Forced ff AK part up pg41 22/07 - Page 19

Another phone call came to the police station. After initial reluctance, she breathed down the phone "Hello, this is Kripa Sharma. I' I would like to take back my statement' and release Angad Khanna."

She had got through the easy bit, now for the hard part. Kripa had decided to swallow her pride and take back her statement, but she was sure that Angad would be wanting an explanation. And the even harder part- agreeing to the proposal. Kripa hoped that Angad would be the one to bring it up otherwise she did not think she could do.

Meanwhile Angad was wondering who had called him that had reversed such an obvious case and set Angad free. No matter how powerful a person is, in a case like this- especially when he has practically admitted his own crime, there was no more that could be done. He was told that the person wanted to meet him and was outside the police station waiting for him. He exited to find that the wind was icy cold and all of the people from yesterday were nowhere in sight. Angad was surprised as he knew that although in normal cases, the media's interest dies down quite quickly but when Angad Khanna was involved, the most minor thing may be dragged on for weeks. He then saw that there were police markings here and realized that the police must have one this for Angad's safety. He looked around for the person but found nobody there. He looked again and saw a car parked with somebody inside. It was a woman.

He approached the car shocked that it was Kripa sitting inside there, he was still doubtful if that person was Kripa and was wondering if he should go to meet her or not. And Kripa had completely forgotten the carefully rehearsed speech that she had planned when she saw him. When she saw his reluctance to meet her she took a deep breath, poked her head outside the window and said "Angad' come here." He was pretty glad that she had called him or it could have left him in a dilemma for who knows how long.

He got into the car not knowing what to say. For the first time, the two were robbed of their speech with each other. Kripa knew that she had to take the first step this time.

"Angad, I am ready. I know everything. Armaan told me." Angad couldn't believe what he had heard. How could Armaan have told her everything? He would to break his trust that easily. Angad thought that maybe she meant something else, after all she could not mean that she is ready to marry me after all that I have done to her.

Kripa heard the silence from Angad and tried again: "I know what you have done to Armaan. So don't be so happy, I will still hate you but I will'" She trailed off at the end leaving Angad wondering what she could possibly mean. Armaan's earlier words echoed in his ears : "Don't worry, Kripa will come back on track. By hook, or by crook!" Angad knew he could always count on Armaan and relief flooded through him till he remembered the later part of her sentence "I will still hate you." Well whatever has happened, it was certainly a step up from before.

Kripa saw no response from Angad again and sighed finishing her sentence "I will' marry you."

Angad's joy knew no bounds but he had to hide it as he had no clue whatsoever what Armaan had told Kripa to get her to agree and he did not want her to suspect it. The awkward silence in the car was probably due to the contrast of the two's feelings. One who was leaping with joy and one who was about to give her life away. Nevertheless, they ended up deciding that they needed to have a proper leagal and religious wedding as what had happened in the mandir was only between them two (and a few hundred others) and their family must be a part of this big step in their lives. Well, Angad talked giving Kripa a lecture on it and Kripa just agreed absentmindedly.

It was not long after then that they had flown over to England in a private jet to escape the curious stares and driven over to Kent. The garden of England. The real home of Angad Khanna. And once before' of Kripa Sharma. Angad got the chauffer to grab their bags and go inside the house and paused with Kripa outside. They both knew just how nervous they were and both Kripa and Angad knew that it was the same if not worse for the other. Kripa was silently hoping that they would refuse their alliance. Angad linked arms with Kripa (he had told her that they had to keep up the act with family also) and led her to the house. They were so close and yet so so far! They arrived at the doorstep to see Dilip who certainly did not look too happy to see them. One look at his face and they both knew that he knew everything. Well by everything, the scandal part of it anyway.

He turned with anger and went inside to a room. Padma was still there though, waiting for Angad and Kripa to come inside. They came over to touch her feet but instead she hugged them. "Thank you but beta, you know I have always considered you as my own child na, so please don't hurt me with your formalities."

"Ma-"

"Beta there is a time and place for everything. And now is not the time ad nor is this the place. Come inside first."

They went inside and sat on the bed.

"Now beta I know that you are technically married but I want the marriage to take place properly and till then' you know what I mean- right?"

"Yea ma and' sorry."

"For what? In fact I should be the one to say thank you to you. You have brought an perfect girl into this house that can never be matched. Yopu two don't need to explain anything. I understand. And I am happy that you two have decided to take this step as the whole world knows that you two are made for each other. Don't worry I will make your dad understand. He too knows that you two are meant to be together and once his anger subsides, he too will accept you two."

"Ma' when will the marriage be?"

"Oh I completely forgot! Well since this is such a complicated affair, I think it best that we should have it take place n three days. We don't want to create any more scandals now do we?"

Angad breathed a sigh of relief whereas Kripa who was silent till now yelled "THREE DAYS!"

Angad gave her a look which she just couldn't ignore so she shut up right away. Padma looke at her curiously and said "Are you okay with it beta?"

"Umm.. Yes auntyji but how will al the preparations take place that soon?"

"Don't worry about that, we will take care of it. Before I forget, do you have anywhere that you can stay for these three days?I wouldn't ask but you know that a ladka and ladki should not meet before marriage."

A dilent tear dropped from Kripa's eye which she hastened to wipe before someone caught it and replied with a hoarse voice "No aunty."

"Oh' well we can have Angad in one side of the house and you in the other. Is that okay?"

"Yes aunty."

She was led to her room and as soon as she got there she collapsed on the bed in a heap of tears. Of course his mother wouldn't mind why would she? Now she had three days to enjoy her life before she would have to be forced. Forced to marry that evil man and yet have to act like it was what she wanted! She hated this helplessness, Kripa was normally a woman that would get things done for herself but now, her will was nowhere to be seen in this alliance. Liar' a little voice in her head said, you want this don't you? Being forced is just an excuse, marrying Angad is a pleasure rather than a hate. So she battled with herself to no avail. No matter what she wanted, she was going to be married in three days to Angad Khanna.