he had cried but each time the pain was just the same if not more.
"I'm really sorry! I'm really sorry!" he murmured brokenly.
"I shouldn't have! I shouldn't have done that! I...I was a coward! I am a coward! I-I ruined two lives! It-its because of me she became like this.....and you...I can't even imagine.... can't imagine how you'd be! How you'd have managed! I..I exploited your innocence! I..I don't deserve to live! I don't! A despicable soul like me dosen't deserve to live! No! I don't deserve to live! I don't!" he said and stood up. Looking around frantically, he grabbed a knife and was about to slit his wrist when he heard
"Papa? Papa? Are you painting something? Can I come?" Malini's voice called out and the knife dropped down immediately. He slumped down dejectedly trying to calm himself down. Malini, his daughter was the only reason his hands had stopped each time he attempted to kill himself! Malini was the only reason he and Anu were still together because he knew, his mistakes and sins couldn't ruin his daughter's happy life!
"Papa? You there?" Malini's voice called out, this time appearing closer.
"Y-yes beta! I- give me 5 mins. I- I'll come to your room. You go"
"O-okay papa" Malini said and walked to her room.
"They had fought again" she tried to push back her agony and went to her room.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
أدب الهواة------ 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...
