RiMa OS- When Love Met With Retribution- Part 2- Page 8 - Page 4

PART 2

"Till when we have to wait for him, Mr Sharma?" "Exactly! It's been 15 minutes since we are sitting here. Please call him." Two visitors had started narking after a long' wait of 15 minutes for the meeting. Somehow, they managed to pass their time by admiring the typical medieval architecture of the Mansion but not now!! "Mr Singh, first of all, you two came here so early in the morning for the contract. He is getting ready and you can't even wait for few minutes!! Couldn't you even meet him in the office? Don't create a scene here please!!" snarled Bittuji. "OK...OK!! But at least you can ask him for when he'll be coming!" "Then wait calmly here." Saying this, Bittuji went upstairs in rush. In the bedroom, "Chief!! Chief! Are you ready?" There he was- getting ready near the bed side- in navy blue business suit, adjusting his collar. He turned back and spoke coldly, "Easy Bittuji... Easy! Why so much rush?" "Those two idiots are irking me since half an hour. Please come down fast, Chief else I will..." Bittuji received a stern glare from him so he stopped midway. "Relax Bittuji! I'll handle them. By the way, is he ready for school?" "O yes Chief. Baba is fully ready. I'll check on him." "Hmmm... Then send him down fast. I have to drop him to school also." Again a cold tone his voice carried with itself. He put on his tie and took out a pocket comb from his pant sack and combed his gelled hair. He flicked his eye brows, asking Bittu for if his hair are OK. Bittuji slowly came forward and adjusted his hair properly that suited him well like always. "Chief... Why don't you use the mirror? Years have passed now! Till when will you dress like this- without looking at yourself?" And in return, he again got a glare from his Chief- this time, it was angrier- with a brittle reply! "Mind your own business, Bittuji! Don't try to interfere in my life so much!! Mind it!! Now go and check his room." A fair handsome complexion with dark black hair adoring the looks, black French cut beard, sternness filled eyes, frigid, eccentric, rigorous, grievous and a heart having deep fresh wounds of the past- this is what the business magnate Rishabh Kundra had become after that fateful day five years ago!! For the corporate world, he was still the same industrialist RK- with the added qualities too! But for himself- he wasn't the same now!! Rishabh Kundra was lost somewhere long back and he had deliberately left the real him... He stepped down the staircase- his one hand in his pocket, other busy in twisting the car keys and of course with that rigid look. "Finally, you came Mr Kundra. You made us wait too much." Said Mr Singh. RK sat on the dining table, without looking at the visitors as if they don't exist for him. He spoke coldly while adjusting his plate, "Mr Singh, if you people are so restless then this place is not for you!! You must have chosen someone else for your project." Both of them realised the deal slipping out from their hands but before they could react, they heard his announcement, "You can leave now, Mr Singh!!" "But RK..." "RK never works with those who don't have any patience!! Find someone who can work on your terms... And now... LEAVE!!!" Both of them stomped out muttering for RK. Suddenly, "Yaaayyy... Dadda!!!" ran down a four- five year old boy in his school dress and Bittuji running behind him- holding his school bag. He speedily ran to RK and tried to jump on his lap. RK made him sit properly and then softly admonished, "Ansh!! What is this?? Why you always trouble Bittu uncle??" But the little soul was in no mood to listen to his Papa- after all, future baron was busy on his tablet. "Dadda, smile for my selfie!!" He happily leaped up to catch his Papa's face in the camera. RK immediately snatched the device from him in chafe, "Ansh!! You again took my tablet!! How many time I have told you to not to get indulged in these things too much!! Concentrate on your studies!! No Selfie now!!" Poor little Ansh pouted sadly- actually it has become his trick on his strict father to melt him down and it always worked. RK sighed in defeat, "It's the last one, Ansh! No more Selfies now!!" "OK!! Dadda Smileee...!!!" And a pic got clicked with RK lovingly kissing his son without looking at the screen- for Ansh, it was indeed his father's love for him but for Rishabh Kundra, it was the escape way to avoid himself!!

