In the middle of night, she woke up went to cupboard and grabbed Aryan's tshirt. The dried blood on her top smelled. She was half asleep. She wore and went back to sleep.
When she woke up she saw it was 6 pm evening the next day!! She slept through the morning. When she looked around, the room was clean. She must be really exhausted that she didnt even realize somebody came and clean the mess. She wanted to take shower but she didnt know what to do without clothes and she has no idea what Aryan mood is. She got out of room and saw him talking to a man. She went inside and texted him. He came upstairs, "Bolo Imlie?"
"Kya hum tumhare kapde pehnat sake rahe? Kapde nai hai aur mujhe nahna hai." His eyes softened. He went to his cupboard grabbed sweat pan and a tshirt.
"By the way pucha kyu? Le leti khud already mera tshirt pehna hai. Ye tumhara hai hi samjho" and he left. Seems he is really busy in something as if yesterday never happened. Doesnt he wants answers to his hundred questions? Imlie wondered. Yes she forgot she wore his tshirt. She quickly showered and applied the medicine again and wrapped the gauzes around her. She looked herself in mirror- The clothes were to big but she didnt care she hugged herself and smelled the clothes. His scent. Anyways she needs to get going she cannot stay here forever. She went downstairs , the man was gone . Aryan came out of kitchen with big bowl in his hand which he kept on the table.
"Madam where you going?" He raised his eyebrows.
"To my room i mean to the place where inwas renting.." She replied starting to leave again.
"Oh hello! We need to talk and i dont want to hear anything Imlie. Bohut time laga khud ko control karne mein. That for later. First eat then we will go and pick up your stuff. You will stay here with me and thats final" He said as if it was so simple.
"Oh hello Sir!! Mujhe meharbani nai chaye. " she taunted
"You can pay me rent" he replied.
"But-"
"We need to talk!" Can this man stop yelling . Since yesterday something has came over him. I miss old fun Aru. This new Aru is.. is Akdu. Akkadbagga perfect.
Sighing she went and sat on table, suprisingly he served her and she let him. Look at him, a boss serving an employee wish she could take a click. She laughed internally. "I cooked" he said as matter of fact.
She coughed in suprise. Oh god sitta maiya bhi nai bachaoayenge.
She ate in silence. She looked over to Aryan, he had funny face going on tasting his own disaster recipe. The daal he attempted- was half boiled, no salt, kacha masala but Imlie ate because he made it with good intention.
"I am full" She stated
"So am i" he replied back leaving the dal half full.
"Chale?"
"Hmm"
Grumpy idiot. Guilty wo hai lekin bura mujhe feel karva raha hai. Victim main hu ke woh. I need to give him time she thought.
He came inside with her. Uncle and aunty was so happy and relieved to see her. They hugged with tears their eyes. " we were so worried beta"
She filled her in and introduced Aryan to them who was standing there quietly at their interactions. She went to her room and packed her stuff. When she came out she smiled Aryan was hugging both of them and saying thank you to them. I wondered what they talked Imlie pondered.
"Hum tumhe jaane isliye de rahe hai kyunki Aryan ne kaha aur promise kia tumhara dhyan rakhega. Ab to police ke paas jana beta" they insisted.
"I love you guys and i am going to visit you whenever i can." She kissed them both and had teary farewell.
"Rent kitna loge? Ye baat yahi hojaye to acha hai. Varna hum yaha se apna rasta dhund lenge." She asked
"Shut up yar. 1000 rs"
"Bus?"
"Yup"
"Guest room ready hoga tumhare liye"
"Thank you"
"Hmm"
"Hmm"
Once they reached home, Imlie took a huge sigh. It was time to tell him the truth whole truth.
She walked behind him, he opened the guest room. "Come on in"
"I will take deposit by the way" he said.
"How much?"
"I haven't decided"
Imlie rolled her eyes. They faced each other silent.
She could hear the clock ticking and she can feeling him ticking too. "Anytime now" he gave a fake smile.
"What you want to know?" She asked softly with seriousness.
"From the beginning and i want to know each and every detail of your life in this city" she could weigh the seriousness and tension in him.
"Even what time i had gone bathroom or how many times?? " Imlie joked to lighten up the mahol.
He stood there unfazed by the joke "if you want to you can i dont mind" was his reply.
So she started... she told him about tbe brutality , the umpteenth number of times he tried molesting or raping her , she even mentioned the office incident. She told him about how he snatched her first kiss. " He was horrible Aru, i hate him to the core. But you in all this i still always use to smile you know because i fell in love , unconditional love with someone" she looked in his eyes. "I loved the way you gave respect to women, how you treated them, you were fair with everyone except me of course" she teased "You know i didnt even care if you liked an another woman. I never wanted or expected anything in return i wanted to see you happy. I had two life- one when i was with you and one where it was hell. I wanted to fight my own battles, i didnt want to tell you, and when i when i did you didnt listen. That broke me , but am still here , unknowingl, just you being here in front of me , it makes me stronger , my support. You will be my friend and always will be Aru. I- "
Before she could finish his lips found hers. She felt the tears, his forehead touching hers. And just like he got up and left.
