His Obsession, Her Passion, Part 19, pg 128 - Page 54

Part 13:

It was only a few days later that Mrs. Dixit aka Aayi was invited to RK's set. The superstar had summoned her to discuss some matters regarding the rumors. Aayi was apprehensive about the talk, though Mukund was convinced that it was to tell his mother that the rumors were completely untrue.

"RK probably does not want to face me because he is ashamed this rubbish even started." Mukund tried to reassure himself, but the thought rang false, even to him.

Apologizing was not a course of action that had ever entered RK's thoughts. He was focused on separating Madhu and Mukund. The thought of that worm anywhere near her made RK's teeth grind. Matters had not moved fast enough for the superstar, and he had begun to doubt that Mukund would break the engagement. So he started phase two of his plan- attacking using Mukund's mother.

XXX

"What is this for?" Aayi asked, squinting at the check she had been given. RK smiled, standing up and capping the pen.

"The price of Madhu's freedom. From your son." He clarified, thought the statement had needed none.

Aayi gasped. "Her freedom? So the rumors-!"

"Are true." RK nodded. "Madhu and I are lovers…have been for some time. But her family just wanted a good rishta for her, so they forced Mukund on my poor darling. It was so sad how she came to me, weeping, wanting to be free…torn between her desire to please her family and to be with me. But Madhu is so dutiful…so she got engaged."

"But…but…while she was engaged you and she-!"

RK nodded, face serious. "We just couldn't stay away from each other. I told you matters of the heart were complicated, Mrs. Dixit. I can't have your son being deceived. Because even if Madhu marries him…it won't be him she'll be dreaming about at night. And it won't be his arms she'll spend most her nights in. Poor boy is just a cover. I finally decided, after meeting you at the engagement that you are all good honest people. I…we could no longer deceive you all."

Aayi just stared at him, at a loss for words. RK nodded at the check in her hands.

"A small compensation. For the pain Madhu and I caused you and your family."

Aayi stammered "The pain? What about the humiliation? My daughter has been teased mercilessly these past few weeks! My son-!"

RK's eyes flashed, silencing the woman. He took the check from her hands, adding another zero to the amount. Aayi looked at the new amount and smiled slowly.

"Now this is compensation." She said, satisfied.

"You'll have Mukund break the engagement?" RK prodded. Aayi nodded.

"After what you've told me, I don't want my precious son anywhere near that tr-!"

She was silenced again as RK raised a finger threateningly. "Never," He hissed, "Say one word against her. Tell your son whatever you want, but if you cheapen Madhu in front of me you'll regret it."

"One more thing, Mrs. Dixit. Don't tell Mukund about our conversation today-give him another reason to break this relation-if he mentions to Madhu that I talked to you then forget the money…I'll drag you and your family down to the gutters. Understand?"

Aayi gulped, nodding frantically, wanting to get away from the angry superstar. RK scoffed at the greedy woman, waving his hand for her to leave. He was doing Madhubala a favor really. Someone like her would suffocate in a house like Mukunds- a lovely flower in sewage. No, Madhubala belonged with someone who was worthy of her beauty, of her poise, of her fire. And that was RK.

Only RK.

XXX

Aayi walked home in a pensive mood, formulating different schemes to get Mukund to break with Madhubala. She had known from the start that the innocent face hid a mind capable of great deceit! And she had been right! That shameless woman! Dallying around with a superstar and then marrying her darling son to cover her crimes. The nerve! At least Aayi and her family were getting some monetary compensation for their suffering, though of course money would never replace the respect they had lost.

It would go a long way though. Now she could finally buy that wonderful bed she had been longing for for the past ten years!

Focus! Aayi scolded herself, coming out of her dreams of beds around the house. What should I say to enrage Mukund? It takes so much to get a reaction out of him- its like he has water instead of blood in his veins. Now what should I say…

By the time she had reached the house, Aayi had an approximation of an idea. Pausing at the door, she started taking deep breaths to give the impression that she was hyperventilating, pinching her wrists to bring tears in her eyes. So preparing herself, Aayi entered the house, wailing.

"Oh look at what has befallen us! I can't go outside without some goons taunting me about my character! Oh, what calamity!"
"Ma!" Mukund said, flustered. "You're back home early!"

Aayi slapped her son on his arm, irritated at his lukewarm response to her acting-why she should be winning awards. Maybe RK would give her a cameo in his future film?

"Are you even listening to me?! I went outside and some gundas questioned my character…and your sisters! Have you no shame? Can't you see this rishta with Madhu is so bad for our family?"
"They are just rumors…" Mukund's father interjected, before cowering at the force of Aayi's glare.

