SS: Interpol (Part 31NEWWWW Pg. 53 Taj Mahal) - Page 28

Aww , excited for next part

Wow amazing story, read all the parts in one go and loved every bit of it!❤️ must say you're an amazing writer

This is good! Please don't make us wait too long for the next part😆 lol isn't Emmy coming back soon?

I absolutely love this story. No doubtedly much better than the show. I stopped watching the show 3 weeks ago..stopped reading wu 2 weeks ago. This story is like closure for me. I can finally get over Adilie in my head.

Thank you for writing this.

Originally posted by: Marybarton

Part 19:

When Aditya woke up again in the late evening, he saw Imlie dozed off on her arm chair. He was feeling a good deal better, he realized. That disgusting drink worked.

Aditya watched Imlie sleep for a little while. She was going to get a neck issue if she continued in that angle any longer. Aditya got up, picked Imlie up from her chair and placed her in his bed. He brushed her hair in place and watched her collarbone rise and fall in a soft rhythm. She was a still tiny, but so toned, he thought. Aditya sighed, tucked her in, and left.

Imlie woke with a start. Babusaheb! Where was he? She shot up from his bed and saw that his luggage was still there.

Imlie's hand flew to her heart: Thank god.

There was a sweet scent coming from outside the room.

She stepped out into the hall and followed the scent into the kitchen. Her sleep-hazy brain could not quite register that smell. But it was warm, snug, and familiar. Like love.

Aditya was placing some dishes on the table as Imlie walked in, yawning.

Aditya: You are up? Did you have a good nap? You have been out for hours.

Imlie, sleepily: Yes...what's that smell?

Aditya smiled: Hope you are hungry. I made some old favorites of yours.

Imlie walked up to the table and her jaw dropped: You made all this?

She saw that he had made moti roti, kadi chawal, motichur ke ladoo and so much more...

It was the smell of home. The smell she had known in her bones. It was the smell of her little mud-hut in Pakdandiya when it was her birthday or when Dadah came home.

Aditya hesitated: I don't know if you still like these things, your new life seems to be all about French food and all, but perhaps you sometimes miss your mother's cooking.

Imlie sighed, taking it all in: I do miss it. Thank you for making all this. I always keep thinking I will make it, but Emmy is so young and I am so tired after work that I just do the quick stuff. Where did you learn all this?

Aditya shrugged: Pallavi bhabi and years of practice. I missed your food when you were gone, so she helped me learn.

Imlie's lips trembled: That's really sweet. You adopted my comfort foods?

Aditya nodded: It helped me reclaim a bit of you. (He sighed wearily) I thought it would make a good goodbye dinner.

Imlie's heart caught in a vice: What?

Aditya forced a smile: I can't live here like this forever, Imlie. And I don't want to create any confusion if you have already made a decision. So, this is a thank you...and a goodbye. Come (he grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her down gently at the head of the table). I wish Emmy was here too, she might have been able to try the ladoo at least.

Imlie, in shock: You can't leave, Aditya! Just like that!

Aditya: I know, witness protection, etc etc. But I spoke with Alex when he called this evening. He thinks the coast is clear now as long as I agree not to go back into journalism. He talked with his associate and Alex seems to trust me not to spill the beans. It doesn't look like the Hungarians are much interested in me. So...I will live in other places for a while and eventually make my way back to Delhi.

Imlie, angrily: NO! It's my decision too and it has only been a few days. I don't think it is safe for you.

Aditya sighed: Now that you are getting married to Alex, I think it is best for everyone if I leave. Alex seemed to think it was best too and...

Imlie's sharp intake of breath made him stop.

Aditya, innocently: What?

Imlie: You told Alex about the wedding plans?

Aditya: Yes...why? He said I didn't have to walk you down the aisle if I didn't want to, but I said, I had my heart set on it. That will be my last responsibility before I go, I assured him.

Imlie's scream nearly made his eardrums pop out.

Imlie: Sita Maiyya, kill me! He Bailbuddhi, I was only joking! What is wrong with you!? You went ahead and told Alex about all that!?

Aditya shrugged: He didn't seem surprised. I thought you had already discussed marriage. I mean, it's been 8 years!

Imlie grabbed fistfuls of her hair with her hands and sat still at the table trying to take full account of the situation. She didn't know how she would get over the embarrassment of it with Alex. And here, Aditya was talking about leaving.

Priorities. One at a time. She took a deep breath and looked at Aditya crouched in front of her by the chair, putting his finger in his ear with a grimace. His arm was resting on her knees casually as if this was the most normal of conversations.

Aditya: I was thinking, there must be some local Hindu service here, right? We can have the same pundit do some kind of puja to break us up and then also officiate your marriage with Alex. Unless you want a civil marriage? Tell me your preference, I think I can do everything in two weeks if you two are ready.

Imlie's jaw dropped, her voice shook as she spoke: Didn't I just say I was joking!? And what do you mean, break us up? There is no such puja...we-we are m-married. Forever.

