Karan Mathur. Karan freaking Mathur.
The name rolled in Rishabh's head over and over as he sulked in fury ever since he saw Madhu talking calmly with Karan Mathur. After everything he had done to keep her safe and away from men like him...
Okay.
If that's what she wanted...if she trusted Karan over him...fine! Months of pain, longing and frustration had finally boiled over and emerged as pure anger.
Enough was enough, an angry RK told his weak, protesting heart. If she wanted to be away from him, so be it.
Madhu watched with a deep unease as RK called the air-hostess as soon as the plane had taken off and stood up to move to an empty seat on the other side of the aisle. He had been cold and distant since last night but for the last two hours he had looked furious, walking around constantly barking orders on his phone. And now, now he didn't even want to sit next to her! Madhu couldn't help but remember their last plane journey, when he had snuggled her protectively in his arms and allowed her to share his pain. Today, four weeks later, she wasn't even spared a glance. It hurt terribly, but Madhu couldn't find the courage to protest.
After all, it was all her doing. She had pushed him away.
But watching him drift away was infinitely more painful than Madhu had imagined. How was she going to live without him!
Madhu was unaware of the tear that streamed down her cheek as she started at RK buckling down in his seat at the opposite window, but Rishabh wasn't. When it came to Madhu, his heart told him about her pain even when he didn't want to know. However, his mind reminded me of the image of Madhu hugging Karan from a couple of hours ago and he forcefully turned his neck away from her to stare at the clouds outside his window, thinking about Karan.
Karan Mathur was his classmate at Harvard, though not a friend. Never a friend. By the time he grew up, Rishabh's father had built up a family business large enough to provide for a very comfortable living, but Karan was different. He came from generations of wealth, had been raised in the US, and was arrogant and snobbish to most people. His family was of Indian origin, but Karan was an American through-and-through, and he made extra care to not make friends with Indians, lest he be grouped with them and considered a foreigner.
Still, there was always a mutual, if begrudging respect between Rishabh and Karan. Both ran in different circles and generally minded their own lives, but in class, they were among the sharpest two. Rishabh wasn't poor, desperate or insecure to try to make friends or even "network" with Karan, plus he was smart and business-savvy. In Karan's mind, these things set him apart, and thus by the end of their first year, they were somehow on polite talking terms. Almost friends.
Until, that is, Natalie happened.
It was a large not-really-any-point types regular business school party. RK didn't even remember how he made it there as he usually didn't go to most of these fratty parties. They were loud, childish and had too much alcohol, while Rishabh didn't like drinking much. But this was one of those parties where everyone went and Rishabh's friends had dragged him there too. He was talking quietly to a classmate when he heard Natalie - a sectionmate for both Rishabh and Karan - protesting in Karan's arms. Karan was kissing her intently, his hands all over her while she was clearly wasted. Normally nobody would have even noticed in a party like that, but Natalie's cries sounded like a no, and Rishabh couldn't help but walk to them and ask if she was okay.
His aim was to politely ask Karan to let her be, but somehow, things escalated. Natalie herself was too drunk to say or do anything and Rishabh refused to leave her with Karan and forcibly dragged her to her home on the campus. That dynamic changed everything between RK and Karan.
RK didn't really care too much, not even when Karan and his friends made up lewd gossip between Natalie and RK. He could sense Karan wanting for a fight and RK never gave him the satisfaction of one, certain that he had done the right thing that night. Natalie had thanked him once, but beyond that, he didn't really speak to her much. Then, a few months later, he saw Natalie and Karan roaming around in the campus with their arms around each other. He rolled his eyes as they both said Hi - Natalie sheepishly and Karan with a smirking confidence - as he passed them by. Natalie and Karan dated for a few weeks or something, RK wasn't sure. To be honest, he didn't care. If she wanted to be with him, RK couldn't care less. He had only intervened when he believed she was not in consent.
In any case, RK had moved on and long-forgotten the whole incident, but clearly Karan hadn't, as RK realized that night when he had sought him out at his party in his quest for saving Madhu. For Karan, Natalie was a competition. Was Madhu one too?
"Karan Mathur." RK called out, making Karan turn back and leave Madhu's side.
"Kundra. Fancy seeing you here after all those years." He shook his hand, both surprised and amused at seeing him after all those years.
"I didn't think you'd ever make it to India. You're now the CEO of Zest, I hear. Congratulations." Rishabh focused his attention on Karan. Ever since he had realized who the CEO of Zest International - the man who'd bought Madhu from Tony - was, he had been trying to figure out this conversation in his head.
