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Part 5:

Kripa woke up with loud knocking on her door.  She checked her clock when reading the time, 6:15. 

Kripa: itni subah subah kaun aa gaya hai?

Kripa reluctantly dragged herself out of bed and opened the door.

Gayatri: Kripa.....tum abhi tak so rahi ho?  Aaj tumhari shaadi hai beta....utho....bahut kaam pada hai...

Kripa: shaadi?  kaisi shaadi mamma?  aur iss shaadi se mein khush kyun houngi?  Akhir ye shaadi meri marzi ke khilaf ho rahi hai....aur mein Angad se shaadi nahi kar rahi hoon mamma...mein ek samjhota kar rahi hoon....aur mujhe kisi bhi samjhote mein khushiyan nahi dikhayi deti...

Kripa closed the door on her mother's face and threw herself on the bed crying.  She cried until no more tears would flow out of her eyes.  Kripa came down around 11:00 for her rituals before marriage.  gayatri was relieved that Kripa had not tried anything like killing herself.  Around 3:00, Kripa was sent back to her room to get ready as the "baaraat" would be approaching shortly.  Kripa's eyes filled tears again.  Gayatri was constantly knocking on Kripa's door but Kripa never opened it.  Gayatri got worried and called josh.  josh broke the door to go inside but they didn't find her. 

Gayatri: kahin woh bhaag to nahi gayi?

Kripa(suddenly appearing from her balcony):  Nahi...yahi hoon...aap ne meri zindagi barbaad kar di lekin phir bhi mein aap ki beti hoon...aur koi bhi beti apne maa baap ko sharminda nahi karna chahegi....

Gayatri: Kripa...dekho agar tumhe shaadi nahi karni to manna kar do...lekin yun taane mat maro...

Kripa: mana kar do?  baaraat ghar pe aake khadi hai aur aap chahte hai ki mein manna kar doon...mein jaanti hoon aap yeh sab jaan buj kar keh rahi hai kyunki aap jaanti hai ki is waqt mein kuch nahi kar paungi...

Josh took gayatri out of the room and left Kripa to sob some more.  The baaraat had arrived.  The sharma family recieved them plesantly.  Angad was seated in the "mandap" for his part of the rituals.  After a while, Kripa was called down.  Before Gayatri could make her way upstairs, Kripa was already walking down the stairs like a body without a soul.  Luckily, no one noticed her walk out on her own, and gayatri grabbed her arm.  Gayatri brought Kripa normally and sat her down beside Angad.  Angad did not look up to see Kripa as He didn't want to torment her today.  Somehow, He understood how much pain she must be going through.  The priest told them to stand up for the "phere".  Gayatri tied the knot between Angad's sherwani's scarf and Kripa's sari's pallu.  They were told to hold hands and take steps around the holy fire.  In the last four steps, Kripa was asked to walk in front of Angad.  After they finished their phere, there were told to sit as Angad was handed the mangalsutra.  Gayatri's mother moved Kripa's long hair aside to give angad space to tie it around her neck.  Angad looked at Kripa in hope to see her face and try to read her expression but she sat there staring at the holy fire with no emotions.  Angad reluctantly put the mangalsutra around her neck.  The priest handed Angad sindoor to put in kripa's 'maang'.  This time Kripa had to turn her face to him.  When angad-kripa's eyes met, Angad gave an apologizing look.  Kripa gave him a faint smile as if saying "its not your fault".  Angad put the sindoor in her maang while gayatri held Kripa's tika out of the way.  The rest of the wedding rituals were done religiously.  Kripa and Angad took blessings from all their elders.

Naina: jeete raho angad...sada suhaagan raho Kripa....dekho...mein jaanti hoon ki tum dono is rishte se itne khush nahi ho...lekin hum ne tumhare baare mein soch kar hi yeh faisla liya hai...

Gayatri: Tum dono ek dusre ke saath bahut khush rahoge....aur Angad beta..mera ek vaada hai tumse..meri beti kabhi tumhe shikayat ka mauka nahi degi...

