Chapter 18

18

"And what did mommy say about me?" She heard Angad's voice outside the door. Kripa quickly got up, not knowing what to do. "Mommy said that.." The door opened and both Sana and Angad froze in their positions. Kripa looked at Angad. "Hi.."

"Kripa!!" Sana ran to her and Kripa hugged her tightly. "Hey angel! How are you doing?"

"I'm good. wheres mommy?" Kripa looked up at Angad. "She left for a meeting. She'll be back soon." She smiled and looked at Sana again.

"Cool. what happened to your head?" Sana went to touch Kripa's forehead but Kripa quickly stopped her. "Nothing. It was just a stupid accident."

"Hey Sana!" Angad called her and Sana turned to look at him. "Dont you have your swim practice soon?" Sana looked at the watch. "Oh yes I do! I'm sorry Kripa. I'm going to have to leave."

"Aww its okay baby." Kripa kissed Sana's cheek. "Okay Kripa I have to go get ready. I'll see you in a bit." Kripa nodded as Sana went to her room to get her things. Kripa stood up and watched Angad walk towards her. "So what happened?"

"Nothing. Just a stupid..anyway, you seem to be getting comfortable with Sarah's daughter!" Angad smiled as he thought about Sana. "She is one amazing little girl isnt she?"

Kripa nodded as she thought about how Sana used to be her daughter at one point. "Yes she is.." She snapped back to reality again and looked Angad still smiling. She felt like what she had feared the most was coming true. Angad was getting attached to Sana which meant that he was closer to the truth she had hidden from everyone.

"Okay Angad its time to go!" Kripa looked at Sana as she took Angad's hand. "Bye Kripa. I'll see you soon!" Kripa smiled and then looked at Angad. "Umm..you wanna come with us? I'm just gonna drop Sana off to the gym."

"Hm..sure!" Kripa smiled and walked behind them as they walked to the car.

"Bye Kripa!" Sana kissed Kripa's cheek and then Angad's. "Bye Angad. Are you gonna pick me up later?"

"Sorry hun but your mommy is gonna pick you up. is that okay?"

"Oh? okay sure. Bye again!" Sana took her bag and left. Kripa and Angad watched her as she disappeared behind the gates of the gym. They both had this smile on their face, like they were so satisfied. Then at the same time, they turned to look at each other. Silence. There was some kind of awkwardness between them yet something felt like old times. Suddenly Kripa looked away. Angad closed his eyes for a moment then took a deep breath. "Umm..kripa you wanna get some coffee or something?"

"Uh.I dont know Angad. I mean.."

"Come on kripa. for old times sake. just a cup of coffee. nothing else. yeah?"

Kripa stood there with her eyes on the floor for a few seconds and then looked up. "Okay."

Kripa took a sip of her coffee as she waited for Angad to get back. Sarah had requested him to pick up some stuff from the pharmacy which was next door to the cafe. "Ok im back!" Kripa looked up when she heard his voice. He sat in front of her and put the bags on the chair between them. "Okay finally some coffee!" He took the cup in his hands and took a sip. "Darn! it got cold so fast?" He looked up at Kripa as she smiled at his situation. "Hey waiter!!" He tried to gain attention but no one appeared at their table. He frowned, making Kripa smile a little more. He looked so cute, she thought. When he caught her staring, she quickly looked at her cup of coffee.

The music in the cafe suddenly became a bit louder than usual. The song "A thousand miles" started playing in the background. Kripa smiled as she remembered how this song was her favorite. She hadnt listened to it in years, she thought. Angad noticed the smile on her lips. The smile had always made him smile. As he continued admiring her, she spoke for the first time in the same voice he remembered her having ten years back. The voice that had turned into this attitude she had. "You know..this was my favorite song for a while. you can say it still is in a way." She looked at him as he stared at her.

"Would you like to dance Kripa?" Kripa looked at him a little in shock. "What? Here?" He nodded and took her hands in his. He placed his other hand on her waist as she placed it on his shoulder.

Kripa opened the door to her house and let Angad in with her. She closed the door behind her and then threw her bag on the couch. "Just have a seat. You want something to drink?"

