Part-16
Kripa was ready…at 5 and came down with her small airbag and sat with Harshini…in the back seat….
J: Hey I am not a driver ok….come and sit in the front seat….
K: No one told you …you are a driver josh…she said seriously…trying hard not to laugh….
J:Well every one will think I am, if u sit at back….
Kripa laughed at that…and went at sat at the front seat…
They had fun for two days…exploring the mountains….looking at beautiful scenaries…and walking through the old down town……area…..Kripa had visited this place many times with her parents…..She wished they were here….especially Angad…..Shaking her head….to take all that out of mind…She kept talking to Harshini and Josh…..
They came back on Sunday night and dropped Kripa at the hostel….Next weekend they went to see movie….Kripa being emotional and all….teased her all the way back….punishing her for the way she teased him at the restaurant….Months flew by….and its already 4 months since …Kripa came back to Nainital…
There are only 2 months left for Kripa to go back to Singapore…..She is selected to perform…in a show with her teacher in Delhi…and performs very well…She gets lots of offer …for the shows…but she declines saying….she is going back to Singapore…..Prithvi sees her in the airport….in Delhi…but she was already walking towards the boarding and Prithvi could not meet her….He tried to call her when he went to Mumbai but doesn't get the no…He tells mishty and Angad about Kripa…
Josh, Kripa and Harshini…spend most of their weekends together….. Josh started developing feelings for Kripa…and told her about it………one evening when they were alone at home….Harshini was out for getting some groceries….
J: Kripa….I want to tell u some thing….I have started liking u…I mean loving u…You are so beautiful…caring and loving…You have nice sense of humour….that I could not stop my feelings….But first I wanted to ask you about how u felt about it….
You know I can see some type of sadness in your eyes…when you think no one is watching u….I asked Harshini…but she told she can't tell me…and betray you…so I am asking u….before….its too late….Do u also having feelings for me….or it is one sided…Its ok…if you don't …….we will always be good friends…..ok…
Stunned Kripa looked at Josh….She had tears in her eyes…She liked josh as a friend…..she did not want to hurt him…….But she had to say it …before this goes any further…She looked down at her tangled fingers….
K: Josh I am sorry….but I don't feel any such thing….please…don't get me wrong…You are a wonderful person…and any girl will be happy to have u as her life partner…but I don't love u……..I have loved only one person my entire life,….and still do…
J: It's ok Kripa….Thanks for telling me….who is the lucky guy…?
K: She looked out of the window for a long time….sadness covering her soft features….He is married to this wonderful girl….who loves him very much…
J: I am sorry…
K: Don't be…I am happy for him…If he is happy…I am too…she looked at Josh and smiled at him….….but still I love him..and I can never love any one else or be any one else's….
J: But u need a partner to make ur life easy Kripa…..How will u stay alone all ur life….
K: I have a partner….my memories….They wont let me alone….She smiled sadly…looking at Josh…
J: You are a wonderful person Kripa….The guy u love…doesn't know how lucky he is..? He must be pretty special…to get the love of so many girls…..
Kripa smiled and looked down….Yeah he is…I guess…she thought…
K: I am sorry Josh….if I hurt ur feelings….
She told this sadly….Josh was a good friend…she felt bad …
J: Don't be stupid Kripa…..Its ok…It's not necessary that both have feelings …..for each other always…we are friends and will always be ok….Kripa nodded at him and smiled….
J: Can u tell me the name of the person whom u love…
K: shook her head…some things are best left unanswered…she said quietly…
Josh kept quite….
Josh was a little sad ….but accepted it quickly….and getting back to their friendly term…….He never tried to ask her who is her love but the question remained and came at the back of his mind….several times….
At the end of 6 months….Kripa finished her music course successfully, she gets a award …and is honored by her college fellows …..Josh gives a party in her honor…
K: Thanks Josh for this wonderful party…
J: Hey what are friends for….
K: Thanks for everything….ur friendship…ur support…..
J: Hey…are u trying to tell me some thing….?
K: Yeah I guess so…Mom and dad….…..are very happy about my achievement…….They are proud of me…….but they asked me to come back to Singapore as early as possible…So I am planning to leave this weekend
Harshini comes in at the same moment….
H: Hey that is not fair…..You have to come and stay with us for some time….I am not allowing u to go so ealy…..We will go together in a month or so Kripa…Please…..
K: No Harshini…..Dad mom…
J: I will talk to them Kripa….Please for our friendship sake…please…
H: Please…pretty please….
K: OH OK…I will stay a month…but then we are going back ok…..
H: Oh sure…you are the best ….thanks Kripa…and she hugs her….
K: Thanks to u both….
J: Our pleasure always….
