Angad stepped into his apartment. It even smelt like a new home. The fresh paint, the wooden floor, the open windows. He took a deep breath to take in all this new found freshness and freedom, just then his agent came in.
"Mr. Das, you need to just sign here", he said.
Angad signed the papers, and suddenly felt himself confined in a narrow small box again. All systems of breathing ha died out and Angad was back in the dark shadows of Das Malhotra. Angad sighed as his agent left the door, closing the door on his way out. Angad could hear the door creak closed. It was a cold morning. The coldest so far in December. Angad felt so confined and yet so free. Finally, he didn't have to wake up every morning to a "Mr. Das your breakfast is ready". Or, having to run to the bathroom and put on his contacts before Sahil saw him. He didn't have to wake up to Kripa yelling at him for not doing something Das always does. In fact he didn't have to wake up to Kripa at all. No more, Sahil jumping on his stomach every morning to wake him up, or Kripa re-heating dinner for him whenever he came home late from work. No more, being that family guy who had a whole family plus a maid waiting for his return every day. Angad then wondered….when did his confinement in Das's world become a world of need for Angad? Angad sat on the wooden floor that felt too cold and hard. The paint smell seemed to make Angad want to throw up, and the fresh air just seemed plain cold. He was sick of his so called freedom. Angad then heard it again. The god damn silence shrieking into his ears, telling him too…
"Please, eat of your pasta", begged Kripa. All day Sahil had refused to eat anything at all. All he would do is sit on his fuzzy chair, with his teddy bear, and sulk over hid father not being here. "Doesn't he love me", he kept asking Kripa. "Oh, of course he does love, daddy just was scared to tell you before he left", Kripa explained Angad's immature behavior by not saying good bye to Sahil before leaving. How irresponsible can that man get, thought Kripa. Her anger boils so hard, so fast that you could perhaps fry an egg of her forehead at this moment. Kripa took a deep breath and persuaded Sahil once again to eat some of the pasta.
"Sahil, if you don't eat how are we going to decorate the Christmas tree for Santa", she said in an innocent tone.
Sahil simple looked at Kripa in anger and pouted, "Santa's a bid fat bum", he declared.
"Sahil, don't say that, and who taught you that word", Kripa asked.
Sahil let out a laugh. His first all day. This made Kripa happy, with the kind of boy Sahil was, if he didn't let out at least one laugh every three hours, Kripa knew there was something wrong…very wrong.
"Daddy taught me that word last night. We were reading about a mean monster, and daddy said he was a bum just like grandpa".
Kripa's eye's widened. Angad always taught Sahil these things. Kripa's head boiled…make that two eggs now.
Kripa had finally convinced Sahil to eat his pasta. Then Sahil and Kripa began to decorate the Christmas tree the house. Considering that they weren't Christian, Kripa never followed this holiday seriously. Until that is, Angad came. Kripa looked out the window at the heavy snow falling and thought back to her first real Christmas with Angad.
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Kripa woke up to a cold windy, and snowy morning. The first thing she saw was Angad and Sahil sitting on the bed staring right at her. She jumped out of bed in shock and held her heart. Her heart was beating so fast that if he had a pace maker, even it would have lost count of the number of beats.
"Don't worry Kripa, your not having a heart attack", said Angad with an annoying smirk on his face.
"Yeah mommy, your heart isn't attacking you, don't worry", said Sahil, following Angad's lead.
Kripa than let out a moan and looked at Angad and Sahil in annoyance. "What are you two doing here", she asked.
"Well mommy we have a prop solution for you", said Sahil.
Angad laughed and put his hand over Sahil's mouth. "What he means is that we have a proposition for you my darling wife".
"Yeah, what he said", added Sahil after removing Angad's hands from his mouth by biting him.
Kripa simply raised her eyebrow and nodded, "I'm listening".
Angad moved closer to Kripa, knowing that it was time for him to take the lead. "Well, as you know this neighborhood you…I mean we live in is very boring. And, since its Christmas Eve, I thought maybe we should decorate the house.
"Ang…Das honey, we're not Christian", Kriap explained.
"Kripa, honey bunny sunny, Chrismas is Christmas. You can be atheist and Christmas will still be Christmas for you. And isn't religion all about Love", Angad said making an innocent face which didn't fools Kripa for a second. He was the devil, he always was.
"Mommy please! With a BMW on the top", Sahil pleaded.
"BMW"?
"Daddy said to put a BMW on the top. He said rich people don't care about ice cream, their already cold at heart, and so I should say BMW".
Kripa's eye's widened, and they shot at Angad, "What on earth are you teaching my son", she demanded.
Angad raised his eye brows and said, "Well he's my son too".
Kripa finally gave in the begging, and agreed to decorating the house. All day, they had been decorating, all three of them together. They sang Christmas Carols, drank hot chocolate and so much more. Kripa had never seen Sahil or Angad this happy. In fact, she hadn't been this happy for a long time her self. The burning logs from the fire place, spread a warmth throughout the house. Betty and Sahil were now in the kitchen making cookies, while Kripa and Angad sat in the den drinking a glass of white wine. The light from the fire exuberated unto Kripa's face and eye's which made her look even more beautiful. They could hear the silent wind blowing in between them, telling them to come over the distance. Kripa smelled the marshmallows, and Angad and Kripa both made their way to the kitchen. Jus as they were going, Kripa stopped Angad. Her eye's smiled at him and told him how happy she was today.
