Chapter 21
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21
Angad pulled his car into the parking lot and then walked to where Kripa was sitting in the cafe. "Kripa!" She looked up to see him and smiled. "Hi Angad."
He walked over and sat down in front of her. There was this weird smile on his face. "Soooo! wats up? You said you wanted to talk?" She was surprised at his hyper mood. "Umm yeah..I had to tell you something." He looked at her, expecting her to say something but when she didnt, he snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Hello??"
"Oh. Um..woh Angad..." Uhoh, he thought. She used hindi? This cant be good. "Yes??"
"Um..tell me something, Angad. Hows things with Sarah?" He didnt understand her change of story. "Its..its going okay."
"Just okay?"
"Well..no I mean its awesome. I feel like she's the answer to all my dreams you know. I dont think I could have had someone as perfet as Sarah." He smiled, she frowned. "...well, after you Kripa.." She looked up at him with a calm smile.
"So..." He placed his hand on hers. "..tell me whats up. Why did u call me here?"
"Angad I have to tell you something but I'm scared."
"Scared? why?"
"Because this might change everything between us forever."
"What? I dont understand a word youre saying Kripa. Can you please just tell me whats going on...Im sensing this..weird tension between us for a while now."
Her lips quivered as she thought about what she was going to do. She had promised Sarah she would never do this and yet she had to do it for Angad. The man she still loved. The man's daughter that she had given birth to.
He saw the dilemma in her eyes and grabbed her hands tigther. "Kripa...come on. Please...trust me, I'm here for you. Nothings gonna change between us." He lowered his tone as he spoke. He saw a tear roll down her cheek as she kept looking down. Suddenly he got up and kneeled in front of her, grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kripa. Tell me. Whats wrong." She looked away and then whispered. "Sana.."
Angad let go of her for a moment and tried to figure out what she meant. Then suddenly grabbed her again. "What about Sana? Batao mujhe!!!" He raised his voice, scaring Kripa. Now, she looked at him, tears flowing down her face. "Angad..Sana isnt Sarah's daughter."
Angad let go of her again and stood up. "What do you mean? She's adopted?"
Kripa nodded her head reluctantly. "Yes. She's adopted." Angad stood there for a moment and then looked at Kripa again. "And how does that change things between us Kripa? How does this have anything to do with us?"
Kripa sat there for a moment. Not saying anything. Annoyed, Angad sat down on the chair in front of her and banged his hand on the table. "Tell me dammit!!"
"She's our daughter Angad!!" Kripa said, scared of him. Angad froze. Kripa looked up at him to see his reaction.
"Wait..." Angad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Say that again?"
Kripa looked down at her hands as they rested on the table. "Angad..10 years ago..."
"10 years ago you told me that you killed my baby! What the f*** are you telling me now? Either youre lying now or you lied that day."
"Yes. I lied. What did you want me to do Angad? You were gone. I didnt know what was going to happen in my future. I was only 16. You wont understand how that felt Angad. Never"
"I've never stopped you from telling me have I? If you would have told me back then that you were carrying my baby. A life that both you and I have made together...I would left everything and come back Kripa!"
"That was not an option Angad! I had a career to build. A family who would disown me! And.."
"Your career? Thats what you chose over our child?" Angry, Kripa looked at him. "If I had to choose my career over my baby. I would have just aborted it Angad. Why would I have given birth to Sana?"
"I dont know Kripa. I dont know what kind of woman you are. I thought you were better...you just. Youre right. Things are gonna change between me and you. I used to love you. Then admire you. And now..I'm gonna Hate you." Angad got up and left.
Sarah answered the doorbell to find Angad standing at her door. "Hey love." She leaned in to kiss his cheek and then let him in. Angad sat down on the couch with a half-smile. Sarah brought out the coffee and sat down next to him. Angad looked around for Sana but didnt see her. "She's at Kripa's place" Sarah said with a smile.
Angad looked at her in shock. "What? Why is she at Kripa's place?" Sarah looked at him weirdly. "Calm down Angad. Its Kripa. You know...my best friend?"
