(Two Months Later)
(At Paris, France)
"This way, Madhu" Rk led Madhu out of the Airport to the awaiting car to take them to the hotel where they were gonna stay for the next few days.
"I'll take her?" Madhu offered to take a sleeping Ruhi from Rk.
"No, it's fine." Rk denied her offer with a polite smile & turned to Bittuji asking "Hotel Majestic right?"
"Yes, Chief" he nodded his head
Rk nodded his head & got into the car as he sat next to Madhu on the rear seat with Ruhi sleeping comfortably on his chest. Bittuji took the passenger seat.
"s'il vous plait nous emmener a l'hotel majestueux!" (Please, take us to Hotel Majestic) Rk fluently spoke in French to the driver.
"D'accord!" (Okay) the driver replied with a smile.
"You know French?" Madhu asked with a curious frown.
"Um... yeah! Why?"
She shrugged & asked "How?"
"I have been to France a couple of times & stayed here for months... well, for shooting purpose... & that time I learned this musical language."
"Oh! So, what you said to the driver."
"I asked him to take us to Hotel Majestic. That's it"
"Hmm... you said you have found a place here? Then why are we heading to the hotel?"
"Yeah, we have a place here... but refurbishing works are still going on... till the work gets over we will be staying here."
"How long it will take?"
"A week maximum"
"Hmm... Till then what we will do?"
"Till then we will explore this beautiful city." Rk said in an excited tone.
"Oh!" That was her reply. She didn't show any enthusiasm in touring Paris.
It wasn't their honeymoon trip or something like that!
They were at Paris to get settled permanently so they can tour around anytime.
"Bittuji, you booked Eiffel suites for our stay in the hotel right?"
"Yes, chief."
"I'm hoping you have booked three separate room for us & Ruhi will be staying with me!" Madhu said.
"Um... Bhabhiji..." Bittuji stopped when Madhu glared at him for calling her 'Bhabhiji'.
Rk let out a soft chuckle & turned his gaze to the other side seeing the beauty of the city while his hand gently pat the back of Ruhi's body.
"Sorry... I have actually booked only two rooms. One luxury family suite for you three & a single suite for me"
"Rk is staying in a separate room & not with us." Madhu said in finality. She would never share a room with him. She was waiting for Rk to argue but to her utter shock he just nodded his head in agreement. He didnt want to spoil her mood as soon as they got here so he decided to discuss about the staying issue later.
"Chief, so I will book a separate room for you?" Bittuji asked.
"I can share a room with you if that okay with you, Bittuji"
"Of course, Chief" Bittuji said with a hint of blush. Rk & Madhu both had a frown on their face seeing his blush. What the eff? Now, Rk seriously had a second thought to have a separate room for his stay.
"It's 6.30 now... Do you wanna have an early dinner & get settled in your room or you want to freshen up first & later have dinner?" He asked giving her the choice to decide.
"Uh... I would like to freshen up first. By then Ruhi will also be up from her slumber so we can feed her something too."
"That's a good idea."
Once the car parked in the hotel's parking lot, Rk got out of the car first with a still sleeping Ruhi & opened the door for Madhu to clamber out.
Rk walked ahead to the reception desk.
"Bienvenue l'htel majestueux, Beau!" (Welcome to Hotel Majestic, Handsome) a young lady receptionist greeted in her sing song voice batting her eye lashes at Rk & giving him a flirtatious smile with her crimson lips.
Rk judicially ignored her look & just asked her for their room keys saying on whose name the rooms were booked.
Then without giving her a second glance he took Madhu's hand in his & walked to the elevator.
"Bittuji, you take my luggage to our room, I will put Ruhi on bed & come."
"I will be waiting for you, Chief" He said with a shy smile.
"What's wrong with you, Bittuji? Why you are behaving like a girl? You're so annoying just like that receptionist down there?" Rk asked in an irritated tone.
"Chief..."
"Shut up! And go now" Rk growled & unlocking the door, he walked in
& Madhu followed him.
Madhu looked around the suite. It was huge & posh. She looked down & she could see her face on the black marbled floor. She was sure it would feel so cold under her feet if she removed her shoes. Rk headed straight to the bedroom as if he knew the place like the back of his hand. May be he had already stayed in this hotel when he previously visited this place. She thoughts & slowly walked into the huge living room with a larger flat screen TV hanging on the wall. On the opposite side there was an L' shaped water sofa, a coffee table in front of it. At the farther corner there was a French door leading to the balcony with a glass railing giving a beautiful view to the Eiffel tower. "It's beautiful" Madhu whispered in awe taking in the breathtaking view in front of her.
After closing the French doors, she walked to the next room which was the master bedroom with a king sized bed in the center & crib beside it. She knew Rk had specially arranged it for Ruhi.
