Part 18
Madhu peeped in through the door... "RK... May I come... "
Rishabh was taken aback. He looked at her wide eyed... " Madhu... Have you lost it...? "
Madhu looked at hin confused. "when have you started asking me permission to enter my room... "
Madhu realised and giggled. " I thought thats good manners..."
" oh please.. never ever try to be well behaved with me then... " Rishabh raised his eyebrows at her... " Now just sprint in... "
Madhu entered the room. She stood beside RK... "Oh so.. Mr. Kundra, What can I do for you... "
"You may just regret asking me that... " Rishabh said naughtily while working on his laptop to evade her look.
Madhu looked at him not believing that he could really mean what she thought he was. But then a part of her was quite excited at that.
Just then they heard a knock at the door and turned to the door. "Come in... "
And there entered Sikander. Madhu smiled seeing him while Rishabh got furious.
" Why the hell are you here Sikander" Rishabh was enraged at him.
Madhu was struck with panic at that. She didnt know what she should do to control the situation.
"Bhai... I just want to talk to you for sometime... please just listen to me"
Rishabh was furious and stood up. He was about to move towards him when Madhu held his hand. Rishabh turned to her sharply and his eyes were red with fury. Madhu looked at him with pleading eyes.
" what Madhu... You know na... He is Balraj's son?"
" Just listen to him..." Madhu whispered to him.
"Bhai I know... I know why you are angry with me..."
"Good... then you may go now... "
"Bhai. i came to know Dad killed Mohan uncle and Radha aunty.."
Rishabh was now quite as Madhu clenched his hand tightly.
"Yesterday when you and Dad were in between your conversation, I was there...
And I heard everything that Dad did. Whole night I havent been able to sleep as I thought what he did to you, to our family. I had always been thinking that you hate me just because we have business rivalry but I realised that you are right. You hate me because my Dad did such a thing. I know you might never take me back as your brother. My father has ashamed the relation of Brother but I want to amend that which might just be saved.
I cant do anything to mend the past but I want to help you... to take revenge from that man."
Rishabh was confused. He looked at him confused. But then he remembered that he was Balraj's son.
" I dont need your help... you may go now..."
Sikky looked at him defeated and then walked to the door. As he opened the door to walk out he turned back "I will be waiting for your call if you might just change your mind."
Rishabh looked at him baffled. 'What does he think of himself.'
Sikky walks away.
Madhu was angry now and confronts Rishabh. " Are you so engrossed in yourself that you cant see others.."
Rishabh was confused.. "what are you saying Madhu... "
" Didnt you see the guilt in his eyes for a crime that he hasnt committed..."
"Madhu... he is Balraj's son... " Rishabh exclaims as he was not able to believe that Madhu took his side.
"Thats what RK... He is Balraj's son... not Balraj himself... and whatever his father did where is he at fault for all that "
" But Madhu" Rishabh uttered in disbelief.
"But what RK... did you ever find out that he was involved in that accident or he at least knew about it... "
Rishabh shook his head in negative.
" see... and the day he came to know of it he came to you.. asking forgiveness for something he didnt even know of... you are thinking about yourself RK... At least once think of him. Last night he came to know that his father destroyed his whole family. How lonely he must be feeling when he would have realised that he couldnt share it with anyone. Like you did... Yersternight was a difficult one for us but still we had each other... the night would have been even more cruel to him, RK..."
Rishabh stood there stunned. He was shocked to realise that what she said was actually correct. Sikky had nothing to do with that. He had been behaving with Sikky as if he had been involved in the plot, though it wwas not so. He was still standing there stunned lost in thoughts. When he saw a big black thing infront of his eyes. He stepped back and looked around and then at the black thing. Madhu was standing in front of him and her hand was extending forward with the cordless phone. Rishabh looked at the phone and then at Madhu not able to understand what she wanted. Madhu gestured towards the phone through her eyes. And Rishabh realised what she wanted. He took the phone and dialed the number.
"hello... Sikky... amm... can you come back "
"I never went away Bhai..." Sikky repkied as tears started to form in his eyes hearing Rishabh call him 'Sikky' after 6 years.
Rishabh took the phone off from his ear. And he was now apprehensive as to what should he say to Sikky. How should he behave. It had been years since he had talked to him and now he didnt know what next to do.
