Rishbala OS: Colourblind..updt..pg3 - Page 2

Rishabh came back from work all exhausted. He entered and went straight to the kitchen. He needed a strong coffee; only caffeine could stimulate his fagged mind. He carried the hot cup to the living room and settled in the couch. "Ahaan, so you have learnt to make coffee for yourself, mamas boy. I'm impressed," said Madhu and simpered. "Madhu," Rishabh's mind kicked up, without a single sip of the hot liquid.

The sweat beads trapped the dust particles all over Rishabh's body. He was running along the track when the sand charged wind passed over the ground. He headed to the shower to freshen up before leaving for the site visit. The hot water sprinkled on his hairs and rolled over his worked out muscles. "Hey hottie, dont warm up yourself anymore with this hot water, else I will be burnt alive," murmured Madhu on his bare back and ran her fingers down his spine. "Stop doing that to me, Madhu," whispered Rishabh as he turned the knob to cold.

The full moon was peeping through the window. Rishabh could see the constellations very distinctly in the clear night sky. He joined the dots in space and every time it ended up in a distorted shape of a heart, his distorted heart. "Missing you Madhu," said Rishabh with a deep sigh.

Feeling green..

Rishabh was waiting at the hallway when Madhu came out of their bedroom, adorning herself in a red chiffon saree and diamond danglers. Every day was a new treat for Rishabh seeing his wife in newer and dearer avatars. "You dont want me to live this life, do you?" asked Rishabh teasingly while kissing her milky back which was left bare by her halter blouse. "Shut up Rishabh, we are getting late," smiled Madhu and they left the house.

It was the XS annual party held at a posh farmhouse in the outskirts of Delhi. As the Kundra couple entered there was a collective hush from the people present. "What a dazzling couple you two make!" complemented Madhus boss.

"Hey Maddu, you look sizzling hot girl! You should come like this to the office sometime," winked a blond guy to Madhu. "Oh hi Max, how are you? Meet my hubby, Rishabh Kundra," Madhu introduced Rishabh who was busy scrutinizing this 6 ft something tall blond guy with a perfectly athletic physique and boyish grin on his face. "Oh I was good so far, but after seeing you in red and that too with your husband, cant say that anymore," this time winking at Rishabh, Max smiled and walked away.

"Who was that?" asked Rishabh, barely controlling his annoyance. "Thats Max, he has come from the Houston office for our new project. He is a nice guy," replied Madhu. "Yes, I see he is particularly nice to you," uttered Rishabh.

"And now the most awaited moment of this party night people! We will now announce the Mr. and Miss Geosciences for this year," announced the compere at the stage, followed by a loud cheer from the audience. "What nautanki is that?" enquired Rishabh. "Its nothing Rishabh, every year there is a secret voting within the department for the Mr. and Miss G. Lets see who have won this year," replied Madhu and looked eagerly towards the stage.

"And this years Mr. Geosciences is our new friend Max Campbell," announced the award presenter. All the girls present at the party howled with excitement. Max ran towards the stage and on climbing up turned to the people and sent out kisses. "Jerk," muttered Rishabh under his breath. "And to accompany Max for the Geosciences couple of the year dance, may I call upon the stage our Miss G for this year, Madhubala Malik Kundra." "What?" was the collective response from the Kundra couple, for distinctly different reasons.

Max came down and offered his hand to Madhu for the dance. Madhu turned to Rishabh for his consent. "Come on Maddu, just one dance. Kundra wont mind," said Max confidently. If looks could put ablaze, then Max would have been burnt to ashes by Rishabh that moment.

People were applauding the dancing couple at each and every move, while Madhu noticed a furious Rishabh standing against the bar counter, looking anywhere but the stage.

Feeling yellow..

Madhu had prepared kheer as desert in dinner. "Hey Rishabh, wont you have the kheer?" asked Jeevika. "I am full Bhabi. Give me some kheer in a bowl, I will have it afterwards in the room," replied Rishabh. "Kyunbe? Want to relish your wifes delicacy in privacy? Achcha bachchu," smirked Karan. Rishabh winked back and went to his bedroom with the bowl.

Madhu came to their bedroom after some time. She looked tired. Rishabh was enjoying the kheer but seeing Madhu enter, he grimaced and kept the bowl aside on the table. "How was the kheer Rishabh? Did you like it?" asked Madhu eagerly. "Hmmm it was ok," replied Rishabh with a shrug. "Just ok?" "Yeah, kind of ok, you know. I like my kheer to be sweeter, much sweeter than this. And even the dry fruits were a little burnt. You have to learn a lot about cooking Madhu," suggested Rishabh with a smug look. "Fine, then dont ever eat any food cooked by me," said Madhu and snatched the bowl from the table. "Hey Madhu, I was just joking," said Rishabh, pulling her back from leaving the room, "it was tasty, very tasty." "You are lying, I know this kheer sucks," saying that Madhu started crying.