"There is no use for this crib. She will be sleeping beside me on my bed." Madhu said softly to Rk who was lying on the bed with Ruhi on top of his torso. Poor baby girl was so tired with all the travelling so was he. That was the reason for him to flop back on the bed as soon as he saw it & closed his eyes for a moment, relaxing.
Rk opened his eyes & looked at Madhu & said "I know... but just in case you need it..."
"Place her on the bed or else chest will pain." Madhu said to him.
"No, she is too light... my chest is not paining." Rk said with a smile feeling happy to know that she cared for him.
"I meant her chest. Her body will ache if she sleeps on you for long." Madhu said in a stern tone. Rk shook his head in disappointment. She will never care for him or love him so he should stop hoping for something impossible to happen.
Then she walked closer to them & gently tried to pick up Ruhi off his chest but Ruhi wakes up with the slight movement & started crying. She turned her face away & locked her hands around her dad's neck tightly as if her life depended on it. Rk rubbed his little girl's back gently to soothe her cry. Soon she stopped crying & lifted her head up to face her dad & gave him her baby smile. Rk's heart swells in happiness every time she smiles at him cutely showing her love for him. Then she turned her head & looked at her momma & gestured her hand at her to come closer to her. Rk scooted in letting Madhu to sit on the edge of the bed. Madhu sat on the bed facing them & kissed Ruhi's little hand with a smile on her face.
When Madhu leaned forward to kiss Ruhi's head Ruhi threw her hand around Madhu's neck & pulled her down making her land her head on Rk's chest. Ruhi's small frame roomed herself on Rk's right side chest giving space for her momma's head to rest on the left side. Thanks to Rk's well built broad shoulders which could fit for both of his ladies. Madhu without realizing her position she just comforted herself on him as she started talking animatedly and playing with her baby girl.
Rk was unable to conceal his jubilation. He just wished for the world to freeze at that moment so that he could have his Madhu & his daughter in his arms forever. Rk felt Madhu's fingers toying with his shirt button unknowingly while she cooed their daughter.
"Is my baby hungry?" Madhu asked poking Ruhi's little tummy making her giggle.
"Nah... Nah..." Ruhi placed her little hand on Madhu's cheek then kissed her momma's nose making her laugh. Little Ruhi always does that when she didn't want something, she just bribe her momma with her kiss. Now she didn't want to eat. Madhu laughed knowing her daughter's trick. He loved that sound. Her laughter was a melody to Rk. He vowed to himself that he will never hurt her & always keep her happy & also his daughter happy.
He just adored the mother-daughter duo's love with a contented smile. Madhu moved her head closer to Ruhi & rubbed the tip of her nose with Ruhi's making her giggle. Rk couldn't help but wrap his arms around them & draw them closer to him ruining the perfect moment. Madhu stiffened the moment she felt his hand around her shoulder & realization dawns to her that she was partially laying on top of him. Pushing herself away from him, she stood up & awkwardly looked everywhere but at him. Ruhi looked at her momma with a cute little frown & turned to her dad who gave her soft smile & then he picked up Ruhi & placed her on the bed & stood up from the bed not before kissing her head.
"Get ready. We will go down to the restaurant for dinner." Rk said & turned to walk out of the room but Madhu called him making him stop.
"Can you take Ruhi with you till I get ready? I'm sure Bittuji would have got ready by now so you can ask him to handle Ruhi till you get ready."
"Okay" Rk nodded his head & picked Ruhi up in arms from the bed.
"Oh and can you please run her a bath & get her dressed too?" she asked.
"Sure" Now Rk got used to cleaning her dirty nappy, giving her bath & changing her cloths. In fact he started loving to do all these to his baby girl.
"Shall we play in water, mon ange! (My angel)" Rk cooed & kissed Ruhi's chubby cheeks. Though she looked so petite she had chubby cheeks which she inherited from her mother and she had also inherited her mother's beautiful doe eyes but the cute little dimpled on her cheeks belonged to her father.
Ruhi was a perfect blend of both her parents.
"Yeah... Yeah..." Ruhi bounced in his arms in excitement.
--0"
After an hour, Rk knocked at Madhu's room door. A minute later she opened the door & Rk's breathe caught in his throat looking at her delicate beauty. She was dressed in a simple pale blue knee length full sleeve dress & she had let her hair cascade down her shoulders. She had applied light make up with just mascara & lip gloss.
"You look stunning" Rk whispered.
"Where is Ruhi?" Madhu asked ignoring his compliment.
"She is down in the restaurant with Bittuji, waiting for us." He said & held out his hand but she walked without taking it. Rk sighed & followed her to the elevator.
Once they walked into the restaurant they found Bittuji & Ruhi in a corner table.
Rk let Madhu to sit first & then he sat beside her. Bittuji sat opposite to them & Ruhi sat on top of the glass dinner table. She was dressed in a cute pale pink frock & Rk had put her hair in a high pony.
