Part 7
A week had passed with Madhu trying to accustom her mind for being with Sultan while RK being confused at the strange restlessness he was having now, seeing her with him. He was the one who had encouraged Madhu to get into this relationship with Sultan and now he felt as if suddenly something was turning wrong. He had never felt lonely and left out even though he had been in orphanage all his life but now he was starting to feel left out.
Madhu had gone for a walk to the ice cream parlour with Sultan. Meanwhile Dipali came to RK.
"Come on RK.. lets go for a walk.." she said excited.
"No Dipali.. I dont feel like.." RK said disinterested as he continued repairing the old bicycle.
"Why? I have seen you have turned strange since a few weeks.. you are not as happy anymore.. and you have turned quite irritable.." she complained as she had been tired of hearing the No's to all of her plans.
RK took in a deep breath to control his anger. "Dipali.. I am in no mood to argue.. i dont feel like and that's it.. "
"But i feel like going.. Dont you think its any important for you?" Dipali asked hurt.
RK looked at her and felt she was right. She had always done what he felt like so even he can sideline with his bad mood for her. And besides there was no reason why he was upset. He should try and concentrate on his relationship like Madhu. He smiled at Dipali and nodded his head. "Fine let's go.."
Dipali squeeled in excitement. "Great lets go.."
RK smiled seeing her as they walked out of the gate.
Madhu on the other hand was staring here and there uninterested as they ate their ice cream.
"Madhu.." Sultan called her.
"Yes.." she looked at him.
"Should we go to the bridge.. the breeze is really good and it would be perfect there.." Sultan said with a smile. He wanted to spend an ultra romantic evening with her.
Madhu looked at him skeptically "I think its getting late.. i should go back"
"But we can have a quick walk.. its better than sitting here.."
Madhu pondered for a few seconds and then shrugged. "Fine but we'd be quick."
Madhu and Sultan walked to the bridge as they stood there enjoying the breeze. The cool wind blew between her hair and it felt so comforting. She let the wind hug her with closed eyes and as she opened her eyes, RK was right in front. As if he was there to complete her moment. Suddenly the nature felt all the more beautiful to her. He was at a distance sitting on some bench below the bridge. He was smiling and laughing in between. Madhu smiled seeing him laugh. That was the most precious thing to her. Sultan didn't notice RK as he was enjoying Madhu's beauty with his back towards the bridge's railing leaning on it.
Madhu was still admiring RK's dimpled smile, the way he smiles with her, for her. But then she noticed what he was smiling at. And suddenly she felt a blow, seeing his gaze focussed at Dipali. Her smile started to fade without her knowing it. She didnt know why she felt this heavy rock placed on her heart suddenly. This smile of RK was neither with her nor it was for her, his attentions were all focussed on Dipali so much so that he wasnt even noticing her. Suddenly to her shock RK fluffed Dipali's hair as she was animatedly narrating something and Madhu's eyes went wide with shock. She couldnt believe RK was so friendly with someone other than her. Was Dipali trying to take her place?
"Madhu.." Sultan called her confused to see the series of expression changes in her.
Madhu looked at him and again felt a blow. Here she was with Sultan. And the reality of their lives struck her. RK's life was with Dipali while she was to be with Sultan. That was it. Tears started brimming in her eyes.
Sultan panicked seeing her. "What happened Madhu?" He asked her worriedly. His tone was full of care and at that moment Madhu needed that the most. She threw herself on Sultan and burst into tears. Sultan hugged her and patted her head trying to calm her though utterly confused at her behaviour. "Madhu please dont cry.. what happened suddenly..?" He asked again.
"I dont know.. everything was going great till now.. what has happened suddenly.." she said between her cries but more to herself as she remembered that all these years she and RK were enough for each other. Then why their lives were now drifting apart? Why do they need other people after all these years?
Sultan caressed her and patted her head for sometime till her sobs quieted. She realized what she was doing and quickly parted away from him feeling strange.
"Madhu... please don't cry" Sultan said lovingly while Madhu nodded her head.
Sultan smiled at her and bent down on his knee. "To uplift my lady's mood and to get some bonus points.." Sultan smiled cheekily. "I have got a present for you.." he said as he came up with a box. He opened it and there was a ring in it.
Madhu's eyes went wide in shock. No she wasn't ready for this. She almost froze to the ground. "Its been a month since I told you that I love you.. and now I want to take another step forward to my commitment Madhu.. please dont say no now.." he said with a nervous smile.
