Chapter 5

PART- 5

Dilip and Angad were alone one afternoon, while others had gone with some work and Dilip sighed and looked at Angad, deep in thoughts……..

D: Kya baat hai Angad, kya soch rahe ho?

A: Ji, papa, kuch nahi……..Bas aise hi………

D: Dekho Angad, I know this talk is long pending, aur aaj waise bhi hum sath hai aur ghar par koi nahi hai to……….He said sighing…….jo hume thik laga, humne tumhe bataya aur mujhe khushi hai ki tum donon ne humara aadar rakhkar haan bhi kaha………Pata hai mujhe, ki donon ko tumhe ek sath aise puchna sahi nahi tha, tumhari ma ne mujh se kaha bhi tha, par shayad mera swarth samjho, ya mera vishwas, mujhe laga ki yahi faisla sahi hai aur mein ne wahi kiya jo mujhe thik laga………He said sighing and Angad kept quite looking down…….Janta hun, ki tum iss baat par ghussa bhi aya hoga……..He said laughing and Angad looked up at him seriously…….

A: Haan papa, aya tha mujhe ghussa kuch der ke liye……..He at last confessed taking a deep breathe………Par phir aap ki baat yaad ayi……..Aap do mahine pehle mujhe Kripa ke bare mein issiliye bata rahe the na……Aap keh rahe the, ki mein sahi keh raha tha aur Kripa ko pehle se hi thoda encourage karte to acha hota………! Dilip looked at him surprised………Mere haan kehne ke piche yeh bhi ek wajah thi dad………Kripa needs a change………Especially after the way she is cooconed………You told me that she needed a change, but mom is too much concerned about her and does not let any one force her in anything……..He said sighing and Dilip looked down nodding………

D: Thik kaha beta…….Aur mein bhi kya kehta…….? Aisa bhi nahi hai na ki woh bachpan se humare sath hai……..Jab yahan ayi thi, she was almost a teenager and I couldn't talk to her in a same way as I do to Aliyah…….Ek to uska nature, uss par itna bada gum aur phir saab kuch naya tha uske liye…….Issiliye socha mera bolna thik nahi hoga and I let your mom take over her responsibility……Tumhari ma usse jyada achi tarah jan sakti thi, aise mein, issiliye mein piche hat gaya………Par haan chinta hone lagi thi, mujhe pichle saal se……..Uska iss tarah khud ko ghar mein hi bandhe rakhna, thik nahi lagta tha mujhe…….Kaha bhi tha usse ki mein ne ek do baar ki bahar jaye doston ke sath, thoda enjoy kare, par bas muskurakar gardan hila diya ussne……..Par kabhi gayi? Nahi…….He said sighing………Agar hum le jaye to thik, nahi to………Aur tumhe to pata hai, Kartik ye company form karne ke chakkar mein kitna busy rehta hai……..Aur Aliyah ke pair to ghar mein tikte hi nahi……So, sara waqt ma ke sath hi bitati……..Aur tumhari ma bhajan, ya phir mandir ya kaam ke silsile mein hi bahar jati hai……..Aur unke ladies group mein to Kripa ko pata hai, ki unki umr ke hi log ate hain, to wahan bhi nahi jati………Din ba din chinta khaye ja rahi thi mujhe……..Kabhi kabhi sochta ki ek baar psychologist ke paas jakar baat kar aun, par phir daar bhi lagta ki kahin Kripa galat na samajh le…….Acha bhi nahi lagta na……Tabhi tumhara khayal aya mujhe………He said sighing……..I know ki ye bahot badi responsibility mein tujhe de raha hun beta……..Par iska karan hai mera tum par ka vishwas…….! I know you alone now can make a difference……..Shayad mein aur ma jo nahi kar payenge, woh tum kar sakoge, yahi umeed se mein ne ye faisla liya hai………. I know ki tumhare apne sapne honge, apni jeevan sathi ko lekar par……..He said looking down guiltily……..…

A: Dad, Mein janta tha ki aap uske bare mein pareshan the, and I respect you for thinking about her so much dad…….He said assuringly, keeping a hand on his hands…….Agar aap aur mom Kripa ko apna maan sakte hain, to why not me……..I don't know if I would ever make Kripa independent and confident as you wish her to be, but I will try my best dad………..Aur waise bhi, aisa nahi tha ki mein kisi ko chahta hun or something like that……..I just wanted to concentrate on the carrerr for now…….! But I respect your decision dad…….I like Kripa and never doubt it…….She is sweet and caring girl and I promise, I have accepted her as my life partner with all my heart……! Aaj shayad hum ek dusare ko sirf pasand karte ho, par bahot jald jab ek dusare ko janane lagenge to, I am sure, we will be happy…….

Dilip smiled and patted his hands………Actually tum ne jab ye idea mere dimag mein dala, ki Kripa ko US bhejun, padhne, tabhi, mere dimag mein ye baat bhi ayi thi………Kyun ki pata tha mujhe ki Kripa haan nahi kahegi aur teri ma bhi………He said looking down………Aur phir mujhe bhi usse akele aise bhejna thik nahi laga………Waise Kripa hai bahot pyari……..Saab ka bahot dhyan deti hai, ma ke najdeek hai aur Aliyah aur tum donon bhi usse achi tarah jante ho, apna mante ho………To socha, agar tum dono iss rishte ko maan jao, to shayad issase saab ki bhalai ho……..He said smiling at Angad slowly………

A: I hope so dad.……I hope I am up to this responsibility, but I promise, I will try my best...But dad, you need to promise me one thing…….Dilip raised his eyebrows……….You will not question me or stop me from doing anything in regards to Kripa, once we are married and go to US……….Dilip frowned….Aap chinta mat kijiye dad, I will do what is best for us, but I will do it my way…….He said adamantly………Dilip sighed……..

D: Thik hai Angad, I hope you succed, where we failed…….He said sadly and Angad touched his hands……..

A: No, dad, you did not fail………Haan Kripa is very very reserved………She just needs to come out of her shelter…….And this is only possible, when she needs to do things on her own and is forced to do things, which she has never done before……..I have thought this for couple of months now and I came to only one conclusion……..Kripa was never encouraged or forced to do things, which might be one of the reason she is lagging confidence…….Wahan, college mein saab kuch naya hoga and she will be forced to take help from others, or struggle…….And I am telling you one thing, I will not baby sit her there…….! Usse woh sari mushkile khud hi tair karni hogi…….That will be enough to try to come out of shell, I suppose…….Dilip smiled at his son proudly and nodded……..

D: Shayad thik keh rahe ho Angad, par please, ye baat ma se mat kehna, nahi to tumhe yahan se Kripa ko le jane bhi nahi degi…….He said laughing and Angad laughed………

A: I know dad……..Don't worry……..Kehte hain, ki ek jhoot se agar kisi ka bhala ho, to woh sau sach ke barabar hota hai………I am ready for this now……! I promise………Aur ho sakta hai, ki humare liye acha bhi hai……..I was just thinking about Kripa, and if she is really fine with this decision……..Waise humari baat to hui hai and I feel she is fine too, but still you know her, right……! I just hope she is up to the challenge………

Dilip smiled patting his son humbly……..He knew Angad well and was happy to see him taking this all so maturedly……I have no doubt about you son………Agar tum iss layak nahi hote, to mein kabhi itni badi jimedari tum par nahi dalta, he repeated his words again, letting him know, how much he admired him for this………. and I am happy that you understood why I am doing this all……..! Aur jahan tak Kripa ki baat hai, it doesn't matter if she is ready or not, she needs to face the world and be confident…….It's time that she slowly comes out of her sheltered life…….Mein ne aur tumhari ma ne ek dusare ko wada kiya tha, jab Kripa ko yahan le aye the hum, ki usse apni beti banakar rakhenge……..I know we waited too late for taking this step, but better now than never…….! He said sighing………

A: Common dad, sari chinta Kripa ke liye kehkar aap sarasar bach rahe hain……..! I know you have another reason to marry me off…….He said grinning and Dilip frowned looking at him……..Accept it……..You are afraid……Afraid about me……..Kahin mein kisi gori mem ko na le aun………Dilip looked at him wide eyed and Angad chuckled shaking his head……..You are too much dad……….! He said and Dilip looked at him angrily…….Kya hua galat kaha mein ne……..Dilip hit his head, but then chuckled……..Mom ne ek din galti se keh diya, ki tere papa ko daar tha shayad, ki kahin tu jakar gori mem na le aye…….! He said grinning and Dilip rolled his eyes……..

