Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 21 Aug 2025 EDT
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*So, I was reading your feedback on the previous chapter.👍🏼 Thank you so much🤗 I totally understand where you all are coming from. I was tempted to respond, but I cannot spoil the story, so I decided to type up the next chapter as well...just to give you a bit more conflicting perspective to chew on.😛 Our protagonists are, well...annoying!
Here goes the second chapter for the day. Sorry again for the express pace. There is still a lot left in the story, and I need to write it because I would get much busier in a few days and writing would get much harder, but more importantly because this story is tugging at my heart and mind right now, making me as emotional and restless as some of you. 😊 Trust me, I know where this is going but I really want to discover how this ends.
Happy reading!*
Chapter 14
Madhu thought the entire day about what Vikram said.
Should she fight for RK? Could she?
Who was she fighting here?
Madhu had never asked for love. She did not believe one could demand love, or claim rights. Maybe others could, but she couldn't. She had tried, as a child, and failed miserably. And she hadn't dared to mess with love again all her life. She was content with what she got. Or didn't.
How did this change when RK came into her life, Madhu asked herself? How come she suddenly wanted more? And yet, Vikram seemed to say it was okay to ask for more and want more. Could she, really, if she tried, keep her Rishabh for herself?
Her biggest fear since last night was that she was losing Rishabh. In fact, for a few moments, she had told herself it was inevitable. The darkness that clouded her in those moments terrified her.
A primitive survival instinct kicked in. She was going to do whatever she could to keep RK in her life. To keep RK's love.
It may not have been what Vikram really meant, but Madhu was convinced she couldn't live without Rishabh, and she needed him in her life. So she would fight, but with herself. She would ignore any pain she got, until she could, as long as she could keep RK happy and with her.
Destiny sighed at the anti-climax and thought about finding better things to do. The kid who closes her fist tightly to keep sand in her hand doesn't realize she is only making it fall away faster.
*******************************************
RK had eventually woken up at noon, hung over. He thought of Madhu - he only faintly remembered her leaving for office in the morning. Didn't she say she was going to take the day off?
RK settled on the dining table with a glass of water, trying to recollect the events of the previous night. He didn't remember much. He really had drunk too much, RK rued to himself as his head blasted. His thoughts went back to Madhu. Was she upset? She did look somewhat upset last night. He had meant to, but didn't get a chance to talk to her in the party. Especially at Nitin's silly comment. RK remembered Madhu's eyes at that moment. Shit, I should have spoken to her last night, he groaned.
"Coffee?" Rohan asked.
"My head is hurting."
"That's why I am saying have some coffee. I had two cups and feel a lot better now."
"I drank more than you."
"I know. You should have listened to Madhu. She was pleading you to stop, but you kept ignoring her. And then you passed out in her arms. Poor girl, I don't know how she managed you all night. I was drunk myself, but you were...By the way, when did Madhu leave?"
"In the morning. She said she was going to office, but I think she was upset at something."
"Did you talk to her about Nitin's comment. She was really upset. I tried explaining, and I think she understood, but still, it's not the same..."
"I didn't get the chance to talk to her yaar. Stupid Nitin..."
"Call her." Rohan said and left for the kitchen.
RK finished his glass of water and picked up his phone. No texts from Madhu. She was surely upset, but RK wondered if it was because of Nitin's comment or because he drank too much. But Madhu was smart and understanding, why would she be hung up over tiny things like that. He was about to dial, when Maya walked out.
"Good morning RK" Maya said. "Morning. Slept well?" RK asked, keeping the phone down.
"Not really. Woke up at 8, had lots of water and two aspirins. Then slept back at 9. Better now but I still feel like crap."
"Ha ha. Not a bad birthday. Hmm, let me go call Madhu once. Didn't get a chance to speak to her. Rohan thinks she is upset."
"She probably was. I saw her in the morning when she was leaving. She was...she was rude."
"What? Madhu is never rude to anyone..."
"I know, but...leave it."
"No tell me." Maya then told RK about Madhu ignoring her and snapping at her for no reason in the morning.
"Hmm...I am sorry. She shouldn't have behaved like that. I think she was angry at me because I drank too much."
"That's kind of a stupid reason. It was a party."
"Yeah. Anyway, I need a shower. I don't think I will feel better without it."
RK left, but his head was occupied with Madhu's behavior. Why was she being so strange? And being rude to Maya, that was uncalled for. She could have fought with him if she wanted to.
He called her, but she didn't pick up the phone. RK was even more puzzled, but didn't try again.
****************************************
Madhu called RK on Sunday evening.
"Hi Rishu."
"Hi"
"How are you doing?"
"Good. What about you? Busy with work?"
"Yeah. Finished now." The silence was awkward. RK wanted to know why she was behaving weirdly, but he didn't want to ask.
