Chapter 2

Part 2 (Continued)

The dinner was a silent affair that night, until Mishty got a wine bottle out. She poured the wine out in three glasses, and then placed them on the table. Karan immediately lifted one, while she lifted the other, but there was a look of horror on Kripa's face, as she just sat there staring at the glass.

"What?" frowned Mishty as she looked at Kripa

"I can't drink it" replied Kripa as she picked up her plate

"Why can't Kripa drink it?" asked a clueless Karan

Both girls turned to look at him, while Mishty opened her mouth to answer.

Kripa interrupted saying, "Don't"

"You know Kripa. I fail to understand you. If you care so much about...." she paused before she added, "Then, why don't you want to tell him?"

"It will take no time to reach someone's ears" Kripa had placed the plate in the sink now

"I am not talking of him" replied Mishty looking at Karan, "but I am talking about him"

A confused Karan stared at both girls. What was going on? Who was him? It sounded quite the same, if it weren't for Mishty's look he would have always thought it was intended for him.

"Well, he will refuse to believe me" answered Kripa

"How do you know?" asked Mishty

"Mishty, we both were DRUNK! And, the next morning I had vanished before he could even see me"

"What? Hold on, can you repeat that again?" asked Karan

The girls just ignored him again.

"You should tell him" replied Mishty, as if Karan hadn't mentioned a word.

"I can't and I won't"

"Why? You can't raise a child all by yourself"

"What child?" asked Karan

"Karan, you are too dumb" remarked Mishty

"Yes I can. I am capable of doing it!" replied Kripa

Mishty gave up and just replied, "Kripa, I am not asking you to marry him. I am asking you to inform him at the very least"

"I won't"

"Kripa, he has the right to be aware of your kid"

"WHAT? You are PREGNANT" Karan jumped as he said that

"Great! Now, the whole world will come to know that Kripa Sharma is pregnant. Thanks to you Mishty!" replied Kripa, as she grabbed her jacket and rushed to the door.

Mishty followed her, "Karan won't tell anyone right Karan?"

"Who is the father?" asked Karan

Mishty turned to face Kripa, who was busy struggling with the door.

"Damn it, why isn't this door even opening?" stated a furious Kripa as she tried to pull open the door.

It was time to put some sense in Kripa's head. And, Mishty knew a way to shut her up.

"Karan, can you please leave us alone for a while?" Mishty said as she unlocked the door

"Sure" answered Karan, and with that he walked out of the apartment

"Now, where were we?" asked Mishty as she closed the door behind her.

"Karan gets dumb when he drinks too much"

"Ah! The single mother thingy" Mishty paused before she continued, "Kripa, I am telling you... raising a child all by yourself is not easy"

"I earn a lot Mishty. I can very well handle this"

"the society is too corrupt. They will...."

"I don't care about the society"

"What about your parents?" asked Mishty

Kripa didn't answer rather she looked worried herself.

"What will you tell them?" asked Mishty

Kripa dropped on the sofa now.

"Okay. Let's think about that later. But, you can at least tell the father of this child, Kripa" Mishty stated with her hand on Kripa's.

There was a silence before Mishty insisted, "As I said earlier, he has the right to know"

Mishty continued, "Come on Kripa ten years down the lane, you will raise a kid all by yourself, sacrifice yourself by remaining a single mother, while he will be enjoying his life. He will have wife, kids and a huge family. For you - Kripa, who will be there? God forbid if something happens to you tomorrow, who will look after your child?"

When Kripa didn't reply, Mishty shook her and said, "When your kid grows up and asks you about his dad. What will you answer? This kid needs a father, Kripa. Now, don't just sit here!!! Go and tell him...."

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"Mishty, better be right about this" thought Kripa as she pressed the doorbell. She could feel her stomach roll over... and that's when the door started to open. She held her breath.

The door opened to reveal Prithvi Bose.

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