In a Senior Secondary School in Chandigarh (capital of Punjab, India), "Ma'am! HOD Sir has told me to inform you that the next lecture is yours in 10^th grade- Multimedia." Told a middle aged obese lady. "Again Multimedia? How many times I have told Sir to change my subject but..." narked a young nerdish looking lady. "You know how our HOD is!" And both chuckled sheepishly. "OK! I am leaving for my class. But Mrs Chand, please go and check if my daughter got free from her class. It's time for primary classes to get over. If she is free then please, send her to my quarter safely. I'll reach soon." "Don't worry Madam, I will!!" And both left. Fair milky white complexion, decently braided hairdo and a geeky black framed spectacle pair, body donned with cotton Saris and a devout smile and eyes- with a deeply buried anguish in them- and this is what Madhubala Malik had become in those five years!! Who was once a successful entrepreneur, had become an educator in a private school. That's why it's truly said, destiny has its own ways... unpredictable!! In the quarter, Madhu entered but found no one in the room. "Mayu!! Where is my baby??"She stealthily looked all around, calling for her five year old daughter Myra. Suddenly she felt something on her leg. "Hands up!!" a sweet strict kiddie voice came from behind. Madhu immediately raised her arms up and turned back scared. There she was- standing rigidly with a gun in her hands pointing at her target and an army hat. "You are under arrest!!" Little Mayu ordered in admonition. Suddenly, Madhu started enacting of a baby cry and knelt down, "Please forgive me Officer!! I won't do it again!! Please set me free!!" "NO!" shouted the little officer. "I won't!! Now, you'll be hanged till death!!" "Achcha??!!!" and Madhu pulled her in arms and started tickling her badly- making her titter crazily. After few minutes of crazy laughter, Madhu picked her up in arms, "Hmmm... You wanted to kill me, officer! Now you will get the punishment... a glass of milk!!" "Eee... No Mumma!!" Poor baby immediately hid her face in Madhu's bosom in yuckiness. "No face pulling Mayu!! It's Bournvita milk... mmm... so yummyyy!!" But Mayu wasn't in the mood to get swayed with those false tricks. She tightly hid her face in her chest. Madhu tried to pull her out but that little girl was applying all her strength to save herself from that chocolaty torture- milk!! "OK... OK!! If my Mayu baby would drink it, Mumma will take her to the park in the evening and then... mango Ice cream!!!" Finally, the weak nerve got pressed. Myra slowly faced her and asked in pout, "Promise!!?" "Pakka Promise! Now hurry up baby...!" Myra happily drank the full glass in one go- that's the magic of an ice cream!!

This is where that black day led these two personalities to... their lives changed; they changed and so were their goals! One gave birth to her goal and the other brought purposely in his life. Ansh Kundra- this was the name RK had given to a six months old baby boy whom he adopted from an orphanage. Just like his name, Ansh did become the inextricable part of his Dadda- this is what he used to call RK by! As he grew up, little Ansh became a techno freak- huge fondness for the latest gadgets but RK wanted him to stay away from these spoiling means!! The day his decision abducted the real Rishabh from RK, he decided to find his reflection in that little soul. He brought him up with the best values he could give. For the entire world, he was a cold hearted businessman, but for his son- RK was the best Dad; he was a very dotting, caring, possessive father any child could get! For RK, Ansh was the only mean of his tenuous smile. He never smiled away from him in all these years. On the other end, Myra was the only reason for Madhu's existence. She was souvenir of her long lost love!! Her eyes were the complete replica of Madhu- almond sized brown eyeballs- a mirror to her pure heart. Just like RK, Myra was the bestowment in the dark life of Madhu.

