Chapter 10

Marybarton

@Marybarton

An explanation about why Aryan's background works for the story to develop as it does in Part 9 is at the end of this page - in response to someone's comment.

Part 9:

Mid day...

Arpita made sure the journalists had tea and coffee sent to them while they waited and she made her way to Imlie's room to see if the preparations were underway.

The designer was fussing in whispers outside Imlie's door as her assistants wheeled in the lehenga.

Arpita, softly: She's asleep, so we want to be very quiet...

They all nodded and made their way in. Arpita looked around and saw that the others were also there.

Arpita, still whispering: Okay, good. Everyone's here?

They all nodded.

Arpita smiled: Great.

Arpita approached Imlie who was deep under the covers.

Arpita softly caressed Imlie's hair: Rise and shine, Imlie!

Imlie awoke: Di? What time is it?

Arpita: 2 pm.

Imlie's eyes opened wide: Oh, no! Won't we be late for the parlor?

Arpita smiled and nodded her head towards the corner: They are all here.

Imlie sat up: What?

Arpita: I had them come home, to save us some time.

Imlie yawned: Oh Didi, you didn't have to do that...I could have just gotten up.

Arpita teased: No, we want the bride to have her beauty sleep after all. Big day ahead.

Imlie blushed: Di... Wait what's that (she nodded toward the massive curtained structure). And aap saab kaun hai (who are you all)?

Arpita: That's your bridal wear with the designer's team. The parlor team, you already met, hair and makeup. Jewelry. And then some journalists will want to talk to you after you are all ready to get some shots for the magazines and a few bytes. It will be a short interview on the terrace.

Imlie looked alarmed.

Arpita: It will be very quick and Aryan will join you, don't worry.

Imlie choked: Interview.

Arpita smiled encouragingly: Small interview.

Imlie: I didn't know we invited these magazine types. I thought it was just going to be BashkarTimes taking some pictures.

Arpita: We didn't, but they always come. So we just let them have a few minutes at this point.

Imlie, queasy: Why do they take such an interest in a businessman's wedding? Iss saal mein, wedding season slow hai kya (is the wedding season slow this year)?

Aprita smiled: Nehi (no), but that's for later. First go and freshen up.

Imlie came out of the bathroom to be pulled into a whirlwind of designers, makeup, hair, jewelers, and whatnot. She did not know what was going on and could barely take it all in with the commotion around her. When someone was pulling at her hair, she looked toward the noise of the zipper to see the lehenga being unveiled.

Click here to see it:

https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/seema-gujral-gold-embroidered-gown-with-dupatta-segc102004.html

Arpita did a little hop of joy: It's perfect. Well done, Seema!

Imlie: What is that!?

Arpita gestured toward a lady standing at a distance from the gold with an awkward look: That's Seema, the designer of your custom gown. Isn't she just a magician, Imlie?

Imlie started apologizing profusely: Seemaji, I am sorry Mr. Rathode put you through all that. He wouldn't let me see, it was his surprise. I only had a say in the haldi and I made sure I just got things from off-the-rack. I had no idea he was planning something so...

Arpita interrupted: So beautiful! Imlie just means to admire your work, Seema, she gets nervous and talks a lot when she's awestruck. Isn't that right, Imlie?

Imlie took the hint now: Yes, that's it precisely.

Imlie kept her mouth shut after that until everyone left. They stuffed her into the lehenga decorated in the most ostentatious jewelry once hair and makeup was done and left. Imlie stood looking at herself in front of the massive floor mirror, over-awed by the decadence on her.

Arpita looked worried: You don't like it...I told Aroo we had to get your approval for the lehenga, but he said you would never agree.

Imlie: It's not that, Di. It's all positively grand! But it's too much! I am just a simple girl from a village in Bihar, people will laugh...

Aryan walked in: No one will laugh.

Imlie turned around and saw that Aryan matched her to a T. He was looking incredibly handsome in his gold militaristic sherwani and cream pagdi (turban).

Imlie: You look so nice.

Aryan smiled his rare, lunar eclipse of a smile: Thank you, I had to try to live up to the bride.

Imlie blushed, pleased: But all this jewelry. And and...this lehenga. It's all so much, Aryan. I didn't ask...

