SITTING NERVOUSLY IN the middle of the bed, Madhu looked around the decorated room. She couldn't help but blush thinking about the night waiting for her.
The room was decorated beautifully with jasmine flowers and roses and added to that the aroma candles dimly lighted the room romantically. But the main attraction was the bride.
Madhu must accept herself that she's looking beautiful. Not just because of the bridal dress and jewels she wore. Due to the glow on her face.
She still couldn't believe she was married. Until this morning, she was Madhubala Malik, just a primary school teacher. Now, she's Madhubala Rishabh Kundra. Everything happened too fast in just a week.
Last week, as usual, she came from school completely tired. But her exhaustion flew away when her sister opened the door saying, You are getting married, Didi.' She was too shocked to acknowledge the person sitting in her living room. She stood like a statue, as her mother made her mouth sweet with sugar while her sister jumped in excitement talking animatedly.
When Madhu came out of the shock, she was again left double shocked when she recognized the person in her living room. He was none other than Mohan Kundra. The sole owner of Kundra Group Of Companies and also the school she worked as a teacher. She was stunned, as the Kundra, one of the richest and respectful people in the society, choose a girl like her from a small middle-class family to be his daughter-in-law.
She decided to say no' to his proposal as he was her employer. But her parents were happy with the proposal. It was like their fervent prayers were answered in the form of Kundra's.
Madhu was twenty-six years old and was engaged in the past. But that marriage had been canceled when that guy's family came to know about Malik debts and family status. In that depression, her father Shamsher Malik was left paralyzed. After that, whatever proposal she got, went back in the same way before it came inside. Madhu had lost hope but not her parents.
Now, she couldn't let their hopes down. When Madhu said yes', she couldn't cost the look on her mother face. Mohan Kundra thanked her for accepting his son's hand and blessed her warmly. After that day, everything happened in a jet speed from fixing the auspicious date and time for marriage without any engagement, sending invitations and finally wedding. She requested her father-in-law for a simple wedding and he did as she asked by a simple temple wedding with only their relatives and friends.
Everything went well. But the strange part was she didn't talk with her husband. Not only talks she didn't even see his face. Not before or after few hours of their marriage. Accepted she had seen him in photos. But it was different from seeing him in real when he was going to be her husband, right?
When Madhu asked her mother, she was informed that her soon-to-husband was not in the country due to a business meeting in the US. Hence, there was no engagement held. She didn't argue more even though she had many questions. She didn't want to make her parents feel ashamed in front of everyone with her questions. She thought she could talk with her soon-to-husband on the day of marriage but even that was not possible. Because the bride and groom were not supposed to talk or see each other faces before their marriage.
Madhu wanted to know whether the person was marrying her heart fully. The only way left to communicate with him was on the mandap.
A shy smile appeared on her lips when she thought about this morning.
Her heart rammed against her chest when she found the person marrying her in a few minutes sitting in the mandap, waiting for her. She couldn't see his face as his face was covered with a veil with flowers. She frowned but didn't question.
Sitting next to him, she felt strange as he had been moving continuously, pulling the Pandit leg, adjusting the veil. She panicked whether he liked this marriage or was forced. Then, seeing the sindhoor filled plate in front of her, an idea struck her. She drew a smiley face and wrote Hi' in it and passed it to him. To her relief, he too did the same.
"Didi! You can talk with jeeju your whole life. First, let him tie the knot, her sister, Trishna, said making everyone laugh. Madhu hid her face embarrassed but not before noticing the guilty look on her father-in-law's face.
Guilty? But why?
She sighed. Glancing at the clock, she was shocked. It has been past thirty minutes since she entered the room. But there was no sign of her husband.
She has to accept. Since the second, the mangal sutra fell on her neck, she started to develop feelings for her husband. She laughed remembering how childish he behaved during the rituals.
She was eager to see his face. Share their thoughts about life.
For how much time will you make me wait, dear husband? She thought.
Having enough of the wait, she decided to check. Lifting the heavy lehenga, she hopped down the bed. Opening the door, she went in the way she came before. As she was walking, she heard voices coming from a room. One of the voices was her father-in-law's Mohan.
"Get up, Rishabh, Mohan shouted.
Madhu stopped. Why is her father-in-law shouting at her husband? She wondered.
"Papa! Let me sleep, she heard her husband voice. She frowned.
"Go to your room and sleep. Not in this room. Your wife is waiting for you, Mohan said.
Madhu peeked in the room to find her husband lazily sit on the bed with his back to her. Mohan was standing at the edge of the bed with another man.
