Chapter Forty
"No more Angad, please."Kripa pushed her head further away from the spoon he was holding in front of her. For the past hour he had been feeding her, her lunch. The girl wasn't eating after finishing less than half of her lunch.
"Kripa I'll kill you if you don't finish this today."
"You can, just make sure I sign a letter than says not to punish you for murdering me."
"You won't have to if you eat. Last bite." He jammed the spoon in her mouth and watched her chew.
"I'm done."
He sighed and put the plate away, sitting down beside her, wrapping his arm around her. "I can't change you."
"That's not true." She pressed her lips on his cheek. "You have."
As he turned to kiss her again someone cleared their throat at the door. They both looked at Karan standing with flowers in his hands and a smile that echoed in his eyes.
"Angad I was worried for an absolutely pointless reason." He kissed her forehead and sat down while Angad stood up. "You need to be more careful next time Kripa."
"Well now you have to buy me a new car because that old one isn't going to get fixed."
"I don't care about the car." He frowned as she smiled. "I almost had a heart attack when Faith called this morning."
"You're too young for a heart attack, brother. Don't worry about it."
"I guess. Do you feel better?"
"Now that you're here I do." She kissed his cheek and hugged him then looked at Angad. "You should go home Angad. You've been here since last night."
"I'm fine Kripa."
"Yeah I can tell that by the circles under your eyes. Karan tell him to go home or I won't talk to him again."
Karan laughed. "This is your problem and you should handle it yourselves. But you should Angad."
"Alright I will. But I'm coming back to make sure she has her dinner."
"You do that." She said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Get some sleep Angad, you look terrible."
"I'll be right back." Karan excused himself and left the room. Once he was gone Angad hugged Kripa tightly.
"You scared me to death last night Kripa. I thought that was it."
"Oh I'm not leaving you until you get married. How do I know you will?"
He squeezed her and his eyes tightly. She had to keep reminding him that he was getting married in less than ten days… to Amna. There was a wired tension crawling into them that told him something very wrong was going to happen and it scared him to death. He rather get married to Amna than seeing something go wrong with anyone else. But it was destiny and if something was bound to happen no one could stop it.
"I love you Kripa." When he pulled away her eyes were red, he took her glasses off and wiped them. "You look horrible when you cry. Even a ghost would run away seeing my princess cry like this, and look you're scaring your prince as well."
She laughed while rubbing her palms on her eyes. "I won't do it again."
"Good. I'll see you in a few hours."
"Alright."
He leaned down and kissed her again and then left.
Later that day Kripa and Angad found out that Amna had to suddenly go to London because her father had suffered a heart attack and she would be back the day of the wedding.
Jason assured the family that Kripa would be up and walking in three or four days due to her rapid improvement that was shocking everyone.
Later that night, after having dinner, Kripa sat in her bed writing in her diary while Angad sat on the sofa across the room because she wouldn't let him sit beside her and read what she was writing. When she was done she put the diary away and laid down in bed looking at him.
"Can I go to sleep?" She asked taking her glasses of.
"Of course you can, silly girl. You should be resting anyways."
"Thank you. You can go home if you want. You were here last night as well." Her eyes dropped shut and she couldn't open them again. He smiled and kissed her. After turning the lights off he went and sat down on the sofa.
He loved Kripa and no one could change back. But he felt guilty sometimes for deceiving Amna and no one could change that either. He felt a mixture of several different emotions and couldn't figure out what it was as a whole. In eight days he would be married to Amna forever. The reality made his heart sink and his pulse quicken. But then again he couldn't change that reality, no one but Kripa.
The next few days passed quickly. Because Karan had to be out of state for a few days again Kripa moved into the Khanna house until he got back. But that was a disaster because they only found each other closer again. They both tried to stay out of physical contact but it was vain, he couldn't help but keep her close in his arms for hours. Caresses her and pamper her until late night, until she fell asleep holding him back. He couldn't keep himself from kissing her again and again until she started melting to the bone.
Three days before the marriage she had started to walk again which was good, other wise everyone would question why the bride could suddenly walk? Karan was back but Dev asked him if Kripa could just stay there, there was no point of moving away from the house two days before the marriage.
Angad and Kripa made it a point that the second he was married to Amna they wouldn't meet each other. Her plan about going to New York was cancelled because of her accident and therefore now she had more chances of crashing into Amna and Angad.
The day before the marriage Kripa was sitting in a crowd getting with henna on her hands. Her bandages had come off and she was pretty much back to normal. She was still on medication and Jason wanted her to come in for regular check-ups for a few more weeks before they could stop them.