Aryan looked at her sympathetically: Khandani hai (heirlooms). Every bride in our family wears that jewelry, we don't have much of a choice in the matter.

Imlie, overawed: Oh...toh Arpita Didi, you should wear it. Not me!

Arpita smiled: Imlie, I am wearing mine. Don't fuss. What you are wearing is your right as Aryan's bride. You look magnificent, like a bride should, on her wedding day.

Imlie: Sorry Didi, but in my world, all brides don't deck up like this... It's overwhelming.

Aryan, calmly: Rathode brides do and you make a beautiful one. Now (he took her hand with a smile and twirled her around), let me see you. (He smiled again, this time at Didi) Something is missing.

Arpita grinned: Of course, I have it right here in the box. Been waiting for you to do the honors.

Di brought over a large box from the side and opened it.

Imlie groaned and pleaded: I can't wear another necklace, Di please...

Aryan shared a smile with Arpita: It's a diadem.

Imlie: Diadem shiadem joh bhi ho (diadem shiadem or whatever), I am up to my chin in it already. Please, not another one. It looks stiff too.

Aryan: Are you actually uncomfortable or are you just complaining because it's precious jewelry and you didn't ask for all this, and so on?

Imlie: That's it! It's all too precious and pricey. I am not a gold digger. I can't be pictured in all this, even if borrowed.

Aryan narrowed his eyes at her: Did someone insinuate you are a gold-digger? Tell me who did.

Imlie: No one! But if English Madam sees this somehow, she will bandy it all over town that I hooked you.

Aryan, seriously: She wouldn't dare.

Arpita: And what does it matter what she says, anyway? We know you, Imlie, that's all that matters. You are our family now and we hooked you, not the other way around.

Imlie noticed her error and nodded: She doesn't matter. But...it's a lot. I can't possibly... Besides, it looks heavy.

Aryan took the diadem in his hands with extra care: I am afraid it is a little, I am sorry about that. Every Rathode bride right back to the first one wore it, it's tradition. But you won't have to wear it for long, just until the ceremony is done.

Imlie didn't want to offend his whole family downstairs: Okay...

Arpita: Now, look straight ahead and hold your head straight, Imlie. It's your big moment.

Imlie looked quizzically: Why? What moment?

Aryan smiled and made Imlie face the mirror again. He put the stiff looking necklace on her head from behind her.

Aryan, softly: This...moment.

He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek from behind her, making Imlie blush as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Aryan waited for her response: Well? What do you think?

Imlie: It won't pass through my head. Doesn't this necklace have a clasp or something?

Aryan leaned in near her other cheek: It's not a necklace, jangli, it's a tiara.

Imlie's jaw dropped: OH...! I can't wear this!

Aryan threw up his hands: Didi, please help.

Arpita, cautiously: You see, Imlie, not much of a choice in this one either. This is the oldest heirloom piece. Our bridal looks are kind of preordained, if you get my meaning. But it is only for a short time. You can tone it all down after the interview and ceremony. We will be more relaxed after.

Imlie: Your forefathers must have been really dominating. Kuch bhi choice nehi hai (there's no choice)?

Arpita grimaced and looked at Aryan: Kind of.

Aryan looked worried: Don't freak out, okay, Imlie? It is not like all that pageantry matters anymore or anything...but um, they were the Rajputana Rathodes. We only preserve the bridal looks as tradition, nothing more.

Imlie, cluelessly: There are so many Rathodes from Rajasthan. What am I supposed to freak out about?

Aryan, nervously: Nothing! Nothing. It's just all formality now, so let's not overthink this. It only comes up during weddings, announcements, and such. So let's not make a big deal of it.

Imlie, confused and irritated: Of what?

Aryan: Just promise me you won't overreact cause it really isn't a big deal. We don't even use the designations anymore.

Imlie, utterly lost: What are you talking about?

Aryan: You are already jumpy about the jewelry, so I don't know if we should even tell you. But the journalists will bring it up so...better to preempt it. Di, say something na?

Arpita helpfully: Imlie, you know the kind of people who were tiaras? He means, the designations of that kind of people.

Imlie sighed in relief: Oh, you mean royalty? I have seen only royalty on TV wear...(Imlie immediately paused)...ROYALTY!? You are royalty!? Hey Sita Maiyya (oh my god), I can't, I CAN'T!

