Re-Union Pt22 Pg44 'Acceptance' - Page 7

Angad has had enough, he's tried to call Kripa a thousand times but she refuses to answer his calls, just so typical of her, he picks up the bottle of whiskey from his cabinet and pours himself a glass, drinks it then pours himself two more, he has an idea in his head and before his conscious catches up with he's out the door. He gets into his car and drives to Kripa's house, he sees the light on so he knows she's inside, he gets out of the car and staggers to her front door

"Kripa!"

Angad yells on the top of his lungs, a neighbour pops her head out of the window and tells him to shut up, Angad retorts back telling the old woman to mind her own business, Angad yells Kripa's name again with a result, Kripa's front door opens, she shakes her head at him, Angad stumbles forward to her doorstep, he stands in front of her and grins

"Hey gorgeous"

He says while brushing his hand against her cheek

"You're drunk Angad"

Kripa huffs while pushing his hand away. Angad nods his head in agreement.

"Yes, I'm drunk, because what I want to say, I can't say while I'm in my senses"

Kripa rolls her eyes and tries to shut the door in his face but Angad holds the door firmly with his hand

"Not before you hear me out"

Kripa sighs and puts her hands on her hips

"Speak, quickly"

Angad breathes deeply and holds his hands out in front of him

"When we first met…"

Kripa shakes her head and again tries to shut the door on him but Angad puts his foot in front and requests her to listen.

"When we met, I knew you would be someone who would have an impact in my life, and you did, things were going great Kripa, but then you just, you just forgot it all, why Kripa? I loved you….no sorry I love you so much yet you left me"

Angad's expression softens, Kripa rolls her eyes again and pushes him away retorting back at him

"I never left you"

Before Angad can disagree Kripa shuts the door on his face and leans her back against the door, she breathes deeply and closes her eyes as Angad continues outside.

"I left you? I left you? Kripa you're insane!"

Angad yells again, more of the neighbours pop their heads out of their windows to see what's going on but Angad doesn't care, he's trying to understand what Kripa meant, he steps back and stumbles to the ground unconscious.

Angad's sudden quietness makes Kripa thing he's gone, so she glances through the curtains just to check and she spots him lying on the ground, her hand touches the door handle and she mentally argues with herself whether or not to bring him inside, after much hesitation Kripa opens the door, she steps out and walks over to Angad lying on the floor, she shakes her head and mumbles a curse at him, she walks over to his car and finds it unlocked, she gets the keys from his pocket and locks the car then folds her arms wondering how to bring him inside. She thanks her stars as her neighbour comes out, he offers his help and Kripa accepts, she thanks him after her drops Angad onto her couch.

Angad breathes softly as he rests, Kripa watches him from the arm chair, he looks so innocent while sleeping, Kripa rests her head on the back of the chair wondering why Angad wasn't willing to accept he had left her, most likely his arrogance trying to pin the blame on her. She stands up and runs her fingers through her hair, there is no point dwelling on what happened and what didn't happen, she turns to go upstairs when she hears Angad mumble her name, she stops for a brief second but carries on upstairs for some fresh sound sleep.

*********

Angad covers his eyes with his hand as the sun shines through the window, he forces himself to sit up but then the pain hits him, he clutches his head and tries to recollect how many drinks he had had to make him have such a hangover. He gets up and yawns and unknown to his surroundings he walks to the hallway to the kitchen, he begins to look through the cupboards for some aspirin, he opens a particular drawer he scratches his head thinking this is normally where he kept the aspirin, he yawns again and stretches his arms causing himself to look around properly, that's when it occurs to him, he's not in his house, if he isn't home where the heck is he?

His question gets answered as he sits on the sofa watching Kripa as she hands the aspirin to him, he thanks her and swallows it with the glass of water, he gazes over at her hoping he wouldn't have to ask for an explanation, and Kripa knows him all too well, she sees him glancing at her so she speaks up

"You got drunk and collapsed outside my house, I was going to leave you there but I wouldn't have forgiven myself if something happened to you, so I had a neighbour drag your lazy butt in here, you fell asleep on the sofa"

Angad nods his head as if it is all coming back to him; he scratches his chin and clears his throat

"Did I say anything stupid last night?"

Kripa chuckles to herself; she stands up and throws his car keys at him

"Get out"

Angad looks amused, he nods his head, grabs his jacket and turns to leave, he stops next to her, leans down and kisses her cheek

"Thanks for keeping me here"

Kripa wipes her cheek and closes the door as soon as he is firmly outside the door; she breathes deeply and goes to get ready for work.

Angad reverses out of Kripa's driveway and heads home, he opens his front door and is shocked to hear voices inside, he glances at the driveway and sees a car, wondering who it is he places his keys on the shelf and opens the door to the living room.

