Part 6

Part 6

Deepali and her parents have thought that RK's parents will bow down quickly before their wish to save their reputation but now seems like it was quiet difficult to convince them and to add to their difficulty now these Malik and Padmini were also speaking from their side.

"Ye sab kya ho raha hai? Aap sab log yaha kya kar rahe hain?" RK asked in confusion.

"Ask your girl friend." Mohan said with gritted teeth.

"Deepali, what is happening here?" RK asked looking at Deepali.

Seeing RK there Deepali understood now there is no use of making up excuses so she decided to manipulate RK. "RK baby look my parents just want to assure my financial security and your parents and these people are insulting them repeatedly." Deepali tried to manipulate him.

"Financial security, bullshit. RK this girl is a gold digger. She is marrying you just for your money. Her father are pressurizing us to sign these papers." Radha told him the truth.

"What is written in these papers?" RK asked Deepali.

"Nothing, it just says that Deepali will have right on your property .Even after divorce you cannot take away her right. Its basically a pre nuptial agreement. Its very common in western countries and big cities like Delhi, Mumbai." Deepali's dad explained.

"A pre nuptial agreement! Deepali you didn't say anything about it till now. I don't remember discussing it with you ever." RK said as he was shocked looking at this new side of Deepali.

"What if we didn't talk until now? Our marriage ceremony is not yet started. I am asking you to agree to my conditions. Just say yes and we will go to mandap to complete the rituals." Said Deepali in no nonsense tone now as the truth was out.

RK was looking at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. He thought Deepali was fun loving somewhat reckless girl which he liked about her but today he was seeing Deepali who was very calculative and practical. "I thought you supported me in my every decision. I thought you love me for what I am not what I have in my bank account." RK said hurt by her behavior.

"Don't be so over dramatic RK. Kab se dekh rahi hoon jab se yaha aaye ho pata nahi tumhe kya ho gaya hai. Tumne to apne parents se jhagda karke unki property mein se kuch bhi lene se inkaar kar diya. Pata nahi tumhara business chale ya na chale...ya phir kab hum ek luxury life style afford karne ki position mein ho paye tab tak main kya karungi......dhakke khaungi tumhare saath? Aur waise bhi jo tumhare parents ka hai wo ek na ek din to tumhara hona hi hai....aur jo tumhara hai uspar tumhari life partner hone ke naate mera bhi barabar ka haq banta hi hai...toh phir main galat kya keh rahi hoon ....inki property par tumhara haq hai....inke jeete jee nahi toh inke marne ke baad...."Deepali kept blabbering but RK couldn't hold his anger anymore when she talked about his parents death.

He raised his hand to slap her but then held it in middle. "Don't you dare say anything bad about my parents." RK said as he clenched his hand into fist to stop himself from slapping her. You are a woman and my parents had taught me to respect women so get out of here before I forget that.

"How dare you RK? Tumne mujhpe haath uthane ki koshish ki....you know what tum ho hi nahi mere laayak...maine apna time waste kiya tumhare upar. I don't want to marry you anymore." Said Deepali. "Tum kya mujhe mana kar rahi ho....ab tum chahogi bhi toh tumse shadi nahi karunga main. You have showed your true colors today." RK replied.

"Mom dad, lets go from here. Let their people laugh at them. Let them wonder what did they do that bride and her family left mandap and rejected them. No respectable family will be ready to give them their daughter after this....saari izzat jo kamai hai na ab tak wo mitti mein mil jayegi." Deepali said each and every word slowly to make them realize their situation.

"Just get out from here before I slap you ." RK replied.

Deepali and her parents left the place. They knowingly walked from the mandap area. Deepali started crying loudly to attract the attention of crowd and her mom also started consoling her loudly to make sure everyone hears them. "Please stop crying Deepali. This family is not worthy of you. I cant believe they demanded dowry from us on the wedding day. And that RK even slapped you in front of us.....achha hua tu bach gayi beta abhi se ye haal hai toh pata nahi shadi ke baad kya hota? Hume nahi karni aise family mein shadi."