Sana sat down beside Kripa and hugged her. "I'm so exited you guys are getting married tomorrow. I wasn't half as excited as I am now for my marriage. Angad is going to keep you really happy." She was glowing and her belly was barely starting to swell.
"I'm sure he will."
"Are both your hands finished?"
She looked back at them and then turned to show them to Sana. "You've had it on for almost six hours now. I think it can come off once we are done with the function."
"I wasn't going to keep it on all night anyways. That's really silly. How does it matter how dark the color is, it's bound to come off one day."
"Well, I've heard that the darker the color comes out the more your husband loves you." She looked down at her own hands and the dark henna that was already applied and dried off. "I think I can say it's true."
"But it comes off Sana."
"It does." She nodded and then noticed the sadness in her eyes. "But your love continues growing. It's just a superstition. Some believe in it and some don't. Do you?"
She looked down at her hands and smiled. "I don't know if I do or don't. All I know is that Angad loves me a lot and if this henna is light when it comes off I'll still believe that his love is deeper. If the color is dark and deep I'll still say that the color will be light in front of his love."
"Kripa something is wrong and I see it in your eyes and Angad's eyes." Kripa looked at her. "What is it?"
"Nothing Sana. We both are getting married for the first time, it's ok if we are scared and worried, isn't it?"
"Yes but the worry in both of your eyes is just worry without the happiness. Tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, Sana. Believe me."
"Mrs. Khanna." Sana and Kripa looked up at their last guest in the house. "I'll leave now."
"Alright we'll see you tomorrow." The older lady smiled and left
"I'll go wash it off." As she stood she lost her balance, before she could fall over Angad caught her.
"Careful, sweetheart." Sana smiled and left them alone. "Are you ok?" He kissed her forehead and she stood up straight, nodding. "You haven't washed your hands yet?"
"No. But I'm going to go do that now."
"Leave them it on for another hour." Neha said jumping by her.
"I still have to eat, Neha. And so do you and your henna is still there."
"Mom promised to take care of Esha and Yash promised he would feed me."
Angad grinned. "Yeah Kripa, leave it for another hour and I'll feed you."
Neha giggled as she poked her elbow into his rib. "He's not going to let you sleep tomorrow night Kripa. Sleep in late tomorrow." Kripa turned around sadly, while Neha thought she was only blushing.
"Neha." Yash yelled from somewhere in the house. She turned and ran away while Angad placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're doing this to yourself Kripa."
"Then what do you want me to do?" She turned around frantic. "Get married to you and ditch Amna?"
"I'm sorry." He hugged her and she held him back without touching her hands to his cloths. "I'm sorry." He whispered again.
About an hour later Kripa stood at the window wrapped in a silk black robe, looking at her henna in the moonlight. The color had come out dark, a mixture of black and maroon. Tears feel on her hands as she leaned onto the side of the window and closed her eyes.
She didn't how long she stood there until she felt Angad touch her arm; his fingers crawl up her arm inside the loose sleeves of her light robe.
"Angad don't." She quickly turned around and looked at him. "Please don't." She walked to her bed and started fixing the quilt, getting ready to go to sleep, when he stood behind her holding her hands. She turned around and he lifted her hands to his lips and kissed both her palms. She wore the dark red and white bangles in her wrists. The henna smelled strong but excellent.
"Do you think I can love you deeper than this color?" He pulled her closer, one arm tightly around her waist.
"Do you?"
"Do I what?" He asked untying her hair and dropping the band to the floor.
She closed her eyes when his hands reached for the belt of her robe and he untied it, pushing it from her shoulders. They both heard it fall to the floor in a whisper. She stood there in her night dress, breathless, scared.
"Love me deeper than the color on my hands." She trembled as he pushed her to the bed and fell over her. She reached for the buttons of his shirt, stopped on the third one down. "Do you?" She asked tracing his collar bone, pulling him closer.
"Do you?" He asked burying his face in her hair, and then turning his head to kiss the side of her face. He felt her trembling beneath him still. "I love you." He mumbled kissing her trembling lips, then looked at her. "But I don't know how much."
When he tried to kiss her again Kripa placed both her hands on his chest to stop him. "Don't do this Angad, we both will end up being very sorry."
He dropped and then rolled to her side, gathering her into his arms just to hold her. "I would never be sorry for loving you Kripa. But I promised I wouldn't touch you unless you gave me permission."
"You wouldn't have needed to ask for permission if it was us getting married tomorrow. But we aren't the ones getting married, and if anything happens tonight we both will be punished."
"By who?"
"God will punish us." She buttoned his buttons and then hugged him again, she wouldn't do something so wrong to ruin her life, Angad's life, and Amna's life.
