Part III
Rishabh Kundra's phone was ringing off the hook. Nothing new, of course, for a corporate heir. But something strange was the air and he picked up on command.
"Hello?"
"Boss, your name is on the front page of TMZ. If you don't confirm or deny the report in the next few minutes, the nation's biggest newspapers are threatening to report anyway. I am holding the phone with NYT and the Post right now. And don't even ask about our stocks. We're are in the shitter. Please say this isn't me".
Bittu ji was hyperventilating and the man never hyperventilated. This meant trouble.
"Opening it right now".
The line went silent for what could only be termed as a roaring eternity.
"Boss?"
"That's my wife".
"You have a wife?"
"Take it down in the next twenty minutes, I don't care what tactics you use. Dangle carrots, slaughter necks, buy the f**kers if all else fails. I want it down before she even senses something has happened".
"The stock market?"
"Is not even on my priority list. I have to see her. Do not call me until it's resolved. f**k!"
Madhubala Malik looked down at the media storm outside her midsize Brooklyn law firm. Who knew one day she would become the Kim Kardashian of the corporate world. For a career conservative, she felt oddly calm in the face of an uncertain future. Her marriage was beyond saving and with the TMZ scandal, she would like end up a burnt-out paper pusher in the backwaters of Arkansas. She was ready to kiss her lucrative life goodbye. And despite what you may think, she did not regret any of it. She was reveling is the accidental revelation, feeling lightened now that a stifling burden was lifted off her shoulders. She was free of the lies that tore apart her love, free to show her festering pain. She was happy at last.
"Malik, what are you going to do?"
Her boss stood at the door casting a disapproving glance.
"I am going to lie down on that couch and take a nap. Then, I am going home and cooking dinner. And if you'll have me, I would like to come back to work tomorrow".
The boss sighed.
"You know you're always welcome here Madhu. But I can't send you out in court until the dust settles. And even then you won't be lead counsel for three months. That's your punishment".
"Thank you Deepali".
Deepali smiled knowingly. She knew Madhu had always been an asset to the firm, she had to take this gamble.
"You will thank me by winning me cases".
"You know I will".
"Now, Mr. Kundra is here to see you", Deepali not-so-subtly dropped the bomb before sneaking away.
Rishabh dropped a stack of printed tabloid covers on her desk just as he stormed in.
"EXPLAIN!"
Madhubala only looked on amused.
"The pictures are pretty self-explanatory", she smiled.
He was not impressed. "My wife is naked on the front page of TMZ with a man, that is not me, sucking on her tits and another one with his head between her legs. And the fool that I am, I find out how? That's right, my PR guy points it out to me. Brilliant! There is nothing left to explain. You want the divorce, you got it".
He dropped down on the ground in resignation. She seemed to sense his pain now and any hint of smile faded away.
"You are mad at me", she stated.
"You think?"
"Don't give me that. Haven't you dated in the last ten years, or the last seventeen for that matter?"
He could not believe the words he was hearing.
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't. I would never betray my marriage like that. I would never do anything to put our relationship in jeopardy".
"Do come down from that moral high horse Mr. Kundra. We are taking about you, the man who didn't tell the world about his housekeeper's daughter even though he slept with her for six years without a miss. The man who hid his wife from the world for a decade, the man who accused her of valuing money a week after their wedding, the man who hadn't bothered telling her he loved until he needed her for a business deal. This man, of all people, is not going to tell me how to respect my marriage".
"I never wanted the world to see this kind of picture of you. Madhu, I never.."
"Never wanted them to see me at all".
"That was ten years ago. I would gladly, I won't hesitate to call you my wife now".
"Well, I was no longer the help, a lawyer now, a respectable occupation for a trophy wife. Touch luck sir, with my private pictures out, I am back to being a cheap wh**e. You are cleared of any responsibility. Go live your life. I will survive just like I always have when things get too tough for your liking".
He mulled over her words. He didn't like them but this was his penance.
"Who are the men?"
"My partners at the time", she decided to give in.
"Partners as in plural?"
"Yes, I dated both men for close to two years. There was a police investigation recently, they were caught doing some illegal business. I severed all ties but I was aware that our home movies were leaked by some cop".
"Home movies? There is a sex tape of you out there somewhere?"
He was pacing now.
"Settle down Rishabh, I got rid of it. Well, not all of it seeing that there is a picture on the internet. I am not sure how that came about, I got rid of all other evidence".
"And you're sure there isn't more where that came from?" Rishabh braced himself.
"Positive".
"I am not so positive. This is a mess Madhu".
"It's my mess".
"Don't worry, I cleaned it up", he shook his head. "And you're going to help me do the rest of the work. I was a real asshole, I treated you in ways I wouldn't wish upon a foe. And no apology is enough but here I am trying anyway. So come with me".
"You think you throwing money at this problem is going to make our tensions go away?"
"For god's sake woman! You love me!" he huffed.
"I do", she admitted.
"You do?"
"Never stopped"
"Then come on, let's introduce the world to my wife".
"And the godawful man she married".
"Hey, I am not the one with a naked picture on the internet".
"What can I say Rishabh, I like threesomes. Maybe we could try one?"
"Why you want to bring your lady friend in to the fold?"
"Heck no!"
"Then don't even dream about any muscled men".
"Just you and me then?" she asked with a fake pout.
"Just you and me".
"We're still separated".
Now that threw Rishabh off on a loop.
"Not divorcing, just dating while married. I want to take this slow".
"Yeah, yeah", he chided. "I bet you'll be begging to get into my pants by nightfall".
"Keep telling yourself that cowboy".
He held out his hand and she entwined her fingers in his like they belonged together.
THE END
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
