Part: 21
Anittah recovered from her grief and shook Angad to bring him out of his sorrow "Bhaiyya! Doctors are saying that no one is allowed to stay with Kripa. SI will take care of her, it seems!"
Angad wiped his eyes and shifted sleeping Sur to his other shoulder and walked to the police inspector. After he was reassured by SI he checked Kripa before he walked out of the hospital. Naina took Gayatri and Damini to her house. Dilip also forced Suryaban to take him to his house.
As soon as they had reached home Angad placed Sur in the couch and dialed a number. Everyone is puzzled and watching him with fearful eyes. They all heard him talking angrily to the inspector about Prithvi and the case. He was restless throughout the drive clinching his teeth, rubbing forehead, hugging Sur and kissing her head intermittently and heaving sighs out. He is taking big steps in the hall impatiently.
"Nishant Saxena, CBI, here! Bolo Angad! What can I do for you?" Angad stopped walking after hearing the voice other side.
"Hallo, Nishant! I need your help. Mere friend ki case hai. It's a domestic violence case. She was badly abused by her husband last night. He ran away from crime scene. He was under high search now. I need you to handle this case. Please buddy! It's my personal request."Nishant sighed and promised him to meet in an hour.
Dilip patted Angad's back "Beta! Pehley araam karo badmein hum sab milkar kuch hal nikalengey." Angad gave a dirty look at him "Araam!! Kahan sey milegi araam, Dad? You can never imagine what I was going through." His eyes moistened and Dilip shook his head meaningfully.
"Yeh kya hua tha, Angad? We knew you were interested in Kripa but yeh Sur? Tumhara bacha? Tum donon ke beech itna closeness? And you never let us know about this, Why? Why didn't you tell us about this? How come you were not aware of Sur? Tum itna irresponsible kaisey huva tha? Itna bada galati kar bhaita? Aaj itney logon ko takleef mein daal diya? And whom did you call now? Wasn't Nishant in CBI? Why did you call him?"
Angad looked depressively with tearful eyes "Yuh Dad! Sab mera galati tha. I didn't tell you about our relationship in detail. I never expected Prithvi marries her in hurry. I thought Kripa would handle it and I trusted you people." He sobbed silently covering his face with his palms. Naina and Dadi caressed him on either side to show their sympathies.
Damini interfered, "Angad! Prithvi was never been like this before. I never knew before this was going in their life. I personally flabbergasted seeing Kripa in blood. Pata nahin kiski kya kahan galati thi. Pehley Prithvi ka pata chalgaya toh phir hum kuch kar saktey hai. Tum iss maamley ko aur complicate mat banao, please. I don't believe Prithvi could do this on purpose. Who could bare this betrayal from his own wife?"
Angad flared his nostrils "Oh Yeah! Prithvi is innocent, bahut bhola bhala tha na? I can understand Prithvi's humiliation but how could he mishandle Kripa? Yeh janwar jaisa bartaav, I can't forgive him. Who is he to punish Kripa like this? And as you were saying this wouldn't be latest development. We are not sure how long this was going on. I too don't know anything about Kripa's marital life. I was happy for her adjusting in her life. I don't even know that 'my daughter' exists in this world. Wo choti si bachi knows how violent Prithvi was. You stayed in US for two months with them. But you know nothing about them. And Gayatri Aunty doesn't know about her own daughter's horrible life. Sur never told anything to you all. But she told me about this. I can't sit idle anymore. Haat mein haat rakh kar aram sey bhaitney ki samay nahin hai. I can't see Kripa suffering like this. I don't leave that b**** alone. I'll kill him on the spot whenever I found him. Samjhey aap?"
Damini started crying loudly and Naina caressed her back to calm her down. Suryaban and Gayatri are sobbing silently in a corner. Dadi wiped her tears as a silent spectator. She is remembering all the events happened in the past between Kripa and Angad. She is repenting for not noticing the intimacy between the two before.
Nishant came after an hour and Angad took him inside his room. Both talked about the incident and Nishant promised to look into the matter as soon as possible.
After Nishant had left, Angad took Sur into his room and slept thinking about Kripa. The more he was thinking about her his heart becoming heavy with guilt.
Naina forced Gayatri and Damini to have something to eat and made them sleep in guest room. Dilip took care of Suryaban assuring things to turn good soon.
Morning around 6 Angad got ready to leave for hospital to visit Kripa. Sur is still in deep sleep and Anittah promised him to take care of her.