The party goes in full swing...Josh and Harshini help Kripa to pack her luggage and bring it to Josh's place….Kripa settles in with Harshini in her room, as before, as there are only 2 bed rooms…..
Kripa calls her parents at night and tell them about her stay…Josh talked to them and assured them that he will take care of Kripa like his sister…….and they agree,….He thanked them and gave the phone back to Kripa…..
Kripa is happy to know…that Josh is not sad over her…..and enjoys her time with them…..
Kripa never went to see her old house….and she wanted to see it once …Harshini had gone to her painting class and she was alone…She took a taxi and guided him to their old house……………..She could see quite a change…The color of the house was changed…and there was a fence around the house…There were some children's toys outside and 2 bicycles…..Then she sees Angad's house right next to them…It was still the same…though…the color was peeled…and it looked old….she went to the back of the house….and saw the ladder still there….she touched the ladder and closed her eyes ..remembering….the old days…..and smiled at the memories….
Then she went walking towards the lake….there was a deck there now…and 2 boats …besides it….She sat there savoring the moments……..remembering all the childhood days……..She did not know how long she sat there…but by the time she realized it was already dark…
She got up…quickly….she was afraid of dark…and she ran towards the road…She panicked when the road was empty…Praying that she could get a taxi she started walking……..She stamped her foot in frustration….for not looking at time….She walked for some time…and still there were no cars in sight…She was so frightened now…She did not know the way….to their house…..Suddenly she saw a bike coming from the opposite direction…..
She sighed in relief…when it came close and she saw Josh…..Josh was angry….at her….
J: Kripa….do u know what time it is? Its 9 o clock…and you know that you will not get any taxi at this hour….I have been looking for u all over the town……from last 1 hour….If u hadn't told Harshini about ur old house….I couldn't have found u ………You need to take care Kripa….Common now…lets go..Harshini…is worried…too…he shouted back in anger….
K: I am so sorry josh….Time just went by and I did not even realize it…..
J: Sit down…lets go….He was still angry…She felt awful…for worrying them…….
Kripa sat down behind him and they were back to house…..
Josh went away in his room in anger…..Kripa looked at the slammed door….with tears in her eyes…..
Harshini came running towards her and hugged her….and asked
H: Where were u…We were so worried….
K: I am sorry Harshini…I did not mean to cause trouble….
H: Hey its ok…..
K: Josh is angry…
H: Don't bother he will be ok in a few min…He is always like that….
A tear dropped from her eye and fell on Harshini's neck….She got back and stared at Kripa…
H: Hey its ok Kripa…don't cry…..He will be fine….
Just then the door opened and Josh came out….He looked at Harshini and Kripa and then at her face…..He sighed and cursed for loosing his temper….
J: I am sorry Kripa….for yelling at you….
K: Its ok Josh…It was my fault…I am sorry too….
Josh went to her and gave her a bear hug….and asked her to freshen up and come for dinner….. At night…Harshini went out for a party, with some one she recently met in the drawing classes…Kripa was sleeping…and the lamp was on….Josh came in and switched of the lamp…Moment he switched it of …kripa got up….and switched it on again…Surprised Josh turned around….in the door way…
J: I thought u were sleeping..?
K: Well I was….
J: Then u need some thing?
K: Hmm no…
J: Then why did you switch on the light?
K: Well….well the thing is…Josh the thing is…that ..that I can't sleep in the dark…I mean I am afraid of the dark…You switched of the lights and…she looked embarrassed…she was still afraid of dark…
J: Laughing out loud…Oh god…kripa…grow…up……well when harshini was here…I thought you both must be talking or some thing…so I never cheked …now I know why the light was always on in you guys room……..Kripa looked at him angrily….
Josh sobered and told sorry and still chuckling…went out………and closed the doors behind him….
Josh is really a under cover private investigator for Indian government….But his identity is as a Scouts and Guides trainer…in several schools and arranging camps for all ages and teach them self defense techniques….Josh asked Harshini and Kripa to join his next camp with him…which was for 10 days…..Both agree…and start preparing for their camp …..buying all the necessary things listed in the list…….Josh had told them…they have to just take the food for a day with them…and every thing else is arranged over there…including tents…and food….
K: Harshini…..Do you think we can survive for 10 days in camp….
H: laughing….what do u mean Kripa….she asked …selecting her shoes…
K: Well this is the first time I am going for the camp for 10 days….you know….I just went for a days camp…never so long…
H: Don't worry Kripa…I have been for camping many times with Josh…it will be fun…..
K: I hope so….she said worriedly…
Josh took them to the starting point of the camp…instructing them to be with the group and telling them again and again about what to do and what not….till they got tired and just rolled their eyes….like teenagers getting tired about their parents bugging them……There were only 2 other who had reached there before them…After an hour or so..…Kripa was surprised to see 10 more people joined them….
