Aahistaa Aahistaa...link on page 151 - Page 74

Part 33

It hadnt taken them a long while to get adjusted back in the Mumbai lifestyle. Even though it was very different than what they were grown up in, living in Simla for more than half their lives. Angad and Kripa spent all the time they could with each other, even though not equal to what they were used to spending.

After a week of spending quiet time, alone, Angad and Kripa were invited to the birthday bash of his family friend, Abhi. They were both pretty excited to go since they had spent the last three weeks or so of college preparing for their final exams.

Angad knocked on Kripa's door as he fixed his hair again. He remembered her words one more time. I always like your hair wet. He had made sure it looked wet. Teddy finally opened the door in what seemed like ages to Angad. " Come in Sir." Angad said his hello to Teddy and walked into the grand Sharma Palace living room.

" Angad!" He suddenly looked back at hearing Kripa's voice. He stood up, almost dropping his glass of water, but then making sure he didnt spill it. His eyes were left wide open as Kripa walked down the stairs and to him. She was wearing what he liked her best in, the traditional Indian dress. Something no one would dare to wear at a party of this sort. But something she would do for Angad.

She walked upto him and as always kissed his cheek gently. " You look hot!" She smiled. This was something she made sure she always told him. It was true! He held her hand in his and gently touched them with his lips. "You're always hot!" She blushed and then looked at the flowers in his hand. " Yeh mere liye?" He glanced at the flowers and then looked at her teasingly. " No. Its for Teddy." He watched Teddy walk in and handed him the flowers. " For you Ted!" Angad ignored the fact that at this point, Teddy thought he was a complete weirdo. "Chale?" Kripa nodded with a smile and walked towards the door. " Bye Teddy! Mom and Dad ko..." She paused. " kuch batane ki zaroorat nahi hai." She didnt wait for an answer.

Angad took the ramp on the highway and then safely entered it. He occasionally glanced at Kripa as she looked outside the window. Not even looking at him once. He touched the dial by his steering and turned the music on. This made her look at him. She smiled to herself and then looked away again.

" Uh Kripa..can I ask you something?" She looked at him when she heard his deep voice as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. " Poocho?" He looked at her teasingly again. "Knowing the fact that today we are going to a birthday bash, why did you decide to wear what youre wearing?" He tried to sound as nice as he could. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. " No no no..I dont mean it like that. I mean..you never like all this..salwar kameez and sarees so..."

" Well, I did for you!" She smiled kindly and he nodded to himself. She loves you a lot Angad. "Kripa...I love you!" She looked at him annoyed. " Thats it? Angad, kya itna hi pyaar karte ho tum mujhse? Maine tumhare liye yeh...yeh Salwar Kameez bhi pehen liye aur tum? hmm..jao mein tumse baat nahi karti!" She looked the other way and smiled to herself.

Angad frowned as he looked at her. He made sure the car was in the right lane. He looked at her again and placed his arm on her shoulder. " Kripa, kripa tum meri baat to suno. I really love you and I can prove it!"

" Then prove it Angad!"

" What?" She folded her arms and looked at him. " Then prove it. How much you love me Angad?" He felt something stuck in his throat. He tried to swallow it but couldnt. " Kripa mein...I can..." She looked away again." Forget it Angad. I know now, you dont love me Angad!" She turned her body away now.

" Kripa..." He turned to her but then turned back to the steering when he felt the car getting a little out of control. When it was back under his command, he looked at her again. " Kripa, come on why are you acting so stubborn?" She smiled to herself. She was having fun annoying him at this point. " Kripa?"

" Kripa please...you know I love you right?" She turned towards him. " Ek shart pe main tumhe maaf karoongi." He smiled and then looked at her, loosing his grip on the steering a little. " Acha kya?"

" I want you to...kiss me!" He looked at her with his eyes wide open. Had he heard her right. " Kiss you?" She nodded silently.

" Kripa come on. I'm driving right now!" She frowned again and looked away. Angad sighed and suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her closer and kissed her. She smiled as his lips kissed hers. Her eyes were closed and she kissed him back. She felt like there was nothing around them. Just them and their love. Suddenly she heard a huge noise around her. She opened her eyes and looked behind Angad. Her eyes opened wider and she froze in shock. She tried to let go of Angad but before she could, the sound got louder and then in a moment, nothing could be heard. Silence.....

The ambulence arrived at the site and walked to the victims of the accident. An accident where a truck had hit an out-of-control car and injured a couple. Not just any couple. But Angad and Kripa!

The police officers walked towards the scene and looked at the paramedics take Angad and Kripa away in the ambulence. " How did all this happen?" The cop looked at the truck driver standing in front of them. " Sir, I was driving in my lane and their car was in the lane right next to me. Everything was going fine at first but I saw the car going out of the lane once or twice. I tried to control the truck. Then finally, their car left the lane and entered my lane Sir. We were both at such a speed that I could press the brakes fast enough. Their car got under my truck Sir. I feel really guilty. I'm so..." He looked down with the most miserable feeling on his face. The cop nodded his head and told the other cop to take him away. He looked at the injured bodies been taken away and sighed to himself. " These young couples these days..." He walked to the ambulence again.

