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Ab Kya Kare?
RECAP: Lakshya spoke up 'Well I'm free. I can come…' he bent low (something like bowed but he didn't had his head down, he had bent and was looking up at KT-hope it's not confusing) in front of KT '…if you don't mind.' and winked at her and again only she saw that.
Lakshya: Kripa jab Angad itni speed se araha tha, kya tumne woh dekha nahin? Tum tabhi kahi khoyi hui thi. KT itni zoor sey chila rahi thi, uski bhi awaaz tumhe nahin ayi kya. Ouch abhi bhi uski chilane ka effect horaha hai. My ears are hurting like hell.
Lakshya looked at her trying to be annoyed but just couldn't. He hadn't got anything to say and he just looked forward outside at the view.
Kripa proudly: Well yes but never try to act smart okay. Or else you'd get smacked in the head.
They reached Kripa's place.
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Part 24
Kripa got out of the car while Lakshya remained inside. She closed the car door and went over to Lakshya's door. She knocked on his door, he looked out at her, she couldn't quite see him because it was the type of window where you couldn't see people inside. He rolled down his window.
Lakshya: Kya hua?
Kripa: Aap undar nahin chale ge?
Lakshya: Nahin Kripa, next time.
He smiled and she did in return too. They bid each other 'bye' and he drove away. Kripa turned around to notice an unusual sight. No lights were on in the house/ mansion. She went to the main door and rang the bell. No answer. She rang the bell several more times but no one came. She was confused since she was expecting Prithvi to come at least. She opened her purse and took out the key to the house and opened the door. (Everyone read- There's no lock locked on the door to indicate the door is locked and no one's home. People can just lock the door when they close it from the outside by their key or in some cases, just like in this one, when the door closes, it's automatically locked. Hope it wasn't confusing.) Surely it was dark. She went towards the switch and on the lights. She went up to her room and put her belongings on her bed and then went down. She put her cell phone to be charged. After a while she decided to ask Prithvi why he wasn't home yet, since usually he's at home by this time even if he's gone somewhere after college.
She dialed Prithvi's number using the home line. The bell rang several times but he didn't pick up the phone. She dialed again and again she was disappointed. She felt restless, as it was very unusual. She tried working here and there to get awful thoughts, about the various reasons she was thinking about why he wasn't picking up the call, out of her mind. Then slowly those thoughts drifted away and she was reminded of the previous scenes of the day after university. Either way her thoughts only helped to depress her even more. After about an hour, it was night already, at 8 pm, the phone rang. At the very first ring of the phone she had jerked and lived 2 seconds of fright at the sudden sound since it had been too quiet before, that she could even hear the clock ticking then. When she realized it was only the phone she relaxed and went towards it fast.
She picked the receiver up.
Kripa: Hello?
No reply.
Kripa (a little louder): Hello?
She heard a small sound at the other end not sure what to make of it. She asked again, a little more concerned as she started to hear soft sobs.
Kripa: Hello? Do you mind…
The voice on the other end interrupted her.
Voice: Kripa….Kri….
Kripa shocked, gripped the phone even harder now with both hands.
Kripa: Hello? Prithvi…Prithvi app ro (cry) kyun rahe ho? Kya hua? Aap theek toh hai? Aap…
Prithvi (sobbing): Kripa mom…mom hospital mein hai…unka accident hua tha…
Kripa stunned, in a voice which can barely pass as a whisper, said 'Kya?'
Her grip on the phone loosed a little but nevertheless she still held it close to her ear.
Prithvi continued (he hadn't stopped): ….mom's in hospital Kripa….Kripa, mom is….she's in critical condition…she's unconscious. Doctors keh rahe hai mom shayad coma mein chali jaye agar koi progress nahin hui. Kripa…Kripa I'm broken…mujhe pata nahin mein kya karu.
Kripa was too stunned to talk she heard Prithvi sob over the phone.
When Kripa found her voice she asked worried another thought striking her 'Aur Prithvi uncle…' she couldn't form the words anymore '…uncle ko…uncle ko kuch hua…I mean woh theek hai na…'
She waited patiently for him to reply, he couldn't control himself still 'Dad theek hai…woh mom ko yahan laye the.'