"Hah! Best friend." He muttered under his breath. Sarah rolled her eyes and sat up to look at him. "Whats wrong Angad? Did something happen between you and Kripa?"
"She's just so..ugh never mind. I dont love her. I love you." He smiled and kissed Sarah's forehead and got up to leave. Sarah sat there thinking about whatever he had just said. When Angad went to the bathroom, Sarah got up, grabbed her keys and went to pick up Sana.
Sana sat at Kripa's dining table finishing up her homework. "Do you need anymore help with the math, Sana?" Kripa asked as she pulled out an apple and then cut it.
"No thanks. I'm almost done anyway."
"Oh okay good." Kripa smiled and looked at her watch. "Your mom should be here to pick you up soon anyway. She'll be happy to know you finished your homework!"
"Yeah..I guess." Sana frowned. Noticing this, Kripa quietly came and sat down in front of her. "Whats with the frown love?"
"Oh nothing. Umm Kripa...have you noticed something different about mommy lately?"
"Different? What do you mean?"
"I dont know. I feel like these days she's always working all the time. And...Angad.."
"What about him?"
"Kripa...I feel like mommy is rushing her wedding date. I dont understand why. She doesnt even love him." Kripa sat there looking at this 10 year old girl.
The doorbell rang and Kripa got up to open the door, seeing Sarah in front of her. "Um hey! Sarah. Come in."
"Hey mommy."
"Hey love!" Sarah smiled and gave a hug to Sana. "Thanks Kripa, I appreciate that you let her stay here for the day. I had some stuff to take care of. Thanks."
"Oh come on Sarah. You KNOW I love it when Sana comes over. She's a pleasure to have over!" Kripa smiled sincerely. "yeah...she is." Sarah took a deep breath and looked at Sana. "Honey, go get your stuff and wait for me in the car."
"Okay mommy." Sana got up and left. Sarah looked at Kripa. "Kripa I needed to talk to you."
"about?"
"Did you have a fight with Angad or something? Cuz he was a bit upset today...and I have a feeling its about you."
"Oh?..no um everythings fine. I guess Angad just doesnt like me." A smile crept up on Sarah's face. "He doesnt like you? Thats not possible Kripa. Coz he obviously loves you."
"What?" Kripa looked at her, shocked. "What are you talking about Sarah? Angad loves YOU. I mean you guys are getting married in what? a month?"
"Two weeks. I pre-poned the date"
"What? Again? First it was 3 months. then one month. Now two weeks? Why do you keep changing it Sarah? Are you scared that Angad's gonna leave you? Cuz.."
"No Kripa! I'm scared that my LIFE is gonna leave me!!" Kripa stood there in shock. What did she mean her life would leave her?
"I dont understand." Sarah sat down on one of the chairs around the huge dining table. "Kripa my doctor told me I have blood cancer. I had it a long time ago...even before you gave me Sana. Its not that I couldnt have kids. I didnt want to. Because I was scared that my blood would give them cancer too. 11 years ago I was told that my cancer had disappeared and that I was gonna be fine...."
"Two months ago my doctor called me in to tell me that my cancer had come back. Some tests were made to confirm it and before I knew my life changed forever....again. All over again. I didnt know what to do. I had a daughter I loved more than my own life and when I saw Angad and Sana getting closer, I felt like my only option now was to think of Sana. If I married Angad, he would officially become her father and my ex-husband couldnt come back and ask for her. Thats why I'm marrying him Kripa. So that when I die, atleast I'll know that my daughter is safe."
"You dont love him do you Sarah?" Kripa looked at her, thinking about Sana's words. Sarah nodded her head. "Not more than I would love a friend. Angad is an awesome guy Kripa. But he's not for me. And I dont know what kind of history the both of you share, but I know that he loves you. No matter how many times he has told me that he loves me. He just wants to do the right thing. Give Sana a father. He doesnt love me like he loves you Kripa. Thats something I've come to accept."