"Since when did God start punishing people for loving?"
She sat up and tied her hair. "It's love when it's within the bounds of a marriage, other wise a sin."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her down, anger flashed in his eyes. "I love you, Kripa." He spoke between his teeth. "And I don't think if I made love to you it would be a sin."
"You're love isn't a sin, Angad." She pushed the hair on his forehead back and rested into his arms. "But we aren't married and we have no right to share a physical relationship, that is the sin."
"I think what happened between Amna and I was a sin because I didn't love her, but us…" he trailed off, and sat up. "Will I see you again?"
"Tomorrow you will."
"Is Amna back?"
"Her flight lands tomorrow at five in the evening, she couldn't get anything before that."
"Oh." He looked down at her. "Is this really it, Kripa?"
"Yes." She forced a smile. "Amna loves you."
He leaned down over her and hugged her. "Don't you?"
"I have to let go after tomorrow, but right now at this very moment I do."
"Then say I love you." He looked at her.
"I'll loose myself if I do, Angad. I can't."
"Alright." He kissed her. "Good night."
"Make sure no one sees you getting out of here or we'll be in huge trouble."
"I hope someday…"
"No." She pressed her finger to his lips. "There are no more hopes now, Angad. This is it. You will never be this close to me again."
"I'll pray every night that we do one day."
"I asked for a miracle for us Angad, I did almost nine years ago, and both times God deceived me."
"And you still are afraid of Him?"
"Because if I found love again it was because of Him."
"Kripa, if tomorrow you sit on that altar instead of Amna, the miracle you asked for will come to life. God has given you a choice and now it's in your hands not His." He kissed her forehead and left her laying there, his worlds ringing in her ears
Chapter Forty One
The Kapoor Mansion was everything but calm. Everything was ready, everyone was ready, but Angad. He couldn't believe that he would be married to Amna is less than a few minutes. He wanted to run away and take Kripa with him, but he couldn't. While he was lost in his thoughts Sana sat down behind him at the altar and pressed a piece of paper in his palm.
"Kripa's worried about something, Angad." She whispered in his ear, holding his hand. "Something is very wrong and you guys aren't telling me." He was quite. "She wants to see you after you read the note."
Angad unfolded the note and looked at it in shock, Amna missed her flight. He crumbled the note in his hands and then shoved it into his pocket and stood up.
"Handle everything for a few minutes here Sana." In a hurry he ran up to Kripa's room. When he opened the door she was dressed in her pink outfit, facing the window. "Kripa."
She shuddered and quickly turned around.
"What happened?" He locked the door and walked to her, taking her into his arms.
"She missed her flight, Angad." She said the words slowly and unsure of them. She didn't sound like she meant anything and nor did he want to believe what she was saying.
"It's something else." He pushed her away and looked at her green eyes that were pale at the moment, and she was fighting tears. "What really happened, Kripa?"
"I'm not lying Angad. She called me about an hour ago and told me due to the bad weather there are no planes flying from London for the next three days. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes tightly. "We will get married, Kripa."
She looked at him in shock. "But Angad how can we just get married? Amna will feel terrible."
"Then what do you want me to do Kripa? Go out there and tell everyone that this marriage can't take place because the real bride missed her flight?" He was frantic, and yelling violently.
"What will you tell Amna?" Her shoulders started to hurt when he pressed his fingers into them tighter, pulling her forward.
"That I love you Kripa. I love you, not her. Kripa this is the miracle you asked for." His fingers loosened on her shoulder and he hugged her again. A few minutes later he picked up her hand and took the ring back. Before she had time to react he was on his keens.
"Last time I asked you it was a joke, this time I mean it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Kripa. Marry me, please. And, it's a command not a question. I don't leave you with a choice but to marry me because I need you more than I need to breath to live."
Kripa turned around and clenched her eyes. She couldn't tell him what the truth was, but she couldn't tell him no because she didn't have another option. If she said no, he would ask why. Then she would have to tell him that she was lying. Amna didn't miss her plane but the truth was all together something he wouldn't be able to bear. She wiped her tears and turned around.
"I will marry you, Angad. But we won't live as husband and wife. If you accept I will walk to the altar and marry you. If you don't I will still walk to the altar but to tell everyone that I don't want to marry you."
"I told you once, Kripa, I'll tell you again. I won't touch you until you want me to." He took her hand and slipped the ring back into her finger.
Minutes later Angad found himself sitting back at the altar with Kripa beside him. But he knew something was wrong, she would have never told him to stay away from him if something wasn't wrong. But what? Amna missed her plane that wasn't her fault or anyone's fault. But something told Angad she hadn't missed her plane and Kripa was lying to him.
