Chapter 13

Life. What is life? What's the point of life? These were only a few questions that always remained in my mind unanswered until now - this moment when I could define myself, define life and also define my happiness.

I am not going to sit here all day writing down everything, but I will definitely give you a glimpse of the ending. So, here we go sit up straight bring along a glass of water for the super long part, which will certainly leave you wanting for more or at least I hope so. Besides, bring along some tissues just in case, well it's a sad ending ---- just kidding! Relax, I was just kidding - I swear!

********

Sitting in the moonlight under the stars with the ocean facing her, along with her soul mate by her side was a dream come true for Kripa Sharma.

Life couldn't be more perfect than this, in about three months she would give birth to her child, and now she felt complete as a wife – technically, she already had been complete, but that was a drunk case (hope you are aware what I am referring to). Talking about that drunken night reminded her of her disappointment - that they both could NOT even recollect their first meeting. It was sad, but true, and no matter what - that wish of hers would always remain unfulfilled.

But, at the moment all her heart was screaming was the fact that her husband still had not confessed those three sacred words, okay not really three words.

The three words she was dying to hear from his mouth were apparently never going to come. And, all that remained on her mind were those three words, why hadn't he said it out loud yet? It was not like he didn't feel anything – he surely did right? Then, why... o why, was he remaining silent?

She could not just assume that it was a one sided affair, because she could clearly see feelings in his eyes – those dark brown eyes, which spoke everything, besides she had already made a mistake once by leaving, and she was not going to misunderstand things again.

Eyes of his, which were a window to his heart, yet his lips remained to seem stubborn and firmly kept themselves shut, if only she could go and kiss them, suck out all the stubbornness & silence they had.

"Why are you staring at my lips?"

It was his voice that forced her out of her thoughts, and literally made her jump. She hadn't heard a word he had said, so putting up a confused look, she muttered, "I beg your pardon"

Instantly she noticed the irritated look on his face, he replied, "Kripa, you better be lost in my thoughts" whether he was joking or being serious, she could not quite make out, since his expressions pointed out the latter so she choose to remain silent.

When he heard no answer from her, and noticed her stare at the vast ocean in front of her, he repeated his words, "Why were you staring at my lips?"

She looked at him instantly with a panic struck look, and quickly answered, "I was NOT"

"Liar," he replied looking at her, and instantly he touched her lips, and said, "That mouth of yours will lie, but this..." kissing her closed eyelids he added, "may never lie..."

"Khanna, if you think you can manage to make me forgive you, then you are absolutely ......" He wouldn't understand forgive, well she was angry since he still hadn't confessed.

With those words she almost got up and bent in front to almost kiss him, but instantly ran away screaming completing her sentence, "Wrong. You are absolutely wrong!"

"K-kripaa, wai..i..t..t" he screamed, but it was too late she was running like P.T Usha that it literally surprised him, putting his best foot forward he ran behind her as fast as a cheetah.

He caught up with her, and he noticed her turn around – the next instant she tripped on something, but as usual he managed to catch her, and forced her to sit down for which she protested, and tried to pull away. But, he wouldn't let her escape now – he was tired of these games of hiding and running. Kripa was an expert in them.

Besides, this silence and boring conversations were heading nowhere.

Pulling her down on his lap he spoke up, "Haven't we been through this already on New Year's Eve? Then, why are you so stubborn to repeat the same mistakes over and over again?"

"ME? I am the one making a mistake?" she looked at him angrily, "Ohhh wait, you are Mr. Right, oh-i-am-so-right, Mr. Know-it-all"

"The first time I heard it" (he paused trying to find the right words) "it was different, but now I am sick and tired of those names, if you use them again – watch me punish you"

"You are not my teacher & I am not your student for you to punish me." she answered firmly.

He chose to ignore her words, "Before I forget – no more Khanna permitted as well. I don't go around calling you Sharma." he didn't allow her to answer and added as a later thought, "I have a name, Kripa. The name is Angad.... Angad"

She just stared at him not believing her ears – was this Angad? Or was it some guy wearing Angad's mask – which could be possible, she had seen it in some serial, but she was having trouble trying to figure the name out.

