Part 9

Part 9

Madhu woke up in the morning and got ready and she became busy in her daily routine. She brought coffee for RK at the usual time. RK was awake by then.

"I am really sorry for my behavior yesterday." RK replied as he took coffee cup from her. Madhu looked at him surprised by the apology.

"See I know you love me a lot but I need some time to accept you fully into my life. I know I consummated this marriage but what happened was not planned at all. I still feel we have a long way to go before taking that step again. I hope you understand." RK said honestly what was in his mind. Madhu just nodded in yes.

Though she had understood his feelings but couldn't stop herself from feeling sad. Yesterday when he made love to her she thought that he was ready to accept her whole heartedly but she was proved wrong. She longed for his affection and love.

"Say something" RK requested seeing Madhu silent.

"I think it will be better if we don't share bed till you are ready to accept me." Madhu could only manage to say this. RK nodded in agreement.

Since that day things become normal between them. Madhu as usual followed her routine, did all her wifely duties and daily chores without expecting anything in return RK on the other hand was growing close to her emotionally but didn't show his feelings.

Few days passed like this. One such night they again had an intimate moment when Madhu came out of bathroom in her bathrobe thinking RK was not in the room as she last saw him in the garden with papaji. She was standing in the changing room she didn't bother to close its door as she thought she was alone in the room. She took out her night dress and removed her bathrobe when RK entered there. Though she had immediately pulled her bathrobe back but still couldn't stop the inevitable as RK had come close to her and had kissed her passionately. His phone has rang at that time bringing him out of trance ending the beautiful moment. RK had again realized his mistake and left saying sorry and she had cried herself to sleep feeling rejected by him once again.

Madhu brought coffee for RK next morning but she saw RK was still sleeping. She remembered he was so tired from office yesterday maybe that's why he overslept. She came forward to wake him but stopped as she remembered what happened last night. She placed the cup at the corner table and called him few times to wake him up but he didn't respond. She didn't want to go near him so she took the cup again and went outside. Madhu gave the cup to Radha and asked her to wake up RK and give it to him.

"Why don't you give it to him?" asked Radha confused.

"Mumma called me in the morning. She wanted to talk with me regarding something important so I am going to my house." Madhu lied and went from there quickly before Radha could ask more questions. Radha kept looking her for sometime as she wondered what happened to her suddenly?

Radha went and woke up RK. He opened his eyes sleepily and the first thing he saw was his mother standing there holding his coffee cup. He closed his eyes again thinking he must be having some kind of dream. As in only few days he was so habituated to see Madhu's face the very first thing in the morning. Madhu's face...her beautiful face and wet hair and that freshly bathed fragrance...the sound of her bangles and anklets...and that melodious voice in which she calls him lovingly, "RK...uth jaiye subah ho gayi aap late ho jayenge office ke liye." He smiled in his sleep remembering her words.

Radha saw him smiling and lost her cool as she was trying to wake him up now from 10 minutes. "RK wake up or else I'll throw this coffee on your face." Radha shouted and RK woke up startled from it.

"Mom? You....here..now?" He asked rubbing his eyes.

"Yes...you idiot...itni derr se utha rahi hoon...itne kumbhkaran kab se ho gaye tum?" Radha shouted again.

"Please mom, atleast dheere bolo....God! my head...ye kya tareeka hai subah subah chilla ke uthane ka?And why are you even here? Where is my wife?" RK asked irritated on being scolded by his mother in the morning.

"Oh! I see....you wanted to see your wife's face first thing in the morning that's why you are so irritated. I thought my son was practical types but you turned out to be love sick hubby after all." Radha teased him earning an angry glare from RK.

"Its nothing like that." RK replied as he took the coffee cup from Radha's hands.

He took a first sip and almost spitted it back in the cup. "God! Its awful." Who made this?" RK said as he put the cup back.

"Madhu had made coffee for you but since you took forever to wake up it was cold and I asked servant to make it again." Radha answered.

"Where is she? Why she didn't make it again?" RK asked still making faces over the taste of coffee.