"I dont know what to say anymore Sarah...."
"Kripa today when you told me that Angad was Sana's real father, I had this hope in me that maybe it was the truth. That maybe Sana will finally be with her real father. Someone who loves her so much! But when you said you were just joking, I felt like the hope died in me again..I wish you didnt do that to me Kripa."
Kripa didnt know what to think. But it was the truth! And she thought that saving Sarah from the truth would save her relationship with Angad. Kripa was sitting there still in shock when Sarah got up to leave.
"Anyway Kripa. I'm gonna make a move. Sana's waiting in the car." Kripa got up to say goodbye. "Oh and..Kripa please...dont let Angad know of any of this..please?" Kripa nodded with a fake smile.
Kripa sat in her room as her fingers automatically switched the light on and off. Whatever had happened today was a big shock to her. The man she loved was marrying someone else who is about to die. She wished she could do something but she was so helpless. She could go tell Angad the truth and ruin Sarah's plans. Or tell Sarah the truth and let her die peacefully.
Yes, she could do that. She could go tell Sarah the truth. After all, Sarah herself wanted this to happen. Then it was decided. Tomorrow she would go over to Sarah's place. Tell her that Angad really was Sana's father. She could still fix this, Kripa thought. All she had to do was wait for tomorrow morning.
Kripa parked her car in front of Sarah's house and knocked on her door. She heard Sana's young voice screaming, "I got it!!" and then heard her footsteps reach the door. She opened the door to see Kripa. "Hi!!!" Kripa smiled and kneeled down in front of Sana. "Hey sweety!! goin somewhere?"
"Yeah! School. I have a math test today." She frowned. Kripa pouted her lips too n then grabbed Sana's face gently. "Its okay babe...remember everything we learnt yesterday!! You'll be fine! You're a smarttt girlll."
"....yeah, like Mother like daughter." Kripa heard Angad's voice behind Sana and quickly looked up. He had a sarcastic smile on and then quickly looked at Sarah. "Sarah..youre daughters totally gone on you haha.." And then looked at Kripa again. She lowered her gaze for a moment and then looked at Sana. "Okay love. Now you go and do good! make your Kripa aunty proud!" She kissed her cheek and watched Sana run out to Angad's car.
Angad looked at Sarah with a smile. "ok love I'm gonna go drop Sana off and then we can go to your doctor..I'm worried about you k?"
"Uh yeah....fine. We'll go when you get back." Sarah smiled and nodded along. Angad kissed her forehead and walked away. When he passed Kripa he looked her right in the eye and almost made her heart melt away. She looked away as quickly as she could.
When he was gone. She looked at Sarah. "The doctor? He knows about the...."
"No Kripa!" Sarah snapped. "I fainted in the shower last night."
"What???? Sarah!! Are you okay?"
"Angad was here and he wants to take me to the doctor. I tried to say no but he wont listen to me..." Kripa smiled at that. "yeap....thats Angad for ya.." Sarah rolled her eyes and sat down. "Yeah Kripa well I dont know. If we go to the doctor he'll find out."
"So what if he does Sarah? I mean...Angad's a good guy. He wont abandon Sana because you're sick and.."
"I know that Kripa!! Its not about that! I dont want sympathy. I don't want him to think I took advantage of him even if I KNEW that I wasnt gonna live long...I just..I dont know Kripa. I just wanna make sure Sana's gonna be fine you know." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Kripa sighed and sat down next to Sarah. "Okay. How about this? I'll tell Angad that I'm going to the doctor with you. okay?"
"Yeah. I guess..Um you chill I'll go get some coffee for us okay?" Kripa nodded and sat back, grabbing a magazine. As she flipped through the pages, she looked at all the gossip she had missed for the past few days. Suddenly she heard a loud noise from the kitchen.
"Sarah??" She stood up. "Sarah you okay?" When she heard no reply, she hurried to the kitchen and saw Sarah on the floor, unconscious. "Sarahhhhhh!!! Sarah what happened." She tried to shake her awake but it didnt work. "Oh God!!!" She pulled out her cell phone and called the ambulence.
