A ten rupee Note AN ss (complete)

A Ten Rupee Note

I was relaxing in my elegant apartment in Andheri East, Mumbai which has been my abode for past 1 month. I was so enjoying my liberty. No no I was no slave or a prisoner, who just got free. I am "Madhubala". Don't go for my name yet, I am nowhere close to Madhubala you know. I am a middle class girl who does not dares to dream big instead she dreams safe. A software developer at sync, technologies, one of the back end software development companies of India, but one has to start somewhere. I belonged to a small town of lalitpur in Madhya Pradesh known for it very fine handspun silk and cotton fabric popularly known as Chanderi. I only dreamed of finishing the current project without being thrown out or better said laid out. Recession and stories related to it circulated near every corner of the 100s of cubicles in my office. I had just finished my dinner and had swithched on the news and there it was the same thing fast forwarding again and again, The famous actor Deepli Kundra dies of post natal bleeding leaving behind a grieving and a not so famous husband Rishabh Kundra and their son. "she was my everything, my sole is lost" they reapeated this again and again on every channel

"why do they have to flash that man's face on the screen all the time." He looks so clueless. My heart went out to him. "Aww" I reached out to touch the screen and then just sent out an earnest prayer heaven wards and closed the television. He means Rishabh Kundra was just an emerging artist. Known for his short supporting roles in a few movies that he had got because of Dipali. He was more Mr Dipali Bhatia than anything else and a brat of the film industry. Manhandling , overdrinking, causing havoc on sets , bad mouthing, so much so even abusing Dipali made rounds in the media very frequently.. So without wasting much time on him I slept

A beautiful Saturday afternoon it was. I had ordered a special masala Dosa for lunch. I had to pay him thrity Rs. I fished out a worn out twenty and the ten that the chaiwala boy had given me yesterday afternoon. I opened up both the notes and pressed between my hands as if that would make them new and was about to pass it to the delivery man when a beautiful hand writing caught my attention.

"I love you" written in Persian Calligraphy style, bold strokes and delicate curves. Red In color , red like wine red. I was so taken in that writing that I put that ten rupee not back in my purse and gave him a 50 rupee note. Oh! Dear my heart had really been under spell by that writing because I asked him to keep the change. Me the biggest miser known in this entire world forgot to get my money back, and as soon as he left I was

"what the hell!! That man just took my twenty rupees. I need to tell the restraunt's manager about this boy" And was about to dial his number the bell rang.

More than a month had passed since and I had atleast taken out that ten rupee note 3 times to spent it. Every time its writing stopped me from spending it. No these time around they were not able to cast any spell on me. I had just ordered my everyday tea and had paid the chaiwala boy Tony. He gave me my 5 rupee back. I was about to fold it and put it in my purse but the back of the note had "Help me!!" In the same red ink but ugliest writing ever as if the writer never really wanted help. He was just asking for the heck of it. I was yet taken aback and felt, as a responsible citizen I should atleast hand this over to the police. What if this person needed help really. So I took and early release and went straight to the police station nearby and gave them the note. I was first looked upon as if I was an idiot and then the inspector said

"Madam either someone played a prank on you or you are trying to play one on us. Sting operation to nahi hai yeh? We cannot take note of things like this. Please do not waste our time" He bent his head back in the magazine he was reading. I did leave, my father had always told me

"never to be friend or foe to a police man." So I left but the jagrook Nagrik in me was hell bent to do something. I came back to the tea stall and looked for Tony.

"Tony tell me do you remember who gave you this note." Now it was his turn to give me those "are you an idiot look?"

"Atleast look at it once." I urged or better begged. He looked at t as if doing a favor on me and returned it to me with the same look with a bored aspect added to it. I mind told me "Madhu enough insult for a day, you better leave." The jagrook nagrik inside me said "no Madhu at least try once more" the JN won.

I nudged him again, "Tony please look at it closely there is something written on it." he was now irritated by me but still as soon as his eyes went on the words help me the thunderbolt hit him and he knew who was the source behind it. No he actually knew the place from where it had come not the exact source. He remembered it because the day he got that note he also had got a 100 rupee tip from the group of people there as they were launching some new business and they wanted him to bring tea their hot and as fast as he could. And this five rupee note was given to him by a fat stout man for 2 cigarettes. Better something than nothing. I wrote on the same note, "what help do you need?" and passed it back to him with an extra ten rupees

