Kripa sat in the car next to Angad who started the car and began driving to the hall.

"so who's going to be at the party?" Kripa asked while checking out her reflection in the side mirror.

"just some friends" Angad replied

"ok, so who's birthday is it?" Kripa turned her head to look at Angad.

"I told you, its a friends"

"yeah but what's his name?"

"Does it matter?" Angad asked while stopping the car at a red light

"yes it does, maybe we should get a card"

 Angad glanced over at Kripa and frowned

"he doesn't need a card where he is"

"what does that mean?"

"you know, he isn't here remember? Now please stop asking so many questions"

Kripa stopped talking and stares out of the window, Angad looked over at her but didn't say anything.

 

Soon enough they arrived to the hall, Kripa followed Angad into the venue where Angad was greeted by some guests who Kripa didn't know, she gazed around the place and saw many balloons and a banner saying "Happy Birthday". Kripa was quite confused as to why Angad was celebrating the birthday of someone who wasn't even there, it wasn't like the person would even know what Angad was doing, but Angad wouldn't listen to her even if she did say something. She continued looking around and noticed a cake in the middle of the room, she glanced over at Angad and found him busy with friends so she went over to the cake to take a peek.

 

"Happy Birthday Aditya" Kripa read off the cake, she wondered who Aditya was, maybe he was the same Aditya that Angad failed to talk about whenever Kripa tried to mention his name, but who exactly was he? Kripa tried to think but was interuppted when Angad slipped his arm around her waist.

"what are you doing here alone? come meet my friends"

"Angad if you're friends were going to be here then why did you bring me?"

"because...you're cutting the cake remember, and I told you, you knew him from before the accident and you know these people as well"

Kripa silently walked with Angad to the guests and smiled as they greeted her, she looked closely at each of the faces trying to remember if she knew them but her mind went blank.

"lets cut the cake"

Angad led Kripa to the table and handed her a knife, Kripa took it and cut the cake slowly, everyone clapped, Angad took the knife from her and cu a small piece and fed it to Kripa and allowed Kripa to feed him a small piece.

 

***************

 

Angad could tell that Kripa was feeling out of place but he needed her there, he couldn't celebrate Adi's birthday without her, he looked around the room at various friends of Adi's and his, friends who Kripa used to be close to but things were very different from then., Angad sighed and closed his eyes, a tear dropped down his cheek but he brushed it away quickly when he saw Kripa coming.

She linked her arm into his and rested her head on his shoulder

"can we go home now?"

"not yet, we need to have some drinks first"

Kripa nodded her head and followed Angad to the bar where Angad asked for a bottle of champagne, he gathered his friends around and handed them glasses then opened the bottle and poured each one a small amount then poured some for himself and Kripa, he handed her the glass and she sipped it while Angad gulped his down in one go.

 

Kripa smiled to herself, Angad was looking very happy which made her work all the more easy, she ordered another bottle of champagne and poured Angad another glass and handed it him, he happily took it and drank it straight away then gossiped with his friends, yes Kripa thought to herself, she would let Angad drink as much as he wanted because there was no way she could get her hand on the key unless Angad was drunk.

 

She went over and placed her hand on his shoulder, he turned and hugged her.

"I'm very happy Kripa you know that?"

"yes Angad, you've said that quite a lot, now I think we should go home"

Angad nodded his head obiedently, Kripa held his arm and led him outside, she got the car keys from him and unlocked the car and helped him into the passenger seat then went to the drivers side and got in, hopefully she remembered the way home.

 

**************

 

1 hour later Kripa saw a familiar road leading to their house, she beemed with delight and raced home, she glanced over at Angad who was busy singing or trying to sing a song, she parked the car in the driveway and got out and opened the front door. She quickly went over to Angad's side of the car and helped him out, locked the car then took him inside and let him fall onto the sofa, she sat on the other sofa and watched as Angad babbled on about something or another, it wasn't long before he fell asleep, Kripa jumped up and went over to him, she put her hand on his chest and felt his rhythmic breathing then trailed her hand up to his neck, she touched the key then began undoing the clasp, soon the key was free and she held it in her hand, she looked at Angad's face and felt guilty, she knew she was doing wrong but she wanted to so badly see what was in the room that Angad kept it locked all the time.

 

Kripa didn't waste a minute and headed upstairs, she stood in front of the door and slid the key into the keyhole and unlocked the door, she took the key out and placed her hand on the door handle and turned it, she breathed deeply and pushed the door open, she stepped into the darkness and reached out for a light switch, she found one and put her finger on the light switch and was about to press it when she felt a hand on her hand, she gasped and turned around to find a very angry looking Angad glaring at her, the key dropped from her hand while Kripa gulped wondering what Angad was going to say.