Chapter 11
"Kripa, it's okay. We all know Angad didn't do it. We'll get him out." Kartik consoled a no longer crying Kripa. She felt as if her tears had dried out forever, she was tired of crying. It was a relief they no longer flowed without her commanding them to do so. All her life, she never fought for herself, she cried it off. Whenever conflict struck, she let it deal itself out and if she had pain she cried it out. Kripa was never one to hide emotion. But now, it was different. Fate had played one cruel game too many. Now, she was going to fight for herself, for love, for Angad. Oh god, Angad…what must he be thinking of her right now. This was her fault, she thought. Had she not confessed her love, she'd never have told him about Prithvi, she would've eventually handled him herself. A furious storm of sentiments roared through her. She was worried about Angad, afraid for her truth to come out, and relieved that the demon was gone. She so desperately wanted to have Angad there with her, for her to hold him and cry. For him to hold her…she needed him now.
"Kripa?" Kartik asked.
"I know what all that Prithvi has done to you. Do you have anything to do with this?" Kartik asked, hoping not to hurt Kripa more than she always. Immediately after the words left Kartik's mouth, he felt guilt slam into him. She knew she had no idea about this, at that moment he hated his profession. This was his job, he never thought it would be so hard to simply learn about a case.
"Kartik, I hated Prithvi's very existence. It's true, if I could kill him I would have. But I didn't have it in me, hell Kartik I didn't even have enough sense to get out of that relationship early enough. I wish I could've killed him…I would have gave him a slow and painful death. The type he put me through…" Aaliya walked in holding a cup of chai for Kripa, she held onto Kripa's shoulder, expecting her to burst into tears any moment. Aaliya and Kartik both looked at her as if waiting, but instead the saw a wild fire-like hatred burn in her eyes. Sure tears brimmed those same eyes moments ago, but now all she had was hate…for a dead man.
"Kripa, it's not right to wish ill for a dead man…when was the last time you saw Prithvi?" Kartik said, his own soul quivering from Kripa's new form.
Kripa laughed a sadistic chuckle, "He's probably burning in hell as we speak. He called me to meet me at the park at 2."
"And?" Aaliya inquired carefully, "What happened?"
"And…"
~FLASHBACK~
"Kripa, you came. I knew you would." Prithvi laughed knowingly.
"Cut the crap Prtihvi. You very well know WHY I came. Tell me how much I owe you, so I can come up with the money and you can take your sorry ass and dirty money back to Nainital." Kripa said apathetically. She was trying to hide her true feeling, Prtihvi was like that terrible shark that smelt fear from miles away. It was what he nourished himself off of, feeling superior. And if there was anything she was at that moment, it was scared.
"Kripa, it's not just about the money…It's about us. Don't you miss US?" He asked caressing her cheek. His touch burned. She flinched back.
"No, I don't miss you. I regret every day I spent with you…."
"What about all those nights?" He smirked. She hated the fact she remembered all those nights that she had melted under his touch, not ever responding, she was in a different world at that time. She lived in a daze those days. She felt dirty remembering it.
"You and I both know I wasn't in my senses." Kripa managed to choke out.
"But I was."
"And we both know what type of jerk that makes you for taking advantage of me."
"Like anybody else would want you. You should be thankful that I tolerated you as long as I did, I gave a place to live, I paid for your…"
"Drugs? You paid for my drugs, I know Prithvi. You don't need to remind me. I remember everything."
"You don't remember our good times?"
"We had none. None that I want to remember, I've tried to erase everything about you from my mind but…"
"You can't, can you?" Prithvi said walking towards her.
"Prithvi. I hate you. With a passion. I despise you. I hate every aspect of you being. When you have you figures all set on how much I owe you then and ONLY then contact me. Until then, go to hell." Kripa began to walk away.
"13 lakhs, 5 thousand 792 Rs." Prithvi yelled after her. She stopped in her tracks.
"How much?" Kripa said turning in disbelief.
"13 lakh 5, 792 Rs." He smirked.
"I can't come up with that much in three days!" Kripa exclaimed, she doubted that figure but then again she has no clear memories from that entire year.