"Next time when you take tea there give this note to the same fat man in return for something." Tony looked at me toes first to head last making me feel A grade stupid. He raised his eyebrows and asked "Itna hi?" So an opportunity to earn will never be given up. I knew it but curiosity took better of me and I gave him 5 rupees more for it. He looked at it and then kept it in his pocket and said " since you say it I will do it." Yeah right 15 rupees was so below His Highness's stature anyways there are time when you accept what you get. I did exactly that and left with hope that may be some day the news channels will show me as the great Samaritan I was trying to be. Back at home the cine glitz channel was reporting on the new movie that Rishabh Kundra had just signed. "Why do they give all that much of importance to this good nothing creature"

"So RK what do you think will this movie be the one to put you in the same class as the other RK" asked the reporter

"Other RK, who would that be?" He asked the reporter back in a tone flowing with overconfidence

"Bah, typical parasite of a man." I murmured and switched the channel. I could on take that much from a man behaving like a pig. As if he was telling all that for me to comment.

About a week later tony came to my cubicle and said

"for you madam" I looked at him to say what could you bring for me. It was another ten rupee note. "Oh no! another spell casting note" God had quit answering my prayers these days. It read "help me diapering my boy correctly." I fell out of my chair on reading this, so it was indeed a prank. I was not going to let this man go scotts free. I mean how dare he waste my time and play with my dear feelings. I asked Tony where was this place where he went to deliver tea. I was such a rank stupid to think that I could yield boy as smart as him to reveal his secret source of income, so he did not reveal to me the place neither the man's identity . Not even at a very generous offer of 20 rs bribe. He instead laughed at me and said "you have an answer give it I will take it to him. Cant tell you his where about." I was seathing in rage on that 10rupaiyawala and this chaiwala. Any ways I wrote back a link to you tube video how to diaper your new born and "get some life you moron" and gave it to Tony. Even before I could tell him off without a penny, he left happily. Why should I bother?

I had thought that after that very humble adjective this note business was done but another week into it I got another note, and this time a demanding one."people call me a lot of thing but only you got it right MORON that is what I really am. So how do we put a baby to sleep so that he sleeps all night. Don't send me a link send me a printout"

That chaiwala was looking at me as if I had two, no three antlers on my head. I was fuming at this but then the baby not sleeping at night tugged at my heart. Internet was my help again and I looked up a whole lot of sites and sent him a bundle of 50 printouts satisfied that this time around I will not be disturbed ever again.

It was a Saturday again and 6 months had gone by since I had sent him the bundle. I was sipping my Jal jeera with such nostalgia that I cannot explain. My ma used to make such yummy Jaljeera , for now I had to make do with Everest packets. It was Cine Glitz channel again "was it RK who was the abuser or was he the victim" " Oh my God what a U turn these guys make." I again murmured but then they revealed the whole story. Dipali had been having an affair with already married Sikander Bhatia and they had come upon a video from some party where both of them were kissing whole heartedly. What poison was Mrs Trishna Bhatia spewing on the channel for Dipali was not even for strongest of hearts. I switched the channels again but this time I did not get any reprieve all the other new channel were also showing this story time and again. I finally chose to switch of the TV.

I wanted to go out so went to grab my purse. A brown packet which I had received yesterday with another note was staring at me. I picked up a box that I had made myself to keep those notes safe. I had more than 66 notes now. We had exchanged thoughts about politics, we both wanted the common man to have a better say in governance though our preferred parties were different. We had discussed our situations, he had talked about his unfulfilled dreams and I about being scared to dream for this very reason. Above all we had discussed his son so much that I knew him by heart. When did he first smile, when he first turned, his first cold and his night time routines, His first solid meal and his poop color yes that too. He had termed me the invisible God mother witnessing his son growing. The best part was none of our discussion lasted more than two sentences. Last Friday was my birthday and he had urged me to pursue my passion to paint. He had sent me a pack of water colors brushes and paper. The best part of all this was neither did he try to ask me my number or address nor did I seek his identity ever again. Other than Tony no one knew we were exchanging ten rupee notes. I took out the paint kit and started to paint after ages. I switched on the tv and By God they had all of a sudden become obsessed with this good for nothing RK.

