ch59-60 pg137, Updt,a road to salvation Mar 27 - Page 6

She reached The IG's residence around 7:50 and asked the gaurds to announce her to IG sir

Trishna said "what! is this my gift I get to meet your great old man?. Whom you so adore and admire ."

"Hang in there with me babes." Said Madubala

The guard came and told Madhubala " Madam sir Intezaar kar rahey hain"

" Theek hai" and Madhu and Trishna went inside. IG was there in the living room with his wife and he introduced Madhu to Radha

Madhu Introduced Trishna to both of them and said " Sir I did not have enough time to go home and to come back and report you alone so we came together." Radha replied " both of you are more than welcome here. You pretty girls sit while I get some refreshments ready for you"

"OH no mam actually it was her birthday today and we just had coffee outside so please don't bother." Said Madhu

" O a very very happy birthday to you dear girl that calls for a celebration. Radha will you take care of it. Both of you are having dinner here."Said IG

Madhu Said " Oh please sir no sir, please don't bother mam." We will go as soon as I am done briefing sir"

"Ms Mallik that was not a question was it?"

"No sir"

"Good so far I know your dad and mom are not home and you don't have a Boyfriend waiting . Do You?" He looked at both the girls in an interrogating tone.

"No sir not yet"

"Good for you Ms Mallik. You know officer you need to learn subordination and learn when to speak"

"yes sir"

"Trishna dear make your self comfortable while I catch up with some pending work. We will be back in a jiffy"

Trishna said " yes Sir" and glared into Madhu's face and whispered into her ears

" you will suffer for this baby" Madhu felt everything going wrong any ways it was out of her control now" She sent a silent prayer heavenwards .

" Will you come along officer" IG brought Madhu back to earth

"After you sir" said Madhu in compliance and left

Trishna sat down on the sofa all by herself feeling very upset at the way IG treated her sister. She just did not understand what was so wonderful in him that Madhu always sang songs in his reverence. Madhu literally worshipped the man. Trishna felt it was time for Madhu to mixup with her own age group of people. She was getting used to taking orders thought Trishna. Little did she understand it took a lot of a man to command Madhu. No one with a single cheesy bone in their body could even talk to her forget about commanding.

Hope you guys will like it

"Start Officer"

"Sir we have been able to nab around 11 small time drug pedlars from various areas including but not restricted to the red light areas. We were also able to nab two Middle men with the help of these peddlars. We have seized 2 kilos of Charas ,a kg of opium and about 5 pounds of pure cocaine. While the recovery has been good we are still no where close to laying our hand at the drug lord KUKU Bhatia who also happens to be the producer in films"

"Has RK ever acted in any of his movies"

"No sir not that I know of but I have not investigated that angle will find it out asap"

"Continue"

"Along with Bhatias there is this Balraj Chaudhary belonging to the Jaisalmer area of Rajasthan appears have strong roots in smuggling opium cross border from Afganistan , Pakistan to India. I am still investigating the crime nexus between them. A lot of the connections reside within the film industry sir. This whole scenario does not appear to be restricted to drug peddling alone it involves human trafficking and arms and ammunition smuggling too. That would be it sir"

"you want to say something else officer"

"A..a'actually '.No sir"

"Are you sure officer"

"Yes sir" Madhubala tried to look elsewhere but at the IG.

IG bored into her face with his piercing glare and said in a very very cold tone

"It involves Rishabh Does it"

Madhubala literally jumped and said " no sir it is not what you think. He is not involved in any of these black activities"

"I know that but there is something that you are hiding. Is there some kind of risk to him"

"Not exactly sir"

"What is it Madhu come out straight. It concerns RK I am certain of that and his safety too"

Madhu looked at his face that was a father's look so obvious that even a blind man could see it.

"Sir this Shashank Shekhar is a small time crime reporter for Tehelka newspaper and was trying to make it big in his profession. He just finished his postgraduation in mass communication this year. The girl he was dating Preeti is the daughter of a middleman Sridhar Pandya and he is quite well connected to Bhatias and some other's. We till date have not been able to get a clear view or shot of him. Nobody identifies him. I think that that day in Shashank's beating Sridhar Pandya was also involved and RK must have had a look at him. If he could sit with our sketch artist and tell us how he looked we could have atleast some figure to look for."

"Shashank must have seen his assaliants" replied IG concerned for his son's security.

"Sir SHashank has closed himself to us now. That girl Preeti was no where to be seen around him since today afternoon. Although it is too early to say, yet from experience I can say that Preeti will never be seen around Shashank ever now."

"Hmm I get your point talk to Rishabh but mind it there should nothing on paper. He should never come in picture."

"Sir Dare I ask something" said Madhu

"Shoot."

