Chapter 3

?Chapter Two
   
    Kripa hummed along with Angad's Only You, as she turned into her sister Nikki's drive way.  And she took a deep gulp of the November air that mussed her hair.  It had been a long time since she had drive somewhere without having to worry about time or people or appearance.  Angad was gone for a recording, which was supposed to last most of the day, and she had nothing to do.  And, she knew, Kripa thought unfolding herself out of the car, if she went anywhere public there were chances she could crash into Prithvi unintentionally.  She knew she wasn't ready to see him alone yet. 
   The crying has helped too, she mused as she walked towards the front door.  Thank God, Angad had been nice enough not to push her away, or even bring the uneventful moment up in front of her.  He had been nice, and compassionate.  Had held her until she wanted. 
   He was such a good cook, Kripa thought and grinned.  She wished she could talk him into making her another meal.  Kripa herself was an okay cook.  Who was she kidding?  She barely knew the C of cooking, and flipping eggs or frying a bacon didn't even count.  As a child her mother had always taken care of the food.  As a college student of four years she survived on take-outs and microwaves.  Then, as an independent woman, she had finally learned how to cook in her free time for Prithvi.  She had learned, but the burning had come as a gift.  She had learned for Prithvi because he had said he enjoyed homemade meals. 
    Kripa shook her head as she rang the doorbell.  Well, she could please Angad with her cooking and help him out.  He could handle the stove, she could do the pre-cooking.
  She didn't care what Prithvi wanted and wants now.  What she did know was that she was going to teach him a lesson so he'd never hurt another woman like the way he had hurt her.  Once that was over, she could move on.  Give Angad a divorce since that's what they both wanted. 
   And, then she was never going to thinking about getting married again.  Or at least for another ten years or so.  Who wanted to be married anyways?  She didn't. And marriage meant children.  She knew she didn't have the time or the want, the need.  She couldn't devote herself to that aspect of life if she wanted to add anymore trophies to her lovely shelve at home. 
   Which she had to go check out, she thought as she punched the door bell again.  She was probably pending on bills.  She needed to change her address so the bills could come to Angad's house.  For the next few months anyways.  Who had the time to go and get mail everyday.
   "Sorry!"  Nikki beamed at Kripa, her newborn daughter snuggled at her chest.  "I was feeding her.  Come in."
   "Thanks.  Let me hold her so you can get me a nice cup of coffee."  Nikki grinned and gave the baby to Kripa.  Kripa went into the living room and scanned it briefly.  It wasn't spotless like Kirpa liked a living room to be.  There were a few toys scattered around, Nisha was playing with her dolls on the floor.  Aman was lying on the floor with a bottle of milk in his mouth, beginning to fall asleep.  His cars surrounded him. 
   Nope, she didn't want this, yet Kripa forced a small tug of envy go away.  Nikki wanted this, she reminded herself.  She didn't.  With a satisfied sigh, she stepped out of her stiletto heeled shoes and sat on the sofa, Indian style and laid the sleeping child on her legs. 
   "Here's your coffee."  She placed it in the table in front of Kripa and went to pick up Aman.  "Okay, honey."  Kripa watched the boy snuggle against his mother and fall asleep again.  Nikkia sat down beside Kripa with Aman still in her arms, and ran a hand gently over her daughters hair.  "So, what's up?  How's your married life?"
   "The same." She said and shrugged.  "I've been with finishing the movie, Angad has so many scores to finish, he's always gone.  How are you?"
    "On top of the world.  I don't want to start practicing again, Kripa.  I want to be a stay-at-home wife for a few years.  Until at least Priti is three, then I'll think about going back."
    "But, Nikki, you worked almost twelve years for this.  How can you just let go?  You've wanted this all your life." 
   She shook her head, with a sigh.  "I did.  But, Raj makes enough to where we can overindulge ourselves.  I want to give my family more time.  But, forget about that now.  How do you like being married?  Angad is awfully sexy."  She wiggled her eye brows at Kripa. 
   "And, a great cook.  A nice, companionate person.  He let me cry all over him when I told him I was still in love with Prithvi."    
   Nikki chocked on her coffee and looked at her coughing.  "What?  You told your husband that you were in love with someone else?"
   "I said I am in love with his best friend.  I'm trying fall out of love now."
   Nikki looked at Kripa carefully.  "Did you and Prithvi ever do to bed together?" 
   "Nope.  Thank God.  And, I haven't with Angad either.  I married Angad to teach Prithvi a lesson, he knows that.  In five months we'll be on our own again."
