Dev paced about in the corridor as the lady doctor checked upon his unconscious wife lying inside. He felt extremely disturbed and distressed over it. He had observed how since the time Malini's marriage had been finalised, his wife had become so quiet and sad. And today, on the day of her engagement, she had fainted!
Dev knew Anu had an inkling about what had happened 20 years back but he was unaware that she knew exactly what had happened 20 years back and that it had brought about a disaster he was still unaware of! She had turned bitter from that day and he had carried the guilt of the same since years.
"She's okay now Mr. Chaturvedi! I feel she's facing some kind of stress which is draining her out. I suggest you talk to her and try to get her to speak what's troubling her. That'll help her. Rest just make sure she gets enough nutrients, proteins especially and has regular intake of fluids" the doctor said to which Dev just nodded. He wished his mother was there with them now. She was the only person Anu spoke to properly apart from Malini of course. But since she wasn't here, Dev had to be there for his wife.
Taking a deep breath, he walked into the room only to see her staring at the roof above, tears slipping past her eyes. The sound of his footsteps made her turn towards him and he was taken aback by the vulnerability that prevailed in them.
"Dev" she whispered and stretched her hand out towards him. He immediately held it and sat beside her on the bed, his other hand inadvertently setting itself on her head, caressing her hairs softly. She closed her eyes as more tears escaped them and he just held her that way, unable to understand what else to do.
Anu just held his hand and silently cried. She knew he dint know what to do and hence was silent. She was aware of his guilt as well. But that couldn't change things could they? That couldn't bring back what they had lost! She could never forgive him for what he did 20 years back but at this moment, she held onto him for support because she could no longer battle her vulnerability. Just a few moments more and then she'd get back to being the same because she couldn't tell him what was bothering her. She couldn't confess her fears and insecurities to him. She couldn't tell him just how much she feared her daughter's life would become similar to hers as well. She couldn't tell him why she was falling so weak at the thought of her daughter going away. She couldn't tell him of her fear of losing again! So she just silently sought his support for sometime before she'd push him away again.
___________________________________________
"Just remove it and keep it in this box. I'll be back in a moment" Aparna said and walked away relieved. It fit Imlie then it'll fit Malini too.
As soon as she left, Imlie reached for the ring and began pulling it out hurriedly. She was afraid he would blame this on her and before that, she wanted to remove it and just go away from the spot. But much to her bad luck, the ring wouldn't budge from her finger one bit!
She tried harder only to hiss inaudibly in pain but it wasn't inaudible to him. He looked around and took the cream kept on the dressing table infront. He handed it over to her wordlessly. She took it from him, applied it on her finger and managed to successfully remove the ring finally! Taking it out, she wiped it gently with her pallu to remove the remnants of cream spread on it and placed it in the box. Just as she finished doing that, Aparna walked in again.
"What happened? Ring sahi nikla na"
(The ring turned out to be of right size)
"N-nothing Choti Kaki! The ring was a bit tight for me" Imlie replied.
"Oh then will it fit Malini? Is it the right size then for her?" Aparna asked worried slightly.
"Don't worry Maa. Anguthi sahi hain, bas haath galat tha. Jo cheez chandan ke liye bani hain, use mitti me daaloge toh dikkat toh hogi na" he said and walked away.
(The ring is right, just the hand for it was wrong. When something made for sandalwood is placed in the mud, it'll be a problem only)
Imlie looked down hurt. Aparna noticed it and caressing her cheeks affectionately said
"Kuch bhi bolta rehta hain! Iski baaton ko dil se mat laga Imlie"
(He just keeps speaking nonsense. Don't take his words to the heart Imlie)
Imlie nodded and Aparna left with the ring.
___________________________________________
It was time for the engagement to commence. They hadn't called anybody as such for this one since all their relatives lived away and their neighbours would come later on. The engagement was throughout a private affair. And so Malini had no one from her side as both her parents couldn't come and her grandmother was to arrive the next day.
Aparna felt bad for her. Although Malini wouldn't say, she knew she felt bad because anybody in her place would. Imlie too saw how Malini looked sad. She dint like to see her that way! But would it be okay with Babusaheb if she offered to represent Didi's side? He had after all asked her to stay away from Malini. She was battling this dilemma in her head when she heard Malini call out to her.
Malini was indeed sad. She felt that familiar void envelope her and that familiar feeling pound in her chest. She wished all of it that happened on that fateful day hadn't! Pushing back her tears, her eyes met with the sight of Imlie who was lost in her thoughts and that brightened her up. For the first time in years she felt she could push the void enveloping her even as her eyes lit up and she called out to her!
Aditya looked at Malini and seeing her face lit up at the sight of Imlie, he dint understand what to feel. Here he had warned Imlie of staying away from Malini to stop this bond forming between them for valid reasons. But then, without Imlie doing anything, Malini had started to bond with her. He could literally see her sad eyes light up with joy. He sighed and turned to look at Imlie.
Malini moved towards her and whispered something in her ears. Imlie stilled for a second and then a smile formed on her face. She nodded her head and whispered something. The two smiled and Malini walked back to her place with Imlie following her.
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...