Instantly, without a thought she touched his cheeks, and tried to pull them, "Oowwww" followed by a slap on her hand, and now she was pretty sure it was Angad.

"What was that for?" he asked

"I was just checking, if it was you"

"Oh, so its going to be someone with my mask or something on" he replied sarcastically

"Exactly!" she answered happily, pleased that he was learning to figure out her thoughts

But, the next words from his mouth forced her to literally strangle him, as she heard him say, "Kripa," he wondered, "Where do you get such retard thoughts from?"

After a thirty-second delay... that is after her brain registered his words, she began to literally strangle him, while he just laughed making her temper rise. When she couldn't take it anymore she took her hands off his neck, but a second later she would regret it, as he caught hold of her hands, and looked at her.

"Let's play a game," he said

Wait. Did she hear it right? Did he say game? What type of a game? Wait, she was not supposed to say that.

Game. They were not kids or teenagers to play games, well even the teenagers these days wouldn't play and resorted to other things. Besides, the past of couple of months had been a game right? I mean all she and Angad did was argue or just make sure the other retaliates, no all she did was try to prove that he is a loser, and she was the winner. But, now she realized that they just couldn't move on with these little games, they had a child to think about.

"I am not interested in playing games anymore, Angad" she replied as she got up from his lap, lifting her sandals up, she began to walk away.

For a second he just sat there not quite understanding her actions, but as he saw her walk away he realized he wanted to be by her side. And, no matter what he would make sure she agrees to the game – their last game, after this one there would be no complains nothing, and everything will be all clear all out in open.

"Kripa," he said catching up to her now, "Please this will be the last game" observing her expressions, "I am serious. Dead serious."

She looked at him trying to figure out what he wanted. Out of everything, how did the idea of a game pop into her husband's head? But, her mind failed to come up with an answer to this question, so she waited until she was further into the game, then she would give it further thought.

"You better have a good reason for playing this game" she said, nodding her head to show her participation.

"Good, then" he replied, "Now, here is how you play the game... you must first say everything nice about me and I will do the same for you. Get it?"

"But—"

"No, Kripa I am serious we have never quite complimented each other before, so maybe this will be your opportunity to compliment me, and same with me"

He was playing a game to compliment each other. He wanted to hear good things about him. What they were in kindergarten now? What was wrong with Angad?

God, he was acting worse than a baby, and she just hoped that from tomorrow he wouldn't start watching shows like Cailou, Arthur, Tellytubbies or Dora, the explorer.

But, of course she didn't say all this to him. She was making an effort to be nice, and not jump to conclusions right away, so she replied, "I don't understand"

"Look, Kripa" he began in that sensible tone of his, "Lets start with I love your eyes, and you can't repeat what I say – your goal is to make me stop, so that I have nothing further to say, and you win. Okay?"

Oh No, this wasn't kindergarten game... this was more like a lovey-dovey type game. Worse than kindergarten game. She had rather have Angad watch Tellytubbies than play this game.

"No," she groaned, "I am not playing this stupid game"

She was backing out now. What was her problem? Why couldn't she ever make an effort to understand him? Understand that he had a reason behind this game.

"You can't back out now it's too late"

"Whatever"

"I love your eyes," he began, "I love the way they look at me, as if they are worshipping me"

She blushed.

"I love the way you blush," he smiled as he said that

She had to play this game or else all she would do here was blush, blush and only blush. At least if she played the game her mind would be into something, so she said, "I love your voice... its sounds deep, different, and really sexy"

Now, it was his turn to blush. And, she was pleased to see him blush for once, his first time, if only she had a camera with her right now, he looked so cute while he was blushing.

"I love the way you smile," he muttered recovering from her words.

Damn! That was supposed to be her next words to him. God, how did he manage to steal that way.

