#3 FF: Love Starts After Marriage-2 (Epilogue, pg.119, dt.03/05) - Page 53

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I didn't have the time to reply to all your comments as I was in a hurry to post this part. but i will try my best to reply to both this & previous update comments together.

Part 45 - Bounce Back!!

"I Want You. All Of You. Your Flaws. Your Mistakes. Your Imperfections. I Want You, And Only You."

(Rk's POV)

"Hey! What are you doing?" I ask Madhu.

"Can't you see? Cooking!" she pours some olive oil on the wok. What she is making?

"That I know. But why are you cooking? On weekends I only cook nah?" before Madhu learned cooking I used to cook for us everyday & sometimes we order or dine out but once she started cooking, she insisted that she will cook on weekdays & I can cook on weekends as she loves my cooking but one weekend of every month we will go to our parents place for family dinner, then sometimes I take her out for dinner on Sundays so mostly my cooking burden is minimal.

"Rules have changed" she says as she adds the chopped onions & chillies on the wok.

"Since when?" why change the rules which we have been successfully practicing for years now?

"From now on I will cook on weekends." What? Is she expecting me to cook on weekdays?

"Oh God please. I have lots of work to catch up with in office & I can't cook for 5 weekdays. I can manage only two days in a week"

"No. I will be cooking all the seven days..." what?

"Why?"

"You don't like my cooking?" she asks with a frown.

"Of course I do." she has become an amazing cook over the time. Thanks to Mrs. Kelly who put Madhu to good use & taught her so many nice dishes while she was in Australia.

"Then no questions. It's me going to cook everyday... may be on Sundays we will have dinner out."

"How many times do I have to tell you? I am fine! So stop this!" I order.

"Stop what?" she asks.

"Showing all this concern crap" she is treating me with extreme care as if I am so delicate & I will break if she touches me.

"You really suffocate me, Madhu" I blurt out & regret saying it the very next moment as I know it would hurt Madhu. But its true. She is always tagging around me & monitoring my every single move. She is not letting me do any work. She wants me to be in complete rest which I hate. I have never been like this. I was always been active & worked hard. I love to take care of Madhu but not the other way... being taken care by her. It's so novel & unsettling.

"Wouldn't you do the same to me if I had suffered in health issues?" she asks me looking straight at my eyes. I guess she has a point. I was always over protective for her & it would have been ten folds more if she was in my place.

"I am going to office. Bye" I hurriedly say as she locked me with her fair question & for which I couldn't answer.

"But it's not even a week since you got discharged from hospital. You need rest." she protests.

I sigh & rub my forehead. "Okay, I have some pending works. I will just finish it & come home in 2 hours" I tell to appease her. She nods. I quickly kiss her forehead, this ritual will never change even when I am hell mad at her. I love kissing her forehead before I leave the home as if its a promise to her that I will be back to her in one piece & also I kiss her forehead before I go to sleep promising I will wake up to see her beautiful face.

~~0~~

(Madhu's POV)

I couldn't relax at home. It's been more than four hours since Rishu has left home. If he gets into work he forgets everything. He forgets himself. I worry for his health. I should go to office & check on him that he is not over doing things.

Not bothering to knock, I barge into his office room. Rishu is sitting at his desk & talking on the phone. He looks up in surprised annoyance, but the irritation on his face disappears when he sees it's me.

"I will mail you the revised plan" he says, continuing his phone conversation, though he doesn't take his eyes off me. Without hesitation, I walk around his desk, and he turns in his chair to face me, frowning. I can tell he's thinking 'why the hell she is here?' but I surprised him more by crawling onto his lap. I put my arms around his neck and cuddle into him. Gingerly, he puts his arm around me.

"Um... I will call you back shortly, Bittuji" he hangs up the call to pay full attention to me.

"Madhu, what's wrong?" he asks me softly. I shake my head. Tipping my chin up, he gazes into my eyes. I pull my head free from his hold, tuck it beneath his chin & curl up smaller on his lap.

"Madhu..." he cups my head & kisses my hair.

"You said you will come home in 2 hours?" I ask him.

"Yeah, I know... but the work here is not yet completed."