   "If Mama and Dad find out, they'll skin you.  Kripa."  She gave her hand a squeeze.  "You can't do that to Angad.  What if he falls in love with you?  You don't even know how poorly his marriage ended last time."
   Kripa stood up and carried Priti to the crib.  Oh there was guilty somewhere, but she wasn't allowing it to touch her.  "He won't. We can't fall in love, Nikki.  We're two different people."
   "How do you know, Kripa?  You barely know him. You don't know anything."
   "I don't need to.  And, as far as his marriage is concerned everyone knew he was cheating on his wife."
   "Well, in that case you had an hot affair with the married Aaron Petty just two months ago.  He's your best friend and we both know that was a lie.  You need to know the person you're married to, Kripa.  Even if you already have planned to end it."  And Nikki knew things Kripa would have never imagine about Angad. 

?

    Kripa flipped the page of the magazine sitting in her lap upside-down.  She knew Angad hadn't cheated on his wife.  She knew that because he was a lonely man.  He had been hurt somewhere in his life and he was still holding on to it.  Kripa had never been the person to hold on to things in her past, specially bad ones.  And, just because of that she knew she would over come Prithvi in a few weeks at the latest. 
   She wanted to know Angad.  Nikki had been right, she should try to know Angad better.  She tossed the magazine away and got up to get the invite to Tyler's latest bash.  He'd said it was a great way to publicize the movie and get rid of money he'd have to pay in taxes later.  She was invited and was also allowed to bring a guest with her.  If she could convince Angad, she could spend time with him, get to know him.  At the same time, she'd be able to get out and not face Prithvi alone.
   She heard the piano at a distance from the music room.  He was playing a sad, weepy tone in loud, yet discreet notes. So much agony lingered even when the music stopped and she heard nothing but her own breathing.  
   Kripa walked to the music room and opened the door slowly.  He was sitting on the bench, toying with the keys.  Pressing a key here, playing a note there.  She left the door slightly open and went to sit down beside him, and pressed a key ideally. 
   Angad didn't even look at her and continued to toy with the keys.  "Did you need something?"
   Kripa looked at him, he hadn't shaved today and although she couldn't see his eyes, she sensed the distress in them.  She went to stand behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders.  "What's wrong?"
   "Nothing's wrong." 
   Oh, no Kripa thought. Something was wrong.  His shoulders were stiff under her hands, knotted hopelessly.  She rubbed her thumbs across the knots. 
   "You can talk to me."
   "I'm okay.  Just working on a new song."  He pushed her hands away.  He didn't want to talk about it with anyone.  "Did you need something?" he asked again. 
   Fine, she'd play it his way.  "Yeah.  Tyler is holding a bash at his place, want to go with me?"
   He closed his eyes for a second.  He wasn't so badly to just go get away from here.  To rest his head against the piano and weep for the child he'd lost four years ago today.
   Kripa frowned and went to stand in front of him now.  Her heart twisted at the way his eyes swam.  "Angad?"  She lifted his face in her hands and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "What's the matter?  Did something happen at the recording?"
   He smiled at the way her eyes tensed and a line formed between her brows.  "Nothing, Kripa."  He stood up.  "I'll go with you."  And, he walked out like things were just perfect in his word.
   All frowns, Kripa slid down on the bench and tapped her fingers on random keys.  It had been nearly six years since she had played the piano seriously.  Maybe she would.  Another day.
   She got up and went to get dressed.  Angad was blowing smoke from his slim cigar when she walked in.  Damn, the guy smoked too much.
   "You're going to die if you continue smoking so much."  She turned the lights on in her closet and picked out a midnight blue dress. 
   "We all have to die someday.  A day or two up and down don't matter."  He tossed the tie she gave him away, made her grin.  "I don't wear ties."
   "I noticed."  She laid her own dress out on the bed and walked behind him.  "You're the most wired man I've met in my life, Angad."  She pressed a kiss absently against his shoulder. 
   "I've been known as a wired man a lot.  How's your sister?"
    Her smiled warmed that he remembered.  "Good.  She wants to stop practicing."
   Angad turned and watched her toss her shirt away, looked up at the ceil. The woman had no modesty.  "Kripa, honey, if you would you like to give me a strip show, warn me before you begin."
   She turned in her bra and pants to look at him.  "I'm sorry I'm not modest."  She shrugged.  "I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable.  I'll take the bathroom." Still half stripped, she grabbed her dress and walked into the bathroom.  Uncomfortable or not, the woman, who was his wife, had a hell of a body.  All curves and smooth skin.
   Too bad, Angad, he told himself, you are not interested.  He dragged his hand through his hair.  A minute ago he had wanted to hold her and just spill out all the pain and tears.  A minute later, he's wanted his hands all over her.  