"Sarah Amaan?"
"Room 6037." The receptionist answered Angad as he stood there, frightened. He nodded his head and ran towards the elevator. He waited impatiently but not able to take it anymore, ran up the stairs to the sixth floor. "Sarah!" He rushed in through the door and Kripa sitting next to Sarah, who lay in her bed.
"Angad...?" Sarah whispered under her breath. Still shivering, Angad sat down on a chair next to Sarah's bed and placed her hand in his. "How did this happen? Sarah..I told you to go to the doctor earlier..." He looked at Kripa with a bit of resentment. "What happened happened? How did this happen?"
Kripa didnt know what to say. She promised Sarah she wouldnt tell Angad anything. She looked at Sarah who had a helpless expression on her face, requesting Kripa to not say anything. Kripa nodded her head slightly, assuring Sarah and then looked at Angad.
I'm sorry Angad. Its...its all my fault, really. I dropped some oil on the kitchen floor and I went to grab something to clean it up and...before I could get back or tell Sarah...She came to kitchen. Slipped and fell. Umm..I'm sorry." Kripa bit her tongue and looked Sarah.
Sarah closed her eyes, feeling guilty that Kripa had to take the blame. Angad just sat there and looked at Kripa for a few seconds and then stood up. "Get up Kripa."
"What?"
"Get up and get out of our lives"
"Angad! Sarah is my best friend."
"Yeah right. You call yourself a friend? She almost died today because of your carelessnes...or wait, did you do it on purpose?"
Kripa stood there, shocked out of her daylights. On purpose? Why would she ever do that!!
"Are you out of your mind Angad? Why the hell would I want to hurt Sarah?"
"Because youre jealous!! Jealous that she's known as "Sana's mother" and you arent!!" To this, Sarah looked up at Angad with surprise. He knows, she thought. She didnt know that he knew. Kripa looked at Sarah and then lowered her eyes to look at the floor.
"What Kripa? The truth hurts doesnt it?"
"Angad youre getting it all wrong. I just..."
"No I'm not! You are just a liar Kripa. A big liar! First you lied to me about Sana. Our daughter!! You lied to me about my daughter Kripa!! And now...youre lying again. Why dont you just get out of our lives. THanks A LOT! for giving us Sana. And now that youre job is done...you can leave Kripa. Please."
Sarah looked at Kripa all of a sudden. Sana..Angad's daughter? Unknowingly, she muttered under her breath. "Angad's daughter? You lied to me..." Angad looked at Sarah and quickly sat back down next to her. "Sarah. I'm sorry I didnt tell you this before but I found out yesterday too. Sana is my daughter. But...she's OUR daughter. Me and you Sarah. Just me and you. Thats it."
Kripa stood there, as hurt as one could be. Angad turned to look at her. "Yours still here? Get out Kripa! Just leave. and never come back to our lives." Angad looked away and Sarah still lay there in shock. Kripa took steps back slowly towards the door. Finally, not being able to take it, she ran out of the room, her eyes overwhelmed with tears.
Angad kissed Sarah's forehead. "Are you mad at me Sarah? Look I didnt mean to keep this from you...Sarah?" He heard the machine set up next to Sarah make a loud beeping noise. Freaking out, he rushed out to find a doctor. "Doctor! Sarah...somethings wrong." The doctor and two nurses rushed to Sarah's room and closed the door on Angad.
After a good 15 minutes, the doctor came out of Sarah's room and saw Angad sitting there, waiting. "Doctor..how is she?"
"Not good. Not good at all Mr. Khanna! I told her a while ago that she should admit herself at the hospital and get treatment done. But she never listened to me. And how can you be so careless too Angad? I thought you guys were getting married soon.dont you want her to live?"
"What? Ofcourse I want her to live doctor!!"
"Then why didnt you pressure her to get chemotherapy Angad?" Angad looked at the doctor in shock. Chemotherapy? Cancer? What?
