PART 15:
RECAP:
The moment had come and gone; now he would have to wait till after the show. She was gone. "Kahan chali gayi wo?" He wondered. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Hoping it would be Kripa, he turned around with a smile, but was shell shocked to see the tall, svelte, glamorous woman with a cigarette in her hand.
"SIMONE?" He was elated and shocked at the same time.
"HELLO ANGAD!" She smiled sardonically, "CAN WE TALK?"
"Sure!" He smiled hesitantly, perplexed at a very healthy and alluring Simone in front of him. He had imagined her to be a terminal cancer patient, perhaps pale, dark circles and even balding. But here she stood in front of him, healthier looking than she was even nine years ago.
"Great! Let's go backstage to the changing room…..tumse zaroori baatein karni hain."
"I am glad to see you Simone…..yes let's go….mujhey bhi tumse zaroori baatein karni hain," he followed her, relieved and apprehensive at the same time.
Angad followed Simone nervously, mentally making notes on how to break the news to her about Kripa and himself. He was prepared for the brickbats, the accusations, the bitterness, the torment of being a single mother in this big bad world, his betrayal- after all he deserved it- he had never felt as despicable as he did that moment. He had been a jerk, a scumbag of the tallest order. If Simone lashed out and refused to forgive him, he would just listen silently. Perhaps, even walk out of this grand event, out of Kripa and Rhea's life forever. He did not deserve them and would pay penance for his selfish actions all his life. If Simone forgave him, he would ensure Simone was well taken care of in her last days of her life and reassure her that he would be the best dad to Rhea. He would tell her all about Kripa and himself- how madly he was in love with her and how she had changed him into a caring, responsible, loving and one woman man. He could apologize for betraying Simone but never for falling in love with Kripa. It was not a mistake to fall in love. True love needs no apologies- he was hopeful Simone would understand that.
"OK Angad! Let's talk……what's on your mind?" Simone shut the door to the dressing room behind them. It was the same dressing room where just a few moments ago, Angad and Kripa had shared an intimate moment. The gift box in the corner was untouched. He became tongue tied as soon as he came face to face with Simone.
"H-How are you doing Simone?" he empathized.
"Never felt better." She replied curtly, making him uneasy.
"Oh…that's great! So your cancer is responding to treatment?"
"You can say so," she replied, this time with a smirk on her face, confusing Angad once again.
"Uh…wo Simone…I..I," he lowered his eyes, "I…I….I.."
"What happened Angad? I have never known you to stutter like this…..even when you duped me with your flowery words…..you exuded charm even through those false emotions…..kya hua? Tumhari shakal dekh kar lag raha hai jaise first ball par duck par out ho gaye ho," she chuckled, "am I scarier than all those fast bowlers you face on the pitch?"
"Simone….I…I am sorry," he raised his eye lashes and looked at her.
"Sorry? You are sorry? Sorry for betraying me when I was pregnant? Sorry for dumping me like an old cricket ball? Jis ball se century maari, usee ball ko koode daan mein phaink diya? And that too when she was pregnant with your goddamn child?"
Angad's head hung with shame, "I was young….immature…..and insensitive…..I have changed Simone…..and I am really s-sorry."
"YES…I WANT YOU TO BE SORRY….SORRY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN….SORRY THAT YOU EVER LOVED ANYONE IN YOUR LIFE!"
"Simone? I know I was foolish and I betrayed your love…..I am sorry you had to be a single mother all these years…..and now your illness……you have gone through a lot," he empathized sorrowfully, "but Simone…..I want to be your friend……I know I can't reciprocate your love….or the pain you've gone through……"
"Yes you will Mr. Angad Khanna! You will reciprocate all the pain you gave me…..aur wo bhi jald hi."
Angad was taken aback, "what do you mean Simone?"
Simone smiled scornfully, "you don't know what hurt means Angad…do you? Now you will……I pray you hurt all your life……saari zindagi us pyaar ke liye tadpo jo kabhie tumhara tha hi nahin……aur main saari zindagi tumhein tadapta hua dekhoon….pyar mein bhi aur career mein bhi…..agar main tumhein banaa sakti hoon tho todh bhi sakti hoon!"
"SIMONE?" He shook her shoulder, "kya matlab hai tumhara?"
"Aage aage dekhiye Mr. Khanna….abhi tho show ka interval hi hua hai."
"Show? Interval? What are you talking about?" He was baffled.
