You Snooze You Lose
Finally they were on their merry way. Breakfast was done, no one had to use the bathroom, and they weren't planning on attending any other funerals until reaching their destination either. Kripa toyed with her Ipod most of the time, changing songs, looking at pictures, and playing the absurd games. Angad and Kripa hadn't done much talking since the morning, their wasn't any particular reason for it, a conversation just didn't come up. That seemed to be the trend with Angad, things were never what they seemed. Kripa could understand though, Angad woke up mighty early that morning, if Kripa recalled correctly the sky was still covered with the night clouds, and the moon still hadn't disappeared fully when Angad came to wake her up, surely he had woken up at least half an hour before that. Angad looked pretty tired too, he had his music on full volume just to keep himself awake, he would occasionally rub his eye's, and yawn every now and then.
It was around 2 pm, and the scorching sun was giving Kripa an very unnecessary tan. The top of her head was burning, and she thought if it was possible that she get some sort of a blood clot in her brain due to it. Everything minute or so she would run her fingers through her hair making sure it wasn't on fire. And this wasn't a joke either. She wanted to ask Angad to pop the hoot up so badly, but felt awkward considering they hadn't talked for the past 4 hours. She kept fiddling with her fingers, debating with her self on whether she should ask Angad or not. In finally agreeing to ask Angad, she turned her head towards him, simultaneously with Angad turning his head towards her, causing them to bump into each other.
"Ouch!", blurted Kripa lighting touching her forehead with her palm. Angad shook his head with his eye's closed to take away the effect of the bump, which surprisingly hurt. "Listen," they both said at the same time, shocking each other resulting in a 5 minute laugh session. Kripa was still giggling, but Angad had stopped and was admiring Kripa's innocent laugh. "You go first," Angad said slowing the car down and moving the left lane. "I was wondering if you could bring up the hood thing, I think my head is suffering from sun burn," Kripa said touching her head. "Well, at least it'll kill the lice," joked Angad with a convincing face one. Kripa couldn't help but roll her eye's in annoyance. "Cant you ever just answer properly, without your little smart 2 bits?. Angad gave another one of his very usual grins, and lean forward bringing his nose only mere inch away from Kripa's. "Yeah, but what's the fun in that?", he asked grining from teeth to teeth, ending it with a wink. "Just pop the hood thing already, my head is on fire here," Kripa commanded very strictly, still with a certain flirtatious tone.
Due to the conversation between the two, Kripa didn't even notice when Angad took an exist and pulled up at a gas station. This was perhaps, mistake number one. "What are we doing here?", asked Kripa getting sick of the detours. "You see, we're inside what the world likes to call a car, and being such a complex operation it needs something called gas to function properly," Angad began explaining the very obvious facts about the car and Kripa rolled her eye's, and sulked inside her seat. Angad was of course, no where near ending, " And now, since the pathetic youth of our nation voted Bush as president, not only are we going to lose our pride and honor in Iraq, but also lose millions of dollars in gas. And that is why we're here," he finally concluded with a very proud grin. "You such a….whatever," sighed Kripa not wanting to debate with Angad any longer, knowing it was of no use.
After the gas tank was full, instead of pulling out into the high way like expected, Angad parked the car and turned off the engine. "What is it now?" Kripa asked, with fumes practically coming out of here ears. "I'm going to sleep," said Angad looking very casual, no acts or sarcasm this time. "What do you mean your going to sleep! Angad we wasted like two days! If we were on track then we would have been in California already! How can you just go to sleep?" exclaimed Kripa, giving that entire speech without taking a breath causing her to turn a little pale. Kripa slapped her hand on her forehead, and shook her head in disappointment. "Well, I'm tired," replied Angad very bluntly. It didn't even seem to be a matter to Angad, which really got on Kripa's bad side. "Fine! Fine! Let me drive," she offered, although it sounded more like a command. Angad gave out a light laugh, and out of the car remembering to put his keys in his pant pocket. "What? Angad, you cant just go to sleep! And where are you going?" asked Kripa annoyed, looking at where Angad was going. Angad went to the back seat and laid down getting into a comfortable position. "What are you doing?" asked Kripa. "I'm going to sleep," he said closing his eye's and slowly pulling off his right shoe using his left foot and then his left shoe with his right foot. "What am I supposed to do?" Kripa asked giving up at trying to convince Angad to do anything at all. Angad opened his eye's and thought for a minute looking at Kripa, "Go to sleep, or just sit there. I wont sleep too long, wake me up in an hour or something," said Angad turning his back to Kripa and going to sleep. "Right," whispered Kripa to herself.
