"Dipali... She is Dipali Bhatia" Rishab said looking closely at the video.

"Who is that bitch?" Madhu snapped as she stood up from the couch and placed her hands on her hip. She glared at her husband with fury. "Don't you dare tell me she is your Ex! Then I wont hesitate to kill you, Rishab" Madhu snarled at him.

Rishab was least affected by her threatening tone. "No need to turn on your "bitchy" mode. Calm down and sit down!" he pointed to the couch asking her to sit quietly beside him.

"Who is this Dipali? How do you know her?" she shouted

"I said sit" he said sternly. "I will tell you."

"Do you have an affair with her?" she spat harsh words at him without thinking.

He cringed his eyes, fisted his hands and took a sharp breath but that didn't help.

"She completely lost her mind, Rishab. Let it go. She didn't mean it and you knew it. " his inner voice said.

He pinched his nose bridge and counted from 1 to 10 with his eyes closed so that he could refrain from lashing out at her.

"I don't have any affair with her or with anyone of that matter." he said calmly. He was anything but calm. It was just a facade. Finally opening his eyes he looked up at her. "I am not a cheap bas***d to deceive my wife that too when she is pregnant with my child by sleeping with another woman... What made you think I might have an affair? Is that because I am not coming home on time? Don't you trust me? Right from day one we got married we are going through this trust issue. I am sick of explaining myself to you." he sighed and held his head in his hands.

"Rishab..."

"I don't even know her that well. I have just seen her once. You too have been there... But you didn't see her as you left home sooner."

"What you are talking about?" she asked softly feeling ashamed that she doubted her husband.

"Do you remember our wedding night?" he asked her still looking down at his boots and not at her. "The incident happened in Purple Orchid Hotel?"

"Yeah... You got a call from your department that there was some attack and people were kept as hostage in the hotel. So you and I went to the spot... There only for the first time I said "Husband, I love you" before you entered into the hotel..."

"Do you really?"

"What? I didn't get you?" she asked with a frown.

"Do you really love me?" he asked turning his head and meeting her eyes.

"Of course, Rishab... I do... I do love you. Trust me, please. Please." she pleaded holding his hand tightly with both her hands. He kept staring at her with an emotionless look. "Please..." she whispered begging him to trust her love. He finally nodded his head twice. She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. "I am sorry. I will never hurt your feelings. Ever. I swear." she promised.

He didn't say anything. He just released her hands from being tightly wrapped around his neck. She didn't like it but she didn't push him.

Rishab googled for more information about one of the richest hotel owners and his family. He got to see more pictures for Dipali.

"She was in love with a college guy right?" she asked

"Hmm"

"That psycho guy only created a scene in the hotel to stop his lover's forced marriage and in the end you, police got them married right?" Madhu asked recalling the event. It was actually what her husband narrated to her when she woke up screaming from a nightmare on their wedding night.

"Then why is she behind you when you actually did good for her?" Madhu asked in confusion

"I arrested that guy if you could remember well."

"So? She will break into our house to harm us? Is she mad?"

"That guy was attacked in the prison and he is now in coma." Rishab fed her more information. Madhu covered her mouth in shock.

"I thought of meeting that girl and..."

"Apologize to her?"

"Why should I apologize to her when I didn't do any wrong? I just did my duty by arresting that guy who was a threat to so many innocent peoples' lives." he said with a shrug. "It was her father's men who attacked that guy in prison. I just wanted to promise her to give full protection to that boy and reassure her he will be fine but I didn't get time to meet her..." he said remembering the time Madhu had got shot by him and admitted in hospital. His suspense and their trip and secret mission of killing Sultan. He had so much to deal with at that time and it just skipped out of his mind.

"Can anyone get into the prison and attack? What you guys, police, jailer and all other officials are doing there? Can't you give protection to them? They are criminals but they are human too and they have the right to live... "

"Dont lecture me!" he snapped at her. Sometimes she can get into his nerves.

"Her father Kuku Bhatia is a very influential man. He set up few men who were already in the prison convicted for some minor crimes to attack this lunatic guy. It was a sudden act so no one could react immediately. When the jailers intervened and saved him he was half dead."

"Does she know he is alive?"

"I don't know. That guy's family were informed but I don't know whether she was informed or not."

"Does she know it was her father's men who harmed her lover.. Um husband?"

"I don't think so. If she knew she wouldn't be happily staying with her father."

"How do you know she stays with her father?" Madhu asked.

"You still haven't worked it out? This is the same girl who dashed on you at the party in purple orchid hotel. It was her father's hotel. She was probably enjoying the party but gone crazy seeing us together." Rishab asked.

"How you expect me to work it out? I haven't seen this girl before and only now I am seeing this semi clear image of her and hearing her history from you. I don't know how you are relating this girl with that girl who bumped into me? That girl could be anyone who came to the party... "

" But then... She seemed to be done that on purpose to hurt you... She didnt stop when we called her... She just threw a side way glance... I assume it was an angry glare..."

