Chapter 50

2 years ago

varshaoforange

@varshaoforange

—Thursday, February 11, 2022, 5:55PM—

Imlie was adjusting the dupatta over her left shoulder in front of the mirror in her room when Arpita Didi knocked on her door, “Imlie, can I come in?”

Imlie replied, “Haan Didi, of course.”

Arpita walked in carrying a pile of velvet jewelry boxes, and immediately gasped, dropping the boxes on the bed and rushing over to Imlie.

Imlie turned, worried, “What’s wrong?!” Then she spotted the velvet boxes on the bed, “Didi, why are you bringing over so many, I can easily wear my extra nice silver jhumkas with this lehenga and it would look, what do they call it? I think…vintage?”

Arpita waved away Imlie’s complaint and concern, “Nothing is wrong, pagal. I’m excited because it turns out that UNB is good at picking out lehengas. I can’t believe I’ve been shopping for my own clothes all these years, I should have been bringing him.”

Imlie looked down and then looked back at Arpita, “Are you sure, Didi? It seems a little heavy for a little party.”

Arpita repeated her previous motion and sat Imlie in front of the desk—come—vanity in the room, “Nothing bad happens if we dress up once in a while, now shhh, I’m going to have to figure out what jewelry and makeup combination is best. Though, you always just look perfect with kajal, so maybe we won’t need to do that much makeup either.”

Imlie interrupted her, “Didi, didi, please no makeup. I can barely handle it when I’m wearing mascara and lipstick, if you add other things on my face, I’m going to end up looking like a raccoon in no time, I promise you…a raccoon with really chapped and barely lipstick-ed lips.”

Arpita chuckled, “Fine, we’ll stick with less makeup.”

Narmada knocked and walked in, she had already gotten ready because she knew her gaddha would have forgotten something or another, and he had. So she’d been overseeing the decorations and the food downstairs.

“I can’t believe my nalayak beta ruined the surprise. He could have gotten a lehenga off the rack and asked either of us to figure out your measurements, but no. Work is the most important to him,” Narmada complained to the two of them.

Imlie laughed silently, undoing the braid and wondering if she had to do something special to her hair.

Arpita continued the nagging, “This is nothing Maa, Imlie was telling me when she came home that Aryan forgot to order the cake. Gaddha kahin ka.”

Narmada said, “Of course he did, let’s hope he doesn’t ruin the actual surprise too.”

Imlie turned around, confused, “What actual surprise? Wasn’t the party the surprise?”

Narmada stammered but Arpita covered for her, “Yes, it is, Maa just meant that she hopes nothing else goes wrong during the party.”

Imlie nodded, “Ahh, but also you two don’t need to be that harsh on him, he did his best, and going cake shopping was sweet…”

Arpita and Narmada smiled at each other, and Arpita sat Imlie down, taking her hair from her hands, “So that means, tumhe woh UNB accha lagne raha hai?” (You’re starting to think UNB looks good now?)

Imlie met Arpita Didi’s eyes in the mirror, “What? No no, that’s not what I meant.”

Didi nodded in mock agreement, “Sure sure.” Narmada and Arpita shared another smile.

—Thursday, February 11, 2022, 6:15PM—

“Imlie, you’re looking perfect, especially this hairstyle,” Arpita looked to her mother for confirmation, “acchi lag rahi hai na Maa?” (She looks good, right Maa?)

Narmada walked over and put a kala tikka on Imlie, “Meri bacchi sabse pyaari lag rahi hai aaj.” (My baby is looking the most pretty today.) She planted a kiss on the top of Imlie’s head, “Tumhe kisi ki nazar na late.” (May no one jinx you.)

Arpita laughed, “Uss ke liye, Ara hi kaafi hai.” (For that, Aru is enough.)

Narmada laughed, “Ok, I’m going to make sure everything is perfect downstairs, Arpi, don’t let Imlie come down until everything’s ready.”

Imlie stood up in protest, “Nahin, I’l come help, if the surprise is already ruined, shouldn’t I try to—”

Arpita made her sit back down by her shoulders, “No, tum aaj koi bhi madat nahin karne waali.” (You’re not helping at all today.)

Imlie crossed her arms, and muttered, “No one in this family lets me do what I want. First shopping with ABP, and now ABP ki Didi has trapped me.”

Arpita smiled, “Did you say something, Imlie?”

Imlie shook her head innocently, “No, nothing.”