"I have no doubts on my son's maternity or paternity strains. It is very ruthless and thoughtless of any one questioning two people who cannot answer for themselves. My dead wife, and my 7 and a half month old son. Let her rest in peace and let him grow in peace people." He did say this with a lot of conviction in his tone and a lot of rudeness. "RK is standing up for his dead wife, in the face of extreme backlash from the media. A wife who alleged herself to be victim of his abuse always. A wife, who turns out to be unfaithful, or maybe not. That will always remain a question. –Has Rk really been what he was portrayed as? Is he changing? Time will only tell." And the reporter closed the analyses. So RK has managed to be in the media for this or for that reason. The brat in my eyes had changed for the very fact that he stood for his wife. Silly me with my 16 year old mind, no don't fret I may behave like sixteen year old and thrive on ten rupee notes. I may put some extra thought into RK but remember I am a realist in the end and too scared to dream, let alone pursue it. So eventually the painting remained unfinished.

It had been nearly 12 months now since we had been exchanging notes. His son Aaryan was more than a year now and even today I was very well informed about him. My project at work was in its last stages and I had been looking for better opportunities for past two months. I got a note again but this time a 500 rs note. I was taken aback. "I know the currency must have scared you"

"you know me too much for my comfort" suddenly the "scared self " inside was waking up. It no more appeared harmless fun. He could actually harm. What had I been, an idiot or what to entertain this for so many months. Above all not a single person knew about all that. If he chose to do something to me no one would even know and I would be wiped out of this world. I grabbed my water bottle and gulped a big amount.

"I had to, my dream project has reached its finality and we will be launching it tomorrow. I had so much to say that could not fit in 10 rs bill." I relaxed, I knew about his project. He had just started a water bottling plant and tomorrow he would be launching many kinds of indigenous flavored water. They had managed to get a big start being represented in RK's movie "Kaynath" twice. They had also been the proud sponsors of water to the entire unit during the production and post-production. So while my dream painting was still in the closet. This man had dared to dream and tomorrow and there after will tell if it took off or not. He had dreamed of sweet and pure and life giving water In the colors of rainbow, when the world now cared for bitter taste and life sucking alcohol more. He had dared to challenge the carbonated waters with his pure water from the springs of Himalaya.

"so Thankyou for your small medium and big notes. For telling me about my own son, that which I did not know, even without asking his name. For sharing my dreams and my desires. For removing my fear even though you were scared. For not like others who give only in return. For reaching out even when you were not obliged to. I am sending you the tickets to Kaynath's Premier since that is the place where we will be launching the brand. I will not be there, You can come with friends and family. I have sent you ten tickets. If you need more you know how to reach me. W hen you go there tomorrow you will get a bottle of water from my manager. The label will have his number. If ever you need me he will be the through way. I will not say bye for I am scared to say that. See you at some other point of life. Warm wishes- Notewala"

I took a deep breath and gave Tony a 10 rs note which was blank. He looked at it both sides and raised his eyebrows at me "Khali! kuch likhogi nahi didi"

"Didi?" I was astonished at this Honorific or endearment whatever. It was inexpected. I just noded to say no. I was feeling blank and had to leave it blank. I told my best friend who was crazy about cinema about the premier tickets. She was beyond excited she was one who was ever in love with RK for elusiveness and exclusiveness. She always use to proclaim that he was the willing fall guy for Dipali's black deeds. Why he chose to be so she could not put her finger on. She was one of the craziest girls I had ever met. Actually a crazy like me could only befriend crazies. For the first time I felt crazy and fear did not go together or did it?

The cinema hall was pretty full given that The movie was very well promoted and RK was coming for the premier. That man had garnered a lot of feminine interest in the past few months, though I had lost his tracks. Work pressure and ending being close I had very little time for my crazy thoughts any more. I was actually a full term realist now. The movie Kaynath was relly a very well filmed, well scripted and edited movie. It was a love story with an eerie semblance to RK and Dipali. The end differed though for the heroine never died though she did leave the hero and her son behind In search of happiness. The movie was told with a women's perspective but Ironically the male lead took away the entire credit. It was a women centered movie in a man's world. Cinema and manipulation at its best. This movie I knew was sure to establish RK in the market for good. Then came the time of launch of bottled water whose name was always kept a secret. It was never revealed who owned the industry even here, except that it was . "Poori tarah aapka poori tarah swadesi." This is how they had advertised the product. Once RK tore the red cover on the label it read, "MADHUDHARA The secret essence of life"

I rushed out of that place with the bottle that was for me. I was beyond scared he knew my name and I knew nothing about him. so much for being a realist. I had to confide in someone and I for the first time told about it to my friend. Tommorrow was the go live of our project. I had got a call from IBM now. So after the project was live I gave my resignation and left Mumbai as fast as it was humanly possible. I had promised myself never ever to even try bein a good citizen. I had taken a break for a month and had lived with my mom after years. Oh how relaxing it was to be close to her. Her smell, The sound of her bangles everything gave me so much peace. I was now working in Calcutta. I loved the city to bits. It is down to earth city, which dreamed safer dreams. I had forgotten the entire episode except for the notes. I had hundred 10 rs notes from him and a 500 rs note. It had been almost 8 months since I left Mumbai. I missed his son, I wanted to know what was going in his life. I wanted to atleast know his son's name. So many times I had taken out the label of the bottle to call his manager's number but the scared realist in me always won this time.