"You have just been part of Simone's reality show…..the show in which you fell in love with a wonderful actress….….Kripa Sharma! Yes, this was all staged Angad…..I must say Kripa did a great job……ek maamooli school dance teacher hai wo……lekin bahut ambitious…….poor thing has a lot of family responsibilities…….but her ambition and drive could make her do anything…….kinda like you Angad……your ambition drove you into my bedroom…….till you achieved your goal……..Kripa did the same…….I don't know if she got to your bedroom or not……but yeah…..she did get to her goal."
Angad cringed at Simone's words. He shut his eyes and clenched his fists angrily, "cut it out Simone! What rubbish!"
" Kyun sacch nahin sun paa rahe? Well…….dance studio bhi mera hai….Mishti, Prithvi aur Anita bhi chote mote actors hain…..they all did a terrific job…haina? Talking about bedroom again…..so did you and Krip-aa….ehem????" She winked suggestively and laughed.
"I can't believe this!" His eyes popped as each muscle in his body rippled with anger mixed with hatred for the woman standing in front of him.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me….aakhir pyaar insaan ko andhaa banaa deta hai….waise hi jaise main tumhare pyaar mein andhi ban gayi thi….so here is your proof Mr. vice captain," she pulled out a roll of papers from her bag.
Angad stared at the wad of legal papers in disbelief. It was a legal contract between 'Abraham production house' and 'Kripa Sharma.' It was a contract to act in his upcoming movie after successfully completing Simone Abraham's reality show- the terms to be determined by the director, Simone herself.
"Kyun? Shocking…isn't it? How can a bholi bhali girl like Kripa do this to you?" Simone chortled.
"You are lying Simone! This contract is fake….you are fake…..it's all a lie…..I know Kripa better than she knows herself……she loves me…..I know that!"
"Yes…..I have lied about a few things…..I don't have cancer and I am not dying…..I am not a poor single mother but a very influential wife of a very rich man, Josh Abraham. But my dear lover boy, Kripa, the ambitious actress and this contract are real……dekho legal seal bhi lagi hai."
"If you can lie about having cancer….why can't you lie about Kripa?"
"Sure I can….but why would I? Mujhey kya milega? Main bhi ek business woman hoon…..haan tumse badlaa lena chaahti thi….wo tho le liya…..lekin apne husband ki production company ke liye bhi mujhey naye faces chaahiye the…..so now I have Kripa…Mishti…Prithvi…Anita…..and Rhea……what do you say Mr Vice captain…..I've killed two birds with one stone…..you know what I mean?"
Angad was crestfallen, "Rhea? How could you involve our daughter in this scam?"
"Wrong again! This is neither a scam, nor is Rhea our daughter!"
Angad was livid. He grabbed Simone by her shoulders and shook her vigorously, "you b***h! RHEA IS MY DAUGHTER….I KNOW THAT!"
"LEAVE ME ANGAD!" Simone yelled and shook him away, "now you don't want a sexual harassment case against you…..that would definitely bring a halt to your career and ambitions for good."
A flustered and frustrated Angad pulled away and ran his fingers through his hair, "Rhea kaun hai phir?" He felt that someone pulled the ground from beneath his feet. It was all a nightmare- a bad dream. He would soon wake up and find himself in Kripa's arms or on the cricket field.
"Rhea is an orphan! Our child was never born….I had a miscarriage," Simone blurted out.
"So it was all a lie…..huh?
"It wasn't a lie Angad. Didn't I just say that they are all actors? It was all drama…..kind of an audition before my husband's big movie project."
"You are wrong…so wrong here…..mere emotions ke saath tho tum log khel sakte ho…..lekin ek aath saal ki ladki ke emotions ke saath? You know she really believes that I am her dad…..that's not acting…I know that for sure," he almost cried out.
"You've really lost it Angad…..cho chorry Angad baba," she pinched his cheeks teasingly and patted them as she left the dressing room, "I expect to see you at the awards ceremony…..after all tumhare cricketing colleagues tumhara betaabi se intezaar kar rahe hain…..and of course you are planning to donate all the earnings to charity…aren't you? Waise tumhein shayad in paison ki zaroorat padhe kyunki aaj ke baad tum na tho kisiko pyaar karne ke laayak rahoge, aur na hi cricket khelne ke laayak rahoge…..aakhir dil par bahut gehra sadma pahuncha hai…and…..remember the 1 Crore you gave away as bribe money to Anita….thanks for the money….that helped us fund this whole project….thoda chutta shayad bachaa ho….waapas chaahiye kya?" She chided him purposely.