"Give me some other better reason, Rishab"

"The perfume she used..."Pure Poison"..."

"Stop sniffing girls perfume!" she warned him

"Well, This girl Dipali has a weird hair coloring. She has painted the layers of her hair in multi colors."

Okay, so by seeing his wife's red hair coloring only it struck to his mind where he had seen this weirdo before.

"I have noticed her hair coloring because I found it pretty peculiar at the very first time I met her in the hotel and again my eyes caught with her hair coloring when she bumped into you at the party night and marched hurriedly to the elevator without stopping to our calls. At that time I let it go thinking it was the latest fashion so all the crazy girls are coloring their hair like rainbow."

"You think I am crazy?"

"I didn't say anything like that."

"But you said in general.. "All the crazy girls are coloring" so I am one among them..." Only his wife can interpret things in a negative way and put a fight with him. "Do you like my hair coloring?"

"Yeah this is what important for me now. To sit and judge you hair texture and coloring?" he rolled his eyes.

"Please, tell nah?" she felt it so important to know whether he liked her hair coloring or not because she had spent nearly 3 hours for it in the parlor. If he didn't she can change it. She just wanted to please her husband by looking beautiful to him.

"Honestly?"

"Yes"

"Then no! I don't like your hair coloring. I preferred your natural rich black hair."

"Oh"

"But it's fine. You still look good as you have just shaded the ends and from front I can't say you have done something to your hair. It's just beautiful like how I preferred from frontal view. Oh and in a way I am glad you colored your hair because I got a clue only by seeing it."

"Okay. Now where were we?"

"It never occurred to me before that the hotel owner's daughter, the girl who broke into our house and the girl who bumped into you are one and the same." he sounded so disappointed at himself for leaving such important clue. Though it was a minor one still clues cant be big. If its a big hint then its like spelling out the direct answer.

"She wanna harm you to avenge for that guy's state?" Madhu asked as fear gripped her heart.

"I don't think it's me she is looking for. I am afraid it's you." he said in a low voice taking Madhu's hand in his. "I will never forgive myself if anything happens to you." his instinct says Dipali wanna harm his wife to take revenge on him.

He let go of her hand and rubbed his face. He looked so tired. He rested his head back on the couch and pressed his forehead with his fingers.

"You okay, Rishab?" Madhu asked softly placing her hand on his shoulder.

"I am not okay, Madhu. I feel like shit for letting this happen for the second time." he surely was upset that someone... Well, a girl to be exact could easily broke into his house and make a mess in there. What if he hadn't stopped Madhu on time? What if, Madhu hadn't gone for a long drive and stayed home? That girl effortlessly shot the door lock and kicked open the door and entered in. She could have easily shot Madhu as well before she could have had the time to guard herself.

"Rishab, please don't be upset..."

"I am tired. I am completely done in for the day. My head is throbbing." he said hiding his groan.

"How can I help you?"

"No. Nothing. I will be fine."

"Please tell me? Shall I press you head? Or shall I get you headache pills?" she offered wanting to do something for him. She felt so bad to see him like this.

"I am... Hungry. Can you cook for me something?" he asked. He had never said he was hungry and asked for food. He always cooks for them and never bothered her in anything.

"Of course, Rishab. What you want to eat?"she asked with a smile.

"I am sick of eating cold cuts from the refrigerator for the past ten days so make something fresh. No reheating, please."

"I am sorry I wasn't taking care of you well, lately. I will make... "

"Make something quick and simple." he cuts her off.

"Okay" she decided to make Idly and tomato chutney.

She carefull stood up from the couch and walked without stepping on the broken glass pieces of the fish tank or slipping on the water.

"You leave it, Rishab. I will clean the mess later" she said from the kitchen slicing tomatoes seeing her husband picking up the glass pieces.

"It's okay. You cook. I will clean this place by the time food gets ready."

"Shall we get a new fish tank tomorrow?" Madhu asked.

"hmm... " he agreed. Though he was not fond of growing fishes he agreed for her knowing it will make her happy.

"Rishab..."

"hmm... " he left the cleaning work and walked to her to the kitchen. He stood at the other side of the counter waiting for her to speak.

"You are angry with me?" she asked softly as she fried the finely chopped onions in the pan.

He shook his head in no.

"If you are angry then take it out on me. Don't hurt yourself." she pointed to his badly bruised hand. His right hand knuckles were slightly torn and dried blood covered his skin. "I know I drive you insane..."

"That you do." he said with a humorless chuckle.

"But I love you like anything... You know that right?... I... I can't lead a day without fighting with you... I can't live my life without loving you..." he didn't let her speak further. He just walked around the counter and turned her to face him, he took her head in his hands, looked into her beautiful eyes for few good seconds before claiming her lips with his. He kissed her softly, deeply and passionately. Even words couldn't have better explained his love to her but his kiss did a pretty good job.

