Chapter 26

2 years ago

varshaoforange

@varshaoforange

Imlie dealt with the silence in the car for as long as she could, but after five minutes, it was unbearable.

“So…do you want to explain why you’re angry today, or are you going to keep that reason locked in with all your other emotions, except for your anger of course.” Imlie said, trying out a light teasing tone, in the hopes even though it wouldn’t calm Aryan down, it would distract him from whatever he was actually mad about.

“I’m not mad.” Aryan said.

“Right. Also, can you change the newspaper’s front page tomorrow to read, “India Decides to End All Conflict With Pakistan Forever.” She snorted, “Just come out with it, I can’t read minds like you can.”

Aryan didn’t say anything, he just clenched the driver’s wheel tighter.

“If you don’t start talking, does that mean you’re suggesting I should start singing?” Imlie smiled. Aryan gave her a sideways glance that screamed, ‘You sing one note, I will kill you.’ Imlie opened her mouth wide and belted out a note.

“Fine!” Aryan shouted. Imlie stopped and gestured to him to go on.

“Fine,” Aryan sighed, “I just don’t see why you can’t do one thing I ask you to do. I told you to text me when you were done, and instead, you decided to completely lose track of time.” Aryan, realizing this sounded weird, added, “I just mean, I don’t like it when my employees waste my time, or ignore my orders. Got that?”

Imlie sighed, “ABP, Mujhe sach mein lagata hai ki tum ek Ajeeb Bulaakkad Praani ho. Let me remind you, that you’re my boss at work only, not outside. Also I didn’t lose track of time, I was having a good time. Do you tell Kaki Maa and Arpita where you are all times of the day and when you’ll be back?” (I think you really are a Weird, Forgetful, Animal.)

Aryan responded quickly, he had the upper hand now, “Yes. I tell Maa and Didi where I’m going all the time, and when I’ll be back. This is India, every adult who lives with their family tells them everything.”

Imlie sighed, “Yes, you’re right. But I did tell Kaki Maa where I was, and that I’d be back late. I know I’m not a regular paying guest in your house. I don’t like having Kaki Maa or Arpida Didi worried for me. Par woh ka matlab nahin hai ki tum humhe bataa sako ki main kahaan jaa sakthi hun, aur kab wapas aaa sakthi hun. Samjhe?” (But that doesn’t mean that you can tell me where I can go and when I can come back. Got it?)

Aryan sighed, he did not have the upper hand after all, but he gave it one more shot, “But, you…you haven’t been here that long. In Delhi, I mean. How can you just roam around the city? Do you not remember how you got to that mirchi bazaar? How about when you were literally sleeping on a street bench?”

Imlie interrupted him, “Wait just a minute, I wasn’t roaming around, I was having chai with a friend. Aur, tum hi humhe roz bataavat ho, ki humhe khud par bharosa karna sikhna hai, kisi air ke madad par nahin. Right?” (And, you’re the one who’s telling me every day that I have to learn to trust myself, not on anyone else’s help.)

Aryan clenched the wheel tighter and made the turn at the intersection harsher than he had to, “Fine. Fine.”

Imlie narrowed her eyes at him, “It doesn’t sound fine.”

Aryan blew up now, “You’re damn right it’s not fine. I just don’t understand how you can trust this guy so easily. You’ve just met him, you know nothing about him. You can’t even know if he’s a reliable source for your piece, let along if he’s a reliable friend. How can you be spending this much time with him?”

Imlie chuckled.

Aryan looked at her, shocked, “I’m here, trying to tell you to be careful for your own benefit, and you’re laughing?”

Imlie’s laughter died down, “Calm down, calm down. I laughed because I think I was right, you are jealous of the fact that I make friends so fast.”

Aryan shot back, “That is so not what’s happening right now.”

