Rishte-AK FF - Pg-95-Epilogue-DEC-27-2011 - Page 59

PART – 54

He took his bag and slowly went down…...

And stopped in tracks, when he heard Ayush's voice……

A: Dadi mujhe bhi jana hai…..Angad chachu ke sath…..woh choti ma ke paas ja rahe hain……Ayush said coming to her running…..

D: Tujhe kisne bataya? She asked smiling taking him in his arms..….

A: Mujhe pata hai…..mujhe bhi choti ma ke paas jana hai…… He was looking at her with pleading eyes with tears……It had been so long he had talked with such passion, that Devyani was a little surprised…..

D: Beta choti ma bahot dur gayi hai……thode dinon mein aa jayegi….

A: Nahi mujhe abhi jana hai….mein bhi jaunga bahot dur….choti ma ke paas….chacha ke sath….Papa ne kaha, chacha choti ma ke paas ja rahe hain……

Dadi sighed…..and then smiled at him…..

D: Abhi abhi choti ma ka phone aya tha….pata hai kya keh rahi thi…..

A: Kya?

D: Keh rahi thi, ki mein to apne Ayush ke liye, chotasa pyara sa baby lane gayi thi…..par Ayush to kuch suntan hi nahi…..thik se khana bhi nahi khaata….Ma ko satata hai….uska kaha nahi manta…..

Ayush looked down sadly……

A: To choti ma nahi ayegi….mujhse gussa hai……

D: Haan, par unhone kaha hai, ki agar Ayush ma ki baat sunega, raja beta bankar rahega……to woh chote baby ko lekar jald se jald ayegi……Ayush smiled and hugged her….

A: Mein raja beta banunga pad dadi…..Ma ka kaha bhi manunga….he said smiling…..Abb jaun choti ma ke paas……

Devyani smiled through tears…..after a long time, Ayush was looking a little happy…..

D: Abhi nahi……wahan jane ke liye to hawai jahaj ka ticket lena padta hai……aur tumhare paas to ticket nahi hai….Ayush looked at her sadly…..Meine kaha na ki woh jald hi aa jayegi……Tum aise muh phulake baithoge na to mein keh dungi ki tum humara kaha nahi mante, choti ma se…..

A: Mein manunga to aa jayegi…..he asked slowly…..Srinathji ki sau?

D: Haan dekhana jaldi aa jayegi…..Srinathji ki sau…..she said kissing his forehead…..Ayush nodded sadly and hugged her keeping his head on her shoulder..…..

D: To chal….jaldi jaldi khana kha le……aise udas baithoge to kaise chalega…..

A: Dadi choti ma baby ko lekar ayegi, to baby ko pyar karegi…..baby ko gana sunayegi….mujhe pyar nahi karegi…..he said looking at her sadly…..

D: Tujhe kisne kaha ki tujhe pyar nahi karegi…..Tu to bada bhaiya ho jayega, baby ka…..to tujhe to aur bada pyar karegi…..she said feeding him……

A: Itna bada……he asked showing her hands…..

D: Haan baba itna bada…..tu bhi to itna bada hai….baby to bahot chota hoga……she said chuckling…..

Angad looked at then both with a sad smile, hearing about their child…….He looked at Ayush who was so excited just to hear that Kripa was coming home soon……He knew in his heart that she loved him and would be back…..He felt sad, that he could not understand her love like Ayush did……

A: Ayush looked up and saw Angad coming in…….He ran to him with a grin……Angad's eyes filled with tears, to see him so happy first time since Kripa went away..….Pata hai chacha….choti ma baby lekar aa rahi hai mere liye…..Mere paas hawai jahaj ka ticket nahi hai na, to mein nahi aa sakta choti ma ke paas….he said sadly……Angad smiled at him and hugged him with tears…..

Angad: Mein unhe lene ja raha hun…..jaldi lekar aunga….thik hai…..he said smiling at him….

A: Sach…..

Angad: Haan….sach….par tum ma ka kaha manana….thik hai…..Aur kya laun tumhare liye…..

A: Mere liye bhi ek airoplane lakar do na……phir agar choti ma dur gayi na, to mein bhi unke sath jaunga…..apne airoplane mein…..Angad chuckled and nodded……

Angad: Thik hai, lekar aunga, bada wala……he said kissing his cheeks……Ayush chuckled when Angad winked at him…..Angad caressed his cheeks with a sad smile…...and got up……He went to dadi and touched her feet…..Mein chalta hun dadi…..he said with tears…..Dadi smiled and hugged him…..

D: Jo kuch hua bhul ja beta…..Kripa ko aur apne bache ko sath le ana……Galti chahe kisi ki bhi ho, par halat ko dekhte hue, bas itna kahungi, ki pichli batein bhul kar ek nayi shuruvat karo…...hum intajar karenge…..she said kissing his forehead….Angad nodded…..

A: Pata nahi dadi…..kya Kripa ka yahan ana thik hoga……he asked with doubt……looking away…..shocked Dadi looked at him…..

D: Ye kya keh raha hai beta……ye uska ghar hai…..yahan nahi ayegi to kahan jayegi……

A: Kripa ke ane ki khabar se hi Ayush itna khush lag raha hai……agar uske ane ke baad, phir se Kripa ke sath jud gaya, aur phir bhabhi ko acha na lage to……he asked looking down doubtfully……Dadi looked down…..for that she had no answer……It all depended on how Kripa and Divya handled the situation…..

D: Inn saab ke bare mein philhal jyada soch mat……Divya ko iss baat ka ehsaas hai ki ussne galat kiya hai……aur mujhe pata hai, ki Kripa samajhdhar hai…..woh kaise bhi karke ye saab suljha degi…….Shreenathji bar bharosa rakh……Woh saab thik kar denge……..aab tak usse ehsaas nahi tha iss baat ka……par aab hai……filhal ja aur usska sath de……mujhe Kripa par pura bharosa hai...she said with tears patting his cheeks……he nodded and touched her feet, hugging her and slowly left to Surya's house……

At Surya's house, there was still no sign of Surya…..Dilip had searched him everywhere and sent people to search him…..but no one knew where he was…..Gayatri was already worried about Kripa and now about Surya…..

G: Ye dono baap beti to meri jaan le lenge ek din……she said angrily…..as Angad, Dilip and Avantika waited for him……It had been two hours……still there was no sign of him…..

S: Apni beti ki baat kar bhagyawan…..meri akal thikane hain….Lekin Tumhari beti ki akal jaroor ghas charne gayi hai…..usike liye bhagwan ka Prasad lane gaya tha…..he said sighing…..pata nahi itni ziddi kaise ho gayi…….Na khud ki fikar, na dusaron ki……...jarror Krishna bhaisa par gayi hai, itna zid……he said shaking his head..…..Gayatri and others sighed in relief and got up immediately after hearing his voice, except Angad, who was deep in his own thougths..…….

G: Aise bina bataye kahan chale gaye the…..kaab se intajar kar rahe the hum……she asked angrily……woh to Dilip bhaiya aur Kartik ne saab sambhal liya aur tickets book kar diye…..varna aap to….

S: Pata tha mujhe ki ye saab kar lenge……he said with a light chuckle looking at Dilip and Kartik…...issiliye gaya tha mandir…..apni beti ko kuch akkal dene ke liye prarthana karne……..kissi ko to ye kaam karna chahiye na…..aur saab se pehle yeh karna chahiye.…..25 saal ki ho gayi hai…..par aakal panch ki bhi nahi hai…..ziddi to Ayush se bhi jyada hai…..Ayush ko khamakha ziddi kehte the...Aisi choti ma mili na to yahi halat hone wali uski……he said frowning….Dilip and Avantika smiled a little at him….Dilip went to him and kept a arm on his shoulder.…..

D: Tu bhi to kum ziddi nahi ho Surya, he said laughing...Ek baar than liya to than liya……Waise, Kripa ke himmat ki daag deni chahiye…..Akele aise rehkar, saab sambhalna, saab ke baas ki baat nahi…..Bahot himmat chahiye……

S: Bahaduri nahi bewakufi keh Dilip……aab to akeli hai…….bacha hone ke baad kya karti, akele saab kaise sambhalti……he said shaking his head angrily…….

D: Karleti Surya, mujhe pura bharosa hai apni beti par……he said patting his shoulder and saying it proudly……par jaroorat nahi hai karne ki usse……Kasam usne diya Divya ko, aur khub nibhaya……himmat se saab sambhala ussne…...aur usiki wajah se Divya ko apni galti ka ehsaas hua hai…….He said sadly, knowing though it was wrong, there was nothing they could do, the kids though wrong, had made the decisions on their own and suffered their consequences……..He hoped that they would know their mistakes and learn their lessons and not repeat it in future……There was nothing they could do what has already happened, but they needed to see how to handle the situation as for now…..…Der se hi sahi, ma ki baton se lagta hai ki saab jald hi thik ho jayega……..Unka jo vishwas hai, ussase kafi maan ki shanti mili hai…..Baki batein to hoti rahegi……..Surya sighed…..closing his eyes……Abb chal Surya teen ghante mein delhi ki flight hai tumhari….taiyar ho ja……Ramu khana lekar ata hi hoga…..he said silently…..Surya nodded and looked at Angad, who was sitting there deep in thoughts……his eyes were moist and he looked totally knocked…….Surya could understand what he was going through……He was still angry at Kripa, but was worried as well….…Woh thik hai……tu ja jaldi, time nahi hai jyada…..he said patting Surya again….Surya nodded and went in and got ready…..He still couldn't believe about what Kripa did……!!

Ramu came with some dinner and they had early dinner quickly and left within a hour….kartik and Dilip went to leave them at airport while Divya was still in her room…..

Avantika waited for Arjun to come home and lost track of time, thinking about Kripa and how she could hide such big thing from the family and how come she was staying their all alone at this time, when she needed her family……At last Arjun came and she told him about Kripa and Surya, Gayatri and Angad's sudden trip to US after packing his stuff, so he could stay with them……Arjun was stunned and asked if Kripa was alright and she assured that she was ok……..She asked him to go and settle in one of the room upstairs and went to dadi's room and found Ayush playing with Devyani and smiled…..

A: Khana khaya tune beta…...ma kahan hai? She said looking around…..she had seen distress in her eyes, when she ran away from Surya's house and was concerned about her…..She was already guilty of what she did…..and this news added more to it……Even Avantika could still not believe that Kripa hid such a big truth from her family……Ayush looked here and there and then shook his head……then he smiled….

Ayush: dadi pata hai apko….pad dadi ne kaha ki choti ma baby ko lekar ayegi……meri choti ma aa rahi hai…..he said running to her….

Avantika smiled and caressed his cheeks with tears and nodded…..

A: Haan suna……jab ma pichli bar dur gayi thi na, tab tumhe le ayi…..aab choti ma aur ek baby ko le ayegi….tumhari tarah…pyara sa baby…..she said hugging him….how they had been waiting to see this smile on his face……

Ayush: Mein baby thodi na hun….mein to bhaiya hun baby ka……Dadi ne kaha…..

Kripa's news that she was coming back did wonders to the little boy, though weak, he was still excited about it……

Avantika chuckled…..Haan tum aab bhaiya ban jaoge….jao jakar dadi ke sath khelo….mein ma ko dekh kar ati hun…..she said going up…..She found Divya's room locked and knocked couple of times with a frown….

A: Divya….darwaja kholo beta……Divya…..she called for a long time…….Baat nahi manogi to darwaja tudwaungi abhi……jhaldi darwaja khol, Divya…..bahot manmani ho gayi aab sabki……..Tang aa gayi hun mein tum logon se…….she said a little angrily……after which Divya opened the door slowly……Avantika frowned looking at her tear filled face, her eyes and nose red, due to crying……She turned away and sat on the bed, crying…….Divya….kya pagalpan hai ye, kaisi halat bana liya hai apni tumne……..She said scolding her with a frown……

D: Ma, Kaise muh dikhaungi mein apna Kripa ko…..meri wajah se to usse dukh ke siwa kuch nahi mila…..haar baar meri wajah se dukh mila…..Engagement hote hi meri zid ke karan Devarji aur uske bich jhagda hua……shadi hote hi ek din bhi aram se nahi gujara uska…..mere piche din raat kaam karti….aur aab jab usse aram karne ka waqt tha…..mera farz tha ki mein uski dekhbal karun, to usse akele jane ke liye keh diya..….bahot buri hun ma……mein…..bahot buri hun……aaj jab usko sahare ki jaruraat hai, to sirf meri wajah se bilkul akeli hain wahan……..kya soch rahi hogi mere bare mein……Mujh se itni badi galti kaise ho gayi ma…….bahot buri hun mein…...she said crying…..Avantika turned her around and hugged her and let her cry……..She knew that this news added more guilt to her already guilty heart……..And she needed to take it out…….She was genuinely guilty and had accepted her mistake before everyone…….She made a mistake, but she was unaware that her mistake would cause so much distress to everyone, including herself……..What had she wanted? Just a few days with Ayush to bond…..But still her small mistake and the whole thing blew out like a storm……..And even Kripa and Angad were part of it somewhere………They were equally responsible to make this issue in such a big thing…….Divya was not alone in it……Kripa and Angad should have trusted eachother……Kripa should have told atleast Angad about Divya's promise and her being pregnant and trusted him to take right decision, while Angad should have trusted his love and Kripa for being a responsible and loving member of this family, who could do anything for it……..And she wasn't herself verymuch innocent in all this…….As the mother of her children, Avantika knew that somewhere she did her share of mistakes as well…….But dadi still believed that what ever she did, she knew it was for the best…….She just hoped for it and went with the flow, wiping Divya's eyes……She could not do anything for those who were not here, but she would talk to Divya and slowly help her out atleast…

Suddenly Divya looked at Avantika with wide eyes, remembering the day she had begged her to go away, Kripa was about to tell something to her, when she had………Suddenly, she remembered, that Kripa's hands were on her stomach, as she had closed her eyes with pain………Ma, uss din……..Woh……she could not speak and just stared remembering that day……Kripa was fully dressed, and had put on lots of jwellery……She had not seen any of those, or tried to block everything that day, in her agony, but she remembered today….…that means, was that the day she knew about her pregnancy, was that why she had dressed, so she could…….Was that what she was about to tell her, before she had..……Her heart beat wildly, with guilt, fear and anxiousness……….Ma, woh……..

