Rishbala SS: Dil, Dosti, etc...Last Chap & Epi Pg65 - Page 22

Four months after Adit's birth flew like four minutes. Madhu, Rishabh and Radha did not realize this passage of time while trying to accustom themselves to the baby's needs and demands. One day Radha asked Rishabh, "Could you take this Friday off from work?" "Why Ma, is there anything urgent?" asked Rishabh while drinking his tea. "I was thinking of going to Mathura and Vrindavan with you all. I had a mannat to God that I would go there after seeing my grandchild's face. It has been over four months now," replied Radha, expectantly. "Ask Madhu, if she is ready to take Adit for the trip," said Rishabh. Radha smiled widely and said, "She is ready. We were just waiting for your approval." Rishabh rolled his eyes and said, "Okay. We will drive there and I will book the best hotel. Don't ask me to take Adit to any ashram for staying." Radha gladly went to Madhu's room to inform about the trip.

Once they reached Mathura on Friday, Rishabh said, "Today we will take rest. I am tired from driving in this horrible traffic and Adit must be exhausted." "Ok, you stay with Adit at the hotel. I will take Ma to the Iskcon mandir and be back in two hours," said Madhu. Rishabh stared at her in astonishment and asked, "What is so attractive about this crowded place that you two cannot hold back yourselves for a day of rest?" "Rishabh please, this is something Ma had been waiting for long. If she finds her solace in such things why do you protest?" whispered Madhu, so that Radha does not hear her. "Hmmm," Rishabh brooded and took Adit to his room. Madhu and Radha came back sooner than they had expected. "Beta, bring Adit and call Rishabh for dinner. Tomorrow we will start early for Bankebihari mandir," said Radha. Madhu went to Rishabh's room and knocked at the door. When she did not get any answer, she tried the door knob and found it open. On entering she saw both Rishabh and Adit lying on the bed in deep peaceful slumber. Rishabh held onto Adit with one hand over his little form. Even in his sleep, Adit clutched Rishabh's shirt in his tiny palm, as if feared of getting detached from him. Madhu smiled lovingly looking at them for few moments. She did not feel like waking them up, but had to. "Rishabh, get up," said Madhu while lightly pushing his shoulder. "What? Where? Adit?" babbled Rishabh while springing up from his position and clasped Madhu's hand. "Nothing, just get up. It is dinner time," said Madhu and pulled back her hand from his grip.

Next morning, they all headed towards Bankebihari mandir. Since it was weekend, the mandir premise was thickly populated with devotees. Rishabh carried Adit while Madhu held Radha's hand firmly and reached the steps of the mandir. "Impossible, I'm not taking Adit inside this hell!! Are you crazy Ma? Adit will suffocate inside," protested Rishabh. Even Radha realized it would be sheer stupidity taking Adit inside. "Okay, then you wait with Adit in the car. Madhu and I will go for darshan," said Radha. Rishabh was about to turn back when he saw a rowdy crowd of fanatic devotees heading inside the temple. "Wait, I can't let you and Madhu inside the temple with such scoundrels. Madhu, you wait in the car with Adit. I will take Ma inside. When we return, you come with me and Ma will wait with Adit," said Rishabh and proceeded with Radha inside the mandir.

Once they were back, Madhu gave Adit to Radha and followed Rishabh inside. It was packed with people, pushing from every side. Rishabh protected Madhu from the back and tried to keep the mass of devotees at a safe distance from her. The priests were pulling the curtain on and off from the deity's face, and each time the deity was visible, people would go berserk and try to reach as close to the deity as possible. Suddenly the fanatic crowd of devotees whom Rishabh had spotted before started making a huge chaos inside the mandir, blocking all the exits and pushing and pulling everyone on their way. "Damn, why did we even come here?" muttered Rishabh in utter frustration when suddenly he felt a strong push from his back, almost tumbling on Madhu who was standing in his front. "Madhu, hold my hand!" shouted Rishabh as he tried to make out a small space for Madhu against the wall, towering over her fragile body, to keep the pressure at bay. Madhu was so shocked herself that she just stood petrified, pinned against the wall, and clasped Rishabh's kurta in a tight grip. Rishabh was being pushed tremendously, so no matter how much he tried, he got pinned against Madhu. They could feel each other's breath on their faces, her forehead almost resting on his chest. Madhu looked up in Rishabh's eyes, and saw genuine fear and concern for her. They held on the gaze for some time, as there was barely any space to even look around. That riot continued for several minutes until the temple authority took over and threw those fanatics out. Rest of the people ran helter-skelter, making the situation worse. Spotting the nearby exit Rishabh picked up Madhu in his arms and rushed outside. "Rishabh," uttered Madhu in bewilderment. "Don't utter a single word. I will never let you, Ma or Adit come to such barbaric place again," roared Rishabh and brought her near the car. "What happened Rishu? Did Madhu get hurt?" asked Radha seeing them approaching. "We could have been stampeded inside, you know. Those rascals, calling themselves devotees. All hypocrites. We are not going to stay a single moment in this place!!" declared Rishabh and took his seat inside the car.

On their way back, Madhu sat at the back seat with Adit. She was looking outside the window, lost in her thought. She turned her head and was about to look in front through the windscreen when she realised Rishabh's eyes watching her through the rear-view mirror. A sudden warmth crept in her cheeks and she looked away.