Part 28As they woke up the next day, there was a strange mix of emotions. Neither of them could understand what prevailed more, the heaviness of the ugly truth or the serenity of their new bond. They had discovered the most brutal truth the day before and they had discovered the most beautiful feeling they ever had. The feeling of owning the other completely. Though neither of them had made any love declaration but in a relationship like theirs, it was hardly needed. Madhu had understood it long back that RK may or may not love anyone but he definitely wanted her to be that companion of his life whom he wanted to share the better half of himself. While it was Madhu who had been taking time deciphering herself but RK knew what was that prevailed in her head. He knew her too much for that. And if anything that was at all needed to be answered was done by her words last night.
"I am all yours" echoed in the background of his mind in between the waves of other emotions and thoughts. He was still trying to judge what he needed to do about Padmini though. He needed to think about that withva clear mind.
"What would you do about mumma?" Madhu asked at the breakfast table tensing up.
RK looked at her in a saddened silence. If he had thought himself too meek to be thinking while of Padmini, he was proved wrong. Because even when he knew Madhu hated her just as much as he did but her voice had a genuine concern which she had unsuccessfully tried to mask through her straightforward selection of words.
Madhu looked away in a hurt. She knew her mother deserved punishment and the one who had the right to decide over the issue was RK. RK breathed in deeply. "I so wish we could just have run away from Hong kong instead of coming back here.." he joked mirthlessly.
Madhu smiled faintly at him.
"Did you talk to... am..?" He struggled to find a good word. Calling him Malik, suddenly didn't feel right after 7 years and addressing him in his usual greet felt too awkward.
"Yes I talked to Papa.." Madhu said coming to his rescue.
"How is he? Did you ask him to come over?" He asked restlessly.
"How can he be, Rishu..? He is too pained and jilted.." she said looking at her plate. "He said mumma cried all night after we left. And even when she slept for a few minutes in between she woke up screaming and crying.." she said in a straight tone trying to act as unaffected as was possible.
Thinking about her crying filled RK with anger. The woman associated in his parent's killing and now she is wailing, trying to put them all in an even more emotionally stressed position. He still couldn't believe that how she was able to not tell Malik about Bhatia's plan. She might say she was panicked but still there must have been some willingness on her part too. Otherwise, she would have tried to save them. Not let their families fall into disrupt.
"I dont want to talk about her Madhu.." he said laying his head back on his chair.
Madhu nodded her head as she looked down on her plate playing with the spoon.
"And for God's sake woman, eat something.. you haven't ate properly since yesterday and last night you over exhausted yourself too.." he said irritated by her picking at food. But then mentioning of the over exhaustion of last night made them again realize the woeful beauty of the night they shared. Madhu's cheek grew a shade of crimson while RK too had a smile creeping on his lips seeing her turn pink at the mention.
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At the Malik mansion, Padmini had now fallen asleep after the whole night of crying and screaming. Malik, getting time for himself for sometime went to his poolside and sat on a chair trying to cool his mind.
"I love you Padmini.." he heard a 21 year old himself, saying to Padmini in the garden of her house.
He could still remember the shock on the face of a 19 year old Padmini hearing him.
"Malik.. How can you even think of me that way?" She asked stunned.
"Why? What's so wrong in it..? Besides dont you like me too?" He asked teasingly.
"Me! Liking you? Who put that twisted idea in your mind?" She said confused.
"Who would need to tell that to me? Dont I see you, always coming out of your house whenever I come here.. Smiling from your gate or your balcony... I swear. One look at you smile brightens all my day.." he said dreamily.
"Malik.. please... Dont utter such things.. that's a sin!" She said horrified.
"Sin?" Malik said confused.
"You are like Mohan's brother.. Hearing such things from you is making me feel disgusted*" she said making a face.
"What does our love have to do with me being like Mohan's brother?" He asked baffled.
"There is no our love.. I love Mohan.. And very soon we will be married for sure.." Padmini said in anger.
"Mohan!" Malik felt as if a rock fell on him.
"Yes.. Its him that I come out to see not you.." she said.
"But Mohan? Does he know?" He uttered in fragments.
"No.. But he will know soon.. True love doesn't stay unnoticed for long.." she said happily chirping.Malik sighed remembering her words.
