The release party of Deedar' was even grander than Jalpari', because it was the film that brought together two stalwarts of the industry, RK and Arjun Kapoor. Every invited guest felt oneself privileged to be a part of the occasion. Madhu was quite enjoying the pandemonium created by the journalists around her; she had quite grown to bask in this limelight of glamour and fame. She was enjoying a drink while casually answering the volley of questions asked by the film journalists when she spotted Dipali somewhere in the crowd. She excused herself and approached Dipali. "Hi Dipali, how are you doing?" smiled Madhu. "Oh hi Madhu, look at you dear!! You look absolutely gorgeous!!" said Dipali and pecked on her cheeks. "So how is life?" asked Madhu. "Don't even ask me, I am almost dead. Everyday song recordings followed by the TV music show shootings, and every now and then international music performances; I have no time for life. I hardly get time together with RK these days," whined Dipali. "Oh I see. It does sound terrible;" "Tell me about yourself Madhu. How are you enjoying this glitz world? Have you met someone special yet?" winked Dipali. "Not really Dipali. As you know, men are like bathrooms, the nice ones are occupied and the rest are full of shit!" replied Madhu with a shrug. "Oh my god Madhu, is life treating you well? You sound too mature for your age!!" replied Dipali in shock. Madhu smiled and excused herself as she saw RK approaching them.
It was almost two months after release of Deedar'. Madhu had signed two more movies with the leading production houses of the industry and the shooting was going with full pace. The days passed faster with the hectic schedules for Madhu, but the nights were long, too long to break into the next day. She had moved in a new apartment that she had bought herself. The balcony of her flat faced the sea and every evening after coming back from work Madhu would stand at her balcony and look at the vast stretch of sea in front; she counted the endless waves crashing on the shore and going back to the sea, relentless like the lonely days and nights of her life.
The evening was very pleasant, cool winds blowing from the sea made Madhu feel too restless. She felt like escaping somewhere and having some good time. After giving a thought, she decided to call Purab. "What a surprise Madhu? I thought you have completely forgotten this friend, now that you are a big star," exclaimed Purab on receiving her call. "Oh shut up budhdhu. I wanted to meet you and have some good time dost. It's been so long since we had a freaking time together. Aaj milte hai kahin, please don't say no," pleaded Madhu. Purab kept silent for sometime and then replied,"Madhu there is something I wanted to tell you for quite sometime. Uhmm, I am seeing someone." "Seeing someone? Who is that unfortunate being?" asked Madhu surprised. "Ritu. We are kind of together for the last couple of months. I was planning to tell you soon. And tonight we are going out for dinner. Why don't you join us?" asked Purab. "No it's ok yaar. You people have a good time together. I am very happy for you two. I will see you later, bye."
Madhu wanted to be genuinely happy for her friends, but somehow her loneliness engulfed that morsel of good feeling and left her even more pensive. She started scrolling the contact list in her phone when it stopped at a name and even before she realized, the call button was pressed. "Madhu? What a big surprise!! Did you call me yaah galti se number lag gayi?" asked Karan. "Can you meet me tonight at the Poison Ivy Club?" blurted out Madhu. "Oh sure my sweetheart. I will be there in an hour," replied Karan.
It was almost a year after their last dance night together. Karan was too excited to hold Madhu in his arms again. It was that frenzy, all over again, that filled their body and mind as they hit the dance floor and let themselves loose to the ear piercing music and screams of onlookers.
RK came back home after a long and tiring day. As he entered their bedroom he noticed a note on the bedside stand. It read, "Leaving for LA. Return date not yet decided. Will try to make for your birthday. Take care hon. Dipali". RK sighed and crooked smile crept in his face. "This marriage has already come down to just staying together for birthdays and anniversaries, and now we are even struggling for doing that," said RK to himself and kept back the note.
Madhu was very happy, she was free from the clutches of the painful solitude, so it did not matter who she was with. After dancing continuously for more than 2 hours, she felt very thirsty. She tugged at Karan's hand and said, "I am thirsty, I need a drink." Karan held her close to his body and approached the bar counter. "Have you tried tequila shots before?" asked Karan. "Uh-uh. But want to try tonight," replied Madhu coyly. After gulping down six consecutive shots in a about a minute, she felt an instant furore in her body.
