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Hi guys. This is Melissa. Posting my first story on Rishbala. 😳 Please read and share your views. It's just one chapter. Please let me know if you are interested enough to read more. 😆
Chapter 01
The Sun shone in the sky spreading away bright rays welcoming a new day. It was indeed a special day to 'her.' She had been eagerly waiting for this day. It was not an ordinary birthday for her, in fact a milestone in life. It was her 21st birthday. A beginning of a life full of new hopes and as well as responsibilities.
Even though she was all physically grown up to be a beautiful young lady, she was still the 'little girl' of her daddy. 'Happy birthday darling!' Her father woke her up with a gentle kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes slowly with a smile.
'Thank you daddy!' She hugged him back.
'I can't believe it's your 21st birthday Madhu'! 'I still remember the day you were born. That moment I held you in my arms for the first time.' Her father reminisced the beautiful old memories.
Madhubala Shamsher Malik was born to a wealthy businessman and an actress in Mumbai. Her father Shamsher Malik was a leading business tycoon in Mumbai and was the owner of many companies. Her mother Padmini was an actress and soon after her marriage she had to leave the industry. She wanted to give priority to her family life.
Madhubala was named after Padmini's favourite actress. Madhubala was called as 'Madhu' by her parents and friends & 'Mandy' by her fiance and best friend. Madhu was mesmerizingly beautiful with hazel brown eyes and a milky white face. Indeed she had the best genes of her equally beautiful mother.
As the only child in the family she was much pampered by her father. But she wasn't an ordinary spoiled brat. She had a charming personality like her mother. She had all the comforts around except the happiness of being with both her parents. Madhu's parents got separated when she was in such a tender age of 6.
Till date, she never knew what happened between her parents. All what she can recall is the constant fights happened between her parents. Her mother Padmini had a calm nature but it would not have been easy for her to live with her father who was money minded and did not care about family relationships.
Madhu has blurred memories how her mother used to cry in a corner and how she used to wipe her tears away. Some of those violent fights still haunts her. Sometimes it makes her surprise the immense love her father has for her. She cannot believe how her father made her mother leave from their lives. Whenever she used to question her father about her mother he never gave an answer. 'I will tell everything you one day, when you are all grown up.'
As a businessman, all her father wanted was to increase his wealth. At some point, Madhu felt like as if her father is running behind money. Madhu wanted to make her father understand but all of her attempts were failed.
'Happy birthday Mandy!' A young man hugged her with a quick peck on her cheek.' Thank you Akshay' Madhu replied with a smile. It was her birthday party which was organized by her father in a grand scale. It was held in one of the luxurious hotels he owns. The venue was decorated beautifully like a wonderland and it was indeed an amazing birthday party every girl dreams to have on their 21st.
Akshay was Shamsher's business partner Neeta's only son. Neeta and Shamsher were business partners over a decade. Neeta was managing her late husband's businesses. Shamsher and Neeta had plans to get their daughter and son married so the partnership will be strengthened and their businesses will not be in hands of somebody unknown. Akshay studied business management in London and is back in Mumbai and his mother wanted him to join them and start overtaking the business. Shamsher wanted the same but Madhu was not interested at all. All she wanted was to be a dancer. She was passionate about dancing.
Due to fulfill her father's wishes she had to study business management. She always found it boring. She used to hate her father's monotonous life. She never wanted to be a businesswoman. She was never attached to material things in life. All she wanted was her freedom and happiness. She found solace in listening to music and teaching dancing for younger kids.
After many arguments and debates, her father had to let do what she liked. After 2 years of wasting time in business management she finally started a dancing academy for kids. She had inherited dancing skills from her mother and was very talented.
'Mandy!' Akshay patted Madhu's back. He spotted her isolated in a corner outside the party venue.
'Hey! what are you doing outside?' 'Everyone is looking for the birthday girl.'
'Nothing.' She replied in a low tone.
'Why? what's wrong with you Mandy?'
