Chapter 2

Pyaar Mein Twist Parts 2 and 3

The summer had passed quickly, and before Kripa knew it, it was already September first. Summer always seemed to go by fast. She was excited, but also nervous. She was very anxious to see Prithvi, since she had not seen him all summer. She had received a letter from Josh inviting her to stay at his house, but her family had already decided to go on vacation in Switzerland.

Kripa stood in front of her closet trying to find the right outfit. She had never really cared about what she wore before now, but she wanted to look good today.

'Hmm… I could wear this,' she decided. She pulled out a jean skirt and a white tank top. She pulled on some white flip-flops and double checked her bag.

'I think I have everything,' she thought. She bent down and lifted the bag and, with some difficulty, took it down the stairs. She plopped down on top of the bag after she dropped it at the bottom of the stairs.

"You didn't have to bring that down, Kripa. I would have gotten it for you," her dad said as he walked down the stairs and past her to the kitchen.

'Of course you tell me this after I lug it down the stairs,' she thought bitterly. It was a heavy bag, after all, and she wasn't the strongest person. She stood and walked into the kitchen, sitting down at the table.

"Good morning, Kripa," her mother said cheerily as she laid a plate of toast, eggs, and pancakes in front of her. Kripa smiled in gratitude.

"Morning, Mom," she replied, lifting her fork and knife and cutting her pancakes.

"A letter came for you, dear. I think it's from Prithvi," she said, smiling knowingly. Kripa rolled her eyes and ran over to get the note.

"I'll be right back," she said and hurried up to her room to read it.

She opened her bedroom door, and, closing the door behind her, pounced on her bed. She quickly tore open the note and her eyes scanned the page.

Dear Kripa

How has your summer been? Sorry for not writing. You know how it is sometimes, though. I just couldn't find the time. I just wanted to send you this one note before the school year started, though.

I'm usually not one to beat around the bush, but I really am dreading telling you what I'm about to tell you because I know it will hurt you.

Kripa stopped reading for a second.

'What could he possibly mean? What is going to hurt me?' she wondered. She continued reading Prithvi's letter.

You know how I stayed at Josh's house this summer (well, of course you know. I stay at Josh's house every summer.). Well, something unexpected happened. Well, I suppose you could say someone unexpected happened.

Do you remember Harshini Kapoor? The pretty girl that I was practically in love with back a year ago? Well, it turns out she has a summer house right near Josh's house. Isn't that an amazing coincidence? It turns out she's never been there until this summer. Her parents just bought the house last autumn.

Kripa didn't like the way this letter was going.

Well, Harshini and I talked a lot this summer. It's hard to explain, Kripa, but I just feel like we have this awesome connection. I could actually talk to her this time. It was nothing like before. I wasn't nervous at all and we actually had a real conversation. It's amazing how much we have in common. It's almost like we're soul mates.

'I thought we were soul mates, Prithvi,' Kripa thought, her eyes clouding with tears. She shook her head vigorously. 'No, Kripa, don't cry. No one is ever worth your tears,' she thought.

Anyway, we really hit it off, and, well… we sort of agreed to get together. I know that I'm with you, Kripa, but you have to understand. I've finally found someone who I can spend the rest of my life with. You're still my best friend, Kripa, as is Josh. I don't ever want to lose you as a friend. I never wanted to hurt you, but please don't be angry with me. It would hurt me too much to lose you as a friend. You're like a sister to me, and that's a special bond that I don't share with anyone else. I'm so sorry for doing this to you, but I know you'll see that it's the best thing… for both of us. See you at school.

With Love,

Prithvi

Kripa sat on in her bed in a state of shock. She could not believe that Prithvi had just broken up with her. She had thought that they were perfect for each other, as did everyone else. Even Josh had encouraged the relationship. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. She took another look at the letter before ripping it up into tiny pieces.

