A/n: I'm really sorry this chapter took so long to write. I've tried my best to bring out RK and
Madhu's emotions; hope I have been able to do justice to such beautiful characters.
Chapter 3: What happened again; and what didn't
Madhu walked to where RK was seated on the bed, calmly having his breakfast; or so it
seemed to her. In her anxiety, she missed the slight shaking in his hands and the death grip he had on the
spoon, and on his composure that was slipping inch by tiny inch every second he was in
Madhu's presence. Afraid he'd spill his plan before even giving it an honest try, RK turned his face into the bowl,
intent on ignoring Madhu's questioning glances.
Fed up with his silence, Madhu asked finally, "Why are we going to the chawl now?"
"Biwi, you would probably be the first wife ever to ask this question this way!
As if I'm taking you to the State Prison for a life sentence. I'm taking you to your maika; smile, Biwi,"
RK managed to reply in his old confident drawl, even giving her an amused smirk for good
measure.
Relieved to an extent by his words, Madhu stood to walk away when RK held her by the wrist,
"Did you have breakfast?"
"Ma will be waiting for us there."
"I told Sasuma we'll be there only for lunch; she would be mad with me if she knows I've kept her
dear daughter hungry," His attempt at being frightened of Padmini brought a smile to her face.
As if! Padmini adored RK just as much as she had before, if not more. Madhu realised that,
except for her, everyone had reconciled with his actions. Except her, who they had affected the
most...
RK noticed Madhu's vacant expression and mistaking it for thoughts of her home said, "We'll go
there soon, Madhu. I know you missed the chawl."
Madhu nodded absently, still lost in thoughts. Only when a spoon filled with cereals appeared
within her eyesight did she start.
Looking up, she saw RK holding the spoon near her lips. Just like he had when she'd fallen ill ...
before ...
"You can't eat with your eyes, Madhu. You have to use your mouth,"
RK had to remind her twice to bring her back to the real world. For some reason, her mind
seemed drowned in past memories that day.
And only the happy ones, weirdly enough.
Madhu's hand lifted to take the spoon from RK's hand but he moved it out of her reach,
"Na Biwi; I'd like to play Mr.India today. Now be a good Seemaji and eat."
Madhu ate the food, oddly wanting to cry. She'd always known they loved each other but it hadn't
struck her in the face before today just how much was between them; just how deep.
And they, like kids who were bored of the sand castle they'd built, had almost destroyed it. If RK
hadn't brought her back by force, they'd still be stuck hating each other.
She still didn't claim to love him, but he was undeniably important to her; she wasn't fool enough
to tell herself otherwise.
If it hadn't been for RK's sudden decision to want her back in his life ...
And that was because he thought she was moving on and was falling for Sultan! Madhu smiled
lightly as she thought of it now. How preposterous an assumption; how so ... RK a thing to do!
"What's brought such a bright smile to your face, Biwi? Looks like I'll have to take out my
sunglasses!" Madhu chuckled at his words and unthinkingly, said the truth.
"I was thinking of Sultan, RK," the words shocked him, but only for a moment.
The next, he'd corrected his expression into a carefully fake smile and replied with,
"Looks like you're filled with memories of your past life today."
"Seems like it, doesn't it?" Madhu replied, thinking about how she couldn't seem to push away
memories of her and RK from her mind.
"That's enough, RK. I can't eat anymore," Madhu protested. RK showed her the bowl and said,
"See this? Not even half empty.
You'll complete your meal, or I won't let you move an inch away from here, leave alone to the
chawl."
Seeing the sudden fear in her eyes, RK cursed; how had he made it so worse that even words
he spoke in jest seemed true threats to her?
"Madhu," RK's voice dropped to a whisper, "This may well be the last time I get to do this, don't
you know?"
"Last time? What are you saying, RK?" Only on seeing Madhu's baffled expression did it strike
him; he'd let the words slip again,
"RK what is it? You're hiding something from me, I'm sure. Tell me."
