Adjusting the pillow behind her and making sure she is comfortable, they sit by her legs on her mattress despite her vehement protests. They hadn't uttered much, letting their relief overpower the anger and helplessness, hugging and kissing her head with all the care in the world. It had been unanimously decided that the pivotal and necessary conversation will be had in the safety and comfort of their collective home, aka Tripathi House. After making sure to heed the doctor's words about what supplements shall have to be included and what should be the routine for the next few days, they had completed the discharge formalities and brought their child home. She had requested for a bath and they had let her, knowing the discomfort of blood flow alongside the need to wash away the experience of being in a hospital although they had insisted she not lock the door. She had agreed knowing they meant well and had slowly scrubbed herself clean under water, having had to pause a lot more but getting through it either way. When done, she had pulled on a soft, loose rich brown kurti and was then forced into her mattress.
Now they sit, here Choti kaki and Malini Didi, right beside her foot despite her trying her best to dissuade them from doing so.
"If we are to have this conversation Imlie and we sure need to, we want to be on the same level and there is nothing you can say that can make us change our minds. It is about time you understood when we called you family, we meant it!" Malini says sternly. The past hours ever since Imlie was found unconscious in her room have been complete hell and she wants no part of it again. And if she has to switch on her Professor mode for it, so be it!
"But Didi, I know you meant it but..."
"But what Imlie? You know we meant it yet you couldn't even tell us that you were in pain. That you have PMS and it is causing you grief!" Aparna says, tears in her eyes.
Imlie looks down, hands playing with each other in nervousness. While one part of her is touched, there is another part of her that doesn't understand why they are so concerned about.. this.
"It is normal and has happened many times. I just didn't want to disturb you for something I anyway have to endure because that's what I deserve"
It slips out of her, words small and vulnerable, almost as if she is not consciously thinking it through. It shocks them, leaves them feeling horrified. The tears spill down then and it takes a moment for them to gather themselves.
"Who said that to you Imlie?" Malini questions gently.
"Na--Nakli Nani...I..I used to get lot of pain..like spasms and Amma had once managed to coax her to get me to a doctor when one of the city doctors had come to give free check-up. But Amma...she fell and hurt herself so she couldn't come so I..Nakli Nani took me. The doctor, she..she took a look at me and then sent me to the side because she wanted to speak to my Nani. I couldn't hear really and she even gave a pres..prescr-p-tion, but Nani...she tore it away and said I don't deserve it....this is my punishment for being born the way I was."
The words coming out of her mouth are hesitant and her voice is small. It is almost like she has regressed back into that age when her own grandmother denied her relief from deliberating pain. It pains their hearts to hear what she has undergone, how much she has undergone. If only they knew the true extent of it but alas!
Malini takes her hands in hers and looking into her eyes says,
"Listen carefully to me Imlie. Whatever your Nakli Nani said, it is untrue and horrible. You deserve medicine to alleviate your pain and your pain is not some curse because of your birth. There is nothing wrong with your birth, irrespective of what other people say because in no sense is your birth in your hands. You have PMS which many other women have and yes it is normal in that sense. But it does not mean you endure and hide from your own people because of it. PMS depends on a lot of factors and it is different for different women. If the symptoms aggravate, you have every right to take the medicines required."
"We want you to come to us Imlie. There is nothing called 'disturbing' in a family. We are meant to help each other, be there for each other because that is what family means. Whether it is something trivial or something major, whether it is something you have an opinion about or something you need help for - be it anything, you will not hesitate or overthink, do you understand?" Aparna says sternly.
Imlie looks at both of them and nods, her eyes teary. With just a few words, these two wonderful women had stitched up a wound she hadn't even known existed. Nobody had ever told her she deserved to live without pain. Nobody had ever told her she didn't have to shoulder all the burdens to be worthy of affection. Nobody had ever told her she could come to them for the smallest of things. Nobody except her Amma and Dadda had bestowed such affection on her.
She cannot stop it now as the tears flow freely and she sobs openly, clutching their hands like a lifeline, like a reminder that they were real, that all of this wasn't a construed dream. They let her, knowing she needed this.
As they do though, they realize just maybe their Imlie has properly come home!
_
It takes all his willpower to not barge through the front door. He unlocks the door with shaky hands and steps in with hasty steps.
"How is she?" he questions, haste in his tone like he'd charge down to wherever she is if no answer is provided in the fraction of the next second.
"She is doing much better Adi" Aparna says, patting his shoulder to ground him, the frantic look in his eyes not escaping her notice.
"She is asleep now in her room. You go freshen up and come. You can meet her tomorrow."
He nods but then her words cause him confusion.
"Her room?" he questions and Aparna's eyes widen when she realizes they haven't told Adi at all about their endeavor to make Imlie feel accepted.
"Yes her room. We have transformed the last room into her room. You can see it tomorrow and I'll talk to you about this tomorrow as well. Go get some rest now. Have you had food or do you need me to heat up some of the dinner?"
"No Ma, I'm not hungry. I'll freshen up and rest. Good night"
"Good night beta" Aparna says with a caress on his head and he moves towards his room, not understanding why her explanation has him feeling conflicted in a way. Especially as his frantic energy has still not calmed and he realizes it won't till he sees her.
He sighs and makes his way in, hoping his exhaustion will pull him into slumber. It's been a long day!
PS: not proofread, do share your views.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
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...
