Chapter 8

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Sabr ka phal...

Part 7:

Arpita sighed: Sit down, Aryan, I will explain.

Amma finally found Imlie in her room, brushing her hair furiously.

Amma: There you are! Daddah and I have been looking all over for you. Did you see Aryan Babu? He was looking so handsome in that tan kurta-suit. Daddah was so happy that you picked so well on our behalf. Does Aryan babu like it?

Imlie glared at her mother: Do you see me Amma? Ya phir saab compliments apne damad ke liye hi bacha ke rakhe ho (Or have you saved all your compliments for your son-in-law)?

Amma smiled, confused: Of course, you look beautiful too. Itna chir kyu rahi hai (why are you getting irritated)? You both look really nice. It's a very nice color combination.

Imlie, irritated: Stop puffing him up so much. You know what? I was wrong. He does misunderstand me, all the time in fact!

Amma's lips pursed: Oh toh phir se jhagra kiya tune uske saath (oh, so you fought with him again)?

Imlie: Me!? Why do you fault me for everything!? He is the one who is at fault! You won't believe what he did!

Amma: I saw you two long enough together. You are the one who starts all the fights. He's such a quiet, well-behaved guy. Always right and proper. Bechara kya jeena haram kar deti hai tu jaab tu sanka jati hai toh (you make that poor boy suffer when you lose it). Why do you have to always make trouble? Ab chup (now quiet), you are not going to ruin the mood of the haldi by making that face. Now, smile. Smile! Come with me.

Imlie, in a high pitch: Tum decide karlo phir (decide then), it's either me or him!

Amma, calmly: Him. Ab chaal, waise hi der ho chuki hai (Now come, it's already late).

As Aryan came out of the store room, he saw Imie's mom bring a miffed Imlie in to sit for the ceremony. She sat Imlie down with a warning look and walked off to get some things.

Aryan cautiously approached and took his seat next to Imlie, warily looking for a reaction. Imlie ignored him and looked at her phone. He looked at Di, uncertain. Arpita just signaled him to keep calm.

The ceremony went along without another hiccup. Their parents started with the haldi and gave their blessings and then came the never-ending number of guests and dignitaries who had something teasing, sweet, or downright annoying thing to say before applying haldi on their cheeks of foreheads.

Imlie was a good sport and kept up the smile and laughs for the pictures and videos, especially for the teen girls that wanted to take pictures with the latest viral sensation. Aryan was having a harder time of it as Imlie kept ignoring him. He was nervous as hell to begin with...little did people know that he nearly blew everything an hour ago and now he had another task ahead of him. At the rate things were going, he wasn't sure he was over the worst of it. He might have just changed Imlie's mind about this whole business.

Imlie seethed internally. Here she was, getting shy of him all evening because she had started seeing him in a new light since getting closure and look at him. She knew she liked Aryan, but she didn't realize how much his support over the years really meant to her until today. He was more than a friend. Didi was right. The realization had struck her like a bolt of thunder when she saw him again in the parking lot after meeting Aditya. Aryan's scared look really tugged at her heartstrings in a way it hadn't before. She saw what she refused to see in him while pining for a man who did not exist. He was the one who stood by her like a partner, a pillar of support, a cheerleader, and a life companion without a word of judgement or complaint. He was the one who was with her all along and she did not see it.

She was suddenly feeling shy and so she avoided him all day because she wasn't sure she could be the happy friend she always was to him. And he had to go burn it all down by telling her she can walk out if she wants. Why would he say he was always willing to marry and tell her to step out of it after three years together? It's not like she called Aditya there, was it? She was there to buy his freaking clothes for their haldi! Aryan thought she would embarrass him like that by just dropping him? What did he think of her? Was she some flippant idiot who had no respect for marriage or friendship? Just because she was a divorcee doesn't mean she didn't value marriage. Stupid larka.