"What are you talking about doctor? Sarah's fine! She just slipped and fell and hurt her head."
"Is that what she told you Angad? Oh god! No Angad. Sarah has cancer..blood cancer. And she fainted because her immune system has become so weak, she cant handle it anymore. Her lack of responsibility has led her here Angad. To the point where its not even upto doctors anymore...lets just hope that God has mercy on you guys. I'll be back later." Nodding his head, the doctor walked away.
Sarah stared out the window as the remote pain in her body kept her attached to the bed. When the door to her room opened, she slowly moved her head to look at him. He walked over to her and sat down, without looking at her even once. "Angad..."
"Dont talk to me Sarah. You've lost that right."
"Angad...I'm really sorry. I wanted to tell you the truth..but I was scared!"
"Of what Sarah? You thought I was so shallow that I would leave you and Sana?"
"Thats not what I meant! I was...." Angad quickly sat down next to her and held her hand. "Sarah..I love you a lot and.."
She interrupted him. "No you dont!" Angad left her hand and looked at her with surprise. "What?" Sarah looked away and closed her eyes. "I know you dont love me Angad. You love Kripa...and you'll always just love her."
"Are you just saying that because Kripa and I share a daughter? Come on Sarah its..."
"No Angad!! I know. You love her. You love Kripa Sharma.Why dont you just admit it?"
"Because I dont! I hate her."
"Because she hid the fact that Sana is your daughter? Thats it?"
"What do you mean thats it? I deserved to know that my own daughter exists in this world, Sarah. Wouldnt you be angry if...."
"I would also be angry Angad...if you hid the fact that you had a relationship with Kripa. MY best friend. Why'd you hide that from me Angad?"
He sat there, speechless. "It was part of my past Sarah...I didnt think you would want to...or even care to know. I didnt think you..."
"I would have cared Angad. I really would have....if I was in love with you."
"What do you mean? if you WERE?"
Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry Angad...I dont love you....well, atleast the way Kripa would or anyone else. I do care for you and consider you a really great friend. Someone I would trust my daughter with...but I cant love you because I love someone else. And even though he doesnt love me back. I will still always carry his last name...or atleast till I'm alive." A tear rolled down Sarah's face and Angad closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Not once Sarah? You didnt love me for even a single moment?"
"Get real Angad. Both of us were just holding onto each other for support. We both love each other. But we're not IN love with each other."
Angad nodded his head and then rested his forehead on his joined hands. Sarah placed her hand on his and smiled. "Don't hate Kripa, Angad...especially when you guys are made for each other. Go. Go find her, apologize...and..."
"Apologize?!? For what?"
"Shut up Angad. The way you treated her today was totally not her fault. I fainted because of my sickness not because of Kripa. And the way you talked to her. You should be ashamed of yourself. Even SANA wont do that. Grow up Angad. Take responsibility for your actions. Of your family!"
"I always wanted to take responsibility Sarah. If I knew that Sana..."
"But you didnt then. and you do Today! I'm not going to survive for long Angad. Before its too late, gather your family together and dont look back again." There was a smile on Sarah's face that gave Angad hope and encouragement. He nodded his head and stood up. Kissing Sarah's forehead he smiled too. "I promise you Sarah..you'll be proud of me when I get back." Sarah nodded her head too and then watched Angad leave. When he closed the door behind him, Sarah turned her head to look outside the window and then closed her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek again. At this time, she just hoped that she could live as long as she could see this family unite. She prayed for a few more hours.
Kripa rushed into her house and threw her stuff on her couch. She ran to the bathroom and then fell by the bathtub, crying tears of pain. She could not believe that this was the same Angad that she was once in love with. He was so cold now. So indifferent to her feelings. So rude. So hurtful. She wasnt hurt that he had blamed her, after all she had readily taken all the blame for her carelessness with Sarah.
