PART 16:
NEXT DAY:
Mishti woke up, as she had a flight to catch for her new assignment in Houston. Before leaving, she woke Kripa up, "Good morning Kripa…sorry to wake you that early….but main 3-4 din ke liye jaa rahi hoon…..mom has agreed to your moving to the city….good luck….see you in a few days."
Kripa got up with a smile and hugged Mishti, "thanks Mishti….I love you."
Mishti was surprised at Kripa's overt display of affection. Kripa had never been so demonstrative before, a faint smile is all one could get if she was pleased about something.
"Wow…Angad is a magician!" Mishti thought as she took a cab to the airport.
Kripa got ready after hearing the good news. She wore a long black skirt and red halter neck top with matching earrings and bracelet. She had a decent collection of jewelry-usually gifts from friends and relatives-she was just starting to discover her collection now.
She went to Mishti's room and put on some light make up after a long time. She had seen Mishti and her mom around make-up all her life; it did not take her long to figure out what looked good on her. A little foundation, blush, mascara and lipstick did wonders to her naturally beautiful face. She could not believe what she saw in the mirror, "I wonder how mom would react?" she thought.
She looked at her flat sandals, " Mishti's feet are too big…may be mom ki high heels aa jaaye mujhey."
She cautiously knocked on her mother's door, 'Mom….can I come in?"
Naina was in a face pack, with hair in rollers, "do you need something Kripa?"
"Yes mom……can I borrow one of your high heeled sandals?….I need to go somewhere."
Naina looked at Kripa, as if she had seen a ghost, 'aaj tumhey kya hua hai? Make-up lagaaya tha ho theek se lagaana chaahiye tha naa…..it is barely visible!"
"Mom…abhi itna hi kaafi hai…I am not too comfortable with heavy make-up yet," Kripa said softly
"Haan jab 60 saal ki ho jaaogi, tab shayad theek se make-up lagaana aa jaayega tumhey…..anyways…select what you want from my closet…make sure you don't break them….I don't know if you would be able to carry those heels or not…but try it out…warna kahogi mom ne kabhie chance hi nahin diya."
Kripa had begun to realize one thing about Naina…..somewhere in her heart Naina had a guilt about what she had done to Kripa….why would she repeatedly say that she was worried kripa might hurt herself, and what did she mean by 'never gave her a chance'…..was mom afraid of what people might say….or was it her own conscience?
Kripa picked a beautiful pair of black sandals from her mom's closet full of designer shoes and sandals, "mom how do these look?" she asked
"Oh..these are my favorite Milano Blancos…..I got them in Italy…..try another pair, I don't want you to mess these up!" Naina frowned.
Kripa's face fell and she changed them with an older pair.
"Yes….those will go better with your personality….I don't care if you break them even…..Dilip got them from London last year….I never cared for them."
Kripa felt bad for her dad- he loved Naina so much, but she was always critical of him and his choices, "mom…I love them….I think dad has good choice," she defended her dad.
"Achha waise tum jaa kahan rahi ho? Us doctor se milne?" Naina asked
"Doctor? Apko kisne kaha mom?"
"Mishti bataa rahi thi ki you are dating a surgeon." Naina sat in front of the facial steamer.
"Aisa kuch nahin hai mom! I am going to meet another friend….main chalti hoon….shaam tak aa jaaoongi," Kripa was upset with Mishti, but she did not want to give any further explanations to her mom at this point.
Kripa took the train to downtown, as she hated driving in Manhattan. She finally took a cab to the address Angad had given her.
"CREATIVE ADVERTISING" She entered the plush offices of the agency located on the 40 th floor of a building on the very hip Madison street.
"Excuse me…..I am here to meet Mr Angad Khanna," Kripa enquired at the reception.
"Let me try his extension," the receptionist smiled, "please have a seat….Miss?"
"Kripa Sharma…K-R-I-P-A S-H-A-R-M-A," she spelt it
"Angad…there is a Ms Kripa Sharma here to meet you….Ok I will send her in," the receptionist hung up, "you may go….he is in a meeting, but has asked you to wait in his cabin….his # is 204."
"Thanks," Kripa said politely. Her heart started beating faster as she approached his cabin. She looked around and saw posters and photographs of glamorous models everywhere. People around her were busy working on their computers or talking on the phone. Most of them were dressed in trendy and designer clothes. The office was decorated and furnished in a very contemporary fashion, "tho Mishti bhi yahin kaam karti hai!" Kripa felt a little out of place in the flashy environment, "I don't think I can ever work in such a place."
She let herself into Angad's cabin. It was a small office with a desk and chair in one corner. The top of the desk was hardly visible-there were piles and piles of files, photographs scattered every where, empty soda cans, coffee cups and used tissues from weeks lying on his desk and on the credenza behind his swivel seat.
Kripa avoided touching any of the old cans or tissues. There was a photograph of what looked like his parents, Kartik and himself in one corner. She picked the photograph carefully and admired it. It looked a few years old, as Angad and Kartik both looked like scrawny teenagers in it.
Kripa was suddenly blind folded by a pair of warm, but familiar hands. She touched the hands with her soft fingers and smiled, "Angad?"
Angad removed his hands from her eyes and turned her around, "what a nice surprise? Look at you…my…my…mere saare models ki chutti kar dogi aaj tho….love that eye make-up on you…..you look adorable….no I should say gorgeous!"