"What is a wife, Papa? Rishabh asked sleepily. Madhu mouth opened apart.
Mohan looked at his son exhaustedly. "Bittu! Mohan turned to the short-statured man next to him and ordered, "Make him go to his room. Or else- he stopped midway when he found Madhu outside the door.
"Madhu beta, Mohan said quickly rushing to the door.
Madhu was confused. She didn't understand her husband words. His words seemed childish. Is he really happy with this marriage? She thought, as her eyes started to water up.
"Madhu beta, Mohan said, standing in front of her. She jerked looking up at his face. He seemed tensed.
"Dad, She started, "Is everything alright? she asked.
"Yes, He stammered, "Why did you ask like that?
"Then why Rishabhji is talking like that?
He looked down. "Dad? she probed.
"You go to your room. You'll understand everything, Mohan said.
Madhu decided to not say anything further. If there was anything to talk with, then it should be with her husband.
Entering her room, Madhu decided to fresh up. She thought there was no need for these arrangements. By the time, she came out of the washroom, she saw someone under the blanket.
For a second, she was startled. Then she realized it might be her husband. She felt hurt a bit as he was not interested in talking with her. Not before or after their marriage. If she was unimportant to him then why did he marry her?
Slowly, she walked to his side. "Rishabh ji, she called. But there was no response.
"Rishabh, she called again. Hesitantly, she moved the blanket out of his face.
A soft smile appeared on her face. He seemed cute and innocent in his sleeping form. Before she had just seen him in photos. Seeing him in real, made her feel butterflies in her stomach.
Shaking her head, she decided to let him sleep. Adjusting his blanket and saying a silent goodnight, she moved to the other side of the bed. She settled herself and turned off the lights.
For a while, she didn't sleep. Various thoughts ran through her mind. She didn't know what was waiting for her tomorrow. The strange behavior of her husband and her father-in-law made her feel afraid. At some point in time, as she started to drift into sleep, she heard a loud scream.
"BHOOT!
She sat up with a jerk moving the blanket covering her. She looked around the room in panic when her eyes landed on her husband.
"Rishabh ji!
She switched on the lights and looked at him. He was shaking vigorously and hid his face with his hands.
"Rishabh? Are you alright? She asked, keeping a hand on his shoulder. But to her utter shock, he shoved her hands and moved away from her.
"Bhoot! Bhoot! He screamed pointing at her.
Madhu stared at him dumbstruck. She blinked as he hopped down the bed and opened the door.
"Papa! Bhoot, She heard him freak out.
Madhu quickly went out of her room. The whole clan, including her father-in-law and servants, were present in the living room. Mohan was trying to calm his son while her husband was hiding his face with a doll, continuously saying, "Bhoot.
Madhu mind screamed with an unexpected worry. Her eyes teared up as everyone looked at her sympathetically.
"Bhoot! Papa! Tell her to go away, Rishabh yelled cowering away from her.
Madhu looked at Mohan, who held his head down. "Is this what you are hiding from me? She paused, "Mr.Kundra, she said coldly, instead of calling him Dad.
Mohan expected this coming from her. "Yes beta. But I didn't mean to spoil your life. When I first saw you in the school, I thought you are perfect for my son. I didn't want to lose you. I accept that I hid a big thing related to him from you. But I thought-
Madhu cut him off. "You thought once the knot will be tied I'll shut my mouth, she gritted her teeth. Her eyes were red with angry tears.
Mohan was shocked.
Madhu continued. "Mr.Kundra. You did this for your son. But that doesn't mean you can spoil my life. If you have told this matter that your son is mentally challenged before the marriage. It wouldn't have mattered. But knowing this now, it hurts a lot Mr.Kundra, she said and shouted out loud, "THIS IS CALLED FRAUD.
Everyone stared at her shocked. Madhu looked at her husband. He was looking at her with fear. "Look at your son. He's calling me a Bhoot, she sobbed and ran up the stairs.
She felt betrayed. The person she married was a mentally challenged person and she didn't know. How can they hide this big thing me from me?
Without another word, she packed her luggage and came down.
"Madhu? Where are you going? Mohan asked as he rushed to her. Her eyes landed on her husband who was crying looking at her.
"I am going to my home, she said and started to the door, totally ignoring Mohan words.
She almost reached the front door when she felt someone hold her hand. She looked at the hand and slowly looked up at the person.
Rishabh held his ear with one hand and said, "I am sorry Bhoot, he was talking like a five-year-old, "Please don't go.
