TS: Irreversible Mistake

Part 1

Madhu clutches her heart in pain as if she is being stabbed over and over and over again.  She has been numb ever since RK stormed out when she put up Sultan’s picture in their room.  She wanted to cry but no tears would come out.  But now she feels such unbearable pain that she can’t breathe.  People say love is the most beautiful thing in the world.  But it also makes us vulnerable to pain and betrayal.  Madhu is getting a bitter taste of this betrayal as she just witnessed her beloved patidev enter their bedroom with another woman.

Madhu (slowly slides down the door and whispers brokenly):  How could you RK?  How could you?

She sits against the door and finally lets hot, angry tears rush down her face.  Her sobs got louder as she hears guttural, animalistic sounds coming from inside their, no…inside HIS bedroom.  The sound of her breaking heart is so loud it’s paradoxically mute yet so loud it is deafening.  Does he hear and feel it breaking into itty bitty teeny pieces?  Can her heart shatter any more than it already has?  Will it ever mend again?  Will she be able to ever forgive the husband for whom she compromised her self-respect and dignity?  Can she ignore that he is happily betraying her with another woman?

Madhu (wipes away her tears and whispers angrily):  I did it for you.  So you will be safe from Sultan’s evil intentions.  And you…you…BETRAY me with some random s**t off the street?  Did you ever love me RK?  Was it really that…that…EASY for you, to make a mockery of our wedding vows?  Why…why…WHY couldn’t you believe me when I said Sultan is alive?  Why couldn’t you support me and protect me from that creeps advances?  I had to put up with so much to guarantee your freedom and safety but you only saw it as my betrayal.  I thought you could read my eyes RK?  Couldn’t you see my pain, my helplessness?  Couldn’t you see that I love you so much that I would do ANYTHING for you?  Is our love that weak that you could hurt me so easily?  Is our love so weak that you would think I could betray you so easily?  Is our love so weak that YOU COULD BETRAY ME, OUR MARRIAGE, OUR VOWS SO EASILY? 

She covers her ears in pain as she continues to hear the rhythmic creaking of the bed and their shouts of pleasure.  No good deed goes unpunished.  And she is paying a huge price for risking it all to protect her husband.  Madhu tightens her fist over her pained heart, imprinting the broken mangalsutra into her soft palm.  She slowly opens up her palm and stares blankly at the symbol of their marriage, at the BROKEN symbol of their marriage.  With a lot of effort, she stands up and slowly walks away from the door.  Each step increased her resolve. 

As she is about to take the stairs, Madhu looks up at the mirror on the opposite wall.  She stares in horror at the smeared sindoor on her maang.  Slowly she approaches the mirror and she touches her reflection.  Her reflection screams, LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME?  Who is she now?  Is she just another broken woman with broken dreams and a broken marriage?  This can’t be…this can’t be happening to her again…NOT AGAIN!  His betrayal nearly killed her last time.  How will she cope?  How will she survive?  She swipes her forehead and stares painfully at her red stained finger.  It’s blood red.  The same color of her bleeding heart.  Once a symbol of their love and union; it is now nothing but a bitter reminder of their painful, suffocating, nonexistent relationship.  Sobbing, Madhu furiously wipes away every single speck of the sindoor as if she is erasing every vestige, memory of her marriage with RK.  She glares accusingly at her reflection, blaming the girl in the mirror for her trouble.

Madhu (speaks to her own reflection):  I hope you’re happy now that you’ve broken me.  (Thinks of Sultan) Sultan…I am done.  I will no longer give in to your demands.  To hell with you!  Do as you please, I WILL NOT let you play with my life and self-respect.  You’re a devil and Bappa will make sure you pay dearly for your crimes! 

She looks down at her broken mangalsutra, clutching it tightly to keep all the beads intact.  Madhu stares at it for long moments.  Then with a furious shout she throws it on the floor.  She watches painfully as the beads scattered in all different directions yet strangely also feels…free.