"Well we could come up with some type of payment arrangement, I'm sure." He said tracing a finger around her neckline, he pulled it down farther, exposing more skin.
"Prithvi, you dare touch me again I promise you will be in pain." He took her wrist, and bent it behind her back. She winced in pain. He brought his lips to her neck. His hot breath felt like acid trickling down her collarbone. She felt his lips moving further down, Kripa let out a shriek. It startled him enough to weaken his grip, if only for a moment. But that moment was enough for Kripa to run. She hid under the boardwalk. She saw a black Mercedes skid into the sand.
"Kripa!!!" She heard Angad yell. The fear settled at his sight and relief took dwelling in her soul. He ran toward her. She doubled her speed and met him before half-way.
"Kripa? What's wrong? Kripa?" Angad said pulling her away by her shoulders.
"Angad….Let's go. I don't wanna be here. Let's go now, please."
"Kripa, we'll go but what happened?"
"Nothing, let's go."
~END OF FLASHBACK~
"I spent the whole night crying. We both fell asleep on the couch, the next morning the CID came and arrested him"
"Come here." Aaliya said with sympathy. She hugged Kripa. Kartik saw Aaliya's back, but he still saw the fury in Kripa's eyes. It scared him. If Prithvi wasn't already dead, he was sure even he would be fearing for his own life.
"Kripa," Kartik said, still careful
"What?" She snapped.
"I'm going to see Angad. Do you want to come with me?"
"We're going to CID Headquarters?"
"Yeah…"
"Let's go."
After reaching there, Fredricks was the first to greet them in the door.
"Ms. Sharma, Mr. Khanna. How pleasant to see you this clear day. You're here to see Mr. Angad Khanna. He said you'd come to see him." He gave them a friendly smile.
"Yes, we are. Can we see him?" Kripa said returning the smile.
"Fredrick! What are you doing? Oh, hello Ms Kripa…How are you doing? I'm sure you knew the deceased Mr. Bose, correct?" Daya said becoming polite.
"Yes, infact I knew him quite well." Kripa answered sternly.
"May I be so impertinent as to ask how?" Abhijeet joined.
"We…I'd be more comfortable talking to someone else about this. If you officers don't mind, could Muskaan handle any questioning you have for me."
"No problem, Ms. Kripa. Muskaan, you can take her into the other room."
"Yes sir." She said nodding her head.
Muskaan went into the adjoining room, with Kripa at her heels.
"So, Ms. Sharma. You knew Prithvi Bose?" Muskaan asked casually sitting down.
"We used to go out with each other. Two years ago, I believe. The year my mother passed away." Kripa said, sipping at her water.
"What was your reason for breaking up? Did it have anything to do with Mr. Angad?" Muskaan sat cross-legged, sipping her coffee. She documented everything that was being said.
"No, I barely knew Angad then, I mean we knew each other but we hated each other." She laughed remembering their pranks on each other.
"Anything funny?" Muskaan said smiling. Muskaan was an easy person to talk to, unless she was around the rest of the gang. She had to be proper and stern around her seniors. But besides that, she believed that there was no reason to be strict with people that were already telling the truth, and if there was anything she had learned till now it was how to tell when a person is lying or telling the truth. So far, Kripa was telling the truth.
"No, I'm just thinking of Angad…Sorry." Kripa said formally.
"So why did you guys break up?" Muskaan asked, uncrossing her legs, leaning forward. She felt like a little girl trying to hear a secret.
"He was abusive. He beat me. He insulted me. He took advantage of my mother dying and got me addicted to drugs. Then, he got me in a ton of debt through those drugs. He took advantage of me so many times, more than I could ever count. I hated him. So I left." Kripa said. She felt like crying but still, the anger was clear in her eyes.
Muskaan noted that anger, she made a note of it. She thought she would have a motive for this murder.
"Honestly. Kripa…do you love Angad?" Muskaan asked, kneeling beside her.
"Yeah, I do. That's why I want to get him out of here. I don't know who killed Prithvi, but I assure you it wasn't Angad. Angad was with me the entire day. I don't know when Prithvi was killed, but I can vouch that Angad was with me."
"Did you kill Prithvi?" Muskaan sighed.
