3 shot: Dirty Little Secret THE END pg 5

Madhubala loved something fierce, giving herself wholeheartedly, withholding no part. Even after ten years of not knowing her, he knew without a doubt she would not betray him. He had nothing to worry about, he decided.She would walk over to his side willingly and he would win the battle.

Rishabh Kundra was a shrewd man who took without apology, never mind the consequences. Even ten years after he left, she could tell in a blink of a second he'd overpowered her. With a twitch in his eye, he closed his leather cased binder and uncrossed his legs under the table. He was getting ready to leave, he knew he was the victor. He may have won a battle but she'd be damned if she let him win the war.

It. Was. On!

When Madhubala Malik found herself seated across the love of her life on the opposite side the deliberation table, she was stunned into inaction. He looked just like the picture that haunted a decade of her dreams, except different somehow. He wore a look of exhaustion, a hollow filled with tiring days and sleepless nights. And when he stared at her with those hooded eyes, all she wanted to do was walk over to his side and bury his sorrows in her chest. Every emotion she'd kept locked away for too long came bubbling out to the surface. Painful tears prickled her eyes and blind rage radiated from her chest. She didn't know if she would coddle him or throttle him. Fate decided it for her.

"Shall we get started?" The opposing attorney, late out of habit, cleared his throat and announced his presence.

"We will have to reschedule".

Madhu opened and closed her fists, willing herself to snap back to consciousness.

"And you reason is? Ms. Malik?"The attorney was not relenting.

"Conflict of interest", she answered him but looked away.

"Conflict of interest?" Rishabh repeated like he didn't know a thing. Oh, he knew, he was just enjoying her misery.

"I am legally married to your client. I will ask my employer to replace his legal team". She replied with as much indifference as she could muster. She must not have looked very convincing because she saw her husband's lips curl into a knowing smile.

"Admit it baby, I won", he said too soon. She almost scared him out of his chair when she jumped up so abruptly.

"Sign the divorce papers Rishabh or I will file for annulment".

"Annulment?"

"I don't want to dish out any more dirt in public. You've done enough for the both of us".

"Who? Me? You are the one who brought up divorce and even our marriage for that matter".

"Follow me", she said looking directly at the wide-eyed attorney but signalling to her husband. Rishabh tagged along like a kicked puppy.

"WHAT?" he barked.

"I was your dirty little secret. You should be grateful you are getting rid of me". Her words were callous, full of bitterness and even he could feel her hurt.

"Look, I just want to get this company out of my hands. If using our relationship will get me what I want, I will use it".

"I didn't expect anything less from the pampered prince. Fine, I will keep my mouth shut. I won't use my knowledge of your family against you. I will wash my hands off this case. Then, can I get the divorce?"

"No".

"No?"

"You are my wife. You will stand by my side". He took a hold of her hand, counting the veins on her wrist.

"I was your wh**e and I am not going back to that". She pulled out of his hold with a wild jerk.

"MADHUBALA!" His patience was wearing thin.

"Tell me I am wrong. You can't, can you?"

"You crossed the line now".

"I am sorry, should I have told your attorney the specifics of our arrangement? Or, better yet, should I have hid in a corner pretending to be the help? That's what you wanted, isn't it? Well, I am sorry sir. I no longer answer to your command. I want the divorce and I will bloody well get it, whether you like it or not. Now you be a good little boy and sign the deal. I don't wish to see your face in this lifetime if I can manage it".

[17 years ago]

"Come over. I want you", his text read. Madhubala stared at the screen with a shy smile. Mum and dad had planned a family outing. Perhaps she could convince them otherwise.

"I can't. Malik is back after such a long tour. Mum wants me to spend time with him". She texted back knowing she'd be wrapped in his arms by the end of the night.

"Come on babe. I won't see you until the finals. I am stressed as is, I need this right now. I need you".

"Okay, alright. Give me a few minutes and keep your window open. I'll climb in when the coast is clear".

When she was tangled in his bed sheets, drunk on the afterglow of the night, she asked him why he wouldn't see her before the finals.

"I'll be busy with prom". He said with such certainty, she had to wonder why he thought she wouldn't be there. Granted, she could not afford the ticket or the dress but the fact that he didn't even ask worried her.

"Who are you going with?" she pushed the troubling thoughts out of her head and feigned interest.

"Oh, some girl from mom's business acquaintances. Mina, I think her name was".

Mina came over to his house the night of prom. He'd also brought over a few of his friends. Madhu's mum, the Kundra's resident housekeeper, had retired for the night. So he texted Madhu to come over. She put on her most expensive ensemble, a little cherry lipgloss and greeted the group with a radiant smile. Nobody returned the greeting. He asked her to serve drinks. She waited for an explanation in radio silence, it never came. She cried herself to sleep that night.

[Present Day]

Madhubala couldn't believe she stayed six more years with him. Even though nobody in his life knew she existed, he was her star. She'd practically worshipped him. She scoffed at her naivete.

He pulled her to his chest before she walked away. Something in him recognized the urgency. If he didn't hold on to her in the now, it would be the end.

"My Madhu", he whispered into her hair, coaxing her to lean in. "My Madhu. Madhu, I want you to stay".

His two kind words tugged at her heart strings, she had given him her childhood, half her youth and he still had the power to pull her back to those times. But she wasn't going down without a fight. Old wounds still fester till they become unbearably painful.

[Ten Years Ago]

He knew it was time. They'd been dating for six years and nobody heard a peep. Yes, he was still just as scared of his family but atleast if they were married, they wouldn't be torn apart. He was wrong. He managed to do that all by himself.

Madhu had never imagined her wedding would a signing of legal documents in front of paid witnesses. But Rishabh was always the man she imagined to marry so she signed without hesitation. She didn't know regret would follow soon after. They'd come back from Shimla and he acted as though nothing happened. Madhu didn't hope for a miracle, only a faint hope that he would atleast acknowledge her as his girlfriend. Tell someone he loved her, someone other than his bedroom walls. She knew this had to end but she was lost how. She married him, she had to make it work.

---TBC---