AryLie FF - Aryan&Imlie - Epilogue Page 32 (Dt. 13 Mar) - Page 16

The Pagdandiya Clan - Part I

Satyakaam, a.k.a Dadda, Imlie’s Father In All Ways Except One

Satyakaam, a name that brought people to their knees. Satyakaam, a person that fights for revolution. Satyakaam, a man who loved only one woman in his entire lifetime. Satyakaam, a father to a girl who was the best daughter one could ever hope for.

Satyakaam, a name that used to induce fear. Satyakaam, a person who wanted to fight for the people. Satyakaam, a man who always tried to be there for the woman he loved, but sometimes failed. Satyakaam, a father to the girl he failed to protect.

Satyakaam, a revolutionary by his actions. Satyakaam, a criminal, but only in name.

All these things defined him. All these things about him were true.

He has done many things for many people, but has failed many people because of many things too.

His first failure was his daughter getting married because of a custom he started, a tradition that killed his daughter’s dreams, hopes and freedom. His second failure was trying to kill her daughter’s husband under the influence of a woman set on getting his daughter out of his son-in-law’s life. His third failure was not being able to stop the same woman from succeeding.

His daughter, his Imaliya, his Shagun ka Sikka, suffered so much, and he could do nothing about it.

He had believed Aditya Kumar Tripathi to be a righteous man, a man who spoke truth, showed truth and could see truth.

He didn’t know the extent of how much Aditya Kumar Tripathi managed to hurt his Imlie, but he knew now that Aditya Kumar Tripathi was neither righteous, nor a truth loving man. Aditya Kumar Tripathi was, at best, an enthusiast, and at worst, a fanatic.

He still remebered the way he had pleaded the Tripathi family to accept Imlie as their daughter-in-law, just because she and Aditya loved each other, and all he could see of that day now was how stupid he was to do it. He should have taken her away.

He should have taken her out of that house and encouraged her to do anything else but to think of those selfish, self-centered, and soul-sucking people.

His bright star still twinkled, but she dimmed now more than she used to before.

Then, one day, chilling in his jail cell, he saw an article. An article on working women. An article that showcased that a woman that does not earn is still a working woman. The article had made him smile and reminded of his wife, Meethi.

It was after reading it that he noticed the byline.

His daughter, his Imlie.

The tears were unwelcome but not unexpected. His Imlie was flying. High.

The article was so much like his daughter, he was surprised at having not noticed it before. He could not be more proud. He didn’t know if this was her first article, the others he may have missed because of him being in jail, and not having access to a newspaper daily, but if his daughter even had one article on the front page of a daily newspaper, it was a win.

It was a win for her, but it was a win for him too.

But it was also evidence. It was evidence that his daughter has not lost her zeal. That she still saw the world in a way different from others. That she hadn’t given up on her dreams. That she was still fighting for them. That she was still the same little bird, and her wings had not been cut off.

The next glimpse he had in the life of Imlie was when he came across an article on a wedding. Aditya Kumar Tripathi’s wedding. With Malini Chaturvedi. His son-in-law, married to the woman who had instigated all that was wrong with his life. He had scoffed at the article.

But he was furious at the byline. Imlie.

His daughter was there, she was reporting for them, and still his son-in-law had managed to marry another? Was this the great love he had for his daughter?

At the end of the day, he still couldn’t do anything for his daughter, never having felt so helpless when it came to her.

He was fighting his own battles. His battle to make people understand that just because he was from a village, just because he spoke differently, just because his way of doing things was different, did not mean he was a criminal. It was a battle he was winning, but it was a battle that was also slow.

And then, like a present for his patience, he was gifted with Imlie. For a moment, for a little moment, he was with Imlie and he was helping her, and it was a long way to go, repenting for his failures, but helping her fight for their village, her mother, even her ex-husband, he felt that he was doing what he had always meant to do for her.

Unlock her potential and teach her to fly.

But then, there was, once again, a baseless case being filed against him, of aiding and abetting a criminal in escaping jail. And then it was being withdrawn because there was a lawyer there for his daughter, and suddenly he was there for him and he heard of Aryan Singh Rathore.

He met Aryan Singh Rathore’s lawyer before he met Aryan Singh Rathore.

He heard his wife Meethi's words for Aryan Singh Rathore before he met Aryan Singh Rathore.

He learned about Aryan Singh Rathore from his daughter before he met Aryan Singh Rathore.