I got a call from mom today that Dad had met RK today since he came to shoot in the area around Lalitpur. Lalitput is a beautiful place as such and is close to Jhansi. Their film location was an old fort near Lalitpur which used to be the residence of the minister of Jhansi. This time round he was working in a period drama. Lalitpur and areas around provided ample locations to shoot. My Dad was the director of Archeological Survey of India Of Agra circle,and the filming permit was granted by this body on such locations. That is how he met RK. It appeared that they had become quite well acquainted and and he was a secret guest at my house for dinner everyday. His son also enjoyed the affections of my mom. My Dad Mr. Shamsher Malik, another eccentric you can ever come across was so enamored by RK that he went ahead and proposed my marriage to him to which he had replied in affirmative if I agreed. I was shocked my dad wanted to marry me off to a man who had a nearly two year old son. I just howled over the phone and hanged up. I was feeling so distraught, all the life I played the role of a scared realist and this is all I got. My dad not even consulting me, before confirming my marriage to some widower with a son. What would be next? Seeing the groom at the altar no at my marriage bed I suppose. I felt betrayed and cried myself to sleep. My mom called me again, to tell me that I needed to come down to Lalitpur to meet this bratty RK. I told my mom that "Ma I have a very important project going right now. This will define my career and I don't even want to marry this man. I have no reason to come." Now was the turn of my mother to be shocked, there ever so obedient daughter rebelled. "Madhu is it because of someone else." She asked, I could hear the fear in his voice. I felt a specially powerfull at this moment. I was hurting and wanted to hurt back. I knew my dad could not absorb the Idea of love marriage even today. It was an alien concept to him, something that maligned the name of the family. You would think he was an uneducated Indian, no he was actually a law graduate from Oxford University England. He was a rank holder in his batch of IAS exams. He was anything but uneducated. Somehow I could not bring my self to hurt my parents and said "no ma there is no one but I cannot accept this one too. Just not my type."

"Madhu is this the way you talk. Come home and we will discuss about it." mom said

"I am not coming and dad has left nothing to discuss here. I am not marrying that man" I was adamant and I hanged yet again. Ma being my mother, how she could give up. So she called yet again. Madhu I need you to come down even if for a day, you have to. Consider it your mom's request.

This was their last resort and she knew very well that I would now go no matter what. Parents do have a capacity to blackmail. A son nearly three years old I am just 26 for god sake and have not even as much as had a boyfriend. What did I do to deserve this? I just could not push away the Idea of parenting a child. I still felt as if I was too young to think about a child. I did not even know ABC of parenting. I did know a little though I had kind of done correspondence course in parenting of infants and toddlers. I was reminded of his son, I wish I knew his name. I remember everything about him even today. I had made record book secretly and noted every single date down. When he first smiled, when he first turned, his first words and so many other firsts. I missed being in touch with him. I had secretly repented so many times for not asking for his photo. I still did not have the courage to ask for his pic. In my heart I knew I would eventually cave in to my dad's demands. He will make me do it.

The very Idea of marrying RK was freaking me out. I mean who in their right mind would marry a person as infamous as RK. He is known for everything that is wrong. I could feel the noose tightening. I finally mustard the courage to go to Lalitpur determined that I will convince dad that I wont marry RK no matter what.

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I got down at Lalitpur Junction for once I had an impulse to just elope to some unknown land, But I saw my dad's car and driver "huh its real and I am going home." The same home looked so unfamiliar today. Even before I knocked on the gate mom flung open the doors. She always somehow knew when I was at the door and always opened it before I could knock. She recognized my footsteps but could not understand my feelings. Recognition does not amounts to understanding I was experiencing it first time. Ma hugged me, she was happy to see me. Dad was at office. After freshening up and filling me upto the throat with yummy food ma started with her side of the story,

"Madhu listen to what I have to say. I know you don't want to marry RK and I am with you. He is a good human being but that is not just what we look for in a man. I have called you here for only one reason. Meet him once as per your dad's wish tonight. Tell your dad that you will not marry him, he may make huge hue and cry about the whole thing as usual but later will understand. Tomorrow you will leave for Delhi, my friend Roma will pick you up from the station. I have arranged for a trip for you to London. Leave this country asap and don't come back till I tell you to." My eyes were as big as a saucer, something was surely very wrong. " Why on earth do I need to run away?" I asked. My heart was beating faster and I was praying in my heart "God let it not be associated with 10 rupee notes please." Again they were in the forefront of my thoughts somehow or the other those ten rupee notes always ended up in the bubble of my thoughts. I was freaking out to say the least.

