PART - 3
"Mom! You up at this time?" Madhu asks sleepily in surprise seeing Radha watching TV in the living room at 4 in the morning. she sat beside her mother in law curling up on the sofa.
"Yesterday, We went for dinner out & we missed to watch our favorite serial right? So came to watch the repeat telecast" Radha says.
"Yeah, even I kept alarm & woke up to watch this." Madhu grins. "Did the serial started?"
"No. What's that serial called? Haan.. Balika vadhu is going." Radha makes a disinterested face. "After that our serial will start. I don't wanna miss the unwedding drama so switched on the Tv five minutes before itself."
"Is she still a 'Balika vadhu'? Didn't she grow up? I heard she got married two or three times..." Madhu asks confused.
"Yeah, 1000 episodes before itself she became an 'Adult vadhu' but still they didnt change the title" Radha cracks & Madhu burst out laughing.
"What are you both doing here?" Rk asks seeing both the ladies laughing like mad.
"What are YOU doing here?" Radha asks her son.
"My Wife was missing so came in search of her" Rk shrugs.
"Missing? Go give a missing case complaint in police station" Radha teases him. Madhu laughs enjoying the mom & son's banter.
"Very funny" Rk makes a face which made them laugh more.
"Biwi, what are doing here? My Mom is a bad company, she will spoil you" Rk warns.
"Spoil her? Me?" Radha asks shocked. Madhu giggles. Hearing the land phone ring, Rk ignores them & picks the call wondering who was calling at the wee hours
"Hello" Rk says.
"Rk, Is Madhu up or still sleeping." Padmini asks.
"Yeah, she is awake. Why? You want something Maa?" Rk asks.
"No. She told me to wake her up at sharp 4 as she has some important work to do" Padmini tells. Rk glares at madhu.
"Maa, you go sleep. She just asked you to wake her up so that she can watch god awful serial" Rk says pissed.
"She is crazy" Padmini says a bit irritated at her daughter. Because of her, she had woken up in the mid of her sleep.
"She is. You get back to sleep Maa" Rk says & hangs up the phone
"Move & sit" Rk orders madhu & sat between Radha & Madhu on the sofa. Madhu snuggles close to him resting her head on his shoulders.
"You both have Tv in your room right?" Rk asks.
"Yeah. But we don't want you to disturb us while watching our show so we came here but still you are here to crib" Madhu sighs.
"What's so interesting is happening in the show that you both sacrificed your beauty sleep?"
"Well, I'll give you the gist of the story... hero met heroine... hero got attracted... hero is a superstar... heroine booked a complaint on the hero for hit & run... he broke heroine's engagement... he sent her father to hospital bed... she gave 4 slaps to him in from of his crew members in the shooting set... he forcefully married her in the same set to revenge her... then hero was shot by the heroine's father to take revenge on him for making his daughter's life hell ... but the heroine saved him..."
"Is she a Doctor?" Rk asks madhu curiously.
"No. she tied a scared thread on his wrist & he came back to life"
"What!! You believe all this? A thread saving a life? Oh yeah, you do... you are the one who told that chain will save me & you made me mend it just few hours back" he says pointing to her nuptial chain.
"oh come on, Rishu, just hear the story" she says eagerly. He nods.
"Then heroine started loving... she even kept karvachat vrat for him... then she confessed her love for him..."
"Madhu, You missed the studio night, Bahon ke darmiyan song... You know Madhu, once your dad also sung that song for me. So that scene is one of my most favorite scene" Radha tells her blushing. Rk shakes his head in disbelief.
"ha...yeah... every now & then they will romance for romantic songs... well, Hero will ask her to come with him, leaving behind everything to start a new life... heroine agrees... in between few dramas will take place... & one fine day they will decide to get married & that day is today. He will break all ties with her & leave her in the altar" "How do you know he will leave her?" Rk asks.
"We saw the promo." Radha tells him
"Oh. But why he wants to leave her?"
"You fool, to take revenge on her he is playing a prem game" Radha hits her son's forehead & shakes her head seeing his dumbness.
"Mom, for 4 slaps he will revenge her? Don't he love her?"
"He didnt love her. It's all a game" Radha tells him "Okay, stop your interrogation now. Serial started" Radha warns. Rk didn't dare to speak a word & silently he too watched the show.
"He surely loves her. He can't live without her. He will regret soon & go to her to get back her in his life" Rk says confidently once the serial got over.
"How could be so sure?" Madhu asks.
"Because I could see 'Ishq aur Junoon' in his eyes." Rk says & walks back to his room.
"My son is not dumb" Radha smiles.
"Neither my husband" Madhu says proudly.
"Okay, Let's go back to sleep" Radha say but Madhu stops her.
"Mom..." she hesitates.
"What?"