D: Haan, pata nahi, wahan akele aise………Mujhe tere sare kartut pata hai…….! Angad raised his eyebrows and Dilip shook his head…….Ma ne mana kiya tha, phir bhi nahi mante na……To lo aab jimedari daal di, aab kuch karne se pehle do baar sochna……..Angad frowned……..

A: What are you talking about…….?

D: You are smart enough to know Angad……..! He said shaking his head and getting up with a sigh, when the door bell rang and Angad tried to remember, but couldn't………! He kept thinking looking at the door as everyone came in with lots of shopping bags and the talk remained half way…….

8-10 days before marriage, everyone was having dinner at home, when Aliyah grinned and looked at Kripa and Angad………

Al: Bhaiya, waise Kripa to koi shikayat nahi karti tumse, issiliye mujhe hi age badhkar uski aur se tumhari shikayat karni pad rahi hai………Dekhiye, apki shadi bhi tair ho gayi aur dus din baad to shadi bhi ho jayegi, aur gaye 20 dinon mein aapne to Kripa bhabhi ko ek bhi din ghumane ya date par nahi le gaye………Not fair……..Right Kartik bhaiya……..she said grinning and Kripa turned full red and did not even dare look up………Till now she had tried to keep these thoughts away, about what a really engaged or married couple do……She tried not to think of Angad from a lovers or would be wife's point of view, but Aliyah's sudden remarks made her conscious what was about to come in the future………Angad too stilled and looked up at Aliyah and then at Kripa…….he was in the same boat as Kripa, who kept his thoughts to himself……..Avantika smiled and so did Dilip and agreed to Aliyah for the first time………

Ka: Bilkul thik kaha Aliyah……….Really not fair……….Angad……….Kripa kya soch rahi hogi……….

Al: And anyway these are the few moments, which you would really want to make it memorable…………!! She said with a grin and Avantika smiled with approval……..

D: Haan, tum donon ko thoda waqt akele bitana chahiye, baat karoge aur ek dusare ko janoge, to jaldi adjust ho jaoge sath mein………!!

Al: Common papa……..we are not talking about old people talk……Aliyah said rolling her eyes….……We are talking about modern dating system……….Where Boy takes Girl to dinner, woes her with flowers and choclates…………may be some jwellery,etc……..…A nice romantic gateway, with a goodnight kiss or more…….she said with a mischevious grin at Kripa and Angad……..Kripa chocked on her food and suddenly got up from the table and ran away too shy to even listen to Aliyah's chatter anymore…………..While the others kept staring at her and then at Aliyah……….Avantika frowned and hit her lightly and Aliyah frowned…..What? She asked with a frown………..So, what can I do that she is so shy mom……..!! She said rolling her eyes……

Av: Besharam ladki……..Avantika muttered and Aliyah rolled her eyes…….Dilip too shook his head looking at his daughter, talking about kissing and all in front of her parents and brothers………

Kartik grinned and kept eating while Aliyah continued….…Angad darling, aab tum par depend karta hai……..she said forgetting everyone else…..……Mein to bas suggestion de rahi thi…… And you know this is the only time you have !! You will not get this time back and as for Kripa, woh to apni saheliyon ke sath bhi kabhi bahar akeli nahi gayi, so forget about the dating………..But it's every girls wish that her prince charming takes her for a date………!! she said grinning and Angad chuckled and so did Kartik and Dilip, while Avantika smiled but looked at Kripa's full plate with concern……..Angad looked at his mom, eating his dinner, when he saw what she was looking at………..He sighed finishing his dinner soon and slowly got up and without talking to anyone, took Kripa's plate and left to her room………It was the first time, he took such a bold step in front of his family accepting Kripa and their future…..….Aliyah and Kartik grinned, while Dilip and Avantika looked at him with loving expression…….

Back to Angad, he entered in and saw Kripa sitting on the window looking out……….She looked at the door way ready to hit Aliyah angrily for creating akward situation for her, when she found Angad coming in………..She blushed looking down and then looked out, too shy to even look at him……..This was the first time apart from that initial day, that her thoughts wandered thinking of Angad……..He would soon be her husband, would soon share her room and……..She bit her lips stopping her thoughts from drifting more.…….Angad went to her slowly and raised her plate to her and Kripa looked at him surprised…………

A: Common……….khana to kha lo……….ya hawa se pet bharogi…..?

Kripa shyly took her plate and started eating without a word taking small bite………..

A: So what do you say Miss.Kripa Sharma, soon to be Mrs. Angad Khanna………Do you think you can handle a date with me……..? Kripa bit her lips and looked down at her plate, stopping what she was doing……….Hey jawab nahi dogi? Aaogi mere sath? I am sorry I did not think about it myself…….or may be I did, but thought you would feel odd…….Waise dekha jaye to mein ne bhi iss bare mein thoda sochna bandh kar diya tha, feeling a little odd….so, did not approach you……….But now that the subject is out, I love the idea of the date as well………Aab shadi samne ho to hume bhi saab kuch bhul, age ki sochni chahiye………Don't you agree……..? And we should know eachother more, try to come out of this awkwardness and understand eachother……That will give us good start and even bring us closer……He said boldly and Kripa looked at him nervously as he smiled affectionately….…Tomorrow evening at 6? He asked with a smile and Kripa looked at him shyly and nodded…….Angad grinned and saluted her mockingly and left the room, while Kripa kept starring at the blank space………Her cheeks all red……..!!

She felt a hand on her cheeks and suddenly came out of her thoughts and looked at Aliyah who was grinning……..

Al: Thank me for this one…..!! She said patting her own back and Kripa's eyes widened……..She wanted to hit her some how, but then shook her head at the last moment……..Aliyah grinned…….So, kab lekar ja raha hai mera bhai tumhe bahar…….?

K: Kal……..she said shyly looking down………

Aliyah whistled loudly and Kripa's cheeks turned even more red……!! Aliyah chuckled……….you know I never thought that you would be married at so early age, but I like mom's idea………..Now you will be with us forever and I would love for you to be my sister-in-law………She said grinning……Kripa smiled shyly and went out without a word to keep her plate………Everyone else was gone except Avantika, who was cleaning up and was almost done……..Kripa guiltily rushed to her and started cleaning the table, when Avantika stopped her and looked at her with a smile……..Kripa couldn't meet her eyes, but she made her look up and Kripa smiled shyly and hugged her for the first time without hesitation………Avantika chuckled, satisfied that Kripa was happy and kissed her forehead lovingly……….

Av: Tum jao, mein ye kar lungi…………she said and pushed Kripa out and Kripa shyly walked to her room……But suddenly she stopped and looked at Avantika………

K: Ma, woh Angad mujhe kal bahar le jana chahta hain……..mein……..

Av: Jao……she said chuckling and pinching her cheeks……….Tumhe puchne ki jaroorat nahi hai……bas batakar jana, taki mein chinta na karun ………She said smiling……..Kripa smiled shyly and nodded…….

She went to her room later and kept thinking about her date tomorrow with Angad in the darkness of the night……….

