"She is sleeping but you can still meet her. When you are ready to meet her, let me know." Dr. Shergill informed Rishabh in a gentle tone. But Rishabh was not listening to all that, he was silently looking at the letter as he tried to read it, he wanted to read it but the tears were clouding his eyes and he couldn't see anything. The more he tried to focus the more blurred his vision got, suddenly his eyes picked up one word, a name, Madhubala, the one name that had changed his life completely, that name which gave him a new meaning to his life, gave him a life, happiness and sorrow. Madhubala.
Few months back.
Rishabh walked with his head buried in the new patient's report. A new patient Madhubala Malik had been admitted in their hospital diagnosed with brain tumor. He being the best surgeon had been assigned her case. Her operation was to take place the next week although the report mentioned that an operation had only 30% chances of her surviving it, Rishabh as usual shunned it. He always believed that everyone had a 100% chance of surviving as long as one believed in oneself, his doctor and above all his God.
Rishabh looked up and noticed that he was in front of Room no 305, Madhubala Malik's room. He decided to meet his new patient and gently knocked on the door. The door was opened by an elderly man who looked older than what he actually was. "Hello, I'm Dr. Rishabh Kundra." Rishabh introduced himself. "Come in, doctor. I'm Shamsher Malik, Madhubala's father." Shamsher Malik introduced himself as he made way for Rishabh to enter. Rishabh smiles at him as he walked in to see Madhubala Malik who was lying on the bed smiling at him. "Hello doctor." she wishes him cheerfully. "Hello Ms. Malik." Rishabh greets her back and starts the routine check ups and questions. Once everything was done, he takes her chart and starts entering his inputs in it "Everything looks good." Rishabh says his usual line. "Thank you." Madhubala suddenly says making Rishabh look up at her, "But I should tell you, I lost some weight before that I was not just good but a hot babe." As Rishabh looks at her shocked and confused he hears Shamsher calling Madhubala's name in an admonishing way and she winks at her father cheekily. "So... Dr. Kundra, are you married?" Madhubala asks him in flirty tone. "No." Rishabh replies as he went back to the chart. "Nice... any girlfriends?" Madhubala asks him again, Rishabh looks up at her frowning "What does all that have to do with your treatment?" "Hmmm no I guess." Madhubala answers her question thoughtfully then suddenly frowning she asks "You don't have any boyfriends too right?" "MADHUBALA!" Shamsher softly shouts at her. Madhubala grins at her father once again and then turns to Rishabh "So?" "No!" Rishabh grits out. "Nice... nice. I like it." Madhubala replies all impressed. "Are you hitting on me?" Rishabh asks with a frown in a soft whisper so her father doesn't hear him. "Ah! A man who is handsome, successful and intelligent. That is some combination." Rishabh simply shakes his head and starts getting up. "You are leaving?" Madhubala asks with a pout. "I can't stay here forever." Rishabh replies. "How I wish you could." Madhubala says in fake shyness. "But once your operation is over you'll go back home then what will I do staying here forever?" Rishabh asks back in a way trying to give her hope that she'll survive. Suddenly as if sobering up she replies seriously "Who knows what fate holds for them? For me, life is this moment. So live it to the fullest without a care of what happens the next moment," Rishabh didn't know what to say to that, and then he simply says "That is a nice outlook to life. I've to go now, will see you later." Rishabh says as he starts to walk out. "Please do keep coming, I would like to have you around more often." Madhubala says jovially. "I've other patients Ms.Malik." Rishabh replies. "Prettier than me? Mister, I'm THE hot babe." Madhubala says as if reminding him. Rishabh turns to her and then grins at her, "Well there is one Sahasra who beats you to *showing her a pinch* this much." "hmph!" he hears Madhubala. Chuckling Rishabh walks out as he was about to close the door Shamsher appears at the door and walks out gently closing the door "Sorry doctor, she was never like this. She used to be a very quiet child but ever since she found out of her illness she is like this, very outspoken." "That's okay Mr. Malik. The medicines can make some people talkative." Rishabh says with a smile as he brushed away the apology. "How is she?" Shamsher asks him. "She will survive right?" he asks eagerly. "I've full faith." Rishabh tells Shamsher with a reassuring smile.
