Madhu was shivering when RK returned. He immediately embraced her and tried to console her.
"I...killed...them..." Madhu's words were broken and RK's eyes watered seeing Madhu so hurt.
"No honey...you didn't" RK mumbled as he hugged Madhu tightly protectively. Two days back, he had been shaken to his core when he picked up Madhu's phone and heard the police constable repeat what he had just told Madhu. Two middle-aged people, identified as Mr and Mrs Malik, had died on the spot in a road accident 45 minutes ago. Their taxi had collided head on with a truck that had jumped the red light and there were no survivors. Horrified, RK tried to wake Madhu up.
With the nurses' help, she regained consciousness after half an hour but she was in a state of complete shock, not responding to anything. RK and Rohan took Madhu to the police station, leaving Ria and Nisha to take Maya home when she recovered. From there, RK called his parents and explained everything, and they had all helped complete the formalities and bring the corpses to Madhu's home in Benaras. Madhu was not in a state to do or understand anything. RK had hoped she would break out of the trance when she saw her parents, but she did not react. RK had called Deepali, who had rushed to Benaras and informed all relatives as well. For two days, RK and Radha had been at Madhu's side, but it was like she wasn't even aware of them. RK knew how important Madhu's family was to her and seeing him so broken shattered him as well. At some level though, he was thankful to Deepali. Her poisonous words had finally broke Madhu's trance and maybe now, she could let herself grieve.
"Rishabh...I killed them...Rishabh...Ma...Papa...I should have been in that taxi...I should have been with them...they had come for me..." Madhu was hysterical even as RK tried to comfort her.
"No Madhu...Deepali didn't mean that...she is hurting...but she didn't mean that. It's not your fault. It's not anybody's fault. It was an accident." RK cupped her face and tried to explain, hoping she would believe him if she saw it in his eyes.
"Rishu...why did Deepali say you made her convince them to come for my wedding?" Madhu asked after a few minutes. The question surprised RK, but he knew it was going to come up.
"It's not like that Madhu. Listen, I had just..."
"Tell me Rishabh"
RK sighed. "After I learnt everything about you and your family, I knew it was important for you to be there for you and your happiness would be incomplete without them. So I found their number from your phone and called them. I told them about us and asked them for your hand. Your mother didn't say much, but she was indifferent. She didn't want to come for the wedding. I gave up at that point. The following day, I coincidentally ran into Deepali. I learnt that the client I was working with...our project was about completing a merger deal between my client and Sikander Bhatia's company, who was Deepali's husband. We didn't think the deal was very good for our client, but their CEO insisted on doing it. At that time I did not know that, but somehow I got to know that Deepali was cheating on her husband and sleeping with my client CEO, and that was the reason the CEO wanted to do the deal with Sikander's company. I also recognized Deepali from the photos you showed me, and when I talked to her, it was confirmed she is your sister. So I just asked her, if she didn't want me to tell Sikander, which would screw up the deal as well as possibly her marriage, she could do me a favor and ask her parents to be a part of your wedding. She agreed, and so the next day I asked Ma to call them and invite them over. That's all."
"It was a lie.." Madhu gasped, shocked.
"I am sorry Madhu. The only reason I kept all this from you was I didn't want to hurt you. You were so happy to have them near you. I don't know what Deepali told them, but honestly, I think all I did was make them show the love they always had for you. It wasn't a lie, Madhu. I am really sorry."
"Go away, Rishabh." Madhu screamed.
"Madhu...I am sorry. I only wanted your happiness. I didn't want to hurt you."
"Go away, Rishabh. Go away. Don't you see what happens when I try to be happy or someone tries to make me happy? Don't you see what happens to every life I touch. I killed my parents, and I will kill you as well. Go away from me. Leave me alone. I will not marry you." Madhu screamed in hysteria, before fainting again. Her grief had finally overtaken her.
RK sat outside with his mother. Fresh tears streamed down his eyes. Madhu had slept after RK had called a doctor who had sedated her. He knew she was in shock and had over-reacted but remembering her words sent a fresh wave of panic run through Rishabh. What if she really was in that taxi? Was he really losing Madhu? Could he?
"Ma...I can't see her in pain like this." Rishabh cried to his mother.
"I know beta. But she is a strong girl. She is going through a lot, but she will come out of this. You just need to be with her, by her side. She's your responsibility now, Rishabh. You love her, don't you? Now you have to give her strength so she can recover again and learn to live again."
"You're right Ma. I will not leave her side. But she cannot heal here. We have to take her away from here Ma."
"Yes. We'll take her tomorrow with us." Radha said, comforting her son.
After a few minutes, RK looked up at his mother and said, "Ma. I cannot leave her alone anywhere. I want to marry her. As soon as possible. I want her to have a home."
Radha nodded in understanding. "I am proud of you my son. Madhu has a home, and a family. We will take my daughter home."
Destiny sulked, shocked at the last minute loss. So close, yet so far. RK had trumped Destiny, leaving her bitter-faced and empty-handed. She should have known better. RK had always been the king of the grand gestures. It was hard to beat him on the big things, and hard to beat Madhu as long as RK stayed with her. The only hope was in the little things, and with one of them at a time.
Destiny really should have known better.
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