"I love the way you look angry," she said

"Girl, get your facts straight. When did I get angry?" he questioned

She smiled, "you may not remember it, but I do." now she had a evil look

"I never get angry. Okay? So, this one doesn't count" he replied

"Ummm... who was angry when I went to the hospital with Josh? Who was angry when I walked in the rain once?" she paused to see the effect on him, once she was pleased she added, "oh wait, that wasn't my husband, who was angry... it was the next door neighbour"

He had turned different shades now, she couldn't quite point out whether he was red, blue, or black – mixture of all these colours were visible on his face.

And, when she thought the game was over – he proved her wrong by saying, "I love how you express things"

"I don't" she defended

"You are very expressive, Kripa"

"I am not" she answered

"Trust me, when I say you are the most expressive person I have ever met, and I love it. I love it how you express everything. I can clearly see anger, frustration, sorrow, happiness, and love on your face"

Did he just love? Did he? If before she was feeling a bit hot, it was nothing compared to how hot this place was now turning out to be.

"It's your turn, Kripa, hurry up" he said after a few minutes, which took forever.

"Umm" she thought, "I love the way you look with glasses on"

He just looked at her going, what- was-that-type-of-look? But, a second later he had accepted that answer as he said, "I love how I find everything beautiful on you whether it's just a T-shirt, or a tank top or a salwaar or even if you were wearing a garbage bag. You still  manage to look beautiful, sexy, elegant, stunning & totally angel type."

She blushed again. God, he would find her good even in a garbage bag, now that was something she had never imagined. He honestly thought she looked good. Really?

Recovering, she said, "I love the way you walk. There is something graceful & appealing about your posture"

He looked surprised with her words. Like he had never expected her to notice his posture.

But, a second later he was back on track, "I love the way you speak... the way you say things innocently or how at times you don't think before you speak, well to be honest you do it all the time" he was now grinning

"I always think before I speak" she answered angrily

"Oh yeah? What about the time on New Year's Eve when you blabbered out that I go around kissing other women and not my wife"

Damn. He remembered that. And, she had thought it was a dream only to realize later, it was the reality, but she had to admit the guy had a good memory.

Right then she came up with something she knew he couldn't beat, "I love the way you look when you are sleeping. So cute! Totally like a teddy bear" and she meant it.

For a second he looked totally stunned, unable to say anything.

Just when she thought she beat him at his own game, he took out his trump card, and said, "I love everything about you. I love the way you look, I love the way you speak, I love everything about you, Kripa, and there is nothing about you that I would wish to change. I love you Kripa, I really love you"

"That's cheea ----"

She stopped midway, as she realized he meant what he said.

There it was. The words she had waited to hear for so long were now said and she was left completely speechless. She had never expected him to say these words right now.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" he said

She looked at him for a second, then she smiled, and answered, "I love you too, Angad. I love you too"

And, with those words she ran in his arms, and gave him quick peck on the lips. It was the first time she had ever initiated any contact, and it wouldn't be her last time.

*******

Darkness greeted her, and she was not at all pleased with it. Walking carefully around she made her way inside, there was pin drop silence, no sound, nothing and all she could hear were the clicking of her heels as she walked around, and she did not like it one bit.

Fear grabbed her. Darkness, no sound, no one except her, it sure coincided with the scary movies right?

Of course there are sounds in scary movies, those stupid sounds, which drive you crazy, and at times literally force you to press the mute option on your remote, but before those sounds, everything is normal isn't it?

Well, not quite normal. You see a girl entering a scary looking place with no one around except her, and you hear her say, "hellooo! Anyone here" and that's what she said.

Except, she shook off the scary movies thought, she had watched too much of them, and such things never happened in reality. They never did.

A second later, she would think about her words again, as she heard the door closing behind her. With her heart jumping right down in her throat she turned around only to notice the door closed.

She ran towards it, and tried to pull the knob, do anything to it, to break it or something, but failed miserably, yet she continued pulling it with the hope that now it will come out.

It was only a minute later, but it felt like hours had passed by... that she heard sound of someone walking. Turning around she glanced around the dark room, almost everywhere her eyes moving quickly, and then the sound stopped.

