Part: 18
"Mama! Papa is handsome. Bua is also sweet she gave me so many chocolates. She loves me. Why don't we stay with them?" Kripa smiled at Sur's excitement and kissed her two checks. "Papa ke saat hum nahin reh saktey coz we live with Dad. And promise me you are not telling anyone about them." She stretched her hand and Sur kissed her cheek "Promise, I don't tell anyone. When are we going there again?" Kripa looked angrily and Sur lowered her eyes "Sorry! I don't ask again."
Kripa kissed her lips and stared at her while caressing her hair. Sur gave a big smile to Kripa and turned to window to watch outside. Kripa caressed Angad's chain on Sur's neck and felt his touch. "I'm helpless, Angad! I love you." She recollected her past while the taxi headed her way.
Past:
Angad called home as soon as he reached Dulles International Airport., Washington, D.C. next day 10 pm.EST.
Dadi picked up the phone and enquired about his journey."Dadi! mere baat chodiye. Did you tell Mom? Unhoney kya kaha? Can I talk to her now?"
Dadi smiled "Dheeraj rakho, Angad! Everything went fine. I talked to Dilip and Naina and they went to talk to Gayatri and Suryaban. Wo Damini sey bhi baat karengey. Shaam ko phone karo, kushi ki baat sunaaoongi."
Angad felt happy and hung the phone. He turned to Misthy with moist eyes and hugged her "Dadi talked to Mom and Dad. They went to talk to Kripa's parents. I hope everything goes well. I can't bear her separation, Misthy!"Misthy caressed his back "Goodluck, Angad! Abb hum chaley?"
Shabbir received them at airport and took them to his single room apartment. They finished their dinner that Shabbir cooked for them and went to bed as they tired of long journey.
They got ready by 7 in the morning to leave for the work after freshening themselves. Shabbir and Angad enquired about each other and Angad congratulated him. Shabbir put his right hand at his heart "See, Angad! Do saal sey yeh Misthy mujhey tadapa rahi hai. Abb mein tair karliya ki kissi aur ko doondh loonga. Iski kya bharosa kab muh mod legi"
Angad smiled at him when Misthy slapped his shoulder. Misthy turned to Shabbir and explained Angad's love story. Shabbir horrified "You consummated before marriage wo bhi before she confessed? Log India mein itna advance hogaya? Oh my God! How dare you are. Misthy toh haat bhi nahin laga deti. I can count how many times I kissed her" Shabbir grinned and Misthy blushed.
Angad felt embarrassed and Shabbir patted his back "Don't worry, everything goes well and we will attend your wedding soon."
Angad relaxed in back seat dreaming about Kripa while Shabbir is driving and Misthy chatting with him in the passenger seat.
Angad became busy for the whole day and called home again at morning, India time. No one responded his phone as he got worried. Misthy reassured hopefully they might have been busy with the talks and will talk to the office when the office opens up. They waited till the office opened and called and Raj answered the call that Damini, Dilip and Sarma are on leave and the reason is not known but guessing might be on vacation with Prithvi as he is leaving to Belgium soon.
Angad didn't like the news "Abb yeh Prithvi humesha ke liye country chodkar jaa raha hai kya? Sab log uss ke saat kushi mananey gaye they!" Misthy smiled at his irritation "Be brave boy! Sab theek hojayega. Kripa doesn't go with marriage now. I'm damn sure about this."
Angad hoped though his mind suspecting something bad is coming in his life. "Kripa! Trust me. Take initiative, Please, for my sake if not for you" He prayed 100 million times for next four days. He couldn't get through his call, neither mobile nor land line to any of the two houses.
After four days he got Naina's call assuring everything is moving fine and he should complete his work and get back home. Angad is in cloud9 and tried to call Kripa. He never got through her phone but Anittah is kept giving her news as she is fine. He begged her many times to keep Kripa online but Anittah gave some excuses. Misthy kept him busy in preparing time sheets, regular reports about the project and all worked hard for day and night for two weeks.
From Kripa's side…….. in India………
As soon as Angad left all guests for the festive also dispersed to their homes.
Suryaban Sarma invited Bose family for lunch but Prithvi took all of them to a five star restaurant on event of his trip. This is the time when Naina and Dilip left for Sarma house but came back after they couldn't get Damini also at home. They thought both must be busy with Prithvi and will pursue the matter later in the evening.
Kripa is half minded thinking about how to reveal the truth with Prithvi. Damini took everyone to her new property in Mumbai-Goa road that she wants to gift to the new couple. From there Prithvi took Kripa for outing and told everyone that they will be home after dinner.
Damini took Suryaban and Gayatri to the shopping for Diwali as Prithvi is leaving in a week just before the festival. They finished shopping and dinner outside and reached home just a few minutes before Kripa and Prithvi reached homes. This is the time when Khannas tried to contact them but couldn't do till midnight.
Prithvi took Kripa's hand in the taxi to console her, "Kripa! Kal sey tujhey observe kar raha hoon. Kya baat hai? What is bothering you? Are you worried about my trip? I will come back to marry you for sure. I don't look for another girl. Trust me."Kripa smiled and kept quiet for a while. He took her to a movie which she couldn't enjoy but smiled, laughed for sake of Prithvi. Her mind is searching words to start the conversation about her relation with Angad "Angad toh chala gaya magar how can I marry Prithvi after whatever happened? I cannot fool Prithvi or cheat him. He deserves someone better who could dedicate her life to him completely."
