It is sheer coincidence or maybe it is fate that Tripathis become home for one more person who needs it. Aparna is picking up vegetables in the market when she stumbles across a young, despondent man searching for a job. Something in her compels her to speak with him and when she does, he gives her the truth. He tells her he had been working for the Mishras till he quite due to the need to keep his own dignity. He tells her he walked out when he could endure no longer but choosing his self-respect meant no one was giving him a job because nobody would believe he walked out on his own. Every house he went to knew who the Mishras were and they refused to find it plausible that a lowly cook had walked out on them and chose to believe the more acceptable version - he had been kicked out. With this version circulated, nobody wished to give a chance to a person who was 'kicked out' by a family such as Mishras.
"This is the truth ma'am and I refuse to not speak it, refuse to take blame for something I didn't do and refuse to accept the narrative this society finds so believable, which in reality, is a complete lie. I will tell it to any person who shows interest in hiring me even if it jeopardises my chances of a job because I know if I don't, it'll simply create unpleasant situations later I'd rather avoid!"
The honesty behind his words is a glimmer in his tired eyes. She has no doubt he is right and she despises this society a little more for hurting yet another person who is just trying to lead this life. With that conviction, she asks him to come with her to a cafe nearby so she can interview him, in a way, for the job. He smiles with gratitude at her and follows her as she leads the way, silently praying he gets the job.
_
This is the latest, in terms of time, that she has ever woken up in her entire life and the initial panic is so potent, she would have speedrun to the bathroom were in not for the mild dizziness and dull pain. She rises slowly, taking in deep breaths to calm herself down.
"It is okay Imlie. There is no Nakli Nani here. No one to protect, no one to protect myself from. I am okay. It is okay to take my time. Malini Didi and Choti Kaki said it to me." she tells herself slowly, her belief in these words slowly building.
She takes her bath and gets ready whilst thinking how fast the past few days have been passing. Yesterday felt like the shortest day since she was awake only for few hours. There is a pang of guilt that envelopes her at the thought, habitual to how she has been raised and everything she has endured but for the first time, she chooses not to heed to it. It is not easy, the feeling does not dissipate but she tries to drown it out anyway and for her, it is indeed a very huge step!
Ready for the day, she makes her way to the dining room with slow steps, cautious despite feeling much better. It is when she makes it to the kitchen that she gets the shock of her life!
_
It being a working day meant everybody except Aparna, Radha, Pankaj, Harish and Rupali were at work which of course meant an empty dining room, especially given the time as well. But that is not what has her shocked. It is the man in the kitchen wearing white shirt and black pants, an apron tied around as he chopped vegetables with enviable efficiency. She can see the other preparations done and she knows it is all for lunch, seeing as it is approaching afternoon.
For a moment, she is completely frozen but when the shock decreases, her heart sinks and eyes pool up. She is at a loss as to what and why and all she can do, like she has regressed back to something primitive, is run from the kitchen, right to the hall, bawling her eyes out.
Harish who is sitting right there startles and is up on his feet, worry taking over him. He is soon joined by the rest, all worried and frantic.
"Imlie, hua kya hain baccha? Why are you crying like this? Is it the pain? Is it too much? Are you hurt?" they fire a barrage of questions but all she can do is sob, muttering something incoherent.
They quieten down to try to make out what she is saying and they hear it then.
"....said....daughter.....kitchen...new person...replaced me.....I can work.....I can"
Radha figures it out first and shakes her head in exasperation. Holding Imlie by her arms, she shakes her gently, startling her out of her sobbing.
"No one is replacing you, paagal bacchi! You are the daughter of the house. How does hiring a cook replace you? And Sundar was in need of a job so he has one here. You are not required to work in the kitchen anymore" she says firmly.
"But...what else am I to do?" she questions innocently, a speck of confusion lingering in her eyes.
"Study" Harish says.
Her eyes widen in disbelief.
"What?!"
"Yes, you heard it right. Your work from now on is to focus on your education. And for it, our very first step will be for you to give me the next few days and let me gauge what you know and don't know so far!"
She takes a whole minute to process this and then as she does, a sparkle brightens her eyes and entire face. Hope, gratitude and immense happiness fills her heart.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she tells the family, looking at each one of them. She was right. Her Sita Maiyya will always be on her side and she has proved it yet again through her family!
They pat her head and caress her cheeks in affection, telling her she does not have to say that at all.
"This is just the beginning of the journey my child and I know, you are destined for a lot more!"
PS: not proofread.
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...