After listening to every song in her Ipod and eating a Granola Bar, Kripa fell asleep too. A few more hours passed Kripa's eye's opened slightly seeing nothing but darkness around her. She moved her neck around, and wiggled her toes as she sat up straight to see where they were. To her surprise, they were still in the gas station, and to add more to her shock it was 8:30pm already. Talk about a afternoon nap. Kripa covered her face with both her hands in desperation. Another day passed and still no progress. Why was she out here again, she thought as she scratched her head and combed her hair with her fingers through the knots. Behind her, Angad was still sleeping peacefully. She didn't blame him, Kripa was so tired that she didn't even notice Angad snoring so loudly, she couldn't blame Angad for being tired, he was the one driving after all. She was tempted to shout at Angad to wake him up, but she couldn't do it. He looked so innocent with his lip's pouted out as he slept, and his ruffled hair. He looked like a child, an innocent little child, it warmed Kripa's heart. Then Kripa's eye's lowered to Angad's pocket where his keys were dangling from. Kripa stared at the keys as they made a light chime sound. Would he really mind? I'm sure he wouldn't really care. If he did, what's the worst he could do? Thoughts flew through Kripa's all leading to her taking Angad's keys.
Satin wouldn't bow in front of God and so God banished Satin from Eden. And so started the devils game from tempting man to doing his works of disaster. When we give into temptation we become a mere puppet of Satins, and only do our selves harm. This time, Kripa was the puppet. Mistake number two. Kripa turned the engine on and pressed the gas slightly as she began driving Angad's car. She had sweat coming out of her forehead thinking of what Angad would do when he woke up. It didn't take long for this thought to become a reality. Just as Kripa reached the first light, even before heading into the highway Angad jumped out of his seat causing Kripa to make a fast stop. The tires made a loud itching sound and tracks on the road as Kripa pressed the breaks. The second the car stopped Angad jumped out of the car and pulled Kripa out also. "What the hell were you doing!" he scream into Kripa's face making Kripa shake as she put of hands on her ears. "I'm sorry, I was just…Angad I have to go to California as fast as possible, and I thought since you were sleeping. I'm sorry," Kripa pleaded. God knew what she thought Angad would do to her, but he thoughts kept going to all the movies where the guys would get mad and kill the girl, and Angad could easily pass for a killer too. "Shut up!" yelled Angad, with his eye's blood red. "I'm sorr…," Kripa's voice subsided as she looked Angad's angry face. Angad pushed Kripa aside opened the car door. "Your on your own now. I don't care about where you go, or what you do, your on your own," yelled Angad with his face turned to Kripa, while the rest of his body was inside the car. "Angad, I'm sorry. It's just a car, and its not like I crashed it or something," said Kripa in her justification. Angad got out of the car again and stormed up to Kripa until he was a breath away. "Shut up! It's my car and only I drive it! And your not welcomed in it anymore!" yelled back Angad while pointing his index finger at Kripa. But he didn't stop there. "Here, take your money, go find yourself another ride," he said as he took the money Kripa gave him and threw it on the floor in front of Kripa. Kripa began crying unwillingly, and Angad held his head with both his hands practically ripping his hair as he turned around and got into his car and left.
Kripa kneeled down still crying as she picked up the money from the floor. She pressed her hand on her face as she wiped her tears away only to get more tears in return. She put the money in her pocket as she began walking. She'd stop crying for a minute, and then suddenly began again, with the cries being ever more powerful, even more painful. She covered her mouth with her hands, as she walked past the strange houses. She noticed that the neighborhood didn't look the friendliest. She wrapped her arms around herself as she began walking in a faster pace when she noticed the group of boys who were pointing at her. The pointing soon became following, and Kripa's pace grew faster. She prayed like she never prayed before, just prayed for Angad to come back, for her dad to somehow find her, hell she prayed for Batman to show up. The guys began walking with her side by side, with one particular guy attempting to feel her up. "Hey, are you lost? Do you need me to help you?" he asked getting awfully close. Kripa didn't answer, she simply moved to the left and began walking faster. The guys ran after her and the same boy came up and stopped her by holding her from her waist. "I think your lost, let me help you. Do you need to go to the bus stop, I'll take you there," he offered, still holding her by the waist. Kripa nodded no and tried to get his hand off. The tears began falling down her cheeks again, and Kripa felt as though she was going to faint. "Oh, why are you crying?" asked the boy as he tied to wipe her tear away. Just then a car pulled up from behind and honked at them. Kripa let out a great big smile when she saw that it was Angad inside the car staring at everyone there. "Get in the car," he yelled out to Kripa still keeping a sharp observation a everyone else. Kripa was walking to him, doing just as he told when the boy came and stopped her again. "Hey, you don't want to go with him. Come on, I'll take you to the bus stop," he offered again walking up closer to Kripa, causing her to walk backwards away from him. Angad got out of the car, and calmly walked next to Kripa and held her around her shoulder and lightly pushed the guy back. "She's with me," said Angad. "She was with you, now she's with me," said the guy trying to get a hold of Kripa. Angad let out a smirk as if he was amused by the way the guy was acting. "Get in the car," he whispered into Kripa's ears, and like a child she did just that. Angad turned around and was about to get in his car too when the guy pulled him back and punched him. Well…that was mistake number three. Angad pushed himself unto the guy and punch him hard enough to break a couple of teeth. The other boys ganged up on Angad, and they all ended up on the floor, squabbling with each other, another bunch of guys came to break the fight apart. Angad pushed away the guy that was holding him and threw him on the floor. With his jacket dirty and lower lip bleeding Angad got into his car and raced away without saying a word. Inside the car Kripa was sobbing, but still made an effort to get out the word "thanks".