Narmada went downstairs and heard the doorbell ring, she went to answer it. Then she saw Aryan come out of the kitchen, giving the final instructions to the caterers.

“Aru, you’ve dressed up very nicely, why? Is today special?” Narmada teased Aryan.

Aryan grumbled, “Maa, please.”

Narmada smiled and opened the door, there were the Tripathis, everyone except for Aditya.

Narmada smiled, “Come in, come in. Thanks so much for coming!”

Aryan whispered to his mother, “Maa, why did you invite these people.”

Narmada frowned, “Chup, of course I had to invite them.”

Aryan rolled his eyes, and put on a fake smile, “Thanks for coming,” then his gaze met Rupi’s, “this is Imlie’s special day, so I hope everything goes well. Please make yourself comfortable, we’ll be getting started soon, after the other guests show up.”

A few other guests came in, from the office and from Imlie’s college. Aryan looked at his watch, absentmindedly greeting everyone. He just needed his surprise to be ready. He’d gotten it ready early, but he needed it at the perfect time. He checked his phone, there was a message. It was ready. Calling Arpita, he gestured to all the guests to get ready, “Didi, we’re ready.”

Arpita smiled, looking at Imlie fussing with her dupatta again, clearly nervous, “We’re coming, UNB.”

Aryan sighed, “Didi please, aaj nahin.” (Not today.)

Imlie and Arpita made their way downstairs. Arpita, at the top of the stairs, announced to the room, “Everyone, please welcome the birthday girl!”

Aryan turned to see Imlie, he’d seen the lehenga on the rack when he’d picked it, but seeing Imlie wearing it, it was something out of a dream. Imlie looked from the guests, to Arpita, to Narmada, and then she found Aryan’s face. She split into a nervous smile. Aryan returned the smile, and walked towards the stairs, his eyes refusing to leave Imlie’s. Then he tripped, and steadied himself. Narmada chuckled, walking over to her son, “Calm down, agar tum Imlie ko ghoor the rahe, toh tum khud apni haddiyan toot padoge.” (If you keep staring at imlie, then you’ll break your own bones.)

Aryan replied, “I wasn’t staring, I was just…just…” He looked back to Imlie as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

Arpita, barely able to hide her laugh, “Aru, tum theek to ho? Main ambulance bhluaoon?” (Aryan, you’re okay right? Should I call an ambulance?)

Imlie looked between the both of them, “Kyun, ambulance kyun?” (Why, why an ambulance?)

Aryan looked at her, “Kuch nahin. Tum bahut acchi lag rahi ho.” (Nothing. You’re looking very nice.)

Imlie raised an eyebrow, “Sirf acchi? Arre, tareef karna hai, to theek se karo. Main jaanti hun, main sabse khoobsurat lag rahi hoon, aaj.” (Only nice? If you want to praise me, do it right. I know, I’m looking the most beautiful today.) She exaggerated a twirl. She was just joking, but when she looked back at Aryan, he swallowed and said, “Haan, tum khoobsurat lag rahi ho.” (Yes, you’re looking beautiful.)

Imlie blushed, and then cleared her throat, looking to the other guests, and spotting the Tripathis. “Maa, Papa! Badke Kaka?” She rushed over to greet them.

Arpita nudged Aryan, “Kya plan hai, Aru? Tum isse door se dekhte rahoege ya kuch kenhe ka bhi iraada hai?” (What’s the plan, Aru? Are you going to keep looking at her from afar or do you also plan to actually say something?)

Aryan swallowed, “Yes, I have something planned, but not now. Later.” He looked at his sister, “Ab party to shuru bhi nahin hui.” (The party hasn’t even started yet.)

Arpita smiled, and then clapped her hands, “Okay, we’re all here to celebrate Imlie’s birthday, thank you all for coming. There’s food, we’ll have some fun dancing, and we even have a game planned. But, first, Aryan,” she turned to look at her brother, “Imlie ka surprise to bhulado?” (Call Imlie’s surprise?)

Aryan nodded, “One second,” he walked outside the house and Imlie looked confusedly between Arpita and Narmada. Then when he walked inside, two people were following him.

Imlie looked at the two guests, and her eyes started to well with tears. She ran to them, “Amma? Dadda?” Hugging the two of them, she asked, “How did you guys get here?”

Meethi took her daughter’s face in her hands, “Tumhe kya laga, main tumhari janam din manaane nahin aaungi? Aryan ne bhulaya.” (What did you think, I wouldn’t come to celebrate your birthday? Aryan called us.)