"I wish I could have…I would have gotten a world of satisfaction out of it. But unfortunately it wasn't me either. I would like to thank whoever rid the Earth of that demon." The madness burned in her eyes. Muskaan saw it and understood it.
"When was the last time you saw Mr. Bose?" Muskaan herself felt disgusted when she said Prithvi, but at the same time she pitied the dead man because he was…well…dead.
Kripa explained from start to finish where Angad and Prithvi stood in her story. Muskaan could see pain brimming her eyes. But Kripa never cried, Muskaan wondered why that was. She felt for her. She felt confused though too since the two main suspects for the case had just been ruled out.
"How did he die anyways?" Kripa asked, she felt the urge to imagine his death in her head. Her own apathy towards his death disgusted her, how could she think so coldly? She hated him, yes, but that make her thoughts right? Was such a strong hate justified?
"He suffered a blow to his cranial cavity. Internal decapitation. A great blow to the head, a blow so great that his skull was severed from his spinal column. Usually, people that suffer atlantoocciptal dislocation don't survive but Mr. Bose lived 2 hours past that. In fact, the ACTUAL cause of death may have been a 9 mm caliber handgun."
"Hmmm…I don't know anyone that owns a gun. How do you think he got um…what did you say? Internally decapitated…?"
"Yes. And I don't know. The impact was to the frontal lobe and the skull was not shattered or cracked in any way so there's not much probable cause to believe that there was an actual structure that was used to cause the impact…"
"What? Simple terms please." Kripa scratched her head.
"We don't think someone used an actual object to hit him," Muskaan sighed.
"Oh, then what?" Kripa asked, she sounded like a child almost.
"I really don't know yet, we have to go check with Dr. Saruke for more details." Muskaan shrugged.
"Well, I don't think we have much other details of this case that we haven't already gone over. Unless there's anything else you would like to add to your statement?" Muskaan smiled, grabbing her notepad again.
"Nope, I've said all I could say." Kripa felt lighter, Muskaan had actually acted as a shrink. She made her feel better for some reason.
"Well, then we're all set. I'll see what I can do with Mr. Khanna, and I'll call you in if I need any further questioning." She got up, prompting Kripa to leave. When she got to the door, she turned around.
"Muskaan,"
"Yeah?" She said, looking up from her files.
"Thank you." Kripa smiled a genuine smile this time.
"You're always welcome Kripa, if you ever need me. You know I'm here."
"Of course." She smiled and left.
Muskaan left the room too, she met up with Daya at lunch and later they went back to headquarters to meet with the rest of the gang.
~LATER~
"Yes sir?" Daya reported back to ACP Pradyuman.
"Any tips on the case?" ACP asked
"We found a watch at the crime scene. An expensive one, but too common. Nothing special from that. Anything else?" Daya reported
"Anyone checked with Dr. Saruke?" asked the ACP
"Not yet. We were waiting for you and Muskaan but God knows where you two were." Muskaan blushed, "Where were you anyways?" Abhijeet raised an eyebrow.
"Lunch." they both responded at the same time.
"Anyways, if you all's date is over, could we go to the lab?" said Fredrick
"Let's go." said Daya looking to Muskaan, they laughed at each other.
After arriving at the lab, immediately the ACP asked, "He been talking to you lately?"
"Not saying much, just chit chat." Dr. replied jokingly.
"Like what?" mused Abhijeet
"Smith & Wesson Model 910, semi automatic handgun, introduced in 1995. These things are expensive, imported and everywhere."
"We can check the gun shops to find if anyone who has one is linked to Prtihvi."
"We're on it." ACP replied.
Kripa sat on her bed, thinking right when she got a phone call on her cell phone.
"Hey baby…" said a jerking chuckling voice.
"ANGAD!" she marveled, "How are you calling me?"
"Kripa, they let me out. Kartik got me out on bail."
"What?! Where are you?" Kripa felt her heart do leaps, she was relieved at last.
"I'm right outside your house. Immediately she ran outside to her garden, frowning. No one was there.
"Stupid Angad…" she mumbled, going up the stairs. She opened the door, to find Angad comfortably laying upside down on her bed.
"Hello jaan."
"ANGAD!" She yelled, going and wrapping herself around him.
