Aitbaar(Trust)(AK FF)Pt-29-31, Pg-74, 05-14-2014 - Page 20

Originally posted by: aroramaina

I will be eagerly waiting for ur update.Glad to know u like my greeting and very surpised to know that u also know how to bug.Pls send me some tips too.

Originally posted by: vamita

No way I am sending tips...You bug me enough for now...I might loose my patience here...!😆

Originally posted by: vamita

Anuu and Sama...Don't worry...Me too a big fan off Pallavi's ff...Though recently I stopped reading her ff Deception, because she is busy and is not able to complete it...But I will surely read it when she will finish it and then comment...😉...You see, I have no patience and I will bug her unnecessarily and thought better to wait for her to do it and then read...Ask her how I used to bug her to update when she was writing her previous two ff's...Even Bheegi and Vallanki...! I loved their ff's and got inspiration to write through them...So, you don't have to worry about me throwing you out of this post...😆...!

PART-07

She was asleep in minutes, while these thoughts still kept haunting her………On the other hand Angad was sitting in the bar with his friends…….

Shabir: Hey Angad, kya hua yaar, jab se India se aye ho kuch khoye khoye ho……….Kisi ke khayalon mein khoye ho ki kisi ko dil de aye ho……..He asked chuckling…….Angad smiled shaking his head and sipping his drink…….

A: Aisi koi baat nahi hai Shabbir……..…Anyway's aab kya karne ka irrada hai tumhara……..He said diverting him back to his topic………

Sh: Kuch nahi yaar…….Ek do mahine aur……uske baad ammi ne wapas bulaya hai……….Keh rahi thi ki bahu le aun……He said chuckling……….Bas issiliye wapas ja raha hun……..Wahan ek dost ki recording company hai, wahan apna luck try karunga………I hope tum apna wada nahi bhuloge………When you come back to India and start doing shows, you are calling me….!! Right…….

A: Promise man………No doubt about it………!!

A girl behind him tapped his shoulder and Angad looked around and got up surprised and hugged her lightly……..

A: Hey Mishti……..what a surprise…….tum yahan?

M: I see you have made it till here…….She said grinning and Angad laughed……..

A: So far so good……..Par tum yahan?

M: Mera bhai yahin rehta hai………Meri massi ke sath…….Mein ne bataya tha na, ki woh bhi yahan MS karne ke liye apply kar raha hai…….Aab to uska MS complete ho gaya hai, to bas ghumne chali ayi…….India mein waise bhi akele akele bor ho rahi thi……..Apne sare dost to yahan wahan chale gaye..……Hey meet Prithvi, my brother………Prithvi Angad, my classmate in Music Academy in Mumbai………Prithvi smiled…..

P: Nice to meet you Angad…….I think I have met you somewhere……….

A: Might be……He said shrugging.….. Nice to meet you too……….You were in Delhi right……?

P: Haan, wahin padhai khatma karke yahan, MS karne aa gaya…..

M: Tum kya kar rahe ho yahan?

A: Mein abhi Masters kar raha hun……..Music aur dance mein…….

M: Vow, you are really into it……..She said surprised……….

A: To tumhe kya laga, ki mein bluff kar raha hun……he said rolling his eyes…...Saab tumhari tarah nahi hote………Bas time pass ke liye aa gaye music academy………he said chuckling……..Mishti made faces but then grinned…….Waise tum kya kar rahi ho aab…….?

M: You were good then, and I am sure you are the best now……But I just lost interest in music, so just did some management diploma courses and enjoying life.……..

Angad smiled and nodded……..Which field are you in Prithvi……..?

P: Actually I did my MS in Media and communications aur part time job kar raha hun aab……….I wanted to write a book, but my editor said that I needed some practice with English writing and so I am doing few courses for now…….

Angad nodded …..Sorry, he said looking at Shabeer, who was standing there hearing their conversation…….By the way, meet my friend Shabeer……….He said smiling and introducing him to them………They exchanged few words, when Mishti tapped his arm……..

M: Common Angad, lets dance…….Dekhte hai kya sikha itne saal…….She said grinning and pulling him on the dance floor……..Angad grinned and started dancing and enjoyed the dance floor completely non stop for next one hour or so, until Mishti was all tired and walked to their table………Vow, you are really good…….I must say, I am impressed……..

Angad grinned taking his drink and sitting on the table wiping his sweat………

P: Mishti, massi raah dekh rahi hogi…..We need to go………!!

