Part: 9
Angad is driving home without talking a sentence but remembering Kripa. Anittah is talking about the party and Aaliyah. She is teasing him about Aaliyah but he didn't comment anything as he is in deep thought of Kripa. Anittah thought he is interested in Aaliyah and decided to hint Naina about this.
"Kya hua Kripa? Are still thinking about Angad's comments? Are you upset about me dancing with other girls?" Prithvi asked when Kripa is silently in her own world staring out of the window. She smiled and shook her head "Nahin, Prithvi! I know you for so many years and those girls too. I know what you are. Angad to aaj aaya hai and he doesn't know about us. Don't worry, I know you very well."
"Haan, probably you are right. He is new to us. But I heard about Angad's reputation. It's good one way Dilip Uncle put him in his company. He will know everything slowly." Prithvi smiled back.
"But, Man! He is hot" Aaliyah commented loudly on Angad. Kripa and Prithvi exchanged looks and smiled at Aaliyah. Prithvi raised his eyebrows at Kripa as he understood something about Aaliyah. Kripa agreed with smile but felt uneasy about Aaliyah and Angad.
"Mujhey kya horaha hai? Jalan? Why do I care about him? Coz he likes me, shows interest in me, and I feel he should see me only? No, I shouldn't think about him" she firmly thought but her mind again went around the party and Angad. His dance, attitude, authoritative tone towards her, and his touch everything waking her inside. She felt shiver inside and touched her throat to settle herself, and suppress the tremble inside.
Prithvi directly drove to his house and Kripa surprised "Prithvi! Mama, papa must be waiting for me. Kabhi aur din aaoongi."
"Just have a moment with my mom and go. Mein phir do din tak shahar mein nahin rahoonga" Prithvi softly requested. Kripa couldn't resist his wish.
Damini warmly received them and made tea for all. They talked about the arrangements of the wedding, Kripa's wishes. Damini showed her shopping for Kripa and Prithvi for their new life. All talked on different topics and Prithvi drove her home after an hour.
Prithvi is slowly driving and Kripa surprised "why are you driving so slowly?" Prithvi looked into her eyes "I don't want this drive to finish. I'm not getting enough time to spend with you, Kripa! I'm on tours and busy at work. Phone bhi nahin kar paa raha hoon. I thought I will take you out from the party but it became late in the party. And Harshu also didn't allow me to leave as we met after a long time. I'm really missing you."
Kripa blushed "Ek do mahina ki baat hai, phir we will be together, right? I will tour with you too wherever you go. I'll do correspondence course so I don't need to go to college regularly."
Prithvi surprised "Wow! I'm impressed. You already thought about us. I'm glad, Kripa!" he pressed her hand and continued "I liked the idea. We can continue our honeymoon till we have kids." He mischievously looked at her blush for his statements. He pressed his hand on her head "I wish we get married soon, pata nahin, yeh gharwaley kyon humesha muhurat ke naam par humey door rakhtey hai."
Kripa laughed "To ignite the desire in people like you" and gave chirpy looks at him and Prithvi grinned.
Kripa yelled when they passing her house, "Prithvi! You are missing our apartments."
"Sorry! It's your fault. You took me into dream world" Prithvi lovingly looked at her and put sudden breaks. Kripa screamed "OUCH!" for the jerk she got for sudden halt of the car.
Present day:
"Sorry! Kripa! I lost in thoughts." Angad apologized for sudden break to halt the car. Kripa unbelievingly looked at him and turned around to check the surroundings "Mein bhi kahin kho gayi thi, Angad!" she thought. She slowly looked into his eyes.
He realized Kripa was also recollecting the past.
"Angad kitna badal gaya hai. Wo josh, attitude, wo mischievous looks, wo apnapan, kahan kho gaya hai?" she searched deep into his eyes.
"Iski aankhon mein wo mastiyan kahan kho gayi hai? Kya chupa hai in aankhon mein? Abb yeh aankhein Kuch kehtey nahin mujhsey. Kitni badal gayi hai. How is her life? Now she is a complete woman, a wife, a mother. Meri Kripa nahin hai iss Kripa mein." He thought and tears came as he felt heavy at heart.
She lowered her eyes to hide her tears too. He twisted his lips "Goodnight, Kripa!"
She shook her head as reciprocating and got down of the car and closed the door. He expected she invites him inside and she wished he requests to follow her. Both of them didn't realise at that moment that the distance had grown between them, now they are strangers not even friends.
Kripa looked at him and stretched her lips as bidding bye and he gestured with eyes to bid bye. His eyes followed her till she disappeared into the elevator.
He closed his eyes leaning at head rest, two tear drops fell on cheeks. She wiped her tears as the elevator door locked.
"Agayi, Kripa? Sur toh ab tak tumhari baarein mein poch pooch kay thag kar sogayi ti. Prithvi ka kayi baar phone aya tha." Kripa surpised "Prithvi yahan phone kiya tha?"
"Haan, kyon yahan nahin call karsakta? Aisey kyon pooch rahi ho?"
Kripa shook her head sideways and walked into her room "He has my mobile number. He should call me."
Gayatri followed her into the room "Bahut pareshan tha bechara. Tumhara mobile nahin laga hoga."
Kripa twisted her brows and checked her mobile, it is in silent mode. She apologized, "Haan, Maa! Bhulgayi, cell vibrate mein thi."
Gayatri sighed "Chalo, khudi uusey phone karkey batao." She walked out to go to bed.
Kripa called Prithvi but it went to message and she left message for not available when he called and apologized for keeping mobile unavailable too.
She changed into night dress and caressed Sur and softly kissed her cheeks and hid her face in her stomach. Her thoughts again fell back into past.
Angad straight away walked into his room ignoring Anittah's enquiries. She checked him lying on the bed without changing his dress and sighed silently with tears filled eyes. "Yeh kya naseeb likha hai in donon ke jindagi mein" she asked God, The Unseen Power who plays the Universe at his will.
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