True love doesn't stay unnoticed for long. Those words of her changed his life. When she said that he believed her. He believed that one day his true love would be noticed too. One day Padmini will realize his love and be his through her body and soul. But he is proved wrong today. She did become his physically but her soul never surrendered to him. He breathed in the sob forming in his throat.
Though Padmini was sleeping, her mind was still restless. All her mistakes and blunders were now as if stabbing her whole being. And she didnt feel solace, be it in waking or during sleep.
She saw herself running out of her parent's house. She stopped at the gate happily when she saw Mohan standing with another girl at the wall infront of their houses. She was stunned. As if thunder broke down on her. Not only was this girl with him, but she was blushing away while Mohan had a naughty smile on his face. She wanted to run away and snatch her Mohan away from this girl but her feet were as if rooted to the ground.
"Radha.." she heard a voice from her side. She turned to the source with still the hurt and stunned expression.
"Her name.." Malik said softly.
Padmini again looked at the couple as if to confirm what she saw was right.
"Mohan got his Radha..." Malik said in a disappointed tone because he knew how much hurt would Padmini be. He had beared that pain and he knew how much it would hurt Padmini.
"No... You are lying.." Padmini said as tears formed in her eyes. "You are lying.." she said again in whisper.
"I wish it was lies Padmini.. But it's true. Radha's parents are here.. To fix their marriage.." Malik said.
"No... No.. It can't be.. Mohan is mine.. he is mine" she started muttering frantically. Malik tried to console her and as soon as he touched her arm, Padmini started frantically slapping her hands on his chest as she burst into cries.
Malik had his eyes moistened by now as he pulled her into a hug trying to console her. "Shhh.. Shhh Padmini.." he said in between while holding her together.
"But I love him Malik..!" She exclaimed while crying in his chest while Malik consoled her. She quieted down after sometime and then went inside her house.
From that day onwards, whenever Malik would come to take Mohan away, he would find Padmini in her balcony. But her usual bright smile would be missing. She would be doing some work but her eyes were distraught, as if the shine was taken away from them. Some days she wouldn't be there at all, and Malik would stay restless whole day.
"Come on Malik.. when will you propose to her?" Mohan asked him one day as they walked past Padmini's house.
"Who?" Malik said suddenly getting embarrassed.
"Padmini of course.. do you think i dont know you love her?" Mohan said teasingly.
"No I dont.." Malik said looking away hurt.
"Yeah that's why you were staring at her balcony even when we are walking in another direction."
"That's a mistake.." Malik said covering up.
"And you repeat mistakes everyday? Thats not how I know of my friend.." Mohan said to him.
"Okay fine.. but whats the use... she doesnt love me..." Malik said irritated
"How can you say that? Did you talk to her..?" Mohan asked curiously.
"No.." Malik lied coz he knew that he would have to tell Mohan about Padmini loving him then. "But I know.."
"Well even if she doesn't love you.. then feelings change... See us.. Radha never noticed me once while I was head over heels on her from the first day.. but slowly situations change and now we are getting married in a few months.. At least give it a try.." Mohan reasoned with him.
Yes, feelings change. And even Padmini said that, true love never stays unnoticed. He was suddenly filled with confidence.
"Okay.. I will.."
After a few hours Malik met Padmini in a market place. Mohan stood at the end of the road behind Malik.
"Padmini.. This is for you.." Malik said forwarding her a pink rose.
"Malik.. I told you na.." She said as if tired.
"Yes I know.. I know that you love someone else.. but dont feelings change? I am not asking you to forget him or throw him out of your heart, but can't you make some place in your heart for me too.. I love you Padmini.. and mine is true love.. and as you said True love never stays unnoticed... I promise to love you this same way all my life until one day when you would notice my love.." he said with conviction.
Hearing his words Padmini felt something strange. It was as if even she was filled with a strange hope. Her eyes wandered to Mohan standing at a good distance behind Malik, while Malik felt a pierce through his heart. She looked at Malik again.
She nodded her head with a slight smile.
"What? What does that mean?" Malik exclaimed not believing himself.
"I want.. to give us a chance.." she said looking down.
Malik knew no bounds to his happiness. She referred to them as 'us'. And she agreed to be with him. Now nothing could stop him from getting her whole. He would shower so much love on her that soon she would forget anyone else.