Kripa blushed and lowered her eyes, "thanks…..but I am sure your models are far more beautiful!"
"They look beautiful…but Kripa YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!" He took her hands in his hands, "trust me….I have seen all the women on this planet….I know what I am saying."
Kripa blushed again and then handed him a bag, "I came to return your shirt."
"Shirt? OH….that jellyfish shirt?" he laughed, "you should have kept it as memorabilia along with all your old turtlenecks!"
"No, I don't like to keep other people's things." She said
"That's true…what if they have germs?" he raised his eyebrows and grinned
"Angad! Stop kidding around with me!" Kripa acted a little annoyed.
"In mood for some coffee?" he asked as he put the bag away.
She looked around at the messy office, "yahan?"
"Nahin….nahin….let's go out…to some GERM-FREE ENVIRONMENT……there is a Starbucks round the corner." Angad laughed.
"You love to pull my leg…don't you?," Kripa did not mind if Angad made fun of her idiosyncrasies. In the past, she would get annoyed when people made fun of her compulsive behaviors…but Angad was different…..he could say or do anything…..she had given him that right!
As they walked out, a tall thin blonde girl walked up, "Hey Angad….are we meeting tonight?"
Angad was a little embarrassed, "Lets talk Kelly….I will be back in an hour or so," he patted her shoulder and winked at her. Kelly smiled and glanced at Kripa, 'Oh…I understand," and walked away.
Kripa felt a little awkward after their conversation; they seemed to know each other quite well. Kripa knew that Angad was a very friendly person and she was pretty sure that his good looks and charms attracted a lot of women towards him- of course her very own sister was his date last weekend! But somehow, she felt uneasy that he would still be dating women. She was sure that she loved him with all her heart, but did he? He had never said so….but he had promised her his unconditional friendship…..she would rather have his friendship than no relationship at all….may be one day he would tell her that he loved her too…..she would wait for that day, even if it took a lifetime.
They walked out of the building and crossed the street. Angad held her hand while crossing the street, "Manhattan drivers are crazy…..mera haath zor se pakad lo Kripa."
Kripa's hands quivered with his touch; she realized that the more he touched her, the more closer she wanted to get to him. He released her hand once they got to the other side of the street. Kripa wanted to preserve the feel of his hand on her palm; she held it close to her face, trying to feel his touch on her cheeks, and then moved her fingers to her lips….she shivered at the thought of his feel on her lips.
"What happened Kripa?" Angad asked her, "are you cold?"
"Yes….may be I am missing my turtleneck," she chuckled, trying to distract herself.
"Kripa! If I ever see you in one…..I will bring a scissors next time and strip you in the middle of the road!" he groaned.
Kripa blushed at the thought, "get out of here!" she just pushed him away.
They walked into the coffee store.
"So what do you want to order?" Angad asked as they came to the end of the long line at Starbucks.
"One tall-non-fat-caramel-macchiato-with-half-a-shot please," she ordered in one breathe, "and yes an extra holder for the cup…..and make it extra hot please." Kripa ordered.
Angad rolled his eyes, "phew…I thought it was some kind of medical prescription or something!"
"What can I get for you sir?" the server asked
"One cup of coffee!" Angad said smugly
They took their cups and settled down on a couch in the corner.
"Can I taste your extra special coffee madam?" Angad asked
"Sure…lekin maine jhoothi kar li hai," she hesitated
"So? I would love to get contaminated with your germs," he winked and sipped from her cup, "TOO SWEET!"
Kripa had turned red with his comment, but composed herself, "I thought you love sweet things."
Angad licked the froth from his lips, "did I say that?"
Kripa was puzzled, "of course you did! Pancakes and syrup?"
"Oh yeah! But I like my coffee black….just like the sea shells." He laughed.
"Angad….mom has agreed to letting me have my own place in the city," Kripa changed the topic.
"Really? Let's go then….we will check out what is available," he got up and gave Kripa his hand. Kripa placed her tiny hand in his large hand and got up. This time, Kripa made sure she did not lose control of herself when he held her hand.
They took the subway to his apartment building.
"Hi Ruth! How is my favorite apartment manager today?" Angad hugged an elderly black lady at the management office of the apartment complex.
"Oh it's you Angad? Who is this pretty lady with you?" Ruth glanced at Kripa.
Kripa smiled confidently and extended her hand, "Hi! I am Kripa…I am here to lease an apartment."
"OH…I am sorry…we have a waiting list, nothing is open right now," Ruth said disappointedly.
Angad saw the disappointed look on Kripa's face, "Hey Ruth…are you sure? You had a couple available last week."
"This is New York city hun!"
"Ruth…how about the apartment on the 30th floor?" Angad asked softly
"OH…..the one you want?" Ruth looked at her register, "you have wanted that apartment for ages dear…it just opened up after 2 years!"
"I know Ruth…..Kartik would just have to put up with me for some more time…..please give that apartment to my friend…she really needs it!" Angad looked at Kripa tenderly; he so wanted her to move close to him…..he did not know why….but he wanted to…may be he was just trying to help her get away from her dysfunctional environment…or was it something else?
Kripa had tears in her eyes; she smiled at Angad and thought, "kyon kar rahe ho mere liye yeh Angad? Is this just friendship? Or something else?"
………..to be contd…..
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