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[SIZE=7>PART 15:
Over the next few weeks, Angad and Kripa acted on their resolve to honor their relationship with Prithvi. Kripa purposely kept her distance from Angad and Angad spent more time at his new job, trying to distract himself from Kripa's constant presence at home. Suryabhan had also recovered from his stroke and got busy with his consulting work that he had started after retirement. Kripa made sure she called Prithvi everyday and filled him with the day's activities. Prithvi was really looking forward to coming home now.
Prithvi returned from the US after his 6 month training. He was pleased to see Kripa at the airport. He gave her a big hug, "I missed you so much……dekho tumhari yaad mein maine kitni kavitaayein likh daali….." Kripa smiled and said, "I am glad you are back…"
"Angad nahin aaya…..ab usey lagta hai ki meri shaadi ho gayi hai tho he does not need to care about me?" Prithvi complained as they drove back.
"I think uski koyi meeting thi shayad…." Kripa lied, as she knew Angad was trying to keep his distance from her, and give her more opportunities to spend time with her husband.
" Phone tho kar sakta tha!" Prithvi was still annoyed. Kripa looked at Prithvi as she was driving and thought, "Angad Prithvi ki zindagi mein kitni importance rakhta hai….in dono ka bandhan bahut gehraa hai….tabhi shayad Angad ney……" Kripa shook her head, as she had resolved, she would stop thinking about the circumstances that led to her wedding and try to focus on her future with Prithvi….after all no one had forced her to marry…..it was her choice, albeit on an impulse……
"Kripa…jaanti ho US mein meri dosti Kartik naam ke aadmi se huyi….wo US kayi saalon se hai par ab India wapas aana chahta hai…..he has a great business idea….main soch raha hoon uskey saath naya business start karoon…."
Kripa was happy for him, "yeh tho bahut achchi baat hai….," that would boost his self-confidence she thought.
They arrived home, where Angad and Dilip greeted them.
"Yaar….tu ney bahut kam phone kiye aur airport bhi nahin aaya….main bahut naaraz hoon" Prithvi complained as he hugged Angad.
"Ab tera dhyan dene waali aa gayi hai na…..now I have more time to find someone who can take care of me too!" Angad patted his back and winked.
Kripa smiled, as she knew Angad, as usual was just boasting-there were no girls, no dates- he just worked and took care of Dilip and the house…..he could be so deceptive…..he was indeed very different from what one would think about him on first impression…..kaash maine yeh baat samajh lee hoti tho aaj…..she shook her head again as she remembered her resolution again…..
[SIZE=7>NEXT MORNING AT BREAKFAST:
"Angad….main apni ek company kholna chahta hoon…US mein mujhey ek dost mila, uska naam Kartik hai….he will help me set it up….main chahta hoon tum bhi mere saath kaam karo…." Prithvi asked Angad over breakfast next day.
"Kaisa kaam?" Dilip asked , as he folded his newspaper
"Papa….yehi software business…aaj kal US ke saath off shoring mein bahut scope hai…."
"I think it is a good idea, but Prithvi I am happy where I am….mujhey business nahi karna…"Angad said chewing on his toast.
"Yaar…we can be partners….and in no time can become very big like the Infosys and the Wipros….those companies have done so well overseas…."
"Beta Angad…I think it would be good if you join Prithvi…..partnership achchi rahegi…." Dilip tried to convince Angad.
Angad was adamant, "Nahin chachaji….main interested nahin hoon….hamarey paas sab kuch tho hai…..mujhey aur kuch nahin chahiye….."
Kripa overheard the conversation from the kitchen but kept quiet.
" Main oopar jaakar tumhey business plan dikhata hoon….phir bataana mujhey…" Prithvi ran upstairs.
