Lakshmi got up late the next morning, and her head was pounding. She felt extremely weak..and it took some effort to open her eyes and register that she was in her bed. She slowly got up to go to the loo, when her foggy brain registered that she was not wearing anything other than the loose t-shirt. Panick surged through her. What happened yesterday? Who changed her clothes? She tried putting pressure on her brain, but the last thing she remembered was Rishi rushing towards her while she was feeling dizzy. After that, everything was blank
"Oh God!" Lakshmi covered her face in shame " Did Rishi change my clothes? Oh my God! I would rather die! No..he wouldn't do this to me..oh please God..let this be false"
Lakshmi was busy cursing her luck, when Padma, the house help entered the room with her breakfast and medicine.
Lakshmi immediately went back into her duvet to cover herself.
Padma told her that she had high fever yesterday, and everyone was so worried for her, especially Rishi sir.
Lakshmi hesitantly " Were you here yesterday? Who changed my clothes? What happened yesterday?"
Padma "Why? Don't you remember anything? I changed your clothes ..but you are so heavy, I was not able to change it completely, so i just made you wear a loose tshirt. How are you feeling now?
Lakshmi, now relieved, was already feeling much better now. She ate her medicine, had her breakfast, took a quick bath, and then decided to rest again.
Meanwhile, Rishi, who was outside the room for the whole while, heaved a sign of relief. She doesn't remember anything. He doesn't know why he felt a bit disappointed that she doesn't remember the magical moments which they had shared. However, the rationale part of his brain said that he should thank his stars that Lakshmi doesn't remember anything, or she would have killed him. When Padma came out of the room, he thanked her for lying for him. He didn't want Lakshmi to panic, so he had convinced Padma to lie for him.
It was evening when the whole family returned, and so did Malishka. Lakshmi came out too, and joined them for dinner. As usual, she started serving food to everyone on the table, when Rishi asked her to sit and eat as she was unwell yesterday. Malishka felt a jealousy surge in her, she was unwell too, but Rishi hardly cared for her.
Lakshmi sat on the opposite side of Rishi. Initially, Rishi was vehemently trying to avoid looking at Lakshmi, as their intimacy from yesterday night came flooding back to him, and he could feel his cheeks burn. Lakshmi was wearing a light blue chikankari kurta with white dupatta, which was very simple, but to Rishi, she looked ethereal. He stole glances at her while she was talking to Ayush who sat next to her, and couldn't help but smile at her simplicity. His eyes were drawn to her lips, and flashes of the kiss came rushing back to him
Meanwhile, Malishka noticed that Rishi was looking admirigly towards Lakshmi. She could never make out what was in her that made Rishi like her, to her, Lakshmi was just a plain Jane.
Lakshmi's phone rang and Varun's name flashed on the screen. Rishi saw this, and he felt anger surge through him, while Malishka felt happy realising Lakshmi was talking to Varun, and soon her problem would get solved as Varun was the one for Lakshmi.
Lakshmi picked the call, told Varun that she will call him later, and realised Rishi was holding the fork as if he will kill someone with it. She looked at him puzzled, and Rishi controlled his emotions, and got busy with his food.
"Arre Lakshmi, what is that mark on your collar" Malishka exclaimed, noticing the mark when her dupatta slipped.
Rishi felt a current zap thorough him. The mark has become purplish, and unknowingly, a blush crept on his face remebering the events from yesterday. Lakshmi touched the mark with her hand and exclaimed innocently " Even i don't remember how did I get this..seems like an insect bite to me"
Malishka smiled and murmured to Rishi "Lakshmi is lying..it's clearly a love bite..seems like Varun is getting quite close to her, I am glad things are moving in the right direction for them. Your wish is getting fulfilled. Varun will take care of her."
Rishi hands clenched thinking of Varun close to Lakshmi as he was with her yesterday. The message flashed in his mind. What if she says yes to Varun. He need to do something, fast!
Lakshmi and Rishi both got up at the same time, and while going back to their rooms, they collided with each other in the common area , and fell down, with Rishi on top of Lakshmi. Sudden images flashed in front of Lakshmi, Rishi on top of her, his hands inside her t-shirt and her words "I love you Rishi" echoed in her ears, and her eyes mirrored the realisation. Rishi realised that Lakshmi's remembered something from yesterday, and panicked. Before he could say something, Lakshmi got up and rushed towards her room, crying.
Rishi rushed to her room, and before she could shut the door on his face, he entered the room. Lakshmi was howling now, and was punching Rishi's chest, with her small fists.
"How can you do this to me? What is wrong with you Rishi? Did we sleep together yesterday? Did we do it? Oh my God!! What will happen now? Will i get pregnant? Oh my God! In few months, our fake relationship will be over, and then you will throw me out of your life. Hey matarani! What will I do now..no one will accept me now..how can I let it happen! What will happen if I have a baby..you will happily marry Malishka..while i will be a single mother..hey bhagwan, what do I do now?
Lakshmi was now hyperventilating due to the stress.
Rishi held Lakshmi by her shoulders, and jolted her out of her monologue.
Lakshmi, listen to me, please listen to me, stop crying, and stop thinking of the worst. I know I broke your trust, and I know I have hurt you immensely..but I am not that bad a person that i will sleep with you when you were not in senses. I know I got carried away for few minutes, and we did kiss and touched each other, but we didn't do that. I am sorry, i shouldn't have even kissed you, i don't know what happened to me, I was just not able to resist the temptations. I promise, we didn't do anything which can make you pregnant. Please believe me.
Lakshmi, still crying, pushed Rishi's hands away, and sat down on the floor, dejected.
Rishi sat next to her, not knowing what to say.
Next few minutes went like this in silence, Lakshmi sobbing and Rishi sitting guilty.
Lakshmi: What will I say to Varun?
Rishi: Why do you need to talk about this to Varun?
Lakshmi (exhausparated): He wants to marry me..he should know this
Rishi (now angry): Do you want to marry him too?
Lakshmi ( looking the other way) He is a good guy, he was my baujee's choice, and you also said, that it was fate that we met again.
Rishi now pulled Lakshmi close to him in anger "I asked, do you want to marry him too? Do you love him"
Lakshmi (smirking) You know it well Rishi Oberoi that I love you...I would never have let any guy come so close to me if I was not in love with him..you know it well..but how does it make a difference.. I know you love Malishka and yesterday was just a mistake for you
Rishi (angry): Don't decide what it was for me on your own. I regret that what happened between us, was in a state when you were not in complete senses..but that is it. I don't regret anything else. And you give such huge moral lessons, how can you marry Varun when you are in love with me.
Lakshmi ( tears in her eyes): one sided love is not love Rishi. What do you want me to do? Stay alone, pining for you, for my whole life? I know you don't feel the same for me. The chapter closes here.
What happened between us should not have happened. This could spoil your relationship with Malishka, and I don't want that. Let's just forget it and move on. We don't say a word about it to anyone. I will say yes to Varun for the wedding, and i get away from you as soon as your markesh dosh period ends in two months.
Rishi (angry, sad): Don't do this Lakshmi. Don't say yes to Varun in a pressure to get away from me. Think it through..this is about your whole life. And I think I should be honest with Malishka...she has the right to know
Lakshmi: nahi Rishi..tumhe mere Kasam.. you don't say a word about it. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened, but now that it has, let us just forget it like a bad dream. And now, you should go, Malishka would be looking for you.
Rishi came out of the room, dejected.
Rishi (tears in his eyes) It was not a bad dream for me, it was the best moments of my life. I wish I could tell you this..but i know I have broken your heart so bad, you will never believe me.