Aditya: We had an agreement when you left that it was over between us because we had no legal paper trail, but that did not feel mmm...quite right to me. So I couldn't step out of the marriage even after you left. So this is more for me, you see? (He thought for a moment) I know, strictly speaking, Hindu marriages don't have breakups. But these are modern times and people remarry all the time. If we get some kind of reformer type pandit, it will be easy. Just some kind of religious "divorce" prayers so that it feels real for you and me. Hey, Imlie...don't cry (he wiped her cheeks sweetly). Think of it more like an annulment, cause we never really had...well, a full marriage. You will be free to marry Alex and I will be free to move on...what! What did I say!?

Imlie started crying in full volume now: You want to divo-vorce me!? (She started smacking him on his hands and shoulders) I knew it, I knew I couldn't trust you to feel the same from one day to the next. You evil...heartless, idiot! You came back yesterday telling mmme you want a marriage and now you want a divorceeee.

Aditya's eyes flashed and he grabbed both her wrists: Stop crying. This is what you wanted.

Imlie, hiccup crying : I wasn't going to really marry Alex, you IDIOT!!!

Aditya, gravely: How does it feel now, Imlie?

Imlie looked at him: What do you mean?

Aditya: You are not the only one who can play this game. I have to admit, you really had me last night. But then I thought about it today...and I came to the conclusion that you are just a masochist who enjoys seeing me suffer.

Imlie stared at him for a full minute, forgetting to cry.

Imlie wiped her tears and asked timidly: You were joking?

Aditya, annoyed: Of course! It's not so funny when it is done to you, is it?

Imlie shook her head: You didn't talk to Alex?

Aditya sighed and stood up: No and I am not out of witness protection either. You have me trapped to torture for as long as you want, apparently. Now eat; food is getting cold.

Imlie's eyes followed him guiltily as he got some plates and utensils and put it in front of her.

Imlie: How can you make such a nice dinner for me and play such a cruel joke on me?

Aditya sat down and looked at her with his signature moody look: I don't know. How did you do it when you had just found out that I had lost the profession I worked at my entire life!?

Imlie sniffed: Okay, sorry. But you were having such a pity party, I thought it would distract you.

Aditya pierced the fork angrily into the moti roti and brought it on his plate: Oh it distracted me alright. But now I am ready for you. Try your tricks on me again and you will see what happens.

Imlie smiled a little: So you don't want a divorce?

Aditya narrowed his eyes at her: It's tempting, but no, my object is quite different at the moment.

Imlie filled her plate with food, her mood a lot better now: What is your object?

Aditya: To seduce you into staying in our marriage.

Imblie blushed and dropped her fork: Wwhat?

Aditya raised an eyebrow: You had a good nap and now you have a good dinner before you...who knows what's next?

What's next?

Loved it … adi’s brain started working … man he learnt to make her style food wow the person who could just boil water tried to make kadhi chawal once now a full fledge meal … this 10 yrs leaps has bought best in both of them … loved it 🥰

Waiting for next part

Part 20:

Aditya was bored. It has been 1.5 hours and Imlie was still taking her sweet time with dinner and talking nonsense. He playfully took a good couple of strands of her long hair and started braiding the ends of it.

Aditya: Why do I get the sense that you are prolonging dinner?

Imlie laughed: HA! Not at all, I am just enjoying all this delicious food. You went from kitchen mayhem to a real chef.

Aditya gave her that close-lipped irritated look: Right.

Imlie lost her smile. She doddled around the plate with her dessert.

Aditya stopped her playing football with the last ladoo and popped it in his mouth.

Imlie: I was going to eat that!

Aditya: I finished it off your plate. Now you will live longer.

Imlie's eyes widened: You remember?

Aditya: I remember everything. Now, finish up. I have a surprise for you.

Imlie watched in trepidation as he got off the table and went into the living room. What was he planning to do? She wasn't ready to jump into all this...

Aditya called out: Leave the dishes and come here.

He waited patiently another 10 minutes before irritation got to him.

Aditya: IMLIE!

Imlie quickly walked over.

He smiled, looking at her still in her flannel pajamas with little snowmen on it. He turned on the music and pulled her up by the waist.

Aditya: Let's dance.

Imlie: I am not properly dressed!

Aditya: So what? We are just at home. Let's be spontaneous.

Imlie smiled.

Aditya: Are you nervous?

Imlie, laughing nervously: Why should I be nervous? I have trekked the Siberian tundra at night alone. I am not afraid of anything.

Aditya pulled her right up against him: I can't help but feel like you are nervous though...

Imlie's eyes glinted as she looked at him: I am not!

Aditya smiled: I think you got spooked by the word.

Imlie forced nonchalance in her voice: What word?

Aditya whispered in her ear: You know exactly what word.

Imlie had too many sensations running all over her body from having him this close to her. She had never had him this close for this long.