A: Kya baat hai Divya……….She asked suddenly concerned……..

D: Ma, mein gayi thi uske kamre mein…….woh saaj kar taiyar hui thi……..Ek ajab si khushi thi uske chehre par, woh kuch batana chahti thi mujhe, rok rahi thi, ki mein usski baat sunun, aur phir ghabrahat mein, mein ne use Ayush ki kasam de di…….Ma, usse uss din pata tha, ki woh pregnant hai……She said holding Avantika's hands with fear, as tears rolled down her eyes…….Woh mujhe keh bhi rahi thi, par achanak, mein ne darke Ayush ki kasam de di……..she said repeatedly looking in her eyes with tears…….Usne apne pet par haath rakha aur ankhen bandh kar di thi, uske ansu phir bhi nahi samjh payi uss din mein ma……..Usse pata tha ma, phir bhi, Ayush ke liye, woh chup rahi……..Chup chap chali gayi ma……..Dekhiye na, mere gunahon ka bojh to badhta hi jaraha hai………She said suddenly laughing a little at her self and then breaking down………Avantika had tears in her eyes……….She closed her eyes with pain…….She could feel Divya's pain, could understand her securities, at the same time could see Kripa's pain and sorrow as well, her difficulty as well……She could understand that moment, what she might have gone through to take such a big decision……Divya was a mother in pain and Kripa was pregnant going to have her own child……..She could understand Divya's pain and the moment Divya had given her Ayush's promise, her mouth sealed……She couldn't say a word after that…….She could understand what she might have gone through as well and closed her eyes hurt for both of them……Unknowingly they had both gone through distress and hurt…….She hugged Divya and let her cry……..kartik, who was back, stood there rooted to ground, hearing Divya and turned around distressed and walked out of the room……..After a long time Avantika wiped her tears…..That moment she forgave both Divya as well as Kripa for whatever had happened, just praying that things get back to normal soon, like Dadi hoped……

A: Nahi beta…..jiske naseeb mein jo likha hota hai na, wahi hota hai…..uske naseeb ke dukh koi aur nahi le sakta, usi tarah jaise tumhare hisse ke dukh koi nahi le sakta…..saab bhagwan ka khel hain…..aur kuch nahi…..Bhagwan saab ke jeevan mein khushi aur gum dono bharte hain……Dukh mein hum bhagwan ko yaad karte hain, aur sukh mein shukriya……Kanton se gujar kar hi phul milte hain…...Tum wajah jaroor bani inn saab ki, par tumhari wajah se kuch nahi hua…….Ye to saab bhagwan ki hi marji hai…...dekhna saab thik ho jayega……aise parehan rahogi, to Kripa ko to aur dukh pahunchega…..Sirf tumhari khushiyon ke liye woh yahan se gayi hai…..to tum itna to kar sakti ho na uske liye….khush rahekar Ayush ko pyar se sambhal……Woh niche khushi se nach raha hai, ki uski choti ma chota baby lekar aa rahi hain……she said wiping her tears and smiling at her….Kripa jaldi hi wapas aa jayegi….par jab maan kare tab ek baar ussase baat jarur kar lena…….Acha lagega usse…..issiliye to Dadi kehti hain na ki rishte dil se bante hain sirf khun se nahi…..Tumhara rishta Ayush ke sath khun ka hai, par Ayush aur Kripa ka rishta dil ka hai……Par donon utne hi majboot hai..…Tum, Ayush ko pane ke liye usse danti, marti….aur jyada dur karti……Mein kuch uss waqt kehti to shayad tumhe gussa ata…..yahi lagta ki mein tumhare bich mein dakhal de rahi hun..….issiliye meine kuch nahi kaha, tumhe jo sahi lage wahi karne diya…..chahun to rok sakti thi, par tumhara mujhse bhi maan mutav hota……Issiliye ma ne mana kiya tha, kaha tha, tumhe khud ye sochna hai, ki kya sahi hai aur kya galat……Aur bachon ko dant kar nahi pyar se apna kiya jata hai…..She said wiping Divya's face again…..chal aab bahot ro liya tune, aab aur nahi…..…..aab Kripa ke ane ki tayari bhi to karni hai…..ghar sajana hai, uske bache ke swagat ki tayari bhi to karni hai….aur iss baar to Gayatri bhi nahi hai….saab tumhe hi karna hai……she said smiling…….Divya looked down with heavy heart…..she felt ashamed of her self……may be this guilt might never leave her…..she might never be able to fogive her self……

Back to Kripa……Kripa sighed knowing Prithvi and Harshini were right, about asking her to tell her parents and Angad about her pregnancy, their intentions were good and she appreciated their friendship more than anything else….…She came here because she knew this place in and out and felt safe rather than some other place which would be new and unknown and she had citizenship and now so will her baby……that will make it easier for her in future..……That was the reason she had decided to come here for her delivery……It was as and then difficult to do everything on her own…..Atleast here she knew everything and had some friends, who she could count on….. Somehow, she felt restless today…….She made up her mind, to tell Angad the truth today, atleast she can tell him that she can't travel now and would ask him to come for the baby, if not for her as she knew that he would be angry on her for keeping such big secret and rightly so…….Her eyes filled with tears and she looked at her phone..…..She slowly dialed Angad's number…….. She closed her eyes and knew that she had to this, or her guilt will never leave her ever……..She waited for him to pick, but he wasn't picking up……..She dialed him again with heavy heart, knowing he must be angry, but still got no reply……..She kept dialing, hoping he would atleast call her, thinking she was in problem……But no such luck, she looked down with tears and slowly walked down……..Her heart was feeling heavier each moment, and she regreted not calling him sooner……..She wiped her tears knowing they did not help at all……..It was her own fault that she was alone at this time of her life……..It was afterall her decision, then why was she feeling lonely……. Angad and her in laws as well as her parents had talked to her about coming back, everytime they spoke……..But she had been stubborn and kept mum about her pregnancy for Divya, then why was she regretting it now……..No, she had no right to regret it, specially when she made her decision……She wiped her tears and heated her food and sat on the table…….

She ate very little, as she was feeling very uneasy…..She looked at her swollen legs and sighed…..She took some oil in her room and massaged her feet, as they ached badly.…..and then filled the bath tub with water and kept her feet in it and sighed…..It felt so good….She sighed in relief…….and sat back…… Angad had still not called…….He was never home when she asked for him, so she stopped asking for him……..She knew he was angry…..!! But she wished that she would have told him and called him here……..She wished that he would be able to feel their baby in her stomach…….She closed her eyes and imagined his smile, when he felt their baby and the happiness on his face and she opened her eyes with pain……….It was her fault that he would miss out on everything, including being there when their child was born…….!! She slowly got up and cleared the bath tub……

After a few minutes, she came out and sat on the bed, with a book in her hand…….She looked at Ayush and Angad's photo near her dresser and smiled sadly……She caressed Ayush's face and kissed it lightly……She felt uneasy cramp in her lower back…….and sighed hoping that she deliver soon…..She was tired of her aches all the time…..She was ready to run around as she did before……She smiled touching her stomach……her baby would be soon with her though, hers and Angad's……..That day would be a wonderful day for her…..how she wished, Angad to be there, when their baby came in this world……It would be a unique experience…..She smiled and tried to carress her baby…….She looked at the phone again and tried to call Angad in the office as well as on the cell, but no one was picking up………She tried calling home then, but she got the number engaged and sighed………It was not too late still……..She still had 10 days, she could tell Angad the truth and ask him to come, saying she needed him……May be he would forgive her someday…….But when she tried, it again went to the message system and Kripa slowly left the message for him, asking him to call her…….And she needed to tell him something very important……She slowy looked down at her tummy caressing it and then thought about Ayush and slowly started singing the song, she kept singing for her baby……..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTZMKIRPBNw

Main Gaauun Tum So Jaao
Sukh Sapanon Men Kho Jaao

Maanaa Aaj Kii Raat Hai Lambii
Maanaa Din Thaa Bhaarii
Par Jag Badalaa Badalegii
Ek Din Taqadiir Hamaarii
Us Din Ke Khvaab Sajaao

Main Gaauun Tum So Jaao
Sukh Sapanon Men Kho Jaao

Kal Tum Jab Aankhen Khologe
Jab Hogaa Ujiyaaraa
Khushiyon Kaa Sandeshaa Lekar
Aaegaa Saveraa Pyaaraa
Mat Aas Ke Diip Bujhaao,
Main Gaauun Tum So Jaao
Sukh Sapanon Men Kho Jaao

Jii Karataa Hai Jiite Jii
Main Yun Hii Gaataa Jaaun
Gardish Men Thake Haathon Kaa
Maathaa Sahalaataa Jaauun
Phir Ik Din Tum Doharaao,
Sukh Sapanon Men Kho Jaao

Main Gaauun Tum So Jaao
Sukh Sapanon Men Kho Jaao

She felt her baby settled for a while and she smiled touching it ………..She had kept talking to her baby, sang for it, read good books, for it as if he was in front of her…..that had kept her sane from the lonliness she felt here…..soon she fell asleep, dreaming about Angad holding their baby, smiling……. But she could not sleep for long as she was uncomfortable all through the night, due to back and leg ache…..

Around 3 or 4 in the morning, Kripa started feeling uneasy and her back ached…..She got up closing her eyes in pain and sat on the bed, with pillow behind her back.…..But she couldn't help to check her phone just once, just in case she missed his call, but she had no such luck….…She touched her back and got up to go down, to bring some water as she forgot to bring her bottle last night...…She still felt sleepy….She tried to get through the pain, as she walked down…..but when she was on the 3^rd last step, her leg slipped and she yelled in pain, slipping down and falling on the last stair…….

She felt water gush between her legs and her back hurt badly…..Her heart beat wildly with fear and she kept a hand on her stomach with tears in her eyes…..She closed her eyes and prayed, hoping the baby was alright…….her hands shook as she slowly got up and walked to get the phone, her body felt heavy with pain…..Atlast, she got hold and dialed emergency number for the ambulance……She sat down on the sofa, as the pain shooted her back…….She gave the information they needed breathing in between…….She requested them to come soon and they promised to send help in minutes, but asked her to be on line…..Kripa waited…..the wait felt like a life time……She was never so afraid in her life, like she was now…..for the first time she felt, like she should have listened to Prithvi and called her mom and Angad soon, instead of first time trying to call him yesterday to tell the truth, but there was no time for regret now…..She wished Angad was here with her at this time…..But she was all alone due to her own stubbornness and fault……She closed her eyes tensed, as another wave of pain shooted through and she yelled calling for her mom, tears flowing down her cheeks……The person on the phone was calling her, but Kripa was in no position to talk to her….…Suddenly she heard the door open and foot steps coming in……She sighed thanking the God, to send the paramedics so soon.……She tried to call, but again the pain started even worst than before and she called for her mom……Tears came down her eyes, as her body ached……Her forehead covered with sweat and she was held a hand on Sofa's back to hold that for support…..A few seconds later she felt a little better and she breathed heavily and opened her eyes…..

And there stood her mom before her……She closed her eyes thinking she was dreaming…….she felt like her mom was calling for her……but knew it was just a dream and she closed her eyes again and waited for the pain to reduce……she heard the ambulance coming some where and sighed a little……atleast the help was on their way…….

Gayatri, Surya and Angad looked at Kripa with horror and saw the water and blood on the floor….Never had they dreamed of seeing her in this condition, all alone…….She looked totally exhausted and her face was covered with sweat and tears…..She was yelling in pain and trying to breathe in between…..Gayratri ran to her, while Surya and Angad stood there frozen……

G: Kripa….beta…..Kripa….tu thik hai na……she said holding her hand, she took a napkin from her purse and throwed the purse on the sofa and wiped Kripa's face….Kripa…..But Kripa was not listening…..her whole body hurt like crazy…….she closed her eyes tightly and counted till 10, as the pain started again…….Gayatri looked at her legs, which looked horrible, due to swelling……She touched her legs and then her hands frightened…..and saw that she had phone in her hand…….Some one was calling out with her name……She took the phone and understood that she had dialed emergency number, wiping Kripa's sweat again…..but before she could speak, Kripa sqeezed her hand tightly and Gayatri handed the phone to Angad fearfully and held Kripa's hand, trying to comfort her any way she could………

K: Ma…..she said sighing, when she felt a little better after a while..…..her breathing fast…..Angad looked at her frightened….never had he imagined that she would find her in this situation….He thought he would have time and would scold her for keeping this big a secret from him, hug her make up…..but this was just unimaginable……They heard the ambulance coming, within seconds 3-4 paramedics came in with streacher and Angad heard someone calling on the phone…….He slowly took the call and answered the questions numbly as much as he could, telling them that the ambulance has arrived…….He kept the phone thanking them slowly and then looked at Kripa.…….The paramedics came in and looked at Kripa and quickly went to her….They asked Gayatri and Surya to stand back, so they could check her….…Gayatri's hand shook a little as she got up and tears welled up in her eyes……Surya went to her and held her by shoulder….She looked up with tears and hugged him.…..They kept looking as the paramedics checked Kripa's heart beat and then checked her BP……The person was telling that her BP was very high….they were calling the hospital and putting her in the stretcher……

P: Maam….maam….can you hear us……maam…..the person called….Kripa nodded lightly…..