"Mom, I'm late" Madhu says blushing.
"Yes, It's late, we should go & sleep"
"Mom! I AM late, my monthly. Do you think I should see a doctor?"
"Really?" Radha's eyes went wide in delight & hugs Madhu happily.
"Mom, let's confirm it first, then we can celebrate. Don't tell Rishu now, okay?"
"Okay. I'll take you to the doctor tomorrow"
"No. I'll go. Could you please take care of Dad's & Rishu's breakfast"
"Sure. Now go sleep for a while" Radha says with a smile. Madhu nods & walks back to her room.
--0--
"Rishu, where is Madhu? She didn't come for breakfast?" Radha asks Rk when he takes a seat to have his breakfast.
"She is getting ready, Mom. She will join us" he replies & starts eating his paratha.
"Mom, now a days you are not making my favorite breakfasts, all are Madhu's favorite. I should better go & eat at Maa's house. Only she cares for me" Rk cribs.
"That's because Maa forgot her daughter & Mom forgot her son" Madhu tells placing her hand on Rk's shoulder from back.
"Hey, come, sit." Rk tells her smiling.
"No, Rishu. I have an important work. I will have my breakfast later. Mom, I will come in two hours. Evening we will go to temple." she tells Radha & she nods.
"What's more important than eating?" Rk asks with a frown & takes a piece of paratha & before he could pop it in his mouth, Madhu holds his wrist & turns it to her side & pops it in her mouth.
"This is enough" she smiles.
"Wait I'll drop you" Rk offers.
"No. you eat. I'll take my car. Bye"
"Bye, Mom, Dad" she waves to them & rushes out.
--0--
"Rishu! Rishu!" Madhu yells his name the moment she steps into their house.
"Madhu, why are you yelling? Rishu is at office" Radha tells her.
"Mom" Madhu runs & hugs her.
"What Madhu?" Radha asks caressing her hair.
"Mom, I told you right, that I have some doubts?"
"Yes" Radha nods in excitement. "So are you?"
"Yes, Mom" she beams.
"Looks like my daughter is so happy? What's the good news?" Mohan joins them.
"Dad" Madhu hugs him happily.
"Here have this" Radha fed her ladoo.
"What is it? For what you are celebrating?" Mohan asks utterly confused.
"Dad, you got promotion." Madhu grins widely.
"What? How? I took my retirement two yrs back then what promotion you are talking about?" he asks puzzled.
"Dad, you are so obtuse" she scolds him.
"you are gonna become a granddad" She clears him.
"Oh"
"Just a 'oh'... I had expected a much more better expression from you." she pouts.
"Oh my dear. I m so happy. Congratulations" he hugs after recovering from the shocking yet sweet news.
"Thanks, Dad" Madhu fed sweets to him & Radha.
"I'll go tell Rishu" Madhu turns to go to Rk's office.
"Madhu, just now you came from the hospital so take rest, don't exert yourself, Rishu will be coming home only so you can tell him later." Radha says.
"Mom, please, I can't hold this news for long, I want to share it with Rishu" she pleads.
"Okay but call him before you go to his office, he might be on his way home for lunch"
"Okay" Madhu agrees & walks to her room to talk to Rk in privacy.
--0--
"Hello, Madhu" Rk says picking up her call.
"Rishu, Where are you?"
"I'm at construction site. Why?" he asks.
"I want to talk to you" she tells.
"Yeah, tell me?" he asks.
"No. not over phone. Can I come to the site?"
"No, baby. My work here is almost done, I'll be leaving shortly, I will see you at home. Is that okay?"
"Okay. But come soon" she orders.
"Okay, bye"
"Bye"
"Did you call him?" Radha asks entering her room with a glass of orange juice.
"Mom, Rishu will come home soon huh, so I didn't tell him." She says disappointed.
"Don't be upset, you go tell your Maa & Papa before Rishu comes. I'm sure he will get pissed for being the last one to know about the good news" Radha tells her.
"Oh yes, I should have told him first but it okay, I know he won't be mad at me ever. Well, Papa is out of town, will come tonight only. I'll tell Maa & come" she smiles.
"Not before drinking this" Radha hands her the juice glass.
--0--
"Madhu, I'm so happy for you." Padmini hugs her daughter.
"Did you tell Rk?" Padmini asks.
"No. He will be coming home soon, then I will tell him"
"Hmm... okay, evening I will make laddos for you. First trimester you should be very careful. You don't bother about our business, I will ask you Papa to handle everything, okay?"
"Hmm... okay." she agrees.
"Rishu will go crazy." Madhu tells smiling, lying on her mother's lap. "He love babies but not when they cry. He hate tears." Madhu chuckles.
