Chapter 9

Marybarton

@Marybarton

Remember to write reactions - good and bad.

Part 8:

On the way upstairs toward the terraced rooftop...

Imlie: Wait!

Aryan: What now?

Imlie: My slipper fell.

Aryan: We will get it later, Cinderella.

Imlie: I know you mean it sarcastically, but I will take it. My life is more like Cinderella than you know.

Aryan held her closer, feeling the full weight of her words: Hopefully, this is the better end of the story.

He put her down on the swing under the mirrored terrace. Imlie looked around in awe. Everything was decorated in fairy lights and roses.

Imlie: Ohhhh....! I didn't know the wedding planners decorated here for the haldi too. I would have come sooner.

Aryan: Then, you would have been too early. This was all directed by Didi while the haldi was going on.

Imlie, confused: But why after the event?

Aryan put his hands on his waist: Can't you guess why?

Imlie pulled up her legs on the swing and sat sideways: I would rather you articulate the words.

Aryan sighed: You have to make it difficult for me. You know I am not good with words.

Imlie smirked: Try.

Aryan pointed at the table in front of her: There are snacks there for you. Apparently, you didn't eat much during the function.

Imlie: If Didi did everything, what did you do?

Aryan: I am trying to! Give me time.

Imlie picked up a laddo from the table and popped it into her face with one big smile: You have until the laddos finish.

Aryan took a deep breath to settle his heartbeat: You are impossible.

He looked at her sitting there in a ball on the swing. Red alta on her tiny feet and hands full of ornate henna patterns, pajamas full of that blue monster grinning at him. God, he adored her. But how was he going to say all that to her? What if the intensity of his feelings scared her? She had been through so much. Did she really want love when she always joked about how she was done with intense love and "all that rot?" She already felt what he was feeling, but it was for someone who had broken all her hopes. What if the wrong words reminded her of bad memories?

Aryan: Let me have your ring then.

Imlie, simply: Why?

Aryan: You want me to get down on my knees and do it the right way, right? So let me have (he stepped closer).

Imlie turned away: NO!

Aryan's heart skipped a beat in alarm that she was turning him down: What...?

Imlie shrugged: No can do. Abshagun to take it off now before the wedding. Use something else.

Imlie heard his fingers crack as he balled up his hands in his pockets and looked at him innocently.

Imlie: Words will do.

Aryan, restrained anger: Imlie. Why are we doing this if the wedding is happening tomorrow?

Imlie, sagely: Because I need to consent when asked. Did Arpita Didi tell you all the words?

He got down on his knees before her. Imlie's eyes lit up. She turned around and dangled her small red feet in anticipation. Aryan got right back up before saying anything.

Imlie: What are you doing!? (He walked away) Where are you going!? Come back here! ARYAN!!!

He was gone.

Imlie sat there steaming and scheming about how to get back at him. She had half a mind to destroy all the decorations on the rooftop but thought that would affect poor Arpita Didi more than Aryan.

Aryan stepped back into the terrace only to have a soft floppy Stitch slipper hit him on the chest and fall off.

Imlie was in tears: Why are you back!? GO AWAY!!!

Aryan immediately regretted his decision. He rushed towards her, realizing that he had unwittingly triggered her trust issues.

Aryan: I only went to get something! I didn't run off.

Imlie, wiping tears: That was the right moment to go get something!?

Aryan got down on one knee again and wiped her tears: It was, actually. I don't have many words, so I hope it will help. Sorry to leave abruptly like that.

Imlie didn't say anything, she was just hiccuping from crying.

Aryan set her hair straight and clasped her hands warmly: I am really sorry.

Imlie sniffed.

Aryan took out the anklet and showed it to her: Do you remember this?

Imlie: It's my anklet! I lost it on that Bollywood Night. I looked for it everywhere!

Aryan smiled a little: You dropped it on your way out of the house. I picked it up.

Imlie, shocked: You stole it!?

Aryan looked away in frustration: I kept it.

Imlie sat straighter: That's stealing.

Aryan, forced calmness in his tone: Imlie...I am trying to express something here. Can you please try...to understand?

Imlie thought hard: So why did you steal it?

Aryan, exasperated: BECAUSE!!!

Imlie jumped.

Aryan took a deep breath: Sorry again. Sorry. Because...that was the day I realized, I fell for you. I wanted to have a keepsake of you with me. I have been holding on to it for three years.

Imlie looked away: All while hearing me look for it...

Aryan gritted his teeth: I will freaking buy you a hundred pairs to make up for it, now please! Can you understand the sentiment?

Imlie: Okay. Go on.

