~The tears of my eyes watered your heart but failed to evoke a response from the barren grounds of what beats in you. They will still come and I will welcome them because they contain you." ~Faraaz Kazi
Love is contradictory. When all is well, it surrounds us in a warm cocoon. But in tough times it turns into a road runner and speeds away. It is like the sun, warm and beautiful. Yet it is also like the stars in the dark sky, distant and seemingly cold.
Surprise! Madhu's heart soars as she is instantly surrounded by people wishing her for her birthday. She walked into studio for a late in the evening shoot. But it was all just a ploy to get her on site for her wonderful birthday surprise. Happily smiling she looks around for the one person that means the most to her in this world. Her heart fills joy that her dearest pati has planned a surprise birthday party for her. But with each passing second, her smile fades. Madhu does not see RK and the joy that bloomed in her heart, withers. For a moment, she had assumed that he had planned the surprise and that all is well in their relationship, that they are blissfully wedded. Sadly blissfully wedded state is not their reality.
Madhu's smile turns brittle as she graciously greets each guest and acknowledges her birthday wishes. The one person she is craving to see and hear is not even present. Her eyes fill with tears that RK did not come to celebrate her day. Sometimes she wonders whether he still love her? Madhu mentally berates herself for such thoughts. Of course RK loves her! He is just going through a really tough time, but soon he will be well and she will feel be surrounded by his love. She must...MUST believe in it. She must have faith that RK will fully recover and retain full usage of all his limbs. She tells herself over and over again that they are just going through a tough stage in their lives. They are just passing through a dark tunnel and there is light at the end of it.
She quickly goes through the motion of cutting the cake for the sake of appearance. All she wants to do is go home to her husband and spend some quality time with him. She finds Bittuji in the crowd and expresses her wishes.
Madhu: Bittuji...can you handle the party and thank the guests on my behalf? It's just that...
Bittuji (understanding): I will handle everything bhabiji. You don't worry. Enjoy your time with Chief. (Smiles) And I won't call or come in between to be the third wheel.
Madhu laughs as it has become a cute joke in their family that Bittuji is a kabab mein haddi in their romance. However, the laughter dies away. She sadly ponders that there has been no romance between them since the stabbing.
Uff I am too much sometimes! How can I think about romance now when the main priority is to get RK back on his two feet?
After saying her byes to Bittuji and Roma, she sneaks out of the studio. On the way to RK Mansion, she wonders if RK had eaten dinner. Happily Madhu plans that if not she will lovingly cook him a delicious dinner and feed him with her own hands. Letting her cater to him, would be the best birthday gift he can give her.
RM
Madhu runs blindly into the house. She has only one destination on her mind, their room. Plastering on a beautiful smile on her face to greet RK, it dims as she enters the dark room. There he is, slouching on the couch is her dearest pati with a bottle of his favored whiskey in his good hand. Her instinct is screaming to run up to him and snatch the bottle out of his hand. But she lacks the courage as he has become quite unpredictable. She convinces herself that RK is just drinking enough to cope with the pain. Though deep down, she knows that he has become a raging alcoholic.
Madhu (Walks up to RK and smiles teasingly): Dearest pati...did you have a fight with lightbaba and gave him time out? (Reaches out to turn on light switch) Chalo...I will rescue lightbaba from his punishment. (Smiles some more) He needs to give you company with your Mr. Whiskey.
RK (snaps): Don't you dare turn on the lights BIWI!
Madhu (pulls her hand back and sighs): Fine baba. I'll let you punish lightbaba a little bit longer, okay? Did you eat dinner? Shall I make you something, anything special that you want to eat?
RK (takes a swig from his bottle and then glares at Madhu): No thank you. I don't need to hear that my "dear wife" came home after working all day and still had to cook and slave for her husband. I am not as helpless as you like to make me out to be.
She bites her tongue from retorting to RK's taunts. Unfortunately, this has become a ritual for them. One of them has to keep a cool head, and the responsibility falls on her shoulder. Madhu keeps reminding herself. RK is just angry and frustrated and not take his words personally.
Madhu (takes a deep breath and plasters the smile back on her face): RK...I forgot to share with you most wonderful news!
RK (sarcastically): That you received an offer to be a heroine for your next movie? That is not very big news. Did you forget biwi? I was in the industry for 6 damned years and offers used to pour in for Superstar RK. One or two offer is no big deal.
Madhu (smiles tightly and prays for patience and understanding): RK...it's true that I did receive an offer, several in fact from different PH to be the heroine in the next movie. (RK's jaw tightens in anger) But that is not the good news I wish to share with you. (Smiles brightly) We have found a new doctor for you. He recently moved from the US and is the very best in his field. I think he can...
RK (blows up): Enough Biwi! Enough!
Madhu: But RK...listen to...
RK (yells): I have heard ENOUGH! I am sick and tired of you continuously pointing out my paralysis and making me feel like I am a bloody handicap!
Madhu (tearfully): RK...I never said that you are...
RK (interrupts): Actions speak louder than word! You treat me as if I am fragile and may break into pieces any moment. I am not that weak! I am STILL Superstar RK and no one... (Bottle in hand and points at Madhu) and not even you can take that away from me.
Madhu (tears silently rolling down her cheeks): RK...I don't want to take away your Superstar status. All I really want is my pati back. RK...I don't really care about Superstar status...You know right that I am only acting for you? I am doing it all for you...RK. Why are you misunderstanding my words and actions when they are all out of love?
RK struggles to stand up and pushes Madhu's hands away when she offers assistance.
RK (angrily): Thank you...thank you for doing such a huge favor for me! How would you like to be rewarded dearest biwi for your "kind" favors that you have bestowed upon your poor, handicap husband?
Madhu (sobs): RK...just stop it! Just stop it!
RK (smirks): Why biwi? Can't handle the truth? Your claim that you are a heroine all because of me is a lie. Just a bloody damned lie! You are a heroine because YOU LOVE THROWING IT IN MY FACE THAT YOU ARE NOW A SUPERSTAR AND I AM NOTHING BUT JUST A FALLEN SUPERSTAR WHO CAN'T DO SHIT ON HIS OWN!
Madhu (covers her ears): RK...just stop it!
RK: I wish I had never met you Madhu. Pabho is right...you are my destruction! (Angrily points at his immobile hand and leg) It's because of you that I went to jail twice. It's because of YOU I was shot. And dammit you stabbed me with the damned knife! You ARE THE REASON BEHIND ALL MY PROBLEMS!
Madhu instantly feels as if she has been run over by a two ton truck. She feels as if she has been stabbed a thousand times over. Horror seeps into her bone as she slowly backs away from RK, his damning words still ringing in her ears. She has been accused many a times of being the engineer in RK's destruction. Though at times she may have fleetingly considered it, she never believed it. But to hear it directly from RK is a blow to her heart and soul. Her back hits the door. She turns around and runs out of the room before she literally falls apart into minuscule pieces in front of RK.
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Part 2 and hopefully it will be the last part will be up soon. Yes I will work on my other two pending TS as well and update soon. 😊 Thanks!