Rishabala One Shot Story Collections I

Child Marriage 3 - Ek Duje Ke Vaaste

​Hello everyone,

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous story. Bhabhi (Posted on 26 - Sep - 2022)

Just wanted to clarify, I am against child marriage, but I just keep getting ideas like these. I am not glorifying it or supporting it. My true feelings for child marriage was expressed in Wedding Vows and Balika Vadhu. Have categorized these into a series.

Child Marriage 1 – Jab Miya Biwi...

Child Marriage 2 – Balika Vadhu

In this story, they are not children, but since they are under age, I'm putting it in the category of "Child Marriage."

Please note

Couple of times, I kept changing the back story and going back and editing out what I had rewritten, and tried my best to keep the story correct and organized. please forgive if there are any inconsistency.

Rishabh stops the car in front of his mother's childhood home. He gets out of the car and walking around the car, he opens the boot and take out his bag. He puts his bag on his shoulder and picks his laptop bag. He closes the boot and walks to the house.

He takes out his mobile and calls his mother as he waited for someone to open the door.

"Hello Rishabh... Did you reach?" Radha asks as she answered the call.

"Yeah, Mom. Have you guys decided when you will come?" Rishabh asks as Madhu opened the door for him.

"We'll come soon. you let me know how Papa is doing." Radha tells him.

"Okay."

"Remember to submit all the documents for your course. your class is starting in a week, so don't forget."

"But Mom, when Nanu is like this, how can I go to UK?" Rishabh asks her sadly.

Radha didn't say anything for a while. "Let's see, Rishabh. even Nanu would want you to go. Anyway, let me know what is the situation there."

"Okay. talk to you later." Rishabh replies hanging up and turns to Madhu. "Where is Nanu and Nani?"

"In their room." Madhu replies to him.

Nodding Rishabh walks to his nanu's room while Madhu closed the door.

***********

He sees his Nani sitting next to his Nanu who was sleeping. Leaving his bag at the bedroom door, Rishabh walks into the bedroom.

"Nani..." Rishabh softly whispers to her.

Nani turns to him and asks with a gentle smile. "Rishu... you reached?"

Rishabh walks to her and takes her extended hand in his. Then he leans down and hugs her. Rishabh looks at his grandfather who was in his deathbed now. "How is he?"

"Not good." Nani says sadly. "He was crying till now."

"Is he in pain?" Rishabh asks her in concern.

"It's not that." Nani replies shaking her head sadly as she looked at her husband.

"Then?" Rishabh asks confused.

"He is filled with guilt."

"Guilt?"

"Unfulfilled promise." Nani replies as she looked beyond Rishabh.

Curious, Rishabh turns back and looks behind him to see Madhu at the door. seeing him looking at her, Madhu turns around and leaves the room. Rishabh curiously looks back at his grandmother. "Madhu?"

Nani sighs tired. "Yes."

"What about her?" Rishabh asks curiously. He has kind of known or rather seen Madhu in his grandparents' home for as long as he could remember.

His Nanu was a powerful man in the village. He was the, THE power there at one point of time. and Madhu's father was his right hand man. He had many enemies and there were many attempts made on him. the last being the one, where Madhu's father had taken a bullet meant for him. after that, he had stopped all of his political and social activities and started leading a peaceful and quiet life. ever since her father's death, Madhu had come to live in their house.

"What promise regarding Madhu?" Rishabh asks her.

"On Malik's deathbed, Radha's Papa promised him that he will take care of Madhu and get her married to a good man. Now, he is worried that when he dies and meets Malik, he wouldn't have fulfilled his promise." Nani replies.

Rishabh frowns and asks in shock. "How old is Madhu?" he could swear that she was at least 3 years younger to him.

"17."

He was right. "She can't get married now." Rishabh tells her in shock.

"I know but he feels he had been lax in his responsibility. He should have found someone for Madhu. So, he is filled with guilt."

"But that is not right." Rishabh tells her in shock. "What is Madhu saying?"

"She told him that she is freeing him from that promise. But for him, he made that promise to her father, not her. seeing him like this, she told him that if it would ease him then she will marry whoever he chose this instant."

Rishabh stares at her in shock. That would be illegal.

"I've asked the marriage broker to come."

What the hell is happening here?

***********

Rishabh comes out of the bedroom and stops in surprise seeing his bags missing.

"Where is my bag?" Rishabh asks his grandmother.

"Madhu might have took it to your room."

"She didn't have to." Rishabh whispers shaking his head.

He walks down the corridor to the last room that he usually used whenever he visited his grandparents, that was his room. he was about to walk in when Madhu comes out. She stops in shock seeing him.

"I've kept water in a pitcher on the table." Madhu informs him.

Rishabh nods.

"If you need anything, just shout out for me." Madhu tells him as she walked around him to leave the room.

"Are you okay with what is happening?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu stops and turns to him. "He gave me this life, I'll do anything for him."

"Your father gave his life because of that he is alive even today." Rishabh points out exasperated.

Madhu just looks at Rishabh without saying anything for a few seconds then she walks off.

***********

Rishabh walks into his grandfather's room some time later and finds him awake and talking to a man. Rishabh steps into the room. hearing him, his grandfather looks at him.

"Rishu, when did you come?" Nanu asks feebly as he lifted his hand up a little.

Seeing that, Rishabh walks to him and takes his hand as he knelt down next to him. "How are you Nanu?"

"I'm ready to meet my maker but not my friend." Nanu replies weekly.

Rishabh couldn't believe that the man in front of him was his Nanu, he was the most active man he had seen in his life, and now, he was all skin and bones. The cancer ate him alive. It had been so sudden and so fast in taking the man away.

Rishabh turns to the other man and asks his grandfather, "Is he the broker?"

"Yes."

Rishabh doesn't say anything as he just looked at them to continue their conversation.

"I want the best man for Madhu." Nanu tells him.

"I've the best of the best. You just tell me your demands and I'll bring the boy and his family here tomorrow." The man confidently says.

"A good family and an educated good man who will take care of her well."

"I've many like that." the man says smiling. "Can you give me the details of the girl and a photo?"

Nanu nods and gestures to the table. "Rishu, give Madhu's photo."

Rishabh picks up the photo and sees Madhu shyly smiling at the camera. God, she was so young.

"Madhu... she is my friend's daughter. we are all she has. She will finish her 12th in a few months."

"12th? How old is the girl?" the broker asks confused.

"17."

"Are you trying to send me to jail?" he asks shocked as he stood up.

***********

Rishabh walks back to his grandparents' room after escorting the broker out. The broker had freaked out and Rishabh had to take him away from there.

As he reached the room, he could hear his grandfather lamenting regretfully. He looks in and sees Madhu kneeling next to his grandfather and his grandmother sitting near him and crying.

"What am I going to tell Malik?" Nanu cries as he lay on the bed.

"That you took care of me." Madhu tells him.

"All these years, you took care of us, working like a servant here. Is that what I should tell him?"

"I was happy here, Papa." Madhu argues to him, her eyes filling up.

"I thought I had time, but I should have fulfilled my promise. I kept procrastinating thinking you are young and there is time."

"There is still time." Madhu tells him gently.

"No..." nanu shakes his head. "How will I face him? I'll never have peace because I didn't clear my debt."

Rishabh walks to his grandfather, kneels next to him. "Nanu..."

"What will I tell him, Rishu? He had given me his most prized daughter and I couldn't treat her well. I was her guardian and still everyone considered her a servant here. How am I to answer him when he asks about his daughter?"

Rishabh looks at Madhu, and sees her looking at his grandfather in pure misery. He looks at his grandparents and sees them equally miserable. He takes his grandfather's hand in his and tells him, "You tell your friend that your grandson will marry his daughter in a few years."

"What?" Nanu asks in shock.

He looks at his grandmother and sees her also looking at him in shock. He turns to Madhu and sees her staring at him as if he was a ghost.

"You will marry my Madhu?" Nanu asks hopefully.

"Yes." Rishabh promises.

"But..." Madhu starts to whisper in shock.

"You told him you will marry whoever he chose." Rishabh reminds her.

Madhu speechlessly looks at Rishabh.

"Your father will never agree. I know my daughter; they will never agree." Nanu laments.

Rishabh doesn't say anything because he knew his parents.

"They will never agree, Rishu. They will never let you marry Madhu. I can't lie to my friend knowing that. I don't know what to tell my friend." Nanu cries out loud.

Rishabh cups his face, "Nanu... I'll marry Madhu now."

"You'll?" Nanu asks hopefully.

"Yes."

"Even you are not marriageable age, Rishu." Nani gently reminds him.

Rishabh looks at his grandmother and tells her, "Let him go peacefully, Nani."

***********

There wasn't much to prepare. All they had to do was wait for the pundit to reach. There was no celebration or wedding rituals or wedding attires. He was still in his jeans and tshirt and she was still in the salwar she wears at home.

Rishabh was walking out of his bedroom when Madhu comes against him. he stops seeing her.

"Why?" Madhu asks him softly.

"For Nanu. Isn't that why you also agreed to marry?" Rishabh asks her.

"You didn't have to. You could have found someone else." Madhu points out.

"They don't owe a debt. My family owes the debt to you and your father." Rishabh reminds her.

They didn't have anything more to say to each other. And in half an hour, they were married.

***********

After his grandfather had gone to sleep, Rishabh went to his bedroom. He got busy with submitting the documents for his university. Hearing the door softly opening and a gentle knock, he curiously looks up from his study table and sees Madhu at the door.

"Is Nanu okay?" Rishabh asks her.

"Yes. He is sleeping." Madhu replies.

Rishabh nods and waits for her to tell him what she wanted.

Seeing him waiting for her to speak, Madhu nervously says, "Badi Ma told me to sleep here."

Rishabh's heart skips a beat hearing that then he nods his head.

Seeing that, Madhu enters the room and slightly closes the door. she turns to look at Rishabh.

"You can sleep. I've some work." Rishabh tells her.

Rishabh turns back to his laptop but when she didn't walk to the bed, he curiously looks and sees her walk to a corner of the room.

"Madhu?"

Madhu jumps in shock and turns to him nervously.

"Bed is here." He gestures to her.

"I will..." Madhu starts then she stops. "You be comfortable on the bed."

"Just sleep on the bed, Madhu." Rishabh tells her shaking his head.

Madhu walks to the bed then she stops and looks at him. "What about you?"

Sighing, irately he says. "I've lot of work, Madhu. please don't disturb me. I need to submit these for my university."

Madhu nods and gets on the bed realizing he wasn't planning to sleep.

Madhu gets on the bed and was about to close her eyes when Rishabh calls her. she quickly looks up at him and sees him looking at her. "Yes?"

"It's not Badi Ma, it is nani." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu nods in shock.

Then Rishabh turned his attention back to his laptop and ignore her completely.

Maybe the stress of last few weeks, Madhu slept off immediately. She had opened her eyes at her usual wake up time of 4:30 and the moment she opened her eyes, she had a mini heart attack. Because her brand new husband was sleeping right next to her.

***********

"Where is Rishu?" Nani asks seeing Madhu in the kitchen.

"He is sleeping." Madhu tells her. "How is Papa?"

"Sleeping peacefully." Nani replies with a relieved smile. "You and Rishu has given him peace."

Madhu hesitates then she gently informs her, "He told me to call you Nani."

Nani stops in surprise for a second then smiling, she tells her, "You should. You're my bahu."

Madhu gently smiles.

Nani walks to her and keeps her hand on Madhu's shoulder. "Did you talk to him?"

"Not much. He was busy with his university some work." Madhu informs her.

Nani nods then smiling proudly she says, "He has his Nanu's heart. he will treat you well."

***********

"Rishu..."

Hearing his Nani's voice, Rishabh curiously look up from his phone and sees Nani and Madhu. "Yeah, nani?"

"When should I call Radha and tell her about Madhu?"

"Not now, Nani." Rishabh replies shocked.

