Part 26Suddenly they all heard a thud. As their gaze went to the source of sound they found Madhu dropped on the floor. They all ran to her and RK was the first one to reach her.
"Madhu.. Madhu wake up.." he said to her patting her cheek scared to loose her. The only one he could deem as his purely.
As Padmini was about to hold her daughter, RK lifted his hand at her gesturing her to stop. Padmini stopped midway realizing what he meant. She looked at them with worry and pain. RK picked Madhu up and took her to her room and Malik called up the doctor.
Malik and RK roamed in the room restlessly worried for her. While Padmini peeked through the door to check on her.
The doctor came soon and checked her.
"How is she?" Malik asked seeing the doctor get up from the chair.
"Well I dont think its something serious. Was she in some stress?" He asked.
"Yes.. we are going through a hard time doctor.. will she be fine?" Malik asked and RK looked at them from the other side of the bed.
"Take care of her.. I have given her a sedative. She sould be fine in a few hours.. but if there is a problem you can call me up for sure.." the doctor said patting his shoulder and walked away.
Malik looked at RK. They both didnt know how to react to each other. Be relaxed for Madhu's safety or cry for Padmini's betrayal.
Malik sat down on the chair on the side of the bed..
"Life plays cruel games.." Malik said lookibg at the floor trying to console him.
"Its a bit too cruel to me.." RK said with sarcastic laugh.
Malik too broke into a mirthless smile.
"Did you really think I would hurt Madhu?" RK asked after a while of an awkward silence.
"You actually believed that I could kill my friend.." Malik accused him back.
RK took in a deep breath hearing him as he nodded his head.
"That night was very difficult for me.." RK said as if trying to excuse himself.
"Yes.. that night was very difficult.." Malik said remembering his own.
RK looked up at him realizing what he meant. It must have been equally pain for Malik to have his friends killed right infront of him but not do anything.
"Though Madhu is my priority for now.. but.. where is this Bhatia now?" RK asked as the anger again started to shape up.
"He is dead and gone.." Malik replied back still looking at the floor.
"Dead?" RK asked confused.
"You didnt know about him.. but I did.. Do you think I would have let him alive after that.. he died 2 years back.. after a major heart attack because of a severe loss in business that had shut his company down." Malik said with a slight naughty smile indicating that he had caused that loss.
RK looked at him baffled suddenly. "Bhatia is dead?! Then why didnt you tell me the truth when I came back now?"
Malik looked at him shocked and the realization dawned on him. "I could have told it to you now? Right?" He asked confused as if confirming.
RK looked at him for a few seconds and burst into a slight laugh. "I cant believe you.." he said as his laughter died down.
Malik was smiling relaxed seeing Rishabh laugh again after a long time. He had not seen him that way. Specially that he was laughing at the most cruel game his life had played on him. Maybe he was moving on. Malik thought.
"Well its not entirely my fault.. the way you came back. Married madhu forcefully and all that drama. All I could think was saving Madhu from an angry Rishabh.." Malik said defending herself.
RK nodded his head as he realized what he had done. Suddenly his gaze fell on Padmini who was again peeking through the door. His heart was again gripped with pain and hurt. He closed his eyes trying to cope up with his emotions. He didnt know what to do with her. Resting his head back on the chair, he thought whether he should just let Padmini go off. But Madhu was his priority now. He looked at Madhu and he felt peace. How strange it was. He married her to harm her but now he is worried for her that no harm must come to her. He had his peace in Madhu, he didnt want any more revenges. No more games. He just wanted his Madhu with him and lead a happy life. He remembered their days in Hong Kong. How beautiful his life would get if all his days become like that. He didn't realize when he felt asleep still thinking of his life with Madhu.
After a few hours Madhu woke up only to find Rishabh sleeping on the arm chair beside her. While Malik too was sleeping on a chair at a distance. It seemed deep into night.She couldn't remember why she was on the bed. Just then her gaze fell on Padmini who was sitting on the floor at the door. But she wasnt asleep. She was very well awake and stared ahead. That's when Madhu remembered why she was here. She must have passed out hearing that her ideal mother could have such an ugly face. But Madhu couldn't decide why she didn't fall asleep like RK and Malik. Was it because she is a mother and a mother can't have a second's peace if her child is in pain or because of her guilt of playing with all of their's lives.
