Phir wahi raat hai…phir wahi raat hai khwaab ki…

Part 14:

 

Pushing the half closed door open, Kripa entered inside the hotel room and saw Angad lying on the couch, lazily, with his hand on his forehead. The large luxurious room had a grand double bed in the centre with bedside tables on either side. She walked to him and took a seat on the chair beside couch, formulating the words she wanted to say to him. Sensing her arrival, Angad lifted his arm a little and opened his eyes slightly to look at her. Kripa caught him seeing her and returned his stare, both of them waiting for the other to atleast say something.

The knock on the door made both of them look away. On Kripa's permission, an attendant in uniform entered with their luggage in his hands. Keeping them in a corner, he went out and returned 5 minutes later with another attendant. After asking for the permission again, both of them started moving the double bed away from each other. A strange feeling of pain crept in Kripa's heart as she saw the bed moving away as if it was symbolic of her broken marriage. Sighing, she paid the workers a generous tip, after they separated the bed, keeping a decent distance between them, with bedside tables and a lampshade occupying the space in between.

Cracking her fingers, Kripa finally said what she was trying to say for some time now, "You didn't need to tell that lady on reception that we are husband and wife. I mean I came here as your secretary right."

 

"So you want me to let her believe that I am sharing the same room with my employee. I can't do that…may be you could." He said coldly.

 

Defeated by his attitude, Kripa decided to be more formal, "shall I order our lunch in the room?" she asked.

"I am not hungry. I would suggest you to go to down to hotel lobby and have your dinner."

"I can eat here as well." She said not wanting to leave him alone in the room.

"I will be fine. I want you to see the hotel a little bit. Go down and mix with the people of other companies. And yes, lock the door from outside before going." Angad said, while struggling with the buttons of his coat. Even this petty work was tiresome for his state.

Kripa saw his struggle and waited, and waited, and waited…just a word from him 'help' and she would help him but to her annoyance, it never came. Giving him a hopeless look, she advanced herself and helped him to remove his coat.

 

 

Kripa glanced around; almost all the tables were occupied with the customers. Representatives of different companies for tomorrow's meeting, she assumed. Kripa finished her lonesome dinner fastly and glanced at her watch time for her to go back. She made her way to her room, her heart worrying for Angad.

 

As she entered in, she saw Angad lying on the bed, his shoes still on. She walked to him and hesitantly, touched his face with her fingers, which made him stir a little. Convinced that he has not fainted, she came to the bottom of the bed and undid his shoes. Then pulling covers over him, she placed her palm on his forehead. Still burning hot, if only she could do something. She turned around to go but felt a strong grip on her arm. She turned around and saw him holding her arms…his eyes were still closed but grip was firm. Slowly he let go off his arm and shifted his face to other side. Defeated again, Kripa went away to change.

 

Pulling blanket over her, Kripa switched off the lamp. She tried hard to sleep but, alas, it was as if sleep was running away from her as well. She kept staring at the ceiling above. She could sense the restlessness in the other side of the room but tried not to think about it. Closing her eyes, she started counting the numbers 1-100 backwards.   

 

'49-48-47' she counted with her eyes closed. She stopped midway, uneasily, sensing someone's gaze on her and she knew whose. She opened her eyes and saw Angad walking away from the bottom of her bed, unsteadily across the room, and falling on his bed again. Siding away the conflicts in her mind, she got up and walked to him.

"Do you need something?" She asked him softly. He needed her and she knew that.

"Why, no." he said, his voice weak but stern.

"You came to my bed." She said, waiting for him to confess.

"Hell no, go away, I don't need you." He shoved at her, harshly and tiredly.

 

Perplexed at his attitude, she turned around to go back.

There she goes, you idiot, Angad cursed himself. Why can't he tell her for once that he was dying here without her, that he wanted to hold her, wanted her to hold him, look after him. She might hate him, but she wouldn't let him suffer like this. Buck up Angad, you would die if you won't, he told himself.

 

"Kripa" he moaned as she was about to go.

She turned again. He shifted a little on his bed. "I need warmth Kripa. Can I hold on to you for tonight?" He said, looking at her with expectation and more.

Kripa didn't have the heart to turn him down nor did she want to share any proximity with him. She kept silent, staring at him helplessly.

 

Her silence tortured him as much as his fever ached his body. He shouted at her in rage, although it didn't have that power it indeed have that anger of his, "Say something damn it. I know you hate me but atleast have heart of a woman. All I want is a little warmth and support." And you, he added to himself, "How can you be so heartless?"

 

Bowing her head, Kripa made her decision. She walked near his bed and helped him shift a little. She sat on his bed, with her back resting on bed post and allowed Angad to hold her. He crawled a little up and held her by her waist, keeping his head on her lap; he buried his face in her stomach, letting her fragrance sink in. He clutched her closely, as a little kid clutches his teddy bear, out of fear. Kripa's hand instantaneously, reached for his hair, as she ruffled her fingers through it, trying to make him sleep in comfort. His hot breaths on her belly tickled her. She slid a little under his covers, and looked at herself and then Angad. She leaned back and closed her eyes caressing him still, a long night it was.

 

 

Sorry for the delay again lol. Hope you liked it.