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Part 36 - My Love Is My Pride!
"If I Could Give You One Thing In Life, I Would Give You The Ability To See Youself Through My Eyes, Only Then Would You Realize How Special You Are To Me"
(Madhu's POV)
"Rishu... Please don't go!" I try my luck of convincing him to not take up this business trip to Singapore for one last time. I have been whining to stop him go leaving me alone here.
"I have to go, Baby. Work is important!" He says as he packs his travel bag.
"This is not fair to leave your wife of one month here & you go abroad" I pout. He shakes his head & smiles.
"Take me with you, Rishu?" I plead.
"Then what about your graduation? Who will attend your graduation ceremony in your place?" He asks. Yes, next week I am getting graduated.
"I want you to be with me when I get my degree certificate" that's one of the reason for stopping him from going to Singapore on business but mainly I can't live a day without Rishu.
"As much as I wish to be with you on that day but I don't think I could make it possible. If I could put off this meeting in Singapore then I would... But I couldn't, Baby. The project is in crucial stage & they need me there." He says caressing my cheeks. I am fighting hard to keep my tears in bay.
"Can Mohan Uncle take your place?" I ask hopefully. I know I am being selfish but I don't think I could function without my Rishu.
"Baby, I have been handling this project for months now & dad can't jump in my place at this stage" Rishu reasons me.
"How long it will take? When you will be back?" I ask hugging him as I let my tears run down my cheeks.
"I don't know. May be a month" he says cradling my head to his chest.
"Once my graduation function gets over I will come there, okay?" I ask in a whisper.
"Um... I will be busy with my work & I wont get time to look after you, baby. Why don't you stay with your parents for a month?"
"You don't want me to be there?" I ask, now sobbing loudly.
"Hey! Don't cry, please" he says & kisses my head over & over again but I continued to sob. I know I am being silly & emotional but i can't help.
"Please, Baby!" He begs & wipes my tears.
"I will take the next flight after my graduation" I say with finality as I dash my tears away from my cheeks with the back of my hand.
"Okay" He agrees.
"This you could have done before" I complain.
"Baby, I thought you would get bored staying alone when I work in office most of the time so its better for you to stay with our parents."
"I will stay with them for this one week. After that I will come there to be with you" I say.
"Okay, fine" he agrees. I tip toe to kiss his lips, taking the cue he bends down to claim my lips, his hands slip on my waist pulling me closer to his body & sweeps me off of my feet as we kiss deeply seeking comfort from each other. A slow, tender kiss which last for a minute or two. "You are so sweet, baby" he breathes against my lips & peck it again. Once we break our kiss, Rishu sets me down on my feet, still holding me close to him as his forehead rests on mine.
"I will miss you, Baby" he whispers.
"I will miss you too, honey" I whisper back. He chuckle. I don't know what so funny that he laughs whenever I call him baby or honey?
I want to ask him the reason but I get lost in his kiss once again.
__0__
"Hello, Rishu" I say excitedly when finally I get him on line. I have been trying since morning but his phone was switched off. It's been four days since Rishu left to Singapore & I didn't get much time to talk with him as he's always busy with work.
"Hi, baby" he says, then I hear him talk to someone at the back ground.
"No! Steph. I said redo it" he say to some one named Steph. Who is she? I couldn't hear her voice.
"Do it, now" I hear Rishu barking at that girl. A moment later he laughs. Why he is laughing? What comment that girl made to change Rishu's mood?
"Rishu... Rishu... Rishu... I am still here on the line" I shout over the phone to get his attention back from that girl.
"Oh yeah, I am sorry, baby. Just a moment" he holds me on line, then his voice dips as he talks back to that girl now irritating me to the core.
"Steph, redraft everything & bring it back in half hour" he orders.
"Baby? How are you?" He finally acknowledges me.
"So how is Steph?" I ask irately. The jealousy in my tone is so obvious.
"Steph?" He asks confused.
"By the way who is she? I have never heard her name before?"
"Hey, hold on there. Firstly, its not SHE but HE & now I guess you don't want to know about how is my team member Stephen George aka Steph is doing, do you?" I know he is laughing at me. I hit my head with my phone for my folly. Steph is short form for Stephen but I thought Stephie or some other girl name. Stupid you, Madhu.
"You there?" Rishu asks.
"Um.. Yeah... Yeah... Tell me, how are you, Rishu?"
"Were you jealous?" Rishu asks in a teasing tone.
