Part 14
Madhu had been arranging her books on the shelf in her room when she heard her name not like she had expected it to be. Curiously she walked toward the door and what she saw shocked her.
"Yes, you heard right! Madhubala Malik who came in light after signing her first movie with none other than the superstar RK is having an affair with him. This footage proves that RK has a new girl in his life and this happened right after his breakup with Deepali. Is Madhubala a home-breaker or RK and Deepali had their own difference? Whatever it is RK has found a love in his life again. With Cameraman Rajiv Shukla, Nasir Hussain Mumbai Masala." The reporter on TV was almost shouting when he ended his report and then the TV channel showed a video of RK getting out of her chawl and then the two of them outside the recording studio. The angle of the camera was held that way that it seemed the camera holder was trying to hide behind something resulting in the changing angles of the videos but their faces were cleared enough to be recognized.
Trishna turned around and gasped as she saw the frozen state of Madhu. She never wanted Madhu to see this. She was still naive and didn't know how the media works not that she knew either but she had expected it when she was trying her luck in the films. She knew news like this could never be taken seriously in this business but now was not the time to count the pros and cons of being an actor, Madhu needed her and that's what she did. Running towards her she switched off the TV and threw the remote on a chair and then encased Madhu in her arms.
"It's okay Madhu it happens." She whispered caressing her back but the storm was not over yet. It had brought an unexpected arrival too who was going to change their lives as well as his.
"Madhu?" RK barged in ignoring Roma when she opened the door after several impatient knocks. He located her in Trishna's arms and knew the bomb had fallen.
"What are you doing here?" asked Trishna turning around.
"What has happened to her?" He asked ignoring her question.
"She's in shock." She told.
"I don't know how it happened." He told glancing at the water jug on the table. "Can I have some water?" he asked.
"Yes sure." Roma poured him a glass of water and he drank swiftly in one breath.
"What was your PR agency doing?" Trishna asked as soon as he finished his glass.
"It just came out of nowhere. They couldn't even trace it." He told frowning.
"And here I have a meeting with one tomorrow. I don't what is happening? Can your PR agency control it?" Trishna lead Madhu to the sofa and sat with her while Madhu was staring at RK.
"I am sorry if I am being rude but I have a problem and this might not be a good time to discuss it but my mom wants to meet Madhu tonight." He told at last taking a deep breath.
"Why?" asked Madhu sitting on her seat instantly. The whole time she wasn't in a shock state. First she was shocked and had been crying when they had called her a home breaker but then she had come out of her state when she had heard her sister's soothing voice. Many times she had heard her telling that news about an actor had always been fake, almost and she had felt and understood from what media had showed them that life was not that easier and everyone had had to pay its price for something. And then her mind had flown from one part to a different part altogether. What if it had been true? What if she had been in a relationship with him? Would she have been bothered about this and the answer came instantly. No. She never thought about what people thought of her. She never cared what people called her, a devil who ate her own mother but it wasn't the truth. But somewhere in her heart she still blamed herself for the death of her mother. Had she been born as a boy her mother had been alive. But the question was, was she the responsible one always? Her thoughts were interrupted when RK gave her the shock of her life.
"My mother thinks I love her and we are together now after I broke up with Deepali and not this also she thinks I broke up with her because I love Madhu. She knew I never loved Deepali. It was just an infatuation and attraction and now I know she was right. There hadn't been love. She loved my stardom and status and I loved showing her off as my girlfriend. But now my mother had given me an ultimatum. I take you home or she gets me married to a girl of her choice." He told remembering the heated argument he had with his mother 2 hours ago.
"No!! I can't do this." She yelled at the top of her volume knowing well what he meant.
"I know Madhu but please help me. You don't know my mom. She will roast me alive. Please help me this one time and I'll never ask anything from you, ever." He pleaded sitting near her feet.
"But how can I?" She asked, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She had always wanted to be with him, in his arms till her anger over-powered everything destroying every dream she had ever seen but she had never thought in her life that he would ask her to be his lover, not real but it was like a dream come true. But still it was wrong to counterfeit someone and specially a mother. "No I can't. She is your mother."
"Please Madhu. You just have to stay in my house for some days dropping the impression that you are not a right girl for me and then you can leave and then I'll ask my mother to stop this marriage nonsense for some time till I find a perfect girl for me." He told sitting cross-legged.
"She can help you RK." said Trishna this time. "But how will you hide this from the media?"
"I'll tell my mother to keep this matter under wraps till the release of our film for Madhu's sake and that we want to achieve a success not on a publicity stunt. And I'll release a statement through Bittuji that Madhubala and I are not dating tomorrow." He hadn't thought about it earlier but when the things got clearer his mind reacted fast and words flowed out of his mouth in its own accord. But what worried her was Madhu? Would she be able to take this all?
"Yes Madhu will help you in this. You were the one who helped us when no one could and if Madhu won't do this then I will for sure but I don't look like your fianc you know." Roma laughed out and RK and Trishna joined her.
"Didu do you think I should do it?" asked Madhu concerned not for her but for playing with emotions of a mother.
"If your heart says so." Trishna squeezed her a little and glanced at RK. Madhu followed her gaze and her heart gave her the answer she was looking for. There sat the man who had helped her in that time when no one had even it was a small help from his side but he had no matter how small it was. He had even visited their place often to keep Roma out of sadness and anger for not able to walk out of her bed. She looked deep in his eyes and she found nothing but a longing for her assent and she didn't have the heart to deny his request no matter how hard it was for her to act and broke his mother's heart. She would do this for the man who had always had kept his promise to her, to help her at the every nook and corner. "Fine but only for few days till the release." She had expected him to smile or shake her hands for the deal but she had never expected to find herself enveloped in his arms. "Thank you Madhu. You don't know what you have done for me." Madhu had frozen first when he had thrown his arms around her but when Trishna and Roma had coughed loudly she had come out from his arms, adjusting her suit consciously.
"Can I take her now?" he asked turning to Roma and she nodded noticing the hint of embarrassment in his eyes as if someone had caught a 10 year old small boy kissing a girl.
"Yes you can but let her change her dress. I want her to look best when she meets her future mother-in-law." And she winked at RK who turned to sit on the chair hiding his face.
Hindi TV Shows
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
0