Mishti smiled and got up…….Angad, ye raha mera address aur phone number……..Give me a call and we will meet some time………I am here for next 4 months more…….!!

A: Sure…….Nice to see you…...Bye…….He said waving at them both and he walked to pay his bill along with Shabeer………They were late by the time they reached their rooms and were asleep soon……..

Couple of days went by and Kripa somewhat got adjusted to her new college, though she still did not have any friends in her class……Her college started regularly….…..Josh helped most of the time around college, if she needed any help and Kripa was atleast ok with initial lectures…….Though she was finding it difficult to understand, she tried to hear them again at home, after recording the lectures in the class in her lap top…….Angad kept away, so Kripa could tackle her problems herself, but asked her to call him if she needed any help…….But he was happy that she was managing with the help of few friends she had made……They talked on the phone regularly though…..

Kripa had hardly had a decent meal for all but one week as she was not used to the food here…….She so wanted to go out and eat some Indian food……..

Saturday, she got ready early morning and had her breakfast and waited for Angad to come…….As promised he was there by 10 in the morning and asked her to come down……….Kripa went down hurriedly and as soon as she saw Angad, she sighed in relief and got in the car…….She had somehow been tensed all through the weak, and seeing Angad, bought an unknown relief………

A: Hey, so how was the week………And not to mention your college……..? He asked grinning and feeling good to see her after a week…….He had been a little worried and had couple of times wanted to go check on her, but resisted, letting her do it herself………But today seeing her in front of him, he sighed in relief…….

Kripa just shrugged…….not able to speak………She was too choked to say a word and Angad looked at her worriedly……..

A: Kya hua Kripa……? He asked suddenly tensed……..

K: Kuch nahi Angad, chale………She said swallowing her tears……..Angad slowly reversed and they were on their way……….At last they reached a small jogging park and got down………Kripa walked silently next to Angad and Angad could see her struggle………He stopped her suddenly, to know what the matter was……..Kripa stilled for a while and slowly turned around and looked at him…….She suddenly couldn't hold herself and hugged him as tears came down her eyes………

A: Hey, kya hua? He asked slowly, a little tensed at her sudden tears……….But Kripa just shook her head and slowly straightened, wiping her tears……..

K: Kuch nahi………She whispered and Angad looked at her puzzled……..

A: Kripa……? Kya baat hai……? He asked holding her cheeks…….

K: kuch nahi Angad……Bas aise hi, itne dino baad tumhe dekha……..I mean……….She suddenly looked away a little embarrassed……….Angad slowly kept a finger on her lips to stop her and Kripa looked up at him with tears……..

A: I did not know you were missing me so badly………He said suddenly grinning, realizing that she was just feeling lonely and it was very much understandable……..Kripa looked down suddenly, not able to take the teasing and Angad smiled and cuddled her near…….He sighed feeling good to see her as well……..I know, this is the first time you are living alone this way and I am proud of you, that you have come through this week with flying colors………You did wonderful Kripa and I am very happy……..Bahot khush hun mein ki tumne khud saab kuch manage kiya……..Mein ne itni baar pucha ki tumhe kuch problem ho to bulao, par tumne khud hi saab handle kar liya………He said smiling………You know what, you will get adjusted soon………I promise……….mujhe bhi pehle 2-3 weeks bilkul aise hi lag raha tha………I mean, I just wanted to run away from here and come back……….He said sighing and Kripa looked at him surprised……..Hey, I am not joking…….Sach keh raha hun…….Bahot akela sa lag raha tha, par jaise jaise dost hue, saab kuch pata chalne laga, I got adjusted………I am sure, this phase will pass away soon………Aur waise bhi, tum yahan akeli nahi ho……..You could have just told me to come……..Mein aa jata sham ko…...Par jab tumne bulaya nahi, to mujhe laga ki shayad tumhe meri jaroorat nahi hai, ya tum mujhe utna miss nahi kar rahi ho, jitna mein kar raha hun………He said winking and Kripa blushed……..Aab jakar sachai pata chali hai mujhe……….He said chuckling…..…..See what you miss, when you don't say what's in your heart……..He said chuckling……..

Kripa smiled shyly and looked down, thinking about Avantika……….It was almost week and a half now, that they came here………She had talked to her once after shifting to her room, but avoided later, saying she would talk in the weekend as she had classes in the weekdays from morning till evening……….But the main thing was, she knew she would have broken down and blurted out the truth about their staying apart and told them, how she wished she was with them instead of here……….But she had stopped herself somehow…….And knew that Angad might become upset…….Not for breaking down may be, but for not telling him, instead talking to Avantika about it…..So, she had kept quite……..