Though RK had completely indulged himself in his business, he never side lined his fatherly duties. Most of the time, he used to keep himself free in the evening for his son- helping him in his studies, playing with him, listening to his kiddo talks till night!! One similar evening, RK was checking on his Maths notebook and small Ansh was lying on his lap playing with his T shirt buttons. "Ansh, all the addition sums are correct but you are still weak in subtraction. Beta, I told you the solve trick yesterday. C'mon, get up. We will revise it again." Ansh uninterestedly got up- his dulled face was saying it all! Poor lad! "Dadda, I will do it next week no... Please! Summer vacations are starting. Please no!!" Suddenly something clicked him and he ran to bring his school bag. What happens to him all of a sudden? Always in a rush... So restless this boy is! Ansh jumped back on the bed and started searching for something in his bag excitedly. RK was curiously looking at him. Within few moments, he took out one booklet and offered it to RK. "Dadda, See this. Our Miss distributed it today." "10 days Adventure Boot Camp in next week?? In Dehradun (in Uttarakhand, India)?? On such a short notice, Ansh!" "Please Dadda... Please... See... Read inside... Camp is so beautiful!!" RK was already setting himself in a denial mode but Ansh was all set to convince him. He jumped in RK's lap and started describing the brochure content excitedly, "See Dadda, It's such a big place no... snow mountains, so many games, big grounds... and look Dadda... it's a huge sea!!!" RK chuckled, "No baby, it's a small lake in the campus... You can see it as a small sister of Sea!!" Ansh innocuously rested his head on his chest and requested cutely, "Dadda... Please no!! Our Miss told, our school has been invited there... Please na!!" Seeing his baby face, his fatherly love emerged out. RK kissed him, "But Beta, how can I send you so far along with your classmates. I won't be there no baby!!" Ansh quickly turned some pages in the brochure and showed him, "See... Parents can also come!! Please na Dadda... I want to go there!!" He started leaping up and down in his arms in between his pleadings. Finally Papa agreed. "OK... OK!!! We will go there!!" Ansh literally jumped in excitement, "You are also coming with me?" "Of course baby! Dadda can't send you alone. So for next 10 days... No more meetings!!! Now my Ansh is happy?!!" "Yaaayyy...!!!" Both the father son duo hugged tightly.

"Madhu Ma'am, are you planning for some trip this vacation with your daughter?" asked Mrs Chand in the staff room. "Mmm... yeah... kind of! Mayu is asking for Jammu trip. Yesterday only she saw it in TV. I tell you these children are..." japed Madhu. "Then cancel it right away!!" Madhu looked at her surprised. "Why so?" "Because of this!" Chand showed her the notice. Madhu perplexedly read it out, "10 days Adventure Boot Camp in Dehradun! But Mrs Chand, what I have to do with it?" "HOD Sir have chosen me, you and Mrs Arora as the coordinators of the 10^thgrade troop for this trip." "And they are informing us just a week before!! Are these people out of minds?? Didn't they even bother to ask us?" That sudden forced decision was irking her a lot. "Yesterday, Mrs Arora herself gave the consent on our behalf and forgot to inform us." "What the...??" She was about to shout but calmed herself realizing the place. "Mrs Chand, I am not going anywhere. What about my Mayu's trip?" "Madhu Ma'am, I think you should come. See... it's a win win deal. Myra wants to go out and you taking her out. Simple! Let it be Dehradun... Jammu next time!!" Madhu gave it a thought and she too found it quite fruitful. Hence, she agreed. At night, "Sleep now, Mayu Beta!!" Madhu was lying beside Myra, patting her forehead while the little girl was busy in playing with her Mumma's fingers. "Mumma! Is that Dradooon a beautiful place?" Madhu giggled at her fumble. "Not Dradooon, baby. It's Dehradun... Yes, it's so lovely... Just like my Mayu!!" "You've been there Mumma... And you didn't take Mayu with you?" She cutely pouted. "Awe! That time my baby wasn't with me no... But now, Mumma and Mayu will enjoy a lot there... Promise!! But only at one cost... Sleep right now else Mumma will leave you here again!!" Myra quickly twitched her eyes closed- after all, she didn't want to miss the chance this time!

The long ago bifurcated ways were soon going to get crossed- whether for good or bad- it was yet to be seen!!

