FF - The Promise - updated CH 102 on 23rd May - Page 16

Chapter 75

Rishab handed over all the papers to Bittuji. "Make sure all the Board Members receive copies of his resignation with their bed tea. Keep Mr. Bhatia under the scanner. He might try to get some of the Board on his side or create trouble with the Workers Union just to be spiteful. I don't want him anywhere near my office or my workers. Inform me if you suspect anything. He has received his one and only warning."

"Sir... If you don't mind may I ask you a question." Bittuji asked warily. When Rishab did yell or glare back at him, he took the silence as permission and asked, "Why now Sir? You have known what he was upto for a long time. So why now?"

"Because he made it personal. He involved Madhu." Rishab answered plain and simple and then turned and walked towards his car, next destination being Madhu, leaving behind an open mouthed Bittuji.

*******

As soon as she saw him in the distance she ran towards him. Even though it was dark, even with his back turned towards her, she knew it was him. "Rishab..." Madhu called out softly as she walked towards him tentatively. Rishab didn't turn towards her but she knew he heard her by the straightening of his back and tensing of his muscles under his tee. She took another step closer to him and called out to him again, "Rishab...," this time around there was a slight tremble in her voice.

"You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to look at me. But please... would you please just hear me out." She waited for some reaction from him. But he didn't react.. he didn't move an inch. She sighed. Atleast he didn't walk away. That is something, isn't it?

"Rishab I am sooo sorry. Everything happened all of a sudden. My mind just stopped working. I didn't know what to do... what was right and what was wrong. I saw you and Daddy in front of me and it was like I had to choose between the two of you and.." Hesitatingly she took another step forward but stopped mid-way when she saw him flinch. She wanted to burst into tears. She couldn't take his indifference anymore. It was beginning to kill her from the inside.

He suddenly heard her stifled sniffle and couldn't take it anymore. Her being hurt like this was hurting him much more than the hurt she had inflicted on him. He closed his fingers into a fist so hard that his knuckles turned white. He turned slowly towards her but maintained his distance... "and so you chose your father," he concluded.

She looked up at him when he finally spoke. She looked into his eyes trying to gauge his feelings but found them to be blank, unreadable. It was like he had closed himself up and she was on the outside.

"Rishab please.. please..." She fell to the floor crying, forgetting all about her make-up. Looking beautiful didn't matter if he wasn't in her world anymore. "I'm sorry..." She kept repeating like a mantra.

He watched her cry like she had lost her entire world and watching her like that broke him. He sat down beside her. "Madhu.." he said softly cradling her face in his hands. "You are the only one who can hurt me so much... who can make me love so much... who can drive me insane without bounds.. You don't even realise do you that you are the only one with the power to make or break me."

Rishab took her in his arms and held her tightly till she calmed down some. "I won't lie to you or sugar coat it. You hurt me. You broke my heart. Do you have any idea what it was like watching someone else stake claim on you, when you belong with me. I know you did tell me that your father's wishes and needs will always come first. But knowing it and living it is two different things. I felt something die within me as I watched the two of you exchanging rings."

Madhu moved back to look into Rishab's eyes as she said slowly and softly, "Rishab... I do understand what you went through as I went through the same piercing agony. But I am here with you now and forever."

"Promise?" Rishab asked holding his breath. Madhu smiled as she looked at his face filled with hope. She reached for his hand and held it tight. "Promise."

"But what about your father?" Rishab asked as he took Madhu back into his arms. "Well that is the best part... He knows about us and sends his blessings." Madhu said excitedly. "But that only means that you have to meet with him sooner."

"But how did he..." Rishab asked confused. "Adam and Abby... how else??" Madhu replied. "Oh so now I understand how the dress fits into the whole scene." Rishab asked raising his eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?" Madhu asked faking anger at his conjecture. "So who was it that chose those shoes?" Rishab asked smirkingly. Madhu screwed up her face in fun, "Fine... it was Adam. According to them, the dress would have done all the apologising." "I agree... the dress did 80% of the work." Rishab said as his hand moved from her knee upwards pausing to caress her inner thigh and his lips moved to explore her exposed neck. "They are... truly wise... people... Did they... impart...any more knowledge...??" Rishab said in between as he placed wet kisses across her jawline. Madhu giggled as his wet kisses tickled her. "They did say not to worry if the dress ripped." "That is it... such scholars have to have a seat on my council of advisors." Madhu closed her eyes and moaned as Rishab went to work on her earlobe. Both were lost in each other, not a care in the world.

Madhu's cell phone rang and she literally crash landed out of her day-dream. She answered the phone as soon as she saw who it was that called. "Hi... Its good you called because I needed to talk to you." Before the person on the other end of the line could say anything, she continued. "I know you were as shocked about what happened as I was and as baffled as I was to do something about it. But don't worry, it is my problem and I will undo all the mess. I have already spoken to Daddy about it and now I am going to meet Rishab and his family. But I promise Sikander that I will come tomorrow morning and speak to your father too. I am so sorry about all this and I hope it will not result in any trouble with Harpreet. If it does I will talk to her too." "Madhu... Madhu... calm down. Breath a little. Everything will be fine and you will be with the one who loves you the most soon." Sikander assured her.