A: Hey kya soch rahi ho……..

K: Kuch nahi……… ma se baat kare?…..I mean bahot din ho gaye hain, to………..

A: Karenge, thodi der baad………Aab chalo, yahan baithte hain……..He said sitting down……..So, how is the university? And not to mention your class……..Did you get adjusted?

Kripa sighed looking down and nodded………

A: Na, something is missing here……..You don't look that happy……….Kya baat hai Kripa………Why don't you share your problems………Aise chup chap rahogi to kaise chalega.……..Common…….Tell me…….I know something is bothering you…..!

Kripa looked up at him and then looked down once more, nervously……..College to acha hai, aur classes bhi thik chal rahe hain…….. bas woh unka accent samajhne mein problem ho rahi hai………I mean, uski wajah se homeworks, assignements, complete karna bhi mushkil ho raha hai……..Pata nahi mein kaise manage karungi…….She asked biting her lips almost in tears and Angad looked at her for few minutes…..…..

A: Hmmm……Don't worry………Ek kaam karo, start watching English serials……Tum ne kaha na ki tumhari room partner ne TV lagaya hai…….So, you can take some advantage here.……Kripa looked at him frowning and Angad raised his eyebrows…….

K: Tum bhi na Angad, woh TV to Kanan ka hai…….!

A: To? But then he sighed………Ok, ask her permission, if she is ok with it……..! Nahi to mein tumhare liye dusara TV laga dunga……..He said chuckling and Kirpa knew that he was making fun of her……But she kept quite and Angad sighed……..Common Kripa, I am sure she will have no problem, if you want to see something, when she is not there……..But, if you don't feel comfortable, then ask her……Khair…Tum college library se audio books bhi le aa sakti ho…….Try to listen to them and try to understand the accent…….I promise, within 10-15 days, you will start understanding them quite well……And don't worry……..Sunday's subah agar tumhe time ho to thodi der tum mere sath aakar apne doubts clear kar sakti ho……Recordings honge to mein bhi thoda bahot samjha sakta hun……….Or better yet, we can try to find some person in your college who can help you……….

K: Par………

A: Don't worry……..I will try to find out about it……Just let some time go and I promise everything would be alright…….Aur agar roj bhi aakar tumhara homework karne mein mujhe help karna pade, to karunga……..But hey, I need a promise……..No more tears….….Kripa smiled wiping her tears and nodded………Good…..Any ways, kaho kahan chalna hai……..

K: Hindustani khana khane? She asked slowly and Angad burst out laughing…….Kripa looked at him shyly and Angad grinned………

A: So, missed Indian food haan?…….I can tell……..Issiliye aur bhi dubli dikh rahi ho……Hey atleast apne friends se puch to leti ki Indian market ya restaurant najdeek hai ya nahi……He said rolling his eyes……..Kripa, tell you what….You need to speak up, talk to people, make friends, ask for help and help them when needed………! Aisi sehmi baithogi to kaise chalega………..He said sighing and sitting in the car…….

They ate in an Indian restaurant and then Angad took her around the city and gave her couple of books with bus routes……They even went in the bus for a trial and Angad showed her how to swipe card and how to find the stops……….They even talked to Avantika and Dilip for a while and Kripa felt light again and was feeling a little good than the previous week……..

A: Kripa, tum agar sham ko free ho to tumhare college mein driving lessons bhi dene ke liye instructers honge……..Once you learn, I will buy you a car, so you don't have to go around in busses……

K: Na baba……..mujhe gadi chalani bilkul nahi atti………Bahot daar lagta hai mujhe………

A: Kripa chill ok……..There is nothing to be afraid………Anyway, try if you want and see……….Phir agar chahiye ho to used car le lenge, thodi purani lenge, to jyada mehengi nahi hogi………He said shrugging…….Chalo, tumhare music teacher se milne jana hai………Mein ne unse appointment le rakhi hai…….Kripa looked up surprised………Common, bahot busy rehti hai shayad………….We need to go on time………

They reached there on time and met a man almost in his 60's who thaught music……..His wife and daughter stayed with him and he looked quite good and knew what he was doing.……….They discussed fees and other things and then Kripa and Angad were on their way……..

A: Vow, I don't know what he is going to teach……..Did you ever thought of joining any music school instead? Kripa shook her head……..