But then the question remained, why would she lie to Angad? She was the one who wanted him to marry Amna, if she was lying it wasn't because she was being selfish.
"Angad." Neha placed her hands on his shoulders and shook him. "Where are you lost? Come on, put your hand out."
He looked at Kripa and she saw the questions there, clearly. He erased everything and smiled. He was getting married to her and that was important, everything else didn't matter. He knew Kripa and him would be able to explain to Amna and she would understand. Then he also managed to realize that Kripa was only asking him to stay away because of Amna, not because something was fishy or she didn't love him.
He felt the flower petals his palm as he turned his hand and closed it with Kripa's, with another wide smile.
But she wasn't smiling, she looked like she was going to start crying any moment and run away. But why?
The priest asked Neha to tie the knot from Kripa's to Angad's scarf. So Neha did, and then kissed both Kripa and Angad before they stood up to take their first round.
Kripa stood quickly, feeling her knees weak and wobbly. Her hand went to her forehead and she pressed her temple with his fingers. Loosing balance and quickly holding Angad's shoulder for support. Angad turned and looked at her, quickly taking a hold of her, while Faith supported her from the other side.
"Kripa are you okay?" Faith held her, rubbing her arm, looking at her pale face. "You look really weak."
"I'm ok." She felt Angad's hand close on hers and hold her hand tight. "I'm ok."
"Will you be fine while the 'phera?'" Angad asked as Faith stepped back again.
She nodded running the tip of her though over her dry lips. "I'll be fine." She took a deep breath, close her eyes and counted till ten. Then looked at her parents sitting on the other side of the altar, beside Angad's parents.
Happiness and hope.
She saw them both in their eyes and she was going to marry Angad now, not only because she loved him. More importantly because if she backed off now she would be breaking too many hearts. If no one else, she wouldn't allow even a tear to come into Dev's eyes and drop. Never. Despite what happened between Amna and her she would marry Angad.
She took her first step of the first round, holding Angad's hand still. Her eyes were fixed on the man in front of her, the man who she was hoping would spend the rest of his life with her.
They both listened to the priest say the mantra in a sing-song manner. Although Kripa and Angad didn't understand every word he spoke in Sanskrit. But they could sum-up that he was praying to God for economical stability, to being with.
Kripa and Angad, with their hands still together, promised each other in their minds, whatever they eared would be theirs. No his and mine, or her and mine. But our without caring about the fact who earned it. They were one and so was their money.
The second Phera they listed to the old man pray for their well being and health.
Kripa remembered when he told them about Angad's future accident. With the priest she prayed that she could take care of him enough so he wouldn't be sick. She couldn't cook but she would start now, for him. To keep him happy.
Angad remembered how terrible she looked almost two weeks ago, wrapped in bandages. He would never let her fall so sick again. He promised himself to take care of her under whatever circumstances love or hate. Tears or smiles.
Faith understood everything the priest said, or like Angad and Kripa, she could sum it up, because she had taken Hindi as a college student. And, she translated for Jason what the third Phera was taken.
Faith and loyalty.
He had messed up once, but not again. Until he lived he would only be loyal to Kripa. He didn't care if they shared a physical relationship or not. He knew for a fact he rather live without making love to Kripa than making love with anyone else. His love didn't need to prove it's meaning only by touching her. It was a want more than a need. A luxury more than a necessity.
Kripa knew she had told herself and Angad to stay away from her because she was guilty. But she still knew that they would be loyal to each other. They would trust each other's words more than what someone else told them. They wouldn't let misunderstandings create a rift between them.
Unfortunately neither one of them knew that they weren't going to be able to keep that promise.
With the forth Phera they ensured each other love and trust. They didn't need to tell each other that they would love forever, but they needed to make sure they would trust forever. But would they?
The fifth Phera they took was taken with the promise of progeny. But was that possible when Kripa had asked him to stay away from him? And, when she didn't want any children? Would their marriage fail because of their views on having children? But then that was some time away, it was more important that they understood each other.
The sixth Phera told them to promise each other togetherness. Angad had told Kripa when he had proposed to her that he wanted her friendship without thinking about what the results would be of this game. And, here they were months later, actually getting married. They both had a bond that wouldn't break even if they wanted to break it. They could be miles apart but they could feel each others pain without having to tell each other. The heart that was beating within them wasn't their own but of each other, and there was no way that could be returned. Their love was irreversible. The feelings could change any moment, but their love would never die. It would be buried alive, but not die.
And, the last Phera they promised each other to be together forever. Not for just this birth but for every time they were born.