"Um. I'll take a beer I guess!" Angad yelled as she was already halfway into her kitchen. Angad sat down on the couch and rested his head. When he turned his head, she saw a picture frame with Kripa and Simon's photo in it. He smirked. But suddenly turned to look at Kripa when she walked to the living room again.

"here's your beer!" Kripa sat down on the couch opposite him, sipping her own beer. Suddenly, she looked at the same photo of her and Simon that lay on her side table. She remembered this afternoon when they had a fight. This sad smile covered her lips that made Angad wonder what was wrong. "Whats the smile for?"

She looked up at him. "Nothing." But he knew it had to do with Simon. He had caught her stare at the photo for a good 15 seconds. "Its Simon huh!"

"What? No!"

"Oh come on Kripa! Dont lie to me. Youre unhappy with Simon and I know it!" Somewhere inside, Kripa knew it was true. But she still couldnt let Angad think she was unhappy in her life. That would give him too much pleasure! "Well youre wrong coz I'm very happy with simon!"

"Oh yeah? well then tell me..have Simon and you.." She looked at him with anger. "what?"

"You know...taken that NEXT step in your relationship?" Kripa stood up furiously. "Its none of your business Angad!"

"I know I know! But I mean its been what? 3 months since you guys are dating?"

"2."

"Well okay 2! But it took us what? one month?"

"So what are you trying to say Angad?"

"Nothing! Cheers!" He grinned at her anger. Really outraged at this point, Kripa walked upto Angad and took his glass of beer and poured it all over his pants. "What the f*** Kripa! What was that for?!"

"Suits you well loser! So that the next time you decide to make any comments about my life, you'd remember how yours sucks a lot more!!" He stood up, really angry himself and grabbed her arm. "Well atleast im not marrying someone I dont love!"

"Who says i dont love Simon? I dont have to sleep with himi to prove it you know!"

"I agree! you dont have to! But then..what are you doing here Kripa? With me? You got engaged yesterday! So what are you doing at your house with me. Angad Khanna. Someone you dont love..and claim to not even LIKE. What are you doing here Kripa!?" He shook her violently as he screamed. She looked into his eyes with no answer. She didnt love him, she repeated to him. No, she couldnt. She was going to get married to Simon in a few weeks. She had to love simon!

Kripa pushed Angad away to get a grip on herself. "Angad I think you should go." She walked to the door to open it for him but Angad ran behind her and grabbed her arm again. "Why dont you just accept the fact that you still love me, kripa?"

"I dont know what youre talking about Angad! I dont love you." She tried to turn away again but his grip was too tight. "Dont lie to me Kripa! Tell me that everytime you spend time with me you want to hold me, you want to kiss me. Like I want to with you!"

"I dont!"She tried to stay strong as she felt his words start to break the walls on her heart. "Then what about this?" He grabbed her face and kissed her lips. He let go of her and left her in shock. "Look into my eyes Kripa.." He held her face, still. "look into my eyes and tell me that you didnt feel anything!" She was speechless. She couldnt lie. "Tell me kripa! say something!" She stayed silent.

He let go of her and nodded his head. "I see how it is. Good luck with your life Kripa!" He walked over to the door and was about to turn the door knob when he heard her voice. "I love you Angad!" He stopped and turned around to look at her. "I...I love you." Her eyes were on the floor. He slowly made his way towards her.

Slowly he cupped her face between his palms. Her eyes looked up at him. There were tears in them. Angad kissed her closed eyelids. "Angad I'm..."

"Shh..dont say another word." He kissed her cheek as gently as he could. He stared at her face for a few moments and then smiled at her beauty. "I love you Kripa." (The intro of "A thousand miles" plays in the backrground =] )

Angad picked Kripa up in his arms and walked up the stairs to her room.

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
do you think time would pass me by?
Cuz you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I can just see you...
If I can just hold you...
Tonight.

OKAY GUYS!! im sorry i took long to post that part up but it was pretty long, you have to admit lol. next part will be up soon. my bdays coming up so im gonna try putting it up BEFORE my bday which is thurs! lets hope i get the time to write a good part =]

luv rani