She knew he liked her. She always knew he liked her. A woman always knows. She just didn't know how much. When he agreed to the wedding, she agreed too. He was after all her best companion and partner anyway. She thought they could make a marriage work even if they weren't as lovey dovey as she had thought love was supposed to be. They could make a success of it with mutual respect and partnership. Why did he think she would drop him like that? Didn't he have any faith in her? Hadn't he shown faith in her these last three years without any promise? And why would she let him go now that she was really seeing things clearly for the first time?

She glared at him sideways as the neighbor's twins clicked selfies with them. Tahmeez and Tehzeeb were troublesome sixteen-year-old twins who just wanted to see the world burn.

Tahmeez: Imlie Didi, look at the camera, na? You can see Bhaiyya later. Ab toh time hi time hai (now you have all the time in the world). Har din, har raat...(all day and all night...).

Aryan blushed as Tehzeeb twittered: Bohot shaitan ho gaye ho tum dono (you two have become little hell raisers). I will tell your mother.

Tahmeez: Koi nahi, hum tho ri hi darte hai (No matter, it's not like we are afraid). Ab dance! DJ play something good na? Rajasthani, like Bhaiyya here. We saw him do the most wonderful twirl with Imlie Didi earlier, we want a repeat.

Imlie, shocked: What!?

Tehzeeb smirked: Haan (yes), we saw you two go to the storeroom... He swished you in all romantically (they laughed).

Imlie looked around at the scandalized guests within earshot and panicked: It was nothing like that!

Tahzeeb: Don't be shy, ab toh allowed hai (it's allowed now). Aap dono ki shaadi joh ho rahi hai (now that you two are getting married).

Aryan, equally mortified: Keep quiet, you two. Always up to mischief for no reason. It was nothing like that. We were just talking.

Tahmeez: Haan haan, hume bhi saab pata hai (yes, yes, we know it all). Aap toh itne lucky ho, Imlie Didi, itna handsome pati mil raha hai aapko (you are so lucky, Imlie Didi, you are getting such a handsome husband). You know, all the girls at our school has a crush on Aryan bhaiyya (brother). Oh! (They squealed in delight) Music started! Come, you two have to start the dance.

They dragged Imlie and Aryan to the floor and announced their dance despite the couple's protestations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTRrMTqnkdI

Imlie stood glaring at him. Aryan cautiously mustered up the courage and stepped closer.

Arpita cheered from the sidelines: Go Aryan! Izzat ka sawal hai ab (it's about our reputation now), show the little ones how its done!

Tahmeez and Tehzeeb pumped up the crowd as the cameras clicked and made videos.

Tehzeeb, hopping: I am getting a new reel for Insta!

Aryan, alarmed: Nehi, koi zaroorath nehi hai uski (no, there's no need for that).

Tahmeez and Tehzeeb: Whohoo! Arylie...Arylie!

The crowd joined them.

Imlie, in a low voice: I know you can dance, so stop making excuses. Everyone is watching.

Aryan, peeved: Only if you ask nicely.

Imlie turned to walk away when he grabbed a hold of her and swung her around. The crowd went crazy with cheers.

Aryan: Don't embarrass me.

Imlie: Haan, wahi toh karte hai na hum har waqt (yes, that's what I do all the time, don't I)?

He swung her around again.

Aryan: What is that supposed to mean?

Imlie glared at him as she finished twirling: You tell me. Why am I always the villain? The flippant one backing off promises while you get to be solid and staid?

Aryan lead her around the floor: I didn't say that.

Imlie: Oh, you don't say anything. Not even when you need to!

Aryan couldn't help but retort: You said you don't like romantic gestures anymore.

Imlie stumbled a little: I ah...I don't! I just want things as they are supposed to be, in order.

Aryan: Right... What was not in order then? Is that a twelve carat ring on you finger there? Where did that come from?

Imlie turned red: I am more engaged your sister and your mother than you if we are really being that literal then.

