Circle of Life
     
     At times life seems to be moving in a circle. We cross paths that we had past long ago, and we find our selves re-living moments and mistakes. Maybe that's what the Circle of life is all about.
     
     Kripa woke up this morning with a mighty hang over. It wasn't much of a surprise since she'd been out drinking yesterday again with a few friends, but the reason never made anyone feel better now did it? Kripa turned on the shower and stood under the warm water falling and calming her body. Morning showers were always so relaxing, Kripa would often sit down in the tub with her eye's closed and simply stay there for hours and hours. Today of course she didn't have this much time. Kripa was going to meet her new boss today. The bloody company has been taken over by a new company called "Random Squared" and today their new boss was coming. They weren't going to lay off all the old workers, it all depended on their body of work. Kripa was very confident that she'd stay, she was the best they had. But it wasn't just about staying in the company, with the old board of directors, Kripa was already the unofficial member of the board. It was going to be official and the company's anniversary party. Now with this new company, Kripa had to make sure her spot was still safe.
     Opening her wardrobe Kripa took out a white floral dress that went up to her knees and revealed her beautiful legs. She walked out of her house holding her briefcase and coffee mug. Life in London was so different from New York. Here in London life was so much calming, without the bustling buses and taxi cabs. And yet she missed New York. It's been a week since she came back from Mr. Das's wedding, and she's been yearning to go back ever since.
     
     Shazad on the other hand took use a vacation any minute now. These freshman were driving him crazy! Not only did they look like they just came out of some Dora the Explorer episode, but they played like cheese balls! Shazad ran across the gym trying to show the kids how to steal and dribble, God knows who told them they know how to play basketball, they don't even know they basics yet!

S- Come on! Get a move on, you guys are running like damn turtles. Go home and help your mother bake cookies your bunch of babies!

     This was by far the worst bunch of kids he'd ever had in all his years. Shazad was finally thinking of fully handling his fathers company like his father had offered. Mr. Islam's health been worsening day by day and Shazad is taken more and more responsibility of his fathers work. Shazad ran his fingers threw his hair as he thought about what to do. It was easy to get distracted while coaching this team considering they rarely did anything.

S- Tim! Not the granny!

Meem decided on spending a few more days in New York and show her son where she grew up. Aryan never came to New York before, he was still in awe at how one city has hold so many big buildings. But Meem was more concerned in showing him the park by 73rd street and the school she went too.

Ar- Mommy, your school is so big. Its bigger than my school, and I thought my school was the biggest school in the whole wide world!

M- Wait until you go to college sweetie.

Ar- Mommy lets go say hi to the kids, their your friends right?

Meem took Aryans hand as they strolled past the play ground.

M- Aryan, these are all new kids. My friends graduated already, their gone now.

Ar- Oh mommy don't worry, lets make new friends. Come On!

Aryan pulled Meem into the school, leading they way and saying hi to random students. Some found it amusing, while others found it cute.

Back in the office Kripa was chatting up with a few friends, discussing the new boss and the changes that'll come with him. Kripa sat on the desk with her legs folded and coffee in her hands. Kripa's eye's were stuck on the door, waiting for the new boss to come.

G- Calm down love, are you trying to get the boss the love in love with at first sight or something.

K- Shut up Gorge, go eat a donut

G- Will do love, but you staring at the door wont give you that position in the board.

K- We'll see about that.

Kripa tied her hair in a tight bun and got off the desk and walked away to her other colleagues.
N- So I heard the new boss is rather charming, and single.
K- Nancy, when it comes to men, it doesn't matter if their single or not. It's actually a lot easier to get them under your finger tips if they are married.
N- Krips sweetie, I heard this one is a miser. He's planning on giving everyone the boot.
K- Yeah, we'll see…its nothing I can't handle.
N- Okay…Oh dear I think he's here!

Kripa raised her eye brow and turned around so she didn't face the door. For someone whose been anticipating the arrival of this man for so long, this was one strange reaction. Kripa sat in her seat and drank her coffee like any other day, giving off the impression she didn't care one bit about who was here.

The new greeted each and every member of the staff. He kindly hugged the elder women as well. Everyone was very impressed with the new boss, not only behavior wise but also in appearance. He wore a black on black suit with a black tie and faded black sun glasses. He had a huge dial watch on one hand and a single silver bracelet in the other. He swiftly walked past everyone, with a delightful gesture. Noticing Kripa, he took the initiative and walked up to her. Kripa noticed him from the corner of her eye, but play dumbfound. He tapped her on the back and offered his hand.

