Chapter 37

Madhu was back to her chirpy self when she woke up , When he had said that He preferred a tall lean woman Madhu knew how much he loved Dipali that made him open up . She had loved him knowing her love will never be reciprocated so sulking over that issue is not goanna make him fall for her right or will it? But Madhu's mind was fixed on his behaviors He behaves with her more in a romantic way how lovers would behave but he loves Dipali? Why is it so complicated ? back then She had asked him Why pull her in a quadrilateral love triangle tangling her in and now it had come true . She is tangled in a quadrilateral complicated relationship . She Loves Rishab , Rishab loves Dipali , Dipali loves Sultan and Sultan loves ? Wait does he love Dipali? Madhu wonders . Sighing she throws the duvet while putting her feet on the floor . One needs to step back from the quadrilateral or make it clear to pave way for others .

***

Rishab walks into the kitchen humming as he sees Madhu engrossed in her cooking . Seeing her making pancakes smiling sees her hairs tied up in a messy bun and her duppata pulled and tied to a knot near her hip he chuckles tip-toeing and standing right behind her . Rishab pushes his arm around her waist pulling her in a hug from behind .He loved how her Tiny frame fitted into his . hearing her gasp Rishab smirks rolling his lips in giggling . He would love to see her this startled lifelong when he would surprise hug her.

Madhu gasps startled knowing its him. He should really stop doing that ! She is getting too habituated to his hugs which made her fear that how would she cope up when he decides to hold Dipali's hand one day and leave her . Finding uncomfortable Madhu pushes him back turning around . Rishab knew something was off with his Rat, He felt as she felt uncomfortable in his hold but according to the past number of embraces they had Rishab knew She was more comfortable around him and ONLY him , Then What happened? Before Rishab could ask they hear footsteps approaching . Rishab moves two steps away from Madhu least everyone knew they had something going on between them.

"Madhu" It was Saanvi

Madhu who was lost in gauging what was running in his mind gets out of her daze hearing Saanvi call her at the same time she sniffs as a burning smell floats in the air .Her mouth opens as She sees her Pancakes getting burnt .

"My Pancakes!" She cries whining

Rishab chuckles slightly seeing how adorable she looked with her lower lip out pouting like a baby .

"Madhu oh no!" Saanvi says "Poor you" She tells chuckling slightly making Madhu cry.

Rishab rolls his shirt sleeves up pushing Madhu aside making her open her mouth 'O' shape as She slightly hits on his forearm "Cat!"

"Shut up! Rat" He teases taking a large bowl Rishab dumps the flour ,sugar, baking powder and nutmeg and whisks together.

Saanvi ties her arms around her chest adoring the young couple . Saanvi was excited to see a young love blooming in front of her eyes . She loved Pure love and helped many lovers marry each other , One reason She had held onto Bittu even after he had left her . She loved him enough to live her life alone fighting with her own family as She knew she would be betraying herself if she married another . Yesterday The long talk they had made Saanvi come to a conclusion . She had been surprised to know that Bittu had come looking back after two years for her only to know She moved out of the village which he had presumably 'assumed' She was Married . *Sigh* That Idiot of a Boyfriend She loved ! , Saanvi and Bittu had decided to give each other a chance , after all they did live in each other's memory for years . Saanvi leaves the kitchen letting the young love enjoy .

"You idiot We don't dump the whole butter!" Madhu whacks Rishab's head making him let out an 'Ouch'

"I know what to do!" Rishab snaps back shaking his head .

"Yeah yeah I can see" Madhu says rolling her eyes seeing him holding the butter in his hand wondering what to do.

Madhu stares him affectionately seeing flour all over his face as He beat the eggs whisking it with the milk and vanilla. And then moving onto griddle the butter.

Madhu sees him done with the batter after mixing the milk mixture to the wet flour mixture.

Madhu sees him ladling the batter to the skillet as She sits on the counter top taking a bite of her apple she got in hand .

Rishab sees her with a small smile playing on his lips while flipping the sides of the pancakes with a spatula . Taking her by surprise Rishab takes a bite from other side of the apple as she widens her eyes horrified. Rishab chews the piece while moving back looking at the skillet as if nothing happened as the apple falls from her mouth .

Madhu realizing what had transpired between them seeing the teasing smirk on his face . she gets angry as She beats his forearm making him laugh loudly "You greedy cat!"

