Part 8
Rishabh was sitting with his Dadi, who was massaging his head. Rishabh was feeling restless. ' How should I talk to her. Or should I even talk to her... I dont know what Madhu thinks of all this. But whats the big deal in just meeting... I have also met her family. But what would Dadi think of all this.
Rishabh was fidgeting, he was rubbing his nails and confusion was something evident on his face. The calm and not so easily affected Rishabh was restless. Dadi was feeling his uneasiness.
"Rishabh, Is everything okay?"
" Ammm yea... everything is good"
"Do you want to say something"
" No..." *pause* "Dadi... would you mind meeting Madhu?" he blurted out.
Dadi giggled at him... "Is that all... I would be more than happy to meet her... In fact I was thinking to ask you that"
"ohhh great... thanks" Rishabh said feeling relaxed. And he quickly walked out of the room wishing her good night as if he had stayed there to ask her only about Madhubala.
Dadi felt enlivened. At last she felt relaxed that Rishabh is finding his happiness. He is moving on in his life.
Rishabh was excited not knowing why... He was confused. Not wanting to even think that he could be in love. He had never felt this way before, the excitement to meet Madhu was increasing many fold with each passing day but love was something far from him OR WAS THAT WHAT HE THOUGHT..?
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Rishabh woke up rejuvenated. He called up Madhu as he was not able to control himself from hearing her voice any more...
" hey malik... wassup"
" ammm... nothing getting ready for office..." Madhu wass happy to see Rishabh on caller id. she was more than happy, she was thrilled but at the same time confused why he called up in the morning.
Now... Rishabh was confused... 'why did I call her...? ohhhooo what to say... hell... dis is so stupid of me...'
" Rishabh... everything okay? "
And this added spice to the curry all the more. Rishabh's heart skipped a beat... he had never felt his name this beautiful ever.
"Madhu.. I... I... I was thinking how about if I come to pick you up " Rishabh said as he thought of some reason to have called.
" Why... there's no need... I come daily... "
" no i have some work at your side... so i would be there... and i was thinking i would meet Srishti also "
" ammm... are u sure?"
" yes of course..."
" okay... fine..."
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Rishabh reached Madhu's house. It was a decent place... not some small cottage or chawl but not as big as a mansion. It had a good lawn which was well kept. Anybody who didnt know the situation of the family would not even get a hint that inhabitants of this place have to go through such a struggle.
By this time Rishabh was at the doorstep. He knocked the door and waited. Riya opened the door.
"Okay... so you are spying on my di..." she said with a stern face.
" no... not at all... i just came here to pick her up" Rishabh said trying to defend himself.
"Ohh so you are scouting her?" Riya enquired.
Rishabh looked at her confused and afraid.
Riya burst out laughing seeing his face. "C'mon... I was just joking..."
Rishabh smiled back relaxed. Madhu came out running as she was still brushing her hair... " RK... just 5 mins... i am really sorry" Madhu said to RK guilty for her being late but RK... he was lost in Madhu's curly locks. .Madhu was busy with her hair as she was running around for other things while Riya noticed RK's lost expression. "Ohhh this stupid stupid LOVE..." Riya said to him.
" Yeahhh " Rishabh said as if in a dream. But just then jerked out of it...
" what love... nothing like that... CHHOTU " Rishabh said teasing her to keep her mum as he had been bearing with her teasing since 2 days now.
"Oye... only Di calls me that"
" But I am your Di's LOVE you see" Rishabh said teasibg her even more expecting that now she would get away with that joke of hers.
"Granted... but that doesnt give u any right to call me chhotu..." she retaliated back but soo she got even more evil "well on second thoughts... i will ask Di if her LOVE could call me that or not... she should not feel possessive right" She said as she started to walk towards Madhu.
Rishabh was horrified. He ran behind Riya...
"Di... I wanted to ask you..."
" How long are you going to take Madhu... you should hurry u knw..."
" ohh RK... just 2 mins... Srishti...! " She called out for Srishti. Srishti came out of her room and when he saw Rishabh standing there she came running to him with her arms spread.
Rishabh hugged her and kissed her. He felt a joy seeing her.
After a few minutes Madhu came back ready and Rishabh got up and they started to walk towards the door. As they were about to get out Rishabh turned back to Riya and gave her a YOU-LOST-IT look.
Riya was amused at him... and gestured him - "will see next time.."
Rishabh walked out happily with Madhu.
The two sat in the car. " So you had your work done?" Madhu asked him still working something in her purse.
"work... what work? " Rishabh asked her confused.
" arey... you said you had some work around my place" Madhu said looking up from her purse enquiringly.
" ohhh yeah.. yup work done... it was really important... " Riahabh said suddenly remembering his words.
Madhu smiled at him.
After a few minutes of silence and Rishabh thinking something to himself finally spoke out..
" Malik... would u mind if we go to my place first..."
Madhu looked at him almost shocked... " well there is nothing to mind about, but why... "
" well dont worry i am not going to kidnap you... actually I walked out of my house in a hurry and forgot to take a file" Rishabh was smiling at her shock.
" do i have a choice?"
" well... not really "
" fine then... and i would also see how you live... Have you improved or still you live in a mess like your room used to be before... " Madhu said smiling naughtily at him.