Next day when Rishabh went in to check on Madhubala even before he could greet her, she told him "Sahasra is indeed prettier than me." "You went looking for her?" Rishabh asks her shocked. "Of course I wanted to see who my competition was." Madhubala replies. "What competition?" Rishabh asks chuckling as he took her chart, "For your attention." Madhubala says rolling her eyes. Rishabh looks at her shocked yet again this girl manages to surprise or rather shock him all the time. "Stop glaring at me, Papa." Madhubala tells her father then turning back her attention to Rishabh she asks "You didn't think I was joking yesterday did you?" when Rishabh doesn't reply to that Madhubala continues "I don't have much days left for me to joke around like that." "MADHUBALA! I have told you not to talk like that." Shamsher angrily scolds her. "I do believe that you just insulted me Ms. Malik." Rishabh says in a dangerously low tone. "Sorry Papa." Madhubala calls out then turning to Rishabh she asks "Insulted you?" "Of course, you just implied that I might won't be able to help you recover." "Oh that. One has to look at all eventualities." "I can't help you as long as you don't trust me, Ms.Malik." "I do trust you, it is just tomorrow that I don't trust. Tomorrow might just decide to come without Me." then turning to look at her father she makes an i-am-sorry face. "If you trust me, then trust me to make you face every tomorrow." "And face every Sahasra." Madhubala adds chuckling. Rishabh decides it was no use talking to her when she had her mind set on her dying as inevitable, though she has courage and he will give that to her. Her ability to smile through all this surely has gained his respect. He disliked those people who cried living and cried dying; in short neither did they live nor die happily. "Oh by the way, am I glad or what that Sahasra is getting discharged today. That kid did give me a sleepless night." Madhubala says relived. "I'll miss Sassy." Rishabh says thinking about the bubbly four years old. "You have a pet name for her?" Madhubala asks raising an eye brow. "Of course, she was the prettiest girl I've ever seen." Rishabh replies back smiling. "I should have met you before I lost my weight." Madhubala says in mock anger. Rishabh laughs hearing that and starts checking her pulse "I'm sorry if you got upset with me before." Madhubala says in a soft whisper, before Rishabh could react to that she was back to her naughty self "Now that Sassy is leaving, and I'll become the prettiest girl in this hospital shouldn't you be keeping me a pet name?" "You are crazy!" Rishabh says laughing. "Cute, but don't you think it is pretty long for a pet name? But it is your call; you are the one who is going to be calling me that." Madhubala asks with a thoughtful look while Rishabh looks at her as if she is really crazy. "Stop it, Madhubala." Shamsher says. "Come on, Papa. It is so boring out here." Madhubala replies then looking at Rishabh she adds "Of course, present company excluded." "Of course." Rishabh replies chuckling.
"Hello Rishabh!" Madhubala greets Rishabh as he walked into her room the next day with the nurse following him. Frowning at her Rishabh says "I do believe it is Dr. Kundra, Ms.Malik." "After all that happened between us yesterday I believe it is just Rishabh and Madhubala." Madhubala replies grinning. "All that happened between us? What happened between us?" Rishabh asks a little worried realizing the nurse's presence there. "As if you don't remember." Madhubala says shyly. Rishabh turns to look at Shamsher Malik for help and looks like he has given upon his daughter's behavior if the way he simply shrugged was any indication. "And who do we have here?" Madhubala asks frowning looking at the shocked nurse. "Were you scared to come alone?" Madhubala asks Rishabh teasingly. "No, she always comes with me for the rounds." Rishabh explains deciding not to have anymore discussion on Madhubala's previous talk. "She was not here yesterday or the day before." "She had an emergency yesterday and the day before I was not here on rounds." Rishabh explains. "So is she going to be here everyday from now on?" Madhubala asks with a frown. "Yes." Rishabh replies grinning. "UFF!!! As if Papa was not a kabab mein haddi already, we have another one." "WHAT?" Shamsher looks at her shocked and scandalized. "I do love you, Papa but you do come in Rishabh's and my way." Madhubala says fake shyness though she looked like she will burst out laughing any minute now especially after the nurse started coughing so much. "Stop it." Rishabh gently instructed her turning a little pink. "Alright." Madhubala concedes making Rishabh suspicious quickly she was not the one to quit so soon "So..." Madhubala says as she turns to look at the nurse and Rishabh knew that he was going to be royally embarrassed now. "Do you always accompany Rishabh in his rounds?" "Yes." the nurse replied to her as she went on about her duties. Madhubala sigh dramatically making Rishabh frown even more "What I wouldn't give to be in your place. Walking with Rishabh all the time, everyday." Hearing that and seeing the nurse's reaction Rishabh wanted to dig up a hole and hide in there but before that he wanted to kill Madhubala Malik. "Do you want to exchange place with me? You can lie in this bed all day while Rishabh and I go around looking in on other patients and spend time with each other." Madhubala says going dreamy. Suddenly Rishabh realized how lifeless and empty Madhubala felt her life was, enclosed in this room confined to this bed, though she was allowed to walk for a while it was not much. For a girl who wanted to live her every moment to the fullest this was a big torture. Her only entertainment was his visits; an image of her lying on her bed looking at the clock waiting for him to come flashed in his mind, that one image had filled his heart with so much pain and joy at the same time; of what pain and joy he didn't know. Rishabh turns to look at her and sees her watching him. "Stop dreaming of Sassy, she might have forgotten you already." Madhubala advices him then with a flashy smile she says "Instead think of me, I'll never forget you." Grinning Rishabh replies "Sassy will never forget me nor will I ever forget her." "So you think. You still haven't seen all of my charms! I do wish you had seen me before I lost my weight." "Stop fretting over your weight you look just fine to me." Rishabh says as he gets up to leave "WOW Rishabh! I do believe that my charms are starting to work on you and you are starting to forget Sassy." "Dream on!" Rishabh replies and was about to walk off when Madhubala holds his hand and pulls his closer to her and when he was near her she whispers into his ears "Don't bring her tomorrow." Rishabh knew she was talking about the nurse, without replying to her and ignoring both Shamsher and the nurse's face he walks out.
