PART 39
Zaib moved closer to Kripa and lightly placed an arm around her shoulders, as she went over the details of her life with Angad in Mumbai . Kripa looked at him with a question in her eyes , then relaxed when she saw his casual smile.
He listened intently to her story, interrupting her once or twice to ask her about Angad's college friends and family.
He wanted to know everything about Angad…..he still couldn't remember anything concrete about his past but already felt a connection to Angad through Kripa's anecdotes and his own vivid dreams!
Kripa, ab mujhey apney baarey mein bhi batao….apney family ke baarey mein……India mein tumharey kaun-kaun hain? He urged her to tell her own story as well.
Kripa smiled sadly: Main tumhey kya bataaoon? Meri zindagi ek ajeeb paheli hai….na koi pata, na koi apna, meri pehchaan ateet ke andheron mein ghum hai.
Matlab? Zaib sat up with sudden curiousity…..
Kripa looked tragic: Matlab mujhey aaj tak pata nahin chala kaun merey asli parents hain…..
You mean tumharey parents …..jo accident mein guzar gaye…wo?
Unhoney mujhey goad liya tha….jab main buss paida huyi thi…..meri Maa mujhey paida kartey hi chal basee…..main bahut badkismat hoon …janam letey hi apni Maa ko kho baithi….phir Mama-Papa ko….aur phir Angad bhi……she became choked with tears.
Zaib's heart twisted strangely to see her cry, to see her in distress…he pulled her gently in his arms and wiped her tears: Mat ro, Kripa….ab dekho, main toh wapas aa gaya hoon….tumhey apna Angad toh wapas mil gaya na……phir apney aapko aisey sazaa mat do….
A little white lie told to comfort and console his beloved was nothing for the crafty Zaib.
Kripa looked up hopefully into his eyes .and nodded: Haan…..Uparwaley ne aakhir mujhpar rehem kee…..mujhey tum wapas mil gaye….ab buss tumhey sab kuchh yaad aa jaye toh main apney aapko sabsey khushnaseeb samjhoongi" she gave him an adoring look and caressed his bearded cheek lovingly . He caught her hand and kissed it.
Kripa, agar tumhey taqleef na ho toh mujhey apney Mom ke baarey mein batao…..shayad main tumhari kuchh madad kar sakoon"
Kripa's eyes moistened again at his offer….he was still the same! She remembered how Angad had helped her find the box containing her birth mystery….how he had helped and comforted her during that shocking discovery.
He had even placed ads in the newspapers with pictures of her mother and her father's message from the photo……trying to locate her birth father, but all efforts had been in vain. Nobody had turned up with any information. They had got a few crank calls but Angad had handled them and driven the frauds away!
Haan Zaib, aaj main tumhey sab kuchh bataoongi….she slowly told him about her birth, her mother's death, the photo found in her mother's purse which was her only link to her past.
Zaib's eyes sharpened, so that was Kripa's mother's photo in her purse that he had secretly seen the other day.
He asked her with a perfectly innocent face: Tumharey paas wo tasveer hai…apni Mom ki?
Haan….Kripa took it out of her purse…Main isey hamesha apney paas rakhti hoon….mujhey lagta hai meri Maa hamesha merey saath hai……aur shayad kisi din main apney Papa ko dhoond bhi loongi. After all, nothing is impossible, hai na? She asked whimsically.
Of course! Nothing is impossible! Kya pata….kisi din tumhey apney Papa ka bhi pata chal jaye" he gave her hope and hugged her lightly.
Zaib took the photo from her hand and studied it intently for a few minutes….Where had he seen this lady before? His forehead scrunched up in a deep frown as he concentrated, trying to remember. But the problem with an amnesiac was, the memories from his distant past often got mixed up with more recent events…..so he couldn't place people or faces sometimes. No wonder he led a nomadic existence, moving from city to city, girlfriend to girlfriend. That way he didn't have to retain anything for very long!