"What?" Nani and Madhu look at him in shock.

"They will not accept Madhu." Rishabh tells her. "You know that."

Nani looks at Madhu and sees her looking at her in confusion. Turning to Rishabh, she asks him. "Then how will you take Madhu with you?"

Rishabh looks at his grandmother in shock. "Nani, you know, I can't take Madhu's responsibility right now. she will stay here."

Rishabh looks at Madhu and tells her. "You've your school and I'm going to UK next week for my studies. last night, we had to get married for Nanu and we can't legalize our marriage for another year."

Madhu nods.

Rishabh turns to his grandmother and tells her, "When the time is right, I'll tell Dad and Mom about Madhu."

"Okay." Nani agrees.

"I need time, Nani." Rishabh tells her then looking at Madhu, he tells his grandmother, "Till that time, Madhu is your responsibility, Nani."

***********

At night, Madhu walks into Rishabh's bedroom and sees him fast asleep. Since afternoon, he had been taking care of his grandfather and it might have tired him out. She walks to the bed and sees that he had taken three-fourth of the bed. She had no idea what she was supposed to do. Squeeze herself into the bed or sleep on the floor? Remembering how Rishabh had asked her to sleep on the bed, she was confused so, she lightly kept her hand on his shoulder.

Rishabh comes awake with a start. Seeing Madhu, he asks worriedly. "Is it Nanu?"

"No." Madhu quickly replies. Seeing him looking at her confused, she nervously tells him, "I came to sleep."

Confused Rishabh looks around the bed and realized that he was sleeping in the middle. "Oh, sorry." Rishabh says as he quickly moved to the side to give her space. "I didn't realize."

Madhu nods and she gets on the bed, feeling nervous and very conscious.

She sees him extending the one end of the blanket to her. she takes it nervously and got under the blanket.

"Good night." Rishabh mumbles and promptly went back to sleep.

***********

Madhu runs into Rishabh's room pushing the door open loudly.

"What happened?" Rishabh asks her knowing it was bad news from her face.

"It's Papa. You've to go get the doctor." Madhu tells him.

Hearing that, Rishabh runs out of the room, his heart slamming against his chest.

Once the doctor had checked his grandfather, he called his mother.

"Hello, Rishabh."

"Mom... It's Nanu... Doctor said to inform all close relatives. He doesn't have much time. You and Dad have to get here as soon as you can." Rishabh tells her.

But by the time they got there, he was gone.

***********

"He asked for you." Nani informs Radha.

After the funeral, the family was sitting together after the guests had left.

Rishabh looks at his mother and sees her sadly nodding. He sighs seeing that. once his worry for Madhu was put to rest, Nanu had asked for his only daughter.

"I tried to come sooner Ma but I just couldn't get here sooner." Radha says sadly.

Rishabh looks away. his parents could have come if they had put aside their business for five minutes.

"Why is she wearing mangal sutra and sindoor?" Mohan asks shocked. "She got married?"

Rishabh, Madhu and Nani stop in shock as they looked at each other. Due to the death, mourning and funeral, they had completely forgot to remove the symbols of marriage.

"Oh you finally found a man for her?" Radha asks surprised then turning to her husband, she reminds him. "I told you about that promise Papa made to her father. Papa was worried about that the last few days."

"Oh yeah." Mohan nods.

"When did she get married? Why didn't you tell me, Ma?" Radha asks curiously.

"Yeah... it happened suddenly." Nani says.

"Who is it?" Radha asks as she looked Madhu up and down.

Nani looks at Rishabh for a second then looking at Radha, she replies. "The broker had come."

"Hmmm... so, she is going? Who will be with you?" Radha asks.

"No... Madhu will be here." Rishabh quickly says.

"Why?" Radha asks confused.

Rishabh looks at Madhu and sees her nervously looking at him, he looks at his mother and as casually as he could, he tells her. "He has to go away for some time, so he asked to keep Madhu here."

"Go away? where?" Radha asks confused.

"Outside." Rishabh says hoping they won't ask any more questions.

"outside where?" Mohan asks frowning.

Rishabh helplessly looks at Nani and Madhu.

Seeing Rishabh looking trapped, Madhu quickly says, "Gulf. He is a laborer."

"When is he coming back?" Radha asks.

Madhu looks at Rishabh for answer.

"Next leave is in 3-4 years." Rishabh replies as he looked at Madhu.

"Till then we are supposed to look after her?" Radha asks offended.

"Nanu promised him that he will take care of Madhu's education." Rishabh lies.

"Are you sure he is going to come back?" Mohan asks shocked.

"I doubt it." Radha says shaking her head then turning to her mother, she asks in a whisper, though it was audible for everyone present there. "Did they stay together?"

Rishabh immediately looks at Madhu and sees her red in humiliation. "She is his wife, Mom!!!" Rishabh angrily reminds her.

"You don't know how these people are." Radha tells him shaking her head. "And he knows we won't do anything because she is underage. We will be the first one to go to jail. You should have made him take her to his house."

"Take it from me, he is not going to come for her. He got what he wanted." Mohan says in a worldly tone.

Madhu couldn't take it anymore, she turns to leave when she hears Rishabh's voice.

"Madhu..."

Madhu turns to look at him and sees him looking at her.

"Madhu's husband cannot take her responsibility right now but he has promised that the moment he can, he is going to come for her."

Madhu stares at Rishabh, feeling relieved, but at the same time wanting to cry and run away.

Mohan scoffs and Radha rolls her eyes.

Rishabh looks at his mother and asks. "You know your father, Mom. do you think he would have let Madhu marry someone that he didn't trust?"

Hearing that, Radha sobers down a little.

"He was so desperate. He was delirious with sickness. I don't know." Mohan says shrugging.

"Enough, Radha and Mohan. What is the use about talking about this? For now, Madhu is going to stay with me and that is the end of discussion." Nani says.

"Yeah... anyway, you need someone here with you." Radha says shrugging.

"We were just saying. We know people." Mohan justifies.

Seeing how uncomfortable and worried Madhu was looking, Rishabh tells her, "Have faith, Madhu."

Madhu nods, hearing him say that.

"You are his wife. he is not going to abandon you." Rishabh vows to her.

********

Rishabh was sitting outside his grandmother's room on the pretense of checking his mobile. The moment his mother left the room, he hurries to the bedroom.

"Nani..." Rishabh calls her.

Nani, who was lying on the bed looks at him and Madhu, who was sorting out Nanu's stuff also curiously look at him.

Checking that his mother wasn't around, he steps into the bedroom. He looks at Madhu and tells her. "You'll have to stay here tonight. they can't see us."

Madhu nods.

Rishabh turns to his grandmother and tells her, "Madhu will sleep with you, Nani. If Mom asks give some excuse of you needing her at night."

"I've a room." Madhu informs him.

Rishabh shakes his head and tells his grandmother in finality, "Madhu will not stay in the servant's room."

Nani looks at Rishabh in confusion. "There is no servant's room here, Rishu. And Madhu stays in her own bedroom."

Rishabh looks at her in shock. He could have sworn that he had heard his mother call Madhu's room a servant's room. Then he stops in shock. It was not because it was the servant's room, it was called so because Madhu was staying there.

Rishabh looks at Madhu and tells her, "Once Dad and Mom leave, you shift to my room. whether I'm here or not, you'll use that room from then on."

Madhu nods.

"Till then sleep with Nani."

********

Two days later, at night, Madhu was walking to her room when Rishabh steps in front of her. seeing him, Madhu stops.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning." Rishabh whispers to her.

"Nani told me." Madhu replies.

"Do you want me to take care of something, do something before I leave?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu shakes her head in negative.

"This is my number. I'll go to UK day after. Once I get a sim there, I'll send you my number." Rishabh tells her as he extended a piece of paper for her.

Madhu takes the paper and nods.

"Bye." Rishabh tells her and he walks off.

********

Few days later, Madhu was taking tea to Nani's room for Nani and Radha when she hears Radha talking on the phone.

"Then what else, Rishabh... did you sort out your classes?"

Madhu stops hearing that it was Rishabh on the other line.

"Ah okay good... no, we will leave after lunch." Radha replies to him.

Madhu walks to Nani and Radha and offers them tea. Seeing her, Nani silently looks at her.

"Yeah, nani is here. Say hello to her." Radha says as she passed the phone to her.

"Hello, Rishu..." Nani takes the phone with a smile. "How are you?... yeah, I am fine.... Hmmm fine."

Radha takes the tea and whispers to her mother. "I'll just go tell Mohan and come." saying that she leaves the room.

The moment she left, Nani hurriedly says, "Here, I'll give the phone to Madhu."

Madhu stops in shock when Nani offered the phone to her. she had no idea, what she was supposed to talk to him.

"Take fast before Radha comes back."

Madhu takes the phone. "He...hello?"

"Are you okay there?" Rishabh asks her.

"I am fine." Madhu replies then she asks. "Are you okay there?"

"Yeah, all settled here. Listen, my friends are calling me... I've to go." Rishabh tells her.

"Okay."

"This is my number. ask Nani to get it from Mom. then give me a missed call or whatsapp me your number, so if there is anything we can contact each other." Rishabh hurriedly says.

"but I..." before Madhu could tell him, he had cut the call.

"What happened?" Nani asks seeing Madhu handing the phone to her.

Madhu tells her what Rishabh had told her.

"Before I could tell him that I don't have a phone, he cut the call." Madhu tells her.

"Don't worry. We'll buy a phone." Dadi tells her in a consoling tone.

"Phone?" Radha asks curiously as she walked in. "Rishabh kept the phone?"

"Yes." Nani replies.

"Nani, I'll be in the kitchen." Madhu tells her wanting to escape, she never stayed around Radha or Mohan.

"Why is she calling you Nani?" Radha asks frowning in displeasure.

Madhu looks at Nani for help.

"Erm... your Papa told her that before he died." Nani lies.

"Why?" Radha asks in anger.

"Because you didn't want her to call me Ma. Don't argue on it Radha, this is what your father wanted."

Radha makes a face. "Anyway what is this about a phone? Are you getting a phone?" Radha asks confused.

"No, I was talking to Madhu about her husband. Madhu doesn't have a phone. Her husband had told her to get a phone. I forgot." Nani informs her.

"Ah."

Madhu was about to walk out of the room when Radha stops her. "Listen, I think I have one of the staff sims lying in my bag. I'll give it to you."

Madhu nods.

"You can use Radha's Papa's mobile." Nani tells her.

"What is the need for that?" Radha asks frowning. "I'll send my driver and ask him to get a phone for her."

********

At night, Madhu switches on her new phone. It wasn't a smart phone, just a normal base model nokia phone. she dials the number Nani had given her. hearing the ring, she cuts the call as he had asked her to give a missed call and it was a postpaid sim and the bill would be going to Rishabh's parents, and if they see that she had called Rishabh then their secret would be out.

She keeps her mobile on the side, expecting it to ring. but it didn't ring.

And he never called.

********

Three years later

Madhu was nervous because Rishabh was back home. she rarely spoke to him, it was when he had called Nani and he just asked whether she was fine and she asked the same of him, then there wasn't anything more.

A month back, Nani and she had moved to his house. Nani was getting old and her husband's death was making her feel a little lonely and yearn for her daughter. so, after her degree was over, they had shifted to Kundra Mansion.

He had reached the previous night but she hadn't seen him yet. She didn't want his parents to get suspicious, so she had stayed away. Morning, she had to go to her new college to sort her admission for post-graduation.

As she walked into Kundra Mansion, she takes in a deep breath. The anticipation of meeting Rishabh was making her nervous and slightly excited. Though, they hadn't spoken much over the years, like he had asked of her, she had kept faith in him.

Madhu was about to walk to the bedroom that she shared with Nani when she notices Rishabh walking towards her side. He hadn't noticed her; he was busy on his phone.