Next day, Rishabh during his rounds decided to check on Madhubala at last so he could spend more time with her, and the only reason for that was because he wanted to give her company and nothing else or he tried to tell himself that. Right before going to Madhubala's room Rishabh had dismissed the nurse knowing full well that very soon there would be gossips regarding Madhubala and him but he didn't care, if this could bring a smile on Madhubala's face then it was worth it. The moment he walked into Madhubala's room he heard her angry accusation "You are late!" she did wait for him everyday. Rishabh smiles at her seeing her frowning at him. "When Sassy frowns it makes her even cuter but when you frown it makes you down right ugly." For a moment Madhubala looked speechless then grinning she asks him "And when I'm not frowning?" "Pretty but nowhere around Sassy." "At least I'm second best." Madhubala says laughing. Is it him or Madhubala was really the most beautiful girl he has ever met?
Rishabh started looking forward to meeting Madhubala everyday, in spite of all the rumors floating around about them they had become good friends always teasing and pulling each other's leg and Madhubala blatantly flirting with him as Shamsher Malik like usual remained a mute spectator to all this. Everything was going great, Madhubala was responding to the treatments even better. Two days before her operation Rishabh had as usual walked into her room but unlike usual she was silent and looked forlorn and where was Shamsher Malik? "Hey... is everything alright?" Rishabh asks her concerned. "Yes." Madhubala replies still upset. "No it is not, what is it?" "Why do you care? It is not like it is your duty to keep me happy." Madhubala replies irritated. "Yes it is. I'm your doctor and it is my responsibility to keep my patients happy and take care of all their problems." Rishabh replies adamantly. Smiling at him Madhubala replies victoriously "That settles it then, pick me up at 7 today." "Huh? Pick you up? " "Of course, for the date!" "Date?" Rishabh asks shocked. "You see, I have never been on a date, and my dream date is on the beach at night, and I wanted to go on a date today so badly and that was my problem. Now you have to solve it for me like you said it is your responsibility." Rishabh looks at her suspiciously "You planned all this, didn't you?" "Yes. And we are going for the date, I already talked to Papa about it and he agreed incase you were wondering." Madhubala says. "I can get into shit if I do that." Rishabh tells her. "A dream date with a hot babe like me is worth it, right?" Madhubala asks. Ignoring her Rishabh continues his work, and once done he gets up to leave without lingering over to talk to her like he usually does as he was about to open the door he turns to her and reminds her "Be ready at 7, I hate waiting." With a smile he closed the door hearing her squeal excitedly.
Madhubala shrieks in shock "You did a striptease at a bar? And that too for a bet?" "Yup!" Rishabh replies a little proudly. "Strip for me!" Madhubala says excitedly. "What?" Rishabh asks shocked even more shocked that he is shocked, he shouldn't expect anything else from Madhubala Malik. "Come on, Rishabh. Strip. Show it all." Madhubala says in a flirty drawl. "No." Rishabh says as he starts to walk again. "If you want we'll have a bet. If bet is what requires for you to shed your clothes." Madhubala says. Rishabh looks at her then looks around to see if anyone was around then grinning he starts to unbutton his shirt and seeing that Madhubala's eyes widen and she starts grinning broadly. "Naah!" Rishabh says as he leaves the button on and turns and walks off. "HMPH! You are so cruel Rishabh. Giving me false hope!" Madhubala pouts and she walks behind him complaining. Rishabh turns back and smiles at her hearing her complain. "Haayi main mar jawa!" Madhubala sighs seeing his smile. Rishabh chuckles "You are so crazy! Now tell me what the wildest thing you have ever done is?" "Rishabh asks her. "Hmmm... wildest? Hmmm flirting with you." Madhubala replies. "Flirting with me? Come on! I won't believe it. I know you would have done something more sinister than me." Rishabh says shocked. "Tell me!" Rishabh urges her as he held her hand and pulled her closer. "Seriously Rishabh. I was always this quiet girl, who was always studying. I spend my whole life with a book or rather my life went on and I never realized it. And now when I realize what I have missed out on and want to live my life it is slipping away." Madhubala says suddenly getting depressed. "I've told you not to talk like that and to trust me." Rishabh says getting a little angry. "Please Rishabh, instead of as my doctor... or a doctor, just listen to me as a friend." Madhubala implores. "I'm telling you as a friend." Rishabh argues. "Then listen to what I've to say." Madhubala says with a serene smile. "I don't want to hear if it is about death." Rishabh says pissed. Wrapping her arms around his arm Madhubala moves closer to him and asks him "haven't you heard the phrase tomorrow is just a dream?" Rishabh looks at her thoughtfully. "I have always heard that phrase but when I realized the meaning of it my life is on the hanging." "You can survive, Madhubala. And you will." "Maybe I'll. Maybe I won't." Madhubala says seeing Rishabh getting angry she rushes to continue "For all you know I'll be cured only to fall down the stairs and die the next day. I could drown in the sea in a few minutes. You don't know what life holds for you." "Madhubala you should always..." Madhubala cuts him off "There are a lot of things I want to do. I want to finish my studies, I want to work, I want to earn my first salary, I want to get married, I want to have babies, I want to watch them grow, I want them to be such brats that I will be always pulling out my hair and blaming my husband for spoiling them rotten. Then there are a lot more things I want." Madhubala says a little sadly. "It'll happen Madhubala." Rishabh gently tells her. "I don't know, Rishabh. Even if none of these happen it is fine, I just wish I could give someone else instead of me for my Papa and all those people who love me. Papa loves me a lot, his life revolves around me, and then there are some who loves me like crazy." Then with a mysterious smile she continues looking into Rishabh's eyes "and those who doesn't even realize what I mean to them." "You will be there for them, so why do they need someone else?" Rishabh asks really not liking the way she is talking, her talks on dying was really disturbing him. Seeing how disturbed Rishabh was getting with the talk, Madhubala decides to change subject. "Enough of the talks let's eat cotton candy."
