Chapter 9: Crossroads
Dawn broke, and Madhu moved as the light from outside fell on her eyes. Gently, RK patted her and moved her ever so slightly so as to shield her eyes from the direct light. He wanted her to sleep peacefully a little longer. He had always liked watching Madhu sleep, but never out of this acute sense of worry for her safety that he felt tonight.
"Rishu!!" Madhu exclaimed and literally jumped in his arms as soon as he walked in the room and shut the door. Her eyes were dancing with happiness and love.
"What took you so long? Do you know how long have I been waiting here? Who keeps their shy, innocent new wife waiting in the bed on their wedding night? You are so silly..." She pouted and held his arm and dragged him towards the bed, all the while rambling her complaints.
RK couldn't help but smile, looking at the antics of his newly wed wife. He was a little stressed - and he knew she was hurt too - because of the way they had married. Her parents had been hurtful when they went there afterwards and Madhu's heart was broken by their words. It wasn't entirely unexpected - they had eloped and married precisely because they were against him - but it still felt terrible to see Madhu being so painfully disowned. Thankfully, Ma had accepted them both. And somehow, Madhu's smile had come back within half an hour of them being home and being hugged by his mother. Still, he couldn't help feeling guilty about separating Madhu from his family. For his love, she had given up everything she had grown up with. Her parents, their money, their love. It was insane how crazily she loved him. And looking at her now, RK felt reassured that she was happy with him.
"What are you there smiling at? Come, help me out of this sari. Oh God, this is so complex. How many safety pins can one sari hold?"
"I am smiling at how shy and innocent my new wife is, inviting me to strip her off." RK said and laughed.
"Rishu!" Madhu scowled and threw a pillow on him, which thankfully he caught. Then he walked upto his wife and took her lips in his. She pretended to resist for a few seconds initially, then gave in to the gentle, torturous suckling of her lips. RK moved to her neck, while undoing the dori of her blouse with her hands. His lips teased and bit and soon Madhu was lost in passion, moaning his name.
He moved her lips to her ear and slowly whispered "Come on, let me help you get out of your sari..."
Much later, Madhu lay in his arms content and he watched her.
"I love you Madhu" he said, and she smiled. "Me too pati" and closed her eyes.
"Madhu are you happy?" he asked. "Hmmm" she nodded, half asleep. "Sure?" he asked, but she didn't answer, already asleep.
Gently, RK touched Madhu's beautiful face, caressing her. He didn't need her to say the answer. Her happiness glowed on her face. Once again, he felt grateful for having found someone like her and promised himself to never late the glow fade.. He kissed her on her forehead and watched her sleep for a long long time.
Gradually, RK touched Madhu's face, his thumb tracing the thin lines of worry and pain that she had lived with. In one way, she looked the same as she always had - his beautiful radiant Madhu. But he couldn't see the glow of happiness on his face he had promised he wouldn't let fade. Time and circumstances had taken a toll on her, and she had lived through more trauma than anyone should in one life time. He couldn't even imagine everything that she had gone through while he wasn't there. He was supposed to have protected her, but when it came time to choose between her and his obligation to his duty, he hadn't picked her. Agreed, it wasn't a black and white decision, and agreed, he hadn't planned on dying for seven years. But still, she had left everything for him and he had failed to even give her a safe, comfortable, dignified life that she deserved.
And yet, she loved him just as insanely, just as crazily as she had loved him the day she married him. She had given him two beautiful kids and she had killed herself protecting them and raising them all by herself. And after everything, she had still cried for his pain on seeing his wounds and was trying so hard to heal him and give him everything he had missed. She hadn't complained, but RK knew that in her silences were the unhealed wounds of her trauma and pain. The past had scarred them both, and they both needed to heal. She needed him just as much as he needed her.
A tear slipped from RK's eyes and fell on Madhu's face, who opened her eyes.
"Rishu" she said, shifting to face him as she woke up. "You...you didn't sleep. Oh...I slept on your arm, I am sorry." she tried to move away, but Rk held her back.
"It's ok. I was just watching you sleep." he said and he smiled.
"Rishu..."
"Did anyone tell you how beautiful you are?"
She smiled, then said, "Yes, lots of people. Sleep some, Rishu. You need rest."
"I don't need rest. I need my biwi." he said, rolling over so his face was above Madhu and she was pinned under him. "I missed out a lot already. I don't want to miss any more time with you because I am sleeping." he said and smiled then gently took her lips in his. Slowly, as he kissed her, they both felt a taste of the life they had shared and surprisingly, the happiness tasted exactly the same as they both remembered. RK parted after a few minutes and watched Madhu's face, who had closed her eyes as the passion ran through her veins.
Slowly, she opened her eyes to see RK staring at her. "What?" she said and smiled.
"I am sorry Madhu. You went through so much because of me. I don't know how to make up to you. But I am really sor..."Madhu kept her hand on his face before he could complete.