" Oh my god..!! I had really forgotten that... you were really crazy... "
" But it was worth it.. your reaction at that... i really enjoyed it"
" C'mon Malik how you expected me to react when a girl is sitting in boy's hostel that too my room"
Madhu laughed at that... " But it was real fun... you behaved as if youbsaw a ghost... and so much panicked... "
" dont tell me... i am still panicking thinking about that day... how did you reach there? "
" Oh I climbed up the wall... thats so obvious Kundru... "
" and the gaurd?"
"what gaurd?? He always used to either sleep or used to be high with ganja or those kinda drugs... "
" ohh... and you took all your privileges to sneak into my room "
" you know what Kundru... Your reaction was even better than what I thoght... you were out of breath remember... i had to calm you down... "
" yeah... i was such a girl..." Rishabh said sarcastically..
Madhu laughed at him... while he joined in with a smile. They reached Rishabh's place.
Madhu looked at the house amazed.. " looks like somebody is having a luxurious life " and she added it with a whistle.
Rishabh gave her an empty smile at that... His life might be luxurious but he never had felt the delight in all that.
As they entered the mansion Madhu looked around for his family. But there was no-one. Rishabh took her upstairs and knocked at the door, he went inside and called Madhu in...
" Dadi... this is Madhu... the jungli billi " Rishabh introduced her trying to set his record straight.
Dadi looked at her... and she was overwhelmed seeing the girl she had waited to meet her since the day she heard of her.
Madhu bent down to touch her feet, while Rishabh looked at the two women in his life together. He smiled with satisfaction.
Dadi saw him and Madhu and her eyes started to fill.
Madhu stood up, "So you are the one who has made Rishabh crazy years back"
Madhu smiled at her... " its nothing like that Aunty... he is just always pulling my leg"
"Ohoo.. i will just teach him a lesson for you" Dadi said pulling Rishabh's ears. Madhu looked at Rishabh amused and teasing.
" and beta... you can call me Dadi... after all you are Rishabh's only friend"
Madhu looked at her with a look as if understanding her pain. Rishabh was just standing there and looking at the two, He was too happy to notice the their painful eyes.
Madhu looked at him and frowned suddenly... " I thought you had to take a certain file?" She said trying to be as polite as she could because of Dadi.. but rishabh understood her sarcasm and smiled naughitily at her and went away.
Dadi saw him smiling the way he hasnt smiled for years... "You have got him back..." she said with her voice shaking.
Madhu looked at her shocked... She was feeling shy at the same time not knowing why it was so.
"Yes Madhu... you got my Rishabh back... Thank you so much"
Madhu fumbled at that not knowing what to say.
Dadi smiled seeing her expression... "He has not been this way since years.. I wish I could tell my happiness in words"
" I did nothing Dadi... It was just his old memories that got him back"
"Yes and you are his memories.. You made him realize that he had a lot more in his life..."
Madhu was looking down now.. not knowing what to say or do. Dadi smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
"You are a nice girl beta... and dont feel shy... it doeant suit the image that Rishabh has made up in front of me" She said as she tried to make Madhu comfortable... Madhu laughed at that.
" He must have made the hitler out of me"
Dadi laughed hearing her... "No not hitler exactly but yes His Jungli Billi... Of course..."
The ladies were still laughing when Rishabh enetered back and was thrilled on seeing the two so comfortable with each other.
Rishabh and Madhu went away bidding good bye to dadi. Dadi was now totally satisfied... All the apprehensions that she might have had somewhere for Madhu were now totally removed. She knew that Madhu as the girl she had always wanted for Rishabh.
The rest of the day went uneventful with Rishabh looking at Madhu at every instant he got chance and Madhu drooling at him most of the times. Madhu was wondering why she felt shy when she met Dadi... she was so sweet but she said so many things to her related to Rishabh and she felt a strange happiness in herself that she was the reason for Rishabh's happiness.
Madhu was still wondering about RK... 'Do I love him? Is it... How do I get the answer... oh God... please help me... Is this love?' Just then Rishabh barged in her cabin.
" Malik... what are you doing? "
Madhu looked at him as if in a dream... is this the answer to what she was asking God. She was still wondering to herself.
" I know Madhu I am really handsome... But that doesnt mean I dont deserve a response. "
Madhu jerked at that. " yeah sure... what were you saying?" Madhu said embarrased.
" I have kept a party tomorrow evening..."
Madhu looked at him raising her eyebrow at him.
" ohhhooo... just a gathering... kind of... c'mon Madhu... samajh jao"
Madhu laughed at him... " you are so cute..."
"CUTE!!! " Rishabh made a disgusted face.
" yes cutiepie... "
" I am not cute... okay?" Rishabh said with anger.
" ohh okay... understood " Madhu said keeping a finger on her lips and controlling her laughter.
Rishabh broke out into a broad smile... " Fine... well i have kept that party kind of thing tomorrow evening... So you have to be with me... "
" And whats that for?"
" Ohh a boring client... we had a deal signed and that man expects me to throw a party for him..."
Madhu laughed at that... "He expects that... "
Rishabh joined her laughing... " yeah... can u imagine... he virtually invited himself to a non existent party "
Madhu laughed even more holding her stomach. " I cant imagine you in that situation"
Rishabh was now sitting on the ground beside Madhu while Madhu sat on her chair. Rishabh laughed at thay and started giving her the animated details of his conversation with that client of his.
They both enjoyed each other's company so much and they didnt even realized that.
Precap- Entry of Balraj Kundra...
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I hope you all like it...
Udne Ki Aasha
Anupamaa
Cricket
