PART 7
It's been more than a week that RK was in the hospital. The doctors were quite satisfied with his fast recovery. His entire day would pass in resting and doing the exercises needed for the heeling. Radha was taking a good care of her son. "Bittuji! How is RK now?" Madhu used to call Bittuji and ask him about RK's health on daily basis. "He is recovering fast Bhabhiji!" And before he could spoke further, she would cut the call, just trying to ignore his questions, his thoughts of which she has no answer... may be she didn't want to get those answers now... Her response would hurt both Radha and Bittuji a lot but they didn't question her... may be they knew the reason... And RK... after that day, he didn't spoke her name even once... may be he didn't want others to have even a little feeling of it that he was missing her... he had missed her...
The day came when RK was going to get discharged from the hospital. Bittuji completed all the formalities and all left out of the hospital. Near the car, "Bittuji! You accompany Rishu to the home. I'll come later!" Radha told Bittuji. Both RK and Bittuji got confused to where she was going. "Why Maa? Where are you going?" RK asked confusingly. "Amm... Rishu... I... Yes... I am going to the temple to thank the god for giving my Rishu back!" She said nervously. RK stared at her with narrow eyes for a moment, trying to figure out whether she was telling a lie or not. Radha realised it and immediately gave him a little smile to sway away his thoughts and caressed his face, "Ahh Rishu! Why are you looking at me like this Beta? I am not lying... I am going to the temple!" Radha tried to assure him. He nodded in affirmation. She signalled Bittuji to take him to the home and take care of him till she comes back. Both of them sat in the car and left. Radha sighed in relief and removed the sweat drops over her forehead. Suddenly, something clicked her and a sudden determination lightened her eyes and she left for her destination.
At Madhubala Mansion, Madhu was resting on the couch in the living area, reading a random magazine lazily. Neha came there, checking out her appointments for the day in the diary. She was about to speak when the gate keeper called on the intercom, "Madam, a lady has come to meet you." Madhu got a little confused. She inquired, "Who? What's her name?" "Madam, she told her name as Radha. She is saying that you know her!" The name shocked Madhu. "Maa!" She blurted out. "Why have you stopped her at the gate? Let her come in immediately!! She is my Maa!! Escort her respectfully, understand!!" And she hanged up the phone. A huge smile mixed with a shock emerged on her face. Unshed tears brimmed her eyes too. "Neha! Maa... Maa has come here! My Maa has come here!" She spoke excitedly. "You mean Radha Ma'am?" Madhu nodded in confirmation. Neha replied her with a smile. Then, the servant came, "Ma'am, she has come!" Hearing this, Madhu almost ran towards the door and there she stood. "Maa!" And she hugged her tightly and those unshed tears found their way. Radha caressed her hair lovingly. Madhu broke the hug and held her hand, dragging her to come inside. Neha greeted her too. After a while, both settled on the sofa. "I am so happy to see you here Maa!" Madhu spoke. "But Maa, how did you find my house?" "Is it really difficult to find out Superstar Madhubala's house... hunn...?" Radha replied. But her words pinched Madhu and her contended smile filled with a little pain. She immediately lowered her head. Neha realised the situation and deliberately interrupted, "Amm... Ma'am! I had just come here to inform you that tonight, we have to go for the award ceremony. So..." "Aahh! Yeah... I forgot about it! OK! You reach here by 8; I don't want to get late there!" Madhu replied sternly. "Aammm... So... I think... I... I should leave now! Bye Ma'am! Bye Aunty!" And she immediately left from there without waiting for their reply. A silence blew for a moment in the hall. Madhu broke the silence, "Maa... You... You sit here! I'll be back with some tea for you!" And she was about to get up when Radha denied, "No.. No Madhu! I don't want anything Beta!" "No Maa... You've come here for the first time! I'll make tea for you with my own hands!" And she left to bring the same. Radha looked around uninterestedly.