"Do you want any help?" I offer.

"No, baby" its about time he called me 'baby'. We are not in good talking terms since the night I asked him divorce. He still hasn't forgiven me but at least I wish he lets me talk about it & sort the issue in hand. May be I could try talking now.

"Why are you here?" he asks me. I remain silent.

"To check on me?" he asks irately.

"No No... I just came to give lunch & medicines to you." I don't want to fight with him. I am treading very carefully. I should not upset him.

"I will go & let you work." I try to stand up from his lap but he tightens his grip around my waist so I resume my position & rest my head over his chest & gently caress his chest with my palm.

"You didn't get any chest pain again, right?" I ask him worriedly.

"Stop worrying. Our lives will never be happy if we keep on worrying for each other" he says softly.

"Sorry, I can't help" I will myself not to cry.

"Rishu... can I ask you something?"

"Yes"

"Why are you distant with me?" I can't bear it. Please come back to me baby. I want my sweet loving husband who always pampers me.

"I am still mad at you but that's all." he rubs my petite back.

"I said I am sorry." I whisper softly.

"But how could you ask that Madhu?" there is a tinge of pain in his voice. "I have never thought... not even in your dream that word would come out of your mouth but you very coolly asked me to divorce you? When the going gets tough you just wanna run away right? Face the problems, Madhu. Never run away from it."

"Rishu, I didn't wanted to bind you to myself.. well, not when I couldn't give any happiness to you so I just gave you a choice to choose your happy life by divorcing me so that in future you won't accuse me of snatching your happiness"

"Whoa! What a trust you have on me? Bravo! You think I would accuse you?" he pulls me away a little & smirks at me showing is disgust. Uh-oh! Worst choice of words! I messed up again! Shit!

"Madhu, I think you should go home now" he is pushing me away.

"You come with me too" I insists.

"I guess we need sometime & space"

"Rishu, please" I plead. He sighs & closed his eyes. I am really giving him a tough time.

"I am sorry for asking divorce to you again. I m really sorry. I mean it. Its so foolish of me to ask so but I couldn't see you all bothered & stressed out for me. You deserve some peace & happiness which I couldn't give you" did I got it right this time?

"How many ever times I say that you are what I want & what I need but you are not going to believe me. So lets better chuck the topic"

"You suffered because of me. If I could have a made you at least 1% happy then you wouldn't be there in hospital." I tell. He frowns.

"That's your misconception. You are not responsible for what happened to me. In fact you saved me. Thanks for taking me to the hospital on time. I thought we couldn't make... with giving regards to your horrible driving." he says to lighten the mood.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence you have on my driving skills." I blush.

"Trust me, Madhu... when I said 'I love you' to you before I passed out in the car there was only one think running in my mind that that should not be the last thing I ever say to you." that's exactly the same I had in my mind too. I want him to say that three magical words till eternity as I will never get tired of hearing him say I love you to me.

Overwhelmed with emotion I start crying.

"Shhh... stop crying" he kisses my eyes. "Seeing you cry hurts me"

"I couldn't be the kind of wife you deserved but I will try my best to keep you happy."

"For crying out loud, your presence is enough to keep me happy, Madhu. You are my talisman that saved my life, okay?" really? Though I doubt that statement, I smile amidst my tears & hug him.

"Please forgive me. Please. I will never hurt you... ever again" I beg.

"Madhu, you know I can easily forgive you but that's not the point. I need you to understand that I do get hurt... I am human too..." I lean up & kiss his neck to soothe him. "See, Madhu, you are my biggest weakness. If I see you cry or if you plead me I just succumb to you forgetting all my anger. You have wielded a powerful spell on me which only makes me fall for you... irrevocably. You have utterly & completely beguiled & bewitched me, Madhu but you expect me to divorce you & marry someone else?" he says & I have the grace to blush.

"I have lived all my life for you, Madhu & I will live the rest of my live for you only... you are the synonym of happiness to me." he says earnestly.

"Then why you flirted with the good Doctor?" I ask. He laughs.

"Oh that. That's just for fun. I wanted some pleasant diversion as I was little worried besides I wanted to make you fume in jealousy"

"And you succeeded" I admit.