"Rumors make or break reputation…and ours is tarnishing along with that Malik family! It's all well and good for them- they are film folk and are used to such scandals. But we are respectable people, not shameless artists! How will we ever recover?!" She finished wailing.

"Ma, please. Madhu has assured me that such rumors will go away soon…and give it a month or two. Our neighbors will find something else to worry about." Mukund said.

Aayi glared at her son. "They will not! And you know why? Because no other gossip will ever be so juicy. Do you know what everyone is saying Mukund? Do you? They say she is RK's mistress! They say she's carrying his child!" She shrieked. "What other gossip could be more salacious than that?"

"Ma…"
"No! You will break this relation with Madhubala. Or else…" And here Aayi remembered a film of RK's and was inspired. "Or else you go and live with her! Leave our family in peace!"

"Ma!"

"Enough!" Aayi turned her nose up at her flabbergasted son. In her mind, RK was clapping at her wonderful performance. She gave him a bow. Mukund kept staring at his daydreaming mother, his mind churning with fear and confusion.

XXX

"Where is your mind, Trishna? You have been very quiet of late. Did the sickness that has been infecting Glycerin since her engagement infect you too?" Roma teased the quiet girl gently. Trishna shook her head, remaining silent.

"Madhu has become much more animated since that gossip came out. It's horrible news but I'm glad that she has her old spirit back." Padmini said quietly, stirring the food on the stove.

"It's all because of RK." Trishna mumbled into her hands.

"Yes, I know." Padmini agreed. "Madhu told me that she had talked to him. He told her that he had nothing to do with it and it really helped her peace of mind. Otherwise she would have been a zombie wandering around the house. It was so nice of him to come to the engagement and then take her call when all this happened."

"Which did not help the rumors." Roma interjected.

"But it was a good gesture regardless. Should we judge a man based on what the world says about him? We were there too…nothing happened. We know the truth…so does Mukund and his family. We just need to wait until this gossip dies down."

Trishna banged her hand on the table, startling the other two women.

"I meant this whole problem started because of RK! I know that he is behind these rumors!"

"What rubbish, Trishna!" Padmini chided. "What possible reason would a superstar have to concern himself with junior artists!"

"Because he wants Madhu!"

The room froze at Trishna's shout.

"That's…that's silly Trishna." Roma stammered finally. "RK…RK and Madhu?"

"I'm not lying. Tell them, Madhu." Trishna said, spinning to meet her sister who had just come into the house with Malik.

"Tell them what?" Madhu asked tired. Dealing with the media and the daily harassment was beginning to take its toll. The rumors were getting more vicious. She was beginning to think that it was be a good idea to go meet RK and ask him to give a press conference. In their last phone conversation he had said it would not be a good idea to keep talking, as it would fuel more rumors. It had only been a few days but they had not abated. It was getting unbearable for Madhu. And a small part of her wanted to see him again. Madhu was beginning to feel like an addict, always craving the next fix, not caring how bad it actually was for you.

"That RK is after you!"

Madhu froze at the announcement, looking at her silent family. She felt the judgment coming from them and felt suffocated.

"I told you Dido." She said, gritting her teeth and lying through them. "Nothing is going on! Nothing has happened."

"Madhu please…"

"Enough!" Madhu shouted, startling everyone in the room. "This is my life, and I will deal with it!"

"I already went and talked to RK…" Trishna mumbled, shamefaced.

"What did he say?" Malik demanded.

"He said he hadn't done anything…and that he thought Madhu was beautiful but he didn't want to just sleep with her."

"What?" Malik shouted.

Madhu grimaced, more confused than ever. What did RK want from her? No matter what, it was between her and him. No one else, especially her family, needed to get involved.

"You misunderstood I am sure." Madhu said coldly, ignoring the disbelief on Trishna's face. She grabbed her bag again and started to head out.

"Where are you going?" Padmini shouted after her.

"To meet RK and fix this once and for all!"

XXX

"So you see, Bittuji, Mukund will break the engagement and I shall not be implicated. Madhu will see the boy's true colors and be free."

"And then, Chief?"

"By this time the damage from the rumors will be done. That combined with the broken engagement will ensure that Madhubala will remain a free woman for the next few years, at least."

"The next few years?"

RK smirked. "My plan was simple. Madhu keeps running from me. She cites society and her fianc as her most frequent reasons. So now, the finace is gone and society has turned on her. Who is left?"

Before Bittuji could answer a servant entered the door.

"A Miss Malik to see you Chief."

RK nodded at the man to send her in, turning to Bittuji in triumph.