P: Maam…..can you tell us, who is your doctor…..he called softly……

K: Dr. Kelly Sanders….she whispered tired after a second……The person thanked her and gave the information on the phone…..

P: Your Medical Center is Trinity?……he asked putting a hand on her waist, trying to feel the baby…..

Kripa couldn't say a word as she shut her eyes tightly when again the pain started…………

P: your name…..

G: Kripa Rathod…..Gayatri said slowly and the paramedics looked at Gayatri and smiled compationately and nodded…….

P: How is your pain? Any other problems…..He asked checking the babies' heart beat…..He kept the moniter on her swollen belly and switched on the the machine and was relieved to hear a normal heart beat…..

K: I fell down from the stairs…..she said breathing heavy…..The person frowned…..

P: Are you hurt….he asked looking at her with concern….checking her hands and head…..

K: Back…..back hurts….she said slowly…..They quickly kept her on the stretcher after that….Gayatri, Surya and Angad were shocked to hear that she fell off the stairs….Angad's heart was beating wildly with fear….his hands shook a little…..He couldn't believe that Kripa was in such condition and was all alone here……..He shook a little thinking what if they could not be able to come here today……..!! He was just rooted with fear in his spot…….

The people immediately attached IV and gave some drugs to Kripa and then kept her on the stretcher…..

P: Sir…..The person called out for Angad, shaking him a little from his shock…….Are you her husband? Angad nodded numbly..……you can come accompany your wife in the ambulance …..others can come later…..we need to take her to hospital fast….her BP is very high, and she needs immediate medical attention…….She might deliver any moment and we don't have much time..….he said taking Kripa out…..Surya nodded to Angad and asked him to go with her…..Kripa tried to look around and then saw her parents and Angad, standing there……Why was her mind playing games with her at the time like this, she did not know…..She closed her eyes, relieved a little that atleast she would be in the hospital soon and taken care of, her baby would be fine……..When she opened her eyes again, she only saw the medical personels……she sighed sadly……that was all her imagination….no one was here……she was all alone…..she thought sadly….wetting her lips……she was thirsty……

K: Bag….I need to take my hospital bag…she said after a minute when they were in the ambulance…..

P: Maam your family can bring it behind you…….

K: No….I need my bag please…..Second floor, second door to the right…..she said…..slowly……breathing a little lighter as the pain reduced…..Green bag near the door…..she said looking at the person….He nodded and told it to Angad…..

Angad nodded and ran inside and went up to take her bag……..He found it right besides the door and went down and out of the house…….He kept the bag down besides him and sat next to her and looked at her sweat filled face.…He slowly wiped her forehead with shaky hands and took her hands in his and rubbed it lightly, his eyes filling with tears, looking at her condition……..His hands as cold as hers…...…Kripa opened her eyes as soon as he touched her and looked at their joined hands and then slowly up……

K: Angad……she whispered…..not sure if he was really here or if she was dreaming…..

A: Mein hun tumhare sath Kripa…..saab thik ho jayega…..he said holding her hands and kissing it lightly..….Kripa smiled at him a little through tears and closed her eyes, as again the pain started...…She squeezed his hand tightly as the pain became unbearable….Angad kept looking at Kripa with her hands in his……Trying to comfort her any way he could…..he looked at the paramedics with concern, who checked her up…..

K: I need water….she said sighing in between…..The paramedics took a small glass of water and kept a straw and slowly put the straw in her mouth…..Kripa took couple of sips and thanked him with a light smile…..

Meanwhile….Surya called Prithvi to let him know about what was happening….Within minutes Prithvi was there at Surya's door……

He touched their feet and asked them if they wanted to go to the hospital now……They nodded tensed and soon they were on their way, silent all the time, all in their own thoughts.……They reached the hospital and came to know that Kripa was already taken to the birthroom……They went up and enquired about her and were pointed towards the waiting area….as only one person was allowed in the birthroom……

Prithvi, Surya and Gayatri waited anxiously in the waiting room….

P: Uncle Aunty app coffee lenge…... he asked getting up….

G: Haan beta, thodi le aa…..Gayatri said sighing….tired after a long journey…….They sat back and waited for the news from the nurse………

Back to Angad, he was shocked and distressed to see Kripa in such pain……The doctors were trying to control her BP desperately…..She was given couple of shots as well as IV……When he told that he had just come from India, they showed him doctors rest area and asked him to scrub up properly and gave him fresh hospital gown……Soon he was back and sat next to Kripa…...They checked her back, looking for any sign, that she was hurt, as she had told the paramedics that she had fallen from the steps….Thankfully neither she nor the baby were hurt…..Some time in between the delivery, Kripa came to know that her parents and Angad were really here……She had tears in her eyes, when she had seen Angad in the delivery room, holding her hands and wiping her face, with worried look……She had smiled at him and he kissed her forehead with tears in his eyes…..

The nurse had assured Angad with a smile that Kripa would be alright soon enough…..Angad thanked them a little unsure and sat with Kripa all through her delivery……

As soon as the baby was born……he looked at the baby with tears…….and after a few minutes took him in his arms and smiled through tears……Till a day back he did not even knew that he was going to be a dad, and here he was holding his boy in his hand…….He looked at Kripa, who was looking at them with tears……Kripa smiled a little, remembering her dream last night……This was what she had dreamed of and it had come true……Angad was really here, holding their baby……

N: Sir, would you like to take pictures…..the nurse asked smiling at them……

K: Camera is in the bag….she said looking at Nurse…….She was totally exhausted, but Angad being there, and seeing him with their baby bought a new found happiness and energy in her…..Nurse smiled and nodded…..She went and found the camera soon enough and clicked some photos of the baby as well as with them and gave it back to Angad later…..She then told Angad that she needed the baby to check him up…..Angad nodded and handed over the baby to them…..For some reason, he wasn't afraid of holding him….The nurse had just cleaned him up and gave it to Angad, and he had taken him without a thought as if it was natural thing to do……Kripa looked at him with tears and Angad went to her and held her face and kissed her……Words weren't necessary at this time…..It was enough that he was with her when she needed him…….After around an hour, she was wheeled to her room…..Angad got her settled, kept the bag besides her and hugged her lightly kissing her cheeks……They looked at each other for couple of seconds…..

A: Mein Mama papa ko lekar ata hun……he said smiling at her and tucking her hair behind her ear……Kripa nodded looking at him with tears, and he slowly wiped them kissing her forehead……..He smiled at her and then slowly got up and went out to call Surya, Gayatri and Prithvi……

Back to Gayatri and Surya, they waited for couple of hours before they heard from the nurse…….Kripa had given birth to a baby boy…..and he was a healthy 7 pound baby…..Kripa was also doing good, but her BP was still higher than expected, so they were trying to control it with medicines…….But she should be ok soon..….Gayatri and Surya sighed in relief and their faces lit with delight of being grand parents…….Gayatri prayed a little with tears in her eyes and looked at Surya….He smiled at her and gathered her close……

Prithvi called Harshini, who was anxiously waiting and conveyed her good news……

Kripa was all exhausted but even anxious…..she knew her dad would be angry on her….She closed her eyes and waited for them to come…..The nurse had told that she would bring the baby in soon……

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and she opened her eyes…..Her mom and dad stood there with tears…….She looked at them and then closed her eyes with pain and a tear fell from her eye…….Her dad kissed her forehead closing his eyes and squeezed her hands, praying to God that she was alright...…….Gayatri came to her and patted her cheeks with a smile and kissed her forehead as well……..Kripa slowly sat up, with Gayatri's help…..and hugged her dad…..then she looked up at her mom…..

G: Kaisi hai beta…..tabiyat thik hai na teri……Kripa nodded with tears and hugged her tightly, all her tension, her fears coming out through tears, as she felt safe in her moms arms.…..How she had missed her mom……She did not let her go for a long time……After few minutes, the nurse bought in the baby and Kripa looked up with tears…..Gayatri and Surya went to look at the baby smiling and Prithvi came to her and hugged her lightly congradulating her…….Kripa thanked him with tears…….he smiled at her nodding, knowing what she was thanking him for……he knew, that she would miss her parents and Angad and would be thankful for it later, and forgive them for not listening to her and going behind her back and telling the truth to them……

Gayatri looked at the little baby with tears and took him in her arms…..She went near Kripa and sat besides her with the baby…..Kripa looked down at him and then remembered the time she had held Ayush for the first time……He had been this small too……She had held him day and night for next 15 days, till Divya was ok…….She was missing him so much…….If he would have been with her, he would be bombarding her with questions one by one……He would have been happy to be big brother….She looked away with tears……Gayatri looked up at her and knew what she was thinking…..She bought her head on her shoulders and let her cry, with tears in her eyes too……After a long time, she sat back exhausted…..Saab thik ho jayega beta…..Tu aaram kar aab……hum jara ghar jakar ate hain…..thoda fresh ho jaye……she said touching her cheeks, and kissed her forehead.…..Kripa nodded…..Kripa looked up at Angad who was very silent….. At last they decided to go home and freshen up…..

G: Angad beta, tum aur papa chale jao…..jara fresh ho kar phir ana……Badmein mein chali jaungi……Angad shook his head….

A: Nahi Ma, aap jaiye…..mein rahunga yahan…..he said slowly looking down blinking his tears…….Surya nodded at Gayatri and asked her to let him stay and they both went out with Prithvi, asking Kripa to take rest……..Angad looked at Kripa through his tears, once the door closed behind them and Kripa looked at him with tears……She indicated him to sit near her and he slowly came next to her……As soon as he was near, she hugged him tightly closing her eyes and she sobbed holding him……..Angad's hands tightened around hers and his tears flowed through his eyes as well.……After a long time, he wiped her tears, while she did the same and they looked at eachother with longing……….It felt so good to be back in his arms after so long time, she inhaled longingly and kissed his chest, keeping her forehead, near his heart..…..She had missed him every moment of the day……..She kissed his neck shoulder and chest and hugged him once more, still not able to believe that he was really here..…..Angad held her close to him closing his eyes…….Trying to capture this moment for ever……He couldn't believe that she had gone through so much all alone, just for their family……..And still without a moment's hesitation she was in his arms now, even though he had hurt her by accusing her of not caring for her family enough…..He started saying some thing, when Kripa kept a hand on his lips shaking her head and putting her head on his shoulder…….She did not want to speak anything, but just feel his arms around her and feel safe…...All her tension leaving her …They stayed there in eachothers arms, caressing eachother and trying to make them self believe that everything was alright...….After few minutes she was fast asleep on Angad's arms…..Angad looked at her, sadly and slowly kept her head down, tucking her hairs behind her ears…….He kissed her forehead and kept looking at her with tears……….He then slowly sat up and his gaze fell on her swollen feet and remembered the time, when she had told Divya that swollen feet were not good and massaged her and gave her hot water, to put her feet in…….Who must have done that to Kripa…..Answer was no one…..He went near her feet and touched them sadly, and caressed them until he heard a little voice coming from the bassinett…...He got up covering Kripa and then looked at his little boy who was fast asleep like his mama…….He smiled at him and kissed his lightly…..He looked so very like Ayush……He knew Kripa was remembering Ayush, when Gayatri had taken their baby and sat with Kripa……He knew how much she must have missed him…….He did not know how he had doubted her love for Ayush…..He regretted his words and his anger, but knew that even if Kripa forgave him, this time it would take a long time for him to forgive himself, though he was doubtful if he even would ever forgive himself for loosing faith in his love…..!!

Prithvi dropped Gayatri and Surya and went home..…..Gayatri and Surya went in and sighed…..It was around 9 o'clock……They had been in the hospital for 5 hours and had travelled 20 straight hours…..They were exhausted, but still happy that at least they reached in time……But Kripa had everything under control any way…..Some how, they were proud to know that she had handled everthing so nicely…….Gayatri cleaned the living room and shuddered at the thought of Kripa falling from the steps…….She really hoped she was alright…..She went up in Kripa's room and found her medicines as well as oil bottle next to her bed…….She sighed sadly and looked at them with tears………How had her little girl managed everything her self………She seemed to be so grown up……..She was not just her little princess, but a mother as well today………Surya came in and kept a hand onher shoulder with tears, knowing what she was thinking and Gayatri hugged him tightly and cried her heart out, her body still shivering thinking about Kripa all alone in worst condition they had imagined……..Surya patted her back, consoling her that everything was ok now and asked her to freshen up……..She sighed and nodded and went to their room, where Surya had already opened the suitcase and took her clothes and went to Kripa's room to freshen up……Once done, she went down and looked through the kitchen and surprisingly found well equipped with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits……She smiled a little, atleast thanking the lord that she was eating properly and taking care of her self……

Surya came down all ready and fresh……He sat on the sofa tired…….It had been a very long day of his life……He wanted to scold and scream at his daughter for being this stubborn……but when he saw her condition, he could do nothing but hug her…..Aleast, she had called the paramedics in time and everything had gone well……Gayatri came and sat near him with some toast and tea……He smiled at her and took the tea…..both very silent and in their own thoughts……

G: Mein khana bana deti hun jara……phir hospital jayenge……

S: Hmmm…..ek baar car check kar lun tab tak…..pata nahi chal bhi rahi hai ya nahi……They went to the garage together and found the car running in perfectly healthy condition…..They even found the car seat for the baby buckled in the back and Surya shook his head…..They both smiled at each other proud of their dauther, knowing at least she did everything properly……

They were about to close the garage door, when they saw Prithvi coming……The smiled and walked to the drive way……Diya, Harshini got down and Gayatri smiled and went to Harshini hugging her……She then looked at the shy 3 year old and smiled at her……Harshini touched there feet with a smile….

H: Aunty, khana layi hun mein, aap saab ke liye…..she said taking the bag inside…..

P: Uncle, aap aram kar lijiye thodi der…..hum donon Angad aur Kripa ke liye lekar jate hain khana…..aur kuch bhejna ho to de dijiye…..