All the guest were shocked to hear them. Some close relative who knew the family well didn't believe them but most of the people started gossiping now loudly. The Kundras came there and were embarrassed to face people.

"Ye sab kya ho gaya? Kitne armaan the RK ki shadi ko lekar sab adhure reh gaye....bandnami hui wo alag...is tarah mandap ka khali reh jana aphsagun hota hai....log tarah tarah ki baatein kar rahe hain..." Radha sobbed.

"Ye sab kuch meri wajah se hua na....Now I will set everything right. Don't worry mom....shadi hogi isi mandap mein aur aaj hi hogi." Said RK with determination.

Before any of them could ask him for explanation he turned towards Malik and Padmini, "Uncle aunty you yourself saw what all happened. You know everything. After all this will you give your daughter's hand to me?" RK asked.

Padmini looked at Malik as both tears and smile came on her face. "You really want to marry Madhu?" Padmini asked for confirmation.

"Yes, only if she doesn't mind." RK answered genuinely concerned for her opinion.

Padmini laughed at his words, "Tumhare liye toh wo jaan bhi de sakti hai apni aur tum puchh rahe ho wo tumse shadi karegi ya nahi?"

"Ok, then you guys go and bring her here. I am waiting for her. Ye shadi aaj hi hogi." RK said with finality. Malik and Padmini went to their home to get Madhu while Radha and Mohan gathered all the relatives and friends and briefed them about the turn of events.

Padmini was running here and there to find all the important things needed to get Madhu ready for the wedding. She dreamt all her life for this moment and it came like this when she didn't have anytime to even breathe for few seconds.

"Mom, Do you think its right? Unse is tarah shadi karna....kahi unhe ye na lage ki hum unki majburi ka fayda utha rahe hain...aur mujhe toh ye samajh nahi aa raha ki main apne liye khush hoon ki mera sapna pura ho raha hai ya unke liye dukhi hoon unka pyar adhura reh gaya." Madhu asked her mother all confused over her emotions.

"Madhu, how selfless you can be? You are still thinking that RK lost his love. For once beta be happy for yourself. And don't worry we didn't ask them they themselves have asked for your hand and also RK has seen the true color of that girl. He will accept you wholeheartedly." Padmini assured her.

"Will it be easy for him to move on?" asked Madhu.

"May be not, it may take some time. But eventually he will accept your love because your love for him is so pure...I am sure he wont be able to stop himself from loving you back." Padmini told her as she kept her hand at her head lovingly.

Soon RK and Madhu were married in the same mandap. They took the blessings of their elders and also of Radha Krishna. "Thank you for giving me my love back." Madhu expressed her gratitude to the diety. Oberois welcomed Madhu officially now as their daughter in law. They were very happy.

They made RK and Madhu complete the rituals and sent Madhu to RK's room while RK went out with his friends saying he needed some fresh air. Radha tried to stop him but Mohan stopped her, "Let him go. Today was very difficult for him. He needs to vent it all out. Now as both the families were very happy they suddenly found their excitement back and their batteries charged up. They begin to plan for grand reception party.

Madhu was waiting for RK when she didn't realize when she slept off. She didn't even change her clothes. RK only came around mid night. Madhu woke up with the sound of door opening. She quickly stood up. She saw RK was fidgeting with the lock of the door. She went near him and helped him with the lock. RK was drunk. Though he was in his senses but was edgy. Madhu sensed it while she came near him but didn't say anything. She could feel his restlessness, frustration and pain.

RK tried to walk towards bed and was about to lose his balance when Madhu caught him, "Be careful, I know it is difficult to forget whatever happened with you today but trust me everything will be fine soon. I am with you." Madhu said putting her hand on his shoulder.

But RK suddenly became angry hearing her sympathetic words, "I don't need your pity. You are showing your sympathy on my face but I know your are laughing at me from inside. 'Look at this fool. He dared to reject me now that girl rejected him. His poor family, I saved their honour by saying yes to him at the last minute. I did a favour to them.' aren't you thinking this right now?" RK asked as he grabbed her wrist tightly pulling her towards him.