"Thank you Padmini.. Thanks a lot... I wont ever let you regret your decision.." he said with a strange confidence and zeal.
Padmini sat up on her bed with a jerk. [I]I wont ever let you regret your decision. Words rang in her ear. But today she had nothing left except to regret and wail at her decision. Because then, Malik didnt know what decision she had made. She had decided to be with Malik so that her love gets noticed by Mohan some day. Yes, she never regretted marrying Malik. He was true to his word even today. Just as 30 years back he had held her in his arms when she was falling to pieces, he had done that same thing last night, though he hated her now. But his love was so much bigger than what she had thought love was. She believed snatching Mohan from Radha would fulfil her love, but he didnt snatch Padmini from anyone. He didnt make her forget Mohan ever, he just did his part in her life and even when she never considered him as her love, it was only him who was left with her, only him who stood by her the way he stood by her 30 years back. She held her head with both her hands as now the guilt of rejecting Malik's love again and again, overtook her mind.
She had so many regrets to weep upon. Just then she heard echoing laughter around her. She looked around dreading when she saw Radha sitting with Mohan. They both were engaged in some joke like they usually used to be. While Radha laughed as she slapped Mohan's arm at his silliness, Mohan cherished the happy look on Radha's face. Just like they used to be back then. She saw a small boy running to them and Radha held the boy in her arms and made her sit on her lap.
"Hey Padmini.. what are you doing there?" Radha said as she looked at her, now that she was distracted from Mohan.
Padmini was stunned hearing her. Was Radha actually there? Was she calling her? She was still deciding on whether she should get up and go to Radha when she saw herself walking towards them. A much younger her sat on the chair beside them.
Mohan started playing with the little Rishabh, while Radha smiled happily seeing the two men of her life. But Padmini didnt look at them now, she was looking at herself, the younger her, who wasnt smiling much. She had a burn in her eyes and her lips betrayed the smile they were putting on. She was burning in envy of the happy family, that was sitting beside her, not realizing that just a few yards away was her husband playing with their daughter. Only when Madhu called out to her did Padmini noticed that Malik and Madhu were waiting for her to go back home. A smile played on her lips in a reflex seeing the two. She saw that smile now! Now, after years! She never knew she had felt happy and peaceful when she saw her husband and her daughter. She always weighed her envy for Mohan and Radha more than her love for Madhu and Malik. Only now she saw herself happy back then. If only she had realized this earlier. If only she knew that her peace was with Madhu and Malik. If only she had once tried to pay attention to them.
Tears fell through her eyes and the vision she was having was blurred due to the film of tears, unless it disappeared altogether. "Why!" She screamed at herself again.
She suddenly wiped off her tears frantically as she got down the bed and rushed out of the room. Searching for someone all around as she ran through the mansion. She stopped seeing her husband sitting on the chair beside the pool. She knew he used to sit there whenever he was tensed or upset. She walked to him slowly. As she reached him, she sat down at his feet and held his knees. Malik was jerked out of his thoughts as he opened his eyes.
"Padmini?" He asked confused.
Padmini rested her head on his knees as tears trickled down her eyes.
"I know its no use now... I know I have ruined everything and I know you or my children would never forgive me now.. But Malik still I want to tell you...I want you to know... True Love never stays unnoticed. Never give up on that. Because even when you might think I never noticed your love, I want you to know that I did. I did but was too stubborn to acknowledge it. I did love you back but was too blind to see it back then even.. because I was not at all worthy of the love you showered on me all our life.. that's why i couldn't believe that you loved me that much.. I may not have realized my love but you know I always respected you.. And I am not saying this because I want to blackmail you to forgive me.. but I am saying this today because I feel like worshipping you today.. Your love is the kind, that I can only dream of.. And i am so lucky and unlucky* at the same time. Because even when I had such love being showered on me, I never really acknowledged it.. I went ahead and destroyed everything.." she said as she broke down in tears.
She cried resting her head back at his knees while he closed his eyes as a few tears escaped his eyes too. She cried profusely and Malik felt like breaking down himself. He just kept his hand on her head in an attempt to soothe her. He couldnt do more than that somehow. He feared he loved her less now.
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Sorry if the oldies' romance bored anybody.. but i wished to add it up too.. it was coming out nice so i kept it..
Hope u like it..Edited by k.atrina75 - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
Naagin 7
Health and Fitness