K: Mein to bas aise hi shauk ke liye sikh rahi hun…….So, yahi thik hai………Angad nodded………Angad, woh jane se pehle, mujhe thodi grocery shopping karni hai………

A: Sure……He said with a grin…….. They got all the grocery Kripa wanted, including couple of utensils, pans, plates etc. and at last dropped her….……Angad bid her bye, saying they would meet next weekend, as he was busy tomorrow……..Thankfully, Kanan wasn't there in the room, or she knew she would have definetly asked questions about Angad, as he had come up, because of the groceries..……Kripa agreed and thanked him, when Angad stopped and turned around………He went to Kripa and looked in her eyes……….Thanks kis baat ke liye Kripa………After all I am your husband……..And I hope you remember that and call me anytime, if you need anything……….Got it…….Kripa nodded shyly..….And I promise, I will help you with the accent thing, and try to find out some one who could help you.……By the way, you should even try talking to your program director, or his assistant, for some help……..Kripa looked down and slowly thought of Josh……….Yeah may be he could help…….She thought unsurely………

A: Common Kripa, they are there to help you…….Why don't you talk to them once and let them know about your problem……….I am sure they will be more than ready to help you……..Kripa slowly nodded……If they don't help you, then I will see what I can do……..I promise…..OK……Kripa looked at him unsurely and Angad looked at her suspiciously..……You will ask, right? ..He tried to confirm sternly, but with a smile…….Kripa smiled and nodded and he slowly looked at the door and then at Kripa with mischief and kissed her lips lightly and walked out waving his hand……..Kripa blushed and bit her lips, as she looked at him leaving the room……..She sighed sitting down, feeling a little better……….Meeting him, spending time with him, made a lot of difference…….! She even felt secure somehow, knowing he was just a phone call away……..

Next day Kripa went to her music class……….Angad came to drop her at the class and then showed her the bus stop, from where she could catch a bus, which would stop straight at the university………He even gave a filled bus card and asked her to just swipe it and went off………..Kripa nervously went inside, but soon got involved in the music and was really impressed by her new teacher…….He was really devoted and talked to her about what all she learned and checked her notes and then started from there………

Time flew by and 2 hours went in haze………The teacher was also impressed by Kripa and praised her……..

T: Beta, tumhari awaj bahot achi hai, aur lagan bhi hai tumme……..Agar chaho to agle hafte se 4 ghante ke class ke liye aa jana……….waise to mere practice ka time hota hai, par mujhe lagta hai ki tum sach much bahot age badh sakti ho…….Hum sath mein hi practice kar sakte hain..……Aur phir tum mujhe thode bachon ko sikhane ke liye bhi help kar sakti ho do teen mahinon baad, agar tum chaho to….…Kripa was over the top and agreed to come early next week……To her surprise, Angad was waiting for her once more and she smiled………

K: Angad, tumhe to important kaam se jana tha na……….

A: Haan jana hai, par mera dhyan nahi rehta, agar tumhe akele jane deta to…….Bus mein bitha kar phir jaunga………..Chalo……..He said walking with her and waiting till the bus came………He let her use her card and then told her the stop name and bid bye………

Kripa sat there nervously, smiling a little at the old women sitting next to her……..She was tensed all through the way, and kept looking out anxiously…….Soon, her university arrived and she recognized the buildings and sighed in relief……….No sooner she got down, her phone started ringing and she smiled when Angad's number displayed………

A: Did you reach…….?

K: Haan, bas room par ja rahi hun………

A: I hope you now know how to go your self……..?

K: Hmmm……….

A: Ok then……..Aab jao room par aur aaram karo…….Sham ko ata hun…….Kripa frowned and looked around, thinking how he knew that she was still in not in the room……! But his next words caught her attention…….

K: Sham ko?

