Chapter 81
Sikander had seated himself beside a highly spooked Madhu. She sat on the floor, her arms clutching her knees tightly to her torso, silently wishing this was just a long and terrifying nightmare from which she would wake up soon. Sikander spoke softly, as he slowly edged himself closer and closer to her. He delicately stroked her hair as he reminisced. "I watched you as you tried tying your wayward hair on that windy afternoon. You looked so.. beautiful.. innocent.. untouched by the world.. like a little porcelain doll, fair as can be, with rosy lips and a natural blush. I remember wanting to just pick you up, wrap you in bubble wrap and stashing you away in my pocket, away from this wicked world, a place where you would remain pure.. just like an angel... my angel."
Sikander laughed a quiet mocking laugh. "You know the irony to the story? The depth of my love for you matches the depth of my sister's hate for you."
At that Madhu looked up in confusion. What has Deepali got to do with it? Did she have a hand in this too? Sikander smiled at the much evident puzzlement on Madhu's face. "Oh you didn't really think the whole 'I hate you' thing Deepali has for you arose when Rishab started showing interest for you did you? Oh no sweetheart... It goes way back. Though I must say, Rishab didn't make it any better."
*******
Rishab walked out of the Malik Residence and just kept walking, ignoring his car, his driver, his friends. Another dead end. He was not sure if he should feel happy that his best friend was not involved in the disappearance of Madhu or if he should be sad that his best friend was not involved in the disappearance of Madhu. If he was involved he would have been one step closer to finding her and not here back at the starting point, empty handed. Living without Madhu was proving to be so hard. He would rather live without a liver. Yes that would mean a painful death for him but that would be so much more easier to deal with than this.
He was grabbed by the arm and pulled so hard that his hand could have very easily been dislocated. "What the...?" Rishab yelled pulling away his hand while turning angrily to the face the culprit. "Oh shut up!!" Adam yelled back. "What the f**k do you think you are doing? Yes...you. You maybe Rishab Kundra, the business tycoon. But until the time you have officially bought Mumbai, I would recommend that you not walk on its streets like you own them." Rishab looked around to find himself standing on the sidewalk of a busy street, the same street from which Adam must have pulled him out of before yelling at him. "We don't know where Madhu is and have driven ourselves crazy worrying about her. And now you. I find you walking around aimlessly on the busy Mumbai streets. Rishab, we can handle only one disappearance at a time. If you are looking for attention, get in line. What are looking around for when I am talking to you. Rishab? Do you hear me?" Rishab nodded slowly realising his folly. "Sooo does the nod mean I don't have to continue to yell at you. That you have attained your mental faculties again and can join the human race as a high functioning individual? And I can go back to being the fun, quirky queer rather than the responsible, righteous adult?" Rishab grinned at his idiocratic friend.
*******
"She was one year your junior, so you didn't quiet know her in college. But she knew you and oh boy she hated your guts. I think it began with jealousy. You can paint and she cannot. Okay that was way too harsh. She can paint but she focusses more on technique than emotions. At least that is what her professor kept saying when she compared you two. You were her favourite student, a label Deepali craved. If she only knew I loved you... Hey I am getting off track here. When did it turn from me telling you about our story to me telling you about Deepali and your story?"
*******
"So you think we can get back now or do you wanna take a stroll through Chor Bazaar?" Adam teased. Rishab rolled his eyes at Adam and lightly whacked him on the head. "f**k face!" "Where?" Adam looked around excitedly. "Huh?" "You called out f**k Face, so I looked around for the guy sporting one. I mean imagine walking around with a f**k Face." "Adam... Shut up!!"
"Ouuuhhh talking about f**k Face, look who goes there..." Adam stared past Rishab at someone.
*******
"You were not ready to let anyone enter your life yet after what had happened to your mother when you were little. I knew I had just the one chance, one chance where I would be able to make permanent residence into your life. So I waited patiently, patiently for the day when we would be together." Madhu looked at his face as he spoke, it had a strange calmness about it, and that made her even more afraid, if that was even possible.
*******
Rishab turned only to see Deepali getting out of a clothing store, driver trailing behind balancing a load only meant for sumo wrestlers or olympic weight lifters. Something struck Rishab and he took off towards Deepali. "Off he goes again, right into the traffic. I should be paid big bucks for keeping his arse alive." Adam mumbled darting after Rishab.
"Ouuuch" Deepali moaned in pain as Rishab grabbed her arm. "Rishab!!," she exclaimed, "You are hurting me." Rishab released his grip slightly but didn't let go. "We have to talk." "Fine. I am busy right now, book an appointment."
"Not the best of times to get scarky with me Deepali." Rishab said tightening his grip on her arm again. "Ahh.." Deepali refused to back down, "Let go of me now or I shall make a scene." She answered back with gusto.
"Let me see you try. Remember what I did to your Dad, I was being generous that day." Rishab replied back equally challenging.
Defeated, Deepali bit her lip when it wanted to mouth off again. "Fine." She replied, this time more accommodating.
Rishab turned towards the driver and Adam, both of who stood gawking at the scene before them, "Keys..," he called out, his free hand stretched in front of the driver, who dropped the shopping bags immediately to look for the car keys. "Adam give him the Taxi fare and then get into the back," turning towards Deepali, Rishab announced, "I will drive."
Cricket
Hindi TV Shows
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Ishaani
