"Ma, Ma," shouted Rishabh from inside his room. "What is it Rishu?" Radha came rushing in. "Where is the project file I brought here last week? Today I have the meeting with the suppliers, and I am not getting it anywhere," replied Rishabh agitatedly. Radha looked at his study table which was piled up with numerous files and loose papers. "Rishu, if you keep your documents like that, you are sure to get them lost," said Radha as she walked in to arrange the things. "Ma, I don't have time for all these. I need the file right now!!" Madhu was feeding Adit his food, when she heard Rishabh shouting. She never entered Rishabh's room, but anticipating something serious she stepped in his room. "What happened Rishabh, why are you shouting at Ma?" "I am not getting an important file," huffed Rishabh and looked at Radha apologetically. "What colour was the file?" asked Madhu as she approached his study table. "Grey, I think," replied Rishabh hesitantly. Madhu rolled her eyes and in few minutes she pulled out the correct file from the heap. "That's it. Thanks Madhu," Rishabh beamed as he felt like giving her a hug but stopped himself. "Look at the condition of this room, Madhu," exclaimed Radha as Rishabh hurried out of the room. "Don't worry Ma, I will clean it up today. You go get ready, Meera aunty would be waiting for you," said Madhu. Radha got ready in half an hour. "Madhu, Sultan will drop me off in the evening. You take care of yourself and Adit. I have asked Rishabh to come home early today," said Radha. "Don't worry Ma, everything will be fine. Have a good time with Meera aunty," smiled Madhu.
Within one hour Adit's bathing and eating was over and it was his nap time now. Madhu kissed him and put his sleepy form in the crib. Then she went to Rishabh's room to clean his study table. "Oh God, how untidy one can be," mumbled Madhu while picking out the unwanted things from the heap. It took her about an hour to put things in the right place. She was almost done when suddenly something dropped from one of the piles and caught her attention. She picked up the book which looked like a scrapbook from the back. As she turned it to the front she saw the picture of Amit and Rishabh on it. A smile crept on her face looking at the innocent faces. She sat on Rishabh's bed and started turning the pages and looking through the pictures from their childhood. She had seen their childhood pictures before from Radha, but this seemed a unique collection of all the weirdest moments of their friendship. Then came the pictures with Sultan between these two, and she started laughing out uncontrollably at Sultan's sorry state in almost all the pictures. "How mean they could be to Sultan," said Madhu, wiping tears from her eyes that came with too much laughter. She had come to the end of the scrap book when a folded letter slipped from its back. As Madhu bent down to pick it up she saw Amit written at its bottom. It indeed seemed like Amit's handwriting. Curiosity took over her mind and she opened the letter.
Rishabh had planned to be back home by lunch time, but the meeting took more time than expected. He came back home by 3 in the afternoon. He had his keys to open the door and did not press the door bell, fearing Adit would be disturbed in his nap. On entering, he felt an awkward silence around the place. "Oh, Ma is with Meera aunty today. But where is Madhu, is she sleeping too," thought Rishabh and peeked in Madhu's room. Adit was sleeping peacefully in his crib but Madhu was not around. Rishabh felt strange as Madhu never left Adit alone in the room. Then he opened his room door and got a shock after seeing Madhu lying on the floor, weeping with a paper in her hand. "Madhu?" panicked Rishabh as he rushed to pick her up from the floor. "Madhu, what happened, Madhu," asked Rishabh while holding her up in a sitting position, when he noticed the paper in her hand, and his voice choked. "Why Rishabh, why? What wrong did I do to you or Amit that you had to ruin my life like this?" croaked Madhu, as her voice had worn out after wailing continuously for the last one hour. "No, Madhu, it's nothing..." "What nothing Rishabh? I get to love this man and marry him, and overnight he changes from a loving person to a stranger who stays away from me for no reason that I could decipher. And then in a few months he is gone, forever from my life, without even knowing that I am bearing his child in me. Today I am a widow, and that innocent baby is fatherless, why? Why, Rishabh? Because I came in between you two? I created a rift between you two? How could you or Amit even think like that?" cried out Madhu, pushing off Rishabh's hands