Imlie giggled.

Aditya: What's so funny?

Imlie: I just keep thinking Malini Didi will pop up anytime now. I have never had a moment alone with you like this.

Aditya turned her around slowly: Never again (he kissed the top of her head).

Imlie wrapped her arms around him and hugged him instead. They slowly moved to her playlist.

Imlie just stayed with her head against his heart: I love this song.

Aditya: Thousand Years? It's a bit young.

Imlie: We are young.

Aditya: Speak for yourself. I am practically middle aged now.

Imlie: You are all of 42. Hardly middle aged.

Aditya: Someone has been counting.

Imlie picked an imaginary lint off his shirt: I celebrated all your birthdays.

Aditya was quiet for a bit: Really?

Imlie nodded. He liked the feel of her head against his chest.

Aditya: Why didn't you find me? Weren't you ever curious at least?

Imlie: Of course I was, but I thought you had a family and I couldn't stand finding that information.

Aditya sighed: We lost so much time.

Imlie: I know you blame me.

Aditya: I don't blame you. I blame takdeer.

Imlie hugged him tighter: Takdeer helped us meet again.

Aditya hugged her and rested his chin on her head: Aren't you glad I ran into that coup?

Imlie snapped up: No! That was reckless.

Aditya: Ow! (He pressed his chin)

Imlie: Sorry sorry sorry! I am no good at this romance thing.

Aditya smiled and tugged her back: You will do for me.

Alex got a hold of the bartender. Something strong, he said. He took the offered drink with shaky hands.

Bartender: Are you sure you should be drinking that?

Alex tipped generously: This is my first drink, mate. Let me have it.

Alex sighed into his drink thinking of Imlie and Aditya alone. They had Emmy picked up by his mother. He knew what that probably meant - their time alone.

"She was never yours. What is not yours cannot be lost..." he whispered to himself.

A young woman scooted closer to him at the bar and smiled. Alex knew what that was about.

Alex: What is your name?

The young woman replied: Emily.

Alex groaned and left the bar.

Imlie looked up at Aditya, suddenly serious: You understand, I can never go back?

Aditya: Back to being together or back to India?

Imlie: I live undercover, I have responsibilities here. I can't go back to India and live as Imlie. I cannot ever come out now that I am working for RAW. That's the deal I made when I accepted this role.

Aditya: Did you want to be done with your old life so badly?

Imlie sighed: Yes. There wasn't much in it for me. My society weighed my worth by my illegitimacy, both as daughter and wife.

Aditya, stunned: You were not illegitimate as my wife. We had a religious marriage. We were going to register it before Malini stooped that low.

Imlie sat down: Yes, but it didn't happen. My life there was very empty after that, Babusaheb... (at his pointed look, she corrected herself) Aditya. I did not want that identity anymore. I wanted a new one and this position offered me a new life. Now, I am an agent, a mother, a friend, and while I do go back to see my family, I don't think I can go back and be bahu in your home. Do you see that?

Aditya: I do. Even I don't live there anymore.

Imlie: How will we make it work if we have such different lives?

Aditya: I will build a life here, if you will have me. If I cannot go back to journalism, I can restart here.

Imlie: But your family needs you. I hope you make amends with your mother and the rest of your family, Aditya. I don't want to be the reason you lose all that.

Aditya: You are not responsible for that. Don't let my mother and Chachi's words haunt you. I chose to distance myself. If they can alter their views, I will visit, but it will just be like moving abroad.

Imlie: They will never accept me. And it's complicated. If they find out you are here with me, Nishant bhaiyya will have confirmation that I am a secret operative.

Aditya: We will talk to him. He understands how this works. Do you have any other qualms about why we might not work?

Imlie nodded: I have a daughter now. Your family will think she's some illegitimate child of mine with Alex no matter how much we clarify.

Aditya: I think it will be a good lesson for them. I remember you telling me they would never be okay with accepting your child with someone else even if they expected you to accept mine. They wanted you to be a second mother to Malini's child, I will be a second father to Emmy instead. How is this any different?

Imlie, concerned: And would you be able to be a father to her, knowing that Alex is also present as her guardian?

Aditya: If you could do it for me, I can do it for you. And it is easier for me given that she's adopted.

Imlie: What if she was not?

I feel bad for Alex…..he is a good friend. Hope he finds someone who makes him happy 😊

they are taking about their future and as parents ❤️ I love it!!!

Loved it - nice twists and turns - liked the bits on malini popping up, the parallel of the Imlie's kid to Malini's.

Loved the Adi who takes the first step-in romance..so missing in the show.

Why do I get the feeling that Alex may turn negative just like Malini - why else suddenly add him retrospect in a bar? Can't wait.

Originally posted by: kalavathi5

I feel bad for Alex…..he is a good friend. Hope he finds someone who makes him happy 😊

they are taking about their future and as parents ❤️ I love it!!!

It are older and more sensible now. They are setting the framework 😃