" about a year back when you were in Mumbai, your dad was framed in a case where some antiques were stolen." "Ma what are you saying?" I was hyperventilating now. "At that time your Dad was suspended too. He got interim relief through court and was reinstated till anything was proved. At that Time Rishabh was seeking filming permit which he was not getting because of some frivolous reasons. Your dad learnt about it and got him the state permit. It was since then that they came into touch with each other. We had a raid in this house. Nothing was found here but later on they fabricated evidence and showed that they recovered some antiques from our house. Your dad was suspended again this time permanently. It came as a big blow to him"

"Ma but who is doing all this and why did you not tell me before?"

"Well there are some people placed very highly who are involved in this entire racket. Your dad was the only reason that they could not carry on their black game so they tried bribe him. When that did not work they tried to transfer him. You know your dad he just started putting up a fight against it. So it took such a filthy turn." Ma was in tears. This is a small town and we have no Media presence also. Your Dad suffered a massive heart attack. His arteries were blocked and he needed to be airlifted from here to Delhi. Rishabh came as a big help. He arranged for everything and his surgery was done in Escorts in Delhi. At that time all our accounts were sealed I did not have sufficient money. Rishabh paid for every single thing."

"Ma where was I why did you not tell me?" I felt betrayed.

"We did not want you coming in the picture. It could pose risk to you too. So you were kept out of this. Any ways RK used his contacts to settle everything. After his movie was released he had come to our house with AAryan one day. He saw your photo" Padmini pointed to the family photograph that was there on wall. "That one, he asked about you. Then after about a few weeks he discussed this proposal with us. Your father felt burdened, but did not say any thing to him. It was not until we met Aaryan and your dad saw how much he needed a motherly figure. I know we were expecting you to shoulder a huge responsibility. We were wrong I will talk to your dad."

"Ma how much money did RK loan us."

"Nearly 40 lakhs Madhu but it is not about that. He never ever talked about that money. Don't belittle all that he has done for us by bringing money in between Madhu. A loan a debt can be paid but how does one return an obligation, that too a selfless one. Moreover our accounts were released the day the charges were dropped against your dad and when he was reinstated in his job. We paid those 40 lakhs back to him. This discussion of marriage started only after your dad had repaid him his money. Do you think we would barter you for an unpaid debt? Is that who we are?"

Even I felt disgusted at the Idea but "I don't get it ma from where did this marriage thing come in between out of nowhere?"

"we were also stunned when he came up with his proposal, Had we not known him before we would have really taken offence to it. Who in their right mind and for no compulsion would marry their daughter to a widower? He just saw you in that pic and came up with this Idea the very next day."

This alerted me, I was good looking and appeared to be a gentle girl as such but neither was I a beauty paragon which could have sway RK nor did I give a glimpse of Nirupa roy, the eternal mother. I was perplexed, anyways I did agree to meet with him and Aaryan atleast once, till then I was convinced not to take any decision either ways.

"As to why you should run away? Because my dear girl while we were able to keep you away from us for most part but last time when you had come here. You came into the vision of those you should have not. Your dad has filed a case against the CBI officers involved in raid and they are also facing charges of misguiding court , perjury and fabrication of evidence. Your dad has been receiving threats with regards to you if he did not refrain from giving evidence in court. If you marry RK then given his connections and associations, we are certain you will be safe. Otherwise this is another way to protect you." Mom said , so there was a lot more to this wedding than what appeared. I thought.

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I had reprimanded my dad more than he could have imagined for keeping me in the dark. I had fallen in love with him all over because he was not hell bent to marry me off to RK or Rishabh as Ma loved to address him. Ma was so fond of him and of course rightly so, who in there right minds helped a stranger for no personal gains atall. The bread you through into the river does come back to you and at times in exponential increments. I believe in karma even more now. Since I could not find any logical realistic answer as to why RK helped my dad I opted to believe possibly because of all his good deeds and possibly because I also helped someone without any reason. There you go the ten rupee comes back, I really could never get rid of that ten rupee from my thoughts no matter how hard I tried.