All Angad and Kripa could do was either nod at these type of comments or give a cold smile.

A Voice: Mujhse bina mile hi chali jaogi Kripa?

Kripa turned around to see who it was and was surprised to see Anjali standing there with her bag.  Kripa smiled and walked upto her and gathered her for a tight hug. 

Anjali(whispering): I am so sorry...it seems im late....im sorry kripa...i promised you i would get you out of this...

Kripa: its ok...i guess it was in my destiny...

Anjali: so.........(looked over kripa's shoulder to see angad)..thats my jiju huh?....i must say Kripa...your husband is one HANDSOME guy...

Kripa shot anjali a "i will kill you" look.  Anjali grabbed Kripa and walked over to angad.  Anjali stood Kripa beside angad and looked at them.

Gayatri: kaisi lagi jodi?

Anjali: couldn't be better aunty...are kripa.....mujhe mere jiju se introduce nahi karvaogi kya?

Kripa: oh..sorry...um Angad...this is Anjali....one of my best best best friends in the world....we are as close as twin sisters.

Anjali: actually there is one more but she's not here right now....she will come in a few days?

Kripa: are you serious?...when?

Anjali: i dont know....when her exams finish i guess..

Gayatri: beta....baatein baad mein kar lena...abhi Kripa ki vidai ka waqt ho raha hai..kal kripa pag phere ki rasm ke liye ayegi...tab jitna mann chahe utni baatein kar lena..

Anjali: ok aunty......

Kripa and angad were heading towards the door.  Kripa had been strong all this time and held her tears back.  The memories of her childhood flashed in front of her eyes making her want to cry, but she couldn't.  She know that if she cried now, she will become uncontrollable.  Kripa looked up when stopped at the door and saw gayatri sobbing in front of her.  That was all kripa needed.  Before she realized it, she was hugging her mother and sobbing like a child.  Kripa went to her dad next and spilled some of her pain on his shoulder.  The second last person in line was josh.  Josh had been a brother, a sister, a teacher, a best friend to Kripa.  She was sad because she was leaving him.  She hugged him tight not wanting to let go and cried for a long time.

Josh(in between sobs): Kripa..look what you did to me....you made me cry...and don't worry....your evil brother isnt leaving you so easily...in case you have forgotten...me and angad are best friends...just like you and anju...you will see me around...so chill.  You dont have to be scared either, your husband is like a mirror image of your brother.  we are similar in everything kripa...relax....

Anjali: Kripa...tum yahan ki chinta mat karo...jab tak tumhare jaane ke gham se aunty aur uncle bahar nahi aate...mein unka khayal rakhungi...you just try and settle with your new life...you know its going to be hard, you just focus on the long life with angad that lies ahead of you...i will take care of the rest...you trust me right?

Kripa: of course i do anju...i trust you more than i trust myself...

After some more tears, kripa sat in the decorated car wiping her tears.  Angad sat after taking blessings from everyone once again.  While their car ride home, Angad noticed Kripa was still dropping tears every now and then but he didn't know what to say to her.  All of this was very awkward.  Atlast, Angad gathered words.

Angad: Kripa...are you alright?

Kripa: yea...um...im fine......i guess this day comes in every girl's life.....eventhough for me...it came suddenly and unexpectedly..its still here.

Angad: Kripa...im sorry...

Kripa: for?...

Angad: for not refusing for this marriage....

Kripa: please....look...if you are going to say things like that then i am equally responsible.  I could have said no also but my father is in no state to bear such decision...and you said yes for the same reason....for your ill grandmother who whishes to see you married...i still wanted to thank you though....thanks for not hating me over this...thanks for understanding...

Angad: thank you for understanding also...

At the end of that conversation, they had reached home where they were anxiously waited for.  Naina did all the rituals with full heart.  Kripa tipped over the pot of rice and stepped in the kumkum water and stepped into the house.  As soon as they entered the house, kripa and Angad were taken to the temple room to pray.  After the prayers, they were taken to Dadi's room.  Dadi was sleeping so Naina told Angad and Kripa to touch her feet.  When Devyani felt soft touch at her feet, she opened her eyes.