"Are you free now? Can we meet for coffee?" Madhu asked, sensing RK's anger on the phone.
"Okay. See you in half hour."
Madhu was waiting at their usual caf spot, when she saw RK come in. She stood up to hug him, but he didn't hug back.
"What's wrong Rishu? Angry at me?"
"Are you? You're the one who didn't pick my phone."
"I was. But I am not anymore."
"Okay. But I am angry now. Why did you leave abruptly yesterday? And why were you so rude to Maya?"
Maya. The name now felt like scraping wounds to Madhu. But she ignored the feeling. She didn't want to think about Maya.
"I am sorry." She said, quietly, and looked down. Then she added "I felt very lonely in the party. You were engrossed in drinking and playing. And you drank so much, you were miserable all night and I was sitting with you in my arms."
"Who asked you to hold me?" RK snapped. He was getting irritated by Madhu's story. "I am sorry. I didn't mean that. But I don't get it. There were so many people. What do you mean you were getting lonely? Do you want me to ignore everyone else and sit next to you 24x7? Should I quit my job?"
"No Rishabh...I am not saying that."
"Then what do you want Madhu?" RK looked at Madhu who was no longer looking at him. Her gaze was downward, and RK knew from her face she was probably crying. That hurt! RK was frustrated at himself for losing his temper on Madhu.
"Come let's go out Madhu." He held Madhu's hand and they both walked out, towards the park. He needed the fresh air.
"I am sorry Madhu. I lost my temper. But I don't know what to do." RK said as they settled on a bench.
"Do you love me?" Madhu asked.
"Now what kind of a question is that."
"Tell me, please."
"I love you Madhu. I always have. I know it's been difficult since I have been in Mumbai but you have to trust me."
"I trust you."
"Then why do you act so insecure from time to time? My friends, my work, my family - everything is a part of my life just like you are. Just like you have your work and your friends and... " He was about to add your family, but he stopped.
"Point is, we are independent people and this relationship is just one part of our lives. But you can't keep questioning if I love you."
"I know RK. I understand." was all Madhu said.
She wanted to add "but my life is nothing without you" but she stayed shut.
RK made perfect sense to her at this moment, and she felt stupid and petty for feeling resentful with Maya and her own irrational feelings.
Maya probably loved RK, but RK didn't.
So it shouldn't matter, Madhu convinced herself. She was not going to lose RK just because Maya wanted him too.
*********************************************
It was a few weeks later. RK was sitting by the poolside at his hotel in Mumbai, thinking about his relationship with Madhu. He had thought things got sorted and Madhu understood his point of view that evening after Maya's birthday, but the way he looked at it, things had gone from bad to worse ever since.
Madhu's behavior had grown more puzzling. Every day when they talked, she sort of kept insisting to speak longer and asked inane questions about his day. It was exhausting, and RK didn't understand why she was trying to over-compensate and why should he be telling her about what he ate and how each meeting of the day went. Then, on every occasion over the last few weekends, she had refused to come to a group event where all their friends were present - sometimes outright and sometimes with an excuse. Did she expect him to not understand what she was doing? But why? She used to be so comfortable, so friendly with everyone. But now, she wouldn't come when everyone was there and later say things like he didn't have time to meet her. Did she expect him to meet alone every weekend? It was so frustrating, RK thought, because he couldn't even bring this up to Madhu. She was just going to get sadder or cry!!
RK suspected she was still jealous or insecure, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why! Was she jealous of Maya, he thought, remembering Madhu's reaction at Nitin's comment in Maya's party. No, that would be stupid. Madhu is far too sensible to think like that about his friends. She knew he loved her. God knows she made him say it often enough! But the most baffling thing was when she had suddenly started telling him about her friend Vikram and how she loved spending time with him earlier today.
That was when RK completely lost it! Did she expect him to be jealous of him? Did she expect him to not trust her? Was she hinting that he shouldn't be trusting her? This was too confusing!
What happened to his perfect girl that he fell in love with? She was always so...simple. And easy. She always knew what RK wanted. Getting into this relationship was so easy, but now...RK wondered if he shouldn't have...
RK sighed and shut his eyes. He felt so helpless when it came to Madhu. He did love her. But he couldn't solve her problems, and that made him feel powerless, as if he was not doing enough in this relationship. If he couldn't fix whatever her issues were, he was a failed boyfriend, wasn't he? And far from fixing, RK felt like he didn't even understand her issues. Her family was a totally screwed up equation that intimidated RK. In the past few months, he had thought about bringing it up several times, but just didn't know how to. Maybe he should have gone with her to her sister's wedding. But it just wasn't practical. And anyway, if Madhu wanted to share something, she would share, wouldn't she? He didn't know many girls, but the ones he knew all talked a lot when they had something on her mind.
What did Madhu's unspoken words mean?
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