"I still can't believe that a little life is growing in me, Maa. A real honest to goodness baby. My Rishu's baby!" she caresses her stomach in wonder. "Thanks to you & papa. If you hadn't pester me to get married then I wouldn't have got my Rishu. He is the best thing ever happened to me. Now, this baby, our baby will make us complete, Maa." She smiles contended. Padmini smiles happily that her daughter was in safe hands.
"Why it's taking so long for him to reach home? I called an hour back"
"He must be busy at work" Padmini says caressing her hair.
"I will go home & see" She says & jumps out of the bed.
"Madhu, careful. Go slowly" Padmini advices. She nods.
"Rishu, didnt come yet, dad?" Madhu asks Mohan who was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine.
"No, Madhu" he shakes his head.
"Okay" She nods. She was about to go to her room when her phone starts ringing. She expected it was from Rk but it was from an unknown number.
"Hello" She answers. A minute later, she drops the phone on the floor & stills on her place, unwelcome tears oozing down her cheeks.
"Madhu..." Mohan shakes her. "What happened? Why are you crying?" Mohan panics seeing her pale face.
"Radha... Radha" He shouts. Within few seconds she rushed out from her room.
"What? Why are yell?" Radha asks angrily but was shocked seeing Madhu standing like a statue with tears streaming down her face.
"Madhu...What's happened?" Radha cups her cheeks with her hands. "Madhu, say something. You are scaring us" her voice was hoarse & thick with unshed tears.
"Mom..." she whispers holding her head tightly.
"Tell me, Madhu" Radha shakes her forcefully.
"Rishu... Accident..." her voice cracks. "Madhu, stop crying & say clearly what's happened to Rishu?" Mohan asks worriedly losing his patience. "Rishu admitted in City...City hospital" she cries & hugs Mohan.
"What? Oh my Rishu" Radha cries. Mohan fold them in his arms consoling them that nothing would have happened to Rk.
"We...We should go..." she says frantically, she wipes her face but her tears refused to stop flowing. Adrenaline has flooded her bloodstream, leaving panic in its wake. She finds difficult to breathe but she want to reach her husband.
--0--
Mohan Rushes to the ER reception area & asked for the details & the receptionist guided them to go to the OR on the second floor.
God, please let him be okay... let him be okay... please save my Rishu. Madhu chants a prayer, fighting hard to keep her tears in bay.
"Can I help you?" asks a nurse.
"My husband, Rishab kundra. He's been admitted. He's in OR" she chokes.
"Oh, Yes, he's been admitted an hour before. If you'd like to wait. I'll let them know that you are here. The waiting room is there" she points to a large room, labeled 'waiting room'
"Is he okay?" she asks, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You'll have to wait for one the attending Doctor to brief you ma'am" the nurse says politely.
"Thank you" she mutters but her voice was not at all audible.
"Mom, Dad, they asked us to wait in that room"
"How is Rishu?" Radha asks through her teary eyes.
"I don't know Mom. He will be fine" She consoles her but inside she was shit scared.
"Dad, Did you talk to Bittuji? How this accident happened?" Madhu asks Mohan in a weak voice.
"Madhu, I talked to him. You don't worry. You go in & sit with your Mom" Mohan gently tells her.
"No, You are hiding something. I want to know what happened to Rishu" she insists.
"I'm not hiding anything. You go dear"
"Dad, please" she begs wanting to know what had happened to her husband.
"Scaffolding fall accident huh... he was in there & a iron rod fell on his head, Bittuji says he was unconscious while bringing him to the hospital as he had lost a lot of blood" Madhu gasps & cups her mouth to muffle her sob. Panic swamps her limbic system. She shudders as chill runs down her spine. She kept looking at the OR light to go off & waited for the doctor to come to her & say 'her husband is fine'.
"Madhu, did you informed you parents?" Mohan asks her realizing that she might need her parents for support.
"No. Papa is out of town. He will come only by evening. I didn't tell Maa, she can't handle the situation" Madhu says. She starts shaking. "Don't worry I'll inform Malik & ask him to come directly to the hospital"
"Shit! You are freezing." Mohan says when he takes Madhu's hand to lead her back to the waiting room. She nods. "You should stay strong. Sit with you mom, I will get tea/ coffee for u both"
"Radha, stop crying. Take care of Madhu" Mohan chides worrying her wife & daughter in law will flood the whole waiting room with their tears.
They waited for what feels like eternity in gut wrenching fear as there was no news.
Suddenly, the door opens & a young doctor enters. He looks exhausted & harrowed.
All the blood seems to disappear from her head as shes stumbles to her feet. Mohan & Radha follows her.
"Rishab" Madhu whispers clutching her shawl tightly.
"You are his?" the doctor asks.
"Wife. I'm Madhubala Kundra" she says quickly wanting to know about Rishab's condition. "My husband is fine? Doctor" she asks hopefully.
