Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us

22| Chapter 19: Parinaam?? (2)

"Stop it!!" Imlie screamed unable to tolerate the horrendous accusations being put on her character.

"I swear on Sita Maiyya that nothing has happened between us" she announced in grave seriousness. All of the villagers halted at this. They knew Imlie was a firm believer of Goddess Sita and that she wouldn't falsely swear, being well aware of the consequences.

Dulari cursed under her breath. No! She couldn't let such a wonderful opportunity go waste!

"Oh is it? Then what about these bangles on your wrist?" she slyly pointed out.

"Ay Meethi. See and tell if it's hers or gifted by this Shehri Babu"

Meethi looked at the bangles and then at her daughter. She cast a glance at an agitated Aditya as well but all she could see in their eyes was confidence and honesty. If there had been a wrong motive behind that gift, their eyes would have bowed down or the guilt in them would have shown. But all she could see was honesty shining in their eyes and purity emanating from their bond. Satyakam had informed her about Aditya that day. And so she knew, her daughter and her guest weren't at all guilty. Nothing had happened! They had just got stuck in a storm, thats it. She hadn't needed all of this to affirm her faith because she knew her daughter very well. She needed it to prove it to the villagers because she knew the end result of this otherwise would destroy two lives!

"Are you dreaming or what? Answer my question!" Dulari yelled pulling Meethi by her hair.

"The bangles aren't hers Amma but....."

"No ifs and buts. So it proves they are guilty" Dulari announced, cutting Meethi in the middle.

"No! It doesn't prove anything! We are innocent" Imlie shouted.

"What do you intend to say Respected Old Lady that just because I have gifted a set of bangles to her, it makes me a person who has spent the night with her?" Aditya spoke up, thundering in anger. He was hurt and angry and why wouldn't he be? Aditya Kumar Tripathi was a man of morals and the open slaughter of his character when he hasn't done anything wasn't something he would tolerate.

Imlie could understand his state. She knew he was a respectable man, a decent man who did not deserve this insult. She would take all insults thrown at her but she wouldn't let anybody malign his character anymore.

"You heard him Nakli Nani. This pair of bangles have been given as a token of Thank you. I took him around the village. He is my guest. And so he wanted to thank me for all the help. Nothing else!"

Seeing the villagers slowly believing Imlie and Aditya's words, Dulari felt herself tasting defeat which she couldn't afford at any cost!

"Fine agreed you might be innocent. But you have spent the entire night in the same place so you'll follow the rules set in the village. Either he'll be killed or you both should get married! And for your kind information O Villagers, this pair has been blessed by Sita Maiyya herself. You can ask the Village Priest. Dint he tell the same to you Imlie when this Babu accidentally spilt Sindoor on you, filling your parting?" she said slyly.

All of them stood shocked. Meethi was the most shocked. She just couldn't believe it at all! Meanwhile Imlie and Aditya shared horrified looks at each other.

What the hell was happening??

___________________________________________

Sitting in his room, he looked at the vast stretch of luxury and development as far as he could see through the window. The skyscrapers seemed to be kissing the sky with development and technological process evident all around.

10 years back when he had come here, he had come with dreams and aspirations. He had come to achieve great heights so that he could make his family proud.
His career had taken off well and he had soon started gaining a lot of success. He had everything planned out. After a few more years, he planned to fly down to India to be with his family. He would then get married to his love of 9 years and then return here. At the birth of his first kid, he would fly down to India forever. Life seemed set.

But little did he know fate had something entirely different written for him. When he initially found out, he had felt as if his world had shattered. But then trying to take things optimistically, he decided to go in for the necessary treatment and see if he could come out of it. But unfortunately, it increased more instead of decreasing. And that's when he took the most difficult decision of his life!

Picking up the phone, clutching his heart in his hand, he called her up. Her enthusiastic, love filled hello made his heart clench in agony. Oh why was God so cruel! How could he break her heart like that? How could he crush the person whom he loved so much? But he had to because he knew, it'd break her to learn about him and that she deserved a much better life than this. And so he had, steeling himself uttered those four words which broke everything in him

"It's over between us!"

The silence from other side told him what she had felt. He had hung the phone almost immediately knowing he wouldn't be able to take either her hurt or her questions.
The next call had been to his family. The family he loved more than his life. His entire body trembled even as he uttered words of disrespect and arrogance, just to cut off from them. To save them from the bigger hurt, he had to give them this pain and so he did. But after that, he was just a living corpse. Waiting for his end and praying for the wellbeing of his family. And of course, remembering her - the love of his life for whom he yearned. If only life hadn't done this to him. If only!

Love,
Pratyusha