Part 7
Madhu looked at herself as she got ready for the day, today she felt different, and she had not slept a wink at night, every time she closed her eyes she felt his presence on her and she couldn't sleep of that excitement. She wore a beautiful blue sari and was brushing her hair when she noticed the redness in her neck, she was confused on how she got that rash, if was not there yesterday, maybe she scratched her skin too much when she bathed she thought. When she descended the stairs it was late than her usual time but today is special and she felt like a new person today.
When Radha saw her climbing down the stairs she smiled and they finished the pooja and Madhu started to prepare the morning coffee and gave a cup to Radha and left to give the morning coffee to Rishab when Radha called her to check the cloths which were returned from the laundry, so she gave the tray to HP and asked him to keep it in Rishab's room and went to check the laundry and gave him the dirty laundry and left for Rishab's room.
Rishab can't contain his excitement as he came to his room last night, that was magical and beyond words to describe. He couldn't believe that its actually happening but now he know that even his Madhu loves him and is yet to realize it and she will realize it very soon than expected. He waited for Madhu to come into the room so that he can spend some time with her. When he heard the knock on the door he frowned and wondered from when did Madhu started knocking the door? He was shocked to see HP on the door with his coffee he felt sad that Madhu didn't come to give it as usual, just then his phone started ringing and Aman's name flashed in the caller id, Rishab asked HP to leave the trays in the low table and left to his balcony to attend the call, when he finished his call and entered his room he was stumped by what he saw.
Madhu was arranging Rishab's cloths in his wardrobe when a pair of hands sneaked on her bare waist from behind, she was shocked at first but her body relaxed and leaned into the warmth as it was way too familiar.
"What are you doing Madhu?" Rishab asked as he took her hair in his hand and smelled it. After removing the hair to a shoulder he started to nuzzle her neck with his nose.
"What are you doing Rishu?" Madhu gasped as he started to trail moist kisses from her nape to her earlobe and took her outer shell in his mouth and nibbled on it and whispered into her ears.
"Just getting my morning dose Madhu, why? Didn't you like it?" he teased her as he started to trail back kisses from her earlobe to nape simultaneously playing with her waist and navel.
Madhu gasped as he dipped his fingers into her deep navel, she felt hot and shy. She couldn't tolerate it anymore, so she turned and buried her head in his chest hugging him from the middle. Rishab was amused when she turned and hugged him tight, she is very innocent, that was when his eyes landed on her hickey he couldn't help but grin with a manly pride, and he has marked her as his. He hugged her tight to himself and bent his head to place a kiss on the hickey just as he placed his mouth on her nape the door opened and Sulthan and SIKKY stood gaping at the scene before them.
Madhu came out of the sweet web Rishab has wound around her, when she heard something dropping, she turned her head and saw SIKKY and Sulthan with their mouth hanging wide open and Sulthan's phone in two pieces luckily it was not broken just the back cover has come apart. She willed the ground to open up and swallow her as she looked at them she sank further into Rishab and hid her face in his chest instead of coming out of his embrace. Rishab was pissed off with the intruders, but when he took a look at the other occupants in his room he smirked and led Madhu who has now practically buried herself into his chest downstairs leaving behind the thunder struck siblings to deal it themselves.
As the Sharmas and Kundras gathered in the living room after a silent breakfast, since the Sharma siblings were yet to recover from the shock they received in the morning and Rishbala being in their own world oblivious to the surrounding, Rishab announced that he will take Madhu out for shopping for their new house and also it will take up a whole day since they have to practically set the whole house up. It was then that Bittu came up with this
"Radha, you know that we always considered Madhu as a daughter which we longed to have, so we want to take part in her marriage as her family, I mean like the Bride's side of family, we would like to marry her off as our daughter, and what do you say?"
Everybody were overwhelmed with his question, Radha looked at Madhu who stood there with her eyes filled with tears and shook her head in acceptance, just then the pundit came and fixed the dates for the marriage. That day was a Saturday and the next Friday was fixed as the marriage date and the perfect muhurtha for their wedding was morning 9 so they can have a small private wedding in the morning and can have a reception in the evening. Everything was fixed and the pre wedding ceremonies will start that Monday, Bittu dropped his bomb next
"Radha, since their wedding will be taking place in a week we would be happy if Madhu spends it in our house so that we can all the rituals as per the customs and will be married from her mayanak. In this way she can feel like any ordinary bride."
All were shocked by this, Radha felt that it was a good idea since they can have all the rituals properly and also this separation will drive them even closer. So she accepted it. Rishab couldn't believe that his mother accepted to his mama's request it's ridiculous, how they can think of separating his Madhu from him, and that too now when they are making a progress? But his maa is asking him to think from her pov that by this they can enjoy their wedding just like any normal couple. Ya that will be good he will experience the thrill of waiting for her in every ritual, and he can sneak into her room at his mama's house anytime he wants right? With a final look at Madhu who nodded her head expressing her consort he too agreed to let her live in the Sharma mansion till the wedding. After packing her bag and wishing Radha good bye Madhu left with Rishab for the shopping while the Sharmas will take the luggage home and Rishab will drop her off in the evening at their house, they also have to go for the dress shopping tomorrow.