Next day came early and she went out as usual to find Angad up and reading the paper……..He looked up and smiled at her with a mischivious grin and Kripa knew what was going on in his head…….!! She almost ran to the kitchen, not even greeting him shyly, but not before seeing him raise his eyebrows with a mock expression……….She busied her self, making him his coffee and her self a cup of tea, when she felt him standing in the kitchen starring at her from behind………She bit her lips, not turning around, a little unsure about what was going on……….

A: Kripa…….

K: Hmmm……she said slowly not looking at him still………

A: Kya tum mere sath nahi jana chahti……..he asked a little seriously and Kripa stilled a little, while pouring the tea and coffee in the mug…...Did he really think that, she thought a little worriedly………Koi baat nahi, aaj ka program cancel kar dete hain……….I was looking forward for it, but if you don't want to go…….he sighed and started turning around, when Kripa kept the vessel down in panic and immediately turned around and stopped Angad……

K: Angad ruko……..aisi koi baat nahi hai…….!! She said looking at his back and he stopped in his tracks with a grin and slowly turned around…………He raised his eyebrows with a teasing grin, and that was when she knew that he was teasing her…………She shyly turned around not able to say anything, but heard Angad chuckle and suddenly she held her breathe when she felt his face very near to her shoulder……..His light breathe on her bare shoulder made her shiver…………She closed her eyes as sweat covered her forehead, making Angad stop in his tracks………He was just having some fun and wanted to tease her, but he didn't miss Kripa's reaction and he slowly looked at her, for the first time so near him, that too from a lovers eye and he was fascinated by what he saw………He saw her eyes were closed and she was frightened as well as nervous…….Light sweat beads on her forehead and her hand shaking a little due to nervousness…….She almost had her breath caught in her throat and he couldn't stop teasing her more and slowly pressed his lips to her hairs, which covered her neck and shoulders with a grin and took the coffee cup and slowly backed away, without another word………

Kripa just couldn't move from there for a long time………..She stood where she was, thinking about what just happened and opened her eyes, too stunned to react……….She had never felt those sensations before and she was just too dazed to realize that Angad had just kissed her…….Till now she had tried not to think of the relationship she and Angad would share……..She never thought Angad would try or dare kissing her……..But she should have known him………He was more open and always open for challenge and new things………She should have been ready knowing him………If he decided something, he did it whole heartedly and she could feel that he would give his 100% to this relationship as well……..She was too shy to think about Angad this way, but suddenly her heart started beating loudly with the anticipation of the future……….She closed her eyes thinking of her and Angad together and opened her eyes stunned..…….She looked at her cup, where her tea was all cold……..She kept the cup in the sink slowly, without touching it and started going out, her heart beating heavily………..She never knew those sensations ever and now suddenly, she was feeling them so strongly around him………….She was about to go out, when Angad came back in, blocking the path of the door………Once again, Kripa was struck, but did not dare to look up at him, and Angad gave her way without a word and she wordlessly left the kitchen too shy to speak.……Angad kept staring at her till she disappeared in her room and sighed…..…..She was much too smaller than his sister, and this was all new to her……….And further, he needed to remember that he had promised her that nothing will happen without her consent………They will be friends until then and nothing more…..!! He just couldn't stop him self for a while today……. Wanted to experiment it and he knew he went far ahead with it……But somewhere he had a urge to see how things would be between them and he wanted to……..he shook his head sighing!!

Evening came soon and Kripa nervously got ready……..She found Angad staring at her quite a few times today all day long and their eyes too met many times for a second or two, both suddenly aware of eachother and this new relationship they shared……….!

She wore a beautiful light pink chudidar and matching bangles and a light chain around her neck………..She left her hair open and put a light bindi on her forehead……….she had a beautiful young glowing skin, which needed no layer of makeup……..!! She looked up at herself shyly……..This was the first time she was dressing up for a date and she did not want Angad to regret his decision to marry her or think that she did not want to marry him……!!

She slowly opened the door, too shy to walk out, biting her inner lips and looked around and sighed, finding no one in the co-oriodor………She walked to the living room slowly, where Angad was all alone looking out of the window, at the crowded streets………Kripa stood there a little dazed, shy to call…!! But as if he knew that she was here, he slowly turned around and was stuck by her beauty……… She looked lovely, beautiful standing there nervously, waiting for him………He looked her from top to bottom and then again at her face and smiled slowly……….Knowing her nervousness………..

A: Chale?

Kripa nodded without looking at him and looked around for Avantika…………

A: Ma aur papa bahar gaye hain…….He supplied and Kripa slowly looked up at him and nodded………Mein ne ma ko bata diya hai……..aab chalein…….he asked with raised eyebrows and she nodded shyly, but did not look away, as she was captivated by his eyes………..He took steps towards her and Kripa nervously waited struck in her place, not able to move………..He stood in front of her and smiled at her and slowly raised his hand and she looked at his hand and then at him a little surprised as well dazed………He waited for her for almost a minute staring at her with same intensity, until she couldn't deny him and she slowly kept her hand in his, not able to look away, her cheeks turning pink, as he slowly circled his fingers around hers, holding her hand with confidence and lead her out………..Kripa followed him without saying a word……….They waited for the lift to come and then went in together when it was there……….They stood there for a minute or so in silence, both feeling a little akward as well as nervous and restless……….The door opened to Angad's relief suddenly and they walked out……….Kartik had given Angad keys of his car and Angad directed Kripa to his car and opened the passanger door for her…………Kripa blushed even more, as no one had ever did that for her and slid down on the seat, her cheeks pink………Angad smiled knowingly, at the effect he was having on her and knew that she was as attracted by him as he was by her…………He was happy that at least that was a start to their new relationship………..

He sat in the drivers seat and looked at Kripa, who looked everywhere but at him………..Suddenly Angad smiled in mischief and bent towards Kripa…………Kripa looked at him stunned, as he bent on her………..she stopped breathing, while Angad knowingly took the seat belt from her other side and buckled her up and then looked up at her with a knowing smile………..She looked in his eyes, still unable to breathe and he chuckled……..

A: Agar belt nahi pehnogi, to mujhe fine bharna padega………..he said mischivously looking in her eyes ………And she looked away, shivering a little as well as biting her lips, not knowing why these feelings suddenly surrounded them……

They drove in silence …….…… Angad took her all the way out of the city to a beautiful garden restaurant ….Kripa was about to open her door, when Angad came to her side with a grin and forwarded a bunch of beautiful colorful roses arranged wonderfully……..Kripa looked up surprised and blushed, when Angad grinned at her……..She took the flowers thanking him slowly and stepped out……… and they walked inside, taking seat at the furtherest corner of the garden, away from prying eyes………

Angad took out a small chocolate box and grinned and kept it on the table, and Kripa couldn't help but chuckle at it…………