A: Khana khane chalte hain……..! Ok………

K: Thik hai……Bye……..She said smiling and kept the phone………She wasn't aware that Angad was just a few feet away observing her as she walked to her building…...……He sighed and went off in a hurry once she went in the building………

Next week passed by and Kripa took Angad's suggestion and watched English serials as well as listened to documentaries and slowly started picking up the accent…..She gathered her courage and went to Josh after couple of days after Angad's constant lectures and told him about her difficulty…….She was a little behind in her assignments due to that, but her professors gave her more time after they came to know that she had recently shifted from India……But she also knew that she needed some help, because it was getting a little tougher…….. Josh consoled her and said he would help her for sure and went to talk to her proffessors………The proffessors took couple of days and then offered her some private classes in the library by the assistant teachers after or before the class…….She thanked the professor's with a sigh, as she was almost on the verge of breakdown…….She was still a private person and very rarely talked to anyone though, and had no one in the class she knew……..But she had met couple of students who introduced themselves and talked to her for a few minutes………..Other than that, Kripa spent most of her time in her room or and declined to go with Kanan as well………But they ate together in the evening, making some thing light turn by turn, while did breakfast and lunch in cafeteria………Kanan was surprised at Kripa's culinary skills and praised her…..…She also tried to help cutting veges and doing side works and cleaned up after Kripa, saying she did the cooking and it was her turn to clean……..They were quite adjusted in the room, and Kripa felt comfortable and told Angad, that she was ok with Kanan, and did not want a separate room……..Angad was happy that she got some friend and accepted it………

Following Saturday, again Kripa and Angad went together and spent time all day looking at different sites etc……..

A: Next month Los Angels ya kahin aur weekend ka trip nikalte hain………You will enjoy seeing it…….He said with a grin, when he saw Kripa deep in thoughts…….Kripa smiled and nodded as they had their dinner…….

He later took Kripa to the grocery store and got what ever she wanted and dropped her at the gates of her college and drove off after telling her to be ready next day and he would help her in her studies……..

They spent almost full morning next day in a book store, reading books online, talking about the course and the chapters which were thought the previous weeks and Angad even showed her some useful websites, where she could get help…….

A: Kripa, tumhare sath ye saab aise hi padhta raha na, to I am sure ki mujhe isme bhi degree mil jayegi……..He said jokingly as they had their coffee………Kripa sighed smiling and slowly kept everything inside……..

K: Angad ye week se mujhe assistant proffesors help kar denge……..She said and Angad made faces……..Kripa looked at him confused……..She thought he would be happy that he would not have to do this……..

A: I thought ki aab issi bahane Sundays tumhare sath spend karne ko milega aur tum ho ki………Kripa chuckled getting up taking her bag…….

K: Sorry, Sundays ko mujhe homework karna hoga……….I am a little behind in class………I hope ki agle hafte thoda cover kar lun……….She said sadly looking down………

A: Hey cheer up dear……..I am sure you will be able to………Nahi to mein hun na………Tumhare hukum dete hi hazir ho jaunga……..

K: Aise keh rahe ho jaise tumhe saab aata hai………she said chuckling a little………

A: Don't challenge me ok……..! He said looking at her with a mock anger and they both started chuckling suddenly………They walked out and went to have lunch and Angad dropped her at her classes………Time went by and it was already a month since Kripa joined college……….She was now able to understand the English accent more properly as well as got adjusted to the college…….The assistant professor helped a lot and introduced to different sites, which might help her and it did……..Even Josh helped her in between, even though she never asked for help, but she was greatful at the same time……….She was almost upto date, but still sometimes had hard times and had to take help from the professors and to her relief, they never complained, but were wonderful….….But still, she was too quite and had heard couple of kids making comments about her……..She ignored them and just concentrated on her studies……….Kanan too constantly kept lecturing her, which reminded her of Angad, asking her to come with her, but Kripa had politely declined many a times……Though she was ok and talked normally with her in their room, she felt too odd to join Kanan and her friends..…..There was also another guy named Prithvi with her, who had come to talk to her and introduced himself couple of weeks ago……..Josh met quite a few times and she had become a little comfortable around him as well and asked him if she had any doubts or if she did not know what to do…….He even helped with getting her books and other stationaries she needed……..

Kripa came back to her room after a full day's lectures, and was surprised to see Kanan sitting and watching TV for a change in their room……..

Kanan: Hey Kripa……How was your day?

K: Good……..She said…….Aaj room par? She asked slowly………

Kanan chuckled……….I know surprised right……..She said grinning…….Waise mein tumhara intajar kar rahi thi……She said switching off the tv and getting up……Tumhe party mein le jana hai……..!!

K: Nahi Kanan…….You know, I don't go to the parties……….Tum jao………But thanks for asking………She said politely…….

Kanan: Kripa, today I am not listening to anything and for your information, Josh is also coming and I promise he will be our body guard for the evening……Hey you can call your friend as well……..The one with whom you spend your Saturday's with……..I mean, it seems like you are dating, so……..Kripa bit her lips………

K: Nahi, Kanan mein……….