   He took a deep breathe, told himself to calm down.  She might be his wife, but they weren't meant to share anything.  He sprayed his cologne, lit another cigarette and went to pull on his pants.  He had Prithvi to face after this.
   When Kripa finished fussing with her hair she went downstairs and locked the house.  Angad was sitting in the roomy Mercedes-Benz.  She slipped in beside him and pulled on the seat belt.  "Let's go."
   "Yeah."  He waited until they were on the freeway to talk to her.  "So what are we telling Prithvi."
   She glanced at him. And, had a terrible urge to reach over and rub her hands against that stubble, which made him look so dangerous.  "We'll just play along.  I honestly want to keep out of his way." 
   Angad stopped the car in front of the gate and dropped the keys in the hands of a waiter.  He looked at Kripa, offered his arm with a smile on his lips.  "Only You," he said and winked.  
   The cameras turned to them the moment the stepped inside.  Neither Kripa nor Angad bothered to look at the flashes, pose for them.
   "The Khannas!"  Tyler beamed at Kripa and Angad.  He kissed both of Kripa's cheeks and shook hands with Angad.  "Angad I hope you're considering my offer for the score."  He wiggled his eyebrows.  "What better than working on a project with your wife around?"
   Angad grinned, wrapped his arm around Kripa's shoulder.  "I agree, I'll take it."  It would just give him a reason to keep an eye out on Prithvi while he'd be around Kripa.  Plus, he could add another name to his list. 
   "Ah!  The perfect way to start an evening: A profitable deal, with the best in the field."  He winked at Kripa.  "Enjoy yourselves."
   Kripa smiled at him and then look up at Angad.  "You did that well."
   "Of course I did.  How does it feel to be a Khanna?"  He plucked two flutes of champagne and handed one to Kripa.
   "Oh, it's very special."  She chuckled.  "I was on a getting-to-know-my-husband-better mission.  Nikki thinks I need to know you better."
   "Ah. That's smart.  I'm an affable sort of a person, Your Highness."  He looked over her head where Prithvi had just walked in with his guest hanging on her arm.
   "Yes.  And you cook well."  She gave her flute away.  "Don't drink to much we have to drive."
   "Oh!  The wifey attitude, I've been dying for it."  He wrapped his arm around her waist because it was important for what he had in mind.  He gave his flute to the waiter.  "Now listen to me, your lover boy Prithvi is behind you right now."  He watched her chocolate brown eyes turn into a dark coffee color.  "You have to promise me you won't get teary eyed in front of him or lose control.  We're not attracting any attention."  Because he saw the pain in her eyes, the anxiety, he cupped her face in his hands.  "Trust me."  Sonya flashed in front of his eyes and left him shocked.  He took his hands away from her face.  Last time he'd said the words to someone he'd lost both his wife and his baby.  He didn't even know what was going to happen this time.  "He's coming this way."  Angad leaned down and brushed his mouth with Kripa's. 
   "Angad."  Kripa linked hands with Angad and the turned to face him together.  "It's been long."  He extended his hand to Angad and shook without hesitation.  "And, Kripa.  My ex-fianc."
    She smiled.  "Well, I've had ex's before you, Prithvi."  Purposely, she leaned over and kissed both his cheeks.  She left Angad's hand.  "It's good to see you again.  Did you enjoy your sudden trip to France?"
   The cool, composed voice, the frosted eyes with just the hint of sarcasm left Prithvi raising a brow at her.  "It's was quite impromptu, yes.  I'm sorry about the inconvenience you had to face."  
   "Oh, no problem.  I'll see you later."  She gave him a smile from her lips, made it reach her eyes and a I-hate-you just before walking away. 
   "Alright, Prithvi."  Angad crushed her hands in his pockets so he wouldn't grab his "friend" by the collar.  "Why the hell did you leave to France?"
   He shrugged.  "I wasn't ready to get married.  Why do you care, Angad?  She's your wife now, you should be happy."
   "I'm happy she isn't stuck with an ass-hole like you Prithvi."  He would have punched him in the face then, but he decided to wait for another moment. 
   Kripa was laughing and dancing with Aaron.  Angad smoothly cut in between and took his wife by the waste, "sorry," he said, "my turn."  And spun her around in one regal turn.  Dipped her low, brought her back-up, turned again.  She was laughing when she turned into his arms and placed her hand on his shoulder. 
   "That, Angad, was excellent."  All smiles and grins, she kissed both his cheeks.  "Did you take dancing lessons?" 
