Rishabala One Shot Story Collections I

Engagement Trilogy 1 : Mohabbat Ho Na Jaye

Madhu wiped her tears as she looked out the car window as trees and buildings fled past her, seeing but not taking it in. She was still mourning her parents. They had passed away a year ago in a car accident and she was left with her uncle, Balraj. Her uncle was nice though he didn't know how to behave with her having seen her only a hand full of times before her parents passed away. So she was lonely, and then another blow came when her uncle was called away for a project in the US for a year and he had to leave immediately. He couldn't take her with him and she couldn't go anywhere else. That was when Mohan Kundra had unexpectedly called up telling them that his son was of marriageable age now and he was coming with his family to see Madhubala. On further talking Balraj found out that Mohan and Malik had promised that their children would get married once they grow up when they were of marriageable age. Madhu was shocked to realize that all these years when her father had talked about his best friend's son who had gone abroad years ago with his family would come one day to marry her was not just a joke. When Balraj had informed Mohan about Malik's death and that Balraj had to leave the country in two days and he had no idea what to do with Madhu, Mohan had instantly asked him to send Madhu home as his family has permanently shifted to India saying whether Madhu came to her house before or after marriage was not going to make any difference. And here she was on her way to her supposed sasural to marry a man she had never met but was engaged to since she was born.

Madhu feels a hand on her hair as if someone was caressing her and she turns to look at Radha Aunty who was smiling at her lovingly. Madhu smiles back at her, seeing her had brought back memories of her mother and it was making her homesick. Radha Aunty had come to pick her up from the airport. Seeing the tears on her face Radha asks worried, "Why are crying, Madhu? Are you missing your chachu?" Madhu shakes her head in no. "Then?" "Seeing you reminded me of mama." Madhu sadly tells her. Radha smiles at her "I am also your mother, right? You can call me Mom just like Rudra." "Rudra?" Madhu asks confused. "Rudra is my younger son. Your fianc." Radha explains. "Oh! You have an elder son too?" Madhu asks conversationally feeling comfortable with Radha. "Yes, Rishabh."Radha says happily, seeing the pride and joy in her Madhu understood Rishabh was his mother's favorite son. "Who all are there at home?" Madhu asks. "Just Mohan, Rishabh, Rudra and me." Radha tells her, then adds "Now you, also. I always wanted a daughter, being in a male dominated family can drive you crazy at times." Radha says laughing. Madhu smiles seeing her laugh, "What about Rishabh's wife?" Madhu asks and suddenly Radha's smile drop and she says sadly, "My Rishu is not married." Madhu being Madhu couldn't help but ask more, "Why? He is elder to Rudra right?" Radha sighs sadly, "If you don't want to tell me it is fine." Madhu says quickly seeing her sad. "No. You are family, Madhu. My Rishu had an accident when he was small and he has a..." Radha stops as she tries to control her tears and Madhu patiently waited, "a limp. And he feels that he will be a burden on his wife and has refused to marry." A limp? With that built up she was thinking impotency. What does a limp has to do with marriage? Madhu wondered but wisely decided to keep her opinion to herself.

"We are home." Radha tells her as she composed herself and smiled. Madhu looks at the palatial house and decided that the Kundra-s were definitely into over indulgence seeing the huge house where just four of them lived, the number of cars and the huge garden. Radha and Madhu walks into the house where Mohan and Rudra () were waiting to welcome her home. Mohan happily hugs her and welcomes her home while Rudra politely smiles at her and quickly leaves after the introductions are made. Radha shows Madhu to her room. After settling down, Madhu joins Radha and Patil in the kitchen as they cooked. Once all the cooking was done, Radha goes to take her afternoon nap asking Madhu also to rest. Being alone at home as all the men have gone to office, Madhu wanders around the house trying to get acquainted with all the turns and ways in the house. After wandering around the house for a while Madhu decides to go out for fresh air and goes to the garden. She was sitting in the garden when she heard a manly voice say her name, "Madhubla." Madhu turns back and finds a young handsome man standing behind her with a gentle smile on his face. Seeing the cane in his hand, Madhu knew instantly that this was Rishabh. With a face like that who bothers about a stupid limp? Madhu wonders. "I am Rishabh Kundra." Rishabh tells her. "I guessed." Madhu says. "How?" Rishabh asks in a chilling tone as he evenly looked in her eyes, challenging her to tell him about his limp. Seeing his look Madhu realized he was challenging her. "I met everyone else. Only you were left." Madhu replies and he nods his head. And Madhu being Madhu couldn't help but open her big mouth and say "And you have a cane, sir." Rishabh looks at her in shock; no one had ever dared to talk to him about his handicap. If they saw the cane they ignored it and here this mere girl was looking him in the eye and reminding him that he has a cane! He wondered why he was not angry but impressed with this girl and her audacity. "That also helped in guessing your identity." Madhu adds looking him in the eye. He liked her. Rishabh breaks out into a smile and says, "Welcome home, Madhubala." "Madhu." Madhu corrects him, "What's wrong in Madhubala?" Rishabh asks. "Nothing just that outdated name should have been outlawed centuries ago." Madhu mutters. Rishabh bursts out laughing and once he calms down he says "Madhubala, it is then." Rishabh says with a naughty glint in his eyes. "I don't like that name, sir." Madhu tells him. "I like it. And please don't call me sir; you can call me Rishabh or Rishu." "Oh please don't think I was calling you sir out of respect. I was being sarcastic and defiant." Madhu says. "Good thing you told me, otherwise I would have never realized it." Rishabh tells her laughing again. She frowns at him not liking he was making fun of her.