After some time Gayatri nodded and decided to go to the hospital in the evening……No point sitting there, when Kripa needed rest, and most of all Angad Kripa needed eachother and time to talk their problems together….….and Angad would not leave her side that was for sure…..They sent Angad's clothes with them instead, so he could freshen up in the hospital……Gayatri and Surya thanked Prithvi and Harshini for calling them and telling them about Kripa, as well as for taking care of her……Prithvi and Harshini left soon for the hospital…..At last tired they went in and found Kripa's phone and saw there were 5-6 missed calls from Dilip……..They sighed and called them and informed them Kripa's delivery……….They were stunned to know about Kripa's condition and asked them to take care and kept the phone, thanking God that everything was ok and Kripa and her baby both were now safe……..Avantika smiled through her tears and went to Dadi and gave her the good news………Ayush was just over the top, when he came to know about the baby……Kartik, who had kept his distance was distressed to know about what Kripa had gone through and was even more hurt and angry on Divya……..He instead out of guilt started redecorating Angad and Kripa's room for them and their new baby……Divya had nothing to say other than regret, so she kept quite and prayed to God that some day Kripa might find it in her heart to forgive her……..

Back to Angad, he took a quick shower and freshened up, while Kripa was still asleep……. Harshini kept the big flower vase she had bought with her along with the gift on the side table, while Prithvi did not want to disturb her so, he went down with diya and Harshini sat next to Kripa while Angad took his bath….…..Kripa was still sleeping and hardly moved…..…The nurse had taken the baby couple of times for some tests and had bought him back……She had given him the form to fill for his birth certificate…….Angad was not sure of the name, as he was still coming to terms with the knowledge that he was a father……..After a while Prithvi was back and Angad thanked Prithvi and Harshini……..When the baby was back, Harshini grinned and lifted the baby smiling and grinning at Angad, telling him he looked just like Angad.……Diya, who was on Prithvi's arms was all excited to see the little baby and asked lots of questions…..Prithvi and Angad chukled hearing her…….When Angad looked back at Kripa, he found her staring at Diya, with tears in her eyes……Angad went to her and slowly wiped her tears and their eyes met……He shook his head and smiled at her sadly…..She blinked back her tears and said hi to Harshini and Prithvi, who were well aware that she was thinking about Ayush…….

H: Kaisi hai Kripa….? She said keeping the baby in the bassinett and going near her with smile…..

K: Ek dum thik hun……Ek minute yahan aa……she said looking at her…..When Harshini went near her……she said….aur paas aa na…..Harshini frowned at her but then went near……Kripa held her ears tightly sqeezing it…..

H: Ouuch……Kya kar rahi hai…..mere kaan kyun pakde……Kaan to tere pakdne chahiye the…..she said frowning……

Kripa chuckled……Tumhari sajja…..mujhse bina kahe, papa mama ko batane ke liye…….she slowly sat up and pulled her down and hugged her…..aur ye unhe bulane ke liye……thanks….she said with tears in her eyes…..Harshini smiled at her and wiped her tears……

H: Sorry, ye to Prithvi ka idea tha……saab se ache ideas to issiko ate hain…..she said smiling at him……Ussne kaha tha mujhe, jab meine phone karne se roka, ki aaj bhale hi ghussa karo tum, par ek din jaroor thanks kahogi…..dekha wahi hua na….Kripa smiled at prithvi with tears…….and then nodded at Harshini…..she held her hands for prithvi to come and he came to her with Diya in his arms…..he smiled at her and sat next to her….she hugged him…..Thanks Prithvi…..humesha apne dost ka khayal rakhne ke liye…..bahot sataya na meine tumhe……ghussa bhi nikala, phir bhi sath diya tumne, har mushkil mein……Prithvi smiled at her..…..

P: Dost to hote hi hain, mushkil ghadi mein sath dene ke liye…….waise, tumhe handle karte karte mujhe kaffi training mil rahi hai, Diya bhi tumhari tarah ek number ki ziddi hoti ja rahi hai…..to acha hai abhi se training mil jaye……he said chuckling….Kripa smiled…..And Angad looked down blinking his tears…….Kripa needed him the most at such times, but still once again, her friends were her supporters all through her tough times…….

D: Papa, mujhe bhi aisa baby chahiye……she said looking at the baby longingly……bringing Angad out of his thoughts…..

Prithvi and others chuckled…..

P: Haan beta…..badi ho jao, phir shadi hone ke baad, tumhe bhi baby milega…..he said grinning….

D: Nahi…..abhi chahiye…..Mama ko kaho na leke aye…..hospital mein milte hain……Prithvi grinned and looked at Harshini who blushed……Kripa and Angad chuckled……

P: Thik hai keh denge…..par intajar karna hoga thode din….Harshini rolled her eyes and hit Prithvi…..

H: Mama ko bahot kaam hai……aur ek baby lekar ayegi, to usse kaun sambhalega…..dudh kaun pilayega, diaper kaun change karega……

D: Mein karungi na….mere baby ka bhi to karti hun mein…..she said smiling…..iss baby ka change karun…..she asked hopefully looking at the baby…..

K: Haan jab ghar le jayenge tab karna……mujhe bhi waise help chahiye……she said smiling…..To tum meri little helper ban jao…..

D: Thik hai aunty…..mein help karungi…..Papa, mein jaun aunty ke sath help karne…..

P: Bilkul jao……training bhi mil jayegi….he said smiling at Harshini…..

H: Forget it….she said getting up……prithvi frowned at her angrily…..Chal Kripa….mein nikalti hun….Chutti nahi mili mujhe aaj…..par next week do din chutti hai….phir aakar rahungi tere sath……Tab isse train kar dena…...kya pata kab kaam aa jaye…..she said chuckling and looking at Prithvi….Prithvi grinned and said bye to them and left with Divya…..Kripa looked at them while they left with a sigh…..and then once the door closed she looked at Angad…..who was deep in thoughts…….

Angad sighed knowing how strong Kripa, Prithvi and Harshini's friendship was…….She was lucky to have someone so supportive and helping……

PART - 55

Part – 56

Soon she settled down with her routine with Prateek and got adjusted for night feeds like before…….Her mom took excellent care of her and her dad and Angad did all the house work…….Angad was also very attentive and saw that Kripa took rest……He even took care of the baby at nights, to let Kripa sleep….…Within 10-15 days, Kripa's back ache was also gone, due to Angad's excellent massage couple of times a day and his constant pamperings……..Kripa was over the top and was over the top and enjoyed being pampered and even tried to complain and frown at him, if he ever said no to something……They would just fight over silly things laughing later, teasing and making up after that……..Kripa felt a lot better than she had been a month back and sighed in relief as she was almost back to normal like before……

K: Angad kya kar rahe ho…..She said one day, when she was busy trying to make the baby sleep and Angad switched on the TV, distracting him……

A: TV dekh raha hun, aur kya…….He said rolling his eyes and keeping his head on Kripa's lap…….

K: Angad……She whispered with a frown……

A: Aab kya hai Kripa…….? He said making faces…….

K: Utho na, dekho tum isse disturb kar rahe ho……

A: Hey, kab se usse lekar baithi ho, itni der ho gayi par sone ka naam nahi le raha……He said getting up with a frown………Aab usse baju mein rakho……..Aab meri bari hai……..He said grinning and taking the baby and keeping him besides him with a wink……Kripa looked at him with a frown as he once again kept his head in her lap with a grin, putting his hands around her waist and sighed in pleasure………Kripa shook his head with a smile and slowly caressed his hair, looking at their son, who was yawining a little……..

K: Ye acha hai, bete ko baju mein rakhkar janab aram se god mein so rahe hain……..She said chuckling…..

A: Kaho, kise god mein khilana jyada acha lagta hai……..Apne bete ko ya uske papa ko……he said chuckling and kissing her tummy lightly…….Kripa shivered a little, blushing…….She chuckled after a while pulling his cheeks…….I thought so…….He said looking at her with a wink and Kripa's eyes widened………

K: Hello, aisi koi baat nahi hai……samjhe……..She said hitting him……..But I love him more than you now……..She said grinning and bending over Prateek and placing a light kiss on his nose……Prateek immediately held her hairs and Kripa chuckled kissing his little lips once more and Angad looked at her with jelousy……Kripa looked at him with mischief and raised her eyebrows……..

A: Not fair………He said frowning at her and Kripa chuckled…….

K: Fair or not, that is the fact…….!!

A: Really…….?

K: Hmmm…….she said straightening………

A: Really….?

K: Haan baba……I love him a lot more than you……..Suddenly Angad held her face and bought her near with a angry frown and kissed her lips with possessiveness, until they both were breathless………I still love him a lot, because he is the symbol of our love and when I see him, I feel you are more closer to me than you were before…….She whispered staring in his eyes and Angad kept looking at her with love…..Suddenly he smiled and then chuckled, pulling her down under him and kissed her cheeks, eyes, nose, chin and neck and getting back to her lips, until they were both lost in each other……Kripa caressed his hairs lightly and looked at him……..She knew that he had missed her as much as she had……..She slowly kissed his nose and lips lightly still looking at him with love……..Bahot miss kiya na mujhe tumne……..I am sorry for leaving you this way Angad……Mein janti hun kaise tumne ek ek pal mushkil se gujara hoga……..She whispered with tears……..

A: Aur mein bhi janta hun ki tumne kaise apne din bitayenge honge, saab se dur, woh bhi aise waqt par jab tumhe hum saab ki jaroorat thi……..He said caressing her hairs and kissing her forehead……Haan par tum wasool karo na karo, mein pure 5 mahinon ki inn duriyon ka jamkar principal aur interest wasool karunga……He said grinning…….Kripa chuckled…….

K: Woh to mein ne de diya tumhe……..Angad raised his eyebrows with a frown……..And she chuckled…….Dekho akeli ayi thi, aab mere sath humara beta bhi hai…….So, principal with interest……..She said chuckling and Angad laughed looking at their son……..

A: Hmmm…….Itni assani se nahi Mrs. Rathod……Aab tumhe aisa deewana karunga, ki phir kabhi mujhe chod kar jane ki sochogi bhi nahi……..

K: Deewana to tumne pehli najar mein kar diya tha Mr. Rathod………

A: To chalo, mauka bhi acha hai, aur ye bhi chup hai, to kyun na hum……..Kripa chuckled and hit his hand……….Angad grinned and burrowed his face in her neck inhaling her sweet baby shampoo and kissing and nibbling her ear lightly making Kripa shiver……..Kripa closed her eyes blushing a little, while Angad smiled and continued his torture the other side………He slowly kissed her neck and shoulder, caressing her each feature gently, taking his own sweet time, until Kripa was totally lost…….But then suddenly Prateek's cries bought them back to earth and Angad chuckled and kept his forehead on hers trying to catch his breathe, while Kripa too tried to calm herself down………Kripa slowly got up shyly, while Angad helped her and then gave Prateek to her kissing her lips lightly………She smiled and slowly and took him and started feeding him, while Angad went to bring oil for her legs and back……….Kripa was almost done and was making Prateek sleep, when Angad came in…….

K: Angad, aab to kamar dard bhi nahi hai……..Aab massage ki jaroorat nahi haitum so jao……..She said covering Prateek up…….

A: I know, tum meri bahon mein an eke liye betab ho, par this is more important jaan……..He said grinning and Kripa rolled her eyes with a chuckle……..Tumhare pairon mein abhi bhi sujan hai, aur ma ne kaha hai, ki roj tel malish se sujan jaldi uttar jayega aur kamar dard to abhi thik hua hai……..Thode din aur karunga na to tumhe dubara problem nahi hoga…….Aab chup chap baitho aur mujhe mera kaam karne do…….I promise, tumhare sare arman baad mein pura karunga………He said with a wink and Kripa blushed……She throwed a pillow at him and he caught it expertely with one hand and kept it under her legs and started massaging her legs……..It tingled a little and Angad looked up with a grin…….Kripa chup chap baitho aur mujhe mera kaam karne do……

K: Badmein shikayat mat karna ki mujhe neend lag gayi…….She said with a smile, closing her eyes and leaning back…….

A: nahi karunga, kyun ki tumhe jab neend mein paas leta hun aur pyar karta hun na, tab tum puri sherni ho jati ho………Kripa widened her eyes and got up and hit him on his head, blushing totally red……..

K: Besharam……..She mumbled looking at him angrily……..And then sat back and closed her eyes……….

A: Hay ye adda…….tumhe dekhkar koi nahi keh sakta ki tum yahan pali badi ho……..He said chuckling………Shadi ke char saal baad bhi aise sharma rahi ho jaise aaj humari pehli raat ho……..Kripa blushed more and Angad just got up and kissed her nose and then went back to her legs and massaged it slowly……..He took his sweet time for every leg and then asked her to sleep on her stomach and started massaging her back……….After about 30 minutes or so, he looked at Kripa, who was fast asleep and smiled……..He stared at her for few minutes and then slowly kissed her cheek and covered her with blanket and then went to kept everything in place……..He came back and took her in his arms and fell asleep too, knowing well that she needed her rest……

Couple of days passed by and Angad Kripa went to doctor for her check up as her BP was still high and her feets were swollen…….but doctor said that she would be ok in couple of months or so………They came back home and Prateek was cranky by the time they got home…….He was also Kripa's singing fan and when ever he started crying, Kripa would sing for him…..and he would calm down and settle in her arms very soon..……Days passed by and Angad and Kripa would snuggle together and cherish the moments with their son during nights…… talking about their life these past few months……..They talked to Dadi, Avantika and Dilip couple of times, but Angad couldn't talk to Kartik and even Divya avoided the call too guilty to say a word……...Kripa asked them how Ayush was and they said, that he was very much better now and kept asking for her and the baby all the time…….Kripa was happy that he had settled with Divya atlast and his health was improving..……

S: Gayatri, aab wapas chalna chahiye…..wahan Arjun bhi to akela hai….aur saab Kripa aur Prateek ka intajar kar rahe hain….uski tabiyat bhi thik hai aab……Surya said one evening, when they were having tea……Kripa's hand stilled and so did Angad's……They looked at eachother……Unsure about what to do……Gayatri looked at them and then at Surya…..

