Chapter 29

Rishab dashes inside the Mansion running around to her Room along the hall like a maniac . He pushes opens her Room Door but His Face Falls seeing No one around . Frustrated he ruffles his hairs taking a deep breath He dashes out of the room to the outhouse.

"Madhu " He shouts as he enters the Outhouse but He Finds Meena Amma who was on call fretting over Madhu's disappearance .

Seeing Rishab Amma hangs up the call and walks towards Rishab "Did You See her around Rishab? She has left leaving a letter behind " Amma tells worriedly and sadly at the same time .

This piece of information is indeed a shock for Rishab Why did She have to leave leaving a letter behind? If it was the incident that happened a while ago made her but then again it was a hour ago , It cannot have been the reason of her leaving , Then it clicks him her telling Sultan

"I am Not coming to the Mansion –" , But What's the Reason Was it Sultan? Or Was it Him! He could not help but ponder unknowingly to himself the fact she had left forever saddens him .

Seeing Rishab zoned out Meena Amma shakes him vigorously worriedly "Rishab–Rishab–"

"Aahh , Amma You were saying something "

"I was saying that Madhu had left the Mansion with a Letter behind "

"Amma Show me the Letter " He tells hurriedly

Amma walks towards the table grabbing the piece of paper She gives it to Rishab

Rishab traces the words using his fingers at the end the ink was smudged meaning she had been crying while writing this : He reads the Letter repeatedly word by word

' I have never have Been Happy in My Life Like the Few Days which I had stayed in this Place . Thank you so much for everything . Now it is Time For me to Leave - I Don't Deserve Here anymore "

What Does She mean by deserve here anymore? He potters running his hands through his hair frustrated . He paces around the room trying to get what was in the letter . I have never been happy in my life ! That words catches his attention as a sad smile curls up on his lips Indeed after Her coming here Not only She had been happy indeed in return it was He, Rishab, Had smiled and laughed care freely it had Only been with Her . Ever Since he had come to stay in the Mansion Since A Year He could not remember a day he had gone to bed with a smile and woken up with a smile but Since She came He had indeed She had made him happy . The realization hits him that He needed her in His Life to Be Happy !

"Where are you Tiny?" He whispers sadly caressing the words in her letter His finger lingers at the words 'Happy' and 'My Life' for more than a little longer .

"Where Do You think She would be Rishab?" Amma asks hopefully folding her hands praying to get her back soon .

She missed her Daughter , Madhu had been everything She had wanted in a child . She could not think a Life without Madhu and Rishab by her side . She had got attached to them affectionately in the little span of time that She cannot think of letting them go after they had shown what it is to be a Mother .

Seeing Rishab lost in thoughts and Sighing She takes his palm in hers " Please Get my Daughter Back to Rishab or Take me to her please " She tells choking .

"Amma Amma " Rishab hugs her hurriedly as he says kissing her temple " Your Daughter would be back to You this is my promise " ,

Wiping away her tears feigning a Fake Sad face he asks " So You would leave Your Son for Your Daugther Haina ?"

Meena chuckles and slaps his face slightly " No I would take My Son Away with me to her when I know What My Son needs " ,

He looks at her confused not getting the inner meaning of her words He wets his lips to ask but is cut-off as Mukund walks in hurriedly ,

"Amma Did you see Madhu , After What had happened to her I –" Seeing Mukund ready to spill the beans Rishab slightly angles his head signing him not to tell Amma Atleast not at the moment .

Mukund who gets Rishab's sign lets out a nervous chuckle as He says "Did You See Madhu She told She would help me –help me –Do – " Mukund think Do what ? Think – He frets his mind to come up with something

"Do What Mukund ?" Amma asks confused

"To make Spaghetti " He laughs nervously mentally yelling at his brain for coming up with a perfect lie .

"Spaghetti ? " Amma says oddly in a loud tone not buying his answer

Rishab slaps his forehead standing behind Amma knowing She would question further and Mukund will let it out

"Amma Do You Know Madhu's parent's address?" Rishab asks hopefully diverting her .

