::GROUP FF-Ishq aur Junoon Filmy style::24Sep Pg41 - Page 20

If the ground would open and swallow her up, she'd gladly comply, Madhu thought, cowering slightly at the way her mother, her sister and Roma were staring at her. That, or she wished she had the power to burn this RK to ashes, so that she didn't have to see his arrogant face again. She tried to move away from him, but Rk's firm grip on her waist held her in place,a little too close to her for comfort.

"Hello, everyone" said Rk in that polite voice he always put up to impress. He applied slight pressure on Madhu's waist, leading her forward. "I was just dropping Madhubala home."

Padmini stepped forward. Her face was calm, but Madhu could se the raging angry fire in her eyes. "I'm glad to see that." , though her eyes said otherwise.. "Though, if I may ask.."

"Ahh"said RK in a charming voice. "Your very charming daughter and I have just had a deal. U will be pleased to note Mrs. Mallik, that younger daughter will be doing a film with me! To my great pleasure, she has agreed to do it."

Padmini's mouth fell open in shock. Madhu looked down, but she could feel three pairs of eyes burning into her.

She heard Roma's voice. "What?"

"Indeed" she heard RK say. "And Trishna will of course get a chance to appear in the film. That much I can allow for, since her sister has been kind enough to do the film."

Madhu's face snapped up in shock. He was making it seem as if she was doing this of her own free will! As if he hadn't blackmailed her at all about that damn "video". The audacity of the man!! How dare he keep that false smirk on his face and try to control her life like he was God! She remembered how innocent he was in front of his family. Then when family was so important to him, didn't he understand that her family was just as important to her? Why was he spoiling my happiness, my relation with my family' That two-faced ba****d! That's why he is an actor, Madhu, a voce spoke in her head. That's why he's so successful.

"Well, I will take my leave now" said Rk with a smirk aimed at Madhu. "Hope u enjoy your-ah-celebration for the beginning of your glam life." He turned to go, but suddenly turned around, gripping Madhu's wrist suddenly that she gasped in shock, her eyes flying up to meet his. "See u soon" he said softly. "Madhubala'aha"

He got into his car and drove off, leaving Madhu rooted to the spot, too numb with shock to say anything, her mouth slightly open.

Then she felt herself being turned around roughly and came face to face with a furious Roma. "I hope u are happy, Madhubala" she spat and Madhu flinched at her tone, her mind registering that she hadn't called her "Glycerine". "U've finally won this battle against ur sister. I hope that makes u happy, seeing ur sister lose!" she pushed her back and Madhu stumbled, tears welling up in her own eyes. "No, Roma'"

"It's ok, Roma" Trishna spoke, staring at her sister with hatred. "I guess this is what I deserve to get. A traitor for a sister."

Madhu rushed forward and tried to hold onto Trishna's hands. "Diddoo, please believe me, I didn't'I never want'I wanted u to get a chance with RK Diddoo! That's why I even went to meet him, Diddoo. But then he'"

"Don't lie" Trishna jerked her hands out of Madhu's ."I've had enough of ur pretense, ur false show of how much u love me. U lied always. U lied when u said ur dream is to see my dreams come true, u lied when u said that u want me to act with RK. The truth is that all the while, u were trying to steal my dreams, not fulfill them! U wanted RK to urself. "

Madhu gasped. "How can u Diddoo'u know I'll never act with'"

Trishna suddenly held her shoulders and pulled her close. "No u will. U will act with him, u will be his l-leading lady. Didn't u hear him"she shouted, her voice growing louder with each word, tears starting to fall. "He is 'allowing' me to appear because u agreed to do the film. For God's sake, stop trying to act that u don't want that position so that I get a chance to work in Rk'S film, even as an extra. Please, I beg u!"

"Diddoo'I don't want'u know"

"U will take the role" screamed Trishna. "Do u understand? Do u get it?" She shook Madhu once more, then burst into tears and rushed inside.

"Heroine, wait!"Roma shouted rushing after her.

Madhu herself sobbed, feeling desperate. She looked up at Padmini, who had not said a word until now. "Maa, u know I'd never do that to Diddoo don't u? Ma believe me, I have no choice, I had to'"

"I don't know, Madhu" Padmini cut her off. "I really want to believe u but'"

She shook her head in a dejected manner and walked away, leaving Madhu alone to cry out her tears. "None of u believe me?" she thought brokenly.

************

"I'm sorry,but u can't see him now" Bittoo Ji told Madhu. "He is b'"

"Don't say the word busy" Madhu snapped. "He has no right to be busy, not when he's half ruined my family peace. If u won't let me in, I'll force my way in"

"But Madam'"

"Bitto Ji, who is'ahh" RK'S voice drawled across the posh lobby. "Well, well,well. Someone's impatient to shoot." He smirked. "Let her come, Bittoo Ji. Our Madhubala has come on her own to meet me." He smirked again. "Well, madhubala" he spoke her name like a carress. "Our sets aren't ready yet' but I'm sure we can have some scene shot between us if'"

"Rishabh Kundra, it's timeI speak and u listen. I guess sometimes u tend to forget that other people have a mouth too." Madhu snapped.

"Why U'"Bittoo Ji started.

"Feisty, I like it.."said RK smirking.."I'm sure we'll have a good conversation'say over a cup of coffee? Bitto Ji?"

Bitto Ji nodded and started to walk away.

"I don't want ur coffee" said Madhu loudly. Bitto Ji stopped nervously in his tracks, looking from Madhu to RK, whose face looked stormy. "I don't want anything that has to do with u, Mr. Superstar!"

"Bittoo Ji, the coffee" said RK in a dangerously soft voice and Bittoo Ji scurried away, knowing well that the voice meant bad news . "What is it u want, my Madhubala?"

"U know I'm not interested in acting. And certainly not with u" shouted Madhu. "Take my sister in my place! I don't want all this. I am happy with my parlor. My sister wants to work with u. I don't. U are forcing me'"

"But I want u" said RK softly, stepping forward. He had started walking forwards while Madhu was talking and Madhu had not noticed, but now he stood inches away from her. Madhu shivered under his intense gaze. "I want u'opposite me,I want u'to hold in my arms, to be RK'S lady.."

"I don't'" said Madhu angrily. "I don't want fame at the cost of my family. "

RK's smirk widened. "Tut, tut'my madhubala'remember the video..and plus, if u don't do as I say" he smiled and leaned forwards and Madhu gulped, feeling his warm breath fan her face. "I'll make sure, u'r sister's card gets cancelled. I am RK, Madhubala. The RK. I can do anything. Do as I say, and ur sister will shine. It's ur choice really. U control ur sister's fate."

"Why?" whispered Madhu brokenly. "Why are u doing this to me? To us? Why r u destroying my life?"

RK sighed. "I'm making ur life, not breaking, it-baby'oops Madhubala" he said. "aha"

Madhu felt tears come to her eyes but she would not cry, would not break down in front of him. He was throwing her a challenge and she would not lose so easily. She glared at RK"I'll not let u win, Mr. Rishabh Kundra. Ever. "

She turned on her heels and hurried out just as Bittoo Ji came with two coffees.

"Ah, pity, she missed the coffee" RK mused. "Don't worry, U'll have plenty when we'll shoot together. Madhubala'aha.." He smirked. This was turning to be fun.