G: Nahi abhi thode din rukkar jate hain…..Arjun thik hi hoga wahan…..bhabhi hai na…..she said sighing……Kripa ka janamdin bhi aa raha hai10-12 din mein, uske baad dekhte hain….she said slowly...Kripa sighed in relief……

S: Janamdin wahan bhi to mana sakte hain…..Kakisa bhi baar baar puch rahi hai Gayatri…..

G: Abhi abhi to Kripa ki tabiyat thik hui hai ji…..Thoda aaram kar lene dijiye…..phir itna lamba safar, prateek ko bhi set hone mein der lagegi…..do hafte ruk jaiye…..koi farak nahi padta….she said picking the cups….Kripa and Angad looked as Gayatri left the room and then were in their own thoughts….

Surya sighed and got up and left the room too….

Kripa and Angad looked at eachother, both confused about what to do……It was not as if they did not want to go, but they were confused about what the future held…..What Divya would feel……Both did not know the answers some how and sighed, leaving it to time……

Kripa went up to their room, when she heard Prateek crying…..Angad went up after a few minutes as well and looked at Kripa as she held Prateek up and patted his back and kissed his head softly…..He smiled and went to her and sat caressing Prateek's soft cheeks and smiling with love at Kripa……..

A: Kripa, kya soch rahi ho….He asked slowly, when he saw that she was deep in thoughts…….

K: Kuch nahi Angad, aaj papa jane ki baat kar rahe the………Kya karna chahiye hume……? She asked confused, blinking back her tears..…...

A: Kripa, meri aur dekho……he said straightening……..Janta hun ye saab pichle 6 mahinon mein jo kuch hua, tumhare liye kitna mushkli tha……….Pehle samajh nahi paya, par aaj mehsus kar sakta hun mein……..Tumhara dard, tumhari takleef saab dekh sakta hun…….Bas itna apsos jaroor rahega, ki tumne mujhe iss layak nahi samjha ki mujhe pehle hi saab sach bata sako…….Kripa started saying something, but he stopped…….Nahi mein iljam ya shikayat nahi kar raha hun………Kyun ki mein janta hun, ki tum se jyada mujhe to koi samajh hi nahi sakta ……..Ye pata tha tumhe, ki aisi halat mein, tumhe mein kahin jane nahi deta…….Issiliye, itni badi baat chupayi tumne……..aur tum thik sochti thi…….Aise waqt mein tumhe apne mama papa, bhai humare parivar ki jaroorat hoti, ye ek hi baat mein uss waqt samjh sakta……..Par tumhare jane se jo Divya bhabhi ki halat thi woh jaan paya………Tum thik kehti thi……..Ki agar tum wahan se nahi jati, to ye duriyan to badhti hi jati…….Par Kripa duriyan abhi bhi waise hi hai……..Dekho na bhabhi ka ek baar bhi phone nahi aya…….Shayad unhe abhi bhi insecurity ho………tumhe jo sahi laga woh tumne kiya, baki aab bhagwan par chod do………Filhal saab ki chinta na karte hue khud ki aur dhyan do……..Humesha saab ke liye jeeti ayi ho, par khud ke liye kabhi kuch nahi manga…..He said caressing her hairs lightly and looking in her eyes……..

K: Saab mere apne hi to hai na Angad, phir kaise nahi sochti……..

A: Haan saab apne hai, par kabhi kabhi insaan ko khud ke bare mein bhi sochna chahiye……He said smiling tenderly at her……..Janta hun ki mein ne na chahte hue dubara phir se tumhara dil dukhaya……..Tumhari ankhon mein jo dard tha, uski wajah nahi samajh saka, tumhe sahara nahi de sakaa…….He said looking away……..Jis waqt tumhe meri saab se jyada jaroorat thi, mein ne tumhe………She stopped him with her hand on his lips, while he remembered the time, when Kripa had called him desperately, asking him to come to her…….!!

K: Angad, apne aap ko dosh dena band karo………Itna bada sach mein ne chupaya……..Woh meri zid, meri soch thi…….Janti thi ki tum naraj honge, par bhabhi ko diya vachan ke alava kuch soch nahi rahi thi mein……..Ye bhi nahi socha ki tum par kya betegi…….Meri galti ka iljam apne uppar mat lo Angad, mein seh nahi paungi…….She said slowly taking his hands in hers and kissing it lightly…….They looked at eachother with pain, both still though had talked about it were in their own guilt……

A: Kya sahi tha kya galat, ye to mujhe bhi pata nahi hai Kripa, nahi hi mein bhabhi ke bare kuch galat soch kar bhaiya ka apman karna chahta hun…….Jo bhi ho, bas itna vishwas hai mujhe tumpar, ki jiske paas tumhari jaisi patni aur humsafar ho, usse kabhi koi chinta karne ki jaroorat nahi padti……Tumne jo soch samjhkar jaisa bhi faisla liya ho, himmat se aur hausle se usse nibhaya and……..Aur mujhe tum par bahot garv hain………….He said affectionately……..Kripa leaned on to Angad, taking a deep breathe, as the tension she had for months and the agony she was in for so many days, had lessened with Angad's words……..Her guilt about keeping the truth from him also lessened a little, though she will forever regret those moments, they couldn't spend together, which would have been beautiful otherwise…….

8-10 days went by…….Kripa and Angad still did not come to any decision about going back or staying…….A day before Kripa's birthday, Kripa got up early morning, when her cell phone rang……Kripa frowned looking at the time…..It was still 4 in the morning…..She got up, switching on the phone, so she would not disturb Angad or Prateek…….She kept a pillow besides Prateek and went out …..Surya and Gayatri were fast asleep too……

K: Prithvi, saab thik to hai na…..Diya Harshini…..she asked worried, when she saw it was Prithvi on the phone.…..

P: Haan baba, saab thik hai, jara niche aao aur darwaja kholo…

K: Tum yahan ho? She asked frowning…..Iss waqt yahan kya kar rahe ho?She asked going down….

P: Are aao to sahi…..kitne saval karti ho yaar….he said whinning…..Kripa rolled her eyes and switched on the light of the front yard and looked through the window…….Prithvi was waiting outside….Frowning, she opened the door immediately…..

K: Iss waqt aaoge, to sawal nahi to aur kya karungi……she asked frowning at him…..

P: Tumhare mehmanon ko chodne aya tha…..he said grinning and putting the bag down near the door……

K: Mehman…..?She asked surprised and then looked up and her face curved with a big grin…..Arjun….? Tu yahan? She asked chuckling and running to him and hugging him tightly with tears.…..Arjun too smiled and hugged her happily……Kyun Grayson ne nyota bheja kya? Ya phir India mein kudiyon ki kami hai……Jo yahan aa gaye achanak……she said chuckling and wiping her tears, which she realized were on her cheeks……Arjun made faces at her……

A: Tumhare liye aya jiji…..Grayson ke to pachaso boy friends honge filhal…….Last week hi face book mein usko naye boyfriend ke sath dekha…..…he said chuckling……..Aur waise bhi, aaj kal jara desi dhund raha hun……Na ladkiyon ki koi kami nahi, par itni sharmili hai wahan ki kudi ki, baat bhi nahi karti……he said chuckling…..par don't worry, mein dhund lunga kisiko…….Any way, you know I don't like to share, so no Grayson for me……..he said winking…..Kripa rolled her eyes, while Prithvi chuckled…...Aur koi bhi aya hai mere sath……He said slowly smiling at her sadly and then pulling her out…

K: Kaun….she asked going with him with a frown..…..he then showed her towards prithvi's car……Kripa frowned a little as it was still dark and went near the car and there she saw Divya sitting there with tears……

K: Bhabhi…..she said smiling with tears and opened the door…..Bhabhi….she said again, putting a hand on her face as tears rolled down her cheeks…..

D: Tumhe ghar lene ayi hun……aaogi na mere sath…..she said looking at her……Kripa looked at her with tears and nodded, pulling her out from the car and hugging her tightly……..closing her eyes…….Apni behen ko maaf to kar diya na tumne….? She said looking at her……

K: Maaf karne ke liye kuch galati karni padti hai bhabhi…..she said chuckling through her tears, too happy to say anything else and hugged her tightly once more and then her gaze fell on Ayush, who was sleeping in the car seat…..She looked at him with longing, but hesitated a little…….If it was a year back, then she would have jumped up to take him in his arms, but things changed…...Divya looked at him with tears……..

D: Tum hi lo usse…..pure flight mein sirf tumhare aur prateek ke bare mein baat karta aya hai……ye puch puch kar tang kar diya ki choti ma ke paas kab pahunchenge…..Aur ye Arjun mama hai ki pure flight mein kaan ke head phones lagake movie dekhta aya hai……she said looking at him angrily, but still tears wouldn't stop……he grinned at them and went in, excited to come back after so many years…...Divya chuckled through tears, looking at him……Kripa looked up at her and Divya hugged her once more…..Mujhe maaf kardo Kripa…..I am sorry…..she said once more……

K: Bhabhi…..chaliye andar chaliye…..she said wiping her face…..Mein isse le ati hun…..she said smiling…..Kripa slowly went inside and unbuckled Ayush…..Her eyes filled with tears as she saw his innocent face……she remembered how he always came to her for small small things……She slowly took him in his arms and hugged him lightly……closing her eyes……

A: Choti ma…..He said in his sleep…..and Kripa looked down with tears….how she had been waiting to hear that from him again….She kissed his forehead lightly and stepped out of the car…..She slowly took him inside, taking care not to wake him up…..Divya looked at her through tears and she smiled at her…..She slowly took him up and put him on the bed, in guest room……She took out his shoes and covered him up…….Her eyes filled with tears once more looking at him….She kissed his cheeks lightly and got up…..She stood there for a long time looking at him and then slowly turned around……Divya stood near the door looking at her with tears……Kripa ran to her and hugged her tightly……After a long time, Kripa wiped her tears with a smile…….

They heard a cry from Kripa's room and Divya turned around…..She looked at Kripa….

Kripa smiled and went to her room and touched the knob, when Angad opened the door with sleepy eyes with Prateek in hand……He looked at Divya stunned……

Angad: Bhabhi…..Divya smiled at him through tears and went to him and picked Prateek up…..looking at him and chuckling through tears as he started opening his eyes…..

D: Bilkul Ayush ki tarah dikhta hai…..she said looking at him…..Kripa smiled and nodded……Arjun and Prithvi came up with suitcase, and Angad raised his eye brows at him….He grinned at Angad and then looked at the little baby in Divya's arms…..They kept the suitcase in Arjun's room and Prithvi said bye to them all, winking at little prateek and tapping his nose lightly and was on his way…

Arjun: Vow….jiji, tum to kamal ki ho……he said looking at the baby……waise to nau mahine lagte hain inhe bahar ane ke liye…..par….Angad jiju ko to do hi din mein papa bana diya apne…..he said grinning……Kripa bit her lips and looked at him angrily……Kya….meine kya galat kaha? Dekho na, jis din jiju nikle India se, tabhi to inko pata laga, ki aap mom aur yeh dad banane wale hain…..Aur yahan ate hi 3-4 ghante mein ye hazir……You are just amazing…..he said kissing her cheeks….…..Angad chuckled, looking at Kripa, who blushed……Divya looked at Prateek, not able to join in the joke, because she was the reason for it…..…Arjun grinned at the little baby and kissed his cheeks……Good night…mein ja raha hun sone…..he said smiling and going in his room……Shit…..tv bhi nahi hai yahan to….he said making faces at them……

K: Arjun…..

Arjun: Now what…..

K: No swearing please….she said frowning at him…..

Arjun: Whatever…..he said rolling his eyes and going in…..Waise, aap ke room ka TV kal yahan shift kar lunga……Bhai abhi to exams hue hain, aab to ayish hai thode dinon ke liye……aur TV ke bina kya majja……he said smiling and closing the door…..Angad grinned at him…..And then looked at Divya who was holding Prateek and looking at him…..

Angad: Bhabhi….aap log achanak yahan? He asked slowly…..

D: Kripa ko ghar le jane ayi hun …..she said looking at him with a sad smile…..Agar tum donon ne mujhe maaf kar diya ho to……she said looking at them with tears…….Kripa sighed looking at her and kept a hand on her shoulder……

K: Bhabhi…..mein ne kaha na aap se, ki maffi mangne ki jaroorat nahi hai apko……chaliye….jakar fresh ho jaiye….mein chai banati hun…….she said slowly with smile……

A: Kripa thik keh rahi hai bhabhi……Hume aap se koi shikayat nahi hai…..Divya smiled sadly looking away…..Angad looked at her and went to her and hugged her lightly……Bhabhi jaiye haath muh dho lijiye…..Aur jara apne devar ke hathon ka bana garam garam masale daar chai peene aaiye……Kripa tum isse dudh pila dena, nahi to rona chalu karega, to sunega nahi…..he said chuckling….…Mein chai banata hun tab tak……Divya handed Prateek to Kripa and smiled when the baby started settling peacefully in her arms……It reminded of Ayush, who would settle this way with Kripa as well…….Some how Kripa had that magic touch, where kids found safety in and settled without a hitch…….

D: Mein thodi der mein ati hun……she said smiling and going to guest room….Kripa looked at Divya as she went in the room and her eyes filled with tears……Angad went to her and hugged her smiling, her sacrifices paid off today…….She looked up at him with tears as well as smile and Angad kissed her forehead with understanding and smiled at her encouragingly……He nodded and then slowly pushed her in their room…

A: Jaldi niche anna…..he said to her kissing her shoulder and closing the door as he went out…..Kripa smiled and sat on the bed with prateek……..Deep in her thoughts, happy beyond her imagination……..Soon prateek was satisfied and was fast asleep……..Kripa lay him down on the bed with a soft kiss and went out…..She looked in Arjun's room and found him fast asleep…..She went in and slowly caressed his hairs..…..It had been so many months……she had missed his mischief…..Arjun grinned and opened his eyes…..Kripa chuckled at him….

