Marriages are made in heaven story 2 - Part 19- Pg 125 - Page 46

PART 14

It was a Sunday morning the next day. Madhu came in the room for RK's coffee when she heard his voice from the balcony. She went there but stopped in midway to see the sight. RK was carrying Sara in his arms, swaying her lightly to and fro and trying to woo her with his words. To Madhu's surprise, that little soul was copying her Mama- Sara wasn't looking at RK; she was still angry with her Papa for the previous day. "Sara! Baby, Papa told you sorry no! Please forgive your Papa!" He spoke with a puppy voice. "I know, my angel is still angry with me! You always think that your Papa never spend time with you. He don't care for you! Papa is very bad!" Sara threw her limbs in the air as if giving her consent to his words. "But one more truth is that... Papa loves you a lot sweetheart!! Papa can't live without you! I promise, I won't give you another chance to get angry on me! Sara promise!!" And he caught her nose as the promise mean. Sara turned to look at him and gave a cute smile to him. Finally she was no angrier with her scatty Papa. She immediately caught his ears and gave a loud giggle. RK smiled with a relieved sigh and poked her nose lovingly with his. Madhu was standing behind the curtains and her eyes were moistened with the sight. She wiped them and sniffed her nose. RK immediately turned back on hearing her sniff. "When did you come?" He asked. "Ammm... Just... Just now! Your coffee." She excused. "Rishu! Madhu!" Radha called from downstairs.

"Hello Aunty! Hello Uncle! How are you all?" Aman greeted Radha and Mohan while coming in the living area. "Hello Aman Beta! We are good. How are you?" Mohan blessed him. "I am fine too Uncle. Where is RK and Madhu Bhabhi? Call them!" "They are in their room. Is anything important Beta?" Radha asked perplexed. "Nothing serious aunty. I have come here to invite all of you for tomorrow." "What is it Aman?" Mohan asked. "For Holi party, Uncle!" Both Radha's and Mohan's faces dropped in sadness. "You know everything Aman, still you..." Radha spoke hurt. "Don't take me wrong Aunty, please! I have no intension to hurt you all." "But Aman, we can't celebrate Holi this year Beta!" Mohan expressed his pain. "I know Uncle but we can give it a chance... for RK and Bhabhi." Both of them were looking at Aman bewildered. "I know very well, their relation is going through a very tough phase and they are unknowingly supporting each other. I want them to realise it. It would be better for their lives together... and for Sara too! Being a close friend of RK, it's my duty to put my best for my brother's happiness!! I don't want to miss this chance, Uncle!" Aman replied hopefully. "Hey Aman! When did you come yaar?" RK greeted him while coming down the stairs with Sara in his arms, followed by Madhu. "Just a few minutes back RK. So, how is my Sara?" He asked, tickling Sara's lower lip making her giggle. After they settled down, "Is anything important Aman?" RK asked casually. "Yeah... I have come here with an invitation for tomorrow's Holi party for you all!" He replied delightedly. RK and Madhu got stunned on hearing it. "What? Do you have any idea what are you saying Aman?" RK spoke outrageously. "I knew it that you would react like this only!!" "We are not coming Aman!" RK declared firmly. "Rishu and Madhu will come surely Beta!" Mohan declared immediately. RK turned to him shocked but Mohan didn't pay any attention to him. "I and Radha won't be there but Rishu and Madhu would join you tomorrow!" "But Papa, We..." Madhu tried to interrupt but Mohan cut her words again. "What I said is final! You both are going to Aman's place tomorrow!" "Thank you Uncle!" Aman thanked. "OK then, So RK, I'll see you tomorrow 9 am sharp at my place! Bye!" And he left soon. "Papa, what is this? We are not going anywhere!! How can you be so indifferent with the circumstances!! It's been only few months passed since Trishna died and you..." RK burst out in rage. "I know very well Rishabh... That's why I decided it!" Madhu silently listened to the conversation as she didn't want to interrupt in between the son and father. "I don't want anyone of us to live in grief for Trishna's death. She was an integral part of this family and I want her to be remembered with happy memories and not tears... You have to move on." "But Papa..." "My decision is final, Rishu! You and Madhu have to go there!" RK dashed out from there. In RK's room, "Why didn't you say anything Madhu?" RK asked angrily. "I didn't want to interfere in between you and Papa. You were so angry then RK!" "That means you are ready for it!" "No! But we should not disrespect Papa." "Oh really? Did you used to do the same when your parents would decide something wrong for you? Don't try to be so ideal, Madhubala!" His words penetrated her heart deeply. Tears suddenly started to form in her eyes. She immediately lowered her head. Seeing her like this, RK sighed aloud, "Fine! Then be ready to go tomorrow!" And he dashed out of the room.