After few minutes, Madhu came back with tea and snacks. She was really happy not because she had made tea but because she had made tea for someone else after so long... someone who was very special to her. "Maa! Tea." She handed over the cup to Radha. A nostalgic feeling took over their hearts and their eyes filled with tears. Both settled down again silently. "Rishu got discharged today!" Radha broke the silence. Madhu turned to her with shocked eyes. Slowly, a smile took over her lips and wet eyes. Radha noticed her happiness, "He is fine now." "Really... Really Maa!" Madhu closed her eyes and thanked her Bappa for his blessing. "Madhu!" Madhu opened her eyes to face Radha. "Shall I ask you one thing?" "Yes Maa! You should order me rather." "Why did you leave the hospital that day, without even meeting him?" Madhu immediately turned her eyes away awkwardly. "Maa... I... I was in a hurry!" "Really? Madhu! We might have been living away from each other for five years but I can still catch your lies!" Radha fumed. Madhu kept quiet with her eyes low. "You left from there because you didn't want to face him! Am I right Madhu?" Radha spoke furiously. "5 years... Madhu... 5 years have passed! You saw him after 5 long years and still you didn't meet him! The day you left the house, you told me only one thing- EVERYTHING IS FINISHED NOW!! And I didn't ask you anything that time because I didn't have that courage to do so!! But today, I have gathered that courage to question you- If everything got over that day then why were you so concerned about RK... his whereabouts... his health??" Madhu looked at her shocked. She wondered how she knew about this. "You must be thinking, how I got to know about this? Bittuji told me everything- your meeting with him and your reactions... everything!! Now tell me Madhu, what was it? If everything finished between both of you that day, then why this reaction, this concern?" She was shouting in extreme rage. Madhu could not hold this anymore. She immediately got up from her seat nervously, "I... Maa... It... It was just that I wanted to know about him... That's it!!" Her reply boiled her blood. She got up fuming and held her hand to turn towards her. "Exactly... That is what I am saying Madhu! You searched for him because in spite of everything, you still care for him; you haven't been able to break that bond till now!!" "There is nothing like that Maa!!"Madhu shouted. "Don't tell a lie Madhu! It's been 5 years when you both separated from each other and didn't tell anything to anybody but I... I am a mother Madhu... I could easily understand his eyes! Rishu never told me anything but he was dying every single second... There was not a single moment when he didn't remember you!! His eyes spoke everything Madhu!! And I know, you were feeling the same!!" Radha was crying. And her words were stabbing Madhu deeply. "Doesn't it prove that the bond between you two still persists, Madhu!!" "NO!!" Madhu spoke firmly. Radha looked at her stunned. "You have a misconception Maa!! A relation... A bond exists where there is trust... where there is love, affection!! And our relation... Maa, our relation lost all this that very day only!! Nothing is left now..." Her voice choked. Radha's eyes filled with disgust. "Love... Trust... Is it so Madhubala? So, you think that your relation lost all this! Then, let me tell you something Beta... Let me give you some proofs!" Her voice was filled with rage. "You have been searching for him since long because you have that hope in your heart, that trust in your heart that he would be fine... You came following me not because you wanted to meet only me but because you wanted to see Rishu... When you heard about his ill health, you ran madly to see him, you know why... because you loved him... you still love your RK and you want him to be alive in front of your eyes always!! THIS IS LOVE MADHU... This is love that is still there in your relation!! YOUR LOVE HAS NOT LOST!!" Tears were flowing profusely through the eyes of both of them. Her words were slowly swaying away Madhu's stubbornness to accept the reality. "And Rishu... He is no less than you! He never ever let me realise his pain, but I could hear his silent cries... everyday!! It was his love for you that let those water drops to flow out every time he saw your pictures... Every time he saw you with a trophy on the television, he would stand up with his drunk, quivering legs and clap for you... It was his love Madhu! I could see that pride in his eyes that time!! It was your love, his love that helped both of you to live all these years!!" A small smile crept Madhu's lips. "That love... That trust is still there Madhu but the problem is that you both don't want to accept this biggest reality of your lives... And the reason is the ego... That ego is not allowing both of you to get back together!! Rishu's ego, his insecurities destroyed everything and then your ego to show him back, put more oil to the fire!!" Radha slowly moved towards Madhu, who was crying badly lowering her head turning her face the other side, and caressed her head, "Madhu!" She opened her eyes and turned towards Radha. "I know... You love Rishu and he loves you too much!! Then, why this obstinacy to accept this reality? You both have and still hurting yourselves with this pain... Now, you have to decide Madhu, what is bigger- that ego or your love?" And she left from there. Madhu stood still there, thinking of what she just heard. Radha's words were ringing in her ears. She fell on the nearby sofa and cried her heart out.
In the evening, Neha came to her room in a hurry, "Ma'am... car is ready! Let's go! We are getting late! And Ma'am, you know..." when she saw her combing her hair but lost in her thoughts. Neha went near her and shook her slightly. "Ma'am!" Madhu's trance broke. "Hunnn... "She saw Neha standing near her, looking at her worriedly. "Neha... When did you come?" "Few minute back Ma'am... What happened Ma'am? Are you alright?" Madhu settled herself. "Yeah... I... I am fine." "Ma'am, what did Radha Aunty say to you?" Her words tensed Madhu's face again. Her words started to ring again in her ears, "Your Love hasn't lost!!" "Ma'am!" Neha's words took her out of her thoughts. "Where did you get lost?" Madhu took a deep breath, "Nothing Neha... Let's go now! We are getting late!" And she walked off. Neha stared at her confusingly, trying to understand her strange behaviour. With all her thoughts, she also followed Madhu for the award night.
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