Khel Khel Main: Last part up: page 67 - Page 9

Khel Khel Main: Part 4

It had been two months since Angad had seen Kripa, and after two long months he wished he had kept contact with her.

Shahid sat in front of Angad shocked. "Angad, really quickly, I'm confused rewind."

Angad was sitting in his library when the phone rang. He picked it up and after almost six months he heard from his mother.

"Angad." She said when he hadn't spoke for almost thirty seconds now.

"Ji, Ma." He finally replied.

"How are you beta?"

"I'm good Mother, how are you? How is father?"

"We are all good here., and we really want to see you beta."

"I do too Mom." And he really did want to see them. Six years was a long time to be away from your parents.

"Actually, beta., your father has found a girl for you and he thinks that it's time you got married."

Angad was lost., "Come again Mother."

"You heard me Son. Your father has arranged your marriage with a girl here."

"Well yes, he wouldn't want me married to a guy. But, Mother how could you. I can't marry yet?"

"Angad, come on you're 25. It's time you settled down."

"Mother, but I'm ONLY, 25."

His mother sighed, "Angad, 25 is young. But for your father you should have been married almost three years ago. And, he can't wait longer."

"Mom, I can't get married."

"Why beta?"

Angad, come on think of something good, what could be a reason that your parents would never force you to get married. Quick Angad Khanna, think, think. Got It!

"Mom, I can't marry because I'm already married to someone here." Angad heard Naina Khanna drop the phone from her hand.

He waited for her to come back, when she finally came back she gave him a bigger shock that he had given her.

"Your Dad is fine with it beta, unless she's English."

"Of course she isn't Mom. She's Indian, pure Indian."

"What's her name?"

"Um.. Vo, um.. Well, um… Kripa Sharma." It spit out so quickly that he didn't even think about it.

"Kripa Sharma."

"No, well, Kripa Khanna after marrying me."

"Hmm…. Here talk to you father."

Angad, felt himself sweat now, the phone exchanged and his father came online. "All I want you to know is that we are going to be in London in five days. I want to meet our daughter-in-law." Before Angad could protest, Dilip Khanna put the phone down.

Angad put the phone down as well, he went back and sat behind the desk in the silent library. He recalled his own words: "Kripa Sharma? No, well, Kripa Khanna after marrying me ." He had just made Kripa Sharma, his supposedly wife. The same Kripa Sharma whom he had met about three month ago, spend maybe three weeks with, he had told his parents that he was married to her, how could he?

He shook his head and called Shahid, "Shahid meet me in the Starbucks near the London Eye." He put the phone down, walked to his closet and pulled a coat on, and slid into it. He decided he would walk to the subway, and then take that train to London's eye.

Now he sat in front of Shahid telling him the entire story for the fifth time. Shahid Malothra, Angad Khanna's best friend and lawyer. Shahid had actually studied to become an FBI agent. He though it was cool to carry a gun with out at all times. It was an impact from moves like Terminator and Spy Kids. But after he got his job he realized it wasn't him. He went back to college, he's a year older to Angad and now his official lawyer.

"So what are you going to do now?" He asked him.

Angad sighed, "I would like to shoot myself with a gun and write an apology letter to my parents, and maybe one to Kripa."

"To Kripa? For what?"

"For using her name. That poor thing has enough problems."

Shahid sat back in his chair and looked at his friend Angad Khanna who had never felt sorry for anyone, not even Shahid. And today, he felt sorry for Kripa Sharma. Kripa Sharma whom he knew for barely three months? This was definitely a new side of Angad Khanna, something that Shahid was excited to see.

Angad looked up at him friend and put his coffee down. "Will you quit staring at me and tell me what to do." He snapped. "I have five days to cook up a plan."

"How about you get married, to someone and say I will only marry you if you change your name to Kripa!" Shahid looked at him Angad, who looked back at him friend in disgust.

"Shahid, if you weren't my friend, I would have pinned you to the wall by now, accompanied with a few punched."

"Ok, relax man." They both sighed and sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Angad?"

"Yes, Shahid?"

"I have it!"

"What?'

"How long are your parents going to be here for?"

"I don't know. Maybe two weeks or so," he sighed. "Maybe I should just go back to India and get married."

"No stupid listen to me."

"Then talk."

"How about you talk to Kripa."

"About?"
"Look, you said she's having problems. You have a problem as well. How about you ask her to become you 'wife' for two weeks or so and you can pay her for the act." Shahid looked at Angad, who had a confused look on his face.

"So you mean I should ask her to act like my wife?" Shahid nodded. "Are you nuts?" Shahid nodded his head again. "She will never agree."

"Then you have, um, three other options."

"And they are?"

"First, you can go back to India. Say sorry to your parents and get married where they want you to. Second, you can go to Kripa and ask for help, at least talk to her once. Third, you can marry someone right here and present her in front of your parents as your wife."

Angad looked at Shahid for a few seconds. The coffee house was empty now. A few customers walked in, got their coffee and then left again. "Do we any other options?" Angad asked.

"Um, yes we have one other option."

"Which is?" Before Shahid could answer his phone rang. He excused himself and answered it, when he came back Angad asked him again. "What's your last option?"

"Well, you can as you said shoot your self." Angad looked annoyed. "The choice is completely up to you. I have to rush now, good bye."

"Bye Shahid." Shahid quickly left the place and Angad also headed back to his house.

Angad was trying to sleep but he couldn't. His Dad would kill him if he found out that Angad had lied. And, if he were to really get married he would have to find the perfect girl. Someone who could actually be a nice house wife.