"Really? I thought my plan back fired as you took it so lightly?"

"Me, taking my husband flirting with other woman lightly? Never! I was just masking my jealousy."

"But I know why you acted as if you didn't care..."

"Why?" I ask.

"You felt so sorry & that's why you begrudgingly let your husband have his moments & when you pleaded me to stop through your beautiful eyes I couldn't pull the game further."

"I was glad you stopped flirting on time or else you would have been responsible for my combust."

"Oh my wildcat, I love you" he kisses my lips soundly.

we both laugh together & it feels great to be in our won world of bliss.

"We will be fine right?" I ask as I hug him.

"We will!" he promises. "But never utter the dirty D-word"

"You know why I asked for that?"

"Yeah, I know... the world might think that you are selfish but I don't... I know you think about my happiness only like how I do think of your happiness. But you have your own twisted way."

"Right! I am so stupid."

"That you are!" he pinches my nose, lovingly. Then I feel his phone buzzing in his chest pocket. I take it out for him & before I hand it to him I check the caller id & I frown. He never minds me checking his phone as he says 'I am his wife & I have all right to use his things & mainly he don't have anything to hide from me.'

"Is Doctor Naira in your Whatsapp friend list?" I ask

"Yep!" he winks.

"She has schedule tomorrow evening for your check up." I tell him as I read her message.

"Great! You coming with me?"

"Of course I will come... & why you have saved for her name as Naira dr.?"

"What's wrong in that?" he asks casually.

"I know she is a Doctor (Dr.) but others might think Naira dr. stands for Naira dear. Is she your dear?"

"Of course she is" he grins at me. I glare at him.

"Rishu, I guess we need to change your doctor" I tell thoughtfully.

"Oh No! I will get an heart attack if you do that?" he says playfully but I slap his arm hardly. It's not something you joke with. I am glad he didn't get an heart attack & it was just a minor problem.

"I am sorry." he smiles & kisses my lips softly.

Then without any preamble just like me someone barges into Rishu's cabin & I know its none other than my Sautan Sultan.

"Dude! I heard you are back at office. Who asked you to resume work so soon? You should be resting at home." he scolds. He is showing too much concern than I do!

"Are you a baby to sit on his lap? Get up, you shameless creature." he chides me.

"Don't you know to knock the door?" I bark at him.

"Don't you know Its office & not your home to romance" he orders. How dare he? This is my Rishu's office & I am his wife so I have all right to do whatever I please to do. Then Sultan yanks me off of Rishu's lap & makes me stand.

"Madhu, you go home. I will come shortly." Rk tells me softly.

"See, he has chosen me to be with." sultan teases me.

"My foot. I was with him for the past one hour. Even now he just wants to cut you off shortly & come to me because only I can give him what he needs" I smirk. It's been so long since we had sex. It feels! We need to connect physically too.

"Even I can give him that" he smirks back. My eyes pops out of my sockets.

"What?" Both Rishu & I shriek in unison.

"I mean love. He needs love & affection right?" he clears. Uff! I sigh in relief & Rishu sags in his seat.

"I am going. Bye" I quickly peck Rishu's cheek & glaring at Sultan I make my way out.

~~0~~

(Rk's POV)

"How are you, dude?" Sultan asks me.

"Good."

"So you both seem have worked out with your issues." Sultan says. I nod with a smile.

"I am glad to see her happy. Last week by this time, She was beside herself with fear. I only know to pull her legs but never knew to console her. I worried sick that something will happen to her."

"Yeah, I know. I am grateful that you were with her. She told me that you & my mom really helped her lot. We will be always indebted to you, Sultan"

"Oh! Come on yaar. She is my baby sister... even she introduced me to the Doctor as her brother. That felt so great to hear, you know." Sultan smiles contented. I smile at him too. I like the bond between Sultan & Madhu. They are so funny, silly, immature, always fighting but when it comes to the time of need, they will race up to help each other.

"But what's wrong with you Dad, Rishu? He kept on taunting that poor girl who was already so worried for you?" Sultan asks casually. What's he talking about? Madhu didn't say anything about my dad.

"What he told her?" I ask with a frown.

