'SWEET DREAMS 1 (Completed) info about SD2 on new thread-98 - Page 62

37A: Affections

"Am I still your precious child, Mama?"

"Yeh kaisa sawaal hai, Madhu? Of course you are!"

Beautiful and elegant Devyani Sharma who took pride in her cool and calm demeanor looked unusually ruffled today. The cause of her distress was standing in front of her, her daughter, her only child, the one she had reared with such loving and tender care. Beholding her now in the guise of a young married woman was a very tough proposal and brought wistful tears to her eyes.

A quick glance at her face was all she needed to discern that her child was languishing under some major distress, which she wasn't willing to share with her mother.

Yes, my daughter is all grown up. No longer is she the little girl who wouldn't rest without sharing every aspect her life with me, Devyani mused, her mind fondly harking back to those days when Madhu would seek her out and narrate with pride the details of all the escapades she had been involved in, either alone or with her friends, and frequently in the role of key accomplice.

Her daughter had never balked from a dare nor had she demurred from confrontation sometimes to the extent of recklessness, like when she had taken on the lad Satish for eyeing her in a certain way. The incident hadn't been easy to deal with. The boy's parents had threatened to press charges but had grudgingly abstained when Madhu's father had agreed to foot the entire hospital bill. After all, who in their right minds would want word to spread that their son had got beat up by a slip of a girl?

Devyani sighed. It had seemed quite amusing at the time but perhaps Madhu had been indulged in a little too much, making way for her current nonsensical act!

I have to get to the bottom of this! My daughter's entire future is at stake!

"If you aren't my most prized treasure, why would I prepare your preferred Rajma chawal? Bolo!"

"Oh, Mama!" Devyani nearly fell backward when her daughter crumpled on her knees and buried her face in her sari, besieged by a flood of uncontrollable tears. Devyani wasn't surprised at the sudden outburst. She had been expecting something along those lines. She stroked Madhu's smooth head and let her be; she needed it.

"Ho gaya?" she inquired gently when the storm appeared to blow over and wiped her only child's face with the edge of her sari. "Now tell me."

Words came out haltingly, "I missed you and Daddy so much!"

"I know, I know... We missed you a lot, too! But you are covering up something...and what is this!" Mother stared aghast at her daughter's bare neck partially screened from view by her shirt collar. "Where is your mangal sutra and sindoor? What is going on, Madhu?"

"Oh this?" Madhu scurried to shield her neck while running agitated fingers through her silky hair. "I... I had to remove the chain at the security lines and forgot to put it back on again. As for the sindoor, umm..."

"This is unacceptable. You have become extremely careless. Look at me!" Devyani held up her own string of black beads. "I don't remember ever taking it off. If your Delhi wali aunt or anybody else gets a whiff of this...God help us!"

Her daughter appeared chastised. "I won't forget from now on. I assure you, Ma!"

My son-in-law has let this stupid girl run wild. I need to have a word with him, too! Devyani thought. "All right..." she said after taking a few seconds to simmer down. "Even if I swallow the explanation, which I don't, what about you not informing Rishabh before embarking on this long trip? That poor fellow, do you know how anxious he sounded on the phone? Is everything fine between you two? Has he been""

"No, Mama," Madhu amended with conviction. "Rishabh is the nicest man...husband any woman could expect to have. It's just that when I heard your voice and those phone calls..." She chewed on her lower lip. "I didn't pause to think. I just did what came first to my mind. He's not to blame at all!"

Devyani understood she was telling her the truth though not all of it. "And..."

"Don't ask anymore, Mama, please? I...I have committed a horrible mistake, and I wish to correct it ASAP!"

Devyani apprehended the urgency in Madhu's voice. "Why don't you call him now and apologize?"

So he may ignore me? Madhu thought and shook her head. "No, I have to return right away. Do you think Dad will buy me a ticket? Mine was only one way," she cajoled.

"Beta, you've just arrived."

"But I need to go back and tell him I love him before it's too late!"

"Madhu!"

Her daughter's face turned crimson.

