Rishbala SS: Dil, Dosti, etc...Last Chap & Epi Pg65 - Page 40

"Swear on Adit...Swear on Adit..." Madhu's words were still ringing in his ears. Rishabh stared blankly at his laptop in office. The wall paper bore a smiling face of Adit sitting in his crib, surrounded by his Elee, Tigga, Doggy, Mew-mew and numerous other toys. A cracking sound snapped Rishabh out of his brooding when he realised he had broken the pencil in his hand. "Damn it Madhu! Was I such a pain in your life that you had to push me off using Adit's name?" spoke Rishabh as his eyes fogged with tears. He slowly stood up and walked towards the wall cabinets, where he stopped and took out two books on parenting. He smiled faintly remembering the early days after Adit's birth, when he would make out time between his works to go through the various details and nuances of bringing up kids in these books. He sighed and kept the books back in their places when his eyes fell on a small photo frame on the shelf, with a picture of Amit and him. Rishabh slowly picked up the frame in his hand and caressed Amit's smiling face. "You were right, Amit. Adit was my only link to you, his eyes and smile made me feel closer to you every moment. But Madhu severed that link, yet again," said Rishabh with a sardonic smile.

Madhu had a terrible headache from the morning. Radha too noticed her puffed eyes and asked, "Are you all right, beta?" "Yes, Ma. Adit woke up early in the morning, so I did not have complete sleep," replied Madhu. "Then you take rest, beta. I will take care of Adit today." Madhu reluctantly retired to her room, and after brooding over last night's incident for the umpteenth time, she dozed off.

Radha was watching TV with Adit on her lap late in the afternoon when her phone started ringing. It was a call from Pabbo. "Hello Didi, how are you?" asked Radha picking up the phone. "Oh, stop such lame pleasantries Radha. How can you behave as if everything is normal?" enquired Pabbo. "Didi, I am sorry, but what happened? Why do you sound so upset?" replied Radha flabbergasted. "Upset? I am feeling hurt and insulted right now. I had called Mr. Bhatiya to know about Deepali and Rishabh and he told me that the proposal was turned down!! Didn't Rishabh tell you anything?" asked Pabbo. Radha was speechless at first, then managed to say, "No Didi, Rishu did not tell me anything like that. But why did they turn down the proposal?" "Mr. Bhatiya did not tell me anything. He said it was mutually decided by Deepali and Rishu. But I am very sure it was initiated by Rishu only," said Pabbo furiously. "Why do you think like that Didi? Why would Rishu refuse Deepali? She was such a nice girl," replied Radha hesitantly. "Even I was wondering the same, and you know what Radha? I got the answer to it. Your bahu must have cast a spell on him, and he is blinded by her!!" spluttered Pabbo. "What are you saying, Didi?" asked Radha in shock. "If you keep ghee and fire together, they will definitely burst in flame, won't they? Are you blind Radha that you could not see them mingling with each other way cosier than a dewar and a bhabi? Chhii, I am feeling so humiliated now, I won't be able to face the Bhatiyas again!!" Radha was again speechless, and before she could think of anything to say the call was disconnected by Pabbo. Radha did not realise when her eyes had started flowing, and holding Adit close to her, she burst in tears.

Madhu was startled out of her sleep by the repeated buzzing of the doorbell. She rushed out of her room to the main door when she saw Radha sitting on the couch like a statue with a sleepy Adit on her lap. Madhu opened the door to see Rishabh, Sultan and Trishna and before they could speak, she rushed back to Radha and asked, "Ma, what happened? Are you ok?" Rishabh also rushed to her and asked, "Ma, are you all right?" Radha stared at both of them and asked, "What happened with Deepali?" Madhu immediately stood back, sensing something grave. "Ma, we are not going forward with this..." "Why Rishabh? Have you already chosen someone for yourself?" demanded Radha interrupting Rishabh mid-sentence. Rishabh looked at Radha, then turned to Madhu briefly, who by that time had moved back few steps further, slightly shaking her head. Rishabh took a deep breath and said slowly, "Ma, there is nothing like that. It's just that we were not compatible enough." Sultan and Trishna were completely dumbstruck seeing such an outburst by Radha. Even the calling off of the proposal was a news to them. Sultan furtively looked at Madhu's ashen face, and somehow deep inside he understood what was happening in front of his eyes. "Tell me the truth Rishu. Pabbo called me and said you refused Deepali because you are attracted to Madhu!! Is it true Rishu?" enquired Radha. Madhu covered her face in horror and ran towards her room, when Radha said, "Stay here Madhu, I need to know the truth from everybody. Rishu, answer me!" Rishabh looked away in frustration, as he had never lied to Radha and Madhu's words stopped him from telling the truth. Getting no answer from him, Radha turned to Madhu and asked, "Do you have any feelings for Rishu? Does he love you?" Madhu felt like denying forthrightly, but something inside refrained her from doing so, and she stood motionless. Sultan came forward and knelt in front of Radha. "Aunty, do you think even if they have feelings for each other, they will confess to you?" Radha looked at him bewildered and asked, "What do you mean?" "They love you very much, Aunty. They would never do anything to hurt you. But would you be very upset if they truly love each other and want to be man and wife?" asked Sultan. Rishabh stared at Sultan in amazement, while Madhu shook in fear and anxiety. Radha's looked at them as fresh tears started rolling, and said, "You never accepted me as your mother, did you, Rishu? Today Sultan has to convince me, whereas you could have long back told me about your feelings for her. And Madhu, although you kept on calling me Ma, I could never be your true mother. I should have thought of your marriage long back, and who could be a better papa for Adit than Rishu?" "Ma," uttered Rishabh and immediately hugged Radha in sheer joy. Trishna, who had been a dumb spectator so far jumped in joy and shouted, "Wow Madhu, even I had been such a blind, not to think of you and Rishabh together. Today is the best day of my life, when I got two great news at once," and hugged Madhu. "Two news?" asked Radha while wiping her tears and patting Rishabh's back who was still hugging her. "Yes, I am pregnant!!" exclaimed Trishna. Madhu kissed Trishna's cheeks and hugged Sultan. Both Sultan and Trishna touched Radha's feet and she blessed them. In all this noise, Adit had woken up and was still in his after-sleep-grumpy-mood. Suddenly he squealed in excitement seeing Rishabh and said, "Ppaah." "He called me Pa! Ma, Madhu, did you hear that? Adit called me Pa!" exclaimed Rishabh, scooped Adit from Radha's lap and smothered him in kisses.

