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Part 61:

One week Later:

Kripa woke up feeling something heavy lying on her.  She bent her head forward to see Angad's head lying on her stomach.  She caressed his hair lightly making sure he didn't wake up.  Her hand stopped moving through his hair when she feel into deep thoughts.

Angad: keep doing that…it feels nice…

Kripa: You're awake???

Angad: ya…just woke up..

Kripa: alright so now can you let me go please???

Angad: kya yaar….As soon as I wake up, you talk about leaving..

Kripa: That's because it becomes hard and almost impossible to control you afterwards.

Angad reluctantly let Kripa go to receive the door which was knocked on a second ago.  Kripa fixed her hair and straightened her clothes before answering the door.

Naina: Did Angad wake up??  Tell him to hurry up!  Its already 8!!  He'll get late!

Kripa: He just woke up…

Naina: Alright…tell him to make it quick!

Kripa nodded and closed the door after Naina left.  She walked to Angad and sat beside him letting him rest his head in her lap again.

Kripa: Angad…today is a very important day for you…I don't know what to say about it but…give it all the attention and thinking power that you have…

Angad: Don't worry love…I will…besides…I have to fulfill your dreams on your behalf until you resume your studies…

Kripa: Which wont be for a few years…but forget that right now…we're talking about you…..

Angad(sighed and took her hands in his): Kripa...Dont worry…I will be fine…I will become a neurosurgeon for sure…because now I know that it isn't just my dream…even you have that expectation from me and I will make sure I reach it…

Kripa(bent over and kissed his lips): I know you will…come on now…run along….its almost 8:30…..your interview is in an hour…

Angad: ugh…I have to stay away the whole day from you….how will I be able to do that??  I wont be able to concentrate on the papers I write after the interview!

Kripa: You have a picture of us three (meaning her, him and prateek) in your wallet don't you?...You can stare at it while waiting…

Angad(sighed): seems like thats what I am going to have to do….

Kripa shoved a reluctant Angad in the shower.  While he was in the bathroom, she took out a navy blue suit with matching trousers and a silky, sky blue shirt.  To add the icing on the cake, she chose a black tie with sky blue pattern in the edges.  She had to leave and nurse prateek before Angad came out of the washroom.  Prateek was behaving weirdly today.  He wasn't smiling nor was he crying.  He just looked at everything and everyone as if seeing them for the first time.

Kripa: kya hua beta??  Mere prateek's ki smile kisne chori kar li??

Kripa was dressing him up when a restless Angad rushed into Prateek's room.  He quickly walked up to Kripa, and engaged her in a sudden lip-lock taking Kripa by surprise.  Prateek finally let out a giggle.  Kripa broke the lip-lock and turned to prateek.

Kripa: Thanks Angad.

Angad gave her a confused look.

Kripa: aaj subah se prateek ke chehre par pehli baar ek muskaan deekhi hai…

Angad: Prateek is sad because daddy is not going to be home until late night….right?

Prateek touched angad's cheek with his tiny hands.  Kripa observed the father-son with affection and smiled.  All three went downstairs and joined Naina, Dilip and Dadi for breakfast.  Prateek sat in Angad's lap while Kripa fed him baby food.

Kripa: Angad…hold him properly na…I cant turn my hand that way…

Angad: but prateek's not going to feel comfy otherwise…try to karo…
Kripa: Angad nahi ho raha hai…zidd mat karo please…

This was an everyday routine.  Angad and Kripa would always get into a cute argument while Prateek was being fed.  Dadi observed and smiled since it reminded her of Naina and Dilip when Angad was a baby.  Naina and Dilip always got into a fight over Angad, sometimes so serious that they wouldn't talk to each other for days.  She was just glad that Angad-Kripa's arguments never lasted more than a couple of days.

Kripa(whining): Angad…

Angad: That's it!

Angad shifted a little in his seat and pulled Kripa beside him.

Angad: bas!...abhi chup chap khilaro usse..

Kripa(pouted her lips) : Chilla kyun rahe ho?

Angad smiled at the cute face she made and gave her a quick peck despite the elders' presence.  Kripa turned red and continued feeding Prateek.  Now it was Angad's turn to look at the mother-son and smile affectionately.

Dadi: Kripa….kabhi kabhi Angad ko bhi itne pyaar se khilaya karo..

Angad: dadi aapke muh mein ghee shakkar…

Naina(walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of yogurt): Dadi ke muh mein ghee shakkar baad mein….pehle tum ye khao.

Naina fed Angad a spoonful of yogurt.

Naina: Kisi bhi acche kaam ke liye jaane se pehle dahi khaa kar jaana chahiye...Apna interview acche se dena aur pure concentration ke saath apne test papers likhna…theek hai??  

Angad took everyone's blessings, gave Kripa a hug and stole a kiss from her, gave prateek a kiss, and picked up his briefcase to leave when prateek pouted his shivering lips and started wailing.  Angad looked at him and dropped the briefcase to take prateek in his arms.  As soon as Angad's arms supported prateek, Prateek's sobs came to a halt.  After a few minutes, Kripa tried taking him from Angad but Prateek clung to Angad refusing to let go of his father.  Dilip forcedly pulled prateek away from Angad making prateek start bawling again.