Madhu tried to sit up and instantly Padmini turned to see her. She got up and came running to her help but just when she was about to touch her, she stopped herself and looked at her nervously.
Madhu looked at her with a saddened gaze as if has lost all hopes in her. She adjusted herself and sat while leaned on the bedrest.
"What have you done mumma?" She said in a distraught voice. "Why have you done such a thing that today you dont have the courage to touch your own daughter..?"
Padmini lowered her gaze hearing her. She was pained for sure and didnt know what to do.
"When i came to know papa killed Mohan uncle and Radha aunty, I hated him for betraying me. I stopped calling him papa and addressed him as Mr. Malik. But you are my mother.. a child can never do that with his mother.. When each bit of my body is given by you then too your conscious isn't allowing you to touch me. Imagine yourself what you have done." Madhi said as fresh tears started flowing in her eyes.
Padmini also had tears trickling down her cheeks by now. "I wish I could undo everything.." she sobbed as she finished it. RK who thought it was Madhu's sob woke up hearing it. But seeing Padmini and Madhu in a conversation he decided not to interrupt. He didnt know why but he wanted to listen.
" I have been saying this to myself since 7 years.. but couldnt do anything to change it.." Padmini continued. Madhu looked down as she too sobbed.
"Every night for 7 years I have slept praying to God that it be a nightmare and I wake up back in the happy world we used to be, which I could never cherish due to my envy.. but when i wake up I see Mohan's and Radha's photo on the wall with the garlands screaming at me that they are dead. As if God is telling is telling me that all my life I tried to seperate them but even now, even when they have died, they have not seperated. Their photos hung together are a proof of it. Madhu, you are my daughter, please trust me." She tried to prove herself again "I was helpless. Bhatia was too powerful. I was scared he might harm all of us"
"So you let him harm some of us?" Madhu said while looking at the blanket, then she looked up at her mother who again had no answer to that.
Padmini realized that no reason would ever be good enough to justify her position. She had wronged and there was no escape from that. She lowered her gaze once again. "What can I do? How should I repent?"
Madhu took in a deep breath unable to answer her mother. This time she had no answer to that. She knew none of them could ever forgive her, and the voids that have been created in their lives couldn't be filled by any act of repentance.
RK took in a deep breath gaining their attention. Madhu and Padmini both looked at him with a startle. While Padmini scared that he would blast at her now.
"Madhu are you okay?" He asked her calmly and ignored Padmini totally.
Madhu nodded her head. RK stood up and touched her forehead to see if she had any fever. But she seemed well.
"We should go then.." RK said to her calmly.
Madhu looked at him with a blank face. Why isnt he reacting anything? Padmini is standing right in front of him and he is so calm.
"You get up..we should go now.." he said again bringing Madhu out of her trance.
She vigorously nodded her head and started to get off. RK went to Malik and touched his shoulder. Malik woke up startled.
"Madhu is fine now.." he said looking away. "And we are going.."
Malik looked at him baffled. "Why do you want to go so soon.." he asked not wanting him to leave.
"You come with us.. i cant stay here longer.." RK said as if suffocated and then turned back walking towards the door in his fast tread. Padmini was frozen at her place. She was expecting and dreading that Rishabh would burst at her but instead he didnt even look at her. And for some reason instead of feeling relaxed she felt even more suffocated and agitated.
He had hardly reached the corridoor when Padmini came behind him running. "Rishabh.." she called out but RK didnt stop.
She called again and by the time they reached the hall she came close enough to grasp his hand.
"Rishabh I love you.. you are my son.. Please shout at me.. scold me.. punish me.. i am ready for all of your punishments but dont go away like this.." Padmini pleaded him as tears flowed through her eyes.