"Madhu—Madhui—My Little Rat Don't You know Cats love stealing from Rats always?" He laughs holding her hands in his one hand. Madhu puffs out pushing him .

"My apple" She whines looking at the half eaten apple lying in the floor .

Rishab chuckling hugs her sideways as She frowns scrunching her nose "Don't I have a right to half of yours?" ,

The intensity of his words had hit her hard as She looks into his eyes . Rishab too reflects the same intensity as he leans down looking into her eyes as his fingers cup her left cheek.

Her rosy plump lips looked inviting as He licks his lower lip unconsciously as the memories of kissing her came crashing back into his mind .

Madhu knew it was coming as he leaned forward . Her mind was blocked whether it was right or wrong . She knew she isn't even going to feel guiltier of kissing a man who loved someone else as She wanted to be Selfish to give in the moment and it is not like She or he is cheating anyone right given that he wasn't in a relationship with Dipali at least not yet .

Rishab's thumb makes circles around her cheeks as his palms cupped her face . her fingers fisted his shirt tightly . inches apart Rishab opens his eyes slowly to look into her closed eyes and lips parted and that Very moment Rishab came to conclusion with his feelings He LOVED the WOMAN in his Arms with ALL his HEART , Rishab who never approached a girl in his 30 years of life had been attracted to this very woman who did not even reach his shoulder .

Looking at her inhaling a deep breath while her fingers moves up locking around his neck more tightly . Rishab smiles lovingly . maybe it was too quick to tell her his feelings and for the first time he feels bothered about the 6 year long age gap they have but What come may He is going to cherish her if She loved him back .

Seeing her bite her lip and her eyes trying to open Rishab chuckles She looked flushed and embarrassed . He places his petal like lips on her forehead making Madhu smile against his heart . The Kiss made her feel special in some way that Priya's and Trishna's words came past her eyes Did He move on from Dipali?

Madhu and Rishab step back from each other hearing Bittu's voice coming near the kitchen .

Madhu who was so lost in the kiss turns around giving her attention back to the skillet to find her Pancake burnt .

"Pancake" She cups her cheeks whining .

Rishab bites his lower lip feeling bad . Seeing her glaring at him , Rishab cups her mouth pushing her to aside while removing the burnt one and putting another batter to the skillet . This time it comes out properly as he adds chocolate chips as toppings knowing her love for sweets .

"Hmm its Yummy" Madhu comments while moaning as the sweet falls on her taste buds.

Rishab ties his arms around his chest just gazing her enjoying and moaning in delight with her eyes half closed . She was serene and lively which made him to be chirpy in return .She makes him feel like a teenager in love watching his crush enjoy his cooking .If this what it is to be in love . He is going to fall deep , deeper and deepest in Love with her .

Seeing her on the counter with eyes closed . Rishab places a long kiss on her cheeks making her gape as he walks out of the kitchen smiling to himself .Madhu touches the place where he had just kissed as her lips curve up. Maybe He had moved on .

***

Madhu looks at the adorable couple in front of her quarrelling over 'Yes' or 'No' to throw a party . It was Madhu who had come up with the idea of throwing a party as a celebration for them being back together .

Rishab had given thumps up surprising her as she blushed lowering her head . Sultan had been grumpy as usual earning a whack from Madhu was all it needed for her to get him on track. Others had nodded happily but 'The couple of the night' are still quarrelling . Bittuji doesn't want to while Saanvi di wants to enjoy her day with the boys and girls and Finally after a long debate it gets decided they'll have a small get-together tonight .

***

Roop's face falls as She opens the door only to find Her Husband had come back after he had a fight over his employer and his job is in question right now .

Mr.Malik sulking paces to his room to freshen up and catch some sleep . He stops at the entrance of his room slowly turning his head sideway he sees Madhu's photo hung with a full smile on her face . He lets out a sad sigh as Madhu's leaving the house comes past his eyes . Was I wrong? to Let My Daughter go away? Was She really my daughter? I wish You were Madhu !

Roop sits on the couch running her two fingers on her temple . Her husband is back means? She has to act all sweet and caring Can She? And He had no job , That means We have no financial stability !