A: How about sharing? Kripa shyly smiled and opened the chocolate and forwarded it to Angad……..Angad grinned and took one and opened the cover and looked at Kripa………..He smiled and slowly forwarded his hands to her mouth…….Kripa was taken aback, but he indicated her towards the chocolate and Kripa looked down at the chocolate and started taking it in her hand, but he moved his hands away, shaking his head and took it to her mouth……….Kripa was stunned at first and looked at him, just not knowing why all of a sudden, they were seeing eachother from different point of view………Angad pointed at the chocolate with his eyes and asked her to take a bite and Kripa bit her lips shyly looking down, but then slowly had a bite ………..Angad then grinned at her and kept the remaining chocolate in his mouth, making Kripa red………Kehte hain ki share karne se couple ka pyar badhta hai, to wahi ajma raha tha……..He said chuckling and Kripa looked away shyly as he chuckled..……Waise to hum donon ki baat kuch alag hi hai……Par aab shadi ke liye haan keh hi diya hai, so why not take our relationship a step further and see if we really feel something for eachother…….And now that I know that we do, it will make things much easier I suppose………We will be able to bond more closely……..Kripa looked down shyly and Angad sighed……..Dekho Kripa, tumhe to pata hai, ki mere jo dil mein hota hai, mein bata deta hun…….I am just telling you what I feel and see……..Tumhe to pata hai na, ki pati patni ka rishta sirf dost tak seemit nahi hota………It goes beyond honesty, trust, respect and friendship……..Yeah, we never thought about this relationship till now, but it will happen sometime, and I want us to be comfortable at that time………I know I said we will only be friends and we will, but talking about our relationship, being close will help us more to talk openly…….Tum bhi apni baat mujhe be jhijhak batao, apna samjh kar……It will make accepting this all much easier…….He said smiling and Kripa looked down shyly……..The waiter came and they ordered their dinner and waited for him to go………Kripa was nervously pressing her fingers, which Angad noticed………He sighed knowing he over did a little……….But he just couldn't resist him self teasing her..……Their sudden shift of relationship, both amazed him as well as surprised him and he wanted to understand her much better, know her……..And since couple of days, suddenly there was a shift in their relationship……..He could feel the attraction between them and was seeing her from different perspective and he knew so was she.……….

A: Kripa, I know this feeling we both have developed for eachother now…….Aur tumhare ankhon mein chuppe nervousness aur daar ko bhi dekh sakta hun….…... But rest assured, jo mein ne pehle kaha, woh aaj bhi kahunga………..Nothing will happen between us, until you are fully comfortable and want to take our relationship a step forward……..We were friends and will be, may be a lot closer, but still friends……..!! He said smiling, trying to assure her once more………Kripa kept quite looking at her fingers………Kuch kahogi nahi?

Kripa looked up and smiled…….

A: Ok……..start with telling me about your self…….Kripa looked at him for couple of seconds and then frowned with confusion………

K: Mere bare mein? Woh to tumhe saab pata hai……….mein kya kahun? She asked innocently……..Angad couldn't help but notice how innocent she was………He smiled…….

A: Haan, ye baat bhi sach hai………Ok thik hai, kuch aisi baat batao jo mein ya ghar mein koi aur nahi janta tumhare bare mein……He said with mischief……..Kripa's eyes widened……..she knew what game he was playing, but then smiled and tried to continue the game……..

K: Agar mein bata dungi to tumhe bhi batana hoga……….She said with mischief and Angad chuckled, but nodded………Ok………When I was in 11^th, I drank a glass full of wine one day, when I was all alone in the house………..She said biting her lips and looking down with red cheeks……..Angad raised his eyebrows………

A: Don't tell me next, that you went to a bar…..!! He said with a chuckle……..

Kripa looked at him horrified……….

K: Nahi……..Aisa kuch nahi hua………Woh Kartik bhaiya le aye the aur mein try karna chahti thi…….…To ek din saab bahar the to……..she said biting her lips once again………Angad chuckled……….

A: What happened next……..? Did you like it?

Kripa made faces and shook her head………Bahot strong wine tha……..Mere friend ne kaha tha ki wine light hota hai, par woh………

A: Then why didn't you just throw it away…….?

K: Woh……..Pata nahi…….She said not able to meet his eyes…….I just drank it, in a gulp……….I don't know why I did, even though I did not like it……..I was just thinking about something and…….She did not elobrate and Angad stayed quite, did not wanting her to force something out……

A: So, did mom dad ever find out? He asked amused…….Kripa bit her lips and shook her head………..

K: Par shayad jab mujhe ulti hui aur chakkar aa rahe the, to shayad Kartik bhaiya ko pata chal gaya…….!! Unhone bottle phek di dusare din……..She said looking down embarrassed……….Angad started chuckling once again and then laughed out loud………

A: Ye to mujhe pata hai………..!! Tell me something else………he said still laughing and Kripa looked at him wide eyed……..Kartik bhaiya ne bataya, last year…….!! He said chuckling and Kripa looked away embarrassed……..Hey it's ok………Every one has some carvings some times……….But I am glad that you never drank after that…….!! So, Miss. Sharma has a wild side to her…….He said in a mocking tone………Kripa looked at him unsurely, but then looked down embarrassed that she has just told him one of the secrets, she never shared with anyone and he grinned………Now tell me something else….!! He said grinning…….

K: Tumhe to saab pata hai………..mein kya kahun……..She said with red cheeks……..

A: I hope aur kuch aisi harkatein nahi ki…….You know, I am seriously doubting you…….Uppar se to tum bahot sedhi sadhi lagti ho, aur ye wine ka pura glass………? Hey for your info, I too tried out but not more than few sips………Aur tum ho ki……..

Kripa looked down biting her lips………

A: Just joking Kripa………We all have our days and it is really ok, to act out of character once in a while…….He said laughing…….Ok…..my turn…….! He said not wanting her to feel too uncomfortable……….Last year, mein sky diving gaya tha aur phir Grade 5 water rafting karne……..he said with a wink……..I almost tried all those exciting rides, including parachuting as well as ballon rides……….He said grinning……….We had a blast……..Aur mein 5 miles ke ocean swim mein bhi gaya tha, but unfortunately I was taken away by the waves and they had some difficulty finding me, but atlast found me…….I was totally exhausted, almost on the death bed you can say……..Agar aur thodi der bhi hoti na, to I wouldn't have held my self..…I was even hospitalized for almost 4 days for that……He said chuckling………Kripa looked at him stunned…….

K: Ghar mein to iske bare mein kisi ko kuch pata nahi hai na………Aur aunty uncle….mera matlab ma aur papa ne mana kiya tha na? she asked with wide eyes………She had known, how worried Angad's mom became, as soon as Angad told what he was planning for and she had told him in no nonsense tone, that he is not going to do any such thing or she would just stop his education and make him come back………Even Dilip had scolded him and told him to concentrate on his music, instead of trying those deadly rides……….Angad just shrugged with a grin……..

A: I just wanted to try one time Kripa, life mein agar risk na le, to kya maza……….He said chuckling……..looking at her horrified expressions………

K: Par Angad woh to kitna khatarnak hota hai……….Agar kuch ho jata tumhe to…….She asked genuinely concerned……….Angad looked at her worried face and smiled……...

A: I went under guided professional trainers Kripa……..Haan thoda khatra to saabhi sports mein rehta hai……….He said shrugging………But tell me one thing, khatra kahan nahi hota……..It's part of life…….He said with a grin……….And I was careful and see………..here I am fit and fine……..Mom dad to bas aise hi darte rehte hain……..He said with a grin……….Hey, but our secret ok……….Don't tell mom and dad…….nahi to wapas jane nahi denge……….Suddenly he stilled, remembering his and his dad's conversation……..Was he talking about all these……..? And yeah, he had taken dates to all the parties etc. And his dad's friend had known about it there……..He closed his eyes shaking his head……..He now knew what his dad was talking about……..Kripa looked at him with a small frown and then looked down worried, thinking, if he would try and do something as stupid as that again, after they both go back after marriage………..Hey, I promise, I am done with all the adventures………ok……..He said remembering his dad's words…….Aab lo jimedariyan sambhaolo apni……..He had said……Angad looked at Kripa's tensed face and chuckled shaking his head at his dad's tactics.……….Tumhe itna tension lene ki jarorat nahi hai……….!! He said chuckling……….

Kripa smiled, tension leaving her shoulders soon enough……….But another thought kept coming to her mind………They were both so different from eachother, would they be able to adjust with eachother………She was totally opposite to him………In almost everyway……!!

