FF: Ankahee | Thread 1| Chapters 1-33 - Page 18

Chapter 10

Madhu switched off the lights and lay down in her bed, but sleep was far from her eyes. She had just spoken to RK - a two minute conversation about nothing in particular, after waiting for almost two hours for him to call. After their fight at the cafe, Madhu knew, the distance between her and RK had only increased. They spoke, but the silences spoke more. She did not know what to do. She tried everything she could think of - she tried being over-cheerful, she tried sharing more about herself with him but he didn't seem like he listened, she tried to show RK she was happy and making friends, she even tried to make herself think about him less and obsess over him less.

But thinking and doing are two very different things. It's easy to make a decision, much harder to live with it.

She could pretend like she was happy and she didn't need him so that he wouldn't think of her too needy, but in reality, she found herself wanting him all the time, and denying herself all the time.

She did understand RK's situation, she truly did. But she really didn't have any control over the darker parts of her that missed RK and kept wanting to get more of him, that were insecure, that were jealous of Maya and everything that took her Rishabh away from Madhu. The strife within her was slowly killing her. At some level, she hated who she had become, what love and vulnerability had done to her. There was a reason she had kept herself bottled up all her life and never let anyone close, she reminded himself. But then, she wouldn't have ever known what it felt like to be really happy, something else within her countered.

The strain in her relationship with RK wasn't the only thing that had been stressing her over the last couple of months. There was her work - her new deal was now almost over, but getting it done had taken a lot out of her. She had been under a lot of pressure and there had been no outlet for the stress. Especially because she hadn't been able to share much with RK, who was more than her boyfriend, he was her best friend.

Madhu sometimes wondered how she had come to trust RK so much. There were no logical answers she could find. As a child, she had no one she could trust, who would keep her trust. She had no friends, and her sister, who she loved, treated her like she didn't exist. She had learnt her lessons very early in life about not entrusting so much power in one power that they could break you. Her family already had that power, but why had she given that power to RK?

Because I love him, she told herself. That was the truth, and that was the only answer. She loved RK more than anything and anyone, more than even she thought was possible. And she could do anything for RK and for her relationship. She knew she had to fix things. She had to bury her insecurities. She had to savor what she got instead of asking for more. And even if inside she was breaking with her heart, she had to externally become for RK the tough, independent, cheerful girl she had always been to everyone else, or else she was going to lose him.

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A week later

Madhu was over the moon! She just got out of the General Manager's office and he had offered her a huge promotion, as a reward for her excellent work on her deal. She was delighted - she was going to be the Head of Business Development for the region starting next Monday. It was a huge leap, something people her age worked years to get and a great new responsibility. She wanted RK to be the first one to know, so she called him as she got out of office - it was only 4 pm but she was going to take an early day and celebrate! But RK didn't pick up the phone. After a few tries, she left a text asking him to call her back when free.

It was almost 6 pm, Madhu was waiting at home for RK to call so she could share the news. She hadn't told anyone yet - not even Trishna - and she was bursting with excitement, but RK hadn't called. Finally at 7, she gave up and tried calling him again. On the second attempt, the phone was picked up.

"Rishu!" Madhu blurted the second he picked up.

"Madhu." It was Maya who had picked up RK's phone.

"Maya, hi."

"Hey Madhu. How are you?"

"I am good. Can I speak to RK please?"

"Yeah, actually he's in a meeting and he forgot his phone outside. It was ringing and I saw your name so I picked it up."

"Oh..thanks. When will he be free?"

"We don't know. It's a critical meeting for our project. We were working till 5 to get the presentation ready but since 5pm RK has been in the client boardroom alone. Not sure how much time will it take..."

"Oh! That's fine. I forgot." Madhu remembered now, RK had said something about a big meeting today, but she completely forgot. She chided herself for being so silly, smiled and told Maya.

"Thanks Maya. It totally slipped my mind."

"No worries. Can I take a message for RK?"

"Naah. Just tell him to call me when he gets out of the meeting. It's kind of important."

"Ok. You take care."

