PART 19:
The next day, Angad and Kripa returned to Ooty, and took the train back to Bangalore.
As they were about to bid adieu to their paradise, where they had spent the most memorable 7 days of their lives, Angad remembered something, "main abhi aaya…."
"Kahan jaa rahe ho? Kahin phir train bhaag kar na pakadni padhe!" Kripa held Angad's hand as he left the train.
"Don't worry….abhi time hai…main yun gaya aur yun aaya…." Angad said
"Phir main bhi chaloongi…tum hi ne kaha tha na ki kabhie intezaar mat karna….," Kripa accompanied him and got down at the platform.
Angad headed for the samosa stall and was lucky to be the first one in line. He purchased a plate with extra chutney and pickle, "yeh lo….ab raaste mein yeh mat kehna ki bhookh lagi hai…OK!"
Kripa smiled, "tum bahut achhe ho Angad…..mera kitna khayal rakhte ho…," she touched his face and they both boarded the train.
"Don't get used to this…..honeymoon is almost over Mrs Khanna!" Angad teased her as they settled in their seats.
They met Kanan and Nishant at the Bangalore station.
"Dekho tho….Kripa kitni khil rahi hai….aur Angad tumhey kya hua…itne patley kaise ho gaye?" Kanan teased her brother and sister in law.
"Di! Kya Nishant jiju ne apne honeymoon ke baad weight lose nahin kiya tha?" Angad said mischievously as Kripa and Nishant both turned red from embarrassment.
"Angad! Bahut badmaash ho gaya hai….kam se kam hamare saamne tho sharafat se pesh aaya kar!" Kanan gave him a dirty look.
"Kya karoon di? Nishant jiju bhi jaante hain ki sharafat hamare Khanna khaandan mein door door tak nahin milegi…," Angad grinned and winked at Nishant.
"Accha hua ab tumhari didi Saxena khaandan ki ho gayi hain….mujhey tho bechari Kripa par taras aata hai…" Nishant put an arm around Kripa. Kripa smiled and lowered her head.
Kanan came and hugged Kripa too, "meri bhabhi bahut bholi hai…..wo tho is badmaash ki baaton mein aa gayi…..," she kissed Kripa's forehead affectionately and said, "chalo ab tum dono jaao…Ramgarh ki train platform par lag gayi hai…..ab apni nayi zindagi ki shuruaat karo….Ok..Bye!"
Kripa and Angad hugged both Kanan and Nishant and thanked them once again for their wonderful honeymoon, "Di….I strongly recommend a second honeymoon via Love Express!" Angad yelled back as their train left the platform.
NEXT DAY:
Gayatri and Harshini received them at the at the Ramgarh station.
Gayatri was pleased to see the glow on Kripa's face; she was reassured that her daughter had married the right person. Gayatri blessed the couple as they returned to Dr Misra's residence.
"Beti…aaj se yahi tera ghar hai…..jahan Angad…wahan tu…" Gayatri explained to Kripa.
"Par maa….aap akeli rahengi? Aap bhi yahin mamaji ke yahan hum sab ke saath reh leejiye…"Kripa tried to convince her mother.
"Nahin beti….ek aurat ke liye aakhiri saans tak uska pati ka ghar hi sab kuch hota hai…..ab tere papa nahin hain tho kya hua…..mera ghar tho wohi hai….aur tu bhi tho aati jaati rahegi…main jaanti hoon, apni maa se mile bina tu ek din bhi nahin reh sakti!," Gayatri hugged Kripa and left the couple to settle into their little nest upstairs.
Angad helped Kripa move all her belongings from her mother's house.
Angad and Kripa just had the tiny room at Dr Misra's, but was large enough for the two of them. They did not mind if the one little closet in the room overflowed with their clothes and other belongings. They were happy with the one queen sized bed in the room-it still had plenty of room to spare!
Kripa, the efficient girl that she was, quickly transformed their little nest into a cozy, cute and neat place to live.
Angad decided to resume work the next day. Kripa had a whole month off from work, so she decided to spend time in settling their "grahasti"
Dr Misra was happy to have them back, "chalo Angad ab tum aa gaye ho….ab tum clinic sambhaalo….main kuch din light kaam hi karoonga…Damini bhi apne bete ko milne Pune gayi hai….main bahut thak gaya hoon."
"Koi baat nahin sir…..Kripa ki school se abhi chutti hai….she will help me," Angad grinned at Kripa. Kripa knew Angad would not leave any opportunity to be with her, even if it was at pretext of work! She just blushed and shook her head as she headed for the kitchen.
NEXT MORNING:
Kripa woke up early at the crack of dawn. Angad was still asleep; he was probably exhausted from the journey and of course, he did not spare Kripa last night either.