Satyakam smiled, “Aryan ne surf bhulaya nahin. Pehle humare liye bus ka tickets bheja, fir humhe bus stop se le kar aaya. Thank you, Aryan, for bringing us. I could live for a hundred more years after seeing my precious Imlie smile like this.” (He didn’t just call us. He first bought us bus tickets, then he picked us up from the bus stop.)

Imlie, still hugging her mother, turned to Aryan, “Yeh tumne kiya?”

Aryan smiled nervously, “Haan, you were talking a lot about how you missed them, so I thought—anyway…”

Imlie smiled, “Thank you, ABP.”

Dadda laughed, “ABP? Woh kya hai?” (What’s that?)

Aryan cleared his throat, “Nothing, Dadda—I mean Satyakaam ji. Party shuru karein?” (Should we start the party?)

Imlie took both her mother’s and her Dadda’s hands and walked them into the house, Aryan following behind. She excitedly introduced Meethi and Satyakaam to her college friends, her colleagues at the office. There was a slightly cold greeting between the Tripathis and Meethi, but Imlie didn’t really notice, she was focused on how this might be one of the best birthdays she’d ever have, and it was all thanks to Aryan.

Then the doors opened once again, and Shiv and Priya walked in. Arpita noticed Aryan tensing for a second, and then relaxing.

“Happy Birthday Imlie!” Priya ran to Imlie, hugging her tightly, “I was so happy when Aryan invited us, I can’t tell you how long I’ve been wanting to hang out again. But stupid work kept me so busy.”

Imlie replied, “Thank you so much for coming, the both of you.” She looked at Shiv and smiled, adding another “Thank you.”

Shiv stepped forward, handing Imlie a box wrapped in white and gold wrapping paper, “How could we not come? Happy Birthday, Imlie.”

Imlie took the gift, excited to open it, she so rarely got gifts, but she was getting them one after another recently. First Aryan gave her the Austen novels, then the lehenga, then the party, and now this.

Arpita interrupted them, “Imlie, hum baad mein gift khol lenge, abhi mainne aur Maa ne ek chote sa game plan kiya hai.” (Imlie, let’s open gifts later, for now Maa and I planned a small game.)

Imlie nodded, excited, “I like games, what are the rules.”

Arpita smiled, seating Imlie in the center of the room, and gesturing everyone else to take seats as well. She stood next to Imlie and announced, “Okay, this game is called, Humhari Imlie Jaisi Koi Nahin. Basically it’s a short trivia game, but I want to know, who here knows Imlie the best. Anyone can play, but, if you answer a question incorrectly, you’re out. Everyone understand? Also, the way you answer, is raising your hand, sorry Maa and I didn’t have time to get game show buzzers. I’ll call the first person I see, and keep track of the points. Also, our winner, will get the first dance with my perfect best friend and birthday girl.” Arpita smiled at Imlie.

Imlie laughed, “This is a fun game, Didi, but Amma is definitely going to win.”

Meethi laughed from her seat, “Who knows my daughter better than me? No one.”

Satyakaam interjected, “Ek second Meethi, you gave birth to her, but I definitely have spent more time with her.”

Meethi looked over to Aryan, sitting in the chair closest to Imlie and Arpita, and wondered if she should see if someone else knew her daughter as much as she did. She whispered something to her husband, and he looked over too, then he nodded to Meethi.

Arpita smiled, “Everyone ready? Okay! First question: What is Imlie’s major in college?”

Aryan’s hand shot up before everyone else’s, leading Imlie to raise her eyebrows. A split second later, Shiv’s shot up, then almost everyone at the party.

Arpita laughed a little, “Aryan, you were first.”

Aryan cleared his throat, “Journalism and Communications.”

Arpita looked at her card, “Correct. One point for Aryan.”

Imlie mock clapped for Aryan, he rolled his eyes and settled back in his seat, smiling quietly to himself at the disappointed looks on everyone else’s faces, especially Shiv’s.

Arpita continued, “What is Imlie’s favorite food?”

Aryan’s hand went up again, but this time Meethi was first.

Arpita smiled, “Meethi ji?”

Meethi cleared her throat, winking at Satyakaam first, “Samosa and chai.”

Imlie gasped, “Amma, what? Do you not know me at all?”

Arpita laughed, “Sorry Meethi Ji, you are out, Imlie don’t reveal the answer, Aryan looks like he knows.”

