Rishbala FF~Shakespeare in Love~ Ch 7 Pg 82 - Page 30

It's almost the start of the god freaking semester!!! I know everything has been extremely hectic and I feel for you but I miss your ff! 😭

Komal learn to stay in your home for at least 3 days!!! You travel to much

Chapter 4

A Friend in Need

"Have nothing, nothing can he lose..."

William Shakespeare, King Henry VI

Sitting on a blanket, Madhu sunk her feet lower, burying them completely in the cool white sand. She sat there in cotton shorts and navy blue tank top. She placed her hands behind her, tilting her head back as she soaked up the last of the sun before it disappeared till its impending arrival the next morning.

"Dont tell me you are thinking of diving back in."

Madhu turned around and saw RK hovering behind her. Giving him a faint smile, she responded, "No dont worry about any of that." Madhu said looking back at the crashing waves, "Come and sit." Madhus said moving over to the side of the blanket. Sitting down, RK took a notice of Madhu, she was smiling but it felt unfamiliar, her eyes looked a bit puffy.

"Madhu, are you okay? Your health, maybe you should see a doctor?" RK asked.

"I am fine. Just a bit chilly and tired." RK turned to look at the sight in front of them while Madhu looked down, "RK I wanted to say thank you again. What you did, I mean you risked your life as well. I was being so stupid and I wasnt thinking and wou-"

"Hey!" RK said cutting her off, "What did I tell you? I would have done it for anyone." RK said with a wink.

"Great and here I was thinking that I was the only special one." Madhu replied back with a smirk.

"But it was pretty stupid." RK replied throwing her a dirty look, "Speaking of special, Madhu if you dont mind me asking, what was so special about those particular papers? I understand if they were research or something but it wasnt something that you would risk your life to save."

"That was the thing; it was that important RK, it just was." Madhu whispered looking straight ahead. Her shoulders dropped, "Those papers contained notes of a research project a friend of mine spent 7 years of his life working on. He had always dreamt of being a scientist working in microbiology, doing something good that would make an actual difference in this crazy world. He had actually gotten pretty close." Her eyes looked heavy, as if she stayed up all night, crying.

"He didnt finish his work?"

"He died before he could finish" Madhu answered quietly, "he had left me all his files that contained his research, study notes, and even the experiments. I would often kid him saying when he became a big hot shot scientist and the entire world is going crazy to see him, I will be the only one who has the right to write his success and his biography. I told him that years before my first novel was even in the talks of being published, I didnt think he took it that seriously."

She drew in a breath as she turned towards him, What you saw yesterday was a friends last attempt. My last attempt. I wanted to write about his research, to publicize his life work to honor him. He spent nearly his entire life dedicated to science, working hard day and night just to leave his mark on the world that would help others rather than hurt them. When he passed away, I wanted to make sure that this dream would come true. But I failed. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. I just cant even begin to think what could even possibly be the reason behind this though. Its funny. He couldnt finish his research and I wasnt able to write about it either. His last memory would be just that, my memory.

RK sat there with her; the only sound that came from the two was the roaring of the waves that constantly demanded the two to know of its presence. "I am sorry Madhu, if I had known I..."

"You would have helped me" Madhu said cutting him off, "but you didnt know and how could you have eitherI was a fool, I understand that now but I was a bigger fool because when you were trying to help me, I was acting horrible. It does hurt but I dont blame you. Instead I should be on my hands and feet bowing down to you for saving my life."

RK looked at her, his eyes widened a bit,"Well? Arent you going to start bowing at my feet?"

"Sorry to disappoint Mr. Superstar but this is one fan that wont be bowing down." Madhu replied.

RK looked up as Madhus eyes widened Wow, I am depressing today! Okay as of this very moment we need a major topic change. Madhu said tossing him a smile which RK reciprocated.

Madhus lips pursed together, scrunching her eyebrows "Sooo RK."

"Mmm"

"You are a celebrity."

"No I am really a politician, thats how you saw me on TV." RK said shooting her a look of his false disbelief.

"Oh shut it. Thats not what I wanted to say, I have a question and dont take this wrong way or

anything. I dont want to see you packing your bags and leaving because of this."

"Its that bad of a question?" RK laughed, "Fine promise, just ask whatever is on your mind."

"What are you doing here?" Madhu asked turning her head towards him. She formed her hand into fist and brought it up to her lips pretending it to be her microphone, "Why in a small town that most haven't even heard about, thats full of retires?" Madhu asked him quizzically. She had started to make patterns in the sand.

"I could ask you the same thing" RK asked as he turned to his left. He spotted a couple of young kids laughing in attempts to jump the waves.

"You could ask the same question, but not unless you answer mine first. It's only courteous" Madhu said with a sly smile, pointing her "microphone" towards RK.

"I find that insulting" RK said smugly pushing her hand away.

"Oh do you?" Madhu said raising her eyebrows.

"It would actually probably hurt more if you were an actual reporter"

"Yah probably." Madhu said tossing a handful of sand on his legs. "You still dodged the question."

"I didn't" RK replied chucking sand right back at her.

