PART 33:
Over the next few days, Kripa gave a lot of thought to Prithvi's proposal. She even spoke to Aaliyah, Kanan and Gayatri about her dilemma.
They were all her well wishers, and also aware how busy Angad was. Aaliyah even suggested that she work with her at her clinic.
Angad was always in a hurry these days, especially now that his training period was cut short by the board and Dr Bose's recommendation. Days would go by before they talked to each other. They had not been intimate with each other either in a long time either. Kripa longed to be held by Angad; she missed his passionate hugs and kisses, his mischievous smiles and the burning, desirous look in his eyes. He was so buried in his work and quest for fame and recognition, that he did not see the angst and pining in Kripa's eyes.
Kripa knew that Angad missed her too; but his drive and ambition were too strong; he had no time to slow down. Kripa never said anything to him, as she did not want to distract him from his goal. She really missed being with him, "shayad mujhey hi initiative lena padhega, Angad ke paas tho waqt hi nahin hai…"
So one day, Kripa went to Angad's office to surprise him. She wanted to take him out for lunch. "Dr Khanna kahan hain?" Kripa asked his assistant.
"Aap kaun madam?" the assistant asked her.
"Main unki wife hoon…," Kripa found it strange that no one knew who Angad's wife was. She blamed herself, "main bhi tho kabhie yahan pehle aayi nahin….tho in logon ko kaise pata hoga," she fondly remembered her days in Ramgarh when Angad could barely function without Kripa's presence at his clinic; even his patients knew her there.
"Madam, Dr Khanna tho bahar lunch par gaye hain…" the assistant informed her.
Kripa had an idea, "kahan gaye hain?" She wanted to surprise Angad wherever he was.
"Madam wo Oyster Club mein hain….Oberoi hotel mein restaurant hai…"
"Theek hai main dhoondh loongi…," Kripa rushed out of the plush office. She had never seen a doctor's office, which looked more like a hotel than an office. She just shrugged her shoulders and walked to her car, "shayad Mumbai ka yahi kaayda hai."
Kripa arrived at the 'Oyster Club"
She was stopped at the entrance, "madam aapke paas reservation hai?"
"Nahin…lekin mere husband andar hain…main unsey milne aayi hoon…"
"Kya naam hai aapke husband ka?"
"Dr Angad Khanna!" she said proudly
The attendant checked the guest list, "madam, Dr Khanna ek guest ke saath hain….main unki permission ke bina aapko andar nahin jaane de sakta."
"Oh really? Aap poonch lee jiye unse, wo kabhie manaa nahin karenge.." Kripa said
"Yes, madam….let me find out,"
The attendant came back in a few minutes, 'madam, unka lunch khatam ho gaya hai, wo log bahar aa hi rahe hain"
"Thanks, main yahin wait kar leti hoon," Kripa said politely
She was curious to see Angad's surprised expression on seeing her there. Sh stood with her back to the restaurant and tapped her feet impatiently.
She heard Angad's voice as he thanked the waiter and the attendant at the exit.
Kripa turned around to surprise Angad, but instead saw a shocked expression on Angad's face.
"Kripa tum yahan? Yahan kya kar rahi ho?" Angad was startled, but finally smiled to see the plaeasnt surprise in front of his eyes.
Angad was walking out with Mishti Rai! Kripa's heart sank as she saw Mishti with a smug expression on her face, "Hello Kripa! So you have a lunch date with someone too?"
Kripa swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to brush off her tears, "sorry, if I interrupted your lunch date!" she gave Mishti a cold looked and then at Angad with pain in her eyes. Angad averted his gaze and stuttered, "Kripa….aisi koi baat nahin hai…..Mishti main Kripa ke saath jaata hoon…..I will catch up with you later," Angad put his arm around Kripa and tried to walk out of the restaurant.
"Sure Angad! Tho aaj shaam ko ROZ ki tarah mere hi ghar par milte hain! Bye both of you!" Mishti put on her sunglasses and walked out with an evil smile on her face as if saying THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE!