Perhaps he had seen this lady in some other city……but wait….how could that be? Kripa's Mom died a long time ago….how could he have seen her?
It hurt his head …..Zaib stopped trying…..if Fate willed he would remember where he had seen that lady before.
Kripa noticed his intent perusal of the photo : Angad, tumhey kuchh yaad aa raha hai? Iss tasveer ko dekhkar?
Zaib shook his head: Pata nahin….kuchh dhundli si yaadein kohrey mein phansi huyi hai…..lagta hai tumharey Mom ko mainey pehley kahin dekha hai"
Kripa laughed without humor: Tum kaisey unhey dekhogey ? Wo toh 24 saal pehley hi guzar gayi….zaroor tumhey unki photo yaad hogi….kyunki Angad ne yeh photo dekha tha……
Ho sakta hai……Zaib agreed, handing her back the photo….
Suddenly, Kripa's mobile started ringing. It was Josh, sounding very brusque and abrupt: Kripa, tum abhi wapas aa jaao, Prateek uth gaya hai, hes hungry…..hes crying for you. You have to take him down for dinner, mujhey kaam hai"
Kripa was rather taken aback at his rough tone: Theek hai, Josh, main abhi aati hoon"
She quickly got up, flustered, feeling somehow as if Josh had caught her red-handed: Angad, mujhey ab jaana hai…..Prateek jaag gaya hai….
Zaib hid a smile…..he suspected Josh had been watching them and couldn't stand their tender loving gestures and cozy conversation.
As Kripa was leaving, Zaib couldn't help sending a triumphant glance towards the hidden camera behind the painting that he had discovered the day before. Upstairs, Josh saw that look on his monitor….in a heartbeat he knew that Zaib knew!
Josh realized that Zaib was playing a game with him, that he was using Kripa as a pawn to get even with him. Josh's fists clenched! Tonight he was going to tell Kripa all about Zaib…..the killer, the criminal! Show her the real face of the man she thought was Angad!
****************** *************************************
Kripa walked into the suite to find it in semi-darkness. She switched on the living-room light …and saw Josh standing near the window overlooking shimmering city-lights. She was nervous at his stillness….it seemed quite odd! She walked into Prateek's room ….he was still sleeping soundly, exhausted from the Zoo trip. Kripa was surprised, she closed the door and went up to Josh.
Josh, kya hua? Prateek toh ab bhi so raha hai? Lekin tumney mujhey bataya wo uth gaya hai?
Josh turned towards her with a snarling expression: KYUN? Mainey tumhari "shopping" ko interrupt kiya? Waisey tum kiss cheez ki shopping kar rahi thi? Apney liye ek aashiq dhoond rahi thi? Mil toh gaya hoga….
Kripa was shocked! What was he saying? "Josh, tum yeh kya..."
Zyada bholi banney ki koshish mat karo! Main tumhey ab acchhi tarah se pehchaan gaya hoon….tumharey pyaar ne mujhey andha bana diya tha…lekin ab meri aankhein khul gayi hai! DAMN YOU, KRIPA! HOW COULD YOU LIE LIKE THIS TO ME? ITNA JHOOTH ? Aur kitni baar tum mujhsey jhooth bolkar uss….uss Zaib se milney jaogi?
Kripa's face paled…..how did he know about her meeting with Zaib? Did his spies tell him? She looked guilty as hell, guilty and stunned!!
Josh, main toh sirf Angad ki madad karna chahti hoon…..she whispered, quaking with dread as she looked up into Josh's smouldering green eyes!
MADAD!! ? Tum uski madad karney uskey kamrey tak pahunch gayi? Meri biwi hokar tum ek gair mard ke saath uskey kamrey mein……..SHAME ON YOU, KRIPA! TUM ITNI GIRR SAKTI HO MAINEY KABHIE SOCHA NAHIN THA….. Josh was snarling with rage.