'Fine. If that's the way he wants it, so be it,' she thought angrily. 'From now on, Prithvi, it's war. I am going to do whatever I can to win back your heart,' she thought. She quickly stood and took one last look in the mirror. She sighed at her reflection. Maybe she should rethink this. How could she even think she could compete with Harshini?

Same Morning, Khanna Mansion

"WHAT?" Angad yelled. His voice echoed off the walls of the empty house.

"I'm sorry, Angad, but it's true love," Harshini said, taking on a dreamy expression. Angad scowled, disgusted. Here was one of the hottest girls in school dumping him for Prithvi. It was unbelievable.

"Why Prithvi?" he demanded. Harshini shrugged.

"I don't know. You can't choose who you love," she informed him. He scoffed.

"You can very well choose who to love," he argued. Harshini shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"That's another reason. You never listen to anything I say. You don't care about anything but yourself. I have no idea why I dated you in the first place," she said. She stood up, walking towards the door. Angad simply scowled again and crossed his arms. "Goodbye, Angad," Harshini said before disappearing behind the furnished oak doors.

'This is so humiliating. Me, Angad Khanna, getting dumped. I don't believe this has ever happened before. Oh, I'll get her for this. I'll make her want to come crawling back to me. When she does, I'll refuse her. That's perfect. Public humiliation,' he thought, smirking. 'I've got some serious planning to do,' he thought.

10:45

Kripa wanted to be sure she would be on time for the train. She reached the Platform and before she knew what was happened CRASH. She fell over backwards and her cart toppled over sideways. She stopped, rubbing her head.

"Watch where you're going!" she heard a voice exclaim. She looked to her left and came face to face with Angad Khanna. She grimaced.

"Well maybe you shouldn't stand right in front of the entrance with your cart, Angad!" she said huffily. Angad glared at her.

"Do I know you?" he demanded. Kripa raised an eyebrow at him.

'What is he up to?' she wondered.

'She looks familiar, but who is she?' he wondered. Kripa just glared back, not answering.

"Kripa!" she heard a voice yell. She turned around and saw Josh and Alliyah waving energetically to her. She smiled at the red heads.

"Josh! Alliyah!" she yelled back. She stooped down to pick up her things, placing them back on the cart.

"Kripa?" Angad asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Angad. Is that really so hard to believe?" Kripa said without looking at him.

"Honestly, Kripa, do you really want me to answer that question?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow arrogantly. Kripa glared at him. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stalked away from him.

The sight that greeted her, though, made her want to turn right back around. Talking to Angad was way better than what she was witnessing right now. Prithvi and Harshini were standing close by, leaning against the train and kissing Kripa was disgusted.

'Why are they doing that? And in public!' she thought, outraged.

"Sickening, isn't it?" she heard a drawling voice from behind her say. Kripa cringed. She had thought that Angad had left.

"Quite," she said. She didn't care if this was Angad or not. He was right.

"Can you believe she dumped me for.… Prithvi?" he spat. Kripa whirled around and stared at him disbelievingly.

"You were dating Harshini?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes. What's it to you?" he snarled. Kripa scowled at him.

"Well, I was dating Prithvi," she said, trying hard to keep the pain out of her voice. She sighed heavily, once again forcing the tears back. She wouldn't cry. Especially not in front of Angad.

Angad, though, had something up his sleeve.

Part 3

Kripa had successfully managed to avoid people for the first half of the train ride. She didn't really just want to be by herself. She needed to think.

'Did I really love him?' she wondered. She shook her head. 'Of course you did. Why else would you feel this much pain?' she told herself. She looked out the window, her eyes glazed over in thought. 'How did I let this happen to me?' she asked herself. 'I should have known I was only setting myself up to get hurt. Why do they always think they can just take advantage of me? Prithvi, Josh, all of them. What makes them think they can walk all over me?' Kripa sighed.