If his day couldn't get any worse, Angad stares at his father and his step-mother; he greets them politely yet rolls his eyes at his step-mother Kareena. He sits on the sofa opposite them

"Firstly how did you get into my house? Secondly I thought you were going to the US?"

Dilip smiles at Angad and moves forward and sits next to him.

"You're forgetting who bought you this house, I have a spare key, and as far as going to US, that's why we're here"

Angad looks puzzled, he stares at his father and asks for an explanation, Dilip nods his head and speaks up

"Well I know you don't want to live with us but how about you come with us as a trip to visit your grandmother in Scotland?"

"Nani?" Angad asks firmly

"Yes, your nani, who else?" Dilip replies with a smile on his face knowing he has successfully managed to convince his son into travelling with them. Angad stands up and takes his jacket off, he faces Dilip

"I'll come, under one condition, you somehow convince Kripa to come, she won't listen to me but she might listen to you"

Dilip frowns, he had the notion that Angad was over Kripa but clearly he wasn't, Dilip nods his head in agreement

"I'll get right on it"

Angad sees them out and heads to the bathroom for a quick shower before he left for work.

************

Throughout all the years Angad and Kripa were together, Kripa had only met Dilip twice. Once when Angad had first introduced her and second on his birthday where Dilip had thrown a party for Angad. He had liked her at first dismissing Angad's feelings as a mere crush but later realising how much in love Angad was with Kripa. He had been there when things went sour with the two and had offered Angad his comfort and support and assured him things will work out if they were meant to be.

And now here Kripa is face to face with him after so many years, she ushers him into the living room and offers him a cold drink, he accepts as he takes a seat on the sofa. Kripa brings him a glass of orange juice then seats herself opposite him and rests her hands on her lap. She breathes slowly and smiles nervously

"So Uncle, what bought you here?"

Dilip drinks the glass of juice and folds his arms across his chest, he clears his throat and speaks up.

"You see, I have managed to convince Angad to come Scotland with me and my wife, to see his nani"

Kripa smiles, if there was anyone else in the world who understood Angad better than her it was his nani. She asks what the problem is and Dilip frowns

"He won't come unless you do"

Kripa laughs, she looks over at Dilip sensing he's serious, she stops laughing and looks shocked.

"How can I go? What about my work?" Kripa stand sup and shakes her head mumbling why she shouldn't go, Dilip holds her arm and snaps her out of her trance.

"I don't want you to come either but I want Angad to come, only he won't come without you, so you have no choice but to go"

Kripa tries to argue but Dilip is adamant, he announces they will be at her house to pick her up the next day, Kripa groans, Dilip leaves and she picks up her phone and calls Angad and gives Angad an earful for even suggesting she accompany him to Scotland, after she's finished venting out on him, Angad asks her if she's refusing to come and Kripa calmly informs him of Dilip's decision. Angad grins to himself and mentally thanks his father.

********

If there is anyone else apart from Naina Khanna that Angad loved immensely in the world then it's his nani, Mrs Shilpa Sen, she had moved to Scotland shortly after Naina's death and Angad had only seen her a few times in the previous years, so when Dilip offers to take him to Scotland, Angad is more than excited and everyone in the car on route to Scotland is enduring Angad's ever growing excitement, especially Kripa who was forced to sit in the back with Angad.

"Only 1 hour left now"

Angad grins like a child at Kripa who rolls her eyes, Angad wouldn't stop telling Kripa how long was left and frankly Kripa is getting rather annoyed, she gives Angad a fake smile which evidently shuts him up. She silently prays thanking God that Angad finally shut up, but her prayers aren't answered as Angad clutches her wrist and makes her face him.

"When we get there, we'll take nani shopping ok?"

Kripa looks at Angad weirdly and nods her head, Angad stares out of the window with the smile still gleaming on his face, no matter what their past, Kripa has to admit Angad loves his nani dearly without any strings attached. Kripa smiles to herself but quickly frowns when Angad speaks again, she inwardly groans and focuses her attention outside the window, Angad watches her as she gazes out of the window, he smiles but quickly turns his head away as Kripa glances at him. He looks outside the window yet peeks at her from the corner of his eye, he smirks and goes through his plan to make Kripa his.

Dilip stops the car at a motorway service to stretch his legs, he and Kareena go to grab a bite to eat and to have some coffee leaving Angad and Kripa alone in the car, Kripa is aware of this and is also known to Angad staring at her, she shuffles in the seat to put as much space between them both as possible. But Angad catches on to her attempt and moves closer to her, soon enough he's almost on top of her, Kripa nervously looks up at his face and their eyes meet, their hearts begin to race as Angad moves his face closer, so close that Kripa feels his breath on her neck, she breathes deeply and closes her eyes expecting Angad to kiss her but is confused when nothing happens. She opens her eyes one by one to find Angad munching on a packet of crisps; she looks over at him while he grins.

