" Many of u think that Madhu took her revenge after 7 years.. its not exactly that its Madhu's attempt to remind RK of who used to be... an attempt in which she got successful"
PART 6
Rishabh parked the car and they got down. Rishabh still confused while Madhu had put on a wide smile on her face. As they entered the corridoor of the private ward of the hospital, a small girl came running towards them with her arms stretched and Madhu leaned down to pick her up. Srishti didnt shout her usual greet as she was taught by now not to speak in high volume in the hospital. The girl gave Madhu a big kiss on her cheek and Madhu returned the kiss back.
Rishabh all this while was unable to comprehend things. Does Madhu have a daughter? He could see the way the little girl came running towards her and Madhu's face had also brightened many shades seeing her. He could see the two talking in husky voices with Madhu asking about her day and she was giving her all details about her school. I am sure her name is Miss Madhubala then... ohh she could be divorced or widowed. But Madhu never mentioned it. Rishabh was getting apprehensive now thinking of Madhu with a daughter. okay so whatever it is she is not married at this time and thats for sure. That was what Rishabh decided in the end not knowing if it was the way things presented to him made him come to that conclusion or because his heart wanted to believe that.
Rishabh's trail of thoughts was broken when he felt a pair of eyes scrutinising him very intently. Srishti tried her best to recognise him. And at last gave up and shook her head vigorously in a negative. While Madhu giggled at her. Srishti looked at her confused. A smile broke on Rishabh's face seeing the baby girl. She is so cute.
"Srishti... meet RK uncle.. my friend and RK meet.."
"SRISHTI... I know... " Rishabh said confidently looking at Srishti while Srishti was really impressed with her maasi's friend. She loooked at him delighted.. "You know me...??" Srishti almost exclaimed keeping her hands on her chest.
"Of course... who would not know a sweet girl like you..." Rishabh said in a matter of fact tone. Madhu smiled seeing the two.
"come... lets go inside."
The three walked in. Rishabh still trailing behind Madhu. As they came to a turn in corridoor, they saw a woman seeing their way as if waiting for someone. Seeing them a smile broke on her face. "Where were you Madhu.. its been late... You should have been here half hour back"
"Sorry ma... but that stupid auto broke down half way. Such an idiot." Madhu said not knowing whether she was abusing the driver or the auto itself.
"Its okay but you could have called me... dont be so careless.."
"Sorry ma..."
Padmini now was looking at Rishabh confused while Rishabh now was feeling uneasy because of padmini's confused look at him. He was waiting for Madhu to introduce him... he was almost glaring at her now for not coming to his rescue. Madhu noticed the awkwardness between the two and almost giggled at the two.. "Oh ma... This is RK..." she looked at her mother confidently. Padmini looked at her even more confused while RK intensified his glare.
Madhu looked at the two disappointedly.. "ohh ma.. this is really embarrassing... He is Rk... how can you not... ohhoo ma... The Devil RK..."She looked at her mother with delight and accomplishment on her face that at last she got how to remind her mother.
"Ohhh RK... ohh i am so sorry beta... it just slipped my mind..." Padmini says almost apologizing for it... While RK was shocked out of his wits... He looked at the mother daughter duo with an ARE-U-BOTH-FOR-REAL look. He had least expected that he would be introduced as that and moreover he would be recognised with that introduction too.
As Madhu and Padmini looked at him expectently, they realised what they had done. And they burst out laughing seeing his expression, while Rishabh still looked at them baffled. seeing him they both laughed even more... Srishti who saw her maasi and nanu laugh incontrollably, didnt realize why they were laughing like that but joined the two for the sake of fun. At last rishabh's face also broke into a smile and he joined the two laughing.
Madhu felt a contentment seeing the two laugh. Padmini was laughing like this after long. Madhu felt tears threatening her eyes seeing her mother and her friend laughing like that when she knew both of them had a lot to cry over.
As they recovered from it. Rishabh smiled at them and bent down to touch padmini's feet. And she blessed him.
"And ma... i am working in his company now... " Madhu informs her mother while padmini looked at RK impressed. Madhu handed Srishti to padmini and gestured RK to come with her. They entered the ward where RK saw a man lying down on the bed, it seemed he was sleeping. He was intubated and had a lot of wires and tubes attached to him. He had an ecg monitor attached which was beeping at regular intervals as if assuring that the man its gaurding is still alive.
Rishabh looked at Madhu in shock. Madhu held his hand and took him near her father.
"Hey papa... meet RK... and RK this is my father.. he is a bit lazy u know so dont mind if he doesnt reapond u back..." madhu said whispering the last sentence in Rishabh's ear.
"Papa... i hope u r not going to embarass me like ma did... you remember him right... i told you about him a lot of times... though disgusted at him most of the times..." Madhu said teasingly looking at RK through the corner of her eyes.
"No... No... No... dont you dare think anything else... we are just "FRIENDS"" She exclaimed looking at her father... "Well... you see.. i am working as his PA..." She said annoyed as if she could feel her father laughing at her.
"And i came here to tell you that i am sending your wife home for now... no need to fire back... she is here since 8days and she has to rest. I am not going to listen anything from the two of you. She has to go and that's final... I'll stay with you tonight..."
Rishabh who was standing there mum was not able to believe... Madhu was standing infront of him talking to her father as if nothing happened. How can she be so indifferent to the cruelty life inflicted her with. How can she be so happy. He had thought that she is still that same Malik but it seemed not so... but she didnt let it show to him even for once and even now she is just as normal as she could be in any other situation. He wasnt able to understand Madhu. He wanted to know... he wanted to understand her.