'You never stand up to them,' she told herself. Although she didn't want to believe this, she knew it was true. She was just a doormat. She would never really mean anything to them. She was shaken out of her reverie by the opening of the door. Her eyes snapped to the doorway and she saw one of the last people she would want to see.

Angad Khanna.

"Funny how we keep running into each other, eh Kripa?" he asked cockily. Kripa groaned in frustration.

"What do you want now, Angad?" she asked snappily. Angad held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Now, what makes you think I want something?" he asked innocently. Kripa looked at him skeptically, raising her eyebrows. Angad rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. You're right. I have a proposition for you," he informed her.

"And what exactly are you proposing?" she asked. Maybe if she just let him talk he would get out of her compartment and leave her alone.

"Well, you know how Prithvi and Harshini are dating now?" he asked. Kripa looked at him like he was stupid.

"Of course I know, you dolt!" she exclaimed. What was he up to?

"Well, I want Harshini back, and you want Prithvi back," he said simply. Kripa was confused for a moment.

'What does this have to do with him and me?' she wondered.

"Get to the point, Angad," she growled.

"Well, I propose that we make them jealous," he informed her.

"How, prt ell, are we supposed to do that?" she asked him. He smirked. A light clicked on in Kripa's brain and her eyes widened.

"OoOoh no! No, Angad! No, no, NO!" she exclaimed.

"It could work, you know," he said. Kripa shook her head vigorously.

"No! I am not going to pretend to date you!" she shrieked.

"Shh! Quiet, woman! I don't want everyone to hear!" he said commandingly.

"Why would you think I would ever agree to something like this?" she demanded. He smirked.

"Because you know it will work. You know how jealous Prithvi gets. He'll blow his top. Especially if it's me that you are… dating," he said. Kripa sighed in frustration. As much as she hated to admit, he had a point.

"What are the terms for this… charade?" she questioned.

"I knew you'd see things my way," he said.

"Oh shut up, you insufferable idiot. Just so we get things straight, I'm only doing this because I want Prithvi back," she said.

"Sure, sure. I bet it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you find me unbelievably handsome," he said.

"Do you want me to do this or not?" she asked angrily.

"Feisty. I like it," he said. Kripa glared at him.

"Anyway, I'm telling you upfront. There will be absolutely NO kissing, handholding, hugging… actually, make that no physical contact whatsoever," she said. Angad rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, Kripa, people actually have to believe that we're a couple. We're going to have to touch each other. As much as I dread touching you," he said.

"Fine. No kissing," she said. Angad shrugged.

"Don't think you'll be able to resist me, huh?" he asked. Kripa rolled her eyes again.

"Stop being such an ass, Angad. Just listen. Now, you're going to have to stop insulting me, not braniac, not bookworm, nothing except Kripa," she said severely.

"Not even Krips?" he asked jokingly. Kripa glared.

"NO. Definitely not Krips," she said.

"Geeez, Krips, oops… I mean, Kripa. You need to lighten up a bit. You're such a stiff," he said. Kripa snorted.

"Do you really think I care what you think about me you preposterous idiot?" she asked.

"You know you're going to have to call me Angad, right?" he told her. Kripa looked scandalized at the very idea.

"I have to call you Kripa, you have to call me Angad and you have to stop hurling insults at me," he said. Kripa sighed.

"Fine… Angad," she said. "This is going to take some getting used to," she said.

"You said it," he agreed.

The rest of the train ride passed in silence, Kripa and Angad grudgingly tolerating each other's presence. Finally, the train reached their school. Kripa abruptly stood and headed for the door.

"Kripa, Love, aren't you forgetting something?" she heard Angad ask innocently.

"No, I don't think I am, actually," she said. He shook his head.

"Oh, but I think you are," he said in his arrogant drawl. Kripa groaned. He just wouldn't leave her alone, would he?

"No, I don't think I am," she argued.

"Yes, you are," he said. Kripa, frustrated turned and faced the boy.

"Enlighten me, then, Angad. What am I forgetting?" she asked. He smirked.

