Chapter 14

14

Angad nervously parked his car in the parking lot of the hotel where Kripa's engagement party was being held. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car, still flocked by several girls. Even though this usually made him happy, it didnt today. He wasnt paying any attention. Right now, he didnt want to be here and no matter how many gorgeous women flocked him, nothing could make him change his mind.

"Mr. Khanna. Is it true that you will be coming back to the fashion week." He ignored the media, not on purpose because he wasnt thinking about anything else but about what would happen when he entered those double doors. He fixed his tie and walked towards to doors. Confident on the outside, scared to death on the inside.

He didnt recognize many faces there. He saw occasional models around but didnt bother saying hello because he didnt really care at this moment. "Angad Khanna!!!" He turned around all of a sudden to see Sarah, his closest friend there.

"Sarah!" He took a breath of relief. "Oh my god, I have never been so happy to see you before" He smiled and quickly hugged her.

"Oh? so I'm just someone you remember when youre bored or scared huh?"

"Scared? Me? No way!!"

"Uhuh. Sure love. Anyway, when did you get here?"

"About five minutes. By the way, who did you want me to meet?"

"Umm someone. Shes not here yet."

"She? She must have a name right?"

"Ofcourse! Her name is..." Before Sarah could finish, she heard her name behind her. "Excuse me Angad. I'll be back soon." She left with a smile but left Angad still confused and nervous.

"Angad?" He heard her voice. As sweet as honey to him. Yet, her presence as hurtful as the thorns on a red rose. He turned around to look at her. Even today, she was the most gorgeous woman to him. Dressed in a pink sari, she stood in front of him as graceful and as beautiful as ever.

"You came?" She sounded surprised. She never wanted to invite him but if she hadnt, it would have become some sort of media discussion and she wanted to avoid that.

"Yeah. Sarah insisted." Kripa gave him that half-cast smile. They both didnt want him to be there at this moment. "Oh. Okay. Umm..have fun I guess." She turned around to leave. "Kripa!" She stopped but didnt turn around. She didnt want to hear what he had to say but she remained quiet. "Yes?"

"Congradulations." She smiled back as she watched him walk away.

Everyone clapped as Kripa and Simon exchanged rings. That was it. They were engaged now, Angad thought. But why was he so annoyed? He had promised himself long time ago that he was not going to look back. So why after all these years did he suddenly want Kripa back into his life. This was ridiculous.

"You okay?" Sarah placed her hand on his shoulder. "Yeah. I'm fine." Angad took a deep breath and smiled. He was going to be happy for Kripa. After all, whatever they used to share was history and it was time to move on.

He turned around to face Sarah. "So wheres that person?!" Sarah smiled again, a little teasingly this time. "Why are you impatient?"

"Because you keep telling me I have to meet this person and shes still not here!"

"Well she will be. just wait..GOSH!!" She smiled seeing him all confused.

"Sarah! Okay fine..atleast tell me her name?"

"Hmm...okay fine. Her name is Sana."

"Sana? Nice. Is she hot?"

"Hot?" She almost laughed. "Shes the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen!! Happy?"

"Very. See now I can wait."

"Lets see for how long!!" Sarah teasingly messed with Angad's hair and walked away. Angad smiled to himself, still thinking of who this girl was. Sana..atleast the name was pretty, he thought.

As the party continued inside, Angad walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air. Seeing no one around, he pulled out a cigarette and then tried to look for his lighter but couldnt find it. Suddenly he felt someone light his cigarette and he turned to look. Kripa. What was she doing out here?

"Kripa? What are you doing here? Thanks." As she lighted his cigarette, he continued talking. "Its your engagement party after all. Besides, smoking? Youre engaged now."

"So what? I cant smoke if Im engaged?"

"No I never said that. You could do whatever you want. Its not like you havent for the past so many years." Kripa smirked and looked at Angad with one hand on her hip and the other holding her cigarette. "Youre right Angad. I'm always gonna do what I want. Besides, why does it matter to you if I smoke or not?" Kripa inhaled for a longer time and let out the smoke through her nose.

"It doesnt. Well atleast not anymore." Kripa looked at him with an arched eyebrow. "Hmm..you sound like youre in love!" Angad swallowed his emotions. "Uhh maybe I am!" He smoked too. Kripa smiled and turned to look at him. "So then whats her name?"

"Sana!" Kripa looked at him in shock.

"Sana?"

"yes. She's good friends with Sarah and we met through her."

"Oh? I'm sure she's really pretty!"

"Gorgeous!" Kripa nodded her head and took another smoke. "Well good luck with that Angad. and please..DO INVITE ME when you guys get engaged."

"Oh ofcourse!"

"Angad!!" They both turned to see Sarah standing behind them. "Hey Kripa. Ok Angad its finally time. The person I wanted you to meet is here!!" Angad's breathing fastened. No. If Sana came here now, Kripa would find out he was lying. "Sana!"

All of them froze as they saw her walk into the balcony. Angad looked at her, shocked out of his mind. Sana was a little girl, around 8 or 9 years old. She quietly walked to Sarah and held her hand. "Mommy." She smiled and sarah quickly knelt down and hugged her. "Now this is Sana!! Shes the most gorgeous girl in the world isnt she?" Sarah smiled as she saw Angad stand there, embarrased to death. He looked at Kripa now as she stood there smiling. He saw her walk towards Sarah and Sana. "Hey angel! howz it been buddy?" Kripa took Sana's hand and brought her closer and gave her a hug.

"Wait a minute!" Angad interrupted them. "Mommy?" He looked at Sarah with questions.

"Yes! This is Sana. My lovely little baby. She was in London all these years,with her dad. I finally got custody so I just brought her here." Angad didnt know what to say. But Kripa did. "And I knew this all along. I mean after all Sarah is my best friend."

"OKAY!" Angad was angry. "You guys disgust me." He quickly stormed out of the place but then felt a hand grab his. "I'm sorry." He heard the little voice say to him. He turned around to look at Sana and then knelt down in front of her. "Well its not your fault babes. Its your mommy. She made me fall in love with you!". He smiled.

"Well do you still love me?" She looked at him with the innocence in her eyes. "Ofcourse I do!" She smiled and hugged Angad. Suddenly he felt this warmth run through his body. He felt like he knew this child for years, yet he had just met her. He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Youre quite handsome Mr. Angad." Sana said in her British accent.

"And you are the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen. Your mommy's right." She smiled and hugged Angad again. He looked up at Sarah and saw her smile and then hold her ears to apologize. He nodded back forgiving her.

Kripa stared at them from a distance but her mind was somewhere else. She wondered about how Angad would have reacted if he saw "their" child. Would he be the same? would he hate it? would he love it more? These were all just questions for her now. With no definite answers.