Dilip walked upto Angad and put his arm around Angad, "beta…I would like it yadi tum bhi partnership karo Prithvi ke saath…..tum tho jaante ho wo kabhi kabhi emotional ho jaata hai aur business mein ups and downs tho hotey hain….yadi tum saath rahogey tho uska hausla bana rahega…..aur main bhi chinta nahin karoonga….please mere liye kar do…aur haan…. tum ek baar Kartik se bhi mil lo…" Dilip trusted Angad's judgement in people's characters rather than Prithvi's. In the past, Prithvi had made erroneous judgments in choosing friends, which could have been disastrous, unless Angad had not stepped in.
Angad could never say "no" to Dilip, "achcha chachaji main partnership kar loonga par I will be a non working partner….I don't want to give up my job…"
"Thank you, my son….i know I can always count on you…." Dilip hugged Angad
Kripa was beginning to figure out the dynamics in the Bose/Khanna household. It looked like Prithvi had been over protected by Dilip, and Angad was used as an insurance policy against Prithvi's emotional upheavals…..it was a strange relationship…for the first time Kripa felt bad for Angad….Angad's life revolved around protecting Prithvi's interests…..Angad was really self less in his love for his brother……he could do anything for him and who would know it better than her…..she had tears in her eyes…..how she wanted to hug him and reassure him that she was always going to support him, no matter what!
Prithvi was elated to know that Angad would be joining him as a partner.
Kripa tried to talk to Prithvi one day, "Prithvi….tum itna bada business kyon kholna chahtey ho?….Shuroo mein chota business hi start karo…..Hamare paas bhagwan ki daya sey sab kuch tho hai…"
"Nahin Kripa….sab kuch nahin hai….main chahta hoon ki main tumhey duniya ki saari khushiyan doon- ek badha ghar, bahut sey naukar-chaakar, bahut si gaadiyan….kyunki main jaanta hoon maine tumhey abhi tak koyi khushi nahin di hai…" Prithvi lowered his eyes, as he knew she understood what he meant.
"Prithvi…..mujhey tumsey kuch nahin chahiye…bas tumhara saath chahiye….ek achcha dost aur ek achcha saathi….main tho tumhari kavitaaon sey hi khush rahoongi"
"Kripa….main bhi apna dharm hi tho nibha raha hoon…..apni patni ke liye saari khushiyan laana chahta hoon…."
Kripa did not argue anymore, she knew Prithvi's definition of happiness was different from hers….
Kripa thought she would support Prithvi in his new venture, if that is what he wanted…..she would try to be a supportive wife.
Prithvi and Kartik worked hard to get the business going. Prithvi had to travel a lot to get new clients. Angad just provided his signatures on all the paperwork as a 50-50 partner, but was not involved in the day-to-day business. Angad met Kartik a few times but was not too impressed with him.
Angad thought Kartik was more "talk" than "walk". He had promised Prithvi, "in 2 years, our company will be really big….we will be traded on the stock market…..tu dekhta ja Prithvi.." Angad tried to warn Prithvi a few times, 'yaar Prithvi…are you sure Kartik can deliver what he promises.?"
"Don't worry Angad…Kartik has worked many years in the US, he knows how the market works….I am planning to make him my chief financial officer….he would be a right fit."
"Prithvi…..don't make any important decisions in a haste…" Angad put his arm on Prihvi and tried to reason with him.
Kripa joined them at the table, "Angad….why don't you let Prithvi make decisions for himself…aakhir Prithvi kab tak tumhari parchayee bana rahega?" Both Prithvi and Angad were stunned by her comment. Kripa realized her mistake-she should not interfere between the brothers. She was trying to help both of them. She did not want Angad to feel pressured to "save" Prithvi every time. She also knew that Prithvi lacked self- confidence, and one of the reasons was his over dependence on Angad.
She got up and left, "I guess, I should stay out of this…."
Angad felt hurt by her comment…he always wanted the best for Prithvi and may be it was time that he handed over the reigns to Kripa…..she was probably right….after all, he had forced Kripa to get married to Prithvi, and she was just being a dutiful wife….
Prithvi just stayed quiet and pondered on her statement…..she was probably right…he had to take some decisions himself, "don't worry Angad…let me handle this one myself.."
Angad just nodded and walked to his room.
……to be continued..