Children can be so outspoken nowadays, Devyani inferred. But the passionate statement had eased her mind. Everything was going to be fine.

"I shall see what I can do," she said, pulling her daughter's head to her chest.

***

It was the weirdest sensation. Madhu felt like a stranger in her own house. Everything seemed so new and different.

She lay wide awake at 1:00 a.m. in her cozy canopy bed staring at the powder-blue ceiling. It looked plain, dowdy, and uninteresting unlike...unlike another beneath which she had lain imprisoned under the sturdy limbs of her husband.

She sensed her pulse skip several beats as the scene played back in her mind.

Under that psychedelic blanket of stars, she recalled acutely his alcohol-tainted breath as he had put her in a compromising position. She had found him irresistible, queer feelings had risen from the pits of her stomach, yet somehow she'd managed to distract him from his intentions. Perhaps he had let her have her way being what he was--- a consummate gentleman.

She had been playing games, fooling herself into believing she was in control of her life while in fact nothing could have been further from the truth. Because unawares she had been falling deeper and deeper in love with the man she so wished to hate.

What'd have happened if he had made love to me then? There wouldn't have been any of this...this craziness!

"Oh, God, forgive me for what I've done! But please don't penalize me. Don't take him away. I won't be able to bear it! It'll be fine if we can go back to living the way we had been, like make-believe friends though it will hurt a lot, but just to be able to see his dear face every day would suffice...I hope."

Kissing the bear pendent she thought more precious than anything she possessed, with hope still alive in her breast, she fell asleep and dreamt of when she had met her perfect stranger.

37 B and C below!

"Madhu, you have to dance on the very song I danced on at your Sangeet."

"Oh no, not that one!" Madhu said.

"Why not? I know it's one of your favorites. Besides, jiju isn't here either so why feel shy?"

"Please!"

"I insist or you aren't my best friend!"

Madhu's father had agreed to purchase her tickets on condition she stayed for a few more days. And though she had been least eager, she had accepted on her mother's advice" "It'll help take your mind off Rishabh." "an invitation to attend her best friend, Radhika's wedding. She was the same girl Rishabh had helped convince that getting married was the best thing one could do in life.

But Devyani's prediction had gone awry, for everything at the wedding reminded Madhu of him"the crowds, the music, the organized pandemonium...everything.

"Mere haathon mein nau nau choodiyaan hain..."

"Madhu! Look, she is shying away." (Loud laughter.) "It doesn't look like this girl is married!"

I can't handle this anymore. I have to get out of here. I better take it up with Dad myself! Madhu left the wedding hall and ran out on to the busy street, her mind a jungle of confused activity.

With her heavily embroidered skirt hitched up in one hand, she waved down a taxi. "Bhai sahib, sector 7, chaloge kya?"

"LA chaloge kya?"

She whirled around and stared stupefied at someone who had materialized like a phantom, a figment of her overwrought imagination.

Standing there before her, a large backpack slung over his right shoulder, sporting an arcane expression on his handsome face, was her husband of a little more than two months.

"Aap?"

"Yes it's me, Madhu," Rishabh said.

Yes, it was him, that low smooth baritone couldn't belong to anyone else. She blinked as her vision clouded over with saline mist, her most faithful companion in recent times.

Here was the man who had been responsible for bringing endless pain into her life...the good-looking stranger she had met for the first time on the day of their engagement when those piercing brown eyes had assessed her with one sharp glance and looked away. He was the same man who had shattered her heart into several tiny pieces but then had tenderly glued it all back together. There was no doubt she was crazy about him.

All her instincts screamed for her to run into his arms, but her feet wouldn't cooperate. She gazed at him plaintively, deprived of intelligent speech.

Rishabh didn't know what to think; the relief he was feeling right now was indescribable.

Finding her in this fashion, in the midst of a tediously drab and busy mundane street of the city he had spent most of his earlier life in, he felt as though he was in the presence of some divine creature. In the simply elegant traditional garb, which appeared to weigh down her petite frame, her beauty was enhanced beyond compare...like a lotus blooming in a murky pond.