"Kripa, I can't breathe. Let go."
"I'm so glad you're back. I love you, Angad."
"I love you too Kripa. Why else would I go to jail for you?"
"Oh my god Angad, I can't believe Prithvi's dead….He…he…he…" Finally, she finally let the tears come out.
"I know baby, I know." He cradled her in his arms, as if she was a baby. She wanted to crumble in his arms, He knew she would. He held her.
"Hey, Kripa shhhh…" Angad said calming her, his tone turned humerous, "I'm a dude, not a sponge, your getting my shirt wet. Look at me, I'm drenched…"
She laughed through her tears. She kissed him lightly and began to leave.
"Kripa…I'm really glad you're okay now. I'm glad everything's over."
"Me too. You look pretty darn good for just getting out of jail."
"I look pretty darn good always. I'm in an amazing mood, nothing can get me in a bad mood right now."
"Oh well, I bet I can…about when you were gone…" Kripa said twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"What bout when I was gone…?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Maybe we should get back to your house…I should probably tell you there." She said staring at her feet.
"Kripa, tell me what!? You're scaring me."
"Just come with me." She led him next door, she opened the door to find Kartik sipping coffee on the living room couch.
"Well Angad when you were in jail…"
In gestures, Kartik and Kripa exchanged all knowing glances. She winked at him, he understood. Mentally, he laughed.
"What bout when I WAS IN JAIL?!?!?"
"Well I was really sad…and so was this boy that I met while I was getting drunk. Anyways we were both REALLY drunk and REALLY sad…and we kind of…" Her voice trailed off, Angad's facial expression was hilarious.
"Kripa, you don't have to tell him anything…It wasn't your fault you know. It was mine." Kartik said, his arm going around Kripa's waist, "I mean all of us have always known what
I felt about you, and that fight with Tanya just pushed me off the edge I guess."
"What the hell guys?! What's going on? What happened last night?!"
"I SLEPT WITH HIM !!!" Kripa said hiding her face behind her hands, pretending to cry.
"WHO?!?!?!" Angad screamed. Gingerly, she lifted a finger towards Kartik.
"KARTIK!?!?!? MY BROTHER?!?! You cheated on me with my brother? Kripa…" He punched his hand into the wall, it began to bleed.
"Dammit Angad! What the hell is wrong with you?" She said rushing to his side. She tore her dupatta and wrapped his hand.
"What is wrong with ME?! What is wrong with YOU? Sleeping with my brother?! Kripa!"
"Yeah, and I'm having Ricky Martin's baby."
"WHAT?!?!?! Wait no..he's gay…." He took a moment to sort out his thoughts, "YOU WERE JOKING?!?!?!?!?!"
"No duh Einstein." Said Kartik laughing.
He sighed huge relief. "GOD! YOU PEOPLE!!!!! I thought I was in the flippin Twilight Zone! Don't do that ever again KRIPA! I was about ready to shoot both of you."
"You would shoot me?" She asked innocently.
"In a heartbeat." He said. She faked anger.
"I'm just kidding. I'd probably shoot myself."
"Shut up Angad. Don't talk bout dying…" She leaned against his shoulder.
"Ha. Kripa, you don't look good in the sharmili girl turned slut role. Plus, if you were gonna cheat on me…I should hope you have better taste than Kartik."
"HEY I HEARD THAT!" Kartik yelled from the kitchen.
"And you don't look good as a crazed lover. I wouldn't cheat on you."
"I know…" He sighed, "You're just not sexy enough."
"WHAT?!?" She was seriously pissed off now, "What did you say?"
"C'mon Kripa, it's true. You don't even attempt to be sexy." He sighed again, in a matter of fact tone.
"I AM sexy. I don't need to try." He looked at her with doubt.
"It's okay Kripa, I love you anyways…" He muttered under his breath 'Stupid Ishq, Dumb heart, Why must I have such bad taste?'
"ANGAD! I'm leaving!" Kripa huffed about to storm out, "Aaliya! Kartik! Down here now! We're leaving right now!"
Aaliya and Kartik came down annoyed, "WHAT?!"
Aaliya made an excuse beforehand, "I have to go, Nikhil is upstairs. Before Mom gets home. And Bhai has a date with Tanya."