"Thanks. What brings you to my humble abode? Your company did textiles, fashion...
"And real estate, hotels, construction, events. Kundra Industries is growing."
"Ah. I remember now. The London project six months back - you beat us. I really wanted that one. Damn I should have put two and two together. I always knew you had potential, Kundra." Karan smirked, offering RK a drink that he denied. "So you're here for business? What can I give you? Our India JV..."
"Not really. I want something from you, and it's very important, but it's not business. I want Madhu back."
"Madhu?"
"Mitisha. Or whatever name they told you. The girl who was with you few minutes ago. She is Madhu, and she doesn't belong to this world. I want her back."
"Ahem. And what makes you think I'll simply hand you back my girl? Especially to you." RK clenched his fist in anger as Karan called Madhu 'my girl', but he knew he couldn't lose control.
"Look Karan, I know we are not friends..."
"That's right we are not."
"Karan. Please understand. This is different. This is bigger and more important than any ego fights we have. Madhu...she is innocent. You don't know her but I do. She shouldn't have been here and it's my mistake that I couldn't help her in time to prevent this from happening. But now, I can't let her be here."
"So you are here to rescue another damsel in distress off my claws are you? Just like you tried to rescue Natalie. Who do you think you are and who do you think I am, a rapist? Karan Mathur does not force a girl to be with him, understand. Girls themselves throw them at my feet. I bought Mitisha - paid a lot of money for her time - perfectly honest transaction"
"I know. I know. I will pay you back what you paid. Double, triple. Whatever you want. Just let Madhu go, please. She is not a call girl."
"And you know that because?"
"I know her. I have been with her for several months and..."
"...so she left you and now you want her back for yourself...ahaan...never could take rejection well, could you, Kundra... you think I am an idiot who'd just handover a hot f**k like her to you for your entertainment. Especially after the rocking night we had yesterday. No dude, I paid for her for five nights. She is not going anywhere till Sunday." RK, mad with anger, leapt onto Karan and held him by the collar with his one unbroken hand. Then he took a deep breathe and stepped back - Karan's words had pierced him but this was not the way to handle the situation. The only priority was taking Madhu away safely.
"I am sorry" he muttered, putting Karan's collar back into shape as he stepped back. "Karan, listen. I know you are a good person. If I have hurt you in the past, I am sorry. Please understand - Madhu is a simple innocent girl and she was forced into this trade under terrible circumstances. She is not here willingly. You just said you don't force women to be with you. Then let Madhu go, please. Let me take her away. I will give you anything you want in exchange. I will give you every last cent of money I own. Let me take her."
Karan stared at RK, shocked at his last statement. His desperation made it clear that this girl meant a lot to him and this was about a lot more than just having a girl for the night. To test his hypothesis, he challenged RK.
"And what will you do? You're talking as if you're going to take her from here and marry her!"
"I will!" RK answered without flinching, without even a second's delay and Karan smiled.
"Hmm. And what about her? Will she agree to come with you?"
Rishabh stumbled for a second, then said yes.
"Okay. Then you have five minutes. She is in my room 1608. If in five minutes, you can take her with you, she's yours. But if she doesn't - if she chooses me over you like Natalie chose me over you - then..."
"That won't happen. Thanks Karan, thanks so much."
"Five minutes Kundra. If I get there and you guys are still there, you're leaving empty-handed. And oh, by the way, I want the London project."
"It's yours." he said without thinking twice. "I am taking Madhu. Please, just, don't tell Tony or any of the men that you bought her from until Sunday that she's gone. Her life is in danger.
"
"Fine." RK grabbed the key card for the room and ran towards the lift, while Karan watched him with a smile on his face. He may have never got it in his life, but Karan Mathur knew love when he saw it. Besides, he got a multi-million dollar project in exchange for a few nights with a hot - very hot, but still - girl. The asshole in him was as proud as the gentleman was.
'You chose him, didn't you Madhu?' RK chided mentally as he recalled Karan's words from that night.
...if it's only a question of what I want...of my future...of who I love...of who I think is worthy of being my life partner...then..then...my answer is No.
Karan! The man from whom he rescued her. The man who had bought her for his pleasure, he fumed in fury.
Just like you, a voice inside him added.
Really, what was the difference between Rishabh and Karan? Both had bought her at one point for their needs. If she could forgive him, why not Karan? Karan was richer, smarter and had probably treated her much better than RK had, at least in the beginning. So why not?
