Chapter 5

5

 

Kripa woke up at the phone ring. "Hello?"

"Kripa.." It was Angad. She knew it was him. "Angad? Are you okay? You seem really.."

"I need you Kripa..Can you please come over?" She felt the tears rolling down her cheek. The tears that hadnt rolled down for the past 10 years. Today, Angad needed her. She had promised herself that she wouldnt care about him anymore. Then why today? Why now? Why had he come back now?

 

Kripa suddenly woke up, all sweaty. She pushed her hair back and took a deep breath. That was a nightmare, she thought. She didnt want to go back to 10 years ago anymore. She was perfectly happy now and nothing could stop her from getting what she always wanted. She smiled when she realized it was all a dream and then went back to sleep.

 

Angad moved around on the couch where he had fallen asleep. When he moved his hand, he felt Chandni's head under it. "Chandni.." He murmurred in his sleepy voice. He suddenly got up and felt a strong shooting pain in his head. "Angad? dont get up."

He laid back again and tried to look at her. "Youre still here Chandni?" She held his face. "Why wouldnt I be, Angad?" He tried to remember what he had said before he fell asleep.

"Chandni whatever I said yesterday I.."

"You didnt say anything Angad. Before you could say anything, you fell asleep." What? He couldnt believe it. There was a smile on his face all of a sudden. Thank god he hadnt said anything.

He got up and sat in an upright position. "Can you please get me some coffee?"

"Yeah sure.." Chandni got up to leave but then stopped. "Angad.." He looked at her, the same expression of indifference returned to his face. "..I'm not gonna ask you what you wanted to say. but if you ever want to tell me, I'll be right here." When she left, he quickly got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

 

By the time Angad came back out, Chandni had the coffee and some breakfast ready. He sat at the table and took a sip of his coffee as he read all his text messages. "So angad.."

"Hmm.." He didnt even look up. "How long have you known Kripa." Now he looked up. "Not long. Why?"

"No..i was just curious." He looked at her again with a suspicious look and then looked down. "Chandni...you dont have to worry about Kripa okay? She doesnt mean anything to me."

Feeling insulted, Chandni just sulked in her chair. "You know it would be nice once in a while if you told me what actually meant anything to you."

He stopped for a second and looked at her, furiously. "Why do you always start the fights early in the morning, Chandni?"

He got up and walked away. "Eat your breakfast Angad!"

"I dont want it!" He quickly put his shoes on and left. Chandni just sat there, feeling completely heartbroken. But this wasnt anything new. Angad Khanna never knew how to treat his woman right. Thats why he had been through so many girls in the past 10 years. But still Chandni was the only one he had stuck out 6 months with. Usually it was about 2 months tops before he dumped his girlfriend but this time it had been 6 months. Six unhappy months for the both of them. But Chandni wasnt about to quit just yet. It would take much more to break this strong woman.

 

Kripa fixed her make up when Angad stormed into her dressing room. Without turning around, she smiled. "Mr. Angad Khanna. I knew you'd be back. Apology accepted!"

"Who said I was here to apologize?" She raised her eyebrow and turned around. "oH? Then why the hell are you here?"

"Because I was here to tell you to stay away from Chandni. I dont want her to get any wrong ideas about us!"

"Wrong ideas? Like what angad?" She walked towards him and stared him right into his eyes. "Like..what if she thinks that we slept with each other last weekend. Oh my god! What will she think! We can let her get that idea!!" He didnt appreciate her sarcastic tone. "Whatever Kripa. Just shut up. All I want to say is..stay away from Chandni."

He turned around to leave. "Oh puhleaseee!! I have no interest in talking to her anyway."

"Ok good then. works for both of us." She just nodded confidently. Angad shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door.

 

It was time for another party and it had been 2 weeks since Angad and Kripa had seen each other. Kripa walked out of her car and towards the hotel with her arms around Simon. Angad did the same with Chandni at his arms.

For a moment, they stopped to look at each other and smiled. But then suddenly looked away with annoyance and went their separate ways.

 

"Hey hun!" Angad turned around and saw Sarah standing there. He quickly hugged her and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Hey, whats up?"