By the time Angad reached the hospital he heard Gayatri, Damini and Suryaban talking to Kripa. He stopped near the door and overheard the conversation as it related to Kripa's past.
Gayatri was showing her concern sobbing intermittently, "Ek baar bhi mujhey bathaney ki nahin socha, Kripa? Kab sey yeh sab sehti rahi thi? Agar tujhey Angad acha lagta tha toh hum ussi sey tumhari shadi kardete. Itna bada decision tum akeli kyon liya tha? Yeh sab sehney ki kya jaroorat thi?"
Damini interfered "Angad ko tum kabsey jaanti thi? Why did you marry my son when you were in love with Angad? Why did you ruin my son's life, Kripa? Why did you do this to my son? Aaj tumhari wajah sey wo ghar se paraar hogaya tha. Pata nahin kahan kahan bhatak raha hai. You ruined our lives along with your life too" her motherly affection started cursing Kripa while sobbing.
Angad tightened his fist and thought to attack Damini at the moment but stopped when Kripa giving her explanation.
"Mujhey maaf kardijiye mamma! I never thought I would ruin your lives. I informed Prithvi about us before our marriage. He promised me to handle the situation too. But, he changed his mind and hurried for marriage." she paused to swallow the lump in the throat and wiped her tears.
Suryaban dropped his hand on her head "Beti! Humpar bharosa rakho. Atleast now tell us about everything. Why did Prithvi marry you when he knew that you were in love with Angad? Why couldn't you tell us then? Did he force you? Tab bhi tum kuch batayi nahin? Was he humiliating you since then?" Fatherly responsibility enquired Kripa.
Kripa burst into tears and hugged Suryaban and hid her face in his chest. He caressed her shoulders as some tears escaped from his eyes too. Gayatri took her hands in hers and assured her.
Damini sniffed "lagta hai Angad issey dhoka diya tha aur yeh Prithvi ko phasali iski galati chupaney ke liye. Bechara mera beta iski baton mein agaya tha. Ussey kya pata yeh Angad ka beti ki maa banney wali thi? You cheated my son aur ab uski jindagi ke peechey sab padhi huvi hai."
Kripa hid her face into Suryaban's chest and sobbing silently as she couldn't show her face to her parents for Damini's allegation. Gayatri and Suryaban exchanged looks silently. They are still under shock about Angad and Kripa's relation and Sur's birth secret.
Angad stepped into the room. Gayatri, Damini and Suryaban exchanged looks. Kripa looked at him with embarrassment and turned her face away. His eyes moisten and tightened his fist to control his strong desire to hold Kripa in his arms.
He glared at Damini angrily "Can you stop all this nonsense? You are more worried about your own son when Kripa is suffering here in the hospital? Enough is enough!! Damini Ji! Can you please leave this place as you don't hold any more relation with Kripa?" He is clinching his teeth to control his anger.
Gayatri tried to stop Angad from abusing Damini and Damini tried to defend herself "Wo abb bhi meri bahu hai. Aur mein such jaan ney tak ussey nahin chodunga. Haan, I'm more concerned about my son coz no husband could tolerate his own wife's betrayal."
Angad walked close to Damini and pointed his right forefinger "You and your son lost right on Kripa at the moment he tortured her, Samjhey? I don't allow you to say anything to Kripa. Didn't you hear she informed your son about us before the marriage? It's your son's fault to marry her after knowing everything."Kripa is sobbing silently at their argument.
Meanwhile doctor came to check Kripa and sent everyone out of the room.
Nishant approached them while they were waiting outside the room. Nishant took Angad aside "Prithvi milgaya hai". Angad surprised "where? And When?"
"In the basement of their own apartments. He was hiding in the watchman's apartment. It seems he bribed the watchman but his wife reported to police as she was also a victim of domestic violence."
Angad shook his head as unbelieving the situation. Nishant asked Angad directly "How do you know Kripa? Family friend hai kya? I saw your mom caring them a lot last night!!" Angad embarrassed a little and nodding his head "Haan, family friends hai aur Mr. Sarma works with us. I was in love with Kripa…" he briefly updated about their past. Nishant nodded his head understanding the situation "Aksar aisi maamlon mein aisa hota hai. Husband doesn't allow wife to talk with strangers especially men. Prithvi belongs to such category. I wouldn't be surprised about his behavior after hearing about Sur. But I wonder how Kripa married him. Aaj kal ladkiyan bahut bahadur hotey hai phir bhi we face many cases like this."
Angad embarrassed at his comment and bid bye to Nishant after a few more minutes of discussing about the case.