"You don't know anything?" Sultan asks. I shake my head in no.

"He accused Madhu for your condition." Oh! So that say why Madhu felt more guilty than she actually should be. That's why she kept on repeating that it was all her mistake. "He even asked her to leave you alone & go home with her parents as he & Radha aunty were there to look after you but we know about our defiant girl who stood against your angry old man & fought for you & she won too. She didn't leave your side even for a minute."

"He was mad at me for losing the deals & he assumed Madhu to be the reason for all the mess. I don't get why my dad acted so insensitively. When someone is already hurt we should not prick on their wound."

"Yeah right."

~~0~~

(Madhu's POV)

(A week later)

"Hey, Trish" I hug her & invite her into my house.

"Hey, Madz." she hugs me back. She has called me an hour back & asked if we could meet. I agreed to meet her as I was on leave & at home. I am not feeling well so I took the day off. I didn't tell Rishu or else he would worry unnecessarily.

"Where is Sid?" I ask.

"School!"

"Oh yeah. I forgot. Its been quite sometime since I last met my little boy"
"Come to my place this weekend with Rishab & see him all you wish." she invites.

"I will see!"

"So how are things going between you two?"

"What to tell, Trish?" I sigh.

"So still the water wasting problem is going?" she asks. I nods sadly.

"What gives?" she probes.

"I thought we had bounced back to normal & things will go smoothly but am I highly mistaken?"

"Last week when you came to my house you said you & Rishu sorted out things but what's this?"

"Yeah, I thought so... but then..." I narrate her the rest of the story which happened after Rishu came from work on the day I went to see him at work & we ironed out our issues.

"Madhu..." Rishu calls for me the moment he enters in.

"I am in kitchen" I shout. Within seconds he walks into the kitchen island & turns me to face.

"Why you got late?" I ask.

"Went to my parents place"

"Oh!" I nod. "How are they?"

"Good!" he rubs the back of his neck. "My dad & I had a row"

"What? But why? Did he shouted at you for losing the deals again? What's wrong with him? Can't he let his son live in peace?"

"I confronted my dad"

"Why?"

"For the false accusation he hurled on you" he shrugs.

"Who asked you to do that? What he will think of me? He is already mad at me for not taking care of his son well & now he will think I am turning his son against himself." I shout at him. "And its not a false accusation. You agree or not I am part of what happened to you." he shakes his head in denial.

"I told him keenly that I am not the only reason for your state as he was part of it too. He really burdens with so much work & I burden you with worry & those too pressure took a toll on your health."

"I guess you sounded rude with my dad" he says with a frown.

"So was he" I argue. "He was being so insensible & you are now. Like father like son!" I scold him.

"You should have just let the issue go. You shouldn't have intervened between us. Now, there will be a rift between you two father & son & he will blame me for this too" I tell him angrily & walk to my room.

"And that's what happened on that night. After the fight we didn't talk & we didn't play any fun game"

"Okay! That's one night but why 'off limit' for the whole week?"

"Next day, my mood was getting better as we went to Rishu's check up & learned that he was doing good progress but then the exceptionally good looking Doctor Naira who has a good eye on my husband asked him for a coffee & my moronic idiotic stupid husband very graciously accepted her offer & I like a loon watched their funny banter & over friendliness. And later when I asked about it he said I should trust him & it was just a coffee... a way to thank her for helping him recover soon."

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk" Trishna shakes her head & looks at me sympathetically.

"Yeah, the shit has hit the fan. We fought over that issue for almost three days & three nights. So obviously nothing happened in the nights."

"What next?" Trishna asks now really getting excited to know my sob story.

"He kept himself..."

"Wait!" Trishna stops me. "Could you bring some coke & crunches to munch as this movie is going damn interesting & I am curious to know when you finally did IT"

"We did it only before he fell sick. That's before two weeks or so." then I walk in to the kitchen to bring us some snack.

"What happened to your leg?" Trishna asks noticing me limp.

"Oh that!" I sigh. "That has another story"

"I am all ears" she grins. Not at all concerned that her close friend is hurt but damn eager to hear my telltale.

