hey guys part 9
recap
"Okay Gotta go… have an early morning meeting tomorrow remember…." He had to take this chance to take a look at her. He dashed off the door, jogged down the stairs and saw her. Wow! She had grown up he thought …physically for sure, filled up in the right parts, and looked ravishing. He controlled his train of thought and walked towards her. Slow …not so fast he reminded himself. Swift not sudden…
9
Armaan walked towards the main entrance. Ridhima was walking towards him. She had not seen him yet. His legs wobbled with the excitement of being so close to her. She saw him then. She stood still….he stood still. Oh God no…its Armaan she thought covering her mouth with both her hands in surprise.. She walked ahead and launched herself on him. She hugged him tight, clinging to him. This was not what he expected right away and certainly not something he could handle just yet. When she finally decided to set him free she stepped back still her arm around his neck. He smiled at her like a fool he would remember later.
"R…ra…rh..Ridhima! Wow you grew up." how lame could one guys opening statement could be he wondered.
"Yes !I did .."she spinned around once to show herself off and held her hand open" so what do you think" she said referring to herself.
Wow! Breath takingly sexy…is what he wanted to say…. But slow he reminded himself again. "Wonderful…like always" he said finally.
"I ..I just came by to watch the match with Angad. I work with him now… you know right. Actually he invited me. And I …came" god he was blabbering. This is not what he expected out of himself. "So it's late … I think I should go." He said and he left.
Ridhima stared after him. "What's wrong with the guy? The last I saw him years ago he was sane now he seems to be …well" she turned and walked to her room. She slept with Aditya wrapped all around her thoughts. Finally she had found the right guy she believed.
Armaan went to his car and leaned on it for support. She was looked so gorgeous. And he had behaved like a fool. Next time he decided to be charming rather than being a fool. He thought he was one step ahead of her. He knew what he was doing. But her beauty had made him fumble. He shook his head disappointed with himself and sat in the car. He drove off to his empty apartment.
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Late in the night Angad walked in Kripa's room. He had knocked but the door opened a bit and he had walked in. He was about to speak when he saw Kripa sleeping on her bed in her loose cotton kurta and a matching pyjama. She looked so serene, so innocent. Sweet slumber he imagined. Her face was devoid of expression. There was none of the pain, the confusion, irritation, on her face. She looked stunningly beautiful. He felt like touching her to make sure she was real. She looked like a romantic dream. He put his hand forth to touch the creamy cheek and she stirred. Angad took his hand back and moved a step backward as if he was caught doing something wrong. She moved and button of her kurta snapped open to reveal more of her skin. He gasped. Sinful, delicious thoughts flooded his mind. He turned and rushed back to his room. He dragged his hand through his hair, picked up his half empty mug of beer and gulped down its content. The bitter taste that appealed to him minutes before made him feel nauseous. What had happened to him he wondered while he lay on his bed. He fell asleep soon from the intoxication of alcohol or may be something else.
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Kripa was working in the kitchen with the cook when Angad walked in the next morning. The cook had heard about Angad and Kripa's alliance. The staff always had all the news before it was officially announced. They gossiped and they knew. She saw Angad, wished him and left the kitchen. Kripa looked at him confused. She had never seen him in the kitchen before. "Do you want something Angad. I am sorry I know I am a little late. But your break fast is ready… I will bring it."
"Kripa…Kripa…" he took the butter knife out of her hand and placed it on the counter. " its not always about me r the house or your duties towards us. I came here to say sorry. I am sorry for last night. It was not your fault. Josh is like that and if I would have told him we were going to be married he would have behaved."
" I am okay … really … I understand. You don't have to…apologise… it wasn't your fault." She said picking up the butter knife again. He just kissed her on top of her head "Thank God you understand. And now FOOD" he said. She smiled. He left.
How had his body language towards her changed so fast? She wondered. Suddenly he would hug her with out any reason. A peck on the cheek, a kiss on the head was always thrown in with every conversation. She did not mind it but she needed time for all this. What could she say to him though? They were going to be married…and then the realisation hit her that a marriage had physical implications. He will want to…. They will have to…sleep in the same room. on the same bed may be. Colour rose high on her cheeks. Small beads of perspiration appeared on her forehead. Her palms felt cold. The thought made her uncomfortable. She would deal with one thing at a time she decided. She exhaled the breath she was holding and carried his break fast to the table.
He ate and left for office. Dadi was on an over drive. So much excitement was not good for her health at her age. Kripa tried to keep her calm but with her son and daughter in law arriving the next day added to the excitement. Kripa was nervous though. Angad had reassured her in the morning that it would be okay. It's not an exam…. But it made her feel worst than she felt on the day of her maths exams in school days.
