Anatomy of Love (Complete)

Chapter 39

Rishab took the stairs to reach the first floor. He walked through the corridor and went past his room. He finally reached her room. He hoped to see her and  turned the knob of the door to open it. But to his disappointment she wasn't there. He went inside and picked up the photograph of his mother. He smiled at it.

“I miss you, Mom. I wish you were here.”
“Really?”
He heard a voice, her voice. He turned back and saw his mother standing.

Malvika looked beautiful like the time she was alive. She wore the same off white maroon border saree that she wore on the night she killed herself.

“Mom! You are alive! You are..”
Rishab said and took a step towards her. She held her hand to the front to stop him from coming closer.
“I think you are disappointed to see me alive. You hoped to see me dead like always, didn't you?”

Rishab was shocked to hear those from her.
“Mom, what are you saying? I.. I want nothing more than to see you alive. Don't you believe that? Mom, I love you. You mean the world to me.”
“Then why didn't you stop me? You let me die and now you are doing the same with your father. You are letting your father die. How could you, Rishab?”

Rishab was at a loss of words.
“He might not be a good husband or a great father. But he is still your father. His blood runs in your veins. You are the only one who can save him then why aren't you trying?”
“I am trying, Mom. Trust me.. I am.”
She shook her head and said, “No, you aren't. You want to see him dead just like you saw me. Just like this.”
She took out a gun, pointed at her temple and pulled the trigger.

Rishab could not scream, no sound came out of his throat. He sat down on the floor holding his mother. He looked up and saw Pintu, the one who had shot him years back.
“Teri maa gai, Tera baap bhi jayega aur tu bhi.”
He pulled the trigger.

Rishab opened his eyes. He looked around and found himself lying on the bed. Beside him was the open laptop and some notes. He sat up and shut down the laptop. He looked at his mother’s photograph hanging on the wall.
“I don't want to see him dead, Mom. I will not let him die so easily.” He muttered.

Just then he heard some noises coming from outside. He got out of the bed and came out of the room. He saw Khushi closing the main door after entering the apartment.

“Rishab, tum soye nahi? Wait, did I wake you up? Sorry. Go back to sleep. Good night.” She said to him.
He asked her, “You are returning home at this time. But I saw you leave early today.”
“Woh Nihar ke saath dinner pe gai thi. Then we went to a friend’s place. We were meeting after such a long time. Waqt ka pata nahi chala. Didn't realise it was this late. He dropped me home.”

“Late? Kahan? You could have spent some more time with him. Itne dino baad Jo mil rahe ho. Better, reh jati wohin. Kuch aur time spent kar leti apne friends ke saath.”
He turned to leave.
“What's with the tone of yours? You are being sarcastic. Weren't you?” She asked.

Rishab smirked, “Sarcastic? Why would I do that?”
“Rishab, are you upset that I am late?”
He gave a short laugh,“You may live in my house but I am not your guardian. You may go with whoever you want, stay at any place you like and return at any time you feel. I don't think I should be upset about it.”

“Phir aise kyun react kar rahe ho? I know you are concerned for me. That's why you brought me here. But I was with my friends, not with any strangers. Please understand and don't get angry.”

Rishab stared at her and said, “Like I said, I don't care for that. But this is my home. I need to sleep to get up early in the morning unlike you. So your late night party with your old friends is disturbing my sleep. Do you understand why I am angry? Now if you excuse me, I have to go back to sleep. Good night.”
He left and closed the bedroom door with a thud.
“Khadoos mode on hai iska..uff..”