15 NO

Since the "CHAVISNIST" episode, both Radha and Madhav kept on avoiding each other. They had their own reasons to do so but they both knew the status quo couldn't continue.

However, none of them could take the first step to ease out the tension and hours changed to days and the weekend found Radha in a never before melancholy and in the worst possible mood.

It was Saturday morning and Radha was supposed to meet Basu Sen later in the evening. Apparently, she was supposed to sign some contract with him. She still didn't want to sign anything with the Sens. Her inner senses were totally out of control and she wanted to run away. But Madhav had practically brought her with that obscene amount he paid to Sahni. Her route to escape was sealed.

Her bandage had been removed on Friday and she had an ugly scar on her chin. As she sat applying Rajomma special jari booti wala neem haldi pack ( herbal pack for healing) on the wound, Madhav knocked at her open door.

These rich people and their weird ways. Gods, who knocks at an open door!!! ,Radha thought bitterly.

"Please come in Sir. " She tried to keep things formal.

The prolonged thinking had calmed her a bit down, but she felt uneasy the moment she saw him. Bloody Five crores. Damn you Madhav.

These three days the sandalwood smell had been so intense to her nose that Radharamanmati could barely breathe Madhav separately today. But the moment he entered the smell amplified and she found it difficult breathing. He had this mesmerizing effect on her that she loved and loathed parallely.

She struggled to bring up a topic for conversation until Madhav broke the awkward silence in his usual nonchalant way.

"You know what Radha, you can drop the Sir. Madhav sounds fine.

And well, it's Madhav Chand Rathore, not Madhav WHATEVER", Madhav grinned devilishly.

Madhav Chand Rathore...

Madhav Chand Rathore....

Radha frantically searched her memory. She has definitely come across this name somewhere.

And then it struck....

Gawwwwd..... The miracle bizkid from the Rathores of Jodhpur.

MADHAV CHAND RATHORE !!!!

Radha practically stared at him, eyes popping out now.

She had read somewhere about him a decade back. Perhaps the paper also had his picture. If she was not much mistaken, she was still in high school when she read about him. Madhav was in college or university, perhaps, because the article and the picture had created quite a sensation amongst her friends and every girl dreamt that someday she will end up marrying someone like Madhav. Straight out of Bollywood material.... that MCR.... wow....

Radha could feel a stupid smile building on her lips.Pictures and articles are such lies. This Madhav, that Basu or even his younger brother Kiriti whom she met once or twice during her intership made her realize a simple truth. Real life regular guys are much much better.

These sort of guys are icy and flirty a d they cause heart ache.

"So you are obscenely rich? Yeah!!!", Radha blurted out.

"Why? Are you allergic to money?"

"No. Just... So it's the Rathores as in the Jodhpur Royalty? ", the next question simply shoot past her lips.

"Why is my family important? "

Radha shook her head in anger, "Why can't you answer me straight?"

"Why can't you just ask straight questions? "

"Why? Is it a crime to ask you something that I want to know? And what crooked thing have I asked you? You reveal that you are MCR, one of the most sought after bachelors of Indian and I cant ask you my mind? You are something Mr. Mr. Rathore. You are really something... "

"Arrrgh....Ok.

Yeah. Jodhpur Royalty and lots of money. Happy?

But that doesn't mean I am anything different from a REGULAR( read stretching the word) person. OK? "

Radha choked mentally.

At times it felt Madhav simply read her thoughts. Else why would he use that word REGULAR in such a way!!!

"Liar.What regular person pays Five Crores where the issue could have been resolved with Five Lakhs?"

"Me."

"What me? You could have talked to me. I would have resigned after taking five lakhs loan from you and could have broken the bond with the amount Sahni expected was too much for me to pay."

"Ah no Radha. You got it all wrong. It's not about the money. It's the defeat. And from what I know of that man, he would have found a way to keep you grounded, bond or no bond. And at times I like making people taste defeat..... Just for the sake of reminding them that no matter how good they are,there is always someone better."

