Chapter 2

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Part 1:

As Aryan walked down the stairs, his mother and sister approached him with big smiles on their faces.

Aryan: Imlie's father didn't make it?

Didi: Sattyakam has a farmer's convention he has to attend. Imlie's mother said he will be here by the end of the evening. He wouldn't miss it for the world, you know how he dotes on her.

Aryan nodded.

Mom: I am so happy, son. Your sabr finally pay off. Imlie marry you now. I get bahu now.

Aryan: Everything is set then?

Mom wiped a tear: All set! You look so handsome, beta.

Aryan: I feel ridiculous in these Jodpurs.

Didi smiled: Aryan, stop. You look positively princely. Imlie picked this outfit herself, don't let hear you say that.

Aryan: Did she like what I picked for her?

Imlie staggered back from the outfit on the mannequin in her room. Amma was just gawking.

https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/seema-gujral-antique-gold-sequins-embroidered-lehenga-set-segc092147.html

Imlie looked at Amma: I had told him to pick something simple. In one color.

Amma gulped: Ek color toh hai. Magar...

Imlie shook her head: Yeh shaadi ki outfit hoga. Mein bhi na. Yeh konsi mehedi laga ke ruin karna hai? This is the wedding outfit.

Mom walked in with a cough: Yeh mehendi ki outfit hi hai, Imlie beta. You like?

Imlie looked terrified: What? I can't wear this!
Mom, distressed: Why, you no like? Arro ne khud yeh pasand kia tha. It not pretty?

Imlie laughed in shock: No, it's too pretty and too expensive for me, Ma. I can't wear this kind of designer item. I used to write for Page 3 Features, I know this costs more than I earned during that whole internship. It's too much. Aur waise bhi, we need something simple, so that it's not ruined by the mehendi.

Mom laughed in relief and took Imlie's hand: Imlie, mera ek hi beta hai. Toh uske wedding pe toh celebrate karna banta hai na? You know how long I wait for today? Now, my dreams come true. I get bahu of my choice. Toh practical hoke kya faida? Mera Arro khud pick ki he yeh outfit show se. He wear what you pick, so you wear what he pick na? And you pick for him so nice clothes!

Imlie: But Ma, yeh bahot...

Mom smiled: It's his way of show his love. You know Arro no speak much. Toh, for his happiness, you wear na? It look so nice on you. Beautiful mehendi green. Imlie mom, aap hi kahiye kuch?

Amma nodded: Haan, Imlie. Pehenle.

Mom smiled brightly and left saying that she had to do some last minute checks before the guests started pouring in.

When she left, Amma looked around, still a little surprised.

Amma: Tu bohot bhag wali hai, Imlie. Yeh log tujhe kinta pyaar karte hai. Bohot acchi family hai.

Imlie sighed: Kaha Amma..if I was so lucky, would all that happen to me?

Amma: Don't dwell on the past, Imliya. Ups and downs are part of life. But you are lucky to find this family. What I have got to know over these last few years, Aryan is quiet, but strong, staid...

Imlie started changing into the lehenga: Like the pillar of my strength. I know. Like Dadah, he has supported me every step of the way through college and the divorce, through this new career and so much more. But I never had to compromise my self-respect for it. He helped me do it all on my own by giving me my self-confidence back. But I am not good enough for him, Amma. He deserves more than a heartbroken girl who spent years waiting for Babusaheb to change his mind. He helped me overcome it all, but he let me pay my own way.

Amma, thoughtfully: Aditya babu is good where he is, he has his kid and that Malini to keep him occupied. I keep telling you, it's not worth it to keep waiting for one man - specially when he doesn't deserve you. You saw what happened to me for waiting. True strength comes from moving on. What part of his life did he stop for you? He has a news site, a child, a wife, everything. His life was never on hold for you. You have just worked on your career in the meantime. It's time to end that wait and move on. Real strength is in living your best life, not sacrificing it for someone.

Imlie: Babusaheb will feel vindicated when he sees me getting married to Aryan. He will think I really cheated like he accused me of doing.

Amma: It doesn't matter what he thinks anymore, you know the truth. Stop thinking of him. Today is your day, yours and Aryan's.

Imlie: But Aryan deserves better. You know, he never gets mad at me. Never. Not even when I destroyed his favorite car. In fact, he has no extremes of emotion. He's very logical. I like that. I had enough of temperamental men.

Amma: Yes, but for that car, you would have deserved a little heat.

Imlie: Amma!

Amma: It's true. What a crazy thing to do. I still can't believe you did that.

Imlie: Well, I was mad.

Amma: Never loose your temper at that boy, Imlie. He's softer than he looks. He might not say it, but he is. He needs a lot of care to come of out his shell.

Imlie: I lose my temper on him all the time. He doesn't take it the wrong way. In fact, I think we speak the same language because he never misunderstands me. I respect him and he respects me.

Amma: And what about love?

There was a knock on the door.

Imlie called out: Come in.

Aryan stepped in with a box, taking in Imlie in her resplendent new look: They forgot the jewelry. Just sent these over.

Amma smiled and squeezed his arm encouragingly: You two talk, I will go see if I can help your mother with the preparations.

Aryan nodded.

Imlie: There's jewelry too?

Aryan, perplexed: Of course there's jewelry, why wouldn't there be?

Imlie twirled: Look at this lehenga, Aryan. You think it needs more?

Aryan looked at the ground: You don't like it.

Imlie's face fell: No no, I love it. It's beautiful! It's just...

Aryan, annoyed: But you said it had to be a simple, one color fare!

Imlie sighed: Yes, because it's mehendi, it's supposed to be messy. I said simple. I didn't say go and grab the most expensive one-color lehenga on the runway.

Aryan glared at her: Well, I didn't grab the most expensive one.

Imlie smirked: That's a relief then.

Aryan didn't miss a beat: That's for the wedding.

Imlie gaped at him: Do you not get it or are you playing dumb?

Aryan: I don't know what you mean.

Imlie: It's too much! I don't deserve all this!

Aryan, irritated: What nonsense. Of course, you do.

Imlie sighed: It's my second wedding, Aryan. Everyone in the city knows thanks to the way that last one went down in public. I don't need all this spoiling...

Aryan: Well, it's my only wedding and I can afford to spoil my bride, if I want to.

Imlie: That I don't disagree with, but why did you agree to marry me of all people then?

Aryan shrugged to avoid looking nervous at her question: I don't know, you were conveniently placed at home already. You are good to my family.

Imlie rolled her eyes and laughed as she faced the mirror: Well, no one could accuse you of being romantic, that's for sure.

Aryan took out the flower necklace and put it on her: I thought you said you had your fill of romance.

Imlie nodded as she put on the earrings: Sure did.

Aryan concealed his disappointment: Then, why did you agree to marry me?

Imlie: Because you are a better man than anyone I have ever met.

Aryan stepped back: A compliment? What did I do to deserve it? (His eyes narrowed) Did you break something again?

Imlie: I didn't break anything. At least, not yet...I was just being honest.

Aryan: Is that a good enough reason to marry?

Imlie: It's better than, you were female and already living here.