Sorry for the delay, I had a busy work week.
Chapter 18:
They finally stopped fighting long enough to have dinner, but Prerna noticed something change in Rishab as soon as he had a little time to think. He became very withdrawn and pensive. Not impolite with her family per se, but very in his own head.
When Kukki was finally put to bed, Prerna confronted him. She knew what he was feeling, she was shell-shocked by their whole argument and convoluted love-confession too, but unlike him, she felt joy whereas he was definitely in a weird mood.
Prerna: Now what happened?
Rishab looked at her intensely: Did you really mean it?
Prerna snapped: No, I didn't, I just go around telling random men I love them.
At Rishab's pained expression, she realized her was taking her playfulness very seriously. His wide eyes had a vulnerability in them that was raw and timidly hopeful. It said said that he expected to be rejected.
Prerna took his hand and said seriously: What happened to believing in each other's words and building our relationship in trust? That was going to be our foundation, remember?
Rishab: You said you were consistent about him and that didn't change even after the wedding...I don't know why you...I still can't help but think that perhaps you are making your peace with me. I just want you to be happy, Prerna, I couldn't live with myself if you were making the wrong choice for my sake, or for Kukki's for that matter!
Prerna wrapped her hand around his neck, relieved to be able to be affectionate with him freely now: It took me a long time to realize it...that I loved you. I think it wasn't until I saw you at the hospital with Kukki in your arms that I realized how much you mattered. You two are my world now, I am not making any compromise with it. I couldn't do without either of you (she said sincerely). That day when Tanvi said you were in the hospital and then when I saw the report (she choked), you don't know how I felt.
She lay her head softly on his chest. His heart was racing, she realized. That exterior calm was just a ruse.
He said after a little while: Like I felt taking this off you.
He took her mangal sutra out of his pocket.
Prerna: How you felt!? You tore that off me! You did it. I thought you got cursed because of how much I hated you at that moment. That's why you ended up at the hospital.
Rishab blinked: I know that was unforgivable. I didn't realize it meant anything to you. I am sorry.
Prerna took it back: Do you give it back willingly?
Rishab: If you want it. My father tore my mother's away, I am not my father. I wouldn't ever do that to you if I knew the marriage meant anything to you. I didn't even take Menka's. I only asked her to leave. I even gave her a generous settlement because she's Kukki's mom...
Prerna sighed: You really are...impossible! You want to talk about Menka now? Tell me that you weren't as cruel to her as you were to me?
Rishab, apologetically: Sorry. Please don't leave me. Not again.
Prerna snapped: I didn't leave you, you made me.
Rishab: Cause I thought that's what you wanted!
Prerna: I certainly didn't! Look, we are going down that rabbit hole again. I don't want to fight anymore.
He took her hand and softly kissed her fingertips.
Prerna had to ruin the moment because she was now dying to know. It was really his fault for putting the thought in her head.
Prerna: Why did you ask...Menka, to leave?
Rishab sighed: Let's talk about that another day.
Prerna was looking up at him with wide-eyed curiosity. He knew what she really wanted to know. He was really loving the soft weight of her on him, the fact that she came close and let him touch her at all...he didn't want to ruin this unmitigated pleasure.
Rishab: I didn't love her, but we had an understanding. She wanted the comfortable life. She used to work in my office and pursued me relentlessly, I went with it because I was past 30 and thought that's the best I could hope for - a willing woman ready to be with me. We thought a child was the next step, I wasn't capable of love anyway, I just was all about business and function. She didn't seem to mind, she had a her own life, she didn't love me either so it suited her once her life was comfortable via this marriage. Then of course, once Kukki was born, I learned what love really was (his eyes shined with tears), she was the first person who was really mine, you know...someone who could love me without condition like I loved her. Menka and I...we made it work,I was grateful to her for Kukki...until I realized that Kukki stopped talking. I was so busy with work and traveling all the time, I didn't see her bruises. Turned out that Menka was abusing her in the same way Maloy Basu used to abuse me. I divorced her and got full custody. There could be no going back. I hate child abusers, I never wanted that life for my daughter, but I failed Kukki, I couldn't protect her...she lost her voi-ce! (His voice broke).
His confession said a lot more than he did, Prerna thought. He really didn't expect much of people. He didn't expect to be liked or even loved. Kakababu's desertion and his mother's loss really imprinted on him.
Prerna hugged Rishab tighter: Kukki's voice will come back. It already is, you have to believe...
Rishab: That day at school...that was the first complete word she said in nearly three years! Thanks you to you, Prerna, thanks to you (he kissed her hand again). You taught her to say, Papa, you don't know how much that meant to me.
Prerna smiled despite the grief she felt for him: You mean everything to her. She has been struggling to say it for a while, I didn't come up with the idea.
Prerna's mom came in, Rishab thanked her for sorting out their misunderstanding and said he would be on his way now with Kukki.
