Dear Diary

THE SHELL

Madhu went to the morgue. When she reached the door. She panicked and started to run back. When her husband's voice stopped her, who was watching her from distance

"Don't you want to say goodbye to him?" RK

Madhu looked at him absentminded. She didn't know what to say or do. RK held her hand and took her inside the morgue to see her father for the last time

"No RK please don't" Madhu was begging him not to take her

"Don't worry Madhu I will be with you" RK was side hugging her and helping her to walk

RK took her close to her father's body and uncovered his face

"Say goodbye to him Madhu" RK

Madhu looked at RK with frightened eyes. She was shaking her head as no repeatedly

"No please RK. Take me home" Madhu was pleading him to take her away

"He is your father Madhu. Don't you want to see him for the last time" RK

"No he is not my father" Madhu said with cracked voice

"What?" RK couldn't understand her

"This is not my father. My father at home. This is just a patient" Madhu said almost with no voice

"No Madhu. This is your father. Touch him. He is so cold. You won't see him again. You won't talk to him again. He is gone" RK was trying to take her out of her shock

RK took her hand and put it on her father's forehead. When she felt her father ice cold. She realized that her father was dead. She screamed calling her father. RK hugged her tight

"Papaaa" Madhu was screaming

"Shush Madhu. I want you to be strong" RK was hugging her tight patting her head

"I want my Papa" Madhu was crying

"Hush please be strong. For your family. They need you" RK was hugging her tighter as if he wanted to hide her inside him to protect her from this pain

They stayed like this for minutes until she calmed down suddenly. When RK felt her crying stopped. He held her face with his hands. Wiped her tears with his thumb. Caressed her cheeks. Looked in her eyes

"Will you be strong?" RK

Madhu didn't say a word

"Come with me. Your mother needs you" RK

Madhu walked with him without any word. He took her to her mother's house. Padmini hugged Madhu and cried a lot in her arms. But Madhu didn't do or say anything. She didn't have any tears in her eyes.

"Rishabh I want you to do the entire funeral rituals. Aryan is too young to do it. And Malik considered you as his son" Padmini

"Sure mom I will do it" RK

RK took care of everything. After the funeral and everyone left. RK talked with his mother in-law

"Mom I need to ask you something" RK

"No Rishabh I can't" Padmini

"You didn't know what it is" RK

"I know. But I can't leave Malik's house" Padmini

"It will give me peace of mind. I can't leave you here alone" RK

"Please Rishabh don't force me. Every inch in this house full of his memories. I can't leave him" Padmini was crying

"As you like mom. But please think about it. Our house is very big and we are living there alone. You will be with Madhu when I got late or busy at work. It is hard for me to leave her" RK