Lazing on the corner desk of a Planned Parenthood practice, was a woman just about three months along in her pregnancy. The man seated inches from her was anxious, as one could tell from his uncontrolled ticks and closed in body language. They had come to a consensus about aborting the fetus, killing off the souvenir of their drunk mistake before it became a tabloid bestseller. She needed her big break in Bollywood and him, well, he needed to reinvent his tainted public image. Hence why, he had brought her to the most secluded and private of places his secretary could find, a little town of Waterdown in Canada.
"Please come in", a physician's assistant escorted the pair into the examination room.
"Where is the doctor?"
The man and woman were getting increasing impatient as the PA kept typing away.
"Dr. Khurana will be your physician today and if you choose to go forward with the abortion Miss Deepali, he will also be performing the..."
"What do you mean if? For heaven's sake RK, can't you throw money at this problem?"
"Good evening. My name is Dr. Maan Singh Khurana and this is my staff. Kindly treat us all with respect Miss..."
"Deepali, her name is Deepali and she is kind of a bitch", RK pointed daggers at his partner.
Looks of aggression and unmasked hatred went flying across the room. The medical team prepared for abortion.
"Okay, you have come after hours. Seeing as this is an emergency, I shall continue. For future reference, Friday is date night with my beautiful wife", the doctor distracted the patient as he began the procedure.
"I could not care less. Get this over with".
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The duo were back in the doctor's office discussing future steps and filling out mandatory procedural forms. A sound of familiar footsteps and a gentle knock at the door pleasantly greeted the occupants.
"Hi honey, are you ready for your surprise?"
Geet wore a scarlet smile that soon gave way to embarrassment. She had walked in to a doctor-patient appointment.
"I am terribly sorry, I thought you were closed. I will come back later. I apologize".
She was about to leave when the two heads in the patients' chair turned in unison.
"Madhu?"
She very well knew who called her out. She just did not have the guts to face her unconscious craving. She kept on walking.
"Like I said, date night". The doctor offered a starry smile to the shocked foreigners.
"Her name is Madhubala, right?"
"Yes, in documents. But, people know her as Geet, my wife of five years".
A twinkle appear in his eye and serenity danced in his voice. She made him happy. And that, made Rishabh jealous. Her life was not the miserable dark pit RK had made it out to be. She had found someone, someone that was not him. He needed to get to the bottom of this.
"How do you know her?", the doctor asked.
"Madhubala is a very common Indian name", Deepali tried fooling her physician before RK could chip in.
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RK turned a few stones and there it lay, the biodata of his long time toy: Madhubala aka Geet. He reluctantly picked up the video tape and began watching.
The camera focused in on a small town cafe with Dr. Maan Singh Khurana and his wife walking in for their morning fix of caffeine. Rishabh cringed at the sight of the couple exchanging a kiss. Then, another one standing in line and, another one just before Madhu went over to the barista.
RK picked up the remote and was about to turn off the recording when something stopped him:
"Geet, last name Kundra", she had a Freudian slip. "Two vanilla bean lattes with skim milk please".
Did he hear that right? Did she just call herself a Kundra?
"You've got a famous last name. Any relation to the superstar?" The barista supplied an innocent compliment that was not well received.
"No".
Nevertheless, the poor woman tried to redeem herself with a clarification. "Are you sure you've never met RK?"
"Yes. Change my order to a triple shot of strong espresso please".
"Wow, that is bitter. Are you sure?"
"Your comment was not sugar sweet either. Do your job please".
Maan rushed to the rescue of his frustrated wife.
"I am sorry. She gets asked a lot. I beg your pardon on her behalf". He handed over a twenty dollar bill and a sincere apology to the cashier so she would not burn their order.
As the doctor pacified his wife, RK saw an opportunity to find Madhu again, feel her again, be with her again because it turned out: Once a Kundra, Always a Kundra.
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"Hey".
Rishabh had found his Madhubala on other side of the world, nurturing lives like she was born with that talent. Madhubala Kundra was now Dr. Geet Maan Singh Khurana , a professor at the local performing arts institute, shaping young students into future stars.
"The sign on the door says do not disturb", Geet replied without making eye contact.
"Since when have I started abiding by the rules?"
He did not halt at the supposed warning. His steps became louder and more affirmative with every passing second.
"Madhubala, ahaan". His signature smirk greeted her naivety. She quickly tossed aside the lust for her mature persona.
"Mr. Kundra, you have no business disrupting the office hours I hold exclusively for my students".
"I do, if the students have agreed to exchange their time for some money".
"Only because I am obliged", her id was rationalizing the forbidden. She could have easily said no but, something made her hear Rishabh out.
"I love you", he spoke the same words as five years ago; in the same manner. The difference was, Geet could see through his intentions. Or, so she thought.
"Who are you trying to fool? You got her knocked up".
"Your husband told you that? Doctor patient confidentially. Hello?"
"I am pretty sure you don't go to a Planned Parenthood if you have a heart attack. If you are here to somehow woo me again, please leave".
"I don't know what I am here for".
"All the better. Get out!"
"You didn't tell him about me?"
"I didn't think you were important enough".
He breathed in a deep breath. Her words had hit him like shards of glass. She had abandoned even the idea of him, much like he had marooned her.
"I work with fragile egos, big and inflated but, fragile egos. I teach people how to act. I know what you are doing. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".
"Let me guess, you don't wish to be shamed".
She bit her lip and smiled a smile. He had only gotten his hopes up when another figure entered the room.
"Thought I would return the favour". Maan jumped over the table, ignoring any other presence beside his wife's. "I thought I would never top off your grandiose declaration of becoming Mrs. Maan Singh Khurana. But, I just did".
Maan was about to pop out his revered surprise gift when RK made himself known.
"Hello", he waved to an excited Maan.
"Hi, you two do know each other. Should I come back Geet?"
"Yes", something triggered this response from RK and he was hoping she would join in.
"No, he was just leaving". She directed Rishabh to the exit and closed the door behind her.
Twenty agonizing minutes passed in silence. He stood right where she had left him. Still like a statue, he felt what she had felt five years ago when he slaughtered her innocence at the altar. It was too late. There was ringing laughter in the room in front of him, vows of love being exchanged. Through the glass doors, he could see them hugging and kissing passionately. Madhu finally opened up the door and invited him in.
"It's a baby boy. We are having a boy. She has made me the luckiest man in the world".
RK was soon pressed up against his rival and this time, he was not the one in control. With a smile heavily biased toward one side of her face, Madhubala Kundra. Scratch that, Dr. Geet Maan Singh Khurana had the last laugh.
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