Bigg Boss 19: Daily Discussion Thread - 10th Sep '25
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Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Sep 11, 2025 EDT
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Is it just me or…
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Sep 12, 2025 EDT
Patrama Prem ~ A Gosham SS
Hello
More than one year and some of you are still hopeful for an update. Wow! I would say sorry, but I don't think that would be fair. Neither would be any excuses. I wanted to complete this story, I really did, but I couldn't. I just couldn't write. Even this chapter [yey, there's an update] is not good, but closure, even if it comes late, is often worth it. So hope the two or three of you who still wander here appreciate it. And I would like to apologize because this is not the last chapter. I tried, but didn't happen.
I hope to write it though, and I hope to not take a year for that.
Love, TK
Chapter 45: I got you
Madhu woke up with a jerk, vague sounds of gunshots and a gripping fear clenching her, even as the nightmare quickly faded.
"Bad dream?"
Rishabh asked, making her turn around. Yeah, it was a dream. Or was it? So much had happened to her. To them. So much pain, so much suffering, so much loss.
She nodded slightly then simply turned her face into RK's chest and lie down. It seemed like early hours of the morning, but Madhu wasn't ready to face the day just yet.
Rishabh cuddled her closer. He had been up for an hour, having woken up with similar unnamed feelings of pain and fear. He was tired, and also relieved that they were all alive and home and together, yet there had been too much trauma too recently for sleep. Was this trial that seemed to be their life ever going to end?
Rishabh stroked Madhu's back for several minutes until he felt her breathing return to normal.
"Madhu"
"Hmm" she murmured, her eyes still shut, her face still buried inside Rishabh's chest.
"Don't be scared."
"Okay."
"I am with you."
"I know."
"I love you."
"I know."
"You love me."
"More than you can imagine."
That made Rishabh smile. He gently kissed Madhu's head and rocked her, shutting his eyes.
"Sleep for some time. Everything will be fine now. Nothing will go wrong anymore. We will be together always - a happy family."
Will we? Madhu couldn't help wondering, but didn't voice it out. Was the universe going to ever let them be happy?
*********
It was almost 1130 AM when they were all settling down for breakfast, but no one seemed to care. Both Madhu and RK had remnants of the previous day's events on their bodies, but the more relevant thing today was the smiles they wore as Manav chattered incessantly about school and other stuff he'd been up to while Madhu and Rishabh were in London. Even Patil kaka seemed to have finally relaxed, convinced that the physical injuries would heal, and that happiness had come to stay for Rishabh after a long time.
In short, for this little family, if their world had moved a few too many times in recent days, you couldn't tell.
"I don't want to go back to hostel today. You guys just came back and you're both still unwell!" Manav complained as they neared the end of breakfast.
"Manav, we talked about this. You can't miss so many classes."
"I don't care. Anyway our mid term break starts soon. I will only miss two days, and I promise I will catch up. But I'm not going back, not when both of you are injured."
"Manav, we are fine." Madhu tried to reason.
"No you're not. You don't love me anyway, both of you. You never think about me, always sending me away from you. Have you thought - what if someone had happened to either of you on the airport?"
"Heyy" Rishabh enveloped Manav in a comforting hug. "Nothing happened. We love you."
"Then don't send me back."
"Okay" Rishabh accepted easily.
"But Rishabh?" Madhu tried to reason, but clearly Rishabh and Manav had teamed up by now, so there was no chance.
"See di, you don't love me, but jijs does. I am not going anywhere." Manav teased.
"But what are you going to do here."
"We will chill, and I'll help you prepare for the wedding. There's so much to do. In fact, let's all go. You'll take us right, Rishabh jijs?"
"Manav - what's wrong with you. Nobody is going shopping. Can't you see how much Rishabh is hurt!"
"I am fine Madhu." Rishabh smiled.
"No you're not. And enough is enough Manav. You're not a child, throwing tantrums. You don't want to go to school, fine, go to your room and study." Madhu scolded, and like always, his sister's anger was enough to temper Manav down, who made a face before walking to his room. Rishabh didn't intervene between the siblings, but the anxiety on Madhu's face worried him a bit. Was she still worried about Manav's safety? Or was it something else?
"What happened? Why are you getting angry at Manav?" Rishabh softly asked Madhu, holding her hand a few minutes later.
"I am not angry, but he's getting so demanding."
"He's a kid, Madhu. Tell me, what's really bothering you?"
"Nothing" Madhu muttered, shaking her head, then asked. "Rishabh, are you okay? I mean...are you happy?"
Rishabh took Madhu's hands in his and squeezed them to reassure. "I have you, I have your love. I have everything I need. I told you right - everything will be fine. Stop worrying. I got you."
"CEO of Kundra Industries, Rishabh Kundra, was among those caught in the cross-fire yesterday at Mumbai airport with known gangster Sultan dada. Three people, including Sultan dada, were killed in an open-fire..."
News on the living room TV caught their attention, making them walk closer.
