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Part 73:

 

He suddenly realized she never followed him out of his room.  All this time he was thinking she was standing with him.  He swore roughly and ran to his room where he saw her standing at their wedding picture.  It was done.  The truth was out in front of her.  He couldn't deny it anymore. Feeling his presence she turned around to face him with her eyes  flaring anger at him, as well as being tearful.

 

Tanya(as she walked up to him): you are my husband!!  Mere haath pe Angad likha hai woh sach mein tumhare liye…tumhare haath par bhi bilkul aisa tattoo hai jis par "Kripa" likha hai…Kripa tumhari dost nahi hai…woh tumhari biwi hai, prateek ki mama…main!  I am Kripa…not her look-alike.  You knew!...tumhe sab kuch pata tha…phir bhi tumne mujhse itni badi baat chupayi….kyun?  tumne mujhe apne beete huye kal ko yaad karne ke liye tadapte hue dekha hai…phir bhi tumne kuch nahi kaha…why did you hide it from me??(slaps him)  WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME??

 

She broke down in his arms pouring her pain out.  He cried with her.  Now that she knew, he didn't have to hold back.  He stroked her back while sobbing himself.  Suddenly, Kripa parted abruptly.

 

Kripa(holding him by his collar): tell me everything!!  Dekho…ab kuch mat chupana please!!!(takes his hand and puts it on her head): tumhe meri kasam…  You have to answer my questions Angad or else I'll go crazy…

 

He didn't have a choice now did he?  He couldn't lie to her and make things worse because with the pictures being evidence of their past, he couldn't make up a story like he had before.  He took her to the bed and sat her down while he sat on the floor in front of her.  He locked her palm in between his.

 

Angad: where do I start?

 

Kripa:  I want to know if I really am Kripa…

 

Angad: yes you are.  Pre-marriage you were Kripa Sharma…then we got married and now you are Kripa Khanna.  Yes…you're my wife…Prateek's legal as well as biological mother…

 

Kripa: was our marriage a love marriage or arranged?

 

Angad: arranged.  Dadi was sick and mom asked me to marry you…on the other hand, you were asked to marry me because your father was sick and wanted to see you married…

 

Kripa: my father??

 

Angad: yea, he had cancer…

 

From there, Angad told her the whole story from their first meeting till their final goodbye to each other.

 

Kripa: you never tried to look for me after the incident?

 

Angad: I would have if that body didn't have your rings in their hand…her physique resembled yours, and since no other similar bodies were found I reluctantly accepted your death…then one day Kartik called me saying he had a special case for me to handle before I attended his wedding…I came here and coincidently found you here.  I wasn't sure of you being my wife so I had to make sure had the tattoo…but Mishti said she had seen it when she was doing your operation.

 

Kripa: you never thought that you should have told me about this?

 

Angad: I wanted to.  Trust me.  Tum apne beete hue kal ko yaad karne ke liye jitna tadpi ho…utna hi main tadpa hoon…I went through the same pain if not more.

 

Kripa: leave me alone for a while…please.

 

Angad: but Kripa.

 

Kripa: Angad please…I just need time to absorb the reality…its too much for my brain to handle right now…I'll be fine…

 

Angad: I'll be with prateek if you need me.

 

Kripa: how is he?

 

Angad: symptoms of flu…he should be fine in a couple of days.

 

Kripa nodded and fell into her deep thoughts.  Angad looked at her for a few seconds, then got up and went to the cupboard.  He pulled out a couple of photo albums and placed them next to Kripa on the bed.

 

Angad: take a look at these…might answer some more questions for you.

 

And with that he left the room leaving her alone to suck up all he said to her.  She got up and looked at the pictures around the room once again.

 

--::--::--::--

 

A few hours later, Kripa walked into Prateek's room to see Angad asleep on the bed with a frame on his chest.  She went and picked it up.  She discovered another picture of them that she hadn't seen in the room or in the albums.  She smiled through her tears as she caressed the pictures.  She was sure that he was her husband and wasn't taking advantage of her illness.  All those images gave enough of evidence.  She was about to get up and leave when Angad stirred.

 

Angad: Tanya?

 

Kripa sat back down on the bed beside him as he sat up straight and leaned against the headrest.

 

Kripa(shook her head): Kripa…not Tanya.

 

Angad looked at her with a smile though the surprise was completely visible on his face.

