Zaalima - Story Completed - Page 6

Amazingly written

This chapter actually tugged at the heartstrings

Superb update

Akshara is also in pain but nobody cared about her

But abhi understood her pain because he is also in same pain

Please update soon

No hope from show

please update soon

Please update soon next part

Sisters

As the old English proverb goes, actions speak louder than words. Their entire lives, Akshara proclaimed her undying love and devotion to Aarohi, but the latter never believed her. Why would she trust Akshara? After all, they were just words, and words cost nothing. Aarohi needs to see Akshara's actions reflect those declarations because actions cost everything.

Don't get Haider wrong. He knows Akshara's sacrifices speak volumes about her care for Aarohi. But those actions were shrouded by Aarohi's false sense of entitlement and hauteur. Breaking Aarohi's delusions was no easy task. Haider must isolate her from people like Akhilesh Goenka and Harshvardan Birla, who fuel her ego.

Aarohi wasn't a firm believer in pooja and paath like the rest of the Goenka's. Her path strayed from religion the day the Gods they prayed to stole her greatest treasures - her Maa and Papa.

Like their parent's death, Akshara felt responsible for her sister's lost faith. For Akshara, religion was a way to connect with her parent's souls and pray that they are content, at peace wherever they are. Worship helped Akshara grieve and move forward. But Aarohi was frozen. The Goenka's fell for Aarohi's pretense of being alright and living in the now. Not Akshara, though. Akshara could see past it. Aarohi's vacant expression, monotone voice, and vehement desire to quash any relation with Akshara shattered her front.

Would faith give Aarohi the resilience it showed me? Akshara asked Haider one day when she saw her sister lost in the phone while their family indulged in humour and memories. At Iccha Kund, a glimmer of hope emerged in her chest as she watched Aarohi try her luck with faith again. Agar tumhari iccha puri kar ke, tum mere aur bhagwan ke paas aa sakti ho, toh Aaru, main puri koshish karongi (If fulfilling your wish brings you closer to me and God, then I'll do everything in my power to grant your wish). Akshara rushed to call and share her hope with Haider when they returned from Iccha Kund.

"Did you ever figure out what Aaru wished for?" Haider asked Akshara as they awaited Aarohi's return from the shower. A shared washroom connected Aarohi and Akshara's rooms. Today, they'd head to the temple to pray for Aarohi's marriage and the solace of Kartik, Naira, and Sirat's souls. Akshara hoped with Aarohi's newfound zest for life, Aarohi would join in the remembrance pooja, not just observe from afar. Kairav and Vansh left earlier to pick up the pooja materials, so Haider was left to drive the girls.

"Yaar, tum kitne badtameez ho (you're so rude). You're not even going to ask how I'm feeling after yesterday?" Akshara quipped to change the topic.

"Kya fayda hai poochne ka, jab tum jhoot bol ke baat ko taal do gi (what's the point of asking when you'll just lie and change the topic)."

"Kaunsa jhoot (which lie)?" she asked in a meek voice.

"Wohi, 'I'm fine Haider, tum meri chinta maat karo'" ('I'm fine Haider, don't worry about me').

If Akshara was honest, it was unnerving how flawless his imitation of her was, with a toothy grin, high-pitched yet soft tone, and a hand braced on her shoulder.

"Woh jhoot nahi, sach hai (that's the truth)," Akshara said while shrugging his hand off her shoulder.

"Dekha! Ye sab chodo aur mere sawal ka jawab do (See! Now answer my original question)," Haider pressed.

"Usne Abhimanyu ka saath manga tha (she asked for Abhimanyu's companionship)," Akshara relented as Haider's incessant pokes on her shoulder annoyed her.

"Is that why you abandoned Abhimanyu? To please Aaru?"

"I didn't reject him for Aarohi"

"Then?"

Before Akshara could utter a word, Haider cut her off sharply. "Don't say it's because you don't love him. We both know that's a lie. Agar tum usse pyaar nahi karti toh Abhimanyu ko Aaru ke saath dekh kar tumhara dil itna chubta nahi (Your heart wouldn't be pricked by the sight of them together if you didn't love him)".

Akshara was taken aback by Haider's observations. Akshara paused a moment before responding. She wanted to make sure the shower running so her sister couldn't overhear her answer.

"Maine Abhimanyu ko reject isiliya bola kyunki humari families ka koi mel nahi hai (I rejected Abhimanyu's proposal because our families are no match). His father hates me, and Bade Papa despises the Birla's in general. Zilaat aur kalesh ke alawa mujhe uss ghar mein kuch nahi milega aur ye main music therapy session ke din hi jan gayi (on the day of the music therapy session, it became clear to me that if I marry into that home there will be nothing but clashes and humiliation). It could never be a harmonious marriage."

"So it had nothing to do with Aarohi? Nothing at all?" Haider prodded. "Aur jhoot bolna ka sochna bhi maat. Tumhe tumhari Naira aur Sirat Mumma ki kasam (Don't even think about lying. Swear on your moms)."