from her shoulder. Rishabh was at his wit's end, he did not know how to answer Madhu. "Madhu, it was a misunderstanding between us..." he stammered when Madhu shouted, "Just a misunderstanding between friends took Amit to such a state that he had to drown himself in alcohol? And push me out of his way as if I never mattered to him? And what has he written about your feelings for me? I did not even know you well, nor did you know me. Then what was this damned misunderstanding about?" Madhu was shivering in grief and anger. Rishabh did not have the courage to look in her eyes, he just looked down on the floor, thinking what could make this situation better. "Answer me Rishabh? Why did Amit think he betrayed you?" "I had a crush on you and Amit thought I sacrificed my feelings because of him," mumbled Rishabh. "How selfish and coward could you two be? You two were just thinking about your friendship, your loyalties, and your betrayal. Did you ever think about my situation, who did the only mistake in loving your friend like mad?" wailed Madhu. "Madhu, Amit was not selfish. It was I who made a blunder, and left Amit when he needed me the most. I should have been back long before, then he would be with us today," replied Rishabh with resignation, as tears glistened at the corner of his eyes. "All these while I had been in immense grief that I could not tell him that he is going to be a father. Adit will never have any memory of his father. But now it seems it would never even matter to him perhaps," whimpered Madhu as she struggled to stand up holding the bedside. "No Madhu, don't think like that about Amit," blurted Rishabh as he saw the despair in Madhu's eyes. Without responding to him, Madhu slowly stepped towards the door. Rishabh collapsed on the floor, with his head in his hands. "Did he ever love me? Even for a moment?" asked Madhu, pausing at the door briefly. Rishabh immediately looked up and replied, "You were his only love, Madhu. He had never felt like this for anyone before."
When Radha entered home, she saw Rishabh having his dinner alone. "Rishu, why are you having your dinner alone? Where is Madhu?" asked Radha. "She is not feeling well. So she went to bed early," replied Rishabh. "Not feeling well? Why what happened?" asked Radha with concern. "She said it is nothing serious," replied Rishabh immediately to appease Radha's concern. "Hmm, I think she is top much tied to the house and baby now. Rishu, now that Adit is growing up and I am always there with him, why don't you ask Madhu to join our business? She is a well-educated girl, and being Amit's wife she should be actively taking part in the business. I guess that would give her some respite from these four walls," suggested Radha thoughtfully. Rishabh looked at her for few moments and then asked, "Are all mothers so caring like you Ma?" Radha was startled at first then she smiled lovingly and said, "Yes, Damini (Rishabh's actual mother) was also very loving and caring. From her only you have got such caring traits beta."
Madhu went inside her shell of seclusion after that incident. Rishabh too did not try to persuade her to be the joyful person as before. It was as if Amit's ghost was looming between them, always reminding them of his absence. After Radha's continuous insistence for another month, Madhu decided to join their office, on a part-time basis. Her interaction with Rishabh had become limited, only during official meetings or mundane household matters. But she never stopped him from coming closer to Adit, as she knew how much of a strong bond had developed between the two. Life went on as a routine, the only noticeable change being Adit's day-to-day growth.
One evening Rishabh and Madhu came back together from office as there was an important meeting for which Madhu too had to stay back. On entering home, Rishabh exclaimed, "Pabbo!!" Madhu noticed an elderly looking lady seated at their living room with Radha, looking at her sceptically. "How are you beta?" said Pabbo as Rishabh went to touch her feet. "Madhu, this is Pabbo, Rishabh's aunt, Damini's elder sister. And Pabbo, this is Madhu, my daughter-in-law," said Radha gladly. "Jeete raho," said Pabbo and gave a cold look to Madhu. "So, Rishu, I heard you have left your marine job and joined Amit's business?" asked Pabbo. "Yes Pabbo. Ma was alone, and then Adit came, so I did not feel like going back to that life again," replied Rishabh. "Hmm, you look tired. Go freshen up. I will talk to Radha in the meantime," said Pabbo. "Did you have tea, Ma? I will get tea for everyone," said Madhu and left for the kitchen. Somehow she did not feel comfortable in front of Pabbo.