Surya Sharma rushed into the hospital with his wife. "Kripa? Kripa sharma???" He screamed at the reception and then ran in the direction in which she pointed. The ICU. He took a deep breath before entering the room. But before he did, the doctor walked out. " Doctor, my daughter?"

" Mr. Sharma. I'm very sorry about the accident. The boy and girl are still very serious. We cant say anything right now. They might not survive." He held the doctors collar and pulled him closer. "What do you mean? she's my daughter. she has to survive!" The doctor glanced at the collar calmly. He understood what Surya was going through. Gayatri quickly made Surya take control of himself. " I'm sorry Doctor." He looked away. The doctor nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. " Its ok. I understand. We are all trying our best.Please have patience." He left the place.

Surya sat on the bench outside with his head in his hands. Gayatri sat next to him and rubbed her arm on his back and tried to make him feel better. " Surya, please. Sab kuch theek ho jayega." He looked at her now for a moment and then hugged her tightly, in tears. " Gayatri yeh sab kya ho gaya? Meri bachi aaj...agar usse kuch ho jayega to..." He took a breath almost choking. " Agar usse kuch ho jayega to mein to..I'll just die Gayatri. I'll just die!" She ran her fingers throught her hair. " Surya please. agar iss waqt tum ro doge to mujhe kaun sambhalega?"

He let go of her and then took her face in his hands. " Youre crying?" He took her in his arms. " Everything will be fine. I'll make sure it does. I wont let anything happen to my daughter." There was a determined look on his face. He had to save his daughter.

The doors of the ICU opened and two stretchers were brought out. Each carrying Angad and Kripa. Angad's parents had still not arrived. They were away to Delhi for the weekend. Surya and Gayatri ran to the stretchers and tried to get a look at Kripa but were pushed by the doctors. When they left, another Doctor came up to them. "I'm Dr. Mehta and I'm afraid I have some bad news for you two." Surya's expression changed from worried to horrified. Gayatri grabbed his arm and froze when she heard the doctor speak.

Surya sat back as he remembered that moment again. When he felt someone touch him, he turned around and saw Gayatri standing behind him. Looking at him this sad, she sat down in front of him and touched his hand. " Surya please. everything is going to be okay. The doctor said there is a 65 percent chance that she is going to survive. so there is still a lot of hope."

He looked at her. " What about the other 35 percent Gayatri?" She didnt have an answer. He continued. " I remember when she was just five years old and I told her that she had to move to Simla for school, she was really upset. I didnt see her tears at that time. But I wish I did. Maybe she would have been fine today. If she lived in Mumbai instead. If she hadnt met Angad, today would have been different for her, for us."

"Surya, why are you blaming Angad? uski kya galati hain? woh bhi to zakhmi hua hai na?" Surya snapped back at her comment. " But he doesnt need to brain surgery for gods sake!!" Gayatri looked around at the staring eyes. Surya closed his eyes and took a deep breath. " She's in this condition just because of that Angad. I know it!" Gayatri felt sad for the man, her husband. He was trying to find someone to blame for his daughter's condition. " Gayatri...have I really been a bad father to her?" And I have been the worst mother, she thought to herself.

The doctors walked out of the operation theatre once again. " Mr. Sharma we are trying our best. There has been a lot of blood loss so we need to give her the blood as soon as we can or else she can get a stroke. Please arrange for the blood.please!" They went back inside and Surya leaned back on the wall. "Aakhir wahi hua jiska hume hamesha se darr tha." Surya looked at Gayatri as she spoke.

Kripa's blood group was AB negative. One of the rarest blood groups that existed. Where were they supposed to find all this blood from? When Kripa had needed blood when she was a young four year old due to a previous accident, her grandmother had willingly given it to her. But now she was dead. " Surya ab kya kare?" Gayatri looked at him. This time he saw that fear on her face. " I'll be back."

Dilip Khanna picked up his phone when it rang once again. " Hello? Surya. I booked my tickets for today. I'll be there in a few hours .Angad kaisa hain? "

" Woh theek hain Dilip lekin..." Dilip realized the fear in his voice. " Lekin kya?" Surya took a deep breath. " Meri Kripa ki jaan khatre mein hain Dilip. She needs blood."

" Blood? Lekin isme mein kya kar sakta hu?" Surya held the phone tighter as he felt his hands sweating. " Dilip you once told me that youre blood group was AB negative and I told you Kripa had the same thing. do you remember that?" Dilip leaned back on his chair and took his glasses out. " I remember."

" Dilip please. please help me this time. save my daughter. give her some of your blood. please?" Dilip exhaled and then sat up again. " I'm sorry Surya. I cant do that. I'm not the needles kind of person. and you know that. please." Surya couldnt beleive what he was hearing. " Dilip..."

" Surya I have to go now. Its time to leave for the airport. I'll see you soon." Surya head him hang up the phone. He dropped it from his hands. How could you do this Dilip?