"Mrs. Kundra, your husband is critical." Madhu's eyes welled up again with tears, she felt suffocated & weak on her knees. She could see the room spinning, she holds her head & takes a deep breathe.
"Mrs.Kundra, You okay?" The doctor asks. She nods unable to speak.
"He suffered severe contusions to the head, and the MRI shows that he has swelling in his brain. We have induced a coma to keep him quite & still while we monitor the brain swelling."
"Brain damage" Radha gasps out loud & cries hugging her husband.
"What's the prognosis?" Mohan asks calmly. He was anything but calm. He couldn't show his fear as he don't want to worry the ladies more.
"It's difficult to say at the moment. It's possible he could make a complete recovery, but that's in God's hands now"
"How... how long you will keep him in a coma?" madhu asks worriedly. "That depends on how his brain response"
"Can we see him?" Madhu asks in a whisper.
"Sure. He's been taken to the ICU on the forth floor, you can see him there."
"Thank you, Doctor" Madhu says. Doctor nods & leaves the room.
"Madhu, you didn't eat anything since morning, you go with you Dad & have something" Radha gently tells.
"No, Mom. I want to see Rishu first"
"Madhu, you are not alone now. You have to take care of the life growing in you" Radha caresses her head lovingly. Madhu burst into tears hearing about her baby & hugs Radha.
"I want my Rishu, Mom" she cries inconsolably.
--0--
The ICU in the fourth floor was a stark, sterile, ward with bleeping machinery. Madhu's eyes stung with tears seeing her love lying on the bed listlessly, surrounded by all med equipments. There was a tube in his mouth, which leads to the ventilator, and various lines passes through drips into a needle in each hand. Rk's head was covered with a large bandage. A monitor kept in a stand beside his bed displays his heart rate. It was beating strong & steady & that was a relief for Madhu. Taking a quick stalk of the room, Madhu tentatively walks close to him & traces her hand on his bare chest minding not to mess with the tubes. His rock hard chest were raising slowly up & down beneath her palm.
"Oh Rishu" Madhu softly weeps placing his hand on her cheeks.
"Rishu? You hear me? Do you remember your vows you gave me on our engagement? If not I will remind you..."With this ring, I give u My heart, My soul, My very life, I belong to you & only you. I'll make my life's mission to keep you happy & safe" ... You belong to me, you are mine, even you can't take yourself away from me, so don't dare to do that" She warns him in a whispers, dashing away her tears which refused to stop.
"See, I m not happy. Not at all, I miss you. I want you to keep me happy & safe. I'm scared now, I want you to hold me in your arms, shelter me in it, promising that you won't leave me ever & assure me that everything will be alright. You will right?" she asks him but there was no reply from his side. His eyes were tightly shut. She kisses his palm which was surprisingly warm in her cold hands.
"Rishu, I know you hate to see tears but I cant help it. I'm dying from inside seeing you like this, this is my worst fear realizing ever. You know I can't live without you not even for a second, so please don't punish me, Please come back to me love, I want you to wipe my tears, I want you to kiss me & hug me tight till it hurts me." She says feeling hard to breathe & she grips the edge of the bed with one hand to steady herself.
"This is not how I envisaged to spend the day, it was supposed to be our happiest day of our life, but here you are fighting for your life & I m desperately waiting for you to open your eyes & speak to me, say you are fine, say you love me & I want to tell you something which I was holding for a long, I want to see how happy you feel when you hear..." she squeezes his hand tightly, scrunching her eyes tightly & bites her lip to stop her cry.
"Rishu..." she screams dropping his hand on the bed.
(Four days later)
"Rishu..." she gasps, her eyes flung open as she sat up on her bed.
"Madhu... Relax" Padmini quickly sat beside her on the bed & rubs her back soothingly.
"Maa...Rishu... I lost..." Madhu cries hysterically.
"Ishh... Madhu...Everything will be fine..." Padmini gently pats her head, hugging her.
"I can't be here... I'm going... going to my Rishu" she moves back from her mother's embrace & pulls the Iv needle & climbs out of the bed. She sways as her feet was jelly but her mother helps her to steady. Draping a protective arm around Madhu, Padmini walks out of the room.
Suddenly they stops in track when a lady blocks their way, she was holding a little kid in her arm & with other hand takes Madhu's hand gently squeezing it. Madhu was utterly confused at the lady's strange behavior.
"Madam, this is my son, he is alive now only because of your husband, our family will forever be indebted to you."
"I didn't get you" Madhu whispers.
"I work in Rishab Sir's construction site. My son was playing in the scaffolding & when it falls no one but Rishab Sir jumped in to save him, he protected my son under him & the rod fell on him. He risked his life & saved my child. He is a nice man so don't worry nothing will happen to him" the lady assures.