Relieved she put her hand up on her forehead, to feel sweat, she was sweating, in fear she had barely even realized that she was sweating.

The lights switched on and off now. She gasped, as she noticed a figure on the staircase.

The figure was now descending down the stairs, and she turned around frantically trying to pull the knob.

When the figure was close to her. She ran around screaming trying to pull all the doors. Tears formulating in her eyes, as she remembered her son and husband for the last time.

She felt the person's hands on hers, and she screamed louder this time. The screams could be heard echoing the long halls of the haunted mansion.

"Please don't kill me" she begged, "please don't kill me... I have a son and husband waiting for me back home. Pl..ease Please pleasee spare my life" as she collapsed down on the floor she begged with her hands folded, and cried.

She opened her eyes a second later to notice that the lights were no longer flickering. And, the figure in front of her was none other than her husband, who broke down laughing.

When she took in the reality. The reality that this was not a scary movie or anything, this was a freaking place and her husband had set this up to fool her.

"God, Kripa... you are hilarious" he laughed with tears coming in his eyes

"Stupid, idiot, duffer, dumbo" she said hitting him hard, "this was not funny. So not funny. Angad, how could you find this funny? This setup of yours literally gave me a heart-attack"

He laughed a bit more holding to his stomach, and then he stopped, "I thought you weren't scared with scary movies" and he began laughing again.

"I am not," she remarked yelling at him

"You should have seen your face in the mirror, Kripa. It was hilarious"

"Oh ya? You find this funny? Huh? Fine, I am walking away. If you find giving me a heart-attack funny, then you are disgusting Angad Khanna" with those words she turned around swiftly

"Wait," he said grabbing hold of her waist, "I want to take you somewhere"

"I am not coming anywhere with you," but as usual her words had no effect on him, as he caught hold of her wrist, and dragged her up the stairs.

Once they were up on the top level. She noticed it was much more cleaner, neater and less spooky looking. They walked down the long hallway turned to the right, her curiously got her the better, as she asked him the content of the other rooms, to which he just shrugged his shoulders and murmured something along the lines old junk.

"Here you go Princess" he said opening the door, and she screamed in delight as she noticed the entire room was decorated nicely.

Anger flew down the window, as she hugged him saying, "you remembered"

"Of course I would. How could you think I wouldn't?"

"But, Angad what was the point of the whole setup downstairs"

"Oh, it was just a personal wish. I just wanted you to admit that you are a scary cat. Do you think I wouldn't notice when you snuggle up to me during any scary movies? And, then put up a face as you realize I am looking at you, that it's amusing."

"You make me sick at times. Regardless of that I love you"

"I know you do" he winked

Holding her hand in his, they walked into the room, which was beautifully decorated with balloons, candles, and dim lights. But, the main thing Kripa loved about the room was the banner in the center, which said, Happy Anniversary.

She couldn't believe a year had passed by so fast. It felt like just a month. But, so many incidents had taken place that she could barely even remember them all there was so much they had, so many memories, all the good times they shared, and she hoped they would share more wonderful times in the future.

Looking in the mirror at her reflection. She smiled. A year ago, she would have killed her self had she known that one-day she would be ready to scream to the world that she loved Angad Khanna. But, now the case was different. Now, a different Kripa Sharma stood in front of her. Angad had managed to bring out a totally different side of her, a total child like side of her, which she never knew whether it even existed, but now she was aware it did.

"What are you looking at?" Angad questioned from behind her

"Nothing," she said, as she turned around with a smile

"You know we look so perfect together." He said as he looked in the mirror with his hands placed on her waist.

She glanced back at the mirror, and agreed with him. "Yeah, we complement each other." She replied looking at his reflection

"We are so full of praises about our self" he replied as he walked away to get the cake.

"Angad," she said looking at his back

"hmmm" he replied, as he reached the table

"Do you ever get the feeling that someone is writing this out?"

