On the heels of her sudden trip to India to follow Robin Padilla, Mariel Rodriguez has unwittingly left a trail of rumors which she promptly cleared up in an exclusive interview, three days after she and Robin came back last August 21.

As last week, a day after Mariel left, Robin wanted to bring Mariel to Agra to show her the magnificent Taj Mahal which fascinated Robin no end since his first visit there last year be­cause of its being “a symbol of enduring love,” the way they feel toward each other … well, so far. “It was my first visit to India,” gushed Mariel. “It was great, sobra! The Taj Mahal was so beautiful. I fell in love with it.” It became doubly memorable because she was with Robin. Did they make a vow to love each other forever and ever?
“ Uhm,” was all Mariel could say. “When Robin was there the first time, he said that he promised to go back.”

Mariel couldn’t remember how long they stayed in India … four days? … five days? Re­minded that people in love lose their sense of time, she laughed and laughed. So did they, according to rumors, get mar­ried in India? (As you know, Robin is divorced from Liezel Sicangco who is now married to a New Zealander.) “You know, there’s a proper time para pag­usapan ‘yan. Siguro ngayon, hindi pa time be­cause, marami pang dapat ayusin. You know naman kung ano ang mga nangyayari, di ba? If ever, then I will not keep it a secret.”

Is she proudly wearing the P1.2-M diamond ring Robin has given her as, well, “a symbol of undying love?”
Mariel laughed again. “I have no idea kung magkano ‘yon.” (A jeweler said the ring couldn’t be worth more than P700,000.) “I did not even ask. Ibang tao ang nag-estimate n’un. But it isn’t really an issue with me.” (Liezel said that Robin had also given her a ring, “although not as expensive as that,” but she has misplaced it.) Let’s make it clear: Are they into the getting­to-know-you stage or are they already going steady?
“The status of our relationship is not im­portant at this point. We are just enjoying each other’s company.”

Are they living-in?
“No. I stay in my own condo unit in Man­daluyong City and he has his own place. His children (Kylie and Ali) live with him.”
What about the rumor that she’s pregnant? “Oh, that’s not true.”
In a phone patch with Startalk, Liezel re­called that Robin asked her how she felt about Mariel and Liezel said she told Robin, “Okey lang. Kayo naman ang magsasama.” Besides, said Liezel, “may asawa na rin naman ako.”

Told that Liezel said it without any trace of bitterness or resentment, Mariel said, “Thank you naman!”
In a recent interview with Funfare, Robin’s other daughter Queenie said that her Ate Mari-el and Robin “are sweet with each other” and she’s happy wherever her dad is happy, add­ing, “Basta huwag lang niya (Mariel) sasaktan si Papa.”
Is Mariel okay with Robin’s children?
“Yeah, yeah! I think they (Robin and Liezel) raised them well because the children are very nice and very pleasant, very respectful. So­brang mababait.”
Did she try hard to win the children’s heart?
“No, I didn’t need to. Siguro nakita nilang masaya ang Papa nila kaya masaya na rin na­man sila.” Mariel is said to be maalaga (car­ing). “Well, I try to be.”
Asked if she has heard that her ex-boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo got kilig (tickled) when he saw Robin give Mariel the ring (on E-Live!), Mariel said, “Sorry but wala na akong ano tungkol sa past. Deadma na ako sa mga ganoon.” And now, the killer question: How does Mariel think she and Robin will end up … happily ever after?
“You know, the present will determine the future.” Mariel is on indefinite leave from the from which Robin has also taken a leave (but is said to be not coming back) in observance of Ramadan.
“I didn’t resign,” clarified Mariel. “I’m just on leave. I really planned to go on leave maski noong mayroon pang Wowowee.” Well, any way you look at it, Mariel seems to be win na win in more ways than one.