Angad kept talking about last 3 years and his friends, etc. He told her about his achievements, etc. Kripa listened and answered in between a few times………They were done with their dinner and then Angad paid for their dinner and they got up……….As they walked out, cold breeze passed by making Kripa shiver………..Angad looked at her and slowly took out his jacket and covered her from behind………..Surprised, Kripa stopped and looked at him and he smiled at her and indicated her towards the exit………..Kripa smiled shyly and walked by him and they sat in their car………..They drove back home silently and parked the car in their parking spot……….Angad switched off the engine and Kripa started opening the door, when Angad stopped her by holding her hand……..

A: Ek min Kripa………Tumhare liye kuch laya tha……….He said with a smile and slowly turned back and took out a small bag from behind and handed over to her………!!

Kripa looked down at the cover and shyly took it and opened it………..She found a small jwellery box inside and opened the box biting her lips nervously……….She found a beautiful ring inside with small diamond……...Before she could even react, Angad took the box from her and slowly took the ring and then looked at Kripa and then looked at her hand and slowly slipped the ring in her ring finger………

A: Shadi ke liye pehle mama papa ke liye haan kaha tha mein ne, par aaj unke faisle par yakeen bhi hain, issiliye usse aaj dil se accept kiya hai mein ne……….Issiliye tumhe kuch dena chahta tha…………He said with a smile, looking at her……….Kripa looked at her hand, which were still in his, and the new ring shining in her hands and smiled shyly looking up……..Pasand aya?

Kripa slowly nodded and Angad chuckled……….Chalo chale……? Kripa nodded and slowly tried to take her hand back, but Angad still had a firm hold on her hand………Kripa looked at him a little nervously, and Angad slowly left her………Kripa quickly bit her lips and opened the door and walked out………

Angad joined her near the lift silently and when it opened, they both went in………..They reached their floor soon and Kripa waited for him to open the door……..But Angad instead looked at Kripa and a urge to just kiss her once, came to his mind………..He knew how nervous she was, but still he wanted to just see how they would feel on his lips……Her beauty, her innocence, her simplicity making her more attractive.……He slowly took her hand in his, while Kripa looked at him with shocked expression………..He pulled her to the side, away from the door, and then towards him………….His hands circling her waist………..He looked at her, as her eyes were tightly closed, her breathing heavy………..He was about to kiss her lips, but some how her nervous face, made him back up and he slowly touched his lips to her cheeks and kissed her lightly, before looking at her……….Kripa nervously opened her eyes, when she felt him still and her eyes met his……….He smiled slowly…………

A: Aliyah ne jo jo tips diye, saab follow kiye mein ne, to ye kaise jane deta………He asked mischievously……..Kripa shyly looked down and Angad slowly left her and opened the door…….The sudden pull and attraction, the shock and realization still making them both tremble……..Though Angad acted normally, he was as much affected by the nearness as Kripa had….…..They walked inside………..Everyone was already sleeping………..Kripa started going towards her room, when suddenly Angad held her hand once more and pulled her to him and kissed her once on her lips and then as suddenly as he did, he left her and winked and walked to his room……..He himself did not know why he did it………But he couldn't stop himself……….

Kripa stood there stunned looking at the closed door for a long time, not able to move………..At last she hurried all red cheeked to her room, realizing what Angad had done.……….Thankfully Aliyah was asleep and soon she changed and slipped in the covers………Angad's lips on hers still making her tremble…………She couldn't believe that he kissed her on lips………!! She smiled a little shyly and slowly looked at her finger………The ring looked beautiful and delicate………..She shyly touched the ring to her mouth and closed her eyes…….Soon she was fast asleep………..

Time flew by and next 9 days went by busy for everyone……..Kripa and Angad exchanged looks some times, but Kripa was the one who nervously always looked away and kept a little distance……..

Soon the day arrived and Kripa and Angad were about to get married……Kripa had just invited her friend Anita and her music teacher for the wedding……..Priya's mom suggested that the same parlor lady could help Kripa get ready along with Priya, in their side of the hall and Avantika was more than ok with it……….Aliyah shuffeled between bride and grooms room, on Avantika's request, not wanting Kripa to feel all alone, though Priya was there………But Priya had few cousins and friends, while Kripa only had Aliyah with her………Aliyah was more than happy to fill in the role as her sister, rather than sister-in-law with good spirits, joking that she would surely one day after this marriage, would try to use her position as sister-in-law to her advantage and give Kripa a hard time for sure, manipulating her own way, because that is what sister-in-laws are famous for……..Kripa chuckled shyly and thanked her, hugging her happily……..

At last everything was ready and Priya and Kripa were bought by Aliyah and Priya's friends to where Kartik and Angad were waiting………Kartik was grinning from ear to ear, looking at Priya, happy about finally being one, while Kripa nervously stood by Angad, who was silent as well……..They exchanged garlands looking at eachother with hope as well as uncertainity, but Angad smiled at her gently later, giving her a little courage……….Both the couples finished all the rituals as the priest told them to………Kartik and Priya were more than happy to do them together, as it all involved lot of touching and all, while Kripa and Angad tried to keep a little distance, feeling a little shiver whenever their hands touched……But they both tried to focus on the rituals and what the priest was saying and trying to understand what they were doing rather than eachother…….….Finally the couples went to take blessings from all the elders after the marriage rituals were done……..

Avantika welcomed both her daughter-in-laws delightfully and made them play few games as well as did a small puja at home with very close friends along with muh dikhai ritual………Once done, the guests left after dinner congradulating the newly wed couples……..Kripa was totally nervous and numb, while Priya was shy, though a little more open and talked without hesitation with everyone………Angad was also silent, feeling totally restless and tired, though he kept staring at Kripa once in a while, understanding her state of mind……….But he couldn't help but feel the sudden change in their relationship………She was his wife now……..His soul-mate………And she looked beautiful……….Young, innocent and lovely……….Shy like a new bride, nervous and fearful, with the anticipation of future………He was also a little uncertain, but still knew what lay ahead and was ready for it………But Kripa, he did not think, she looked too much ahead………She was living in the present and was unsure about it all………He wanted to take her hands in his and console her saying everything would be alright……..But, knew she would get more nervous………But yes, he would have time with her today night……..He thought and then stilled………Suddenly he realized that this would be their first night, and they would be together alone in a room for the whole night…….But, before he could think anything else, their friends came to take leave………He smiled and accepted their wish along with Kripa and finally everyone left.. …..Avantika and Aliyah took Priya and Kripa to their respective rooms, which were decorated beautifully………She kissed Priya and left her and then went to Kripa and closed the door behind her……….She went and sat next to her and touched her nervous hands and could see Kripa trembling a little…….

