FF: Adrift Completed Feb 3rd 2014

The commotion at the door was proof enough that somebody important had arrived. It wasn't unexpected though, in a Bollywood celebrity party such as this one, for flashlights and footsteps to randomly start moving around in all directions every now and then. But for once, the air seemed more buzzed than usual. Bittuji turned towards the door, and he wasn't surprised. It was RK, his e-Chief, who was making a grand entrance. This had always happened with RK, Bittuji knew better than anyone else. But then, what he saw next made Bittuji squirm in anger. Hanging on RK's arm was that girl Ria. The same girl because of which...

RK negotiated the mob skillfully, going up straight for the stage. This was the success party of his recent film of course. The film had broken even the records of his previous movie with Madhu, thanks in part to the constant controversy around RK's life while the movie was being shooted, and RK was on seventh heaven. His confidence in his superstardom restored, he was back to being himself - arrogant, superstar, RK. Ria, in a skimpily clad red dress that showed more than it hid, still hung by his arm. Bittuji walked towards the bar. He had left his Chief, but managed to bring his big weakness along with him. He now worked freelance for a number of rising actors, but life wasn't the same any more. Yet, he had no desire to go back to RK again, who had made clear more than once he missed his professional services.

"...announcing the launch of my new film..."Bittuji struggled to hear the announcements RK was making at the stage, now far away from him.

"Also announcing the launch of my co-star Ria" The applause was deafening, but Bittuji felt like he wanted to puke. RK was launching Ria in his new movie. Clearly the woman was using him, and RK had no idea what he was doing, what he had already done.

No, this is not correct. Bittuji decided he needed to speak to RK again, try and confront him with the truth...He waited another half an hour before he catch RK

"Chief..."

"Bittuji...!!! Come, come, I was waiting for you to congratulate me on my new movie..."

"Hmm...congrats...chief, i wanted to talk to you"

"...I know Bittuji, you want to come back. You are too precious to waste your time with those shady actors. I will forgive you, I promise, despite everything. You can come back any time. We would make history together again Bittuji...come back, you know I have only one condition..."

"...No Chief...this is not about me coming back...what you are doing is not correct.."

RK's anger was palpable on his face

"What do you mean what I am doing? Are you going to start all over about Ria again? I told you, whatever happened with me and Madhu had nothing to do with Ria."

"Chief, you do not..."

"Bittuji, it does not seem like you are ready to accept my conditions...you may leave"

Bittuji started to respond, but a fresh herd of journalists had reached them by now, eager to get RK's soundbites.

"...so RK, will this new movie be a woman-oriented one too like your first production..?"

"No, this movie will be all about superstar RK. People pay to watch superstar RK. And our new starcast..."

"RK, would Madhu be starring in your movie too?" RK's expression visibly changed to anger, but before he couldn't find a response

"RK, when is Madhu coming back from US?"

"RK, there are rumors you and Ria are seeing each other now..."

"Enough!" RK spurted. "Enough for today, ladies and gentlemen..." RK starting walking and before long, Ria joined him on his arm. That brought a fresh mob of photographers eager to get these candid pictures of superstar RK and his new baby doll swooning over him. Madhu was yesterday's story, the way Ria was all over RK.

Bittuji sighed and left the party too, wondering how and when things had worsened so much.

RK woke up out of a bad dream with a start. Sweat glistened all over him. He looked to his right...Ria was fast asleep. A wave of nausea instinctively took over RK. He disentangled himself from the sheets and walked up towards the window. He knew what the dream was about, and what the nagging feeling at the core of his stomach really meant, but he didn't want to think about it. He just wanted it to go away.

RK glanced at Ria again, sleeping on his bed in his farmhouse. She did not look attractive at all to him at this moment. Yes, she was hot when well dressed, and yes, RK had slept with her. But he knew he did not love her. She did not have possession of his heart. Not like...not like his wife used to have. His Madhu.

Thinking of Madhu took him back to six months ago, to the day he last saw Madhu.

**flashback**

"RK I am sorry...I shouldn't have said all that...I trust you and I know you love me. Please just forgive me once and I will give you all the space..."Madhu had barged into the bedroom, this very bedroom at RK's farmhouse, saying what she had to say from the moment she entered the house. She must have seen RK's car outside the farmhouse.

Rk remembered turning back at that instant, as the door flung open. Even though he was incredibly drunk, he remembered what he was doing at the moment - kissing Ria senseless in his arms, taking out all his suppressed anger at Madhu. His thoughts had been of Madhu and Madhu alone and he was consumed with anger at what had happened earlier that day, and in the days before.

RK remembered...seeing Madhu freeze. Watching the color on her face turn as yellow as her sari. Watching her turn back without a word and leave.

RK remembered...feeling frozen in his step. Unable to react. To think. To go behind Madhu.

RK remembered...Ria taking him in his arms, telling him it was okay. He hadn't done anything wrong.

And he hadn't, had he? He had come from the lunch date enraged. Madhu's words pinched him like pins. And he had drank for hours straight. And then, Ria came from nowhere...to apologize. And before he knew it, he was crying in Ria's arms. Crying for everything he had lost. Respect in the eyes of his wife. His child.