Once they broke their kiss he let her go and walked back to the living room to continue the cleaning work. Madhu stood still in her place looking at his back as he walked away. How can he nearly melt her with his love and warmth and make her swoon at his feet and then walk away so unaffected as if nothing has happened? She wondered.

"Dinner is ready" she announced as she walked to the living room to call him. Rishab was fixing the micro mini camera back on the TV frame. Madhu looked around the room to find everything in place, neat and tidy. If anything was missing then it will be fish tank orherwise everything was so perfect. Her husband was not only a control freak but also a cleanliness freak.

"Yeah. Done. Come." he said and walked past her to the dining table.

She served him the food on his plate.

"You are not eating?"

"I already had my dinner out."

"Oh. Okay."

"You want me to feed you?" she asked seeing the bandage wrapped in his right hand.

"Just give me a spoon I can manage."

"Why? Why you need a spoon when I am offering you to feed you with my hand?"

"I don't like to be fed. It makes me feel like a baby." he said finding it so embarrassing to even say. She laughed.

"Then be a baby" she stood closer to him while he sat on the chair and she pushed the shock of hair which fell on his forehead and kissed him there. She took a piece of mini Idly and touched it in the chutney and then placed it in his mouth. Without making any protest he started eating in silence.

"Why you work this hard, Rishab? Not even taking care of your health?"

"There is some issue going in the department which I can't tell you. Once I sort it out I will be good." he said evasively

"Tell me what it is?" she probed

"You won't understand so just leave it." after his suspension things had changed drastically in his work place. Few things went haywire... Just gone so out of his control and he was trying hard and setting it back in place. His work load got intensified.

"Rishab, I feel its high time we give a police complaint. First the elevator incident and now this house breaking incident for the second time... None of the time we let police involve." he gave her look clearly shouting "then who the f**k am I if not police?"

"I know you are one...but you are dealing things off the record. If we go by the procedure and call the police your burden will be reduced right? We can also easily find Balraj and Bujangs identity and hideout? Oh and we can also find this girl and provide some help to her. She has probably gone mad." she suggested.

"Even I wanna follow the procedural codes so that the investigation will speed up... I can't investigate beyond a limit without letting know the other officials but the only drawback is... the case will go out of my hand. Being your husband I can't take up your case. Some new officer will step into my shoes and will handle the case. You have to answer to all his bullshits and I won't let that happen. He will mislead the case when we are almost there in reaching the goal. We know who all are behind us and now we have only two things to do."

"What are they?" she asked as she fed him.

"One - to protect ourselves from any harm. We should be extra cautious. I don't want neither of us getting hurt because it wil hurt both of us.

Two - We should hunt them down before they make their next move."

"hmm...okay"

"You don't worry, Madhu." he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "Things will be back to normal. I will be back to you." he promised her "You don't know how much I missed you. Every time I hear your voice, your cries and your curses I feel like running back to you to have you in my arms leaving all my work behind but I just couldn't do that" Being an ACP wasn't a cakewalk job.  He had lots of work swirling around his head. Sometimes his love for his work over powers his love for his wife so he just couldn't ditch his work for his pregnant wife. He only expected her to understand him and she did and for that he felt so grateful. She didn't complain much. She gave him the much needed peace of mind to work. Only the other day when he couldn't accompany her to the Gyn for her first scan she was so upset and shouted at him but soon she called back and apologized to him. He can never be angry on her for long because she never lets him. She never felt ashamed to bend down in front of him though he was the one who hurt her feelings, mostly. Her pure innocent crazy love for him made him love her more.

"It was not only you who was sexually frustrated. Even I am!" he said in a teasing tone but his eyes turned dark in desire. "Every night when I come home late I feel like waking you up and make love to you... But I refrained myself from waking you up because I know you need your sleep now more that ever" Madhu looked down at him with tear brimming eyes. She was overwhelmed with happiness that she couldn't even utter a word. "You don't have to ask for seduction tricks from my mother to pull me to you because I am already seduced. You have bounded me with your powerful magical spell."

"What's wrong with you, Rishab?" she cried and laughed emotionally. "I just can't believe my husband is talking about seduction and magical spell..." she pressed the corner of her eyes to stop the happy tears.

"Enough" he stopped her from feeding him more. She looked down at the plate, three mini idly's were left. She didn't want them to go waste so she stuffed the left over in her mouth. She took the plate and turned to walk but he held her hand and stopped her. She turned her head and wiggled her eye brows asking what now?

He yanked her hand gently making her come closer to him. She stood beside him and he turned slightly on the chair.

"I saw your scan report and I am dying to say this..." he wrapped his hands around her waist and pressed his face against her belly.

"Daddy loves you baby" he whispered and kissed her belly over her shirt.

Madhu leaned down and kissed his head as her heart swelled with love and happiness.

... To be continued!!!

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