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jalebi-likes · 2 years

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What The Leap In Imlie Should Have Been...

Word count: ~2900 words

Thank you for your patience in advance :)

The tragic deaths of Imlie and Aryan Singh Rathore break more hearts than it ever joined. Perhaps the most painful part was that both Aryan and Imlie had so much more to offer and they left the world without fulfilling any of the dreams they had.

But like a phoenix, Imlie Jr rises from the ashes of her parents and is the dream of Imlie and Aryan Singh Rathore.

23 years later, Imlie Jr is the best of both her parents. Ruthless, generous, shrewd, streetsmart, ethical and loyal. A devout follower of Sita Maiyya, and a business genius. One of the youngest and most successful media entrepreneurs who runs Bhaskar Times - domestic and international.

Despite being younger than her older sister - Cheeni - who chose to settle in Pagdandiya (PD) after the deaths of Imliya and Hero ji - Imlie Jr pampers her Didi. Both sisters know just enough about the crack between their mothers and how it divided their families, and one of Imlie Jr’s goal in life is to never let history repeat.

Cheeni is, gentle, mature with almost a disturbing level of calmness. She is as beautiful as an idol carved of stone - and perhaps has become one. She is raised under the influence of Meethi, Satyakam and Rupi (who despite hating Malini from the bottom of her heart, could not leave her blood behind, after all, Cheeni is Rupi’s brother’s child).

Cheeni is careful about every step she takes, for she wants to be anything but her mother. And her dying mother’s words haunt her. Maybe one day she will be good enough to deserve her Imliya’s love.

Cheeni often clashes with local lawyer Ayaan (he helps villagers pro bono), a charmer who takes great fun in poking the unperturbed Cheeni.

– – –

An example of a scene in fancanon I’ve written

Ayaan rushes out of his office, police officers in tow. Cheeni is confused, what is the new problem in PD? Unfortunately it’s something that hasn’t changed in over 20 years - the forced marriage of a teenager and an adult for they were found together.

Cheeni rushes to save the teen, unheeding the advice for all to not take law into her hands.

Someone watches the scene from afar, in a BMW.

“Yeh dekho! Yeh kalmoohi humein sahi ghalat sikha rahi hai,” (Watch as this woman with black deeds is trying to teach us what’s right) Cheeni is unaffected. Such words have been long repeated. However, the person from the car grips the steering when she hears this.

One man strikes to hit Cheeni for preventing the marriage - but it never hits her.

Rather a fist meets his face, the stick falls, and the sun shines as Imlie Jr enters the scene. She removes her sunglasses, barely breaking a sweat while kicking a few people around before thrusting money into their hands.

At first the people and Cheeni are shocked by Imlie Jr’s blatant attempt to buy people off.

However, they accept it and the teen is saved. Because such people easily have a price.

The disgruntled groom removes the garland and shoves the teen away, happy to have escaped the clutches of these men. He goes to thank Imlie Jr who grabs his collar instead,

“Don’t you dare misbehave with her. She’s a freaking child!” Imlie Jr growls, before throwing him aside. She smiles as Cheeni immediately cares for the teen.

Cheeni throws her arms around Imlie Jr, thanking her for arriving at the right time.

“I didn’t come to save you Cheeni Di, I came to save the goons from you,” Imlie Jr kids, smiling as Cheeni scowls.

However the elders want to commit a scene at these two women for breaking ‘rituals’ when the MLA of the area is summoned. And that MLA, ready to flex his power, shakes when Imlie Jr is the person he’s confronting.

The young owner of the most powerful media channel in India.

Later, at home, a worried Rupi yells at Cheeni for having behaved without thinking! What if Imlie Jr wasn’t there on time? What if something happened to Cheeni?

Cheeni: “Aap nahi samjhenge Rupi Maasi. PD ko sudhaarna meri jeevan ka maqsat hai. Apne aap ko saabit karna meri maqsat hai.” (you won’t understand Rupi Maasi, my aim is to fix PD. My aim is to prove myself)

Rupi: “Prove karne se kya hoga Cheeni,” (what will you gain by proving?)

