Rishbala - Selflessness in shades so bright_ - Page 11

In Madhu, it is the ease with which she can, when necessary, absent all thought of self and do whatever he needs her to do. 'Needs', not 'wants'. She will do what he does not *want* as and when she thinks he *needs* such. Her judgments may not always be judicious or correct, but as a character trait, it is formidable. It is that facet of selflessness that is present in the best of parents, teachers and friends.

In RK, it is a different facet of selflessness, combined with a streak of possessiveness that has the potential to act as slow though never fatal poison to their relationship.

His facet of selflessness has already been evident far too clearly vis-a-vis his mother. It will emerge a thousandfold stronger for Madhu, both an irritant and a guarantee of permanence in their relationship.

A selflessness that does *not* absent thought of self, but rather preserves that person's wellbeing even at cost to oneself.

RK's is the selflessness that is harder to recognize as such because it is very much both grounded and ambitious. He considers it his prerogative to provide for that person, a duty rather than a favour, a responsibility rather than a choice.

That person being materially benefited is worth any hurt or harm he himself may suffer, and yet he cannot and will not consider emotional benefit or hurt for himself or that other.

And it is in this trait of his character that may lie the seed of Madhu's enforced rise to stardom.

So long as RK and Madhu are not established in mutual recognition of their love for each other, that trait may not be as unrestrained.

But once that point and phase is established in their relationship, once he is sure that his love is reciprocated, that he has her loyalty...

The man who cannot think of being indebted in any matter without some grudging and bitterness will never consider such absolute love and loyalty as anything less than the greatest of debts.

It would never be enough for him that he reciprocates that love and loyalty in equal measure.

But if he can raise the woman he loves to that height where she would be feted by the world at large, his cherishing and adoration for her reflected in the world's gaze, that would be some measure of thanks in his mind for the happiness their relationship will have brought him.

And for Madhu, who has never had any vanity of self, her priority may be a different sort of tribute in return. Not as her husband may have it for her - where others must adore her because he cannot consider his own love truly enough. But rather, for him, a healing of wounds and a fulfilling of dreams that he won't ask but that already matter greatly to her for his sake and may someday be what matters most.

Two people in whom selflessness has always been nearly obsessive and will be even more so when burnished with love.