Story 1: Mera dil bhi kitana pagal hai…
She sighed and rubbed her temple as she walked through the hallways searching for her ever irritated husband.
"Chief is in entertainment room," told a passing house help pitying her state of distress. Or what he assumed her state to be one that of distress. She nodded in acknowledgement and turned back to go to the media room used exclusively by RK.
"Biwi fancy seeing you here." RK said not taking his eyes off screen. "How about watching a movie with a movie star?" He asked cutting off whatever she wanted to say. Madhubala closed her open mouth and silently fumed. It appalled her when she found herself walking towards the sofa and sitting on a chair next to him. He was fully set to watch movie – popcorn on his lap and a bottle of soda set on table on his other side.
She resigned to her fate and sighed. "What are we watching?" She asked
"Saajan," he said pushing play on remote.
"What's with you and the movies from 90s?" She asked mumbling under her breath keeping her eyes fixed on screen as credits rolled on. RK munched on popcorn and ignored her till first ten minutes of the movie. He cocked his head to the side and looked at his wife who was now sporting a small smile on her face at the antics of the male lead. An involuntary smile broke on his face when he saw how much she was enjoying the movie.
"I have watched these movies with my father." He said turning back to look at movie. The general roughness in his voice had vanished at the memories of his father. Madhu hadn't expected him to answer her rhetoric question. But she was secretly glad that he answered. The ever closed up RK had unknowingly opened up.
"Did you watch movies regularly with your father?" She asked moving on from the sentimentality of the memory and latching on to the happiness of it.
"I loved Madhuri Dixit." He said watching the said woman swirl and twirl on screen. Madhu turned and looked at him, smile waning with every passing moment. "I watched this movie with my father – the day it was released. It's probably one of the very few romantic movies which I still like."
"I hadn't pegged you for a sucker for love triangles," she deadpanned. RK sat up straight and looked at her. "I never understood why Aman had to ask Akash to pose as his alter ego – Sagar. His choice made us woman folk look superficial and shallow." She added.
"Biwi, have you really seen this movie? Aman is helping Akash get to know the girl, Pooja, as Akash had already fallen in love with her. He sacrifices his own feelings for his brother and the woman he loves." RK replied riling up a little. The gentleness of the moment was gone and the fire in his eyes was back. Madhubala smiled a little inwardly.
"So now you are selling sacrificial crap to people who instead of fighting what they want, they hand over their choice to someone else on a silver platter." She replied flatly.
"Sacrifices are necessary Biwi, it restores balance in nature," he said enigmatically and turned his eyes back on screen.
"But is it fair?" She asked softly. RK didn't respond. They both had their shares of selfishness and selflessness in their lives and sometimes, the decisions never clicked. Early tragedy in his life had made him a complex man with many layers. In a world where time was money and patience was purchase on street, no one cared much to disrobe him of his complexities and truly understand him.
She didn't blame either party for this one.
"Who cares if life is fair or not, Biwi? Besides, you are the one to talk." He sneered at her. Madhu ignored him and looked at the screen.
They watched the movie in silence till the confrontation between three characters started. Madhu had given up sitting on chair which had been uncomfortable after twenty minutes and had taken up on her husband's offer to sit next to him on the sofa. She had pulled her legs to her chest and rested her face on the knees. RK had seen it and smiled. She had looked like a little girl mesmerized by the storytelling on the screen.
"I thought you were like Akash but I think you are more of Aman," she said rocking back and forth. RK's hands stilled and he looked at her wide eyed. "You are more brooding than brash, you are more honest than fake, you are much troubled than the faade you put on." She said thoughtfully. "Your words mar your choices, your affection goes undercover as apathy and your willingness to change comes off as resignation to rebellion." She said not really seeing the way his face contorted in emotion.
It was moments like these which became root cause for lot of their arguments, ego clashes and eventual heartache due to exchange of harsh words. Maybe it was the semi darkness in the room or maybe it was haunting and achingly beautiful background score of the movie which didn't make RK snap. He only breathed deeply to control the urge to put his head on her shoulder and just forget about everything else.
"Don't make me a hero Biwi. I play hero on screen but you very well know that I am a villain in real life. Aren't you a prime example of that?" He asked her. She hummed the tune on screen and seemed engrossed in movie. They didn't speak till the credits rolled.
She stood up and stretched her back.
"RK, I am not a big fan of heroes anymore." She said watching his face register surprise. "I think they are pretty overrated." She added noting how hint of a smile was visible on his lips. His eyes however had the same intensity as before but it was replaced with something else which she couldn't decipher. Without waiting for a response, she walked out of the room.
He saw her retreating back till she was out of his vision and waited till he heard the door close behind her. Once he was truly alone, he restarted the movie and forwarded it to the point of his interest.
Aman was now back on screen imagining a scene unfolds in front of him where him and Pooja were together and walked hand in hand in vast gardens. The silent longing in his heart watches the scene and sings a bittersweet song – Mera dil bhi…kitana pagal hai…yeh pyaar jo tumse karta hai…
CID