Cheeni: “Khoon mera gandha hai Maasi, khayal mujhe rakhna hoga.” (my blood is dirty, aunt, I need to take care)

Rupi: “Kabhi kabaar zyaada acha karne se haalat aur kharab ho jaata hai. Itna obsess bhi mat ho ja. Khoon ek na ek din apna rang dikhayega. Malini ki kharaabi tujhme ek din chalkega-” (sometimes doing too much good might ruin things. don’t be obsessed about it for blood truly shows itself one day. Malini’s misdeeds may just show up in you)

Imlie Jr *thunders*: “Malini Maasi bura nahi thi!” (Malini aunt wasn’t bad!)

And to Cheeni: “Aur didi, you never have to prove anyone anything.”

And then, to Rupi: “Rupi Maasi. Teen baat.

Pehli, it is high time that we change the narrative. Sirf Malini Maasi ki ghalti thi nahi. It was your brother, Aditya Kumar Tripathi, who led her to madness that ruined both our mothers. Uska phela hua raita ab bhi saaf kar rahe hai. (First / Just Aunt Malini wasn’t wrong / We’re still cleaning his messes)

Dusri, agar khoon hi itna badi determining factor hai toh aapko hum maasi kyun bulate hai? Khoon se aap Cheeni Di ki bui aur humare kuch bhi nahi, haina? (Second, if blood is the determining factor then why do we call you as our mother’s sister when you’re Cheeni Di’s father’s sister and nothing to me?)

Imlie Jr grabs Cheeni’s hand to leave when Rupi interrupts, “Aur teesri?” (And third?)

To which Cheeni grins and says, “Kya Maasi? Woh toh khandaani udhaar rahegi na!” (What Aunt! Of course the third one is owed) to which Imlie Jr winks and responds “Je fire!”

– – –

Back to overall plot

To an outsider Imlie Jr has everything - money, fame, success, power and ethics. However, only Cheeni is aware of how Imlie has everything except acceptance at the Rathore household.

The matriarch of the house, Narmada, long severed any connection between her and her grandchild. For once she had melted, hearing the “udhaar” from Imlie Jr’s mouth. And that only reinforced her hatred. Imlie Jr’s naamkaran left her son dead.

Broke her family to bits and pieces. She cannot tolerate the fact that her grandchild is the reminder of Aryan and Imlie.

So despite living the dreams of success Aryan and Imlie had, Imlie Jr quietly lives with the guilt of her parents’ deaths - a perspective Cheeni convinces Imlie against.

On quiet nights you’d hear the older sister counsel the younger one that Imlie Jr is her parents’ dream, not the death of it.

While Imlie Jr protects Cheeni from the world, Cheeni protects Imlie Jr from family.

And Imlie Jr is desperate to rewrite the history between Malini and Imlie through her and Cheeni’s relationship.

So in their room, there are pictures of the happy days between Malini and Imlie. When they recognized kinship and lived the brief joys of sisterhood. The only memory Imlie Jr wants to encourage.

However, doom is written in their lives. In the names of Atharv and Agni.

Agni is the arrogant antihero, a rival media channel mogul who is eager to capture Bhaskar times.

And Atharv is a flamboyant, intelligent star journalist who immediately gets Imlie Jr’s attention and Cheeni’s heart.

The fun thing is, these two men mirror Aryan and Aditya!

Like Aryan, Agni ends up being a reluctant frenemy to Imlie Jr where they end up having solid trust due to long standing ethical enmity. The term “a known enemy is better than an unknown friend” applies to him!

And Atharv, introduced like a hero, is the one who is actually playing with both the sisters. He’s attracted to the power Imlie Jr holds, as well as to the stability Cheeni provides.

Cheeni is attracted and falls deeply for Atharv, believing that perhaps there is destiny involved in matching her and Atharv. But Imlie Jr too finds herself drawn to Atharv, except there’s always a niggling vibe about him.

Despite knowing the whole world, Imlie Jr is naive in the world of love - much like her mother.

Cheeni’s feelings intensify as Atharva gives her a space where she doesn’t have to prove herself, be loved sans the past of her parents hanging. Imlie Jr finds the instant attraction with Atharv, a spark she was too busy to find in her life.

But Imlie Jr’s feelings are broken when she understands Cheeni harbours love for Atharva. And they’re also faded as the weird enemy/friendship with Agni intensifies over time.

While Atharva tries to convince Imlie Jr he is hers, despite the fact his family approves of Cheeni more, Imlie Jr breaks away from every attachment. Jealous at the proximity between Agni and Imlie Jr and nursing a bruised ego, Atharva courts Cheeni openly.