"Sir somehow you knew this nexus between the reporter and Pandya that is why that entire diversion for RK was created, so that it would appear that we are more interested in getting him nabbed, than the assailants and they would go there way and not come looking for RK"

" Madhu you have the ability to look beyond the obvious use it to your advantage. Some things are better left unsaid. Go ahead speak to RK in person do not make it public. He was only helping I don't want him getting in any trouble for being a good citizen"

"Got it sir"

"Let us go your sister must be feeling left alone. I don't you too at war either"

"After you sir."

"hahaha I am taking you to dinner my dear, ladies first mam"

"Yes sir. It feels good to be treated as a woman sometimes." She said

Mean while Trishna was busy reflecting on IG's mannerisms somebody entered through the main door and stumbled on seeing her in his living room.

"Is that the great actress sorry actor Trishna Mallik" said RK

Her chain of thoughts was broken too abruptly. She could not believe her eyes, blinked a couple of times to come back to herself.

"a'.I..am Trishna, and I am here with my sister 'ummm'.how are you RK"

"your sister!! is she that invisible ghost that haunts this house, why cannot I see her." Asked RK in a sarcasting tone.

" Wow every one appears to be grumpy here. My sister works with The IG."

"Might I ask how come you are here."

"Ohh Trishna you know so little about a superstar FYI I live here and the IG is my biological Father."

He then saw two known yet not familiar faces entering the living room at the same time and with one of them was his most wanted face.

He suddenly felt at home. Something was there about this third face that was calming his irritated nerves. He immediately got the connection between the last names of the two girls.

"Oh Rishu great you are back we are going to have little celebration today. It is Trishna's birthday today. Change and come soon to join us for dinner beta" Said Radha

"Mam please you don't have to do that. If Madhu is done we would like to leave" Said Trishna. She was not liking the hostile or more precisely weird atmosphere here.

"Trishna Wish you a very happy Birthday ." Said Rishabh in a very crisp and disciplined tone. All that sarcasm had disappeared in a jiffy"

"We will definitely celebrate your sister's birthday Madam ASP" Rishabh came closer to madhu and said in a very falsely humble tone.

"Do you tend to shift towards acting all the time RK" Retorted Madhu

IG and Radha glanced at both of them and then looked at each other in a very peculiar way. Madhu saw that knowing look passing between them. She smelt something being cooked there and immediately became cautious.

"All the worlds a stage

And all the men and women are merely players"

O'..O '.People in your profession find art and literature pretty worthless. You have bigger issues to deal with. Am I right Trishna?? " Said RK again with bitterness

"I hate to admit but to some extent you are Right RK" said Trishna

"As you like it , so you see it" RK said Madhu

"Do you want me to complete the whole monologue RK" That makes you both not so right retorted Madhu

"Well you are a different breed Madhu" Said Trishna and then said to RK

" She passed her graduation with distinction in all the three literatures English, hindi and Sanskrit. Actually she was the only one studying all three together.

RK's eyes grew wide in admiration or surpirise he himself did not know.

"That is a news to me Madhubala" Said IG feeling a little uncomfortable

Some how both the girls were able to reduce the stress in the air. RK said

" Will join you guys in a minute. Happy birthday once again Trishna and he hugged her and gave her a peck on her cheek" while doing so he looked at IG who had dissaprooval written on his face all through. That satisfied RK to bits.

Trishna too eased out a little bit.

IG asked Radha "Did we get the Cake."

"Yes I ordered it. It should be here any minute" Said Radha

"Mam you really did not have to do all this" Trishna said again.

"Trishna I would have done that for Rishu too." Said Radha. Trishna had to accept it now.

Madhu thought to herself, " would have done that!! Do you not do it??"

"Stop stressing yourself so much ASP Madam. It actually is none of your business." Whispered RK to her ears

"She really stumbled and said, "to her self" did I think out loud again."

"Nope not at all, I can see through people for what they really are beyond what they show."

Madhu looked at him in a poor you type of a way and said "evidences are contrary RK. I wish you had a vision to see people for what they really are."

RK smirked and said "I don't care about people any more." RK then placed his hand on her waist and pulled her along with himself and murmured we have a dinner to attend. He clearly saw the dislike on Madhu's face but did not budge.

"Madam yeh kuch delivery aayi hai." Came in the guard with a big white box

"Haan haan idhar rakh do dinning table pe" Radha said .

Rishabh came to the table with Madhubala where his mother was trying to set up the cake and said

"rehne dijiye aapko adat nahi rahi in cheezon ki, main kar deta hoon." Their he did it again, salted his mom's wounds well.

Radha moved back and she was trying to fight back her tears. There was a humongous amount pain visible in her eyes which she was trying to hide unsuccessfully. There was something In IG kundra's eyes too that madhubala was not able to decipher. The air became thick and heavy once again.

RK was bent on the cake with the candle and was thinking where to place it. Madhu bent down and came closer to his face not realizing that she had really come too close to him and whispered " you don't seem to well versed in it too MR. perfecto." RK turned his face and he casted a look at her that literally seared through her soul. She was caught off balance and was about to fall back wards when once again RK held her at her waist.