Av: Janti hun beta, ki jo kuch hua, bahot jaldi mein hua, aur tu kitni nervous hai………Par bhagwan ko shayad yahi manjoor tha……….Khair aab tu sacmuch meri beti ho gayi hai………Ya yun kaho officially meri bahu……..Aur issi nate tujhse kuch kehna chahti hun………Ek pati patni ke bich kya rishta hota hai, ye to tu janti hi hai aur mujhe pata hai, ki isse lekar shayad tum bahot nervous bhi ho aur tension mein bhi……. Aur tumne gynic se baat bhi ki iss bare mein aur precautions ke bare mein…….Issiliye jyada kuch nahi kahungi aab……….…..Par beta, Angad par bharosa rakho, woh sirf tumhara pati hi nahi, dost bhi to hai na………Usse apni dil ki baat bezhizhak keh dena beta……..Issase tumhari nervousness bhi dur hogi aur tum usse aura chi tarah janane lagogi……..Mein janti hun, ki saab tumhare liye naya hai, aur tum shayad iss rishte ko lekar abhi age na badhna chaho……...Ismein koi problem nahi hai, balki acha hi hoga agar………She then took a deep breathe and shook her head and let it go……..Khair, mujhe Angad par pura bharosa hai, ki woh tumhe shikayat ka mauka nahi dega……..Issiliye itna tension mat lena………Samjhi……..? Kripa couldn't look up and slowly nodded, almost in tears, not wanting her to go…….She somewhere wanted to ask her to stay here, but knew how childish it would look.…… She said slowly…...Dekhna, bahot jald tum iss rishte ko apna bhi logi aur adjust bhi ho jaogi Angad ke sath……..Aur jab tum usse aura chi tarah janogi, to dil se iss rishte mein khush bhi rahogi………Par tumhe iske liye iss rishte ko mauka dena hoga, apna dil aur dimak khula rakhna hoga aur pyar se usse apnana hoga.….. ...She said smiling and kissing her forehead……..Kripa shyly listened to her, not saying a word, while Avantika left after caressing her head a little……..Avantika was herself a little reluctant to leave Kripa seeing that she was on the verge of tears……..But, she knew that now that the marriage was done, it was better Angad took over……..She wanted to tell Angad to give space to their relationship, so Kripa could get adjusted, but did not know how to tell this to her grown up son……..It was too intimate talk, which only father could talk to a son, like she could talk to Kripa, but she knew Dilip wouldn't interfere in such matters and would scold her as well.……...Soon, she was gone kissing her forehead once more.…..…….Kripa sat there wiping her tears slowly……..she was shy, but she wasn't a nave and she knew all about the relationship a husband and wife shared and wasn't sure if she was ready to be that close to Angad yet………She was still getting used to this new changed relationship and was totally unsure about how they would match………And in midst of all this tension, she was even more nervous, thinking about what was to come…….She did not know, if Angad wanted to go ahead with their relationship, or wanted to keep the distances……..She hoped he did, because she was not yet ready, but how could she stop him if he wanted to……She kept pinching her hands, until she felt a hand on hers and stilled………..She was so deep in her thoughts that she did not even hear or see Angad come in…….

Kripa held her breathe as Angad stared at her……….Her hands trembled a little in his and Angad looked down at her hands………

Angad slowly sat down and kept her hands in his, trying to really make him self believe that he was really married to her……He wanted to assure her once again that they were friends first and they would be that way until she was really comfortable…….…… he looked at her small hands and slowly caressed them making Kripa shiver even more……..Suddenly he looked up and saw Kripa, who had light sweat on her forehead and her eyes were closed tightly……….She was totally nervous and he looked at her throat as she took a deep breathe and swallowed, trying to calm herself……….!! She looked beautiful, that is what he thought, staring at her………He smiled at her and slowly touched his fingers on her cheeks, fascinated by her nervousness………. But when he looked at her, he just kept looking, all good intentions flying off the window……….. She looked lovely to him……..For some reason, he just couldn't help himself………Kripa's heart started beating loudly as his fingers touched her cheeks and then she felt his lips touching her forehead…………Her hands tightened on his and Angad was just caught up in the moment and couldn't help himself and kissed her nose, cheeks and her lips lightly, his heart beating as loudly as hers………He looked at her trembling lips and her tight hold on his hands and forgot all about what he told her and slowly moved his lips down to her neck and shoulders and kissed and bit her lightly and Kripa just sat there too stunned to speak a word……..She had thought Angad would suggest sleeping out or some where else, but……….She felt his arms circling her waist, and she couldn't say a word, knowing he was her husband and she couldn't very well say no to him on their first night………She felt him kissing her ears, nibbling it and bit her skin lightly and she took a deep breathe, as she herself felt tingling sensations going down her spine………Angad looked up at her closed eyes and went up and slowly touched her lips to hers……Wanting to feel and taste her…….He slowly coaxed her to open up and Kripa did after a little while and let him kiss her like he wanted……….For Angad it was all as new experience as it was for Kripa and he just couldn't resist his temptations…… Angad suddenly felt hot and took out his shirt wanting to feel her hands on him……….As soon as he was done, he quickly took Kripa's hand and kept it on his bare chest, wanting to feel her hands on his……..Kripa trembled a little, but abided to him without a word and slowly touched him, a little fascinated as well…….Though nervous, she herself felt a urge somewhere to see what this tingling was all about, but suddenly stilled, when his hands slowly touched her bare stomach and went back, freeing her lace of her blouse, so he could touch her back……He felt Kripa suddenly go still and he stopped what he was doing……..

Angad who was in his own world stilled as well at Kripa's reaction and closed his eyes tightly, gaining his senses back………His hands loosened suddenly, while he felt Kripa trembling a little……He closed his eyes and slowly took his hands back…….He cursed himself for being such a insensitive jerk, knowing she was still not ready for this kind of relationship………..As soon as his hand loosened, Kripa got up and ran to the rest room, her heart pounding loudly………….She closed the door, before Angad could say a word and stood there leaning on the door, trying to calm her beating heart………She herself did not know why her heart was beating so loudly……….She bought her hands together and closed her eyes counting to 10 slowly……..At last after almost 10 minutes or so, she felt a little normal and looked at her self in the mirror……..Her face was all messed……..The sindoor was spread on her forehead, while her hairs were a little messed, her red chunni had moved down her hairs, clinging to the edge……….She shivered once again, thinking about Angad's kisses……….But somehow, she just couldn't take it anymore as she was afraid of what he was doing to her…………She quickly washed her face, thinking about what Angad might be thinking about her……….

She was his wife and she knew that he must have been expecting their first night together………But she had gotten frightened at the last moment and ran off from there and took refuge in this bathroom……..She knew she needed to go out and apologize for acting this way, but she was not getting enough courage……..She took her time, fixing her hairs and face and then looked around and thankfully found her nighty and she quickly changed and neatly folded her blouse and paticoat with a blush and walked out still frightened as well as guilty…………She found Angad fully dressed in his night clothes and standing near the window, looking at the streets below……..

Angad on the other side, hit the bed, angry at himself for what he did...He knew he shouldn't have done it, especially when he knew that Kripa was not ready for this…...He knew that they needed some time with eachother before going forward with any kind of relationship………Though they knew eachother, it had come as a surpise to them, when his parents had talked about their marriage and they had agreed to it for their happiness……But still there still was a distance between them, that they had to cross over…... The sudden feeling of this possesiveness, the reality that they were married ...The moment he had seen her as his bride, he felt as if she was the one with whom he was going to share his life with, with whom he will be fulfilling his every dream...She would be the one with whom he would share most intimate moments with...And then when he had held her hands and seen her nervousness, he had just reacted to the feelings and emotions in his heart...After their date, he knew that they would have no problem to get close, but he had been determined to wait until after they were comfortable with eachother to even try to have a relationship...But all his good intentions left him suddenly, when he saw Kripa sitting there as his bride, beautifully dressed in her wedding saree……..It felt as if she was the one, he was waiting for, with whom he would be able to fulfil his every wish and dream...Suddenly, she was not the friend, he had known all these years, she was his wife, his soul mate, and he felt the urge to make her his forever……..It was not as if he had not gone out with girls, he had and even had a good time, having fun like all friends do…….. but he neither felt any attraction nor pull to know them more than a friend…...He had always thought when the right girl would come along he would know and he would go forward with the relationship only when he knew she was the one he would want to spend his life with...but then everything changed after his dad and mom kept their wishes forward and he had accepted…….And then on their first date, he for the first time felt as if they had what they needed in a relationship………There was attraction and a pull to explore more………But still, they had kept apart……..But today he couldn't help be curious to explore it for the first time……But he knew, he had hurried and made a mistake, making Kripa nervous and breaking her trust………

He heard the door open and slowly turned around after few seconds, when he felt her stare…………He looked at her a little guiltily and found Kripa looking down nervously……….Suddenly he looked at her with new fascination……….For the first time he found him self attracted to her…………He looked at her from a lovers point of view, rather than a friend and loved what he saw………!! But he also knew that he needed to be patient with her………

A: Kripa…….