At some point, Ria had kissed him. RK did not really remember what happened. But he did know that when he saw Madhu at that door, he was kissing Ria. And that was the last time he had seen Madhu anyway.

**flashback**

Rk's eyes darted back towards the door, as if expected Madhu to barge in. What would she do now, seeing Ria sprawled naked on their bed. He wondered if he would be able to face her. The thought jolted RK.

What the hell was he doing? Why was he sleeping with Ria? Why was he cheating on his Madhu?

His Madhu? Was he really his Madhu? But he didn't love her anymore, did he? Not after what she had done...

"...but what have I done? Oh God" Rk gasped to himself as he realized he still cared about Madhu and still wanted her.

His Madhu. Madhu's trusting eyes came back to haunt RK. RK sank to the ground. He knew that the feeling that was eating him up on the inside was his guilt.

Guilt that he had let Madhu go. Guilt that he had no idea where his Madhu was.

wow RK realized his mistake..

hope he finds madhu...

continue soon

So RK is guilty

Continue soon

Several miles away at his house, Bittuji couldn't sleep either. The events of the party earlier in the day, the events of six months ago...all raided his mind and drove away any chance of sleep. He hated RK at this moment. It wasn't as if his years of caring and loyalty for RK had suddenly disappeared - indeed that was why he felt so tortured at the moment, so conflicted. Yet, for what RK had done, for what he had become, and for what he had done to Madhu...Bittuji could not help but hate him. Bittuji had come to love Madhubala as her little sister, but when he remembered what he had seen six months ago.

**flashback**

Bittuji was on his way to RK's farmhouse, when he suddenly noticed Madhu's car on the side of the road. They were at the cliff, a few miles away from the farmhouse. He slowed down, and soon enough his eyes soon saw Madhu's figure clad in yellow, at the edge of the cliff. It was dark, so he couldn't see very well from his car, but he slammed his brakes nevertheless and his car came to a screeching halt. He leapt out and screamed, but it was too late. Madhu had jumped. He ran, hoping it wasn't Madhu he saw, but his feet stopped automatically when he saw the car, and the note on it.

**flashback ends**

Bittuji remembered that moment when he realized Madhu had jumped off the cliff. The cold fear of that memory still startled him. He had immediately called RK, of course. And Ria had picked up the phone, telling him not to disturb them. When he insisted, he met with the cold truth, RK was sleeping in her arms at his farmhouse. Bittuji remembered the anger he felt at that time, but it was nothing compared to the anger he felt when he went to RK's farmhouse that night, a few hours later, and saw from the window exactly what Ria had already described.

Bittuji had then done the only thing he could to preserve Madhu's memories. He knew she had been right in her note - nobody at Kundra House loved her or needed her anymore. That was exactly what he found when he stepped in that house the next day - the final time he did that - gave instructions to all house staff and RK's staff to answer any queries about Madhu with the simple answer "Madhu had gone to the US". Theories were born out of that on their own - that she was doing a Hollywood movie, that she had left RK for a Hollywood producer. But he had to admit he was a bit surprised that nobody truly cared. In fact, most residents of that household were truly happy.

And RK. How had RK reacted? Bittuji remembered every moment of that conversation all too well, when he found RK in his studio and tendered his resignation.

"Chief"

"Bittuji...where have you been all morning? This idiotic director doesn't get it..."

"Chief...do you know where bhabhiji is?"

"Madhu..."RK's expression changed visibly. "Madhu..how should I know? She must be somewhere, surrounded by her fans..I called her three times since morning, but she did not bother to pick up."

"Chief, what happened last night that Bhabhiji left?"

"Left? What do you mean left?"

Bittuji remained silent. His eyes were stoned, not willing to give anything away.

"Are you telling me Madhu left. Where?" Rk was now angry, throwing the glass in his hand far away.

"I don't know Chief. Something must have happened yesterday. You would know better."

"Yesterday...nothing happened...oh well yeah I know...she saw first hand at lunch how much her fans wanted her more than anyone wanted me...now that she is a bigger superstar than RK.."

"Chief. Enough. Some day you would realize the truth. But I cannot be here any more. I resign."

"Bittuji..."

RK had yelled for a while behind him, but Bittuji hadn't stopped. He had known RK all his life. He had known him to be arrogant, jealous, unfair, kameena. But this...he never thought RK would come to this. That he would be so blinded in his ego and his insecurity that he would have no concern for his wife, his life...for whom not so long ago he was willing to die. As Bittuji was leaving, he crossed paths with Ria entering the studio. Seeing her replace Bittu and Madhu in RK's life was the final straw...one that brought a flood of tears that day.

And even today.

am actually sad that Madhu kills herself for someone who never deserved so much importance at the first place forget her whole life !! Hope even RK follows suit..pretty soon !!

Lovely piece of writing btw😃

nobody knws abt it...

Awww Rk n his F*Ly are so cruel..

continue soon

Nice Update

When will RK realise what he has lost