In the car, "Dadda! See... The camp is there no!!" Ansh pointed to a distant huge building, decorated with colourful flags, balloons and the surrounding scenic beauty was adding more to the sight. "Yes, here is your Boot Camp!!" Ansh took out RK's tab and started clicking pictures as his habit. RK again reprimanded, "Ansh!! You again picked it... I am going to dump it in the hostel." "Please na Dadda...!! Just one!" "By saying one one, you always fill the memory card with silly pictures. Not here, Ansh!!" Soon, they reached the venue- Ansh being so excited was literally shouting out with his head popped out of the window!! In the parking lot, "Dadda... let me help you with the luggage!" RK looked at him stunned and impressed both. "Oho! Someone has become responsible hunn...! Not bad!" "Yes, because Ansh Kundra is a big boy now!!" Both came out of the car. Since, it was little cold there, RK donned a grey long overcoat too. "Ansh, wear your jacket Beta. This shirt won't work in this cold!" "NO! How would I be able to throw some style here then?" RK just nodded in bleakness. Ansh Kundra has become a complete replica of what RK used to be... While RK was taking out the bags, Ansh picked up his sporty bag and started walking off, "Hey!! Where are you going? A minute before, someone was so desperate to help his Dadda... then?" "I am not that big enough no Dadda... But you can manage!!" And he ran away with a loud chuckle which made RK chuckle too!

"Chand Ma'am, I have missed my documents file in the bus. I will be back within few minutes. Till then, please keep a check on the students." Said Madhu. "OK. But where is Myra?" "She is in the hostel room. Please, take care of her too. I'll be back within minutes." And she rushed out, settling her hand bag on shoulder. On the school path way, she was walking hurriedly so as to take her file safely. Suddenly she saw a boy slipped down on the ground. "Hey! Be careful, child!!" She rushed to pick him up. He was crying. "Sshhh... Nothing happened Beta!! Get up..." She brushed off the dirt on his jeans and shirt but suddenly got stunned to see the sight. She acutely grazed at him for some good minutes while her eyes welled up with shocked tears. She slowly trailed her palms all over that handsome lad with a sudden surprising flimsy smile on her face. Immediately she hugged him... as tightly as she could. All his cry flew away suddenly and a deep scare took its place. Madhu happily showered lots of kisses on his face and hugged him back and cried... she cried a lot!! Her hold was too strong to be broken off by that little boy!! He fearfully struggled but nothing helped! "Ansh!!" The deep virile voice broke her spell and her grip automatically loosened a bit. Ansh got the chance to free himself- he pushed her away and ran back. Madhu was completely dazed with the voice she heard just now. She looked up in its direction and got appalled again- her legs trembled and she tripped back. Ansh ran and hid behind his legs, "She scared me Dadda!!" RK held him tight and looked up curiously at his son's perpetrator. The moment his eyes met with hers, his legs automatically stepped one step back!! Her breath got stuck in her throat, completely choking it! With each passing moment, her panting grew stronger. Her eyes profusely slid down the water droplets and she didn't even bother to wipe them off behind her glasses. She quickly gathered herself again, clutched her bag against her bosom and immediately ran from there, sideways. All he could do was dazing at her diminishing figure with moist eyes... yes! They were actually moist!!

"Ansh... you... you take rest in this room. I... I am coming within few minutes!" said RK in their hostel room. For the first time, Rishabh Kundra was stuttering in front of his son. Even the cold wind wasn't helping to ease out his restlessness. "Where are you going Dadda? I'll be bored!!" "Dadda will be back soon, baby! Till then, you play on the tab!" Ansh looked at him shocked. His Dadda actually allowed him to use his tablet for the first time!! RK quickly went off from there without taking back his reaction even...

