Thanks a Ton : rima791, deeya123, desiqt8806, superstar15, faiza, chillingal16, arwa72, nimrah, sweet honey, *princess*15, guju_qt, arohaangle, sumitwadhwa, shafoo, and my silent readers!

=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=

Din beet jate hain suhani yaadein bankar,
Baate rah jati hai kahani bankar,
Par chahat to humesha dil ke pass rehegi,
kabhi muskan to kabhi ankhon ka pani bankar.

(Thanks kvn1983 for the quote)

Part 80:

 

He was looking at her lovingly when he felt her grip on his hand tighten.  He looked at their hands and then back at her, stunned.

 

Angad: Kripa??

 

Her grip on his hand was gradually getting tighter.  He didn't know what to do.  He was too happy upon finally getting a response from her.  A light frown appeared on her pretty face which got deeper in a couple of minutes, while a tear escaped her eye.  He reluctantly let go of her hand and got into a surgeon's shoes.  He checked all the apparatus in the room.  He put a stethoscope to her chest and listened to her heartbeat fasten gradually.  Her breathing was becoming heavy but he couldn't tell what was happening.  Just then, Mrs.Gupta entered the room to check on her.  It was the day of her and her baby's weekly checkup.

 

Gupta: what wrong doctor Khanna?

 

Angad: oh…Mrs. Gupta…she's responding…her body is responding…

 

Gupta: really?  That's great news!!

 

Angad: but I don't know what's happening…

 

Gupta: let me see...

 

Mrs. Gupta checked Kripa's pulse and instantly knew what was happening.  She quickly put and instrument on Kripa's stomach and checked.

 

Mrs. Gupta: She is reacting to contractions…she's breaking into labor!  Its time!

 

Kripa wasn't completely conscious yet but she let out a moan.  Angad rushed to her side while Mrs. Gupta ran out to get nurses and get the OT ready.  Angad held on to her hand which she clasped tightly, letting out another moan, louder than the previous one.

 

Angad: Kripa??  Kripa do you hear me??  Aankhein kholo Kripa!! Say something Kripa!!

 

He encouraged her to drag herself out of the coma while her baby helped her.  He knew things were going to be fine after her delivery because her face was clearly showing the pain that the contractions were bringing her.

 

Kripa: An-gad!!

 

She finally muttered it in between moans of pain.

 

Angad: I'm here Kripa!  I'm right here…you……you just relax okay...everything is going to be just alright….

 

Dr.Gupta rushed in with a few nurses and they all took Kripa to the OT.  Angad called Josh as soon as the doors closed.

 

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

 

The whole group paced around once again waiting for the news.  The hospital staff was probably seeing them since they've been at the hospital everyday to visit after Kripa got into the accident.  Angad was in cloud nine and only him and Mishti knew why that was.

 

Armaan: Angad…tum itna muskura kyun rahe ho?  Is there something you know that we don't?

 

Angad let out a giggle surprising everyone.  He hadn't even smiled whole heartedly for the past four months and now, all of a sudden, he was all giggles.

 

Kartik: okay…spill Mishti!  I know that grin….

 

Angad: You'll see why I'm so happy soon…

 

Riddhima: is it because you're baby is coming today?

 

Aliyah: its much more than that ridz…I cant tell by looking at his smile…

 

Josh: oh my god….are you and Kripa having twins??

 

Angad(laughed): twins??  Where did that come from?....and I don't know if we're having twins or not…

 

Nurse(waking out of the OT): Congratulations!  It's a girl!.

 

Angad: YES!!!!  I knew it!!!! Yes yes yes yes yes!!

 

Everyone cheered and joined Angad in sharing the bit of happiness they had gotten in the past four months.  It felt as if it was a group of crowd cheering for a rock star in a concert.

 

Nurse: um…okay then…you can go in if you want….(scanned the crowd gathered for Kripa)…erm…or maybe just you Mr.Khanna…she's back in her room.

 

Angad nodded and rushed into her room while the others tailed him.  He closed the door behind him and walked to her quickly.  Feeling his presence, she slowly opened her eyes.  He smiled while tears faded his vision.  She gave him a faint smile making him hug her and breakdown and let out tears of joy.  With all her energy, she put her hands on his head and caressed his hair, soothing him.

 

Angad: so…finally felt like coming back to me?

 

Kripa tried saying something but she had no energy, plus her throat and lips were parched.

 

Angad: no need to say sorry!...it wont make up for all the time lost with you…

 

Kripa(faint whisper): sso-rry.

 

Angad smiled and touched his lips to hers, moistening her lips in his special way.  He parted quickly realizing that she needed to breathe and she had no energy to struggle.  Kripa had more to say to him, but she couldn't.  Angad helped her sit up and rested her against a stack of pillows.  He picked up a glass of water from the side table and helped her drink a little.