Cheeni refuses to believe her sister is the thorn in her life, but grandmother Anu returns - satisfied to see history repeating and getting an opportunity to execute her own revenge through Cheeni. Imlie Jr must pay for Malini’s death and unhappiness.

Cheeni is disturbed learning how Imliya had interfered into a much committed Aditya-Malini relationship and is unable to unsee the parallels between Malini and Cheeni’s lives.

For the first time, Malini’s dying words seem like truth.

Imlie Jr senses Atharva’s intentions and when she tries to interfere between Atharva and Cheeni - she gets called out.

The sister who always shielded her, accuses her of breaking everything. Maybe there is a reason why Arylie died when Imlie Jr was born.

Cheeni ends up saying things she should’ve never said.

Broken, Imlie finds friendship and more in Agni, while Ayaan is aggravated how Cheeni could be so stupid despite being so intelligent. The answer is - love. A twisted, desperate need for love.

With Cheeni succumbing to the belief that Imlie Jr is trying to break her and Atharva like Imliya broke Malini and Aditya, Imlie Jr is desperate to find a way to save her sister.

And the one way to save Cheeni is to marry Atharva herself - it’s the blackmail Atharva offers.

Cheeni is distraught, Agni is shocked. As an unlikely duo they pair up to prevent the wedding from happening. Much to Anu’s plight, Cheeni is moved by Imlie Jr when she overhears the blackmail.

Agni is glad to have broken the marriage and blackmail, angry at the extent she could go. He ends up confessing his hidden love for her - a fact that shocks Imlie Jr pleasantly. Something she quietly felt too.

Angry, Anu pushes Cheeni to go to any extent to claim Atharva before Imlie Jr and the calculation hits Cheeni when Anu blurts how Cheeni was brought through the world.

No one had mentioned ever that Malini had drugged Aditya to get pregnant.

Before Imlie Jr can process the love confession, Anu decides to bring out all the skeletons to destroy any relationship between the sisters.

Imlie Jr’s world shatters when she learns that the Cheeni she is trying to save is the reason why her mother lost her first child and why her parents were separated for years.

Anu believes she has succeeded when Cheeni goes to meet Atharva, alone at night and Imlie Jr heading out of the city - ignoring Cheeni.

At Sita Maiyya’s temple, Imlie Jr yells all her hidden frustrations and ends up being supported by Agni, who hugs her tightly.

To Anu’s surprise, Cheeni slaps Atharva, clarity washing over her like cold water as she runs out in the rain cursing her luck.

Cheeni kicks Anu away from her life and collapses on the road, begging for relief of the burden of her parents, for some dignity when suddenly there’s no rain over her.

It’s Ayaan, holding an umbrella and extending a hand.

Cheeni is surprised he still has a good opinion of her and he admonishes her for thinking so.

However, there’s Imlie Jr on the road. Her face is devoid of the usual warmth. Frightened, Cheeni begs for forgiveness but instead is met with a roar. Imlie Jr yells at Cheeni, yells at her for thinking Imlie Jr wouldn’t support her, yells at her for thinking that Imlie Jr would choose love over her sister, yells at her for thinking that their parents' murky history would destroy their sisterhood.

Then she takes Cheeni into a bone crushing hug. After breaking the hug, Agni offers to drop Imlie Jr home as Cheeni wants to spend some time alone outside.

En route home, Imlie Jr is still broken over the truth because what truly mattered is that Cheeni knows she’s with her. In reality, Imlie Jr is still struggling to accept the truth.

Ayaan decides to take Cheeni to meet his father - an ever optimist who can give her good advice. Ayaan’s father turns out to be Kunal Chauhan. The one man who truly ever loved Malini. Kunal is moved to see Malini’s daughter and with him she finally gets to meet the memories of the good woman Imlie Jr believed Malini to be.

A Malini that fought for Imlie’s rights. A Malini who captured the shy lawyer’s heart. The woman who had once forgotten her years of love and relationship to support her sister.

On the other hand, Agni and Imlie Jr are having hide and seek of him having confessed his love and she going “but he’s my enemy and my best friend and the guy I’ve been having feelings for”. She dreams of him everywhere and she curses Sita Maiyya for not giving her a break between emotional and romantic drama.

