Rishbala SS: Dil, Dosti, etc...Last Chap & Epi Pg65 - Page 3

"Sir, 500 rupees," said the taxi driver. As if startled from some deep thought, Rishabh stared at him for few moments. "Sir, the taxi fare, 500 rupees," repeated the driver. Rishabh nodded and handed him the money from his wallet. He took out his bag from the back and stepped in the entrance gate of the poshest high rise residential apartment of Gurgaon. The security guard greeted him on recognition, some of the passers-by stopped and looked at him. It was a look of sympathy in their eyes, which Rishabh avoided dejectedly and headed towards the tall tower. It was looking all the same, the same garden, the same pool area, the corridor to the lift lobby, the lift moving with the same pace, and stopping at the same 25^th floor. But as the door opened to the penthouse it all looked so unfamiliar to Rishabh. The floor was covered in a white carpet. Many familiar and unfamiliar faces crowded the living area, the air filled with smell of all the white flowers and wreaths strewn all over the space. For a moment Rishabh's subconscious mind dictated him to step back inside the elevator, "It's not my home, it's not my..." "Rishu," cried Radha and rushed to him in despair. As she hugged him, Rishabh came to his senses. "Ma," he called as he hugged her back. In all the past 48 hours post receiving the message he had pent up his tears which now broke all the barriers. Both of them held each other as tight as possible, tears streaming out incessantly from both their eyes, as the grave loss of their nearest one had left them all shattered.

"Ma, why are you crying?" asked little Amit, wiping away the tears on his mother's face. "Nothing beta, it's just that Rishu's mother has gone away very far from us. We will never be able to see her again. That is why I am crying," replied Radha, composing herself. "Even Rishu will never see his mother again?" Amit asked shocked. "No betu." Rishu was his best friend, then how could he have his mother always with him when Rishu would not have his own? Little Amit told his mother with conviction, "Ma, Rishu will come here and stay with us. And from today you will be his mother also, right?" Radha stared at her son stunned; a little boy of 5 years could mend destiny's injustice so easily with his love and innocence.

Trishna came forward, held Radha, and said "Aunty, please come and sit. Have some water. Rishabh, give me your bag and please sit down. You must be exhausted after travelling this far." "I'll keep it myself," said Rishabh and slowly headed towards his room. As he was going to open the door of his room, his eyes fell on one figure, sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. She was clad in a white saree, without any ornaments, sitting like a stone statue and staring at the framed photograph, placed at the middle of the room. There he was, Amit, smiling widely with a twinkle in his eyes; as if he was about to talk to Rishabh from within the photo frame. How could he be dead, if his mere photograph was so alive? Rishabh looked back on her again, and somewhere the sorrow blended with a hint of loathing. He looked away and entered his room.