   He laughed.  "I didn't have the time or the money for that.  But, it came to me naturally."  He rubbed his thumb over her spine.  "You were good."
   She lifted her chin an inch higher.  "I am good, yes.  I've three Oscars on my shelve."  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him.  She turned her face to his neck.  "Thank you."
   He sighed and wrapped his arms around her as well.  "Anytime."

?

    Kripa groaned when the alarm shrieked.  Kripa rolled towards the other side of the bed, satisfied to find it empty she pulled the pillow over her head. After week of oversleeping, she was in no mood to get up and start working again. She hadn't taken up any new projects,  after all she was a new bride.  When someone finally turned the alarm off, Kripa sighed in content and began to curl into sleep again. 
    Then she was cursing and sitting up in bed, scowling at Angad.  "What the hell do you want?  I was sleeping."
   "Your Highness," he tossed the pillow away and watched it bounce against her face before falling into her lap.  "I'm sorry to wake you so early in the morning.  After all, it's merely eleven."
    "Who cares?"  With a happy sigh she fell back on her pillow again.  "We don't start the dubbing until four."  She stretched in her cotton shirt and tiny silk boxer shorts. 
   Angad shook his head.  Nope, the woman has no modesty.  "Don't you get tired of sleeping for so long?"
   "No."  She rolled out of bed and checked her phone for messages first.  "Why don't you take me out to lunch?"
   "It's not lunch time yet."  He looked at the bed for a few seconds before he decided to make it.  "I have a lunch meeting anyways and I don't have time to take you to lunch." 
   With a frown, Kripa turned with a towel in her hand and watched her husband make the bed.  She giggled, if her mother found out Angad was making the bed, Kripa would have got to hear a nice long lecture. 
   But he was making the bed and it was so completely sweet of him.  "Why don't you have people cleaning for you, Angad?"
   "Because I like to do my things myself."  He set the pillows on the bed and the turned to look at her.  "Laura cleans when she comes in.  She used come everyday and help Sonya, after that I just told her not to come everyday.  She comes when she feels like it now.  Anyways."  He shrugged and turned.  He wasn't used to discussing Sonya, even if it was for a second, or just the mention of her name.  "Have fun on the dubbing."    
   "Angad."  She had her hand on his arm before he could leave.  "I have to get there at four and I want you to drop me off."
   He turned and gave her an arched look.  "Hooked to me already, honey?"
   "You bet," she said softly and leaned over to kiss him lightly. "Have a good lunch."
   "Yeah.  Okay."  He ruffled her hair and left her frowning behind him.   After she heard the door shut downstairs, she stripped out of her current cloths in deep thought.  Just what was the mystery behind Angad's first marriage and the reason.  She sighed and stripped to the butt, stood in front of the mirror, giving her face a good look as she untied her hair.  She wondered if Angad was awed by her.
   She lifted an elegant, strong shoulder, then let it fall.  She knew he wasn't unaffected by it.  Hell, she thought with a grin plastered the face, as the water ran down her, no one passed her without turning their head to give her a second look. 
   After debating between pants of a dress, Kripa finally chose a dress despite the chilled weather outside.  Prithvi would be there, she mused as she creamed her arms with a light scented body butter.  Maybe she could make him jealous if Angad would stay there with her instead of just dropping her off.  She could just say she didn't want to come back home in a taxi.  Chuckling she shook her head and tugged the towel away from her hair.  Who said he would stay the entire time, he could just say he'd come back and pick her up.
   The guy was just such a sweetheart!
   "And, I'm taking advantage of his niceness," she whispered.  Suddenly depressed, she went and sat down on the bed, damp from the shower, a towel wrapped around her.  Was she correct? Should she had even married him to begin with?  She knew that even if Prithvi begged her she wasn't going to go back to him.  Never.  She'd rather live the rest of her life with Angad than go back to Prithvi.
   She let out a long breathe when she realized where her thoughts were going.  Easy, girl!  She ordered herself again.  Remember this is a six-month-only relationship. 
   Oh, but he's no nice.  She sighed like a little girl and sauntered towards his picture and let out another sigh, a dreamy one this time.
   She caught herself in time, took a careful step back from the picture then another.  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.  You're desperate, she told herself and dressed in her simple dress in pink silk.
   Two hours later, Kripa stood in the center of her room, hands fisted at her hips.  She knew she was starved, there was no point in denying it to keep a diet.  But, the problem for her was there was nothing in the place already cooked and she didn't want to eat her own cooked food, burned and too salty. 