Dilip and Naina Khanna had finally arrived at the hospital. They sat on the bench, next to Gayatri, as Surya still stood in front of the operation theatre. Seeing a doctor walk out of Angad's room, Dilip suddenly got up. " Doctor, Angad?" The doctor calmly placed a hand on his shoulder. " Dont worry Mr. Khanna. youre son is doing absolutely fine now. He still needs to rest but you can go see him. He's out of danger and concious now. Good luck" Dilip smiled as the doctor left with the same expression.

" Hi Dad." Angad smiled as Dilip walked to him. " Angad? What is wrong with you? aise koi drive karta hain kya? i mean you should have some sense in...." He was interrupted by a nurse that kindly asked him to keep his voice down. " Please dont let him take any stress right now!" Dilip nodded and waited for her to leave.

" Its ok Dad. you can yell at me when I get home" He looked the other way, disappointed with his Dad. Angad then quickly turned around to look at his father again. " Dad where is Kripa?" Dilip looked away and remembered the no stress thing the nurse was talking about. " Kripa is fine Angad. she's still unconscious though. Angad how did all this happen. because I know that youre a good driver." Angad looked away and tried to remember everything. Oh god. All this happened because of Kripa's 'zidd'. I can't let anyone know about this. " I dont remember everything Dad. please I need to rest a little. " Dilip knew something was wrong. Without saying a word, he left the mother and son alone. I'm sorry I had to lie Dad but I cant let you blame Kripa for this.

A day had passed and Kripa's operation was still on hold. They could do anything when they didnt have the blood. Angad hadnt seen Kripa or known about her condition either because he wasnt let out of his room. Dilip Khanna as usual walked into the hospital as a mere formality of seeing his son. Unlike Surya and Gayatri, Dilip came to see Angad for a few minutes every 3 or 4 hours and then left silently. He hadnt spoken to Surya since their phone conversation. He just tried to avoid him.

The doctor walked to Surya again. "Mr Sharma please. we need that blood right away. please!" Surya nodded his head and then tried to figure out what to do. " Please talk to Dilip again" He looked at Gayatri as she begged him. " I think I'll have to." Surya walked to Angad's room.

Dilip sat by Angad's bed drinking coffee when Surya walked in suddenly. " Hi Uncle." Angad greeted him with a smile that Surya didnt return. " How are you Angad?"

" I'm doing great. how is kripa?" Surya couldnt beleive Angad was still smiling as he asked this question. He didnt bother answering it. he just looked at Dilip. " Dilip please. please maan jao. if you dont give your blood to Kripa, they cant go ahead with her operation." Angad suddenly looked up at Surya. Operation? He watched as Dilip get up impatiently. " Surya please. I told you once already. I cant give blood to her. I dont like needles and this blood. please understand."

" Understand? youre asking me? Dilip I'm on the verge of losing my daughter here. If she doesnt get that blood, she will DIE Dilip...DIE!!!" Angad felt his heart stop now. Die?He must be joking. " Yeh aap kya keh rahe hain uncle? kripa to bilkul theek hain na?"

" Theek? kaash angad. agar usse AB negative blood abhi nahi mila to woh shayad kal subah tak..." Dilip shot back at him now. " Surya maine kaha na i wont give her my blood!!!" Surya took two steps to the rear as he heard Dilip yell. Angad suddenly sat up on his bed.

" Dad!!! fine. if you dont want to give her blood then I will. If you dont remember, I have the same blood group as well." Angad took out the needle inserted in his body to keep him hydrated. The nurse saw him doing this and ran in. " Please Sir. you cant leave right now."

" I have to! I cant let her die!" Angad couldnt beleive he had used 'Kripa' and 'die' in the same sentence. The doctor walked in, shocked at the commotion. " What happening here...Angad! what are you doing?"

" Doctor. I'm ready to give Kripa my blood. please?" The doctor nodded and looked at Surya once. " Angad. you cant give her your blood. its not safe for her. you have had too many antibiotics and pain killers inserted in your blood stream. you cant give her your blood."

" Then what can I do Doctor? I cant let her.." Angad fell back on his bed. "Pray Angad. thats all you can do." Angad closed his eyes. God, I have never been to your temple. But today I want to ask you something. Please save her god. I can give you anything for it. If it means that I never see her again, I will live with that. But please, keep her alive. she's important to too many people.

Suddenly the nurse ran into the room. "Doctor! we got the blood we needed." Angad looked at them with a smile. The doctor quickly nodded and left. Surya left behind them and Angad looked at Dilip, disgusted. " Please leave Dad."

The light on the operation theatre turned off. The doctor walked out as he took off his gloves. Surya and Gayatri stood up and ran to him as Angad moved his wheelchair closer to them. " Doctor..how is Kripa?" He looked at Surya as he asked him with hope in his eyes. They doctor placed a hand on Surya's shoulder. "Mr Sharma, your daughter is...." Surya looked at him, scared to death himself............

ok here it is. i tried my best to make it the same way it was before i lost all of it. so plzzz plzzz plzzz leave comments, suggestions, predictions. i have spent a lot of time on this. esp coz i wrote it again. and i stayed up till 1 am just for this guys so plzzzz leave any note of encouragement you can. ill appreciate it a lot

luv rani