He couldn't comprehend how in the world it had ever occurred to him to hurt this beautiful girl's feelings. How blindly cruel had he been to break her tender loving heart? Even if he had been thrown to the gallows for his deeds, the punishment would have failed to match the crime.

The perception of her infinitely dear face mellowed his troubled psyche; he closed his eyes in silent prayer. Thank you, God. Hope I don't screw up this time!

"Ki gal hai, Chulbul Pandey ji? Do you want a ride or not?"

The taxi driver's teasing remark interrupted the disconcerted couple's trance. The unfortunate man was then subject to a severe glare from Rishabh while the pretty girl next to him colored deeply.

"Chaliye. Let's go to sector 7."

***

"Jeete raho beta, be happy always. Looks like you found Madhu after all." Devyani reached up to caress her son-in-law's cheek as he gave her a tired smile.

"How are you, Mummiji? And Papaji... I hope he's fine."

He has changed most definitely, she thought. She had found him to be indifferent and somewhat of an impatient young man when he had accepted her daughter's hand in marriage not so long ago. Distracted...his mind adrift on stormy seas, he had gone through the motions like an automaton displaying the least amount of enthusiasm. She was quite disturbed but had kept her worries to herself, hoping it was nothing but a misconception of a concerned mother...and she was glad she'd done so. Her daughter was happy with him and so apparently was he.

She watched fondly as they stole furtive glances at each other. They were not talking much she figured, but the affection between them was unmistakable.

Her shoulders felt much lighter. I have absolutely nothing to worry about. I only hope it doesn't take them long to realize their love for each other.

"Madhu?" Devyani said.

Her daughter's kohl-lined eyes looked startled. "Yes, Mama?"

"Damaadji looks worn out. Let him rest a little before dinner. Take him to your room. I'll have Ramu bring the rest of his things up. Is that all right with you, beta?"

Rishabh glanced inquiringly in Madhu's direction before nodding briskly. "Of course it is fine."

As he followed her up the spiral staircase, he let his gaze drift; he had been here before but had not bothered to absorb the details. The entire dwelling, or whatever he could see of it, exuded a sense of nourishing comfort and peace, like a real home should. Unlike his own. He could see his beautiful mother-in- law's (whose looks his wife had inherited) touch everywhere"in the walls draped in warm earthy shades, to the classic yet practical furniture, and the myriad variety of plants in terracota pots, which practically filled every empty spot.

"You can see that she loves the color green," his beloved remarked with a knowing smile.

He agreed. "Perhaps you could dabble with the same when you come back home?" He looked eagerly at her and thought he saw her smile.

***

So this is her. It fits her to a T, Rishabh thought as he ambled around Madhu's room. It was odd, but he had never imagined her as a pink Barbie doll. Blue and brown suited her personality much better.

He gazed out of the large window, which overlooked the back garden. He could visualize the lake not far away. The tall bookshelf was overstuffed with a large collection of eclectic literature (he made a mental note to check them out later) and a huge medley of trophies (his wife had been quite the champ!). But what drew him right now was the assortment of frames, which crowded the top of the dresser.

He was arrested by them, held captive. It was a documentation of an entire life in pictures. He saw Madhu evolve from a tiny babe in her mother's arms to a strikingly attractive and smart young woman at the brink of the rest of her life. He picked the frames up one by one and examined them. He hadn't perceived her like this before. The smile and infectious laughter, which echoed through each and every snapshot, told the story of an entirely diverse individual than the one he had wed, not a shy and subdued girl but one who stuck her tongue out at the world and disarmed everyone with her devil-may-care attitude. He was enthralled. Then he erupted into spontaneous laughter upon spotting another picture where she was shown wielding a hockey stick the proper way.

"But who in hell is that!"

"That's my cousin, Sujal. We used to be inseparable," Madhu replied pensively.

"Is that so?" he said glancing over his shoulder; he hadn't heard her come in.