Seeing him, her breath gets caught in her throat. He was no longer the scrawny boy, he was a man. He is a man now.

Madhu nervously stops as he neared her.

Rishabh walks past her, then noticing someone near him, he casually looks up at her from his phone and almost takes a step before he came to a dead stop.

Rishabh turns to her and he looked awe-struck. "Madhu?" He asks softly.

Madhu nods as she gently smiled at him.

"You look so different; I almost didn't recognize you." Rishabh tells her amazed as he looked her top to bottom.

Madhu's eyes widen hearing him, she had almost fainted that he had recognized her by half a glance.

"Even you look different." Madhu tells him wanting to check him out properly but was too shy and conscious to do it.

"Yeah?" Rishabh asks surprised. Then shrugging he asks, "admission sorted?"

"Yes." Madhu replies surprised. "How did you know?"

"Nani tod me." Rishabh replies then noticing one of the servants coming, he quickly tells her, "I will see you later."

"Okay."

Rishabh walks off and Madhu goes to Nani's room.

"Ah you are back?" Nani asks smiling. "Got admission?"

"Yes." Madhu replies smiling happily.

"That is nice. Rishu was asking for you." Nani informs her. "He had said that he will come later to meet you when I told him that you went to college."

"I saw him outside." Madhu informs her as she walked to the table, to hide her blush though she wondered why she was blushing.

*********

Late evening, Madhu was with Nani in their room when Rishabh knocks on the door. Madhu opens the door for him.

"Hey... I looked for you everywhere." Rishabh tells her as he sneaked in and quietly closed the door.

"What happened?" Madhu asks feeling excited and nervous at once.

"Nani slept so early?" Rishabh asks surprised seeing her sleep.

Madhu shakes her head. "Napping."

"Oh." Rishabh nods. "Here, fill this up." Rishabh tells her as he extended some papers.

Madhu curiously takes the papers and stops in shock realizing that it was register marriage form. "We are not telling your parents?" Madhu asks him in shock and confusion.

"I need some more time, Madhu." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu nods.

"But we have to legally get married before my parents find out." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu nods agreeing and she walks to the table to fill the form.

Rishabh follows her. "I need your Address proof, age proof, passport size photo..." Rishabh lists out the things that was needed.

Madhu nods as she continued to fill her details. They were silent as she filled out the form.

Madhu felt a tingling behind her neck. It felt like someone's eyes were on her. And she knew who that could be. as realization dawned, Madhu felt the tingling all through her body and her breathing increasing rapidly. Gulping she nervously looks at Rishabh and sees him watching her.

"Why are you staring?" Madhu nervously asks him.

Breaking out of his stupor, he nervously looks down. "Sorry... I think I was lost in thoughts."

Madhu turns her attention back to the form though her cheeks were heated up.

Luckily she had taken passport size photo for her admission and other ID proof, she could use the printer at Kundra Mansion. After gathering everything, Madhu gives it to Rishabh.

Rishabh takes them from her and double checks everything. "Tomorrow at sharp 10:30, come outside, I'll wait for you there. we need to go to the registrar's office."

"Okay."

*********

Sharp 10:30 Madhu comes out of the house and sees Rishabh waiting in his car a little further away. she quickly runs to the car and gets in.

Till the moment she got in the car, she was nervous of people seeing them together but the moment she sat in, she was nervous about being in an enclosed space with him. and she had no idea why she was feeling this new nervous energy.

It was strange, she had slept with him on the same bed twice but that time, she hadn't felt this kind of nervousness. Then she secretly admitted to herself, maybe it was because that time, she was not tempted to touch him. but ever since she saw him yesterday, she had to fight herself from touching him.

*********

"This is Sultan, Mukund, Trishna and Dipali. They are my friends and they will be the witness. And guys, this is Madhu." Rishabh introduces them.

"It's so great to finally meet you, Madhu. Rishabh has always been so tight lipped about you." Dipali tells her as she hugged her happily.

"We wanted to come to the temple but Rishabh insisted that you guys will meet us here."

For a few minutes, Madhu spoke to them.

"Everything is ready." Sultan finally informs Rishabh.

"Yeah, let's go." Rishabh gestures to them to walk ahead.

"They know me?" Madhu asks him softly.

Rishabh turns to her and guiltily says. "yeah... they think you are my girlfriend."

"Oh." Madhu nods then remembering she asks, "What temple?"

Rishabh gestures to her sindoor and mangal sutra. "I had to explain that. so told them that we would get married in temple and come."

"if you wanted then I would have hidden it." Madhu tells him.

"You would?" Rishabh asks surprised.

"In school, I had to." Madhu tells him.

"Oh yeah." Rishabh realizes then he asks curiously. "You never took it off?"

Madhu shakes her head in negative. Rishabh gently smiles hearing that.

They walked in and finished all the formalities.

Madhu was talking to Trishna and Dipali while Rishabh, Mukund and Sultan were speaking to a man secretively. Madhu then notices Rishabh giving him money. Rishabh turns to walk back and sees Madhu noticing him.

"Let's go?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu nods.

"So, once again, congratulations, you two." Trishna says as she hugged them.

They quickly hugged his friends and bid their byes.

Rishabh and Madhu got in the car and headed back home.

"They have to put our application on the notice board, so if anyone has objection for our wedding they have a month's time. I bribed that guy to not put the application on the board. So, there is no chance my parents will find out." Rishabh explains to her.

"So, one month later, we will get our marriage certificate?" Madhu asks him.

"Yes."

*********

Before he went to UK, he used to have his food in the TV room while watching TV. After coming back, due to the time difference, he still hadn't got into pattern of eating at the right time. but today, he felt like taking his meal at the dining table. He wasn't used to eating with his parents. he never enjoyed it.

But today, he decided to eat breakfast with his family. He knew it was not because of anything else but Madhu would be there. ever since he saw her after he got back, he had this eagerness to meet her. she was not the school kid that he had last met. She was a woman now. Rishabh chuckles, did he have a crush on his own wife?

Mohan and Radha looks at Rishabh in surprise seeing him but they don't say anything.

"Where is Nani?" Rishabh asks curiously as he pulled out a chair.

"She has her breakfast early. She has medicines and all." Radha informs him.

Rishabh nods as he hid his disappointment. Madhu would have eaten with Nani. He had been quick to notice that Madhu stuck to Nani like glue here, and if Nani's meal timings were different then Madhu was likely to follow that.

He was eating his food when he hears "Erm..." he quickly looks up excited and sees Madhu there and she was looking at him.

"What?" Radha asks irately.

"Erm... Nani's one medicine got over. I just noticed it now." Madhu quickly tells her as she extended a medicine bottle.

"You just noticed it now?" Radha asks angrily.

Frowning, Rishabh quickly says, "It happens, Mom."

"That is her job!"

"Job?" Rishabh asks confused.

"I told Ma not to bring her here. That we will hire an experienced nurse for her, but she was adamant." Radha says.

Rishabh looks at her confused. "Yeah, so hire."

"Then what about her?" Radha asks.

"Madhu?" Rishabh asks feeling so confused, he looks at Madhu and then his mother.

"Maa wants to keep her." Radha tells him irately then she tells Madhu. "You go. Next time something like this happen, you will be fired."

Madhu quickly leaves from there while Rishabh looks on in confused. "I don't understand. What do you mean by fire? Madhu is not..."

Mohan gives out a snort and a laugh cutting Rishabh off. "I told you not to send him to your parents' house for vacation. See, like them, even he thinks that charity case is family."

"She is an unpaid servant, Rishabh. The only reason she is still here is because Ma insisted otherwise, I wouldn't even hire her as a servant here. don't give her more importance." Radha tells him.

"Unpaid? Your mother is paying her college fees. That is her salary!" Mohan reminds her.

Rishabh stares at his mother incredulously. "Mom, him, I understand. Why are you behaving like a selfish, ungrateful snob? Did you forget that Madhu's father sacrificed his life to save Nanu's life?"

"That debt was paid off when he got her married off." Radha reminds him.

"Now, if anything, she and her husband is in our debt because she is still living off us." Mohan points out.

"I just hope her husband would come and get her!" Radha says in a dismissing tone.

Angry, Rishabh pushes his plate away and gets up and walks off.

"See how your father brainwashed him!" Mohan complains to Radha angrily. "Bloody communist."

*********

Madhu was walking towards Nani's room when she felt someone grab her hand. Before she could look up, Rishabh was walking ahead of her, making her run behind him. she worriedly looks around to see if anyone was noticing them.

"Someone will see." Madhu worriedly tells him.

Rishabh ignores her and walks into Nani's room furiously.

"Rishu..." Nani says with a smile and noticing him so furious she asks in concern. "What happened, Rishu?"

Fighting back his furious tears, Rishabh furiously asks his grandmother, "Did you bring my wife into my own home as a servant?"

"Rishu... what?" Nani asks shocked.

Rishabh pulls Madhu closer to him and asks his grandmother. "You remember that she is my wife?"

"I know, Rishu... When I told Radha that I wanted Madhu to come with me, she had refused so..."

"So, you brought my wife as a servant?" Rishabh asks her furiously.

"It is not like that. Radha had insisted that I ask Madhu's husband to come and get her, but I told her that I wanted Madhu with me till she finished her studies."

"Choti Malkin just assumed that I am her servant." Madhu tells Rishabh.

Rishabh turns to Madhu and pleads to her. "It is true that you can't call her Mom but please don't call her choti malkin."

Seeing him so sad and helpless Madhu didn't know what to say, she looks at Nani for help.

"Why did you let this happen, Nani?" Rishabh asks her helplessly. "I trusted you. I gave you Madhu's responsibility then how could you humiliate her like this?"

"Nani doesn't treat me like a servant." Madhu quickly reassures him.

Rishabh looks at Madhu helplessly.

"She knew that you don't like me staying in the servants' quarters. So, she insisted that I stay with her in this room." Madhu tells him.

"This room?" Rishabh asks confused as he looked at the bed. It was a custom made medicated single cot bed for Nani's back problem, two people couldn't fit in that bed. Eyes widening in shock, Rishabh turns around to the corner and sees the mattress rolled and kept to the side. He had noticed it the first time he had come into the room and had assumed that one of the servants stayed with Nani at night. He turns to Nani and asks her in shock. "Madhu sleeps on the floor?"

Hearing him ask that, Nani guiltily looks down.

"She is my wife, Nani." Rishabh tells her in a defeated tone.

Madhu's heart filled up hearing the heartbreak in his voice. She had the urge to hug him and tell him that everything was fine. He was thinking too much over a small issue.

"I promised to protect her, respect her and take care of her and her needs, Nani." Rishabh helplessly tells her.

"Rishu, Radha..." Nani starts.

Rishabh cuts her off. "Nanu used to say that Madhu is his daughter. she was your adoptive daughter. then how did you get scared of Mom so much that you humiliated her like this? she might no longer be your daughter for you, but she is still my wife and the bahu of this house!"

"Madhu is still my daughter, Rishu." Nani argues.

"now I understand why Nanu was so worried for Madhu." Rishabh tells Nani. "He knew that after he is gone, then you would listen to Mom and do whatever she wanted. You would let Mom treat Madhu in whatever way she wanted!"

"There was no other option." Madhu gently interjects. "Nani was missing Choti...your mother." Madhu quickly corrects herself. "When she said that she didn't want me to come... Nani had to make up this excuse. She couldn't leave me alone there." Madhu explains to him.

Rishabh looks at his grandmother for a long minute then he tells her in an unforgiving tone. "You knew my wife would be disrespected here, so you shouldn't have come here!"

*********

"I am sorry, Madhu." Nani tells her regretfully.

Madhu hugs her. ever since Rishabh had walked out in the morning, Nani had been apologizing and crying. "You don't have to say sorry, Nani."

"I was selfish." Nani tells her guiltily. "We'll go back, Madhu."

"No!" Madhu shouts in shock then calming down, she says. "I'm fine here, Nani. We'll stay here." Ever since she met her husband again, she couldn't think of going away from him.

