"Of course there are ethics in business the question is, are you willing to follow them", said Angad. They were having a heated debate about the ethics of business. According to Angad and a few others ethics played part of business and some others believe that ethics merely stopped a person from reaching the top. Then again Angad was the last person who should be talking about ethics considering the things he's done in life. Pretending to be a dead guy and transferring all his money to his wife's account and raking a few million to do it all wasn't really the most ethical thing. "Okay, lets say you don't follow ethics and just do business…you'll reach the top but you wont have a good name. Then one day when you'll really need a loan no one will come up to help you, because your not trust worthy", said Angad. "Yeah, but I mean…no one will need to know your not trust worthy", answered a student. "Trust me, they'll know", replied Angad. The student thought for a while and then asked a question, "Okay professor. Your teaching us here, but there was a time when you were one of the leading business men in the country did…". "Wait, what?", asked Angad. "Professor, I watched the news in high school, you were the owner of the biggest company in New York City. And now all you have a classroom. Why? It's because, you were probably one of the very few business men who followed ethics", said the student.
Just as Angad took all that in he received a call from the head office. "I'll get back to you one that one", he said as he ran to the office and dismissed the class. It was a nice day…winter was ending and the faint smell of spring coming came. Angad of course wasn't the one noticing all this. A voice came from behind that startled both of them, "Excuse me", said Angad. Kripa and Sahil both turned around and faces him. Sahil ran to Angad, "Daddy, daddy!", he exclaimed. Angad couldn't believe it, he was dreaming. He had to be dreaming, it couldn't be true. Kripa and Sahil were here in front of him. Sahil jumped into Angad's arms. Angad had dreamt of this so many times, that he had exactly what he wanted to say, but now all he could say to Sahil was, "Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming". "Daddy?", asked Sahil. "No seriously, pinch me",, Angad repeated. "Don't worry Angad, your not dreaming", said Kripa walking up to her.
Sahil played on the park as Kripa and Angad walked around the park. "So, how's your new job?", Kripa asked trying to start a conversation. Angad was silent for a minute and answered, "Nothing compared to my last one", he laughed. Kripa of course, didn't find it that funny. "So, that's all it was? A job", she asked. "Kripa, I didn't mean it like that…you know you and Sahil are a lot more than a job for me", Angad clarified. Kripa laughed and acted as if it was a joke, "Calm down Angad. What happened to your sense of humor", she asked. Angad gave a fake laugh, but they both knew Kripa meant what she said.
They talked about everything, the whether, the stupid kids in Angad's classes, Sahil, Betty, politics, movies…everything you can think of they talked about except themselves. Until of course, "Kripa I just have to ask…why are you here", Angad asked. "You just had to ask right", joked Kripa. "I mean, I'm really happy you're here, it's just I'm surprised, I guess", explained Angad. "I just wanted to see you. And Sahil was really missing you, so that's really it", said Kripa looking down.
The wind blew still holding the faint smell of sweet pleasure. The kids roamed the park and Sahil waved to both his parents as he played with the other boys. After this, Angad, Kripa, and Sahil went for ice cream. "Okay Sahil, what flavor do you want?", asked Angad picking Sahil up so he could see all the flavors. "I don't know daddy, this is a very difficult decision", Sahil replied with his finger on his chin. "Oh, it's like we're choosing your college", joked Angad. "Mommy what flavor do you want", Sahil asked Kripa. Kripa smile and looked for a minute. "Well, I'm a loyalist to vanilla, so that's what I want", she said. Sahil thought longer, "Daddy which one do you want?" "It's always been chocolate for me", said Angad. "Sahil, hurry and choose, there's a line", looking at the people behind them. "Okay, I want two scoops. One vanilla one, and one chocolate one", decided Sahil. Both Kripa and Angad looked at each other and Sahil. Angad kissed Sahil very hard and hugged him. "God I love you kid", he said.
There day the spent like this. Kripa never got to telling Angad about her pregnancy. Kripa loved seeing Sahil with Angad. It made her proud that she was pregnant with the child of such a good father. Yet, she was scared to tell him. What if he got made? What if he didn't want the child? What if…but life wasn't going to be a what if for her. She owed it to herself, her child, and Angad to tell him about her pregnancy. Angad had given her his address, just in case she needed anything. Well she did, she needed him, more than ever.
Kripa took a deep breath and knocked on Angad's door. After a two minute pause, she knocked again. She knew someone was in there because she could here movement. After waiting a while Kripa was about to leave when someone opened the door. Kripa was shocked as she stood there in front of a young girl. The first thing the struck Kripa was that she was wearing Angad's shirt and sweat pants. Kripa couldn't breathe, she seriously couldn't breathe. She just prayed that she wouldn't start crying, and she couldn't breathe. "Yes?", asked the girl. Kripa couldn't say anything, how could she, she couldn't even breathe.
Then Kripa heard a voice, she looked in and saw it was Angad. He was shirtless, with black sweats on. Kripa couldn't believe it. Just as Angad saw Kripa he ran to the door. "Kripa, what are you doing here, is everything okay?", he asked as if nothing was wrong. Kripa stood there for only one more minute and then simply left without saying anything. "Kripa, wait", yelled Angad. "Stay inside", he ordered the girl who's name we still are unaware of. Angad ran after Kripa.
Kripa walked outside the apartment, and it was raining. Kripa didn't leave because she couldn't face Angad, she left because she didn't want Angad to see her cry. Kripa walked through the rain with the wind blowing against her. At least now you couldn't tell that she indeed was crying. From behind Angad ran after her, freezing in the cold considering he was shirtless still. "Kripa wait, Kripa just listen to me", begged Angad. "Go home Angad, go to your who ever she is", yelled out Kripa. "Kripa would you just listen to me please", said Angad catching up to her. Angad held Kripa's hand and pulled her close to him. "Kripa she isn't what you think…she's just staying there because she doesn't have anywhere else to go", he explained. Kripa let out a fake laugh, "Yeah…and she just happened to be wearing your t-shirt, the t-shirt I bought for you by the way", Kripa screamed out. Angad held his head, trying to make sense of all this. "Kripa, she's 16, this isn't what you think", pleaded Angad. " That's just disgusting Angad, she's only 16", yelled Kripa as Kripa pulled away from Angad's grip and walking again. " Kripa, she ran away from home, I'm just helping her out a little…trust me", said Angad running after her again. "I was right Angad…it was just a job for you right. Just your way in getting a money", Kripa said with hurt in her voice. "Congratulations Angad, you got the best employee award, you want me to write you a check", she added. Kripa began to walk away and Angad wasn't running after him anymore. He didn't do anything wrong, and he wasn't going to say sorry for something he didn't do. He's the one who told Kripa how much he loved her, he was their with open arms…it's not his fault Kripa never had the courage to step up. Angad stood there in the rain with only one thing to say, "Kripa, I love you!", he yelled out.
Kripa stopped and turn around just then a speeding car came straight at her and…Angad stood there. He wanted to scream, to wanted to cry for help. Yet he couldn't, he simply stood there in front of a bleeding Kripa on the floor. He wanted to cry…but the rain washed his tears away too.
To Be Continued...
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Karishma******
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