"Are you okay?" Angad asked Kripa truly sounding concerned. Kripa nodded yes and looked at Angad with sorry eye's. "I'm sorry," she said still crying. Angad let out a small smile and wiped a tear away from Kripa's face. "Can we stop at a hotel, I kind of don't want to in the car right now," asked Kripa quietly. Angad listened to Kripa, and did as she wanted without replying with words. The ride to the hotel was silent. Angad parked in front of the hotel and helped Kripa with her bags. When inside the hotel, Kripa pulled at Angad's sleeve as if she were a child. "Hmm?" asked Angad turning to her. " Can I stay with you tonight, I'm kind of…," Kripa was embarrassed to even finish her sentence. Angad understood it either ways and booked their room. Its was a typical, two singled bedded room, but right now that was heaven for both Angad and Kripa. Angad went to take a shower while Kripa took out her clothes from her bag and waiting for Angad to come out so she could go in. Angad came out in gray sweats and no shirt revealing his very toned body, which for some reason automatically made Kripa feel better. Without any given expression of how nice Angad looked right now, Kripa went into the bathroom and took her shower. In about 15 minutes she came out to see Angad on his bed reading his book. Kripa climbed into her bed and closed her eye's for a minute. "Thanks," she said smiling at Angad. "No problem," said Angad, returning the smile. There was another moment of silence. "For the record, I would have done the same thing," Angad said looking at Kripa. "What do you mean?" asked Kripa as she fingered her hair. "I mean, I wouldn't have listened to myself about the car thing either. I would have gone driving too," he said comforting her. Kripa just gave a smile and took the book Angad was reading and started skimming through it. "Thanks for beating those guys up for me," said Kripa looking at Angad through the corner of her eye. "Who said a beat them up for you? I don't even know you well enough." said Angad getting up a cracking his neck, once again revealing his bare body. "Well then, why did you," Kripa asked curiously. "The guy punch me, do I need any other reason?" he asked raising an eye brow. Kripa simply smiled and turned to her back and closed her eye's to sleep. Just as she did so, Angad looked at her and smiled. That smile was all that was needed to prove the real reason for why Angad beat those guys up. Angad closed his eye's and followed Kripa's lead by going to sleep. Mistake number four.
It happened around 3am. There was a knock at the door and Angad got up grumpily to open it. It was the manager of the hotel looking just as tired as Angad was. "What?" asked Angad in annoyance. "I'm afraid there's a problem Mr. Khanna," he said. "What problem?" asked Angad putting on a t-shirt. Just then Kripa got up and walked up behind Angad. "What happened?" she whispered to Angad. Angad simply shrugged his shoulders and followed the manager. They all went outside where the police were. Kripa initial thought was that her parent had found her, but the didn't last long. Angad and Kripa both stopped, and stared at what was in front of them. Kripa's gasped and put her hands on her mouth, and Angad was about to fall on his knee's as they looked at Angad's wrecked car. "What the hell happened?!" screamed Angad walking to his car. The windows were broken, it was spray painted all over, and the front was all dented. "Someone wrecked it," said a cop walking up to them. "I can see that! But who! And where the hell was your security when this happened?!," exclaimed Angad, almost about to kill the manager. 'Well, a lady said she saw a bunch of hoodlums come and wreck it, and so she called the police," the cop explained. "We're looking for them, I'm sure we'll find them in a day or two," he added. Angad was grinding his teeth and rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger. The manager stepped up and put his hand on Angad's shoulder, which Angad brushed off automatically. "And the hotel will pay for the repairs for your car, we informed the garage, they'll be here soon to pick it up. "How long will it take?" asked Angad. "About two days at the most," said the manager. "I need you to fill out some forms Mr. Khanna, please come with me," said the officer. Kripa walked up to Angad held his arm. "I'm so sorry Angad," she said really sounding regretful. Angad pulled his arm away from Kripa's hands with force and followed the officer without saying anything.
To Be Continued…
Comments Please. Didn't get a lot last time, but I really did work hard on this part to make it long. Hope you all liked it!
Karishma***
Edited by Desi Pride - 18 years ago
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