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Part 42:

WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, KRIPA TALKING ANJALI OUT OF FASTING:

Kripa walked into the guest room, where Anjali-Dhruv were staying.  She saw that Dhruv was no where to be seen while Anjali sat on her bed knitting.

Kripa: Anju!!!  Kya kar rahi ho?

Anjali: Kripa!!  Kahan thi tum pura din??  Pata hai mein akele akele kitni bore ho gayi thi...

Kripa: Im sorry yaar woh actually check up ke baad Angad...

Anjali: i know i know.....to bata....yahan pe kya kar rahi ho?  Abhi tak soyi nahi?

Kripa: tum bhi to nahi soyi na?...Dhruv kahan hai?

Anjali: in the shower.....

Kripa: Anjali...i actually wanted to talk to you...

Anjali: about the karva chauth vrat right?

Kripa: exactly.  Anjali tum woh vrat nahi rakhogi...

Anjali(irritated): tum vrat rakhogi?

Kripa: haan...lekin tum nahi rakh rahi..

Anjali(walked off the bed in a huff): I dont get it!!  tum log kyun nahi chahte ki mein ye vrat rakhu?  Aakhir problem kya hai??

Kripa(irritated by Anajli's childish behaviour): Anjali...stop being so childish...try and understand...you are pregnant damn it.......not even in the early stage.....you are in your third trimester Anju...this is when you need to look out the most...i understand there are two more months until you deliver but there is something called premature deliveries which are most often caused by the lack of care and nutrition....Anjali...you breathe for two, you eat for two, you drink for two....aur aise mein tum yeh vrat rakhna chahti ho??  Are you out of your mind??  Agar tumne yeh vrat pehle rakha hota to mein kuch nahi kehti...lekin...this is your first time...you can't let your body get stressed or weak at this point...

Anjali: damn it Kripa!  You sound like you're the one who's pregnant...relax...i can take care of my baby unlike you!!

Kripa was hurt by Anjali's comment.  Kripa knew that Anjali got mood swings once in a while but still, that statement shot through her heart like an arrow.

Dhruv(heard the last comment Anjali made while stepping out of the bathroom): Anjali!!!!   Kya keh rahi ho tum?  tumhe kuch dhyan hai ke nahi?....tum kripa se aisa kaise...

Kripa: Dhruv...please...Anjali ne kuch galat to nahi kaha...Anjali..tum vrat rakho...mein tumse kuch nahi kahungi...mein tumse sirf iss liye mana kar rahi thi kyun ki ek choti si laparvahi ki vajah se meine apna baccha khoya hai...mein nahi chahti thi ki tumhare saath bhi kuch aisa ho...par shayad mujhe ye sab kehne ka koi haqq nahi tha....I'm sorry...

By this time Kripa was in tears as she ran out of the room.  While Kripa made her way to her bedroom, Angad saw her crying.  He called after her but Kripa didn't hear him and went into the room only to lock herself in the washroom.  Angad wanted to confront Anjali to see what happened.

Dhruv: Anjali...tumhe Kripa se aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi....Didn't expect this from you....woh tumhari itni acchi dost hai...tumhe apni behen ki tarah pyaar karti hai...aur woh tumhare aur tumhare bacche ke liye keh rahi thi...aur kahin na kahin uski baat sach bhi hai...even i dont approve you fasting...woh sirf tumhe samjhane ayi thi kyunki woh nahi chahti jo uske saath hua woh tumhare saath ho....And you told her that she lost her baby because she didnt take care of it???  Was it her fault that she fell down the stairs like that??  Honestly Anjali...you need to control your tounge even in you wildest mood swings.  Can you imagine what she must be going through right now??  She just recovered from the miscarriage both mentally and physically...kitni mushkilon ke baad Angad ne uske chehre par ek muskaan laa di thi....and you are not helping her get better instead you are making matters worse for her....whats wrong with you Anju??

Anjali: Why are you taking her side so much huh??  Apni biwi ki jagah tum Kripa ko support kar rahe ho??  Kyun??

Dhruv: because I love her okay???

Both Anjali and Angad, who stood near the door in the hallway listening to their conversation, were stunned.

Dhruv: Just like you love Angad as you brother...I love Kripa as my sister.  You have no idea Anjali...she has helped me in getting you so much...whenever i had a question about you....i would go to her and she would help me out....if it weren't for her...i would have given up on you long time ago...seriously...I love you and all....but what you said to her today was terribly wrong...I will never forgive you for it Anjali....Never.

Angad was mad at Anjali for saying things like that to Kripa.  Anjali is Kripa's best friend...she was supposed to make Kripa feel better not taunt her for something which she had no control over.  Angad went to their bedroom and saw that Kripa was still in the washroom.  This was it.  She was going to cry for a long time and get disturbed.  She will blame herself for whatever happened.  Angad knocked gently on the door but he got no reply in return.  He knocked louder this time and Again, no reply.  He was getting worried now.  He turned the door knob and to his surprise, it wasnt locked.  Angad quickly stepped in and rushed towards the shower when he saw Kripa standing under the freezing running water, fully dressed.

Angad: Kripa...what are you doing???  Bahar aao....

Angad closed the faucet tap and pulled Kripa out.  Her body was freezing cold.  Her face was turning blue due to the coldness.  As soon as Angad pulled her out, She broke down in his arms.

Kripa(bawling): I am so sorry Angad!!!  Meri vajah se, Meri laparvahi ki Vajah se aaj hamara baccha hamare saath nahi hai...Mujhe maaf kar dena Angad....sab meri galati hai...

