Chapter 17

Part 16:

2 MONTHS LATER:

It had been two months since the incident.  Josh had done a good job dealing with the tragedy.  Kripa was slowly recovering from the grief.  She was still a bit depressed every now and then with the whole incident, no one said anything negative to her for it.  It was a lifetime tragedy in one day, or for that matter, in a few hours.  Angad had been the most supportive.  She would always talk to him about how she was feeling, what she was missing, what she was remembering.  He would always listen and help her feel better.  He would reluctantly go to university because his final exams were coming up soon.  But ever since the incident, Angad and Kripa had become much much closer both mentally, and physically.  It was no longer a goodbye hug.  Angad would often kiss Kripa's forehead before he left as if promising his support and showing his affection.  it had become a habit by now.  Angad and kripa had become a typical couple, without any discomfort, getting into cute arguments over the smallest things, teasing each other, flirt with each other so often as well.  kripa would drop him at the door every morning as he left for university.  She would wait for him in the evening and both have dinner together.  They would discuss how their day was, and the latest news.  They were both attached to each other.  One would get restless on not seeing the other after a few hours.

One morning, Angad was rushing to get ready.  He kept asking kripa for things as he could not think where they were.

Angad: Kripa.....where is my cellphone?

Kripa(yelling from the washroom): in the drawer!!!!

Angad: where is my cologne?????

Kripa: On the dressing table behind my perfume....

Angad: where is my tie??

Kripa: ANGAD!!!!!  ITS ON THE BED!!!!!

Angad went and checked the bed, and found a black untied tie.

Angad: Oh no!

Kripa(stepping out of the washroom): kya hua?

Angad: my tie....the knot came undone..

Kirpa: so?

Angad: i used to keep the knot so i could just put the tie around my neck and tighten the knot...I.....um..i dont know how to tie a tie.

Kripa(giggled): lao...mein baandh deti hoon...

Angad handed her the tie.  Kripa put the tie around his neck and started tying it.  Angad could not helpt but notice the change in her.  She was normal once again.  The dark circles under her eyes had almost disappeared, the eyes which used to be red and puffy from crying all the time were just as beautiful as they used to be before.  The smile that had died with her parents was playing hide and seek.  Kripa finished tying his tie and looked up at him staring at her.  She snapped her finger in front of his eyes and broke him out of his thoughts.

Kripa: tie theek hai?

Angad nodded and smiled.  Kripa was about to walk away but he held her arm and turned her to him.  He bent forward and kissed her cheek.

Angad: thank you..

Kripa(blushing): your welcome...

Angad: Kripa...you wanna go out tonight?  we havent gone out in a long time...dinner or movie?  or some other plans?

Kripa: um...dont you have to study for your exams?

Angad(raised his eyebrows and teased): Is that what you are really worried about or you dont want to spend time with me.

Kripa: angad...aisi baat nahi hai...i Love spending time with you...but i dont want to take away from your study time....your exams start in two weeks...

Angad: I am prepared or these exams...dont worry.....besides...I can give at least one day to my lovely wife...

Kripa: but angad...

Angad: no ifs, ands or buts we're going out for dinner and it's final.  case closed!....oh speaking of my exams....what about you?...you didnt resume your studies.  you know?  As a NRI student, you can still write this exam....if you pass with required marks, you can get entry to the next year without having to repeat one year because you missed merely four months..

Kripa: WRITE THIS EXAM??  Are you crazy?  I dont know anything...

Angad: um...you do Kripa......you studied in canada....their course is slightly ahead than ours.......if you want....you can take a look at my books and see...if there are any parts that you don't understand, i will explain them to you..

Kripa: Angad..im not so sure....you wouldn't mind me studying?

Angad: if i had any problems with it, why would i ask you to start studying again?

Kripa: um...mom and dad?

Angad: they are liberal Kripa....dont worry...you are no less than a daughter to them, they love you as much as they love aliyah....if they let aliyah study, they are not going to stop you.  Just apply if you wish to continue......do you want to?

Kripa thought about it for a few minutes and then agreed.  Angad felt happy and gave her a bear hug.

Angad: good girl....ok i am getting late.....as usual....take care of yourself alright?  make sure you take a look at the books (he gently kissed her forehead) be ready at 6:00.

Angad and kripa bid bye to each other.  Kripa went to the kitchen after dropping him off at the door.  Naina, and Kripa cooked lunch together while chatting.  Naina tried her best to avoid mentioning kripa's parents.  Aliyah came in with a drowsy look.

Naina: Aliyah??? tum ab uth rahi ho?

Aliyah: haan mom...woh kal raat ko late night tak meri friends se online chatting kar rahi thi....

Aliyah updated Kripa on their friends' news and recent events.  Both sat around after lunch, chatting when Anjali called.

Kripa: Hi anjali...kaisi ho?

Anjali: theek hoon Kripa...tum kaisi ho?

Kripa: theek hoon....tum batao?  apne honeymoon se kab vaapas aa rahi ho?

Anjali: soon kripa.....I have to be home....

Kripa: kyun?

Anjali: baat hi kuch aisi hai...

Kripa: kya baat hai Anju?  sab theek hai na?

Anjali: haan Kripa......sab theek hai...bas...ek baat kehni thi tumse........sabse pehle tumhe batana chahti hoon..

Kripa: haan...batao.......ek minute....tum kuch private baat karna chahti ho kyunki ali bhi yahan par hai

Anjali: ali bhi hai?......tab to aur bhi accha hai...ek kaam karo....phone ko speaker par on karo..

Kripa did as Anjali said.  Aliyah and Anjali had a little chat.

Kripa: ok anju..ab batao na kya baat hai?.....im becoming impatient...

