Hi everyone! This was requested by -Mrinalini-. I know I've already done a KC OS, however with all the new articles it was possible to write "a new take". Enjoy!
Karvachauth – A New Take
The world spun before her eyes. And as the darkness consumed her, she fell to the ground. With a big thud, her eyes began to close.
Madhu walked towards RK's van with Bittuji to show RK the mehndi she had gotten with his name.
She slowly opened the door and saw RK standing in front of the mirror rehearsing his lines. He looked over to see Madhu.
"Biwi! What brings you here?" RK asked surprised.
" I..uhm…," Madhu tried to answer quietly.
Bittuji suddenly spoke up, "Bhabiji show Chief your hands!"
RK looked confused as Madhu walked towards him. She had that smile on her face again which RK was still unable to figure out.
She held out her hands in front of RK. RK noticed his name but he didn't mention a word. He tried to quickly change the subject.
"Oh, nice biwi. Is that all you came for?" RK asked nonchalantly.
Madhu nodded her head. Suddenly Bittuji walked over and began talking to Madhu.
"I'm going to stay with Chief. If you need anything, or if you don't feel well…please let me know," he said.
RK looked at Bittuji and then at Madhu and then back towards Bittuji.
"Is biwi sick?" RK asked with a worried look.
Bittuji didn't know how to answer, "No chief…uh…"
Bittuji didn't see Madhu nod her head but RK did.
RK began to get tense, "Biwi. Tell me what's wrong."
Madhu tried to avoid the question, "Nothing RK. I…uhm…Bittuji I'm going to go."
"Biwi! Answer me," he yelled.
Madhu remained silent.
Bittuji tried to break the tension, "Chief, today's karvachauth…"
It took RK a moment to realize what Bittuji indirectly meant. He looked at Madhu in shock, and then anger.
RK spoke furiously, "Who asked you to keep a fast? Me? I don't remember telling you to do that."
"You didn't, I jus…," she replied quietly.
RK cut her off, "Get out!"
"RK…," she tried to talk to him.
RK cut her off once again, "Out now!"
Madhu looked at Bittuji while tears began to build up in her eyes. She looked at RK who was still angry.
She quickly turned and ran out of RK's van. Bittuji followed.
Bittuji caught up to Madhu in tears.
Bittuji tried to make Madhu have faith, "Bhabhiji! Don't cry. You know Chief…he doesn't believe in this stuff. But he had once stopped believing in Ganpatti Bappa too. You know who made him believe again? You! So don't give up this time. I'm sure Chief will come to break your fast today."
"Really?" she asked while in tears.
"Chief will definitely come," Bittuji replied confidently.
Madhu smiled.
"Thank you Bittuji."
Bittuji smiled and nodded his head.
"If you need anything then do let me know."
Madhu smiled and replied, "Okay."
Bittuji returned to RK's van and Madhu returned home.
(At home.)
Madhu changed into a red sari and began to wait for RK to come home and break her fast. Hours passed as she sat in their room waiting. She got up to check the time and then felt giddy. She handled herself and then saw the time. RK was two hours late. She began to get worried. She was just about to call Bittuji when suddenly she fainted and passed out.
She heard a faint voice passing through her ears.
"Biwi! Wake up. If you don't, I'll make you regret it."
"RK," she thought. She slowly opened her eyes as she heard someone sigh in relief. Her face was wet and she felt sick to her stomach.
She realized she was in RK's lap.
"RK?" she asked quietly.
"I'm here," he replied reassuringly.
RK helped her sit up straight. They locked eyes and then RK broke the silence.
"See why I think these rituals are stupid and I don't believe in them? They lead to this," RK gestured towards Madhu who had just gotten up from passing out.
"It was for your long life," she replied shyly.
"Forget my long life. For my long life you're risking your own life," he said angrily.
"It was worth it…," Madhu whispered as she tried to avoid his eyes.
RK stared at her for a moment and then he stood. He helped Madhu stand up.
Once she was standing, RK walked towards the tray that Madhu had placed down on the bedside table.
He walked towards her and then stood before her. She looked up at him.
"You believe in this?" he asked.
"Always have…," she answered.
RK handed her the sieve. She looked at him in question.
"You've kept the fast all day, you might as well finish all the rituals," he answered while pretending to act as though he didn't care.
Madhu smiled. She grabbed the sieve and walked towards their balcony, RK followed.
They stood in front of each other. RK watched as Madhu raised the sieve towards the moon and then slowly towards him. As Madhu saw her husband, with whom she had recently fell in love with, behind the sieve, she smiled. RK couldn't help but slightly smile back.
RK grabbed the glass of water and broke her fast. He grabbed the piece of sweet and she took a bite. He continued to hold it in front of her.
"I'm done RK," Madhu said.
"Eat it all, you haven't ate all day," he said while a worried expression began to cross his face.
Madhu didn't argue, she took another few bites of the sweet from his fingers until she finished.
She bent to touch his feet but he stopped her. He grabbed her shoulders and made her stand.
"No."
That's all he said. She didn't want to push him too much and so she didn't argue. He had already fulfilled most of the rituals. That was all she wanted.
They walked back inside.
"Why'd you come if you don't believe in it," Madhu asked RK.
RK remained silent with his back towards her. A minute passed and then he spoke.
"I was worried," he said casually.
"For?" she demanded an answer again.
"Bittuji," he said.
Madhu walked in front of RK and faced him.
"Bittuji?!" she asked confusedly.
"Yeah, Bittuji. He was worried on set and then when he left, I decided to come back home to check on him. Then I found you on the ground." he said while clearly being sarcastic.
Madhu stared at him for a second and then turned to go find nightclothes.
"Wait," RK said.
Madhu turned to face him.
RK walked towards their dresser and brought out a small box. He handed it to Madhu.
"Uh…Bittuji told me I had to get you a gift…," RK said cautiously.
Madhu smiled and opened it to find a beautiful set of bangles. She looked up at RK.
"They're beautiful…," she said in awe.
"The guy at the shop chose them, not me," he lied.
Madhu handed him the box and then raised her wrist.
"Can't you put them on yourself?"
"I'm tired, I've only had a sweet all day…," she said while smiling.
RK didn't argue. He put the box down on their bed and grabbed the bangles. He held her wrist softly. He gently began to put the bangles on her, trying not to hurt her.
Madhu remembered back to the first day he had given her bangles, the day he had married her. He had purposely tried to hurt her.
She watched as RK was extremely careful and gentle with her now.
"He's changed so much," she thought and smiled.