"Buy just one." Madhubala says. "Even I want." Rishabh replies frowning. "We'll share one." Madhubala replies then adds frowning "You know, you just look romantic, you are not really romantic." Hearing that Rishabh starts grinning "If I turn on my charms you'll be a puddle on the floor." "Don't bet on that it is not floor but sand." Madhubala replies grinning. Before Rishabh could say anything Madhubala put the cotton candy near his mouth and he started biting into it and standing on her toes Madhubala started eating from the other side. Rishabh's heart started beating faster. Rishabh holds the candy stick and without even realizing his thumb started gently brushing over Madhubala's fingers as they got lost in each other's eyes. As the candy started getting over Rishabh's heart started beating that much faster. Suddenly his lips brushed against her and they both stilled for a second. Rishabh was tempted he wanted to kiss her and he was going to give in to his temptations when a voice screamed in his head she is your patient. And he quickly moved away. Realizing what was going inside Rishabh's head Madhubala smiles and throws away the candy stick and says as if nothing happened "That was fun!"
Again Rishabh and Madhubala were talking, teasing and laughing. "Thank you so much for this date, Rishabh." Madhubala says as they walked back to Rishabh's car. "I should thank you for tricking me into this date." Rishabh grins back at her. "Then you are welcome." Madhubala laughs. Rishabh smiles at her and opens the door for her, Madhubala suddenly turns to look at him and gently says his name "Rishabh. "Yea.." and he was cut off by her lips. Forgetting that she was his patient, that they were in the open, Rishabh pulled her close to him and started kissing her back in equal passion.
Rishabh gently rubs away the tears that spilled from her eyes. "Rishabh, I was depressed. I was bored. I was defeated having all the colors and dreams snatched away from me, and then you came into my life. You were an entertainment for me, time pass, something to look forward to in my dull life, you were this fresh air I desperately needed, that fun I needed, I liked teasing you, loved it when you used to get shocked at what I say, even after you left the smile you brought on my face and the smile I brought on your face stayed with me. I don't even know when those jokes and teasing turned to..." and she stops looking into his eyes. "Turned to?" Rishabh asks in a whisper wanting to know what it was. Madhubala again smiles in that mysterious way "I think it is better to leave a few things unsaid." Rishabh looks at her disappointed. Suddenly laughing Madhubala asks him "Aren't you going to thank me for tricking you into kissing this sexy babe?" Rishabh looks at her shocked and then realizes that the moment whatever that moment was was gone. "I don't see any sexy babe around. And I definitely didn't kiss any sexy babe." Rishabh says laughing. "I should have met you before I lost my weight." Madhubala mutters as she got inside the car.
The next day, both Rishabh and Madhubala didn't interact much both lost in thoughts and tensed about things. Both of them were aware of the gossips about them around in the hospital, adding to the old ones making rounds was the one about their date. It was now common knowledge that Dr. Kundra had taken Madhubala Malik out the previous night after taking special permission from the hospital authorities and coming back late in the end. Rishabh and Madhubala chose to ignore these removes and giggles around, and neither talked about it. The day before the operation Rishabh had talked to Shamsher Malik for a long time briefing in him on about the operation once again and all the procedures and out comes. Rishabh was more than confident that Madhubala will survive, and Shamsher was hopeful after his talk with Rishabh. Rishabh had noticed that Shamsher Malik had dropped his usual way of addressing Rishabh from Dr. Kundra to beta. Rishabh neither comment on that nor asked Shamsher to stop it because it somehow felt nice.
Day of the operation.
Rishabh looked at his mobile as it continued to ring. Rishabh continued to ignore it as he tried to understand what had happened. This was not his first operation then what had happened? Why had he got scared like that? Why did he feel that it was not Madhubala but him there on the table? Why did he feel his life was in danger? When he had watched them going to make an incision on Madhubala's skull he had gone crazy and he had pushed away that person ordering them to stay away from his Madhubala and then when they had questioned him about what was wrong he didn't have any answer. In the end he had ran away from the OT like a coward. Leaving Madhubala there. He had abandoned Madhubala. Rishabh thought as a tear dropped down. Rishabh wondered what had happened and why it had happened.