Rishabh was confused seeing his wife so perturbed by such trivial thing. He cupped her face and kissed her cheeks and brushed his lips over her lips. "Whats the matter Madhu? Why are you so agitated?" asked Rishabh. "Nothing," said Madhu and freed herself from his hold.

Madhu lay on the bed with her back towards Rishabh. He waited for some time, then seeing Madhus nonchalance he moved closer to her and hugged her from back. Still Madhu did not respond back. He started kissing her ear lobes, then her neck and trailed towards her cheek and pulled her over so that she was facing him now. He started kissing her lips intently and moved his hands inside her nightwear. Madhu broke the kiss as his hand entered her pajama, "Not today Rishabh, its my first day."

"Thank god," said Rishabh to himself, "at least she is not angry with me." He kissed her forehead and patted her to sleep.

Feeling red..

"Madhu, how long are you going to be in the bathroom?" asked Rishabh while setting his hair in front of the mirror. "Shut up Rishabh, I never jab you when you take hours inside the bathroom," came a muffled reply from the shower. Madhus phone started ringing. "Rishabh, please pick up the phone. May be its Nisha from the office, tell her I will bring her file to the office," shouted Madhu.

Rishabh lazily went to the bed side stand and on taking the phone in his hand he frowned. It was Mukunds call from US. Rishabh gritted his teeth and waited for few moments before attending the call. "Madhu, its me Mukund. I hope you still have my number stored in your phone. I just cant get this out of my mind, like, how could you end this year long relationship just like that Madhu? How could you fall in love with just any random guy you met at your sisters wedding?" spoke Mukund without waiting for any response from the other side. "She did not meet just another random guy Mukund, she met me, Rishabh Kundra, her husband. And yes, I am also surprised to see your number still existing in her contacts. This is my first and final warning to you Mukund. Do not dare to stalk my wife again, else it would be the end of your breath," saying that Rishabh hung up and threw the phone on the bed.

"What did Nisha say Rishabh?" Madhu asked while coming out of the bathroom, drying her hair with towel. Rishabh darted a stern look at her, picked up his bag and stormed out of their bedroom.

"Aao beta, have your breakfast," said Radha while serving food to her husband. "Where is Rishabh Mummyji?" asked Madhu. "Why? He left without taking breakfast saying he would have it in office as he has some urgent meeting. Didnt he tell you that?" enquired a surprised Radha. "Oh yes, it had slipped out of my mind," said Madhu, while hiding her disappointment.

Feeling black.. feeling jaded..

"Rishabh how could you do this to me? To us?" cried out Madhu. "I am sorry Madhu, please try to understand. I had asked the HQ about the position in Angola just after the holi, when everything had gone haywire between us. After that they did not respond and I thought it has been waived off. But now they urgently need me. And I cannot refuse as I had requested for this position in the first place," said Rishabh while holding Madhu tight in an embrace. "Why Rishabh, why? Its only a month that we have stayed together and now you are going away so far for god knows how many months. I do not want to stay alone, I cant stay alone," sobbed Madhu. "I will be back, Madhu, very soon I will be back. I will finish my job there quickly and in no time you will see me here. Time will fly just like that."

But time seemed to have slackened its pace in conspiracy against these two lovebirds. The hours in the Angola office would pass without hindrance, as there was indeed a lot of work for Rishabh. And deliberately he would take up additional responsibilities to keep himself busy. But after office, time stalled. As he entered his apartment, solitude would be his only loyal friend, waiting eagerly for his companionship. He would talk to Madhu over phone and internet, and after she went to sleep, he would miss her more.

Lately he had developed a new hobby of feeling Madhus presence around him, pushing his other friend solitude far behind. He could see her walking around, hear her talking to him and smiling, feel her touching him everywhere. "Thinking of me again?" smiled Madhu. "Come to me baby," said Rishabh and extended his hand to her.

Feeling fine..sublime..

"How much time does it take to unload the baggage, damn it," muttered Rishabh in frustration, as he stood in front of the luggage bay in Delhi International Airport. As his bags arrived, he pulled them with a jerk and skirted his way through the numerous baggage trolleys and people crowding around the luggage bay. He rushed out of the arrival hall and as he reached the taxi stand outside, he frantically searched around for her. And there she was, standing beside the pillar, looking around for him among the throng. "Madhu," shouted Rishabh and on coming closer, pulled her for a tight-wala hug. The onlookers were quite amused to see such filmy PDA, but for Rishabh and Madhu, nothing in the world mattered for them but their love for each other. "I missed you so much my love," said Rishabh while cradling her smiling tear-drenched face. "Missed you too Rishabh," whispered Madhu, and they moved towards their car.