Thanks guys 😊
[SIZE=7>PART 12:
Kripa went back to her room and tried to get some sleep. Prithvi's face looked so peaceful when he was fast asleep-he is so oblivious of my pain-she thought.
She sobbed silently all night, as she thought about what had happened in the last few weeks….. Angad was right….why did she have to rush into marriage with Prithvi?….it was an impulsive decision on her part but now that she was married to him, may be with time, she might start loving Prithvi…..after all not everyone is fortunate to marry the person they love……may be a compromise is better than an unhappy marriage……Prithvi was a nice person, he cared for her, they had common interests……in the long run he might turn out to be a good husband…..bas wo kabhi Angad nahin ban paayega……
Angad stayed up all night himself, Kripa's harsh words still ringing in his ears……he could not blame her for saying all those things…..she was absolutely right……did he do the right thing by pushing Prithvi and Kripa into marriage?……he knew Kripa was a strong girl….she was upset but not broken…..Prithvi would have broken down if Kripa had not married him….and that is one thing he had promised himself and Dilip a long time ago…..he would always look after Prithvi…never let him break down like he had after his mother's death!
NEXT MORNING:
Angad came to Kripa's room to dress her wound. Kripa was lying in bed, still in her night clothes. Prithvi had gone out for a morning jog.
Angad collected all the supplies to dress her wound and sat at the foot of the bed, "ab dard kaisa hai?"
Kripa was still misty eyed from last night, "kaun sa dard?"
Angad tried to smile, "I am just interested in the leg right now…zara apni nightie oopar karna…."
"Wo tho main jaanti hoon….aakhir dil ka dard tum kya samjhogey…" she taunted him as she gently lifted her nightie to expose her wounded leg.
"Kripa…..lagta hai raat bhar soyi nahin ho…," he looked at her red and swollen eyes and kept removing her dressing from her leg.
"Tum bhi tho nahin soye"
He grinned mischievously, 'Wo Mishti ke bina neend nahin aati na…"
She finally busrt out laughing through her tears, "Angad….tum bhi….you are incorrigible…"
"Chalo….maine tumhey hansaya tho…." He smiled again, as he cleaned her wound and dressed it again.
She looked apolgetic, 'I am sorry…kal raat kuch zyada hi bol gayi thi…"
"Wo tho tumhara birth right hai……"
"kya matlab?" she sat up
"Yehi…..bolna aura taaney sunaana…."
"look who is talking Mr talkative!"
"I am glad you got it out of your system, ab mujhey baar baar meethi chhuri ki tarah kaathee to nahin rahogi ….," he put the final tape on her wound
"You deserved it!" she teased him
"OK baba….kaan pakadta hoon….tum sey nahin jeet sakta…..can we be friends again?," he extended his hand towards her.
She smiled and nodded, "Ok….par ek shart par….aaj ke baad mujhsey kabhi jhooth nahin bologey…." She placed her hand in his hand
"Promise…" he squeezed her hand back and got up to leave.
"Kahan jaa rahey ho?" she asked
"Your highness ke liye breakfast order karney…." He teased her.
Prithvi came back in a little while, "Oh..Angad…I am glad you are here….aaj papa ka phone aaya tha…..tumsey baat karna chah rahey the…tumhara phone nahin mil raha tha.."
"Wo…shayad room mein hi reh gaya hai….theek hai tum ab apni wife ko sambhalo….I will see you later…" he smiled and said good bye.
Prithvi blushed at that last comment and sat down next to Kripa, "ab kaisi hai chot?"
"Itni gehri chot tho dheere dheere hi bharegi.." Kripa looked at Angad with the corner of her eyes, as he left the room. The smile on his lips vanished, as he understood the hidden meaning of her last sentence. He felt his eyes tearing up in the elevator- " I am sorry Kripa…maine tumhey bahut gehri chot pahunchayi hai…..I hope you will forgive me one day…."
[SIZE=7>MUMBAI:
The three of them returned from Mt Abu after a week. Kripa's wound was healing well, she was more mobile and did not need any more daily dressings from Angad.
Angad started his new job at a consumer goods company as a manager. Prithvi had not yet decided what he wanted to do.
One evening, when they were all seated at the dining table, Prithvi made an announcement, "Papa, main 6 mahiney ke liye US jaana chahta hoon…wahan University of Michigan business school mein ek small business start up ke liye ek course ho raha hai…I think I want to go kyunki main apna business start karna chahta hoon, naukri nahin…"
Angad was pleased to hear that Prithvi was seriously and independently thinking about his career. In the past, Prithvi had always consulted Angad first before making any major decisions-it was probably Kripa's influence, he thought.
Dilip was thrilled, "yeh tho bahut achchi baat hai beta…."
Kripa remained silent; she had no idea Prithvi had been thinking about this-she had seen some brochures in their room about some similar programs, but he had not mentioned anything to her.
"Angad….tu bhi chal na…" Prithvi said
"Nahin yaar….I am happy with my job….tum aur Kripa 6 mahiney ke liye US jao….it would be good for you…waise bhi chachaji ko itney din akele nahin chhod sakta…." Angad looked at Kripa to see her response. She kept eating without looking up.
"Of course Kripa….tum bhi chalogi na?" Prithvi asked
Kripa gave a sharp look at Angad, "Kyun nahin…." She still derived pleasure at teasing Angad and seeing his jealous expression.
Prithvi and Kripa started preparing for their trip. A few days before their departure, Kripa got a call from her father's neighbor, "Beti…main Mr Tiwari bol raha hoon tumhare papa ka padosi…wo tumhare papa ki tabiyat theek nahin hai…jaldi aao….maine ambulance ke liye phone kar diya hai…."
