Building His Love: A RishBala OS

BUILDING HIS LOVE

It was as usual a busy day for her. Staying in Pune, getting a satisfactory job; she was living her life somehow trying to cope with it. After the day she left her house there was no looking back. Nor did she even tried to contact him, even if she had to sleep without food or money. She did whatever it took of her to be able to help her mother's health expenses and her stay at Pune at the same time. She never told her mother the actual truth. Because she didn't had the courage to do the same. How to tell someone who loves you dearly and has saved you with everything she had, despite of the worst circumstances, that your life is nothing? That it has nothing except her mother to keep her going? That she had already done something that she didn't had to?

Moving was not easy. Never did she forget those beautiful memories they had together that night. Nor did she forget what he did. Nor could she ever. "Madhu... Madhu... she heard the voice of her boss. "Yes.. Yes sir she wiped her little drops trying to escape from her eyes. "We have an important customer and I want you to help her she only nodded. "Good, the bride and the groom would arrive shortly. Get ready with all the tools we have for the dress. She has opted for a build a bride he turned and went. She went inside the counter and started gathering up the things she needed to get brides into their dream attires.

She liked her job and a major reason was this. She got to see beautiful and glowing faces of the girls who got their perfect attires. She worked her heart out to give them because she believed in the saying shaadi zindagi mein sirf ek baar hi hoti hai'. The only smile she had was when she got to see the brides crying, smiling and hugging her, thanking for giving her the perfect dress. The build a bride' thing was her idea in the boutique. She decided to add or delete the details on the dress as and when the bride liked it. It was now her favourite job. Because she knew she never would marry. That day she destroyed herself for anyone else.

In her collection, the brides would mix and match different blouses with skirts and dupattas they wanted to. Her job was to put it on them in the perfect way so that it looked good. And same went for the grooms, she suggested the best of kurtas, overcoats, sherwanis, shoes, pagdis and whatever they needed to look their best in the most beautiful day of their life.

"Madhu she turned hearing the voice. "Yes sir she smiled. "This is the bride who wants to experiment your build a bride collection in her wedding. Try your best girl as both the groom and the bride's families are one of the biggest families in the country she looked at her boss attentively. "Also if this worked you will get a boost in your career. And mind me beta he kept his hand on her shoulder "you would not get a better opportunity than this he smiled. "I will do this, sir. I will do this for you she smiled. "Good luck beta he said and moved out.

She opened the newspaper to its first page reading the headline "The elder son of Mr Mohan Kundra, Mr Rishabh Kundra is going to marry his long time girlfriend Ms Deepali Kapoor. The couple seems to be much in love with each other and since the wedding is soon both seem to be really excited. The newspaper dropped as her hands shook. "Ri...Rishabh came out of her trembling voice. He is getting married and her fate has chosen her to make him ready for this. "Hum hi kyun bhagwaaji... Hum hi kyun.. she leaned against the wall as soon she slipped down. Placing her hands around her knees her she cried trying to get everything out.

He was near his window staring at the clouded sky. "Om baby he turned and saw Deepali. "Haan he turned again. "Baby, come on let's get ready. We have to get our attires.. Eeehhh I am excited she said excited. "Deepali please go with someone else. I have work to do he answered. "Not at all, you are coming with me and that's final. I am not listening to anything she folded her hands across her chest waiting for answer. "Okay, I am coming he sighed. He didn't wanted to argue with her anymore. It was already enough doing that. He was now done, ready to do anything that life brought to him.

"Sir, I am still telling you that don't marry her Bittuji whispered in his ears. "Not again Bittuji, I have already told you that I am done with this now he snapped. "Sir, but... he cuts "look Bittuji, it's done now. We are getting married, except it if you want or let it be, I don't care he turned back to his work. "Sir, kya hua hai aapko? After you returned from Bareilly, you are not yourself. Thousand times I have asked you but you don't answer... he stared Bittuji. "Nothing has happened... Now just leave he barked as Bittuji left the room with a word more.