K: Badmash soya nahi…..

Arjun: Nahi…..he said getting up and hugging her……Kaisi ho jiji? He asked with tears…..

K: Tere samne to hun…..to tu hi bata de…..she said smiling trough tears…..

Arjun: Achi ho…..he said chuckling, wiping his tears with the back of his hands and then wiping Kripa's…..I missed you so much…..

K: Are wah…..wahan rehti thi, to pura din gayab hi rehta tha…..ye classes…..woh classes, school…..8-10 din mein ek ya do baar dikhte the……who bhi panch minute ke liye…...Aur jab mein chali gayi tab yaad ayi? She asked pinching his cheeks and laughing with tears.…..

Arjun: Kehte hain na ki ghar ki murgi dal barabar……he said chuckling with mischief..…..

K: Tune mujhe murgi kaha….? She asked angrily with her hands on her hips…..

Arjun chuckled and nodded rolling on the bed……..Kripa hit his shoulder angrily……

K: Issiliye dur chali gayi……Nahi to iss murgi ki to koi value hi nahi thi na…..she said making faces…..Arjun smiled sadly and went to her immidiately…..

Arjun: Dobara aisa karogi na, to baat hi nahi karunga…..he said angrily…..Kripa smiled and hugged him…..

K: Nahi jaungi…...Kitna lamba ho gaya hai 5-6 mahinon mein…..she said looking at him…..aur muuch aur daadi bhi aa gayi…..she said grinning, looking at him and touching his cheeks….

Arjun: Tumhara bacha aa sakta hai, to meri muuch aur daadi kyun nahi……he said rolling his eyes……Kripa hit him playfully chuckling a little……..Then she grinned…….

Kripa chuckled……Dadi ke laddoo laye ho na…..?

Arjun: Laya to tha, par flight mein khatam ho gaye…..he said grinning….Kripa frowned at him and started hitting….Are mein akela thodi na kha gaya….tumhara punch bhi to tha…..choti ma ye….choti ma woh…..he said rolling his eyes…..

K: Mere Ayush ke bare mein to tu kuch bol hi mat…..she said angrily……

Arjun rolled his eyes….God….ek number ka chipku hai tumhara Ayush……Flight nikli nahi ki aakar mujhe puch raha tha, Mamaji, choti ma ka ghar aagaya? He said chuckling…..Kripa chuckled….slapping his face affectionately….

K: Chal niche…..tere jiju masale wali special chai bana rahe hain…..she said grinning…..Arjun smiled….

A: Ye dekho….wahan mein chai banakar, sabka intajaar kar raha tha…..aur tum log aaram se baithkar gappe maar rahe ho……

Arjun and Kripa grinned at eachother and went with him downstairs……Divya also came down after couple of minutes, feeling a lot better…..She was tired after long journey and running behind Ayush for 20 hours in a row…..And above it, she was very much anxious and nervous about this trip……It was dadi's idea, when Arjun told Kartik about his wish to go to US for Kripa's 26^th birthday, dadi had told her to go too and bring Kripa back and she will also feel good about it and so will Ayush……Divya had been depressed about her mistakes and was regreting it with her heart…..Even Ayush was becoming restless after 15-20 days……So, here she was…..

She found Kripa curled up on the sofa with a pillow below her leg……She looked at her legs, and found them swollen and frowned…..The swell should have gone by now……

D: Kripa, pair itne kyun sujhe hui hain…..she asked sitting next to Arjun…..

A: Bhabhi aab to adha bhi nahi hai……Jab pehle din dekha na to hum saab daar gaye the…..isske pair to hathi ke pair lagte the……Kripa chuckled and hit him…..

K: Kuch nahi bhabhi…..doctor ne kaha hai thode dinon mein thik ho jayega……Angad rolled his eyes…..Kya…? Tum bhi to the doctor ke paas…..she said frowning….

A: Haan par unhone aaram karne ko kaha, aur aise pair uppar rakhakar sone ke liye kaha..….aur tum ho ki ek minute aaram nahi karti…..Bas upar niche……he said shaking his head…..

Arjun: Jiji kitni ziddi ho gayi ho tum…..he said frowning at her…..Kripa looked at him angrily….

K: Hello…..mein tum se 8 saal badi hun, ziddi kisse bol rahe ho…?……she said looking at him frowning…..he chuckled at her…..

Arjun: Mein thodi na bol raha hun…..yeh to papa keh rahe the….he said grinning at her…..Kripa gave him a dirty look……and he chuckled drinking his tea…..

K: Hmmm….bahot achi bani hai chai…..she said sighing…..

A: Dekha bhabhi, kaise apni baat asani se taal gayi……Madam, aab mein samajh gaya tumhara trick…..aab agar tum bolo bhi na ki "koi baat nahi hai, saab thik hai…." to bhi vishwas nahi hoga mujhe……kyun ki jab tum ye kehti ho na, kuch na kuch gadbad hota hi hai, uske piche…..he said frowning…..Kripa made faces at him and kept drinking her tea silently……

D: Apna sukh dukh bhool kar humesha dusaron ke liye jeena, yeh to bahot kum logon se hota hai devarji……Agar meri tarah khudgarj log hote duniya mein, to shayad humare jaisa bada parivar sath reh hi nahi pata……bikharkar kab ka tut jata.…..she said sadly…..

K: Bhabhi, apnon se pyar pane ki chah karna khudgarji nahi kehlata…..Yeh to insaan ki jaroorat hai…..Pyar hai to saab kuch hai, nahi to kuch bhi nahi……she said smiling at her……Angad smiled at Kripa with love and affection….She was so sharp with her answers….. They drank tea silently, everyone in their own thoughts…….After a while Divya smiled sadly…….

D: Par pyar pane ke liye kisi ka pyar chinana bhi to thik nahi na Kripa…..

K: Pyar koi nahi chin sakta bhabhi…..agar koi kisi se sacha pyar karta hai, to woh kabhi dur reh hi nahi pata ussase…..

D: Par agar uss insaan ko sachai pata na ho to…..galat femi bhi to hokar alag hote hain log…..she said looking at Angad, who looked away, knowing what she was saying…….Yeah, he had never once thought that Kripa might have reason to go this way, always doubted her looking at Divya and Ayush's sadness…….

K: Kisine mujhe se kaha hai, ki sachai chipane se nahi chipti…..ek na ek din bahar aa jati hai….to galat femi bhi dur ho jati ek din….Kripa said looking at Angad and he sadly smiled at her with understanding…..

Divya looked down, deep in thoughts……

Arjun: God….tum logon ki batein na jara bhari lag rahi hai muje…….he said making faces……..mein chala….he said keeping his cup on the tray and going up.…..

They looked at Arjun going up and then sat silently…..Angad too sighed and got up and went to their room, letting Divya and Kripa talk about there differences…..When they were atlast all alone in the room, Divya looked at Kripa with tears……….

D: Kripa, galati to mujhe se hui hai, tum kaho na kaho……Ye to tumhara badhapan hai, ki tum…….she stopped where she was……and again talked after a while…..…Tum to Ayush ko sirf pyar karti thi…….khush hone ke badle mein ulta jalne lagi…….Bura manane lagi……she said looking down…..par tumhare jane ke baad na mein khush reh payi na Ayush….jitna woh tumhe miss kar raha tha, ussase kahin jyada mujhe tumhari yaad ati thi….Aur jab deevarji ka udas chehra dekhti, Ayush ki khamoshi dekhti, to ghar ka sunna pan katne ko daudta, jisase meri sharmindagi aur badh jati…..Ye soch kar ki meri wajah se ye khamoshi faili hai….Behen hone ka farz tumne to humesha nibhaya…..par mein nahi nibha payi…..Tumne mujhe aur Ayush ko naya jeevan diya hai, raat din mera dhyan rakha, Ayush ko itna pyar ma hokar bhi nahi desaki……Aur mein, kabhi kuch kar to nahi saki tumhare liye, upar se humesha dukh diya……phir bhi tumhe mujhse koi shikayat nahi hai? Aisa to ho hi nahi sakta na Kripa……She asked looking at her……..Mere pregnancy ke waqt din raat meri seva ki tumne, par phir bhi apni puri pregnancy akele saab manage kiya, meri wajah se, mere zid ki wajah se, Ayush ki kasam ki wajah se…….Phir bhi kehti ho ki koi shikayat nahi hai mujhse…….? She asked closing her eyes tightly, as tears rolled down her eyes………

K: Nahi bhabhi nahi hai…..Bilkul bhi nahi hai….behenon mein to yeh saab chalta rehta hain…..saab ko saab kuch to pasand nahi ata na….kabhi kabhi kuch aisi batein ho jati hai, jo dil ko chu le……bas aap ko kisi cheez se bura laga ho….Anjane mein hi sahi, meri wajah se aapka bhi to dil dukha hai…...Ayush aap hi ka beta hai bhabhi……woh aap se dur ho ye to meine sapne mein bhi nahi socha…..Pata nahi kaise aur kab mein ussase apne bache ki tarah pyar karne lagi…..woh mere itna kareeb aa gaya, ki……Divya stopped her in midst with tears in her eyes……

D: Nahi Kripa…..Please, usse pyar karne aur din raat uska khayal rakhne ke liye, maafi mat mangna……mujhse bardasht nahi hoga…….she said putting her hands on her face and crying……..Mein to khush kismet hun, ki mere bete ko tum jaisi choti ma mili…..Ma to bachon ko pyar hi deti hai na……Aur Ayush to kitna bhagyashali hai ki usse do do ma ka pyar mil raha hai…...Afsos, iss baat ka hai, ki mein ye baat tab nahi samajh payi, varna aaj ye din dekhne ko hi nahi milta.……She said looking in Kripa's eyes…..Kripa smiled through tears and looked down…..Ek baar keh do Kripa ki tumne mujhe maaf kar diya…..varna yeh sharmindgi kaa ehsaas andar hi andar mujhe kha jayega……mein iss ke sath aur jeena nahi chahti…..She said as tears fell from her eyes…..Kripa got up from sofa immediately and sat down in front of Divya…..and kept her hands on Divya's knees looking up with tears….

K: Bhabhi…..waise toh maaf karne ke liye kuch bhi nahi hai….par agar mere kehne se aapka maan halka hota hai, to keh deti hun……meine aap ko mafi mangne se pehle hi maaf kar diya……jo kuch bhi hua, ussase na mera apke liye pyar kum hua hai, aur na izzat……balki mujhe khushi iss baat ki hai, ki aapne mujhe apna samajh kar apne dil ki baat batayi……mujhe apna samajh kar kuch dinon ke liye jane ke liye kaha……nahi kehti, to ye duriyan badhti aur shayad aaj hum itne kareeb bhi nahi hote, jitney aaj hai…….Par bas ek wada chahiye bhabhi, aaj ke baad please, mujh se kuch kehne mein ya kuch batane mein piche mat hatiye…….Apna maan kar mujhe apni dil ki baat bataye, taki hum sath milkar uska hal nikale……Galti ho to dantiye, bataiye ki kya galat tha aur kya sahi, par aise chup rehkar andar hi andar bechain mat hoiye...Mein nahi chahti ki kabhi bhi meri wajah se aap ko dukh pahunche, par dekhiye na, apki behen to bilkul nasamajh hai……..jab tak aap nahi kehti, koi baat samajh mein hi nahi ati iss…...she said chuckling with tears looking up at her…..Divya looked up at Kripa and hugged her tightly…….

Divya had been in constant torture since last two months, due to her own deeds…..She was even more depressed knowing Kripa had to go through all her pregnancy alone and was found in bad shape, alone in pain, before her delivery, just due to her frustrating unneccessary insecurities……Even her parents were ashamed due to her and went away saying that they never thought that their daughter would be so inhuman to one person, who had done so much for her, her child and her parents……They had asked for forgiveness from Dilip and Avantika as well as Dadi and Kartik…..She had felt so low that day, that she wanted to die, after looking at her parents, who had tears in their eyes and had joined their hands begging for forgiveness, on her behalf……Even Kartik was embarrassed due to her …….

Her parents had regarded Kripa as their life savior, because due to her, their daughter and grand son was alive and their life had taken a huge turn for better due to Kripa's hard work…...After that visit, they did not even come to her house or send her off while she left for US……Avantika had constantly supported her and said that they will come back and wont be able to stay away from her for long….Dadi had also said the same thing…..But Kartik had been aloof…..He did not misbehave or scold her, but she could see the pain in his face for what she did…….He had not come near her and kept himself busy in office or some other work……He had even visited her parents once, about which she knew after he came home and said to Divya that he already had dinner there and went off to sleep, without waiting for her…….She had been waiting for him to come and could not eat any thing herself after that and went to sleep…..He was already asleep before she went turning the other side…….She slept next to Ayush, caressing his hairs, as her eyes shed the tears……

After couple of weeks, dadi had herself suggested her that she and Ayush should go to US, and Ayush would feel good too…….Avantika and Dilip also agreed and asked her to go, when Arjun had asked permission from them to go to states for Kripa's birthday……

Kartik had booked the tickets and handed it to her….She had got visitors visa and they were here……..She tried to talk to him before leaving…..but he did not even come close to her…….It was painful for her, but she had accepted his aloofness as her punishment…….Ayush was the the only one, due to whom, they had little bit of conversation……

After a long time they wiped their tears and smiled at eachother……

K: Bhabhi…..jaiye…aap thak gayi hogi….jakar aaram kijiye thodi der…..she said pulling her up…..It was around 5 in the moring……They could still get couple of hours of rest….Divya nodded a little tired and got up….She went in guest room and lay down besides Ayush…….She knew she could not turn back the clock and do things differently, or forget what she had done to their family…..but she could atleast try to be a good person in future……She slowly touched Ayush's head and kissed him…..remembering the times, he had cried for Kripa and she had scolded him or hit him in anger……She repented each act, but could do nothing but regret for it……

Kripa went to her room and sat on the bed with a sigh…….She felt Angads fingers caressing her arms and looked at him…..