"She went to her house. She said her mom wanted to talk something important with her." Radha informed him.

"Mom, you know I cant start my day without coffee. Please you make it this time." RK requested in extra sweet voice.

"Please I don't have all the time to fulfill your demands. I have lots of things to do. You see I am not Madhu who keeps running around you whole day ready to fulfill your wish the very next second it comes out your mouth. So save your tantrums for your wife." Radha said sarcastically as she partly wanted to tease him and partly wanted to teach him a lesson for his ungrateful behavior towards Mini.

RK looked down in guilt as he also realized that whatever his mom was saying was true. Madhu takes all his tantrums and doesn't even say anything and he sometimes behaves so rudely with her. Yesterday he did it again. It was his weakness. He came close to her than rejected her once again. Radha saw RK was looking guilty and she smiled in triumph. He was her only son but Madhu was not less than her daughter. She loves her equally and nobody had a right to hurt her daughter in law.

RK knew things can't go like this between them forever. He was definitely attracted towards her and had started to like her too. He needed to talk to Madhu about it. He got ready for office and thought to talk to Madhu after breakfast.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Padmini was surprised to see Madhu in the morning. "What happened aaj subah subah yaha?" asked Padmini.

"Why? Do I need any reason to come here?" asked Madhu as she sat down on breakfast table where his dad was having her favourite breakfast aloo parathas. Madhu squealed with delight as she took a plate for herself and took two parathas.

"No my daughter doesn't need any reason. I was just wondering its morning time and you must be busy with preparing RK's breakfast and helping him getting ready." Padmini said as she herself took a seat near Malik .

"I don't think unhe kuch fark padta hai mere hone na hone se." Madhu said as she became sad remembering yesterday's events. Malik and Padmini shared a worried look. Then Malik gestured Padmini to talk to Madhu as he left mother and daughter alone.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RK was having his breakfast. He saw here and there but couldn't see Madhu. He couldn't believe he was missing her. He was so used to have her dancing around him everywhere since morning running to do his bidding. Right from making his coffee, selecting his clothes, keeping his watch and wallet ready, cooking breakfast for him then serving him and standing by his side till he ate and at last saying him goodbye as she ran behind him to the door and watched him sitting in the car with his dad. He didn't have his coffee in the morning due to which he already had a bad start for a day and now the fact that he didn't see Madhu since morning was adding fuel to the fire.

"What is taking her so long? Aisi bhi kya jaruri baat karni thi...mere jane tak ka intezar kar leti." RK couldn't stop himself from getting angry as he pushed the plate of half eaten breakfast away and stood up to leave. Mohan and Radha looked at each other confused as to what happened to their son suddenly.

"Sit down RK, complete your breakfast.Its your favorite....cheese omlette." Radha asked calmly.

"Its not good enough." RK replied as he picked up his files from the table.

"Dad I am leaving for the office." RK said again and left.

"What happened to him? Why he is being so cranky?" asked Mohan as he took one more toast.

"He is missing Mini. He hadn't seen her since morning. He has not received the special God like treatment he has become habituated to now so he is throwing tantrums like a stubborn child." Radha laughed at his condition.

"But why he is behaving like this?" Mohan was still confused.

"Oh, you both father son duo are stupid. Cant you see he is falling in love with Mini." Radha explained.

"Really? Our Madhu is like that only he couldn't have stopped himself from falling in love but I am surprised it happened too soon." Mohan said amused from the revelation his wife made.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mini, tell me honestly beta is everything fine between you and RK?" Padmini asked worriedly.

"Yes mom" Madhu replied averting her eyes.

"Madhu, I am your mom. I know when you lie to me." Padmini said as she made Madhu look into her eyes.

"Mom, He doesn't love me...I knew he will need some time to move on but...he surprised me when he...he...." Madhu trailed off not knowing how to tell everything to her mom.

"You can tell me anything. Ever since you have grown up, more than a mom I have treated you as a friend....right?" Padmini encouraged her to open up.

