Chapter 5: Choice
"Ma! Ma!" the screams echoed. Ria was yelling and panting as she came running in to the living room, with Rohan only a few steps behind. She abruptly stopped though as she saw RK emerge out of the bedroom. Their eyes met and Ria immediately quietened.
"Ma! Where's Ma?" Rohan asked Ria as he finally caught up to her.
"She is at work. Come, why don't you change clothes..."RK began to say.
"We are going to Roma aunty's place. The door was unlocked so we thought..." Ria sternly said, cutting him off and held Rohan's hand to go to the daycare where they usually spent their weekday afternoons.
"You don't need to go today. I know Madhu is not here but won't you be more comfortable at home." Rishabh asked Ria, whose expression didn't change, so he turned towards Rohan. "Come on Rohan. What do you want for lunch? Should we order pizza?"
Rohan's eyes lit up upon hearing pizza, but Ria stayed unmoved. "Mom doesn't let us eat pizza at lunch. Come Rohan, Roma aunty would be waiting for us."
"Come on didi. Can't we stay home please?" Rohan pleaded Ria. She nodded her head to deny, but before she could say anything else, the phone rang and Rohan ran towards it as he usually did.
"Hello. Hello Ma!" Rohan answered the phone.
"Yeah we came home"
"But didi wants to go to Roma aunty's place."
"Yes he is here."
"Ok.."
"Didi...ma wants to talk to you." He yelled and handed the phone to Ria. A couple of minutes later, she reluctantly handed the phone to RK and went inside her room.
"Hello" RK answered.
"Hi. Sorry I forgot to tell you about the kids." Madhu answered.
"No problem."
"I left lunch for all of you in the kitchen. Can you heat it and serve them? I will be back as soon as I can."
"Yes, of course. Don't worry."
"I am sorry RK. I know the kids are not..."
"It's okay Madhu. There's nothing to be sorry about. Our kids have a right to be mad at their missing father. See you in the evening."
Ria grabbed her plate and went back inside her room, but Rohan settled in front of the TV. RK went and sat next to him and asked, "Is this your favorite cartoon?"
"No. Second favorite". Rohan excitedly answered.
"Should I feed you?" Rk asked a bit later, wiping off the food crumbs Rohan was dropping on his T-shirt
Rohan turned at him, thought for a few seconds and then answered. "No. Ma said I am a big boy now. You know I am seven now. Two days back was my seventh birthday."
"Yeah. I know. Sorry I couldn't make it."
"You didn't invite me?"
"Umm...I didn't know where you were."
"I am sorry. I was very far."
The conversation paused for a few minutes as Rohan finished his lunch.
"So did you have fun on your birthday?" RK tentatively asked, hoping to find some connection to his son.
"We had a big party. With a thousand balloons." Rohan excitedly answered.
"That's awesome."
"And...and there was cake. Ma made it. And I got gifts."
"Wow."
"I also gave Ma gift."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Because she is the best mom ever. I made her a card so she would be happy. Wait, I will show you."
Rohan ran inside, then returned with the card he had drawn on his birthday.
"See. This is me and mom and didi. I made her small. Ha ha. She was so angry." He showed RK his drawing with excitement. RK smiled, then noticed what looked like a portrait on the wall behind.
"I drew you small too." Rohan softly spoke, pointing to the portrait, feeling guilty. "Sorry..."
"It's ok son." RK smiled at him to reassure Rohan.
"It's because you made Mom cry. You are not nice. Why did you make Rohan's Mom cry?"
"I..."
"You shouldn't have gone." He simply said.
"I know son...I know." RK answered, tears welling in his eyes. He hugged Rohan.
"I will not leave you and go anywhere"
"Promise?" Rohan asked, pulling apart. RK looked into his son's innocent, expectant eyes. His eyes were exactly like Madhu's, and at this instant was asking him for a promise just like Madhu had in the past. But he hadn't kept his promise to Madhu. Could he keep this one to Rohan?
He nodded his head, and instantly saw the smile form on Rohan's lips. Something about the smile felt warm inside him, soothing his pain.
"And also promise you will not make Ma cry again?"
RK nodded again. "Ok. I don't like Ma crying."
"I don't like it either." RK answered, then added what he truly felt at that moment. "I want her to be happy."
Rohan smiled in approval. "You know, I am Ma's favorite!"
"Oh really?"
"Yep. That's because I am the best."
"That you are."
"Will you tell me your pilot training story?"