   She could order out she mused as she heard Angad's car outside.  Just a little surprised she went outside and watched him park his car.  She nearly cried in joy when he waved a bag to Chinese take-out in front of her.  She yelped and ran to him in her two inch heals and threw her arms around him, her stomach growling.
   "I'm your slave, Angad, forever."  She kissed him loudly on the mouth and snatched the bag from him.  Angad chuckled as he watched her rush inside to eat.  Good think he brought the food, otherwise he would have found her passed out on the floor in two hours.
   She was eating, sitting on the floor, with a bottle of wine unopened already and her glass half-full of the frothy liquid.  Angad stripped out of his jacket and grabbed himself a glass for the wine.  It amused him when she didn't even bother to offer him.  To annoy her, he grabbed the small paper carton out of her hand.  "Angad."
   "I thought you could cook."  He lifted the chopstick to her lips.  "You behave as if you havn't seen food for a few years."
   She frowned, gulped down some of her wine.  "You can't stay nice for too long, can you?" 
   "Of course I can't."  He grabbed her wrist and turned the chopstick full of noodles to his mouth and fed himself.  "How nice of you to think of me."
    She rolled her eyes.  God, he was charming!  "You had a lunch date."
   "It wasn't a date."  He looked at her, she was beginning to play with the food now.  "The recording finished earlier so I came home.  Tyler called me.  He was complaining that you've become irresponsible about receiving your calls, that you need an assistant."
   "Get to the point, Slick."  She shook her head when he offered a piece of orange chicken. 
   "They want to discuss the music today, with the crew only.  They're postponing the dubbing.  They also want to re-shoot the last scene.  Prithvi doesn't like the last kiss between Aaron and you."  He got his attention then.
    "Then he can go to hell."  She slapped her chopsticks down and got up, kicked her shoes out of the way.  "He had no right to decide anything.  He's only financing the damn movie, nothing more."
   Angad sipped his wine, watched the pace the room.  "We all know Tyler isn't really directing it, it's just as way to get his name out there.  Prithvi wasn't willing to take the risk and invest so much money into a project of a director who hasn't directed anything before." 
   Kripa looked at him then.  He looked so much at home.  The go-to-hell attitude was something she never understood in him.  He never seemed worried about much.  "Why would you care how I feel when Prithvi is around?"
   He looked up at her and she watched temper, fury to be more critical, flash in his eyes.  Then his face was uniformed to the same go-to-hell look again.  "Of course."  He brushed his hands on his jeans.  "I don't give a damn about what you have to go through around Prithvi or anyone else."  Because he knew she was done he began to clear the floor.  She watched him, how coolly he handled himself.  No, he didn't care.  "Now you can go to the location alone or you can go to hell, I don't care.  Have fun fighting Prithvi alone."  He placed the glasses in the sink.  Then turned to face her.  "In fact you should just go back to him and say sorry.  I'm sure he'd forgive you.  I mean, I'm sure you're done using me by now anyways.  He was jealous enough the other night.  We can finish this play of ours before the first act is over."
   Kripa was too shocked to do anything but stare at him. She felt her breath backing-up in her lungs.  "I'm sorry I used you, Angad."  Her voice hitched and she pressed a fist to her mouth.  She never minded fighting with him, annoying him, hell she'd thought being friendly would be fun.  But, she'd never wanted to hurt him.
   He'd hurt her more than anyone else ever had.  She'd never let anyone, she admitted.  How could he have the power to hurt her, she wondered.  "I'm sorry," she said again.  "Excuse me."  She wasn't going to give him the pleasure of seeing her cry because of him. 
   Angad slammed his hand on the counter and then braced his hands on the tile.  He hadn't meant to hurt her.  But, she'd done it first.  He cared about her. 
   Okay, he'd just say sorry, make her laugh and then take her to the studio.  He grabbed the red rose from the piles of many more in the glass vase and walked towards their room.  She was racing down, her keys and wallet in her hand.
   "Kripa."  Her eyes were clear he noticed, no sign of tears.  Thank God.  Female tears always made him weak and feel useless.  Then she was shoving him away and the door was slamming.  "Well."  He looked at the rose in his hand. "I'll just have to say sorry a different way."  Then he noticed her shoes and grinned.   

?

    No one was going to make her cry again.  She'd cried over that idiot Prithvi once, not again.  Never on a man again, never because of one again.  She punched the gas and turned into the studio, parked the car beside Prithvi's.  Of course, had she noticed she would have parked it almost a mile away from his. 
    She took a deep breath.  Then flipped her compact open and added fake color to her cheeks.  No one needed to know that she had just fought with the man who she thought cared for her, who she'd married hoping he'd help her with her problems.