Today he was coming and I was supposed to meat him in the guest house where he was staying. I had prepared a big and emotional thank you speech and also a rejection speech. I had used all the most beautiful synonyms of thank you and sorry I ever knew. I was really well prepared or so I thought, that was until I saw him in person. He was not or he was. I just was lost on seeing him he looked entirely different from what I had seen him on his movie premier. He looked so cute, no actually smart, no handsome maybe, I actually felt he looked beautiful but then he is a man, how can I ever say that he looked beautiful. He was very simply dressed not like when I had seen him in the premier. He looked so fresh and captivating. Huh so much for his looks from a girl who appeared to be never bothered by external appearance, I stand corrected appearance matters. Our meeting started with those usual awkward hallo and how are yous.

"How was your journey " I asked "being used to flights it must have been difficult driving on such poor roads from Delhi till here." This was not needed but I guess I had a hidden bitterness towards the better privileged. There was a fleeting look of surprise on his face so he was expecting a meek lamb. "welcome to the b elt of Rani Lakshmi bai" I thought in my mind.

"It was good how was yours?" He did not give it back to me. I was intrigued and I am quite sure it was all on my face.

"Well the circumstance I was coming under could have never let my journey be good. Whatever little was left was topped by what I learnt when I came here." I said honestly. I did not feel the need of niceties anymore. I wanted to get over with it fast.

"I met with your dad today morning. He appeared to be in good health. What did you learn that caused you despair?" He asked,

"Mr Kundra"

"I prefer RK. I don't appreciate honorifics." He interrupted, there he went, the egoist in him spoke.

"RK I was never informed of what was going on with my dad. I know I could have done little to help him."

"That was not the point in keeping all of this hidden from you. The point was to keep you obscure from the sight of these rogues. Since you were never close to your dad in these times you went practically invisible to them." He said, so he was keenly involved in every single thing that went on here. I had not imagined this level of involvement. I looked at him with questions in my eyes

"Your mom was trying to reach you when we were in Delhi, before your father's open heart. I then learnt about your presence before that I never knew you existed. I stopped your ma from informing anything to you. That was needed at that hour." He had gone too much overboard in helping our family but why?

"I don't know how to thank you," why words were absorbed by the very very real tears that were brimming over in my eyes.

"Oh no don't cry my handkerchiefs are always soiled clearing up Aaryan's stuffed nose. I wont be able to offer you that white handkerchiefs that you see in movies"

I couldn't help but bursted in a short and hoarse laughter.

"There you go, this is so much better. A smile suits your face much better. So carry on with your thankyou. I love being thanked." He again said and I couldn't help smiling again. I was at loss of words did not know what to say next but I was loving being here just now. He was a very good host.

"What? Thankyou is done, had it been a girl from my fraternity she would have atleast hugged me once." He again said. What was he doing? Was he weaving his charm all around me, my heart just melted at the sorry face he made. I couldn't help it and flung on to him with open arms and crying again. I hugged him real hard and cried all my tears in his shoulders. Something about him was very comforting.

"Why? Why did you do all this?" as clearly as my tear choked sore voice would have allowed.

I pulled my self away from him. "sorry I am not used to doing this but I guess girls not from your fraternity hug you even more than those from your fraternity." I tried to humor him or rather myself.

"Yes you are right" he said as if he was stating a fact. He was hardly even taken seriously by his industry.

"as to why I did it. I learnt only sometime back from someone that we are born humans we don't need any other reason to act like a human. Your father is a very gentle, honest and a loving man. When nearly the entire world had written me off courtesy Indian media, he had been kind enough to accept me for what I am. You don't know but we go a long way back. Though I did not know about you, until he fell sick." I could see he admired my dad well he was admirable. I know what you are think just a little while back I was so cross with my conservative father. This is how we girls are basically good and loving. I was thoroughly enjoying being with him. He was charming and he was humorous, He was warm and he was giving.

After meeting Aaryan and having our lunch together, I had fallen even more in love with this entire concept of RK and being with him. It was time for me to leave but I was not feeling like leaving him any ways

"RK I must go now"

"You are leaving? But you still have to tender your refusal to me." he said and I looked at him with tiniest eyes I could. I am certain I had managed to cover up my shock.

"It is not like that" I had barely started

"Not like that, then have you changed your mind? That was pretty soon" He interrupted.

"I need time to think"

"Ahh so after how many days will you refuse my proposal?" He was now acting strange,

"Is this a business calculation that I could use a calculator to ascertain the supposed value of something in future. We are talking about my life, your life and above all a child of a life. I don't even know how he would react to me. How I will take to him."