Madhu's vision blurs as tears brim her eyes. She blinks & looks up at the innocent boy in her mother's arm having few bruises & scraps on his head & hands.
"Take care of your child" Madhu gently whispers caressing the boy's head. He flashes a smile to Madhu but Madhu couldn't pull a smile as her lips were trembling. Soon she wakes away wiping her tears.
"Maa, You stay here, I want to go in alone" Madhu orders & without waiting for her reply she walks in.
--0--
"How long I should go through this pain? How long will you remain mute? Won't you look at me? Won't you talk to me? Won't you share my pain? Are you listening to me Rishu?" she asks, her voice hoarse. Her eyes were burning with hot tears streaming down her cheeks but she didnt bother to wipe it.
"Did you forget your vows? You vowed me that you will never ever let me feel lonely, did you forget that? If you didn't know then I'm telling you... I'm feeling lonely, it's killing me to see you like this, enough is enough, you just wake up now, I want you... I want you to walk with me holding my hand... because this journey is hard, I can't go through it alone, I need you or else this pain will kill me... please Rishu, I love you, come back to me" she cries her heart out.
"Madhu..." She hears a meek voice. She startles & looks up to see her husband, fighting to keep his eyes open.
"Rishu" She takes his hand in hers & places it close to her cheek, she felt a finger wiping her tears. "Rishu, look at me, please" she gently pats his cheek. He finally opens his heavy eyes lids & groans taking in the sight of his wife. She looks half her size. her beautiful eyes looks too large in her pale face. Her eyes were puffy & blood red in color due to constant crying. Her hair disheveled. She looks haunted & dreadful. He definitely didn't open his eyes to see her awful state.
"Sorry, Baby" he whispers shutting his eyes in pain for putting her in misery. She cries as relief spirals through her body. She leans forward & kisses his forehead sending a silent prayer to the almighty for giving her life back.
"Thanks heaven, you are back. Everything will be fine. We will be fine" she kisses his hand again & again. When she looks up his eyes were closed again.
"Rishu" she panics.
"I'm here, Biwi" he opens his eyes & frowns seeing her in hospital gown.
"You won't leave me right?" She asks worriedly.
"I won't." he promises squeezing her hand.
"How are you?" Rk asks softly.
"I almost died." she whispers back.
"Please stop with this crying" he groans.
"I'm sorry" she dashes her tears with the back of her hand. "I'll go inform our parents & the doctor too"
"No. Don't go. Be with me" he grips her hand tightly. She nods & sat beside him on the bed. They kept staring at each other in silence
"I love you" Madhu says softly breaking the silence.
"I know. And I, you. It's your that love saved me" he kisses her knuckles.
"I want water, biwi" he asks realizing his mouth went dry. She nods & takes a glass of water & gives it to him in spoon. Once his thirst was quenched, he asks her to stop & she wipes his mouth with her fingers & gently caressed the stubble on his cheek.
--0--
"Hello, Mr. Kundra. I'm your doctor, Mehul Chopra. How are you feeling now?" Mehul asks him fondly.
"Better. Thank you."
"Good" He says & looks Rk's medical reports.
"He is perfectly alright? Doctor" Madhu asks him worriedly. Rk caresses her hand with his thumb calming her down.
"The recent MRI shows no swelling so nothing to worry, Mrs.Kundra." he assures her.
"When can I go home" Rk asks feeling sick of being in the hospital bed.
"Not until you get well completely" Madhu says before the Doctor could answer.
"Mrs. Kundra is right. We need to keep you in observation for another two or three days then you can go home, If your vision gets blurry or get severe headache you should immediately come back here" he says. Rk sighs but agrees.
"You should take care of yourself too, Mrs. kundra" He advices. She nods. Rk wonders what was wrong with Madhu. When the doctor leaves, Madhu follows him out to ask about Rk's diet.
"Mom, Please stop crying. I'm fine" Rk says tired of seeing all the cryings. Radha envelops her son in her arms giving him a gently hug.
"Yes. You are fine" Radha takes his head between her hands & kisses his forehead.
"What's wrong with Madhu?" Rk asks his mom.
"Sorry Rishu, we failed to take care of her in your absence" She cries.
"Mom, it's okay. Calm down"
After the entire family taking their turn to meet Rk, Madhu fed him soup & gave him medicines & forced him to take rest when he insisted her to talk with him.
--0--
(3 days later)
Today, Rk got discharged from the hospital, finally back home, back to his room. Madhu helps him & he lies on the bed.
"Rishu, are you comfortable? Can I adjust your pillow?" Madhu asks Rk seeing his uneasiness.
"No. It's fine"
"You want something?" She asks.
"No"
"Rishu, you don't have headache right?"
"No"
"Is the AC cool okay?"