Kripa shrugged her shoulders and pulled away from Angad's hold, "sorry Angad…..shayad tumhey galat waqt par milne aa gayi main," she said in a shaky voice.
Angad followed her as she walked to the car. He grabbed her wrist, "Kripa! Meri baat tho suno….you are misunderstanding everything…..this was purely a business meeting…..aisa kuch bhi nahin hai jaisa tum soch rahi ho…"
Kripa wiggled out of his strong grip and sat inside the car. She turned the ignition on and tried to reverse the car. Angad forced himself into the passenger seat, "D*** it! Give me a chance to explain Kripa! I have to meet Mishti for business contacts."
Kripa accelerated the car and kept her gaze on the road, "tum tho doctor ho na? Business man kab se ban gaye?" she said sarcastically
"Kripa, you don't understand….these days medicine is a business too! Ab main staff member ban jaaoonga, then I have to be responsible for bringing business to the Center….my salary will depend on the clients I bring and the surgeries I do…..I have to market my skills and Mishti has so far been very helpful in that respect….that's it! Try to understand Kripa, tumhare alaawa main kisi ka nahin hoon…trust me!" Angad tried to defend himself.
"Angad, maine yeh kab kaha ki main tum par shaq kar rahi hoon…..mujhey apne pyaar par poora bharosa hai, par mujhey yeh dukh hai ki tumney mujh par bharosa nahin kiya….," Kripa said tearfully.
"Bharosa? Of course I trust you Kripa, yeh kaisi behki behki baatein kar rahi ho?" Angad said angrily.
"Tho mujhey aaj tak yeh kyon nahin bataaya ki tum shaam ko iss liye late aate ho kyunki Mishti ke saath hote ho?" Kripa was trembling as she drove.
"Kripa! Wo bhi tho kaam hi hai na? Now if you want me to give you my appointment book everyday, I will be happy to do that…..so you can see who I meet everyday!" Angad's nostrils were flaring as he tried to suppress his anger.
Kripa stopped the car in front of the surgical center, "tumhara office aa gaya hai….," she said in a shaky voice, without looking at him.
"Kripa…please naaraz mat ho…meri baat samajhne ki koshish karo," Angad grabbed her elbow and shook her gently.
Kripa pulled her arm away, "Angad….please leave now! Ho sakta hai koi aur tumhari wait kar rahi ho andar!"
Angad clenched his jaw and fist and got out of the car in anger, 'you small town girls! Tumhari mentality kabhie change nahin hogi[/I]!" Angad was capable of saying the harshest things in anger. He did not realize what he had just said and walked to the center, leaving a very heart broken wife behind.
Kripa buried her head in the steering wheel and sobbed silently for a while. She was a shattered woman- she was not upset about seeing Angad with another woman, but was hurt by his lies and deception; she couldn't believe that her Angad could treat her like this. Why did he hide the fact from her that he met with Mishti every evening? She would never doubt his intention if he had told her the truth, was he hiding something more from her? And his parting remark about her "small town mentality" tore her into pieces.
She wiped her tears and drove off.
Angad got back to his office, but was very disturbed. He could not focus on his work and was very irritable all afternoon. His nurses and assistant had never seen him in such a foul mood. He finished up his afternoon surgeries and decided to head home as soon as possible. As usual, he was regretting saying those harsh words to Kripa, "main kitna pagal hoon…gusse mein Kripa ko kya kya bol diya….par usey bhi tho samajhna chaaiye ki main usey koi dhokha nahin de raha…OH God!"
As he was leaving, he received a call from Mishti.
"Mishti, sorry, I cannot come to your place this evening….I need to go home," Angad said on the phone
Mishti had a vicious smile on her face, "kyon biwi se darrte ho?"
"Nahin Mishti darrta nahin hoon….I just need to clarify some things with her….she really misunderstood what she saw this afternoon."
"So you are afraid of her!" Mishti challenged him.
"No Mishti….I am not afreaid of her, I LOVE HER! And I need to be with her…BYE!" he hung up. He knew he was a little abrupt, but at this moment he could care less. He had only one mission that evening- to be with Kripa!
…to be continued…
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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