"Mom always said me to consider you my younger mother.. I wanted to scream at you last night.. but I couldn't.. because i had actually did consider you my mother.. but you betrayed your son.. That day when you came to check on Madhu and had caressed me.. I had cried and hated myself for being so stubborn that I didnt stop my mother.. but i had this hope somewhere that once all this would end, maybe i would get a mother's warmth again.." he sighed in the end. "But I lost.. I lost that hope.. now if you ever want to do anything more for me and you love me actually.. then dont ever show me your face.." he said the last line looking straight in her eyes. Padmini sobbed hearing him and tears flowed through her eyes. RK turned back and walked out of the door. Madhu and Malik were watching them from a distance. Realizing that RK had gone, Malik gestured Madhu to go too. Madhu looked at him and then she hugged him. She hadnt been able to apologize to her father, that she hadnt trusted him. But then trust was made a joke in their lives. Padmini whom they had trusted with blindfolded eyes was the one who betrayed them. Malik hugged her back in a tight embrace as he felt the warmth of his daughter's love after months with his eyes closed savouring each moment.
They broke the hug and Madhu walked to the door. As she walked past padmini she looked at her for one more time. Padmini was shattered standing their defeated as her arms fell from her shoulders as she stared at the door. Madhu wished she could ease her mother, support her holding her tight. Not let her shatter the way she looked as if pieces would be falling off soon. But Madhu was helpless. She blinked and looked at the door and walked out too.
Padmini saw Madhu pass out of the door on which her gaze was fixed. And the trance she was in, broke and she felt fresh tears flowing through her eyes as she let out a loud moan. Letting herself loose now, she fell on the floor and let out a heart wrenching scream with her eyes still fixed at the door. Malik who was looking at her from a distance, couldnt help but ran towards her. He had loved her 30 years back and he loved her now. What was the reason he loved her? Well even he didnt know. He sat down and held her. Padmini looked at him with tear filled eyes and then threw herself on his chest as she burst out crying.
"What did I do Malik!!" She screamed at herself as she held his shirt tightly. Malik patted her head and looked at the ceiling while unsuccessfully trying to stop his tears.
He couldn't know why he was crying. For Mohan and Radha, for Padmini's stupidities all her life or for his own fate.
"I want to undo all that.. I was scared Malik... I was scared for all of us and thought that I can't do anything to save them..." she muttered while crying loudly.
Malik just kept his hand on her head. He knew there was no use accusing her more as she was already too guilty.
"I wish you had known better.." he said just that while his eyes still closed. She broke into loud sobs again. She felt so miserable. Her whole life was mocking at her. And the man whom she never had returned the love was still holding her. Even when she never reciprocated his love anywhere close to what he showered on her. Whom she considered as her ill fate, was the only one holding her even when he hated her. Yes, she knew that today he hated her.
After a while of crying, Padmini lifted her head from his chest. "Will Rishabh and Madhu forgive me ever?" She looked at him pleadingly with tears in her eyes.
Malik took in a deep breath and looked at her with disappointed gaze. As much as he wished he could lie to her but he knew he cant. He cant do another injustice to Rishabh and make him appear meek. And also he didnt want Padmini to have any false hope.
Padmini who till now was watching him intently, suddenly got worried. "Have you forgiven me?" She asked in a panic.
Malik looked at her with a saddened face. "Padmini.. You know I have always loved you.. and I can't fight this strange urge to protect you from everything even when I am utterly disappointed in you.. Ask for everything from me but dont ever ask for forgiveness.. That is something I can never give you now.."
"Malik.." she said in an astonished tone not believing that Malik could ever be so hard for her.
"I forgave you for everything... You refused my love and rejected me.. but I couldnt stay upset from you.. You always looked at Mohan with the kind of love in your eyes that I had always wanted to see for myself.. but still I overlooked it.. because I knew at the end of the day you are mine.. You always wanted to be Radha instead of my Padmini but still I forgave you.. But now.. This is not regarding me or my love.. its about so many lives.. Mohan and Radha died.. Rishabh had to face so much for 7 years.. yearning for his parents and burning in his pain, Madhu had to face Rishabh's wrath to pay for something which she didnt even know of.. This is not a mistake Padmini.. Its a crime and it has no forgiveness.." Malik said looking away not wanting to melt seeing her break down on hearing him.
Padmini slouched as tears flowed through her eyes.
---------------
Edited by k.atrina75 - 10 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