K: Angad, I am really sorry……….woh pata nahi mujhe achanak kya ho gaya……….Mujhe pata hai ki ye tumhara hak hai, par mein….woh……She looked down nervously a little embarrassed……….She tried to blink her tears and take a deep breathe, not knowing what Angad is expecting from her.……She did not know what to say or tell him, neither knew why she was so nervous or felt as if it was happening too soon………She wanted to tell him to wait for a few days until they were comfortable, but also feared that he might feel bad or get upset about it……..Though she knew that he had promised not to go forward with their relationship, she had heard that men were usually unable to control their urges and got angry if….….. suddenly, she felt Angad's arm on her shoulder and she stopped her thoughts and looked at him nervously……..

A: Maffi tumhe nahi mujhe mangni chahiye Kripa……….He said slowly and kissed her forehead lightly……….Mujhe pata tha ki tum iss rishte ke liye abhi puri tarah taiyar nahi ho……mein ne apna wada khud hi toda…….Na jane kya ho gaya tha mujhe………..Par ek baat jaroor kehna chahunga tumse………He said slowly taking her cheeks in his hand……….Pehli baar mein ne kisi ko itne najdeek se mehsus kiya hai, and I am really attracted to you………….He said frankly with a smile………Kripa blushed looking up at him……Chalo so jao……..Bahot raat ho gayi hai……….Kripa looked at the bed nervously and Angad chuckled…...I promise Kripa, hum sirf dost bankar rahenge……...I think it is good idea that we are staying in our own colleges separately……He said trying to lighten the situation……..Kyun ki ek to humare colleges dur dur hai, aur phir tumhe bhi kuch time mil jayega, khud ke liye kuch karne ka….….Kripa started saying something, when he stopped her……

K: Angad, woh, I mean, hum sath nahi reh sakte? I mean aise mein akeli wahan……..Angad stilled for a second………She had no idea, how he was tempted to cross those boundaries today and make her his, neither she had any idea of how much he wanted to stay with her there……But he would not be able to fulfill the promise he had given to Dilip to try to change Kripa, for her own sake……..It would be too easy to let her depend on him once again, but he did not want her to be…….He took a deep breathe and looked at her…….

A:Meri baat suno Kripa………I don't think this will work at all, unless you want to jump in this relationship as a real husband and wife……...Abhi jo hua, woh wahan dubara nahi hoga, iski mein koi guarantee nahi de sakta……..…Yeh meri kamjori samjho ya kuch aur…….He said sighing……..….Aur shayad mein phir apne aap ko rok bhi nahi sakun………Aur mein janta hun ki tum abhi inn saab ke liye taiyar nahi ho………Tum ne to abhi apna pehla kadam liya hai iss duniya mein aur tumhe bahot kuch sikhna hai……….I don't want you to loose your self in those responsibilities, inspite of what mama papa think……..Aur mein apna hak jatakar tumse aise koi expectations nahi rakhna chahta jiske liye tum taiyar nahi ho….…..I want you to live your life, experience the joy and fulfill your every dream…….This staying on your own will give you opportunity to meet new people, be confident as well as independent Kripa……..Tumhe naye dost milenge, tumhara bahar ana jana hoga……I know it will all be new to you, but I promise you will enjoy this new phase as well and get adjusted soon enough……..It will be a different experience for you and you will learn a lot from it.…….He said caressing her cheeks…….…Mein tumhara intajar karunga…….. Uss waqt ka, jab hum ek honge, jab tum puri tarah iss rishte ke liye taiyar hogi, jab tum khud iss rishte ko lekar age badhna chahogi, apni marji se, na ki mere kehne par……….Tab tak hum dost bankar rahenge…… Bas itna yaad rakhna ki jab bhi jaroorat hogi tumhe, mein tumhare sath rahunga, dost ki tarah.………..Ek baat aur, ma papa ko kuch kehne ki jaroorat nahi hai iss bare mein………mein janta hun ma kabhi nahi manegi iske liye……….Pehle hi tumhe wahan bhejne ke liye age piche ho rahi hai, aur ye……..He sighed…….We did what they wanted us to………Par aab iss rishte to age kaise le jana hai, ye hum tair karenge……...Are you with me in this Kripa? He asked slowly and Kripa nodded a little happy, that Angad was willing to wait, but still nervous about staying all alone…….we will stay in the college hostel and be good friends….……We can meet on weekends and spend time together……….Meet for parties etc……..Celebrate special occasions together and slowly develop this relationship……….We will know eachother better and that will make things more easier………..Tab tak tumhari padhai bhi puri hogi aur meri bhi……….We will think of us and our relationship, after that…………He said holding her shoulder…………Bolo tumhe manjur hai na, mera faisla, aur mein ye bhi nahi chahta ki tum ye faisla issiliye mano kyun ki mein ne kaha hai…………..Apne dil se pucho aur phir kaho……..Kya tumhe ye faisla manjoor hai……..Kripa slowly looked at him and nodded, thinking may be this was for the best…….Angad smiled and kissed her forehead…………And Kripa shivered a little at his touch, thinking about what happened just a while back…..……I know aab mere liye tum se dur rehna thoda muskhil hai, he said with a wink, making Kripa blush, but he chuckled and continued, par abhi karun to hi kar paunga, varna you will be bound to me forever and you will not be able to be independent as I want you to be……….Tum sirf ek biwi aur humari bachon ki ma bankar reh jaogi ghar mein, but I really want you to be more than that………I want you to really know what you are worth, before you take this step……….He said with a smile………So friends……….He asked with a smile forwarding his hands and she slowly forgot all her nervousness and smiled and kept her hand in his……….

But once again, when they turned to bed, Kripa was as nervous as before and started taking her pillow, when Angad stopped her……..Kripa, bed par so jao………We are both friends as well as husband wife……….Itni bhi duriyan badhane ki jaroorat nahi hai………He said taking the pillow and keeping it back on the bed…….Good night………He said going to other side and slipping in the blanket with his back to her……….Kripa kept staring at him for sometime and slowly got into covers………She was a little nervous and looked at the night sky from the window at her side………She had stayed in this very room from last 3 years, still today nothing felt familiar………Everything was new including their relations………

She closed her eyes and the image of Angad kissing her and what happened after that kept coming to her, making her restless and aware of Angad most of the night, until atlast she fell asleep………But sleep was long way from Angad……….He was well aware of Kripa's restlessness and he himself knew what it took for him for not turning around and take her in his arms once again………He slowly turned around, when he felt her breathing evenly and he was sure she was asleep and looked at her beautiful face glowing in the night light……..Till yesterday, he had just accepted that he was getting married to her and they would be friends until they could move forward with their relationship, but today as soon as he was in this room with her alone and the reality that he was married to her and she was his wife struck him, he looked at her with different eyes………She was his and that thought alone made a lot of difference……….But that alone was not the one which hit him………Suddenly he found her attractive……..Her innocence, her young frightened face made him forget everything but her……..He had been with friends with lots of girls and had dated them casually when the occasion needed a date………..But he had not gone any further than that……….never did he feel what he felt for her today………

Till yesterday he was not even sure about all this and today, he was not able to sleep……….He stared at her for a long time and slowly drifted to sleep………Kripa woke up early next morning and found her self in Angad's arms once again……..Her back was to him and he had a tight secure arm around her and his face was close to her neck……….She held her breathe, as soon as she felt his breathe near her ears……….Her hands were on his and she did not know what to do……..but she knew one thing as well……….She wanted to feel those arms around hers for some more time………She wanted him to kiss her one more time, like he did yesterday, just to feel those sensations once again………..As if Angad knew what she wanted, he slowly kissed her ears smiling a little………Good morning Kripa……….He whishpered slowly and Kripa blushed a little and immediately pushed him and ran to the bathroom……..Angad chuckled a little and slowly got up with a sigh……….Kripa came out after couple of minutes, blushing a little, while Angad kept staring at her, but she did not look up and took her clothes and ran in the bathroom once again………But not before she heard his chuckle……..She quickly got ready and walked out of the room in minutes too shy to even look at him………..