The cold calm breeze was slowly waving over the water surface, creating smooth serene rings in the lake that frequently rolled towards the shore. The regular wind strokes were creating a soft rustle between the trees' leaves, breaking the early morning silence- few of them withering down in defeat. And amidst of these, she was sitting on the bench near the shore, clasping a crushed piece of paper against her chest and crying... crying as much as she could... as much as she wanted!! Those tears have always been the only means to lesser down her heart's ache since last five years... Suddenly, she felt some proximity adjacent to her. She looked aside to get another ache- RK who was gazing at the calmly flowing water waves. She quickly wiped off her wet cheeks in appal and was about run off again when she felt a hold on her wrist. She looked back in daze. "I need to ask you something." His voice still had that impact on her heart... After long five years, she heard that deep manful voice of his and it mechanically soothed her ailing soul. She hesitantly sat back without looking at him. After a brief moment of silence, she finally spoke, "I know... What you want to ask? He is our son!!" Here mere word made him stun. His eyes got stuck at her face in shock. "I am his mother!!" That bitter truth gave a deep pang in their hearts! Defeated tears rolled down through her eyes and she didn't try to look up at him, "I gave birth to twins- a boy and a girl. Both had five minutes difference- Ansh been the elder one." She went down her memory lane and a bleak smile curved over her lips- her palms automatically raised up while her tears were felling down, "He was this... this much small... when he came in my hands... for the first time!! He looked... so carefree in his sleep. But I didn't realized that... I am seeing him for the last time!! I won't be able to hold my son ever again in my arms!!!" She wept in defeat. "Both of them were shifted to the infant ward for a day but in midnight... I got to know... one nurse stole away my son. I... I complained to the police but nothing happened!!" Scandalized RK was dazing at her constantly with wet eyes... After all, that caustic fact mattered to him!! She turned to him helplessly, "I searched for him everywhere... every place... but didn't find him!!! Whom should have I asked?? What should have I done then??!!! I couldn't do anything!! I lost him... I lost my baby!!!!" Finally the mother in her broke down. The truth had shaken him so deeply that RK didn't even realize to react to it!! Slowly, she gathered herself back, "Finally, I decided to leave Mumbai. What would have I answered to the people and the media if they had asked about my child... I could bear all the pain inflicted upon me. I might have answered them back but I could not let anyone question at that little soul's existence!!!" Her last words stang his heart thickly!! He could easily feel that anguish in her words for being abandoned years back!! "So, I transferred all my property to the trust and went to Chandigarh. There I got a job of a teacher and at last, life moved on! Since the day I lost him, I have always asked this question to myself... Why everyone left me whom I loved truly??" That bare muse penetrated RK's heart once again and silent tears found their way out. Her sobs... her cry was enough to hurt his already wounded heart!! "His little face always hovered in my mind! How would he be... where would he be staying... with whom... whether he is alive or...???" She found it better to cry than uttering bad omens. She slowly turned back to RK with a fragile smile behind her tears, "But I am so glad that he is with you... his Papa!! Now... I have no sorrows left!! Nothing!!" She lowered her head down and cried. A brief aching silence blew there along with the cold breeze. RK silently wiped his wet cheeks and asked, "I adopted him from orphanage. How did you recognize him?" Suddenly, some excitement lightened her up. She happily replied, "Have you noticed his lower neck ever, RK? He has a small mole there... just like his sister. It's their birth mark. And... And his face... replica of his sister!! They look exactly same!!" "That's why his eyes looked just like you, Madhu!!" said RK in bleakness. For the first time in those years, he called out her name... with a deep hidden affection!! He suddenly recalled of something, "You... You told... we have one... daughter??" Madhu elatedly nodded and whispered softly, "Myra... Myra is her name." And immediately both turned away their faces and wept... they both wept silently. Finally, the long hidden pain was shedding out through their eyes today.