But what hurt her the most was that he had rudely dismissed her, blaming her for more than just that. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall of the bathtub as tears rolled down her face. After two hours of just sitting there, she heard the doorbell ring. Slowly, she got up and washed her face. Her mascara running down her face. She quickly freshened up and then hurried to her door.
"Hi Kripa." She stood there staring at him. Angad. She couldnt believe he was standing in front of her. " What do you want?"
"Can I come in?" She nodded her head with a no but he moved closer to her and held her face. "I love you Kripa." She just stood there, resisting him. She felt the tears roll down again.
"Kripa, mujhe maaf kar do please. I was stupid. I'm really sorry." He held her shoulders but she pushed him away. "Please Angad. just go away. You wanted me to leave you guys alone, thats what I'm doing now. I'm gonna just go away from here and you'll never hear from me ever again. Never."
"You're gonna leave me and Sana alone?"
"No. Sarah's gonna be there."
"No Kripa. She's not. The doctors have given her only a couple of hours. She wants to see us together Kripa." Kripa looked up at him.
"So thats why youre here? So that you can show Sarah how youre gonna an awesome Dad. But when Sarah's gone...youre just gonna leave me alone all over again arent you?"
"What are you saying kripa?? I'm never gonna leave you."
"YOu said that...10 years ago Angad."
"10 years ago? 10 years ago you told me that you killed my baby"
"O yeah lets start with that again Angad. why the heck do you think that my pain and your pain are the same? Were you gonna be a sixteen year old single parent? Was your reputation going to be tainted? Were you gonna be kicked out of this society??? No angad. when you were 16 you had the perfect life back in London. Your parents, your huge house, your friends...you know what I had? I had nothing....a small apartment and no job. You think we were in the same situation? To make the same kind of agreements? and I...forget it Angad. Just go away. Go please."
She moved back to go into her house when he grabbed her hand. "Wait. Kripa I'm sorry. I know I was being stupid and selfish...but its only because I dont know what the heck is going on. First I lost you. Then Chandni, now Sarah. Why is it that everytime I try to move on, I lose that person that I care so much about? Don't leave me Kripa. I really need you. I need you. I need Sana. I need my family"
"You know why you lose them Angad? Because despite the fact that they love you so much, you keep pushing them away. The day you lose them, you want them back just bcuz u realize their value. It is true...you dont know what you have till you lose it"
"But I never lost you Kripa. You're still here..."
She looked into his eyes and saw sincerity. He was broken and confused. He was her Angad. The guy she was going to love forever.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath then nodded her head. "no. I cant do this again. I dont have the heart to get hurt again."
"I wont hurt you Kripa. I promise."
"Remember those words...the last time they came out of your mouth?" Angad just stood there in numb pain. It was the night when they had made love. That very same night he had promised to never hurt her. And yet he had. "I never meant to hurt you, Kripa...why dont you understand that?"
"You never intended...I know that. But you messed up my life, do you know that?"
"How many times are we gonna repeat this conversation Kripa? I know I hurt you, I'm sorry." He fell to his knees in front of her and held his hands up, begging. "Please give me another chance Kripa. I promise that this time, I wont let you down. I know I've broken all the promises in the past. But the fact that we're back in this situation today, I feel like its meant to be this time. I know I could have been a better lover, a better father, a better husband in the past but life put us in consequences where I couldnt do anything. And you have to accept that if I knew about our baby, I would have left everything and came to you as soon as I could."
"Would you really Angad?"
Moment of silence.
"Yes." She bent down in front of him and held his face and looked straight into his eyes. "Say it again."
He looked right into her eyes too and said confidently and sincerely. "Yes, Kripa. I would give up everything for you and Sana." Kripa searched for what she wanted to see and when she found it, she closed her eyes and smiled. Looking at her expression, Angad smiled as well and then slowly moved in and kissed her lips gently. When his lips left hers, her smile stil stayed. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"What are you looking at?" Angad asked her, her smile still the same. "I'm thanking God for making my dream come true." Angad smiled and kissed her forehead. "Who am i gonna thank? For me, you are my God...so Thank you Kripa. I love you."