She couldn't help the faint smile that appeared on her lips. She said, "It's not your fault. Saying this she took her hand from his hold and left from there without looking back.
*********
Knocking on the front door of her parent's house, Madhu wiped her tears. Tears couldn't stop flowing out from her eyes. She didn't understand the reason for what she was crying.
Was it for her fate to marry a person whom she doesn't know anything? Or was it for the betrayal they did for her?
Her mother, Padmini opened the door and was shocked. "Madhu, she said opening the door wide. Madhu hugged her mother immediately and sobbed.
"Madhu, Padmini said worriedly, and looked at the luggage, "What happened beta? she patted her back.
"Maa, Madhu sobbed.
Padmini took her daughter inside and made her sit on the couch. At the same moment, her sister Trishna came out of her room rubbing her eyes.
"Didi! Trishna exclaimed happily to see her sister. But stopped when she saw her tearful eyes. Immediately she rushed to her sister, "Didi! What happened?
"Trishna, Padmini said, "Go and get water. Trishna quickly ran inside and brought water.
Madhu gulped the water but again continued to sob. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore.
"Madhu. You are worrying me, dear. Did anything happen? Did you fight with your husband? Padmini asked.
Madhu shook her head negatively. "Then?
Just then, they heard a sound from inside. "Your dad is calling, Padmini said. But Madhu didn't move.
How should she tell them that she was married to a lie?
"Trishna, go inside and take care of your Dad, Padmini said. Trishna nodded her head and went inside glancing at her sister.
"Madhu, Padmini tried to sound firm, "Tell me what happened.
"We are cheated, Maa, Madhu voice croaked.
Just then, Trishna brought her father in a wheelchair and was shocked.
"What are you saying Madhu? Padmini asked as panic gripped her heart.
Taking a breath, Madhu said everything to them. They were shocked and angry at the end.
"How can they do this us? Malik yelled. "It's my entire fault. I should have enquired about them by some means. If I am not in this position then I would have killed them with my bare hands.
"Now what is going to happen? Padmini asked to no one in particular as she gave into her tears.
"Nothing is going to happen. I am happy nothing happened to my daughter, Malik said.
"What are you saying, Malik? Padmini asked in disbelief, "Our daughter was married and left her home on the day of her marriage.
"That is not her home, Padmini, Malik said sternly, "This is her home. This is not called marriage. This is a lie. I don't want any further arguments. No one will talk to anyone in that house, he ordered.
"But Malik- Padmini was cut off by her husband.
"Don't say a word, Padmini. My daughter is safe. That's enough for me, saying this he turned the wheelchair and went inside followed by his wife.
Madhu didn't say a word. She didn't know whether she was doing right or wrong. The helpless look on Mohan's face and the innocent look of her husband, Rishabh made her think about them.
*********
Three days passed.
Madhu settled her pooja plate on her side and looked at the idol of God. Staying at home the whole time, her mind always went back to her husband. She removed everything that reminded of him but she couldn't forget him.
Mohan tried to talk with them but Malik didn't let him. Once when he came home, Malik made Padmini to the close door on his face. That time Madhu was not home. When she came to know about it, she felt guilty.
Trishna tried to cheer her. But Madhu couldn't help to think about them. All sorts of questions ran through her mind.
What happened to her husband? What made her father-in-law to hide such a big thing from her? Why did he choose only her?
As far as she knew, her husband was a great businessman. Before her marriage, she read about him on the internet. But she failed to read another article; about the accident occurred to him. That news came two years back.
How foolish of her to not know about him? She thought.
Sighing she looked around her surroundings. Coming to temple, always kept her mind at peace. But this time she was feeling odd. There was something missing in her.
"Give me,
Madhu heard a cry. She looked at the source of the voice and was shocked.
Her husband, Rishabh Kundra, was arguing with a person. Without any second thought, she rushed to him.
"Rishabh, She said as she reached him and tried to pull him back. But he shoved her hands and tried to snatch the prasad plate from that man.
"I want that, Rishabh said.
"Arey! Leave, pagal, that man shouted.
Madhu looked at the man angrily. "Arey bhai saab. Zubaan sambal ke, Madhu warned.
"Aise aadmi ko pagal nahi tho aur kya kehthe hai?" he questioned.
Madhu clenched her fist. "Rishabh, she shouted making him look at her.
"Biwi, he cried, pointing at the Prasad.
Madhu gasped in shock and blinked her eyes.
Indian Idol 16