"But Rishu..."

"My college is here, Nani." Madhu interjects to end the conversation.

Nani nods. Hearing the knock, Madhu curiously opens the door and sees Rishabh at the door.

"Everyone slept." Rishabh informs her.

Madhu nods confused as she stepped aside for him to enter.

"You'll sleep in our room from now on, Madhu." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu's heart skips a beat. "What if someone..."

"You leave before anyone wakes up." Rishabh tells her.

"But..."

"You'll not sleep on the floor one more night, Madhu." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu turns to look at Nani and Nani gestures her to go. Nodding nervously Madhu, steps out of the room and close the door.

Heart slamming against their chests, they quietly walked to their bedroom.

Rishabh opens the door for her, and Madhu nervously walk in. when three years ago, when she had shared a room with him, she hadn't really thought of anything beyond staying in a room with Rishabh but now, there were a lot more things that she thought of and it was scaring her.

"I'm sorry. I should have realized it sooner." Rishabh apologize.

Madhu shakes her head and turns to him. "I am fine. You blew it out of proportion."

"It is not easy for me, Madhu. Hiding my wife like this. treating my wife like this." Rishabh tells her.

"You hurt Nani with your words. Whatever happened, it was both our decision." Madhu tells him.

Rishabh looks away. "I just need some more time." Rishabh requests her.

Madhu nods.

Rishabh walks to the window and looks out.

"You asked me to keep faith in you, and I've faith in you." Madhu tells him seeing him getting so worked up.

Rishabh turns to her and leaning against the window, he tells her. "The first thing my parents are going to do when they find out of our marriage is threaten to throw us out."

Madhu nods, even she expected that.

"I'm trying to find a job. I'm not going to join Dad's business." Rishabh tells her.

"What?" Madhu asks shocked.

"When I get a job, I will tell my parents about us. I just want to stand on my feet before I put you in any kind of unstable situation." Rishabh explains to her.

"I've no hurry." Madhu tells him.

Hearing her, Rishabh lightly smiles. Seeing him smile, Madhu also smiles.

"You sleep. you'll have to wake up early." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu nods and walks to the bed.

"You never gave me your number." Rishabh softly states.

"I did." Madhu turns to him in shock.

Rishabh looks at her in shock. "No, you didn't. I waited the whole day and next few." Rishabh tells her as he walked to her.

"I gave you a missed call that night itself." Madhu argues.

"I didn't get it. maybe you cut the call before the ring went through." Rishabh tells her.

"Oh." Madhu says disappointed then she asks confused. "When you used to call Nani why didn't you tell me that?"

"I thought you were not comfortable. And then scared of my parents." Rishabh tells her confused. "Why you never asked me?"

"You said if we have to contact each other, so I just thought you didn't call because there was anything important." Madhu explain.

"It was not that there was anything important..." Rishabh hesitantly says. "At times, I just thought I should check on you."

Madhu nods, at times, even she had hoped that he would call her.

"Give me your number." Rishabh tells her as he took his phone.

"I'll call you." Madhu dials his number on her phone.

Rishabh's phone rings. "Why is he calling now?" Rishabh asks cutting the call.

"What happened?" Madhu asks curiously.

"Our old driver. I'll call him back after this. call me."

Madhu calls again.

"Oh my God! Wait, let me take this." Rishabh tells her.

"But it's ringing." Madhu replies confused.

"Hello?" Rishabh hurriedly says.

"Rishabh... it's my call." Madhu tells him confused.

Rishabh looks at her confused and clueless. "But this was our old driver's number. I've it saved."

"Oh!" Madhu says realizing. "Your mother gave this sim. She said it is staff sim."

Rishabh looks at her in shock and he distinctively remembered. "I was waiting for your number and I got a missed call. It was just one ring and I thought the driver might have missed dialed."

"Oh."

"I didn't even think why he would have my UK number." Rishabh replies in shock.

Madhu nods realizing how a small misunderstanding had caused this.

"Sorry." Rishabh tells her seeing her disappointed.

"It's okay." Madhu replies shrugging.

Rishabh watches her for a second and then asks her softly. "Did you wait for my call?"

Madhu looks at him, then hesitating and nervous, she lightly nods.

"My every waking hour, I thought of you. only of you." Rishabh confesses to her.

Madhu's eyes shine in joy.

"Did you think of me?" Rishabh asks her.

"Always." Madhu confesses.

Rishabh watches her for a few seconds, then he steps closer to her. Rishabh gently cups her face.

Madhu nervously raises her eyes to look into his. Rishabh gives her a few seconds to reject him, when she didn't, he leans down and lovingly kisses her forehead.

Madhu shyly closes her eyes savoring the kiss. Rishabh ends the kiss and was about to move back when he couldn't help it and he kisses her forehead again.

Blushing and unable to control the emotions and feelings he was causing in her, Madhu hugs him. Rishabh hugs her tight and kisses her on top of her head.

They shyly part. Rishabh smiles seeing Madhu blush, even he had lightly turned pink.

Rishabh lovingly pats her cheek with a chuckle. "You sleep."

Blushing Madhu walks to one side of the bed and gets on it. after she got settled, Rishabh gets on the bed and lies on his side facing her.

After a few minutes of silence, Madhu asks him, "Do you want to talk?"

"Yes." Rishabh replies smiling.

"Then tell me." Madhu tells him.

"What?" Rishabh asks chuckling.

"Anything... hmmm about your friends that we met that day." Madhu tells him.

"Hmmm I met Dipali and Mukund in school. We have been friends since then. Sultan is Dipali's fiancé and Trishna is Mukund's girlfriend." Rishabh tells her.

They spent half the night talking.

********

Few days later, Madhu hears a loud argument. She stops realizing that it was Rishabh's voice and the other was his father's. Madhu hesitates as she worriedly waited.

Few minutes later, Rishabh opens the door and comes out. Seeing her, he stops and looks at her for a few seconds then he walks off. she understood that he wanted to talk to her but couldn't because people were around.

Few minutes later, she knocks on his bedroom door. she nervously looks around to see if anyone was coming.

When he didn't open, Madhu whispers to the door. "It's me."

She hears footsteps and then Rishabh opens the door. Madhu quickly runs in and he closes the door.

"What happened?" Madhu asks him.

Rishabh takes a long breath as he shook his head fed up. "I told Dad that I am not joining his business. He was screaming."

Madhu gently keeps her hand on his shoulder and rubs.

"Mom was also there. they were just arguing. I got so fed up. I just need some space." Rishabh tells her tiredly. Then turning around, he wraps his hand around her waist and hugs her.

Madhu hugs him. "They will come around."

Rishabh sighs.

*********

Madhu was coming outside her college when she notices Rishabh waiting for her. surprised and happy, she walks to him.

"How come you are here?" Madhu asks him happily.

"I thought, I will take my wife for a date." Rishabh tells her as he opened the car door for her.

Smiling excitedly, Madhu slides in.

They went for a drive and then later for dinner.

"Will Mom realize that you are not home?" Rishabh asks her.

"I rarely see her." Madhu tells him. "And if in case she asks for me then Nani will cover for me. I told her that I am with you."

Rishabh nods as he smiled and took her hand in his.

"You haven't visited Nani since that day." Madhu gently broaches the topic.

Rishabh sighs as he looked away.

"Ever since Papa passed away, she wants to be closer to her family. I think that Papa died without seeing your mother has affected her. she never mentioned it, but I feel like that. she is scared that she will also be away from everyone when she..." Madhu tells him.

Rishabh regretfully sighs hearing that.

"Come and see her. she misses you."

Rishabh nods.

*********

Next morning, Madhu was walking to Nani's room with her tea.

"Madhu!"

Hearing Rishabh call her, Madhu turns to look at him and was surprised to see Radha also nearby. She worriedly looks at him wondering whether he didn't see his mother.

"Give it here." Rishabh tells her as he walked to her.

"This is Nani's. it has no sugar." Madhu tells him.

"I know." Rishabh rolls his eyes. "I'll take it to her."

Madhu's face breaks into a big smile hearing that. she starts to give it to him. seeing him smiling so happily at her and he doing what she had asked him, Madhu winks at him and kisses him in the air.

Rishabh stops in shock and the tray falls off his hand.

"You, stupid useless girl!!!" Radha furiously shouts.

"Mom! I dropped it." Rishabh turns to her in shock.

"She should have made sure that you had taken it." Radha says as she angrily walked to her. "You good for nothing..."

"Will you shut it, Mom?" Rishabh furiously asks her.

"Why are you defending her?" Radha asks him furiously.

"Because you might forget who she is, I will never." Rishabh furiously tells her. then he turns to Madhu and sees her picking up the broken pieces.

"Madhu..." Rishabh sternly calls her.

Madhu looks up at him.

"I dropped it. I'll clean it. you go."

"No, I'll do it." Madhu tells him.

"I SAID GO, MADHU." Rishabh angrily tells her.

Madhu looks up at him in shock then seeing him angry and his mother also angry, she quickly leaves from there.

*********

Seeing Rishabh silent, Madhu gently keeps her hand on his shoulder.

Rishabh moves away in frustration.

"Please don't be upset." Madhu tells him as she moved closer to him.

"My parents treat you like shit." Rishabh says in frustration.

"They never liked me." Madhu tells him gently. "It doesn't affect me."

Rishabh looks at her and asks her, "I'll put you in a hostel?"

Madhu looks away and asks him, "Can you afford it?"

"I'll manage." Rishabh tells her.

"You used to do part time job in UK and send money for my college, right. even now, you are paying for my college. I know."

"Nani told you?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu nods. "You were scared that your parents would notice the transaction from your bank and credit card. So you used to do part time job and send money to Nani's account."

Rishabh shrugs. "Last year, I worked there. I told Dad that I need the work experience. I've money saved up. I thought I would need it for the worst case scenario. If we have to leave home and I have no job that time."

"When I turn 21, I'll get the money Papa kept aside for me." Madhu tells him.

Rishabh shrugs it off. "I can manage, Madhu. I'll put you in a hostel? You'll have peace."

"But I won't get you see you. here I can." Madhu tells him as she looked at him.

Rishabh's heart skips a beat hearing that. he steps closer to her and takes her lips in his. Madhu nervously kisses him back.

*********

Hearing another argument, Madhu sighs and looks at Nani.

"This Mohan and Radha, why can't they let that boy live in peace?" Nani ask sadly.

Madhu wanted to go to Rishabh but she knew she couldn't. she sadly sat by as she tried to make out what the argument was about. They were loud but she couldn't make out much.

Even after the house had gone silent, Madhu and Nani just remained where they were lost in thoughts.

Hearing her mobile buzz, Madhu curiously takes it and sees it is a message from Rishabh. she quickly opens it.

I need you.

Madhu without thinking anything else, runs to Rishabh's room. she opens the door and sees Rishabh sitting on the foot of the bed. She closes the door and locks it.

He looks up at her and she could see that he was very sad and miserable. She walks to him and the moment she reached him, Rishabh wraps his hand around her waist and hugs her. Madhu hugs him and gently runs her hand on his shoulder to console him.

"I told you about the interview." Rishabh starts as he rested his face on her stomach.

"Hmmm."

"I was about to get it. the boss was Dad's friend and he had called Dad to tell him that he was going to hire me and Dad told him not to." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu hugs him tight not knowing how to console him.

"Why is it embarrassing for him if I work for someone else? I'm not doing anything illegal or demeaning then why he is feeling humiliated about it?" Rishabh asks her.

"Rishabh?"

"Hmmm?"

"Is it for us that you are not joining business or you never wanted to join?" Madhu asks him worriedly.

"I always knew that I have to join business, I didn't think of any other career option."

"And now?"

"What now?"

"If it was not for our marriage, would you still want to join business?"

After a long thoughtful pause, Rishabh confesses. "Maybe."

