Chapter 13
"Um, Maa…hi." Angad said nervously. Him, Kripa, Kartik, and Aaliya had tried to sneak through the front door, when the lights turned on in the middle of the night, revealing an upset pair of parents. Oh god, thought Kripa as she saw her father sitting by Angad's parents.
"Where were you four? And whose permission did Aaliya go with?" Naina asked sternly. She knew Aaliya was seeing some boy for the past couple of weeks. She saw she was happier but out of the house more often and she spent most of her time at home in her room. Naina was upset Aaliya had not come to her first; she had always wanted her children to come to her first with anything important in their lives. Dilip knew too, he was distressed about the same thing. Their mother, he could understand why they had not told her but him? He was their best friend, perhaps he had spoiled them too much, like Naina often times said. More than anger the children saw disappointment in their eyes, something they very seldom saw and it tore their hearts up to see in their parent's eyes.
"We were out…with Muskaan and Daya. And Tanya…And N…" Aaliya bit her tongue. Damn, she thought. How dumb was she?
"I know we were supposed to be home by 11, but we lost track of time, We're REALLY sorry." Kartik looked at them, his eyes pleading. Kripa wondered how he fought his cases, she had never really seen him argue with anyone, mostly what he did was beg. Pathetically enough, most times it worked.
"You three should have called. And YOU, Kripa Avantika Sharma, you're not leaving the house for the next two months. You'll be lucky if the people at college ever see you before graduation." Her father said, giving him a hard look.
"But papa…I did call. You didn't pick up. It's not my fault you were with that…" She caught herself before she could complete her sentence, her father stood there shocked. He had thought she had not known.
"Kripa! Home now!" He yelled, his eyes became blood-shot red. She rolled her eyes and started toward the door, and then she turned around and stomped her way to Angad. She hugged him, and whispered quietly in my ear "You don't have to climb any pipes, but you HAVE to call me, okay? I'm not gonna see you for a VERY long time. I love you…" She kissed him on the cheek. Angad was shocked; Kripa had never been so bold to do something like that in front of her father. Wow, he thought.
"KRIPA!!!!" Her father yelled, "Home now!!!!" She rolled her eyes again and turned at the door and winked at Angad.
Angad's parents sighed. He was such a bad influence on her, they both thought. "Kartik, you're the oldest. It's your responsibility to look after your siblings." Dilip said.
"I did." He wasn't lying, he was with them the whole time…or most of the time.
"And you, Angad…Do you know how much trouble you just got that poor girl in? What have you done to her, she used to be so good." Dilip raised an eyebrow. 'I don't know what I've done to her' Angad thought.
"Im sorry?" he said sarcastically.
"I'll talk to you boys later, but Aaliya." She winced as she was half-way up the stairs. She turned around and stood between her two brothers.
"Yeah?" Aaliya asked.
"Who is this N…you were speaking of?" Naina asked, entertained.
"N….Nafisa mom? Mrs. D'souza ki beti…" Aaliya said in a duh tone.
"Nice try. The D'souza's are in Goa attending a wedding. Who is this boy?" Naina asked concerned. Aaliya's phone rang and Nikhil's name flashed on the screen. It had hearts around it. Aaliya rolled her eyes and flipped the phone toward her parents. Naina read it and Dilip watched her expression change.
"Nikhil Arora?" Naina exclaimed, Aaliya forced her eyes shut as she expected a slap on the the face, instead she heard her mother say, "Beta, that's great!" Aaliya opened her eyes confused, "Kya?" The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Aaliya ran towards the open door. A man in a white suit stood there, "Courier for Aaliya Khanna." He said seriously. She extended her arm for the package. He handed the packet to her and left. It was the tape, she sighed relief. No one else could have it but her.
"Mom, can we talk later? Bhai, I need to talk to you. It's important…" She glanced at him with urgency. "Excuse me mom, dad. I'll be back." They left for his room. He sat down while she stood, wondering where to start.
"Bhai, you know Prithvi's dead?" He nodded, "You know he was killed?" He nodded again. "You know he called Kripa before he died, to meet him." He nodded again. "I followed Kripa there."