Hours later, Rishabh walked into Madhubala's room and found her lying on the bed smiling at him. Rishabh silently went near her not looking at her face. "Sit here." Madhubala gently says as she patted on the bed. Rishabh sits there still not able to look at her. "What happened?" Madhubala asks keeping her hand on his shoulder. The moment she touched him, Rishabh loses it and turning to face her he hugs her and bursts out crying. "I couldn't." cupping his face in her hands she makes him look at her, gently kissing him on his lips Madhubala whispers "I love you." "I love you, Madhubala." Rishabh says hugging her. "I am sorry, Madhubala. I can't. My hands will shake. I won't be able to operate on you." Rishabh tells crying. "I know, Rishabh. I knew it before itself." Madhubala replies as she soothed him.
"Excuse me Dr. Kundra." A nurse said as she opened the door and walked in worriedly. Rishabh and Madhubala break out of the hug and Rishabh quickly wipes of his tears. "Dr. Gupta is calling you. He asked you to meet him right now." "Okay." Rishabh replies and then looks at Madhubala "I've to go." "Don't worry everything is going to be fine." Madhubala replies smiling. Hesitantly smiling back at her Rishabh leaves.
Rishabh walked into Dr. Gupta's room to find Shamsher Malik with him. Rishabh looks down as he couldn't look at both of them. One he had promised to save his daughter and other was his professor; he had let down both the men. "What the hell happened in the OT today, Dr. Kundra?" Dr. Gupta asks angrily. Rishabh remains quiet. "This action of yours could have ruined our hospital's reputation and it could have ruined your whole career. Luckily for you and us, Mr. Malik and Ms. Malik have decided not to complaint against you." Dr. Gupta lashes out at him. Rishabh turns to look at Shamsher and says softly "I'm sorry." In reply Shamsher gives him a sad smile then turning to Dr. Gupta Shamsher says "Can I speak to Dr. Kundra alone?" "Sure. Dr. Kundra see me after that, and from now on I'll be handling Ms. Malik's case." Dr. Gupta curtly informs him.
Rishabh and Shamsher were walking in the garden silently. After a while Shamsher starts "Madhubala knew that you won't be able to operate her. She said that is the reason she agreed for the operation." "What?" "She hadn't agreed for the operation till two days back." Shamsher tells him. "I didn't know that." Rishabh replies shocked he had always assumed that Madhubala had come here for the operation. "She came here to appease me but had never agreed for the operation. She never wanted to have the operation she feared that she might die on the operation table." "She will survive." Rishabh says desperately. "I want her to, but I'm her father and if she doesn't I want her last days to be filled with happiness." Shamsher says tearfully. "I want to fulfill all her dreams, and now she has only one. And that is you." Shamsher says looking at Rishabh, "I know you also love her and today she told me that she wants to marry you and she won't agree for the operation." "I'll marry her but not now after she is cured because I know she will be cured. Dr. Gupta is my professor, he will save her." Rishabh promises Shamsher. "She asked me to give her two months of her life, so she can live with you and then she will happily agree for the operation and not before that." "Two months?" Rishabh asks shocked "As the time passes her condition will get more complicated and critical. I love her and also as her doctor I can't let that happen." Rishabh argues. "I am not a doctor, Rishabh, I am just a father who wants his daughter to live and die happily. She told me that if anything happens to her before her marriage then she won't die peacefully." Rishabh looks at Shamsher helplessly then finally says "Madhubala and I'll get married today if she wants it but her operation will happen as soon as possible." "She didn't agree to it when I told her that, she said that she wanted to live with you forever so at least allow her two months." "How can I do that?" Rishabh asks Shamsher desperately. Folding his hands in front of Rishabh Shamsher begs "All I'm asking is to grant my daughter two months of her life, please I want her to be happy." Rishabh holds Shamsher's hand and with eyes filled with tears he gives in.
A while later Rishabh was sitting in Dr. Gupta's room having told his professor everything including this marriage to Madhubala and apologized for forgetting the code of patient-doctor relation and getting close to a patient Rishabh was feeling much better and now he silently waited for his professor to say something. "When I heard of the rumors about you and her then itself I should have warned you then maybe none of this would have happened and you wouldn't have even got close to a dying girl." "She is not dying." Rishabh angrily says the very thought of a life without her was killing. Sighing sadly Dr. Gupta says "She has very little chances of surviving Rishabh." "Everybody has 100% chances of surviving." Rishabh argues. "That is the optimistic doctor in you speaking. Ms Malik has only 30% chances of surviving. And as a father I can understand why Mr. Malik wants you to marry her but you are like a son to me and I don't want you marrying her she doesn't have much time." "She will live, and I'll only marry her because I can't love anyone else." Rishabh says firmly. Accepting defeat Dr. Gupta changes the subject "Whole hospital knows what had happened in the OT, and I'm helpless and I've to take action against. You are one of the most promising surgeons and I don't want you to have any black marks, so I am not suspending you but you will have to take compulsory leave for 15 days." "What about my patients?" Rishabh asks shocked. "Other doctors will take over the urgent cases. Don't worry about them they'll all be fine." Dr. Gupta reassures Rishabh. Nodding his head Rishabh leaves from there.