She turned around and slowly slept besides him, putting her head on his shoulder, sighing……He caressed her hairs, tucking it behind her ears, and wiped her cheeks, which he knew were wet with tears..…..he was deep in thoughts…..

K: Kya soch rahe ho….she asked slowly looking up……Angad shook his head…..

A: Kuch nahi……so jao thodi der……waise bhi Prateek ne adhi raat sone nahi diya tumhe…..he said kissing her forehead……Kripa smiled and hugged him……closing her eyes…..She was fast asleep within seconds…..Angad gathered her close and kept looking at Kripa for a long time…..

He kept thinking about how lucky he was to find a life partner like Kripa…..She had been lucky for his family too…..Dadi and his mom were right…..Their family was safe and sound due to her, they were so well of due to her, the people in their company too praised and respected her……The kids loved her in the school, which were built by her family, where she went to tell stories and give gifts to the poor kids, praising them for their talents…..She had helped many families with lots of incentives, saying it was their own hardwork, due to which her book was famous and she was just contributing the income she got with it……She had taken care of every one at house including Ayush, with love……She had stayed away from her family just so their family would not break, even when she needed them the most…..Even after all this selfish acts, he could not understand her at all and had accused her at every turn, for being selfish about her career……Still she had forgiven him and was with him today…….He looked at her with tears and slowly kissed her nose……Kripa shifted a little with a smile and buried her face in his neck and fell asleep again……Angad smiled and kissed her ear and let her sleep……He knew she must be tired after the nightly ordeal…..

He shuddered at the thought that, if Prithvi would not have called them, she would be all alone with their baby, struggling to do everything on her own……He thanked him in his mind…….He and Harshini had proved to be so good friends……He smiled sadly thinking about his doubts regarding his and Kripa's relationship…..Today, he understood the true meaning of friendship…...Even though he never had a girl, who he could call a true good friend, but seeing Kripa and Prithvi's friendship, he knew there was nothing more pure and beautiful than a true friend…..It was a very unique and wonderful relationship…..More so than any other relationship, because it was unselfish relationship……There was no expectations from eachother…….Friendship was just being there for eachother during times of need, and Prithvi had more than fulfilled his role in it, by being there for Kripa……

He looked at Kripa, sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face..….He closed his eyes and drifted off…….

Part- 57

Within an hour, Prateek started crying again, and Kripa got up with a sigh…..Angad was asleep, but kissed her as she got up to take him……After a while, when prateek slept she went to take a shower….Soon, ready she went down and heated some milk for herself and sat on the table with couple of toast slices…..Gayatri came down after she freshened up and looked at Kripa having milk….

G: Itni jaldi uth gayi beta…..aur ye itne cups…..raat ko sirf chai piti rahi kya? He asked looking at the cups…..frowning….

Kripa chuckled…..She grinned at her and kept eating……No point spoiling surprise for her……Let Arujun and Divya get up and she would have her fill….

K: Woh Prateek ne raat ko sone hi nahi diya….to mein aur Angad sari raat jage the…..

G: To mujhe kyun nahi uthaya…..mein thodi der le jati usse….she said frowning….

K: Itna awaj ho raha tha, phir bhi aap donon ko pata hi nahi laga…..issiliye socha ki kyun na sone de….aap bhi to kaam karke thak gayi hongi…..he said smiling…..

Suddenly the door opened and they heard some one coming down…..

A: Choti ma….choti ma…..Gayatri looked around stunned…….And there stood Ayush with a grin and came running to Kripa…..Kripa laughed at him and got up and picked him up kissing him and hugging him……Gayatri kept looking at them…..

G: Kripa, ye yahan? She asked looking at them……

K: Divya bhabhi aur Arjun bhi aye hain ma…..she said grinning….

G: Kya? Kab? She asked stunned….

K: Abhi 4 baje, Prithvi le aya tha……She said laughing and winking at Ayush….

A: Choti ma, mein plane mein baithkar aya dur…..apke paas, bahot dur…..he said grinning…..baby kahan hai….mein baby ke liye chocolate laya hun…..he said smiling…..

K: Aur mere liye…?

A: Apke liye bhi…..Kripa chuckled and kissed him…..Gayatri smiled at them and went and kissed Ayush….

G: Kaisa hai humara raja beta….?

A: Mein acha hun nani…..mujhe chota baby dekhna hai…..pata hai choti ma, mein baby ka bhaiya hun…..bada bhaiya….aur dadi ne kaha hai, ki aap mujhe aur bhi bada pyar karenge, baby se bhi bada…..Kripa chuckled….

K: Dadi to humesha thik hi kehti hain…..Waise tumne ma ko tang nahi kiya na…..she asked looking at him….

A: Nahi kiya….Baby kahan hai…? He asked whinning……Gayatri chuckled…..

G: Ja Kripa, isse ek baar baby ko dikha hi de……tab tak chain nahi milega isse……She said kissing his cheeks…..Ayush chuckled at Gayatri, when she kissed him.….Kripa smiled, kissing his other cheek and took him up to her room…..Angad and prateek were still asleep…

K: Woh dekho…..woh raha baby…..abhi so raha hai…..she said slowly…..

A: Usse kaho na ki bhaiya aya hai, uth jaye…..mujhe khelna hai uske sath…..He said smiling…..

Angad opened his eyes and looked at Ayush and Kripa……and smiled…..

K: Baby to abhi bahot chota hai Ayush……abhi nahi khel sakta…..Ayush frowned…..

A: Kyun nahi khel sakta…..

A: Kyun ki woh chota hai……agar woh bada hogaya to choti ma usse jyada pyar karegi na….to choti ma ne kaha, ki prateek ko chota hi rehne de……taki Ayush ko choti ma bada pyar kare….he said grinning and getting up…..Ayush smiled at him and then hugged Kripa…Kripa smiled with tears and hugged him back…….Her eyes met Angad's over his head and Kripa just smiled through tears and went out…..

Back to Arjun, he was up and took his bath and went to his parent's room grinning…..

Gayatri was already down and Surya was in the bathroom…..He waited in the room, till his dad was done and grinned at Surya, when he came out of the shower…..

A: Hi dad….he said chuckling at his expression…..

S: Arjun? Tu yahan? Yahan akele kaise aa gaya….? He asked frowning…..

A: Flight se dad…..you know…..he said chuckling going to him and touching his feet…..

S: Akele? He asked keeping a hand on his head….

A: Dad, I am almost 17….mein apne aap aa sakta hun…..he said grinning…..

Surya frowned at him……Teri jiji kya kum thi, jo tu uske nakshe kadam par chalne laga…… ?

A: Papa….he said rolling his eyes…..Jiji ladki hokar khud apna khayal rakh sakti hai to why not me……he said shrugging…..

Kripa came in with Ayush in her hand and chuckled……Suryabhan looked at Ayush surprised, but then understood that Divya might have come too…….

K: Mein tumse 8 saal badi hun……isiliye……tum abhi under aged ho……she said looking at him and rolling her eyes…..

S: Aur mein tum donon se kayin saal bada hun……Aur aab se ek baat dono kaan kholkar sun lena…..agar dubara kisine jyada stunt marne ki koshish ki na, aise marunga ki yaad rahega dononko……He said looking at them both angrily…..Arjun rolled his eyes with a grin and Kripa made faces at him……Chal Ayush, choti ma aur mamaji ke chakkar mein mat pad, nahi to tujhe bhi bigad denge…..he said taking Ayush from her….

K: Papa…..she said looking at him wide eyed….

S: Jo sach tha wahi kaha…..Donon hi puri tarah bigad chuke ho……Woh kehte hai na " What goes around comes around", waise hi hua hai……aaab thoda pachtava ho raha hai, ki donon ko itna mein ne independent kyun banaya, ki aab manmani karne lage hain…..badon ko kuch batane ki ya kehne ki jarurat hi nahi samajhte…..he said going out of the room with Ayush…..Kripa and Arjun kept looking as he closed the door and looked at eachother….

K: Saab teri wajah se Arjun……bata kar nahi aa sakta tha papa ko……Abhi bacha hai tu…..athara saal ka bhi nahi hai…..papa mama ko batana jaruri nahi samjha tune…..aaj tak papa ne kuch nahi kaha mujhe….teri wajah se dant padi aaj ……she said with her hands on her hips….

A: Apni baat karo jiji…..9 mahine the batane ke liye…..to itna bada secret chupaya kyun….itni badi bhi nahi ho gayi ho ki saab akele manage kar lo……Jaab dekho apni manmani karti ho…..Issi wajah se danta tumhe papa ne….meri wajah se nahi…..he said frowning at her……

K: Teri to mein aaj khup pitai karungi……She said taking a pillow and going to him…..Arjun chuckled an ducked down and started running around…..Kripa tried to catch him, put he was too fast, he opened the door and ran down chuckling…..she went behind him, with the pillow still in hand, angry at him……She chased him all around downstairs as Gayatri and Surya frowned and then smiled at them…..Ayush was laughing out loudly looking at Kripa and Arjun…….Angad also grinned at them……Angad….pakdo na usse….aaj to bilkul chodne wali nahi hun…..bahot salon se due hai…….she said running…….

Ayush: Mein pakdunga choti ma mamu ko….he said wriggling down from Surya's arms and running behind them, laughing as Arjun ducked and slipped from her hand…….At last Kripa was all tired and looked at Arjun angrily……He grinned at her and frowned, when Ayush caught him…..Pakad liya choti ma…..meine mamu ko pakadliya……Arjun looked at Ayush wide eyed……

Arjun: Traitor…..he said looking down with a chuckle, when Kripa came and started hitting him with the pillow…….Ayush was laughing loudly looking at Kripa hitting Arjun…….At last Kripa stopped with a chuckle and went to Arjun and hugged him with a smile……Arjun grinned at her……

Ayush: Dekha Arjun mama mein tumse jyada strong ho gaya aab……he said showing his arms……Hai na choti ma…..he said going to her and grinning……Kripa chuckled and bent down….

K: Are bapre…..kitne strong ho gaye ho…..she said looking at his small arms…..mama to tumhare samne chuha lagta hai…..she said grinning at Arjun….Arjun hit her with the pillow he found on the floor……

Arjun: dono ek number ke traitor ho…..Kaal flight mein to mama mama karke ghum raha tha, mere aju baju…..aur aab dekho, mama ko hi pakadva kar pitai kara diya…...he said tickling Ayush……Ayush started laughing and running around Kripa and Kripa smiled……..Kripa suddenly took him up and ducked, not letting Arjun touch him……..Surya and Gayatri looked at each other, looking at Ayush laughing after so many months…..Angad too smiled looking at Kripa and Ayush laughing together……So many months had passed, since they heard such laughter in the house……It was always like this in their house……Every day Kripa did new tricks to make Ayush laugh and as he laughed, all of them would join in and have fun, playing more tricks in similar way and making Ayush laugh…..But since Kripa had left, they had rarely seen laughter on his face, till the day he heard that Kripa was bringing a little baby with her…..He smiled and looked up, thanking God….when his eyes fell on Divya, who was watching Ayush with tears in her eyes…..He could imagine, what she had gone through these past few months….Unknowingly they had all went through rough times due to their own deeds…..Gayatri's gaze went up too and she saw Divya looking at Ayush…..Kripa Arjun and Ayush were busy in their own play……Surya was also into it…..chuckling and savoring these beautiful moments…..Though he had been quite, he had missed Kripa badly…….She had been the apple of his eye…….His little princes, since the day she was born……Gayatri went to Divya, who looked down upon seeing Gayatri, ashamed…..Gayatri wiped her tears and hugged her…….

G: Aab tu kyun ro rahi hai Divya……chal niche nashta karne……she said wiping her tears……Divya went down with her and then touched her feet, when they reached down…..

D: Mujhe maaf kar dijiye Kakisa, meri wajah se aap saab ko itni takleef hui……she said looking at her…..Gayatri smiled and wiped her tears…..Gayatri knew how much effort it might have taken on Divya's part to come here in between them and ask for forgiveness……..

G: Jo kuch hua, Srinathji ke marji se hi hua, beta…..aab saab bhul ja…..Galtiyon se hi to sikhte hain hum…….Aab to Kripa bhi thik hai, aur prateek bhi thik hai…….Aur apne Ayush ki aur dekho…...She said chuckling…….Aaj to mano ghar mein Diwali ho……...chal aab mujhe jara madad kar de…..Ye Kripa to aab kuch kaam ki nahi…..pura din khel mein lagi rahegi…..she said chuckling…..Divya smiled and wiped her tears….she went to Surya and touched his feet….He blessed her smiling and asked her about everyone…..

Ayush: Ma….mein na mamaji se jyada strong ho gaya hun…..he said coming to her and grinning…..Pucho choti ma se…..meine mama ko pakda…..Choti ma nahi pakad payi……Divya looked at him and smiled……

D: Kyun nahi hoga strong…..roj dudh pita tha, sabjiyan khata tha…..iski wajah se to takat ayi hai….she said putting a hand on his head….with a tearful smile……Ayush grinned and pulled her with him…..

Ayush: Chalo ma, tumhe baby dikhata hun…..choti ma layi hai…..abhi chota hai…..khel nahi sakta……he said grinning…..Divya chuckled a little……and went with him……Everyone kept looking at her as she climbed the steps with Ayush pulling her up……Kripa and Angad exchanged glances with a smile…..

