Chapter 82
"Then you met Abby and Adam. I hated them from the core of my very being. They corrupted you, opened you up to the impurities of the world. But most of all I hated them because they managed to become a part of your life, a part that only I deserved." The calmness that once graced his face was now replaced with utter fury. The transformation would probably bring awe to any psychologist but to Madhu it was not less than seeing the end near.
Sikander turned towards Madhu. Seeing silent tears run down her eyes he raised his hand to wipe them away. She jerked away from his touch but that made him only more determined. He grasped her by the hair tightly and then softly wiped the tears away. The contrast was not lost on Madhu. On one hand he was gentle in the way he wiped her tears away and on the other hand he was forceful in his control of her.
"Tut.. tut Madhu... I know you girls always cry when hearing or seeing romantic stories because of all the hardships and trials that lovers have to face on their journey to achieve their one true love. But trust me when I tell you that our trials and tribulations have ended and our romantic story has come to a point where there will be only the two of us and our love."
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Rishab drove in silence for a few minutes gathering his thoughts while Deepali tried to keep in check the nervousness she felt at his sudden silence.
"The morning after Madhu's disappearance, when I came to your home, you left rather suddenly. Where did you go?" Rishab asked.
Deepali turned to look at Rishab, who seemed tense and rigid in his composure. He had gripped the steering of the car rather tightly.
"Ouuhhh I like it when you get straight to the point. I find that so very charming..." Deepali replied back huskily trailing a finger down Rishab's arm.
Rishab grabbed the hand that dared to touch him. "Then you will be definitely turned on by the fact that I will not think twice before I disconnect your wrist-bone from your arm bone." He added a little pressure to her hand bending it backwards dangerously. "Ahhh..." Deepali hollered in pain.
"Rishab.." Adam called out panicking a little. "If you cannot shut up, your most welcome to get out. Just open the door and jump. The landing maybe a little rocky but it will be better than what you will face if you don't shut up." Rishab answered in a steady tone.
"Stop. Please just stop. I will tell you what you want to know." Deepali cried out. Rishab didn't release her hand yet, just stopped bending it. "I just went to the temple okay."
Not only Rishab but Adam too looked at her incredulously. Their look did not go unnoticed by Deepali. "Yes I went to the temple. And no I did not go to thank God for bringing this on her."
"Then..??" Rishab prodded. Deepali didn't meet his eyes when she answered. "I went to the temple to pray for her well-being."
When they continued to give her weird looks, she sighed and explained. "Yes I know I am a bitch most of the time..." When she saw their raised eyebrows, she conceded, "Fine all the time. Happy now!! But what I feel for you Rishab is not fake or false. I do love you. And when I saw how you looked at Madhu and acted around her I was jealous. She unknowingly has managed to take everything that I have craved for and loved." Deepali laughed slightly, it was not a happy laugh but that of one who is laughing at ones fate. "Even in college she managed to be the favourite of all the teachers. I struggled and worked hard to create the place she so easily got in their hearts and minds. And then you. I have loved you for so long and tried to get you to see me the same way I see you. But there again she beat me. She strolled into your life one day and without even trying she managed to get a hold of your heart. And what a hold she has over you. She has disappeared and you are the one looking lost, in pain and ready to do whatever it takes to get her back, even if it means breaking every bone in my body. Oh how I envy her. There would have been a time when I would be bribing God to keep her gone forever. But then it was Sikander who saved me. He showed me the light and helped me move on." Deepali ended softly wiping away the tears that had somehow escaped.
When she turned to look at them finally, she didn't like what she saw. She didn't like the pity in their eyes. Through tear-blurred eyes Adam tapped Rishab on the shoulder, "Rishab could you please pass me a kleenex."
Rishab let go of Deepali's hand and watched as she clutched her hand close to her chest, taking in everything she had just said. Adam nudged Rishab, "Kleenex.." Rishab looked back at Adam and shook his head at Adam emotional side and handed him a kleenex.
As Adam blew his runny nose, Deepali composed herself. "This doesn't mean I like her or anything. I still hate her but I love you more and want to see you happy."
As Adam was discarding the used tissue, something caught his eye.
Music Corner
Anupamaa