Dadi: Angad??...meri bahu kahan hai?

Kripa walked to dadi and sat on the bed beside her.  Devyani admired her grandughter-in-law.

Dadi: bahut sundar hai.....bilkul waisi jaise mujhe mere angad ke liye chahiye thi....tumhara naam Kripa hai na?

Kripa: haan dadi...

Dadi: naina....tum sab ko lekar bahar jaa sakti ho?  Mujhe angad aur Kripa se akele mein baat karna chahti hoon..

Naina took everyone except for Angad and Kripa and left the room closing the door behind her.

Dadi: dekho beta...tum dono aaj se ek saath, ek nayi zindagi ki shuruat karne jaa rahe ho...mein jaanti hoon ki aap dono ne yeh shaadi apne maa baap ki khushi ke liye ki hai...lekin meri baat ek baar maan kar to dekho....apne rishte ko thoda waqt do...ek dusre ko smajho..kya pata...ho sakta hai ki tum dono ek dusre ke liye hi bane ho?

Both angad and Kripa nodded and exchanged looks.

Dadi: Kripa...beta angad abhi bhi naadaan hai...kabhi kabhi choti choti galati karta deta hai....waise usse gussa aata to nahi hai...lekin jab bhi usse gussa aata hai na..isse khud pata nahi hota ki yeh kya bol raha hai, kya kar raha hai....agar yeh badmaash kabhi tumse gussa ho jaaye aur tumhe kuch bura bhala keh de ...tho uski kisi baat ka bura mat maan na....ye jaisa bhi ho...dil ka bahut accha hai...naina aur dilip to kaam mein har waqt busy rehte hai....mein chahti thi ki mere jaane ke baad angad ka khayal rakhne ke liye hoi ho...

Kripa: dadi...aisi baatein nahi karte...kuch nahi hoga aapko...

Dadi: sab yahi kehte hai....taaki mein khush reh sakoon..lekin beta...mein jaanti hoon ke mein ab kuch hi dino ki mehmaan hoon....mein chahti hoon ki tum mujhse ek vaada karo...vaada karo ki tum Angad ka khayal rakhogi, usse har khushi dogi, zindagi ke har kadam par tum uska saath dogi...

Kripa smiled and took dadi's hand in hers.

Kripa: i Promise dadi...mein Angad ka khayal rakhungi...mujhse jitni ban pade utni khushiyan dungi...aur har kadam pe uska saath dungi...

All this time Angad just stared in complete amazed state wondering how close Kripa and Dadi seemed in their first meeting.

Naina: Maa....kya mein Kripa aur Angad ko le jau?  Ek puja abhi bhi baaki hai...

Devyani: par mujhe Kripa se bahut saari baatein karni hai..

Kripa: dadi....dekhiye...aapki tabiyat theek nahi hai na?  Aap so jayiye...mein vaada karti hoon...kal subah mein aapke paas aungi...phir hum dono tab tak baatein karenge jab tak hamare paas baat karne ke liye koi topic nahi reh jaata....

Angad: yes dadi....go to sleep...you need your rest...

Devyani: Angad please....you always talk to me like my doctor....

Kripa: dadi....Angad bilkul theek karte hai...aapko pata hai?  mein bhi doctor ki padhai kar rahi hoon....aur agar aapne acchi dadi ki tarah meri baat nahi maani...to mein bhi ek doctor ki tarah baat karne lagungi...aur woh na mujhe accha lagega na aapko...(both giggled, Kripa got up and started tucking devyani under covers)...good night dadi...mein kal subah aungi...

Angad and Kripa touched dadi's feet once again and left the room with Naina.  Naina made Angad and Kripa finish their last puja.  Everyone sat in the living room talking about the day, while Angad listened quietly.  Kripa was already taken into "their" bedroom.  Angad had nothing to say, he was too busy thinking about the life he had ahead with Kripa.  His mind was filled with unanswered questions.
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