A fuming and jilted Angad walked out of the room, unable to stand any more barbs from Simone.
With heavy footsteps, he walked back to the performance hall. All the performances were over. The crowd mingled and headed for the buffet lines at the food counters. He spotted Kripa, Rhea, Mishti, Anita and Prithvi in an animated discussion with Josh in the corner. Whatever doubts he had about Simone's story were dispelled when he saw Anita giving a big hug to Kripa and Rhea as if they were long lost friends. He had never felt this humiliated in life. He shook his head and marveled at Kripa's skill at duping him at his own game. A mere five foot four woman, with a modest back ground, beautiful but no super model had insulted him like no one had ever in his life. Rhea's involvement in the whole affair was even more appalling. How could a woman who claimed to have such high principles in life use an eight year old for her own selfish purpose? By the looks of it, they were all perhaps celebrating the success of their project and looking forward to Josh's new flick.
"Kya hua beta?" Naina surprised him from behind, "sab theek tho hai?"
"Oh….maa?" He forced a smile.
"Kuch bujha bujha sa lag raha hai beta," Naina's maternal instincts sensed something was wrong with Angad.
"Shayad dance raas nahin aaya mujhey," he swallowed a lump in his throat and averted his gaze.
"Galat! Mujhey tho lagta hai cricket se zyaada tujhey dance raas aaya hai…..cricket ne tujhey star banaya tha…lekin dance ne ek insaan banaa diya hai…..cricket ne mere bte ko mujh se cheena tha lekin dance ne mujhey mera beta mujhey wapas de diya hai," she smiled and patted his arm.
"Maa…..can I ask you a question? Ek sawaal ka jawaab dogi aap?" He asked.
"Aaj tak koi galat salah di hai maine tujhey?"
"Maa….insaan ko suni hui cheez par vishwaas karna chaahiye ya aankhon dekhi hui cheez par?"
"Beta….kaan aur nazar dono dhokha khaa sakte hain….lekin dil kabhie dhokha nahin deta…..mere khayal se tho insaan ko hamesha apne dil ki sun ni chaahiye," she sighed.
Angad pondered at her words of wisdom and thought inwardly, "kya aisa ho sakta hai ki Simone jhooth bol rahi ho? Tho phir wahan Kripa, Rhea aur Anita ko saath saath dekhna bhi nazar ka dhokha hai?"
"Nahin maa," Angad sighed back, "meri nazrein kabhie dhokha nahin khaati….chaliye…table par chaliye…..let's have dinner," he dismissed her advice, kept his gaze fixated on Kripa and Rhea, disgusted by the games the two of them had played on him.
Mishti was back on stage to announce the winners of the dance competition. An anxious Kripa walked towards Angad, hoping to see the enthusiasm on his face. She was taken aback by his tense expression, jaws tightened and eyes scathing.
"Angad…..nervous ho kya?" she flashed her characteristic smile and squeezed his hand as she settled next to him. Naina smiled at Kripa from a distant and nodded her head in approval. Kripa smiled back and nodded back with respect, but was shocked when Angad withdrew his hand.
Before she could fathom why he was being so aloof, their names were announced as the best dance couple for the evening.
A reluctant Angad stood up and walked to the stage without waiting for Kripa. A confused Kripa just followed him meekly. They collected their trophy and a check for $10 Lakh Rupees amongst cheers and applauses, forcing plastic smiles on their faces. As their fingers brushed against each others around the trophy, Angad curled his fingers and waved at the crowd, ignoring Kripa. Kripa was sure something had transpired between Angad and Simone since they had danced on the stage. He probably knew the truth, and was upset with her about her betrayal. She wanted to say aloud, "Angad… that is only half the truth," but their voices drowned in the sea of cheers, whistles, cameras and microphones.
Kanan joined them on the stage and promptly announced that the prize money would be donated to build a dance studio for under privileged kids in the city. Angad was a hero in the truest sense now. The press loved him- the star with a large heart-except only Angad knew that his heart had been shattered into pieces by the woman standing across from him, the two of them separated by the glittering trophy with a dancing couple adorning it's top. It was ironical that the trophy they had both worked so hard to acquire was now like a thorn between the two of them, reminding them of the wall that had just been erected between the two of them in the last few moments.
Kripa tried her best to approach him, but swiftly, he slipped off the stage, making a dash for the dressing rooms. He wanted to make sure the gift box with the 'shagun' was no longer there. Kripa did not deserve it anymore, and perhaps after tonight, no other woman would ever deserve it either.