Kripa relaxed a little 'Lekin Prithvi yeh saab hua kaab? Kaise?'
Prithvi started to gain control over himself a little by now 'Jab main ghar ja raha tha. Tumne jab mujhe phone kiya tha uske about 10 minutes baad (later) mein dad ne mujhe hospital se phone kiya. Mein ussi waqt hospital chale gaya.'
Kripa thought about a while.
Kripa softly asked after a while after pondering on the thoughts of the day yet again '…aur Angad? Unhe pata hai kya?'
Prithvi was kind of surprised; it was obvious from his tone 'Haan of course, maine bhai ko phone par bataya tha. Aur woh yahan ponch (reach) bhi gaye hai. Kya….' He didn't know how to say it, he couldn't believe his brother could do this '…kya bhai ne tumhe nahin bataya?'
Kripa remained silent for a while then in barely a whisper she replied '…nahin.'
Prithvi felt hurt inside because of his brother's doings 'Bhai ne bataya tha keh woh or tum apne doston ke saat university ke bahar time past kar rahe the. Kya tum nahin thi wahan par?'
Kripa replied hurt with Angad's behavior, he hadn't told her what happened to HER aunty and uncle, 'Haan thi.'
Prithvi: Kripa maine bhai ko phone kiya tha, kya unho ne wah-ke hi (really) nahin bataya?
Kripa still in silent mode 'Aya tha, maine suna tha jab unho ne apka naam liya…lekin phir woh side par chale gaye. Mujhe pata nahin ke aap dono mein kya baat hui lekin woh bohaut serious the aur…aur gusse mein bhi.'
Prithvi was confused 'Gusse mein?'
Kripa hesistated:…..Haan….gusse mein…
Prithvi: Lekin bhai ko gussa kyun aye ga?
Kripa ignored the question, she was about to break down, but asked 'Prithvi aap sab kaunse hospital mein ho?'
Prithvi didn't know where this question was leading and just replied with doubt 'Amazon Hospital. Kyun?'
Kripa was surprised 'Amazon Hospital? Lekin woh Nottingham mein toh nahin hai na?'
Prithvi: Haan, hum saab Nottingham ke bahar ek chota shaher (city) hai wahan hai. Mom ka accident raaste (some of you might think it's so obvious that the accident happened on her way but here 'raaste' means that it happened on their trip to Alliyah's place, that means Naina and Dilip had departure for Alliyah's place on road) pe hua tha.
Kripa gathered her thoughts fast.
Kripa: Prithvi?
Prithvi: Hhhmmmm…
Kripa: Main ana chati hoon?
Prithvi surprised at the sudden decision of Kripa's 'What?….eerrr…lekin Kripa…..Kripa how can you come?'
Kripa was ready with that as well 'Taxi.'
Prithvi was again about to ask something 'Lekin sar…' when she interrupted again knowing the next question she answered it as well 'I'll change taxis. Pehle yahan se main ek taxi loon (take) gi. When it drops me off at the outskirts (I'm not sure if I can use this word here, but I can't say 'border' as well since it's a small city where the hospital is so there's no immigration in between, that city can also be a part of Nottingham but it isn't actually…and well it's not a real city by the way and it isn't a real hospital-the city and the hospital I just made up.) of Nottingham I'll take another from the city and reach the hospital.'
Prithvi knew who he was talking to, the girl was smart but he couldn't let her come alone at night. It's risky. Anything could happen to her on her way. Prithvi didn't know how to reply '…' exhausted he just made the final decision '…No Kripa. Tum yahan nahin arahi, tum akeli ho. No. I don't approve…' according to him that was final but the person on the other side took the right of making the final decision this time, she interrupted him yet again and in a hurry said it all 'Prithvi mein arahi hoon no matter what. I have to come.' Before he could say anything she hung up.
Kripa ran up the stairs to her room. Got her purse. Checked all windows, doors, stoves and other things. Everything was okay and she went out the house and slammed the door behind her, to make sure it was lock. She tested opening the door. It was locked. Good. She walked down the street and finally got a taxi. The taxi driver was an Indian, she felt uncomfortable at first since she was alone but still went for it. She didn't know if to judge him the good type or the bad one. At first she asked if he could bring her to the hospital, he agreed and she felt better because now she wouldn't have to walk on the street finding another cab. It was hard to get a taxi in Nottingham especially at night.