"What happened?" Angad asked.
"Well…" Aaliya started, "After you came and got Kripa, I was still there. I had heard the entire conversation between him and Kripa so I confronted him after you guys left. So…"
~FLASHBACK~
"Damn," said Prithvi panting, that girl could run, he thought.
"How much did you say the amount was?" Aaliya said walking towards him.
"Oh. My second most favorite girl in the world. Aaliya Khanna. How are you doing, love?"
"I'm not here for your shit, Prithvi. Tell me what you want and I'll give you that much and you can take your sorry ass out of every one's life. Kay?" Aaliya put a hand on her hip.
"Oh there's some REAL fierceness, not fake like Kripa's. You've always been a feisty one, Aaliya. I've always found you more attractive than her too." He traced his finger against her jawline, she snapped her hand against his, which made him lose his grip on her.
"Don't even DARE to touch me. You'll regret it. I don't give empty threats. A Khanna NEVER gives empty threats." She pushed him away. She was aggressive in her defense. Prithvi never did care for those types of girls much, this made him angry.
"A Khanna?" He twisted her arm behind him. "Ahhh, sister of Angad Khanna are you? The new guy Kripa is screwing around with? Fun. But think of this darling, why would I take a measly 13 lakhs when I could make so much more from that friend of yours…?" he chuckled. She stomped Prithvi's foot and swung his arm around and bit it.
"Dammit." She shook his hand out. He laughed, "You are a feisty one aren't you?"
"What do you mean, make so much more from her?" Aaliya asked him, there was urgency, a force, strength in her voice. It almost intimidated Prithvi, but what the hell? He thought, she's only a girl.
"I meant, love, Kripa….is amazing. Tons of guys would pay big bucks for the fun I had with her…" He sniggered. Aaliya looked at him with disgust, she had put Kripa through so much as it was…and now he was planning this?
"You mean…you're gonna…?"
"Sell her? Yeah…" He paid mind to her disgusted face, "C'mon now, we both know she can't come up with that much in 3 days. The third day, she'll come to me with some dumb excuse and I'll have my first customer set up for her." His voice got subtler, "She'll get used to it after a couple of times…"
"She will come up with 13 lakhs in 3 days. I'll give it to her. But I won't let YOU sell my best friend. You may be a bloody pimp, but my best friend is not a prostitute. Human trafficking is a crime, so is blackmailing, so is drug peddling. My brother is a lawyer…you know how many years I could get you in for…?" She looked at him with blazing eyes. He pulled her suddenly, one hand twisted hers behind her back and the other covered her mouth.
"You could put me in jail….Hmmm, or I could make double the money by having you AND your best friend work for me. Tough choice," He laughed. Aaliya got angrier at the thought. He slapped her, she fell to the ground. And took a handkerchief and tied her hands, it had PK embroidered on it. He looked at the red cursive letters on it. "Thanks Kripa." He nodded jokingly.
"Prithvi!!! You bas***d!!!! Let me go!!!" Aaliya said, struggling to get untied. He looked at her struggling, and smiled at her. 'Wanted to put me in jail?' he thought.
On his phone, he dialed a number. "Mr. Choudary…Yes, its Prithvi. Well I got myself some nice stuff here," He said looking at Aaliya. "She's a fighter though, besides that she's good. She's 17. No it's not Kripa, Kripa I'll have for you on Friday. Yes sir. Oh you can come whenever you want…I have here at Juhu beach. Okay bye." While Prithvi was on the phone, Aaliya had freed herself from the handkerchief. She stood up in front of Prithvi, with fire in her eyes sweat beaded on her face.
"Nice stuff? Huh?" Aaliya got angrier after hearing his words. She punched him. He jerked back, "You'll have Kripa on Friday?" She punched him again, he fell to the floor. She pulled him up by his hair. He swung at her, getting her left jaw. Blood dripped down her mouth.