"Thanks Angad, you made today very special for us", she said softly.
As Kripa went on about how thankful she was to Angad, all Angad could think about was how on earth was it possible for anyone to look so very beautiful. Was it humanly possible to look that good? Were the strong passionate feelings Angad was having for Kripa possible to have? Angad wanted Kripa so much right now. Wanted every part of Kripa. He wanted to make sin with Kripa. Kripa couldn't finish her last sentence, as Angad had kissed her. He kissed her like he never kissed anyone before. Held Kripa close to him, not allowing the wind to go by them anymore. After a minute or so their lips departed and Angad looked at Kripa. Her nose was the cutest shade of pink you had ever seen. She looked up at Angad who was much taller than she was, her eye's asking him thousands out questions.
"It's not my fault, we're under a mistletoe", justified Angad while point the mistletoe above them. Kripa went into the kitchen without saying a word and Angad followed.
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That surely was the best Christmas Angad had ever had thought Angad who was also thinking back to last year's Christmas he had spent with his "family". Today was exactly a year from that day. Christmas Eve. So much had changed in a year. Last Christmas he was with his son and wife, and this Christmas he was with this annoying shrieking silent wind that just wouldn't leave him alone.
The snow blew hard as Sahil sat on his chair eating a cookie looking very angry. Kripa came up to him and took her little boy on her lap. "Honey, you should go to sleep now. How else will Santa come with all your gifts?", she said.
"I don't want Santa, I want Daddy", replied Sahil.
Kripa hugged Sahil even harder, and wiped his tears. Sahil didn't want to cry, he wanted to be strong, but he was only a 4 year old boy who missed his daddy. Sahil could taste the tears. They were so salty and bitter. He remembered what his father had said once long ago. Das had once told Sahil before leaving for a business trip that a sweet boy like him had the sweetest of tears and should never waste them by crying. But Sahil now knew that he had nasty bitter tears, and all the sweet feelings he had in his heart all became bitter as well.
Kripa and Sahil sat looking out the window at the white snow falling from heaven. When a knock was heard at the door. Kripa went to open it and saw it was…Santa. A man wearing Santa clothes, with a big belly walked into the house as if he owned it. He walked up to a sad Sahil and sat right in front of him.
"Little boy, why are you so sad", asked Santa
"Because", replied Sahil
"Because what?"
"Because, I am", said Sahil angrily.
" Well, I'm here to fix that son. Tell me, what do you want. I'll give you anything", said Santa.
"I don't believe you", Sahil said pouting.
"Try Me", Santa replied confidently.
Sahil whispered, because he didn't want his mommy to hear. Sahil knew his mommy didn't want to love with his daddy, but he was being selfish with this wish. He knew Santa would never grant it, but he still tried, "I want my daddy back".
Santa smile lightly, and whispered into Sahil's ears, "Never stop believing son". Santa looked into Sahil's eyes, and Sahil finally realized. Sahil jumped onto Santa and pulled his beard off, revealing that it was none other that his father the whole time. Kripa, although didn't want to admit it, was also happy in seeing Angad hear.
Angad hugged Sahil so tightly, and kissed him all over. Even Betty was overjoyed in seeing Angad. "Mr. Das I'll get you some nice hot coffee", said Betty. "wait, I want to help", yelled Sahil running into the kitchen with Betty. Just as Angad and Kripa were following him into the kitchen Sahil stopped them both.
"Daddy, your under the mister toe! Remember, yesterday you were saying that mommy doesn't give you good night kissies like I do? Now's your chance daddy!", declared Sahil.
Kripa raised her eye brow and looked at Angad who was actually blushing. "Sahil, forget that. Come on, lets go make a snow man. Come on Betty, bring some carrots and raisons", Angad said putting a jacket of Sahil.
Just as they were leaving, Angad put out his hand towards Kripa, "Lets go".
They all went out to make a snow man, and even had a snowball fight. As it got late, Sahil became sleepy and went to bed. Kripa and Angad stood outside in the snow which was falling lightly now and just enjoyed each others presence without acknowledging each other.
"What made you come", asked Kripa finally.
" Nothing…I just wanted you", said Angad.
"I'm happy you did".
Angad looked at Kripa and smirked, "You are?"
"For Sahil I mean…don't get your hopes up Mr. Angad Khanna", replied Kripa.
"I now…I'm Angad Khanna. Merry Christmas Kripa", said Angad.
"Merry Christmas", replied Kripa.
The next morning, Sahil ran down hoping to se his father, but was disappointed when all he saw were gifts and his mother. Kripa had fell asleep on the couch that night. Sahil slowly went to Kripa, and woke her up. "Mommy, is Daddy gone", he asked with tears building up again in his eye's.
Kripa looked out the window and said, "No…he's still here. Kripa took Sahil and pointed at the snowman Sahil and Angad had made together.
"Merry Christmas Daddy", said Sahil waving to the snowman.
To Be Continued…
Comments please!
Concerns
Complaints
Karishma*********
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