The lawyer he had appointed was capable. He was not only able to get the case for his daughter dismissed, but he also enabled Satyakaam regular phone calls and meetings. Something he was denied, something his own lawyer could do nothing about.

When he was able to get Meethi on phone, all she could say was Imlie’s Boss Babu, Aryan Babu, was a very nice person. A responsible man who followed their daughter to save her and his employees. That he could have not come to the warzone, but he had anyway because those were his people, and he couldn’t take any chances in saving them.

That he could’ve been married to Imlie the same way Aditya had, but had chosen to fight by Imlie’s side to get rid of that stupid custom.

He promised to Meethi that he would take care that Imlie takes care of herself.

That was something that made Satyakaam trust this man. At least a little. At least enough that he was sure that Imlie would be protected in her workplace.

Then Imlie came to meet him, and she was allowed to.

Imlie was equally surprised, she had been denied every time.

She looked at him in wonder and he noticed how she looked so different from the day she had been in the cell opposite to him. She had a healthy glow to her. It was good. It means she has been taking care of herself.

He didn’t know yet whether to thank Aryan Singh Rathore for that or not.

She was quick to hug him, despite the fact she had seen him just a few days back.

He laughed at her enthusiasm and patted her head lovingly.

Imlie moved away from him, and asked, “Kaisan? Humka laga—(How? I thought—)”

Satyakaam smiled at her and answered, “Uu tohar khatir jon wakeel aaye the, uuke kaaran.(The lawyer that had come for you. Because of him.)”

Imlie was confused then, “Humre kaaran?(For me?)”

Satyakaam nodded and replied, “Tohar Boss Babu bheje rahe. Toka jail se nikale khatir. Tohar upar saare ilzaam galat saabit kare khatir. Uu humri bhi thodi madad karke gaye rahe.(Your Boss Babu had sent him. For bailing you out of jail. For taking care of the charges laid against you. He helped me out a little too.)”

Imlie looked dazed at this, but she smiled after a moment, and sat down beside him, and they spent the time they had talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

The next time she was visiting him, she had Kadhi Chaawal with her. When they finished greeting each other they had sat down together to eat.

Satyakaam still remembered that little trinket of conversation, because it had given him an insight into the enigma that had entered his daughter’s life.

He had said something to praise her and she had beamed at him, saying, “Aur naahi to kaa? Hum to humesha se hi kahat rahe, humre Kadhi Chaawal toh Pagdandiya maan world-famous rahe. Aapko pata rahe, Kaki Maa aur Arpita Didi ko bhi bahut pasand awat hai. Bas uu hai naa, ABP, uu naahi khawat hai.(Obviously. I’ve always said, my Kadhi Chaawal is world-famous in Pagdandiya. You know, Kaki Maa and Arpita Didi liked my Kadhi Chaawal too. Only that ABP, he doesn’t like them.)”

Satyakaam was confused, and asked, “ABP?”

And Imlie’s eyes brightened up as she answered, “ABP. Ajeeb Bikat Praani. Uu humre Boss Babu.(My Boss Babu)”

Satyakaam was unsure why his daughter would be cooking for that man, and he asked about it, “Tu uuha ke khatir kaahe Kadhi Chaawal banawat hai?(Why are you making Kadhi Chaawal for him?)”

Imlie just shook her head sideways and said, “Uu ke khatir naahi, hum apan khatir hi banaye rahe, uuki Maa aur uuki Didi bhi humre saath khawat rahe.(Not for him, I cooked for myself only, his mother and his sister too ate with me.)”

Satyakaam asked again, “Par kaahe?(But why?)”

Imlie blurted out then, “Arey hum uuke ghar maan rahat hai. Apan khatir kachu banawat hai toh uuka bhi khilawat hai.(I stay in his house, that’s why. If I cook something for myself, they eat it too.)”

Satyakaam was sceptical now, “Par tu uuka ghar maan kaahe rahat hai?(But why are you staying at their house?)”

Imlie said then, nonchalantly, “Uu humka hostel se nikal diye rahe aur uu humri madad—(He helped me after I was kicked out of my hostel—)”

But she was interrupted by Satyakaam, “Toka hostel se nikaal diye? Aur tu uuke ghar maan rahat hai?(You were kicked out of your hostel? And you stay at their house?)”

Imlie smiled then and replied, “Dadda, chinta naahi karo, hum uuka kiraya dewat hai. Uu humka madad kiye hai, par hum uuka madad free maan naahi lewat hai.(Dadda, don’t worry, I pay him rent. He helped me, but I did not let him help me freely.)”