Following a short span of rueful silence, he spoke, "That one decision smashed everything, Madhu!! My judgement destroyed everyone... We... Our lives... And our children!!! I ruined everything Madhu... everything!!" Madhu immediately turned back to him stunned. She could easily feel the deep disappointment in his voice... the feel of defeat!! "NO RK! It wasn't your fault! It's just our fate that did it. I... I feel bad for only one thing... that... that in between all this... our kids had to suffer the most... and that too for the crime which they never committed!!" She again turned away and sobbed. RK looked at her thwarted. Each word of hers was true!! He noticed the paper in her palm getting crushed more with her every sobbed whimper. He slowly tried to slip it out. Madhu noticed it and tried to snatch it back, "RK please!! NO...!!" But he just gave her an ailing stare that mechanically melt her. He carefully opened its tampered folds and the sight twinged his soul. It was their snap- together- from their love filled past! Madhu looked away and twitched her teary eyes as tightly as she could- all her wounds were afresh today! She felt a soft touch on her palm which turned into a hold. Her eyes traversed the moving hold that rested on RK's chest- who was caressing it helplessly with wet eyes. After a silent moment, he uttered, "Come back Madhu!!" Everything seemed to come to a halt... No breeze... No wave splashes... no withering leaves... And so was Madhu! Just his words echoed in the atmosphere... "Come back to me, Madhu... Please!!" The moment he mouthed his Please', a surprised smile quirked her and she threw herself in his arms and cried... cried her heart out!! The phrase she had wanted to hear that day, finally echoed in her ears!!! RK slowly gripped his arms around her and wept too... The embrace he had yearned for all these years was now around him!! He softly kissed her cheek and tightened his hold! But... he got a push all of a sudden!! He saw a baffled face of Madhu and she immediately walked near the shore, "I can't!! I can't come back, RK!!" Why she changed suddenly? He went near her, "Why Madhu? Why can't you come back?" "Because I don't deserve you RK!! Please go back!" He pulled her to face him, "What did you say? You don't deserve me... YOU?? Madhu, it was me who ruined everything... We... Our relation!! And you're saying..." "YES!! I am right RK! Everything that I have done... and whatever I got in return! I deserve only that, RK!! I don't deserve happiness... I don't deserve you at all!!" She turned back to cry. "And what about Ansh??" Her son's name pinched her. "What about him? There wasn't any day Madhu that he didn't ask for his mother!! That time I didn't know about his real mother... but now, when I found her... what will I answer him when he'll ask?" RK was constantly pleading to get back his long lost love... "Then tell him that I died... His mother died!! He has no mother!!" RK stared at her back, astounded. With those pricking words, Madhu started to walk off. "The day I left you, Madhu..." His bleak voice again chained her feet back. "... I was never able to look at myself... I always felt scared to look into the mirror... to look at myself!! What I did with you, I was never able to pardon myself!!" Both of their eyes were shedding those salty droplets profusely. They met after so long and again they were on the verge of separation!! "Since that day, my soul has always cursed me constantly, for spoiling the happiness of our lives!! Had I not chosen my mind over my heart, we would have been happy, Madhu... with our souvenirs!!" His words were stabbing her heart so deeply and that pain was flowing out through eyes but she couldn't help to face him. "I thought, my retribution is more powerful... but NO!!! It was me... who hid his heart behind those soundproof walls on that day... so that I couldn't hear my own love beats!! I befooled myself Madhu!! And I had paid for that betrayal for all these years... but not more than you!! I am your traitor!!" Madhu had enough of his pinching pricks... She immediately ran and hugged him tightly in cry, "Don't say like this, RK... Please!!! It hurts me a lot!! Please..." "Then come back na..." He embraced her back, "Come back to your RK, Madhu!! I had pined for you all these years... every second... every moment! Now, I don't have that courage to live without you!! Please, come back, Madhu!!" His choking voice was begging his love to revive him again. "Then take me with you... right away!!" She uttered happily. "I don't want to bear this punishment anymore, RK!!! I don't want to yearn anymore for you!! Please... take me away!! Please!!!" A contended grin twisted his facial curves. And he gripped more tightly around her... to never leave her now!! He gently wiped of her eyes behind her already wet glasses and kissed her forehead with all his affection and they hugged... they hugged with the same love they had since they felt it!!

"Child, your father must be coming within minutes. Till then why don't you have some rest?!" One lady assistant tried to pacify an angry Ansh Kundra. " Ansh!" Finally, he heard his Dadda's voice. RK was about to enter the room when he got a ball hit on his leg. He picked it up and looked at his furious son, sitting at the bed's edge folding his hands against his chest and glaring at his Dadda. "My bachcha is angry with me?!" "YES!!!" he shouted angrily. The assistance left from there. RK walked in smilingly and knelt down near him, "But Dadda went only for you, baby!! Guess whom have I brought for you??" Ansh looked at him acutely and flickered his eyebrows. "Mumma!" RK whispered softly. Madhu slowly walked inside with a huge emotional smile. Seeing her, Ansh immediately jumped in RK's arms, staring at her. "Don't be scared Beta! She is your Mumma! GO!" He looked at RK fearfully. Madhu knelt down and stretched her arms, calling for him. Ansh slowly walked towards Madhu and stood near her, "Won't you come near your Mumma?" Seeing her moist eyes, Ansh slowly pouted in cry and move into her arms. Madhu clinched him tightly. The moment she had wished long ago, finally came true. Ansh too hugged her back then and cried innocuously, "Why didn't you come, Maa? Papa never sang good lullabies!! He is a bad singer... My all friends have Mumma... Where were you??" Madhu affectionately hugged him in her bosom and kissed, "I am so sorry my baby!! Mumma lost you but now... I won't go anywhere!! Mumma will always stay with her Ansh!! Promise!!" "Madhu, you met with your prince. Now, I want to see my angel. Where is she?" Madhu happily picked up Ansh in her arms, "Come with me. She'll be so happy to meet her father!"