"Yes"
"Rishu..." Rk cuts her off placing his finger on her lips. "Stop. Stop this"
"What?"
"Stop worrying for me & just tell me what's bothering you?"
"Nothing. I'm okay" She whispers looking away.
"I know you are not. Look at me" he turns her to face him. "What's wrong baby?" He asks in a pleading tone.
"I'm absolutely fine Rk" she assures him but he knows well she was not fine but he didn't force her.
"Sleep"
"I have work to do" Madhu says him.
"I said sleep" he orders her. His voice compelling so she obliges. She lays down on the bed, he pulls her in his arms, she rest her cheek on his chest listening to his steady heart beats.
"I missed being in you arms" she whispers, drawing patterns on his chest with her finger.
"Me too. Now, sleep. You need that too" he plants a kiss on her head & they went to sleep.
Rk stirs & stretches out his hand to feel emptiness. He groans inwardly & opens his eyes scanning the room.
"Madhu" he calls. Within a moment, Madhu emerges to the bed room from the balcony wiping her tears.
"What were doing in the balcony?" Rk asks.
"Just standing there to get some fresh air." she shrugs & stretches beside him.
"Have you been crying?" Rk asks studying her face.
"Um...No" she lies.
"When you started lying to me?" he asks angrily.
"No. I'm not." she says again to reassure him but she knows he can read her mind & face well that was the reason why he was not getting fooled by her fake smiles & fake assurance.
"Well, I'm just scared... I almost lost you... if anything had happened to you... that thought makes me nauseous... my life revolves around you Rishu, You are my dawn & you are my dusk... without you only darkness will be there in my life. I love you so much that it hurts, Rishu" she cries hugging him.
"Oh baby" he hugs her back. "I'm here... I'm here... don't worry darling, please" he begs her.
"I love you too. I cant see you like this. Please forget everything." he pleads & wipes her tears & kisses her forehead lovingly.
--0--
"Madhu, I' m full" he says to her to stop feeding him but she distractedly takes another spoon full of food to his mouth. He holds her hand to stop feeding & shakes her shoulder to bring her back to earth.
"Haan..." she asks.
"I said enough. I full"
"Just two more spoon"
he shakes his head in negation & she places the bowl aside not wanting to force him.
"Okay, I'll get you medicines"
"Madhu, I'm starting my work from tomorrow onwards" Rk says holding her hands.
"No. That's so soon. You have been home only for a week & you are not fully well"
"Madhu..."
"No Rk... End of discussion"
"Okay, I'll listen to you. & now you listen to me" He says & pulls her on his lap.
"Tell me what the hell happened to you? You are not the Madhu I know? You are so gloomy... it's just not that you are depressed over my accident, it's something else which you are hiding to tell me"
"Nothi..."
"Don't say 'nothing... i'm fine' words to me. I won't take your lies anymore. You are worrying me... I know you are not happy... please unburden your pain to me" he says cupping her face. Tears stung her eyes. "I'm happy Rishu. I m really happy because you are with me now" she says & quickly slips from his lap out of his hold & runs straight to the bathroom. He closes his eyes in frustration & in pain seeing her in pain. He really had no idea what was cooking in her head. He even tried asking both their parents but they assured Madhu was fine. But his heart knows she was anything but fine. He needs to know the truth behind her sorrowful eyes. He walks towards the bathroom & knocks it.
"Madhu, open the damned door" he orders.
"You go sleep Rishu, I'll come out shortly" she says hiding her sob.
"You are crying" he says. "Let me in. if you love me" he uses his final weapon. She opens the door but didn't come out of it so Rk walks in.
"I can't bear to see you crying so please stop crying, Madhu" he pleads.
"I'm sorry Rishu, Really sorry" She cries hugging him. He have no idea for what she was apologizing. He didn't interrupt her but waited for her to tell.
"I was pregnant" she finally blurts out.
"Was?" he asks & finally realization dawns. "Oh God!" he groans in pain & hugs her tightly. A lone tear rolls down from his eyes which aches Madhu's heart more. She quickly wipes it away.
"I called you that day to tell you about our baby but then all this happened & now it's gone. I lost our baby." she breaks down & sinks down the floor holding his hands. "It's all my mistake I should have been careful but I was so worried for you. All the stress & anxiety took a toll & I had a miscarriage on the same night of your accident. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me" she begs him.
"Oh darling, you were worried I would blame you for losing our child? That baby is yours as much as mine. It would have hurt you more than the news hurts me now. I m just angry that you didn't share your pain with me. You were suffering physically & mentally alone." he kisses her head over & over again.
"I was feeling guilty for losing our baby"
"Oh please, You had a miscarriage. You don't have anything to feel guilty of."
"And I also didn't want to worry you. You are all I have, Rishu" she says softly placing her head on his chest.