"Biwi, if you're interested in imagining things, I'll let you write the story of my next movie; there's
no need to bring it into real life," he managed finally, having gained a little of his ground,
"All I meant was that once we go to the chawl Sasuma wouldn't let me do this, will she? Much as
I love the Senior Citizens at your place, when it comes to you I have to be careful or someone will
snatch you right from under my nose."
Someone one like Sultan, he added to himself silently.
Madhu, thinking his words a mere expression of his insecurity, smiled. Holding onto his arm,
she leaned on his shoulder as she said,
"There may be a thousand people around me, RK but you are the only one I'll look for."
Leaning his head on hers, RK looked to the sky outside; the day appeared to be overcast; just
perfect to suit his mood.
He'd never get the chance to sit like this again; with Madhu holding on to him and a comfortable
silence reigning between them.
A silence that bespoke understanding; RK could only hope when the time came she'd understand
his actions; and his motives. There was no fear of that, RK consoled himself.
He knew Madhu; she would, of course, object initially but he would make her realise what lay in
her heart. He'd give her the life she desired; one she deserved.
Not bound to a complicated, unpredictable and broken superstar but a normal human with whom
she could live a happy life, though may be not a luxurious one.
The life he'd so cruelly plucked away from her would be hers again.
So resolving, RK stood up from the bed and reminding Madhu to get ready soon, went down to
meet Radha; he wanted her to know before so that she wouldn't make a fuss when she learnt.
XXX
"This is madness, Rishu! What are you even thinking? You're throwing her away from your life
again? A second time? Knowing what it did to her the first time?"
His mother had been more difficult that he'd imagined. It had been ten minutes and she was
still stuck at square one. RK looked at his watch, anxious that she be convinced before Madhu
came down and overheard them.
"Ma, its not about me but about Madhu. I'm making things right. Trust me, I've seen them together. Sultan loves Madhu and Madhu has an... A soft spot for him too,"
RK floundered, unable to even think of Madhu loving someone else.
"Maybe, Rishu but don't you think its for Madhu to decide who she loves?"
"Since when have I given her choices, Ma? You and I both know she's here because of that
blackmail. She'd have gone long ago to him if not. I'm just doing what should have happened
months ago,"
Seeing her still unconvinced expression, he added, "Please Ma; I'd like to do the right thing for
once. Not what I want but what's right."
Seeing Radha make no more protests, he walked out of the room. Radha sat on the bed,
suddenly tired.
She had a feeling that another tornado was about to blow in the lives of RK and Madhu. And this
time too, it was of RK's making.
"Choice, Rishu? You think you're giving her a choice now?" she whispered ironically.
Her conscience pricking, she stood to reveal all to Madhu. RK's anguished face appeared in her
mind, stopping her. "Stupid that you are Rishu! Why are you troubling yourself and Madhu so?
Why are you causing wounds where the scars are just fading? When will you learn to let things
heal?"
XXX
"Always be happy, Madhu," Radha blessed Madhu as she started with RK. RK's eyes seemed
oddly stony, his demeanor stoic.
Unable to overcome her love for her son, Radha called Madhu back once RK was out the door.
"No matter what happens, Madhu, promise me one thing. Please?" Confused, Madhu nodded.
"Take care of my Rishu. He doesn't know what he needs and when he knows, he tries to
purposely do without it.
He... He hates needing anything and now... Always, never forget that he needs you in his life,
always.
Don't ever forget that, Madhu, only his inability to do without you makes him do the things he does."
Wiping a few droplets of her mother-in-law's tears away, Madhu spoke, "I know, Ma. I'll keep it in mind forever. I'll be back soon."
With that she left, leaving behind a sobbing Radha, "No you won't be, Madhu.
You won't be returning here if that fool of your husband has any say in it."
XXX
"Madhu, come," RK pulled at her hand discretely.
Madhu, who was having a relaxed time with her family wondered if they were returning already.