"What Kripa? I only moved closer to get the packet of crisps"

"You did?"

"Yeah why what did you think I was going to do?"

Both are aware of Angad's intention to make Kripa nervous, but she decides not to show it so she shifts in the chair and folds her arms across her chest and glares at him

"I knew you were just messing around, I was just playing along with you, what you think you're the only one who can have a laugh?"

Angad chuckles to himself and nods his head agreeing to whatever she says, he faces the front but glances at her every so often eating, Angad smiles to himself, both of them know what effect Angad coming close to her has on her, even if Kripa is determined not to show it, but even Angad is determined to get Kripa to face up to her feelings and admit she still loves him.

Angad opens the car door and stretches his legs as he watches Dilip and Kareena walk back to the car, he pops his head inside to speak to Kripa

"I'm going to the loo, if you need to go then come now because we're not stopping after"

Kripa hesitates but agrees, she gets out of the car and follows him, Angad informs Dilip where they're going and enters the building. Kripa quickly follows him inside and stays on his tail, when Angad is about to go into the men's toilets, he notices Kripa behind him, he turns on his heels

"Kripa, darling, I know you can't tear yourself away from me, but you can't come with me into the men's toilets, I'm sorry but you'll have to go to the ladies toilets"

Kripa scoffs in disgust.

"I knew that you moron"

Kripa turns around and enters the ladies toilets while Angad smirks to himself and goes into the men's toilets. After both are finished they return to the car where Dilip and Kareena are sitting comfortably in the back, Angad looks at Dilip

"You're driving son, I'm too tired"

Angad groans inwardly but knows he won't be able to argue with Dilip he sits in the driver's seat, he puts his seat belt on and notices Kripa standing outside by the car, Angad rolls his eyes and puts the window down

"Do I need to send you an invitation to get into the car?"

Kripa glances at the front seat then at Angad and shakes her head, he points to the back and Kripa sees Dilip with Kareena making, well googly faces at each other, she shakes her head and opens the front door and gets in, she looks through the mirror and the very much loved up couple and scrunches her face up, she nudges Angad who edges closer, and whispers

"Do they do that a lot?"

Angad glances behind and shrugs his shoulders

"Don't ask me, I don't live with them"

Kripa looks at the mirror again and shakes her head and focuses forward, Angad, watching her all the while, merely grins and starts the car.

**************

When Angad recognises the familiar road to his nani's house, he deliberately drives faster causing Kripa to swerve over to his side when he turns, Angad smirks as Kripa holds his leg to balance herself, when he straightens the car up Kripa notices where her hand is and quickly snatches it up, Angad laughs to himself as he turns the car into Shilpa's driveway.

Shilpa Sen, she may be Angad's grandmother but even at the age of 65 she looks old enough to be his mother. She stands in the doorway of her house holding her arms out as her only grandson from her only child runs up the driveway to give her a hug.

"Nani I missed you"

Angad kisses her cheeks then out of respect for her, bends down and takes her blessings, despite living in Scotland Shilpa is still very much traditional and expects Angad to be the same whenever he visits and Angad rarely likes to disappoint her.

She links arms with him and ushers him into the house, she stops in the hallway as Dilip and Kareena enter, like Angad Dilip also bends down and takes her blessings, he glances at Kareena who does the same, and never the less Shilpa blesses her, after all blessings should never go to waste.

Angad stands against the wall with his arms folded watching as Dilip hugs Shilpa and she complains about him not calling, he looks outside and sees Kripa standing awkwardly by the door, he quickly steps forward and pulls her into the house and practically shoves her in Shilpa's face.

"You remember Kripa right? The one I always talk about on the phone"

Shilpa nods her head in agreement, she touches Kripa's cheek and a smile appears on Kripa's face, she greets Shilpa and gives her a warm hug, Angad nudges her and points to the floor, Kripa looks confused and Angad tries to mouth something to her but Kripa in unable to understand, Angad shakes his head while Shilpa grins, she holds Kripa's hand.

"He's trying to tell you to take my blessings"

Kripa bites her tongue and quickly bends down and takes Shilpa's blessings, Shilpa happily gives her the blessings then goes on ahead to the living room. Angad hits Kripa's head lightly

"You're such an idiot sometimes"

"Well maybe you should have been a bit clearer"

Kripa mumbles something and goes into the living room, Angad grins at her naive ness and follows suit. This is going to be an interesting trip indeed.