 

Kripa: aise kya dekh rahe ho?  Now that I know the truth, you don't have to call me Tanya anymore…par Angad……maine bahut koshish ki…..koshish ki hamara beeta hua kal yaad karne ki…par mujhe kuch yaad nahi aa raha…

 

Her voice cracked as she said the last sentence.  Angad moved closer and held her by the shoulders, not knowing if she would react differently if he hugged her.

 

Angad: its okay Kripa…don't stress yourself…this is one of the reasons why I didn't want to tell you the truth.  I knew you would stress yourself over this and its not good for you…if you stress yourself too much or get a slight shock, you can slip into coma.  I lost you for a part of my life once, don't want to lose you again.  Im being selfish right now.

 

Kripa(went ahead and hugged him): I'll try not to stress myself out…

 

Angad: good girl.  You will eventually remember…and even if you don't, you'll always have me by your side…I'll love you no matter what.

 

--::--::--::--

 

Angad woke up and just as usual took his shower, and stepped into the kitchen casually.

 

Angad: morning Tanya.

 

Kripa: Kripa…

 

Angad looked at her for two seconds and then remembered that she found out everything yesterday night.

 

Angad: well then in that case…

 

He walked up to her and pecked her cheek followed by a warm hug.

 

Kripa:  you were more flirtatious with Kripa than Tanya…

 

Angad: yes I was…but seriously..no worries…now that Kripa's back…the flirtatious Angad will be back too…

 

Kripa(rolled her eyes):  cant wait.

 

Just then, the doorbell rang.  Kripa went and opened it.  She was about to say something when Aliyah spoke.

 

Aaliyah: hey Tanya!  Congratulations for the engagement…where is bhai?  Soon you will be my bhabhi.

 

Kripa: Aliyah…you can stop playing…im already your bhabhi and you can call me Kripa.

 

Aliyah screamed with joy but startled Angad.  Angad came running out of the kitchen.

 

Angad: what happened?

 

Aliyah: Kripa??  No more Tanya??

 

Angad: oh…yea…come here Kripa.

 

He turned her around and hugged her from behind as she reached him.  He beamed a smile while Aliyah stood there thinking.

 

Aliyah: OH MY GOD…you got your memory back?

 

Kripa: nahi…sab kuch yaad to nahi aaya lekin sach pata chal gaya…

 

Angad: before you get confused…I'll tell you…

 

He told her the whole incident that happened last night.

 

Aliyah: well…at least you know the truth…to Kripa…josh se nahi milogi?

 

Kripa: he's here?

 

Aliyah: no but I can always call him…

 

Angad:  we'll surprise him…but for now…Aliyah has surprised us…

 

Aliyah: I have?

 

Angad: yea…what are you doing here?  And where is Kripa?

 

Kripa: im right here…

 

Angad: no…I know you're here…but where is the other Kripa???

 

Aliyah: oh…woh josh ke paas hai…I just came to tell you that me and josh are going back to Mumbai…

 

Angad: oh…alright…tell mom and dad that I will come in a week or so…

 

Aliyah: so you two are still getting married?

 

Angad: yea…I remember that in the past we got married but she doesn't…this will be her memory of our wedding.

 

Aliyah: aww…bhai..you're too sweet…alright…I'll get going…Kripa josh ke saath jyada der tak nahi rahegi…

 

Aliyah hugged both Kripa and Angad and left.

 

Kripa: tum vapas ghar jaa rahe ho?

 

Angad: haan…bas ek do din ke liye…

 

Kripa: main bhi saath chalu?

 

Angad: I'd love to take you but I want to surprise them…they wont see you until we reach the register marriage office aur ab waise bhi tumhe sab kuch pata hai….to unke reaction pe tum itna react nahi karogi jitna mujhse milne par kiya tha…chalo chodo in baton ko…jab main ghar jaunga tab tum yahan nahi rahogi….tum Mishti ke ghar pe hogi…

 

Kripa: Mishti ke ghar?  Kyun? 

 

Angad: because I don't want you to stay here alone…

 

Kripa: par jab tum clinic jaate ho tab bhi to main akeli hoti hoon…

 

Angad: no....tumhare saath prateek hota hai..

 

Kripa suddenly became serious and turned around to face Angad.

 

Kripa: tum prateek ko bhi saath le jaa rahe ho?

 

Angad: haan…kyun ki agar main prateek ke bina ghar gaya to mujhse sawal pe sawal kiye jayenge…they all know how protective I am of him…I didn't trust anyone except for you and me…ab wahan jaa kar yeh to nahi keh sakta na ki main prateek ko uski babysitter ke saath chod kar aaya hoon?....au waise bhi ek-do din ki baat to hai..