Roop sees His phone in the table pinging with a message . She gets hold of the phone as She sees a Whats-app message , Curiosity peeks through her skin as She eyes around the place to check whether anyone is coming . She gazes back to the phone opening the Whats-app message which read ;

'I Found out Where Kali Thakur is ! You still on the deal? Pay me and get the information!"

"Kali?" She mumbles and scrolls up to see her husband's message to this particular person.

Roop sees a picture of a man sent by Mr.Malik , His Name mentioned as Kali Thakur , Former Partner of A Pasty shop named 'The Rolling Pin' Last seen in 'Rosecliff Apartment in New Delhi' on the same day Anjali,Madhu's mother, died in a fire accident and since then he had vanished in the thin air. Find him I'll pay you 1 lakh

"Mama are You sure? That this Kali would be Madhu's Real Father?" Ria asks seeing Kali's picture . Now they were in Ria's room discussing about the possibilities .

"It is I am sure –See Madhu's mother was last seen in his apartment the time she died that makes sense right? She had been there loving her lover cheating her husband!" Roop says venomously .

"We are going to Find this Kali and We could make some money – We are going to get all the Money we wasted since years on that B**stard's Daughter ! And Her Days at Kundra's will end!" She says evilly smirking which is music to Ria's ears . That 'Rishab' had humiliated her too much that day!

***

Mukund is in the kitchen making Fruit punch for everyone as Trishna helps him happily . Time to time seeing through the corner of her eyes at him who looked too adorable while looking closely . Her eyes filled of his kiss and the hugs in the haunted house involuntarily a rosy tinge adorns her cheeks as she looks away .

Mukund catches her looking at him time to time and blushing but he pretends like he is blind cringing in embarrassment because of the way he behaved like a scary kid in the haunted house .

Trishna who had been staring at him blinding by mistakenly gets hold of the bottle with the red cap which was alcohol and ends up pouring it on the container . Closing the bottle she keeps it back in the place . They had already decided to make fruit punch without alcohol.

***

Everyone sit around the bonfire , Madhu had decided to do something out in the garden, Bittuji and Saanvi sit next to each other happily .

Madhu smiling walks towards them with two plates of snack in hand as she passes one to Saanvi while having the other with her. Mukund sits next to Bittuji while Trishna sits next to him in the right side . Dipali sits next to Trishna and Sultan reluctantly couches down beside her .Madhu sits next to Sultan smiling but something burns inside Rishab who pushes himself in between them making them make weird faces at him as he sheepishly smiles .

Mukund passes everyone the fruit punch . Silence fills the place as they find it awkward -as they never have been in together in a place in PEACE ! , Madhu scrunches her nose irritated and takes a sip of her fruit punch bored. Others to follow her as there is nothing else to be done .

Madhu starts giggling loudly almost finishing half of her cup but soon snorts pouting .

"I've got old lads for my trip ! My Bad!" She scoffs pointing at each of them .

"You've wanted personal time You idiot!' Madhu snaps at Muku who looks startled for a minute but chuckles .

"Then Teddy Kid over here wants to watch 'TOM and JERRY' on a Trip!" Madhu snorts air quoting 'TOM and JERRY'.

"Dare you call me that" Sultan retorts back as he finishes His drink slamming the glass on the table .

"Teddy !" Madhu teases him laughing swaying her body back and forth .

"You bloody old man took 10 years to say 'I Like You'" It was Saanvi who groans beating Bittu's forearm .

"I—I" Bittu stutters now high on alcohol .

"I Love You" Mukund shouts gaining everyone's attention as they look at him wide-eyed .

"You love whom?" Madhu asks leaning a bit forward as Mukund too leans forward the bonfire in middle of them . Trishna And Rishab and Sultan looks irked at them .

"Cinderella !" Mukund pouts "It is a Game-Let's play"

Madhu squeals clapping her hands leaning back "Let's play !" She throws her hands up in the air excited

" But how? "She sadly pouts asking

"Cinderella – It is a Korean game where you go in a circle telling the person next to you that you love them — they have to either pass it on the next person, or respond with "Get lost," at which point they reverse the order and go the other way. The goal is to say it with a straight face – without laughing ! If they end up laughing they are to face consequences "

Rishab and Sultan snort irritated hearing Mukund and his games !

"I Love You Pillock "Saanvi says with a stern face at Bittu thus starting the game .