Angad walked her to the bed and sat her down.

Angad: Kripa...shhh...tumhari koi galati nahi thi....

Kripa(screaming): Of course meri galati thi!!!!  SAB MERI GALATI THI....MEIN BAHUT BURI HOON....BAHUT BURI HOON MEIN....

Naina, Anjali, Dhruv, and Dilip rushed into the room. Anjali felt a sudden pang of guilt hit her heart.  What had she done??

Naina: Kripa....beta kya hua tumhe???  Itna ro kyun rahi ho?? Aur yeh kya haal bana rakha hai tumne?  Angad...kya hua isse??

Angad: mom...please....can you just leave us alone for a few minutes??

Dhruv: Naina mom....aap ayiye..mein aapko sab batata hoon...

Everyone except Anjali made their way towards the door as Kripa continued to cry while clinging onto Angad.  Dhruv noticed that Anjali hadnt moved yet.

Dhruv(angry): ANJALI!!! TUM BHI!!

Angad(turned around to look at Anjali): Anjali dekho....iss waqt mein tumse koi baat nahi karna chahta aur Kripa ko mein tumse koi baat karne dunga nahi...behtar yehi hoga ki tum yahan se chali jao...

Anjali: par Angad..

Angad(angry): NO ARGUMENTS ANJALI!!!  AT LEAST NOT RIGHT NOW....I DONT WANT A WORD FROM YOU....

Dhruv(angry): Anjali!!!  dont you get the damned point??  Get out right now.....

Naina(thinking to herself): Ye dhruv aur Angad Anjali se iss tarah se kyun baat kar rahe hai....aur woh bhi jab woh 8 mahine pregnant hai...

Anjali quietly walked out closing the door behind her.  As soon as she stepped out, Dhruv raised his hand and almost slapped her but Naina stopped him.

Naina: Dhruv!!!!  tum paagal ho gaye ho kya??  Kya kar rahe ho??

Dhruv: mummy ji....Kripa ki yeh halat sirf Anjali ki vajah se hui hai....

Dhruv told Naina the story.  Naina was speechless.  She never thought, in her wildest thoughts, that Anjali would do something so heartless.

Naina: Beta dekho...mein jaanti hoon aisi haalat mein mood swings aate hain...lekin iska yeh matlab to nahi ki tum kisi se bhi kuch bhi keh do....actually galati meri hai...meine hi kaha tha Kripa se ki woh tumse baat kare....khair..jo hua so hua...lekin please...ainda se Kripa se aisa kuch mat kehna...tumhe to pata hona chahiye ki woh kitni sentimental hai...aur jo baat tumne kahi hai na Anjali...woh to kisi patthar dil ko bhi rula sakti hai....and Dhruv...i agree Anjali ne galati ki hai but you dont need to repeat...aisi halat mein tum uspe haath uthane ki soch bhi kaise sakte the??  Gussa chodo aur Anjali ko le kar jao...isse pehle ki Angad bahar aye...isse le jao yahan se....

Dilip: Naina theek keh rahi hai...Dhruv..tum Angad ka gussa acchi tarah se jaante ho....aur yeh bhi jaante ho ki woh Kripa se kitna pyaar karta hai...woh kisi apne ke liye bahut possessive hai...Kripa to hum sabse jyada uske dil ke kareeb hai aur Anjali ne usi ko hurt kiya hai...Angad ka gussa abhi koi control nahi kar payega...Kripa bhi nahi....aur Anjali iss halat mein bhi Angad ke saamne ayegi..to usse koi farak nahi padega....woh gusse mein kuch bhi kar sakta hai...tum aur anjali abhi apne room mein jao....subah tak Angad ka gussa thoda thanda ho jayega...tab shayad Kripa ke kehne par woh maan bhi jayega...but please..for now.....you two go.....and sleep..good night.
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Anjali: Dhruv I am sorry...

Dhruv(still angry): Sorry mujhse nahi....Kripa se kaho!!..I never thought my Anjali could be so rude, and heartless...Can't believe you are the same Anjali I fell In love with...

Dhruv turned off the table lamp, turned to the other side and went to sleep.  This was the first time after their wedding they had acutally slept away from each other.
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Meanwhile on the other hand, Angad had managed to help Kripa change into dry clothes and stop crying.  She was still upset, he could tell.  Angad gently caressed her back as she lay beside him resting her head on his broad shoulders.

Angad(thinking to himself): Kya kahun mein Kripa se....itni mushkil se rona band kiya hai...agar mein kuch kahunga aur phir se ro degi to?...Kyun ho raha hai uske saath ye sab...isne kisi ka kya bigada hai....sabki zindagi mein kitni khushiyan bhar di hai Kripa ne....phir bhi kismat ne usse uski saari khushiyan kyun cheen li hai?  Kyun??

As Angad thought about all the horrible things kripa had gone through, a tear escaped his eyes onto the cheeks.  The sole tear rolled down until it landed on Kripa's forhead which was resting on Angad's jaw bone.  She gently lifted her head and looked at Angad who had his eyes closed.  She moved up and planted a gentle kiss on his lips.  He finally opened his eyes and looked at her.

Angad: what was that for?

Kripa just shurg her shoudlers making Angad smile.  He was getting aroused again by her proximity, her eyes which looked drugged because of sleepyness, he gentle breath brushing against his lips at a steady beat, her heartbeat against his heart.  But he knew this wasnt the right time to be losing senses.  he firmly buried his desires and hugged her tight as they drifted into sweet slumber.