It tugged at her heart with a sharp pull, wounding it repeatedly in its wake, each letter that she wrote of his name on a palm that wasn't hers! Malini's heartfelt request had left her with no heart to refuse even as she silently acquiesced, humbled with the recognition it gave her with respect to one relationship she had seldom wished for but now that she had got, she couldn't refute! The tears in her Malini Didi's kohl lined eyes, the inexplicable yearning, the acceptance and affection in them was initiative enough to ignore the heaviness in her chest. So she did it and settled to draw the mehendi. The design was easy enough for a little sister's imagination for her elder one's special occasion of marriage even as she embellished Malini's palm with a unique design her creativity unleashed. But when it came to writing his name, her heart could no longer vanquish the agony! As she finished writing his name, she also finished accepting the thriving pain within her, pain that she knew was here to stay! And this was proven so immediately when her gaze fell on her mehendi stained hands.
Flashes of her frantic reaction when she had first gotten mehendi on her hands back in Pagdandiya flashed in front of her eyes. Ironic wasn't it? Her intense rubbing had done nothing to wipe the contents of her fate! It had instead deepened her affliction in the pages written as her story! Her eyes filled up but she pushed them back, swallowing repeatedly, her head bowing a little more.
"It's so beautiful and unique!" Malini exclaimed as she gazed at her mehendi covered hands with awe. Imlie looked up and her lips curled into a smile at the appreciation and happiness evident on Malini's face. The other ladies got up and crowded near Malini to see her design and were equally impressed. The design was indeed beautiful.
_
It brought a weird feeling in his chest, seeing her applying mehendi on Malini's palm and writing his name on it. It only increased when he heard Malini and the other ladies appreciate Imlie's talent and unique design.
He gazed down at the vivid image of a tamarind (Imlie) drawn on his palm. His mind flashed with happenings at the temple in Pagdandia. It was with great difficulty that he pushed it aside. This was absurd! Now was not the time to indulge in these baseless thoughts! If only he had heeded the significance of these signs of destiny! But alas!
_
She thanked everybody who appreciated her and then politely excused herself. Making the excuse of using the washroom, she left the hall hurriedly. She rushed up the stairs and practically ran to the bathroom. She had barely locked the door when the tears gushed out, breaking apart her restraint. She dint know how long she cried soundlessly but it was long enough for she felt a knock at the door and a worried voice call out her name.
"I'm fine, Rupali Didi" she managed to reply in as steady a voice as she could muster.
"Then what's taking you so long Imlie? And why does your voice sound so heavy? Have you been crying?"
She swallowed and wiped her tears.
"Of course not Rupali Didi! Why would I be crying? I'll just be out in a minute!"
Rupali hummed an acknowledgement but she dint feel very convinced. But she decided not to do anything about it for now.
_
The sangeet wasn't really important for them but was kept mainly for entertainment and only for the ladies. The men were more than happy to retire to their rooms. Malini sat with a smile, her mehendi covered hands and legs placed carefully. They were yet to dry so she had to be careful. The children and young ladies along with a few older ones were dancing to the beats of various Bollywood songs. Imlie sat beside her, refusing to dance and insisting on giving her Didi company.
Malini turned towards her and with a puppy dog face requested
"Please Imlie. Just one song! Please! Won't you dance for your Didi's sangeet? I can't dance. At least, I can feel more happy watching you dance!"
Imlie sighed and finally gave in. Malini smirked in triumph which surely ignited Imlie's mischief button. She could finally push the pain away, at least for sometime if she got into her role of younger sister. She could forget for some time that she was his wife! The twinkle of mischief in Imlie's eyes just made Malini feel uh-oh!
Imlie ran towards the other ladies and whispered what she wanted to do. They giggled and agreed, going about to arrange for the song.
Ae……
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
ek rishta aaya hain
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
ek rishta aaya hain
Imlie sat near Malini, the mischief in her glance enhanced with a teasing glint. Malini could only look on mouth open as she repeated the verse of this famous song of Rekha from the movie Khoobsurat.
Arey,
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
ek rishta aaya hain
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
ek rishta aaya hain
Imlie stood up and walked around, her hands tied behind.
Sun sun sun ladke me kya gun
Sun sun didi sun
He….
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
la la la la la…
La la la la la la la la…
ssh..
Malini had finally come to herself and had signaled Rupali to give one smack on her head from her side.
Imlie rubbed her head, a pout on her face even as she mouthed
lagta hain na didi!
All of them around giggled. The pout vanished as she ran around merrily, dancing to the tune till the next parah came along.
Acche ghar ka ladka hain par
hak haklata hain
The audio went off but Imlie did not falter. She mimicked the tone as would be in the song as she said
Pa- pa pyaari Mun zara pa- pa paas toh aa
Malini sat gobsmacked as others broke into peals of laughter. It was hard to imagine this for their Adi!
The audio began again which showed it was deliberate. It made Malini huff!
Muh par daag hain chechak ke
aur paan chabata hain
Paan chabata hain jab thodi peekar aata hain
Peeta hain jab juve me woh haar ke aata hain
Imlie's animated expressions for the parah and lyrics and the description not resembling Adi for miles made everyone laugh harder and also made Malini huff again and turn her face with a pout. Imlie reached near her and mouthed the lyrics, her expressions to the point. Malini could no longer keep the facade even as she cracked and giggled, shaking her head.
Sun sun sun ladke me kya gun
Sun sun didi sun….
Sun sun sun didi tere liye
la la la la la la…
This time the audio went for real and all of them laughed, the ambience vibrant and lively with Imlie's performance. All throughout, Anu had completely forgotten her conflicting feelings towards Imlie. All she felt was happiness at her performance and how it had enhanced Malini's ceremony. Maybe she could actually keep her fears away at the side because the actions of the girl were opposite to her fear. Her love for Malini reflected in her actions and her gestures.
PS: Song in video box. Do hear!
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...