"Promise me that you will never ever hide things from me. You hiding things & taking all the pain on you makes me worry. I was in purgatory all these days seeing you in pain. I felt like you have built a wall blocking me to come nearer to you"
"I just don't wanted my pain to touch you" she whispers.
"Nothing is mine between us... it always OURS"
"I'm sorry. I won't hide anything for you hereafter."
"Good. Now, enough of your apologies & cryings." he kisses her lips tenderly & she kisses him back loving the feel of his lips on hers. She felt as if a huge stone was taken out from her heart. She felt peaceful & calm in his arms.
"Come, Lets shower. Wash away the sad memories & start everything fresh" he says. She nods. Then he briskly strips out of his cloths & strips hers too & lead her under the shower. He pulls her into his arms & holds her, holds her for the longest time, as the water gushes over them, soothing them. Rk lets her cry in his arms & he too shed tears for their lost baby wishing & hoping they get back the baby soon.
"I want my baby back, Rishu" she says softly. In reply he kisses her head.
"Doctor said we can try for another baby after six month" she says.
"Hmm... we will construct a baby after six month" he says. She giggles hearing his terminology. Her genuine smile after his accident.
"Construct? It's not a building... it's a baby" she laughs. He smiles seeing her laugh. Finally he had successfully won his wife back to her normal, happy self.
"We will surely have kids. A girl & a boy as you wished & we will watch them grow in a proud way" he vows her.
--0--
"We should really get out of the bath." Rk says.
"I'm so comfortable here" Madhu was sitting between his legs resting her back to his front in the bath tub absent mindedly popping the bubbles in the foam water.
"Me Too. But we want to go down"
"I'm scared" she whispers.
"Why?" he asks confused.
"What if... like last time..." she chokes
"Nothing will happen like that. I m here with you, baby" he kisses her head. She smiles relieved.
"You should tell them" Madhu says.
"Okay! Let go give them the good news that 'We are pregnant'..." Rk kisses her lips before raising from the bath tub. After waiting & fervently praying for one long year they were blessed with a baby.
--0--
(5 years later)
"Mommy!" Rihanna, Rishbala's 4 years old daughter, shouts barging in to their room.
"Yes, baby"
"Mommy, I want to sleep with you" Rihanna says in her baby voice
"Come, sweety" Madhu takes her baby girl's hands & walks to the bed. Then she helps her daughter to climb the bed & she too joins her beside her.
"Where is daddy?" She asks Madhu hugging her.
"Daddy is in the shower." Madhu replies caressing her hair. Rihanna hugs her mom's neck tightly throwing her legs on Madhu's tummy.
"Gently baby, you will hurt yourbrother" Madhu tells her softly.
"Sorry, Baby Bro" Rihanna kisses madhu's six months pregnant belly.
"Mommy, did I too come from here" Rihanna asks pointing to Madhu's tummy.
"Yes, Sweety" She smiles.
"This big?" she gestures to herself.
"No, darling, you were so small when you were born & after eating too much of ice creams & chocolate you have grown big" Madhu pulls Rihanna's chubby cheeks playfully.
"Mommy, You will love Rihan more than me?" Yes, Rihanna have already decided to name her brother Rihan as he was a part of her.
"I will love you both equally, baby" she place the safe bet.
"No, Mommy, let daddy love you more, you love me more & I will love baby more" She orders.
"Then who will love me" Rk asks grinning as he walks out from the dressing room.
"Hmm..." Rihanna thinks for a while & came up with a brilliant answer. "We three will love you more, Daddy because you are the best" she releases her mother & jumps into Rk's arms. Rk laughs & soundly kisses his baby girl on her cheek.
"Now, sleep" Rk says.
"Daddy, Pee" she shows her pinky finger asking him to take her to the washroom.
"I want to sleep next to mommy" Rihanna demands.
"Sleep baby" Madhu moves to her side & makes rihanna lie next to her.
"Even I want to sleep with you biwi" Rk demands. She frowns.
"Rishu, she will fall off if she sleeps at the corner" Madhu tells him.
"I don't know. I m habitual of sleeping close to you hugging you" Rk demands like a child. Madhu rolls her eyes.
"Okay"Madhu moves to the middle putting Rihanna on the corner & madhu turns to her side to hold her from falling down.
"Madhu, Turn this side & sleep" Rk turns her around.
"Rk, She will fall down if I didnt hold her"
"She won't. At least till I sleep, you face me, I won't get my sleep if I didn't see your face" Rk says making madhu blush.
"Mommy, turn this side. I want to talk with my bro" Rihanna pulls her towards her side.
"Madhu..."
"Mommy..."
"Madhu..."
"Mommy..."
they both kept turning her to their side & finally having enough of their tantrums Madhu sat up on the bed.
