Part 11:

Aliyah, Angad and Kripa reached home around 12:30.  Everyone was asleep.  All three tip toed their way up to their bedrooms.  Kripa went and changed while Angad  thought about dhruv and anjali.  he wondered if he would ever find the love of his life.  He remembered a few intense moments spent with Kripa.  He blushed automatically while a smile mapped across his face.  Just then Kripa stepped out in her sky blue night dress with butterflies on it.

Kripa: why are you smiling?

Angad: oh..um...nothing....i was actually....um...thinking....about ....dhruv and anjali..

Kripa: oh...yea....they look so cute together.  I am very happy for them...

Angad nodded and went to change.  By the time he came out, kripa was already fast asleep on the bed.  He went and lay beside her but ended up staring at her face.  he looked deeply into her face as the bedroom fall, waterfight, slow dance scenes flashed in front of his eyes.  He atlast he managed to free himself from her thoughts and went to sleep with a question in his mind.  "what is happening to me?".

In the morning when Kripa woke up, she saw angad sitting on the bed with his head buried in his palms.  She quickly got up and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Kripa: Angad...are you alright?

Angad: yea..i just have a bad headache...

Kripa: Let me see..

Kripa put her palm across his forhead then at the side of his neck.

Kripa: Angad....you have a fever.....its because you got wet yesterday...hold on.

Kripa gave him cough syrup and went to bring him something to eat.  He looked terribly weak.  Kripa was walking into the kitchen when dadi, and Naina walked up to her.

Dadi: beta kal raat aap dono kahan the?

Naina: hum bahut pareshaan ho gaye the...

Kripa: sorry mom....woh actually...hum sab mil kar beach par gaye the...waqt kab guzar gaya kuch pata hi nahi chala..

Dadi: acha..phir koi baat nahi...

naina: beta...tum aur angad jaldi se taiyaar ho jao...

Kripa: kyun?

Naina: hum sab shirdi jaa rahe hai...maa(dadi)...ab theek ho gayi hai to baba ke darshan karne the..

Kripa: mom...aap sab chale jayiye...Angad ki tabiyat theek nahi hai...jaise hi woh theek ho jaate hai hum log wahan aa jayenge.

Naina: are you sure?

Dadi: tum sab kuch sambhal paogi?  akele?

Kripa: haan dadi..canada mein bhi to akele hi rehti thi na...actually aliyah meri room partner thi...par mein akele sambhal lungi..

Naina: woh to nahi aa rahi hamare saath...

Dadi: usse in sab baato mein vishwaas nahi hai....

Kripa: aap chinta mat kariye...jab mein aur angad ayenge tab usse bhi saath le kar ayenge.

Naina and Dadi thanked kripa and went to meet angad.  They came to Kripa when she was making soup, and bid bye.  Kripa carefully poured some hot soup into two bowls and walked up to their bedroom.  She saw angad was lying on the bed with his eyes closed.  She thought he was sleeping so she turned to left but stopped when she heard angad speak.

Angad: Kripa...

Kripa: tum soye nahi?

Angad: nahi...tum mom aur dadi ke saath nahi gayi?  tumhe jaana hai to jao...mein theek hoon..

Kripa: nahi...agar hum jayenge to saath mein...aur mein tumhe is haal mein nahi chod sakti...

Angad smiled at her weakly as she handed him his bowl of soup.  Both had their soup while chit chatting.  Kripa left the room to attend a doorbell.  She came back into the room with Dhruv and Anjali and looked super excited.

Kripa: Angad!!! they have news!!!! they're...

Dhruv: can we please?

Kripa: sorry...im just too excited...

Dhruv: its ok.  Angad...me and anjali are getting engaged!

Angad: whoa man...that was fast.....when?

Dhruv: this weekend.  The marriage takes place three weeks later.

Angad: congratulations...

Dhruv & Anjali: thanks..

Kripa went and hugged Anjali.  While Angad gave a friendly hug to Dhruv.

Kripa: Anjali...Dhruv...both of you are sure about this right?  Dont take any hasty decisions...are you both sure that you're ready to get tied into such relationship?

Anjali: Never been so sure in my life Kripa.....

Dhruv: Same here.....and don't worry....I will take good care of her...if that's what you are concerned about..

Dhruv noticed angad under covers and a tray with two empty bowls and medicine.

Dhruv: is everything ok?

Kripa: No...Angad is sick...kal paani mein bahut masti ki thi na...aaj saja mil rahi hai...

Angad(chuckled): Aliyah kahan hai?

Aliyah: im here bhai...i went to pick up this jerk!

Josh: and the jerk is none other than the dashing josh Sharma..

Kripa: tum dono jaghda kyun kar rahe ho?

Angad: yea yaar...i mean yesterday we saw you dancing....something cooking?

Aliyah: with him??  yuck...puke!!!! bhai....puh-lease...

Josh: yea yaar angad.......i dont like cats you know that........

Aliyah: argh why you dog!!

Josh: atleast dogs are loyal....

Aliyah: aaaarrrrggghhhh!!!  Kripa your brother is impossible...

Kripa: stop it bhai....kyun sata rahe ho bechari ko?

Angad started coughing.  Kripa, at once, rushed to him and started patting his back.  After his coughing stopped, she slowly laid him back on the bed.

Kripa: how about you sleep.  We will leave alone...you need rest..