Madhu looked at him confused and shocked. Sultan took the ring and held her hand as he slipped it on her ring finger. She looked at the ring horrified and even though she didnt even realize it, her gaze drifted to RK. And this time he was looking at her. And not just looking, he had this strange accusing look in those eyes as he stared at her or rather glared at her. Was he really angry or that she imagined it? Their eyes were locked with each other.
Sultan stood up and happily hugged Madhu. He thought if Madhu wouldn't accept the ring then she would have ran away or at least refused. But her silence made him think that she approved. The dark of the night hid the fact that she was actually staring at RK. Seeing Sultan hug Madhu RK got up suddenly. Dipali who was in the middle of some conversation looked at him confused.
"RK?" She called confused.
"I am not well Dipali.. I need to go back.. I will drop you home.." he said as he started to walk away trying not to look at Madhu. Madhu on the other hand was even more restless as she felt that he walked away from her.
RK was now walking back from Dipali's house. He had been walking too fast all the way and Dipali had to catch up. In between she would ask what happened but RK barely listened to her. By the time they had reached Dipali's place she was breathless. But now his steps were short and he walked as if aimless. Staring at the blank space ahead, all he could see was Madhu's image hugging Sultan, and Sultan bent on his knee slipping the ring in her finger. He was feeling betrayed. All those scenes from the evening started playing in his head again.
Flashback
RK was walking with Dipali to the bridge. It was his idea to come there as Dipali had offered to go to ice cream parlour and he knew Madhu was there. So he decided not to invade her privacy and instead came to the bridge. Dipali was more than happy that she would be getting his undivided attention instead of food.
They sat on the bench below the bridge enjoying the cool breeze. While Dipali was narrating some incident, he just watched her uninterested. The ambience and weather made him remember Madhu for some reason. He didnt know why but he wished Madhu was there with him. That's when he felt her near. Her scent filled his senses and he didnt even realize that he started to day dream. Suddenly he had Madhu's image sitting with him instead of Dipali. A smile crept on his lips as he imagined Madhu reminding him some childhood incident. He laughed seeing her excitement as he shook his head. He didnt even know when his hand moved forward and fluffed Madhu's hair as he always did when he found her cute. That's when Dipali looked at him surprised at his sudden show of affection towards her and RK's dream broke. He realized that he just did that with Dipali and he had only imagined Madhu in her place. He averted his gaze in attempt to normalize himself looking here and there when his gaze fell on Madhu who was standing on the brige with Sultan. Her eyes were locked with Sultan's. He couldn't see what her expressions were like but before he could judge more, Madhu threw herself in Sultan's arms. RK felt it as a slap. He didnt know why but his ground shook beneath him. His Madhu was hugging this man. Just when he was trying to bring himself out of the dilemma, he saw Sultan getting to his knees and the next he slipped a ring in Madhu's hand.
Flashback ends
He came out of his thoughts with a jerk remembering that. Madhu had been his only friend. And he was Madhu's only friend. But now he felt her being taken away from him. She would be gone and he would just be nothing more in her life.
He didnt know what he was thinking and why he thought that way. But Madhu was his sole anchor all these years. His only family and support. She had been his reason to live and seeing her drifting away he felt like loosing his purpose to live. He didnt even realize when he reached the orphanage gate. He looked at the sky, and it was dark into the night. That meant one thing for sure, Madhu must be waiting on the roof.
Madhu had returned to the orphanage soon after the incident. She had been panicking since then and Sultan had to drop her soon. After pacing around the corridoor for a few minutes, she gathered courage to go to the roof. She felt guilty like a criminal to face RK. But she couldn't think of anything else except to go to him. It had been 3 hours since she was sitting near the wall waiting for RK, but there was no sign of him. Maybe he doesnt want to keep any relation with her anymore. She was feeling too scared to go to his room and ask him the reason of not showing up.
RK now stood in front of the stairs. He knew Madhu would be up there. But what would he do with her? Suddenly she felt a stranger to him. But he couldn't keep her waiting up there. Already it had been late into the night. He walked upstairs with heavy steps. As he reached up the roof, he saw Madhu sitting by the wall, tightly holding on to her legs with head dropped in between her knees. RK couldnt stand that sight. He rushed to her quickly.
"Madhu.. are you okay?" He asked holding her by the shoulders.
Madhu looked up at him and RK's heart broke to pieces. She had marks of dried tears on her face and her eyes seemed swollen.