Aryan: Da*n it, Imlie, you know what I am trying to say! I went to a boy's military academy, this kind of floral wording is not natural to me.

Imlie looked on in stubborn silence.

Aryan swallowed hard and tried again: That's when I started to like you. (Imlie looked blankly at him) But I was afraid to say it because you were going through a lot at the time. I wanted to wait and see if you could feel differently. Now that you seem to have had closure with your past, I am trying to articulate my feelings towards you.

Imlie: I know how you feel.

Aryan sighed in relief: That's great! Now that you know, will you (Imlie's hand stopped him)...

Imlie: But if you feel what I think you feel, you can say the three magic words rather than give me a whole essay.

There was a long silence and a staring contest.

Aryan: I love you, alright!? I love you. You happy now!? I know you don't feel the same, but I think I adore you enough to make this marriage work. You might feel affection for me in time, I can wait.

Imlie's look softened, she cupped his face and kissed him on both cheeks: You know nothing about women, Aryan Singh Rathore.

Aryan sighed in relief: Why did you have to make me say it all? You don't feel the same right now and you expect me to...

Imlie smiled: Cause I am a woman and I can demand it. And you are wrong. You grew on me a long time ago. I just didn't know how to let go of my old hurts to take a step towards you. And you certainly didn't make it easy!

Aryan: What? What did I do?

Imlie: You did nothing. That's precisely it. And are you going to complain now rather than enjoy the feeling that your feelings are returned?

Aryan looked down: Does this mean you will marry me tomorrow after all?

Imlie put her foot ahead for him to put the anklet on: Let's get engaged then.

Aryan looked up at her now, his eyes red and voice indicating shaky breathing: You...mean that?

Imlie smiled through her tears: Yes. If you will have me, with all my broken pieces. A thousand times yes.

Aryan: You are not broken to me. You have risen from the ashes and made your own path.

Aryan put on the anklet, but couldn't manage the hook. Imlie helped and pulled him up toward her. He cautiously came closer and sat down in front of her, pulling her face in for a kiss. Their tear-soaked lips touched and all was lost.

They talked for a long time after. Imlie sat in Aryan's embrace, reminiscing about the good and the bad times. For the first time, she didn't worry about anything to do with her past or her self-remonstrations. She felt safe. She felt truly truly safe and secure for the first time. This is where she belonged and to whom she belonged. He loved her just as she was. She didn't have to worry about the status of their relationship or about her social stature when she was with him. She had never experienced that before. It was simple, it was sukoon.

Aryan: I have waited so long for you.

Imlie: I am sorry.

Aryan: Don't. This is our time and it's perfect.

Imlie: It took me a long time to see that you were the one all along, the one who has been my strength. You stood by me when no one would and you never questioned or judged me. You were there without any expectations. I am sorry we didn't meet first.

Aryan: I wish your faith wasn't as hurt by your experiences. I wish I could take it all away. I promise I will try to make it better for you this time.

Imlie: You already have.

Aditya sat in the dark and played the reel in silence again. Aryan twirled her around and around in a sea of lavender skirts to the awestruck claps of the captive audience. They looked so sickeningly happy. It hurt like hell to see her become someone else's like this. She didn't look back, Imlie just moved on.

Malini called to him from the bed: Go to sleep, Aditya. It's late. I know you are still watching that dramatic clip. When will you get over it!?

Aditya: Never.

Malini, crying: I wish you would give us a chance! Imlie loves someone else now. When will you accept it and move on with me?

Aditya, quietly: I did, Malini. I gave us too many chances.

He turned off his phone and lay back on the couch.

The next day at the breakfast table...

Imlie yawned over her coffee.

Amma: Didn't you get enough sleep for the big day?

Imlie, groggily: I did.

Amma: You look awful tired.

Imlie: Thanks, Amma.

Aryan walked in and looked equally tired and asked for a strong coffee from the server. Amma and Ma looked from Aryan to Imlie with narrowed eyes. Daddah was cluelessly digging into his breakfast.

Imlie whispered angrily to Amma: Stop it. We were just talking!

Didi: Imlie, why don't you get some more sleep and freshen up? I will wake you when it is time to go to the parlor.

Ma smiled: You too, Aryan. Can't have circles under your eyes.

Aryan looked up alarmed: Are there circles under my eyes!?

Ma nodded sagely: Dark circles. From staying up too late on the rooftop.

Aryan, shocked: Ma, how did you...?

Ma: Arpita never hides anything from me.

Aryan glared at his sister: Privacy, Di! It's a virtue.

Arpita smiled beatifically: You can have that from tonight.

Leave your thoughts on the comments below, thank you.

Index (thanks to SundariP)

Part 1