 

Angad: better?

 

Kripa(coarse voice): yea…

 

Angad: Hamari beti ko dekha?  She looks like you doesn't she?

 

Kripa(chuckled): haan dekha……meri jaisi dikhti hai ya nahi woh to tum decide kar lena…

 

Angad: hmm…naam kya rakhenge?

 

Kripa: kuch bhi rakh lena…bas….rani ko chod kar…

 

Angad: hahaha.woh to…

 

He suddenly remembered that he and Kripa had the 'rani' talk before prateek was born!  Does that mean she got all her memory back?  As long as he remembered, he didn't mention 'rani' to Kripa after they got married for the second time.

 

Angad: Kripa?..

 

Kripa(nodded): haan…I remember everything!!

 

Angad(embraced her): Oh my god!  This is the happiest day of my life!!  My daughter's born today, our third marriage anniversary is today, you got your memory back….your out of coma……god could I be any happier??

 

Kripa(embracing him back):  Happy Anniversary Angad…I love you!!

 

Angad: I love you too….

After they parted, Angad went out and called everyone in.  They were all equally happy to see her sitting, smiling, and living like a normal human kind.  They were even happier once Angad told them that Kripa had gained her memory back.  They all hugged her together, almost suffocating her until Angad; Kripa's protector stepped in and possessively gathered her in his arms while Kripa placed prateek in her lap.

 

Naina: Kripa…I know I shouldn't be asking such questions on such a happy occasion but…how come the other dead body had your rings?

 

Angad: mom aap kya baat le kar baith gayi hai?

 

Kripa: its okay Angad…actually…I was in my compartment with another lady….we were just sitting and talking but just then, a man and a woman entered our compartment with guns…the girl pointed it on my forehead and she took all my jewelry…she was reaching for my mangalsutra but just then we felt the train tilt to one side…I remember my head getting smashed against the metallic wall…and after that……

 

Angad: it's ok…we know the rest…jo ho gaya so ho gaya…lets not go back there again…

 

They all started talking again while Kripa looked at the door every few seconds.  Angad saw the restlessness on her face and smiled.

 

Angad: don't worry…she'll be here soon…aur…naam bhi maine soch liya hai…

 

Kripa: accha?  Kya socha hai?

 

Angad: Pratheeka..

 

Kripa: um Angad…isn't that too similar to 'Prateek'?..

 

Angad: I know….but they both are similar to us aren't they?  They both are just as special to us, and both of them are a symbol of our love…'prateek' means symbol and so does Pratheeka…see..perfect match?

 

Kripa(sighed): naa thoda puraana nahi hai?

 

Angad: but its unique….you wont find many Pratheeka's in the world…

 

Kripa: as you say…as long as its not 'rani' im fine.

 

Angad: waise 'rani' se tumhe itni problem kyun hai?

 

Kripa : i dont know....i just dont want my daughter to be named 'rani'…

 

Angad: okay then……so Pratheeka it is?

 

Kripa nodded while smiling.  The nurse entered with 'Pratheeka' in her hands.  She handed the bundle of joy to Kripa.  But Kripa held Angad's hand and extended both his and her hands as holding her together.

 

Angad: prateek…come here…look…

 

Prateek climbed into Angad's lap with Aliyah's help and looked at the baby.

 

Prateek: Baby!  Sister?

 

Kripa: awww….bahut kuch bolne lage ho beta…..kisne sikhaya?

 

Prateek: Papa!

 

Kripa thanked Angad through her eyes.

 

Angad: haan beta….tumhari behen hai…aur iska naam tumse milta hai…

 

Prateek: name.

 

Angad: Her name is Pratheeka.

 

Prateek(pointing towards himself): prateek?

 

Kripa(giggled): nahi beta…Pratheek-a.

 

Prateek: Prateek- aaaaa

 

All laughed at the innocent boy who was amused by the little baby in his mother's arms.

 

Naina: accha…to tum dono ne naam bhi chun liya hai…

 

Angad: haan…..humne nahi…meine chuna hai….kripa ne to bas haan kaha hai…

 

Aliyah: Woh to waise bhi kehti….aakhir aap dono romeo Juliet mein to yehi to khaas baat hai….ek ke suggestion par dusre ki hamesha 'haan' hi hoti hai…

 

Josh: aur hamare case mein…we're always different…

 

Anjali(sadly): but even then you two are together….