She nodded, stealing a covert glance from the corner of her eyes. "He even proposed a few times, but I never said yes."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Madhu interrupted it with a laugh.

"Haven't heard from him for a while though. He didn't attend the wedding, but Mama should know his whereabouts."

Don't you dare contact him! Rishabh bristled.

"Here," she said, handing him a white kurta pyjama. "I thought they might fit you. I dug them out from the bottom of Dad's shelf from his twenty-pound-lighter days."

He regarded them dubiously.

"Dinner is served."

***

"So, son, I understand soon you both will be moving to Venus? Hope we'll be among your first guests." Amrit posed the question before taking a hefty sip out of a tall glass of lassi. "Rishabh, beta?"

"Hmm?" His son-in-law hadn't been paying attention for obvious reasons. "Yes, sir, sure absolutely," he responded while still staring at his wife; the ploy worked every time.

Devyani giggled like a schoolgirl. "Take some more kheer, son. Madhu has prepared it with her own hands."

It was the best pudding he'd ever tasted...for obvious reasons.

37 C below!

Rishabh sat on the bed deliberating; it wasn't looking good.

Her entire life was so different from his. The contrast clearly evident today at the dinner table. The scene overflowed with unequivocal affection and caring.

His own so-called "home" had always been a place where formality was encouraged even amongst family. Talking was kept to a minimum, and merriment was frowned upon. He had come to accept it as the "norm" and had taken to spending more and more time in isolation. On rare occasions sharing his travails with his elder brother who, despite not being able to offer any solutions, had been a patient listener.

Madhu must have felt stifled when she came to live with me, he thought, berrating himself. And I didn't do anything to help either, just made matters worse by using her, ignoring her as if she was some kind of minor malady, which would disappear over time.

Damn! How could I've been so selfish, to not even consider her plight, having left behind a loving family with hopes I'd replace it with mine when I have done just the opposite! It's hopeless. He hung his head in despair.

No, Rishabh, you can't give up now after having come this far! Remember she's yours first...at least on paper. You can make up for everything. Just convince her to come back with you and start over! His face lit up with hope again. Yes... But how?

He pulled out a book from the bottom of the shelf for the sake of something to do; the title announced, The Devil's Wife. Interesting.

"You can't read that!" She snatched it from his hand. "It's nothing but frivolous drivel reserved for adolescent girls...utter trash!"

"Really? I wasn't aware of such a category. I should definitely read it," he said, approaching closer, hungering for her touch. Then backing her up against the wall, holding her prisoner with his eyes, he reached behind for the book.

"No!" She fought, clutching it tighter. He tugged it out of her grasp. "Gotcha!"

Then those very same eyes swept over her, leisurely"taking their time, checking out the vermillion mark on her forehead, her large luminescent eyes and full trembling lips, pink cheeks flushing a shade deeper, the wild uneven pulsation at the base of her neck, pausing for several moments over the black beaded necklace, then proceeding lower.

Feeling vulnerably exposed, she hastened to adjust her transparent white scarf, but it slid off her shoulders and drifted to the floor.

He looked pleased.

With a lump forming in her throat, she mumbled, "I am..."

"I..." He paused. "You were saying?"

"You first..." She felt choked.

He looked down at his feet. "I deeply regret""

"What?"

"I...regret..." He hesitated again.

Oh no! He wants to call it quits but is not saying it outright because he has a heart of gold. He travelled all the way just to break it to me gently. I can't let that happen!

"I..."

"Hush!" She pushed him on to the bed. "You need to sleep! You are having trouble even constructing proper sentences. The condition's called jet lag."

He stared dumbfounded as she tucked him in and gave his nose a playful tweak. "We'll resume our talk in the morning...all right?"

***

"Ab jaake so jao! I can't stay awake with you any longer!" her mother said, suppressing a yawn before aiming for her bedroom.

Madhu found her husband fast asleep, looking innocently beautiful like a cherub, his head buried in her bear, Chocolate's stomach; she wished it was hers instead. He flopped over, and she saw that his buttons were undone"her father's shirt being a size too small. She bent low to plant a kiss on his bare skin.