"Nope!" I lie.
"Liar" he says & laughs.
"So how is your work going?" I ask to change the topic.
"Yeah going good" he says tiredly.
"You sound tired? Are you okay, Rishu?" I panic.
"I am fine, baby. You don't get worked up" he assures me.
"Don't work too much, Rishu. Please take some rest & eat well" I am so concerned for him & want to be with him.
"I am missing you badly, Baby" I hear him say softly.
"Me too... I miss waking up next to you in the morning, miss you cooking for me, miss showering with you, miss eating with you, miss chatting with you..." I start crying. I hate being away from Rishu.
"Oh Baby!" He groans. "Please don't cry darling" he pleads. How could he know I am crying?
"I am sorry, Rishu. I really miss you"
"I know. I will be back as soon as the work here gets over" he promises.
"Hmm..." my voice dips.
"So you don't miss our sexing?" he asks cheekily.
"Love making! How many times do I have to tell you not to call it as sexing or f**king, you stupid?" I shout pissed. He laughs.
"Just teasing you, baby" He says. Then only I realize he purposefully said so to lighten my mood.
"Love you, Rishu" I whisper softly.
"Love you, Baby" He says back, his voice filled with so much love.
"Gotta go now, Baby. I will talk to you later. Sleep well"
"Good night" I say & kiss over the phone. He chuckles.
"Good night" he says & hangs up.
__0__
My dad pulls the car into the college campus parking lot & next to our car, Mohan uncle parks his car. Then quickly my dad, my mom & I clamber out of our car & Mohan uncle & Radha aunty joins us getting out from their car. We are all now assembled outside my college auditorium.
"Madhu, don't be upset." my mom chides.
"Yes, baby girl. Today, a very big day for you. You are getting graduated so be happy" my dad, Malik says hugging me.
"Yes, dad. But I just wish my Rishu is with me here to celebrate my happy moment" I sigh. I miss Rishu. Even yesterday I asked him to try & make possible to attend my graduation ceremony but he said he couldn't. I can understand his situation but still wishing badly to have him here with me. "It's okay, Madhu. Once the event gets over, board the next flight to Singapore & go to your rishu" I console myself.
"Madhu, don't worry, we will take videos & photos when you receive your degree certificate & send it t Rishu so he won't have to miss anything" Radha aunty cheers me. I smile.
The auditorium is crowded. My family has gone to sit with the other parents & well-wishes in the raked seating, while I make my way to my seat to sit amongst fellow students. I'm wearing my black gown & hat, I know I look funny. I turn & search for Trishna & she is sitting two rows behind me. She catches my eyes & beams at me waving her hand but I just give her a weak smile. She is obviously with her fiance Sikky so she is beaming but me? I sigh sadly. I will call Rishu & talk before the event starts.
"Hey, Baby" Rishu picks up the call after several rings.
"I miss you" I whisper.
"Are you in the college auditorium?" He asks.
"How do you know?" I ask suspiciously. Is he here?
"It's very noisy" he replies. I sigh.
"Yeah"
"Graduation ceremony started?" he asks.
"No. Not yet. Chief guest hasn't arrived."
"Hmm... okay"
"I am nervous, Rishu?"
"Why, Baby? You didn't even get nervous during exams then why now? In fact you are the topper then what's bothering you?"
"I am nervous because you are not here."
"I m so sorry, Baby"
"It's okay. I guess they are going to start the event so I will hang up now & will call you later"
"Okay darling. By the way, congrats!"
"Thanks!" I smile & end the call.
__0__
At ten precisely, our college principal appears into the auditorium, followed by vice principal, then the Chief guest, a retired IAS officer who will be issuing our degree certificates & four senior professors. We stand & applaud for them. As the principal gets to her feet & kicks off the proceeding with her speech, I look down at my fingers, bored. Suddenly the room erupts into applause snapping me out of my daydream & I look up to see the chief guest briefly smiling at the warm applause for his speech which I didn't listen as I was completely zoned out, then he resumes his seat.
Then we begin the long, tedious process of collecting our degrees. There are over five hundred students to be given out & it takes over an hour before I hear my name. I make my way to the stage half sleepily. Yeah! I was sleeping in my seat for the past one hour. I turn to look at my family seated in the auditorium gallery. They are smiling proudly at me & I smile back at them but before I could focus my attention back to the members on the dais waiting for me to receive my degree, one of the top gallery door opens slightly giving room for the light outside to illuminate in, followed by a tall man in dark suit enters & when he turns to face the stage, my heart leaps to my mouth. My Rishu is here! Am I dreaming? No! He is really here! He smiles his breathtaking smile & waves his hand at me.