"So, Aunty, please arrange the wedding as soon as possible. I do not want to look like a barrel with a huge tummy in Madhu's wedding," whined Trishna later in the evening. "Ha ha beta, I will speak to the pundit tomorrow morning and get these two married in the earliest possible date," said Radha excitedly. "Oh god, I have to do so much shopping now. Madhu-Rishabh's wedding, Adit's first birthday, my godh-bharai.." blabbered Trishna when Sultan retorted, "Calm down, my hyperactive wife!! You have enough dresses already in the wardrobe which you have not yet worn once." Rishabh laughed at their childish bickering, and took Adit to his crib. On entering Madhu's room he saw her standing by the window, lost in her thought. Rishabh carefully placed Adit in his crib and approached Madhu. "If you are not happy, then we can tell Ma..." Madhu turned towards him hearing his voice and said, "I am sorry Rishabh. I don't know why I said such a stupid thing last night. I was scared, and confused. I did not know what was right and wrong." Rishabh cupped her face and said, "Please trust me Madhu. I won't change anything in your life. I will never ask you to erase Amit from your life. He is always there with us. Just let me make you smile forever in life." Madhu closed her eyes and nodded in agreement. Rishabh pulled her closer and kissed her lips gently.

The wedding happened 15 days later with close friends and relatives. Pabbo refused to come, and Rishabh did not feel like convincing her anymore. Radha welcomed the newlywed couple with tears of endless happiness. Adit had also started calling Madhu "Mmaah", although Rishabh would tell everyone repeatedly, "He called me Pa first."

Life had indeed become a fairy tale for all of these people, and eventually they started to believe in living happily ever after.

Rishabh climbed the steps and pulled the heavy metal door which opened to the vast front deck. The sea wind fluttered his hair on his forehead. The strong salty smell of the sea filled his lungs as he took a deep breath. Right then he spotted the lone figure leaning on the railing, looking at the sea. Rishabh approached him and he turned back and gave him a wide smile. "Hey Amit," said Rishabh and hugged his best friend tightly. "How are you buddy? It's been so long since I saw you last, Amit," said Rishabh as Amit hugged him back. "I am fine, in fact never felt happier before now," replied Amit smilingly. "You do look good. So, where have you been all these days?" asked Rishabh. "Hmm, to many places actually. Some where I have been before, and some where I have never been. You know buddy I went to that place you used to talk about," said Amit excitedly. "Where, Manorca?" "Yes, Manorca. It was a beautiful paradise. In fact more beautiful than paradise," winked Amit, "Remember I used to tell you I would go for my honeymoon in Manorca?" "Yes, I remember," replied Rishabh nodding his head. "Buddy, can you do something for me, please?" pouted Amit. "You don't have to make that puppy face, Amit. Just tell me." "Could you take Madhu to Manorca, and kiss her on the beach during sunset?" asked Amit expectantly. Rishabh could feel his cheeks warming up, and he looked away in embarrassment. "She is too irresistible, isn't she?" Amit winked again. "Okay, I will do as you wish. Is there anything else?" asked Rishabh, still a little embarrassed. "Yes, if Haddi has a boy, it's fine. Let him be Adit's close friend. But if he has a girl, don't ever let her come near Adit. I do not want a genetic assemblage of Haddi and Trishna to be Adit's girlfriend!" said Amit with a serious face. Rishabh looked at him in wonder for few moments, then both burst in laughter. Rishabh shook his head and looked up, but didn't see Amit anymore. "Amit? Amit?" Rishabh called out but couldn't see him anywhere around.