Kripa's jaw fell open with surprise…..how did he know about her in Zaib's room?
Josh scoffed at her: Kyun? Hairaan ho gayi ke mujhey pata kaisey chala? Aao tum khud hi dekh lo….kaisa hai tumhara Zaib….
Josh gripped her wrist cruelly and dragged her to his laptop on the centre table. Kripa bit her lips in pain but didn't protest….she could understand why he was so furious! He flung her down on the couch in front of the laptop open on the table….he pressed a few keys and logged into the system monitoring Zaib's room.
It came up onscreen….Zaib was sitting on his couch watching TV, sipping on red tomato juice.
Kripa was astounded…..she stared at the screen openmouthed: Yeh toh….yeh toh Zaib ka kamra hai? Yeh tumhey kaisey dikh raha hai? Tumney kya kiya hai? She asked Josh suspiciously.
Yes, Darling! Josh sneered sarcastically , Yeh Zaib ka hi kamra hai…..humney uskey kamrey ko bug kiya hai…..secret camera fit kar diya hai…..taaki hum sab kuchh dekh sakein…
Lekin KYUN? Kripa was beyond her depths of understanding…
Kyunki tumhara wo aashiq Zaib….WO EK CRIMINAL HAI! CRIMINAL! HES A WANTED MAN! CHAAR DESHON MEIN USNEY CHAAR MURDERS KEE HAI….HES KILLED 4 PEOPLE!
NAHIN! Kripa stood up in disbelief and shock…..NAHIN….YEH NAHIN HO SAKTA….TUM KYA BAKWAS KAR RAHEY HO?
HAAN….ZAIB EK INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL HAI……HES A KILLER…. Wo ek KAATIL HAI! MUJRIM HAI KANOON KI NAZRON MEIN….
NAHIN…..Kripa yelled at the top of her voice: TUM JHOOTH KEH RAHEY HO…..TUM JANTEY HO ZAIB ANGAD HAI ISLIYE USEY PHANSANEY KI KOSHISH KAR RAHEY HO…..
Josh laughed….without humor, sarcastic: Meri kya majaal jo main kisi Angad ko kaatil banaoon? Uska credit jaata hai uskey Boss ko….aur jaanti ho uska Boss kaun hai? Iss Hotel ka Maalik jo ek Underworld Don hai! Naam hai uska Bajaj…..Godfather kehtey hain usey sab…..hum kabsey uskey kaaley dhandhon ka pardaphansh karney ki koshish kar rahey hain…..lekin har baar wo machhli ki tarah phisalkar baahar nikal jaata hai!
JHOOTH! SAB JHOOTH HAI! Kripa shook with anger: TUM ANGAD SE NAFRAT KARTEY HO…..GUSSEY MEIN PAGAL HO GAYE HO…..ISLIYE YEH SAB KEH RAHEY HO!
JHOOTH? Josh laughed again…..Of course main, tumhara pati, jhootha hoon….AUR WO….TUMHARA AASHIQ….WO TOH MAHATMA HAI…..AB DEKHO APNEY MAHATMA KE KARTOOT !
YEH DEKHO……Josh grabbed a folder from the pile on the table and took out a bunch of enlarged photos. He shook one in front of Kripa's pale face: YEH DEKHO, ZAIB KA LATEST VICTIM!
Kripa stared in horror at the picture of a gunshot victim….a middle-aged man who had been shot through the center of his forehead, leaving a gaping hole. Kripa shuddered and looked away, feeling nauseous at the graphic picture.
Kya hua? Achha nahin laga? Aur dekho…..yeh …yeh… yeh…..Josh flung the pictures of the other victims from Dubai, Rio, India…..he flung them on Kripa's face. The photos fell on the ground….he picked up the Rio victim's picture and shoved it under her eyes: YEH DEKHO, AISEY MAARTA HAI TUMHARA ZAIB APNEY TARGETS KO…..EK GOLI….MAATHEY KE BEECH…(Josh pointed his forefinger to the center of his own forehead) .HES AN EXPERT MARKSMAN! A TRAINED ASSASSIN!