"Rishu!" I shout his name, bouncing excitedly & wave my hand back at him. The crowd cheers making me aware of where I am standing. Rishu rubs his forehead with his index & middle fingers, embarrassed I guess. Then he mouth 'Go' & points to the Chief guest waiting for me holding my Gold medal & Degree. I nod & walk happily to receive them.
"Congratulation, young lady" the chief guess congrats me, shaking my hand with his before handing my degree.
"Thank you, sir" I beam.
"Is he your boyfriend?" he asks softly pointing to Rishu tilting his chin towards Rishu who is now leaning on the side wall clapping for me, happily.
"My husband, Rishab Kundra" I say proudly. Once I wanted to hide my identity but now I want to shout to the whole world that I am married to best man ever in the world.
"Good luck for your future" he says smiling & hands me my degree & gold medal for getting the top rank in business administration.
"Thank you, Sir" I almost snatch them in the hurry to meet my Rishu.
But unfortunately I couldn't make my way out of the auditorium till the remaining students receive the degree so I reluctantly resume my seat but every now & then my eyes checking on Rishu that he is still there. He has now taken a corner seat next to his dad & nodding his head at him for whatever Mohan uncle is saying.
After an hour the ceremony ends, our teaching staffs & principals lead the chief guest out first, then slowly we, students make our ways out through the lower exit doors while the parents & well wishers seated at the upper gallery exits through the doors at the upper half of the auditorium.
"Rishu!" I squeal jumping in his arms throwing my arms around his neck, hugging him.
"I am so happy to have you here. Thank you" I say leading back but still wrapping my arms around his neck & he has his arms around my waist.
"I thought you would not come."
"I will never miss your big day for the world, Baby" he smiles.
"When did you came?"
"Morning"
"Oh. I was surprised & ecstatic when I saw you in the auditorium. You gave a very heroic entry" I grin
"I was actually waiting outside the auditorium for them to call your name so that I can make a heroic entry as you put. In fact I was in the college campus when you called me. To surprise you I didnt tell you about my arrival." he grins sheepishly at me. I grin back at him.
"Here" I show my medal & certificate to him first.
"You are My Pride, Madhu" he says with a hint of tear in his eyes & hugs me briefly. My heart swells with love for him. This man who is walking with me by my side holding my hands in every step I took so far will walk with me through out the journey of our lives. Then we pull away when our parents walk to us.
"Rishab, will you let me give my daughter a hug?" My dad asks enviously.
"Of course, Uncle" Rishu laughs & lets me out of his hold. My dad hugs me & says "I am so proud of you, Baby girl" I am overwhelmed with joy so I couldn't say a word. I just smile at him & hug him hard. Then my family takes turn to wish me & hug me. Rishu takes few solo pics of mine with me still wearing that funny black gown & hat. I look dorky in this attire so I want to take it off as soon as he snaps few pics for his album.
"Is that you, Rishab?" Our college principal identifies Rishab even after so many years. Rishab was quite a popular guy in college & even he was a gold medalist, a topper in Economics.
"Ma'am" He acknowledges her.
"Such a pleasure to meet you. How are you?" she asks patting Rishu's shoulder affectionately.
"I am doing good, thanks, Ma'am. How about you?" Rishu asks her politely.
"The almighty is keeping me fine, my child" she smiles.
"Ma'am, meet my wife Madhubala Kundra" Rishu says & slips his arm around my waist dragging me close to him.
"Madhu? Your husband?" she asks me surprised. I nod smiling.
"Rishab, could you please meet me in my office. I need to have a word with you" she says. I frown.
"Sure, Ma'am" Rishu agrees. "I will be back, Baby" he says & follows our principal to her office.
"You are coming with us nah. Rishu?" Radha aunty asks when Rishu joins us back after talking with Princy. He is vaguely distracted. I wonder what he is thinking?
"Mom, I am talking Madhu with me to the apartment" Rishu says & looks at me. I beam at him. I would want nothing more than to cuddle with Rishu on bed.
"But..."
"Mom, please"
"I have made lunch ready for us at home" My mom, Padmini pipes in. she always cares for food. I snort at her.
"Aunty, save the food for night, we will join you for dinner" Rishu says convincingly.