"I will tell you at night. But first, shouldn't you do your homework right now? Otherwise ma would be angry when she comes back."
"Okay daddy." Rohan answered and ran inside to get his books.
RK felt his heartbeat race as he heard the word "Daddy". How effortlessly had Rohan expressed his anger and also given him a chance at redemption, a chance to be a part of his life.
How easily had he believed! RK wondered if he could have the same capacity to believe in life and heal past pains and if Madhu would give him the same chance.
For the millionth time in the last seven years, he asked God for an Undo button in life, but for the first time, he added a note of gratitude for keeping him alive. Watching hope and faith reflected in his son's eyes was almost worth the battle against death.
Almost.
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"Madhu, wait!" Vikram said, taking off his helmet as he reached Madhu standing near the parking lot outside her office at her usual spot, stopping her from getting on the bike.
"Can we get a coffee before heading home? I..I wanted to talk to you."
"No Vikram. Not today. I need to get home."
"But it's only 530 right now. We are early today." Vikram said getting off the bike.
"Yeah...but kids are alone..."
"Aren't kids at the daycare? What's wrong Madhu? You look worried. Even during Rohan's birthday you were extremely quiet. And then you took the day off yesterday. I asked you in the morning as well. What's going on? Is there some trouble? Tell me..."
"It's nothing..."
"Don't say it's nothing. Because it's not...I can see it in your eyes. What's wrong? Did your Dad say something again?"
Vikram had met Madhu's parents the only time they had come to meet their daughter after RK's wedding. He had liked her mother, who also seemed to like him, but Vikram could sense Madhu's dad was still angry at her for eloping and getting married to RK. Madhu had told him how they had disowned her after that, and had never met her except for that one day. Madhu's dad wanted to take Madhu and her kids with him and get her remarried, but Madhu had absolutely refused to leave her house and Radha, leave alone getting married to someone. After that, Vikram knew Madhu spoke to her mother on the phone some times, but every now and then, her Dad would say something either to her or her mom that would upset her greatly, especially if it was something against RK.
"No..."
"Then tell me. Don't you trust me, Madhu?" Vikram earnestly asked. Madhu looked at him and saw the genuine concern in his eyes. She knew he cared for her and her children - God knows how they would have survived all these years without his help. She did trust him. What he didn't know was that Padmini had been constantly asking her to consider getting married to Vikram ever since the day she had met him. Padmini was convinced Vikram loved Madhu and her children, but Madhu had never entertained the idea. Vikram was her friend, and yes he cared for them, but as far as she was concerned, she could only belong to Rishabh even if he wasn't alive any more. But he was alive now! He was back. She hadn't told anyone yet, but maybe she should tell Vikram now, she reflected. After all, RK was Vikram's best friend at one point.
"Madhu...where are you lost? I am getting worried now. Tell me what's the problem." Vikram asked holding Madhu's hand.
"There is no problem. In fact, it looks like...all problems are going to end."
"What are you talking about?"
Madhu summoned her inner faith to say the words in a way her own ears would believe "Rishabh...Rishabh is alive."
Vikram's expression visibly changed to a mix of shock, dismay and delight. "Alive? What do you mean?"
"He's alive, Vikram! My RK is alive. He is back home." Madhu said, then hugged Vikram, who was too shocked to react.
"Back home...?" Vikram softly asked as Madhu broke the hug.
"Yes, he came back yesterday. He is...hurt...but he is back."
"Where was he all these years?"
"I don't know. I want him to take his time."
"Madh..."
"No more questions Vikram. Let's go home. He's waiting." Madhu said and turned back to walk towards the bike, in process pulling her hand away from Vikram's hand. Vikram stood there for a few more moments, feeling a strange sense of loss and emptiness even with this happy news.
The bike stopped in front of Madhu's home and she jumped off.
"Vikram, I know you'd want to meet Rishabh, but I haven't asked him if he's ready to meet everyone yet...and answer questions, you know. I am not sure how he's feeling. Is it okay if I talk to him today and you can meet him tomorrow? Please..."
Vikram nodded, his expression grave.
"Thank you" Madhu muttered and turned to go in.
"Madhu!" Vikram called. Madhu stopped and turned to face him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I...I don't know. I am worried about Rohan and Ria."
"And what about you Madhu?"
"Me...I guess it doesn't matter...it's not like I have any choice to make here. Destiny didn't ask me for my preference seven years back when she took him away.
Nor now, when she has sent him back."
Jhanak
