Chapter 89
She stood at the door watching him, hiding behind the curtains. All of the others framed him as he devoured his plateful of pancakes. By the Gods, she loved him, worshipped him, but even she knew that it was too late for him to ever love her back. She knew it and part of her even accepted it, but it didn't make the truth hurt any less, didn't make her hate the girl he did love any less and it didn't make her heart beat for him any less. One sided love is a painful thing, not even a true love just a form of obsession, and she was trapped in it.
But he hated her, her father, her brother, he wanted them all dead and she knew it. She loved him, but he loved her and he would kill just about anyone for her. Even now she couldn't stay away, even with his death warrant stamped on her and her family, she couldn't stop watching him, loving him. And though he could never love her back, or even like her she still wanted to please him so drastically, wanted to die for him.
And maybe she could show the greatest devotion of all for him, helping him live his life and be happy, she could let him walk away and keep his enemies away for him.
Her thoughts drifted away as she heard him speak up, and she turned her attention to the group inside.
"Syrup. Now." Rishab demanded, holding out his hand for the bottle of maple syrup which Akash promptly put in his hand. He poured the syrup liberally over his pancakes.
"That is so gross." Madhu exclaimed turning up her nose at the sea of syrup on his plate. "At the rate your going, your going to develop diabetes by the time your 35 if you don't have it already."
"Woman, don't come between me and my syrup." Rishab countered digging into his plate and chowing down as if he hadn't eaten in days, maybe even months.
The Senior Kundra's and Malik's smiled as they watched their children, Rishab and Madhu elbow each other at the breakfast table and bicker like teenagers. They looked happy.
"Excuse me," Madhu said as she pushed her chair back to get up, plate in hand, her long curls swishing around her. "Does anyone need anything from the kitchen?"
"You done?" Rishab asked, the challenge in his voice, as he eyed the barely picked over pancake.
"Yeah. You want it?"
He shook his head, setting down his fork and pulling on her shirt. "You're not done, you are still eating."
"But..-" she started to whine, no idea how lucky she was that he cared to notice how much she ate.
"No buts, missy. Two bites of the single pancake does not count as breakfast. Don't you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day? If you don't want that I'll make you something else." It was Abby, her light tones mothering.
Adam nodded seriously, "And she can cook. Believe me, I totally fake being sick and helpless so she'll make me food."
There was a long pause as everyone just stared at him.
Abby ignored Adam's comment, obviously used to such occurrences. "So how about it?"
Madhu shook her head, sitting back down on the chair next to Rishab. "No thanks."
She idly began to pick at her food again, merely moving the food across the plate and rearranging it. Through the curtain she watched Rishab watching her, and it hurt. It hurt that even her eating habits enraptured his attentions.
Deepali focused on the softer conversation happening between Rishab and Madhu.
"You need to eat." It was Rishab's quiet voice, urging.
"I'm not hungry." She sounded tired and listless.
He heard it too, reaching out to feel her forehead. His expression didn't change but he wasn't happy with whatever result he felt. "How are you feeling?"
She shrugged, causing his eyes to narrow. "Madhu, you have to eat to get better. Your body needs the food to overcome the wear and tear. Let's see what's in the kitchen, there's got to be something more appetizing to you..."
He stood taking her with him.
"Where are you two going?" Maya's voice had a slight edge to it, laced with a touch of worry.
"Madhu doesn't want pancakes so we're gonna raid the kitchen and see what else there is." Rishab replied.
Madhu abruptly sat back down. She pulled on Rishab's arm listlessly until he dropped back into his seat.
"What's wrong?" His voice was calm, but not completely covering the anxiety that lurked underneath.
"Just dizzy." She replied softly curling herself into his shoulder.
Abby stood up, "Ok, I'll make you something. I may not be a short order cook but I make a mean omelet."
Rishab glanced up, "Eggs and cheese, some toast and some of that melon stuff in the fridge. Do you want tea?"
Madhu nodded against his chest. "And some hot tea."
Abby nodded, going into the kitchen to work her magic. Adam's eyes followed her, "I want some eggs and cheese too!"
"Madhu, are you ok?" Mrs. Kundra asked, concerned.
Madhu nodded her head. "I'm just tired."
"You should go rest after you eat. It's been a long couple of days, going back and forth to the police station and all. You'll feel better if you rest for a while" Mr.Malik said.
Abby walked back in. She put a tray of food in front of Maria, stocked with all the things ordered by doctor Rishab.
Deepali watched from behind the curtain as Rishab forced her to sit up and start eating. And she hated it, hated how devoted he was to her, how he was so gentle. Rishab was never a gentle soul, and to see him that way, was just making her blood boil. To see how different he was with Madhu was painful because it just served to highlight how he didn't treat her that way, how he treated her like everyone else, rough and rude. It made her hurt, made her see the possibilities of what he could have been like with her. It was just another painful reminder that he didn't care, he didn't have a big emotional attachment to her.
Rishab's eyes snapped over to the door as if he could sense her gaze. She hastily stepped back further behind the curtain startled. But she knew she couldn't remain hide from him, it was only so long before he'd come out to investigate.
Deepali stepped out from behind the curtain into his view. She knew why she was here but now that she was she didn't know how to go about it. Before any of this happened, she would have strolled into his home like she owned it and demanded, like a spoilt child, what she wanted from him, knowing that eventually it would be granted, even if it was to maintain the smooth business relations.
"Why are you here?" Rishab fumed through gritted teeth, as his hand tightened around his fork to the extent that it started to bend. The conversations going around the table stopped abruptly and everyone turned to spot the person who enraged Rishab. Madhu looked at Rishab. She could feel the fury burning inside him. And before that fury too a turn for the worse, she placed a calming hand on his thigh and stroked it under the table, away from prying eyes.
"Oh Deepali. Come on in. Why don't you join us for breakfast? There is pancakes - chocolate chip and blueberry. Or if you prefer something else I am sure that could be arranged." Madhu spoke breaking the realm of silence, as she continued to stroke Rishab under the table. She could feel his fury slowly disseminating but his level of alertness remained the same.
Deepali nodded and hesitantly stepped into the room as she continued to look at Rishab for any signs of sudden movement. "How have you been Madhu? I mean to say, hope you are feeling better." Deepali halted mid-step when she thought she saw Rishab move slightly.
Rishab hated this polite conversation between the two of them. "What do you want?" He asked gruffly.
Everyone continued to watch them like it were a tennis match, heads moving back and forth, back and forth.
"I... I.. I need a favour from you." Deepali finally spoke up hesitatingly.
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