Ka: Josh ke friend ke ghar ja rahe hain aur abhi Josh ne aakar kaha ki woh hum donon ko pick kar lega……….Please, don't say no ok……..I promise jaldi aa jayenge……..Common yaar, enjoy life for a change………..And you know what, I even called Nishant there………So, you can meet him too……….Waise mein itni bhi buri nahi hun ok………Common now……….She said pulling her up and rolling her eyes………..Kripa reluctantly looked at her…….She was herself embarrased to tell her no, everytime she asked, still Kanan did not stop asking her……….Common Kripa……….I promise I will bring back Cinderella to her chamber before mid-night……….She said grinning and Kripa chuckled……

K: Par Kanan, mein kisiko bhi to nahi janti vahan…….Aur………

Ka: Nahi janti to aab jaan jaogi……..And know one thing…….Agar aaj tum wahan nahi ayi, to mein aaj saab ko yahin bula lungi…….So, either come to the party with us, or I will bring the party to you……..Either way, I am not leaving you alone today……..So, decide what you want to do………She said stubbornly and Kripa looked down and sighed…….After couple of seconds she slowly looked at Kanan and nodded at last……..Yes ……!Kanan said making a fist and flying it in the air………Kripa smiled shaking her head and went to freshen up, feeling nervous as well as too much tensed……..When she came out, Kanan was looking at her dresses and shaking her head and went to her wardrobe……….

K: Kya kar rahi ho Kanan?

Kanan: Of course tumhare liye dress choose kar rahi hun Kripa………You are still very behind in this area……..Remind me to give you some tips in this area….….She said looking through the dresses and then taking out one from it and grinning…….This one…….This is good…….Ye lo jaldi pehenlo aur taiyar ho jao……..Josh aata hi hoga……….

K: Kanan, ye……? She looked at the dress, Angad had made her take, saying she would look good in it and she can wear in the parties, even though Kripa had told him that she did not attend parties……….He had said to just keep it still……..

Kaanan: Haan aab jao aur jaldi aao……waise hi late ho gaye hain……..she said pushing her to the bathroom……….Kripa sighed and went in and was ready and out in minutes, feeling too conscious about herself and looked reluctantly at Kanan………Kanan just grinned looking at her, ignoring her nervousness………wonderful……..Now your hairstyle……….She said coming to her with a brush………

K: Mein aisi hi thik hun Kanan…….I don't need any style…….She said frowning……..But Kanan pushed her down making her sit and did her hair and light makeup, inspite of Kripa's protest and atlast sighed in satisfaction……….

Kanan: Good………now some make up………Kripa started getting up with a frown and Kanan looked at her with equal frown……….Chup chap baitho Kripa, warna dekhna, tumhari khair nahi………She said and did light touch up inspite of Kripa's protest and at last sighed in satisfaction….…..aab dekho khud ko aaine mein……….See how much difference it made……….She said patting her self on her shoulder……….Kripa rolled her eyes and got up and looked at her self and stood there stunned………she looked same but some how still looked different…….

There was a knock on the door at the same time and Kanan went to the door and opened it with a grin………Josh came in asking if they were ready, when he stopped in his tracks and looked at Kripa and whistled slowly……….

J: Vow……..you look amazing……….he said grinning and Kripa blushed looking down……..

Kanan: Doesn't she…….My artistic work Mr. Josh……….

J: Manana padega Kanan……..tum kitni hi budhu kyun na ho, you did a great job with Kripa atleast……..he said grinning……….

Kanan: Bhai, I am warning you ok……….Josh just rolled his eyes…………

J: So Miss. Sharma, may I escort you to your awaiting car? You have a date? He asked grinning and Kripa blushed and shook her head and he shrugged asking her to walk ahead…….

Ka: Mein ne to kaha tha isse ki ye apne boy friend ko bula le par……..

J: Boy friend……? He asked with raised eyebrows……..

K: Woh mera boy friend nahi hai Kanan……….she said blushing……..Kanan shrugged, while Josh just smiled and they were on their way……..Kripa could feel eyes of many students on her, while she went down and it bothered her to be center of attraction this way, making her cheeks as red as they could ever be……….

Josh opened the door for her and she shyly whispered thanks and sat in, feeling too conscious……To say the truth, this was the first time she was attending a party and she was feeling uncomfortable…..…

Kanan looked at Josh with a frown and sat in rolling her eyes………

They were soon near a big house and Kripa could see lots of cars parked around………She sighed and nervously got down looking around……….Her hands were cold and she kept pressing her fingers nervously………

Kanan: Common Kripa………..don't be so nervous……...