"Ye kya keh rahe hain aap? Main toh aisa soch bhi nahi sakti. Aur main aapse pyar karti hoon, hamare beech ye ehsaan wali baat kaha se aa gayi." Madhu said honestly what was in her heart.

"Jhoot...sab jhoot...badi badi baatein....Deepali bhi karti thi...par aaj kya hua dikha diye na asli rang...tum bhi yahi karogi na ek din?" RK accused her.

"No, never... I will never betray you. I love you more than my life. I can do anything for you." Madhu couldn't take his accusations.

Her last line caught RK's attention, "You can do anything for me?" he asked in challenging tone as he felt the alcohol in his system kicked in again to give him adrenaline rush.

"Yes" Madhu replied with confidence.

"Really, then prove it." RK smirked at her.

"Yes, Tell me what can I do for you?" Madhu asked innocently not even getting his sarcastic tone.

RK looked at her from top to bottom as he tried to think what will make her uncomfortable and she would say no. She was wearing golden color saree and heavy jewelry. "Remove your clothes." Said RK in no nonsense tone.

Madhu gasped at his appalling demand. "But...but..."she stammered.

"kya hua....badi badi batein kar rahi thi na abhi aur itna sa bhi nahi kar sakti....I am your husband and this is our first night...this is very normal thing to ask for." RK said nonchalantly.

"I can do anything for your happiness but...." Madhu tried to say something but RK didn't let her complete.

"Oh, I will be very happy seeing you without clothes...trust me...I am a man after all." Said RK as he smirked at her.

Madhu didn't have anything to say after that. When RK saw her standing still he taunted her, "Kya hua? Hawa nikal gayi badi badi baton ki?" Madhu just nodded her head in no and took deep breath.

Madhu started removing her jewelry first. She removed her bangles, rings, earrings, necklace, mang tika, waist chain. She opened her hair. She then opened all her saree pins. She closed her eyes as she felt her eyes started watering up. She didn't have any problem in getting close with him. For her he was her everything and he literally owned her body, mind and soul. She had also thought about tonight, if the moment comes she will surrender herself completely to him but she didn't expect the way it was happening. It almost felt like an insult to her. Like he was asking her to prove her love to him at the cost of her dignity. What wrong has she done to deserve this kind of treatment from him, she thought and with her shaking hands she removed her saree pallu and then untucked whole saree from her waist. The saree fell down on the floor.

By now she had started sobbing. RK was looking at her. He had thought she will not do this but she proved him wrong. He felt bad seeing her tears. Madhu opened the first button of her blouse with shaking hands when RK caught her hand. "Stop it...stop it please...enough..no need to do anything now." RK said and he quickly picked up her saree from the floor and wrapped it around her.

"Please go and change" RK asked her. Madhu went to change quietly while RK sat down on the edge of his bed. Madhu wiped her tears and smiled proudly at RK as he realized his mistake on time and didn't let her lose her dignity.

Madhu came out of the changing room. She was visibly relaxed now. RK immediately came towards her, "I am so sorry Madhu...I didn't know what got into me...may be alcohol or may be my frustration from all the events of today...I took it out on you...I am extremely sorry. When you said you can do anything for me I remembered Deepali and I just wanted to test your love...You didn't deserve that crass behavior from me..." RK implored.

"Its ok. Forget about it. I understand how stressful this day was for you. You look tired. Take some rest." Madhu said and then helped him removing his sherwani.

She made him sit on the bed and offered him a glass of water. "Relax" she said and patted his back while he drank water. She then made him lie on the bed and she sat near his pillow. RK kept looking at her and let her take care of him as he felt affinity in her gestures. Right now he wanted to be pampered and she was doing it. She put her hand on his eyes and asked him to close them. She then started caressing his forehead and hair. RK slept off in few minutes. Madhu then removed his shoes and watch and kept them at their respective place. She covered him with a blanket. She wondered for sometime whether she should sleep on other side of the bed but she didn't talk about it to RK. May be he will feel uncomfortable. So she decided to sleep on the floor. She took extra mattress, bedsheet and pillow from the cupboard and made a temporary bed for herself. She lied down on it and soon slept off.

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to be continued....