"You were crying?" RK asked both worried and angry at the same time.
"Why didnt you come here?" She asked as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. "Dont you want to be my friend anymore?" Madhu asked as tears flowed down.
"No Madhu.. You are my life.. how can I walk away from you..?" He said trying to make her believe.
"You are upset with me.. You are angry with me, right?" Madhu asked frantically.
" Not at all.." RK lied trying to please her.
Madhu threw herself on his chest. "Save me Rishu.. I dont know what's happening.. I didn't want all this.." she said in between her cries.
RK patted her head trying to calm her. "Madhu.. i am not angry.. i am happy for you.. don't think that i would be upset. You are starting a new life why should I get upset?" RK asked the question more to himself as he tried to reason.
"I dont want a new life.." she said sobbing. "I never asked for it.. Sultan was just our friend.. a common friend.. Why did he have to suddenly turn out to be my lover?"
RK chuckled hearing her. "You can't stay in this orphanage forever.. You have to move on.." he explained it both to her and himself. He thought Madhu was happy with Sultan and only felt bad because he behaved absurd seeing her.
"We are friends.. we should be happy for each other.." he said it closing his eyes to hide the pain.
Madhu remembered RK smiling and laughing with Dipali. Yes she should be happy if RK is happy. Even when its with Dipali.
She parted from him. RK looked at her doe eyes which were shining due to the film tears making them all the more beautiful. The innocence on her face made him melt. While Madhu stared at the strange mysteriousness on his face. She couldn't judge for the first time what he was thinking. RK bent forward and kissed her forehead unknowingly, while she felt a wave of tranquility wash through her. As RK looked at her with a strange hurt, Madhu bent towards him and kissed his lips unknowingly. It was a peck rather but then she couldn't part. He closed his eyes as a tear fell through them. Madhu started kissing his lips softly unable to control herself. And soon the kiss deepened enough, that RK started to respond back. Not long after he was lying over Madhu while they both kissed each other hungrily as if trying to have the most of the other. Claiming their right while submitting themselves to each other.
RK hungrily trailed kisses from her lips to her neck while she basked in pleasure and completeness. She couldn't have felt better than this. He was still kissing her collar bone when his hands entwined with hers and something hurt his fingers. As he regained his consciousness of the surroundings he felt what his fingers were touching was that ring which Sultan had given Madhu. He was suddenly knocked back to his senses. He stopped and stood up in an instant while Madhu looked at him in utter displeasure while still engrossed in passion.
He ran his hand in his hair out of disbelief over what he was doing. He quickly looked the other way as Madhu looked too tempting lying on the ground with clothes now unkempt. He took deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
"Rishabh.." Madhu called to him as she stood up after a few seconds.
"I am sorry Madhu.." he said still looking the other way.
"Sorry?" Madhu said disheartened. "Don't you like me? Am I not good enough?" She said as her voice started shaking a little in fear and hurt.
RK's eyes widened hearing her. He couldn't believe Madhu was considering what they just did.
"Have you gone crazy?" RK asked turning to her totally baffled.
"I know I am a little fat.. not as slim and sexy as Dipali.. But am I that bad..?" She asked again as her eyes shone with tears.
RK broke into a half hearted smile hearing her. "Madhu.. You are too good for me.." he said.
"Then why did you stop?" She demanded answer like a child.
"Madhu.. its wrong.." he told her.
"Then why did it feel so right?" She asked back.
"Because we are just being too emotional these days.." he said trying to find a correct answer.
"Maybe because it is right?" Madhu said as if she had not heard him.
"Madhu.." RK interrupted softly and came closer to her. Madhu looked straight in his eyes waiting for him to claim her. He held her hand and raised it infront of her face.
Madhu looked at it and saw the ring still encircling her finger. But now she was clear. It no more confused or panicked her. She looked at it and then him. "Does this even matter?" She asked him as she quickly pulled the ring out of her finger.
"Yes it does.. You and sultan love each other. I am just a friend and for now just a confusion in your life.. that bad habit which you shouldn't carry forward but are unable to leave behind.. Your life awaits you.. till when will you stay back for me? You did that all your life.." RK said getting angry.
Madhu looked at him shocked both at his anger and that he knew that she had stayed back for him a lot of times...