Prithvi took her to a restaurant and finished dinner observing Kripa's silence and humiliating herself inside. He took her to beach and sat in a lonely place. He sighed loudly and settled on the sand pulling her down "abb batao kya sata rahi hai tujhey?"
Kripa looked into his eyes and turned her eyes. "Dekho Kripa! I know you are worried about something for sure. Aaj tumhari takleef sunney ke baad hi hum yahan se wapas chal rahey hai."
Kripa noticed his firm decision and opened her mouth and told briefly about her commitments without mentioning Angad's name as she was not sure of Angad revealing with his parents about their relationship.. "Mein ek relationship mein bandi huyi hoon, Prithvi! Pata nahin yeh kab huva aur kaisey huva. We both are attracted to each other. I thought I could control my senses but we went forward with our friendship. Hum bahut door jaa chukey hai. Abb mein yeh engagement thodna chahti hoon. I can't marry you."
"You consummated your relationship? How could you do this to me? Yeh kab huva tha? After engagement how could you develop any relationship with another man? I think I made a mistake in leaving you alone. Tumhara parents ko pata hai? How come they couldn't controlling you?" he paused to suppress his anger "I feel cheated, Kripa! I don't even imagine tum jaisi ladki aisa kar sakti hai." Kripa lowered her eyes silently dropping tears with fear, shy, embarrassment, guilt.
He rubbed his face clenching his teeth, "Who is that guy?"
Kripa didn't mention Angad's name whatever hard Prithvi tried "I can't tell you, Prithvi! He hasn't yet revealed about us with his family. I can't tell you his name now. Jab time ayega tab mein khud bataoongi. Please, meri madat karo. Yeh engagement thod dalo. I can't go forward with you. I can't ruin your life along with me. You deserve a better girl." Kripa wiped her tears after removing burden from her heart.
Prithvi clinched his teeth but kept silent in front of Kripa. "Mein mama sey baat karoonga tab tak tum kissi sey kuch nahin kahogi." Kripa agreed.
He dropped Kripa at her apartments' entrance and drove back. Kripa sighed with relief and went home "Angad! I fulfilled my share of responsibility. Abb tumhara baari hai. Send your parents to ask for my hand" she prayed while getting ready for bed.
Next morning at 7 Damini, Aaliyah and Prithvi came to Suryaban Sarma just before Suryaban Sarma is leaving for work. "Samdhi ji! Ek minute rukiye. Aap sey bahut important baat karna hai." Suryaban Sarma surprised for their unexpected visit and welcomed them. Kripa surprised for their visit at early hours and thought Prithvi might have talked with Damini. She is eagerly waiting by gathering her heart to hear the 'good news.'
"Prithvi is leaving for Belgium, you all know that, and he wants to get married to Kripa before his trip. I also agreed for that since both bride and groom are ready and there is no point of waiting long." Damini explained with excitement. Kripa who is listening to the conversation from behind doors shocked "Yeh kya horaha hai?"
Gayatri and Suryaban Sarma are startled "Damini ji! But we need sometime for arrangements."
Damini cut them in mid sentence "koyi jaroorat nahin. Hum dono families Siridi jayengey aur wahan baba ki saamney wo sacred knot bandengey. Prithvi bhi mangat maanga tha uska trip ke liye aur shadi ke liye meri mangat bhi puri hojayegi. Aap ko chinta karney ki koyi jaroorat nahin. Prithvi will take care of all arrangements. Prithvi wapas aney ke baad um donon milkar bada shandaar reception dengey."
Sarma couple shocked and exchanged looks. Damini again interfered "Ho sakey toh hum Khanna family ko bhi humarey saat le jaayegney. Hum donon ko uskey saat bahut kareeb rista raha na."
Both liked the idea and agreed with half hearted as the proposal came from the groom's side.
Kripa shivered with the thought of marriage and decided to budge into them and reveal the truth. But Prithvi took fast decision and asked Sarma couple to give him permission to talk to Kripa. They praised his initiative and agreed. Prithvi talked for ten minutes and convinced Kripa for the marriage.
Meanwhile Khannas tried to contact them again and found the news and asked them to meet in their house. Dilip tried to convince Damini to postpone the marriage since both have to enjoy the marriage in grand way. But Prithvi insisted for the early marriage. Khannas couldn't reveal their interest as there is no scope for it. Dadi took Kripa inside and tried to find out her opinion but Kripa seemed happy for the decision. Khannas surprised and thought Angad is innocently fall in love with Kripa.
They all left for Shirdi in the evening as they have good muhurat on next morning around 10. They performed the marriage in front of the deity and took blessings and spent a night there. They performed Satyanarayana puja also the next day as the priests insisted for sake of the new couple's welfare. They left for Mumbai third day morning and spent whole day with Bose on occasion of post marriage rituals.
Fourth day when Naina decided to reveal the truth to Angad, Dilip and Dadi stopped her with a fear of his heart break. They tried to be normal and kept giving wrong news to Angad.
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