"Eh. She cancelled on me." Kartik said.
"But Nikhil…" Aaliya stuttered.
"Bring him with us! You're coming with me now." She took both of their hands and stormed out.
They got to Kripa's house and questioned her intensely.
"What the hell, Kripa? Why are we here?" Aaliya asked, Nikhil's arm was hooked around her waist.
"Angad said I wasn't sexy. Kartik, Nikhil…am I sexy?" Kripa sulked
"Whoa Kripa, he's mine" She said shielding Nikhil.
"I know, I'm asking for an opinion. I am, who is he to tell me I'm not?" Kripa moped, she rested her head on two fists, they brought her cheeks up.
"Kripa, you're VERY sexy, okay? He just has bad eyes, we have to make it REALLY obvious for him to get it. You know what type of girls he takes interest in…?" Kartik explained.
"I have to dress like them?" Kripa shuddered at the thought.
"No, you don't. You can dress sexy without dressing like a slut. You just…"
"Gotta get outa that salwar kameez." Completed Nikhil.
"Yes," All three agreed.
"Then what?" Kripa asked
"Jeans." Aaliya stated.
"Or a mini." Nikhil suggested.
"OR A MIRO MINI!" Kartik stated, surprisingly (more disgustingly) Nikhil seconded the idea and dabbed fists on his suggestion.
"No micro minis. Let's find something a little…nicer. Shall we?" Aaliya said putting her hand out, expecting Kartik to lay some cash in it. Instead he slapped her hand.
"OW! Bhai, what the heck?"
"Where are we going?" He asked dumbly.
"TO THE MALL!" They all yelled.
"Nikhil, I want money…NOW!" Aaliya whined.
"I ain't sayin she a gold-digger…" Nikhil recited the famous line.
"NIK! I want money…please. Bhai won't give me any. He's cheap. But you love me, nah?"
"Yeah."
"SO GIVE ME MONEY!!" She screamed.
"So you were the girl Fiddy Cent was talking bout…" Nikhil contemplated, he enjoyed messing with her every once in a while. She was so child-like. She whined, she squealed, she was annoying, and a heavy spender, but he loved her anyways.
"Fine love." He said handing her a thick wad of money.
"Wow, thank you. I love you!" Aaliya scream ed. He kissed him hard on his mouth, as Kartik loudly cleared his throat. In the Khanna house, that meant back off NOW. Immersed in each other, the kiss proceeded, as Kartik continued to clear his throat some more. But they couldn't hear him in the moment. Kripa thought it was cute, reminded her of her and Angad…Angad, she remembered.
"BACK OFF OF EACH OTHER GUYS!" Kripa yelled, snapping the two out of their lip-locked trance.
"Thank you." Sighed Kartik out of relief.
"We gotta make me sexy." Kripa smiled. They went to the mall and went to several stores. From DEB to JC Penney, to Charlotte Russe, to Macy's, to Kohl's. Finally, back to Charlotte Russe, they found a perfect dress.
"Now THAT is sexy." Nikhil said pointing to a fire-engine red dress, it was backless with halter straps that wrapped around the neck, it was knee-length. The bottom of the dress had jagged layers upon other layers. It was plain red satin, giving it certain elegance.
"Wow…" Aaliya said holding it up, "Let's go to the fitting room." She pulled on Kripa who was holding her blue dress up to herself in the mirror.
"Can I come?" Nikhil said hopefully.
"In your dreams pal." He sighed, definitely in his dreams.
Kripa tried on her dress first. It was dark blue cotton, plain but oddly attractive. It was almost backless but it had ribbons to tie in the back, it stopped mid-thigh. Usually that was too short for her taste but she loved this dress. The sleeves, which were barely there, fluttered and were slightly cropped for them to be able to do so. They hugged her curves tightly. 'Wow' mouthed Kripa in a whisper. Aaliya, in the same fitting room as her didn't whisper. "Damn girl!" She exclaimed loudly.
"Shh. I know. I'm definitely buying this. But same to you Aali. Damn girl!" Kripa laughed. She saw Aaliya in her red dress.
"We are dressed to kill." Aaliya said, striking a Charlie's Angel pose. Kripa seconded the pose as they broke into laughter.