No one was still up, so Kripa went to the kitchen like everyday and started making breakfast for everyone………..She was halfway through it when she saw Angad standing there………She did not turn for few minutes, but then atlast slowly looked up……..

K: mmm……kuch chahiye tha Angad? She asked…….

A: Haan, kuch puchna tha…….ye kya kar rahi ho………?

K: Woh bas breakfast kar rahi thi saab ke liye………..She said a little confused……..

A: Chodo ye aur chalo andar…………Mujhe tumhare admission ke bare mein baat karni hai………

K: Angad pehle breakfast taiyar kar lun phir………

A: Mein ne abhi chalne ko kaha Kripa………he said pulling her hands……..

K: Angad kya kar rahe ho…….she said chuckling……….Tum jao, bas thodi der mein ho jayega, phir baat karenge……..Aur waise bhi, tumne to nahaya bhi nahi hai………..subah subah kya admission ke bare mein baat karni hai…….? Roj to coffee mangte ho subah……Aaj nahi chahiye……? She asked casually…….

A: Hey par ye saab tum kyun kar rahi ho? Baad mein Aliyah aur ma bana lenge……….Kal hi to humari shadi hui hai……..Kripa chuckled rolling her eyes……….

K: Gaye do saal se mein ye kaam roj kar rahi hun, aab shadi ho gayi to chod dun…?…..Aur ma bhi to kal kitni thak gayi thi……..…She said shaking her head and continuining her work……….Angad just sighed and shook his head……….

A: Thank god 15 din baad hum US ja rahe hain……nahi to tum to bas issimein uljhi rehti……I know old habits are hard to die…..…He said rolling his eyes and going to his room with a frown……..Kripa bit her lips, knowing Avantika would scold her for doing this work, as she had strictly asked her to stay out of kitchen and house work, but her reason for doing this today was to avoid Angad …….She felt too akward, after what they shared yesterday…….She had never thought they would come so close in matter of a day, and it really felt a little odd, but she slowly tried to assurre herself that it was just normal.…..But, she couldn't just sit there in the room, while he was there as well……..And further, seeing him first thing in the morning today, made her more nervous………It was the first time she was ever this close to some one……..!

Kripa expertly finished making breakfast and cleaned around the kitchen and then arranged the table………She cut the fruits and made juice as always and even prepared tea and coffee for everyone, as per their tastes.……Trying not to think about last night……She bit her lips worriedly, when no one was still out, hoping Angad would stay in………..She was almost done, when Dilip and Avantika walked out and looked at Kripa with disbelief…….

Av: Kripa, ye saab tum ne kyun kiya………Hum saab baad mein kar lete na…… She said looking at the table and shook her head………Pagal ladki………..Kal hi to shadi hui hai, hathon ki mehendi bhi nahi utari aur tum kaam par lag gayi………Abhi kaan khinchti hun Angad ki……..Tumhe ye saab karne kyun diya………

K: Nahi ma, Angad ne to roka tha………Mein ne hi usse nahane bhej diya……….Aur kya hua ki mein ne breakfast bana liya……..Roj to banati hun na…………Chaliye, aap ka bhi to dawai ka waqt nikal gaya……….

Av: Roj ki baat alag hai………abb tum iss ghar ki nayi dulhan ho……Aur pehle hi din kaam shuru kar diya……….Kuch din hume bhi to tumhe laad pyar karne ka mauka do……..she said pulling her cheeks……..Ja, Angad ko bula la aur dekh Aliyah uthi ki nahi……..Waise bhi mujhe to aab adat daal leni chahiye tere bina kaam karne ki…….She said chuckling……..Abhi pandhra dinon mein to chali jayegi, Angad ke sath, phir kya karungi mein…….?

D: Aliyah ko training de dena ussi bich……..! Aur Priya bhi to hai……..! Dilip said chuckling……..Aab bahot kar liya Kripa ne……..Saab kuch sikh bhi chuki hai…….Aab humari beti, inn ghar ke kamon mein nahi, apni padhai par dhyan degi aur apne naye jeevan ki shuruwat karegi, Angad ke sath wahan……….He said smiling…….Kripa beta, bejhijhak hokar jao, aur khub enjoy karo ……..Janta hun padhai mein jyada waqt shayad na mile tum donon ko, par sath ho to jald hi adjust ho jaoge aur bahot kuch naya bhi sikh loge…….!Kripa smiled……..

Av: Ja, Angad ko bula la aab……..! She said smiling and Kripa nodded…….

K: Ji ma……..Avantika chuckled, while Kripa blushed and went to call Angad……He was drying his hairs and was shirtless……..She remembered last night, when he had kept her hand on his bare chest and bit her lips……..Angad looked up with raised eyebrows and Kripa slowly asked him to come for breakfast……..Angad smiled and nodded and quickly changed and walked out…….Aliyah was up too and so came out quickly freshening up……….Kartik and Priya were still in their room, even after everyone were done with their breakfast and Avantika went to their room and knocked couple of times……..

Av: Kartik beta, jaldi se tum donon taiyar ho jao………Pag phere ke liye Priya ke ghar jana hai tumhe…….She called slowly and Kripa who was in the kitchen stopped in her tracks……..Her eyes filled with tears remembering her mom and dad……….She quickly blinked her tears, but not before one escaped and slid down her cheek……..She quickly wiped it before anyone could see and tried to compose herself , when Avantika touched her arm……….Ja beta, tu aur Angad bhi taiyar ho jao……….Hum saab Maha Lakshmi ke mandir challenge……...Woh bhi to ma hai na hum saab ki………..She said kissing her forehead and Kripa looked up at her with tears………..She shook her head with tears in her eyes as well and wiped her eyes………. Aliyah ja beta, apni bhabhi ki madad kar de jara………She said with a smile and Aliyah smiled sadly and nodded……….Angad just kept staring at her till she disappeared in Aliyah's room, while Avantika went and kept a hand on his shoulder……….

Av: Angad beta, waise to bahot samajhdar hai Kripa, par phir bhi koi ma baap ki kami puri nahi kar sakta, chahe kitna hi pyar mile………..Kripa kuch kehti to nahi hai, tumhe hi aab usska khayal rakhna hai…….Wahan kabhi usse akela nahi chod dena…….She said with a sigh blinking her tears………She was dreading the day when Angad and Kripa would be going to US………..And that was just 15 or so days away…………

A: I promise ma, I will support her and see that she is happy…….He said flinching a little, as this would be the first time, he would lie to his parents……..He was not at all planning to let them know about their living arrangements, as he knew that they wouldn't approve………But he felt as if this was a good solution for all their problems right now………Angad smiled at her saying sorry in his mind and Avantika smiled and hugged him……..

Kripa came out all ready in beautiful red saree with light jwellery……She looked beautiful and young in the saree and Avantika smiled with appreciation……..She forgot to fill her mang though and Avantika asked Angad to come and fill Kripa's mang……..He smiled and did as asked and grinned at Kripa, who blushed a little and went and took blessings from Dilip and Avantika………. Soon Kartik and Priya too joined them all ready to go and they left in two separate cars…….Aliyah decided to stay home and relax, while Kartik and Priya went to Priya's house and the rest went to the temple………Dilip suggested that they should eat out, instead of preparing food and so called Kartik and asked him to pick Aliyah on the way and come to the restaurant directly……….They all had their lunch together and then went home……..