"Come on Karan, let's put the floor on fire," shouted Madhu and dragged Karan back on the dance floor. Karan was growing impatient, he had other arrangements for the night, but seeing the pure bliss on Madhu's visage, he decided to defer his plans for another hour.
"RK, I have been trying to contact Madhu all this evening, but she is not picking up the phone," said Bittu worriedly. "Is there anything urgent Bittu ji?" asked RK. "Oh yes RK. She is gaining much popularity with each passing day. Already she has bagged two films with the biggest banners of the industry. If it continues like this, very soon she will have no time for our films," said Bittu. "Hmm, but how can you stop that from happening?" "I want to meet her as soon as possible and make her sign a contract with us for 3 films. That way we can have her for our movies," replied Bittu. "OK Bittu ji, I will contact her and let's meet tomorrow for this discussion," said RK and hung up.
"God, where is this girl? Why isn't she picking up the phone?" muttered RK after his 10th call which was yet again forwarded to her voicemail. He picked up his phone again and called her at her landline. The maid picked up the phone on the other side. "Madhu madam ko phone do jaldi," asked RK impatiently. "Madam to ghar pe nahi hai. Who Karan sir ke saath koi IB club gayi hui hai," replied the maid. "What? Madhu went out with Karan? And where is this IB club?" barked RK. Suddenly it dawned to him that it must be Poison Ivy club where these two used to go for their dance nights before. "You have crossed all your limits Madhu. It's high time I pull back the reign," hissed RK and rushed out of his house.
"Karan, I am not feeling well," said Madhu, as she felt like puking right at the centre of the dance floor. "Madhu, not here!! Go to the washroom and relieve yourself," said Karan and dragged her out of the crowd. Madhu staggered to the ladies room and barely managed to reach the sink when she threw up. The ladies standing around looked at her aghast and left the washroom. Madhu's legs gave in and she slumped on the floor. One girl felt pity for her and pulled her up. She splashed some cold water on Madhu's face and asked, "Are you ok?" Madhu nodded her head, although she had no sense of her surrounding. The girl helped her come out of the ladies room and made her sit on a couch nearby. Madhu was breathing heavily and soon her head felt too heavy to keep up. She slowly dropped sideways and was about to fall off when two sturdy hands held her tight and tried to jerk her back to her senses. "Madhu are you ok?" shouted RK with deep concern. "RK tum aaye mere liye? I knew you would come for me," mumbled Madhu as she struggled to keep her eyes open. But instantly she collapsed in his hand, and without any delay RK scooped her up in his hands and carried her out of the club.
Madhu kept on mumbling his name in the car on their way back to her home. RK gritted his teeth seeing her condition. Suddenly her phone started ringing in her purse. RK took out the phone and saw it to be Karan's call. He put the phone on speaker while driving the car. "Hey babe, where are you? I am waiting for you honey. There's a room booked here, just for the two of us tonight. We will have rest of the dance there. Come quick," said Karan. RK felt like barking at him right away but then decided against it. He disconnected the call and switched it off.
"Madam ko kya ho gaya?" asked the maid as she saw Madhu unconscious in RK's arms. "Tum jaldi se ek glass nimbu paani lao," ordered RK and carried Madhu to her bedroom. "Don't leave me RK. I can't live without you," mumbled Madhu as RK tucked her inside the blanket. "Sir ji, nimbu paani;" "Thanks. Tum jao abhi. After I leave, take good care of her," said RK and the maid left the room. He stilted Madhu on the bed with the pillow and forced the strong nimbu paani down her throat, which shed off some of her drunkenness. "Stop it RK!! I can't drink it anymore!!" protested Madhu. "Just drink it," muttered RK while popping an aspirin tablet in her mouth. Madhu pushed his hand and the glass slipped from his hand, breaking in pieces on the floor. "Madhu!!" shouted RK and pinned her on the bed. "Leave me, leave me right now," cried out Madhu. "What were you doing with that SOB in the club? Why did you go out with him?" shouted RK while tightening his grip. "Who are you to ask me that? You do not even care about me!!" retorted Madhu. "What? I do not care about YOU?" asked RK shockingly. "No you don't. You just care about your films, and that's why you pretend that you care. You care a damn about my feelings!!" "Shut up!! Just shut up Madhu!!" RK snapped loudly. "Why should I shut up? Why?" shouted Madhu in reply while clasping his collars and pulling him closer, "Why can't I have you as mine? Why RK?" RK pushed her hands with a jerk and left her room instantly.