"Yes Madhu.. I know. You could have left this place long back.. I know that a lot of people wanted to adopt you and take you away from this place, but you refused it everytime. Just for me. You did that then but I wont let you do that again. You should have all the happiness in life, step out in the world. Move on. I want to see you happy and prosperous which is out of these walls of this orphanage.. My presence or absence would only affect you for sometime but in the long run I would just be a part of the journey and it wont matter." RK explained as he turned his back at her trying to hide the pain he was having while saying all that.
"You think I did all that for you?" Madhu asked as she walked infront of him. "You think I did some favour to you.. out of sympathy?" She said with a heartbroken laugh. RK looked at her confused.
"You are wrong Rishabh.. I did that for myself.. Do you remember that day when you had held my hand and brought me in this orphanage..? I remember it. And I always felt that you rather brought me in your life that day. My own father betrayed me and left me alone to face the world but you safeguarded me even when you weren't capable to save yourself at that age.. and even when it wasnt asked of you.. You never let me feel the absence of family. Our lives are so entwined together that you became an inseperable part of my life even before I knew it. And going away from you was a nightmare for me. And even today its a nightmare for me.. Everything is clear now.. please Rishu.. we have to be together. you are my support and anchor.. if you leave me midway I will drown for sure.." Madhu said pleadingly.
RK looked at her stunned. "Madhu you are getting crazy.. I know you very well.. You saw me there when Sultan was proposing to you and you are now worried seeing my reaction there. I know I behaved absurd but that doesn't mean you change your decisions for me.. Just give me sometime and I'll accustom myself to this.." he said and quickly walked past her.
Madhu turned trying to stop him but he was gone even before she could.
After waiting sometime for RK, Madhu walked to her room. She knocked at the door but there was no answer. She was about to walk off when Trishna opened the door. "Madhu?" She called out. "You are here at this time?" she asked confused. It was 4 at night. It had been a routine that Madhu would come in the start of the night or wont come at all.
"What happened Madhu?" She said getting worried seeing Madhu lost.
Madhu looked at her and hugged her tightly. "What happened?" Trishna again asked worriedly.
"You were right.." Madhu mumbled and her lips started twisting into a smile.
Trishna parted from her to see her face. She got even more worried seeing her smile suddenly. "Come in.." she said pulling her in.
"Now please tell me what has happened? Are you okay?" She asked sitting beside her.
"I have not been this good since months now Trish.." Madhu said relaxing as finally all her confusions were resolved. "You were right.. so right"
"About what?" She asked restlessly.
"I think I love Rishu.." Madhu said taking a sigh of relief.
"Finally!!" Trishna exclaimed looking up as if thanking God.
Madhu giggled seeing her. "I am no more tensed or restless now.." she said lying on the bed.
"You should have been with RK then?" She asked confused even more.
"Nah.. he is upset with me.. he says i have gone mad.." Madhu said disappointed.
"I would say you have finally gained senses.." Trishna said shaking her head in disapproval.
"Yes.. but he doesn't love me I think.." she said getting upset.
"What nonsense..." Trishna exclaimed
"I saw him with Dipali today and he was so happy.." she said sadly. "And when we kissed he was so full of regrets.."
" Kissed!!" Trishna exclaimed as all her senses focussed on that one word.
Madhu looked at her with an expression as if dear caught in headlights. "Oops.. shouldn't have said that.."
"When did that happen and how?" Trishna said jumping in excitement. Here she was worrying how they would realize their love and they have gone one step further.
" It just happened.. even we didnt know how.. thats when all my doubts cleared out.. but even though I felt it absolutely right.. Rishu thought we were just being over emotional.." she said thoughtfully.
"No no no.. dont give that stupid idea another thought.." she said dreading as she knew how much Madhu trusted RK's instincts. "You both are very much in love.. RK isnt able to understand his feelings and that's it.."
"How can you say that?" Madhu asked confused
"Because I have seen him... that day when you went out with sultan and RK had to wake up without you around.. I said to him that he has to learn to be without you and he was so restless after that.. haven't you noticed some change in him since that day?"
"Yes you are right.. that day he was very emotional when i came back.. and since then he doesnt seem all that carefree he used to be.. something always seems to bother him.." Madhu said thoughtfully.
"And this is what it is.. he is not able to accept you parting from him ." Trishna said smirking in self apraisal.
"Maybe you are right.. but what if he loves Dipali..?" she asked again confused.
"Come on.. You have the first right over him.. which dipali can take him away from you?" Trishna encouraged her.
Madhu smiled hearing that. "Yes.. no one can take him away from me.. he had been mine always and he will be mine forever.."
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