Kripa moved away and faced Josh with fury shaking her petite frame, her fists clenched : SAB JHOOTH HAI! MERA ANGAD KABHIE KISIKA KHOON NAHIN KAR SAKTA! WO TOH EK FARISHTA THA….WO KABHIE KAATIL NAHIN BAN SAKTA….TUMHEY GALATFAIMI HUYI HAI….KAATIL KOI AUR HAI…MERA ANGAD KAATIL NAHIN HO SAKTA! KABHIE NAHIN!!
TUMHARA ANGAD…..ANGAD NAHIN….WO ZAIB HAI…WO TUMHEY DHOKHA DE RAHA HAI…..HES MAKING A FOOL OUT OF YOU! TUMHAREY JAZBAATON KE SAATH KHELKAR, TUMSEY ANGAD KI SAB BAATEIN JAANKAR WO ANGAD HONAY KA DHONG KAR RAHA HAI…..Darasal wo ek behrupiya hai…..Bhes badalkar apna kaam haasil karta hai…..ab wo tumharey ateet ko istemaal kar raha hai……hamarey aankhon mein dhool jhonkney ke liye! HES USING YOU, DAMNIT! HES USING YOU TO FOOL US! Wo Angad honay ka naatak kar raha hai….WO ANGAD NAHIN…..ZAIB HAI! Josh fumed and raged.
NAHIN…..WO ANGAD HI HAI…..MERI ROOH, MERI HAR SAANS USEY PEHCHANTI HAI…..MAINEY KOI GALTI NAHIN KEE…..I KNOW HE IS ANGAD! TUM MUJHEY BEWAKOOF NAHIN BANA SAKTEY…..ZAIB HI ANGAD HAI AUR WO EK SINGER HAI, KAATIL NAHIN….USKEY HAATH MEIN GUITAR HAI, BANDOOK NAHIN! Kripa was crying now, horribly upset at the accusations being heaped on Zaib/Angad! She thought Josh was insanely jealous of Angad and was probably doing all this to trap him!
Josh was enraged, frustrated as hell….he was trying to expose Zaib's truth to Kripa but she wouldn't believe him….: ACHHA TOH YEH BAAT HAI….TUM EK MUJRIM PER BHAROSA KAROGI, PER APNEY PATI PER NAHIN? KYA JADOO KIYA HAI USNEY TUMPAR! IS HE SO GOOD IN BED? TELL ME? KITNI BAAR GAYI HO USKEY KAMREY MEIN? DID YOU SPEND THAT AFTERNOON WITH HIM TOO? TELL ME? Josh yanked Kripa's hand, roughly, pulling her towards him. TUMSEY TOH ACHHI WO CALL GIRLS HOTI HAIN………KAMSEY KAM WO SATI-SAVITRI HONAY KA DHONG TOH NAHIN KARTI….
Kripa slapped him then…….HARD! With her free hand! She was sobbing, trembling with rage, insult, humiliation, affront!
Josh grabbed her hands and flung her away, his cheek was red from her slap and his fury, his eyes blazing green as he advanced towards her…..YOU *****!!
Suddenly they heard sounds of a child crying…..both turned around in horror….Prateek was standing at his bedroom door, looking terrified: Mamaaaa….Papaaaa….he cried piteously, looking fearfully from one parent to the other!
Kripa ran to him at once and picked him up in her arms: I am sorry, baby…I am sorry! She cried into his hair….hugging him tightly. She didn't look back at Josh….who was standing there with guilt, fury, jealousy, agony warring inside him. Kripa ran into Prateek's bedroom and shut the door!
Josh stood there brooding for some time, a murderous expression on his face, then he turned around and left the Suite, slamming the door violently behind him!