"Doesn't the same apply to you also Madhav? "

"Ah.... Of course. Just that I am yet to meet one who is better than me, you know. Call it fact, call it chauvinism, but I am not taking back this sentence.... I am me.I am unparallel.

Period."

"Who wants you  to take back anything? You are too snob , arrogant and irritating. And why do you behave as if you are the supreme most being alive? What do you think of yourself? A God?"

"Nayyyyyyy. THE GOD."

And he smirked.

Radha felt like being knocked out of all the air. That smile, that light.

He was beyond godly.

He was pure Divine.

"So baby, if I tell you henceforth I won't take a decision for you without consulting you, then will that make you happy? "

Radha immediately pulled her mental guards high.

"I guess so. but what do you want Madhav?

You are acting extra sweet. I don't like it."

She was all smiles now. Suddenly the mental cloud was lifted and she felt happy.

So this is what kept her gloomy.

Absence of Madhav.

The non communication and lack of attention was killing her.

How stupid....

Nonetheless sweet..... She noted mentally.

Madhav had made himself comfortable beside the mirror and suddenly he took a pinch of the herbal pack from the bowl. Even before she realized he smeared her right cheek with it and grinned.

"WHAAAAAT!!!! MAAADHAAAAV"

"Haldi aise lagate? Aur woh haldi mein Kya dam joh humne na lagaye ap pe?

( Is this how turmeric is applied? And what good will this turmeric do if I don't apply it on you?)"

Radha felt her face burning.

She knew well what Madhav indicated. His indication was to the sacred pre nupital ritual of haldi that every Indian women found very romantic. She decided to play along and smiled.

"But Madhav, what good will the turmeric from your hand do? Put some on me that has been used on you. Otherwise your entire purpose of putting that on me to make me uncomfortable will be defeated you know !!!"

Radha was sure, Madhav will blush.

Traditionally , in India, the to be bride is smeared with the turmeric used on the to be groom. Belief says, it helps the girl pick up the color of her to be spouse....

So she was sure, Madhav would atleast blush or he may even run away to discontinue such an assaultive topic.

Instead, he leaned forward and brushed his own cheek against hers.

"Why turmeric, I myself am all yours, try me", he winked.

"MADHAAAV!!! WHAT THE...."

Radha was shocked beyond her wits.

All she meant was to tease him, but whatever Madhav was doing right now was beyond flirting.

"What!!! You suggested and I obliged. Now why are you screaming? " Madhav looked confused.

"I was just teasing you. But you... You..."

Radha realized she was lost for words.

Her cheeks burnt and she felt humiliated.

"What the hell do you think of yourself Madhav Chand Rathore? In what right you did that?"

"Right!!!!

Ah... Nothing as of now.

But.....

What about... Well....

MARRY ME? "

Radha was shocked beyond anything and everything.

"WHAT YOU!!!!"

"I said Marry Me."

"Are you mad?"

"Of course not. Marry me. And I mean it."

Madhav was smiling with all his confidence but Radha felt her world swaying. So this was it.

He had planned everything that helps him keep a showpiece wife from no background so that he can have a marriage of convenience and can own the Estate rights!!! A girl like Radha would never have any say in front of Madhav. Marrying her would simply mean he will continue his rogue bachelor life. Damn. And buying her out from Sahni was the cherry on the cake.

"NO."

The word came out from her mouth even before she realized.

"What?"

"No."

"Pardon."

"No."

It was now Madhav's turn to be surprised.

He was THE GUY and nobody ever refused him that bad in many years.

"You mean it girl?"

"Yeah. I mean it. NO.

And I guess I am going back to my apartment tonight after the meeting.

Job or no job, I am done staying here."

And with that, Radha rose from the chair with full dignity and walked out of the room leaving behind a flabbergasted Madhav.