"Mayu!! Where are you Beta??" Madhu just entered her room and suddenly, Myra jumped in front of her from behind the door in a haw. She knew her habit of scaring her always so she again faked to get scared. "Oh my God!! You scared me, Mayu!!" Myra giggled loudly and hugged her around her legs. The moment RK saw her daughter for the first time, he slowly fell on his knees in awe... She is as beautiful as her Mumma!! He has a baby girl... He has his own little princess!! His eyes automatically moistened with a fragile smile! He was gazing at her face pulling, her carefree giggles, her voice and her cute antics in admiration... "Mayu, see... who has come to meet you??" Little girl keenly looked at RK with narrowed eyes and her hands on her hips. She again looked up at her Mumma, "You always asked for your Papa naa... See... Today Papa has come to meet his Mayu!! Go... He is waiting!!" Hearing this, Myra stared at him for few seconds blankly and then slowly moved towards him. Seeing her coming, RK's heart started pounding in ecstasy and that slight smile turned into a wide grin. "You are my Papa?" she asked softly to which he nodded gladly. Before he could react, little Myra started throwing her tiny hands on his chest- she was crying in pout. "Myra!!? Stop it baby!! NO!!" exclaimed Madhu. RK emotionally held her arms and embraced her. "You are very bad!!" That little soul sobbed in her father's hug, "You never come to my school. You never played with me... You are very bad Papa!! My... My friends' Papa take them to garden but you didn't!!! I won't talk to you!!!" She cutely mouthed his collar and cried... Seeing her crying, Madhu too got emotional. She had never ever let her weep like this!! RK couldn't react to her complaints... She was in fact right!! He just hugged her more tightly. "She always said, all her friends Papas are their best friends!! When you will come, she will also make you, her best friend!!" told Madhu. RK slowly pulled her out of the hug and asked lovingly, "Can Papa be your best friend, Mayu??" She just denied in pout. He small eyes were brimmed fully with those thick droplets. "Please!! Papa wants to be Myra's friend!! Please Mayu!!" She innocuously looked at him for a minute and then offered him her pinkie. RK quickly entangled it with his and kissed her cheek. "Ouch!! Your beard pricks me, Papa!!" RK laughed at her cute charge and lovingly hugged her. He was a complete man now!! The feeling of seeing your child for the first time, goes beyond words!! Same was happening with RK and so with Madhu!! They were complete as parents today. But all this while, someone was looking at them bewilderedly from the door. RK turned back and then spoke to Myra, "Look baby... your brother is also here." Myra looked at him but snuggled back in her father's arms strangely. Ansh slowly came forward and touched her nose to which she smiled slightly. "Maa... she looks like me. Who is she?" Madhu picked him up in her arms and replied, "She is your sister, Ansh... Myra! Call her Mayu... She loves this name!" RK too picked up Myra. Ansh quickly offered her pinkie and she readily clutched it happily. "I am a family man now, Madhu!!" His happiness found no bounds today. He actually got his family today!! Suddenly, Ansh stretched out his hand in RK's coat pocket and took out his cell phone and opened the front camera. Madhu looked at him amazed. "He is a gadget freak, Madhu. He knows its working very well." Ansh held the camera in front of them and exclaimed, "Dadda... Maa... Mayu... Smmiilleee..." And their first family pic got clicked... And today, Rishabh Kundra actually smiled widely in the camera... after five long years... After all he had the reason for it!! "Maa... See... Dadda smiled!! He smiled for the first time!!" Both mother son were astonished- one for seeing his father's smile in the camera and one... for knowing his lost happiness in all these years!! "Dadda... Shall we go back home?" asked Ansh. RK was surprised with his question. "And what about your camp?" "But I want to be with Maa now... Camp... next time! Right Mayu??" Both the siblings gave hi five to each other. RK looked at Madhu contently. "But what about my job, RK? I haven't informed anyone yet." "Don't worry, we'll handle it later. Right now... Let's go back to... OUR HOME!!"

