LIMELIGHT
Rishabh leaned against the headrest while lying on the bed, and Madhu rested her head on his stomach, scribbling on his bare chest with her finger. She avoided looking into his eyes, she did not want to see regret in his eyes, although it was inevitable. "Madhu," called Rishabh and touched her face softly. She did not respond and looked anywhere but his face. "Won't you talk to me Madhu?" asked Rishabh. She shook her head in refusal. "Why Madhu? Did I hurt you in any way?" Madhu looked up for the first time and her eyes glistened with the tears building up, ready to roll down any moment. "I don't want you to go, but I know I cannot stop you Rishabh," replied Madhu and sat up. Rishabh stared at her for some moments silently, and then said, "Even I want to spend such beautiful moments with you again. But both of us have our commitments to our job, Madhu. People might be waiting for you at the studio." Madhu stood up, covering herself in the white bedsheet she headed towards the bathroom. She felt used and humiliated. The passionate moments with Rishabh last night had been divine for her, but for him it must have been nothing more than fanciful moments of a "one night stand". As the hot water sprinkled from the shower on her skin, it got mixed with her tears that kept on flowing uncontrollably. Rishabh had already left by the time she came out of shower.
The next two days were grueling in the sets for Madhu. She had to work extra hours to compensate for the two days lost in her sickness'. But this did not bother her, as it was a welcome relief for her from the pangs of remorse. On the third day, the shoot ended earlier than usual. Madhu was thinking what to do with rest of the evening when her phone started ringing. It was a call from Ritu. "Hey Maddy!! Where are you?" asked Ritu. "I am on my way back from shoot." "Good, come quick. Purab and I are coming to your place in an hour." Madhu felt good that very instant. She would be able to congratulate her friends and have some good time with them.
After having a sumptuous dinner, all three sat back and relaxed in the couch of Madhu's living room. They spoke about Purab and Ritu's romantic encounters and their plans ahead. Suddenly Ritu asked Madhu, "Hey what's the time?" "It's 11. Why are you getting late for sleep?" asked Madhu. "Arrey nahin budhdhu. We came here for a purpose and don't want to forget it completely." Madhu gave a confused look to both of them. "It's RK sir's birthday. So we had planned to surprise him by going at his house and wishing him at 12 in the night. You are also coming with us," said Purab with a smile. Madhu's face blanched. "I am very tired, and have to go early to the studio tomorrow. You two go, if you are getting late already," said Madhu cautiously. "No way Madhu. Stop giving us that lame excuse. We have all worked together with RK sir and he will be very happy to see us on his birthday, especially when Dipali ma'am is also not with him to celebrate," protested Ritu. Before Madhu could cook up some more excuse, she was literally dragged out of her home and abducted in their car which reached RK's house just before midnight. Ritu already had the birthday cake and flowers ready in her car, so they stood in front of the main door, waiting for someone to open it.
RK was preparing himself for another sleepless night. His own birthday had completely slipped out of his mind, so when he heard the door bell at that late hour, he was very surprised. "Happy birthday!!" screamed Ritu and Purab as the door opened, Madhu stood quiet behind them. RK was overwhelmed to know that there were people for whom his birthday mattered. But seeing Madhu there was perhaps the most astounding thing he could imagine. After Ritu and Purab, it was Madhu's turn to wish him. She smiled weakly while wishing when RK's phone started ringing. "Excuse me Madhu one minute. Yes Dipali. Thank you. No don't worry, things are fine here. Ritu, Purab and Madhu have come to celebrate my birthday. Ok, take care, bye," said RK and turned to Madhu who had already left his side. She stood beside Ritu who was preparing the cake on the dining table. RK wanted to talk to Madhu but it was impossible to do that without Ritu and Purab's notice. So he waited till the cake was cut and everyone had a bite of it. "OK RK sir, we should leave now," said Ritu. "So how are you all going?" asked RK. "I brought my car. We will drop Madhu and then go back home," said Ritu. "Madhu's house is on the other end of the city. It is already late. You go home with Purab, I will drop Madhu," suggested RK. "No need RK. I will go with Ritu," Madhu said instantaneously. "I said I will drop you. Why unnecessarily bother Ritu in driving around the city all night?" said RK sternly. Madhu did not protest anymore seeing her friends' contented faces.
Madhu did not speak a word on the way back. RK looked very calm, but even he did not initiate any conversation. As they reached her home, RK parked his car and followed her to her flat. Madhu looked behind in shock and asked, "What do you want? Go back. I have already reached my home." "I know. I have come for my birthday gift," replied RK nonchalantly. Madhu looked at him confused when he snatched the keys from her hand and opened the door. The maid was fast asleep in her room so she did not notice their entry. RK directly went inside Madhu's bedroom and waited for her to come. Madhu fumed in anger, but did not want to create any scene by waking up her maid. She followed him and on entering her room, she locked the door and turned to RK. "What do you want from me now? Do you think I am your mistress who will satisfy your lust in your wife's absence?" hissed Madhu, amassing as much loathe in her voice as possible. RK's face hardened hearing those words from her and he pulled her towards him with a jerk. "How dare you drag down our attachment to such lowness Madhu? You call this love? Is this your faith in love?" "Attachment? You call this an attachment? You spent that night with me, and next morning, you could not wait to leave me alone and shattered. You made me feel like a bloody wh**e!!" cried out Madhu. "I left because I needed some time to answer the questions that were bothering me from a long time. I needed that time for myself to understand between my desires and my needs. I am a bloody married man, and yes, I have not forgotten that!! It's just that being closer to you has stopped making me feel guilty any more. This sin does not jab my conscience anymore, because it is no more a sin to me," said RK while looking deep in her eyes. "Then what is it to you?" spat Madhu, struggling to get free of his grip. "I thought being away from you would give me that answer. But it just aggravated that restlessness in me, nothing more. When I saw you tonight at my doorstep, I got my answer Madhu. I realized that every living cell on my body had yearned for you that moment; every conscious thought of my mind had coveted for your existence in my life that moment; and every breath had been taken in your name, just to say how madly and uncontrollably I have started loving you. Don't ask me where this will lead to; even I do not have an answer to it for myself. But this feeling is so strong and overwhelming, that everything else seems so inconsequential."
Madhu had thought no matter what the situation would be, she would never ever make herself vulnerable in front of RK under any circumstance. But perhaps her definition of circumstances' did not include RK's confession of his feelings for her. So, in spite of all her resolutions, she gave in to his feelings, and once again her buried dreams and hopes started surfacing.
Anupamaa