Satyakaam had let go of the topic then. Apparently Aryan Singh Rathore had helped his daughter on more occasions than one, and he already knew three of them.

He was worried, was this help going to cost his daughter?

After that day, Imlie visited him and dropped hints of information about the guy, as if it was her daily routine, talking about him. Like alongwith ABP, she called him Nakchada Akkad Bagga. Like he owned a car, a fast car, and he let Imlie drive it. Like he loved his mother and sister unconditionally. And as she stated these facts about him, Satyakaam was given an insight within the man.

Then he was being released and his daughter was there and it didn’t matter and all he was happy for was that he was with her, that he could be there for her again. Then she was informing him that Meethi and Nani are also coming, that they would be here tomorrow and he was just relieved that his family was back together.

Then his daughter was dragging him with herself to a car. No, to the car. The man.

There he was, he assumed, Aryan Singh Rathore.

He was looking at them, him and Imlie, but he couldn’t be sure, his eyes were covered.

But, almost when his eyes found him, he took off his glasses and was clearing his throat, and his eyes were a little widened and Satyakaam still couldn’t make anything of the man.

Then they were standing opposite each other and Imlie was introducing them, “Dadda, ee rahe humre Boss Babu, the one and only, Aryan Singh Rathore. ABP, ee hai humre Dadda, Krantikaari Satyakaam.(Dadda, this is my Boss Babu, the one and only, Aryan Singh Rathore. ABP, this is my Dadda, Krantikaari Satyakaam.)”

And Aryan Singh Rathore shifted his eyes to Imlie and replied, “Obviously mujhe pata hai yeh kaun hai Imlie. Hello Sir, main aapke baare mein bahut kuch jaanta hun. Aapse milke acha laga.(Obviously I know who he is, Imlie. Hello Sir, I know a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you.)”

Satyakaam raised his eyebrows as Aryan extended his hand for a shake, and then joined his own together, “Acha hai. Kaahe ki hum tumre baare maan sirf uu jaanat hai jon humka Meethi, aur humri bitiya bataye rahi.(Good. Because I know only what Meethi and my daughter has told me about you.)”

He watched as Aryan gulped and lowered his hand, and then said, “Of course, Sir.”

But then Imlie was interrupting them and telling them how she had prepared all his favourite things and dragging him inside the car, and then Aryan was in the driver’s seat and Satyakaam was in the passenger seat and Imlie was in the back seat and they proceeded towards, what he assumed, Aryan’s home.

He looked at his chatterbox as she told him what had happened, how she had exposed that woman, how Aryan had helped her, and Satyakaam was looking at Aryan when his name was mentioned and he didn’t like the look on this man’s face when he was looking at his daughter. He didn’t like it one bit.

Before he could, however, call it out, they had reached and okay, this man was rich. This was not a house, this was a mansion.

He watched as a valet came forward to immediately open the door for him. He watched as the valet smiled as he got out of the car with Imlie. He watched as Imlie led him inside the house. He watched as Imlie asked someone she called Radha Kaki where her Kaki Maa and Arpita Didi were, and he watched as she was disappointed to find that they had gone to a temple. He watched as his daughter smiled again and led him to her room so that he could freshen up and rest up for a bit.

He watched as he came into his daughter’s room. A room. Not a corner.

He may not like the way Aryan Singh Rathore was looking at his daughter, but he did like the way she was treated here, in his home.

But he could not stay here. He was a respectable man, and respectable men did not stay at just anyone’s home.

So after freshening up and getting all the grit of jail off him, he calmed an excited Imlie and sat her down, and asked, “Toka pata hai naa hum eeha naahi reh sakat hai?(You know that I can’t stay here, right?)”

He saw her excitement curb and she answered, “Haan hum jaanat hai.(I know.)”

He chuckled at her pouty face and answered, “Toh, ab ka?(So, now what?)”

Imlie grinned again, “Hum jaanat hai ki aap eeha reh naahi sakat hai, par aap eeha khaana toh kha sakat hai na? Hum bahut kuch banaye hai, toh humar saath khaana toh khaa sakat hai na?(I know you can’t stay here, but you can at least eat here? I’ve cooked so much, surely you can have dinner with me?)”

Satyakaam smiled at her and answered, “Theek hai. Hum aaj khaana apan bitiya ke saath hi khaaye rahe.(Okay. Today, I’ll have my dinner with my daughter.)”