   No Kripa. Her breath hitched again.  He was correct.  You married him to use him.  Didn't you want to go back to Prithvi once? 
   Exasperated, she rested her head on the wheel.  Taking one long deep breathe, she opened the door.  She began to step out and then looked at her bare foot.  Shocked, she looked at the other one.  "Oh, God."  She set her jaw.  "Angad Khanna, you are dead meat."  She set her head against the seat and closed her eyes.  What was she going to do about this problem.
   "Ms. Kapoor."  She jerked and looked at the boy. 
   "Yes."
   "There was a delivery for you.  I was asked to deliver the box as soon as possible."  He was no more than seventeen, and was finding it very hard to keep his tongue in his mouth.
   "Yes.  Thanks."  She took the box, closed the door of her car.  "Oh, please God.  Shoes."  She opened the box and gapped at her pretty pink shoes to match her dress.  She grabbed the small card, opened it. 

One makes foolish mistakes when angry or hurt.  I was both…. Angad

She nearly threw the shoes out and then made herself stop.  She'd beat him with them later.  For the moment, she slipped them on and with dignity got out of her car.  Hips swaying, she walked to the entrance of the studio.
   Angad sighed and studied her from his car window.  Whatever the case, she was one beautiful woman.  And, he couldn't help but look at those extra long legs.  So perfectly toned.  And, she was graceful even as she did something as simple as walk.  Great face, excellent body, tremendous legs.  A vulnerable, but strong and sweet heart.   Maybe it was time he began dating again.  Just something fun and flirty.  And, who could be a better candidate than his wife? 
   First he had to make sure she didn't stay angry for too long.  He grabbed his phone, punched in a number.  "Hi, yes. Can I get the number to the closest flower shop to Bose Studios?  Yes."  He opened the dashboard and found a pen, wrote down the number and address. "Thank you so much." 
   He found Nikki's number.  "Hi.  Nikki, it's Angad.  Yeah.  Fine."  He made small talk for a few minutes, asked about the kids, Raj.  Said something about how annoying Kripa was.  He missed having
a family.  And, then he got to the point.  Moments later, he put the phone down all grins.
   Kripa fixed a pleasant smile on her face before she opened the doors to the room.  "Ah, there you are."  Aaron stood-up and kissed her, made her sit down beside him before Prithvi could do as much as blink an eyed.  "What took you so long?"
   "I was fighting with my husband."  She helped herself with the cup of coffee Aaron gave her. 
    He grinned. "First one?"
    She thought about it for a moment.  "Yeah." Then frowned.  She only wished she could forget about the things he had said.  "Yeah," she repeated.
   Prithvi cocked a brow, amused she was so affected by a fight with Angad.  Her husband. He resisted shaking his head and simply listened.
   "Did you guys make it up?"  Tyler asked, totally interested.  "Last time I fought with my wife I made her dinner and then seduced  her to bed.  She was all smiles."  Tyler grinned at her, waiting for some information.
   Well too bad he had already cooked her dinner.  And, worse he couldn't seduce her.  I could, she mused.  After all, he'd said she had hurt him as well.  She jolted, nearly spilled the coffee over her dress when she realized what she had been thinking.  Oh, hell.  She nearly laughed. I'm only lusting his body, she assured herself. 
   Aaron leaned forwards.  "Want some tips on seducing men?"
   She turned to look at him, amused.  He wiggled his eyes brows and made her laugh.  Too happy to be depressed, she leaned forward and kissed him.  "I think we should get started."  She stabbed a look at Prithvi.  "I heard something about re-shooting the last scene.  Mr. Bose here didn't like the kiss between Aaron and I."
    "Yes.  I didn't like it.  It didn't sizzle in the air."  He shrugged, dumped sugar in his coffee. 
   "It was meant to be a gentle kiss.  A lovers kiss to the woman he just asked to marry.  It wasn't meant to be a air sizzling, they-are-going-to-rip-the-cloths-off-of-each-other kiss.&nb sp; We had the rip-her-cloths-off kiss already.  So there's no point in changing it.  In fact, both Aaron and I refuse to re-do the kiss.  Right Aaron?"
   He sighed.  "Yes.  I can agree with her here." He looked at Tyler.  "It think the entire film is perfect.  It has been edited, we need to dub and then watch it.  And, of course decide who is going to do the C.D."
   "I thought Angad was."  And, she regretted the moment that came out.  "Of course I think that we could find someone better."
   Tyler laughed.  "He is.  Once we've dubbed, we can start the score.  Release that before the movie.  Give it a nice promotion."