"Then you should join." Madhu tells him.

"No." Rishabh stubbornly says. "I can't be depended on him."

"Do you want to start your own business?" Madhu asks him gently.

"You need lot of money for that, Madhu. and Dad would throttle all my efforts for a loan." Rishabh dejectedly says. "Worst comes to worst, Sultan has offered me a job. I didn't take it. he said to just tell him if I change my mind."

"Will 1 crore be enough to start business?" Madhu asks him nervously.

Rishabh leans back and looks at her in shock. "You are asking as if you have it."

"Not yet, next month." Madhu tells him.

"What?" Rishabh asks confused.

"Papa had started a FD in my name. then he used to give me pocket money, but I never needed any money because Papa and Nani used to take care of all my needs. When Papa found out of his cancer, he had a FD, he made me the nominee. when I turn 21 I will get all that money." Madhu explains to him.

Rishabh looks at her in shock.

"Everything together, more or less... actually more than 1 crore. You can start a small business with that."

"Nanu left that for you, Madhu." Rishabh tells her.

"For us." Madhu tells him.

"It's yours, Madhu." Rishabh argues.

"You spend money for my college, my studies, the clothes I wear. And I can't give you money?" Madhu asks him in shock.

"It's not that."

"Then?"

"because I want to achieve whatever it is on my own." Rishabh tells her.

Though Madhu didn't agree with it, she accepts it as it is his career and wish.

*********

Madhu smiles at Rishabh as they sneaked into their room at night. The moment the door was closed, they turned to each other and started hungrily kissing each other.

They part breathless and Rishabh smiles. Smiling happily, Madhu walk to the window, he sits on the foot of the bed as he watched her.

Madhu watches the rain feeling a peace engulf her. As Madhu watched the rain, she starts to blush feeling the tingling sensation on her neck. "You are staring." Madhu shyly tells him without looking at him.

Madhu hears him chuckle. She turns to look at him and sees him lightly blushing as he stood up and walked to her.

"Why do you stare like this?" Madhu asks him smiling and blushing.

"it still amazes me. you look so different now." Rishabh explains as he stood next to her. "At times, I find it so hard to believe."

"How different?" Madhu asks him.

"You used to be a kid. A typical school girl." Rishabh tells her chuckling.

"And now?" Madhu asks smiling.

Rishabh's smile drops and an intense looks come into his eyes.

Seeing the change in him, Madhu's breathing get hard. "Now? How do I look like?"

Looking into her eyes, Rishabh steps closer to her and replies. "My wife."

Madhu felt as if his gaze was piercing her soul.

"Did I change?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu nods.

"How?"

"You used to be Papa's soft spoken grandson."

"And now?"

Looking into his eyes, Madhu replies, her voice was a bare whisper. "My man."

Next second, Rishabh's lips was on hers. Madhu wraps her hand around him and pull him close as she hungrily kissed him back.

"Madhu?" Rishabh gasps against her lips.

She knew what he was asking. "Yes."

Rishabh hungrily kisses her as his hands went to remove her clothes.

*********

A week later, Rishabh was in Nani's room with her and Madhu. Rishabh was lying next to Nani while Madhu sat at the foot of the bed.

Hearing his mobile ring, he picks it up. "It's Mukund." Rishabh informs as he answered the call.

As he spoke on the phone, Madhu checked her phone. as she was scrolling through her phone, she feels his toe brushing against her stomach. Curious, Madhu looks up and sees Rishabh cheekily grin at her as he spoke on the phone. she blushes as she glared at him. then she feels his foot trying to slide inside her kurta through the slit. She hits his foot as she worriedly looked at Nani and sees her busy looking for the TV remote.

When he kept doing it, Madhu tickles his foot and he pulls back immediately. Madhu silently laughs at him. Rishabh grins at her, silently promising her to take revenge at night.

"It's Trishna's birthday." Rishabh says out loud as he hung up the call. "Mukund has a small get together tomorrow late night at their place. Sultan and Dipali will come. he invited you also."

"Me?" Madhu asks surprised.

"It will be just the six of us."

"But how can I come?"

"it is at 11 in the night. We'll leave after everyone has gone to sleep and come back before everyone wakes up."

*********

They all were chatting, when Dipali turns to Madhu. "Madhu, you tell us your love story. this guy, just doesn't say a word when we ask."

"Yeah... we know that you guys have known each other forever. Madhu's father was like your Nanu's best friend and right hand man. That is all he says." Mukund tells her.

"Yeah, I am so curious, how and when you fell in love. For Mukund and me, it was love at first sight. Dipali and Sultan it was an arranged marriage. you guys have practically known each other since you were babies. So, when was the turning point." Trishna asks curiously.

"There is nothing to tell. Just a mundane story." Rishabh brushes it off.

"You know... when you refuse to say, it makes me wonder whether you did something very embarrassing or very naughty to make Madhu say yes." Sultan thoughtfully says.

"Nothing, guys." Rishabh says brushing off.

"You should tell them." Madhu tells Rishabh.

Rishabh looks at her surprised. "You serious."

"They are our friends. They were there for us." Madhu tells him.

"Okay... now, I am very curious." Dipali says hearing that.

"Me too." Mukund declares eagerly.

Rishabh looks at Madhu and she nods. "Okay!" Rishabh says loudly. "Wife insists."

*********

Seeing the shocked expression on their friends, Rishabh looks at Madhu wondering whether they did right by telling them.

"Okay... *phew*... so criminals... huh?" Sultan asks trying to break the ice.

Rishabh and Madhu laughs hearing that.

"You shouldn't have married Rishabh, Madhu." Mukund tells her shaking his head.

"Why?" Rishabh asks frowning.

"It is practically incest." Mukund tells him.

"What?" Rishabh shouts in shock.

"She is your grandparents adopted daughter which makes her your mother's sister. Which makes her your aunt." Mukund points out.

"Dog!" Rishabh chuckles as he threw the cushion at him.

"Oh yeah!" Dipali laughs. "Seriously, when you said you would marry her, Madhu would have thought, what is this kid thinking!"

"So, did you use to call her Masi before?" Trishna asks laughing.

"Masi Ma." Madhu replies.

For a second everyone looks at her in shock. Seeing their shock, Madhu laughs out loud. "He used to call me Madhu."

"And you? Considering he was your nephew." Sultan asks teasingly.

"She also used to call me..." Rishabh stops in shock. He looks at Madhu in astonishment. "How the hell didn't I realize that?"

Madhu laughs hearing that.

"What?" Everyone asks curiously.

Rishabh turns to them in amazement. "Nanu told her to call me Rishabh Bhaiyya. I didn't like being called that, so I told her to call me Rishabh. and you know my Mom." Rishabh stops uncomfortably then shrugging he says, "She wanted Madhu to call me Rishabh Sir. Nanu and I didn't want that. Nanu and Mom had an argument."

"Then?" Dipali asks.

"They were arguing and Madhu just ups and walks out saying she promised to visit a friend, so she is going to meet her." Rishabh says with a grin.

"What?" Mukund asks shocked and confused.

"Once she left, Nanu knew the argument would be a waste of time and energy because Madhu was not there to finalize a decision. I didn't hang around. So, he also walked off, and Mom didn't have anyone to argue with and that ended the argument."

"Very smart." Sultan tells Madhu impressed. "Not picking a side and silently showed your view on the whole issue."

Madhu slightly blushes. "Not very fond of confrontations. I rather have peace."

"Then what did she call you in the end?" Trishna asks curiously.

Rishabh turns to Madhu and says. "Nothing. She never called me anything."

Madhu cheekily grins.

"How did she manage all this time?" Sultan asks confused.

Madhu smugly shrugs.

"Sneaky you!" Rishabh tells her amazed.

Madhu chuckles heartily.

Hearing the mobile ring, Trishna excitedly picks it up. "It's my parents calling to wish." Trishna informs them.

Trishna answers the call. After parents wished her, Trishna introduced Madhu to them and they spoke to all the friends. After that, Mukund and Trishna were talking to her parents. Sultan got busy on his mobile. Seeing that Dipali and Rishabh were talking, Madhu steps out into the balcony.

*********

Madhu was lost in thoughts when she feels a pair of hands snaking on her waist. She smiles and leans back as she turned her face to look at Rishabh.

"What's my sneaky wife doing here?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu smiles hearing that. then she leans towards him and he bends down and takes her lips in his. They lovingly kiss.

Madhu leans back and smiles at him. she lovingly keeps her hand on his left cheek then she kisses his right cheek. "Rishu." Madhu softly calls him.

Rishabh smiles hearing her call him that. he hugs her tight and rests his head on the crook of her neck. Madhu smiles and leans back on him.

"Dipali has gone to get the cake. It is time to cut the cake. We'll go in?" Rishabh asks her.

"I was thinking." Madhu replies.

"What?"

"Sometimes life is so unfair and strange." Madhu tells him as she looked ahead at the night sky.

"What do you mean?" Rishabh asks her.

"Mukund and Trishna are in love. They are not married but they are staying together. Their parents are happy for them. and look at us. we are married. We have to hide from the world and spend time together. We are worried of the day your parents will find out about our marriage."

Rishabh sighs sadly hearing that.

"Why is that our love is not getting the respect and acceptance that Mukund's and Trishna's love got?" Madhu asks him.

"Our love?" Rishabh asks grinning happily.

Madhu chuckles.

"One day will come when we won't have to hide our love and marriage." Rishabh promises her.

Madhu doesn't say anything. When she remained silent, Rishabh hugs her tighter.

Lost in thoughts, Madhu tells him. "Papa wanted to legally adopt me. I didn't want it because I thought if he adopts me then my Baba will no longer be my Baba. But Papa explained to me that just because if they adopt me it doesn't make me, not my Baba's daughter. I don't have to change my surname. this was for a sense of belonging. That the house and the people were mine. So, I agreed." Madhu tells him. "But your mother didn't agree. They fought a lot and in the end they didn't adopt me."

Rishabh sighs sadly and in anger. "I didn't know. Nanu and nani always called you their daughter, so I thought..."

"It didn't matter, Rishu. even without adopting me, I never felt that I wasn't their daughter. I felt as I belonged because they loved me like their own. Your mother wanted me to stop calling Papa, Papa and I used to call Nani, Ma that time. she insisted I stop."

"I know that. I was there when that fight happened." Rishabh tells her regretfully.

"Papa remained adamant that I call him Papa because he didn't want to differentiate between his two daughters. But Nani gave in to appease your mother and asked me to call her Badi Ma. You know that, right?" Madhu asks him.

"Yes."

"That is why you asked me to call Nani, Nani. But you never asked me to call Papa, Nanu."

"Mom wasn't fair with you." Rishabh agrees.

"Whether I call her Badi Ma, Ma or Nani, it won't change anything between us. whatever I call her, she will always be my mother. If it was anyone else who had asked me to do it, I wouldn't have started calling her Nani. It was because you had asked me." Madhu tells him.

"Why?" Rishabh asks surprised.

Madhu shrugs. "I don't know."

"Is it because I am your husband?"

"Don't know... maybe... or maybe, I always saw a lot of Papa in you. maybe because that was the moment I realized that you really married me. that you had concern for me."

"I always wanted you to get your rights, Madhu."

Madhu smiles and tells him. "I know you have this need to protect me, Rishu. but I am not weak."

Rishabh grins.

Madhu looks at him and sees him grinning. "Don't forget mister, my father is a man who died fighting for what he believed in and I was raised by a man who didn't fear any, not even his arrogant daughter."

Hearing the last bit, Rishabh chuckles. "Really?"

"And unlike them, I don't fight fair." Madhu boasts.

"Oh yeah? I've never seen you fight." Rishabh teases her.

Madhu turns thoughtful and says "I've seen life, Rishu. You might have traveled more than me and met more people but I have seen more of life than you. I've struggled in life. I watched my mother slowly dying. Everyone said she had a weak heart. she did." Then looking at Rishabh, Madhu tells him. "She is the bravest person I know. She knew her heart was giving out on her, but she was so strong, hopeful and positive. We all knew, she was dying and she was the one who gave us all courage, till the end."