Not needed to state but yes, he had changed after he came back. Things changed him. She changed him. Like it is said "pyaar hone ke liye ek lamha hi kaafi hai the same happened to him. That moment, that time was enough for him to fall in love with her. How can he ever forget that he was her first? That she gave herself to him without any questions. That for one in his life he felt warmth seeing someone's eyes. She was just perfect, the night was just perfect but he ruined it. He ruined it all after what he did. And he knew that he left her shattered, broken and ruined for life. He was a coward to do something like that with such a beautiful soul. And he accepted it but turning back was not possible because stepping into the shoes of the heir of the Kundra corporations demands many things from you.

But now even if he had everything, even if he had money, power and status. But he could never get his happiness back. He would never be able to love anymore knowing that he destroyed a life, his love, his only hope. Never will he forgive himself knowing that he did it wrong. She was pure, an angel who deserved to live a life of happiness and be treated like a princess but back then there was no escape that life gave him. And now when he has it, there is no way he could use it. She is no where surrounding him with her warmth. No more of her smile to light up his life. He was a wealthy man just for saying but deep inside he was empty, alone with no hopes of getting her back.

After a long drive they reached the destination. "Strings... Come find it he read it "nice name he looked at Deepali. "Not that nice, but I heard, they have a beautiful collection called build a bride and groom she started moving taking his hands "come baby, let's check he just walked in.

"Good morning ma'am and sir the receptionist greeted them. "Yeah, I and my fianc have an appointment with your designer for the build a bride and groom collection the receptionist started checking the schedule. "Yes ma'am please sit, I will call sir she stared with her phone while both sat on the couch placed nearby.

"Madhu... Madhu beta open the door her boss tapped the door calling her name out. "Madhu.. Open the door... The customers have arrived she heard him saying. She wiped her tears and washed her face making herself ready for facing her past, for facing him. "Chal Madhu, agar bhagwaanji yahi chahte hain toh yahi sahi.

she stared herself in the mirror. "If this is decided then face it. You cannot run now, do it for you, for maa, for sir and for everything that has broken because of him. Show him that nothing matters now, just nothing she talked to the image in the mirror giving confidence to herself. But it was not at all easy and she knew it. He was out, sitting with his fianc and she had a job of dressing his bride up for the wedding. She didn't knew how was she going to face him or how would she complete her job but she had to do it. "Thank God you came out. I was really worried her boss smiled at her. "Come on, let's do this he tapped her shoulders while she nodded with a small smile. They walked to the reception area as she was behind her boss. She never wanted the walk to end. She never wanted to face him because she knew how hard it would be if she did that.

He was in her phone checking his office stuff when they entered. "Good morning ma'am. Good morning s..sir he heard a familiar voice. He shifted his gaze up only to find her standing near him. "M.. Madhu he stood up. "Sir, ma'am meet your designer, Ms Madhubala Mallik her boss introduced. They stared into each other's eyes looking into them asking questions and finding answers. He was trying to find the same emotions that were when they met, but there was nothing. Her eyes reflected darkness as if she wasn't living.

"This way ma'am, sir she guided them to the area. "Madhu take care of the groom's attire, I would look at the bride's his boss Mr Shakher said. "But sir.. he cuts her "Madhu listen... The lady is very choosy and mind me it would be a hectic dealing with her. Besides she only wants me to dress her up because I am the head. So take care of Mr Kundra and I would deal with Ms Kapoor he said and walked before she could say anything else.

"How is everything Madhu? he asked not knowing how to start the conversation. She didn't answer. All she did was just walk out to the store to get the clothes for him to get ready. "Here sir, try these and tell me what you want and how do you you want the things to be done she answered. "I am not asking about these stupid clothes Madhu, I am asking about you. How are you? he snatched the clothes from her hand and threw them on the floor and some landed on the sofa. Still she decided not to answer. She went and started picking up the clothes when he grabbed her hand "Madhu answer me dammit he was frustrated by no reply of hers and being so close to her after months deepened it even more.