 

Kripa: Anju…yahan aao……(Anjali went and sat beside Kripa with her head bowed down)…anjali…tum apna sir kyun jhuka rahi ho?....tumhari kya galati hai?  Kayar woh tha jo thodi si taqleef ki vajah se tumhe aur Prachi ko chod kar chala gaya……kamzor woh tha…tum nahi…and don't worry….i know you will find someone else in life who will love you as much as you'll love him back…bhaghvan ne kar kisi ke liye koi na koi banaya hai…..tumhare liye jo bhi bana hai…woh tumhe jarur milega…

 

Anjali hugged Kripa while a couple of tears rolled onto her cheeks.

 

Voice: Congratulations!

 

Everyone except for Kripa, Dilip, Naina, and Dadi frowned.

 

Kripa: Hey Rahul.  Thanks!  How have you been?

 

Rahul: shukr hai naam to yaad hai……so…this is junior Kripa huh?

 

Kripa: yup…that's her……tum bolo….junior rahul kab dikha rahe ho?

 

Rahul: not for a few years………mera pehla pyaar abhi bhi nahi bhool paya…

 

Angad frowned deeper and glared at rahul.

 

Kripa:  Im sorry.

 

Rahul: no no…..dont be!...you know what they say….jisse aap pyaar karte hai……agar woh khush hai to aap khush ho….aur jisse mein pyaar karta hoon…woh to bahut khush hai….itna khush usse meine pehle kabhi nahi dekha…

 

Angad: and I hope you will let her stay happy….

 

Rahul: of course I will…aur waise bhi woh to hamesha se kisi aur ki thi……mein chah kar bhi usse apni nahi bana sakta……um…mujhe kuch kaam yaad aa gaya….i'll take your leave……I wanted to let you all know that I am moving to Africa.  I have gotten a job there….you guys will have to find another 'R' for TAMBER.

 

Kartik: aur naya 'T' bhi….kyunki ab Tanya Kripa ban gayi hai…

 

Mishti: Tanya Kripa ban jaye ya phir koi aur…..TAMBER ke liye woh hamesha Tanya hi rahegi…

 

Rahul: um..i have to go….bye guys.

 

Everyone bade him bye.  He left and turned one last time to get the last look of his first love, "Tanya".

 

Mishti: Kripa….you're not leaving the band I hope…

 

Angad: of course she isn't……im not letting her..

 

Kripa: Angad…I'll stay in the band only and only if dadi, mom and dad don't have a problem with it….

 

Dadi: humein kya problem hogi??  Hamari bacchi itna naam kama rahi hai…aur zindagi mein who kar rahi hai jo usse accha lagta hai….humein koi problem nahi hai…

 

Naina: hamare ghar ke liye, Angad ke liye tumne apni padhai to puri nahi ki…aur agar hum Aliyah ko padhne de sakte hai…to tumhe band quit karne ko kyun bolenge?  Mishti…yeh band quit nahi karegi.  Aur ab sab mere saath ghar chalenge…Angad aur Kripa ko thodi der akela chod do…they need time together……prateek ko bhi saath mein le jayenge…pata nahi Angad kab ghar ayega…

 

Kripa: par dadi…abhi mujhe Mishti ke bete ko dekhna hai….aur Aman ko bhi dekhna hai…prateek se kitni saari baatein karni hai….please thodi der rehne do na..

 

Dadi(scolding lovingly): ekdum chup!!  Tumhe aaram ki jarurat hai…aura b to tum vapas ghar aa hi rahi ho..tab dekh lena….agar tumse itna lamba wait nahi hota to mein sab couples ko eke k karke tumhare paas bhejh dungi….lekin abhi thoda waqt apne pati ke saath bitao…tum nahi jaanti Angad ka kya haal hua hai inn chaar mahino mein…

 

Kripa didn't argue after that.  Dadi left with everyone leaving Angad-Kripa, and Pratheeka alone.  Angad and Kripa just stared at each other not knowing what to talk about.

 

Kripa: Angad...say something....I know you have a lot to say...

 

Angad: I do…is she asleep?

 

Kripa looked at her princess in her arms and nodded.  Angad scooped their bundle of joy and placed her in her crib gently.  He went back to Kripa and sat down on her bed beside her, hugging her, pressing her head to his broad chest.  There were moments of silence but the silence spoke volumes.

 

Kripa: Angad…when can I go home?  I don't want to stay here another day!

 

Angad: well….tell you what…I don't want to keep you here for another day…..but unfortunately…you wont be discharged until three days….and you are under my supervision Mrs.Khanna.

 

Kripa(looked up at him): ab to saari zindagi aapke supervision mein hi rehna hai Dr.Khanna.

 

Angad leaned in on her and engaged her in a gentle yet a passionate lip-lock.

bewajah kisiko sataya nahi karte,
hadh se bhi zyada kisiko tarpaya nahi karte,
jin ki saans chalti ho aapke didar se,
unhe apne didar ke liye rulaya nahi karte.

(Thanks kvn1983 for the quote)

love_iqbal_khan39634.0303819444