"...We are told that Mr Kundra had arrived from London along with a female companion, when he was caught in the crossfire as Sultan dada, who was being chased by the police, ran towards the airport arrivals area. He took Mr. Kundra and the lady hostage and attempted to flee the premises, but in the chaotic tussle was himself killed. Both Mr. Kundra and the lady escaped Sultan's shots, and eventually caught one shot from the lady. Although the police maintain this was a clear self-defense case against a known criminal for whom they had shoot-at-sight orders and no charged will be filed against Mr. Kundra 's friend who actually shot the gangster, her identity is still being concealed from the media. Sources, though, tell her that this lady has been sighted multiple times in London with Mr Kundra. It is speculated that she is a model, but so far we have not found any more details. Some say that she was also seen here in India with him a few months earlier, and she is possibly his girlfriend. Our viewers would remember that Mr Kundra only recently went through a messy divorce with model and actress Deepali Kundra. Could this lady Madhu be the reason Deepali divorced Rishabh Kundra? Is this a secret affair? How many years has this been going on right under everyone's noses. Because as you can see from our footage, they do seem to be quite close. This is not a professional relationship for sure. What do you think? We believe..."
"What crap!" Rishabh muttered as he shut the TV. "Instead of reporting about Sultan's crimes, they are speculating. These media folks have no..." he was mumbling, when he saw a pale Madhu still staring towards the TV. Tears were streaming through her eyes.
"Madhu...Madhu...hey...what happened? Why are you crying? Shhh...These..." he tried to console but Madhu suddenly broke down, covering her face with her palms. With some difficulty, he pulled her palms away and wiped her tears. It pained him to see her so disturbed.
"Madhu. Don't worry. Look at me, don't you trust me. This news means nothing. In 24 hours they will be on to a new story. Relax. Sultan is dead, and we're both here."
"Everyone will know now."
"Know what?" Rishabh asked, but Madhu mumbled in her state of trance
"I should have never stepped outside the home. I can't be seen with you. I.."
"Madhu...Madhu...what nonsense are you talking about? Look at me. Look at me Madhu."
"Rishabh, I don't want to lose you." Madhu hugged Rishabh tight.
"And you won't. I'm right here. Look at me, we're together and no one can take you away from me." Rishabh tried his best to reassure, cupping Madhu's face with his palms. He understood Madhu's overreaction, he could sense how vulnerable and scared she felt. "Madhu, you're mine, got it? And when we get married..."
"No!" Madhu suddenly sprung back, away from Rishabh.
"What? You don't want to marry me..." Rishabh quizzed.
"No...yes...I mean...Rishabh...we can't get married. What will everyone say? Mamiji, and society...no...This marriage can't happen..."
"What can't happen?" Manav walked in the room preventing RK from responding to Madhu who quickly wiped her tears. RK was perplexed and a little angry but he didn't want to have this discussion in front of Manav.
"Nothing. I'm feeling a little unwell. I am going to rest for some time."
"OK didi, come I'll walk with you to the room."
"No it's fine." Madhu snapped, her inner struggles bubbling. She had this sudden urge to escape from everything.
"Let her rest, Manav. Come." Rishabh led Manav out, but his eyes were on Madhu. He knew he needed to talk to her, but couldn't understand how. But he had to do something; there was no way he was going to let both of them spend the rest of their lives in shame and fear.
******
Later that night, RK walked into the room to find Madhu lying on her bad, staring at the ceiling. She had the same strained pensiveness on her face that she had had all day.
"Madhu" he softly said her name as he walked in, and she immediately sat up. An instinctive smile came on her face as she saw him and tried to wipe her anxiety of her face, but Rishabh had seen it.
"Did you have your medicine?" she asked.
"You only gave it to me half an hour back at dinner."
"Oh yeah...right...if it's paining, the doctor said you can have an analgesic. I'll get it." She said standing up.
"Madhu...sit down. It's not paining anywhere. Will you quit worrying?" he gently coaxed as he made her sit on the bed, and then kneeled down in front of her himself.
"Now, I have something to give you."
"What?" Madhu asked, but the answer was in front of her before she even finished the question. It was the ring he had chosen for her a long time ago, one that should be on her finger already.
"Madhubala Malik, you found me at the worst moment of my life, and in the blink of an eye made my life more beautiful than it has ever been. I love you Madhu, more than anything in the world itself, and I will not let anything separate us any more, ever, not even death, if you give me the permission." Madhu stared at the ring in silence, transfixed, too afraid to look at the passion in Rishabh's eyes. Passion that she could feel nonetheless. Passion that ignited a similar strain inside her and leaked from her eyes. Rishabh wiped those tears gently as he held Madhu's hand. He was about to make her wear the ring, when Madhu stopped him with her other hand.
"Rishabh, you don't understand..."
"What don't I understand?"
"Rishabh, don't get me wrong. I love you. So much that, so much that...perhaps the only greater love in this world is the way you love me, because no matter what nobody could match that, everything you've done for someone like me. I don't want to spend a second without you. But marriage...you don't understand. We cannot be married."
"And why is that Madhu?" He calmly asked. This was the conversation he knew they had needed to have for a long time.
"Because...because...I'm not worth..."