   Kripa only smiled.  She wasn't sure if it would be wise to open her mouth again.  The knock on the door had them all turning to look at it.
   "Come in."  All Kripa saw was the big bouquet of pink roses.  "Wow."  She tried not to sigh.  "For who?"
   "For you."  Angad tilted his head from behind the flowers and grinned at Kripa.  "You like pink roses."
   Prithvi frowned.  Hadn't she liked the red ones?  Or was it the yellow ones? No, it had to be the white ones/
   Kripa glanced at Prithvi and then did sigh.  "Oh, Angad."  She got up and leaned into the flowers, took a deep sniff.  "They are beautiful."  She set them aside and then wrapping her arms around him kissed him.  "I'm sorry I fought with you."  She rolled her eyes at the door, leaned against his ear.  "I'll tell you how sorry once we get home."
   "Of course."  Because he knew it would annoy her, he gave her butt a friendly pat.  Watch Prithvi's face sink more.  Yup, definitely using me, Angad thought.  "We should sit down and discuss the music since I'm here. Tyler singed me yesterday," he explained.  He sat down on Kripa's chair.  Then noticed it was the last one.  "Too, bad honey.  You'll just have to sit in my lap."  He pulled her down, wrapped his arms tight around her when she would have pulled away.  And knew he was going to die once they got home.       

?

    Angad Khanna should have been thankful that Kripa had her own car.  Or maybe Kripa should have been thankful that she wasn't in the same car as Angad.  Because either way Angad Khanna was going to die the next time she saw him.  And, if she saw him and killed him she would end-up in jail.  So an a result, she was glad they were driving home separately.  She just hoped she could control her wild emotions once she got home.
   She looked into her rear view mirror to find Angad's car.  It was right behind hers, and he was smoking in it.  Kripa grimaced, how could he smoke while driving?  The man was just eager to die.  Feeling desperate, she ran a unsteady hand through her hair. 
   He couldn't have meant the things he had told her, she assured herself and slowed down.  He was just angry after she'd said such a stupid thing to him.  Of course he cared about her.  He wouldn't have married her, he wouldn't have supported her at Tyler's home the other night.  He wouldn't have brought her those lovely pink roses.  Her favorite.
   Felling a little better, Kripa turned into the driveway of her home and stopped the car.  He wasn't there yet, it gave her enough time to calm down.  She smiled at the roses sitting beside her and gathered them in her arms.
   The phone was already ringing when she came inside.  She dropped the flowers on the table and went to get the phone.
   "Khanna Residents."  She cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder and went to find a vase in the sitting room.
   "Hi.  Can I talk to Angad please?" 
   "I'm sorry.  He's not here."  She tossed out the old yellow roses from the tall vase and took down stairs.  "Can I help you with something?"
   "No. He promised to have dinner with me."  Kripa's eyes sharpened.  "Just remind him when he gets here."
   "I see."  She carefully arranged the fifteen of the roses in the vase.  "Can I have your name?"
   "He'll know who.  Thanks.  Are you Kripa?"
   "Yes.  His wife."  She added, almost haughtily.  "I'll let him know his date is waiting for him."  She disconnected before the lady could say another word.  When the door opened behind her, she reeled and chucked the phone, aiming for Angad's face, but managed it against his shoulder.
   "Damn it!"  She flung her shoe, he caught it.  "Kripa, what's wrong?"
   "Your date just called."  She threw the other shoe, watched him catch it.  She wanted to cry all over again. 
    "Oh, shit!  I was supposed to meet Amanda.  Damn it, I'm late."
   "Oh, no."  She picked up the vase, then set it down on the table with a thump.  Why waste such a pretty thing on such a useless man?  She walked to him, grabbed his shirtfront and pulled him forward.  "I don't care what you think of me, Angad, but as long as I'm wearing your ring on my finger you stay faithful."  She looked at him, temper racing in her eyes with just a hint of hurt.  She loosened her grip on his shirt when she saw the blank, leave-me look in his eyes.  She took a step back.  "I'm sorry."  She left the roses and vase on the table and ran.
   Angad just shook his head and picked up the phone from the floor, rubbed a hand to his lightly throbbing shoulder, and then picked-up the vase full of flower to put water into it.
    Kripa pushed open the door of her bedroom and stood on the other side of the threshold and just gawked at the room.  It was full of pink roses everywhere.  She made a strangled sound and stepped inside.  The fire was glowing under the mantle and the place looked so romantic.
   Kripa took a deep breath and picked up the card and box on the table.  She opened the card first, it had a small teddy bear on it holding a heart shaped pillow, which said sorry on it. 
  I will not be charmed.