Rishabh sighs and holds Madhu tight.

"Then one day, Baba didn't come home. Papa came and told me what had happened. Papa said that I've him and Nani. I went with them. Rest you know."

"Life has been so unfair with you." Rishabh tells her sadly.

"Life always gave me something worth living for." Madhu corrects him. "So, don't worry, Rishu. I'm not weak and I'll fight if I've to." Madhu promises him. "You won't have to fight for us alone."

"You hate confrontations, Madhu." Rishabh gently points out.

"I do but that doesn't mean I won't fight."

"You never did."

"That is because there was never anything that I felt was worth a fight." Madhu tells him.

"And now?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu turns around and in reply takes his lips in hers and kisses him. Rishabh hugs her and hungrily kisses her.

"Let's cut the cake, Rishabh an... OH MY GOD!" Dipali shouts and runs back in.

**********

Madhu was about to fall asleep when Rishabh's words reach her. "I was talking to Sultan today."

Pulling the blanket to her chest, Madhu turns to face him.

"In 4 days we will get the marriage certificate." Rishabh tells her.

"About that?" Madhu asks.

"No..." Rishabh replies as he turned to face her. he kisses her on her shoulder then he gently runs his hand over her naked back.

Madhu smiles feeling his touch. "Don't think that is a good idea when you are in the mood to talk."

Rishabh chuckles as he leaned back and rested his head on the pillow.

"So, what were you talking with Sultan?" Madhu asks as she rested her head on her palm.

"I'm taking the job he offered." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu frowns hearing that. "You are taking that job?"

"Yeah... I think that is the best. Dad keeps screwing all my chances." Rishabh tells her.

"You said you wanted to do something own your own without anyone's help." Madhu reminds him as she pulled up her blanket to her chest and sat up to face him.

"Yeah but Madhu I just wanted to have a stability before..." Rishabh says as he sat up.

"You refused to take the money Baba left me." Madhu accuses him. "Yeah, I'll get it only in 3 weeks but till then we can manage."

"Nanu left it for you, Madhu." Rishabh tells her.

"It is my money, so it is our money." Madhu argues.

"You should do something with that money."

"Why won't you take it?" Madhu asks angrily.

"It's yours, Madhu."

Madhu furiously gets up from the bed as she pulled the blanket from the bed. "What about you giving my college fee?"

"Madhu... that is different."

"How is that different from you using the money Papa had set aside for us?"

"Erm..." Rishabh uncomfortably looks at her.

"You think I have no money to pay my own college fees? Papa has given me more than enough for that." Madhu angrily tells him. "But I still took your money for my studies because Nani said that it would make you happy. That you will feel that you were doing your bit for me. and I shouldn't differentiate it as my money and your money."

"Madhu, you are blowing it out of proportion."

"I wouldn't have said anything if you didn't have an issue working for Sultan. But you have and still you went ahead with it."

"Because that is the practical solution." Rishabh argues.

Madhu stares at him for a long time then she tells him. "Swear to me that you prefer working for Sultan than having your own business."

Rishabh gulps hearing that, he had no answer to that question that would not anger her further. Somewhere in him, he knew that he was not taking the money because he believed it was the husband's duty to provide for his wife, and not the other way around.

Seeing him hesitating, Madhu furiously picks up her clothes and starts wearing it.

"Babes, what are you doing?" Rishabh asks her in shock seeing her walking towards the door.

Madhu furiously turns to look at him then without saying anything, she rips open the door and walks off.

Rishabh sighs.

********

Next morning, Madhu opens the bedroom door and sees Rishabh. she leaves the door open and walks back into the room.

"Come, Rishu." Nani calls him seeing Rishabh standing by the door and watching Madhu. "What happened? Why are you just standing there?"

Rishabh walks towards his grandmother. "Nani..." Rishabh nervously looks at Madhu and sees her acting as if she was busy with her college books. "I got a job." He sees Madhu's face turn angrier.

"That is nice, Rishu." Nani says happily.

"I'm going to tell Mom and Dad about our marriage." Rishabh informs her and Madhu turns to look at him in shock.

"You should, Rishu." Nani smiles and tells him though she looked worried.

Rishabh walks towards Madhu and extends his hand towards her.

Even though they had a disagreement, Madhu knew it was a time for them to stand together for their marriage. putting aside everything else, she keeps her hand in his.

Rishabh holds her hand and squeezes it gently. "Everything is going to be okay." Rishabh promises her.

"I am not scared." Madhu tells him.

"You are not?" Rishabh asks with a slight proud smile.

Madhu shakes her head. "I've been preparing for this day for 3 years."

*******

Madhu and Rishabh walk hand in hand towards his parents with Nani walking behind them.

Radha was the first one to notice them. she frowns seeing them holding hands.

"What is happening?" Radha asks frowning in displeasure.

"You always asked Madhu for her husband." Rishabh reminds her.

"Is he coming back?" Mohan asks unable to hide his shock.

"For him to come back, he never left her, Dad." Rishabh tells him.

"Why are you holding her hand, Rishabh?" Radha asks.

Hearing her, Mohan looks at their hand and gets angry seeing it. "What are you doing, Rishabh?"

Rishabh tightens his hold on Madhu's hand and informs his parents. "I am Madhu's husband."

Radha turns furious and asks Madhu. "Your husband left you, so you are trapping my son now?"

"I am Madhu's husband, Mom!" Rishabh angrily repeats.

"It was Rishu who married Madhu." Nani informs them.

"What?" Mohan asks shocked. "How the hell is that possible? He wasn't even 21 then."

"That is true but I had married Madhu then."

"HOW DARE YOU, RISHABH?" Mohan asks furiously.

"YOU GOT MY SON TO MARRY THIS PARASITE?" Radha furiously asks Nani.

"Mind your tongue, Mom. Madhu is my wife." Rishabh angrily tells her.

"That marriage is not legal! That was not a marriage." Mohan says furiously.

"We accept that marriage." Rishabh informs his parents in finality.

"THIS IS NOT A MARRIAGE!" Mohan says furiously.

"YOU WERE TRAPPED BY HER! JUST LIKE HOW SHE TRAPPED PAPA AND MA!" Radha says furiously.

"It was my decision to marry Madhu. I had suggested it." Rishabh argues.

"Stop accusing Madhu for everything, Radha. Why do you hate her so much?" Nani asks sadly.

"Because she is a parasite who has been feeding on us since she is born." Radha says angrily.

"How can you forget the sacrifice that Madhu's father made for Nanu?" Rishabh asks her in shock.

"Can you stop bringing it up at every instant to glorify her and her father?" Radha asks furiously. "That was his duty! To protect Papa!"

"How can you belittle..." Rishabh furiously starts.

"Rishu..." Madhu gently calls him.

Rishabh turns to her.

"I've to go to college. even it is your first day of work. let's not be late." Madhu tells him. "I'm going to get ready. You also get ready. I'll try to come early so I can shift to our room."

Saying that Madhu walked off leaving behind a shocked Rishabh, Nani, Radha and Mohan. Rishabh turns to look at his parents and seeing their shock, he couldn't help the smirk. Smirking, he walks off to his room.

*********

"How could you let this happen right under your nose?" Mohan furiously asks Radha.

"It happened even under your nose!" Radha angrily counters.

"Your mother got my son married to that thrash!" Mohan says furiously. "And she had the nerve to bring that girl under my roof! I will not forgive her!"

"Even I won't." Radha furiously vows.

"How didn't you know that they had got Rishabh to marry that girl?" Mohan asks still reeling from his shock.

Radha sighs as she looked away.

"Didn't you even ask her husband's name?" Mohan asks her.

"Why should I?"

Mohan looks at her confused and says "You gave her that sim card so that you can keep an eye on her husband!"

"She never made any ISD calls!" Radha argues exasperated. "I thought he had absconded after the wedding night! And she didn't have his number to call him!"

"Then why were you keeping her here instead of kicking her out?"

"Because Ma used to fight with me for her!"

Mohan scoffs.

"Every time I told her that her husband will not come for her, Ma used to defend him." Radha says furiously. "Now I understand why she had so much faith in him."

"That was why that day Rishabh was defending." Mohan says remembering.

Radha thoughtfully looks at him. "I thought she had tricked him and gained his sympathy like she did with Papa and Ma." Then stopping in shock, she whispers. "I didn't realize that Rishabh was defending himself."

"He wasn't defending himself. He was promising her that he will uphold the marriage." Mohan reminds her angrily.

"He'll not uphold that marriage." Radha says angrily.

*********

Madhu was coming out of her college in the evening when she finds Radha waiting for her. Madhu walks to her.

"Get in." Radha orders her.

Without a word, Madhu follows her into the car. As the driver started the car, Madhu waited for Radha to speak.

"I want you out of my son's life." Radha orders Madhu.

"We are married." Madhu tells her.

"that marriage has no validity!!!"

"We love each other."

"Love!" Radha scoffs. "he is with you because he thinks you are married. You emotionally blackmailed him to marry you. you trapped him! just like how you trapped my parents!" Radha accuses her.

"I didn't trap anyone." Madhu tells her then frowning she asks. "Where are we going?" this was not the route to Kundra Mansion.

"You are not even worthy to be my servant and you think I would take you to my home as my son's wife?" Radha asks furiously.

"Stop the car." Madhu tells the driver.

"The car will stop when it reaches the destination." Radha tells Madhu. "Tell me how much you need to get out of our lives?"

"I don't need your money. I've money. Papa has..." Madhu argues.

"You mean that bheek that my father left you?" Radha asks her furiously.

"Whatever you want to call it, for me, it is Papa's blessings and love."

Radha scoffs. "You think I believe all that rubbish?"

Madhu shakes her head as she looked out the window. She had no idea where Rishu's mother was taking her. Madhu takes her mobile to call Rishabh, just in case she has to inform him where she was.

"If you think that you will have this luxurious life then you are mistaken. If Rishabh insists on being with you, Mohan will kick him out and cut him out of the will." Radha threatens her. "So, it is better you tell us your prize. You'll have something."

"I'll have Rishu." Madhu reminds her.

Radha scoffs. "For how long?"

"Always." Madhu tells her then she informs her. "Rishu knows that you won't accept us and you might ask us to leave home. We are prepared for that."

Radha takes a sharp furious breath. "Prepared for what? he was raised in the lap of luxury. The money that my father left you will last him for what... months? A year? He is the only heir to a fortune that is 500... 1000 times more than that. do you think he is going to be happy or adjust to that life?" Radha asks her.

Madhu stops in shock hearing that. She knew, Rishu was raised in the lap of luxury and was always meant to lead their business. He was going to work under someone only because of their marriage and it was not what he had wanted or still wants. He was still doing that, because he has no other option. Will he regret having to give up all that he has and all that he is rightful to inherit?

"Get out." Radha tells her.

Madhu looks out and realizes that the car had stopped and that too in front of the railway station. Madhu turns to look at Radha in confusion.

Radha snatches her mobile. "Get out of my son's life." Radha tells her as she shoved a signed blank cheque in her hand.

**********

"Her phone is switched off." Rishabh says worriedly.

Mohan and Radha slyly smile at each other.

"You should have called me when Madhu didn't reach on time, Nani!" Rishabh says as he worriedly tried her number again.

"After what happened in the morning, I thought Madhu and you might have gone somewhere." Nani replies.

"Whenever we go anywhere, Madhu always informs you!" Rishabh reminds her.

Radha and Mohan share a look hearing that.

"I'll go to her college and check." Rishabh tells Nani.

"Call me when you find her." Nani worriedly tells him.

"I will." Rishabh replies then seeing her worried, he reassures her. "I will find her."

Nani nods.

