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5 Years Later… "Betty, do you think I should go for this seminar?", Kripa asked sipping her Hazelnut coffee. Betty didn't respond right away because she was tasting the soup she was making for dinner. "Yeah, I don't think I should go either", Kripa replied to herself. Betty laughed and said, "Ma'am stop answering to yourself. I was just about to say that you should most definitely go". Kripa nodded no and thought for a minute. "Ma'am, you've worked so hard for the past 5 years, go and tell your story to the world", Betty said trying to encourage Kripa to go to the seminar. Kripa on the other had try bent out on not going, and so was trying to change the subject. "Betty, you're my manager, you have to stop addressing me as ma'am now. It's been five years already", Kripa said helping Betty pour the soaps in bowls. "Stop trying to change the subject! Your are going and that's final, I'm going to give the bowls to the children and your going to pick your dress for this seminar", Betty practically commanded. Kripa and a yelled out behind her, "Yes Boss".
Another morning, another day, another adventure. That's was the motto by which Kripa had spent her past 5 years. She cashed in Das's billion dollar business and moved far to Canada where she opened a small Caf. She didn't do it all alone, she had help from Betty. After Betty's mother passes away after suffering from pneumonia Betty had nothing else left in New York. So, she moved to Canada with Kripa, here she didn't work as a maid but the general manager of "Kripa's Kafe". This was Kripa's life, calm, serene and peaceful, just Kripa, Betty and her two sons. The chapter of regret had left Kripa long ago. The day Angad left her, it had been the end. And after every end comes a new beginning…this was Kripa's new beginning.
Kripa was recognized and a young business woman, who has made a niche, a small one, but still a niche in the business world. What was commendable about it was the fact that she has no prior business experience. Now she was asked to speak about her struggles as a small business owner in this big corporate world at the Fall 2007 Business Seminar. After hours of convincing from Betty and her sons, Kripa finally agreed. It was a typical fall night when Kripa was choosing something to wear tomorrow. She needed something that looked professional, and yet not trying to hard, because at the end she's a
small business owner. Thinking back to her life, business did play a vital role. At first it was about getting Das's business to be in her name, then what Angad and Kripa had was strictly business, and now…perhaps business had gotten the best of her. The wind was blowing outside on this typical fall night. Kripa quickly closed the windows before the wind got in…before regret stepped in.
In this fall night the 1708S plane landed in Canada at about 9:43pm. "So, what time is the conference thing", a man asked while walking out of the airport while talking on his cell. "it's a seminar smart, not conference", said a girl on the other line. "Conference seminar, same difference, just tell me what time it is Gia", he yelled out. "Oh god Angad, okay your conference is at 8:30 in the morning", Gia yelled into the phone almost internally damaging Angad's ears. "Okay, you don't got to yell. God damn, I feel bad for your husband man", Angad said trying to get a taxi. "Yeah, I feel bad for him too. Anyways good luck tomorrow and bye", Gia said. "Yeah, bye", Angad said. He got in the cab and told the driver the address to his hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel was very long, and Angad got bored very quickly. "So, driver dude, how's life here", he asked trying to make small talk. "It's okay. I regret not going to college, but it's okay", answered the driver in a sarcastic tone. "I see, see I don't believe in regret. It's just so…irrelevant", Angad answered while looking at the sites. "And why do you say that", asked the driver while making a turn. Angad thought for a minute and answered, "This city, its so beautiful. If I hadn't made the choices I made in life, I maybe wouldn't have been here. Or for your case, you wouldn't be talking to a genius like me", Angad said smiling at himself. The driver rolled his eyes, "Great…a self proclaimed genius, that's just great", said the drive. He pulled up in front of the hotel and helped Angad get his bag out. Angad paid him, and was about to leave when the driver stopped him. "Regret is a part of life son, you cant escape it", said the driver with a smirk. Angad smiled and tapped the man on his back, "Well if so, then that part of my life has past. Time for a new beginning. This is my new beginning sir", he said. Saying that Angad walked into the hotel.
Angad has been living in Florida for the past few years. After leaving the hospital, he moved to Florida with Gia and her uncle. There he began working as a business professor at community college. It didn't pay much, or have much respect, but soon his teaching were proclaimed by even the famous colleges. He was offered to work at Stanford, Duke, Brown, and Penn State but declined all of them. He was happy with his small world. Then came an offer to talk about his teachings here in Canada at the Fall 2007 Business Seminar. And much convincing from Gia and her husband Adam, Angad agreed to it and came. Angad of course had no interest in it, but Gia and Adam didn't have enough money for a honeymoon, and this seminar would pay him enough to send them on one. Angad always felt responsible for Gia, like a brother or father. It might have been a hangover from Sahil or just Gia, but he always felt responsible for her. He even walked her down the aisle for her wedding. Angad didn't think about Kripa and Sahil much. Well who are we kidding, that was a lie. He thought about then all the time, but never admitted it. Angad never checked up on them, he never called to see how Sahil was, or if Kripa survived the accident because, no news was always good news. Angad sat watching TV, he really didn't think about what to wear or say tomorrow. Heck he would go in his boxers if he felt like it. Wouldn't that be amusing?
