SS:Personal Property (The End) - Page 53

Originally posted by: Pious_KaSh

I read all the parts and its awesome!

I choose Brooklyn

Three months had passed since their last run-in. Madhu had just begun showing. Her haute couture was now tailored to accentuate the curve on her belly. She did not try to hide the pregnancy out of wedlock. When asked of the child's father, however, she insisted he come forward himself. But, Rishabh never did.

He had been closely following Madhubala's travel plans making sure to have people check up on her well-being from time to time. Still, he did not visit her after Dharawi.

"I will only see the baby, if the mother would let me see her too", he regurgitated the same answer every time she asked. Madhu had accepted the fact that she was going to be a single mother. After all, she refused to give Rishabh's proposal a fleeting thought.

That is until, the hormonal surge took over. Suddenly, Madhubala found herself longing for a last name. The world was overpopulated but, she was going to die alone if she did not find love soon. She tried suppressing this sadness long enough. Her self-diagnosis pointed to gestational depression. She decided to surround herself with people. She settled in a bustling apartment building in Bandra. Her efforts helped for a few days and then, it was back to square one. Things had gotten so bad, she would entertain thoughts of going back to McLean. She knew this had to end and the obvious answer was Rishabh. She had to allow him into her life again. She had to give happiness one last shot.

The chauffer drove her up to a rustic looking film studio. She walked in to vivid imagery and archetypes of an artistic mind. The father of her child had some real talent. A joy hugged her bones. She was smiling again after weeks since the pregnancy.

Madhu tiptoed into what looked like Rishabh's office. He was busy preparing one the many care packages for Madhu and the baby. She unknowingly blushed seeing the amount of work he put into organizing each item.

"Chief, why do you bother so much with the basket? I mean you could just pay someone to do it".

"Bittuji, your bhabhi. Correction, would-be-bhabhi is a smart one. If I get a personal shopper she will know".

"Don't you think it is too expensive sending her gifts when she refuses to come back to you?"

"Patience, bittuji. She will come any day now. And, when she does, all I have to do is charm her into committing some more foolishness. If I win, I sweep clean all her bank accounts. If she wins, I get child support. Either way, I will teach her the lesson of her life".

In that moment, Madhubala was reminded of all the reasons she was disgusted by big cities. Everything was a sham. The people were made of cynicism. They did not smile, they smirked. They did not love, they cheated.

Madhu went back to the only place she knew would hold her: Brooklyn. When Mumbai conspired against her and Manhattan pinned her as a gold digger, the drag queens of Brooklyn were Madhu's soothing shoulder. With bags full of money and a heart of gold, the billionaire indulged in the fantasies of every pregnant woman: food.

Seven seas away, Rishabh's care package was returned back to Kundra studios with a note. "I am going away; do not bother executing your master plan. I know all about your greed. If, after six months, you still want to see your daughter, I will send you the address".

Rishabh was in denial for a month. When he finally realized what he had lost, he looked everywhere in Mumbai, all the team stadiums, even Manhattan apartments without success.

"Just tell her I love her", he would say to every person who could possibly encounter Madhu in their lifetime. And, she heard him. He loved her but, they both knew very well the pride was out of hand. There was no trust. They had fought each other enough times not to believe otherwise.

Finally, the time had come. Madhu was scheduled for a C-section at the Memorial Hospital. The news found its way to RK a tad too late. Madhubala had already delivered Meera, a precious baby girl weighing seven pounds and two ounces. Half of Brooklyn city paraded up and down the hospital halls dotting over the infant. Then, there was silence. The mother had died due to morphine overdose. The death was declared an accident. The real reason was a carefully executed suicide; a well kept secret between the dead patient and a nurse in financial need.

Meera's father entered the Memorial with hysteria and a face of confusion. As he pulled Madhu's body in for a last embrace, a letter fell out of her hand.

"You said you wanted me as your partner. Maybe even your wife one day. I was starting to believe you until I found out your real intentions. I don't blame you. This life is not for me. I tried and faked happiness for twenty years. Every relationship failed me. My birth parents; my nominal husband and the father of my child all refused to treat me as a person.

This should have been expected. I only look good in the past; in picture frames where my voice is muted and my emotions captured still . Nobody wants me in their present. I am good enough but, not the best at anything. I will never be anyone's soulmate. I will always be the one that got away.

And, I accept that today. I loved you and you broke my duck taped soul. I cannot keep living a lie. I need another life in a body that is not a cage. I am leaving Meera with you. She will grow up in health, wealth and affection. Treat her like you wish you had treated me. I only wish I had..."

The letter ended mid sentence like the life had been snatched away before she had her last word. Rishabh kneeled down in front of her body and wailed. He cried until the doctors took her away. He never saw Madhu again. He never saw love again. He never saw pride again.

A/N: I told you all I would troll you real bad some day. Payback for wanting happy endings all the time ;) jk. I really hope you liked it. When I wrote the SS, I knew the journey would be from Manhattan to Brooklyn. At the time, I did not know what Brooklyn meant for this fiction. Now, you and I both know what it means. Since Madhu chooses Brooklyn, I conclude this story. i.e. THE END. Be sure to check out The Fault in Our Stars and Exotic :)

Originally posted by: Arias

Nice update ...loved madhu and rk encounter...hope they will be together soon...continue sooonnn...

Originally posted by: amieo1

sad but beautifully written 😭👏

Originally posted by: hifzaa

This BEAUTIFUL SS ended On Sad Note Bt Still AWSUM WORK Jasleen👏