Rishabh was about to walk off when he notices his parents. He stops in shock and asks suspiciously. "Do you two have anything to do with Madhu being late?"

"I told her to leave." Radha replies.

"She won't leave me." Rishabh tells her.

"Gave her a blank Cheque. I think that was a good motivation for her." Radha informs him.

"My wife can't be bought." Rishabh informs her furiously.

"Then where is your wife?" Mohan asks him.

Rishabh stops worriedly.

"I am here." Madhu replies.

Rishabh turns to the sound and sees Madhu standing there. He runs to her and hugs her. "You scared me. Where were you?"

"Railway station."

"What?" Rishabh asks confused. "What were you doing there?"

"Waiting for an auto or taxi to come home." Madhu replies as she looked at Radha.

Rishabh looks at his parents and sees them glaring at Madhu.

"You left Madhu there?" Rishabh asks shocked.

"Why don't you leave?" Radha asks her outraged. "I offered you money as much as you need then why didn't you leave?"

Madhu walks to Radha and takes her hand. She keeps the Cheque in her hand. "I don't want your money. My biggest treasure, my wealth is my Rishu."

"He is not yours!!!" Radha furiously shouts.

"I am." Rishabh replies furiously.

Madhu walks back to Rishabh. "Your mother said something."

"What?" Rishabh asks frowning at his mother.

"That you might leave home for me but later, you will regret giving up all this wealth." Madhu tells him.

Rishabh frowns hearing that. "What?"

"Think again, Rishu. If we have to leave all this behind, then we might never have this kind of luxury in life. So, please think long and hard and make a choice. I'll wait outside. If you want me to come back in, then I will. Or if you think that you might doubt this decision of yours then tell me that. I will leave." Madhu tells him.

She turns to leave when Rishabh holds her hand. Madhu turns to look at him.

"More than the wealth or comforts in life, I want you. You are my peace and happiness. I will not regret choosing you ever in life." Rishabh vows to her.

Madhu gulps in relief hearing that.

"I choose you, Madhu. I will always choose you." Rishabh tells her then he cheekily adds. "Even if you fight with me and walk out of the room in the middle of the night."

Madhu couldn't help smile hearing that. "I choose you, Rishu. Even if your ego, infuriates me, I will choose you." Madhu replies to him.

Chuckling, Rishabh holds her hand tight. "Let's shift your stuff into our room and fight over the cupboard space."

Madhu chuckles hearing that.

**********

"How was your first day of work?" Madhu asks Rishabh as she kept her clothes in his cupboard neatly.

"It was good. Just learning the drill." Rishabh replies as he arranged her books on his table. He worriedly looks at her and asks, "Are you still angry with me?"

"I am but I can't force you to do what I want." Madhu replies.

Rishabh sighs then he tells her. "I'm sorry."

Madhu turns to him confused. "For?"

"For what my parents did."

"You're not responsible for that and I did expect it."

"Are you okay about staying here?" Rishabh asks her.

Madhu looks at him. "You want to stay here."

Rishabh nods and gently tells her. "I just want to give this a try. A chance. They are my parents. so, before I leave all this behind or they ask me to leave, I just wanted to try my all. so tomorrow, I'll know that I tried my best. So, I won't have regrets regarding leaving my parents. I will have this relief that I didn't abandon them."

Madhu nods understanding. "Once we get our marriage legalized, then they really won't be able to do anything about our marriage. so, I guess, it will be accepting or kicking us out."

Rishabh sighs. "Till we get our marriage certificate, they shouldn't find out. I just don't want Dad to cause any kind of issues. He will even bribe and get our marriage application rejected."

"I know. I've told Nani also."

Rishabh nods then chuckling Rishabh jokes. "We are setting up all your stuff here. If we have to leave home, then it will be double the work for us."

Madhu chuckles then she explains to him. "This is not for me to settle here, this is for your parents to see, how serious we are about our marriage."

Rishabh smiles understanding.

They were getting ready to sleep when they hear a knock on the door. Rishabh opens the door and finds Mohan and Radha.

"What now?" Rishabh asks tired. "Madhu and I had a long day, we just want to sleep."

"You think that I would let her stay here?" Mohan asks angrily.

"She is my wife, Dad." Rishabh tells him fed up.

"You are determined to keep her here?" Mohan asks him.

"Yes!"

"Then listen to what I am going to do first thing in the morning." Mohan tells them challengingly.

"What?" Rishabh asks frowning.

"I'm going to go to the police and file a complaint."

"What complaint?" Rishabh asks confused.

"That my mother-in-law got my underage son to marry her underage ward."

"What?" Madhu asks frowning in shock as she walked towards them.

"Have you gone crazy?" Rishabh asks his father in shock.

"You leave us no choice, Rishabh." Mohan tells him.

"Us?" Madhu asks frowning as she turned to Radha. "You're with him on this?"

"Yes." Radha replies furiously. "If I could I would throw you also in jail but I can't."

"So, you would throw Nani to jail?" Rishabh asks furiously.

"No, that would be you, Rishabh. you choose your Nani then she won't go to jail. But if you choose this leach then Nani will go to jail." Radha warns him.

"That's our mother!" Madhu angrily reminds her.

"She is my mother! Not yours!" Radha furiously reminds her.

"And you would threaten to put her in jail?" Madhu asks her in shock.

"I will. If I have to then I will." Radha stubbornly replies.

"How can you, Mom?" Rishabh asks her in shock, his eyes filling up.

"She betrayed me! she made me a fool!"

"So, you'll threaten her like this?" Rishabh asks her in shock.

Radha looks at Rishabh, a little guilty for this but she adamantly replies, "This girl will never be a part of my family."

Mohan turns to Madhu and tells her. "When we wake up, you shouldn't be here. If you are here, then your mother won't be here."

*********

"We've to leave." Rishabh tells Madhu hurriedly.

Madhu looks at Rishabh still furious at the threat.

"We've to take Nani with us." Rishabh tells her as he paced the room. "I don't know how serious they are about the threat but we can't take any chances. We've to leave right this night."

"Nani shouldn't know that they threatened us with that." Madhu tells Rishabh.

Rishabh nods. "We'll have to leave the city. We can't go to Nani's house, they will look for us there." Rishabh says as he planned out loud. "We'll come back after we get our marriage certificate, once we get that, even if they threaten us with this, we can lie that we got married only now and the child marriage was a lie to convince my parents."

"We can lie even now." Madhu points out.

"We can but we can't take a chance. What if they bring the pundit who conducted our wedding? Once our marriage is legalized there isn't anything they can do. Let's just go, Madhu." Rishabh urgently tells her.

"Do you know why Papa was so worried about me?" Madhu asks him as she thoughtfully looked at him.

"Because he felt he didn't fulfill his promise to your father." Rishabh replies confused at the question.

"The promise was to look after me and to get me married to a good man."

"I know."

"He wasn't worried about the marriage, Rishu." Madhu tells him as she looked at him in realization.

"Then?" Rishabh asks confused.

"It was about who was going to be in charge of me." Madhu explains.

"What?" Rishabh asks offended at the phrase of the sentence.

Madhu shakes her head. "I was a minor then."

"Nani was in charge of you." Rishabh points out.

"But Nani always fell weak in front of your mother." Madhu reminds him.

"What are you saying, Madhu?" Rishabh asks confused.

"I finally understood, Rishu. Papa's biggest fear was he would have to tell his friend that he left me at the mercy of your mother." Madhu tells him.

Hearing that, Rishabh understood that it could be true. The only reason Nani had been strong against Mom was because Madhu was his wife, otherwise, maybe Nani would have broken earlier and let Mom dictate Madhu's life.

"Only after I told him that I would marry if it would ease him, did he decide that I would be able to access my money only when I turn 21. He wanted to be sure that I had financial security but that be available to me only when I was old enough so that no one could manipulate it." Madhu tells him.

"Madhu, that is all true but right now, we have to leave." Rishabh tells her. "You take your stuff; I'll go wake up Nani."

Rishabh turns to leave the room when Madhu's voice reaches him. "I'm going to sleep."

"What?" Rishabh turns to her in shock.

"Good night." Madhu tells him as she walked to the bed.

"Madhu, what are you doing? We have no time." Rishabh tells her in exasperation.

Madhu turns to him and tells him in finality. "If you want to leave, we'll leave together, Rishu. If you don't want to leave, then I'll stay here. Whatever we do, we will do it in front of them, not run away like thieves. If we leave, we'll walk out in front of them."

"Madhu, it is not about us, it is about Nani!" Rishabh reminds her fed up.

"Papa didn't want me to be at your mother's mercy and I'll not be at her mercy!" Madhu furiously tells him.

"Do we have a choice?" Rishabh asks her understanding her frustration.

"I'm done, Rishabh. I'm done respecting them. I'm done keeping quiet." Madhu tells him.

"Madhu..." Rishabh tries to hold her to calm her down.

"She belittled my father's death but I didn't say anything. I let it go, for you. but now, she has threatened my mother. I'm not going to take any more of her tantrums."

"I know, Madhu. they have gone too far this time." Rishabh agrees.

"They are not going to get any more consideration or respect because they are your parents or Nani's daughter and son-in-law. They won't be getting the respect that their age demands." Madhu tells him in finality.

Rishabh nods accepting.

Madhu furiously gets on the bed and lies down to sleep.

"Madhu... what will we do?" Rishabh asks her in confusion as he got on the bed. "We both can manage but Nani... please listen to me, Madhu, we'll leave."

Madhu turns to him and tells him. "They threatened us, I'll threaten them back."

"How?" Rishabh asks shocked.

"I'll threaten to file a case against them. domestic violence."

"But our marriage..."

"We are living together, Rishu in your house." Madhu tells him.

"You would do that?" Rishabh asks her shocked.

"If I want then I will threaten them that I'll file a habeas corpus that they have kept my fiancé and my mother locked away." Madhu replies shrugging. "It will only be true if they kick me out but still... I can threaten them that I will leave home and file the petition if they threaten me with Nani."

"You really would?" Rishabh asks still in shock.

"There is one more that I can threaten them with, but it will be a lie, so..."

"What is that?" Rishabh asks her curiously.

*********

Early morning, Rishabh and Madhu went to look for his parents. they stop in shock seeing Nani sitting with them.

"How come you are here? You would be in your room at this time." Madhu asks her surprised.

"Radha told me to come and sit here. Said she wants to talk to me." Nani replies as she looked at Radha and Mohan.

"I guess; you've come to say your goodbye." Jhaniv asks smirking.

"No." Madhu replies.

"What?" Radha asks her smirk dropping.

"Let's take Nani to her room." Madhu tells Rishabh.

Rishabh nods and tells his mother. "Nani doesn't have to hear what you said last night."

"She will stay there." Radha says furiously. "You think I won't do that?"

"Enough, Radha!" Madhu tells her angrily.

Everybody stops in shock hearing Madhu. all turn to look at Madhu, including Rishabh.

"Madhu?" Nani calls her in shock. "What are you doing? How can you call Radha by her name?"

"Mom had it coming, Nani." Rishabh tells her.

"Did you... did you just..." Radha stammers in shock.

"Give respect and take respect. And you never did, Radha." Madhu tells her.

"How dare you?" Mohan asks her furiously.

"Dare what, Mohan?" Madhu asks him challengingly.

Mohan stops in shock.

Radha furiously turns to her mother. "Did you see your darling daughter's true colors?"

"One more time you raise your voice at my mother, I'll slap you, Radha." Madhu warns her.

Rishabh's eyes widen in shock.

Radha stops in shock.

"If you value your mother then leave my house!" Mohan tells her.

"I'll. But then my husband insists on coming with me and I'm taking my mother with me." Madhu tells him.

"They will not come anywhere with you!" Radha tells her.

"That is not your decision to make." Rishabh tells her.

"You would leave us for her?" Radha asks Rishabh in shock.

"I'll. I love her."

"After you witness how she is behaving?" Radha asks him.