He was stunned to see the box missing from the room. He searched the closets and drawers, but the box was nowhere. As he walked back towards the door, mumbling curses, he was shocked to see Kripa at the door in the red saree he had wrapped in the box.
"Angad…..I accept your proposal," a smiling Kripa covered her head with the ornate pallu and coyly walked towards him.
"Enough of your drama Miss!" Angad yelled and pulled off the pallu from her head, "bahut ho gaya natak."
A shell shocked Kripa was in tears, "Angad…yeh natak nahin hai….main…main sach much tumhari patni ban na chaahti hoon."
"Yeah right! Kaun si movie ke dialogues rehearse kar rahi ho?" He smirked, "You liar!"
Kripa wiped her tears and walked closer to him. She gazed into his eyes, "haan maine tumse jhooth bola tha Angad……haan main Simone ki friend nahin, balki uski employee hoon…..haan Rhea tumhari beti nahin hai…..haan main ek dance studio mein kaam nahin karti……haan main ek actress ban na chaahti thi……main bahut ambitious ladki thi…..and yes I agreed to give you a taste of your own medicine……lekin yeh batao tumney apni zindagi mein kitni ladkiyon ke saath jhooth bola hai? Kitno ko pyaar ke vaade diye hain? Kitno ko sapne dikhaayein hain? Kitno ko shayad maa bhi banaya ho….kya wo sab jhooth nahin tha?" She confronted him just like Simone had a little while ago.
Angad stepped back and averted his eyes from her intense gaze, "OK….maana main galat tha…..but that does not give you any right to break my heart…..and break Rhea's heart too."
"Main wo hi tho jodna chaah rahi thi Angad," she broke down and sobbed silently.
"What do you mean?" Angad had a puzzled look but Kripa was too distraught to speak.
"Main bataati hoon papa," Rhea rolled into the room and gave him a bear hug.
"Papa?" He stood still, his arms in the air.
"Haan papa," Rhea looked up tearfully, "koi kuch bhi kahe…..lekin aap mere papa hi hain."
"It was all a drama Rhea…choreographed by Simone…..she is the real dance teacher here….we all have been dancing to her tunes….and Kripa." Angad tried to free himself.
"Wrong Angad!" Josh strolled in with Simone and Mishti in each arm.
"Josh? Now what do you have up your sleeve?"
"Right now I have two beautiful women on either sleeve," Josh chuckled and then gave Angad a friendly punch on his shoulder, "don't worry buddy…..Main is drama mein part nahin le raha….now listen to me carefully buddy……yes….this whole project was staged by my wife, Simone, to teach men like you a lesson…..trust me she has no personal grudge against you…..but she always had this hidden desire to make a man like you realize what it means to be cheated and betrayed in love…..she did truly love you once," he hugged Simone, "but now she is mine forever…kyun simone," he winked at her.
Angad sighed and looked down at Rhea, "then why did you have to involve an innocent girl like Rhea?"
"That's our fault Angad….I think Simone went a bit too far with this drama…..it's Kripa who realized that this was a mistake but it was too late…..not only had you accepted Rhea as your daughter….even Rhea had developed a relationship with you, which she did not have a heart to break……to make things worse…..Kripa fell in love with you just as hard as you had fallen for her……she tried to reason with Simone on various occasions…..but Simone can be hard headed at times……yes darling?" Josh nudged his wife, who stood there with lowered eyes.
Angad looked up and stared at Kripa's misty eyes.
"And….just after the dance performances were over….Kripa came to me and terminated the contract with my company……I am softie at heart man…..when she told me how much she loved you…..I let go off her……after all she was ready to sacrifice a promising career just for her love," Josh patted Rhea's head, "and then Rhea beti also came forward and refused to act in the movie…..she said she would rather have her papa than a role in a big movie…..so Mishti gets Kripa's role and Anita steps into Mishti's role in the movie."
Angad's heart melted; he felt silly about mistrusting Kripa and Rhea's love for him. Now he knew what they had been talking about in a corner when he mistook Anita's hug as celebration for their success.
"I am sorry guys…..I trusted my eyes and ears more than my heart……maa theek kehti hai dil ki baat hi sun ni chaahiye," Angad smiled and pulled Rhea close to his legs.
"Bilkul theek kaha Angad beta…..maa ki baat hamesha sun ni chaahiye," Naina walked in with a decorated silver plate in hand, "ab maa keh rahi hai ki hone waali bahu ka shagun jaldi se kar diya jaaye…..warna mera naalayak beta phir ko pagalpan na kar de."