The drive towards their apartment was silent with occasional glances from both the sides. The apartment was just 20 mins drive from the RM Corp Headquarters and was in a fully developed gated community. It had 4 apartments with each having 15 floors, 1 apartment is fully exclusive and most expensive and Rishab had his penthouse in that apartment. The pent house was 2 storied 5BHK, it was fully constructed and yet to be decorated. As Madhu and Rishab reached their penthouse Rishab opened the door and turned to look at Madhu with a naughty smile, he suddenly scooped her up in his arms bridal style and entered the house; Madhu squealed and had her arms around his neck.
"What are you doing Rishu?"
"Don't you know that husbands have to carry their wives across the threshold when they enter the house for the first time?"
"But Rishu we are yet to get married na then how will I be your wife now?"
"You talk too much Madhu come we will see the house and make note of the things that we will need."
"Ha Rishu this house is so plain"
"It's our home Madhu; we will be living here for at least 6 month after our marriage so you have to decorate this house as per your choice."
"Sach hai Rishu I get to set this place all by myself?"
"Yes."
"Then come let's go and make the list of items that we should buy for our house."
They spend the next hour discussing the things that they will need for this new house. Rishab had hired an interior decorator to help them set up the house; he arrived shortly after they discussed the colour theme of every room and also how to set the kitchen. After deciding on all the colors and furniture Rishbala left for shopping while the interior decorator started his work with his team immediately because RK wants the house to be ready before Tuesday and it is Saturday already.
Rishbala first went for electronic shopping a guy from the designer team joined them in their shopping spear; he proved to be very helpful since he had the virtual images of their house, then the proceeded to the furniture shopping, then the decorative and other home decors. finally they finished the shopping by 2.30 in the afternoon even the kitchen shopping was over after bidding bye to the interior guy they went for lunch, by that time both were tired, since they were in the mall they went to a movie so they can relax, then movie was a romantic comedy with lots of cute romantic scenes between the leads. By the time they came out of the theater Rishab was fully relaxed and Madhu was well red by the constant tease of her fiance.
They were on their way to go to a well known boutique to shop for their engagement costumes, when a bridal wear displayed in a new boutique caught their attention, they decided to check that shop out and it turned out to be productive, they had good collections of cloths and was run by a group of four friends who were just graduated in Fashion Designing. The youngsters were thrilled to see RK in their shop they know that if their creation is used in any one of the functions of the Raizada wedding they are sure to catch the eyes of the elite, the shop was new and was exclusive for bridal wears, they even had themed collections for every member of the family for every rituals of the wedding. Rishbala were truly impressed by the collections and the boys so he phoned his mother and called her to the mall so that they can select the outfits luckily the Sharmas too were with her so they too accompanied Radha to the shop. Every member of the family were impressed with the works of the boys, so they all decided to hire them as the costume designers for the wedding, they were so worried that they couldn't hire a well known costume designer for the wedding in such a short notice but now they were relived with the works of the boys. The 4 friends couldn't believe that they are hired as the costume designers of RK's wedding so they were ready to put their full effort to it.
Since they had themed collections to go with every functions of the wedding and for every member it was a quick job for the family to decide the outfits they wanted, the designers promised to do the fittings by tomorrow and delivered it to their house. But the main problem was with the wedding outfit Rishab didn't like any of the wedding outfits since it was not as unique as he wanted it to be, just then the designers showed them an unfinished outfit it was a full fierce red bridal lehenga with tiny little stones and silver and gold embellish works paired with a red net duppata, the enhance 3d finished look of it shown by the boys was satisfying for Rishab, he asked them to stud the duppata with real diamonds and gold threads and promised to pay double to get it done on the wedding day, the lehenga had a cream colored sherwani to go with it with silk red bottoms and scarf, Madhu wanted the embellishments in the sherwani in gold and diamonds. After finalizing the purchased and giving their fittings they excited the shop after paying a lakh in money and giving them a cheque for another 2 lakhs.
Since it was already late they decided to dine at the restaurant in the mall but Rishab wanted to take them to a nice hotel as his treat so they left for their usual hotel after confirming a family reservation. The dinner was fun with all the chit chats about the wedding preparation the couple were shocked to find that the venues and menus for the functions were already decided and they have phoned the important peoples and informed them about the wedding. After finishing their dinner they started to leave but Rishab wanted to spend some time with Madhu alone before they part for the night today she will not be staying at his house she will be away from the house without him or his mother for the first time.