Prerna: You can stay surely...Ma?
Veena solemnly: Not before the wedding.
Rishab smiled: Your mom is right, it wouldn't be appropriate.
Prerna: But please let Kukki stay, she's already asleep.
Rishab smiled bravely: I am sorry, I need her close today.
Prerna thought that night about everything Rishab said about just being all work and function. Was he not romantic? She could swear he was...his love language was service. Perhaps he was not capable of so many flowery words, but he always made her feel like she was special. He indulged her like no man could... How could he not see that loving person in himself? Was Kakababu's wounds so deep that Rishab...yes, he was only 12, wasn't he?
But thoughts jumped around in her head and it always went back to this...
Well, I guess it's good he didn't love this Men-ka woman. Prerna already hated the idea of another woman touching Rishab in ways she even hadn't. She could sleep in peace thinking he didn't love that woman. But then...Kukki. How can you do all that without love? Oh God...(she twisted and turned in her bed as creative images played around in her head). They did have a baby after all...
Rishab was so excited he couldn't sleep. Did this evening really happen? Prerna wanted to marry him!? She loved him!? What did he do to deserve so much? He smiled to himself for the millionth time that night.
Finally, he texted her around 3 am.
Prerna saw her cell phone glow.
"I can't sleep."
Rishab jumped when his phone beeped.
"Neither can I. I am feeling irrationally jealous of this...Menka."
Rishab smiled.
Prerna's phone beeped.
"Now you know how I feel about Mr. Basu."
Damn it. He was right. Prerna gritted her teeth. She was pregnant, wasn't she? Wow, Rishab really felt this irrationally jealous this whole time? It must have been miserable!
"Touche," she texted back.
"Let's start afresh."
Prerna smiled. Yes, they would.
"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Bajaj."
Rishab smiled looking at the white light of his cell. She really was his other half.
"Rishab, only Rishab from now on," he texted back.
The wedding day finally came, but not without some hiccups.
Masi was insistent that is should be a Punjabi wedding which really turned off her family. Her mom agreed saying, only if there was no alcohol at the wedding. Tanvi insisted that took the P out of Punjabi weddings and Rishab sided with her on this one, but then he said both cultures should be a part of their mixed wedding. Here Prerna made a major mistake by quipping that he was Half-Bengali any way. He didn't talk to her for the rest of the day and Prerna was at a loss how to make it up to him. "Maloy Basu," as Rishab insisted on calling Kakababu, had nothing to do with who Rishab was, he was entirely his mother's son. Prena gave in and didn't push it further.
Anurag sent his good wishes via text. Said he would try to be happy for her if she really loved Bajaj. She apologized and thanked Anurag and thought it best not to have any of the Basus' at the wedding. One thing Rishab allowed was that Anurag didn't have to know about their father's past. Rishab could let it be. Prerna hadn't asked this favor for Anurag, Rishab just said one day that he didn't want to pursue his past further. That suited Prerna.
At the mandap...
Prerna whispered to him: Make sure you mean what you say this time.
Rishab: I meant it last time too.
Prerna: Rishab, I swear! You are being such a child right now. You said then it was just a deal, just admit it. The whole redo was so that you could "mean it for real" this time. Or have you forgotten your own words?
Rishab whispered back, restraining his anger: I said it because you didn't mean it last time! You were crying over you know who, it wasn't a marriage to you. We are doing this for your benefit, not mine.
Prerna: I can't believe you are arguing about this at our actual wedding! I had the whole fight with you because I meant my vows and you took the freaking mangal sutra!
Rishab: I already apologized about that! Aap us ziddh...
Prerna was about the reply when panditji asked pleadingly: Do you two even want to get married?
Prerna and Rishab, offended: YES!!!
Their guests startled.
Panjit cleared his voice: It just seemed like...
Prena glared at Rishab: Now look what you have done!
Rishab: Me!? You started it.
Kukki's tiny hand landed softly on Rishab's mouth and then Prerna's.
Kukki: Shhh...
Prerna's mom and Masi came up and tied the gahth-bandthan.
Veena looked disapprovingly at Prerna: I swear by Durga, that little child has more sense than you, Priyu.
Prerna protested.
Veena: Quiet. I don't want to hear anything until this wedding is over. And you (she looked at Rishab), don't stoop to her level.
Rishab smiled.
Prerna: My level! He needs to rise to my level.
Panditji: Actually, you both need to rise, for the preras.
Masi: Bas, please, just concentrate on the rituals for five minutes. You have you whole lives ahead to finish the fight.
The ceremony continued.
The End.
Don't forget to read the epilogue linked below!
Thank you to all the readers who stayed with me on this journey and for your comments. Leave me your thoughts on this ending. I hope you had fun. As the show tanks with Anu-Komalika drama with no Prerish in sight, I hope this little piece brings a smile on you Prerish fans' faces.
Epilogue
Edited by Marybarton - 6 years ago