Madhu was looking at the door continuously waiting for Sikky to enter while Rishabh stared in blank space. Suddenly the door flung open. Sikky stood at the door with tear stung eyes. Rishabh jerked out if his thoughts and looked at him. Sikky took a nervous step towards him.
" and how do I know that you arent here for Balraj... whats the proof that he didnt sent you to me... to know my plans"
Madhu was shocked. She had thought RK had melted down but here he was questioning his loyalty..
"My presence or absence around you would not affect your determination of getting revenge from my father. I may just act as a catalyst and fasten the process. As far as trusting me is concerned you may just not involve me into your business details or any other thing. You have outdone Dad in almost all dealings. I amm here just because I want to avenge Mohan uncle's death too. Dad never had time for me. Though he believes that he worked hard to make the business work but he was too obsessed with that. Mohan uncle had always been a father figure for me. Whom I looked up to when I needed someone to help. And his loss to me is no less than a what a son would feel at his father's loss."
Rishabh felt sorry for how he behaved with Sikky. He knew that as he was the one to push him away, he has to be the one to take the next step. Even after what he did and how he behaved Sikky was tge one who came allthe way to lessen the distance and was standing in front of him. Now he has to cover up the remaining distance. He moved forward as he thought while Sikky looked at him in hopeful confusion and then Rishabh hugged him. Sikky was taken aback and he felt tears stinging his eyes. Rishabh felt a content filling his heart and he closed his eyes in an attempt to hold his emotions.
Madhu stood at a distance and her eyes were filled with happy tears.
Rishabh after a few minutes realised that he was hugging Sikky and was almist on the verge of giving into tears. He couldnt let himself break down like that. So he moved out of the hug. Sikky saw him while Rishabh tried to hold on to his emotions and he looked here and there not to let his true emotions out. Sikky realised that Rishabh needed some time to let himself cool.
He moved towards Madhu, leaving Rishabh behind to have some time with himself. He looked at Madhu with grateful eyes. "Mam... I know Sorry is a small word for what my father did to your family too. We are bearing the outcomea of our own family person but you had to suffer the loss because of him when you were totally not involved in all this. When Dad was telling Bhai about your parents, and that he killed your parents too... I have no words how to... I am just ashamed of my father."
"Sikky... I know you must be feeling bad for it... but I need to tell you this that my parents are alive " Madhu nervously smiled at him.
Sikky was surprised... "But Dad said... wo..."
" He doesnt know that.. he thinks he killed them too" Rishabh said diagusted.
Sikky turned back to see Rishabh who was still looking away. "Mam... I cant tell you. I am really relieved... am... aa" Sikky struggleed to find words as he didnt realise what to say.
" I understood..." Madhu smiled at him. They stood there for some time. And waited for their emotions to settle down.
"Thank you so much mam.." Sikky replied her gratefully.
" and when will you stop calling me that?" Madhu tries to lighten the mood.
"The day I will have to start calling you Bhabhi..." Sikky replied at her grinning.
Madhu blushed hearring that. What was she supposed to react to that. Rishabh heard them and his lips too broke into a smile though he was still looking away. He raised his eyebrows and scratched his head.
" have you two brothers decided not to let me speak at all... No.. tell me... If its something like that I would better tie my tongue." Madhu said defensively.
Sikky burst out laughing at her... while Madhu and Rishabbh broke into a smile too. Madhu felt contended seeing the two brothers laughing together.
Sikky decided to go now. He bid them good bye and moved out of the cabin. Madhu also decided to move back to her cabin. As she moved towards the door and opened it to step out, Rishabh called out from behind- "Madhu... "
Madhu turned back to him. And looked at him with those innocemt eyes which felt as if holding the world in them. " Thank you..."
" why..." Madhu said as she looked at him totally confused.
" For everything..."
Madhu smiled at him and didnt know what to say. She just looked down on the floor. And just moved out of the cabin.
Rishabh went to his sit on his chair. He looked at Madhu through the glass window. Madhu's presence in his life had changed everything. He wondered about his life. He wondered where his life was taking him. And now he didnt want to know that. With Madhu by his side he was ready to have whatever journey his life was taking him through.
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After sometime the door of Madhu's cabin flung open. Madhu looked up surprised and saw Rishabh standing there.
" Madhu.. I am going..." Rishabh said to her hurriedly and turned to go away
" Going...? At thiis time.. Where??" Madhu looka at the clock and realises its hardly lunch time.