She turns around running two fingers on her forehead She tries to remember , Her eyes lits up remembering as She says hopefully "She is from –"

***

Rishab stops his car front of Madhu's House . Taking a deep breath He taps on the Door to be opened by Ria .

Ria who had opened the door disinteresting Seeing Rishab Her eye sockets pop out seeing the well built handsome hunk in front of her with Open hair .

Her lips curve up in a seductive smile , Rishab tries to peek her head inside the House making Ria scoff that He is not noticing her .

"How Can I help You Handsome?" She asks seductively biting her lower lip

Rishab who was already pissed and worried without thinking twice knowing it is not nice pushes Ria aside and dashes into the House.

Ria who did not expect this coming ends up falling flat on her butt unable to balance on her high heels .

Rishab who hears the thudding sound turns around to see Ria crying out in pain . He scrunches his nose mumbling a quick sorry He runs around the house calling out Madhu's name .

Roop , Ria's Mother " Hearing a male voice She wipes her hands on the cloth and walks out of the kitchen . Her eyes widens to Find her Sweet Daughter crying in pain holding her hip on the floor .

"Ria what happened ?" She asks caressing her hairs .

Ria pushes away her hand pissed and snorting She stands up dusting her dress . She rubs her arms weeping in pain .

Rishab walks back to the hall stomping his foot on the floor pissed ,

Seeing A Man walking from inside the house , Roop shouts " Who the Hell Are You?" ,

Rishab rubs his temple knowing what he did was wrong trespassing into a property .

"I am Rishab, Madhu's – " He is cut off ,

As Ria snaps at him angrily as she says disgustingly "Hook-up"

His eyes widens as He clenches his fist , His Eyes burning with anger . Ria gasps as She winces in pain with tears stinging at the corner of her eyes

Rishab holds her arm tightly digging his nails angrily into her arm as He looks murderously into her eyes as He says gritting his teeth furiously " Dare You Talk Bad about MY Madhu !" ,

Roop and Ria insides shiver as they hear The intensity In his voice . Ria looks down unable to see the way he is murderously glaring at her .

If He knew it was She who manipulated the pictures which She had taken secretly off him and Madhu and of Sultan and Madhu's What will happen of Her ? Ria shuts her eyes tightly wincing more in pain as His hold on her tightens . Now only She could think If He gets to know it was her , She isn't even sure whether She would be able to find her ashes .

"I Do not Know How You are Related to Madhu , But Trust me Woman I Would not think twice to strangle you if You speak shit about MY Madhu !" He snaps at her angrily,

And pushes her away . With one last glare at Both the Mother and Daughter who were hugging each tightly Rishab leaves the place .

Walking out of their House He hits his Foot on the Car . The Never Of Her to talk Shit about MY Madhu ! Rishab knew manhandling was a crime but When She dared to talk bad about His Madhu with so much vehemence He could not stop himself . Which Went unnoticed by him was he had called Madhu as "My" More than Twice .

"Where are You Tiny?" He asks sadly caressing her picture , Their Selfie , Which he had taken saying he had to gift her properly back then during her Fake Birthday Party .

His lips curve up in a sad smile as He looks closely at the picture She has her eyes close with half of her face covered with her tresses and Rishab could bet He saw a rosy tinge adorned in her face .

His grins widens further as he lets out a slight chuckle as He recalls the way She clung onto him not letting anyone touch her . She trusted him so much to Hold him and He ! A Sigh leaves .

***

"Thank You Priya " Madhu thanks her with a small smile that did not reach her eyes for Letting Her stay in Priya's place.

Priya frowns as She says faking anger "Next Time You Thank I'll Slap You! , You are My Best Friend Madhu So isn't it naturally that we look out for each other?"

Madhu lets out a teary smile as She nods agreeing with her.

"Okay You sleep I'll Get to You in a while Okay?" Priya tells getting up from the Bed and covers Madhu with a blanket.

***

Trishna walks into the Café , The Place she is working , to Find Her Manager Fuming in anger and Just like that She knew She had lost her job! But She cared less all her thoughts were on Her Friend , Where Is She now? .