Imlie nodded, trying to stop her giggling, “Ok, ok. I know. I get it. You’re right, I have a horrible track record when it comes to trusting new people. First my fellow villagers, then Aditya Sir, then Malini Didi. I’m a train wreck, I get it. But, I promise, I know that Shiv’s a good guy. In fact, he’s not just a good guy, he’s a great one. He’s been so helpful. Also, before you tell me to think carefully about what his profit is in helping me, I’ll tell you, I did think about it. There is none, but there’s also no loss for him. Priya Didi was right, he’s just newly back in the city, and he’s making new friends, so he has time for someone like me. I’m sure he’ll have less time when he makes more friends among all the lawyers in this city. But if he doesn’t, I’ll be happy, because he’s also a really nice guy—“

Aryan muttered, “Kamaal hai, sabhi sant insaan tumhara dvaar par samaapt hote hain.” (Wonderful. All the saintly men end up on your doorstep.)

Imlie stopped talking and asked, “Did you say something?”

Aryan looked at her, eyes wide, “Nope. Who? Me? I didn’t say a thing. Krpaya, Imlie Ji, aapka naya dost ka gunagaan karte rahen.” (Please, Imlie Ma’am, keep singing the praises of your new friend.)

Imlie squinted, “Ab tum gussa kyon ho rahe ho?” (Now, Why are you getting angry?)

Aryan shook his head, “I’m not. Like I said, I’m fine. Please spend the rest of your evenings this week drinking chai with your new friend. Next time though, you’ll get a ride yourself. I’m not your bloody driver.”

Imlie opened her mouth in exaggerated shock, “Wow. Wow, Aryan Ji. Did I ask you to drive me? Tum…tum…tum sirf bulakkad nahin ho, tum pagal bhi ho.” (You’re not just forgetful, you’re also crazy.)

Aryan grumbled, “Haan, aur ab tak tum sirf samajhadaar logon se rishte rakti thi, na?”

“Stop mumbling to yourself, say what you want to say.” Imlie shot back, she was getting frustrated now, her good mood dissipating by the minute.

Aryan took the last turn into the driveway of the house, he parked the car and looked at Imlie. He lifted his hands, and opened his mouth, as if to say something. He tried again. Imlie looked at him, crossing her arms expectantly, “Bolo. Please, share your motivational and mean speech of the day.” (Talk.)

Aryan groaned, “Nothing. We’re home.” He opened the door, slammed it, and went inside.

Imlie sat in the car, dumbfounded. Then she realized she’d forgotten to ask Aryan about Radhika and her story. She followed him inside the house, and looked for him in the downstairs rooms, but he was no where to be found.

Kaki Maa walked out of the kitchen, followed by Arpita Didi. “Imlie, you’re back too? I thought you said you were out with a friend?” Kaki Maa asked.

Imlie smiled, “I was, but ABP picked me up. Do you know where he went?”

Arpita sighed, “He went to his room, but don’t try to talk to that UNB right now, he looked like he would eat anyone who said more than two words to him alive.”

Imlie laughed, “He always looks like that, Didi.”

Arpita laughed, “True. Come eat dinner, you need energy if you’re going to try to enter that lion’s den.”

Narmada chuckled and pulled Imlie to the dining table, “Arpi is right, you need lots of energy, and I made rajma!”

Imlie sat down, but looked around, “ABP isn’t eating?”

Arpita rolled her eyes, “Mr. UNB has decided he’s having dinner in his room today. Apparently some big board meeting is coming up.”

Imlie nodded absentmindedly. She knew he was stressed about the board meeting, maybe that’s why he was complaining so much about picking Imlie up. She ate slowly, deciding she’d go up and apologize to him after dinner. Imlie smiled to herself, thinking back to what she said to Shiv about Aryan being the best friend she’d ever had. Aryan really was the best friend, in fact, sometimes she thought she didn’t deserve a friend like him. He always stood up for her, he always knew when she could fight for herself, and he never let her doubt herself. She laughed softly, realizing that though Aryan was the exact opposite of those stuffed animals that kids made imaginary friends out of when they were young, he wasn’t cuddly, he was like a real lion, completely unwilling to be cuddled by anyone, but loved to bare its claws and teeth when needed. She’d heard of people having guard dogs, but she’d manage to find herself a lion to guard her when she needed. But he was better than that, Imlie smiled wider, he taught her to fight and let her fight, her own battles. He didn’t need to be her shield, because he liked standing back and watching her wield her own sword.