Kripa showered and dressed up in a cream sari with red border. She prepared tea and breakfast, as she knew Angad would have to start work early that morning.
She came upstairs to find her hubby fast asleep, "Angad! Angad! Utho…chai tayyar hai!" she whispered in his ear; her wet hair stroked his face gently.
Angad opened his eyes and grabbed her wet open hair with both hands; he pulled her face on his and gave her a deep, passionate kiss.
Kripa tried to free herself, "Angad…kya kar rahe ho? Subah ho gayi hai…..tumhey clinic jaana hai…"
Angad did not let go of her hair and pulled her closer, "promise karo…ki mujhey roz subah aise hi jagaaogi….aur baal aise hi geele aur khuley rakhogi…..aur aise hi sunder lagogi……aur aise hi kiss dogi….."
Kripa whispered, "theek hai….par promise karo ki raat ko time se sone doge…"
"Jo mere bas ki baat nahin hai….wo promise main nahin kar sakta!" he gave her one last kiss and at last got up.
Kripa handed him his cup of tea and said, "apni baat manwaa kar hi rehte ho…..meri bilkul nahin sunte…," she took out his clothes and left him alone to get ready.
Patients were already queued up outside the clinic. They had all heard that "chote doctor sahib" was back. Dr Misra had decided to take a few days off work as he was tired from being the only doc when Angad was away.
Kripa got down to business; she had the patients prepped and lined up depending on their complaints. When Angad got down to work, he was efficiently able to see all the patients in reasonable time.
Kripa accompanied him during house calls and even assisted him during minor surgical procedures.
Over the next few weeks, Kripa's life became even more hectic than it used to be before her marriage. Angad and his needs became her first priority. Angad, on the other hand became entirely dependant on her-right from his personal to professional life was taken care of by his wife.
Finally, Kripa went back to work and that is when Angad sorely missed her presence around him. Damini was back from Pune and took over most of the nursing duties from Kripa. Angad was not satisfied with Damini's way of working; he had trained Kripa the way he wanted and Damini was set in her old ways.
Angad and Kripa were very popular with the patients too. Angad's modern ways of treatment and Kripa's tender and healing touch attracted patients to their clinic from far-flung areas.
Damini could sense Angad's frustration, but did not say anything. As Dr Misra had cut back on his hours, Damini had more downtime on her hands. She managed to irritate Angad often; out of respect Angad never yelled at her, but his cold silence and frown were proof enough of his annoyance.
One day, Damini said to Angad, "Dr Khanna….ek baat kahun?"
"Haan boliye?" Angad said curtly
"Aap Kripa se baat kariye ki wo apne school ki naukri chhod de….aur aapke saath full time kaam kar le…"
Angad loved that idea, but he knew Kripa well- she loved her job and above all cherished her identity separate from her husband's. He thought she would decline his offer, but it was worth a try.
That evening, when Kripa was cooking dinner and simultaneously talking to Gayatri on the phone, Angad came from behind and grabbed her. He started nibbling on her neck and shoulders.
"Maa….main rakhti hoon…..dal mein tadka lagaana hai," she lied as she could not concentrate once Angad started fooling around with her.
"Kitna kaam karti ho jaan? Mere liye bilkul time nahin nikaalti…" he complained as he kept kissing her.
"Angad! Chhodo…mamaji ghar par hi hain….bolo kya baat hai?" Kripa had learnt that Angad usually became more lovey-dovey when he needed something from her.
"Suno…..main chahta hoon, tum hamesha mere paas hi raho," he said romantically
"Rehti tho hoon…tumhare dil mein!" she quipped
"Jaanta hoon…..lekin main chahta hoon ki tum sirf mere saath kaam karo….apne school ki naukri chhod do….kya kar sakogi mere liye yeh?" Angad snuggled his face into her hair.
Kripa paused and turned off the stove; she needed to think about this.
Kripa looked into his eyes and saw he genuinely needed her help. She loved Angad a lot and was very grateful to him for being so understanding so far-he had decided to stay back in Ramgarh for her sake, pampered her like a princess, loved her with all his heart- there was no way she could say NO. She knew this was a big decision; her identity would now always be tied to her husband, but she was so much in love with him that she did not care……tumhee mere sab kuch ho Angad…..
"Kya socha?" Angad looked at her expectantly
Kripa just smiled and turned around to resume her cooking. She hummed, "aap kahe….aur hum na maane…..aise tho haalat nahin…."
Angad jumped up in the air; grabbed her by the waist and twirled around with her in the kitchen, "I LOVE YOU KRIPA!" he shouted and showered her with his kisses.
….to be continued…
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