Kripa sat on the bed, consoling and comforting Prateek for a long time, biting back her tears for his sake! He was really scared to see his parents fight like that! Josh and Kripa had never fought so violently before! Kripa talked gently to him, told him stories, sang his favorite songs! She ordered Chinese noodles from room service and fed him. They watched TV lying together in his bed.....Batman and Superman cartoons! Finally Prateek fell asleep once more in her arms!
She laid down beside him, trying to sleep but Josh's horrible words kept on ringing in her ears: Zaib ek kaatil hai! Zaib khooni hai! He killed 4 people! Tumsey achhi toh wo call girls hain…..Is he so good in bed?
She started sobbing silently: Hey Bhagwan! Kyun meri zindagi mein aisa ho raha hai? Meri naav (boat) do majdharon ke beech atki huyi hai……main kiss taraf jaaoon…ek taraf mera pyaar hai toh doosri taraf zimmedari aur ehsaan…..Josh ko gussa honay ka haq hai…usney merey liye itna kuchh kiya aur mainey usey jhooth kaha…usey dhokha diya. Lekin main Angad ko kaisey jaaney doon? Uskey baghair main jee nahin sakti! Josh gussey mein aakar kahin usey kuchh kar na de…..she got up and called Zaib's room, but there was no reply….probably he had gone out. It wasn't that late at night…..it was only 9 P.M.
Josh kyun Angad ke baarey mein yeh sab jhoothi baatein bana raha hai? Kahin apney gussey aur jalan mein wo Angad ko kisi jurm mein phansa na de….Kripa restlessly paced up and down in the sitting-room. Then she sat down on the couch and tried Zaib's room again…..still no reply. Fretting and worrying, Kripa finally fell asleep on the couch.
********************************************************
Godfather relaxed in the lounge of his private cabin aboard the Luxury Yacht! His manservant John had just cleared up remnants of dinner served on the small dinette in one corner. GF glanced anxiously at his phone…..Madhav was supposed to call him with information about the girl Kripa. But he hadnt called yet. Finally at 9, he couldn't wait anymore. He called Madhav on his mobile.
Madhav was rather apologetic: Sorry Sir! Restaurant ke kaam mein itna busy tha ke time ka pata hi nahin chala….waisey main aapko phone karney hi wala tha….
Godfather cut straight to the point: Information mila? Uss ladki ke baarey mein?
Haan Sir! Main khud gaya tha uskey college mein….mainey aapko bataya na Sir….merey dost ka beta wahan padhta hai….mera dost bhi saath gaya tha…Principal Saab ne bahut madad kee. Kripa ke baarey mein sab kuchh bataya aur Mumbai mein uskey doston ka pata bhi bataya…..hum unsey bhi milney gaye the….
Godfather sat up with anxious excitement: Kya bataya Kripa ke baarey mein?
Sir, wo ladki college ki honhaar student thi…..she was the best singer….usney college ke liye Sangeet Acedemy ka prize bhi jeeta, inter-college competition mein bhi…
Godfather interrupted him impatiently: Main uskey academics ke baarey mein nahin….uski personal life ke baarey mein jaanna chahta hoon….kya uski shaadi huyi thi? Wo ladki ab kahan hai?
Haan Sir! Kripa ki shadi bhi huyi thi…..usikey college ke ladkey ke saath….Angad Khanna naam tha uska (Godfather stiffened with shock) ….Angad uss college ke Trustee ka Beta tha….bahut ameer ghar ka ladka….Lekin Sir…..so SAD! Bahut bura hua uss ladki ke saath….shadi ke din hi vidhwaa ho gayi….uska poora sasural ek bomb blast mein khatam ho gaya. Uska pati Angad…. Angad ke parents sab maarey gaye! Sir (Madhav spoke in hushed tone) suna hai iss haadsey ke peechhey Mumbai ke D gang ka haath tha….wahi jo hamarey bhi dushman hain….jo log pichhley saal hamarey aadmi Veeru ko maar dala Dadar mein…wahi gang, Sir…unhoney hi Angad aur uskey family ko maar dala.
