Chapter 79
Rishab couldn't sleep a wink after that experience. One would have expected him to be dog-tired and broken-down. But the moments he spent with Madhu revitalised him. He looked like he had just emptied a crate of Red Bull. He paced around continuously replaying the scene over and over again, as if it were a youtube video set in repeat mode. Her words kept echoing in his mind... deep black abyss, dark, dank, creepy, the only saving grace was the smell. It smelt like paint. She has given him clues and now it was all about solving the puzzle, beating the odds and saving the damsel, his Madhu.
Akash and Adam walked into the study looking weary and drained. Exhausted with the events of the day and the emotional overtures, Adam and Akash had crashed at Rishab's that night. But when someone you love is missing how does one sleep soundly? Adam walked to a nearby couch and plunked himself down watching Rishab deep in thought walk back and forth, back and forth. It was like watching a pendulum, eventually it just gets on your nerves and you just want to stop it. "Rishab.." Adam called out, bringing Rishab out of his reverie. Rishab looked at Adam blankly, taking time to focus. "Are you okay?" Adam asked looking at the confusion on Rishab's face. Rishab gathered himself and nodded, "Yes I am. Adam could you do me a favour. Can you contact Madhu's cell phone company and get the details of all the calls coming in and going out... hmm on second thought, I want the call details of everyone, and that includes Madhu's father, Maya, you too. Get what I am saying... Everyone!!" Just as Adam opened his mouth to say something, Rishab cut him off, "I know the cops and investigators are doing their bit but not even God himself can stop me from doing my bit in order to finding Madhu." Adam smiled, a truly genuine smile, "Glad to have you back Rishab."
Adam rose from his seat rejuvenated, like he too had shared in the Red Bull, just like Rishab. "Akash.. you coming??" Adam called out catching him gazing at a photograph of Madhu, from the looks of it, it looked like a photo of her at the summit. Turning around he noticed the pair of eyes watching him and blushed. Aha.." Akash replied and strode towards the door, looking at the floor, trying to avoid Rishab's eyes. Just as they were leaving the room, something caught Rishab's eye. "Akash stop.." Rishab called out, his eyes blazing. "How did you get that paint on your shirt?" Rishab asked, a hint of doubt mixed with scorn in his voice. Akash and Adam turned towards the sleeve of Akash's shirt. "Uhh... I don't know.. Must have accidentally brushed past a newly painted wall or something." Akash answered, sweat gathering on his brow. "Why do you ask?" Akash threw the question at Rishab. "No reason. You should change your shirt before you step out. If you need to, you know you can always borrow mine and not return it, like you have been doing right through college." Akash grinned and Rishab put on a smile. Was Akash telling me the truth?
"Bittuji get in touch with the Police Inspecter Dave, the one heading the investigation, and check about the progress. Ask them to call me every hour and give me an update. In the meantime, tell him I want everyone's timeline details right away. I want to know where everyone was, doing what, with whom for the last 48 hours before the incident. And that goes for you too Bittuji. And at the end of every day till I have Madhu here with me, I want everyone to report to me about how they spent their day. No one gets exemptions. Privacy has taken vacation." Bittuji was happy to see the semblance of The Rishab Kundra emoting again in the vacant shell of a person that somewhat resembled Rishab Kundra yesterday.
Just as Rishab finished barking out orders to Bittuji, Sikander and Deepali walked in. Rishab almost didn't notice Deepali, as she trailed slowly behind Sikander being inconspicuous, avoiding Rishab. "Ahhh Deepali.." Rishab called out and watched her jump. "Why so jumpy Deepali? Do you need to confess something?" If it was even possible Deepali managed to shrink down further, shaking her head in the negative, not looking Rishab in the eye. "Uhh.. Rishab" Sikander called out distracting Rishab from his stare down of his sister. "What?" asked Rishab dismissively. "In the whole confusion yesterday, I had forgotten an important bit of information. I just spoke to the inspector about it and thought you should know too." Sikander paused unsure. Rishab dashed out of his seat and grabbed on to Sikander's arms shaking him, "What? What is it?" "I had called Madhu late that night. She might have been kidnapped sometime after that. Because when I spoke to her she was fine." Rishab stopped shaking him but didn't let go of him yet. "What did you talk about?"
"Well... it was more her talking and me listening. She apologised about not doing something to stop the engagement, and about telling her father about you two, and then about going to meet you, and then something about clearing things up with my father, you know stuff like that." "And why were you calling her in the first place?" "Are you kidding me?"
"Just answer the f**king question." Rishab hollered glaring at Sikander. "Fine. You want to know? Fine. I called to tell her that I loved her and that we should be together." Sikander yelled staring back at Rishab. Rishab gripped his hand into a fist and lunged at Sikander, only to be stopped by Deepali. Deepali was scared out of her wits at the situation, but somehow managed to pull out courage out of the magician's hat.
"Sikander doesn't have Madhu. He was fast asleep in his room all night. And I know that because when I woke up for water that night and walked to the kitchen I heard him snore in his room. And when Sikander snores he sounds like the tiger attempting karaoke." Deepali explained.
Rishab transferred his glare from Sikander to Deepali. "And what about you? Where were you?" "Sleeping...and then I woke up, drank water and then went back to bed." Deepali sighed. "What about the morning after? You scrupulously disappeared from the house."
Deepali looked away, not wanting to answer that particular question. "I am waiting.." Rishab said arms crossed across his chest. Deepali looked down, not wanting to look into his eyes as she answered him."I was at the park, near my home." "Why? What were you doing there?" Deepali took a deep breath and held it, stalling for a little bit. "Don't make me ask you every question twice." Deepali exhaled. "I needed some time to think okay. I knew you two loved each other. But didn't realise the extent of that love till I saw you that morning. And that is when I realised I could never have you. It was something I had to deal with and I needed to deal with it alone." Rishab nodded at her explanation but had to still ask, "Do you have any witnesses that can collaborate your presence at the park?" Deepali flared with anger. "You want witnesses? Go ask the f**king pigeons at the park." She turned and stormed out of the room, Sikander trailing behind her.
Who could it be? Akash? Sikander? Deepali?...
Bollywood
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