"What do you want me to say? What do you want to hear Rk? she looked into his eyes directly boring them into his. "You want me to say that I am happy or I am sad... Oh or wait.. Or you want to hear that I am broken and destroyed. And you actually got what you wanted... You wanted my body right... You got it that day itself... Now please just finish and leave she started walking but he caught her. He pinned her to the wall with his body covering hers "I still have the same feelings Madhu he answered. She placed her hands on his chest and dragged him away "I don't she answered. "Like hell you don't. Both of us know the truth Madhu, you still love me, you never left loving me. I can see that in your eyes he was not ready to leave her.

"You can see in my eyes now... And what was then when you left right after using me as you wanted to she shouted. "Madhu... Listen to me... I know it was my fault but I can help you now. Tell me what can I do... I am ready to do anything he held her shoulders tightly. "Leave me as you left that day. Leave me and never come back. Leave me and never show me your face again. Just leave me Rk. Just go she shouted. He stood there, not moving at all "you heard me, I said go, just leave, please she broke down crying. "Please leave like you left me that day. I know you can't live your life with me so just do what I say... Please leave she requested him joining her hands and her forehead leaning on her knuckles.

*******

It was her birthday party in her office where they were celebrating her turning twenty five. "Happy birthday girl her best friend Richa hugged her tightly. "Leave me or else I would die on my birthday itself she said tapping on Richa's hands. "You are a b**ch Richa said. "Oh thank you... That's like my bestie she chuckled. Everyone in her office wished her on the occasion, including her boss's friend. "Happy birthday Ms Mallik he shook her hand with his smiling. "Thank you sir she smiled back..

"I will go and keep it she said talking some files and walked towards her boss's cabin later that day. She was near the corridor when she felt two arms wrapped around her waist dragging her over a solid torso "Rk leave me. "Sir huh... Since when did I turn sir for you he husked in her ears. "Rk leave me.. It's the office she slapped his arms lightly. "What? You promised me yourself today. Come on Madhu... I am waiting since a year now he said kissing her neck. Shivers ran down her body when his lips touched her skin. "Rk not here she looked around to see if anyone is there. "Then come with me he said. "But office? he placed his finger on her lips "I have already handled your boss he winked.

He got up in the morning with her wrapped in his arms. He smiled at her looking at her face and placed a light kiss on her forehead. Suddenly his phone rang. He tilted to pick it up and moved out as to not to disturb her in sleep. "Hello he answered. "Rk I know where are you and what are you doing. I am warning you just leave that tr*mp and come home as soon as you can, or else you know the consequences Mohan barked. "She is not a tramp. Watch your mouth before speaking about her Mr Kundra he answered. "Either come home or you know what I can do. Get ready for your mom to... he cuts Mohan "Mr Kundra he shouted. "Get home son Mohan hung up.

Mother or Madhu; the choice was never simple. He loved both the woman equally. But he chose her mother. He got dressed, wrote a note and placed a five lakh rupees check on the side table and left.

She woke up trying to find him. "Rk she called him but there was no answer. She moved her head here and there to find him but no answer again. Then her eyes shifted to the side table, there was a note "I am leaving, don't try to contact me it said and with the note laid a check of five lack rupees. That was like a tight slap on her face. She was destroyed, she gave herself to him and he left. She felt used, she felt heartbroken, she felt pathetic. She cried and cried until her she ran out of tears. What would she do when she was left destroyed by the man she loved? Though she knew that they could never disclose it I front of the world, that he didn't wanted to show anything about her. But she never questioned and now she knew the reason. "Tu kabhi uske layak nahi thi she cried.

He knew it was his biggest fault to leave the cheque. But it was the only way to keep her away from him. To keep her away from everything that could destroy her even more. He felt like a coward who left her just because he was unable to fight his father. He knew it would hurt her but at least she would be safe unlike his mother.

*******

"Baby, are you done they heard Deepali's voice. He immediately dragged her with him between the curtains. "What are you doing? she asked him. He took out his phone and with one hand holding her he messaged something to Deepali. "Oh, I think I should leave Deepali left after reading the message as they go stepped out. "Mr Kundra you are here? Shekhar asked him. "Oh yeah, I had some fitting issues and also something left for the discussions regarding my attire so I had to wait. Besides there is a lot that I have to discuss with her he cleared his throat "regarding my sherwani and other things so if you could excuse us please she held her hand but she jerked it. "I think we are done for that sir. You can leave and thank you for visiting she entwined her fingers and bowed her head. "No, we are not done Ms Mallik, I need your advice and since I am the groom I need to build my bride too he smiled.