Sub Inspector (SI) of Police came to them and told about Prithvi's arrest and Damini started sobbing. Three of them decided to follow SI to visit Prithvi.
Angad walked into Kripa's room after the doctor left. Kripa turned her face away hiding her tears. Angad walked to her bed and turned her face to him by holding her chin with left hand. Kripa's tears fell on cheeks and he wiped with his right hand. Kripa couldn't hold herself and hid her face in his chest. He embraced her, caressing her shoulder, kissing her head. Kripa relaxed after sobbing for a while. Angad sat beside her and gave the breakfast that nurse brought. Kripa refused to have some "Khana, peena chodney sey hal nahin nikal aati hai, Kripa! You should be brave to face the situation. Iskey liye tumhey kuch energy ki jaroorat hai."
Kripa started shedding tears again and he pressed her head to him. "Chup hojaao. Mein tumhari saat hoon, tumhey kuch nahin hoga. Prithvi tumhay kuch nahin karega." he managed to feed her some toast and juice.
Angad asked in soft tone after a moment "Kripa! I was happy for you adjusting in your life with Prithvi. What was the actual problem? Me? Does Prithvi know about us? Does he know that Sur is my daughter?" Kripa lowered her eyes and shook her head from left to right. Angad twisted his eyebrows as surprised "Phir?"
Kripa mumbled "he doesn't know you are Sur's father" Angad is more surprised this time "What? Phir yeh sab hua kyon?" he questioned at her wound holding her hand. She wiped her tears caressing the bandage, showering tears again "he only knows that I was in love with someone. I never mentioned your name till now" she paused and looked into his eyes and lowered her head. She continued caressing her bandage "I told him before our marriage about my commitment and requested to break the engagement. He agreed after many pleadings though he was angry. But he came up with urgent proposal very next morning." Kripa stopped to digest the truth. Angad is holding his breath to hear further but Kripa couldn't continue. He lifted her face "Please tell me everything, Kripa! Aagey kya hua tha? Why did you agree to his proposal? You told Sur about me but how could you manage to hide from Prithvi? When he doesn't know about me why was he harassing you? Does he know Sur is not his daughter?"
Kripa nodded her head tying her lips to control her sobs. "Don't ask me anything, Angad! I can't explain you." She covered her face with shame. He held her head in his palms and touched her forehead to his lips and dropped few tears. "You have to tell me, Kripa! I'm not leaving you alone now. I already committed that mistake in the past. I hold responsible for all this. I need to know everything, I don't keep quiet now." He lifted her head to face him "You have to tell me everything NOW. I can't see you suffer like this. I take you with me, you are mine. I don't let him face you again in his life. Do you understand? I will punish him" he kissed her tears while he is crying. Both shared tears for a while. He rested her head on his chest and relaxed her by caressing her cheeks and tugging strands behind ears.
"He blackmailed me" Kripa slowly whispered closing her eyes to hold tears behind eyes. Angad stopped moving his hands around her face and sighed with shock though he expected something similar. "HOW?"
"He threatened to expose me in some adult magazines" she couldn't complete as a wave of sob covered her throat and hid her face into his neck and sobbing heavily. Angad hugged her tightly to secure her.
"Did you commit anytime with him before marriage?" he whispered after a few seconds. Kripa nodded her face negatively. Angad confused and asked again "clarify me, Kripa! How could he expose you when you didn't.." Kripa cut his sentence still hiding her face in his neck "I never go beyond a kiss on cheek by him. You are the first person to touch me in that sense." A pride smile came on his face and he pressed her face with his hand and kissed her forehead "I'll be the only person to touch you" he said in his mind.
"How did he threaten you? You should have told about him to your parents or Anittah. Wo toh tumhari best friend thi na?"
Kripa shook her head "He showed someone else's picture and mixed with my face. I couldn't believe him that he could do such things with me. I didn't get any chance to tell anyone. Everything happened in hurry. I didn't get guts to tell Mamma as Prithvi threatened me. Tumbhi kahan tumhara contact number diya tha?" she lifted her face and looked into his eyes with tears. Angad felt guilty and kissed her eyelids "I admit pura galati mera tha. I only solve this now."
Kripa stretched her lips and leaned on his chest "Prithvi used to work at home to guard me and I never got any chance to try your contacts. He only allowed mama aur papa's calls."
"I teach him a lesson, Kripa! I Promise you." He thought in his mind by holding her in his tight embrace and closing eyes under tears.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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