Madhu (furiously whispers):  I am done with you Mr. Rishab Kundra.  You have killed any vestige of love I had for you.  You have played with my heart, mind, body and soul.  NO MORE!  We are no more.  As of now and forever more, I am only Madhubala, not Madhubala Rishab Kundra, just Madhubala.

Part 2

His head is pounding.  RK groans and rubs his temple.  He tries to move his arm but it’s pinned down. 

RK (thinking its Madhu on his arm):  Madhu…

He stops midway to see an unknown woman using his arm as a pillow.  Then it all comes crashing back to him.  RK pulls his arm from under the woman’s head and jumps up from bed.  He picks up his discarded clothes and quickly wears them.  Looking down at the bed, he cringes and rubs his temples again.  His head is spinning and he needs to sit down but not on the bed.  He can never touch or even look at his…no…their bed again without feeling remorse and shame.  The bed must be discarded.  It must be burned in the hopes of cindering the memories of his misdeed, his…adultery.  RK walks over to his red couch, slumps down and covers his face.

His words to Madhu are reverberating in his mind.  I will break your heart into so many tiny little pieces that you won’t ever be able to mend it again.  Their hearts are tied together and hurting her hurts him more.  Breaking her heart is equal heartbreak for him.  But her cavalier attitude HURTS.  His Madhu?  His Madhu wants a divorce from him?  She promised to always love him and to be with him, in good times and bad.  Her love for him was so weak that she is willing to give up on their marriage?  Is her love so fickle that she easily fell in love…in love with another man?  His sworn ENEMY?  HIS DAMNED HALF-BROTHER?

 RK was so angry when he saw Sultan’s picture in THEIR room.  How dare she try to hang up his picture as if he’s worthy of any HONOR, LOVE AND RESPECT? Sultan is bloody gangster and he will be damned if his ugly face will grace THEIR sanctuary.  The picture broke the last string keeping his rage in check.  He just wanted to lash out at her in the worst possible way.  His mind swam with copious amounts of whiskey and fury at Madhu.   So he took up the offer for a “good time” by the young escort scoping for clients at the club. 

RK does not want to feel guilty.  Madhu’s the one who wants to end their relationship.  She’s the one who wants a divorce.  She even claims to love Sultan.  Yet it still does not lessen the pain and guilt in his heart.  He stands up in frustration.  He wants to scream till he is hoarse.  He wants to break everything in the room till he is satisfied they are all as broken as he is on the inside.  He wants to drink away his pain and set the world on fire.  He wants to be consumed in that fire to put an end to his suffering.  But he can’t and somehow, some way, he HAS TO SET THINGS RIGHT!

RK (runs his hand through his hair in frustration and mutters):  What the hell do I do now?  How can I win back my Madhu now?  How can I erase Sultan out of her memory?  How the hell do we get over and past…(looks angrily at the sleeping occupant on his bed)…my…indiscretion…my stupid, damned mistake?

As if on cue, the girl wakes up and stretches like a well fed cat.

Girl (whispers sultrily):  Heyyy baby…What are you doing standing there?  (Pats the space next to her) Join me.  (Smiles cattily) Let’s go for round 2 and (Purrs) I can really…really show you a good time.

RK (bites out):  Get out!

Girl (frowns):  But…

RK (snaps):  I said…GET OUT!

Girl (stands up and walks seductively to RK):  Babyy…why are you so tensed?  (Reaches out to touch RK’s shoulders) Come to mama…I’ll give you a (winks) good message.

RK (shoves her hands away and shouts):  Get dressed and PACK UP!  GET THE HELL OUT OR I WILL KICK OUT YOU!

The girl finally got the message.  She quickly dressed and runs out the room, past a shocked Bittuji.  He just entered the room and noticed the girl’s disheveled appearance and the crumpled bed sheet.  He deduces that his Chief has just made a huge, irreversible mistake.

Bittuji (whispers in shock):  Chief…?

He turns his back on Bittuji in shame.  RK doesn’t want him to know…to see…that he is slowly dying inside.

RK (snaps):  Not now Bittuji.

Bittuji (a little angrily):  But Chief…(stammers)…how…how…how could…you?

