Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us

69| Chapter 60: Saari Umar Hume Sang Rehna Hain

Her sleep is more turbulent today in the way that it does not rock her psyche with nightmares but keeps it disturbed with an inexplicable discomfort. She turns for the nth time on her mattress and that is when she hears Malini Didi calling out her name. She is up in an instant wondering why Malini would be here at this hour and that too at her su--suhaag raat, even as she pushes the saree aside, meeting the eyes of a distressed Malini. Before she can ask or so much utter a word, Malini pulls her into a tight hug that deepens her confusion and also increases her worry because she can feel Malini's tears soak her kameez. She hugs her back, deciding to let Malini shed her tears before questioning her, choosing to provide comfort seeing as Malini has sought her herself as opposed to ceasing her confusion.
_

It's like a damn breaks when she sees Imlie. It's like the distress that has been induced by her nightmares in every pore of her tender, bruised heart in all these years has finally bled out, at least a little. It's like the bruise that has gradually become septic in her has finally found a little of its balm. She cannot stop herself from pulling Imlie into a tight hug, cannot stop the tears that flow down. She cannot stop this breakdown even as her sister wraps her arms around her, returning her hug and providing the comfort she seeks in the moment.

They stay like that for quite sometime till Malini pulls away, sniffling. Imlie cups her face, wiping her tears and she asks

"Are you feeling better?"

Malini nods wordlessly.

"Can you tell me what has happened? Why are you crying Di?" Imlie asks, a tender and affectionate note in her voice. It is the same one Imlie would take with her Amma to hold her and console her whenever her Amma's grief got too much to handle and Nakli Nani's abuse got too much to bear, whenever her Amma's strength would falter against the shudder of her vulnerabilities. It is filled with love and bereft of judgement and it has the same effect on Malini as it has always had on Meethi - one of relief at the balm and the gratitude at the understanding.

For one moment Malini wants to tell her everything, wants to tell her about that thrice damned day and the way it destroyed so much! She wants to tell Imlie everything she has hid from her mother because she didn't want to burden an already splintered heart. The words bubble up, her chest fills up and she is about to do it but is stopped at the last moment by the ringing of a phone behind her. Startled, both turn in the direction of the sound, only to see Aditya accepting the call and walking away.

It's like somebody has splashed cold water on her even as she realises what she was about to do. What she was about to do in a moment of complete selfishness! How can she! How dare she?! She has no right to divulge something that does not completely belong to her! What if she had uttered the truth she only meant to share with Imlie and Aditya had overheard?! She hadn't realized he had followed her here. What if he had realized she had never told him this because she never could bring herself to, because it felt like jeopardizing the easy flow between them! How can she be so careless!

"Didi?" Imlie's voice snaps her out of her spiralling thoughts.

"Woh..... it's nothing Imlie. I-- I just had a bad dream, that's it!"

"But...." Imlie begins but Malini interrupts her, shaking her head, having realized Imlie would never believe her lie.

"I can't Imlie. Please....just let it go!" she pleads and Imlie gives up. She hugs Malini again, understanding her Didi wasn't in a state to share the cause of her distress right now despite seeking her out. It gives her some relief though that she was atleast able to give Malini some sort of comfort.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I'm here with you and I'll always be there. Whenever you want, whenever you can, I'll be here to listen" Imlie promises.