"You too. Bye Maya."

"Bye"

Maya hung up and turned RK's phone on silent as they were still at client office. Madhu smiled and kept the phone aside. She decided to get changed and maybe cook something nice for herself. Soon, she got busy, but she kept an eye out on the phone at all times.

It was almost 1 am, but RK hadn't called. After 11pm, she had sent him a few texts, asking him how he was and could he call, but didn't get a response. She even called again at 1230, but no one picked up. By 1, she was starting to get worried. Usually he always called by 12 even on a regular day. But today, there had been no word. Surely the meeting couldn't be going on till midnight. What if the meeting had gone badly? What if something terrible had happened? Was RK safe? Madhu's mind was invaded by negative thoughts of all kinds and she was getting more worried with every passing minute. Why hadn't Rishabh called? What if Maya never told him she had called? But even then, it was 1 am. He should have at least texted.

RK and Maya were getting in the elevator, heading back to their respective rooms. It was late and they were both fairly drunk. RK's meeting had run till 830 pm, but it had been a great success.

As soon as he came out, his teammates surrounded him and he filled them in. They were all delighted as their hard work of months until now had borne fruit and from now on, the project should get relatively easier as the client was fully on-board. By the time they debriefed and discussed next steps, it was already 10pm. Someone suggested they celebrate, and they all headed to the hotel restaurant to celebrate over dinner and drinks. RK picked up his phone from the table and just slipped it inside his coat's pocket without checking it, as he knew there would be hundreds of emails on it to be answered, but they could wait!

Now it was almost 2 and they had finally broken up to get some rest before the next day. As they were getting off the elevator, Maya suddenly asked

"Hey RK, you spoke to Madhu right?"

"Madhu..no? When?"

"Oh she called a few times when you were in the meeting. She wanted to talk and said it was kinda important. I thought you would have called back by now."

"No..oh shit!" RK fished his phone and saw that there were a number of missed calls and texts from Madhu. "Oh God...my phone was on silent and I just didn't see."

"Ohhh...I am sorry. It was ringing at the client's and I put it on silent. I didn't remember to tell you in all the excitement of the meeting and dinner. I thought you would call back anyway." Maya apologized.

"No worries. I will speak to her in the morning. Good night." RK said and went to his room. He freshened up and changed his clothes and picked up his phone. He saw Madhu had sent a number of texts, the last one only 30 minutes ago which read "Rishu are you ok? I am getting worried. Please get back to me." Even though it was 2:15 am and he was both drunk and exhausted, he decided to call her because she sounded genuinely worried.

"Hello"

"Rishu!" Madhu was up and it didn't sound like he had woken her up from the call.

"Hey Madhu. You're up?"

"Yeah. Where were you? Are you ok? I was so worried."

"I am fine Madhu. Why are you up so late?"

"You don't sound fine. How did the meeting go?"

"I am just a little drunk. The meeting was great. We were out celebrating."

"I was trying to reach you."

"I didn't see my phone yaar. The meeting went long and after that we went to dinner to celebrate. I am sorry... Maya put my phone was on silent and I just didn't look at it."

"Hmm" Madhu fell silent.

"I will call you tomorrow. I am very tired now. Good night."

"Rishabh wait! I wanted to tell you something..."

"What?"

"I got a promotion. I will now be the Business development head for the region...I start Monday." After waiting for so many hours, she was now getting to share the news, but somehow there was no joy left in her voice.

"Nice. Congrats." RK said

"Thank you"

"So did you party hard tonight?"

"No..I wanted to tell you before anyone. So I didn't..."Madhu's voice trailed off as RK interjected.

"You're so stupid Madhu. Anyway, celebrate tomorrow. Great work."

"Hmm"

"Chal, I am very sleepy. Good night."

"Bye" Madhu said, and RK hung up the phone. Madhu was crying bitterly, but more than hurt she felt really angry at herself. Why did she let him hurt her like this? Why did she wait for hours by her phone? Why did she go crazy worrying about him when he was just partying? He didn't think about calling her to share his excitement at his meeting going well, why had she made herself so dependent on him that now, at 2:20 am on what had been a great day she did not feel an iota of happiness over her promotion? Madhu was upset with RK, but she was furious was herself. She was indeed stupid, like he had said.

