Time For Her To Go
RK sat in his room pondering all that had been happening between him and Madhu. He contemplated going straight to the source, Madhu, and questioning her as to what was going on between them, but then decided against it. He thought back to when it all began, looking for something that may have triggered the onset of their daily arguments.
Over the past few months, RK and Madhu had grown distant from each other without realizing it. Their arguments got worse and worse and it had become difficult for them to shoot one scene together without arguing in between. It got to the point that RK had just had enough. He sent Madhu back to the chawl, telling her that it was time they took a break. Without a word she walked out the doors.
It had been three days.
As he sat alone, thinking about her and drinking alcohol, he found himself looking at nothing. No reason came to mind for their distancing. He thought back to her beautiful face. Her glowing skin, her chocolate brown eyes and her long black hair. He closed his eyes as he imagined running his hand across her skin as he had done many times before. His eyes shot open.
RK stood up in anger, chucking his glass of alcohol to the ground. He stormed out of his room and straight towards his mansion doors. His next stop, the chawl.
As his car came to a halt in front of the chawl, he stepped out. Without a second thought, he ran up the chawl steps and straight towards Madhu's place. It was late at night, so the door was closed. He knocked. And waited. Seconds later the door opened. There she stood, her same beautiful self. She looked up at RK with a face of surprise at first but then anger the very next second. She crossed her arms and looked away from him while speaking.
"Why have you come here so late RK?"
"You're my Biwi, I can come see you whenever."
"You see me on set everyday."
"It's not the same. You're coming with me."
He grabbed her hand, but she pulled free.
"RK! You're drunk. Stop."
Knowing she wouldn't listen so easily, he picked her up and carried her down the chawl steps as she struggled to get free. As he placed her inside his car, she opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by his hand over her mouth.
"You'll wake everyone up Biwi."
He slowly moved his hand away and she crossed her arms again while straightening herself out in the seat. The drive back to RK's mansion went by in silence, with neither of them knowing what to say. As they reached the mansion, RK got out. He went to Madhu's side door and opened it.
"Are you going to get out yourself or do you need me to carry you inside in front of everyone?"
She glanced at him with a look questioning if he'd really do it.
"You know I would."
RK spoke as though reading her mind. She sighed, a heavy sigh, and stepped out of the car. As they entered their mansion again, Madhu stood in the doorway. RK was just about to step forwards when he noticed her keeping her stand. He turned to stare at her.
RK looked down at Madhu as she looked to the side, avoiding his gaze.
"Madhu."
She glanced up at him slowly.
"I want to fix this."
Madhu's eyes softened along with RK's ever so slightly.
"Me too."
"Come with me. We'll ask Paabo what to do. Something is definitely causing all of this."
Madhu, knowing Paabo and Dipali played a hand in distancing RK from Madhu, slowly but anxiously nodded her head in agreement. RK interlocked his fingers with hers and began to walk towards Paabo's room. Just as they were about to enter the room, they heard laughter coming from inside; Dipali and Paabo's laughter.
RK and Madhu exchanged a look as they wondered what was going on inside. Then Dipali spoke.
"Oh Paabo, you're wonderful! Just fantastic. You really stuck to your word and got that Chawlbala out of here."
"Arey, I'm Paabo. I always stick to my word. I'm not like you Dipali."
"I just can't believe that it worked. I mean, I had been trying for so long and you just came and did the work in a few months!"
"Like I said, I'm not like you Dipali. I actually have a brain which I put to use."
"Oh Paabo."
Madhu, who was not surprised, looked up at RK who had a look of disbelief and rage on his face. His eyes wide with shock yet furious at the same time.
Tightening his grip on Madhu's hand, RK entered Paabo's room.
"Paabo?!"
Dipali and Paabo looked at RK and Madhu in shock. They couldn't believe their eyes. They kept their eyes on Madhu for a moment until Paabo realized what RK might have just heard.
"Rishabh, I was just teaching Dipali how to be..."
"I heard everything Paabo. Everything!"
"No you're misunderstood. It's not how it sounds."
"SHUT UP!"
Paabo instantly stood up off the bed, as did Dipali. Dipali glared in Madhu's direction as Madhu tried to calm down RK.
"RK, shh, it's Paabo, you can't talk to her like..."
"MADHU STOP!"
RK turned to face Madhu.
"You heard everything! And you're still protecting Paabo?"
"RK...I..."
"THAT'S IT!"
RK turned to face Dipali.
"You. OUT. NOW. And by out, I mean out of my mansion, with your bags and everything! NOW."
"R..."
"Don't you dare say a word. OUT."
With a final look of disgust in Madhu's direction, Dipali walked out of the room dissatisfied.
"Paabo...how could you...?"
Paabo walked towards RK. She placed her hands on either side of his face but he gently slid her hands away.
"Rishabh, beta...Guruji said the only way to protect you was t..."
"I don't give a damn what Guruji said! MADHU IS MY BIWI. I love her! How could you think about taking my love away from me?! You wanted to separate us? I didn't expect this from you at all!"
"I care about you Rishabh, that's why..."
"No. Nothing you say can or will give an explanation for your behaviour. If you truly cared about me, you'd want me to be happy. And my happiness lies with Madhu. It's about time you understand that Madhu is my biwi and I love her. Nothing that anyone says or does will ever change that. I will always love Madhu. No one can separate us. Not even God himself. So what made you think you could? And concerning your Guruji, I don't believe anything he said! Madhu has and always will be by my side. She has never been the reason of any downfall in me, but in fact been the reason for my rising. She picked me up when I was at my worst and if that doesn't prove your Guruji's theory wrong, then I don't know what does."
"Rish..."
"No Paabo. Apologize to Madhu. Now."
Madhu's eyes went wide. She shook her head at RK.
"RK..."
"Madhu, you deserve an apology."
"Madhu, beta, please forgive me..."
"No Paabo! Please don't apologize. It's not your fault. You did this for RK. I understand."
RK closed his eyes in anger. Opened his eyes. And looked back at Paabo.
"Now get this clear, if you try to play any other kinds of tricks on Madhu and I...Paabo, you'll become the next Radha Kuku Bhatia to me. Understand?"
Paabo's eyes went wide; she placed a hand over her mouth and shook her head in fear.
"No, don't say that..."
RK turned, leaving the room while taking a hold of Madhu's hand. Paabo glared in Madhu's direction as Madhu stared back apologetically.
----
The following morning, Paabo left, claiming it was time for her to go. Giving her blessings to Madhu and RK, she walked out of the RK mansion doors for good.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Arjun