He sat up in his bed and though about Shahid's suggestion of asking Kripa for help. He though for a long time trying to come up with an alternative but he wasn't successful. Finally he slipped on his coat, checked the time before heading out, 9:30, and then left for Kirpa's place.

He rang the bell and waited for a few minutes. Then he rang the bell again. He was about to turn when the door opened. In front of him stood Kripa in her pajama's. Her eyes were half closed.

"Hello Kripa." He greeted. Now Kripa rubbed her eyes and leaned closer to Angad.

"Angad? Is that you?"

Angad cleared his throat, "Yes, may I come in?"

"Yes of course." She moved aside and they both walked in. Kripa took his coat and hung it and then sat beside him. "Would you like some coffee?" She asked, looking at his disturbed face.

"No, actually do you have wine?"

Kripa looked at him confused, "Angad are you alright? You seem disturbed."

Angad gulped and looked at her again, "I need a favor from you."

Kripa laughed under her breath. "How can I help Angad Khanna the great?"

"How about we make us some coffee and I'll tell you my story," he offered.

"Ok." They both rose from their seats and walked into the kitchen.

Kripa was brewing the coffee, when she noticed the panicked Angad once again. He had playing with a pen. Kripa stopped her task and walked to him. Without thinking she held his hand in hers. Angad instantly looked up at her. In her eyes, Angad saw, worry. He knew she would be the right person for this job.

Kripa stepped closer to him, "Are you alright? I've spend three full weeks with you but I've never seen you this tensed."

Angad felt himself getting nervous, and Kripa saw this clear in his eyes. She sighed; held his hand again and pulled her back to the sofa.

She sat beside him, still holding his hand. "Angad, what's your problem Angad?"

"Will you marry me?"

"WHAT?" Kirpa left his hand and stood up. "Angad, are you mad?"

Angad made her sit down again, "Listen to me at least."

He explained his story to her. And, she completely understood. "So what do you want from me?"

"I want you to act as my wife for a few weeks."

Kripa looked at him shocked, "What's exactly your plan Angad?"

"Well, my parents will be here in five days. In these five days I will train you so you know everything about me to how a Khanna lady should act. I want you to be perfect as my 'wife' in front of my parents." Kripa looked at him not sure about this. Angad continued, "You simply have to leave an expression on my parents that you're the perfect wife. That way they will never talk to me about getting married!"

"And, this is the only time I will have to do this?" She asked.

"Well yes. Maybe a few months later I can 'divorce' you and tell my parents you started getting career oriented, I didn't time for you. We can find a reason."

"What will I gain by doing this?"

"What ever you want Kripa."

She sighed, "I don't want anything Angad. I'll help you as a pay back of taking care of me while I was in the hospital. And then you also paid the bills for me. Consider this a payback."

"So you will do this for me?" He asked slowly.

Kripa sighed again, "Yes Angad. I will help you."

Excited Anagd kissed Kripa's cheeks and embraced her tightly. Kripa smiled and hugged him back.

When they finally parted Angad smiled to her, "Come on now. We have cup of coffee pending."

Kripa went back to the kitchen when she came back she found Angad looking though some of her photographs. She quickly ran to him and grabbed the pictures away from him.

"Angad?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." He smiled. Kripa sat down and handed him his cup of coffee. "Kripa can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Are you well, don't take me wrong, but are you still in financial crisis?"

Kirpa laughed under her breath, "I'm always in financial crisis."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Can I do anything?"

"No."

Angad put his cup down and moved closer to her, he held her hand and not knowing what he is doing kissed it. "You know when my friend told me contact you for help I couldn't believe it. I though you wouldn't help me. After all I wasn't to nice to you while you were sick."

"Maybe I wouldn't have helped you. But that nervous face of you're, I couldn't help but say yes."

Angad looked at her for a moment, "You Kripa Sharma are moving in with me."

"Angad Khanna, are you nuts?"

"Let me explain Kripa."

"Angad I-"

"Ssshhh, look. I have five days to train you. I can kill two birds with one stone, train you and for a month or so you won't have to worry about the bills for this place. And, that way I will feel better that I could help you."

"Are you sure you are the same Angad that I've read about and seen on T.V.?"

Now it was Angad's turn to laugh, "I don't know. I've donated in many charities and the kind as 'unknown' and for some reason I just want to help you. I wanted to last time I came over and saw you frustrated. Trust me I thought about you many times." Kirpa blushed, and Anagd saw this. "Now as our first step we need to be seen together. I need to tell this world that Angad Khanna is married to the very beautiful Kripa Sharma."

"And, how do we plan to do this?"

"That is Shahid's job to organize. And, you are coming home with me today it self."

Kripa shook her head, "I still don't think this is right Angad."

Angad held her hand tighter, then released it holding her face, "Look at yourself in the mirror Kripa. You look so tensed. You weren't like this when we met three months back, then suddenly what's wrong. Don't say it's the bills because I know for a fact you had them before we met as well."

Angad released her face and Kripa looked down, biting her lip to prevent the tears in her eyes. But, a tear rolled from her eye and down her cheek landing on Angad's hand.

"Hey Kripa," he whispered softly. She looked up at him, something was wrong. Angad saw for the first time saw a different Kripa. Angad felt weak, and helpless. He wished he could do something to help her. He didn't know what thought. He slowly put his arms around Kripa and she cried holding him. What was her problem?

What is Kripa's problem and how will Angad fix it?

Neha 😛