And yet somehow, the thought that she'd chosen Karan hurt Rishabh a lot more than the fact that she'd rejected him.
******
"Didi" Manav yelled, making Madhu look up in the direction of the voice. She had been walking behind RK as they exited the airport, her head down and her mind filled with dread of what was going to happen now that they were back to Mumbai. All through the flight, she had been conjuring up words, trying to say something to Rishabh. But what?
Apologize, but then what? Beg him to not separate her from himself? Ask if they could stay as friends? Confess that she loved him too? Plead to get his love back? And then what?
The reasons why she said no still stood, didn't they? And yet, with passing hours the voice inside her that was telling her that Rishabh really truly loved her and what she was doing was grossly unfair to both of them was getting courage.
A voice she had ignored earlier not believing she could be loved like that. A voice that had only been amplified by what Karan Mathur had told her. A voice that was echoing louder in the silence that had crept in between her and Rishabh.
She looked towards Manav, who had spotted her and was now running towards her. Instinctively her eyes wandered to look for Rishabh, but he was no longer at her side. Panicked, she looked around - had he left her already, without even a goodbye? - but then her breath returned as she saw Manav hugging him fiercely, a few steps ahead of her. Watching her brother lovingly hug his Rishabh bhaiya brought Madhu face-to-face with what she had done. She watched as Rishabh said a few words to Manav before grabbing his bag and walking ahead. Madhu stood transfixed at her spot, trying to figure out how to tell Manav what had happened.
"Didi" Manav threw himself in her arms and she barely hugged him back.
"Oh I missed both of you so much. Come on show me how it looks?"
"What?" Madhu managed to ask as Manav grabbed her hand.
"The ring. I want to see how it looks on your hand. Me and jeeju spent hours trying to pick the perfect one for you. I am sure he gave you a grand proposal in London. It's been a month..." Manav screamed excitedly.
The ring. Jeeju.
The words stunned Madhu as the rest of Manav's constant blabber faded away from her ears. She had watched as Rishabh had stopped in his place when Manav had said the words "the ring", and she had watched as Rishabh walked ahead towards the waiting car.
Without even a glance.
Madhu felt as if her life was leaving her body, and in that instant, as she saw Rishabh's back, all her resistance and all her rationale faded away. No fear was greater than the fear she felt right now - the fear of never seeing or talking to her Rishabh again.
"I am sure that you're in love with bhai just like he is in love with you"
"She was my mistress. She is now my life and my would-be-wife and she deserves everyone's respect"
"Love like that is rare, Madhu. That day the love I saw in his eyes for you...he was ready to give me anything...he would have given his life had I asked him. And I see the same in your eyes. Both of you are so lucky."
"I'd die if you leave me..."
"I don't want anybody other than you"
""Do you...did you ever...even a little...love me?"
"Madam, come. Our car is on that side. Sir told me to take both of you to the new flat." A man came and started talking to Madhu and Manav, but Madhu couldn't respond to him or to Manav's questioning tirade that started immediately.
Instead, she dropped her purse and ran.
Bumping into people and pillars, Madhu ran like mad. Desperate tears fueling her pace, Madhu ran like it was the race for life.
Towards him. Towards her Rishabh. Towards the love of her life. Towards her life.
"Rishabh!" she screamed, but he didn't seem to hear in the din of the airport as he sat inside his car.
"Rishabh!" she screamed again, still several feet away, but this time apparently loud enough as the closing door halted and Rishabh emerged a second later, looking towards her.
"Rishabh! Don't go, please." she shouted, frozen, her feet having automatically stopped when she saw Rishabh's face.
*****
"Don't go, please. Don't leave me Rishabh." she was pleading and Rishabh couldn't believe his eyes or ears. His Madhu was right there, calling him desperately. Was he dreaming?
His feet moved towards her on her own, ignoring the honking traffic as he tried to pass through the row of cabs that monopolized the nearest curbs of the Arrivals terminal.
"Rishabh!" he heard her scream frantically. He had taken a slight detour to the left so he could pass through the cabs from the front of the line instead of waiting for them to move, and even though his feet for rushing, just for that second she was out of his sight and her panicked scream made Rishabh look up.
"Rishabh" she screamed again as she ran towards him full hilt, her eyes having never left him since the moment he had exited the car.
The fear on her face and the bodyguards running behind her surprised him, but before he had a chance to react, a single gunshot sent the Mumbai Airport into tizzy.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Sports
Current Affairs
Sadda Haq Season 2
CID
Jhanak
