They reached the Tripathi House in 15 mins and as soon as they did, they could see quite a lot of huzzle- buzzle. Workers were running around some fixing the decorations, some others doing the lighting and some laying the carpets and arranging the chairs etc. Both Aditya and Imlie were confused as to what the occasion was that all of these preparations were being done.
"Come with me" he said and started moving towards the door without waiting for her reply. She sighed and followed suit.
Just as the two entered the house, both coincidentally entering by keeping the same leg, the garland of flowers which had been tucked at two nails on either side of the upper pane of the door fell right on their shoulders. Their eyes instantly moved to each other and lingered even as they stole a moment for themselves from time.
"I'm so sorry sir and ma'am! I had just fixed it loosely and had gone to get more thread to tie the knot. But this fell off before I could fix it" a man said apologetically breaking the two out of their trance. She nodded awkwardly while he pulled the garland from over them harshly and throwing it away, stormed off. The man looked apologetically at her at which she nodded her head in an assuring manner, in turn masking her hurt, moved behind him.
___________________________________________
“Maa, what is all this?” Aditya asked as soon as he spotted Aparna instructing a few people holding a plate full of pooja items.
“Any Pooja?” he asked
“Arey Adi you’re back? Go freshen up and come down. We have a lot of arrangements to make and a lot of things to finalise” Aparna said with a smile
“But for what?” he asked furrowing his eyebrows
“For your marriage with Malini!It's in 4 days!” Aparna declared happily. Both Aditya and Imlie (who had reached him by then and had heard what Aparna said) stood shocked.
“B-but that was to happen the next week right?” he asked slightly stuttering.
“We preponed it since Panditji suggested the same. And before you ask let me tell you, we wanted to surprise you and that is why we did not tell you” she said and was about to move ahead when her eyes fell on Imlie.
Her eyes glazed with hurt, her face gleaming with innocence despite - that’s how she stood after which she immediately masked when Aparna’s eyes fell on her but which unknown to her, Aparna had already seen.
Aparna’s heart filled with warmth and a gush of affection rushed through her at just the sight of this stranger who felt so familiar.
“Who are you beta?” Aparna asked with a tenderness Aditya hadn’t seen before.
“Maid for the house” he replied harshly, irked by the warmth with which Aparna was looking at her. Why was she being so tender with her out of all the people? Her- the person who ruined his life and because of whom the Aditya Kumar Tripathi who hated lies had to lie to his own mother!
His anger increased and he just stormed away, oblivious to just how much he had hurt her with just a few words!
Imlie dint understand why she was feeling so hurt. It wasn’t that she felt for him or something. Plus she hated getting married. She dint want to ever! She would traverse the entire journey by herself, all alone. Why then was he going away from hurting her? Why did a few words from him pain her so much? Why?
Alas, she had no answers to any of her questions!
“Beta?” she heard Aparna call out, which snapped her out of her thoughts.
“J-ji?” she almost whispered, scared the pain she was feeling within her would be palpable in her voice.
“What’s your name?” Aparna asked, gently caressing her hairs as she looked scared.
The soothing caress had its desired effect even as she felt herself calm down, the caress akin to her own mother’s, in turn reminding her of her mother, whom she had left behind.
“Imlie” she said softly
“Arey wah! That’s such a nice name! Who gave it? Your Amma or Baba?” Aparna asked
Tears filled her eyes immediately at the mention of Baba but she held herself from sobbing. Steeling herself, she said
“My Amma has kept my name. I don’t have a father! He abandoned my mother and ran away 20 years back, leaving her to suffer! Anyways, let’s leave all of that. (taking a deep breath) Hello Ma’am! I am Imlie from Pagdandiya. I have come here to the city searching for a job due to the need f-for money and Babusaheb was kind to offer me this job (swallowing painfully). I can do all the household work including cooking. In cooking I can prepare all the basic vegetarian foods. The others you’d have to give me the recipe. I have my Aadhar card for verification of my details as well” she said confidently.
Aparna smiled at the girl infront. She dint need any verification because her intuitions said she could trust her. And she knew her Adi wouldn’t have offered this job to her if she wasn’t proper or trustworthy. Plus, the confidence that she showed despite being in a completely different place, away from her family - it surely impressed Aparna.
“Come with me beta. I’ll show you the place where you’d stay. You’ll be informed of your work as and when needed since marriage functions are going on here. And one more thing - you don’t have to call me Ma’am”
“But what else can I address you with otherwise?”
“Umm...what do you address elder ladies in your village with?”
“Kaki!” Imlie promptly replied
“Then you can call me that”
“Okay Kaki!” Imlie replied with a twinkle in her eyes
___________________________________________
Aparna took Imlie to the farthest corner of the corridor and showed her a compact space which was due to the bend.
“I’m sorry beta but you’ll have to stay here for a few days till the marriage doesn't get over. You can use the bathroom at the other corner to freshen up and change”
Imlie nodded her head overwhelmed. Who would apologise to the maid of their house for not giving her enough space? Heck people just give a small corner of the kitchen for the maid to sleep in. Aparna caressed her hairs and left from there telling
“Freshen up and come to the kitchen” to which Imlie nodded.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
Fanfiction------ 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...