-Hello

Kripa turned around smoothly and was shocked at the tall dark and handsome face in front of her

K- Angad?
A- Were you expecting Peter the Great instead?
K- What? You're the….you!
A- If your question is whether or not I'm not your new boss, then yes I am.
K- What do you mean? You cant…
A- Kripa I can, and I am. Now if you will excuse me I have some people to fire.
K- Great…

Shazad was talking to a few of the parents about the basketball season, he was also informing them that their kids are a bunch of sorry slobs that have no talent what so ever.

S- Your son should really look into some activities because I really don't think basketball is the thing for him.
D- Oh but my son's been a a basketball team all his life. He's got real potential
S- Well, unless he can transfer that potential energy into some kinetic stuff soon, he'll be out of the team.
D- How can you say that? I'm part of the PTA, I'll talk about your coaching skills in our next meeting, this is no way for you to act.
S- Go ahead, tell on me se if I care. I run a multi millionaire company, your kid is the least of my concerns.

Z- How dare you talk to a parent like that!

Shazad turned around just about ready to smack whoever said that, when he heartbeat just stopped as he saw ZuZu. Shazad remembered ZuZu clearly, she was still a beautiful with her dark blown hair and honey colored eye's. She wore a tight black dress with a white sweater, her light features brought out the best features in her. She looked gorgeous.

S- ZuZu? What are you doing here?
Z- Excuse me. It's Zooni, not ZuZu.

ZuZu walked away from Shazad and went to a young boy who was in Shazad's team. Shazad followed her and caught a hold of her arm.

S- ZuZu, don't you remember me? I'm Shazad remember. Shazad Islam.

ZuZu yanked her arm away from Shazad.

Z- Yes I remember you very well. You turned me down for marriage and ruined my and my parents name in the entire Muslim Indian society in all of America!

S- Oh, that. Are you still mad about that? I mean, I did you a favor, I mean you wouldn't want to be married to a basketball couch now would you?

Z- Shut Up!

Shazad's eye's laid upon the teenager that was with ZuZu. He looked good, he was one of the very few good players on the team too. Reminded Shazad a lot of himself.

S- Is this you brother?
Z- My cousin, and what is it with you telling him he cant play!
S- I never said he cant play, I just…
Z- Whatever…I don't know who made you couch of this team.
S- Yeah, me neither. So anyway, how have you been, you don't know how much I missed you and talking to you!
Z- Sorry I cant say the same.
S- ZuZu, there are reason why I couldn't marry you. I had responsibilities and…

Just then a boy ran from behind and hugged Shazad. Shazad quickly turned around and picked him up and twirled him around the air.

S- Its my boy!
Ar- I missed you so much

Shazad completely forgot about ZuZu has be played with Aryan, spinning him around. ZuZu stood there watching Shazad play with the little boy. Then out from behind, Meem came and joined them.

S- Hey Meem! I didn't know you two were coming
M- Yeah, we just decided to stop by
S- That's great, I'm almost done then we'll go home and make some cookies.
Ar- I love cookies!
S-And I love you!

ZuZu watched the happy family in all their glory. She couldn't have even imagined that in these five years, Shazad would have settled down and started a family too. It was so surprisingly. Although ZuZu had never known Shazad well enough to have loved him, seeing his happy family hurt her somewhere in her heart.

S- Oh my God, Meem look its ZuZu!

Just as Shazad and Meem turned around to face ZuZu, they were shocked to see she was gone. Shazad put Aryan down and looked around for her, but couldn't find her anywhere.

It was late at night in London. The street lights were on, and you could see the buildings glowing bright in the darkness. It was raining heavily, like it always did in London. Kripa loved the rain, she found it to be so soothing and calm. Rain would depress many but Kripa always thought rain was a good thing. When we're upset we cry, and then feel better. When the earth is upset, when the world looks at all the hatred and destruction in the world it rains, letting the pain out. Kripa loved the rain. She sat in her cabin and watch it as she did her work. She was the only one in the office as usual, or at least that's what she thought. There was a sudden knock at her door, it made her jump up.

A- May I come in?

Angad asked peeping through the door. Kripa rolled her eye's and sat back on her chair.

K- If you must, I cant stop you. You're the boss after all.

Angad walked in and sat at the edge of the table. His tie was loosened and hair was ruffled. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbow and shirt was a bit un-tucked from one side. Was he working or fighting?

K- Well you look awful
A- Really? I thought I was looking quite charming, especially after the way you and all the other women at working were checking me out.
K- I was not!
A- Yes you were, but it's okay. I'm used to it.