 

That didn't help her.  She looked down, avoiding his shapr eyes but he knew her better.  He moved ahead and hugged her to his chest.

 

Angad: ro kyun rahi ho Kripa…abhi to mujhe jaane mein pura hafta baaki hai…

 

Kripa: main iss liye nahi ro rahi Angad…mujhe darr lag raha hai…itni mushkilon ke baad tum aur prateek mujhe wapas mile ho…agar phir se kuch…

 

Angad: sochna bhi mat…hamara pyaar itna kamzor nahi hai…aur isi liye to tumhe Mishti ke paas chod kar jaa raha hoon…I know you'll be safe there…chalo ab rona bandh karo… hamare saath ek hafta hai…aur iss ek hafte mein hum woh saare pal jee lenge jo hum saath nahi bita sake…okay?

 

She wiped her tears and nodded.

 

A week later bidding Angad goodbye:

 

She hugged him tight reluctant to let go, fearing that if he left now, he won't come back and she'll be lonely again.  He understood her fears perfectly and even if he denied it, a corner of his heart had fear built up.  He didn't want to go but he had to.  He could take Kripa along but he wanted to surprise everyone especially Naina.

 

Mishti(putting her hand on Kripa's shoulder): Kripa…Angad ki flight ka time ho raha hai…

 

Kripa nodded and pulled apart.  Mishti put both her arms around Kripa's shoulders.

 

Mishti: bilkul chinta mat karna Angad…we'll take good care of her.

 

Armaan: aur rahul ki bhi fikar mat karna…main, Riddhima, eijaz aur barkha…hum sab Mishti ke ghar jaa rahe hai…we're all going to be together…aur haan….vapas aane ke baad Kripa se milne ki koshish bhi mat karna.

 

Angad: kyun?

 

Armaan: are…shaadi se pehle ladka ladki ek dusre se nahi mil sakte…aur hum ladki waale hain…itni aasani se thodi de denge Kripa ko tumhe?

 

Angad: agar chahu to abhi le ja sakta hoon..

 

Kartik: nahi le ja sakte…hum nahi jaane denge usse..

 

Angad : oh yea?  Well...kripa mere saath waise bih jaana chahti hai...aur legally, she is eligible to make her own decisions...you cant even interfere...

 

Armaan: whatever…abb jao…varna flight miss ho jayegi…

 

Angad hugged her once again while Armaan groaned.

 

Armaan: are yaar…sirf do din to alag rehna hai tum dono ko… aise behave kar rahe ho jaise saalon tak nahi milne waale..

 

Riddhima(punched armaan's arm lovingly): learn something Armaan…

 

While all others engaged themselves in a cute argument where it was guys against girls, Angad and Kripa were lost in their own world.

 

Kripa: take care of yourself and prateek…

 

Angad: I will..i promise…but you take more care of yourself….saara din mere aur prateek ke peeche bhaagti rehti ho…this should give you a break…and don't worry…I will be back tomorrow evening…

 

He had the urge to kiss her but held it back.  To his surprise, she went on her tippy toes and pecked his lips.  His lips curved into a smile automatically.  He bent down and covered her lips with his once again engaging her in a passionate lip-lock.  The awing of their annoying, but lovely, friends brought both back down to earth.  Angad frowned.

 

Angad: whatever happened to the word "privacy"?

 

Armaan: what's that?

 

Without getting into another argument, Angad bid final bye and left before his heart held him back.  After his flight took off, Kripa and others went to mishti's house.

 

--::--::--::--

 

Angad called her as soon as he landed in Mumbai.  Obviously she had been waiting for his call.  She sprinted to her cell on the dining table as soon as it rang.

 

Kripa(running out of breath): hello!!

 

Angad: Kripa?...whats wrong?  Why are you panting?

 

Kripa: woh….tumhara….call receive….karne ke liye…bhaag kar aayi hoon…

 

Angad(chuckled as he shook his head): kabhi nahi sudhrogi tum…

 

They talked until Angad reached Khanna house.  He bade her bye and hung up before he entered the house.  Dadi and Dilip rushed to him to welcome him back home.  Naina scooped prateek out of Angad's arms.

 

Dadi: kyun rooth kar chale gaye the??

 

Angad: bas kuch waqt akele bitaana chahta tha…aaj bhi shayad vapas nahi aata agar aap sabko ek khabar na deni hoti….