By now Kripa was crying, not only because she wasn't sure if they would really be able to live through this marriage now. But also because she knew for a fact she wasn't going to be able to keep Angad Khanna, the man she loved, happy.
They both sat back down and Kripa quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Angad smiled to himself when time came to apply the vermillion to her forehead. Just a few nights ago he had asked himself it was just color and he doubted would make any difference to their relationship. But now as he filled her Maang with the deep red color he felt this unexpected happiness. Because he realized every time she would adore herself with this color it would be for him, not for anyone else but him.
Kripa couldn't help but smile at him when he did. They were just one more step away from actually being husband and wife.
She watched as he picked up the Mangalsutra and moved forward to tie it around her neck. He pressed his lips to her cheek as he hooked it from the back and then before moving back he whispered the worlds she was longing to hear.
"I love you, Mrs. Kripa Angad Khanna." He kissed her again and everyone clapped.
Sana hugged Sahil as they both remembered the day they got married, they hated each other at that moment. But today they were together and forever.
Both Kripa and Angad's parents hugged each other. Finally the friends had become family, and forever.
Faith jumped his happiness still not being able to conceive reality that her best friends was married. But more importantly, she was married before her. She pressed her lips to Jason's cheek and then hugged Karan.
Karan and Faith had both seen Kripa cry at night and forcefully sleep through sleepless nights. But now they knew that she could never cry again. But at the moment they both couldn't stop the tears flowing from their eyes. But they were the tears of happiness.
Rishab clapped. He knew his love for Kripa would never die, but he wouldn't let her know. There was a glow on her face that he hadn't seen there before, and it was because when she walked into her office in a few days, her name plate would be replaced as Kripa Khanna
not Kripa Kapoor. And, she would be singing papers as Mrs. Kripa Angad Khanna. Not Miss. Kripa Kapoor. Just by changing her name she was going to get all the happiness' in life that she had always wished for.
Amna Saran watched them from the corner of the room, clapping, with tears in her eyes. She was watching the love of his life getting married to someone else. To the love of his life. But why she was doing that, only she knew. And she knew for a fact this marriage wasn't going to last. Kripa Khanna wasn't going to let it last for a very long time.
Kripa and Angad stood at the door with wide smiles on their faces. Kripa was sad about Amna, she also felt very guilty. But the happiness of her marriage faded every other sadness at the moment. She was happy that she was Mrs. Kripa Khanna.
Her eyes circled the 'Thal' in Kiran Khanna's hands as she did the Arti of her new daughter-in-law and son. When she was done, Kripa felt like it had been years since she had been standing in once place, waiting to enter the house as Kripa Khanna. Angad's wife.
Kiran handed the Arti to Sana and then moved aside so Neha could place the red water in front of Kripa.
"Alright Bhabhi. This is it." She teased. "Now be ready because you have to deal with Angad twenty-four, seven." She grinned. "Only for the rest of your life."
She grinned back at her sister-in-law and then looked to her side at her smiling, husband. "In that case he has to deal with me twenty-four, seven. Also, only for the rest of his life."
Angad sighed as he wrapped an arm tightly around his wife. "Unfortunately, it's not just for the rest of your life. I'll torture you even after that."
Her eyes widened at him as she pushed him away slightly.
He saw the happiness in her eyes, the happiness he had longed to see was there, it was true. And he was hoping it was going to stay forever.
"Ok, let her come in now." Kiran said pulling her son's ear. "Come on Kripa."
She lifted her skirt and looked down at the Kelash and then dropped her with a light kick of her foot. She then picked up her skirt higher and dipped her feet into the red KumKum water. With a deep breath and placed her right foot on the floor and then her left. Another wide grin covered her face as she looked ahead of her and saw Dev coming her way.
"When will you cook for us?" He grinned fully, teasing her.
She picked up her hands in front of him and smiled. "When the color is gone I'll think about it." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "But I will one day. For you and for Angad." He smiled as she touched his feet and he blessed her.
Minutes later Angad and Kripa sat across each other with a large round bowl between them, with milk and rose petals in them. Kripa and Angad's hands were grabbing items randomly, but not the ring they were suppose to find.
Finally Kripa took her hand out with a gold ring hanging from her fingers. She gave Angad a winners grin and gave him the ring so he could slip it into her finger.
As he did, they both heard people cheer and moan for them. Could life get more perfect?
Definitely not.
Hey guys,
I know, I know You alll love me very much right now! 😆 I love you guys too! 😳
As most of you guys know that I ended my FF Summer Affairs already. I'll tell you guys abt me new FF in a few days. I need to think of the title, I have everything else ready.
Hugs and Kisses,
Neha 😳
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