After meeting each of his patients to personally inform them about the change in doctor and reassuring them that they were in safe hands Rishabh had gone to meet Madhubala. Rishabh was now in clearer state of mind and he was determined to make Madhubala understand that she had to go through her operation as soon as possible. But he had never realized how stubborn Madhubala can be. In the end Rishabh had declared that they were getting married the very next day and end of two months she was coming back to the hospital for operation. Next day morning, Rishabh had come back to the hospital and spent about an hour talking to Dr. Gupta regarding Madhubala's health and then another hour getting a thorough check up on Madhubala done. In the afternoon in the temple they had a simple wedding with just Shamsher and Dr. Gupta as the witness. After the wedding, Shamsher along with Madhubala moved into Rishabh's house. Rishabh had no family so he used to stay alone. The moment they reached home after the grahapravesh Rishabh had put Madhubala on the bed and ordered her to rest. Madhubala being tired after all the excitement of the day had slept off only to wake up at 8 in the evening. The moment Madhubala woke up, Rishabh had fed her dinner and told her to go back to their bedroom.
Rishabh walked in to find Madhubala crouched over her suitcase. "What are you doing, Madhubala?" Rishabh asks her as he hurried towards her. "I was getting my medicines." Madhubala replies. "I was coming for that right?" Rishabh gently scolds her and then gets her medicine bag from her suitcase and gives her medicines. "I thought I shouldn't get used to you giving me medicines so when you go to hospital I might forget to take it. So I thought I should get into the routine of taking my medicines." Madhubala explains and Rishabh nods hearing her. "Which one is this?" Madhubala asks frowning seeing the new medicine. Already the medicines that she was taking were making her drowsy half the time and she didn't want to add more to it. "Birth control pill." Rishabh explains. Madhubala starts grinning widely then starts chuckling how Rishabh had been embarrassed and blushing when she had asked one of the doctor whether it was okay if she had physical intimacy with her husband. Madhubala takes the tablets from him and gulps it down "Why were you laughing?" Rishabh asks smiling. "I was thinking of your reaction in the hospital." Madhubala calls out as she walked into the washroom. Rishabh remembering that starts blushing, he couldn't believe Madhubala had asked his colleague that and he knew by now the whole hospital would have found that out. She embarrassed him all the time but he loves her like crazy.
Fifteen days later Rishabh had rejoined hospital though he was happy to be back in the hospital his second home he was a little upset of having to leave Madhubala. The last fifteen days every single second they had spent together, they did everything any normal couple would do. Madhubala had insisted on it. And Rishabh couldn't say no to her and did everything that she wanted. They would go for drives, or walk in the beach, or simply laze around playing cards at home or they simply sit and talk with Shamsher. Rishabh had even started teaching Madhubala how to drive as Madhubala desperately wanted to learn to drive. How he missed her. Rishabh wanted to kick himself for behaving like a love sick puppy. He is a doctor and he should behave like a responsible man and not love sick teenager. Hearing the clock chime he realized that it was time for his rounds.
Rishabh was at his first patient's room wondering where the nurse had gone off to. She was with him till he had entered the room and the moment he had entered she was missing. Suddenly the door opened and from the corner of his eyes he saw the nurse enter. He looks up to admonish her for her tardy behavior when his eyes widened in shock "Madhubala?" "Sorry doctor, I'm late." Madhubala says in a flirty way wearing a nurse's uniform. Rishabh walks towards her and asks in a low whisper "What are you doing here? Why aren't you at home in bed?" "You know how I always wanted to join you for rounds." Madhubala whispers back smiling. "When we get back home I'm going to spank you." Rishabh says angrily. "Kinky! I like it." Madhubala drawls. "Pra-chiiii" Suddenly grinning wickedly Madhubala says loudly "No Dr. Kundra. I won't kiss you." "What?" Rishabh asks shocked looking at the patient and the by-stander. "Please Dr. Kundra you are married. And I'm not that type of a girl." Madhubala says acting worried. "Stop it." Rishabh says in a warning tone. "How can you do this to your wife? She loves you so much." "Because my wife is a shrew who never listens to me." Rishabh says and then turns to look at the patient who was watching Rishabh and Madhubala with a frown while Madhubala gasps hearing Rishabh. "Is this a new nurse, doctor?" the patient casually asks. "Yes," Rishabh replies and then turning to Madhubala he says smirking "Check his BP, and also take his blood sample." "Why the blood sample?" patient asks worriedly while Madhubala looks even more worried. "BP? Blood? I don't know." Madhubala says getting scared what if he really makes her do it? "You don't know? Who made you a nurse then?" Rishabh asks in mock anger. "Er.. i..." "Now you realize why she has to please me to stick onto her job right?" Rishabh asks his patient grinning. "Rishabh I'll call the nurse." Madhubala says as she starts to walk off "No, Madhubala I was just joking. Mr. Joseph meet my wife Madhubala and Madhubala this is Mr. Sam Joseph." Rishabh introduces them. After that, Madhubala had accompanied Rishabh for the rest of the rounds sans the nurse. Once again Rishabh had fulfilled another small wish of Madhubala.