As if they had heard his wish the designers phoned to inform him that the fitting were done for a dress for the bride and groom so if they could come now they can try that out so that they can start working on the wedding outfit, so Rishbala left for the fitting while the others left for home Sulthan dropped Radha at RM. Meanwhile Rishab was driving his car in the quite roads of Mumbai suburbs, it was just 9 but the path was surprisingly quite.
"Rishu, can you believe it we will be married by this time next week?"
"Yes, Madhu we will be married and will be one in all sense by this time next week." He gently held her hands over the gear stick and caressed it. Madhu couldn't understand what she is feeling, she had never thought of Rishab in any other way than a friend. He had been an integral part of her life for so long, she was comfortable with him. When he used to hold her before she felt safe, protected and secured but now her feelings are changed she feel desired and wanted when he touched her. His single touch sends tingles all over her body, his thoughts and naughty gestures sends a fire throughout her body, she feel like a molten liquid after his little missionaries. Why does she feel like that? Why are his touches different now? And most importantly why does she feel happy and like his touches the most? She has no answers for her questions now but she has to find the answers but how?
On look at her face Rishab knew that she is confused over her feelings and her body's reaction to him; whatever her mind denies to accept her body shows the acceptance, she literally melts at his touch. The only way to clear her confusion and make her realize her feelings is by accepting his love for her to her. He will make it soon, so that they can enjoy their marriage life. Let's see what the future has stored for them. After the fitting they left for the Sharma mansion on the way discussing about the wedding preparation, they decided that they will leave for their honeymoon after Radha goes to London, may be they can have a short visit to London on their way back from their honeymoon.
Once they reached the Sharma mansion the Sharma's were seated in their front yard so Rishab and Madhu went near them, Bittu informed Rishab that they will be going for the jewelry tomorrow so that they can pick the engagement rings and mangalsuthra as per their choice. Waving good night to all and kissing Madhu on her forehead which earned him wolf whistles from his cousins he left for his house, silently promising Madhu through his eyes that he will be there early morning he left for his house.
Madhu got ready for bed, as she sat recollecting the day's event she blushed more as her moments with Rishab flashed before her eyes. As she proceeded to settle on her bed there was a knock at her door, she opened the door to Leelavathi.
"Madhu betiya, I know you will be scared to sleep alone in a new place so I will sleep with you, is it o.k. beta?"
"Of course Masiji, come in we will have a gala time together."
"Pagali, sleep or else you will not be able to get up on time tomorrow."
As they settled on the bed to sleep Leelavathi started to speak again
"Madhu, we know that your marriage with Rishab is fixed so suddenly, are you happy with this?"
"I am very happy with this Masiji."
"Then why do you appear so confused and struck in between your emotions most of the times you are with Rishab?"
"Masiji, I have never ever thought of Rishu as my husband, but now everything that he does makes me happy, I thought that I loved Mukkund but I don't feel bad that he rejected me, I was worried that he spoke ill of Rishu. But this all is so confusing."
"Madhu, you are mad. You never thought of Rishab as your husband, you know a month after you came to live with the Kundras we came to visit, it was a week day so Rishab was getting ready to go to school as he couldn't skip that class, as he got ready ;you, who was only 51/2 then stood beside him giving him his socks and hanky just like how bhabhi was doing with bhai, you will do all that bhabhi will do to bhai to Rishab. You will send him off to school and will wait by the door with a water bottle in your hand to greet him in the evening same as bhabhi. When I asked you why you were doing that you told me that it was your right only your right to do that and you will never allow anybody to do that for Rishab. When Sulthan told that when Rishab gets married you will not be able to do these, you started crying, you made Rishab promise that he will marry only you and not anybody else and Rishab kept his promise."
Leelavathi felt bad when she saw the face of Madhu who looked like a deer caught in the light, she sighed and continued
"Madhu, I know you are confused about your feelings but listen to your heart it will lead you to your destination. You both grew up together, it was always love between you both right from the beginning. You were like two parts of a single soul, examples of true soul mates. Even a blind can see your love except for you. You have prejudiced this feeling as friendship and companionship, leave behind the prejudices and look fresh into the matter you will see a whole new dimension in your relationship. Rishab loves you from the bottom of his heart and you are no less. You have to just accept and understand that you actually love him. Sleep over it. Good night."
With these Leelavathi went to sleep, Madhu started to think of her days with Rishab right from her childhood, she could literally see the love blossoming in between them and even she too reprocate them, then why was she such a dumb person to not understand it, she remembered the thunderstruck face of Rishab when she announced her love for Mukund, she was sure that she never loved Mukund, she saw some shades of Rishab in him it was the only reason she choose him as her life partner. But now she will be with her Rishu for eternity, her love confession will be her wedding present to him.
Having come to a decision Madhu went to sleep with a peaceful mind and dreamt about her life with Rishab, while Rishab too dreamt the same dream from across the city.
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
