Chapter 63

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Part 62:

3 months later:

Angad woke up earlier than usual today to finish off the rest of his packing.  He was leaving Khanna house for two reasons.  One was that he had a special case to look after in shimla's hospital.  And the second and much bigger reason was Naina Khanna.  After about a month after Kripa's death, Naina started nagging Angad to get married to Anjali.  Anjali Kapoor.  Kripa's best friend.  His sister-like-bhabhi.

Flashback:

The Khanna family and the rest of the relatives sat in the living room dressed in complete white.  Angad held prateek in his lap as he refused to go to anyone else.  Angad looked at Kripa's picture before him which had a garland around on it with a lit lamp in front of her picture.  He was still having trouble believing that he had just cremated Kripa's body.  She had indeed left him all alone, with their symbol of love.  She broke another promise: she promised Angad that she would give him his princess very soon.  Angad's smile had died with Kripa.  He only lived for prateek.  A loud thud near the entrance door turned all heads towards the entrance. 

Naina: Anjali?

Naina got up wiping her tears and went to receive Anjali.  Anjali was speechless.  She never expected her friend to be missing when she came back.  Anjali walked to the picture like a robot and suddenly broke into tears seeing Prateek in Angad's arms.  She guessed that he was Angad and Kripa's son.  Prachi, too young to understand what was going on followed her mother quietly.  Seeing Anjali sob, Angad lost control over his tears.  He got up and rushed into dadi's room locking himself inside with prateek and falling to the ground against the door, crying.

"Angad"

Angad suddenly looked up hearing Kripa's voice.  He saw her standing before him dressed completely in white.  Her mangalsutra still around her neck, her maang still filled with sindoor symbolizing itself proudly.

"Utho Angad…tumhe aadat daalni hai Angad!  Tumhe apne liye nahi…prateek ke liye jeena hai….tumhe jeena hoga…apne bete ki liye tumhe jeena hoga"

Angad closed his eyes and opened them only to see no one was in the room.  After a few minutes, Dilip knocked gently on the door.  Angad opened the door after wiping his tears but his bloodshot eyes revealed the story of his sobs.  Dilip patted his shoulder and walked away.  Anjali entered the room with Prachi.  She couldn't help it.  She took a step forward hugged Angad and cried once again.  She had always thought of him as an older brother.  He had lost the love of his life just like she had.

Angad (finally gathering his words): Dhruv kahan hai?

Andale's sobs got louder at the mention of his name.  Angad got worried.  What happened to Dhruv?

Angad (pulling away from Anjali): kahan hai who?  Kya hua?

Anjali: He left me Angad!!!!  That heartless rascal left me all alone with his ill daughter.

Angad (baffled): WHAT?!

Anjali(nodded while sobbing): Hong Kong jaa kar pata chala ki Prachi ke operation ke liye bahut waqt bacha tha….we had to dedicate so much time making trips to hospitals and stuff…..Dhruv kind of got frustrated with the whole thing and even mentioned putting Prachi up for adoption.

Angad: WHAT!!!

Anjali: Then one day…I woke up to find a letter or the mirror saying he was leaving us forever…I was broken and depressed……I somehow gathered enough courage and got a job….I worked day and night with Prachi by my side.  I couldn't see my daughter dying….I managed to arrange the money for her operation and they did it.  It was successful.  I got my daughter back but I lost my husband forever….the last thing I needed was to lose my best friend.

Anjali burst into tears once again while Angad consoled her.  Both took turns consoling each other when Prachi spoke up with a chocking voice.

Prachi: mama…

Angad looked over Anjali's shoulder to see Prachi who looked so much like Anjali now.  He walked to her and bent in front of her with a forced smile on his face.

Angad: hey Prachi!

Prachi got frightened and moved behind her mother.

Anjali: Prachi…beta yeh Angad uncle hai…pata hai…maine aap ko bataya than na?

Prachi peeked at Angad and smiled.  She slowly took steps towards him and raised her hands as if telling him to lift her.  Angad obliged and lifted her in his arms.  Anjali took prateek and spent time with him.

A few days passed by but nothing seemed to have change.  Sadness and depression still lingered over Khanna house.  Angad was way far from a smile.  He had gone insanely quiet ever since the incident.  He would answer in single words.  Talk with gestures.  Naina noticed similarities in Anjali as well.  She wasn't the usual bubbly girl she had been before.  Naina's heart, being one of a mother's, made a strong decision.  One day, she dropped by Angad's room when he was standing in front of Kripa's picture, dropping tears.

Naina: Angad...

Angad (wiped his tears and turned around): yea mom.

Naina: tumse kuch baat karni thi….busy ho?

Angad shook his head.

Naina: Dekho….ghuma phira kar baat nahi karungi…..seedhe point par aati hoon…main chahti hoon ki tum dusri shaadi kar lo.

Angad gave her the dirtiest look ever.  Anger was building up within him.

Aliyah: MOM! Aap jaanti hai aap kya keh rahi hai??  Abhi Kripa ki death ko ek mahina bhi nahi hua aur aap already bhai ki dusri shaadi ke bare main soch rahe hai?

Naina: Jo main soch rahi hoon woh bilkul theek hai…..aur main kahan keh rahi hoon ki woh kisi bhi ladki se shaadi kar le?

Aliyah (sarcastically): accha….to aapne ladki bhi dekh li?