Arjun went and touched Gayatri's feet with a grin……Gayatri hugged him with a smile…..

Arjun: Mom bhuk lagi hai….jaldi kuch do na…..

K: Arjun, pehle ladoo le aa….tab tak kuch nahi milega…..she said frowning……Angad chuckled and came in the kitchen and Kripa blushed looking at him…….Angad raised his eyebrows and she looked down shyly……Gayatri chuckled…..and Kripa looked up……

G: Chal Kripa plates le beta……Nashta kar le pehele…..Ayush aur Divya bhi bhuke honge…..Kripa made faces at her and Gayatri kissed her cheeks lovingly…..Kripa smiled and started taking plates……Aware of Angad's gaze on her……..

Soon Divya was back with Ayush in her arms chuckling at some thing he was saying…….Kripa smiled at them both when she saw them entering the kitchen……

Ayush: Choti ma bhook lagi hai…..he said looking at the fruits and milk in the glass……Kripa smiled at him and took all everything outside, hoping he would not fuss about she feeding him…….She did not mind but…..Ayush wriggled down of Divya's hands and ran behind Kripa……Choti ma mujhe tum khilao……..Divya chuckled looking at them……kripa on the other hand flushed a little, and pretended to serve others……Only Angad noticed her hesitation, while she filled his plate…….Suddenly, they heard the baby moniter beeping and heard Prateek crying….He saw Kripa closing her eyes with sigh and she looked at Ayush with a smile…..

K: Ayush, tumhe ma khilayegi aaj…..dekho na baby uth gaya aur ro raha hai……nahi gayi na do bahot rona chalu karega aur baat bhi nahi manega…..tum to bohat baat mante ho sabki, woh nahi manta…..mein jaun? Ma ke haat khaoge na…? She asked smiling…..Ayush nodded grinning….

Ayush: Badmein baby ko niche leke aana…..mein chocolate dunga usse……he said smiling….. Kripa smiled and kissed his forehead and started going up, but her eyes met with Angad's once and he just smiled at her and nodded…..Kripa ran up with little tears in her eyes……She felt bad to leave him this way, she could have asked Angad to bring Prateek, as she asked every morning…..Prateek played for some time everyday and Angad or Surya would look after him till she finished her breakfast…..But no one tried to stop her today as they understood why she was doing it…..Divya too felt some thing fishy, but kept quite and went to Ayush and fed him…Surya, Angad and Arjun too sat to have breakfast…..Gayatri and Divya waited for Kripa to come…….

Kripa went up and picked Prateek up….talking to him…kissing him……She forgot to switch off the baby moniter upstairs and every one could hear her soft voice as she talked……Divya smiled remembering the same voice, as she had talked to Ayush countless times……Then she started singing, her voice echoing downstairs……Everyone, stared at the baby moniter……..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HBXnDoo734

mm mm mm mm mm...

(tujhe suraj kahu ya chanda, tujhe dip kahu ya tara

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara) - (2)

Angad smiled a little, as her soft voice filled the room…….He wanted to run up and see her with their baby in her arms, singing looking at him with love…….He knew why she was avoiding coming down……..Then his gaze fell on Ayush……Ayush frowned a little sadly hearing Kripa's voice……..

mai kab se taras raha tha, mere aangan me koyee khele

nanhee see hansee ke badle, meree saree duniya le le

tere sang jhul raha hai, meree baho me jag sara

Even Gayatri and Surya looked at Ayush…..as Kripa used to sing this song for him……Divya looked down at Ayush when she saw everyone looking at him……She slowly bent and said something to him and he grinned at her and ran up…….Everyone looked at him and then at Divya, who was looking at Ayush with tears, as he ran up.……

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

tujhe suraj kahu ya chanda, tujhe dip kahu ya tara

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

Ayush: Choti ma, mujhe bhi lori sunau……Ayush said going in Kripa's room……..Kripa smiled looking at him with tears……..She nodded and indicated him to come to her on the bed…….Ayush ran to her with a grin and sat next to her……..Kripa slowly took him in her right arm and held prateek in Ayush's lap, taking care to support Prateeks head and kissed Ayush softly…..He giggled and Divya chuckled hearing his voice……

aaj ungli thamke teree, tujhe mai chalna sikh lau

kal hath pakadna meraa, jab mai buddha ho jau

tu mila toh maine paya, jina ka naya sahara

She continued to sing……swaying the kids in her arms……as Ayush sat looking at his little brother fascinated……Kripa had tears in her eyes, as Ayush snuggled in her arms……She stopped singing and Ayush looked up……He saw tears in her eyes and frowned…….

Ayush: Choti ma…..aap ro kyun rahi ho……he asked looking at her with concern……Everyone in the dinning stilled, hearing his simple question……They heard Kripa chuckle and sniff…..

K: Mein kahan ro rahi hun? She said wiping her tears..….and rubbing her nose to his neck, and tickling him making him giggle……Prateek started making fuss and Kripa smiled……..

Ayush: Gao na choti ma…..Baby ko bhi sunana hai…..he said grinning…..Kripa smiled and continued……

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

tujhe suraj kahu ya chanda, tujhe dip kahu ya tara

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

Gayatri went to the kitchen with tears in her eyes…..How many times she had heard Kripa singing this song for Ayush……She knew, even if she was not his mother, she had loved him like one and knew how she must have felt living alone……She could feel her lonliness…..could feel the days and nights dragging, as she struggled her emotions as well as pregnancy……but she was proud of her, that her sacrifise had atlast bought back the laughter in the house…….Divya was here to ask for forgiveness and take her home…….What more could she ask for, all her anger towards Kripa vanished in those few moments…….She was angry at her for keeping such big secret from them all,for going through so many difficult days……But……Today, she felt like she had passed the exam of motherhood, when she saw her daughter so very responsible towards her family…..Divya looked at Gayatri going to the kitchen and looking down, she walked up, not looking at anyone else.……..She went to Kripa's room and opened it, looking at her with Ayush and Prateek and smiled at them with love……

mere baad bhee is duniya me, jinda meraa nam rahega

jo bhee tujhko dekhega, tujhe meraa lal kahega

tere rup me mil jayega, mujhko jivan dobara

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

tujhe suraj kahu ya chanda, tujhe dip kahu ya tara

meraa nam karega roshan, jag me meraa raj dulara

Ayush grinned at her, as the song was over and kissed Kripa's cheek……

Ayush: Aur ek lori sunao na choti ma…..Kripa chuckled…..

K: Abhi raat ko…..yahan lori sunte rahenge, to pet mein chuhe daudenge……

Ayunh: Chuhe kyun daudenge…..he asked frowning….Kripa chuckled…..

K: Bhook ke karan….she said kissing his cheeks…….how she missed his little talks.…..

Ayush: Mere pet mein chuhe nahi hai…..he said touching his tummy…..Kripa started laughing and tickling him and he giggled……

K: Bhook nahi lagi? She asked looking down…..Ayush nodded…..Chal phir niche jate hain……

Ayush: Lori?

K: Raat ko….sote samay…..magar agar tum baat manoge to…..she said pinching his cheeks lightly…..Ayush smiled…..Kripa looked up with a smile and saw Divya standing there with tears……..Bhabhi…..Divya smiled as Ayush ran down, then closed the door and slowly went to her and switched off the baby moniter, which was on the table….Kripa looked at it and then realized that she had forgot to switch it off, when she came up…..She looked down a little embarrased, but smiled at her…..

Divya sat on the bed and looked at Prateek, who was playing on the bed……She slowly touched his little fingers and toes…..and smiled at him……She looked up with tears at Kripa…..

D: Pata hai mujhe, ki tum Ayush ko chod kar yahan kyun aa gayi…….she said slowly, looking in her eyes….Kripa looked down a little guiltily……Aur tumhara aise karne ke piche jo irade the woh bhi jaan liya mein ne…..par iski jaroorat nahi hai Kripa…..Mujhe tum se koi gila ya shikwa nahi hai…..na hi jalan hoti hai aaj….balki aaj itne mahinon ke baad bahot pyar acha laga, tumhara aur Ayush ka iss tarah ek dusare ke prati dekhakar…..Bahot khushi hui, ki mere maan mutav ke bavajud, mein tum donon ka itna pyara rishta tod na saki…...She said carrsseing Kripa's cheek…..Kripa looked up with tears……Tum meri behen ho……aur mere bte ki choti ma……Aur, mein vachan deti hun, ki yeh ehsaas, ye rishta aab mere akhri saans tak juda na honge mujhse……phir kabhi iss rishte ko galat najariye se nahi dekhungi….par ek vachan bhi chahiye tumse……she said holding her hands….Kripa looked at her, waiting for her to ask…..Mere Ayush ko humesha aise hi pyar karogi tum, jaise pehle karti thi……Uske sare kaam karogi vaise hi karogi jaise pehle karti thi…….meri wajah se ussase duri nahi badhaogi……Nahi to mein samjhungi, ki tumne mujhe maaf nahi kiya……Aur ek baat, agar dubara koi galti karun to dantogi jaroor mujhe……aise chup nahi rahogi…...behen ka ek yeh bhi to haak hota hai na ki woh apni behen ko sahi raah dikhaye..…Kaho dogi ye vachan apni behen ko? She asked looking at her with tears…..Kripa nodded and hugged her closing her eyes……Pata tha mujhe, tum mujhe nirash nahi karogi…….Chalo niche chale……mere pet mein chuche jaroor daud rahe hain…..she said smiling at her….Kripa chuckled wiping her tears…….She slowly picked Prateek in her arms and Divya and Kripa came down smiling……Surya, Angad and Arjun were still sitting on the table talking…..When they saw Divya and Kripa coming with prateek, they smiled and asked them to sit……Ayush for a change was sitting and trying to eat on his own….Kripa smiled looking at him….Angad got up and took Prateek from her, so she could eat…..As soon as Angad took him, Prateek started screaming and everyone looked at him and then at Kripa and started chuckling……Kripa smiled and started taking him back, when Angad frowned…..

A: Tum baithkar achi tarah nashta karo…..mein sambhal lunga isse…..He said, taking the screaming Prateek to the family room…..Kripa looked at him worriedly as he went, when Gayatri kept a hand on her…..

G: Beta tu khana kha le…..Angad ne kaha na ki woh sambhal lega…..aur waise bhi, tu khayegi nahi barabar, to Prateek ki bhook kaise mitayegi…..chal shuru kar…..she said giving her a glass of milk and carrseing her hairs……Kripa smiled and started eating…..Divya was looking at Kripa, when Gayatri looked at her….Divya beta, chal tu bhi kha……

D: Kakisa, aap bhi baithiye…..she said smiling and Gayatri nodded and sat with them…..They all sat and talked together and asked Divya about what was going on in India……They asked Arjun about his school and other things….Prateek was quite for some time and Kripa sighed a little…...She looked at Ayush, who was eating with Gayatri's help and smiled…...

As soon as Kripa was done and was drinking her milk, Angad was back with screaming Prateek…..Kripa chuckled and took him in her arms and talked to him and he was quite in seconds…..Angad frowned at him…..

A: Kya mere haat mein kante chub rahe the isse……aisa ro raha tha, jaise mein isse maar raha hun…….he said making faces…..Everyone chuckled at him and got up……Kripa smiled at Angad with love and patted his cheeks…..When she saw that they were alone in the room, she looked up…..

K: Koi baat nahi, isse shayad kante chub rahe honge…..she said slowly, when he frowned at her, she continued….. par mujhe to tumhari bahon mein tumhare paas akar, sirf fulon ka ehsaas hota hai..…..she said kissing his cheeks lightly winking at him and going out…..Angad stood there a little stunned and then looked at her with a grin……Kripa laughed as she went up and fed Prateek……

The day went by……Divya and Arjun, took out few things sent by Dadi and Avantika……Kripa bathed the baby with Divya's help and made him sleep and went down…….Gayatri and Divya asked her to go out of the kitchen and rest, while they prepared lunch…….Kripa sighed and went out……She saw Angad sitting in front of TV and changing channels…..Arjun and Ayush were sleeping in Arjun's room and Surya had gone out to meet some old friends…..

Kripa grinned and went to sit with Angad…..Angad pulled her in his arms and kept changing the channels…..

K: Angad ek channel rehne do na……kitna badal rahe ho…..she asked frowning……Angad grinned at her….

A: Agar tumhe TV dekhna ho to apne room mein jao……

K: Very funny…..she said making faces and putting her head on his shoulder….Angad chuckled as she smiled tiredly……Soon she was fast asleep in his arms…..Angad looked down surprised, as it did not even take 5 minutes for her to sleep, but then knew she must be tired.…….He smiled at her and picked her up slowly and took her to their room and laid her down with Prateek……He kissed her forehead and covered her with light blanket…….he slowly tucked a hair behind her ear and was about to go, when Kripa held him……Mere paas hi raho na……she said with a smile…..Angad smiled and slowly sat down besides her and Kripa smiled and fell asleep….After a while, Angad slowly kept her hand aside getting up and then closed the door and went down……..

He saw Gayatri and Divya making lunch…..

G: So gayi Kripa….?

A: Haan Ma so gayi…..raat ko so nahi payi barabar se……..to ankh lag gayi….Hopefully Prateek usse phir se jaga na de…..he said shaking his head….Gayatri chuckled and pulled his cheeks……

G: Ye to ladkiyon ko adat ho jati hai, buddhu..…...Chal thodi sabji kaat de mujhe……she said giving him some vegetables…..Angad grinned and started working along with them……He quickly was done and helped them both a little in the kitchen and went to Arjun's room to play some games with him………

Day went by and they all sat in the evening talking together…..Prateek and Ayush both were down for the day…..Kripa smiled remembering about her birthday tomorrow…..But she frowned that no one talked about it…Did they remember or……Hmmm…..she will find it out in the morning….she thought sighing……