Kripa was shocked to hear the news, 'Main abhi aati hoon uncle…." She hung up and ran to her room. Prithvi was not there-he had gone to the passport office to get some paper work ready. Dilip was out to the library to work on his book. She decided to take the car herself and go home to her father.
As she was leaving, she heard Angad's voice, "KRIPA! Kahan jaa rahi ho itni jaldi mein?" he came down the stairs and saw Kripa's worried expression.
"Angad…Angad…papa..ko ambulance…" she could not speak anymore and started sobbing.
Angad took the car keys from her hand and led the way, "chalo mere saath"
They arrived at Suryabhan's house and found the ambulance taking him on a stretcher.
Kripa ran towards the ambulance, 'Kya hua mere papa ko?…kahan le jaa rahey hain inhey?"
"Madam…inhey stroke hua hai….Bombay hospital le ja rahey hain…aap peeche peeche apni gaadi mein aa jaaiye…"
Angad and Kripa followed the ambulance to the hospital.
Suryabhan was immediately hospitalized and a team of doctors and nurses surrounded him.
Kripa was trembling, "Angad…mere papa theek tho ho jaayengey na?….unkey alawa mera koyi nahin hai…." Angad put his arm around her and tried to console her, "Kripa…don't worry sab theek ho jaayega…." She started sobbing on his chest, as he stroked her hair and consoled her. As she rested her head on his chest, it seemed that Angad had absorbed all her worries and fears about her dad-she felt an unusual comfort, a feeling that she could depend on no one but him during this crisis!
A little later, they were informed that Suryabhan had regained consciousness and was stable now. He had a minor paralytic stroke from high blood pressure but was out of danger now. Angad and Kripa went inside and met him. Suryabhan was not able to speak or move his right hand but was happy to see them.
A little later, Prithvi and Dilip also arrived.
"Prithvi, main ab tumharey saath US nahin jaa sakoongi…." Kripa informed him that evening.
"Lekin Kripa, tumhari ticket aur passport sab tayyar hai….papa theek ho jaayengey kuch hi dinon mein….aur Angad tho hai yahan…wo dekh lega unhey…."
"Nahin Prithvi….meri shaadi ke baad, papa apni health ka dhyan nahin rakh rahey the, main Mumbai chhod kar nahin jaaoongi….I am sorry Prithvi"
Prithvi was disappointed and decided to leave alone, as he did not want out to miss out on this opportunity. He knew Kripa would not change her mind.
After Prithvi's departure, Kripa spent a lot of time with her father and helped him recuperate from the illness. Angad helped her like a true friend- he was always there, whenever she or Suryabhan needed him. He spent hours with Suryabhan, both in the hospital and after he came back home. He dropped and picked Kripa back and forth between the 2 homes and took care of all the doctor's visits and picking up medicines and supplies.
"Angad…tumhari nayi nayi naukri hai na? Tho phir tum itna time kaise hamare saath rehtey ho?" Kripa asked him one day when they were driving to her father's house.
"It is just a job, Kripa…..waise bhi mere qualifications itney achche hain ki I am a very desirable candidate for anyone…." He smiled mischievously.
'Desirable? I am not sure about that…" Kripa teased him back, as she got off the car.
Angad and Kripa had developed such a comfort level with each other, that they could easily tease each other without making the other person feel bad or guilty any more. Kripa was still upset with him for what he had done, but she valued his friendship more than ever. She had also decided to give her marriage to Prithvi a fair chance. Kripa knew that whatever might happen, Angad would always be there to support her…..she had learnt to be content with what fate had in store for her.
Prithvi was busy with the course in Michigan. He talked to Kripa 3-4 times a week, usually enquiring about her dad's health and general well being. Kripa felt that Prithvi was getting a little more distant, but somehow that did not bother her-she did feel guilty about that though-after all he would be back in a few months time and he was her husband!
One day, when Kripa was looking after Suryabhan at his home, he asked her, "beti ek baat batao…"
"Haan papa…" Kripa was making the bed for her dad.
"Jab hum London mein Angad aur Prithvi sey miley the, mujhey aisa laga tha ki tum Angad ko zyada pasand karti ho…."
Kripa froze at that comment and did not say anything.
"Parr jab shaadi ki baat chali…tumney Prithvi ko pasand kiya….bura na maano tho poonch sakta hoon kyon?"
"Kyon….aapko apna damaad pasand nahin hai kya?" she asked coldly
"Nahin…nahin…aisi baat nahin hai…..Prithvi tho bahut achcha ladka hai….balki main chahta tha tum ussi sey shaadi karo…..main tho tumhari mann ki baat jaan na chahta tha…."
"Papa…yeh zaroori tho nahin ki insaan ko har wo cheez mil jaaye jo ussey pasand ho.." her voice got a little husky as she said that.
"Kripa? Tho mera andaaza sahi tha…."
"Papa…aap jaldi theek ho jaaiye…warna aapkey dimaag mein ultey-seedhey khayal aatey rahengey….."
"Beti…..Angad ki aankhon mein wohi dard dekhta hoon jo tumhari aankhon mein hai…..chahey wo tumhara pati nahin hai, par itna jaanta hoon wo tumhara saath kabhi nahin chhodega…..aur ho sakey tho tum bhi kabhi nahin chhodna….aise achchey dost bahut kum naseeb waalon ko miltey hai…"
Kripa had tears in her eyes; she excused herself and went to the kitchen, "papa….aap mere dil ki baat itni aasani sey kaise padh lete hain…." She said to herself.