"Sasuma, can I borrow my Biwi for a few minutes? I'll return her to you safely, I swear,"
Seeing Padmini's smile, Madhu excused herself.
"What is it, RK? Why did you drag me away so abruptly? Now Ma's gonna think we're hiding
something from her," Madhi complained, mindful of the fact that they were walking down the stairs.
Were they going out?
"I... My glasses are missing and I'm pretty sure I left it in that room," RK indicated to the closed
doors on the ground floor.
"RK, that's rubbish! We didn't even go into that room today!"
"I'm sure its there, Biwi. Go there and look."
"But, RK..."
"Just do as I say, Biwi!"
His frustration confused her and wary that he might be planning something,
Madhu stepped in front of RK, walking towards the room in a quick pace.
Madhu opened the door to the room; the room where Sultan had once stayed.
The door seemed oddly well polished, well used. Almost as if...
"Sultan?" Madhu exclaimed in surprise, part joyful and part confused. "You're here? How come?"
"I asked him to come, Madhu," the answer came from behind and Madhu turned to see
RK standing at the courtyard in the middle of the chawl.
She'd never seen RK give Sultan this warm a reception as he did now, "Thanks for coming..."
Madhu watched, a mute spectator, as Sultan accepted RK's welcome with a curt nod, "I had to;
you told me it was about Madhu..."
"Yes," With that one word, RK walked into the room, taking a seat in the three legged chair that
was at the corner.
"You can sit," he replied in answer to the questions both of them shot through their eyes.
Madhu remained standing but Sultan perched himself on the bed, ready to spring into defense
at any moment.
RK smiled; there would be no need for any violence now; he'd come to surrender, not fight.
"RK, what's happening here? Why have you called Sultan here and what is this about me?"
Madhu approached the chair he was seated on but RK held up a hand.
"The chair is either way unstable, Biwi. You better not come too close or I'll topple,"
The words were uttered with mirth but RK felt they depicted his heart perfectly right then.
Oh yes, he'd finally discovered that he had a heart.
Pity that it was just before it broke irreparably.
Madhu stopped in the middle of the room, looking between Sultan and RK; she was stuck in the
middle. Turning to RK, she asked, "Now, will you explain?"
"I will, if you stop glaring at me like that," RK replied with an amused smile, turning to Sultan.
"You once told me that if Madhu had been your wife, you'd have given her so much love
that not even the thought of leaving you would have come up in her mind; is that still true?"
"Of course, but..." RK lifted a hand to silence both Sultan's objections and Madhu's frustration.
"Will she be safe with you? Those people who came after you in the chawl that day'"
"They're all dead and buried. I've turned by back on that life now. But how does that concern you?"
"Are you sure'"
"You will answer my questions first." Sultan, having had enough of RK's elusive inquiries,
held up his hand. Madhu gave RK a look stating she agreed with Sultan.
"I will, once you answer all of mine." RK avoided answering; he'd do so once he was certain,
once he had enough answers from Sultan to ease his conscience.
Easing his heart, though, would be quite another conquest; one even the reckless RK was
afraid to contemplate on.
"I will too, once you answer as to why I'm being interrogated."
RK sighed; he'd wished to got a few more answers from Sultan before revealing his motives,
"I know you love Madhu."
Sultan, who had so far faced him directly, looked away, destroying any speck of hope he might
have nurtured.
Ignoring Madhu's curious look, he added, "And Madhu' Madhu doesn't hate you either."
Annoyed with having his emotions read so clearly, Sultan snapped, "Is there a point in there
somewhere?'
"Yes," RK replied calmly, "Being the Kabab mein Haddi is not RK's style.
So I've decided to make a graceful exit from your," turning towards Madhu's dumbstruck
expression he added, "and Madhu's life."
It was difficult for RK to decide which expression was more surprising, Sultan's blatant anger or
Madhu's lack of one.
It wasn't any of his business anyway. His work there was done and before he became the
coward he was and took back all his words, RK started towards the door.