Madhu looked at him and understood the questions he had in his mind. She excused herself from her father. And took RK out. "Madhu what's going on..." He asked her in a pleading tone. Madhu opened her mouth just then Riya entered the room. They were standing in a small attached room to the ward, for the visitors and the attendant. "Ohh di thank god you came... ma almost ate up my head." She looked at Rishabh and greeted him-"Ohhh i suppose you are RK... hey" she said as she stretched her hand forward for him. Madhu gasped in relief "Ohh thank god... at last Chhotu you kept my laaj... otherwise ma had really embarrassed me not recognising him... I had to.. ammm... well RK this is my lil sis Riya" She said looking at RK as she pursed her lips. Rishabh held her hand and smiled at her. "Its really great to meet you young lady" Riya blushed a little while madhu smiled at them.
"Chhotu i think you had to go..." Madhu reminded her sister who was now lost in her RK's eyes.
"Yeah, i should go..." "Ohh thats really sad..." Rishabh said still holding on Riya's hand. Riya blushed even more. As rishabh left her hand she went away smiling at herself and hit her head thinking how silly she is. Madhu gestured RK that she would be back soon as she went out to see them off. Rishabh stood there seeing Madhu's father through the glass window. It was not long when the door opened and Rishabh turned back to see Srishti enter the room. "I came here to say bye..." she said pouting. "Maasi said i should go... but i wanted to stay with Malik and you."
Rishabh smiled seeing her.. 'Riya must be trying to make her understand...' he thought. "Dont worry i will come to meet you soon baby girl..."
"Really...??" Srishti asked delighted. Rishabh kneeled down and kissed her cheek. "Yes sweety"
Srishti hugged him. Just then Madhu entered the room and seeing the two hugging a smile broke out on her face. Srishti turned to face her, "okay Srishti... Nanu is waiting for you outside. and be a good girl okay. And dont bother mumma and nanu..."
"But I wanted to stay with you, maasi..." she hugged her and kissed her cheek.
Rishabh looked at the two surprised and shocked. Srishti is not Madhu's daughter. ohh... she is Riya's. He sighed with relief at his new found information. First good news since he entered the hospital. He didnt know why he felt so relaxed hearing that.
"baby... mumma wont be able to sleep without you na"
Srishti pouted at her but then went away.
Now Madhu and Rishabh were alone. While Madhu felt uncomfortable as now she had to explain everything to Rishabh and Rishabh looked at her with questions in his eyes, waiting for her to speak up. " Madhu... go on..." Madhu looked at him and sighed.
She went and sat on the bed and gestured RK to sit next to her. RK sat beside her and held her hand, he knew whatever it would be its going to be hurting for Madhu to talk about it.
Madhu inhaled deeply and started "6 years back... papa and ma were going somewhere... they were quite happy... we didnt know where they were going but knew it was something good, as was evident with their happiness. but not long enough came a news that they had an accident. Both were injured alot, ma recovered after almost 7 months but papa... he couldnt... he.. his body recovered but mind... he went into coma..." Madhu's eyes filled with tears. She had always cried alone at the plight of her family. Never had she let her tears show infront of anyone. "Since then... he has not talked to us... i havent heard his voice, not felt his hand on my head, not felt his hug back.." Madhu was now crying and Rishabh held her shoulder comforting her... it pained him to see her cry. He felt like someone had stabbed him in his heart.. "Ma had gone in depression... she was with us but still she was absent. Then came Vikas... He loved Riya and wanted to marry her... ma was not in a condition to take such decision so i decided to favour them because i thought that this happiness would bring life back to my family... then came Srishti... seeing Srishti.. Ma's condition improved. Srishti gave back that much wanted vigour to our family... specially ma... she started smiling and laughing and loving again. But that didnt last long. Because of papa's condition all of papa's money and property were getting spent on this. But soon it came out to be that Vikas had come in Riya's life to overtake Papa's business and money... He didnt love Riya or Srishti... he just wanted to take over papa's money." Madhu said with a disgusted face. Rishabh was now holding her firmly. He was feeling her pain." Its been 4 years since Vikas went away. He did succeed a little but not all... Riya was almost broken at that time... *sigh* but everything is good now.." she said with a crooked smile and tears trailing down her cheek. Rishabh wiped off her tears and Madhu kept her head on his chest while Rishabh patted her head to calm her down.
As they both settled with their feelings, Rishabh still had sonething troubling his mind. His amazement... "Madhu... how can you be so jubilant... so lively... i mean it never looks as if you have any problem. I had thought that you must be having the best life."
" RK... Life has been cruel i know but what would I have got if I stayed sad. Life can play worst games... but if we get depressed we would not be able to fight with life. Smiling is the best way you can show destiny that you dont care what it does, you will be fighting it back."
Rishabh looked at her amazed. And felt small in front of her. He realised how he had spent his years in his parents absence and how Madhu lived and fought with life. She is really the fighter. She really remained the Malik whom he knew 7 years back. He smiled at her and unknowingly kissed her forehead. Madhu felt a sense of security. After 6 years she felt that... she had been the one giving strength to others but now she felt she gained strength from RK. She closed her eyes contended. "Thank you, Rishabh" Rk felt a bolt of joy run through his spine hearing 'Rishabh' from her mouth.
Precap - Love is in the air
Cricket
Ganesh Kartikeya
Shiv Shakti