"Just needed a break. I got tired of the no privacy clause that comes with fame. It got to much. I couldn't hear myself think. Being a movie star isn't as easy as it looks" RK hung his head low in false exasperation.

"Oh really! Madhu replied sarcastically. "You poor poor thing! Being adored by millions of fans from all around the world must get so tiring!" Madhu teased laughing.

"Adored by millions?" RK asked his lips curved into a smirk.

Madhu stopped laughing, her eyes widened realizing RK's implications.

"Your turn" RK declared leading her back into the conversation. Scrunching up her eyebrows, Madhu let out a little huff.

"Look at that RK" Madhu said motioning her head back to the sun that was setting over the glistening horizon. "This place is like a harbor, it has been the only thing that has kept me grounded even when I was ready to sail away and not think twice about it. All I cared about was my writing and Twix. Thats one thing we have in common, this place has also become my refugee center. I also needed to get away. To start over, somewhere peaceful, somewhere where no one knows me."

"To get away to such an extent that you thought of running away entirely? Why?" RK questioned. Madhu wasnt that much of a complicated person to read, but he noticed there were times where her expressions go completely dark as if emerging herself into another world all her own. The first time he saw it was when they were both in the middle of the ocean, the salt in the air, the tightness of muscle RK brushed away those thoughts.

"I just had to get away." Madhu mumbled, her mind slipping away to more private thoughts as she continued to look at the tides.

RK looked up, Madhu was lost in her own world and RK was lost in her. She was beautiful, strikingly beautiful. Her perfectly round face, deep almond shaped eyes, which were always full of mischief, her small soft nose, and her playful lips. He could not help but stare at this mesmerizing beauty. You wouldnt think twice that Madhu would be the type of person that would fight back, that to 5 times harder. Her tiny body and her average height didnt do her ferocity justice. Fierce, yet gentle.

"Stop it RK! What are you doing?" RK reprimanded himself, forcing him to look away.

But as soon as turned, his smile returned. There was something about being with Madhu that was effortless. They knew each other for a short period of time but the ease between the two felt as if they knew each other longer. She never fussed about him being this big superstar, India's heartthrob RK- instead he could be a regular guy. There was no need of putting up a pretense as if he was in front of those reporters where any little slip up on his part would circulate like wildfire through the media. He never had a friend, someone whine can just sit with and chat, someone he can joke around with. Bittoji was his friend, but it was rarely forgotten that Bittoji was still RK's manager, his paid manager. There was care, respect, enjoyment and fun between the two, but still incomparable to the friendship he now has with Madhu.

RK broke from his thoughts as he heard an elderly couple walk by, chatting softly among themselves. RK glanced up and saw as they strolled hand in hand. The woman rested her head on her husbands shoulder.

"Thats sweet Madhu commented. To still want to be together hand in hand, after all these years and I thought that true love was dead. Madhu claimed, kicking the sand lightly with her feet.

"If you can find the right person and are still together, then it is. RK said, his eyes not leaving her face as she watched the couple continue walking. Her face remained unchanged, again the sensation of desolation swept her face. She was lost again.

RK could have stared at her for hours, scratching his head and bending over backwards trying to figure out what exactly makes this girl tick. One moment she is perfectly fine and happy yet the next second she feels cold and alone. She didnt care of his stature or his name and both have been talking and joking as if they had known each other for years.

RK was brought back to reality as he heard the two kids run past behind him, finding their way back home before it became too dark to find home. Madhu still remained untouched.

"I cant do this." RK again reprehend himself, this time more strongly.

He got up and started to dust off the sand. "Are you leaving?" Madhu asked looking up. The sun was just about to set, the darker hues of orange and red in the sky watched over the two.

"Madhu its getting late, I am going to go. I will talk to you later." RK said turning around almost immediately. Madhu started to say good bye but RK was already out of the earshot, leaving Madhu somewhat bewildered.

She watched as he walked back up to his house, his dark shadow following behind him just as hastily and before she knew it, he was gone.

***

Komal this is a great way to start school by reading your FF

Komal I love your FF a lot and I can not wait until you update again

finally u updated! been waiting forever !!! 😆

updated after so long

finally you updated your ff😃 it was an intense update 😳 loved rk's struggle with himself regarding his gradually growing feelings for madhu😃 this tym, plz do update soon😆😉

Finally u Updated...! This is an awesome update.. RK n Madhu are

Unres

That was an awesome awesome fab update 😃
RK struggling to like Madhu? 😕 why???
Madhus lost about something else. Maybe a dark past. Wait you mentioned it in the prologue 😃 😆
Glen cocoa you are getting so much better as a writer with every update. How is this not your major???
Update soon babe!

sweet chapter 4..happy to see rishbala getting comfortable to each other...rishabh finding solace in madhu's presence..on the other hand,looks like madhu has some deep past..hope rishabh will unveil her past with time ...eager to see how story progressing..

i almost thought that u urself either lost interest or forgot abt this ff..n suddenly found this update...a pleasant surprise for me..

hope u had a good break n fun in summers..