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The alarm in his phone went off at 730 and RK woke up with a heavy head. As he picked up his phone to shut off the alarm and sat up on the bed, he saw again the texts that Madhu had sent the previous night. He recollected their conversation. Madhu had clearly been worried about him, and he had just dismissed her concerns. Not only that, she had waited to share the news of her promotion with him and he had called her stupid for doing so. RK felt guilty for his behavior. Madhu had always been supportive, but he had not even congratulated her properly for her achievement. He knew this would have meant a great deal to her, and instead of feeling happy for her, he had been almost rude. When did he become so self-centered, he asked himself? He knew there had been some distance in their relationship for the last few months, and he knew somewhere that he himself had been ignoring her even though he knew she was miserable. Why was he pushing his Madhu away? He loved her, didn't he?

Feeling guilty, he sent her a quick text "Good morning beautiful" and went to get dressed.

More than an hour later, there was no response from Madhu. This never happened, and that itself told RK that Madhu was angry for the previous night. He called her, but she disconnected the phone. He sighed. She was mad at him, and probably rightfully so.

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Madhu had a terrible day at work. She was upset and frowning all day long, which was so unusual for her. It was her last day at this office, as she would be reporting to their corporate office, also in Delhi but a different location, from Monday onwards. She had told Trishna and the rest of her colleagues, who had arranged a mini-farewell lunch to celebrate for her, but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy any of it. In the evening, Trishna proposed that they go out for drinks, but she refused saying she wasn't feeling well. All she wanted was to stay in bed, alone. She had ignored RK's call in the morning and did not intend to speak to him until she felt less angry at herself and more in control of her emotions.

Love hurts, she told herself. Why did I ever forget that and stopped hating love?

She looked skywards and screamed at no one in particular.

Originally posted by: aDarkAngel

Wow TK... Great write up and great to have you back darling 🤗 !!

Sorry I am pretty late while catching it up hehe !! I loved loved loved the concept, portrayal and the way you are taking the story ahead 😳😃 !

Firstly this is story of two intellectual people tackling worldly affairs successfully and flailing miserably at their emotional fronts !!

I wish I could have written the comment separately immediately after reading it !! Now that am trying to be comprehensive, I may lose out on important or rather sensitive things heheh !

Well to begin with, my heart goes for Madhu 🤗..she is thinking just like any girl and due to her emotional baggage, it's only getting out of hand for her !! She is trying to bottle up everything even in front of Rishu which can't be healthy for a relationship. I want her to face her demons( Rishu's indifference, that Maya 😡🤢, Rishu's mean attitude). Sorry but she is not the punching bag for Rishu and she needs to clear it up. I want her to get hold of herself, stop giving so much importance to Rishu and if possible earn another caring friend who is as caring as she herself !!

Rishu.. He is very self-centered and is a guy😆😆 !! He needs to sort his priorities out man !! This dude needs to understand that when someone is in a relationship, they have to work equally hard to keep the partner happy..sorry but it's not a one-way street !! He needs to realise that his new work is partly due to Madhu and Madhu needs his attention and care and love !! God dammit...Rishu ..you love Madhu ...period !!

Whereas maya...she needs to understand how to behave when your best friend is in a relationship !! Get yourself a man...you woman !! Don't be the bump on their love life please !!

I also realise that Rishu is a hypocrite, when it comes to maya he kinda wants her to be safe n sensible while choosing relationship and can lend his most of the time to support her but when Madhu shows her insecurities, he deems her to be needy and an added pressure !!

Literally I hate Rishu 😡..for being so selfish, I want him to get a solid jolt to realize Madhu's importance and want him mend the way he is thinking whereas for Madhu, I have a message "dear Madhu, you are independent and smart..so realize Rishu is not the sun of your universe nor you are one doormat!! No one is perfect..neither you nor your Rishu !! "