Where The Heart Is...AK (CH.3[A], p. 7) - Page 3

Chapter 1

Kripa thumped her steering wheel of her black Corvette lightly as her exit approached. Three more miles and she'd be in the vicinity of the town she'd hoped to leave behind, far behind. All throughout her long drive, and even during her breaks, her mind was fogged with thoughts of her childhood, her adolescence. Ann Arbor. The big-small town, as they called it. She'd always planned on getting out of there. Of course, back then the plans were slightly different. Or very different. So very different, she thought with a heavy heart.

A sudden wave of nervousness swept over Kripa. She fumbled around in her glove compartment, one hand on the wheel, for a CD. Paying no heed to what CD it was, she pushed it into the player, and almost laughed out loud at the song that came on.

Woh jab yaad aaye, bohot yaad aaye…God, her life was one big irony, she thought as Lata Mangeshkar's melodious voice filled her heart and mind with nostalgia.

She finally pulled off the highway onto her exit. Kripa felt like a thousand needles were stabbing her heart and it took all of her mental strength to keep her from turning back around. She had to do this; she had nowhere else to go. Damn you Prithvi, she thought irritably. Damn you to hell.

Flashback:

It had been a gloomy, rainy day for Ann Arbor. Kripa and her then best friend Angad had spent the entire day at TIOS diner, munching down Mexican food, and playing card games. There wasn't much else they could do. All of a sudden, Angad's face lit up with a mischievous glint. Kripa groaned inwardly, and said "What brilliant felony are you cooking up now?" As if shocked by her accusation, his face twisted in mock innocence. "Me? A felon?" he exclaimed. "Kripa, I'm hurt at your point blank accusation" Kripa rolled her eyes and both shook in laughter. "Well, alright, if you insist on knowing" Angad started. "How about we give old sheriff Malhotra a bit of excitement…you know, give the old man something to do, nothing ever happens here anyway"

Kripa grinned. This was the typical Angad. Though he wouldn't do anything to hurt someone purposefully, he still had an impish streak—something that kept his bad-boy reputation alive. "What are we waiting around for then" Kripa asked. At once they got up, startling the diner's manager. Rushing out of the eatery, Angad told Kripa his plan. Kripa stared at him, wide-eyed. "No way" she bit her lip. "No way, Angad. That could get us thrown in jail" Angad just smirked in response. "Only if they catch us…and I don't know about you, but I don't plan on being caught."

30 minutes and two buckets filled with water balloons later, Angad and Kripa slowly made their way near the Sheriff's office. Remaining hidden, they waited for the right opportunity. The rain soaked through their clothes, yet they waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, old Sheriff Malhotra walked out of the office with two other cops, presumably going on their lunch break. "Get ready, Krips" Angad alerted her. "NOW". Out of nowhere, the sheriff and his deputies were assaulted with wave of water balloons. The look on their faces was worth all the trouble that they would possibly get into. The Sheriff turned and looked at the direction of where Kripa and Angad were hiding. "Shit" Angad mumbled. He quickly grabbed Kripa's hand and ran, half-crawling through the bushes to get out of sight. Although the sheriff hadn't seen them, him and his deputies got in the police car, and turned on the sirens.

Kripa had never been more scared in her life. She ran as fast as she could with Angad through the thicket. "What are we gonna do, Angad" Kripa asked, scared. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you. Don't worry". Finally they took refuge under the loose floorboards at the Gazebo. They waited and waited, clinging onto each other as their wet clothes clung onto them. Finally the sirens died down, and both crawled out of their hiding place. Being in such close vicinity had taken a toll on their raging teenaged hormones. Awkwardly, Kripa tried to lighten the mood. "Well that was close" not understanding the pun she'd just set up for herself. Angad grinned. She missed it, he did not.

"Was it?" he asked smirking.

"Huh" was all he got.

Kripa let out a whoosh, and got back into her car. Ten minutes later, she was parked outside her mother's house. The distance between her car and the front door, which was a mere couple of meters, now seem like the longest stretch she'd ever crossed. She hadn't seen this woman in over sixteen years, and barely kept in touch otherwise. Not like she wanted me to anyways, Kripa thought with a snort.

Ringing the doorbell, she fidgeted until the door swung open. A shocked Gayatri Sharma stood at in the doorframe. Kripa wanted to laugh at her mother's expression, as it was one of the very rare instances she bothered to show any sort of emotion. "Hello mother" Kripa said, almost robotically. Gayatri quickly recovered, and once again returned to her stoic expression. "Kripa" she whispered, and then more loudly, continued "I wasn't expecting you, you didn't call" It was almost accusatory. "It was a last minute thing. This trip"

Simply nodding, Gayatri turned around, waving for Kripa to come in. "will you have something?" she asked politely, formally. "Water? Tea? Juice?"

"Just water, thank you"

After ringing the maid for some water, and snacks, they made their way into the living room. It was exactly the way Kripa remembered it. Same homely, old suburbia feel. Same oversized furniture. Same floral wallpaper. Same emotionless, stoic mother. Kripa added bitterly. While Gayatri looked at her curiously, Kripa fidgeted in her seat. She'd made it this far, but could she muster up the courage to be honest with her mother.

"Well, actually…" Kripa started, but was relieved when the maid arrived with water and pastries. She took a large sip of her water.

This time, Gayatri initiated conversation. "So Kripa, what brings you here after so long?"

Kripa ignored the slight contempt in her mother's voice. "I'm staying here…for the next few months" Gayatri raised an eyebrow, "have you gotten a job here?"

"N-no" Kripa managed meekly. "I'm on an extended vacation from work" Gayatri nodded, still unsure of Kripa reason for the sudden trip. Kripa felt the room closing in on her, so she stood up and walked over to the window. "Actually, mother, I'm…." she hesistated. Looking out, she said "I'm pregnant". There. She'd said it.

The air in the room seemed heavier than Kripa remembered. "What do you mean…you're pregnant" Gayatri managed to ask.

Kripa rolled her eyes. "What do you think it means, mother"

"Do not get that tone with me, Kripa" Gayatri warned. "You know what I mean. How could you let this happen, Kripa? I always thought you to be more intelligent than that"

Anger rose through Kripa, "What do you mean 'how could you'…why do you assume that this baby is a mistake?" Gayatri's eyes widened. "A child out a wedlock?" Kripa rolled her eyes, yet again. "Mother, the year is 2008, children out of wedlock are more common than children after marriage"

Gayatri remained tightlipped. "Kripa, you of all people should understand the trouble of raising a child alone. You of all people should know how difficult it is to cope"

Kripa felt her defenses slipping away. "and what about the father of this child"

Damn, Kripa thought. "We're not really together" she managed to croak. Gayatri snorted. Again Kripa felt herself getting angry "Mother" she started, her voice tense, "All I know right now, is that I love this child, and I'm planning to bring it into this world and raise it with all the love and care that I have. Regardless of anyone being in this with me…or not"

Kripa started to walk towards the door. Why had she even bothered to come here? It wasn't as though her ice maiden of a mother was going to melt at the thought of Kripa carrying her illegitimate grandchild. She was in this alone.

Gayatri's voice stopped her at the door. "I presume you'll be staying at the house Suryaban left you"

"Yes" Kripa hissed back. "I'll be staying at my father's house"

With that, she walked out and got into her car, wishing she'd never come back.

Coming up: Angad's entry.