"She is fighting for us." Rishabh tells her.

"Fight?" Radha scoffs.

"Choose your battles wisely. If you are going to fight for every single thing, no one is going to take you seriously and all you'll be is a screaming shrew." Madhu tells Radha. "And this battle, I'm going to fight."

"Let's see." Radha replies then staring challenging at Madhu, she says out loud. "Mohan, call the police. Ask them to come and arrest Ma."

"What?" Nani whispers in shock.

"MOM!" Rishabh furiously shouts at her.

Madhu turns to look at Nani and sees her staring at Radha in horror and shock. Madhu hurries to her and sitting next to her, she hugs her.

"Madhu, what is she saying?" Nani asks hurt.

"Nothing, Nani... Mom is blabbering." Rishabh tells her as he hurried to her.

"You let my son marry her, and you think I would easily forgive you? he was underage, that is enough to send you to prison." Radha tells her.

"Shut up, Mom." Rishabh furiously tells her. "How many times do I have to tell you that it was my decision?"

"Radha, you would..." Nani asks her eyes filling with tears.

"I won't. your Madhu will. If she leaves then, I'll forgive you. if you die in jail then Madhu is responsible for it." Radha tells her.

"She is your own mother!" Madhu reminds her furiously.

"How can you forget that in your hatred towards Madhu?" Rishabh asks her angrily.

"You don't know?" Nani asks Rishabh in shock.

"What?" Rishabh asks her confused.

"You never told him?" Nani asks Radha in shock.

"Enough! Not another word." Radha warns her.

Rishabh looks at his mother and sees her all pale and nervous.

"What is it?" Rishabh asks Nani.

"Don't say a word." Radha warns her.

Nani looks at Radha and informs Rishabh. "Radha was adopted."

"What?" Rishabh asks in shock.

"You were not supposed to tell that to anyone!" Radha furiously says as she marched to Nani. "How dare you tell them that you old..."

"MOVE AWAY FROM MY MOTHER, RADHA!" Madhu says furiously as she stood in between them.

"That is my mother!" Radha furiously tells her. "Not yours!"

"I am her mother too." Nani tells her.

Radha furiously looks at her.

"Did you know, Dad?" Rishabh asks still reeling from the shock.

Mohan furiously looks at Rishabh.

"We told him. He said all he cared about was Radha. Just few months before that only Radha found out she was adopted and she had stopped talking to us. that is when Mohan had come asking for Radha's hand in marriage. when he said that it didn't matter to him that Radha was adopted and Radha also loved him, so, Radha's Papa agreed for the wedding even though he was neck deep in debt. Radha's Papa gave him money and lands to start business and get back on his feet. Even this land this house is built on, was Radha's Papa's."

"Will you shut up?" Radha asks her furiously.

"This is why you never wanted them to adopt me." Madhu says realizing. "You didn't want both of us to have the same status in front of the society, as their adopted daughters."

"How dare you compare yourself to me?" Radha asks her. "I'm their daughter. you are a servant's daughter!"

"She is Malik's and Padmini's daughter." Nani agrees. "And she is our daughter too."

"I'm your only legal daughter!" Radha reminds her.

"You are not." Nani tells her.

"What?" Madhu asks confused as she turned to Nani.

"Nanu adopted Madhu?" Rishabh asks in shocked surprise.

"He wouldn't." Radha argues.

"Then I will say you don't know your father." Nani tells her. "Just because you didn't want it, doesn't mean that he would deny Madhu. for him you both were same and he adopted Madhu legally when she was 8 years old. And even in his will, you both have equal rights and shares on all his properties that he hasn't already given you both."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Madhu asks shocked, her eyes filling up.

"Because you adamantly said that you didn't want to hurt Radha and said that you didn't even want to talk about the adoption. Every time, we tried telling you, you would refuse to listen and walk off."

"You've been fooling me all my life!" Radha says furiously. "You should rot in jail."

"Since we have equal rights on our mother, I'm taking her with me." Madhu declares.

"No." Radha replies furiously. "You'll leave my house ALONE otherwise; our so called mother is going to jail."

"We are leaving, Mom." Rishabh declares. "Nani, Madhu and me!"

"Mohan, call the police."

Rishabh looks at his father and sees him taking his mobile to call. "What the hell are you waiting for Madhu?" Rishabh asks her having enough.

Sighing Madhu steps closer to Radha. Then looking into her eyes, Madhu tells her, "I'll leave."

"Good." Radha says with a smirk.

"The first place, I'll go to, is the police station." Madhu tells her.

"For what?" Radha asks chuckling. "If you tell anyone that you are my son's wife then our dear mother will be the first one to go to jail."

"No. I'll file another case."

"What case?" Mohan asks frowning.

"How old was Rishu when he got back? 23? An adult!" Madhu tells them smiling.

"SO?" Mohan asks.

"I'll tell them that he promised me that he will marry me and he took advantage of me. And now, he is saying he won't marry me." Madhu tells her.

"What?" Radha asks looking at her in shock.

"It is going to be big news; Rishu will be taken to court. Kundra family will be humiliated."

"You are leaving us for this girl?" Mohan asks Rishabh furiously.

"Yes." Rishabh replies confidently. "And in court I will accept that what Madhu said is the truth and even say that it is you both who is against our marriage."

"She is threatening to send you to jail." Radha furiously tells him.

"Didn't you threaten to send my mother to jail? So, I'm threatening to send your son to jail." Madhu tells her.

"You will not do such a thing." Mohan tells her angrily. Turning to Rishabh he tells him. "Rishabh, this vengeful girl will ruin our reputation. Do you know what will happen if she files such a case?"

"Then I suggest you shut up when we leave this house, and let us go peacefully." Rishabh tells his father.

Mohan and Radha furiously glares at them without saying anything.

Realizing they won, Rishabh smiles. "We'll leave soon. And I'll see you in office later today, Dad."

"What? Office?" Mohan asks confused.

"I'll be coming to office." Rishabh tells him.

"I don't want to see you anywhere near my office." Mohan warns him.

"When I turned 18, you made me Director in all your businesses, Dad. You can't just fire me over night." Rishabh tells him.

"You said you didn't want to work there." Mohan tells him angry, feeling as if he was losing his power.

"Yeah... you see..." Rishabh starts as he grinned at Madhu. "I was under the misconception that I need to protect my wife from the world." his smile going even wider, he says, "Now, I realize the truth, I need to protect the world from my wife."

Madhu chuckles with a slight blush.

********

"Where are we going?" Nani asks Rishabh slightly worried.

"I told Mukund what happened, Mukund insists that we stay with him." Rishabh tells them.

"But Rishu, they stay in a two-bedroom apartment." Madhu worriedly reminds him. "It will be trouble for them. we will find another place."

"I know, I told him that, he said we will adjust and manage. He is adamant that till we find a permanent place, that we stay with him." Rishabh tells them.

Madhu nods.

"I've money saved up, Rishu. if you need it for house,.." Nani starts to tell him.

"No, Nani. We can manage." Rishabh tells her confidently.

"He won't take money, Nani..." Madhu stops and turning to her, she says smiling. "I mean Ma."

Nani's eyes fill with happy tears. "My bacha." Nani says as she cupped her face.

"Are you okay about Rishabh's mother?" Madhu asks her worriedly.

Nani gulps and looks away.

Seeing her upset, Rishabh quickly changes the topic. "You didn't ask how I am going to manage getting the house."

"How?" Nani asks curiously.

Madhu also looks at him curiously.

"Did you know that I've a very rich wife?" Rishabh asks his grandmother cheekily.

"What?" Madhu turns to him surprised.

Seeing them happily smiling, Nani also smiles.

"So, she has these FD. We can keep that as collateral and get housing loan and car loans." Rishabh tells them.

"You would use that?" Madhu asks smiling happily.

"I'll pay off the loan." Rishabh tells her.

Madhu frowns hearing that.

"Nanu left it for you and your safety. So, like he wanted, you keep that money. once you finish your studies, maybe you can start your own business."

Madhu smiles hearing that. "I like that."

********

Epilogue

Mukund furiously walks to Rishabh. "Rishabh, can you control your son?" Mukund asks him in a furious whisper.

Rishabh who was intently staring turns to Mukund frowning in confusion "What?"

It was Nani's 85th birthday, and Rishabh and Madhu had invited their gang for dinner to their place.

"Your son is sitting with my daughter and every time I turn my gaze; he is kissing my poor baby." Mukund tells him.

Sultan chuckles hearing that.

"So, what? I have more serious things here!" Rishabh replies frowning angrily.

"What more serious thing than that?" Mukund asks shocked.

"Dipali's boy has been staring at my girl. I tell you, that womanizer hasn't even blinked once." Rishabh says as he turned to glare at Dipali's son.

Sultan and Mukund curiously turn to look at Sultan's son. Sultan's son was sitting with Rishabh's daughter on the play mat and watching cartoon on TV.

Madhu and Rishabh have two kids, Rishi and Sneha. Their son was 4 years old and their daughter was just 9 months old. The moment Madhu announced her second pregnancy, Dipali and Trishna had pestered their husbands for babies, and soon they also got pregnant. Their kids, Dev and Anushka, like their parents were just months apart, and already Rishabh, Dipali and Mukund have plans of putting them in same school and making them best friends like their parents.

"My son is not even looking at your daughter!" Sultan says defending his son.

"My daughter?" Rishabh asks exasperated. "Not my daughter. that Romeo is staring at my wife!"

"What?" Mukund and Sultan shout and lean down to look.

They follow his line of sight and sees that behind the TV Madhu was sitting with Dipali and Trishna and chatting with them.

Mukund looks at Sultan and sees Sultan frowning.

"he is looking at his mother." Sultan awkwardly says.

Rishabh glares at him and shouts out. "Dipali, come here!"

Dipali gets up and walks to them. "What?"

Ignoring Dipali, the three men look at Dev on the floor. Sultan gulps, Rishabh glares and Mukund panics.

"What if he is staring at my wife?" Mukund asks worriedly. "Trishna, come here!"

Trishna gets up and walks to them. "What?"

Ignoring Trishna, the three men look at Dev on the floor. Sultan worriedly takes a breath, Mukund sighs in relief and Rishabh saw red.

"At least my wife and daughter are safe from him!" Mukund sighs in relief. Then remembering, he turns to look at Anushka and sees Rishi hugging her. "You pervert, get off my daughter!" Mukund screams as he ran to them.

"Madhu! Come here!" Sultan calls her, just to confirm.

Madhu gets up and walks towards them. as she walked around the TV, they see Dev leaning forward as he looked at Madhu walking.

Sultan worriedly looks at Rishabh and Rishabh grinds his teeth.

"What is he looking at?" Dipali asks curiously watching her son.

"My wife!" Rishabh growls at her.

Dipali looks at Dev in surprise then smiling excitedly, she asks as she knelt next to her son. "Are you in love, my baby?"

"Control your wife!" Rishabh warns Sultan.

"Who is in love?" Madhu asks curiously as she knelt next to Dipali.

"Dev. He is in love with you." Dipali tells her chuckling.

"Awww... are you, my baby?" Madhu asks and Dev gives her his best smile. Madhu picks him up and kisses him. "I love you too."

Rishabh murderously glares at Madhu and Dev.

Sultan leans towards Rishabh and whispers to him. "I think you should control your wife first."

Rishabh turns to glare at him.

"It is like history repeating itself." Sultan says.

Mukund carrying his daughter joins them while Rishi followed him behind.

"What is?" Rishabh asks wanting to murder someone.

"You married your aunt. And, my son fell for his mooh bholi aunt."

*** The End ***

I wasn't making fun of legal matters mentioned in the story. those are serious crimes, I'm sorry if anyone got offended.

I didn't want anyone to find out of their marriage like in my previous stories when there was a hidden marriage. I wanted at least this pair to reveal to people when they felt like it 😉

Please vote and comment.

- Lazy