Before the Manager can Give Her Termination Letter Trishna was quick to say sternly that She is resigning shocking the hell out of the Manager as He had expected Trishna to Beg then He would forgive her after some hours and take her back but after reducing her salary.

Trishna smirks at him proudly exactly knowing what was running in his mind and walks out having her head high.

***

"Where Do You Think You are Going Mister?" Priya asks crossing her hands seeing Rishab dashing inside her house not even bothered to knock and walking inside to her hall.

Rishab stops and turns around . Priya could clearly see the worry itched in his face the creases lines formed in his forehead but She could not pin point what exactly it was . Was it For Madhu? No chance If He had he would not left her back like some plaque . Then Why ?

"Where is Madhu Priya?" He asks Worriedly hunting out For Madhu each and every place He had almost lost hope if his brain did not recollect Priya , Getting Priya's contacts from the College had been another hell of a task as They could not give out Personal details of Student , Bribing out The guard to get the address . It had been a hell a lot of task .

"Why Do You Care?" She asks him as She shots a glare narrowing her eyes .

"I Care Damnit ! I Care " He shouts frustrated

"Why?" Priya provokes him more

"She is MY Madhu ! Just F**k it off and Tell me Where She is !" He had lost his limit , He needs to see her but This Woman Infront of him is just getting on his nerves .

The corner of her lips tug up in a small smile hearing him openly declare but soon it curves down remembering the Other woman in his life . Is he playing between two women? She could not help but think .

"Madhu is not here " Priya answers trying to get this man out of the house . First She needs to know about this man to let him meet Madhu for that She needs to have a talk with Madhu knowing Madhu has a thing for Rishab . If He dares to play with Her Friend ! That Day Rishab will die in her hands ! She swears herself still glaring at Rishab.

"Priya This is not the time to Joke , I know She is with You Let me See her , She needs me Priya !" He tries to explain her calmly controlling his anger clearly knowing that This Woman is lying as She was speaking looking at the Floor not meeting his eyes and Madhu was last seen with Priya .

Before Priya could answer They hear a shout coming from the Room upstairs

"Madhu " Both Chorus at the same time Rishab runs past Priya up the stairs as Priya yells at him trying to stop him as She runs behind him .

Pushing the Door Open , Rishab's eyes widens as He sees Madhu crying bitterly throwing her hands and legs up in the air pleading to leave her .

"Nightmare !" That clicks him as He runs and takes her in his arms . She cries loudly trying to push him beating him with her little hands .

"Shhh Madhu It's me You are Safe !" Rishab tells hurriedly pulling her more closer to him ,

The Touch of him calms her down as if soothing away her fears , She snuggles up more into his chest trying to seek solace from her nightmares . Her sobs subside after few minutes as she keeps whispering something incoherent which Rishab could not catch . Instead he pulls her closer to him as She holds his collar in a tight grasp . He runs his fingers through her hair whispering sweet nothings into her ears making appeasing her .

A while later Rishabsees her fallin limp into his body, He pulls her a bit from his embrace to Find her asleep . His heart bleeds seeing her Tear stained face at that time He reprimands himself thinking what a mistake he has done by leaving Rahul alive . He clenches his fist as his eyes burns with fire .

Madhu presses herself more into him as She rubs her cheek in his chest . Feeling her stirring his thoughts halts as he looks down to Find her trying to move closer to him more if possible . He wraps his arms around her protectively as He rocks her to sleep . He presses his lips on her forehead as a lone tear drop falls from his eyes . He had not seen her so Broken , He was used to Her Dabang Fighting & Chirpy Playful nature Seeing her Like this hurts him so much .

Priya who had been a mute spectator seeing both of them smiles , as She is sure that Both Love each other more than everything but aren't confident enough to confess it to each other . She needs to give a push to Madhu or Rishab to take the relation one step ahead from whatever they call each other right now . She closes the dose quietly cautious enough not to disturb them and leaves the place with a serene smile knowing her friend is in safe arms .

