He was brought out of his trance by the sound of the bus. He moved in behind her cursing himself for getting lost in her. She took the front seat, too exhausted to consider courtesies of offering seat etc. He stood by the door and watched from the corner of his eye even as she rested her head against the window and clutching her bag tight, closed her eyes. Her face looked pale and he could see she was drained out. So he saved his anger and outburst for later because he wasn't so heartless to reprimand her when she looked so down. He averted his gaze from her face only for it to land on the black and golden mangalsutra tied around her neck. One look at it and it brought back all the happenings and he felt bitter and angry. In this struggle to hold himself, he did not realize when they reached the dhaba which lay midway. He was brought out of his reverie when a thud sound nearby was heard. It took him sometime to comprehend what's happening and that's when he realised all except her had deboarded the bus.
He shook his head and then looked up only to see her in the same position he had at the beginning. That's when he realised something was wrong. Why hadn't she deboarded the bus?
Has she fallen asleep? He moved towards her and called out her name but she dint show any movement. Frowning he called out louder but she dint respond. Even as his worry took over all other emotions, he shook her only for her to collapse into his arms!
Alarmed he patted her face to bring her back to consciousness and that was when he registered that her skin was burning hot. Damn she has high fever!
Without a single thought he lifted her up along with her potli, securing his bag as well. He carefully but hurriedly got down and moved towards the dhaba ignoring the looks of all the people around. Reaching in, he enquired for a hospital from the owner but was left frustrated when he was told there wasn't any around which were at even a considerable distance. The owner witnessing the worry of the man said
"Beta, my house is nearby. Come with me. My wife knows quite a few home remedies. We can treat your wife there"
Not seeing any other option, he agreed and left behind the owner, ignorant to the fact that he hadn't said a word when the owner called her his wife.
___________________________________________
He was settled on the chair beside her unconscious form, his eyes refusing to move away from her. Her fever had reduced comparitively much and with that his worry too had lessened a bit. She'd be alright in sometime.
She slowly opened her eyes, her head feeling heavy. Everything seemed hazy till a few minutes after which she finally registered her surroundings which were quite unfamiliar. She looked around and that's when her eyes met his. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"B-Babusaheb? Where are we?" she asked weakly.
"You had fainted in the bus due to your fever. Since we don't have a hospital anywhere near, we were lucky to get help from the Dhaba owner whose wife is good with home remedies. We are at their house and it's her efforts that your fever has come down and you have gained consciousness" he said
"Oh" she said and tried to get up. He instantly helped her while all she could do was stare at him. Making sure she was properly seated and comfortable, he sat back on his chair.
The pins and gajra in her hair hurt and her necklaces too had mingled, getting entangled. She weakly lifted her hand and with great difficulty removed the gajra and freed her hairs. The tied locks fell down tiredly over her shoulder. She then went on to remove her entangled necklaces which had almost entwined with each other. Removing them she placed it on her lap. It was now that she felt a lot better. There was just her nuptial chain adorning her neck. All this while his gaze hadn't left her even once but the sight of her married symbols brought back all the bitterness and anger that his worry had overpowered. But more than anything else, it was the betrayal that hurt. He felt really bad learning that she had revealed about Malini to her Nani in turn resulting in this disaster which has now pushed him away from Malini.
The thought of Malini made him sad. She would feel deceived and would break if she were to know this. She wouldn't be able to take it that he was married to someone else. Oh why did fate have to play this cruel joke on him? Why?
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The dhaba owner's wife walked in holding a tray of food. She smiled seeing Imlie conscious. Placing the plate at the side table, she caressed her hairs with affection making Imlie open her eyes immediately. Tears filled Imlie's eyes as the motherly touch reminded her of Meethi's love filled, warm caress.
"How are you feeling now child?" the lady asked with a warm smile.
"I'm better Kaaki! Thanks a lot for curing me" Imlie said with gratitude.
"You don't have to thank me. If it is someone you should thank, it should be your husband" the lady said making Imlie's eyes go wide as she looked at Aditya whose face had an expression she couldn't quite gauge. Before she could ask anything, the lady kept her hand on her head and said
"May Lord keep her divine grace on your pair. May you always stay together and may your love never diminish. Beta, may you be a suhaagan (married woman) lifelong"
Imlie closed her eyes painfully and then forced a smile on her face.
"I have kept food for you both here. Finish it and let me know if you need something" she said and turned to leave when she remembered something
"Oh and the next bus to Delhi is 4 hours from now. You can take some rest here till then" she said and left before either of them could say a word.
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...