"Yahi hota hai jab aap bina jaane samjhe doosron ke kaam mein taang ghusate hain to, muh ke bal girte hain, iss baar to bach gayi aage nahi bachogi."he said once again in her ears.

Madhu was too embarrassed and irritated she planted the candle in the cake and he lighted it up. The candle was musical and it started playing "Happy Birthday to you" He looked upto Trishna who was very intently watching him and trying to understand everything. He walked upto her and said "cake time and then like a thorough gentleman gave her his hand and guided her to the cake."

" He can be charming too " Madhu thought again she was irritated but but was happy to see Trishna smile

Madhu stepped aside towards IG Kundra. Radha came closer to Trishna. IG Said

"Don't think soo much Madhu someplaces and some people are jinxed like me"

Madhu looked at him for a second but he was staring in thin air. This was going to be the first of the very few times when he let down his guard and opened up to someone.

He chain of thoughts was broken when she heard the sounds of clapping. Trishna did cut the cake and then Radha made trishna eat a bite and kissed her. Then RK too made her eat a bite. Madhu was seeing all that with hazy eyes. She had not thought that her Didu would not even call her once when cutting the cake So easily she skipped her.

The dinner was served and IG understood Madhu's pain he said in a crisp tone to her

"officer we have a lot of work carved out for us. Emotions is out of our luxury budget"

"Yes Sir" came a feeble response and she went forward to sit for dinner. IG sat at the head of the table and to his right sat Trishna and next to trishna sat Radha. Madhu was just going to sit next to Radha when Radha said "beta there is no plate setting there"

"Oh I am sorry mam I did not see it." Replied Madhu

Radha pointed the chair on the opposite side. Madhu went to that side and was about to pull her chair when RK did it for her.

"Thanks" she murmured

"My pleasure" he said and winked at her. She was irritated beyond words at this gesture.

RK sat next to Madhu. The food was served and IG talked candidly with Trishna.

RK served Madhu

"Trying to play prince charming are we?" she said to him " It does not work on me"

"But it did on your sister." Said RK in a cold and low tone. Something was really amiss there. Madhubala behaved as if she heard none of it. He knew he had hit her right on.

When dinner was done Radha said let us sit in the lounge I will bring some dessert. Madhu went to help her in clearing u the table. Radha brought the tray with Ice cream bowls and sat in the lounge.

"Where is Madhu?" asked IG

"She is just putting the left overs in the fridge. I tried to stop her but she did not budge"

Just then Rishabh's spoon hit the floor. Radha said " I will get another one"

"I will get it my self" said Rishabh.

Mr. Kundra stared at Radha and gestured her to sit back. Trishna once again noticed it and tried to hide her smile.

In the Kitchen Madhu was bent over the lowest tray of the refrigerator trying to fit in the bowl.

"My my adjustment adjustment and adjustment , is that all that comes to your mind baby" Said RK

"I am not your baby" Madhu glared into his eyes.

"Oops if eyes could kill My dear I would have been roasting in hell kyounki swarg jaane laayak to mere karm hain nahi"

" aur is baat ka bahut garv hai tumhein" said Madhu

He looked at her again in a way that told Madhu he was pissed off really but why??

He hissed in the coldest tone ever

" Lesson number 1 Madhubala Shamsher Mallik pull down that risthon ka chashma from your eyes if you really want to see the true picture. This world is an opportunist and is ready to tear you apart on the drop of hat. There are no true relations just opportune ones."

He literally chewed on every word he said and stepped as close to Madhu as he could. He was drawn to her like a Magnet. He was angry and it seemed he was angry at every one and every thing around.

He said " you think you are any better, FYI you are just wearing better mask but inside every thing is just the same. You cashed in an opportunity to look good in Mr. kundra's eyes in the morning." He noticed suddenly Madhubala was no more retreating her steps. Her face had a bored look as if she was not interested. He again said " not only that you cashed in an opportunity to introduce your sister to me did you not high and mighty miss Mallik, and you dare think you are different" with that said his hands slithered into Madhu's hair and he pulled her face close by tugging hard on her hair. He was about to close in on her soft and pouty moth when she smacked his face hard in a tight slap not once but four times. Her patience had exhausted. First ignored by her own sister for this creep of a man, then cornered by him as if she was a wh**e. Her slaps were not a fragile woman's slap it was a trained police officers slap and it did its work well. RK felt his head spin. He felt wetness around his mouth. Blood slowly trickled down from the corner of his lips. She hissed much more bitterly than him.

"you are nothing to me, if not for your father I would have shown you your place much better, I am so sorry that you were ever my girly fantasy Mr. Rishabh Kundra. I feel ashamed to be sharing the same space with you. Next time keep your lessons and your hands to yourself. You better do that" she snarled "for if you don't next time I will break your hands. Consider yourself warned." She was breathing hard.