"Ruhi, come here." Madhu called Ruhi & tried to take her up but she protested by shaking her head making her ponytail dangle from side to side.
"Ruhi!"
"Let her sit on the table." Rk said.
"Then where they will serve the food? On her head?" Madhu asked Rk. "Look, all are seeing her as if she is a show piece..."
"That's because she is the cutest baby here." Rk replied with a shrug. Madhu rolled her eyes & dragged Ruhi off the table & placed her in between them.
"What Ruhi will eat in this menu?" Rk wondered as he turned the menu card.
"Order strawberry yogurt for her, she will love it."
"Okay! So what you want to eat?"
"Um... it's all written in French... I don't get a damn thing written on it so you better order for me as you know my taste well." Madhu said casually.
"Of course, I know what suits for your soft palate." Rk said with a smirk. He still remembered how sweet & soft her tongue feels when he mates with it with his tongue while kissing the life out of her.
Madhu squirmed in her seat as her cheeks heated up under his intense gaze. Rk's smirk got wider realizing that he still had that effect on her.
"Chief, order for me too." Bittuji piped in. Rk scowled at him for spoiling the moment but nodded his head.
"What you would like to eat?"
"May be... um... a huge French burger... with lots of cheese, mayo, lettuce, onions, tomato..." Bittuji said as his mouth started watering. "Oh and chief, order that wine which you ordered last time when we visited this hotel almost a year ago."
"Which wine?" Rk asked puzzled. He wondered how could bittuji even remember the wine he ordered a year ago.
"That Paris special wine with cheese." Bittuji reminded him.
"Oh yeah, right."
"I still got the taste of the wine in my palate." Bittuji said licking his lips with his tongue.
"No wine! No other drinks in front of Ruhi. She will also ask for it. If you still want go to the bar after we leave to our room!" Madhu ordered.
Bittuji pouted & looked at Rk with his puppy eyes. Rk rolled his eyes at him & said "Oui, Madame!" to Madhu in french accent.
"What does that mean?" Madhu asked curiously.
"Yes, Madam" Rk smiled. She nodded.
Rk placed their orders excluding wine to a waitress who was undressing him with her eyes. Once he used to enjoy all the girls drooling all over him but now it annoyed him. More than the annoyance what made him feel hurt was that Madhu being oblivious to their reactions. She didn't show even a tinge of jealousy.
"We are not lovers! We are not husband-wife! We are nothing to each other! We are just Ruhi's parents!" Madhu's words rang loudly in his ears.
So yeah! Why would she feel jealous when she has no feelings for him? Rk thoughts.
The waitress brought strawberry yogurt & placed on the table in front of Rk.
Rk had specially asked to bring it first in their order list so that he can feed Ruhi first.
As ever when he fed a spoon of yogurt Ruhi spat it out. Sighing Rk pushed the yogurt bowl to Madhu so that she can feed her but to his surprise she threw the food out again when Madhu tried to feed her.
"What is this, baby?" Rk softly asked as he picked Ruhi up & placed on his lap.
"Nah! Nah! Nah!" Ruhi shook her head & tried to climb up on the table from his lap. After struggling a bit she successfully climbed up & sat on the table like a queen & cheekily grinned at her dad. Rk smiled & took the opportunity to feed her again but the smart little girl gave him a tough time. She shut her mouth tightly & shook her head.
Rk turned & shared a look at Madhu. "What are we gonna do now?" Rk asked softly.
"I don't know. May be she didn't like it. Order her something else."
"What? You just tell me what she likes the most?" Rk asked desperately wanting to feed Ruhi something. She hadn't had any solid food since yesterday morning. All she had was milk thrice till now & a cup of vanilla ice cream at lunch.
"You know she loves khichdi"
"Khichdi?" Rk asked & closed his eyes in frustration. "We are in France! In a french restaurant!"
"I know..." She sighed. "Ruhi, darling will you have milk pudding?" Madhu asked her.
Ruhi shook her head in no & took a red rose from the flower vase kept on the table.
"Ruhi, don't touch it" Madhu tried to take the rose from her hand but Ruhi let out a loud scream of protest.
"Okay! Okay! Don't scream! Its so embarrassing!" Madhu groaned.
"It's okay. She is just a baby." Rk softly said. Madhu nodded her head & let her be free. Then Ruhi took the rose & crawled close to Rk & stuffed it in his black tux pocket.
"My darling" Rk pulled Ruhi by her head & soundly kissed her chubby cheek.
"Aww... vous deux tes si adorable" (... you two are so adorable) the waitress purred as she placed their food on the table.
"Merci" (thanks) Rk said in a dismissing tone not even looking at her but only at his baby girl.