At the Seminar:-
"Okay, Betty make sure the kids don't run around and cause to much trouble", Kripa said while fixing her hair in the bathroom. "Chill out mom, we wont do anything", Sahil said. Sahil, sweet baby Sahil was now 10 years out and a pure brat. Well not really, but at times he acted just like one. "Sahil! What are you doing in the ladies bathroom! And where's your brother?", Kripa yelled out. "He's out there, don't worry. Just remember to give a shutout to me while your on stage, I want to upload it on you tube", Sahil said while video taping his mom getting ready. "Sahil, just go get your bother", demanded Kripa. "Go Sahil", said Betty opening the door. "Fine, I swear I always have to run after him", Sahil said walking out. Outside Sahil was shocked to not find his brother. "Great, mom's going to kill me…AGAIN", Sahil yelled as he ran to find his five year old brother.
Meanwhile Angad came to the seminar hall. He was impressed with the Canadians, they new how to entertain people. They had a snack bar, music, and really good looking women all around. Of course most of them were probably divorcee's or widows but then again, that's just how Angad liked them. He walked around eating a bag of chips when he practically tripped on someone. "Oh, easy there dude", he said looking down. Obviously, Angad's deep voice scared the boy because he quickly stepped back. Angad knelt down in front of him and gave him his chips. The best way to get a child trust was to give him or her junk food, it worked all the time. "Hi little boy, I'm Angad", Angad introduced himself. "I'm Salil", said the boy. "Oh that's a nice name Salil, are you lost?", Angad asked. Salil looked around with his big eye's. He was maybe the most adorable child Angad had ever seen, after Sahil of course. "Sahil? Are you lost", Angad asked again trying to scare him. The last thing Angad needed was for baby to start crying. "Maybe a little", replied Salil. Angad laughed, "Oh you're a little lost? Well where's your mommy", Angad asked. "I don't know", he replied. "And what about your daddy?", Angad asked. "My brother says my daddy is a ghost", Salil replied bluntly. Angad was a bit drawn back with this reply but didn't look into it much. He decided to humor the child until his parents came to get him. "Oh, your daddy is a ghost? And what does this ghost do?", he asked. Salil looked up and made an serious expression and then smile as if he remembered. "My brother say he steals our hopes and dreams", Salil replied. Boy they have a screwed up family thought Angad. Just as Angad was about to asked another question and voice came from behind. "Salil what are you doing", Sahil yelled out. "I lost myself…AGAIN", said Salil as he ran to Sahil. "Shut up, and who are you talking to. Didn't mommy tell you not to talk to strangers", Sahil scolded Salil. Angad turned around to face Sahil and Salil. "Hi, I'm Angad" said Angad. Sahil stared and Angad in shock. Sahil's train of thought just ended. "What's your name? Are you his brother? ", Angad asked approaching them both. Sahil still couldn't say anything, he just stood in shock. "Hey are you guys lost?", Angad asked reaching for Sahil. Sahil quickly backed away, "No…we were lost but we found out way a long time ago", he said coldly. He then grabbed Salil's arm and ran. "Stop stop your hurting me! SAHIL STOP", yelled Salil. Angad's eye's automatically widened when he heard Salil refer to the other child as Sahil. "Sahil?", he repeated to himself. Angad ran after both the kids, but lost them amongst the crowd. "Sahil?", he whispered again.
Sahil practically dragged Salil into the bathroom were Kripa and Betty were. "Sahil, Salil there you two are.", Kripa said relieved. Sahil ran to Kripa and hugged her tight. Kripa hugged him back and asked, "Sahil what happened"? "Nothing mom, I just love you that's all", Sahil replied. "Okay honey, I love you too", Kripa replied still a little confused and yet pleased. "Hey, wait I want hug too", complained Salil as he ran to Kripa. Kripa laughed a picked Salil up and kissed him. Kripa hugged both her sons and said, "It's going to be okay. It's all going to be okay".
It was time for the seminar. Everyone had taken their seats, so did Betty, Sahil and Salil. Sahil was very cautious about were they sat because he wanted to be able to see the entire hall. Sahil was determined to make sure Angad doesn't see them, or Kripa doesn't see Angad. He prayed Angad wasn't in this particular hall. But he was, Angad was all the way in the back sitting and paying no attention to what anyone was saying.
A person named Mr. Andrew just finished his speech. The host came up. "That's was great, thank you Mr. Andrew. Our nest speaker doesn't own a multi millionaire business, she doesn't have a factory names after, or a designer brand. Our next speaker is the owner of a small caf right here in Toronto. She has prior business experience, she's a simple single parents trying to make the best of life, please welcome…Ms. Kripa Sharma".
The hall applauded and Sahil yelled out in cheer. There was commotion everywhere, but for one Angad Khanna the world had stopped spinning and silence had token over. Regret…
To Be Continued…
Two More Parts!!
Comments Please. Come on just two more parts…even the silent readers, please comment.
Karishma*****
Edited by Desi Pride - 18 years ago
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