"Radha, you are not being a good mom to Rishu," complained Pabbo once Rishabh was out of sight. "Why do you think so Didi?" asked Radha in shock. "Rishu has voluntarily left his lucrative job and stayed with you all to take care of you. But you are not thinking about his well-being at all," said Pabbo with annoyance. Radha could not comprehend her grievance at all, so simply stared at her. "Did you even think about Rishu's marriage Radha?" "Rishu's marriage? No Didi, Amit's demise was such a big shock for us all that it took long time to get out of it and then Adit came and we were all so busy seeing him grow up," said Radha hesitantly. "Radha, Rishu needs a life of his own, if you understand it that way. I am his blood relation, and I can never think of anything less than the best for him," declared Pabbo. Radha kept quiet for some time, then slowly said, "I am sorry Didi. I was blinded by my grief and joy and like a selfish person I had completely forgotten about Rishu's future. You are right, we should get his life settled as soon as possible." "Hmm, I already know a girl who would be perfect for Rishu. Remember Mr. Bhatia? Rishu's papa's childhood friend? His daughter Deepali is a beautiful girl. She is cultured, well educated, a perfect match for our Rishu. Now they stay in Gurgaon only. I will talk to them tomorrow and ask them to come with the rishta as soon as possible," said Pabbo. Madhu brought tea and snacks and kept them on the coffee table. "Madhu, Didi talked about a good rishta for Rishu. We have to get him married soon. Then you will have another companion for yourself at home," said Radha excitedly. Madhu smiled, but before she could respond, Pabbo interrupted by saying, "Rishu should not stay in this house after his marriage. He would need privacy." Radha's face blanched, but Madhu did not react, she just said, "You are right Pabbo. Rishabh has taken enough care of all of us. Now he should be settled and take care of his wife and family. Because for me and Ma, Adit is there, isn't it Ma?" Radha nodded her head in silence.
Pabbo was a woman of her words. Within a week the Bhatias called Radha and fixed a date for meeting. Rishabh was informed about the rishta, he neither showed much excitement nor disapproval. "I want to meet the girl before anything progresses," said Rishabh. When the Bhatias were informed about this, they readily agreed. "Madhu, Rishu will never call the girl for meeting up and I think she is also hesitating to approach first. Why don't you call her and break the ice?" suggested Radha one day. "Ok, Ma. I will call her," replied Madhu. Madhu spoke to Deepali that very evening and they decided to meet up next weekend, with Sultan and Trishna as well.
It was a Sunday afternoon. On Trishna's insistence, they all met at the restaurant Saheb Sind Sultan, at the Ambience Mall. Madhu had come to the Ambience Mall after a long time, and it immediately reminded her about her first kiss with Amit, the day they had felt something special for each other. Deepali was a nice girl, very jovial and easy to talk to. Very soon she made a rapport with all of them, especially with Trishna, as they both had a common interest in shopping. No one but Rishabh only noticed Madhu's sudden quietness. "Hey Madhu, aren't you enjoying the food?" asked Deepali when she saw Madhu toying with the food on her plate for quite a long time. "Uhm, I am not that hungry," replied Madhu softly. Rishabh looked at her but did not say anything. "You know Deepali, we used to have so much fun here before. We would come for movies and shopping almost every weekend. Even Madhu had her first kiss here in this mall," said Trishna excitedly. Both Madhu and Rishabh looked at her immediately with shock. Sultan nudged Trishna below the table, but Deepali had already caught her words. "First kiss? Here in the mall?" she asked excitedly and turned towards Madhu. Madhu felt uncomfortable, but then Deepali had asked her so innocently that she did not feel like making a big scene out of it. "Yes, we were standing under the mistletoe on Christmas, so we had to kiss each other in front of hundreds of people," replied Madhu softly. "Wow, so romantic. That must have started your love story," said Deepali dreamily. Madhu gave her a faint smile when she felt Rishabh's gaze on her. "Such beautiful memories, isn't it?" commented Deepali. "Nothing but only the memories are there for me now," blurted Madhu when she realized that her words had made the situation extremely sombre. "I..I am sorry. I think I should leave now. Adit must be missing me," Madhu said immediately. "I will take you home," replied Rishabh and was about to get up from his chair when Sultan said, "Arrey, where are you going? You stay with Deepali. We will take Madhu with us." Rishabh dejectedly agreed and stayed back.
That night when Madhu came in the living room to take sleepy Adit from Rishabh's lap, he said, "Do you have a minute, Madhu?" She stopped and looked back. "Did you like her? Do you think she can accustom herself in this family?" asked Rishabh. "I think you should ask those questions to yourself, Rishabh. It's you who will stay with her," replied Madhu and left without waiting for Rishabh's response.
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