"I'm not going to sleep with you two. I & my baby boy will sleep in Rihanna's room. You both keep your fighting here" she says pissed & slowly climbs out of the bed. "Come baby, we will sleep peacefully in the other room" She says caressing her swollen belly.
"Madhu..." "Mommy"
Madhu turns & glares at them & without a words walks out of the room.
"Yayyy... I love you daddy" Rihanna kisses her dad's cheek.
"This is wrong baby." Rk says feeling sad for madhu.
"You are such a sissy daddy" Rihanna teases him.
"You are a brat" he twitches her nose.
"Okay, switch on the TV daddy, let's watch cartoon" she orders.
"Yes, Ma'am"
"Daddy, Chocolate truffle cake is in freezer, lets eat nah" she says licking her lips.
"Your mommy will kill me"
"Daddy, puh-lease" She asks cutely pouting. Rk sighs. He can never win over his daughter.
"Here, you go. But don't tell your mommy that I gave you this at this time of night" Rk warns. She giggles.
"What's so funny?" Rk asks.
"Daddy, I won't say but it's you who always blurt out every single thing to mommy which I ask you to keep as a secret." Rihanna laughs while eating her cake. Rk too laughs realizing she was right. He could never hold any secret from Madhu.
"She slept?" Madhu asks when Rk slips in beside Madhu hugging her from behind.
"You awake" Rk asks surprised.
"Waiting for you" Madhu turns & smiles at him.
"Oh" he grins. "Yes, my baby darling slept"
"So for Cartoon & cake, dad & daughter kicked us out?" Madhu asks surprising Rk again.
"Madhu..."
"When did she made the demand? I didn't see you two whispering at dinner"
"Um... She asked me to take her to bathroom right? There she made the demand & it was her plan to fight for sleeping next to you" Rk says everything truthfully. Madhu gasps at her daughter's wicked plan
"She is smart" Rk says proudly making madhu smile.
"You are spoiling her rotten. You should not grant all her demands"
"Come on, Madhu. You know I could never deny her wish... you know how special she is to us...she is an angel who came in our life to make it even more brighter, besides she is a baby, she will learn things when she grows up. Don't go hard on her" Rk tells her gently. Madhu nods.
"What My champ is doing?" He asks her sprawling his long fingers over her belly.
"Asleep I guess" she smiles. "You missed his kick today" Madhu smirks.
"Champ, give daddy a kissy" Rk whispers to her belly. Madhu gasps feeling a kick,
"See, I got my kissy" Rk smirks proudly.
"I thought he was sleeping" Madhu wonders.
"He always get excited when his dad come near him... Daddy's boy" Rk smiles
"Both Rihanna & Rihan loves you more" Madhu says little pissed.
"And even you" Rk kisses her. She smiles.
"That's because you are a darling husband & an amazing father. We are lucky"
"Ahaan... I m lucky to have you three" He pecks a kiss on her lips.
"It still amazes me Rishu" Madhu tells him.
"What?"
"It's nearly 7 years since we got married but still we didn't have a fight"
"Oh God! You still didn't get over that? We do have arguments & fights, Madhu but we don't realize it because we are not letting the fight grow big & spoil our peace."
"Rishu, I want to tell something" She whispers caressing his cheek.
"Tell me, darling"
"You vowed that you will never snatch my freedom - which you didnt!
You vowed to share my responsibilities - which you are doing!
You vowed to take care of my parents like yours - you fulfilled that to an extend making me remind my parents that they have a daughter too to show their love!
You vowed to be mine, only mine - yes, you solely belong to me!
You vowed to keep me happy & safe - you made it as your life's mission!
You vowed to walk with me holding my hand in the journey of life - you never left my hand!
You vowed to love me & will not touch another girl - you have taken this vow little too seriously & touching only me, it's too tiring!
You vowed to give me a daughter & a son - you gave them too to make our life colorful!
You vowed to rise our kids in a proud way - I'm sure you will do that too!" She reminds all his vows to him which he was solemnly fulfilling.
"How could you keep up with all your promises? & you have never expected me to vow you anything?" She asks in wonder.
"I never expected you to vow me anything because I know whenever I make a promise to you, you promised the same to me through your eyes & you have fulfilled and fulfilling too sincerely"
Rk smiles & kisses her tenderly & whispers " & The LOVE we have for each other is the reason to keep up with THE VOWS!!"
@@@ THE END @@@
Hey guys... Do u all liked Rk's hopital yaatra?? When i was writing "Love starts after marriage" ff ... I thought of taking Rk to his sasural i.e hospital... Few agreed & few asked me not to show him in hospital bed... I went with the majority but i promised to my other readers that i ll fulfill their wish by showing Rk in hospital bed in someother story & here i showed... Lol😆
Hope you all liked this simple story!!
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Edited by madhurish - 10 years ago
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