"Aarohi ki mannat ki wajah se maine iss rishta ko rokha nahi. Instead, maine Bade Papa ko convince karni ki koshish ki. (To fulfill her wish, I didn't oppose this relationship. Rather, I tried earnestly to convince Bade Papa too)."

"Akshara," Haider prolonged out her name before getting up and pacing around the room. If his voice didn't convey his exasperation, calling her Akshara instead of Akshu did.

"Haider, tum-"

"Tum soch kya rahi thi? Idiot"

"Haider, Aarohi put her faith in her prayer, and seeing it come through is reviving her spirit. There is a spring in Aarohi's step, a smile on her stoic face, and an excitement for the future. She needed something in her favour!" Akshara stood up and blocked Haider in his pacing. Her eyes were rabid. Haider wondered whether it was delirium, desperation, or a hybrid of both.

"Aur tumhe kya chahiye? (What about what you need?)." He countered.

"Mujhe apni behan waapas chahiye. Iss ghar ki shanti chahiye. Taki main haq se apni Sirat Maa ki beti kehlon (I need my sister back. I need peace in my family. Most importantly, I need to remind Aarohi that I was Sirat Mumma's daughter too)" Her voice cracked at the end.

"Akshu-"

Kairav's phone call cut their discussion short. Kairav and Vansh forgot to bring photos of Kartik, Naira, and Sirat and without those photos, the pooja was incomplete.

"Don't worry Kairav Bhaiya; we'll bring it!"

Akshara never ceased to astonish Haider. Moments ago, they were arguing, and her voice was croaky and broken. Now, she stood before him, spiritedly talking to her brother as if nothing had happened. How can someone be so overwhelmed with emotions and yet seem so unaffected?

Aften the call ended, Akshara grabbed the photo of her, Aaru and Sirat Maa from the shelf and her locket with Kaira's picture from her nightstand. She then grabbed Haider's arm and pulled him out of the room. "We're not going to talk about this again, okay?"

Unbeknownst to the two, Aarohi did hear their conversation. Aarohi had the poor habit of running the tap water before she actually got in. If Goldilocks were from their generation, she'd be just like Aarohi, on her phone while waiting for the water's temperature to be just right. When Haider said Aarohi's name, her ear's perked up, and she started listening to their conversation. When Haider and Akshara exited Akshara's room, she began her shower.

The washroom mirror was cloaked in steam when Aarohi wiped some off to see her reflection. It wasn't just her reflection, though. Her conscience talked back to her like that day Akshara and Abhimanyu spent at the hut.

"How the mighty fall," Aarohi clenched the ends of the sink as her conscience taunted her. "You used to be number one, but now you're trapped in delusions of grandeur like Akshara said. After hearing all of this, how can you convince yourself Akshara doesn't love Abhimanyu or that you're not taking her charity?"

"It's not charity. She is fulfilling the responsibilities of a sister." Aarohi's voice was taut with anxiety.

"Is that so?"

Aarohi nodded with her head held low and her lips pursed together.

"Tum uski behan bane ka farz kab nibaogi? (When will you fulfill the responsibilities of a sister?) Tum to usse apni behan maanti hi nahi ho (You don't even consider her your sister)."

Unable to take it any more, Aarohi turned her back on the mirror before storming into her room to change. "Relax, Aarohi. Just relax," she repeated to herself as the guilt threatened to swallow her whole.

"Aaru, jaldi aao. Pooja ka murat nikhal raha hai!" (Aaru, hurry. We're getting late) She heard Akshara shout from the living room.

"I'm coming," Aarohi hollered back as she composed herself.

As her siblings went inside the temple to prepare the aarti tray and conduct the ceremony, Aarohi waited outside with her back against the car door. She was scrolling through Instagram when a group of intersex and transgender individuals interrupted her.

"Tum Dr. Aarohi ho na? (You're Dr. Aarohi, right?)" One of them asked, presumably their chief. The chief wore a black sari with a sleeveless blouse and a golden nose ring. The chipped-off purple nail polish stood out against her ashy and cracked skin.

"Ji haan, par I'm sorry, maine aapko pechana nahi (I am, but I don't recognize you)."

"Don't worry about it beta. Hum pehli baar mil rahe hai. Par hum tumhari behan ko jaante hai, Akshara. Kuch der pehle usne aur Birla hospital ke doctors ne hume treat kiya tha. Bahot pyaari bachi hai woh. Humara bill usne apne pocket se pay kiya tha."

"Oh." That's so Akshara, Aarohi thought. "Akshara bhi mere saath hai, main usko bulati hoon zara" but before she could retrieve her sister, the stranger held her arm.

"Hume Akshara se nahi, tumse baat karni hai (We want to talk to you, not Akshara)."

"Kya baat karni hai aapko?" Aarohi was perplexed. Aarohi had never been in a situation like this before, standing outside the crowded temple with onlookers gaping and gossiping. Even after centuries, people lacked respect for India's third gender community. They deserved so much better.