Anjali: Kripa aur aliyah...tum dono kaan khol kar sunna theek hai?  aur taiyaar bhi ho jaana....kyun ki bahut bada shock lagne waala hai tum dono ko

Aliyah: hey anju...stop scaring us na yaar!!  tell us

Anjali: tum dono maasi banne waali ho.........

Kripa and aliyah's jaw's dropped.  They were expecting this but not this soon...it has been only 2 months since their marriage and she was already pregnant.

Anjali: are kya hua?.....khush nahi ho kya??

Kripa: nahi anjali...aisi baat nahi hai..lekin...itni jaldi?

Anjali: haan Kripa...actually humne bhi expect nahi kiya tha..lekin ho gaya...

Aliyah: oh my god....you two are fast......Kripa and Angad have been married for four months now...they dont even kiss each other in front of..

Aliyah cut her own sentence when she realized what she was blabbering.  She realized that it was different between Angad-Kripa than Dhruv-Anjali. 

After a few minutes of talk, Anjali hung up.  Aliyah looked at Kripa and apologized...

Kripa: its ok yaar ali..relax...and by the way...what do you mean by we dont even kiss each other?

Aliyah: well....i've seen bhai give you a peck on your forehead before he leaves, but never saw you or even THINK that you guys had a proper, passionate, lip-locking kiss...

Kripa blushed a beet root red as Aliyah was absolutely wrong.  Aliyah looked at the smile on Kripa's face and wondered.

Aliyah: oh my god...wait....you're blushing...you mean.....you two kissed????????????

Kripa's face got even redder...

Aliyah: OH MY GOD...YOU TWO LOVE EACH OTHER?

Kripa: no ali......we dont love each other....yet.....but yea we did share what you call a proper kiss.

Aliyah: when???

Kripa: On Anjali's engagement evening..

Aliyah: wait...but you said....you dont love each other.....yet?

Kripa: thats true...but that kiss...it just......happened...ali...can i tell you something if you dont tell anyone?

Aliyah: Spill it woman...

Kripa: I think.......I think Im....im starting to have..have a HUGE crush on Angad.....Im falling for him...

Aliyah: OH MY GOD.....THIS IS GREAT, MY BHABHI CUM BEST FRIEND CUM SISTER IS FALLING IN LOVE AT THE SAME TIME AS ME.....

Aliyah froze in the middle of her sentence when she realized what she had just revealed....Kripa didn't look surprised though.

Kripa: Josh?

Aliyah(wide eyes): tumhe kaise pata?

Kripa: oh c'mon ali....you are like my sister and he is my brother...i know exactly what is going on in those heads of yours...i can clearly see you like him...aur ek baat kahu?....I am sure he likes you...

Aliyah(blushed): i hope...but i dont think he does....

Kripa: he does ali..he is hiding it....I will ask him about it...he won't lie to me...

Angad(just stepping into the room): Who won't lie to you?

Aliyah: um...kripa...mein chalti hoon theek hai?

Aliyah shyly ran out of the room, leaving a giggling Kripa and a confused Angad behind.

Angad: isse kya hua?

Kripa: Pyaar.

Angad(surprised): WHAT??.....with who?...do i know the guy? do you know the guy? how is he? is he trustworthy? does he like her back?

Kripa: whoa whoa whoa....stop right there....answers to your questions...yes, he likes her back, whether he is trustowrthy or not...i think you can make the decision once you find out who he is, yes you know the guy, yes i know the guy, and he is.......im not telling you...

ANgad: hey kripa!! no fair!!!

Kripa ran out of the room while he chased her.  She ran right into Aliyah's room and hid behind aliyah.

Angad: batao na..

Kripa: nahi bata sakti...agar meine kuch kaha....to tumhari behen mujhe maar dalegi...

Aliyah(blushed like anything): YOU TOLD HIM????

Kripa: yea but...

Aliyah: oh my god, you told Angad, your husband and my brother that i like him? oh my gosh...you told him!!!!  why did you tell him??  why did you tell him i like josh?

Kripa: um i didnt.......but you did..

Both aliyah and Kripa looked at Angad whose jaw had dropped to his knee by now.  Kripa walked upto him and closed his mouth.

Angad(serious): are you serious about him aliyah or is it just a crush?

Kripa: angad...why are you so serious?  relax...she likes him, its not love yet, neither is it just a crush.  Give her some time to decide her true feelings...

Angad: oh i was just asking because if she is serious about him, i will go talk to him and then mom and dad and get them married....

Aliyah: no thanks.....i dont wanna get married so soon..im in no hurry like you and Kripa..or like dhruv and anjali.......oh speaking of which...did Kripa tell you about Anjali?

Angad: no what?

Kripa: Anjali is pregnant...

Angad: WHAT??????!!!!!!!

Aliyah: yea that was our reaction too, its only been two months...i even asked her i mean look at you bhai...you and kripa have been married for four months and you dont even.........oops....

Angad: we dont even what aliyah?

Aliyah: never mind bhai...im sorry...you know how i am na?

Kripa: yes.....we know.....

Angad: now if you dont mind aliyah....i am taking my wife out tonight....

Aliyah: dont worry bhai...to make up for my blabbering, i will dress her up for you.....what colour are you wearing bhai?

Angad: do i need to change?  i think i look just as hot in this orange shirt and grey suit.....what say Kripa?

Aliyah: alright bhai..get out......

Aliyah pushed Angad out of the room.  She handed Kripa a dress and told her to change.  Kripa changed and came out wearing:

Aliyah slightly curled kripa's hair to match the wavy bottom of her dress.  She put the perfect makeup on. 

Aliyah: there......you look perfect...ok..go down now...bhai must be dying of waiting.....im not coming with you....mein kabab mein haddi nahi banna chahti..

PREVIEW: Angad-Kripa away from home, alone, for 2 whole days.