One night Rishabh was waiting for Madhubala on his bed as she had her medicines. After having her medicines Madhubala had walked out saying she would be right back and few minutes later she had come back hiding her hand behind. Getting into bed she sat next to Rishabh and showed him a photo of herself "This is the sexy me before I lost weight." "Haa." Rishabh excitedly takes the photo from her and looks at it. "So what do you think?" Madhubala asks looking at him. "You still don't hold a candle next to Sassy." Rishabh replies grinning. "Uff! My saut! I don't know what I'll do with her." Madhubala says in fake jealousy and anger. "I don't think there is anything you can do." Rishabh replies back smiling. "You know, she might have forgotten you by now."Madhubala says acting jealous. "She'll never forget me." Rishabh confidently says. "is that so?" Madhubala asks him. "Yes." "Then..." Madhubala says in a seductive tone as she rubbed her body on Rishabh's as her fingers started playing on his chest "I think I'll just make you forget her." "I doubt that also." Rishabh says though breathless. "Trust me Dr. Kundra, by the time I'm done with you, you won't even remember your name. All you will remember will be me." Madhubala says as she started giving him teasing bites on his ear lobes. And she was true to her word.
The next one and a half month went happily for Shamsher, Rishabh and mostly for Madhubala. Rishabh everyday did regular check ups of Madhubala twice, before he left for the hospital and once again when he comes back. Every chance Rishabh got, he tried to make Madhubala agree for her operation but Madhubala remained stubborn. One day Rishabh was checking Madhubala when he noticed the changes, he starts frowning wondering how that was possible didn't she take her medicine?Maybe he was just misreading it. Rishabh went through her medicine kit, even counted it and everything looked fine. He decided to take Madhubala to the hospital for a thorough check up anyway.
"Madhubala, tomorrow when I go to the hospital you come with me." Rishabh tells her as she walked out of washroom after her shower. Hearing Rishabh she goes pale "Why? I thought I had two more weeks before the operation. I won't get admitted in the hospital for another two weeks." Madhubala says stubbornly. Seeing her go pale Rishabh's heart go out to her, he knew how much she hated the hospitals and her stay there but she had to do it. "It is for just a check up." Rishabh assures her. Hearing that Madhubala starts smiling and says "I got worried for a minute." Then suddenly Madhubala starts frowning "Is everything alrite? You look tensed." "No... Everything is fine." Rishabh quickly replies. Something was wrong. Madhubala knew it, she could sense it. She wondered what had Rishabh worried so much.
Much later, Rishabh was waiting for Madhubala in their room. "What took you so long?" Rishabh asks the moment Madhubala walked in. "I was talking to Papa." Madhubala explains as she got into bed and hugged Rishabh. "What?" Rishabh asks as he snuggled her. "I was telling him to take care of you when I'm gone." Madhubala says. "You are not going anywhere." Rishabh says angrily. "I thought you were making secret plans of shifting me to the hospital." Madhubala teases him. "Oh! I did plan it long back but I knew it wouldn't work out." Rishabh informs her with a chuckle. "When I'm gone will you look after my Papa, Rishabh?" Madhubala asks him worriedly. Though Rishabh wanted to argue with her these kind of talks the look on her face stopped him "He is my father too, Madhubala." Madhubala starts smiling hearing that "And take care of yourself. Always be happy and always keep others happy." Before Rishabh could actually promise her Madhubala kisses him and they make love till the wee hours of the morning.
The moment Rishabh woke up he knew something was wrong. He felt empty, his bed, his room, his house, his life felt empty. He quickly got up and started looking around the house for Madhubala. "Rishabh, where is Madhubala?" Shamsher asks him coming out of the bedroom. "I can't find her, Papa." Rishabh replies worriedly as he continued to look around. Then he found a paper kept on the table. With his heart in his throat Rishabh walked to it and picked it up.
Rishabh, Papa
I'm sorry I can't see you two watch me die. I'm leaving. Please don't look for me.
Love
Madhubala.
Present day
It's been months since Madhubala had left. Though Madhubala had asked him not to look for her, he looked for her everywhere but she was nowhere to be found. After Madhubala had left, Rishabh and Shamsher had become closer both being each other's support. One lost his daughter while the other lost the love of his life, Madhubala was the centre of their universe. Rishabh and Shamsher were having breakfast when the phone started ringing. Rishabh picks up the phone. "Hello?" "Hello can I speak to Dr. Rishabh Kundra please?" a female voice asked from the other side. "Speaking." Rishabh replies. "Sir, I'm calling from Lifeline Hospital, Ernakulam." "Kerala?" Rishabh asks confused. "Yes sir." "What is it?" "Sir... today early morning your wife passed away." the voice informed him hesitantly. The receiver fell out of his hand and he also fell on the floor shocked. "Rishabh... Rishabh... what happened?" Shamsher asks him worried as he rushed to Rishabh's side. Rishabh looks at Shamsher with tears flowing down and gently whispers "Madhubala... Madhubala..." "What happened to Madhubala? Is she alright?" Shamsher asks worried. Rishabh shakes his head sadly as he continued to chant his beloved's name "Madhubala... she is gone." Rishabh finally manages to say and then he shouts out crying not even aware of Shamsher's loud sobs.