J: It's ok Kripa…….Mere ek friend ka ghar hai ye and he is a good person……..Chalo…….Don't worry, I will be close by……..If you want to leave, just tell me ok…….He said encouragingly……..Kripa nodded slowly and walked with them………Josh opened the door and grinned as the party was in full swing……….The hall was full and loud music filled the room…….Josh held the door for Kripa and Kripa thanked him with a small smile and walked in looking around………

J: Chalo mein apne friend se milata hun tumhe………He said keeping a light hand behind her shoulder and taking her in……..Hey Prithvi………Prithvi who was busy talking to some of his friends turned around with a smile and stopped in tracks looking at Kripa………

P: Hey Josh……What a surprise Kripa…….!! He said grinning and Kripa looked at him surprised……..

J: You know eachother………?

P: Of course Josh…….Kripa ke sath mein ek do lectures attend kar raha hun…….

J: Oh…..good that you both know eachother………Kripa, hum donon MS mein ek saath the……..I mean different fields, but still were in same class for few lectures……..

P: Welcome Kripa……..It's a pleasure to have you here with us……Prithvi said grinning…….Kripa smiled and nodded…….

P: Drinks…….?

K: Nahi Prithvi, I don't take drinks……..

J: Hey he is not talking about alcoholic drinks alone……..You can have coke or other non alcoholic drinks as well…….He said chuckling…….Kripa looked down a little embarrased and Prithvi laughed……..

P: Whatever you are comfortable with Kripa………Later join in on the dance floor………..My sisters friend is a great singer………He promised to rock the floor today………So, please make your self at home……….He said with a smile………Kripa thanked him and went with Josh and took coke and stood there looking around……..Kanan was busy with couple of her friends and then she saw her walking to the door when some one came in………

K: Josh, woh Nishant hai kya? She asked looking at Kanan, who was grinning and hugging him…….Josh grinned and nodded…….

J: Yeah that is Nishant……..He was with us too while we were doing MS……….Met my sister and was crazy about her……...Of course I confronted him and when he assured me that he really loved Kanan and wanted to marry her, I was ok with them both…….He said grinning…….Kripa looked at him in surprise…….. don't be so surprised……..Kanan looks wild and party girl from outside, but she is not really in to it……….She just likes to have fun and some time gets carried away……..But she is really a nice kid overall………Kripa smiled and nodded looking at Kanan who was pulling Nishant in with her……….

She was soon in front of her and introduced Nishant to her……..

K: Hi…..Kripa said slowly smiling at him…….

N: Nice to meet you atlast Kripa…….Bahot batein suni hai tumhare bare mein Kanan se………he said mischiviously……Kanan frowned at him……….But you never said she is so beautiful Kanan………Kyun ghabra gayi, ki kahin mein tumhe chod kar inke sath na bhag jaun……..

Kanan: Oh yeah baby……bahot daar gayi thi……..she said making faces and rolling her eyes……Nishant chuckled hearing jelousy in her voice and grinned at Kripa…….Anyways Kripa, this is Nishant, unfortunately the person who loves me……….She said looking at Nishant with a grin………Kripa smiled and looked at him, and then Nishant looked at Josh and greeted him as well…..

N: Hey Josh……How are you man……..? College chodne ka naam hi nahi le rahe ho? He asked chuckling…….

Kanan: He is waiting for me to graduate Nishant……….She said rolling her eyes and Josh and Nishant chuckled………

N: Thank god for that……….varna tum to puri tarah hath se nikal jati……….Waise Kripa, don't you agree…….He asked with a grin………Kripa chuckled looking at their banter, while Kanan hit Nishant and he took her in his arms and kissed her lips lightly with a grin………..Kanan looked at him with a smile and then grinned at Kripa, who looked down shyly, not used to this type of display……

J: Stop your lovely dovely scene guys…….You are embarrassing Kripa now………….