RK (yells):  Bittuji!  I said not now!  For next time, what I do in MY BEDROOM IS ONLY MY BUSINESS?  Understand?  Or I’ll have you PACKED UP!

Bittuji (yells back furiously):  I am sorry Mr. Rishab Kundra but today I WILL SPEAK!  How could you cheat on bhabiji?  How could you betray her in such a despicable manner? 

RK turns around, stalks toward Bittuji and towers over him menacingly.

RK:  Your DEAREST BHABIJI wants divorce from (thumps his chest) ME!  Not the other way around.  She wants to be free from ME because she’s in love with that…dead bas**rd!  I didn’t betray her Bittuji…she did!

Bittuji (laughs bitterly):  For a man who claims to be very smart and clever, today you proved that you have a brain the size of pea!

RK (yells):  Bittuji!  You are this close to getting fired!

Bittuji (boldly):  Fire Mr. Rishab Kundra?  No…actually I QUIT!  But before I go…you will hear me out!  Bhabiji asked for divorce TO PROTECT YOU FROM SULTAN’S DEATH THREATS!  He demanded that she end all relations with you in exchange for your life.  She is even willing to sacrifice her SELF-RESPECT, DIGNITY, HONOR…HER LIFE so you can live!  And (points at the bed and thunders) this is how you repay a Devi like my bhabiji?!?

Part 3

RK (confused):  What nonsense Bittuji?  Sultan is dead!  He died in front of my eyes…I shot him!

Bittuji:  That was all a set up by Sultan.  (Sadly) We should have never doubted bhabiji’s words that he is well, alive and playing games.  After she requested the divorce, I followed her to the chawl.  I wanted…needed to ask her WHY she’s asking for divorce when she loves you.  As soon as I arrived, I saw her…with that…SULTAN!  (Angrily) He was harassing bhabiji…invading her personal space…touching her.

RK (clenches his fists):  Why didn’t you call me Bittuji?!?  I would have finished him off right then and there for touching my Madhu!

Bittuji (gives RK a withering stare):  Because the solution to this problem required a cool brain, not fists.  (Resumes his narration) I got as close as possible without alerting them and recorded their conversation.  I had it all recorded.   Sultan demanded that bhabiji divorce you and be with him in exchange for your freedom and safety.  Wondering why she didn’t tell you or any of us?  Because Sultan had eyes and ears trained especially on you.  He had you beaten up in prison just to prove a point to bhabiji that he can easily have you killed.

RK (grits his teeth and clenches his fists in anger):  How dare he?!?  How dare he threaten my Biwi?!?  How dare he TOUCH my Biwi?  How dare he even BREATHE on my Madhu?  I am going to kill him Bittuji…I am going to KILL HIM!  TEAR HIM FROM LIMB TO LIMB!

Bittuji (coldly):  That wouldn’t be necessary.  Sultan is quite dead and his partner in crime is about to be arrested. 

RK (surprised):  How?

Bittuji (explains):  I have a friend in the army and he is an Intelligence officer and owed me a favor.  Police force already proved that they are incompetent in dealing with Sultan.  So I called in a favor.  Turns out they were starting to look into Sultan’s activities in connection to arms deal.  They made a careful plan.  First scoped out his men, wire tapped this whole house because he was certain someone from within was feeding Sultan info.  Turns out he was right.  With a little bit of work, he and his team was able to trace Sultan’s location.  (Scornfully) You were too busy in your extracurricular activity to notice.  But they just performed a simultaneous raid on Sultan and all his men, including the ones who were keeping an eye on you and the rest of the family. 

RK:  So it’s all over?  Damn!  (Runs hand through his hair in frustration) I still wish Madhu had told me!

Bittuji:  Just one more piece to be bagged and then it will be all over.

RK:  Meaning?

Bittuji:  The insider who was feeding Sultan information is none other than your dear bhabi, Dipali. 

RK:  I am going to kill that b**ch!

Bittuji:  No need.  At this very moment, Dipali is being arrested on aiding and abetting a criminal and host of other charges.  She will be in jail for a VERY VERY long time. 