Bittu looks startled for a minute before shying away as He turns his head to his right and says with a straight face 'I Love You Muku boy!"

Mukund angling his neck to his side says "I Love You—Fighting box!"

Trishna frowns hearing him but nevertheless tells Dipali "I Love You"

Dipali keeping a stern face mutters "I Love You", at Sultan

Sultan portraying a grave looks mutters "I Love you" to Rishab

Rishab pouts at him and turning to Madhu and says with a smile "I Love You!"

Madhu scrunches her nose and snorts "Piss off!"

Rishab's face falls as he pouts with his lower lip out and turns to Sultan thus reversing the order and says with a goofy grin itched as if to gobble Sultan down his throat "I Love You"

"F*ck I am Straight!" Sultan shouts feeling chills running down his spine seeing the way Rishab was eyeing him head to toe and scrambles towards Madhu holding her forearm "Go go find some other man- Girlfriend switch seats "

Madhu scoffs taking offense at the title "You –Why are You calling me Your girlfriend?" She groans whacking Sultan's head , "We were really never into a relationship to!"

Mukund widens his eyes horrified as this is the first time he actually learns that Madhu and Sultan never dated "You both never dated?"

Madhu shakes her head vigorously "Never ever with him , Plomise" She says pinching her neck as she blinks to clear her vision

"Why are we playing truth game now?" Sultan says scorning

"You were only an employer to me – You gave me a job!" Madhu says poking her index finger on Sultan's cheek.

Sultan pushes her finger away as He rubs his cheek pouting earning a giggle from her but soon her eyes turns red as She says kneeling front of Sultan with her hands on her hip "I can't even walk out alone ! People recognize me all because of You!" She accuses pinching his forearm as he lets out a cry

"Oh Look, That's the Psycho Who Turn down the Great Sultan!" She imitates rotating her finger around her temple – showing She is a psycho! "it's all because of you damn it! "

Sultan chuckles "That's true ! you are idiot to turn me down!"

"Does it sounds funny to you ?" Madhu cries beating his arms hardly earning an 'Ouch' from him

"It is hard to live my life as it is" Madhu adds

Rishab who was too much infuriated seeing them close . He did not know was it the alcohol or his jealousy burning him . He abruptly turns to Dipali in the idea of starting the game to stop Madhu and Sultan from their chit-chatting .

"I Love You"

Dipali jerks suddenly but composes herself as She turns to Trishna and repeats "I Love You'',

Trishna to Mukund and it ends at Bittu who shies away blushing "I love You!"

Saanvi ends up laughing loudly making Madhu sit between Sultan and Rishab and look at her.

Saanvi laughs loudly until tears stung "I can't believe that you are so shy and flushed just to say a 'I Love You'"

"You broke the rule!" Madhu chirps clapping her hands her orbs twinkling in mischievousness.

Saanvi stops laughing looking around "Oh shit I forget that's a game!" and sighs standing up

"What should I do?"

Madhu stands up walking towards Saanvi says "Kiss Bittuji!"

Saanvi chuckles "That's easy" Leaning down She pecks Bittu on his cheek who blushes and puts his face in between his palms

Others hoot and howl at Bittu seeing the Tough man shying away ,

"That's wrong!" Madhu says stamping her foot "I said a Kiss on his lips!" She whines

Saanvi giggles not in her senses pulling Bittu by his collar who widens his shocked and surprised stiffens as she places her lips on his.

"My virgin eyes!" Mukund and Trishna shout closing their eyes with their palms and sprint out of the place.

Sultan's too dashes out as Dipali sneaks out quietly .

Madhu hoots at them making them break and flush. Bittu making a quick excuse runs out of the place.

Madhu passes a tease look at Saanvi who is back to her senses blushing heavily runs behind Bittu . that gives space for Rishab and Madhu. Madhu takes another glass of drink and slumps beside Rishab .

***

Trishna tip-toes towards Mukund's room quietly to catch a glimpse of him. She sees his notebook open and the page folded at the end . She snoops in to Find him penning a song. The lyrics give her a pause :

When You talk , Without Knowing subconsciously I stare at You

When those lips curve up widely mine too moves on its own accord

When you walk forward my legs follows right behind yours

When you sing shyly I am humming along the tunes joining you

What's this ? What's happening to me? Why my eyes searches you?