He turned around instantly, "Yeah. Sometimes I get the distinct feeling that this girl is typing this all up on her laptop. And, I can tell you she is really stupid."

Kripa smiled at his words, "You are right. I mean we can't be this stupid. She is just making up appear so stupid."

Lifting the cake up, he said, "Mark my words, Kripa, I will make sure that in another story she makes our characters better" (not related to ff - i just made it up so don't take it seriously)

Much later, after having a cake fight, in which they smudged each other's faces with cake they sat down on the couch.

"Care to dance, Kripa"

"huh?" asked a lost Kripa. She was too tired, and was almost on the verge of falling asleep.

"Come on" Angad said, as he took her hand in his

She got up from the couch, and stood up, as he walked by, and switched on the music.

They danced around swiftly with the music in the background. With their bodies fitting perfectly together, as if they were made for each other. Kripa was forced to recollect her earlier words that they complemented each other, and they really did.

Once the music was over, she got out of his hold, and walked back to the couch. Her feet were hurting a lot, and she was having a slight headache, and now all she wished was just to go to bed.

"Kripa, I have something for you"

"What?" she said with her back facing him sitting on the bed now.

"You know how you always complained that we both don't even remember our first meeting"

"Yah, what about it?"

"Well with some of my connections I managed to get a tape of the night we first met"

"WHAT?" asked Kripa completed shocked with his words, and now losing her sleep

"You know how there are cameras in night clubs, and they record everyone's movement. Well, lets just say I managed to track the tape on which we are seen talking"

"Are you serious? Angad" still unconvinced whether Angad had actually managed to get the meeting.

"Dead serious, Kripa" he replied, but before he could say anything further she had literally thrown herself in his arms. She kissed him all over the face screaming in delight.

When finally Kripa had managed to calm down a bit, he had taken her to the couch, and now they both sat on it waiting for the tape to start.

"Oh my god, Angad, there we are" replied Kripa pointing to the screen.

More than herself, she was looking at a 23 year old Angad sitting along with his friends, who were forcing him to drink, while he shook his head, and pushed the glass aside.

But, a few seconds later they had managed to pour the drink down his throat with some falling on his shirt.

"Wooh, you have some friends" she remarked

"Yeah, they are a bit spoiled..."

And, then she noticed herself completely drunk making a complete fool out of her self. God, this was so embarrassing. Slipping beneath the covers she looked at the screen, and hoped that Angad hadn't noticed her.

Apparently he had, as she heard him say, "Wow, you go wild when you get drunk"

"Gimme the remote" she said trying to pull it from him

"Why?"

"Give it to me" she said literally jumping on him trying to grab it

"We are not switching it off, Kripa. I am totally watching it" he said pulling her down on his lap.

"And, you are too" he whispered in her eyes, that's exactly when she heard a scream, and she turned to look at the screen only to notice herself screaming on top of her lungs, jumping on the dance floor like one of those ******.

She buried herself in Angad's shirt, as it was way too embarrassing to watch herself, she had already sworn before that she would never to get drunk, but now looking at the video she wouldn't even come ten feet near the drinks or near any bar.

"I love the wild Kripa" Angad teased, and tried to force her to look, but she rather have her face in his shirt rather than see that video. The meeting, which she was dying to watch, would now be the last thing she ever wanted to watch.

"Come on, Kripa" Angad said lifting her chin up, "you have to look or else you are going to miss out on everything" when he saw no sign of interest on her behalf, he immediately said, "at least for me"

That's when she looked up in his eyes, and for a second he thought she would sincerely turn around and watch it, but when he heard the words, "that's not fair" he realized he was dealing with Kripa here. The stubborn Kripa Sharma, who would take out all his energy to persuade her, she was princess, more like a spoiled one, literally not meaning spoiled, but spoiled as per him.

"Please Kripa, I brought this video so lovingly for you, but now you don't want to watch it, so what do we do with it?"

She understood what he was saying, so half-heartedly she agreed, and turned her face around, and regretted it, as right then Angad (who was sitting with his friends) had noticed the wild Kripa.