'Nothing. Let's go inside.' Madhu didn't reveal him what she was feeling. She felt all these parties were an utter waste of money. If she would have known, she wouldn't have let his father arranged a grand scale party like this. She remember how she was happy and proud to have the 'best birthday party' among her friends when she was small. Madhu was the richest child in her class. Everyone wanted to be friends with her. She was that 'Cool kid' in the school. But when the time passed, she understood that all these things were just materialistic things. She understood the love and unity in a poor family is richer than a scattered wealthy family. There were times she wished things would not have been this much complicated.
Madhu felt that she is trapped in her life. She had a certain freedom, but she couldn't go beyond her father. Even the relationship with Akshay, was a forced one. She never loved him. She couldn't. She didn't know why. It was just fulfilling one of her father's wishes. She always wanted to raise her voice against his decisions but she didn't. She thought, it would be unfair to break his heart, for the things he had done for her the day since she was born. So she decided to sacrifice her happiness to her father's happiness.
Akshay was neutral at the beginning. But soon fell in love with her. Madhu has confessed him that she does not love him yet he didn't stop loving her. He knew that Madhu cannot marry anyone except him and he thought that she will start loving her after their marriage.
She cut her birthday cake and fed her dad, Akshay and her friends. All were having a good time except Madhu. She pretended to be happy but deep down she was missing her mother. She wanted to be alone for a while. She stepped outside.
Again Akshay followed her outside. 'Mandy come on! What's wrong with you?' 'What is this?' 'Why do you go outside time to time?'
'Akshay please! Stop asking me questions. I just want to be alone sometime. Please.'
'Hey. You can tell me if anything is wrong. We are engaged. And we will be getting married soon. I'm there for you always. Please may I know what's bothering you?'
'Nothing. But can you please do me a favour?'
'What? tell me Mandy!'
'Please leave me alone. Please. Nothing is wrong. It's just I want to be alone for sometime.
'Hmm.. as you wish.' He left.
Madhu was indulged in a deep thought. She always wanted to go to her mother. She always wanted to unite her parents. She walked forward thinking about past memories she had with her mother. In a second she collided with another person.
She was called to her senses with the loud noise of a breaking glass. She has accidentally hit with a waiter of the hotel.
'I'm sorry! I'm very sorry.' Madhu apologized the waiter.
'Um.. it's okay ma'am.' The waiter was staring at her for a while. He looked nervous. Then he hurriedly started collecting the scattered glass pieces of the broken champagne glasses. Madhu too started helping out him immediately as she felt very bad as it was her fault.
'Ouch!' a piece of sharp glass cut her palm, making blood ooze from it.
'Ma'am' are you okay?' The waiter inquired her. He was frightened at the same time as he knew that it was the daughter of the owner of this hotel. He immediately pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around her palm and pressed it to stop bleeding.
'Uh.. does it hurt still?' He asked.
'Um.. a bit.'
'Ma'am.. you shouldn't have..'
'No. It was my fault. I was thinking of something else and I didn't see you coming.' 'And sorry for this mess. Don't worry. I will settle this. I know when something like this happens your manager will cut off some amount from your salary. But these glasses look really expensive.' 'I will talk to the manager and settle this off.'
'But ma'am that wasn't my concern.' ' Even I should have been careful. But if somebody had seen you collecting those glass pieces I'm sure I would have been dumped out of my job.'
'How come someone dump you just because I helped you to clean the mess?'
He was surprised to see the humbleness of her. If it would have been someone else the waiter would have been fired in the next minute.
'Anyway thanks for this first-aid' She smiled.
'Ma'am. Wait I'll get a band aid for you.'
'No thanks. It's fine. I can manage.' Madhu left the place with a smile.
The waiter watched her going back, almost admiring her beauty.
'Stop it Rishabh! Focus on your work!' 'No matter how much you dream about her. You can't have her.' He scolded himself.
To be continued.. (According to your comments I shall start moving further with the story 😃)