Godfather was silent for a few moments….he was stunned, horrified.... Angad shadi shuda hai? Kripa uski biwi hai? OH GOD! Yeh mainey kya kiya? Mainey Angad ko apney family se juda kar diya? Aur wo bachcha?
He quickly asked Madhav with urgency in his voice: Madhav…Kripa….uska koi bachcha hua tha kya?
Jee Sir! Bomb blast ke baad wo hospital mein thi….bahut sadma laga tha bechari ko…do mahiney hospital mein thi…tabhi sabko pata chala wo pet se hai….lekin Sir, uskey doston ko pata nahin ladka hua ke ladki….Kripa tab tak apney rishtedaaron ke paas chali gayi thi….suna hai baad mein usney kisi aur se shadi bhi kar lee….
Sir, ek baat poochhoon? Aap iss Kripa ko kaisey jaantey hain? Kya aap uskey family ko jaantey the?
Nahin, aisi baat nahin…..Godfather's mind was in a turmoil…..Madhav….Kripa ke doston ka naam aur pata mujhey do…phone number bhi…
Okay Sir! Mishti Arora aur Prithvi Bose….wo dono Bandra mein rehtey hain….Madhav gave their addresses and phone numbers
( Mishti was married to her fiance Sandip Arora and mother of two kids and Prithvi had married Harshini and had one son…both managed their parents' Entertainment/Recording company now)
Before hanging up, Godfather suddenly remembered: Madhav, Kripa ke parents kya zinda hain? Kahan hain wo?
Nahin Sir! Uss ladki ki toh kismat hi kharab hai….uskey dono parents ek accident mein maarey gaye…..Angad ke maut se pehley hi usney apney parents ko khoya tha….Kripa duniya mein bilkul akeli thi….isiliye rishtedaron ke yahan chali gayi….
I see….Thanks, Madhav! Sab jaankari ke liye bahut shukriya!
No Problem, Sir! Bandaa hamesha aapki seva mein haazir hai! Take care, Sir!
You too, Madhav! Goodbye!
Godfather hung up and sat deep in thought! For the first time, he was completely at a loss! He was badly shaken…..had he totally ruined Angad's life? He had separated Angad from his wife and child…..but he didn't know he was married! How would he know?
He had rescued Angad from the blast and changed his identity! He had made him an assassin, a killer to save his life, to help him defend it! How would Angad get his life back again?
NO……. He, Rishabh Bajaj could do anything…..he would make sure Angad returned to normal life again. That he is reunited with his wife and child!
I wont let him suffer my Fate! I lost my wife and child….lekin Angad ko sab wapas dilaooonga! Lekin abhi main Angad ko kucch nahin bata sakta…..varna jazbaaton mein aakar wo apna hosh kho baithega. Right now, hes in danger! He cannot become careless with emotions! I will have to hide the truth from him for a few more days! Abhi iss raaz ko raaz hi rakhna padega! Usko Zaib bankar rehna padega….buss aur kuchh din….
****************** **************************************
Kripa woke up with a start….there was a click at the door! The Suite door opened, Josh came in….it was well after midnight! She looked worriedly at Josh….he was drunk! His eyes were red, still blazing with anger! He advanced towards her…..she was petrified!
TUM! Tum…..abhi bhi jaag rahi ho? He slurred drunkenly….kya apney aashiq ka intezaar hai?
JOSH! Please don't! Ab aur nahin….Bahut ho gaya….Kripa protested with angry tears in her eyes!
SSHHHHH! Ahista….Josh placed his forefinger on his lips: Sunny... jaag jayega….He walked drunkenly towards her!
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
GODFATHER part 2: continued in this post.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/830670/the-godfather-part2-index-pg1
pallavi
Edited by pallavi25 - 17 years ago
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