Madhu stirs in her sleep and snuggles more into the warmth she is getting . Her hands caresses his forearms . Seeing her hands in contact with a skin Her eyes shots open as She sees herself in a Man's arms . Dread-Fills her face as She lets out a sob which turns into hysterically cry , She looks up hearing a Male Voice

"How are You Baby? Or Slut!" She hears him ask as She looks up to see Rahul eying at her lustily . She pushes him off as She scrambles to the end of the bed as She cries bitterly

"Leave me Rahul please " She begs as She face palms herself and weeps loudly . Her chest heaving up and down as She hiccups , Her sobs increases from minute to minute .

Madhu's shoves away Rahul's Hand who is trying to hold her smirking .

"Leave me you b**d " Madhu screams as She wraps her arms around her knees as She cries loudly hiding her face fearing the closeness of Rahul . All She could see when She closes her eyes was Rahul trying to force himself on her and ripping her sleeves as She tries to push him away from her .

Feeling Him holding her forearm Her Fear increases as She looks at him scared , She opens her mouth to scream but She feels her words had dried as She freezes in her place horror-stricken .

"Rishab save me " She whispers before the darkness encloses her vision .

Rishab was quick to wrap her in his arms as She faints he pulls her close as He leans into her forehead He cries silently for the woman in her arms .

"I am Sorry Madhu " He whispers knowing She would not hear him despite everything he had done She still believes him to call him out to come save her making him feel more guiltier for leaving her .

The way She had repulsed and pushed him had shocked him but He understood it was her Fear and her illusion of Seeing Vivid image of Rahul instead of him .

***

Madhu opens her eyes lazily . She looks around to Find the Warmth She had been Feeling since a few hours . Finding the cold empty place She sighs thinking She had dreamed of Being in Rishab's arms . She swore it felt real his touch and his words soothing her worries and fears .

Her eyes widens as She sees Rishab walking in to the room with a worried look. She looks at him without blinking his eyes How did he end up here? Was it real?.

Rishab cups her face in his palms patting her seeing her zoning out scared whether the nightmares would resurface .

"Madhu , Madhu " Rishab pats hurriedly

"Ahh" She stutters as her daze breaks

"Rishab" She whispers slowly still doubting that she isn't day dreaming .

"Yes ..Madhu ..Do You need Something ?" Rishab asks instantly

Her mind recollects all the incidents which had happened from the morning from Rahul forcing himself on her to Rishab leaving her like plaque to She ending up on Priya's house .

Tears brim in her eyes as She looks up at him as the image of him pushing her and walking away like he was disgusted flashes . She pushes him back making him stumble a step back .

Rishab tries to take hold of her hand worriedly thinking again She is imagining him as Rahul.

Madhu raises her hand up in the air stopping him as She shoves away his hand

"You Left me When I needed You Why are You here now?" She tries to keep her voice stern and turns away trying to hide her tears .

"Madhu I am sorry .. I know I –"

She cuts him " I know You felt disgusted by my touch after all Which Man would let a woman who was molested touch him – So How could I –"

Her voice is cut off as She widens her eyes shocked to Find him kissing her tenderly despite of his eyes blazing in anger . She tries to push him off but instead He holds her both palm in his as He kisses her . She does not kiss him back instead a tear slides down . Seeing her eyes brimming up with tears Rishab breaks off hurriedly

" I am sorry –I know what I did was Wrong but Let me tell you Madhu I can never be disgusted about You ! Never ! " He tells cupping her face in his palms as She lean into his palms as She cries

"But I—You—"

"Shhh" He places his index finger shutting her up as He pulls her close " You need rest Sleep!" He whispers patting her back as She cries leaning onto his chest crying without hugging him back .

"I am tired " Rishab hears her say he places his palm under her head as he pats her to sleep yet again .

How could I kiss her Just like that? She had just gone through the worst and He did the same thing to her He was no different from Rahul and He knows She is gonna hate him forever now !

"Will You hate me Madhu? He whispers to her sleeping form as he leans his head onto hers .

"I am Sorry--- Give me a chance " His voice falls at the end as He chokes swallowing the lump that forming in his throat .

***

How is the Chapter?