"Main Radhika hoon aur ye hai meri betiyaan," she gestured to her comrades. "People have a firm belief that our prayers and curses always work. Your sister holds the same faith. In exchange for my hospital bill, your sister asked me and my betiyaan to make a prayer, and we did. Ab humari izzat tumhare haath mein haan. Agar tum chaho, to hi humari dua qubool ho sakti hai."

"Kya matlab hai aapka? (What do you mean?) What did Akshara ask for?"

"Besides water, what will quench a thirsty man's needs? Besides your love, what could your sister request? Tum bahot kismat wali ho ki tumhe itni pyaari behan mili hai. Pura time woh tumhare bare mein baat kar rahi thi. Akshara times ki permanent headline Dr. Aarohi Goenka ki triumphs hoti hai. Dekho, mujhe nahi pata tum dono ki beech main kya hua hai par ab tumhare haath mein hai sab kuch. Only you can uphold Akshara's belief in us."

"Haan behan," the others rallied.

Aarohi was dumbfounded. Speechless. Flustered even. Radhika aur uski betiyaan deserted her to talk to the street vendor before Aarohi could reply.

"Arey," she called them, but they paid her no heed as they continued their daily routine.

"Aaru" Kairav shouted from the top of the temple stairs. "Kya dekh rahi ho?" Her siblings and Haider watched her curiously as her eyes remained fixed on where she last saw Radhika.

"Kuch nahi Bhaiya"

"Toh upar aa jao. It's time to light the diya's."

"Ji."

At the end of the ceremony, the siblings and their companions would light a Diya in honour of a loved one's memory each year.

Although Aarohi didn't partake in the pooja, unless Mimi (Suhasini) forced her, she always lit the Diya for Sirat so Akshara couldn't. Aarohi snatched the diya just before Akshara could pick it up. It was moments like this when Aarohi's rejection hurt her the most. Sirat ke liya diya jalane ka haq sirf Sirat ki beti ka tha, aur Aarohi ye haq share karne ke liya kabhi raazi nahi hua.

"Mujhe ye haq waapis chahiye, Haider" Akshara told him earlier.

While Haider, Kairav, and Vansh lit their diya's for Haider's dad, Kartik, and Gayu, respectively, sent them off in the water, and thanked the Pandit Ji, Aarohi and Akshara were taking a long time with their diyas for Sirat and Naira.

When her Diya was lit, Akshara closed her eyes and went into her happy place as she prayed for her parents. Maa, I hope aap aur Papa ek dusre ke saath woh waqt spend kar rahe ho jo kismat na aapse cheena. Aur Sirat Mumma, aap, Rajveer uncle, aur Mawri ki souls ko shaanti mile main yahi dua karti hoon. Aapki beta thik hai and misses you all. Akshara wiped a lone tear that grazed her cheekbone. She turned around and saw Aarohi struggling to light the match. Koshish karne walon ki haar kabhi nahi hoti (those who try, never really lose), Akshara considered before she lit a match from her box. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach as she held the match for Aarohi to use, fully expecting Aarohi to reject her assistance.

When Aarohi decided to use the stick Akshara offered, the match had burned halfway. "Tum pagal ho kya, tumhara haath jaal jata (Are you crazy, your hand would've burned)," Aarohi chided after she lit the Diya. "Haath dikhao" she said before inspecting Akshara's hands. Akshara was on cloud nine. For the first time, she played a role in lighting Sirat's diya and Aarohi let her. Her sister let her. As stupid as it might sound to others, Akshara would've let her hand burn just to see Aarohi's concern.

"Thank you," Aarohi said, not meeting Akshara's eyes after she finished her examination.

"Kis liya? Woh meri bhi Maa thi to zimadaari meri bhi hai (For what? She was my mother too, so I share the responsibility)." When Aarohi lifted her head, she met Akshara's radiant eyes and a graceful smile that she couldn't help but reciprocate and set the Diyas afloat in the temple's river.

"Kairav," Haider nudged, "Dekho," pointing to Aarohi and Akshara walking back together, harmoniously, with Akshara's arm laced around Aarohi's shoulder.

"They look like sisters," Vansh gushed. It is such a simple observation, but it spoke magnitudes about their tumultuous relationship.

I truly recommend reading this article (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/17/style/india-third-gender-hijras-transgender.html). It's wonderfully written and these stories deserve more attention. I read this article after viewing Prem Gali, a Pakistani drama that featured intersex and transgender rights. In fact, the dialogues from the scene outside the temple are partly from the last episode of Prem Gali.

Not sure how this update is going to be received but I'm happy I incorporated the scene from Prem Gali and reconciled, for myself, why Akshara is making this sacrifice because, in the show, I find its explanation incomplete.

Please do comment with your thoughts and suggestions about what you want to see.

Reservation for comments when brain cells are working 😉

Ngl idk how well my brain cells were working when writing it lol

Just got Covid positive so… 🥸🤯😂

Instead of 'eunuchs' may be you should start referring to them as 'transgenders' 🙂

Changed! Thank you btw. I’m still learning about how to best respect and write about this community. Since I’m not in India, I cannot ask them personally what their thoughts are and how they want to be represented so any advice is welcome!

Omg,rest and feel better. Take care of yourself 💗