Indeed he needs to, after all Deepali Kapoor is the princess for the Prince and all she was a tr**p. It was as she expected it, just like what she thought. The cheque was a proof of what he thinks of her. And definitely Deepali was special and fit for being the wealthy man's wife while she wasn't. "Madhu... she got out of her thoughts after Shekhar called her. "Chalein Ms Mallik he asked her as she stepped in front and started walking. She knew his eyes were only on her while she showed him different attires and also explained everything. But she decided to focus on her work avoiding everything he did.

"Can I see the build a bride collection now he smiled. Leading the way she took him in the room where the accessories were kept. "Explain the concept Ms Mallik it was not because he was actually interested in the dress or wanted to purchase it. It was only because he wanted to see how everything looked on her. "Sir, in this collection we mix and match things along the others. We try to give the bride what she wants out of what we make the best. Here in this one we he cuts her and goes towards a lehenga "try this he hands her the dress. "Go on, I need the best for my bride he said after he got a confusing glaze from her. She went to the trial room but for once she hesitated. Though the attire was beautiful but it was not of her type. She never wore backless things and this was just that. Still she wore it and wrapped the dupattas across her shoulders to hide it.

"Oh you are ready he turned to her. Dressed in a golden lehenga she looked nothing less than what he thought about her. "Ummm... Wait he moved to her. He slightly started unwrapping the dupatta across her when she held his hand "I think we are done sir she said and moved back. "No we are not he held her chin up and again started unwrapping her duppatta *slap* "why are you doing this? I told you to leave but all you did was sending everyone away so that you could use me again. Why Rk? Why me? You could have got any girl to use, you could have slept with anyone then why me? What did I do to deserve such a pathetic feeling? Tell me... Please tell me she cried.

He didn't answered just kept staring at her. There were no expressions on his face, no reaction of the slap she gave him, just nothing was visible. "Okay you want me right? Come on, get me. Take me as hard as you can. Fulfil your wish and desire. Come on she moved closer. She wrapped her arms across his neck and stared in his eyes. "Come on Rk, f*ck me as hard as you did it that night. I swear I will behave properly, then keep money... Actually no give me ten lack rupees and leave as soon as you can... After all the costs have increased in these months she saw his eyes getting blood red. "Are you even in your senses woman? Are you even thinking before you speaking? he unwrapped her arms. "Kyun? Yehi chahte the naa tum? Tab bhi aur ab bhi. I am in my correct sense now Rk. I was actually a fool to believe that you love me. That all yo u said was true, but no, as usual I was wrong her eyes were still looking into his. "You were not wrong Madhu but she cuts him "oh yes how can I say that, you must have enjoyed that night right... That is why you left me the sum of five lakh rupees didn't you? her eyes were still looking at him.

"I didn't left them because it was your price or anything. I left them because I knew maybe you would need them he answered. "I would need them Rk? Didn't I already tell you that I was enough for taking my expenses. Didn't I tell you that I am capable of taking my care? And you say you left those five lakh rupees because you cared she chuckled humourlessly. "I never needed your money Rk, all I needed was you, your love , your support, your care and that was enough for me to live. But no, since I am not a princess how would I get a Prince like you are he tried to move to her but she stopped him "Actually you did it right, I actually am not capable of getting you tears ran down her eyes. "I called in your office but they said you left he stated. "I was fired. They fired me because they all came to know that I... I... I was you... your wh*re. After that I started getting calls from men ca...calling me to their homes to... her voice shaked.

How can she forget those calls? How can she forget those eyes who shouted tr**p to her and called her the same? "I left the city telling maa that I had a transfer she answered. "Maa, doesn't know anything? he asked shocked. "No, she doesn't. And what would I tell her? That the boy she regarded as her son left her own daughter after he got what he wanted? Or that she was wrong in understanding a person and trusted the wrong just as I did? she answered. "Tell me Rk why did you leave? Tell me, at least I deserve to know the reason she pulled his collar.