"Me and Kripa working for you huh?" She punched him twice. "You'll sell me and my best friend?" She slapped him. Prithvi fought back, but he was too taken by surprise to do so to his abilities. Aaliya was surprised at herself, Prithvi was a large man. He was 5'10" and at least 50 pounds more than she was. Aaliya, this 5'5" scrawny girl was beating Prithvi up. She had underestimated her anger.
"One thing Prithvi, you've put Kripa through enough as it is…I won't let you anymore. My best friend is NOT a drug addict," She slapped him. "Or a prostitute," She slapped him harder, "OR A DOORMAT!" She kicked his face. His head snapped farther back that Aaliya knew was humanly possible.
Reality flashed in Aaliya's face, had she just killed him? She checked his pulse and breathing. He was alive. He didn't deserve to be, though. Concluding with that thought, Aaliya left.
~END FLASHBACK~
"But bhai, I didn't kill him." She looked at him earnestly. Angad knew what his little sister was capable of, and murder wasn't one thing she was. He was proud of her, growing up she always had been the type to get run over. She never fought for herself. Kripa had perhaps, been a lesson to her.
Angad ran his hand over her hair as he hugged his sister…his brave little sister. "I know."
"You believe me, nah?" Aaliya looked like a child all over again. Angad nodded, while a thought flashed through his head.
"Does Kripa know what you did for her?" Angad asked. Aaliya shook her head, "What's that?" Angad asked.
Aaliya straightened and stood up. "THIS is the security tape from that day. I'm giving it to the CID."
"You know who the killer is?" Angad asked.
She nodded, "You know who wasn't at work the day of the murder? Someone from our security?"
"Who?" Angad scratched his head, everyone at security was there that day.
"Anees…" Aaliya said, "Anees Choudary." she completed.
"Who's that?" Angad said, siiting back down on the bed.
"Do YOU ever actually background check these people?" Aaliya said, hands on her hips.
"Yeah." The duh look was ever so famous at this point.
"Do you know who legally got their name changed before working for us?"
"Sean? But his name used to be…" He stood to think and came in epiphany. Sean got his name changed because he was rechristened after his wedding, his astrologer told him to do so. He never asked about what his name used to be.
"Anees Choudary. He wasn't rechristened. Infact, he was NEVER married. He was hired by Prithvi to keep an eye on Kripa, since I was the one who got her away from him he got him to work at our house."
"Kripa complained about that boy eying her. I said she was paranoid….guess not." Angad slapped his forehead. He felt dumb, very dumb. He walked toward the door.
"Where you going?" Aaliya asked.
"To meet Kripa." he said without turning around.
"How?" she scratched her head.
"She has a balcony, and a vine…do the math," He turned around, "your lover boy isn't the only one that can go climbing crap for his girl."
Aaliya smiled, "Aww. My bhaiya taking SO much trouble to see his girlfriend…you must be serious about her." Angad smiled at her and left.
-Kripa's room-
She sat on her bed, trying Angad's phone, not knowing Angad was half way up her vine. Feeling the vibrations going off in his back pocket, he was so startled that he fell flat onto his butt.
Hearing a loud thump, Kripa looked down her window and laughed.
"What? God, a man tries to come to meet his girlfriend and ends up like this." Angad said, he scurried up the vine and jumped onto the balcony. Kripa led him into her room.
"So…you missed me this much huh?" She pointed to the butt of his jeans which were now stained by grass and dirt. She laughed.
"Damn Kripa, whatever happened to salwar-kameezes?" He said looking at her short pink shorts and matching tank top.
"These are my pajamas. They're comfy." Defended Kripa.
"I should sleep over sometime." He said mischeviously.
"So…?" Kripa smiled, plopping down on the bed. She laid on her stomach: with glasses on, reading her romance novel.
"Is it interesting?" Angad plopped down beside her.
"Mhmm…" She began to doze off to sleep. Angad pushed a strand of hair out of her face, awakening her. Her cheeks flushed red.
~So it wasn't very exciting but I worked REALLY hard on it. I think I'm gonna take about 2-3 more chapters and then probably end this FF. Tell me what you think. Kay? Comment me!!~
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