Everyone cheered and applauded at Naina's comments. Kripa covered her head with the pallu once again and bent down to touch Naina's feet.
"Jeeti raho beti," Naina helped Kripa to her feet, "sach much bahut pyaari hai….Angad theek kehta tha ki sab se khubsoorat ladki chuni hai usne."
Angad turned red at his mom's comments, "maa…wo..wo."
"Hey come on buddy…don't stammer….tum bhi maa ke pair choo lo…..thoda ashirwaad milega tho achcha rahega," Josh chuckled.
A sheepish Angad obeyed orders and then stood up beside Kripa. He exchanged glances with Kripa and smiled at her.
Naina handed rings to both of them, "sagai ki rasam tho yahin nibha lete hain…..phir baad mein Kripa ke ghar jaakar rishta maang lenge."
Angad and Kripa exchanged rings; Kripa smiled shyly as his strong fingers held hers before he slipped the ring. His magnetic gaze drew her closer. She returned his lovelorn gaze with her mesmerizing smile.
Simone came forward and wished the couple good luck, "I am happy for both of you…..I feel even though I played with a lot of emotions…..I managed to unite two souls together."
"All is fair in love and war sweetheart," Josh winked
"Not two," Angad pulled Rhea closer, "three souls together…..Rhea beta…..from now on, you're officially our daughter….I'll apply for your legal adoption as soon as possible."
"There he is!" Kanan with a bunch of press and photographers walked in to congratulate the newly engaged star couple.
"I represent Sony TV sir," a tall man approached them, "would you like to participate in our next Jhalak Dikhla Ja show?"
"Thanks but NO THANKS!" Angad replied, "we are content with what we have."
"But sir…this could really help your star status…..you will get more fans…we guarantee you a place in the finals," the TV producer persisted.
"My talent on the field will determine my star status sir….not a staged dance show…samjhey?" Angad answered curtly.
Angad held Kripa's hand and pulled her away from the crowd, "please give us some privacy guys….we have just gotten engaged…..mujhey apne hone waali biwi ko theek se dekhne tho do yaar."
Josh, Simone, Kanan, Anita, Mishti, Prithvi, Naina and Rhea all waded off the press and TV personnel, allowing the love birds to escape into oblivion as quickly as possible.
IN ANGAD'S CAR:
"Hum kahan jaa rahe hain Angad?" Kripa asked as Angad's car swerved into the deserted streets of Delhi.
"It's a surprise," he bent over and pecked her cheek, "for my lovely fiance."
"When did you plan this?"
"Shhh….ab zyaada sawaal mat karo," he halted the car in front of an empty dark field. He helped her out of the car and held her hand, "come with me." If it were not a full moon, it would be hard to tell where they were headed.
"This is just land Angad…..kahan jaa rahe hain?" Kripa felt her heart flutter as they stepped onto the grassy land.
"Maybe I am trying to take advantage of you in this quiet dark place," He growled and embraced her snugly and kissed her ear.
To his surprise, Kripa did not resist his advances, "tum jahan le jaaoge main jaane ko tayyar hoon…..tum jo kahoge main wo karne ko tayyar hoon."
"Really?" He stopped and gazed down at her lovely moon lit face, "what if I ask you for a dance on this barren land…..on this dark night….under the moonlight…..on the future location of your own dance studio."
"Dance studio?" She exclaimed.
"Yeah…..I had just purchased this land a few days ago…..tumhare liye ek dance studio banwaana chaahta hoon…..where you are the boss…..the choreographer…..on your terms……" he whispered.
"Ek shart par," she teased him
"Shart?"
"Haan….agar tum zindagi bhar mere saath waise hi dance karte rahoge jaise aaj stage par kiya tha," she pulled him closer and circled her arms around his neck.
"Promise……but I hope we will get to try different styles of dancing after marriage," he bent down and kissed her eyes, "conventional and unconventional."
"I can always learn," she rolled her tongue and pinched his nose with her fingers, "after all you are more experienced in the unconventional style."
"I'll make sure you will never be disappointed," he winked at her wickedly and kissed her gently and then passionately as the two lovers danced their way all night long in each other's arms…
Please enjoy this wonderful VM on AK…
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8JmttMu70o[/YOUTUBE]
(Tum mile dil khile by Whitechocl8)
….THE END….
Sorry about the long gaps in this ff. As always, I appreciate all your comments and encouragement. Hopefully, the next ff will flow more smoothly and more regularly.
Thanks again.
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Cricket
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