Overwhelmed with joy she jumped on him with joy giving him the biggest hug she possibly could. He stood up, holding her in his arms and if someone were to look at his face, they could see the definition of content. If this wasnt perfection, he didnt know what was. Finally, life was how it was supposed to be.
When the bell rang, Sana ran out to the front gate expecting her mom to pick her up. Instead, she saw Kripa and Angad together. Still smiling, she walked over to them. "Hi!" Kripa smiled and kneeled down in front of Sana. "Hi baby. How was your day?"
"It was alright. I got a 100 on my Math test. Thanks for your help!" Kripa smiled at her politeness and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry about it. I would have done the same for my own daughter." Sana nodded her head with a simple smile and looked around. "Where's mom? Does she have a meeting again?" Sana looked at Angad this time. He took her in his arms and kissed her cheek. "Your mom is a little busy today Sana. She asked Kripa and me to take care of you for the day. I hope thats okay." Sana nodded again. "As long as you buy me icecream!!" Angad smiled and agreed.
Sarah took another heavy breath as she fought to keep her eyes open. She wanted to see her dream come true. She wanted to see Sana with her parents. She heard the door open as she struggled to turn her head. She watched Angad and Kripa walk into the room and then she saw Sana follow them. The image was getting fainter. "Sana.." She smiled but her daughter didnt move.
Sana watched her mother suffer on the hospital bed. She looked up at Angad. "You said she was busy." Angad didnt know what to say. He looked at Sarah, asking for help and then at Kripa, not knowing what to say. Sarah smiled and held her hand out. "Sana...come here baby..." Sana just stood there for a few seconds and then walked towards Sarah and held her hand. "Are you going to be okay mommy?" Sarah smiled as a tear rolled down her cheek. Sana reached out and wiped the tear off her mother's face. "What's happening mom?"
"Sana...promise me that youre gonna be a strong girl...youre not gonna cry, no matter what happens."
"Why would I cry mom?" Tears had started forming in her eyes already. She knew what was coming. She was 10 but she was mature. "Are you gonna leave me? All alone?"
"No..youre not alone. You have Angad, you have Kripa..."
"I want my mom." Kripa looked down at her feet. She was Sana's mother. Yet, she wasnt. Not anymore.
"I'm not your mother Sana. Kripa is." Everyone looked at Sarah in shock. Kripa was going to interrupt Sarah but Angad stopped her. She saw Sana's body tremble. "Mom..."
"Kripa's your mother, Sana. Yes, I've loved you more than I've loved anyone in my life. More than myself. More than Samar. You were the only thing that mattered to me Sana...that matters to me today. That is why I want you to know that....Kripa is your real mom, Sana. She gave birth to you and she deserves you more than I do. Maybe thats Allah is taking me away from you. Because youre destiny is to be united with your real parents.." SHe pointed towards Angad and Kripa. Sana turned around to face them.
Kripa looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes. Sana didnt have a single tear in her eyes. She turned back to look at Sarah when she heard her voice. "Promise me Sana, that youre gonna be a good daughter to Angad and Kripa. Show them that after all...I was the one that made you who are today. Make this mother proud Sana." Sana looked down as she felt the tears build up in her eyes.
Sarah spoke again. "Kripa, Angad...come here." When they walked towards Sarah, there was a smile on her face. She looked at Angad, Kripa, and Sana stand in front of her eyes. Like a family. The perfect Family. Something she could never give Sana. Yes, she was a good mother to her daughter. But Sana didnt have the family that she would have with Angad and Kripa. Sarah held her hand in front of her. Angad and Kripa looked at each other and placed their hands in Sarah's.
"Angad, Kripa...thank you so much for giving me Sana. I'm gonna die a happy mother." Kripa interrupted. "Sarah, please...nothings gonna happen to you. I'm sure the doctors will work out something. We'll live just like we did before. A happy family. Together. Sana will have her mother and....."