"We....came....very close to each other ...but...since then he is avoiding me. I think...he is regretting what all happened or maybe he didn't like me....I fear he will never accept me." Madhu completed with difficulty and started crying as she hugged her mom. Padmini consoled her. She called Radha to her house as she felt she should also know about this. She being RK's mom may be know more about RK's behavior or maybe she can help Madhu to win over his heart.

Radha came there and Padmini shared her worries but Radha shared her views and what she had observed since morning about RK. Now both were confused what is right? RK started falling for Madhu or Madhu's fears are true.

" Padmini I know you are Madhu's mother and you are worried for her but trust me on this. As far as I know my son I think he is confused. Like us may be he is also surprised that he moved on so quickly and Madhu already made her place in his life so maybe he is running away from his feelings and doesn't want to accept it too soon." Radha explained her point of view.

"I think you are right Radha. We should give him some space to come out of his inner turmoil." Padmini finally agreed and she made Madhu understand this also.

"Madhu you should not lose hope." Padmini said as she caressed him lovingly.

Just then Madhu's cousin Trishna came to their house. "Hello aunty. How are you?" Trishna greeted.

"Hello Trishna. Aaj yaha kaise?" Padmini asked.

"Actually I went to Kundra mansion to meet Madhu but I found out she is here so I came to invite her." said Trishna as looked at Mini.

"Invitation? For what?" Madhu inquired.

"Today a really cool pub is opening in our city and our bro Sikky has got special passes for it. I am so excited to go there. It'll be fun." Trishna talked animatedly as her excitement shone in her eyes.

"Trishna, you know I don't like such places. So I am not interested." Madhu said no to her invitation.

"Offo Madhu come na...all our friends will be there." Trishna requested. Madhu again opened her mouth to say no but Radha interrupted her.

"Madhu will come with you Trishna. But I don't think she have the perfect dress for such night. I mean all of you must be wearing western dresses for tonight...right? Why don't you take her to shopping?" Radha expressed her views. Padmini gave her questioning looks but she gestured her to stay quiet for now.

"Mummyji I don't want to go and I don't wear those western dresses you know na?" Madhu tried to make excuse.

"I don't want to listen anything. You are going that's final. Come on you need to relax..and whats better than a fun night with friends?" Radha convinced Madhu to go to pub and shopping for new dress and sent her to the home to pick up lunch boxes from there and asked her to drop by office and hand them over to Mohan and RK.

As she went from there Padmini couldn't hold her curiosity, "whats cooking in your mind?"

"RK has started liking Madhu. If she makes few moves in right direction than he would definitely fall for her." Radha shared her views.

"What do you mean?" Padmini asked and also Trishna who was now interested in their plan.

"Remember that Deepali? She was so bold and modern in her dressing. RK has spent lot of time in a big city like Delhi. He is used to such parties and pub culture. So he probably likes modern girls. I am sure if he will see Madhu like that he will surely fall for her." Radha explained her plan and asked Trishna to help Madhu in shopping and get her a nice western dress for the occasion.

"Samajh gayi aunty. Dekhna Madhu ko aise taiyar karungi ki bomb lagegi ekdum....RK toh gaya samjho." Trishna said and laughed.

Madhu was appalled by Trishna's choice of clothes. "What is this Trishna. You called this dress? It looks like an inner wear to me."

"Shut up when you don't know anything about western fashion. This dress is perfect for you." Trishna said and brought that dress in spite of Madhu's denial.

On her way back home Madhu stopped at the office to give lunch boxes to Mohan and RK. "Madhu beta, tum aaj office mein?" Mohan asked as she greeted her.

"Yes papaji, Today I brought your lunch." Madhu replied.

"Hmm, dekh raha hoon papaji ki khub sewa ho rahi hai itni sewa toh meri bhi kabhi nahi hui." Malik said as he joined them.

"Dad!" Madhu pleaded her father not to tease her.

"Arre papaji ke liye kaha yaha aane ki mehnat toh RK ke liye ki gayi hai...hai na?" Mohan also teased her.

