Chapter 24

Part: 23

"Aap ko yeh haq kisney diya, aap match fix karney aayi wo aapki ladli pota ke saat? You promised me that you will wait week time but you brought your family within two days. Mein chup rahi. I already told you that he is not interested in me and now you are forcing me to tie with him?" Kripa is furiously taking steps and yelling at Devyani. Kripa called Devyani to the park near her office to talk to her.
Devyani is watching her with smile sitting on the cement bench "First take a breath, relax, sit aside and listen to me"
"No I don't have to listen to you. Bahut hogaya hai. I'm telling you again and again I'm not at all interested in your pota, Samjhey?" she pointed her forefinger on Devyani.
"Phir kal kyon uskey saat dating pey gayi ho?" Dadi looked at Kripa dropping her spectacles over her nose.
"Wo jabardasti mujhey lekey gaya tha. I couldn't tell mamma and papa about his decision. Aap toh jaanti haina phir kyon mujhey aise sata rahi hai?"
"You know why" Dadi again gave mischievous looks thru spectacles.
Kripa sighed and slapped on her own head "Teacher! Be serious. I don't want this matter get complicated. Please, stop this here and go back to your town." She gave fumed looks and sat besides her folding her hands.
Devyani caressed her head "Phir teacher? Itna naraaz hai mujhsey?"
Kripa turned with tearful eyes "I don't call you dadi. I don't want to marry him. Don't bother me"
"I know how much you dreamt about Angad. Angad is foolishly searching for his dream girl. Once yeh shadi hojaay sab theek hojaayega. I know he also likes you."
"Liking is different from Love. You can't force one to love you. He doesn't love me. Mein meri dil ko sambhal sakti hoon. You don't have to force Angad for my sake." Kripa is coldly, softly convincing Devyani.
"Liking takes no time to change into Love, Kripa!" Aaliyah walked near them. Kripa surprised "Aaliyah! Tum! What are you doing here?"
Aaliyah looked at Devyani and took instructions from her eyes and turned to Kripa "Dadi yahan aaney ki aur shadi fix karney ki responsible main hoon"
Kripa is startled and exchanged her looks on both. Dadi smiled and dropped her hand around Kripa.
Aaliyah continued,"I know Angad from the age of 13. He dated many girls in London and as much as I know he is not sure what he wants. He never dated any single girl for more than a day. Buss hur ladki ke peechey baagta raha. The only girl he remembered so passionately for long time is you, only you. You know what is his favourite place in his house? His bedroom' balcony. He gets peace there. He never admitted it till now that whenever I countered him. Even now he denies that he loves you. But I'm sure you are the right person to him."
Kripa shook her head after hearing Aaliyah "I cannot give a chance to my life like this Aaliyah!"
Dadi stopped Aaliyah to continue "Ussey sochney do Aaliyah! Aakhir yeh uski jindagi ki decision hai."
Kripa looked at Dadi with tearful eyes and hid her face into her shoulders "You know me well." She moved her face to look into her eyes "Agar Shadi ke baad kabhi wo kissi aur ladki ko pasand kar liya toh?"
Dadi pressed her chin "Ek baar wo tumhey pasand karley phir kahin nahin jaa sakta, I'm sure" Kripa blushed and lowered her eyes "Dadi! Aap bhi na"
"Toh yeh 'haan' samjhoo?"
Kripa hesitated to agree and slowly shook her head "But you have to promise me when he finds his girl you have to support me to decide my life."
"Meri pota ko chod dogi?" Dadi disappointedly questioned.
"I cannot force him, Dadi!"
Aaliyah moved close to them and placed her head on Dadi's other shoulder "you don't have to, one day he will only fall for you. It's my challenge" she snapped Kripa's cheek.
Kripa blushed but unknown hesitation rose in her heart.
Dadi informed about Angad and Kripa engagement at dining table. Angad angrily yelled at everyone. "Dadi! You cannot force me like this."
Dadi coldly looked at him "Dekho Kripa is very nice girl and perfect match for you. Khaandaan bhi bahut achi hai. You don't get such girl again. Mere baat mano and agree for this match. Kripa mein kya kami thi? Yeh pyar vyar, tumhara dream girl, yeh sab chodo. You are dragging for two years now. Meri aakhiri saas rukney se pehley tumhara shadi dekhney ki mouka dey."
Diip warned "Mamma! Yeh kya baat kar rahi hai. Tum sau saal jiyogi. Parpota ko dekh key bina kahan jaaogi"
Angad irritated for the melodrama and walked into his room.
He thought to call Kripa to convince her in his favour but changed mind "yeh ladki hi kuch kardiya hoga. She loves me; I can see that in her eyes. But somehow I'm not happy." Whole night He struggled with his thoughts.
Suryaban and Gayatri are busy in arrangements for receiving the Khanna family. They invited some of their neighbors whom they made friends with in last three months. Netra came early morning to help them out. Damini called and congratulated Kripa, Gayatri and Suryaban last night as she wouldn't get a chance to call again because of her busy schedule. Prithvi also called and conveyed congrats as he is going out of country on business trip.
Devyani came with her family. Aaliyah brought all of their friends. Everyone reached the Sharma house around 10AM to attend the engagement of Angad and Kripa.
Angad wore slate grey suit but his face is fallen. He is giving angry looks to his Dadi and Aaliyah as he felt they are main culprits for this event. He sat silently with sulking face.
Kripa wore a pink with blue border zardousi worked gagra with matching jewelry. Gayatri brought Kripa into the crowd and placed beside Angad. Angad couldn't turn his eyes away from Kripa "She is gorgeous?" Angad couldn't stop his appreciation.
Kripa gave side glance to him and he gave cold looks to her. Kripa swallowed her fear and lowered her eyes "Hey bhagwan! Am I taking right decision? Kahin wrongly Dadi ki baton mein toh nahin aagayi? Will I ever get his love?"
Pundit came and started the rituals and Sharmas and Kannas exchanged their shagun. Angad and Kripa exchanged their rings.
Angad pressed her finger angrily to hurt her while wearing the ring. Kripa swallowed the pain under the clinch of teeth, stopped tears from flowing. She hesitated to put ring to him "if he is so angry, would it be fair to force him? Shall I stop this now?" she thought for a moment. Angad also didn't hold his hand out for her.

Aaliyah helped holding his hand. Angad gave murderous looks at Aaliyah. Kripa is still hesitating and Aaliyah challenged her "Agar ussey apni pasandgi ladki chunney ko haq hai toh tumhhey bhi tumhara lover ko paney ki haq hai." Kripa surprisly looked at her. Aaliyah winked at her "Am I right?"
Kripa smiled and gave naughty looks to Angad who is listening to them with sulking face. Kripa rolled her tongue and put the ring to him and pressed as hard as he did to her. Angad jerked and turned his face to hide his smile for her mischievous revenge.

Kripa relieved to see his cheerful face "Toh janab ko raastey pe laaney ke liye kuch jaada hi smart hona padega" she thought in her mind while everyone having lunch.