"Madhu," called Radha as she rushed to receive her. Radha hugged her and kissed her forehead. "My son is coming back, isn't it Madhu?" said Radha with teary eyes. Madhu smiled faintly and nodded her head. "Ab ek aansoon nahi royegi tu, you will smile and take full care of yourself. Promise me Madhu," pleaded Radha holding her hands. "Yes Ma, I promise," replied Madhu. Trishna held Madhu by her shoulder and said, "Have some rest first. I will bring some food for you to your room." After they left, Radha turned towards Rishabh and Sultan, and said, "My Amit has come back. He could not stay away from his mother, could he?" Rishabh saw the sheer happiness in her eyes, so gave her a big smile and said, "He was missing me more than you, so came back before I left." Reminded of Rishabh's departure the next day, Radha became a little sad. "Rishu, why don't you leave that job and come with us permanently? You could take over Amit's business. Now Madhu will also be busy with the child. Come back Rishu, this old mother needs you here," said Radha sadly, caressing Rishabh's face. "I will come back. Just let me go for this voyage, I will resign at the end of this stint," replied Rishabh thoughtfully.
Sultan and Trishna left after dinner. Madhu was about to get back to her room, when Radha said, "Madhu, take this glass of milk and drink it now." "Ma, give it to me now, I will drink it in my room," replied Madhu and took the glass from Radha. "Rishu beta, I am going to bed. Don't stay up late. Tomorrow you have to leave early," said Radha and went to her room. He stayed for half an hour more in the living area, then stood up and silently headed towards Madhu's room. On opening the door, he found Madhu standing near the window, with her back towards him. She was deep in her pensive thoughts, so did not realise when Rishabh walked up and stood by her. "So all is going as you had wished for?" asked Rishabh, breaking her trance. Madhu shook up, and turned to look at him. She did not reply, but stared at his face quizzically. "Whose baby is this?" spat Rishabh pointing at her abdomen. For a second Madhu's eyes looked blank, but then a fire lit up within. She turned back and tried to move away when Rishabh caught her by her wrist and asked again menacingly, "Tell me, whose baby is this? I know Amit never had any relation.." A tight slap landed on his face, shutting his mouth. "I am not a s**t, do you understand? I don't know how much you knew about your friend, but I suppose this much you knew that he would never marry a prostitute and bring her home. My relationship with my late husband is entirely my business. I am not answerable to you or anyone else, for that matter. If you have further doubt, then get a DNA test done when the baby arrives. But before that do not show your face again to me. Now get out!!" Madhu spoke with vehemence and showed him the door. Rishabh gritted his teeth and left immediately.
Madhu stared at the doorway even after Rishabh had left. Then a small sob escaped her mouth and she collapsed on the floor. "Why Amit, why? What wrong did I do in loving you, that you are making me suffer all this?" whispered Madhu as tears clouded her vision.
It had been over two months after their marriage. Amit had stayed away from Madhu all this while, with excuses of his urgent business requirements. It was Nikhil, one of their friend's bachelor party where Amit and Sultan had gone. Madhu, as usual had gone to bed, as she knew Amit would be late. At around 1.30 am, she heard the main door being opened. Amit had his keys, so Madhu did not bother getting up. Radha was also off to her sister's place so no one would be disturbed by Amit's late entry. Suddenly she heard someone knocking at the bedroom door. "Amit never knocks at the door," thought Madhu and opened the door. She was shocked to see Amit, completely sloshed, leaning on Sultan's shoulder and mumbling something. "I am sorry Madhu, he is in no state to walk on his own. So I had to bring him up to the bedroom," said Sultan apologetically. Madhu was wearing a short night dress, so instead of being in front of Sultan for long, she held Amit and said, "Thanks Sultan. I'll manage. You go now, Trishna must be waiting for you." She managed to lead Amit to the bed and helped him lie down on his side of the bed. She took off his shoes, and noticed that Amit was sweating. She hesitated for a moment, then started opening the buttons of his shirt. Suddenly he grasped her hand and pulled her closer. "Amit," gasped Madhu. For the first time after their marriage she saw him looking at her lovingly. As they closed in for a long, passionate kiss, Madhu embraced him tight and murmured, "Love me Amit, I have been waiting for this so long."
It was indeed a night to cherish all her life, as Madhu felt so passionately being loved by Amit. She did not know why Amit had been away from her all this while, but that night she felt everything was as good as before again. Next morning when she woke up, Amit was still sleeping, cradling her close to his chest. Madhu smiled happily and kissed his forehead. Amit woke up with her kiss and for a moment he looked happy, at peace. But the very next moment he frowned and removed his hands from her body. "Amit, what happened?" asked Madhu, a little bit hurt by his behaviour. "I am getting late for the office," muttered Amit and left the bed.
Rishabh left the following morning, promising Radha yet again, that he would be back permanently after this stint of six months. The next few months passed by without much ado. Madhu and Radha had become very close, both caring the most about the coming child. Both tried to fill up the void in their lives by being with each other as much as possible. Radha would always talk about Amit and Rishabh's childhood, and inwardly Madhu wished her baby also had all those fun and happiness in its days to come.
Rishabh kept his words, and came back after six months. Radha was too happy to see him back, and after confirming about his resignation from merchant navy, she felt at ease. Madhu was already very heavy with her eight month pregnancy. She tried to avoid Rishabh as much as possible, and Rishabh too averted talking to her, except in front of Radha.
Radha and Rishabh were watching TV while Madhu was reading a book in her room. She was feeling something unusual for quite some time, but could not understand what. She observed for some time more and cried out in fear, "Ma, the baby is not moving!!" Both Radha and Rishabh rushed in her room, hearing her cry. "What happened beta?" asked Radha in shock. "Ma, the baby has stopped moving," replied Madhu in fear. "Did you count the movements? When did it move last?" asked Radha. "It barely moved once or twice in the last two hours." Madhu's eyes started filling up, as the fear of the unknown crept in her mind. "Give me the doctor's number, I'll call her and ask," said Rishabh and took the number from Radha. "Bring her here, immediately," replied the doctor listening to Madhu's condition. Rishabh entered Madhu's room again and picked her up from the bed. "What are you doing?" asked Madhu, struggling to get free of his hold. "I do not want to take any risk with the baby," muttered Rishabh and carried her down to his car.
"The amniotic fluid has dried up. The foetus is not getting any nutrition," said the doctor looking at the test reports. "And?" asked Rishabh impatiently. "We have to operate right away. We can't wait any more. It could cost both the mother and the child's life," replied the doctor gravely. Radha was coming with Trsihna and Sultan, and they had not yet reached when Madhu was being taken inside the OT. Tears flowed from her eyes continuously, as fear and pain gripped her heart. Rishabh held her hands and softly said, "Don't worry. Everything will be alright." Madhu's teary eyes fixated on him till the moment the OT doors were closed. Rishabh thumped down on the bench outside the OT, his limbs shivering in anxiety and fear. "Rishu, where is Madhu?" asked Radha as she came running with Trishna and Sultan. Rishabh pointed towards the OT.
After a gruelling hour and a half, the OT door opened. A nurse came out and seeing Rishabh in front said excitedly, "Are you the father? Congratulations, your wife had a son!!"
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