Imlie took off the diadem with shaking hands and gave it to Arpita and ran around the room with Aryan chasing after her. Running was hard in all this hardware and lehenga, so walked in a nervous rush was more accurate. Aryan tried hard to reason with her.

Imlie, shrilly: WHY!? WHY!?

Aryan: It's not a choice, Imlie!

Arpita called out: Imlie, remember your makeup dear...

Di was too used to Imlie's hysterics to be fazed by it now when it was a little warranted.

Imlie: I can't do it!

Aryan, shocked and upset: You said yes yesterday!

Imlie: That was before I knew you are...what are you?

Aryan, frustrated: I am just a prince in name only. It's just a title. Don't reject me for that!

Imlie: I am not rejecting you, dummy. But I can't! I can't.

Aryan: Why are you running in circles?

Imlie: To process! I am not saying no to you, but you are...you are...

Aryan stopped: Imlie get back here and put on the diadem. Just think of it as a tradition. It's just the title, it's not like there's any power or duty to it.

Imlie: They will call me a maneater and a gold-digger!

Aryan, irritated: Seriously?

Imlie: Yes!

Aryan: Haven't we been through this enough times? What does it matter what people think?

Imlie: So you know! You know people will think that way! And yet you deny it!

Aryan: God, Imlie, STOP running around! You are making me dizzy. No one will dare think badly of you.

Imlie stopped and looked at Arpita and Aryan: That means, you are a princess!

Arpita smiled with a sigh of relief that Imlie stopped: And you are soon to be (she came toward her with the tiara).

Imlie: No! No, I am not wearing THAT thing on my head! Never.

Journalist 1: So maam, how does it feel to be the latest bride to wear the pushtaini Rathode tiara?

Imlie glared at Aryan: It's heavy.

Aryan forced a laugh to easy the tension: I should say. It's 400 years old. Goldsmithing was quite different back in the day.

Journalist 2: Quite right, quite right, Kunwarsa. Miss Imlie, you are about to become a princess in this modern day and age, how does it feel?

Imlie, tightly: It's quite a surprise.

Aryan gave her a warning look and smiled to hide it.

Journalist 3: We hear you are from a small village called Pakdandiya, did you know that Aryan Singh Rathode was royalty when you met him?

Imlie under her breath: No wonder he walked around giving baathon ki udhars (third point debts).

Journalist 3: Sorry maam, didn't quite catch that?

Imlie smiled: I had no idea. But maybe I should have, he certainly had the attitude for it.

The journalists all laughed like she had shared the funniest joke. Aryan squeezed her hand a little.

Imlie: Why don't you ask Aryan how he revealed it to me? It's the most romantic story.

They all turned to look at Aryan in anticipation.

Aryan, on the spot: Ahhh...I just casually dropped it in conversation one day. It's really just a designation, not that it holds any real power these days...it's not even something that comes up in everyday life.

Imlie shook her head with that plastered smile: So casually.

Journalist 1: Were you surprised then, Maam?

Imlie: That's a good question. Was I, Aryan?

Aryan awkwardly: A little, perhaps. (He thought of her running) But she took it in her stride.

Journalist 2: How romantic. Like a modern day fairy tale, but without the glass slipper.

Imlie sarcastically: Indeed, indeed.

Aryan thought of that Stitch slipper from last night and smiled to himself.

Journalist 3: So how did Prince Rathode propose, Miss Imlie? You are half an hour from your wedding ceremony, I suppose you said yes?

They all chuckled.

Imlie: He proposed with a used anklet.

Aryan, warily: Imlie.

Okay, everyone, what did you think of this crazy update? It took 3 hours, so don't run off with a thumbs up. Write me your reaction, good, bad, and ugly. I wanted to give Imlie a big win against Malini and Anu for all that she suffered. So I went all the way. In Part 1, the hint was Aryan's jodhpurs which Arpi says is "princely" and in Part 7 it was the Stitch slippers and the part when Aryan says it is the better end of the Cinderella story. Hope you all enjoyed it. Leave me comments and let me know what you thought of this part. The wedding is next.

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

Part 5

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159770850

Part 6