And then she was back to her regular chatterbox self and all was well and Satyakaam watched his daughter, more like he knew her than ever before.

When it was dinner time he met Aryan’s mother and sister and he was delighted at the way they treated their daughter.

When dinner was being served he was delighted that Imlie was at the table beside him rather than serving everyone.

When everyone was finally eating he was delighted that all three ladies ganged up on Aryan for not having, and there it was again, Kadhi Chaawal.

When everyone was leaving he was delighted to see that Aryan stole a bowl of those Kadhi Chaawal he never ate with Imlie.

This was the way he had wanted his daughter to live, with people that loved her, who cared for her, who didn’t mind her chatter, who chatter back at her, who respected her, and who made her laugh.

He found himself surprised at the way his daughter was happy here.

He could see the sadness in her eyes when she was alone, but he found it replaced with genuine glee when she interacted with these people. She was beautiful with that in her eyes. She was beautiful without the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was beautiful when she was happy.

He found himself roaming around the gardens, not yet wanting to leave the place where his daughter was, but not wanting to intrude anymore too.

He was lost in thought when he found her there. Arpita.

He returned her smile with his own and then they were walking together when she asked, “Kaisa lag raha hai, itne time baad Imlie se milkar?(How do you feel, meeting Imlie after such a long time?)”

Satyakaam answered, “Zyaada samay naahi beeta humka apan bitiya ko dekh, par uuka milke humka humesh sukoon hi milat hai.(It’s not been long since I’ve seen my daughter, but I am always relieved when I see her.)”

Arpita, frowning, asked, “Zyaada samay? Imlie se kab mile aap? Jab woh jail mein thi?(Not long? When did you meet Imlie? When she was in jail?)”

Satyakaam smiled, apparently Aryan didn’t take credit for the things he did, and answered, “Aryan Babu ke wakeel ke khaatir hum Meethi se baat bhi kar sakat rahe aur Imaliya se mil bhi sakat rahe.(Because of Aryan Babu’s lawyer I could talk to Meethi and meet Imlie too.)”

Arpita smiled at her brother’s antics then. She was about to say something when they heard their sounds. Aryan and Imlie. They were in the gazebo in a corner of the garden. Aryan was leaning on a pillar, cup of coffee in his while Imlie was sitting cross legged on the stairs of the gazebo.

Satyakaam and Arpita looked as Imlie said, “Hum apan Dadda ke saath jaa rahe hai aaj raat.(I am going with my Dadda for tonight.)”

Aryan nodded, sitting down beside her, placing his coffee between them, and said, “Janta hun.(I know.)”

Imlie looked at him, while Aryan looked straight ahead, and asked, “Khush hoge tum, humre jaaye khatir?(You must be happy right, I’m leaving?)”

Aryan took his cup back in his jhand, playing with it’s handle, and replied, “Bahut.(Very much.)”

Imlie scolded, “ABP!”

Aryan smirked then, and handed her a little envelope. Imlie looked at it, confused, and asked, “Ee kaa hai?(What’s this?)”

Aryan answered, “Hotel reservations.”

Imlie asked him in disbelief, “Kaahe?(Why?)”

Aryan looked at her finally then and answered, “Main jaanta tha ki tumhare Dadda kissi anjaan insaan ke ghar nahi rukenge. Aur tum, jaisi tum ho, tum bhi unke saath hi jaaogi.(I knew your Dadda wouldn’t stay at just anyone’s home. And you, the way you are, you’ll go with him.)”

Imlie, noticing the Rathore Logo on the envelope, asked again, “Par ee? Tumka laagat hai Dadda tumre hotel maan rahenge?(But this? You think my Dadda would stay at your hotel?)”

Aryan shook his head then, replying, “Nahi. It’s a paid room. Aur maine payment nahi ki.(No. It’s a paid room. And I was not the one making the payment.)”

Imlie asked then, flabbergasted, “Toh kon?(Who then?)”

Aryan smiled as he looked at her, “Tumne.(You.)”

Imlie inquired, “Humne?(Me?)”

Aryan answered, “Joh salary tumne mujhe di thi, as instalment, usme se maine le li.(The salary you gave me, as instalment, I paid for it from that.)”

Imlie raged, “Par uu toh Tripathi ghar ke khatir rahe.(But that was for the Tripathi Residence.)”

Aryan sighed then, “Maine tumhe kaha ki maine woh payment accept nahi ki.(I told you I would not accept that payment.)”