"Okay my bad I was just joking and you took it seriously. Madhubala life has taught me to expect the unexpected at all times. You can never ascertain the values hidden in your future based on your present and past. Equations change and change very frequently. I am an impulsive man, not that I have not paid dearly for my impulses but I am content for I have learnt well. I will wait for your response. Now I have shoot in late evening and till midnight. I had talked to aunty will you be willing Aaryan with you."

Do I need to tell you that something in me had moved. I nodded and waited for Aaryan to join me on my way back home."

While I was getting in my car I saw a familiar face but then I did not see him. It felt like an apparition. I jerked my head and pulled Aaryan close to me and we waved our hands together to RK.

I met him everyday till he was here in Lalitpur. I did not go back to Calcutta. Aaryan was such a sweety It felt I had known him for ages. He was like my right hand. The comfort and security around RK was intangible yet very express. He was the most caring man I had ever come across and a disciplined one too. Yeah yeah I know you have guessed it I had fallen for him as well as Aaryan. I was officially invited by RK for a date to his guest house. Aaryan stayed back with my mom. My dad and mom had been patient with my neutrality Viz a viz RK. Above all dad had given up is conservativeness to a huge extent, I was seeing RK every day though never in private. Aaryan was always there. This would be the first time I would be seeing him all by himself. Was I looking forward to It I don't know. Did I not want to go? O I certain knew that my answer would never be negative. My situation was still the same. I did not know what I wanted.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

There was nothing extravagant about this date. The food was cooked by a not so efficient chef an dit was as simple as it could get. The venue was a government circuit house in which RK lived when he was shooting here.

"Tell me Madhubala what would it take to convince you to marry me." he asked, I was tempted to say yes but something held me back.

"what if there is nothing that you could do to convince me. What if I don't want to marry you." For a second I think I saw flecks of raw anger in his irises. Did I see a shade of red in them come and go.

"RK can I ask you something."

He just stared at me, waiting for my question or rather waiting to answer.

"If I say I don't want to marry you will you be upset or angry?"

"Both" he said without thinking without a minutes delay.

"Upset I understand but anger, don't I have right to choose with whom I want to spend my life."

"You do have a right to choose but you gave me only two options of what I could be if you said no. It is not that simple, I would be disappointed in myself, that I failed to win your heart. I would be upset that Aryan will not get a caring mother figure who would more likely be his friend. I would be angry that you chose some silly abstract notions above what you see. I will be angry that I expected you to be someone above normal intelligence. I will be angry that my judgement was wrong. Above all I will be sad and dejected that I could not make you trust me and my love."

I could not bring myself to look into his eyes. Did he just say his love, did he mean his love for me. Did he really mean it. I was becoming a dreamer from a realist I took pride in. Love and things like that existed only in fairy tales.

"you know you are right, I am a girl with average or possibly even below average intelligence. My aspirations were always very simple. I had never dreamt of a prince, all I had dreamt of was an average man. I had never wanted all that immense wealth you have, I had just wanted a simple life. I have doubts If I would be able to cope with your high profile life."

"Madhubala so you mean to tell me that being rich is my short coming, you mean to tell me that my good looks are something that put you off, you mean to tell me that."

"I wish you had the capacity to hear me through" I was sitting across him something prompted me to go sit next to him bad mistake. "you never let me com plete you know that"

"you take too long to finish" he looked into my face. For the first time I was actually close to him, close enough to feel the warmth emanating from him. Close enough to feel the aroma around him. Close enough to be distracted. He reached out for his glass no not wine but water clear healthy water. He sipped it, I could feel the ripple in his throat when he swallowed water.

"I have never seen you drink?" I asked

"I quit drinking Madhubala. Nearly two years back. I decided life itself pretty intoxicating with its various flavors I did not need any further intoxication. I had meant to tell it to you before also never the less now is not too late. I was in therepy , uncontrollable temper issues. I think I can manage myself better now. See I am not perfect."

I got my answer to those sudden shards of red I saw in his eyes. There was something about him that always kept me involved. He was right life did offer intoxicating flavors, but one needed appropriate companion to taste and enjoy them. I had decided,

"Rishabh."

"just say yes. Let's save any other word for some other time please" He again interrupted, I could feel his hand on mine. I could feel him entwining his fingers in mine. His proximity caused mayhem on my senses.