"Rishabh." Shamsher gently calls him as he kept a hand on his shoulder. Breaking out of his thoughts Rishabh looks up at Shamsher. "Everything has been arranged. We have to leave now." Shamsher informs him. Rishabh looks at him in shock. Everything arranged? Who had taken care of all that? The doctor had handed over Madhubala's letter to him and another one to Papa. Last he saw Papa was reading that letter crying. Rishabh looks around and realizes that it's been hours since they have been here and not mere minutes. Nodding his head Rishabh gets up clutching onto the letter. As he walked he noticed them wheeling out Madhubala's body, fresh tears started filling his eyes. "If I hadn't ran away from the OT that day she would have been alive." Rishabh tells Shamsher regretfully. "If you had stayed in that OT that day she might have not lived this long." Shamsher gently tells Rishabh, "and she might have not been born." Shamsher says looking at the baby he was holding. Rishabh looks at the baby in Shamsher's arms and suddenly gets angry "She had no right to do this." "Haan true, but she did and she is here now." Shamsher says looking at the baby. "I don't want her." Rishabh says looking at the baby and walks away Madhubala had died in child birth.
Rishabh insisted on staying with Madhubala in the ambulance while Shamsher came in the car with the baby. Rishabh leaning down gently kissed on Madhubala's forehead. He was so angry with her, she shouldn't have left him, they were supposed to be together for life and she had left him halfway all alone. He wanted to shout at her, scream at her, hurt her but he didn't have the strength or will to do it. Rishabh wipes away his tears and that time he realized he was holding something and realizes it is Madhubala's letter. He opens it again and tries to read it once more and this time he was able to read it.
So is it a boy or a girl?
Hi Rishabh! I know you would be angry with me and might even hate me and I don't blame you for that because I know where you are standing you are right. And I want you to understand that where I'm standing I'm right. I know you believed that I would survive but Rishabh the truth was there was very little chance of that happening. Maybe if I had agreed for the operation then I might still be alive and cured too but Rishabh there is a' might' there and I had to think of the 'might not'. What will Rishabh and Papa do if anything happens to me? What will happen to them? Will they be able to go on knowing I was no longer a part of their world? Rishabh, I know I mean everything to Papa and you, and someone had to think of a tomorrow without me, a life beyond me and I knew that someone had to be me. The only way to do that was to give you someone in my place for you both to live for. I knew you would never let me have a baby before my operation and I had to trick you. Never even once I took those birth control pills. Every night I threw away one instead of eating and if you were around I put the pills in my mouth but never swallowed it. The night before I left I realized that you got suspicious. I was not planning to leave you till the two months were over but then I had to leave you to save our baby, to bring our baby into this world otherwise you would have forced me to abort my baby and I couldn't do that. I know Rishabh, you would be angry with me for staying away from you for all these months and missing out on all those moments which we could have been together but for me a few moments of happiness was worth sacrificing for a lifetime of joy, a reason for living, for a meaningful life. Rishabh always remember life is to be lived not just merely spent, don't stop living because I'm gone.
I don't think I'll be able to talk about our baby without my eyes filling up. I wished I could watch our baby grow up, smile, take that first step, speak that first word. I just wish I could hold our baby at least for once. Rishabh, if I was never able to hold our baby then just hold him/her for me and that will be the moment my baby will be the closest to me. I hope you don't hold our baby responsible for all this. He/she is not. Please don't turn your back on our baby. And please remember Rishabh that I live in you and when you are with our baby I'm with our baby. Rishabh, if it is a boy name him Niranjan it means pure and our baby will be as pure as our love. If it is a girl, I wanted to name her after my saut (Who I strongly believe has forgotten you) Sahasra but then I know how madly in love you are with me (after all I'm the sexy babe) and you'll name her Madhubala. So I'm not going to say anything on that.
My eyes are filling up I can't write any more. I love you, Rishabh. Take care of Papa and tell our baby that I love him/her.
Love
Madhubala.
P.s: Tell your superiors not to break their head over how I survived for so long, it was my sheer determination to bring our baby into this world, your love and Papa's prayers.
Rishabh folded the letter and his eyes went up to Madhubala. He gently cupped her face in his hands and whispers "I love you, Madhubala." and gently kisses her.
Hours later, Shamsher was in the kitchen as he filled the bottle with milk. They had reached Mumbai three hours ago, and after Madhubala's cremation he had come back home with the baby while Rishabh had gone off somewhere not looking at his daughter even for once. And luckily for Shamsher his granddaughter had slept through out the journey and the funeral just waking up twice for her milk. Now she was up once again and demanding for her milk. Shamsher hurriedly closed the bottle and ran towards the room to feed her when suddenly she stopped crying. Curious Shamsher ran a little faster and when he reached the room without even realizing he starts smiling in relief. Rishabh was holding the baby and looking at her with so much love. Shamsher walked towards them and realized why the baby had stopped crying, she was now sucking on Rishabh's thumb. Rishabh looks up at Shamsher eyes filled with love and amazement. "She looks just like Madhubala." "When Madhubala was born she looked exactly like her." Shamsher informs Rishabh and uncapping the bottle he moved it towards his granddaughter's mouth and Rishabh moved away his hand. As Rishabh held his daughter Shamsher fed his granddaughter. Watching his daughter drink the milk Rishabh bends down and gently kisses her forehead and softly calls his daughter her name "Madhubala."
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- Lazy