Aryan answered quickly, “Imlie’s favorite food is her Amma’s moti rotiyaan.” (fat rotis.)

Imlie smiled, impressed that Aryan remembered.

Arpita looked Narmada, the both of them knew this was the perfect game for a competitive dork like Aryan. “Correct, Aryan now has two points.”

Imlie shook her head at her mother, “Amma, I can’t believe you thought I could choose samosas over your cooking, for shame.”

Amma shrugged, “Sorry beta.”

Narmada leaned over to Meethi when Imlie wasn’t looking, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Meethi replied, “I hope I wasn’t that obvious!”

Narmada laughed silently, “Not at all, and…thank you, Meethi Ji.”

Meethi nodded.

Arpita started again, “Okay, next question: What is Imlie’s favorite color?”

This time Rupi’s hand shot up before Aryan’s and she answered, “Yellow!”

Arpita sighed, “Sorry Rupi, but that is incorrect. Aryan, looks like you were next, do you know?”

Aryan smiled, raising one eyebrow at a disappointed Rupi, “Imlie doesn’t have one favorite color, she loves the whole rainbow. Indradanush.”

Arpita laughed, “Correct again, wow Aru, I don’t even think you know my favorite color.”

Aryan awkwardly dropped his satisfied smile and leaned back into his seat.

Imlie caught his gaze, he mouthed a ‘What?’ and all Imlie could do was shake her head, mouthing back, ‘nothing.’

Arpita went on, “Next question, Imlie likes to call herself Satyakaam Ji’s what?”

Imlie looked to Dadda, but he didn’t raise his hand, instead she saw in her peripheral vision, both Aparna and Aryan raise their hands.

Arpita looked to Aparna who answered, “Imlie says she is her Dadda’s good luck charm.”

Arpita shook her head, “Sorry, that is not the exact answer we’re looking for. Aryan?”

Aryan smiled, “Imlie calls herself her Dadda’s shagun ka sikka.”

Imlie looked at Dadda first, “Dadda, how did you not answer that?”

Satyakaam raised his hands apologetically, “Sorry beta, my hand just wasn’t fast enough.” He smiled at Narmada and Meethi, who laughed silently.

Arpita laughed, “Imlie, looks like we’re going to get a clear winner.” She smiled at Aryan, who dropped his smug smile again.

Imlie looked at Aryan suspiciously, so far these were pretty easy questions, but still, he was doing surprisingly well for someone who liked to call her Jungli all the time.

Arpita went on, “Imlie’s favorite journalist?”

This time Badke Kaka raised his hand before Aryan and answered, “Christiane Amanpour.”

Arpita shook her head, “Sorry that is not the answer, and again, we have who seems to be Imlie’s number one fan…Aryan?”

Aryan cleared his throat awkwardly, “Oriana Fallaci.”

Arpita nodded, “Correct.”

Now Imlie was definitely impressed, she’d talked about how she liked Fallaci a lot, but only to her coworkers. She didn’t think she’d ever mentioned it to Aryan.

The questions went on, and slowly everyone was out except for Shiv and Aryan. Shiv had correctly answered Imlie’s favorite class and professor this semester, as well as what she struggles with most in her classes, and her favorite types of stories to cover. Aryan had correctly answered Imlie’s favorite spot in Delhi (her university’s library at night), the season she most looked forward to each year (spring), and where she most wants to visit to report on a story (London).

Arpita went on, “Okay, last question, though it’s obvious who’s won. We still have to have one last person standing…so, Imlie loves to read Austen novels, who is her favorite character from those novels?”

Aryan and Shiv raised their hands, but Shiv beat Aryan to it. Arpita looked to him and Shiv confidently said, “George Knightley.” Smiling at Aryan after.

Arpita shook her head, “Sorry, but that’s not the answer.”

Shiv protested, “But, Imlie told me—”

Aryan interrupted, “Imlie does like Knightley, but he’s just her favorite character in her favorite novel, Emma. Her favorite character is actually Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.”

Imlie audibly gasped, she’d talked about that, but only once when she was talking with Arpita about their shared love of the books.

Arpita laughed and smiled, “Correct! We have our last man standing and our winner. Now time for dancing. Imlie, please escort this UNB to the dance floor.”

Aryan glared at his sister, “Really Didi, aaj bhi?” (Even today?)

Aryan stood up after Imlie, and she walked over to him, outstretching her hand, “Well, you won, aren’t you going to claim your prize?”