"I …" I could not say the words I so wanted say. It was overwhelming, but I guess such is love and this is how hard it is being in love. I tried again

"I love you, but I am scared." I could feel his temper caving in. He hated me at that moment or probably he hated the indecisiveness of my tone. This time it took conscious effort on his part to control himself. He labored to breathe and I could feel him count. I wanted to see how far was too far for him. His frenzy subsided and he again looked up towards me. In that instance I knew I needed him as much as he did. I loved him as much as he did.

"Yes" was all I could say. The rest was all like dream. We had simplest wedding one could imagine. Aaryan was much much more than happy at the idea that I was coming to live with him. I don't have to tell that by now Aaryan meant the world to me. I was sitting in his massive bedroom in Mumbai decked up you think no as simple as it could get. It was not a flower decked bed. I was wearing a beautiful but simple pink saree. He was on the phone with some one. It was all over media, a new Cinderella story. The only difference I was not the Cinderella here. I never had to live admist cinders not did I have a cruel step mother. So this was what Indian media, specially pagethree media actually was they never did 2 and 2 four it was always 22 for them. He came in,

"I have a very strong feeling that I am up for a revelation Mrs Rishabh Kundra"

"I have a special gift for you" I gave him a beautifully bounded scrap book. "but it needs help to finish."

"what is this?" he looked amused but as soon as he opened it his smile vanished, his face ashened and he looked scared.

"I need the corresponding notes to make my love story complete honey." I hade placed all the notes in the sleeves on the right side with the dates I had received them. The sleeves on the left side I had kept blank for the notes I had sent.

"you knew it. Since when? Madhubala trust me I did not help your father because I wanted to get through to you. I came to know about you only after you had joined IBM in Calcutta. It had nothing to do with"

"Shh" I touched his face, I know, I know it all. You think I was that idiot that I would have not have put two and two together. I know how to match dates. I know all about you. I became suspicious the day my mom told me you were intrigued by my picture. You furthered my suspicion when you said somebody taught you that we did not need a reason to behave like a human." I pointed to the second note which had the same answer. I had said it to him when he had asked why I was helping a stranger.

"You are not upset."

"No I am not. I have no reason to be. I would have probably done the same. You remember the first time I had met you, when I was getting in my car I had seen the person who had given me the water bottle to me on the premier day for a flash second. I never saw him again that is what you know. I came to your sets only to look for him. I found him out and the rest came falling down. Poor Bittuji could not hide anything from me."

"I thought you said you were an average girl, with average intelligence Biwi"

"Biwi," I laughed, he got up and went to his closet and came back with a brown file. We together placed all the corresponding notes back in place. My love story was complete. I felt so glad. There was only one last sleeve remaining. Which had the date same as the date when Dipali had died. It said "I love you"

"I never wrote this" Rishabh said but his face was pale. He looked sick. I panicked something was wrong. Rishabh I touched his hand. He pulled it back.

"This is Dipali's writing."

"What?" I screamed, "Did she give it to you but you married her only because it was your dying father's wish. She was your father's friend's daughter and she loved Sikander didn't she?"

"how do you know all that?" he asked looking disturbed.

"A friend is a journalist she found out everything about you for me" I said

"I am impressed. She used to write on notes and send them to Sikki so that she could maintain anonymity. She used to do calligraphy."

"Aaryan is"

"Sikander's son. I never loved Dipali but she was not unfaithful she never lied to me. I knew everything inside out always. She was a true friend. I did not have my temper issues because of her but because my dad died untimely I never knew how to run his business and he had formed a trust. The trust was trying to chuck me out. It was taking its toll on me. I started getting your notes out of the blue. Initially they meant nothing just a way to reiterate how foolish girls were. Slowly I started to enjoy reading your one liners and then the articles that you used to send to me. You became my only resort whenever I needed to find out something about Aryan. Your notes became imperative for my very emotional stability. I had fallen in love with you by then but I never pursued you. It was only when I you disappeared that I learnt how badly I needed you, even then I never looked out for you. I got my hopes alive only when I saw your picture in your home. Funny you were always within my reach but I never bothered to look."

I was feeling strange. The day Dipali had died was day I had got this note, It had casted a spell on me. Was it a miracle or was it coincidence we would never know. Whatever it is it gave me the most wonderful companion for life. I removed that note from my very precious scrap book and kept it on the altar. Aaryan was asleep in his room. I checked up on him when I came back to our room Rishabh was lying down with his arm on his face. Aaryan always did that too. I switched of the lights and took the other corner of the bed as silently as I could. I did not want to wake Rishabh up. Even before I could think he was on top of me and I was lost in him never to be found again.