"Arey Madhu... I have to go... " Rishabh replied coonfuses as if it was obvious where he is going.
" Areyyy... where are you going thats what I want to ask..." Madhu feels an anger developing in her as she realissed that RK is not telling her.
" Madhu... I dont have time for all this... I dont want to get late and make her wait for me"
Now that was what was enough for Madhu let all her fury out. 'HER'... He was going to meet a girl and he is not even telling her who.
" WHO ARE YOU GOING TO MEET... AND WHO IS SHE?"
Rishabh realised Madhu was getting jealous. And that thought itself made him feel excitement from within.
" Madhu let me go...she would get angry at me... I am going..." And he turned away.
" Wait Rishabh Kundra.. I am coming with you... " Madhu walked behind him.
Rishabh walked in front of her smiling widely as he realised Madhu was desperately following him. Rishabh reached the elevator and as he turned around after entering, Madhu who was not able to see across Rishabh as she was wallking behind him, bumped into Rishabh's hard chest. Rishabh's gasped with the unexpected incident. While Madhu disbalanced and was about to fall down. She clenched her face and waited to hit the floor. But the ground didnt come, instead she felt strong arms around her. The elevator doors were closed by now. She opened one of her eye and saw Rishabh close to her face and she screamed "OH MY GOD!" suddenly seeiing Rishabh so close to her, she got aafraid. Rishabh had been admiring her clenched nervous look while she was in his arms waiting to fall down and when she realised that she was in his arms she had screamed... Rishabh laughed at her, with Madhu still in his arms.
Madhu realised that she was in his arms and he had held her from falling down. She was annoyed with Rishabh laughing at her. She hit him with her hands on his upper arms.
"what... you were hurrying and you fell down... I was the one saving you..."
"Yes and then laughing at me
"You look so cute..."
"RK i am not cute..." she said with a warning look.
"ooops right... You are a devil.."
Madhu frowned at him but suddenly she smiled at him ever so sweetly and fluttered her eyelids.
"Rishabh..."
"ya.. eh" Rishabh stammered as he was taken aback at this sudden love. His name felt ever so beautiful. His heart skipped a beat and he lost in her beautiful chocolate eyes.
"will you leave me now and let me stand...?"
"No... ohh yeah... sure..." Rishabh left her and let her stand. While he felt nervous. He run his hand through his hair out of nervousness. How he had wished to stay in that pposition all his life. Talking, teasing and loving everything like that.
Madhu smiled at his situation wwhile facing the other side.
They came out of the elevator and reached his car. They sat in the car. As Rishabh started the car Madhu turned to him again. "So whom are you going to meet?" with her angry look returning.
"My doll..."
Madhu's jaw dropped in shock. Rishah looked at her naughtily and smiled.
"You know...you must see her... she is the moosst beautiful girl I hv ever seen"
Madhu felt even more angry. What the hell... Yesternight he confessed he loves me and today he wants me to meet his so called "Doll".
"Rishabh I thought you are changed.." Madhu said angrily.
"ohhh... i am so sorry.." he said smirking.
Madhu turned straight and held her arms tightly tied around her chest in frustration. Rishabh looked at her naughtily. She was so engrossed in her frustration and anger that she kept on mumbling to herself.
"amm madhu..." Rishabh called her.
"I hate you RK..." Madhu replied looking the other way.
Rishabh bit his lip trying to control his laughter. He was feeling so delighted that Madhu was jealous thinking of him with other girl. The car came to a stop and Madhu looked around in an attempt to search for the girl Rishabh claimed to be his doll. But she was shocked to see little children running all around. In a matter of seconds she realised that they were in Srishti's school The very next moment she heard a voice- "Riiissshaaabhhh"
"Srishtuuu.."
And they hugged each other. Rishabh picked her up in his arms and turned to Madhu.
"so Malik... meet my doll..."
Madhu burst into a tear filled smile. She had gone teart eyed seeing Rishabh getting so close with her niece. She knew Rishabh faced a lot and had a lot of pain in his heart.
Srishti fidgeted in his arms and he let her down. She rushed to Madhu "Mmaassiii..." and Madhu bent down and kissed her cheek.
"You know I got a star in my test."
"Wowww, my baby is growing up..."
Srishti looked at her proudly. While Rishabh smiled at them.
The three sat in the car to head to hospital. Srishti kept on narrating her day's events at school to the two while the two kept on smiling and laughing at her narration.
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
Cricket