  She looked at the wrapped box, decided she wasn't going to open it.  She tugged down the zipped of her dress and changed into pajama's, silk ones, and a fitted shirt.  And, found herself sitting on the bed again.  Defeated, she slowly untied the bow and carefully took the wrapping paper apart.  She nearly smiled when she saw the white leather box with the word Tiffany written on top of it. 
   God, I think I'm falling in love. 
   Lust!  Who fell in love because of roses and jewelry?
   No one had given her jewelry before as a gift.  Her parents didn't count.
   She flipped open the box and sighed in shock this time.  He'd gotten her a bracelet in her birthstone.  There were ten turquoise stones around the white gold bracelet.  It was so beautiful, so slim.  She picked it up carefully and just looked at it.
   So what?  She put it back.  He was still seeing someone else while he was married to her. 
   Exhausted, she shook her head.  How did she know that Amanda wasn't just a friend or a client.  She took the bracelet and put it around her wrist. 
   He was in the kitchen cooking.  "What about your date?"  And, he'd stripped out of his shirt.  A towel was hanging form the waistband of his jeans. 
   He looked at her.  Tried not touch his shoulder.  "It wasn't a date.  Amanda is Laura's daughter, married and very pregnant.  She wanted a favor from me, so I was going to see her."  He poured the sauce in the skillet.
   Kripa wanted to go dig-up a hole and never come out of it again.
   "Nevertheless, it's good to know you care."  He poured himself apple cider.  "Want some?"
   "Angad."  She walked to him.  "I'm sorry."
   "It's okay.  Did you like the bracelet?"  He took her hand, looked at it.  "I knew it would do.  It looks good against your skin."
   "Angad."  She framed his face.  "I was impossible rude with you.  It's just my temper took the better of me and I didn't realize I was being so imprudent  Such an… an…."
   "Imbecile?" He provided and watched her eyes narrow in temper again.  "You're a gem," he said and kissed her forehead.  "You're lovely."  And her drew her against him, kissed her hair.  "And the tallest woman I've ever embraced."
   She laughed and blinked back tears.  "I'm sorry again."
   "It's okay."  He sighed and brushed her hair away.  "I'm sure you want to have dinner now."
   She turned her face into his chest.  "Just hold on another minute."  He smelled of spices, cologne, with the faintest hint of sweat.  And, God the mixture was seductive.  She drew away.  "How did you know I love pink roses?"
   He smiled, thanked Nikki for knowing his sister.  "I have my sources.  Oh, by the way Nikki called me in the car, you weren't picking up your phone.  She's holding a barbeque first Saturday in December."  He absently rubbed his shoulder.
   "Oh, Angad. Oh, honey."  She was pushing his hand away and looking at the bruise. "I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean to hurt you."  She grabbed ice from the bucket and pressed it against his shoulder. 
   "Kripa, it's fine."  Absurdly touched, he moved away.  "It'll go away.  It's very faint.  I wasn't wearing anything but a shirt, so it hit harder."
   "It's going to hurt more tomorrow."  She sighed and looked at the ice-cube in her hand, tossed it into the sick, and grabbed another to crunch on.  "Put more ice on it."  She leaned over and kissed his shoulder, rubbed her cheek against it before hugging him again, feeling totally guilty. 
   His stomach twisted when she touched his shoulder with her lips, her breath and lips cool from the ice.  Damn the woman was touchy.  "Okay, sure.  Go sit, I'll lay the dinner."
   She chuckled.  "You sound like my mother did before dinner.  You just have a sexier body."  She winked at his bland look.  "I'll set the table, bring the dinner out."  She closed a cabinet with a sexy swing of her hips and sent Angad on a trip to hell, with a throat more dry than a desert.  Annoyed, he picked up his glass to gulp.  Upon finding it empty, he found the bottle of apple cider, and chugged right out of it.
   He turned to the stove while she carried the plates out side and rubbed a hand over his stomach.  Angad Khanna, he thought, you're going to be in deep trouble if you don't hold your horses.       
   And your heart.
   But he was more content in knowing he was just desperate since he hadn't been with a woman in so long.  He was happier knowing he was lusting and not loving for the second time.
Hey guys,
Hope you enjoyed that.  Sorry for the delay.  I have Summer school like 24 school days and it sucks! Then I came home, slept, pigged out and then went to the gym to work out.  :p  I know, i'm stupid... Anyways, this FF is a short one and had at the most a total of seven parts left if not less.  I have new ideas and I'll let you guys vote and see which one you guys want me to write next,  unless i know which one i want to write next.
Hugs and Kisses,
Neha