Josh….stood up on the rock and started his camp with brief introductions……and saying there are 10 more who will join them, near the camp…coming with another trainer….from different direction and will join them after they are more than half way to their base.. … and 2 people who will help for medical assistance and cooking and staying…so it will be a group of 25…. Josh showed them a phone…which will connect to the base and rescue officers from any where….in case of emergencies…so they are pretty safe …He then told them all the instructions he had told Kripa and Harshini at least 5 times…..He instructed all of them not to touch wild flowers or smell them…from near…or drink water from the streams…without asking….He told them…….to be with the group as the area is too wide and they may get lost easily…..He told them…about the things they will do in the camping…the self defense training…..and other programs…as well as their contributions to be done in Cooking food daily for the group of 25 and environment cleanliness….He told them…to keep a chalk with them and mark the routes, so that if any one gets lost they will find the way…..back to the camp….Later he gave every one a paper…. Showing the map of the forest….instructing to look for the signs…if they get lost….
Josh came near Kripa and Harshini and asked them to be close
J: So…you ready for this Kripa….His eyes twinkled when he looked at her….He was excited…Kripa could tell….Every one started trekking…. It was not too difficult…every one did fine….with each others help….It was afternoon…and everyone was tired…They had been climbing for nearly 7 hours……It was in between 10-14 hours route…..They had stopped 3-4 times…..for snacks and freshing up…..Kripa and Harshini walked slowly….Josh came up to them…
J: Hey …how are my favourite girls doing…
H: Good
K: Yeah …good
J: Well are u tired…
K: Little bit….So we are resting here for a while…
J: Yeah…can have some lunch…..and then go further…..He asked every one…to have what ever they bought it in their boxes….and rest for a while…
Josh, Harshini and Kripa had bought some sandwiches….so they had them with some juice and then packed everything up…and were on their way again…after hour…
Harshini…met with a college guy…who interested her…They were talking non stop…while…little by little…Kripa was left behind….Kripa kept looking at different trees…flowers….as well as scenary…In front of her….taking out some pictures……
She was so lost in the beauty and her thoughts…that she never sensed that she was all alone in the forest…and all her fellow partners and Harshini…Josh are gone…Kripa looked at all the 4 sides of the forest…confused where they might be gone….she panics and…runs to the direction…she thinks they might have gone…..After running for almost 10-15 min…….she gets tired….She is frightened …Taking out her water bottle….she drank some water….she looked at her watch for time…it was around 6 ……She called out for Harshini and Josh…but there was no answer…..
Meanwhile Josh stops for resting a little bit….and asks every one to rest too….There was still 1 hour for them to reach the camp…He was with one of the college guy from Bombay, who was quite friendly…chatting all the way......He looked back…and saw harshini talking with some guy…concentrating on him….as if she is interested…Josh shook his head…and looked at others….searching for Kripa…Still after a min or so he did not see Kripa…He got up…and went to Harshini…looking here and there…..
J: Harshini where is Kripa?
H: Harshini looked up …confused…and looked around…..She was here just few min ago….I mean she was behind me….with the group…
Josh runs and looks around near by and gets tensed when he doesn't see her….Harshini….starts worrying…..Josh tells every one…to stay there and not to go a single step ahead till he comes…..Josh seached around for 10-15 min….and comes back….Harshini…panicks …….Josh calls the rescue team and the other team informing about Kripa being lost….
A person comes from the base within hour…and Josh asks him to take every one to the base and settle them…and he will go with search team to look for her….Harshini wants to come but josh denies and sends her too…..Josh is worried about Kripa…as it was already getting dark…If he doesn't find her before dark then….where could she be…how could he be so careless…she might be frightened…….He thought..cursing for his irresponsibility………
Meanwhile Kripa is worried and every step she takes was heavy…she was tired and panicked……it was already getting dark….what was she going to do?....She should have followed the rules …..instead …she ……
After walking for about 1 hour or so…she was completely tired……..She was walking slowly…hopelessly…without knowing where she was going…she was not getting any clue….where she was…even if she had the map…It was already half dark now….and she was getting more and more restless…..There was a stream next to where she was walking….she thought of drinking som water…but then remembered what josh told her…Not to drink water from the streams with out asking…..She knew….that the streams are covered by long trails of poisnous plants….She was thirsty….She takes out her bag and a torch from it….to keep it handy….She tries to see if she has an extra juice bottle…..but nothing except some snacks….Suddenly she hears the foot steps…..afraid…it might be wild animal too, she gets up quickly and takes the bag on her back……The steps came closer and closer….but she did not know where it was coming from….There was only sound of the dried leaves…..nothing else…..
Ishaani
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