Imlie frowned again, “Hum kaisan uu ghar acceptiya sakat hai, tum humka—(How can I accept that house, you should—)”

Aryan interrupted her, “I think it’s high time tum apni salary apne family pe kharch karo.(I think it’s high time you use your salary for your family.)”

Imlie sighed then, as if she had had this argument with him a thousand times. Satyakaam imagined she had. He didn’t know what it was about, but if he knew anything about his daughter it was that she loved to argue.

Before he could call out to her, she asked Aryan, “Waise uu kaa tha?(By the way, what was that?)”

Aryan frowned, “Kya kya tha?(What was what?)”

Imlie teased then, “Uu humre Dadda ke aage, tumhara ‘Yes Sir’, ‘Of course Sir’?(That, in front of my Dadda, your ‘Yes Sir’, ‘Of course Sir’?)”

Aryan’s eyes widened then and he looked away and answered, “Kuch nahi. Maine unka kaam follow kiya hai Imlie. I mean, he’s a bloody revolutionary. Aur upar se woh tumhare Dadda hai, tumhare father, unke saath toh mujhe ache se hi baat karni chahiye naa.(Nothing. I’ve followed his work Imlie. I mean, he’s a bloody revolutionary. And on top of that, he is your Dadda, your father, I should talk with respect with such man.)”

Imlie grinned and asked, “Humre Dadda toka impress kar diye?(My Dadda impressed you?)”

Aryan cleared his throat then, “Obviously, he’s an inspiration for many people. And he’s the one who raised you.”

Imlie’s smile dimmed then and she asked, “Tum uuka ee khatir bhi impressiya gaye ki uu humre Dadda hai.(You were also impressed by him because he’s my Dadda?)”

Aryan replied, “Aur nahi toh kya, main tumse hi itna impress rehta—(Obviously, I’m always being impressed by you—)”

Satyakaam watched as Aryan’s eyes widened almost comically, and turned to look at his sister for an answer, but his sister was grinning at them.

He turned back to look at them again, but this time he watched Imlie.

Imlie had the same look Aryan had for Imlie in the car, the one he didn’t like.

He took a deep breath. His daughter liked a man. A man who liked her too. A man who looked at Imlie the way Satyakaam had looked at Meethi. With longing, but unable to do anything about it. Waiting for her but never forcing her. Hoping for a miracle, but not really waiting for it.

Satyakaam realised that like him, he wouldn’t have to wait for long. Because his daughter may not know about it, but she liked the man.

There was no point in not liking the way they looked at each other.

He was late.

They already were Aryan&Imlie.

So, when Arpita made their presence known, he wanted to stop her, because he wanted to see how his daughter would reply, if she was as impressed by this man or not. But alas, he would find more about her daughter’s feelings later.

As Aryan and Imlie both stood up he walked towards them with Arpita.

Aryan dusted off himself off and Imlie came at him, with the envelope in her hands, and informed, “Dadda, chaliye, ABP humar khatir hotel maan room book kiye hai.(Dadda, let’s go, ABP has booked rooms for us at a hotel.)”

Satyakaam nodded, “Haan hum sune.(Yes, I heard.)”

Imlie stopped moving then and asked, “Sune?(You heard?)”

Satyakaam answered, “Haan sune.(Yes, I heard.)”

Imlie gulped before asking again, “Sab sun liye?(Everything?)”

Satyakaam looked between both of them and answered, looking at Aryan, “Sab sun liye.(Everything.)”

Aryan moved forward, his stance purposeful, but mellow at the same time and began, “Sir, woh don’t mind. Actually maine socha aapko comfortable—(Sir, actually, don’t mind. Actually, I thought you would be more comfortable—)”

Satyakaam smiled then, because since he cannot blame the guy for feeling for Imlie the way he felt, said, “Jaanat hai hum beta. Hum jaayenge. Pareshaan hone ki konu zaroorat naahi hai.(I know, son. We’ll go. There is no need for you to be worried.)”

Satyakaam could see Aryan’s eyes widen at the ‘Beta(Son)’ and also the relief rush over him when he accepted the offer. He saw as Aryan and Imlie’s gaze found each other and the look they shared.

Like they were having a whole conversation with just one look.

He would grill his daughter later, when Meethi was here to do it with him. He would see how this man was for his daughter before deciding what to do with him.

But for now, one thing could not be more clear for him.

They were Aryan&Imlie.

And Aryan already treated his daughter like the queen she is meant to be.