15: Reactions
Madhu and Rishabh stood in front of each other in an awkward silence. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to ventilate her insides. Then appearing to have made up her mind, she stepped up to him, grabbed the coffee cup from his hand, and marched out of the room.
"Hey, but I'm not done yet," he called after her in vain.
There was a loud clatter as the cups were violently dumped in the kitchen sink, the sound of a brief run of water from the tap, and a few seconds later he heard the front door close with a decisive bang.
"God! This girl's bent on driving me insane!"
He hurried into the living room and for sure she had left. Her sneakers were missing and so was her cell phone. Thank heavens! But she had left her wallet behind; she won't go far, he surmised. Dropping down on the sofa, he held his head in his hands. "Is this what I want to live with, the rest of my life?"
He smiled shaking his head slowly in resignation. "Yes, I'm pretty sure of it now. Might as well get used to her ways."
Glancing at the clock, he estimated he'd give her a couple of hours, hoping by then she would have walked long enough to be willing to listen to reason.
But this time, Madhu didn't walk, she ran.
She ran"away from her feelings and warped-up emotions, away from herself and what she feared she had become. She ran to escape the truth.
She paused at the bus stop where she had met Sunshine but didn't find her there, and it concerned her. She had developed an affinity for the elderly woman. Perhaps she has a date today, and old or not, she deserves all the happiness she can get.
With a smile, Madhu thanked her silently. Sunshine had taught her a very important lesson"live life to the fullest and with no regrets. It was something she had to remind herself of constantly. I have to achieve that goal before it's too late.
She turned right at the corner, then continued straight ahead following the route of the Orange line bus. It was a long, seemingly never-ending boulevard, which changed its name from Rosemead to Orange Grove as it changed its character, twisting and curving before straightening out again.
The road's like me, she mused. It reflects the way I've been trying to fool myself by assuming the guise of Bee.
I am still the same young and vulnerable girl who had come here seeking to win undying love from her husband. But he ruthlessly killed the dream, and now after I had allowed the wound to scab over, he has laid it open again, so it feels as fresh as the day it was first inflicted.
The street signs grew blurry as tears filled her eyes, and she waited for the traffic light to turn green at the crosswalk.
No, he cannot do this to me, he cannot be so mean. He was pretending, that's all.
But it had felt so real. The way he had looked at her, the pressure of his fingers on her skin, the words he had spoken"everything seemed so sincere. And for one"for just one ludicrous moment"she wondered, what would it feel like if she let him make love to her, the way only a man could love a woman?
She stopped in her tracks, dazed and breathless. "No, Madhu! Stop daydreaming. Banish those thoughts from your mind. They are sinful, taboo."
But the tiny inner voice persisted. They are not. You are wedded to him and physical intimacy is a natural consequence.
"He doesn't love me, and I believe there can be no intimacy without love and trust."
But he did say he was done with Des. Didn't he mean it?
"He is a player. Someone who toys with the hearts of young and innocent women like me."
But there has been no hint of misbehavior. He has been nothing but the perfect gentleman since you met, she argued with herself.
That's how these guys work, Madhu, slowly. Do I know anything about him except what he has told me? Am I really sure this Des is a done deal?
"No, I'm not." She stopped again, at once rattled and afraid. "I don't know anything at all. I haven't even met her. They may pick up from where they left off after I'm gone, leaving me holding the baby.
"Oh god! What a fool I am. I was almost ready to be the sacrificial lamb at the altar of Rishabh and Des!"
She sat down prostrate on a vacant sidewalk bench, realization hitting her all at once. He is indeed very clever, but I am no less. "Madhu Sharma will get you for this, Mr. Rishabh Ahuja." Her face lit up; this is going to be exciting.
Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream and saw a small child shoot out from a store behind her and launch himself right onto the street. She saw nobody following behind. Jumping off her seat, she raced after the boy and plucked him out of the way of the oncoming traffic. Accompanied by the sounds of screeching tires and brakes, she ran back to the store with the child struggling in her arms and marched inside with the purpose of giving the owners a piece of her mind, when she was nearly knocked over by someone tall and spare heading in the opposite direction. "I don't want another penny from you, darling sis, and don't expect me to be back any time soon!" The lanky person announced loudly before blundering out onto the street, shouldering her aside without as much as a sideways glance.
Oh no, he's the nickel guy, she thought, her eyes following as his long legs carted him swiftly away.
"Hey wait! Your five cents!" But I don't have any money. A quick dig into her pockets confirmed that fact.
"Surjit! Surjit! Kithe chala gaya?" A woman called screaming from inside the store.
"Mamaa!" the struggling bundle in her arms yelled back. Surjit? Madhu frowned at the little boy who had almost succeeded in slipping out of her grasp.
"No you don't! Not until I tell your mother a thing or two," she said, placing him firmly on the large counter of what looked like a medium-sized convenience store.
"Surjit! My son!"
A harried-looking young Asian woman popped out of the back. Her weary and drawn face made it appear as though she carried the weight of the entire world on her shoulders. "What are you doing with him? Let him go!" she shouted as soon as she saw the boy in Madhu's grip.