Next morning, Radha put a Shagun tika to everybody for Holi. Soon, RK and Madhu left for Aman's place. Both were decked up in white clothes- RK in white Kurta Pyjama and Madhu in white chiffon Sari. RK was off with the mood since previous day event but he didn't show up to anybody today. Madhu could easily sense his distress but didn't speak anything. Soon, they reached the venue. The garden area was already flooded with guests drenched in Holi colours. Shouts and hullaballoos could easily be heard from outside. Aman greeted them with please and welcomed them in. Aman's wife, Nandita took Madhu to introduce her to the ladies group and RK got mingled with his group on the other side. Holi celebration was on its full swing. Suddenly, a girl bumped into RK and fell on his shoulder. She was under the little effect of Bhaang. At the same time, Madhu too noticed it. Her blood boiled more on seeing RK talking to her casually with a smile on his face. She excused herself from the group and walked towards him to teach him another husband's lesson. But one waiter stopped her in midway, offering her some Thandai. She thanked him and was about to move ahead when Aman dropped there. "Bhabhi, where are you going? And, did you have anything till now? I guess no." "Ahh... No Amanji... I..." "C'mon Bhabhi, it's Holi party! Have some fun! Wait, I'll get you some Thandai!" And he was looking around for Thandai when a waiter passed by him. "Hey, wait!" He called him near and handed one glass to Madhu forcefully. She gulped in one go but her eyes were fixed on RK. Slowly, her eyes became drowsy and her sight blurred. On the other side, RK was holding that lady through her arm as she was out of her control over her heels. Here, the waiter was about to leave when Madhu stopped him, "Hey you!! Stop! Give it to me!" Waiter looked at perplexed. It took no time for Aman to realise that he had done a mistake. He immediately went near RK to inform. Madhu snatched the tray from the waiter and sat down on the ground and started drinking the glasses one by one, laughing in between. She was now completely under the control of Bhaang. RK ran towards her but got stunned to see her condition. She was out of her control by now. "Madhu! Stop... Stop drinking it! It's Bhaang, Madhu!" He snatched it from her hands. Aman was also standing beside him. Madhu drowsily got up and walked towards Aman, oscillating on her feet, "RK!" She spoke gooselike, "How did you turn dark in complexion all of a sudden...? Last night, you were looking so handsome... so fair... but today... Yuck!!" She acted of puking and other people started laughing. RK immediately ran towards her, "Madhu! I am RK! He is Aman!" Aman was embarrassingly looking at her. "You are RK? No... You are not RK!! Leave me! You idiot!!" She shouted, struggling in his hold. "Aman, I... I should leave now! She is getting out of control! Sorry!" RK apologized.

"Leave me! Leave me RK! Let me go!" She was stupidly shouting. RK was holding her tightly while entering the house. Radha and Mohan were sitting in the living area when they saw Madhu's condition. "Rishu... She..." "Madhu drank Bhaang... not deliberately but...she did! I am taking her to the room! Don't worry!" Madhu was still blabbering something and laughing. RK took her near the stairs but she suddenly jumped back and shouted, "I won't go!! I won't go on honeymoon!" RK looked at her shocked. "Did you hear me? I won't go for honeymoon...! Why did you brought me on our honeymoon... hunnn? Tell me!" And she started hitting on his chest. "Madhu... madhu... we are not on our honeymoon! We are at home!" "Shut up! I am not dumb... you got it!! We are standing in front of Eiffel Tower and you are saying we are at home... Dumbo!! Dumbo RK!!" And she started laughing aloud madly. RK held her tightly and spoke with please, "OK! OK! C'mon, let go up on the tower!" And he pulled her to move ahead but she again jumped back. "NO! I'll not climb up!! It's sooo high naa... My feet would pain!! I won't go up on the tower!" She pouted, making a puppy face. Radha and Mohan were giggling in between. RK sighed defeated and took her in his arms immediately, "I'll take you on the tower!" And he went upstairs. "NO!! Drop me down, you moron!!" Madhu started throwing her legs in his arms and shouting. "Drop me down, idiot! I won't go on the tower! Leave Me!!"

RK dropped her on the bed. Madhu was still shouting loudly. "Shhh... Be silent Madhu!" He tried to calm her down but all went in vain. He sat beside her, defeated. Suddenly, she started crying. "Madhu... what happened?" But she kept on crying. RK cupped her face and asked again, "Tell me Madhu, what happened?" She immediately hugged him and cried, "I am missing my Maa and Papa!" "Oh! What's the big deal then? I'll take you to them in the evening." He caressed her back. She immediately broke the hug and pouted, "How? How would you take me to them? Do you know the address of heaven?" She asked with a goofy smile. "Heaven?" "Hmmm... they live in heaven naa! I don't know the address!" And she again started crying. RK was stunned with her words. "Then who are they at your home Madhu?" "Wo..." she chuckled. "They are my Chacha Chachi!! They are sweet no!" It was surprising for RK to know. That means Malik and Maa are not her parents. Madhu suddenly hugged him again and cried. "I am missing them so much! Why Maa and Papa are not with me? Chacha Chachi are there but they can't take their place!! I am orphan!" She hid her face in his chest and cried aloud. RK's heart hurt with her words. She is an orphan and she didn't tell me ever. She always missed her parents and I was completely unaware of it. What a big illusion I was in? RK caressed her head in affection. "I am missing him too!!" She suddenly blurted out in her sobs. RK got confused. "Who?" "Him... He was... He was so close to my heart! He was my true companion...!" She rubbed her nose on his shirt. RK broke the hug and faced her. "Who Madhu?" "He..." A smile crept over lips. "He was so cute... He always used to make me smile. He used to cry with my cry. He was my friend... He was my... But..." Suddenly her smile flew away. RK was staring at her perplexed. "One day... he too went away! He too went away from me! Just like my Maa and Papa! Everybody left me!" She cried out. RK was mum- he didn't know what to say. "Everybody whom I loved with all my heart... left me... all alone!! I am alone!!" "You are not alone Madhu!" RK whispered softly. "I am!!" She fumed. "I am alone! Nobody is there for me! And you know what Rishabh Kundra... I won't love you!!" She poked on his chest stubbornly. That moment, something pinched him deeply and hurtfully. His heart sank that very moment. "I won't love you ever...!" "Why?" His voice choked. "Because... if I loved you... you would also leave me alone... forever!! You would also..." "I won't!" He caressed her face lovingly and whispered. By now, Madhu's eyes were getting heavy. "No... you will also... leave...me!!" And she slowly fell on his chest but she was still murmuring drowsily. "I... won't...love...you! I...won't..." And she dozed off. And at that very moment, something changed... something that was yet to be realised! RK made her lay on the bed properly and sat beside her, staring at his sleeping Biwi, with hurtful eyes.