Naina: Aliyah please…..mujh par gussa karne se pehle meri puri baat suno….dekho….main jaanti hoon ki Kripa ke jaane ka abhi ek mahina bhi pura nahi hua lekin main ek maa hoon…main apne bete ko aise nahi dekh sakti…aur main jaanti hoon ki Angad ko iss waqt sahare ki jarurat hai….aur kam se kam prateek ke bare mein to socho…..Angad to kaise bhi kar ke apne aap ko samjha lega….lekin prateek……Angad..prateek ko ek maa ki jarurat hai…..aur kismet ka khel dekho….Anjali ko bhi to ek sahare ki jarurat hai….Prachi ko bhi ek pita ki jarurat hai…..isi liye main chahti hoon ki Angad aur Anjali shaadi kar le

Angad: Never! Mom……Anjali ko maine hamesha apni behen ki jagah rakha hai…maine kabhi usse uss nazar se nahi dekha…..aur waise rahi meri aur prateek ki baat…..to mera sahara prateek hi hai…….aur Main prateek ka papa bhi hoon…..aur uski mama ka pyaar bhi Prateek ko mujhse hi milega…..hamari zindagi mein Kripa ki jagah koi aaj to kya…mere marte dam tak koi nahi le sakta….main aur prateek ek dusre ke sahare hamari zindagi guzar lenge lekin Kripa ki jo jagah hamari zindagi main koi nahi le sakta…..

Angad picked up prateek from the crib and left the house in anger.

End of Flashback!

From that day till date, Naina had been on Angad's tail about AA marriage.  Both Angad and Anjali equally refusing and hating the idea.  They had the brother-sister bond and it would be just wrong to turn it into a husband-wife relationship.  Angad would at least get a break from all that for the next six months.  He had gotten a special case to look after in Kartik's hospital.  Kartik was getting married to his long time girlfriend and Angad's high school friend, Mishti Desuza.  Angad, being Kartik's closest friend had a special invitation.  Angad picked up his bag and walked to Aliyah's room.

Angad: Aliyah…..Kripa kahan hai?

Aliyah: who Dadi ke paas hai shayad…….

Angad: aur prateek?

Aliyah: who bhi wahin hoga…

Angad thanked her and walked in to dadi's room.  He opened the door and smiled wide seeing Kripa and Prateek on either side of Dadi.  He walked up, kissed Prateek's cheek and lifted Kripa in his hands.  He rocked her up and down gently.

Angad: Kripa baby….Angad maamu ko bahut miss karogi na??

Yes.  Angad maamu.  Kripa was Angad's niece, Aliyah's daughter.  After mourning for Kripa, the nurse had asked Aliyah what she wanted to name her daughter.  Aliyah, without giving it a second thought, had said 'Kripa'.  Angad loved her just as much as prateek.  She was his little princess now.  He spent a lot of time with her and prateek.  He picked up prateek, took dadi's blessings and left the room.  He bade everyone except Naina a goodbye and left with prateek.   

Shimla:

**Kartik's Picture**

Kartik Shah, a gujarati guy of Angad's age.  He used to be Angad's room mate in Canada.  Kartik waited at the receiving terminal on the local airport.  His smile was unstoppable when he saw Angad walking through the crowd with a small boy in his hands.  Kartik rushed to help him with the luggage cart.  Both men shared a brotherly hug.                                                                   
Kartik: Awww…..so this is junior Angad?

Angad nodded.  Both men walked out of the airport and met up with Mishti who had the car ready.  She shook Angad's hand.

Mishti: Its nice to see you after the longest time Angad.

Angad: same here.  You look quite different…

Mishti: yea…I grew fatter….

Kartik: Aw…now I would say that….i would say you grew out of you anorexia.

All three giggled and sat in the car.  Mishti and Kartik knew about Angad's Wife's death and they knew better than to mention her to him.  They drove while talking; catching up on each other's lives.

Kartik: Well…I am glad you are here to help me and Mishti with case…

Angad: I needed something to distract me.

Kartik: I understnad.

Angad: I am only worried about Prateek though…where will he stay while I am at the hospital?  There is no way I am taking him there around sick people.

Mishti: uska intezaam ho gaya hai…mere band ki practice hamesha chalti rehti hai….aur hamare band main teen ladkiyan hai…including me….woh dono hamare saath Kartik ke ghar mein hi rehti hai….

Angad: a band?.....

Kartik: Mishti sings…for her hobby…her and a few of her friends who sing sort of got together and made a band…its actually quite a loved one here in shimla…

Mishti: you sing don't you Angad?  Why don't you join us?

Angad: I don't sing anymore Mishti…Kripa used to sing…every time I sing, I fall back into the past….so I try not to….my son needs my proper attention right now…

Mishti: hmm…well…hamara concert iss Saturday ko hai…aur tumhe jarur aana hai….no ifs ands or buts okay?....Kartik already gave me an exuse…atleast you come to support me please…..i will be singing my first solo!!

Kartik: he will come Mishti…stop nagging him will you?

Saturday came in no time.  Angad got used to shimla quite quickly.  He got the love and affection of a family from Kartik, Mishti, and Prateek.  Mishti had promised that he would make more friends once he meets the band.  He had a half mind to go to the concert but he had promised Mishti.

Angad: but what about prateek?

Kartik: I am taking care of him….you don't worry…just go and relax…

Angad: I don't know Kartik….woh kisi aur ke paas rehta nahi hai..

Kartik: kisi aur ke paas rehta nahi hai??  What are you talking about?  Your son is literally in love with hi baby sitter…well…she is quite cute I must say….

Mishti: really?....

Mishti glared at him which stopped his giggles.

Mishti: I don't care Angad….you're coming and that's that!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..........FORGIVE ME FOR WHA TI HAVE DONE!...lol........dont worry.....hopefully...the new character i plan to bring in changes things...i need your vote again:

• Angad-Mishti
• Angad-Gauri(from KAA)
• Angad-Sameera (from CHA)
• Angad-Kanya (from KIT)
• Other: Specify please!