CHAPTER 5
Part B
Close I I.
<<<< 2 months later.
Angad looked at Kripa bouncing around feeling a surge of jealousy. He wasn't sure of what was he jealous of though. Every head in the park was turned towards Kripa as she bounced around, laughing wildly, chasing a small puppy. Something about her drew everyone's attention… It wasn't her appearance or her personality alone, but her aura… Just like his own. For decades he had been used to all the head turning towards him, admiring him, revering his presence and yet suddenly now he wasn't the center of everyone's attention. He wasn't sure he felt bad coz nobody was looking at him or coz every male was drinking up her image with hungry eyes…
"Angad!!!!!", Kripa screamed and Angad returned from his dreaming. She held the struggling puppy up to him to pet.
"Why don't you let it go.. It doesn't look too happy there..", Angad said trying to calm down the poor thing. Although Kripa was being extremely gentle with it, it looked terrified in her hold.
Kripa pouted and handed the puppy over to Angad, "All animals aren't happy around me."
True enough. The puppy instantly quieted down and snuggled in Angad's chest. Kripa pouted badly when Angad smiled. Well atleast he hadn't lost his touch with animals, even if humans weren't fawning over him any longer.
"I am so jealous!!", Kripa muttered stamping her foot cutely, blowing hair out of her eyes. Angad raised his brows, but remained quite. Sometimes he really wondered if they felt same things or were they just so well matched.
"All animals are nice and cuddly around you and they go wild gorilla around me… Uuuugghhh!! I want to snuggle up too, and that puppy is in my place!!"
Angad laughed and gently put the puppy down, pulling Kripa to him in the next instant.
"Happy now?", Angad stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"I feel bad for being so stupid.. It's just a puppy…", Kripa snuggled closer and wrapped her hands around his waist, effectively getting lost in the embrace.
"Nah… It's ok. I feel jealous too, when everyone looks at you." Angad spoke quietly. Kripa looked up and slowly kissed his lips.
"But I look at you. So does it matter?"
Angad laughed and suddenly lifted her and twirled her around, feeling a little stupid himself for his earlier emotions.
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"Why is Angad Khanna moving into our circle of clients? He has either befriended or made some dealings with most of our clientele since Kripa has started going out with him", Kashish asked Sujal on the way back home from office.
Sujal looked up from his papers to cast an appreciative glance at Kashish. How truly a wonder his Kashish was. She spotted out this anomaly when no one else did and is sharp enough to know that Angad's move isn't a coincidence. She just isn't spiteful enough as yet to know the bad in people…
"I believe he is trying to build a network which can crush us if it withdraws its support from our company, of course he would use this network as a leverage for Kripa I suppose.", Sujal drawled, not at all bothered with this turn of events.
"He has no idea how hurt Kripa would get if she finds this. Why doesn't he understand that she is free to do as she wishes, free to leave us for him." Kashish asked sinking back into her seat, she worried about Kripa so much. She was so pure of heart and intentions. There wasn't one deceptive bone in Kripa's body.
"Men have ego… it's hard to believe that he isn't enough to pull her away from us. So he pretends we are forcing her to stay here. He has no idea what he is up against.", Sujal brought Kashish's hand to her lips and kissed it reverently.
"So whatever he is trying to do… It won't harm us?"
"No. But I am afraid it will hurt Kripa." Sujal spoke coolly
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>>> Another week later
"What is it Angad you have been thinking too hard about something. Is something worrying you?" Kripa asked as they sat near a lake. They had decided to go on a picnic near an isolated lake. Kripa was sitting back in a relaxed posture and Angad lay near her with his head on her lap.
"Its nothing, everything's fine.", Angad closed his eyes as he felt Kripa playing around with his hair. He had known that moving against Grewal wouldn't have been easy, yet all his scheme and plans had gone without a hitch till now and he just couldn't believe that Grewal hadn't found out what he was trying to do. What worried Angad was the fact that why Grewal wasn't doing anything to stop him. He didn't seem bothered in the least.
"Liar. It doesn't suit you. This lying. Your forehead wrinkles up and your brows get puckered. Is it your sister? Or something with your business?"
"Neither. And maybe you should just leave it if you don't want me lying huh?" Angad opened a slitted eye to look at her. She was too good at reading him.
"Look, why don't you tell me? Even if its something I can't help you with I am sure Mr. Grewal can help if I ask-"
"NO!" with a single furious word Angad sat up and glared at her, "No. I don't want anything from him. Neither do I want you taking anything from him. I can give to you whatever he gives you. And soon you won't have to rely on him at all."
"What are you saying? Angad don't say half baked things to me." Kripa stood up and crossed her arms.
"All I am saying is that soon you would be free of him. You won't have to do anything he says." Angad too stood up and tried pulling Kripa into his arms. He had wanted to surprise Kripa with this news…. But he didn't mind sharing the plan.
Kripa resisted his pull and stood stoutly at her place, "What the hell are you talking about? Free of what? I am not anyone's slave. Haven't I told you that I am where I exactly want to be and I am not being forced to do anything against my will? Then what are you talking about? What are you planning Angad."
"My god! He has you completely brainwashed Kripa!! He is.. he.. He is holding you back! Why don't you see it? You want to be with me and he is holding you back to him. He is using going to use you against me to get what he wants. It's all part of a big plan. You don't understand." Angad sputtered, jealousy coloring his voice
"You are right Angad. I don't understand." Kripa said quietly and picked up the basket which she had brought. Taking a few steps away from him, she spoke with a voice which shattered Angad's heart.
"I don't understand the double crossing and planning. But I do understand one thing. Mr. Grewal will never harm me. Ever. Now it's up to you to understand that it is me who isn't ready to leave him and not him who is holding me back. I like you very much Angad. But I won't stay and watch you try to harm him, to get something which you can never have."
Kripa turned and stalked away. But before she could go much further Angad caught up with her and jerked her around.
"What the heck you mean!!! Don't try me Kripa. I am a very patient man, but you always have me on a short fuse. I will make sure he is forced to let go of you and you are going to come to me. I don't care if you think he is the god, coz I know he isn't."
Kripa swung her arm free of Angad's tight hold and repressed a snarl, her wolf didn't like being dominated like this. Kripa caught hold of his shirt front and invaded his personal space.
"You don't tell me what to do. You don't have any right over understand! You even try and force him to do anything Khanna and I'll do so many bad things to you, you would regret being born." Kripa snapped viciously close to completely losing her temper.
"Is this it then? This is how it is going to be? I stand nowhere in your opinion. He is all you care about?" Angad spoke barely masking the disgust and hurt in his voice.
He had been ready to give her the world and she still clung to that creature. What would it take her to come to him? What more does she want? WHAT?!!
"You matter a lot. But you are asking me to choose between you and Mr. Grewal…. You are asking me to choose… You remember a month back, I said that I would never choose? I am sorry Angad. I have caused you so much distress and trouble. I need to go home and think about certain thing… This all has become too intense… too…."
"Close?" Angad whispered his question. But turned around and left. He couldn't bear to hear the answer.
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Kumkum Bhagya