"Madhu! Don't you..."
"Rishabh, I know you love me, so you don't see me that way, but the world...for the world...I am a fallen woman. There is a stain on my life that cannot be wished away, and by associating with me that will inevitably ruin your life as well. I don't want anyone to disrespect you, I don't want you to lose your family..."
"Madhu, I don't care about what Mamiji thinks, if that's what you mean. If after knowing you, understanding you and loving you, she can behave like that, then she doesn't matter to me. Your purity, your worth is clear to me, the world doesn't matter"
"But it matters Rishabh. Even after knowing me so well, Mamiji, who loves you so much like a mother, cannot accept me, we cannot expect anyone to understand."
"Look Madhu telling her was my fault - I accept. I am sorry. But..."
Madhu stood up and cut him off before he could complete.
"Rishabh, it's not you. It's me. It is who I am. A woman who was abused and sold. We can't change the facts. We can't hide them forever. Sooner or later, someday someone would find out. And then it would destroy everything. Think about it - would everyone say. Your family. Your employees, your business partners, the media...everyone who respects you. They will laugh at you. Because of me I cannot see you lose everything. You cannot fight it Rishabh. And I don't have the energy to. I can't marry you."
"Madhu."
"Rishabh please."
"So what do you want? You want to leave me because you're afraid of the world." He pulled her so she turned to face him and stepped closer.
"No. It's not that. Rishabh." She cupped his face. "I love you Rishabh. I want you. But I also can't let you harm yourself, or spend your whole life in fear. What if we get married and one day it all comes out and you regret it?"
"It won't happen, Madhu. Trust me...don't you trust me."
"I do...but..."
"But what? You want to stay away from me your whole life! You want to choose fear over trust?" Rishabh asked, angry by now at Madhu's irrational argument. His temper was getting the better of him, having tried everything and yet being unable to convince Madhu.
"No...I don't know. I don't have the answers." Madhu whimpered, making Rishabh even more angry. Why was she so hell bent on choosing misery when happiness was right in front of them.
"But you won't trust me and you won't marry me?" he asked again. When Madhu remained silent, he turned and walked out of the room. She called his name but he was frustrated and needed the space. Even after fighting all the enemies in the world, it felt like they were going to lose anyway, to the demons within.
****
Morning came, and for a while Madhu feared the worst. She'd woken up alone and the sheer unlikeability of that itself had ruined the day as far as she was concerned. Somewhere in her sleep she'd imagined, it seemed now, that Rishabh had laid by her side and snuggled upto her. But he wasn't here now and she was reminded of her argument with Rishabh the previous night. Madhu's heart sank. Rishabh was mad at her and he had full right to be. Madhu shut her eyes. Everything felt familiar in the horrible sort of way as the taste of that absolute misery she'd felt only days ago when Rishabh was angry and slipping away from her reignited in her mouth. Had she done that yet again? After everything, had she succeeded in once again making the same mistake she'd made several times over, and pushed Rishabh away from her?
You want to choose fear over trust!
Rishabh was right. She was giving in to fear. Even though it seemed so legitimate and frightening, was it any better than the misery she was trading in. Rishabh's happy face from the previous night when he was confessing his love for her flashed before her eyes followed by the memory of Rishabh leaving the room. Was she so afraid that it was really worth losing Rishabh forever?
Stuck by that realization, she opened her eyes and turned towards the side table where the ring was still lying. The ring that signified Rishabh's immense faith and love in her. Perhaps his faith was enough to fight over her fear. Perhaps it was enough for the both of them.
She extended her hand to pick up the ring, but just then Rishabh entered the room, and she withdrew. Contrary to her expectation though, he looked happy, as if nothing had happened.
"Good morning beautiful!" there was an energy in Rishabh's voice that suddenly lifted the room.
"Morning Rishabh. Listen I'm s.."
"Come on get up. Get dressed. We are going out." He said, pulling her up from the bed.
"Out? But where?"
"Madhu, give me a yes or no answer. Nothing else just yes or no. Do you love me?"
"Yes" she said without any hesitation. Rishabh smiled and asked his second question.
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Then get ready. The nurse is here too, to change your dressing. I will send her up alongwith some new clothes. See you at breakfast!" Rishabh said, gave Madhu a peck on her cheek, and left the room before she had the chance to say anything else.
******
"At least now tell me where we are going?" Madhu asked as the car sped off.
"You'll find out."
"I didn't even see Manav."
"Manav will meet us there. Have some patience Madhubala Malik." That shut her up, but not her questions. The instructions had come fast and insistent - wear this sari, eat breakfast quickly, take medicines, leave your phone, walk fast - but no real answers had come.
Before she knew it, Madhu was walking in stride with Rishabh as they entered the headquarters of Kundra industries. She froze a little as all of Rishabh's employees noticed them, but Rishabh simply tightened his grip on Madhu's head and increased his pace as he led her to the main conference hall.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen" he spoke on the mike, bringing the roomful of people into rapt attention. Still holding Madhu's hand, he turned slightly towards her. As their eyes met, he smiled, squeezed her hand and whispered, "I got you."
