Chapter 7

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Part 6:

A few months ago...

Arpita: Imlie, please think about it. Please tell me that you will at least think about it. There is no pressure. Ma and I have had this cherished wish for a few years now, but we never dared tell you after that first blunder. We are like family, but we want to really be family, if you will have us.

Imlie, softly: But we are just friends...he and I.

Arpita: You two have incredible chemistry. It is possible that what you are thinking of as friendship can be the start of a really loving relationship. I have seen you two closely. I think it is more than friendship.

Imlie was blushing hard: You didn't say this to Mr. Baton Ki Credit Card (Loaner of talks), did you? Because he will have cleared any misunderstanding you have about this, Di.

Arpita smiled and clasped Imlie's hands: I did ask him already.

Imlie jumped out: What!? Why!? Didi, I understand you want to set him up, lekin (but), go for some fancy girl that fits him, na? Not me. I am a divorcee.

Arpita: Imlie, this kind of talk doesn't fit you. You are as precious to us as any young woman could be and you being a divorcee does not diminish your value. Stop talking like that.

Imlie: He deserves better than a heartbroken shell of a woman. I have an idea, let's make him a dating profile!

Arpita: You are so much more to him than than a heartbroken girl, pagli (crazy girl). It's time to come out of your grief and give love a chance, Imlie. You owe it to yourself, not us, to be happy. I asked him and he said he will be okay with whatever decision you took and if your answer is no, then we will all remain just as we are...

Imlie: I have been thinking about renting a place of my own for a while, but you guys won't let me...

Arpita scolded: And you won't think of such a thing! Like Aryan said, and we are in agreement, nothing will change in our relationship if you don't want to marry him.

Imlie: Why would he just agree with whatever I say? What if I said yes when he doesn't want me to?

Arpita laughed: You are reading it wrong. He wants you to say yes. Or...he's hoping you will.

Haldi night...

Arpita welcomed their neighbor Mrs. Khan and her twin daughters to the party, but they seemed distracted by something behind her. Arpita looked around to see the whirl of the gorgeous lavender lehenga they had just bought, then Aryan and Imlie were visible for a split second before they disappeared behind the door of the storeroom.

https://www.shopreneelabel.com/product-page/viola

Lehenga here

Arpita's heart sank. He got to Imlie at last for the talk. This brother of hers was hell-bent on ruining everything because he just couldn't believe that Imlie could go for him. Arpita wondered if this Haldi will happen after all...

The teenage daughters of Mrs. Khan exchanged meaningful looks at each other and giggled.

Mrs. Khan was of a rather sweet bend herself: Was that Imlie and Aryan? How nice they look this evening.

Arpita forced a smile: Thank you...please, please come in and get some refreshments.

Aryan closed the door behind them.

Imlie, annoyed: Kya hai (what is it)? Tumhe bhi khelna hai toh boldo na? Lekin next round tak nehi (If you want to play hide and seek too then just say it, okay? But not until the next round).

Aryan glared at her: That's enough, Imlie. Ignoring the elephant in the room will not make it go away. We need to talk.

Imlie's nonchalant demeanor dropped: So we ran into him, what's the big deal?

Aryan braved the question: Do you still want to get married?

Imlie's eyes flashed: Why, are you having doubts now? Accha hai, agar confused ho toh abhi bol do (nice, if you are confused then just say so now). I don't want to walk into another marriage where the man changes his mind.

Aryan, shocked: Me!? I am asking YOU if you are suffering doubts. (He started speaking really fast) Look, don't feel any pressure to get married if you heart is not in it, we can stop the events right now. I will never hold any of it is against you, nothing will change and -

Imlie: You think I changed my mind because we ran into him. Just like that!?

Aryan sighed: I know he is the only one you ever thought of and distance sometimes does not help...if this is about Ma and Didi then -

Imlie: It is not about them. Yes, his face is the only one I knew when I learned of love and marriage, it has taken me a long time to come out of that disaster...maybe I haven't...

Aryan, earnestly nodded: That's what I am saying...

Imlie: I am not done.

Aryan swallowed. He had to be strong, she was going to back off now. He had to be a friend to her and support her, not lose it over her not feeling the same way.

Imlie took a deep breath: When I saw Babusaheb today, I realized with a start that I did not feel the same anymore. He didn't change or even question his ways. He was standing there with the child he had with Malini Didi and he was still questioning my character. I felt freed of the cage I had mentally put myself in - in regard to him. I realized I picked a better person to accompany my life. I was happy, Aryan, that's why I wanted to drive back and celebrate. I felt a world lighter in a way I didn't feel right after signing those divorce papers. After all these years, I was free! I was just enjoying myself with the kids and everything and you had to come and burst my bubble. (She wiped her angry tears) Thanks for doing that. At least now I know how you feel about all this happening. We didn't have that chat earlier when we should have. Your doubts are warranted, I am not saying you are wrong for wondering if I still love him or even if you want to be with me. This is why I told Didi that you shouldn't be set up with a divorcee. (She took a deep breath) Toh ab jao, jake saab cancel kar do bahar (So now go, go and cancel everything going on outside). It was only a setup after all, Arpita Di will get over it and your mother will too.