"Madam, if it wasn't for me today, you would be singing a different tune."
"What do you mean?"
"Your boy had run out onto the street and thank heavens I was there to rescue him, or else..." You'd be preparing for a funeral! Madhu opted to not rub it in.
"Surjit! Oh this boy will have my life one day!" The young woman let out a frustrated sob. "I don't know what to do with him. Thank you. I'm so sorry I was rude. It has been so difficult lately with my husband sick and me having to manage on my own...and so many other things..." Her voice trailed off as she gazed forlorn into space.
Feeling a sudden outpouring of sympathy toward this woman who was barely a few years older than her yet who already seemed to have her platter of misery spilling over, Madhu sensed her anger melt away. "I'm sorry for your situation, but do keep a better eye on your son in the future."
The young woman smiled. "I will. You look like you are from back home. I am Sanjana Singh, the owner of this store."
"I am Madhu or Bee as I sometimes like to call myself," Madhu replied with a short laugh.
"Hi, Madhu, Bee." Sanjana seemed amused. "Hmm...interesting. Do you want a drink or something? You look tired. Have you been running?"
Yup, running from someone dangerous. "I could do with a drink of water, then I should get going. My...friend is waiting for me."
"Do stop by sometime. I'd love the company. It can get very lonely here. And yes, thank you so much for saving Surjit. I don't know how to express my gratitude enough."
"You don't have to say anything." Madhu put her arms around Sanjana's shoulders who hugged her right back. "I'll surely stop by." She waved while stepping out of the store. She had found a kindred spirit.
I have to come back anyway. I still owe that nickel.
Her phone buzzed loud in her pocket, jolting her out of her musings. It was the first call ever that she had received, and it was from him. She recognized she'd almost forgotten the original intent of her mission. Schooling herself to sound as carefree as possible, she answered, "What's up, Rishabh?"
"It's been two hours, Bee."
She sensed a sudden thrill at the sound of his voice, the smooth tones floating like a caress into her ear.
"What does that mean? It's not 7:00 p.m. yet," she retorted, swamped by an irresistible urge to taunt him.
"Damn you, Madhu! I will...I have had too much of this!" She could imagine him smoldering with vexation. It made her laugh.
"My poor Grey. Angry at your Bee? I was teasing. C'mon, be a sport. Smile for a change."
Meanwhile in the apartment, Rishabh stared at the phone in disbelief. He couldn't believe this was the very same girl who had been living with him for the past five weeks. Was she becoming a baffling enigma or he was going mad? Perhaps I should consult a shrink!
He shook his head in an attempt to clear it. I will not lose my cool no matter what she does. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Your dad called."
"What? And you are telling me now!"
He grinned. "I tried to call you earlier, but you wouldn't pick up the phone, Ms. Bee!"
There was a long pause.
"Uh...huh. I guess I didn't hear it ring. Did you complain to him about me?"
The clever bitch, apologies and aggression in the same breath! Rishabh thought. He attempted to cover his amusement with injured irritation, "Why would I do so and get myself into trouble? It was your idea, so handle it yourself. By the way, he is on a business trip and called to check in. He also wanted to make sure you're behaving."
"Oh yes he was!"
Rishabh looked up and saw Madhu stride in angrily through the apartment door. "He thinks way too highly of his damaadji! Time I showed him your true colors. You...!" She looked away. He could sense her on the brink but too proud to shed tears.
Seized by an overpowering need to touch her, he walked up and took her hands gently in his. "I was kidding. He said nothing along those lines. He loves his little girl more than anything else in the world."
"Are you telling me the truth?" Her big eyes, which had now transformed into pools of liquid black, posed the simple question.
"Yes. Your Rishabh would never lie to you," he assured her, taking the vital first step. He couldn't keep his silence any longer.
Time stood still. For a brief blissful moment, he even believed he saw a glimpse of submission in those lovely eyes. Perhaps it was his flight of fancy.
"No! Don't try to divert me from my purpose. Remember, we don't have much time left to convince my parents that we hate each other," she said, removing her hands from his grasp.
This is going to be a long uphill task, he thought and sighed.
"All right, I needed to tell you something, but you aren't in an amenable mood. Get ready, we are going out for lunch and then to see some sights or spawn the wrath of your precious dadamoni and di!"
"But I am always in a receptive mood for you, sweetheart!" Her voice dropped to a seductive whisper as she scooted closer.
An abrupt surge of excitement rushed through his being. Was she indeed melting? Could this be true?
"Gotcha!" She flung her head back, laughing merrily. "I was just pretending!"
"You had me almost fooled there." The words escaped his mouth before he could clamp it shut.
His gaff didn't escape her notice as she eyed him perceptively. "Then I am a worthy student of a great master. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes."
Rishabh collapsed in a chair, trying to will control over his erratic respirations. Wow! It's obvious she is playing with me. He grinned. Life is definitely taking an exciting turn. Can't wait to see what happens next!
tbc
Next: The game heats up 😉
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