FF - The Promise - updated CH 102 on 23rd May - Page 6

Chapter 71

Rishab drove directly to his farmhouse, the same place they had dreamed of making a home someday. It was pure agony to even think about the house let alone walk into it. But he walked right into the house through its doors. He wanted to experience pain, as much pain as he could possible gather, the pain was the only feeling he had and he craved more of it. The pain was the only thing that gave him a sense of being alive. Because after what he witnessed that evening, he wasn't even sure if he were dead or alive.

Watching someone stake claim on her was like watching someone stab him in the heart and when she in turn slipped a ring on Sikander's finger, he felt the knife twist 360 degrees. He had felt the life leave him. As the events of the evening kept playing on repeat in his head, the sorrow slowly started to turn into deep felt anger and he moved to the gun closet and took out the old hunting rifle and headed outside.

*******

"What's wrong Maya?" Mr. Malik looked over his book continuing to observe Maya pacing in the living room for the past half hour. She normally did that when she had something on her mind but didn't know how to start the topic. "Huh.." Maya stopped and stared at Mr. Malik, then shook her head and turned away continuing to pace again. Mr. Malik sighed as he put down his book and got up to approach the impending disaster head on. "Maya..." He said placing his hands on her shoulders bringing her to a complete stop. He made her turn around facing him. You know you will eventually tell me what you have on your mind so why don't you start now."

Maya took a deep breadth and said a little prayer... God help me!! before she went ahead and told him what was on her mind. "Malik I want to ask you a question. You may find it weird or unusual but I want you to indulge me and answer the question. Please." Mr. Malik frowned but eventually nodded, knowing fully well that she wouldn't proceed otherwise.

"Malik did you notice the look on your daughter's face from the time we entered the Bhatia's home till the time she retired for the night?" Mr. Malik looked as confused as ever. "Umm..."

"Come on... tell me... Was it a look of bliss, happiness, joy, ecstasy, glee or even contentment?" She was on a roll and didn't really wait for an answer. "Let me tell you what it was... It was a look mixed with emotions ' anguish, misery, sorrow, hopelessness and I suspect heartache too." She realised that somewhere in between she went from calming discussing the situation with Malik to almost yelling at him. She took a deep breath again to calm herself down and continued. "You were so engrossed in your own happiness that you forgot to notice if your daughter was actually happy about the ongoings or not. I am not saying that it was wrong on your part to have thought about your daughter's marriage, after all you were thinking about her happiness all the while. But thinking of her happiness and actually seeing to it that she is happy is two different things. And I cannot blame you for it all because I didn't realise it till it stared me in the face."

"What are you saying, Maya?" Mr. Malik asked still confused.

"I don't know the actual reason behind it but I know that your daughter is not happy about this engagement. Though I may have an inkling of what it could be." The last sentence was more self talk and hopefully a clue to the next step.

"Your mistaken Maya. If that was the case, I think she would have told me herself." Mr. Malik maintained. Maya rolled her eyes at Mr. Malik. Men!!! Sometimes they could be so daft. "Do you even know your daughter Mailk? Madhu, she is the same girl who eats your burnt pancakes every week just because it makes you happy. Madhu, she is the same girl who overcame her stage-fright and participated in her school singing competition just because that would make you happy. Madhu, she is the same girl who came upto you and said that you could marry Shirley and she would be happy if she was her mother, just because she thought that you liked your secretary and that getting married to her would make you happy. And that was when she was barely 12 yrs. Imagine what more she would be willing to do just to make you happy."

As Mr. Malik pondered over the recent revelations, Maya placed her hand on Mr, Malik's hand, "She is your daughter and you know what's best. But I love her just as much and couldn't not say anything in the matter."

Mr. Malik nodded and moved to hold her hand. "Maya you are part of this family and don't ever forget it. Madhu is as much your daughter as she is mine. Don't ever hesitate to tell me anything that might be on your mind. Thankyou for bringing to my attention what I should have seen in the first place."

They both turned to the door and then to the clock when they heard the bell ring. "Who could it be at this late hour?" Mr. Malik exclaimed aloud.

Maya moved to open the door but Mr. Malik called out to her. "Wait... I will get it."

Maya followed Malik to the door and tippy-toed to look over his shoulder to see who came a knocking at this late hour. Their eyes widened in shock and recognition. "You!!!!" They both exclaimed.