Kripa rolled her eye's and stared at Angad who was looking out the window. The one thing the would always strike Kripa about Angad was his eye's. They were always so sad and hollow. Even in high school, when he was with her…his eye's were all empty. The only time Kripa had seen life in them was when he was with Vedika. Although hard to digest, it was true…Angad loved Vedika.

K- I…I didn't know about Vedika Angad. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry about everything.
A- Forget about it.
K- Excuse me?

Angad turned around and sat on the desk again.

A- Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. Sometimes life is just screwed up. We have to face it.

K- But all the things I said about you and here at the wedding…I'm so sorry
A- You had the right too. I cheated on you, I guess…maybe its karma.
K- No Angad, this isn't karma. You don't deserve this, Vedika didn't deserve this.

Angad stayed silent, as he looked down staring at his shoes.

K- Angad? (she whispered)
A- You know, Vedika was the best thing that ever happened to me. I loved every moment I spent with her, even when we fought. And I'd rather live with the pain of knowing she isn't around anymore, than live with never knowing her.
K- And…what about your daughter?

A spark of hurt came upon Angad's face when Kripa mentioned his daughter. It was obvious that he hasn't gotten over that lose yet.

A- She's fine. I'll find her. My little girl, she like her daddy you know. We never give up, I know she's out there. I'll find her.
K- I know.

Kripa put her hand on Angad's shoulder.

A- My little girl is beautiful, just like her mother. She's one hot baby, my girl.
K- Tell me
A- Tell you what
K- About your daughter. About you, about Vedika. About your life.
A- Kripa…I know I've hurt you in the past, and I'll never forgive myself for it. I'm sorry if me talking about my family is hurting you, I understand
K- This isn't about that, I really want to know.
A- Why?
K- I just do…

And looked at Kripa for a minute, trying to figure out what she wanted. Why the sudden interest in his family? In his life.

A- It was heaven on earth Kripa…heaven on earth.

After having dinner at Meem's house Shazad set out to find ZuZu. He looked through all his student files and finally found the one that belong to Rehan. Rehan was ZuZu's cousin, most likely they would know where to find her. Shazad had always held a burden in his heart knowing that what he did the ZuZu was wrong. He needed her to know that it Meem hadn't gotten pregnant, he would have never turned ZuZu down. He needed her to know that there were a few secrets in his life that he just couldn't reveal. Meem and Aryan were his responsibility, although Meem never disclosed the name of Aryan's father, Shazad new. He would be a coward if he had left Meem knowing…

Kripa was at home looking through her photo album. In all these years, the memories, the pictures, none of it affected Kripa. Love, friendship, trust were all simply words for her. Just letter put together. Then suddenly today, after hearing all the story Angad told her about Vedika and him, about their perfect life…love began making sense again. It was so amusing, the man you made her stop believing in love was the one who was now bringing love back into her life.

Meem and Aryan just had one more stop left. Meem had shown Aryan every meaningful place in New York, every place wear something special happened. All that was left now was her home. Meem requested the new owners of the house to let her show her son the house where she grew up. Aryan loved it. He loved the huge garden and the wood floors and even the bathrooms. It brought tears to Meem's eye's. Every old memory she hd of her parents came alive…from when she found out she was adopted, to the cookie making, to when her father kicked her out. Every memory.

Angad arrived home very late and exhausted. He'd worked very hard on fixing up all the loose ends in the office and finally got himself settled. Angad's house was empty. Mainly because he had just moved to London. As he opened the lights he stared at the empty white walls. Not one photo of Vedika or their daughter. Not one sign of them. Angad sat on the steps of the house and head his head. He was so stressed out, and tired. In the darkness of his home and light came as Vedika sat next to him. She came, and a sudden comfort came to Angad. He had his eye's closed as he felt Vedika caressing his hair.

A- I'm so stressed babe. I hope I don't mess up, this take over his the biggest for our company I've ever taken, its so important.

Vedika didn't say anything, she never said anything. She was just there. Angad looked up to just see Vedika's beautiful eye's once, just once but he couldn't. Like every other time, Vedika disappeared. She always did that, she's come and comfort him, tell him that she's there for him. Angad knew Vedika was still with him, his heart knew it. And every time Angad tired to just look at her once, just once to see her…every time, just to make his eye's believe like his heart did, every time she's disappear. Leaving him alone in his solitude…in his darkness.

To Be Cont…

NOTE- Vedika is still dead, this Vedika is just Angad's imagination.

Hope you guys like it. there are many mistakes, since I didn't edit it, but I'm tired. This part took really long, esp since I have family over. Do comment.

Karishma*****