"What's over is over. It was our destiny. You don't need to be sorry. And as for making up to me, I promise I am going to give you a lot of chances to make up to me in a lot of ways for the rest of our lives." she said, chuckling, as she got out of bed. RK tried to hold her but she slipped through his hands and ran towards the door.
Then she stopped, turned back and winked at her husband "...starting tonight" and then ran out.
RK smiled, happy to see traces of his old naughty wife back. Then he crashed back into the pillow to get a little sleep.
*******************
RK walked out of the bedroom 1.5 hours later. The kids were dressed for school and sitting on the table eating their breakfast and Madhu was in the kitchen packing them a snack. She had bathed and changed and was wearing RK's favorite sari. RK was a little surprise she still had it, and as their eyes met, his heart fluttered to see her looking happy. Unlike the previous few days, she was wearing kajal, bindi, lipstick and sindoor and she was humming to herself. Their eyes met and RK blew her a kiss and watched a blush creep on her face.
"Good morning Daddy." Rohan yelled on seeing him.
"Good morning" he said as he walked up to Rohan and Ria and gave them a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry I overslept" he said to Madhu as she walked out.
"No worries. Here's your coffee. You sit here, I will go drop the kids to the school bus and come back." Madhu said as she handed RK his coffee and proceeded to pack the kids' schoolbags.
"No, I'll come along too. Let me just wash my face. Give me two minutes" He said and walked to the bathroom.
Just then the doorbell rang, and Rohan ran to get it.
"Rishabh Kundra" the man at the door said.
"That's my daddy."
"Rohan, who's it?" Madhu asked as she walked towards the door.
"Someone asking for Daddy. He's wearing uniform like Daddy's." Rohan yelled. By then, Madhu reached the door as well. "Rohan, go inside. Wear your shoes, we have to leave." she told her son, and looked at the man from Air Force who stood there patiently. "I wanted to speak to Lt Cdr Kundra."
"Come in" she said.
By then, Rishabh emerged from the bathroom and came to Madhu. "Who's it Madhu?"
The man recognized Rishabh and gave him a gesture of respect. Then held out his hand and said "Commander Makhija, Headquarters."
Rishabh shook his hand and they both walked in while Madhu watched.
RK turned to Madhu and said, "Kids are getting late for school. I think you should drop them and come back." She nodded and went to grab the kids, while RK turned his attention to Makhija. "What's this about?"
As Madhu stepped outside with Ria and Rohan, she froze for a second as she heard Makhija say, "How soon can you rejoin service?"
Madhu returned 15 minutes later and saw RK sitting on the sofa alone. The papers Makhija had brought were in his hand and he was thinking.
She went close to RK, then nervously asked
"They want you to go back to Air Force?"
RK looked up at Madhu. The fear was obvious in Madhu's shivering voice. He held her hand and made her sit in front of her.
"Yeah. Makhija brought reinstatement papers. And promotion papers."
"Rishu, you can't..."
"I know" RK cut before a fearful Madhu could finish her sentence. "It's just...it's just that I've never done anything else. I don't know life outside..."RK stopped as he saw the fear and bubbling anger in Madhu's eyes. He held both her hands.
"Don't be scared Madhu. I am not..." but before he could finish his thought, Madhu stood up and walked inside in anger.
"Madhu.."RK yelled, but didn't follow her. He knew talking to an angry Madhu was never the best strategy. He had to give her some time - her anger usually came down quickly and then he could talk to her. But most importantly, he didn't follow her because he needed some time to process his own response. He understood Madhu's fear. He didn't want her to feel abandoned again. But at the same time, he also had to decide what to do next. Air Force, his country and flying - they were his first love. Even as a child, that was all he wanted to do. That was all he knew what to do. If he weren't to go back to Air Force again, he didn't even know where to start about what to do with his life. What job was he going to do? But then, he didn't want to make Madhu feel he was choosing Air Force over her again. He couldn't risk the same thing happening to his family all over again. His family's safety was his first priority. But...where did he leave him?
RK was lost in his dilemma when Madhu emerged from the bedroom thirty minutes later and walked straight to the kitchen, ignoring him. As she loudly washed utensils, RK sighed. He had to calm his wife and reassure her. He had only just found his life back and didn't want to lose anything. But he didn't know what exactly to tell Madhu. The noise from the kitchen grew and RK finally got up. He can figure out what to do later - right now his Madhu and his children were all that mattered. Their safety and happiness was above all.
"Madhu...my angry biwi.." he said walking to the kitchen and grabbed Madhu from behind, enveloping her in her arms, while she struggled to get out "..at least listen to me" RK said, but then the doorbell rang again and Madhu managed to free herself from his arms.
She walked towards the door and RK followed, a few steps behind.
"Rishu!" the person at the door said as their eyes met with RK's.
"Dipali!"
Real Estate
Anupamaa