Kripa was restless. The driver noticed that but didn't say anything.
Half an hour had passed.
Fifteen more minutes passed before he parked his taxi somewhere.
He looked behind at Kripa who was confused 'Madam, if you don't mind can I quickly tell my wife that I'll be late because we still have an hour to go and it'll take me time to come back too. She'll be worried.'
Kripa nodded uncertainly. The driver left his taxi and entered a deserted alley.
Kripa noticed where he was going. She was shocked when she saw him greeting some other Indian thugs with hi-fives. She panicked. She saw him pointing in her direction several times and the guys laughed. She could see them, even though they were far but they couldn't see her from that distance between them. She slowly sneaked out of the taxi and started to tip toe her way to a few blocks away, then she picked up pace and began running around. She fell twice on the road, she couldn't quite run in her sandals. Her clothes became dirty. Her knees bleed. Her arms got bruised. She didn't care for herself and ran crazily here or there in a hope to find a taxi soon which resulted in getting herself injured due to the several times she fell on the ground due to her sandals.
Kripa found a taxi in a distant. She ran towards it but it zoomed off into the night. She was stressed. Things had been heating up, Alliyah-the incident where she almost got raped, Kannan-making attempts to put Kripa into trouble and make her look so low in front of Angad, Angad-blaming Kripa numerous times for almost killing his mother, the glass incident, the poison, the……
Kripa's head ached; she couldn't think properly, so much had happened when she came there. It had barely been even six months. Kannan. Kannan. Kannan. Kripa cried inside her head 'Kannan, kyun…kyun karti ho tum yeh saab. Please stop it, please. Please. Please.' Tears rolled down her cheeks. Kannan had become so dangerous only because of a mere misunderstanding which she made it herself. The first day Kannan came into the Khanna's house while Kripa stayed there, she'd seen Kripa for the first time and totally………No. Kripa stopped herself; she hadn't had the time to run back through time to look at how things got so tensed, stressed….dangerous.
Kripa tried getting a ride for passer-bys.
Finally, after many attempts, one old British lady stopped her car in front of Kripa.
She rolled down her window.
The lady asked Kripa with concern in her voice 'Young lady, are you okay?' after a pause she asked uncertainly 'Do you need a ride home?'
Kripa, wasn't in her right mind then, she couldn't think clearly, pleaded 'Madam, if you don't mind, can you get to Amazon Hospital, please? It's urgent I need to get…'
She couldn't continue, she broke down. Too much was happening for her to control herself. The old lady sensed something and felt bad for Kripa. She gave a lift to Kripa, not caring how far she had to get. The old lady thought to herself 'The young lady needs to get there urgent; she's all soaked in dirt and is bleeding. If I can help, I'll help the most I can.'
They had small conversations in between. During the ride, the old lady learnt that Kripa wasn't from Nottingham and a little more about her and about Naina's condition, whom Kripa introduced as her aunty.
They reached there in 2 hours. Kripa gave a hearty 'Thank you.' to the old lady. They bid each other farewell, Kripa knew she was in debt due to the lady's kindness but the lady told her to go inside the hospital soon.
Kripa ran inside the hospital, enquired about Naina and reached the floor.
Look out for:....Will Naina go in coma? How will Angad behave with Kripa if they confront each other? Has Kripa reached the right place??..............STAY TUNED!!!
I hope you all tell me your true feelings! I'm waiting for your comments!…..I'm sorry if it sound dull but do tell me how you feel. I'm sorry to post a part after a long time too but actually the truth is that I had written this part over 3 weeks ago…..sorry for not posting it earlier. And I have a request, if someone remembers it then do tell me, have I ever mentioned where Alliyah lived? I'm sorry for my irresponsibleness, hope you all forgive me but if no one tells me than whatever I write in the future is her true whereabouts but if I've ever mentioned anything about her whereabouts then do tell me? Thanks in advance.
I have a new fanfic, Not Decided, do visit it as well.
The link to Not Decided is here: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=662912
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