Dhruv: Anjali...after we get married....you better be as caring and loving as Kripa.

Anjali: i doubt i will be able to do that Dhruv....Kripa is a perfect wife.  Which ever relation she binds into, she fulfills it.  She is a perfect friend, a perfecr daughter, a perfect sister, and a perfect wife...

Kripa: itni tareef bhi mat karo anjali...kabhi kabhi jhooti lagti hai...accha...Angad..tum so jao...hum sab yahan se jaate hai..

Angad: nahi...mein akela bore ho jaunga....

Kripa: But angad....you need rest....you won't be able to get any if we all stay here.....dont worry...you can come downstairs when you feel better...

Aliyah: I have a better idea....Dhruv, Anjali, Josh....aur mein....hum chaar neeche jaate hai..Kripa..tum Angad ke saath raho...that way...he gets his rest and he won't get bored as he will have some nice company..

Angad: I like that idea...aliyah..why can't you have such ideas often?

All four left the room leaving Angad-Kripa alone.  Aliyah and Anjali gave each other a high five and said "mission accomplished". 

Josh: what mission?

Aliyah: mission 'get Angad-Kripa closer' you dumbo...

Dhruv: why??

Anjali: Dhruv!  look.....We confessed our feelings for each other.....Me and Aliyah can clearly see they really like each other....they just need a push to confess and Me and Aliyah are going to give them that "push"...

Aliyah: We left those two alone on purpose....i can't believe you guys didnt figure it out....did you see the way bhai's face lit up when i suggested that Kripa stays with him in the room....

the four went into the living room and started making more plans to get AK to confess.  They came up with the final plan that first they will bring AK as close as possible.  Afterwards, Anjali-Aliyah will keep Kripa busy so she can't spend much time with Angad and Josh-Dhruv will keep Angad busy for the same reason.  To them, this plan seemed perfect but little did they know that destiny has something else in store for them.

Near lunch time, Angad and Kripa walked downstairs.  Aliyah and Anjali gave each other an approving smile when they saw angad and Kripa walk out hand-in-hand.  But in reality, Angad held her hand for support as he still felt a little weak.  Everyone talked and decided that they will have lunch together.  Anjali, Kripa, Aliyah settled in the kitchen while the guys turned the living room into their territory.  While having lunch, the six talked and planned for Dhruv-Anjali engagement.

Dhruv: hum bas yehi chahte hai ki aap chaar hamare saath ho....dekho..mere mamma pappa ko guzre hue ek saal hua hai...Anjali ke mammi pappa bhi do saal pehle hi duniya chod kar gaye hai...hamari koi family to nahi hai lekin..

Angad: how dare you say that dhruv?  I thought you considered us your friends...

Kripa: And friends are a second family guys....have you noticed how close us six have become in such a short time?  We love each other, care for each other, worry for each other just like a family.....

Aliyah: add beating up guys at the club to that list....

Aliyah: Me and josh even have little quarrels every now and then but that is a part of every family....everyone has arguments every now and then..

Josh: hum chaar tum dono ki engagement bilkul waise karenge jaise uncle aur aunty karte...so dont say things like that ever again.

By this time Anjali was shedding tears for her friends' affection.  Kripa's eyes filled tears immediately.  This was Kripa's weakness, unless she was angry, she could not see anyone with tears.  she got up and walked up to Anjali. Anjali turned around and hugged Kripa's waist as Kripa was standing.  Anjali cried her heart out as she was suddenly missing her parents.  Kripa stroked Anjali's back affectionately while dropping a couple of tears herself.

Kripa(kneeled in front of Anjali and wiped her tears): Dekho Anju...tum, mein aur ali kitne saalo se best friends hai...sab high school mein kehte the na ki hum friends kum aur sisters jyada lagti hai...to aaj mein tumse vaada karti hoon..mein tumhari badi behen ki jagah tumhari zindagi mein le rahi hoon...mein tumhare liye har woh rishta banungi jiski tumhari zindagi mein kami hai...tumhari mom and your sister...i will be everything you need anju....above all of that...i will always be your best friend.

Kripa's words made everyone emotional.  All the girls were crying while the guys looked on with an emotional and affection filled face.

Angad(in his mind): she cares about everyone so much.  She is so forgiving and understanding.  I won't be lying if i say i am the luckiest person in the world to be married to her.  I dont think it will be too long before i am completely in love with you kripa...

Angad informed Naina in shirdi that They wont be joining them as the preparations for dhruv-Anjali engagement need to be done.  The preparations for Dhruv-Anjali engagement started in full swing.  Angad, Kripa, Josh and Aliyah had everything organized.  They decided to decorate Angad's Beach house which was gifted to him on his wedding.  The engagement was taking place there.  Kripa and aliyah took care of the streamers and garlands whie Angad and josh looked after all the lighting and electrical stuff.  Angad would help out Kripa while she put the garlands on the entrace doors while standing on a ladder.  During the process she lost her balance numerous times but ofcourse her hero, angad, was always there to the rescue.  Aliyah and Josh were getting closer as well.  Aliyah was beginning to get a crush on him but she thought that he only liked her as a friend.  Angad by now had realized that he was starting to fall for Kripa.  Kripa felt the same about him but neither said or expressed their feelings.

PREVIEW: DHRUV-ANJALI ENGAGEMENT