RK (hesitatingly):  Bittuji…where’s Madhu?  I need to talk to her…immediately!

Bittuji (coldly):  Why?  So you can hurt her some more?

RK (pleads):  I love her Bittuji…and I need to set things right!

Bittuji:  After what you did…nothing can set it right.  You broke Bhabiji…you BROKE HER!

RK (yells):  Where is she Bittuji?!?

Bittuji (sighs):  She’s downstairs with Auntyji. 

RK runs out the door.  He has to get to his Madhu and make everything right as soon as possible.  She has to accept his apology and forgive him.  The alternate is too painful to consider.  RK rushes down but halts at the base of the stairs, when he sees his beloved Madhu, sitting still beside his maa.  To an outsider, she would look completely normal.  But RK can see the dull, dead look in her eyes.  And he is TERRIFIED!

RK (rushes to Madhu and kneels down next to her):  Madhu…?  (Pleads her to look at him) Look at me please.  I am sorry…I am sorry Madhu.  Plese look at me!

Radhaji (stands up and glares at RK):  Rishu…how could you do this to Madhu?!?  How could you….chi…chi…with another girl?  Chi…chi!  Not even in my scariest nightmare did I ever think you would ever stoop so low.

RK (ashamed):  Maa…

Madhu (stands up and call for Patil and Mangesh):  Please get my luggage from my Chief’s room.

RK stands up and tries to touch Madhu’s hand but she steps back.

RK (desperately):  Madhu…you can’t leave me!  Not like this…you just can’t.  Please!  I love you and I can’t live without you.  (Tries to touch Madhu’s face but she pushes his hands away) I am sorry…I made a huge, colossal mistake.  No matter how I angry I was with you and drunk…I shouldn’t…I shouldn’t have slept with that girl.  I am sorry Biwi!  Punish me all you want!  Scream at me…hit me…but please don’t leave!  I promise…I (right hand over his heart) PROMISE I will NEVER cheat on you again.  Please forgive me and give me another chance.

Madhu (looks him dead in the eyes):  Can you turn back time…go back and undo your mistake?

RK (searching for words):  I…Biwi…I wish…I wish I could…but

Madhu (interrupts):  Exactly. You can’t.  You can’t turn back time and just as you can’t do that…I can’t forgive you.  (Angrily) Every time I see you…I will be reminded of that girl…(holding back tears) and what you did with her.  I can’t and won’t be able to forget…EVER!  So no Mr. Rishab Kundra.  I can’t give you another chance.  I just can’t.  You wanted to break my heart to the point I can’t and won’t be able to mend it?  Well…CONGRATULATIONS!  You achieved your goal.  You broke my heart, made a mockery of our love and marriage vows.  No…I am done!  You and I are over…Mr. Kundra.  (To Patil and Mangesh) Please put it in the car.  (To RK)  I am going to the chawl.  Our relationship is OVER!  I’ll see you in court.

Madhu walks away despite RK’s numerous protests.  As she walked right of his life, RK feels as if he can’t breathe.  Due to his stupidity, he has lost his reason for living.  He just stands staring at the door, willing Madhu to return back to him.  RK feels a pull on his arm and he turns around.  As soon as he turns, Radhaji slaps his really hard.

Radhaji (furiously points her finger at RK):  Today you proved that you are NOT my son!

RK (touches his stinging cheek):  Maa…

Radhaji (angry tears rushing down her face):  Don’t you dare call me maa.  I am not your maa!  After what you did to my Madhu…no…you and I have no relationship.  As of today, you are ONLY Mohan Kundra’s son!  You proved today that you are your father’s son with your careless, self-fish actions.  (She slowly walks away from him) No…I am not your maa…you are not my son…(Sobbing) You are NOT MY SON!

She runs out of the room, leaving behind a soulless man.  RK falls on his knees, a completely broken man.  First the reason for his living walks out and now the one who gave him life.  He has nothing left to live for, nothing left to look forward to.  In one careless stroke, RK destroyed every shred of happiness in his life.  He is an abomination, completely unworthy of love.  He is his own worst enemy.