"Papaji you too?" Madhu complained.

But as Mohan mentioned RK Madhu had a strong urge to see him. She realized she has not seen him since morning.

Mohan saw Madhu was all lost in her thoughts, "If you are wondering where is RK? Then he is busy in a meeting so you have to wait for some time." Madhu blushed at being caught.

But she couldn't wait as Trishna was also with her and she wanted to reach home early so that she can go to parlour to get ready for tonight. So with heavy heart Madhu also came back with her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Around 7 pm Trishna and Sikky came to Kundra mansion to take Madhu with them. They were not surprised that Madhu was not ready. She was least interested in going with them. Trishna, Padmini and Radha had to literally push her into the room to get ready. Madhu came out wearing the dress Trishna had bought for her. Everyone in the room kept staring at her. It was a black strapless bodycon dress which hugged her figure at all the right places. It ended much above her knees. She teamed it with broad golden belt and matching high heel sandals. She left her long hair open.

"Wow! I cant believe my daughter can look like this." Padmini exclaimed.

But Madhu clearly looked uncomfortable in it as she kept pulling it up and down to desperately cover the exposed area of her chest and thighs as much as possible.

"Stop fidgeting with it. You are looking great. Now go and enjoy." Said Radha as she pushed her out of the door.

"Mummyji I'll come back soon. Aap RK ko inform kar dena please I tried but he didn't pick probably he was busy. And call me once he is back home I'll come back immediately." Madhu kept blabbering as her mummyji shoved her into the car.

Radha then called Trishna in the corner, "Now keep her busy in the pub. When RK will come I'll send him to the pub." Radha said and Trishna gave her thumbs up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RK came back late around 10 pm that day. He was already frustrated as he the start of his day was not good then again he was busy whole day in office. He came to know Madhu had come to office to give their lunch and didn't even wait for him to come out of the conference hall. He was missing her and was desperate to see her. He thought she will be waiting for him for dinner as usual but there also he couldn't found her as his mother has informed her that she has gone out with her cousins to some pub. His mom has asked him to go there and bring her back but he refused as he was now angry on her. She used to pamper him and shower all her attention on him everyday and now suddenly she was not there around him and not giving him time and special treatment all this was making him sad and anxious.

At last he couldn't hold it anymore, "Why Madhu is not back until now? And who gave per permission to go there? As far as I remember she didn't ask me." RK asked angrily.

Radha gulped down looking at him like this. She couldn't understand what made him so angry suddenly and he also refused to go to the pub. Her plan was failing. Trishna was calling again and again asking when RK will come as it was impossible to stop Madhu now. She wanted to come back as soon as possible. Radha was thinking how to make him go there when his words caught her attention. Her son was not at all an orthodox and dominating man who would mind if his wife goes out with her friends then why suddenly he is behaving strange.

"Excuse me, what did you say....permission? she didn't ask you?.....who the hell are you to give her 'permission'. Don't forget she is our daughter and she asked me about it and I allowed her to go there." Radha replied folding her hands in front of her chest in pride.

RK was speechless for sometime as he realized what did he say. His mom was right. Why he was behaving like a possessive and control freak husband suddenly? But he couldn't digest the fact that first Madhu didn't show her face to him since morning then she didn't do any of his work like making his coffee, sorting out his clothes, making his breakfast, didn't even wait for him on lunch and now didn't even present at home to serve and eat dinner with him. She is enjoying with her friends and he didn't even know her whereabouts. He felt like he has become from most important to least important person in her life. And this was upsetting him more than he thought.

"She is my wife. Isnt it her responsibility to atleast inform me of her whereabouts." RK replied with gritted teeth as he felt anger rising in him once again.

"But..." Radha tried to say something but RK didn't let her complete.

"Where is this pub? I am going to get her back." He inquired.

Radha told him the address and as soon as he left she informed Trishna about it. She sighed in relief as finally she felt her plan will work. RK will saw Madhu there and will be floored by her looks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

to be continued...