Dilip: tum jao Angad..hum isse sambhal lenge…tumhe der ho jayegi.

Angad looked at Kripa then at prateek.  His heart felt heavy hearing constant crying from prateek.  Angad had left the house many times after prateek was born but he had never cried like that.  Why was he crying so much today?  Angad gave another kiss to Kripa and left with a heavy heart.  Kripa took prateek from Dilip and rocked him to sleep when his sobs came to a half, after half an hour.

After Angad's interview, he called Kripa and told her how it went since he had a half an hour break before his written tests started.

Angad: Prateek kahan hai?

Kripa: Don't worry….so gaya hai…tumhare jaane ke baad rona band kar diya tha…

Angad: theek hai…waise who ro kyun raha tha?

Kripa: pata nahi…shayad tumhe uske saath khelne ko keh raha tha…lekin ab theek hai…

After talking some more, Angad hung up receiving a good luck wish from Kripa for his first written test of the day.  

At around 7 in the evening, Kripa's phone rang again, assuming its Angad before his last exam, she rushed to pick up.

Kripa: Hello?

Josh: KRIPA!!  ITS ME!!

Kripa: kya hua josh?  Itne hyper kyun sound kar rahe ho?

Josh: I am not hyper!  I am freaking out!!  Aliyah just went into labor.

Kripa: WHAT?!?

Naina was passing by Kripa's room and heard kripa's surprised response.

Josh: yea…like…5 minutes ago…I am driving her to the hospital….ghar se koi yahan aa sakta hai kya??  She is scared…and so am i

Kripa: Angad to yahan hai nahi…accha…tum theek se usse hospital le jao…hum mein se koi ek jitni jaldi ho sake utni jaldi wahan aa rahe hai.

Kripa hastily hung up and was about to leave the room when she spotted Naina at the door.
Kripa: mom!  Aliyah just went into labor….josh keh raha tha ki who bahut darr gayi hai….He asked if one of us could reach there…

Naina: Mujhe isi baat ka darr tha….aliyah jitni strong dikhti hai utni hai nahi…..ek kaam karo…jaldi se ek flgith book kar do…main nikalne ki taiyaariyan karti hoon..

Kripa: mom…agar aap chaahe to main chali jaati hoon…aapko iss umar mein itni suddenly travel karna padega…aur waise bhi aapki tabiyat theek nahi hai…

Naina: agar tum jaana chaho to mujhe koi problem nahi hai….tum apni bag jaldi se pack kar lo…mein ticket book karvati hoon.

Naina left the room to get the tickets book while Kripa quickly packed a suitcase with a pair of extra clothes for herself and Aliyah.  Aliyah would neeed normal clothes since all she took with her was the maternity clothes, which wont fit her after the delivery.  

Naina: Kripa!  Goa jaane waali akhri flight adha ghata pehle hi chali gayi…ab kal subah tak goa ki koi flight nahi hai….Angad ko phone kar ke dekho…agar who apni car bhej sakta hai to hum dono wahan drive kar ke chale jayenge….

Kripa agreed and tried calling Angad but all she got was a message saying that the number she dialed was switched off.

Kripa: Kya karu mom??  Angad ka phone bhi switched off aa raha hai….

Naina: ek kaam karo…tum chali jao…Angad aur hum sab baad mein aa jayenge.

Kripa: lekin mom…prateek?

Naina: Don't worry…dekho….flight to abhi tumhe milegi nahi…ghar pe ek car bhi nahi hai…tumhe train se jaana padega….prateek ka train mein safar karna theek nahi hai….aur waise bhi…hum sab kal subhah tak to aa jayenge….

Kripa: lekin prateek ko mere bina rehne ki aadat nahi hai..

Naina: jaanti hoon..lekin tum mujhe akele wahan jaane to dogi nahi….aur prateek abhi so raha hai na….jab tak who jagega tab tak dadi bhi jag jayengi….dadi ke paas to who acche se rehta hai….aur baad mein jaise Angad ghar ayega..hum sab goa chale ayenge….

Kripa: theek hai…yeh raha hospital ka address…

Kripa went into prateek's room and kissed him goodbye.  Her eyes filled tears at parting from her son, even if for a few hours.  She had never left him alone like that but she had no choice right now.  Besides, he would meet Kripa in about 8-9 hours anyways.  Kripa wiped her tears, gave naina a few instructions about prateek's eating/sleeping habits and left.

Next morning around 3 AM:

Angad, Prateek, Naina, Dilip, and Dadi reached the hospital in goa.  All rushed towards the OT the receptionist pointed them to.  They saw Josh pacing back and forth tensed.

Angad: josh!  

Josh: Angad…accha hua aap log aa gaye….Aliyah abhi tak OT mein hai…its been a long time…I hope she is ok!

Naina: don't worry beta….kuch nahi hoga…remember Kripa's delivery took 6 hours?...Kripa se yaad aaya...Kahan hai who?

Josh: Kripa??

