The salwar-suit that adorns her is a magenta colored one, elegant and sleek in its finish. It is a bit disproportionate on her, the sleeves a little longer with the flare around her waist a little more looser. The dupatta is of an off-white shade and hangs on her left shoulder. Her long hair is plaited in a fishtail braid and the earrings are pearl drops. She is resplendent but so is she mirroring Malini. From the dress to the studs to the style of hair, everything on her is Malini's. She looks like Malini and something in him that has been trying at control, completely snaps instead. The anger that boils within is the culmination of everything that has happened to him ever since that fateful night in Pagdandiya that changed everything. It sears him, chars him from within, a vitriol so potent, his verbiage reeking of it blemishes his own self as well!
"How dare you?" his voice rankles with anger and all he can see is red.
_
The photoshoot had been Malini's idea and so had the theme. When Imlie had agreed to dress in her clothes, she had never anticipated it will lead to a catastrophe. All that has been running on her mind is her worry for Rupi Didi.
So when Aditya comes barging in on her, voice rankling with fury, she is startled out of the thoughts she had been lost in ever since Malini left for an urgent call, with nothing but confusion and surprise painted all over her visage. Before she can get a word in though, he begins his tirade, each word more piercing and unbearable than the last.
"How dare you touch her clothes? How dare you taint what is hers? Tum itna gir sakti ho humne sapne me bhi nahi socha tha! Tum toh dava karti ho na ki tum Malini se, hamare parivaar se bahut pyaar karti ho- kya hua uska? It's all a lie like everything that you are! I should have known everything you do is with an ulterior motive. All that kindness is just a show to hide something wretched. After all, I trusted you and what did I get in return- your grandmother blackmailing me with information on Malini that she could only have got through you. Should have known you wouldn't have magically transformed since you got here. But don't you think for a second, what you are trying to do will work. You cannot replace my wife and if you think I would....."
He never gets to complete his words even as a slap halts him in shock. She stands there before him, eyes red and teary but glistening with pure rage. She stands tall and despite their height difference, her posture screams a rage so potent and her eyes mirror a hurt so poignant, it shocks him still completely. His cheek stings with the slap but all he can do is stand and look at her.
"Enough has been said Babusaheb! Enough has been said and enough I have heard. Ever since the marriage, you have taunted me, humiliated me and I have borne your anger, your insults quietly because I understood your anger, your hurt, the circumstances that forced its hand. But today you have crossed a line! I will not stand here and bear you verbally assaulting the only thing left that is mine- my dignity! Hamari shaadi ke elaan se leke aaj tak ek baat aisi bata dijiye jo hamari marzi se hui ho! Agar tha toh Sita Maiyaa ki saugandh, Imlie abhi nas kaat kar apni jaan de di hain. And you are accusing me of trying to replace Malini Didi? Aisi baatein karne se pehle aap hume maar hi dete Babusaheb!
I have spared a thought to your anger, your hurt, the consequences of what has happened in Pagdandiya, to your family and to your wife while you have never even spared a thought for what I left behind. I have never once blamed you and you (laughs bitterly), you have never once deemed me innocent! Your life has had a new beginning, you have everything you want but have you ever spared a thought to how this marriage has destroyed my life more than yours? All my life revolved around was my Amma, my Dadda and my dream of educating myself enough so my family can hold their heads high and walk. That is all that has mattered to me. Marriage was never supposed to be in the cards for me, I never wanted to get married ever. And you stand there accusing me that I orchestrated it -this marriage that has destroyed my life? Aapki nazar me hum byata nahi ban paaye aur duniya ki nazar me hum bin byaahe nahi rahe. Hum na idhar ke hain na udhar ke. And that will always remain. Pagdandiya is the land of Sita Maiyaa, it is where sindoor is given the greatest importance. Be it how ever our marriage was conducted but by the customs that raised me, I have been married to you. Now I can never get married again. There never can be anybody else. It's so funny when it comes down to it (laughs painfully) - I never wanted marriage or love after watching what happened with my Amma, never wanted that fate and look where that has landed me. I'm worse off than my Amma, Babusaheb. Kyunki unke bhaag me jhoota hi sahi, intezaar toh hain. Hamare bhaag me woh bhi nahi hain! And my family- I am miles away from them, a web of lies that shall remain between us always because I cannot let them find out the truth! I can never fulfill my dream now, never become a police officer like I wanted to so that my Dadda can walk around without any fear or subterfuge because I can never let our worlds meet. The price I have paid and I will be paying is more because of this marriage, so what makes you think I ever had a hand in orchestrating it? I never told anything to my Nakli Nani. I declared a yes to the marriage only to buy me some time to get you a phone so you can contact somebody. But she locked me and Amma in and there was nothing I could do!"
"You are a good man and I respect you. But what you said today was more than I could bear with. I will not let you take away the only thing left in me, for me - my self respect, my dignity. And as for Malini Didi's clothes, if you'd taken a moment to look around, you would have spotted the camera-set up and the clothes on the chaise lounge that would give you an idea of what is happening! We were doing a photoshoot for Rupi Didi. Mujhe Didi ki jagah lene ka koi shauk nahi hain na Malini Didi banne ka. Main Imlie hun Babusaheb aur Imlie apne wajood se, apni pehchaan se khush bhi hain aur uspe garv bhi karti hain! I am taking your leave now. If Malini Didi comes back from her phone call, do let her know I was feeling tired so I have gone to lie down for some time and will be returning her clothes soon."
She walks away without sparing him another glance, her head held high even though everything within her has shattered. The tears she has been holding back, they roll down her cheeks now but she does not stop till she reaches what is her room now. She locks the door and collapses on the ground, finally letting herself break down!
PS:
I have written and rewritten this chapter almost 5 times. This was the 6th try. I am still not sure if it is proper so do share your views. Feel free to criticize and share your honest opinions.
Also not proofread so forgive the errors and typos.
Love,
Pratyusha
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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...