"Ruhi!" Madhu raised her voice finally losing her patience. Rk & Madhu were literally begging Ruhi to eat something for the past 40 minutes but she wasn't giving in. By now Bittuji had finished two hamburgers but Rk & Madhu hadn't touched their food yet as they wanted to fill Ruhi's tummy first.
"She is so stubborn... like her mother" Rk muttered the last bit to himself still Madhu heard it & gave him a glare.
"Ruhi, eat now!"
"You don't order my daughter!" Madhu spat at him.
"I'm not ordering! I am just requesting, okay."
"I know what's the spelling for 'request' in your dictionary. O.R.D.E.R! Isn't it?" Madhu asked glaring at him.
"No. I don't order my daughter."
"Yes, you just did."
"No!"
"Yes"
"Chief! Madhuji! Stop!" Bittuji interrupted their 'cat & dog' fight.
"You shut up..." Rk turned to him & stopped in shock seeing Ruhi eating Tarte Tartinwhich Bittuji was feeding her.
"She is eating apple pie." Madhu said & sighed in relief.
"Yeah. Good. Now lets eat our now-cold-food"
Madhu nodded her head & next moment she dug into her food as she ate it with gusto. Rk smiled seeing her eat heartily without caring for the world & then he proceeded to eat his food checking every now & then that his baby girl was also enjoying her apple pie.
"Thank you, Bittuji" Madhu smiled at him for finally making her daughter eat something. Bittuji smiled back & continued to feed Ruhi the apple pie he ordered for himself.
Rk turned to Madhu with a smile & that was when he noticed cheese on the corner of her mouth.
"I got it" Rk said as he kissed it away from her mouth. Well, scratch that! He just imagined to do that but he didn't as he knew she would just stab the fork in his flesh if he had kissed her so he just passed a napkin for her to wipe her mouth.
After dinner they walked back to their room.
"Chief, I will wait for you in our room" Bittuji said & rushed to the adjacent room to Madhu & Ruhi's room.
"Why he is behaving so weirdly?" Rk wondered but then shook his thoughts.
"You sure you don't want me to stay with you two?" Rk asked, trying his luck. He so badly wanted to sleep with his girls. Keep them safe in his arms. He feared that if they hadn't stayed in front of his eyes or in his arms then they might disappear any minute & it all will turn out to be a dream. He didn't want to lose them, ever. They were his life. His very reason to live & breathe. He just love them so much... the love which he realized too lately resulting in losing one of his loved ones love.
"Yes. I'm sure." Madhu said snapping him out of his thoughts. And then she grabbed Ruhi from his arms making his heart ache. He felt like someone had just plucked his heart out & stomped it mercilessly.
"Madhu, please."
"Please what?"
"I wanna sleep with you two."
"No!"
"Um... it's not safe for you two to stay alone in a new place."
"I know to take care of Ruhi & myself"
"You don't even know the language to communicate with people here if you need any emergency."
"No need for all that. If I need anything I will call you... you are just in the next door so don't worry."
"But Madhu... we used to sleep in one room back home for the past 3 months right?"
"Change in rules! You will stay far away from me." she knew she was being irrational but for two reason she wanted to keep him away from her & from Ruhi too. One - her insecurity. Ruhi was turning to an out and out "Daddy's girl" which irked her to the core. Two - her fear. She feared that she will fall in love with him once again. If she ever fall in love with this man who betrayed her & broke her heart into pieces then she will hate herself. She didn't want to be hated by herself so she decided to put some distance between them.
"Oh please! I don't desire to do anything to you." He lied. Ever since she walked out of his life, the day she told him she was pregnant with his child & ever since they met again in the mall, the day he got the missing piece of his heart, his desire to hold her & make love to her got intensified.
"I don't trust you."
"I swear I will behave. Have I crossed my limits in the past 3 months when I was around you?"
"No! But we don't want to start anything."
"Madhu..." he sighed. "Can't we start over? Start afresh life in this new place? You, me & our daughter? Shall we weave a happy life for us?" Rk asked or rather pleaded her.
"No! There is no 'US'. We can never be a family."
"We are already a family. Ruhi brought us together." he stated.
"Don't forget this is all an arrangement. A compromise to make our Ruhi happy." Madhu reminded him.
"I guess she slept" Rk said changing the topic. He was tired of asking her to give him a chance to mend her heart but her fear wasn't letting him to heal her but he was glad at least she trust him enough to let him in Ruhi's life.
May be it was all too soon for her to forgive him after what all he put her through. Surely it will take her a long time to trust him again. So he decided to give her some space & time & not to pester her to give him a second chance in love.
"Good! At least now she won't ask for you. See you in the morning."
"Okay. Bonne nuit!" Rk wished her good night & kissed Ruhi's head.
"Night!" She said guessing he said good night & shut the door right on his face.
... To be continued!!!
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