Frolic of Stars

Part 7

Suddenly Madhu came barging into the living room.

"RK.. " she said as she stood at a distance.

"Yes Madhu.." he said without looking at her.

"I want to go home.." she said in a brisk tone.

RK looked at her confused. "Aren't we home?"

"I mean I want to go to my parent's home.." she cleared

"Why? Suddenly.." he asked even more confused.

"Its my parents' house.. I can go there whenever I want.." she said irritated.

"Sure you can.. Fine.. Let me get ready then.." he said getting up. "But Madhu we will be fast.. I dont want to spend whole of my sunday without rest.." he said.

"I want to stay there.." Madhu said in a low tone expecting his outburst.

"Stay there?!" RK exclaimed. "Like for" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes.. like for some days.." Madhu said without looking at him.

"Days!" RK said with eyes widening.

"Or weeks.." Madhu quickly extended the time period.

"Have you gone mad..? No.. you are not going anywhere.." he said stubbornly sitting back on the sofa.

Madhu knew he would pull up this drama like a kid. He was just a kid. She took in a deep breath of frustration.

"I want to meet mom and dad.. Whats your problem..?" She asked angrily.

"Yes.. I dont have a problem.. lets go there.. meet them for some time.. some hours if you wish.. but you staying there leaving me alone.. No.. Not Done!" He said strictly.

"RK.. Once you had offered me to go back if I wanted. But I didnt and so I stayed back. Now take it as if I am taking up that offer now.." she said in a cold tone.

"What happened Madhu.. you were just fine half an hour back.. did i do something? You need something? You got hurt?" He asked concerned. Madhu going away like that didnt seem a good idea to him.

"Rk.." Madhu said sitting beside him. "I am missing mom and dad too much.. Its been months since I properly met them.. I want to stay with them for sometime.. I will come back to you and you know that.." she said assuring.

"Its not that you wont come back, which is bothering me.. you going away is bothering me.. What happened suddenly? Are you hurt about something..?" He asked back equally calm.

"No.. I am not hurt.. I just want to go to them for sometime.." she said assuringly.

RK looked at her pleadingly for a few seconds but then she didnt budge and finally he had to give in.

Soon they were both driving in the car. While RK looked straight the whole drive with an evident frown on his face. Madhu decided to let that be. She just wanted to go home for now and didnt want to trigger anything that could make her stay back.

They reached Malik's house and Madhu got down. But RK still looked straight at the road ahead. Madhu opened the back door and took out her bag. She closed the door and came forward.

"Come on in.." she said.

RK looked at her angrily for a second and then started the ignition back on and drove away.

Madhu closed her eyes. She knew she had hurt him by suddenly leaving him but she had no choice for now.

She entered her house and Padmini who was cutting vegetables looked at her delighted.

"Madhu!!" She exclaimed as she got up. Running to her daughter she hugged her close. As she parted from her Madhu bent down to keep the bag on the floor.

Padmini noticed the bag and looked at her worried suddenly.

"No Mom.. Nothing is wrong.." Madhu said even before she would shoot up questions at her. "I have not left my pati parmeshwar's house.. I am just here for a few days.."

Padmini relaxed hearing her.

"See.. you are so relieved that you would be free from me in a few days. RK is better.. at least he was upset to leave me here.." She said with a frown.

Padmini laughed hearing her and also relaxed that RK was upset to leave her.

"Where is he?" She asked looking behind Madhu

"He went away.. just came to drop me off.." Madhu said quickly. She couldn't understand how she would answer if Padmini would ask why.

Just then Malik came from his room. "Ohh.. Am I seeing my princess here.." he said as he quickly came to his daughter and hugged her.

"Wow.. are you here to stay?" Malik asked looking at her bag.

Madhu looked at Padmini and flicked her head to her father. "See.. he loves me more than you.. he is so happy to have me here while you were panicking if I stayed longer.." Madhu said jokingly while Padmini smiles at them.

"Where is Rishabh?" Malik asked suddenly.

"He went off.." Madhu replied uncomfortably.

" Has he gone out of station?" Padmini asked confused.

Madhu almost thanked her mother for giving her this idea herself.

"Yes mom.. he had an important trip and couldn't leave me alone. So he dropped me here.." she quickly confirmed the story to her parents and herself too.

Malik and Padmini smiled and they all went inside.

It was evening now and Madhu was sitting in her room lost in thoughts. She didnt know what she should do. Should she be happy or sad? She remembered this morning when she was cleaning their cupboard.

Flashback
As she arranged her clothes, a packet fell on her lap. She picked up the packet of Sanitary Napkins and placed them neatly where she always kept them. Suddenly something dawned on her. She stared at the packet for a few minutes as her mind went through certain calculations. No.. She hadn't used the napkins in the last two months. Yes she was almost sure of it. Her mind again tried remembering but she couldn't remember getting her periods anytime close. Does that mean she is? Her eyes went wide at that possibility. Why not? They have been indulging in routine sex almost everyday since the last two months.
Flashback ends

She took in a deep breath as she remembered that fighting her own confusions. Suddenly she heard her door barging open. She was startled and looked at the door only to find Trishna running to her.

"Madhu!!" She screamed as she hugged her tightly.

Madhu smiled at her vaguely.

"When aunty told me you are here for a long visit.. I cant tell how happy I felt.. It would be so much fun. I have told everyone that I am staying over with you tonight.. and that's final!" She decided herself and hugged her again.

Madhu smiled at her delighted this time hearing that Trishna would be staying with her for the night. Trishna was their neighbour and Madhu's best friend since childhood. They used to share everything with each other but Madhu was confused whether she could share such a thing with her or not.

"Though I pity Jeeju.. he will have to stay away from you.." she said thoughtfully as she felt sympathy for RK.

"How much do you speak!" Madhu exclaimed both because of her actual non stop chattering and because she was talking of RK being alone that made Madhu feel guilty.

"Thats not new for you.." Trishna said shrugging.

"Come.. Padmini aunty was calling you for dinner.. nd then we will be here and then I want to talk so much with you.."

"Yeah.. right.. you talk and I listen.." Madhu said nodding her head.

Trishna giggled as they both went out of the room.