Aryan was speechless for a moment. He stopped talking and led her through the dance, glaring at her. Women were such contrarian creatures. Yesterday, his gift of the lehenga was too much. Today, his ring was not enough. Was Didi right then? Did Imlie want the ultimate romantic proposal even though she told him she was done with romance? How did that even make any sense? And why did he have to ask her when they were halfway through the ceremonies?

That night...

Imlie played the reel over and over. Wow, they really did look awesome together as he picked her up with each swish of her lavender lehenga. The views were adding up. Everyone was commenting on how they loved their continuous swing around the floor as the song ended on a high. Little did they know that Aryan was arguing with her throughout the song. Arrogant bhais (buffalo).

Aryan took a deep breath and knocked on the door again. There was a mumble of music coming from inside, clearly she was awake. Would she keep him waiting outside? He knocked more insistently.

Imlie opened the door with a sudden swing. He knocked on her head, having not seen her. She slapped his hand away.

Imlie: What the!?

Aryan looked down at her.

Aryan's jaw dropped: Wh-what are you wearing...?

Imlie, irritated: My pajamas, obviously.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-Women-s-and-Women-s-Plus-Stitch-3-Piece-Pajama-Set/977915374

She was standing there, a tiny Lilo in a full Stitch print night set. Arms red with mehendi, feet red with alta. It was quite a disjointed combo, but she made it work. It was the most "Imlie" outfit he had seen to date and there was a lot of crazy looks she had rocked over the years.

Now he had to propose while looking at a hundred pictures of that little blue monster jeering at him?

Aryan sighed: Nevermind, come with me.

Imlie stood her ground impetuously: I am busy.

Aryan gritted his teeth: Why? What were you doing?

Imlie: Whatever I was doing, I was busy with it. Now, goodnight. I need to sleep before the big day.

She tried to shut the door but he put his hand in the way.

Imlie, concerned and annoyed: Stop it! Lag jaati toh (what if the door hit you)?

Aryan: Toh lag jaati (so you would have crushed my hand). At least your anger would have abated a bit.

Imlie sighed: Kaha jana hai (where do I have to go)?

Aryan: Chaad pe (rooftop).

Imlie: Why? You want to push me off now?

Aryan, annoyed: Imlie! That was uncalled for, now stop whining and come with me.

Imlie felt a little sorry: Ok, let me get my slippers. I don't understand why we have to promenade in the middle of the night...

Aryan nearly lost his will to propose tonight after one look at her Stitch slippers, but Arpita Didi had helped him do all the preparations for tonight and tomorrow was the wedding, so it had to be now.

https://www.dismerchandise.com/2020/10/05/stitch-slippers-for-women-now-out/

Imlie tried being a little more cheerful: I bought this as part of my wedding trousseau, cute hai na (isn't it cute)?

Aryan was distracted as he quietly led her by the hand through the dark halls and up the stairs: What?

Imlie from behind: My outfit! You said I looked like Lilo, I thought let's get this...

Aryan smiled to himself thinking of the time when he had once told her she looked like Lilo with her hair down. She loved watching that film with the ashram kids. They played it on repeat every time the kids were over.

Aryan: So you bought this outfit to impress me?

Imlie blushed in the dark behind him: When did I say that?

Aryan: Why is it part of the wedding trousseau then?

Imlie, defensively: I...I thought it was cute, that's all. I LIKED IT.

Aryan smiled in the dark: It's really nice. Really goes with the whole mehendi and alta look, ouch! Stop it! Someone with hear us! IMLIE! STOP that right now!

Imlie smacked his arm again and again with her free hand: I am not a buttoned up bore like you. You dress like an undertaker all the time, you don't get to make fun of my outfits. Let go. LET GO! I am not going up there with you. Let go or I will bite!

Aryan grimly: Ok, that's enough now.

Aryan picked her up by the waist and carried her quickly up the stairs.

So I am back with another piece. Let me know your thoughts on this one. My updates are always based on responses.

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