 

Dilip: Kaisi khabar?

 

Angad: Mom…maine aapki baat maan li…im getting married.

 

Dilip and Naina surrounded him and bombarded him with questions.  Who is she?  Whats her name?  Do we know her?  How does she look?  Uska khandan kaisa hai? Acche ghar se hai?  Dadi and Aliyah stood by the side, Aliyah giggling while dadi shaking her head.  At last dadi pushed in between naina and Dilip.

 

Dadi: are abhi abhi mera ladla ghar aaya hai….usse thoda aaram to kar lene do…aur agar Angad ne kisi ladki ko pasand kiya to acchi hi hogi… 

 

Angad: thanks dadi….waise mom, dad….aap jo chahe who Aliyah se pooch sakte hai…..usne dekha hai Tanya ko…

 

Naina: Tanya naam hai…naam to accha hai…Angad and Tanya…

 

Aliyah: sirf naam hi nahi mom, surat bhi bahut acchi hai…bhai ki zindagi mein Kripa ki jagah ek Tanya hi le sakti hai…

 

Angad: really Aliyah…tanya se milne ke baad aisa laga jaise mujhe meri Kripa vapas mil gayi hai…

Dadi gave him a look and once again told him to freshen up.  While Naina and Dilip surrounded Aliyah with questions, Dadi walked into Angad's room.  Angad sat her down on the bed and kneeled beside her on the floor as resting his head in her lap.

 

Dadi: ek baat poochun beta?

 

Angad: of course dadi..

 

Dadi: tum sach mein kush ho?

 

Angad(looked up at her): kya matlab?

 

Dadi: mera matlab hai…Tanya se shaadi karne ka faisla tumne apni marzi se liya hai ya phir naina ki khwaish puri karne ke liye?

 

Angad: nahi dadi….agar mom ki khwaish puri karni hoti to aise ghar se kyun chala jaata…Anjali se bhi to shaadi kar sakta tha na….lekin Tanya se shaadi karne ka faisla maine apni marzi se liya hai…aur main bahut khush ho dadi…

 

Dadi: aur woh?  Kya usse Kripa ke bare main pata hai?

 

Angad: sab kuch pata hai dadi…kuch bhi nahi chupaya maine usse…infact…jab mein Tanya se pehli baar mila tha tab who prateek ki babysitter ki job ke liye ayi thi…jaanti ho dadi...prateek bhi usse bahut chahta hai….

 

Dadi: chalo acchi baat hai…mere bete ki khushiyan phir se laut rahi hai..mujhe aur kya chahiye?  Lekin sach sach batana…kyat um Kripa ko kabhi bhi bhul paoge?

 

Angad: Kripa ko main kabhi bhi nahi bhula sakta chahe main laakh koshish kar loon…aur Tanya yeh baat bhi bahut acchi tarah se samajhti hai…

 

Naina(barging into the room): ANGAD!  What is this??  Tumne aur Tanya e engagement bhi kar li…..aur tum humein ab bata rahe ho?

 

Angad : woh actually mom....baat yeh thi ki hamare frieds ke group mein ek ladka hai...rahul...woh bhi Tanya se pyaar karta hai aur hum dono ke beech main rahul koi problem khadi kare usse pehle Mishti ne hum dono ki engagement karva di.......sab kuch itni jaldi hua ki kuch sochne ka mauka hi nahi mila...

 

Dilip : chalo...kam se kam shaadi pe to bulaya hai....varna pata chala ki hamare bete ne shaadi bhi kar li aur humein pata tak nahi chala..

 

Naina : kab kar rahe ho shaadi?

 

Angad : parso.

 

Naina : WHAT?

 

Angad : the day after tomorrow....all of you are coming with me tomorrow...

 

Naina: Angad…..yeh sab kya ho raha hai??

 

Aliyah: mom….sab kuch bahut jaldi mein hua hai na….dont worry….bhai aur mein aapko sab kuch samjha denge…lekin abhi please..packing shuru kijiye….

 

Naina gave up and left with Dilip while Dadi left to give the brother-sister their own moments.  As soon as They Left Aliyah burst out laughing.  Angad looked at her and giggled.

 

Angad: Aliyah!!  Shhh!!  Don't give it away…

 

Aliyah: this is funny…I cant wait to see their expression when they see her…

 

Angad(nodded): it should be worth watching…by the way….josh kahan hai?