I'd been never like this ! What's this?

Your Smile Your tears affects me badly

Your everything had been mine!

What's this?

Oh Heart Let me Confess ! I'll Confess Now!

Trishna been his fan for few years understands that the tone seems different – It feels more like he is pouring his heart out .

"Is he in love?" She mutters to herself quietly

"Trishna?" ,

Trishna jerks and turns around nervously but soon relaxes . Mukund is back after a shower . Saanvi's kiss had involuntarily made him sinfully think how Trishna's lips would taste- a cold shower did help him relax .

"You cannot get a girlfriend – Your Fan girls will kill you" Trishna scoffs in jealous making him smirk

"ohh not you?" , He takes a step towards her

She huffs tying her hands around her chest "Me too- Why wouldn't I?" – but soon realizes what she had spilled placing her palm over her open mouth she sprints out of the room hurriedly .

Mukund smiles seeing her as he folds the page where it reads 'Dedicated to Trishna ❤️️'

***

Dipali takes a walk outside rubbing her palms trying to get some warmth. She sees the wooden bench and Sees him there . She takes a seat beside him. Sultan does not turn his head to see her rather they look into their front .

"You remember Sultan when we used to come to the Cottage when we were kids? The Fun the laughs the teases We had oh goshh, My brother Rohan , We Three used to hang out till late night –getting chidings from my mother-remember? You and Rohan use to pull my hair making fun of my short height ! – You guys use to steal my piece of chocolate –" Dipali goes on and on about him and Rohan and her.

A small smile breaks out Sultan's face with the mention of Rohan.

"I want to go back to them", That statement makes Sultan's smile diminish as He turns his head sideway to look at her who is already staring at him.

Dipali pulls his hand to her lap and drawing a pen out of her pocket draws a smiley face on his palm .

Sultan's mind travels back to their childhood where Dipali had carved his name and hers on the same bench with a 'Heart' in middle . Then She had drawn a smiley face and they had intertwined their palms and he had snooped in and kissed her on her lips making her smile .

Clearing remembering the vague memory Dipali intertwines her fingers with his and leans in letting her eyes drop. Sultan looks at her shocked as He feels her lips on his kissing him. Sultan stiffens and tightens their hands and Kissing her back but – He pushes her slightly and springs up .

Dipali's eyes fills with his rejection as She fights her tears – Thinking he does not remember anything of them.

"You don't remember?" She asks softly having her composure

He shakes his head negatively . Sighing holding back her tears she asks him "Is it Okay with you if I date other people?",

Sultan looks at her blankly as She continues "Like –Like –Rishab?"

That gets a reaction from him as He walks away from her .

***

Rishab and Madhu lay on either sides tipsily . Rishab lets out a hiccup as he takes a sip of the drink and sits up.

"I –Lo—ve—you"

Madhu squeezes her noses and yells "Get lost!"

Rishab pouts whining making a small heart with his fingers says "I –Love—you" ,

"Piss off!"

Rishab attempts again leaning close to her making a big heart 'I-Love You"

"PISS OFF!!!!" Madhu screeches

Rishab makes giant heart pouting "I Love You!"

Madhu looks at him for a minute close as a big smile breaks out her face as She scrambles more close to him as She sniggers asking "Really?"

Rishab gazes at her intently and moving forward plants a solid kiss on her lips as her eyes goes big.

He moves back as they both chuckle together Rishab holding her hand which has her glass grasps her forward drinking from her glass half wetting his shirt .

Rishab cups her face in his palms and pulls her in for a deep kiss and moves back .

"Did you just kiss me Rat?" Rishab asks innocently

Madhu laughs throwing her head back "You kissed me!"

"Let's Do it Once more!" Rishab pulls her into his arms as She collides to his chest . Her arms lock around his neck as her eyes drops . He leans in his breath ghosting across her face as she parts her lips inviting him . He takes her upper lips in his as she works on his lower lip. He runs his tongue on the seam of her lips as she inhales a sharp long breath. Their tongues meet each other tangling as their bodies flush together making the environment more hotter and romantic. The chilly state of Shimla becomes more warmer as his hands sneaks in caressing her bare waist as she gasps letting him to dominate the kiss as they deepened .

***

Hope You guys Like It !

The Song Up is The Meaning of the Korean Song'Confession' in My Own Words