Angads parent's flight was to arrive very early in the morning. Angad had asked her to wake him up. She put an alarm and went to bed. She tossed and turned but sleep would not come. It was 4 o' clock in the morning at last and she was to go to his room and wake him up. She knocked and entered the room. She flicked the lights on. He was sprawled on his bed, head towards the foot of the bed. He did look like a 6 yr old that he behaved like at times. She was to wake him up …"Angad" she tried to wake him up. He did not move. "Angad" she said …this time a little louder. He turned around and mumbled something.
He was just not waking up. She put her hand on his bare shoulder and jerked herself at the impact of touching him. She shook him a bit. "Angad, wake up…. ANGAD" she said again much louder.
His head jerked up, eyes still closed. " hmmm" he said. "What…its so early" he sat up. He was wearing just his track pants. " what do you want Kripa" he said a little annoyed. " wo… Mr and Mrs Khanna … you have to go to the airport." She reminded him.
"Oh yeah . Kripa … tea …can you make me some . Please" he got out of bed in one swift movement and stood in front of her. He touched her cheek. "you look beautiful." He traced his humb on her lips. Oh he wanted to do just that last night he remembered." She stepped back alarmed. He realised she felt awkward. She looked so beautiful in the morning…just out of bed yet so beautiful. Soon she will be waking up with him, in this room, how he would control himself each morning until they took "that" step, share that intimacy that a married couple shared. Why was he attracted to her so much he wondered? He was not in love for sure but he always wanted to be around her. Weird he thought.
"You take a shower. I will get the tea." With that she almost ran out of his room. She was standing in front of the stove. She felt hot. It was not the heat from the stove. Her hands moved to her lips. She touched them and trembled at the memory of him touching those minutes ago. She smiled despite herself.
He showered, her image still playing in his mind. He hummed to himself. When he came out wrapped in a towel around his waist he saw her mixing his tea. He walked towards her. She turned around and gasped at what she saw. She handed him the tea cup. "Should I make something to eat." She asked to distract herself.. He would have something at the airport caf while he waited for his parents he decided and shook his head to say no, his eyes still on her. Her hand shook. She excused herself and left. He wore a white tee and faded denim pants and left for the airport.
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The house was abuzz with activity. Mr and Mrs Khanna were arriving and the staffed worked hard to set everything in order. Their room were cleaned. There favourite English breakfast was being made. Kripa dressed in a sari from the collection her mother had put together over years just for an occasion like that. She had collected every sari herself for Kripa's wedding Kripa remembered. And this was a perfect occasion to wear one she thought. She put on some pearls also her mothers, to go with the sari. She was ready and walked in the dinning hall to see if she could help with something.
She heard the car screech to a halt outside and her stomach felt a pang. They had arrived. Dadi sensed her nervousness and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Ridhima ran to the entrance. Naina and Dilip walked in. Ridhima hugged her mom, and then her dad. Dilip held her a while longer then pulled her away and took a good look at her.
"How is my princess?" he asked …"looks perfect… my girl" he patted her head.
Dadi guided a tensed Kripa towards Naina. Naina touched Dadis feet and looked at Kripa. Kripa touched Nainas feet. When she stood up Naina put a hand on Kripas chin and took a good look at her with a judgemental expression on her face. "You look prettier than your pictures." She said at last. Kripa smiled nervously. Dilip came to the rescue. " Kripa! We meet finally. You look stunning." She was about to touch his feet but he picked her up and folded his arms around her. "hmmm! I never doubted Angads choice in anything. Its top class. This time he out did himself. Like father …like son." He added proudly looking at Naina. Angad walked in with some baggage and a servant following him with some more. He looked at Kripa and missed a heart beat. His jaw dropped. She had hid her curves in those loose kurta she wore but the sari was showing then off boldly. He kept staring at Kripa. Dilip looked from Kripa to Angad and back. He understood his sons reaction. A man understood another.
"Let me introduce you" he said to Angad humourously. "This is Kripa …your wife to be…Kripa ..Angad…your husband to be." Everyone laughed around them. Angad rolled his eyes.
"The room is full of so many beautiful women." Angad said. "My mind boggles. But your wife is prettier than mine" he said moving towards his mom. Everyone laughed again. There was ease between them, a perfect bonding. They had breakfast. Dilip spoke with Kripa filling her on his life in London but Naina did not say anything she kept eyeing Kripa, she was judging her every move Kripa realised. Naina and Dilip went to their room to rest after the long journey. Angad had taken the day off. He lounged in his room. Dadi got to her daily routine until lunch and Kripa handled her chores. She was worried. Naina was a tough nut to crack.
next chapter I will breeze past the wedding ... sorry I cant write the rituals and stuff so I will write about the after wedding party. and some AK/ AR scenes. let me know if you like it, Msme
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
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