They changed back into their normal clothes and paid at the register. Aaliya went home and did Kripa's hair, nails, and make-up. By 8 o clock, Kripa was ready. She had light silver eyeshadow with just a hint of kaajal on to line her eyes. Her lips were slightly glossed with a pink tinted gloss and had some blush on. She had a silver clutch and matching shoes with her blue dress. Her hair was in large loose curls.
"Ready?" Aaliya smiled
"Ready." Kripa smiled back. She went into Angad's room and sat down, waiting for Angad.
Angad came into his room, not noticing her and threw his jacket on the bed. He stepped toward the bathroom and began taking his clothes off. When he was unbuttoning his pants he heard the giggle Kripa could no longer keep to herself.
"Kripa?" He laughed. He re-buttoned his jeans and pulled a shirt on. "Hey. What are you doing here?" He looked at her, his mouth dropped open. She stood and twirled around like a model.
"You like?" She smiled.
"Wow. Krips, you look amazing. Why?" Angad asked, scratching his head.
"No reason…Just wanted to dress up for once." Kripa laughed, "Why don't I look good?"
"No, you look great." He said in disbelief, kissing her. "Out to seduce me or something?" He laughed.
"Maybe." She said mischievously.
"Uh oh, someone's feeling sexy."
"Who would that be?"
"You of course, darling." He said.
"Me? Sexy? Of course not." Kripa said sulking.
"C'mon Kripa, you know I was joking…You are very very very sexy. Especially now."
"What's so different now?" she asked.
"You're mad. It's when you look best." He chuckled.
"I know I'm sexy all the time. Nikhil and Kartik told me. Kartik told me more than once…even when I didn't ask. Ha, he's very sweet."
"Hey, I know my brother, you be careful okay?"
"Whatever…Kartik's amazing!" She smiled, pretending to be in a daze.
"Hey!" Angad yelled
"What? Jealous he has a better six-pack than you?" She giggled again.
"No he doesn't!" He said pulling his shirt off. He had the body of a Greek god. Kripa almost drooled. She mentally laughed. She stared down at his abs, "Definitely not better than Kartik." He pouted.
"So you got all sexy to tell me my brother is better looking than me?" Angad glowered.
"Mhmm. And this…" She leaned forward to kiss him, they had kissed a million times before, but he always managed to make it seem like their first. Her lips grazed the plane of his, and suddenly his kiss got harder and his lips moved downward. Kripa nearly jumped at his change.
His lips moved down her neck, and she let out quiet sighs. He knew his boundaries, his lips stopped at the seam of her dress. Her fingers ran through his hair. His rough hands grazed her soft back, one finger tugging at the ribbon of her dress. She had forgotten about the ribbons in the back.
Today, she didn't want to stop him. From anything, wherever they were going, Kripa was ready for it. No matter what it was…Right then, both their hearts nearly leaped out of their chests when they heard someone at the door. Two green and two hazel eyes shot up to the door. It was Angad's mother…
"Ahem." This was going to be awkward, both thought. "Kripa beta, Angad, the CID had called for you. I don't know why. They wanted you guys down at headquarters. So um…when you guys get time, check in with them. Okay?"
They nodded wide-eyed. She began to leave, just as the tenseness in their shoulders was about to ease slightly, she turned back.
"And Kripa beta, Angad…try not to do any of…that until you're married." Kripa blushed at the mention of marriage. Angad's cheeks flushed out of plain embarrassment.
"Yeah Maa, we know." He sighed. They left for CID headquarters, but unfortunately Kartik had to come along.
~IN THE CAR~
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. THAT'S FLIPPIN HILARIOUS!!!!! MAA WALKED IN ON YOU GUYS WHEN YOU WERE…HAHAHAHAHAHA…YOU GUYS MUST BE DUMB, FIRST RULE OF ANYTHING IS YOU LOCK THE DOOR. OR AT LEAST CLOSE IT. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." Kartik snorted, gasping for air between fits of laughter.
"You HAD to tell him?" Kripa looked at him angrily.
He shrugged. Finally, they reached headquarters.
PREVIEW: A clue to the killer. The murderer, a Khanna?
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