But since when had his Jungli Billi made anything easy for him?
"Madhu, step aside," RK replied without lifting his head from its scrutiny of the doors.
He wouldn't, couldn't look at her face; her eyes that would no doubt be asking a million question while she still tried to hold onto the
shreds of her composure.
"Is this why you've been behaving so weirdly of late?" her question startled him into looking at her
face;
he'd only expected her to voice out her intense protests against his action, maybe even
a declaration of her hate that would have made things easier.
But this absolute lack of indignation in her eyes and the way she asked the question,
as if his actions were of no importance whereas the reasons mattered, stumped him.
He nodded mutely, trying to find a way to walk around her without touching her for fear that he
might not let her go.
"You thought I'd simply move on with Sultan because you said, no decreed so?"
He'd been wrong. There was a lot more than mere affront behind her eyes.
There was fury, pain, anguish, desperation, hopelessness, a surprising exasperation and' love?
RK took a step back, unable to fathom how that could be. Had he read her eyes wrong?
Was the light playing tricks with him? But no, Madhu stood straight, her posture sure and confident,
her eyes proclaiming all the love she had for him.
Not knowing what to do, RK took another step back into the room, walking backwards as
Madhu proceeded in until he hit the side of the bed.
Turning away from him, she spoke to Sultan, "I'm sorry for what he's done, Sultan.
I'm sorry that RK has troubled you into coming here when I know you should be with Kaka
and looking after Aryan. I'm really sorry but'"
Sultan nodded curtly and, with a quick nod towards RK, walked out. There was no
need for words between Madhu and Sultan. Where their relationship lay was clear as
crystal to them.
They were good friends, she was someone who had splashed color into his world again.
And Sultan was in love with her.
What he'd told RK about keeping Madhu happy was all true, but he also knew that they could
never be; because Madhu could never love anyone other than RK.
No matter how injurious to her he might be, no matter how idiotic that she love her tormentor,
no matter how impossibly masochistic it might seem to everyone else, Madhu loved RK and
only ever loved him.
Because love knew no sense; love knew no reason and it certainly didn't care if the one you
loved was worthy or not.
Left alone to face Madhu, RK was, probably for the first ever time in his life, afraid.
He had no idea how to deal with her anymore. He couldn't predict how Madhu would react;
he had no back up plan ready in case something went wrong.
He couldn't seem to move his eyes from her either; like a snake hypnotised by the charmer,
he stood looking into her eyes, dazed by the barrage of emotions that flitted through them at
a dizzying speed.
And that was when it flooded into him; the relief he'd so staunchly been keeping at bay
washed all over him, calming him, making him feel something that was oddly familiar.
An emotion he'd often felt in the days before he broke their marriage; one he'd pushed aside
as inconsequential.
Love; it had won at last. RK rejoiced in the feeling, reveled in the odd warmth it seeped into his
heart, seeming to fill it till he felt so happy he could have burst.
Unfortunately, Madhu was too overcome with her own emotions to see him clearly and RK
realised, a minute too late, that him sporting a joyous smile on his face would be just the thing to
tip her balance...
A/n: Wow! That was a rather long chapter, wasn't it? Hope it wasn't too boring to read.
A comment for my aching fingers wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?
Precap:
"You thought I'd marry Sultan and live here," Madhu stated with dawning comprehension,
earning a nod from him.
He stood up to walk towards the window, looking at the now clear blue sky, unable to form into
words all that he had gone through.
A single tear at the corner of his eyes told all he couldn't. The looming clouds had dissipated in
the sky;
RK had no idea what would now happen to those grey shadows lurking at the end of the horizon.
"So I will." Madhu's firm answer shocked him; catapulted him down below into the fiery pits of hell
from which he'd thought he had just escaped.
Turning, he came face to face with Madhu who was still seated on the cot, staring at him.
Please do comment; I'm wondering if I'm doing something horribly wrong with the story; am I?
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