 

Aliyah: Josh hospital gaya hai….aur kahan hoga…

 

Angad: aur Anjali…Prachi bhi nahi dikh rahi…

 

Aliyah: dono maa beti mandir gaye hai…

 

Angad: I see….accha…now do you mind giving me some privacy so I can call up Tanya…

Aliyah: nope..im not going from here….

 

Just then Kripa started crying.

 

Angad: jao…Kripa bula rahi hai…

 

Aliyah: bhai…aapko bula rahi hai….apne mama ko itna miss jo kar rahi thi…

 

Angad: I'll go see her.

 

Angad went to the baby room in Khanna house where Prateek, Kripa(aliyah's daughter), and Prachi stayed.  Prateek was sleeping in his crib but Kripa was no where near asleep.   He quickly scooped her out of her crib and walked outside before her loud sobs woke up prateek.

 

Angad: my god Aliyah…bilkul tumhari awaaz hai…..awaaz kam….loud speaker jyada….

 

Aliyah: Bhai!....accha?  to prateek bhi to bilkul aapke jaisa hai..

 

Angad: handsome and all………I know….

 

Aliyah: you're impossible.

 

Angad: finally you know…

 

Kripa was silently listening to the two elders arguing like teenagers.  They didn't seem to notice that she was quiet now and continued arguing.

 

--::--::--::--

 

Angad: are yeh kya baat hui….bolo na…please…

 

Kripa: nope…

 

Angad: kyun???

 

Kripa: mujhe yahan par chod kar chale gaye na…..uski saza...

 

Angad : are you missing me?

 

Kripa: miss?  Aur woh bhi tumhe?...nahi to…im having a blast here…

 

Angad: oh yea??  Kya kiya pura din?

 

Kripa: I went shopping with Mishti then practiced for the next concert…and had a great time…

 

Angad: mere bina kaafi enjoy kar rahi ho…

 

Kripa: definitely….

Angad: accha?  To phir main vapas nahi aa raha…

 

Kripa : suit yourself...aur waise bhi...kitne din tak reh paoge door mujhse?

 

Angad: hmm….let me count………tumse door main……ek din bhi nahi reh sakta…now im wishing I brought you with me…

 

Kripa: I never told you to leave me here…

 

Angad groaned when prateek cried.

 

Angad(making his way to the baby room): tumhara beta kuch jyada hi kabab mein haddi ban raha hai..

 

Kripa: mera beta??  Tumhara beta nahi hai kya?  Aur waise bhi agar woh kabab mein haddi banta hai then blame yourself….saari traits tumhari to hai uss mein...

 

Angad: nahi to…ek trait tumhari bhi hai…

 

Kripa: kaun si?

 

Angad: tum dono ko mujhe tang karne mein bahut maza aata hai…

 

Kripa laughed over the phone but it faded as she heard Prateek's cries over the phone.

 

Kripa: Angad…pehle usse dekho…mujhe bad mein phone kar lena..

 

Angad: are itni tension kyun leti ho?  Prateek apne papa ke paas to hai..kisi ajnabee ke paas nahi…don't worry…abhi abhi utha hai isi liye ro raha hai…

 

Kripa: accha to pehle usse chup to kara lo…baad mein baat kar lena..

 

Angad agreed and put the phone aside.  Kripa waited patiently on the other side.  She heard prateek's sobs come to a stall but just then she head Angad speak.  Not to her.  To someone else.

 

Angad: tum??  Kab aayi??....kabse intezaar kar raha hoon pata hai??  Come here and give me a big hug!!!

 

Next she heard Angad kiss whoever that girl was.  Kripa fumed with anger.

 

Kripa(to herself): accha…to issi liye mujhe apne saath nahi le jaa raha tha

 

She hung up the phone angrily.  She sat down on her bed cross armed with a frown on her face.  While on the other hand, Angad just remembered he had put Kripa on hold.

 

Angad: ek minute Kripa beta…aapki maami se baat karte hai…

 

He held Kripa's finger while carrying Prateek in other hand and walked to his phone.  He picked up the phone and spoke.

 

Angad: sorry about that…

 

He was surprised when he didn't get a response.  He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen which showed him his wallpaper, which meant that the call had disconnected.  He groaned and dialed her number again.  She looked at the phone and frowned deeper.  After 2-3 rings, she disconnected the phone.  Angad looked at the phone confusedly and dialed her number again and again.  He gave up when he got the "this number is unavailable" message after she disconnected his calls at least 20 times.

 

Angad: isse kya ho gaya?