"Yes, Sana will have her mother...and that mother is you Kripa..you." Suddenly Sarah started taking deeper breaths. Kripa, scared, ran towards Sarah. "Sarah...sarah..." Kripa looked at Angad, who stood there in shock and then ran out to get the doctor. Kripa looked at Sana as she stood there, watching her mom. She saw that Sarah was looking at Sana too. THey both shared an eye contact. As if they were communicating with their eyes. All of a sudden there was a smile on Sana's face and she heard Sarah's breathing slow down. "Sarah!!!" She screamed.
Angad ran in with the doctors. "Kripa what happened!" SHe hugged Angad all of a sudden. "She stopped breathing Angad. Shes not breathing!"
"Calm down Kripa everythings gonna be fine." He hugged Sana. "Dont worry Sana. Sarah will be just fine..."
"No she wont." Sana whispered under her breath. Angad and Kripa both looked at her, shocked. "She's gone Dad. She's gone..." Angad and Kripa looked at each other. Kripa slowly moved to Sana and held her face. "Sana...are you okay?" Sana smiled and nodded. "I'm fine mom." Mom? Kripa couldnt believe her ears. Sana was her daughter but this was the first time she had called her MOM.
"What did you say?"
"Mom...." Kripa smiled, all teary eyed, and hugged Sana as tight as she could. Angad watched the mother-daughter and smiled. But there was a sadness in it. He glanced over at Sarah's body that lay lifeless. It had taken two deaths, a dozen heartbreaks, and 10 years to bring this family together. His family. Kripa and Sana. Angad placed his hand on Kripa's shoulder as she turned to look at him. Her smile brought so much satisfaction to him. Angad put his arms around his family and kissed Kripa and Sana on their foreheads. No matter what happened, this time he wasnt letting go of this. As he held them close to his body, he watched Sarah's body being transported out of the room. A tear flowed down his eye.
"Angad!! Angad Hurry up Goddammitttt. Dad's waiting for us." Kripa stood in front of the bathroom waiting for Angad to get out. When the door opened, she bit her lip and pulled him out. "Loser! What took you so long?" Angad stood in front of her, looking nervous. "Kripa..I'm scared. Your dad is gonna kill me! You dont know what all I said to him the last time I met him." He took a deep breath. Kripa smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Dont worry baba. I dont care what he says. You are the Man in my life. Thats all that matters." Kripa smiled again and kissed his cheek.
"Ahem ahem!!" Kripa and Angad both looked at Sana standing in the doorway. "If you guys are done with your romance, can we please get going? I wanna see my grandparents." Kripa and Angad smiled and let go of each other. "Mom! Daddy was tellin me that your dad is a little mean. Is that true?" Kripa looked at Angad with full eyes, not believing that he actually said this to Sana. Kripa bent down in front of her daughter. "A little mean? Is that way your dad told you? Well Sana...lemme tell you. My dad isnt a little mean...hes VERY mean. So you better be at your best behavior young lady, or else he's gonna ground you for LIFE!" Sana made a scared face and ran out to the living room. Kripa and Angad laughed as Angad put his arm around his wife. "You know Angad. This is what I was waiting for...for the past 10 years. My family. My Angad, my Sana. Its so perfect."
"The only thing missing is your parents." Kripa looked up at Angdad with a disappointed expression. She knew her father would never accept Angad and Sana. No matter what happened. SHe tried to hide this behind her smile but Angad read her mind. "Dont worry Kripa. Even if it takes me my whole life, I'll try to convince your dad that I'm not as bad as he thinks...maybe a little...but not completely." Kripa smiled with a few tears in her eyes and Angad bent down and rubbed his nose against hers and then hugged her, pulling her up.
Their life wasnt perfect but this time they were going to be together forever, facing all their problems together. Holding each other's hand in the ups and downs in life. In sickness and in health. In rich and in poor. Till Death would bring them apart.
This is the story of Angad Khanna and Kripa Sharma. They met, they separated. They met 10 years later, and life changed forever.
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