"First of all, you're forgetting that we are supposed to be dating. Second, give me your hand," he said, holding his hand out to her. She looked at it suspiciously. "Oh come on now! It's not like it's diseased! I don't want to touch you anymore than you want to touch me, but in order for this to work we actually have to look like we're dating!" he exclaimed. Kripa put her hand in his reluctantly. Angad forced her to intertwine her fingers with his.

"You know what? I hate you," she spat. Angad smiled.

"I love you too, honey," he said loudly. The two walked down the aisle of the train, heading for the door to the exit. Many people gave them odd stares as they passed by, their eyes flickering from their faces to their hands.

"What? You've never seen people hold hands before?" Kripa snapped.

"Now, Krips, don't lose your temper," Angad said mockingly.

"Do you have a death wish?" she snarled.

"Only that we die together," he said with false cheeriness. Kripa rolled her eyes.

"You are so sickening," she said.

"Aw, thanks," he said sarcastically.

"Remind me again why I'm doing this," Kripa said.

"Because you found me devilishly handsome and irresistible," he replied.

"I don't think that's why I'm doing this," Kripa said reproachfully.

"Of course it is. Why else would you go out with me?" he asked. Kripa didn't dignify that with a response. The two walked out on to the Platform and headed towards the school.

"Now, remember, when we see Prithvi and Harshini, let me do the talking," Kripa told him.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Angad replied. Kripa looked at him skeptically, but didn't say anything else. As they approached the carriages, they noticed Prithvi and Harshini standing off to the side.

"Kripa!" Prithvi yelled, waving her over. Kripa flashed him a fake smile.

"Prithvi!" she exclaimed. She walked over to the couple, dragging Angad with her. Prithvi looked at her confused as he noticed who she was with.

"Why are you with him?" he asked, gesturing toward Angad. Angad faked a look of hurt.

"You're not happy to see me, Prithvi?" he asked. Prithvi glared at him.

"You didn't know? Angad and I are dating," Kripa told him. Prithvi's eyes widened.

"WHAT?" he asked.

"Angad and I are dating," she repeated.

"You actually expect me to believe that you're dating this… thing?" he asked. Kripa nodded.

"Oh, Prithvi. Angad's really… sweet once you get to know him," she said. 'Eww... I'm even grossing out myself,' she thought. Prithvi gave her a disgusted look.

"Kripa, do you mind if we talk for a minute?" he asked.

"Of course not. Excuse us, sweetheart," Kripa said to Angad. He nodded. Prithvi pulled her off a few feet away from Harshini and Angad, who were now conversing.

"You want to explain to me what's going on?" he asked her harshly. Kripa crossed her arms deficiently.

"Do you want to explain to me what happened this summer?" she shot back. A look of hurt flickered in his eyes for a moment before he was masked by anger.

"That's none of your business, Kripa!" he snapped.

"Well, my dating Angad is no business of yours either!" she yelled back.

"He's my worst enemy, Kripa! How could you do this to me?" he asked. Kripa looked up at him sadly, tears clouding her vision.

"I loved you. How could you do this to me?" she asked softly.

"Kripa…," he said pleadingly. She shook her head and blinked. A tear fell slowly down her cheek.

"It doesn't matter anymore, Prithvi. I'm happy with Angad," she told him. 'If you only knew…,' she thought. Prithvi sighed.

"Fine. I still don't like it, Kripa. Promise me you'll be careful, though. I meant what I said. You're still my best friend," he said. Kripa nodded.

"I know, Prithvi, I know," she replied. With that said, she turned and walked back to Angad. He looked at questioningly, and she knew she would have to explain later as much as dreaded it.

"You alright?" he asked.

'Wow. He's good at this acting thing. He actually sounds like he cares,' she thought. She smiled shakily at him and nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. Let's go," she said. The two of them walked to the school together.

hope you all liked it! The fun is just about to begin!

-Natasha