"Okay" my mom agrees.
"Bye!" I wave my hand at them & happily went with Rishu looping my arm in his.
__0__
As soon as we enter into our apartment, I can feel that pull, that delicious electricity between us charging, filling the space between us with static. Desire - acute, liquid & smoldering, combusts deep in my belly. I drop my bag on the couch & launch myself at him. He lifts me off my feet & crashes his lips against mine. His lips grow more urgent against mine, his hand moves up from my waist to the side of my head holding it in place as he deepens the kiss, leaning into me. I put my hand on his head as I run my fingers through his hair, then twisting my fingers in to his hair. He leans his forehead against mine, lets us to catch some breathe.
"I missed you. Baby"
"I want you. Rishu" I whisper. I was never shy to want for what was rightfully mine. Rishu is mine & I want him, big time.
Without any preamble he scoops me up in his arms & heads to our bedroom & disposes me on our bed & he tops over me, trailing slow & leisure kisses on my neck, my throat, my jaw, then his mouth covers mine, our tongue strokes, playfully.
He closes his eyes & presses his forehead against mine, giving us both the opportunity to slow our breathing. After a moment, he kisses my forehead, inhales deeply, his nose in my hair & then he rolls off me to his side of the bed taking me with him & he covers our entwined body under the covers.
"Baby?" Rishu calls me when I was about to doze off.
"Hmm..."
"What are you going to do next?" he asks.
"Shall we go for another round?" I ask now snapping out of my sleepy mood. He chuckles.
"Not that"
"Then?" I ask leaning up from his chest to look at him.
"Your future plans?"
"Hmm... firstly I want to learn cooking, then I want to look after all your needs, I want to have your kids, then look after them too, I want to be a perfect wife for you, Rishu"
"You are already perfect for me, Madhu. I am asking about your higher studies" he clarifies. I know where this discussion is heading to.
"So princy told you about the scholarship to study Masters in Administration in Melbourne Business School, Australia?" I ask.
"Yeah, Principal called me to talk about your scholarship which you denied. She asked me to try & make you agree. Why you denied the offer at the first place, Madhu?" he asks, sitting up on the bed resting his back on the head board. I sit up too clutching the duvet close to my chest.
"I don't want to go Australia" I whisper.
"But its a nice offer. I am so happy to know you are one among the five best students they select every year to study in Australian university. Why you want to turn that offer down?"
"I am not leaving you & going anywhere for such a long period, Rishu." I say with finality.
"Madhu... what you are talking about. Its just two years Madhu which will go in a whisk & soon you will be back to me, baby"
"Two long years, Rishu? I can't even bare to stay away from you for two weeks but you are saying its just two years." I am trying not to shout at him because I know he is saying all this because he cares for me.
"Rishu, please, I will do MBA here in Mumbai"
"But that's not going to be the same." he says. "Madhu, didn't you dreamed of being one among the best five students when you joined college? Didn't you tell me you wanted to do MBA in abroad?"
"That was before marriage" I whisper.
"Now why change your mind? I am willing to let you go & study in abroad. I don't want to hold you to myself away from your dreams. I want to be your strength not your weakness. You are getting so dependent on me. I want you to create an identity for yourself. Baby, this is the best offer anyone could get" I know he thinks the best for me but I can even pursue my higher studies here in India & create a name for my own, right?
"Rishu, I understand. But this distance scares me. You know what we went through & how I got you when I almost lost you" I say leaning on his shower as I cry silently.
"Baby..." he presses a kiss on my head. "...the situation is different now. We are happily married & madly in love with each other then why worry unnecessarily?" he asks. I remain silent, hugging him tight.
"Madhu, I will visit you there more often & you could come here during your vacation..."
"You are already jumping from India to Singapore handling business at both places then how you will manage time to visit me? If you are away at least I have our parents here but in Australia? Who do I have?"
"Madhu, you are a grown up woman & you could manage staying alone"
"At least now you acknowledge me as a grown up woman but not a baby" I say & hear his chuckle.
"See, I am not forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. I just want you to know that I will support & respect you decision. But I want you to think hard & reconsider your decision" he says. I nod though not sure I will have any changes in my decision.
"I will always keep up your hopes & dreams as I vowed to you on our wedding, Madhu" he says with a smile & kisses my lips.
"I know Rishu... But you are my dream & my reality. I love you" I kiss him back.
"I love you, too"
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Love,
Sudha
Edited by madhurish - 9 years ago
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