"Well, after their coffee date we had yet another row & we were in hands off relation, even till now. So Rishu opted work as a distraction. Every night he came little late from work, we have dinner in complete silence, then again he goes to his study to work. Last night I lost my patience"

"You must have got so desperate & pounced on him right? Did he throw you off & you got your leg hurt?" she asks, obviously enjoying herself. "Now, this story has got some spiciness. Some action sequence."

"Yeah, action happened but not as such as you thing."

"Then?" she asks.

"Rishu! You are not coming to bed?" I ask as I lean on the door jab of his study room.

"Yeah, I will" he says not even looking me.

"Rishu, it's already late" I remind him.

"I know. You go sleep. I will come"

"For last three nights you are working late & not taking rest. Why you are so neglectful of you health?" I shout at him as I march closer to him.

"Madhu, I know to take care of myself. You just go without irritating me."

"I am not going" I fold my hands over my chest & glare at him.

He ignores me & starts his work back. I stare at him for good five minutes. How dare he ignores me?And that's the last straw to break my patience & I combust.

I got so mad at him & went violent as I start throwing all the papers and files at him. Then I push all the contents on his desk & they all scatter down on the floor.

"Hey, Stop! You have gone mad" Rishu tries to stop me but I push him back to his seat & continue clearing his desk... even I throw his apple laptop down on the floor & I am sure it will not work ever again.

"Why don't you understand if anything happens to you what I will do? Why you work like a maniac & spoil your health? You never learn a damn thing from what all you went through?" I ask as angry tears ooze down my cheeks. He puts his head in his hands & remains silent. I sit on the floor crying to get back my composure. Did I over reacted? But who will work till 3 am in the morning that too not too long after he fell sick. He was lucky he didn't have any serious heart disease but still he should be careful right?

Then once I calmed down I collect all the papers & files from the floor & replace it on his desk. I check his laptop & thanks goodness it works! So I guess Rishu will not be so mad at me.

"I am sorry" I whisper. He looks at me impassively. I turn to walk to our room but a sharp glass piece pierced my skin. I winch. Shit! It's his favorite crystal pyramid which he uses as a paper weight. It's broken into several pieces & one piece got into my foot.

"Hey, careful" he says. But I walk to our room ignoring him. After some minutes he comes to the room with a medical kit & gently tends my wound.

"See, how badly it got into your skin?" he extricates the glass piece slowly but its still painful. I cry out in pain.

"You should cut down your anger, Madhu" he says softly.

"And mainly don't cry for everything. I am sick of seeing your teary face" he says & that makes me cry even more & even louder.

"Baby, stop now." he lies beside me & drapes his arm around me & pulls me closer to his chest.

"I love you" I whisper as he wipes my tears.

"I know. Now sleep" he kisses my forehead & went to sleep. Sleep? Not tonight too.

Trishna starts laughing her ass off hearing my sad story.

"Oh Madhu, you are unbelievable." she couldn't control her laughter.

"So that's how the whole week went without tumbling our bed & no showering together. He wasted so much water by taking bath without me." That explains about my water wasting problem. We could save lot of water if we shower together right?

"You had it really bad huh?" she teases.

"I have never craved for anything like I crave for his touch now"

"Just touch?" she raises her brow.

"You know... more. I want him to make love to me. I am going crazy"

"You better ask him. He might have lost his appetite in all the trauma he had been through."

"I feel shy, Trish. How I will ask him to come & f**k...oops make love to me"

"Oh come on, he knows that you are a wanton creature" she teases. I pout though I know she is right.

"I guess you are right. May be I should put some floor show to tempt him." I consider her idea.

"Trishna is always right. After all I am your love guru" she pats her shoulder taking pride.

"Doh!"

"Better wear something sexy & revealing." Shit! I am his wife but what all I should do to tempt my husband?

"Yeah yeah. I will" I have already started making plans for tonight. I know he is equally starving like me so let me feast us with the best of best meal.

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Surprised with my speedy update? My exams are starting in May so I need to start my preparation so will be taking a break from writing... so I wanna complete this story before the break & that's the reason for speedy updates.

Hope you all liked the update.

Do kiss the like button & comment your views.

Love,

sudha