At night in RK Mansion, RK came out of the washroom, rubbing his wet hair and saw Madhu, doing something with the photo albums. He sat beside her but she was completely engrossed in her work. "What are you doing Madhu?" "Nothing... Thought to make one new album with these two albums." She replied, still absorbed in her act. "See RK... They have so many pictures in similar. Isn't it strange?!" "Hmmm... But I like this one the most..." He placed their first group photo at the end of the album. "Wow! You brought the hard copy, RK!!!" She finally looked up at him but got surprised. "Hawww!! RK?! You shaved?!" She quickly stepped out of the bed and pulled him in front of the mirror excitedly. "Now, you look just like as you were before... My Handsome!!" And she side hugged him tightly. She saw his awkward expressions. "What happened RK?" "Nothing Madhu... It's just... feeling little weird to see myself after so long... like this!!" He knew, his words would ail his love. He saw her saddened face through mirror, so he immediately pulled her in front of the glass and took out her spectacles. "RK... NO!" "Sshhh... Now you look like you were before... My beautiful Madhu!!" He whispered softly in her ears and back hugged. "But now my eye sight has weakened, Mr Kundra! I need those specs..." She chuckled playfully. "Technology has improved, darling!! I'll get your Laser done! I can't see my Biwi in such nerdy specs!!" Madhu looked at him befuddled. "Biwi?? You called me Biwi... RK?" He gripped her slightly more and whispered, "Of course sweetheart!! What if we aren't married, it was already decided... If anybody has to be Rishabh Kundra's wife... It would be only you... Madhubala!!" She deeply gazed in his eyes through the mirror and gave a bleak ailing smile. RK easily felt her hidden anguish- his words had again scratched the unhealed wound of his broken promise!! "Come with me, Madhu."

"RK... Where are we going? I am telling you, I won't go out at this time of night. Children are sleeping." Growled Madhu while climbing the staircase. "Shut Up Biwi... You talk too much!! Walk silently!" Soon, they reached the roof top- a pin drop silence with the mild moon light all around. "What are we doing here, RK?" She grumbled. He murmured in her ear huskily, "We are here for a wedding, sweetheart!!" and back hugged her lovingly. "Wedding? Here?? Whose wedding? And where are the lookers? RK, let's go back naa..." She annoyingly tried to move out of his hold when his words hypnotized her, "It's our wedding, Madhu!! Shaadi Mubaaraq, Bi... wi...!!" She quickly turned back and saw his gamey smirk!! That simper haunted her for a moment... yet again!! The same smirk... five years back... ruined her to no end!! And again a wedding premiss!! Her feet glued to the ground and her words buried in her throat... She wanted to ask him but all she could do was just tremble her lips... "We are the couple tonight... And they are the spectators!!" He signalled her to the stars and the moon, gazing at them from far. Madhu looked back at him in disbelief. RK sensed her disarray so gently caressed her face, "The day I fell in love with you, I had always wished to grow old with you... till my last breath!!" Her eyes started to brim with tears. "My fate has again given me that chance and I won't let it go!!" He bent down on his knees and offered his hand. "Today, I might not have a perfect beautiful altar for our marriage... but I have those vows with me that I'll abide by throughout my life! So... Madhubala Malik... Will you allow me... to spend rest of my life... with you??" Madhu was gazing him stupefied. "Answer me Madhu... Ouch! My knee is paining yaar!" She nodded affirmatively in a soft chuckle and clasped his palm. Those scandalized tears were now of happiness and they readily slid down. RK lightly wiped her wet eyes and simpered huskily in his virile voice, "I don't want to taste this salty water with your lips, B... I... W... I...!!" And before she could react, he pulled her closer and her lips were already claimed. That small peck gradually grew into a desirous breathless osculation... filled with a five year long craving... filled with an unbreakable promise!!

Truly indeed... their love met with retribution... twice!!! Once, it was a scornful vengeance of a friend whose bonding overpowered their serene love and it got ceased temporarily with painful tears. But when it met with their destinies' payback... those tears automatically dried up along with the retaliation and all they were left with... LOVE... for the rest of their lives!!!

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