"Mr Kundra warned me that if I didn't return he would kill mom he answered. She was left speechless, she was wrong about him. He didn't leave her. "I think you should leave Mr Kundra. Your fianc must be waiting she signaled towards the door. "You know I am not he barked. "You have to. There is a girl waiting for you to marry her and I know what it feels to get rejected she answered. "Are you crazy? Dammit Madhu, I only loved you, I only love you. How will I marry someone else if I am not happy with her he held her close to him enough to let the two bodies touch. "No Rk, please go. This is not correct. You have your bride waiting for you. Tomorrow is the wedding and everyone in the city knows that sheer face was down, looking at the floor.

"Look at me and say the same. Look at me and say that you will not be effected if I marry Deepali. Look at me and say that you don't love me anymore. Look into my eyes and tell me that you are ready to let me go free from this beautiful bond that we have between us he held her chin up. She closed her eyes and bawled her fists and took a deep breath "I set you free from any bond you have with me. I don't love you anymore and nor will I be affected an inch if you married Deepali she said. "You are done. Now leave she again said. "No you don't. Don't lie to me Madhu. Look I am sorry and I know that I was a coward to leave you on such note but believe me Madhu, I love you... I really really love you he closed the distance between them as his lips ran to her for a deep and passionate kiss. She tried to jerk at first but he tightened his grip around her waist. She gave in finally letting him enter her mouth deepening the kiss. They pulled when they were out of breath.

"Please go and he finally did. "Waada raha Madhu, banogi toh tum meri hi he said before leaving. "Kaash eisa ho pata Rk but a prince and a common girl don't have a match she whispered.

She reached her house later that night. This day was hectic and very long than she actually thought. After all what happened she was drained, both emotionally and physically. "Welcome home Jaan she heard him. "He is here? No please not again. She was left with no energy now. "Rk chale jao please. I don't have the capability to fight with you now she answered. "Chala jaun, tumhe chod ke... phir se? Jaan insaan se galati sirf ek baar hoti hai... aur mujhse ho chuki hai... I am not going to repeat it again. I told you I am going to build my bride today and I was serious he answered.

"And I told you that you have a bride waiting. Go to her, please she joined her palms. "I have no one waiting he said bluntly. "What? she asked in confusion. "I cancelled my marriage with Deepali and the deal too he completed. "No, you can't do that. She was waiting to become your bride Rk. You cant reject her she pushed him back. "I didn't rejected anyone. I just told her what I feel. I just for the first time opened everything up in front of people about you. I already declared that you are my love he stared in her eyes. "No please you can't do that you would lose many things Rk. I am nothing except q common girl. I can't give you anything. Please go and marry Deepali. She is well suited for your status. She is someone who would perfectly suit you, not me she answered.

"Don't I know what perfectly suits me or not? Don't I know what's good or bad for my future? Don't I know who I will be happy with? It's you Madhu, it was always you and it will always be you. I love a common girl who just needs me and my love. I love that common girl who wants nothing but me. I love the common girl who loves me with all I lack. I love you Madhu... I love you Jaan and never will I leave loving you. It was all that happened in the past. Everything is fine now. Everything is fine, as we wanted it to be he leaned over his knees "so what do you say Ms Madhu Kumari Sharma, will you marry me? he asked.

What would she answer him. After all what happened was she ready to do this "Madhu... answer me Jaan he said. She was still lost on her thoughts. "I think I am not fit for someone as pure and good as you are he got up and started walking. But before he could move out she ran and hugged him from back. "I am sorry for misunderstanding you Rk... I am really sorry... she cried. She turned and taking her and in his he wiped her tears "it's okay Jaan he smiled. She hugged him "I love you Rk. I don't know anything beside loving you... I love you she wept keeping her head on his shoulders.

He looked at her as he wiped her tears "no more tears now. Let's start it afresh. Just you and me and she nodded.