Oh my god, what am I doing? What will he think of me? Stupid, stupid girl! You've managed to ruin it all by your impulsive shenanigans and now you want him to take you back. How can he? You are done, Madhu, you're finished!

She clamped her mouth shut with the palms of her hands, and as tears came streaming down her face, she ran out of the room up the stairs to the open terrace where she let out a loud wail. She cried hard, but the pressure in her chest wouldn't get any lighter. "So this is it, the end of Madhu's life as we all see it. But I deserve it cause I'm the worst kind of bitch. I've made him suffer, extracted my pound of flesh. I've taunted and teased him endlessly, and he has borne it all without any complaint. Instead, he loved me in return and I..." She doubled over, her stomach hurting from the violent spasms.

"Please. I promise not to do so ever again if he'd just give me another chance!"

"Madhu?"

She twisted around, scraping her knees. "Rishabh, I'm sorry..."

"Hush! You are rambling." He scooped her up in his strong arms and carried her back down to her room where he deposited her gently on the bed.

"I'm not tired. I need to tell you something."

"Don't speak." A restraining finger sealed her mouth, "You're so tired you don't even know what you want to say. The condition's called desynchronosis caused by an alteration of the body's circadian rhythms by rapid long distance transmeridian travel on a jet plane."

She blinked. "What?"

"There, you see! These are the signs"when a smart and beautiful girl like you starts making foolish remarks."

"But I'm not!"

"I happen to be an expert," he asserted, laying himself down beside her. "And one of the remedies is to shut up and listen to what your husband says."

She sighed yet persisted. "I can't understand a word of what you just said, but I want to tell you I'm sorry."

"If you repeat that again, I'll be very annoyed!"

"Please don't say so," she beseeched, her tear-streaked face distressed.

He smiled, stroking her cheeks tenderly. "It is I who should be sorry."

She shook her head in disagreement.

"Yes," he persevered. "Sorry for giving you so much pain, for taking away your smile, for deceiving you from day one, for not carrying through with my vows. Despite all of that, you hung on with me agreeing to stay when I asked you. You didn't leave."

Placing an arm around her waist, he drew her close. She buried her face into Chocolate unsure of what to expect next.

"Look at me, Madhu. I don't blame you at all for running away, who'd want to live with a man like me?" Rishabh said.

"No. You've been so wonderful. It's just that, I..." She grimaced.

Oh God, she's willing to give me a chance!

"Don't even talk about that woman. She's evil! I promise upon my life she'll never"I'll never hurt you again...ever!" he declared with ferocity.

"But you haven't hurt me. You've been so generous and kind. It's just me..."

"Now what did I tell you?" He frowned, appearing to scold her. "Tonight I want to come clean. I want to stop talking to myself, pretending you can hear me." Her hand was snugly enveloped in both of his. "I used to think marriage was something you did to please society, and kids were the invariable byproduct." A short dry laugh ensued. "But being with you, watching your family, has changed my opinion entirely. It is something much greater, a bond two souls share for a lifetime, one I want to share with you if you'll allow me."

She was relieved. He still wanted her.

"Thanks for marrying me though."

"Why?" she inquired.

"It has taught me there is much more to life than mere breathing."

Flushing with pleasure, she hid her face in her husband's shoulder. Chocolate was tossed aside.

He grinned. It was working. He wrapped his arms tight around her. "Hug me."

She complied, closing her eyes, holding her breath; she could feel her heart thudding against his, beating in synchrony.

"Oh, Madhu," he groaned, weaving fingers through her hair and placed a tender kiss on her smooth forehead. "I want to die tonight and arrest this moment forever. It wouldn't matter if I don't see morning again cause I'd be where I've always longed to be"in your arms."

tbc

PS: I'm approaching the end of this story. Please comment if you wish to read Part 2 'Now and Forever' which was published today. I will be posting it on my blog exclusively for those who promise to comment in at least a few words.

Thanks!

S