Cheeni comes back home to everyone’s relief - she has finally shed the weight of the past and goes to thank Agni for his help when she realises that in one way, Imlie Jr is finally a child for having not confessed her own feelings!

Cheeni and the rest of the family decide to help Imlie Jr confess her love because like her father, Imlie Jr too has emotional constipation. Arpi and Rupi hilariously recount the days when love was obvious but both Imlie and Aryan were idiots about confessing anything. And looks like Imlie Jr had to get that trait from her parents.

Meanwhile, Ayaan too joins in to help Cheeni - but he’s more fascinated at the opportunity to shamelessly flirt with a flustered Cheeni.

And Agni is surprised that a woman who can close contracts worth millions has nothing to say in response to his “I love you”. Not a yes, not a no.

The closest Imlie Jr ever came to say anything was… “I like your suit,”

The reality is for years Imlie Jr has suppressed her tears, anger, rage and history to set things right. And with that she has forgotten how to express. So saying I love you comes from a lot of vulnerability.

Through a comedy track the family (except Narmada) team up to help Imlie Jr confess her ‘I love you’.

Which Ayaan also uses to confess his love to a happy Cheeni. They later joke that the one way they know Cheeni and Imlie Jr are cousins instead of sisters is because Cheeni said yes in a minute while Imlie Jr took a month!

Finally there’s a double wedding for both the sisters! Except one person has her evil eye on the processions - it’s Anu and her unending thirst for revenge.

The weddings are a lot of fun. On one end Imlie Jr and Agni have their nok jhok, on the other end Ayaan and Cheeni are having their soulmate romance. For Ayaan was the guy who was always in front of her eyes and she never noticed!

Imlie Jr senses something is off with all the rituals but she can’t exactly pinpoint where. Anu tries to poison and ruin all the rituals until Imlie Jr and Cheeni finally confront her.

Because in the larger sense, Anu is the actual reason for all the ruin. She misguided her daughter the most. And in a twisted sense even her hurt has a motivation because Dev cheated on her.

But what has Anu achieved in all these years? Her evil deeds have left her childless. And Malini did what Anu could never do - exact revenge. But what did Malini gain? Apart from traumatising every person she loved and dying as a shell of a person with nothing but hate.

Anu only lost in her years of hate. She killed her own soul and led her only child to ruin. Unable to bear the reality in front of her eyes, Anu is guilty. She begs for forgiveness but while Imlie Jr and Cheeni sympathise, neither can find it in them to forgive her and include her in the family - something that Anu finally understands.

The united stance of Imlie Jr and Cheeni, along with the lesson they teach Anu brings Narmada out of her shell. In the same way she’s doing the same thing Anu did. Losing out on family due to misdirected rage.

Narmada finally embraces Imlie Jr as her own and gives her access to all of Imlie and Aryan’s treasured memories and Imlie Jr cries in happiness - being able to finally connect with her parents.

Then the wedding happens with great joy! Imlie Jr and Agni are teekhi mirchis while Cheeni and Ayaan are nauseatingly cute.

With a glimpse into the future we see Ayaan has opened a full fledged firm to help cases pro bono, Cheeni has her own college that she runs for village girls (she’s a teacher) - funded by Imlie Jr and an anonymous donor (Anu, who is finding ways to repent). Imlie Jr and Agni have a partnership between their companies, still relishing in the delicious rivalry at whose company is more successful and Imlie Jr finally gets an order in signing against any forceful marriage in the village of PD and punishment for those who have actively participated in it.

One day both the sisters take a trip to the highest point of PD and remicise the past, present and the future which has the wonderful people they love.

Cheeni sighs that they’ve gotten their happily ever after to which Imlie Jr corrects and points at the rising sun.

This is just the happy beginning for they have more ahead.

“O suraj chacha, tani ruko, hum dono aawat hai!”

The End

tagging (everyone who like a post regarding Imlie before): @jaanedil @aye-masakalii @tellywoodtrash @featheredclover @thebluereckless @shiyaravi @me-furiosa @nowthatiseeyou @studioghalib @dreams4kahaani @vidhurvrika @sohalia01 @fangirl-bookaholic @thegirlwithlightningscar

#imlie #itv #what ifs #literally what the leap could be #just trying to give a decent shot to the story #cause I like inflicting pain on myself #thanks ashi ji

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