Naina: haan…

Josh: mummy-ji…Kripa to yahan par ayi hi nahi….mein kab se akela yahan pe kisi ke aane ka intezaar kar raha hoon….woh abhi tak to nahi ayi..

Angad(tensed up at once): What??!!  But how's that possible….woh to kal raat ko mere ghar jaane se pehle hi nikal gayi thi….ek minute…mom….prateek ko lijiye..main zara railway station phone kar ke puch leta hoon…shayad train mein koi problem hoga…

Angad left and called goa's railway station.

Angad: Hello?...Hi..um..I am Angad Khanna, Actually..i wanted to know if the train from Mumbai to goa has reached yet.

Attendor: jee nahi…woh train to abhi tak nahi ayi…

The attendor hung up after saying that.  Angad walked back to the OT, defeated, tensed.  He was lost in his own thoughts when Naina spoke.

Naina: Don't worry Angad…aa jayegi woh…ho sakta hai ki pehli train miss ho gayi ho…shayad dusri train se aa jayegi…don't worry….

Angad just nodded.  That explanation wasn't good enough for him to feel a bit less tensed.  After about half an hour, a nurse came out of the OT smiling.

Nurse: Congratulations….ladki hui hai.
Everyone let out their happiness in their own way.  Angad gave a brotherly hug to Josh, who was dying of happiness.  All went into Aliyah's room when she was transferred.  Aliyah scanned the crowd in front of her once she opened her eyes.  She smiled weakly at everyone and then her smile died down.

Aliyah: Kripa nahi ayi?

The mention of her name reminded everyone that she hadn't reached yet.

Dilip(looked at his watch): Pata nahi kahan reh gayi…usse to kayi ghante pehle aa jaana chahiye tha….

A knock on the door diverted everyone's attention.  All were somewhat surprised to see two police officers standing there.

Inspector 1: Mr. Angad Khanna?

Angad(came forward): I am Angad Khanna inspector.

Inspector 1: sorry for the interference sir but, you are going to have to come with us for body identification.

Angad, along everyone else, was shocked at the statement.

Angad: Body identification??

Inspector 2: Seems like you don't know.

Inspector turned around and turned the TV on. 


The ground slipped from under Angad's feet.  Aliyah burst into immediate tears while the others were way too shocked to say or react to anything.  It couldn't be.  She couldn't leave Angad like that.  They had made promises of being with each other till last breath.  She would never break a promise.  She couldn't leave her one month old son behind.  She couldn't.  She had no right to.

Inspector: Look sir.  We know it's a very unpleasant news but you will have to come with us.

Angad's eyes weren't dropping tears which scared Dilip and Naina to the edge.  Angad, without saying anything, left with the inspectors and prateek.
MORGUE ROOM:

Angad stepped in with his heartbeat racing, tears welling up in the back of his eyes.  He was choking on his own breath.  He held prateek closer to his chest and walked towards the five corpses lying in the room.

Inspector:  All the rest have been identified.  These five are impossible to recognize but perhaps there is some mark, or some ornament they posses which can help you recognize.  Out of these three, only two are females.

Angad approached the first one that the inspector pointed to.  His trembling hand advanced towards the coffin that covered the body.  He drew in a deep breath and with a single stroke exposed the face.  He clutched prateek with two hands and turned his head away in disgust.  The face was covered in blood, flesh and scarped skin was all one could see.  He had never seen anything so heart wrenching in his life.  He gathered courage and looked at the corpse once again with a rock on his heart.  It wasn't her.  That wasn't his Kripa.  The person's forehead was way bigger than Kripa's.  He looked at the corpse from head to toe and also decided that the body was too tall to be Kripa's.  He felt somewhat relieved and shook his head.

Angad(choking voice): This isn't my wife.

His heart became heavy again when the inspector pointed the other body to him.  Before he unveiled the corpse, he decided that he would look at the physique first.  He walked up to the second corpse with his heart becoming heavy with each step.  He looked at the body head to toe.  Now he was scared.  The height resembled that of Kripa.  His heart almost stopped beating when he thought that.  His hand reached for the cloth once again.  As soon as he unveiled the body, prateek let out a wail which soon turned into bawling.  Angad held prateek tighter and checked for any marks that could help him identify that this wasn't his Kripa.  First of all, he checked her arm for the tattoo but it was impossible to tell if a tattoo had been on the spot earlier because now all that was visible was blood and flesh.  The arm was badly scraped.  He was about to turn away when his eyes fell on the fingers.  His heart stopped.  He hated the sight he saw before him.  He didn't want to believe what he was seeing.  All the tears that he suppressed from the hospital till here were now set lose.  He let them flow out of his eyes as much as they wanted.  He embraced prateek and sobbed with him at their loss, his loss of a wife, and Prateek's loss of a mother.  He took the rings off of the fingers, clenched them in his fist and hugged it to his heart.  The inspector covered the corpse again and called a nurse.

Inspector: I am terribly sorry Mr.Khanna.

The inspector called the rest of Khanna family to the morgue room.  Everyone except for dadi and Aliyah came and joined Angad in mourning Kripa's death.

(I KNOW I KNOW......you all must be hating me right now but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the promo before you guys kill me or quit this ff!!)