"Oh, and this is Chandni. My girlfriend. Chand, this is Sarah." He introduced them to each other and let them talk as he slowly escaped.

 

"Not enjoying the party huh?" Kripa turned around and looked at Angad. "I was. Until you walked by." He smirked and grabbed the drink from the waiter and handed it to her. "Here you go."

"Thank you." She smiled politely and then went back to her frown. Noticing this, he asked. "You okay? Or have my good looks disturbed your nights as well?"

"Oh puhleasee Angad. There's no way thats every gonna happen. And please just leave me alone right now. I'm a little..tired." He saw it in her eyes. That spark wasnt there tonight. Maybe she really was. "Kripa if you ever wanna talk about.."

"Hey kripa!" They both turned towards an acquaintance as she walked towards them. "Hi Mrs. Agnihotri. How's it been?"

"Oh great, great. You must meet my friend. Hold on..I'll get her.." The woman turned around to look for her friend when Angad quickly whispered in Kripa's ears. "When youre done, meet me in the back. By the bathroom.." Kripa nodded without anyone noticing and then smiled again when Mrs. Agnihotri turned back to face her.

 

Angad sat on top of his car, an hour later. He had waited for kripa by the back of the ballroom but she hadnt showed up.

He smoked another cigarette as he stared at the stars in the sky. "I see you havent quit yet!" He turned to see Kripa standing there. He looked at her for a moment and then turned away again. "I thought you'd never show up."

"Why wouldnt I?" There was this disconnected look on her face. He got up and walked to her. Holding her face in his hands, he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Whats wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He didnt ask furthur. "Wheres Chandni?" He didnt let go of her. She noticed he had been looking at her for a while now. "She's somewhere inside."

"And why are you here?"

"Dont you want me to be?"

"I dont know." They just looked at each other. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

"Do you want me to stay?"

"Maybe..." He smiled but she didnt. He moved closer and kissed her eyes as she closed them to recieve it.

"Are you gonna tell me whats wrong?"

"Can I just stay in your arms for a few minutes, Angad. No questions asked?" He nodded his head and pulled her closer. "No questions asked." She pulled closer to him and he felt her body shudder.

 

"Angad where..." He heard Chandni's voice and froze. He quickly let go of Kripa and turned around. "Chandni?"

She just looked at him with those eyes of pain. He didnt try to explain. He just looked at her with expressionless eyes. But Kripa didnt keep quiet. "Chandni I just.."

"I dont care, Kripa. Please go away before I say something hurtful!" Kripa felt insulted and looked at Angad for some support. When he didnt say anything, she just walked away in anger.

When she was gone, Chandni walked towards Angad and stood there, with her arms folded. "So this is whats been happening for the past few days?"

"What are you talking about Chandni?"

"This. Kripa! You being so disconnected from me! What is going on between you and Kripa, Angad?"

"Nothing!"

"Nothing? Then why were you here, away from the party? Hugging her?" In a moment of anger, he pushed her away. "I said its nothing!" He walked away, leaving her shocked and hurt.

 

Kripa stood in front of the mirror in the ladies room, still totally expressionless. She heard the door open and looked behind her to see Chandni walk in. They both froze for a second and then continued to do whatever they wanted. Chandni walked to the sink, right next to Kripa's, to wash her hands. Kripa didnt look at her, not because she was embarrased or angry, but because she was feeling a bit low tonight.

"Kripa.." She turned to look at her now. Kripa saw that her eyes were red. Perhaps, she had been crying. "I dont know what kind of relationship you share with Angad but you both have hurt me a lot tonight. And I will never forgive him for this." Kripa still remained unaffected. "Why dont you just leave him then..if he has hurt you so much."

"Because I love him. And I wont quit trying so fast. I dont know if girls like you would understand this but when you love someone, you fight for them!" She stormed out of the room, leaving Kripa all shattered. She looked into the mirror for a few seconds and thought about what Chandni had said. Girl like you wont understand. It pierced her heart. I love him! She took a deep breat. When you love someone, you fight for them! She remembered everything that Chandni told her and it hurt her deep inside her heart. A part she thought she had successfully killed. Before she knew, tears flew out of her eyes. Tears that hadnt flown for 10 years..