Aryan took a staggered step back, his eyes blurry: I never suffered any doubts when it came to you. If you want to break this engagement, break it because you don't want it, not because you think I suffered any doubts cause I never have!

Imlie's chin went up: You expect me to actually believe that?

Aryan, exasperated: Yes! I only want what you want. I don't care that you are a divorcee, don't accuse me of that. Aditya is your first love and if you can't overcome it, I don't want to force you.

Imlie's bangles jingled: Did you hear anything that I just said!?

His chin trembled. Imlie felt immediately remorseful. Was Amma correct about him? Was she hurting him more than he let on?

Aryan: I don't doubt my feelings for you, but I know you don't feel the same. That's why I am giving you an out of the engagement. If Didi wrangled you into saying yes then I will talk her out of it. Nothing will change. We will be friends as we are...

Imlie: Didi didn't wrangle me into this, she asked very gently because you wouldn't. And what engagement are you talking about when you never even proposed?

Aryan's face registered shock.

Imlie, accusingly: You didn't even ask me!

Aryan, confused: But you don't feel the same.

Imlie: How would you know? You never even asked.

Aryan stuttered: But...we are getting married! (He pointed toward the door) That's our Haldi ceremony outside. What do you mean we are not engaged!?

Imlie: You think just sending over an expensive ring with your mother and sister is an engagement?

Aryan swallowed, suddenly feeling like he had done something very wrong: You agreed with Didi...

Imlie: And that meant you could just skip the engagement?

Aryan pressed his temples with both hands: I don't understand. You agreed to marry. I am only saying that if you are not sure, you can have an out and you are accusing me of doubt and not proposing to you.

Imlie: He Sita Maiyya! (Oh Sita!) Are you daft!? Why would I agree to the wedding if I didn't want it?

Aryan, defensively: You may have, but seeing him you could have changed your mind.

Imlie: I just told you that I knew for sure I got over him when I saw him. Can you LISTEN!?

Aryan was lost: So...you want to get married?

Imlie: Only if you want it, but you are too busy making all kinds of assumptions about me.

Aryan, frustrated: I was only asking! What do you want then!?

Imlie snapped: I just lay it all out for you!

Aryan: Well, clearly it didn't register because I am confused as hell now! You are over him and free. So you want to be single now or you want to go out and get married?

Imlie grabbed fistful of hair with both hands in frustration: I just TOLD YOU I wanted you to propose to me rather than have this setup through Didi. If you want to get married, you have to PROPOSE. Actually...nevermind, you killed the moment.

She tried to walk out, but Aryan was already in the way.

Aryan: There was a moment during this fight!? (He scoffed) Now you are just messing with me. Tell me clearly what you want.

Imlie: I did, but you didn't get it. So you tell me what you want!

Aryan had crazy eyes at this point: I want to marry you, obviously!!!

Imlie: Are you sure? Because you sound really all over the place telling me to break it off.

Aryan: Didn't I just say that I never had any doubts when it came to you? You are the one I was waiting to arrive at this point. I have always been here!

Imlie: Then why can't you say the simple words rather than dancing around it like a freaking jilebi (sweet pretzel)!?

Aryan, cluelessly: What words?

Imlie silently screamed in frustration: He bhagwan!!! Why do you curse me like this!? Hatto (move)! I have a haldi to attend. People will notice I am missing.

Aryan threw out his hand, blocking her path: We are not done. You just said we aren't even engaged yet! Whose haldi are you going to attend anyway?

Imlie: Mine! The one Arpita Didi set up with her idiot brother. Now get out of my way.

Arpita saw Imie storm out of the room with crazy hair. The automatic door quietly shut behind her.

Arpita burst into the room to find a shell shocked Aryan: What happened!?

Aryan shook his head: I have no idea.

Arpita: Is the wedding still on? What did she say when you asked her to decide?

Aryan, hollowly: She said she was over him. She knew it when she saw him.

Arpita sighed in relief: That's wonderful! (Pause) Isn't it...?

Aryan looked at Arpita now: But she said I was doubting and that we weren't engaged.

Arpita: Huh?

Aryan: Exactly. She was making no sense. She wanted me to propose and then said I ruined the moment. Apparently, I didn't say the "words." Then, she went out to attend the haldi cause you set it up - with me!

Arpita smiled in relief now: And what did you say?

Aryan paced the room: Di, I didn't know what she was talking about. I told her I had no doubts, I was just waiting for her.

Arpita: So you said the words?

Aryan, annoyed: What words!? I told her I knew she didn't feel the same, so I hadn't proposed or pushed her. What else could I say!? I told her I wanted to get married and I wasn't suffering any doubts. I only wanted to know if she was sure.

Arpita grimaced and shook her head: Oh, Aryan, you really are an UNB of the highest order. What will we do with you?

Aryan, appalled: What did I do now!? I was just trying to give her the choice!

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Index (thanks to SundariP)

Part 1

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159734452

Part 2

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159745711

Part 3

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159754967

Part 4

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159763228