Imlie’s POV –
I left the hospital secretly before being noticed by Babusaheb. I didn’t want to talk to him, I didn’t want to meet him, and I didn’t want to see the world around me. I couldn’t say if I was mad, angry, perplexed, frustrated, sad, pained or exhausted because I was facing all the emotions at the same time. And perhaps this was the reason I had a panic attack.
I straightaway went to the hostel to fetch my belongings and run somewhere. I would like to run away anywhere but not here. Certainly not here again. I reached the hostel, fetched my belongings, and came out as soon as possible from the hostel gate outside. And as I drew my way past the hostel gate, I found myself face to face with Babusaheb. His bike stood just near my eyesight. I cursed my bad luck for not being able to escape before he can reach me.
Still I didn’t care and stepped one feet ahead to make him know that I am neither going to wait, nor do I have any plans to return to him in future.
But a hand extended and gripped my left arm firmly. I tried to free myself, I struggled and wriggled. But to no avail. I felt tied up by some force which I now wanted to avoid. I wanted to be free and peaceful. But then I heard a voice. “Please return home with me.”
“Then was the divorce papers you handed in right at my hands was a joke ?”, I shouted, venting out my pain with moist eyes.
Then he backed off a step behind and I found him speak in a low voice. “I felt you need a closure on my side and that’s why you were avoiding me.”
“But did you ask me what I want ? I didn’t want any surprise like this. Atleast not this.”, I found myself answering back.
There was a silence which motivated me to speak again.
“Why don’t you, no, you men, try to ask your wives what they want ? You want your wife to be accustomed with what you like, you assume things for her, you select things for her, but you never offer choice to your wife. Why Babusaheb ? Why ?”, I said with tears running down my cheek like a fountain.
“Did I not give you wings to pursue your dreams ? Did I not bring the offer letter to you from the office though you were not successful to get application form from your college ? What didn’t I do ? I discovered your dreams and helped you reach it even before you can ask. Why do you still think I am wrong ?”, said Babusaheb, sternly.
“And that was until when we were all good. We never had any problems during that time. The problem came when you lost trust in me. The problem came when you mistook my stairs of initial success to be a favor by Boss babu. The problem came when you mistook my presence with Boss babu as deep friendship. And still I had the hope that things will get better. I still hoped that you will try to discover the blunders of Malini didi, in my absence, which I failed to explain to you in my presence. I thought you will make Malini didi out of our lives after realization. But my hope and my pride, both broke when you handed in the divorce papers to me. Even if you felt I wanted divorce, can you live apart and away from me ? And Babusaheb, how did you even feel that I will break my ties with you and even go to the extent of giving divorce ? If you wanted to know what I wanted, you would have asked me directly instead of bringing these to me. And if you paid interest in knowing what I want, I wouldn’t have been out of the house too. But it has been a long time, you forgot me. You forgot who Imlie is. You even forgot who you are and how you used to be. And if any person can come between us and break our relation apart so easily, I don’t think I should stay with you either. Good Bye, Babusaheb ! I will make sure I will never show my face to you again.”, I said with unconditional tears.
Even then Babusaheb didn’t loose the grip on my arm. I shouted, “Leave me. You wanted me to sign on divorce papers, right ! Give it to me and I will sign them and we both can be at peace. I can’t live a life of meaningless hope now.”
But Babusaheb said with pleading eyes, “Will you leave me for that one single reason ? Will you not give me even a chance so that I can know what you want ?”
“It’s late, Babusaheb. If you didn’t give me divorce papers, I would have come back with you if you promised me to leave Malini didi forever and just take care of her child. I wanted you to motivate me at my first steps of success than label my success as a favor by influence. I wanted you to believe me when I gave you a clear evidence of Malini didi’s blunders. I wanted you to be with me in every walk of my life. But you didn’t motivate me, you didn’t leave Malini didi, you didn’t believe me, and finally you didn’t understand me. And also, you gave me divorce papers and gave a single option to sign it. You neither let me choose nor allowed me to choose like a typical man. You imposed your choice and intuitions on me like a dictator. It’s enough Babusaheb. I don’t have the strength to wait for you and make you face the reality.”, I explained.
Then I said, “Before I leave, hear one story. I don’t know why I am telling this story to you, inspite of the fact that I know that you will never understand me. But still I want to tell this to you. Maybe I still have the hope that you will atleast repent even if I don’t come back to you –
A long time ago, there was a handsome prince. He was defeated in a war and an emperor took away his land. The emperor wanted to kill the young prince but when he looked at his youth and intelligence, he changed his mind. The emperor said, “I’ll give you a year to answer one question. If you answer it properly, I’ll give you your freedom and your kingdom. Otherwise, you’ll be executed.”
The prince asked, “What’s the question ?”
“What does a woman want from a man ?”
The prince travelled to different kingdoms and asked many people but could not find the answer. Eventually, he learnt that there was an old witch who might be able to help him. When he approached her, she said, “I’ll give you the answer, but my fee is high.”
“Please tell me.”
“You must marry me.”
The prince had no option and he agreed. The witch then said, “Every woman wants to change her life but no man understands how. He showers his wife with gifts he likes but not what she wants.”
When the emperor heard the answer, he was happy and the prince gothic kingdom back. But now, he had to marry the old and ugly witch. On their wedding night, he was scared to sit next to her, but to his surprise, there was a beautiful maiden waiting for him. She smiled and said, “My prince, I appreciate your patience and word of honour. I have great power and I can remain beautiful either through the night or during the day. Which would you prefer ?”
The prince was lost in thought. If she looked beautiful during the day, everyone would appreciate her, but at night, she would become a witch and it would be difficult for him to handle. And if she looked beautiful at night, it would be awkward to have an ugly queen during the day.
But by now, the prince knew what a woman wanted. So he said, “You can choose whichever you want.”
And the witch decided to stay beautiful all the time.
Henceforth, the couple lived a fruitful life.
– Story inspired from the novel of Sudha Murthy – The House of Cards
But this couple – Adilie – couldn’t lead a fruitful life. Babusaheb, there is no much difference between this story and us. The woman gave two options to her husband. I gave many options for you so that I can live with you. I also waited. But the only difference is the man in the story got his lesson and lived happily by allowing his wife the decision to choose what she wishes to, and Babusaheb, you, chose the option and dictated it over me. In the story, if prince chose an option, he maybe living a half-life with a beauty and half life with ugly witch but your choice, is making me away from you and live a life of pain. Your repentance is what is my final wish from you. But the wish to live with you got dissolved. Good bye, Babusaheb.”
And then Babusaheb, loosened his firm grip over my arm and I went far far away from him. And finally I got the peace in my life.
Maybe someday, he will get his lesson and make his way out !
Hope you liked this part !
Your valuable opinions on this, matters a lot to me.
And thanks for keeping keen interest imy my writings. That would be my superior pleasure.
Yours sincerely
Shriharshita