She could only imagine what he must have been thinking of her. Despite wanting to hide she forced her self to look at the screen hoping to get over with this video.

Kripa was completely surprised with her own gesture. She had always been so shy type, but looking at the video she totally did not appear shy.

But, the one thing Kripa had become aware about, and the Angad and Kripa in the video had too was that there was some sort of attraction between the two of them. They both looked a bit awkward, yet they smiled, and stole glances away from each other when the other wasn't looking.

And, then they started speaking again, except due to all the noises Kripa couldn't hear what they were saying.

"Isn't there anything you can do about the sound?" asked Kripa to Angad

"I can try, but I doubt it will work" answer Angad

He was right. He tried, but nothing worked, and the sound never went. Kripa just stared at herself and Angad in the video as they laughed, and chatted.

"Angad, look you just asked me for a dance" said Kripa as she saw Angad say something to her, while she just blushed, and walked with him to the dance floor.

"Oh you never stop blushing do you? Even, when you are drunk" teased Angad, but he noticed Kripa wasn't listening rather she was staring at them in the video.

"Wooh, mister you weren't flirting with me... were you?" asked Kripa

"I don't know, but it surely looks like it. At least you have the look, and with the way your lips are moving... it surely is visible that you are saying that too" answered Angad

Instantly, Kripa looked away, while Angad switched off the video.

"Kripa, you remember the hospital time"

"That was random... but ya I do remember that time... why?"

"You remember your words as you went into OT"

"What words?"

"You said, Angad, if something happens to me... then"

"Honestly, Angad I don't want to be reminded of that"

"And, you remember what I did?"

"Obviously burst out laughing. Besides, laughing, is there anything you even do?"

"More importantly I said, 'You watch too much of tv Kripa"

"Angad, where is this heading?" replied Kripa getting irritated now

"No where, its just in the video you reminded me of Preity Zinta of Kal Ho Na Ho"

"You watched that movie?"

"Of course I did"

"When?"

"I was very curious when you cried your eyes out before your delivery, so I watched it"

"And?" she asked expecting him to say more, "how did you find it?"

"It was full of crap"

"What was I even expecting from you?" replied Kripa pulling the sheet over

Gayatri and Suryaben entered the mansion along with their grandson. They called out Angad and Kripa's name out loud, but when they got no answer they decided to look for them.

After a few minutes of searching, Gayatri finally located Angad and Kripa. She called out Suryaben, and pointed him towards the couch. There were Angad and Kripa sleeping with Kripa's head on Angad's shoulder, and Angad's head on top of Kripa's. Apparently, both had fallen asleep while watching television, Gayatri instantly switched off the television on which as it is nothing was coming on.

"Grandma" said her grandson

"Nani" Gayatri reminding him

"Nani, can I sleep with them?"

"No, no sweety you come with me. Let your parents sleep. They must be really tired."

But, it was too late, for Gayatri to take him away as his words had already woken up Kripa. A confused Kripa looked at her mother, then she said, "Dev, you okay?" looking at her son when he simply nodded her head.

Then, she looked at Angad closing her eyes she fell asleep on his shoulder.

*******

Of course that was not the end of the story. Me and Angad continued with our silly arguments almost every day, which mostly were due to my hospital, my dream was to build my own hospital, and I fulfilled my dream with the help of my family.

Now, I know you are going how were the arguments related to hospital? Since, I was a doctor I would have to rush to the hospital almost every day in the middle of the night, as usual Angad would complain and not let me go, in fact one day he went too far by even disconnecting the phone, and throwing my cell away.

A few months later, we got another good news, I was pregnant for the second time, and this time we sincerely hoped and prayed it would be a girl.

As far Mishty and Karan were concerned they got married just a few months later. Prithvi remained single, while Anu continued to stalk him.

If there is one thing that I can never get enough of, it's my family. And, I will always be thankful to god, for blessing me with such a wonderful family, and I always wish that in every birth I would be blessed with Angad Khanna as a husband.