Kanan: Common bhai, she needs to get used to this…….Hum ne to sirf kiss kiya hai………Kripa, you will see much more open public scenes in the party like this………

Soon, the music changed and loud music filled the room……….Prithvi came to Nishant with a grin and shook his hands pushing them to the dance floor………Josh asked Kripa if she wanted to join, but Kripa shook her head and asked him to go for it, as a girl asked Josh to join her…..She went to the corner of the room and sat on the chair looking at the people dancing………She felt so out of place…….She wished she was home instead, but then sighed looking at Kanan………This was the first time some one had forced her so much, that she literally was embarrassed to say no……..She sighed smiling a little, knowing Kanan meant well, but still she did not feel comfortable….… She heard voices besides her coming from upstairs and looked aside and suddenly she stopped in tracks, when she saw Angad with a beautiful girl……..He had his hand on her waist and was laughing and saying something, pulling her to the dance floor……..Kripa just kept starring at him all the while, as he danced with the girl with great enthusiasm.………

Angad still unaware of Kripa in the same room, started enjoying the dance floor like he always did……..Mishti was as good as he was and he thoroughly enjoyed dancing with her………Kripa kept starring at him with light tears in her eyes, but blinked them back when she realized where she was………She looked away, slowly walking couple of feet back, where she won't be visible……She kept looking at Angad through light tears, which she tried hard to blink……..

P: Hey Kripa, chalo…….yahan akele kyun baithi ho…….Prithvi said suddenly moving a hand in front of her……..

K: Nahi Prithvi…….Mujhe dance nahi aata……….tum jao……I am fine really…….she whispered…..

P: Oh common Kripa……It is not that difficult…..Common I will show you...….!!

K: Nahi Prithvi, please…….she said looking down, trying to blink her tears, when her gaze fell on Angad behind him once more…….He was dancing close with Mishti, his face very near to hers, laughing and grinning saying something to her………Prithvi sighed asking if she was sure and when she nodded, he slowly left her joining the dance floor with one of the girl………

Kripa slowly got up not able to see anything more and walked out to the back door……….She took deep breathe, trying to blink her tears……...The air was cool and there were few chairs there and she turned the chairs towards the swimming pool and sat there away from the eyes of everyone………She hugged her self, wiping a tear which came down her cheek……..She felt lonely…….She wished she was back in India and remembered Dilip and Avantika as well as Aliyah and Kartik………She had been with them since she was 12 and they had become her family and she was really missing them today………Her doubts about herself and Angad increased even more and she realized that their decision to live separately was good and for some reason, she was happy that they did not go close to eachother on their first night……….She wiped another tear, which came down her cheeks and sat there thinking how different she and Angad were and she might never be able to meet the expectations Angad had for his life partner.……The thought made her restless……..She took her phone and dialed Avantika's number to talk to her, when suddenly she heard the back door open ..…..And then to her disbelief, she heard Angad's voice with the girl………She closed her eyes, praying he doesn't see her and sat there still, forgetting all about the phone she had in her hand.……….

A: Mishti, you are just wonderful……….I really enjoy dancing with you………India mein jab hum parties ko jate the, uske baad aaj pehli baar hai, jab mein ne itna enjoy kiya…… He said laughing…….

M: Company ka assar hai janeman………Tumhare jaisa partner mile to bas, aur kya chahiye…… She said winking……..Angad chuckled……..You know what, I too really enjoyed your company……..We should do this more often…….Par tum to aaj kal bahot busy ho gaye ho………Weekend par bhi time nahi milta tumhe…….I really miss our old days you know…….

A: Me too…..I too remember those days a lot……We used to so much fun…….He said chuckling…….But life goes on……..

M: Tum philosophy bhi sikh rahe ho kya……She asked amused……….Angad burst out laughing and Mishti hugged him…….I missed you, you know……..Jab se tum India se yahan aye, I never had so much fun, nor did I have a good friend like you………She said slowly kissing his chin……..Angad stilled a little but then smiled shaking his head, that Mishti had not changed…….He debated with the idea of telling her the truth about his marriage with Kripa, but then sighed shaking his head, knowing the news would reach everywhere like wild fire, especially with Mishti's brother in same college as Kripa.………

A: Waise woh Tanya kahan hai aaj kal……..He asked changing the subject….…I must say, she was wonderful dance partner too……..Bahot baar sochta hun, ki kahan hogi woh….….I am thinking of getting her on my team, when I start doing stage shows……..

M: Hey good idea……… Tanya wahin hai Mumbai mein…….Philhal wahan dance school mein dance sikha rahi hai……….

A: Really? He asked surprised……….Par woh kisi film ke liye sign karne wali thi……..I remember she told me that she was looking for a break………

M: Nope……..I don't know much details, but I heard that she had some tough times……Issiliye ye job accept kiya……….Angad sighed and nodded, leaving it to it……..

The door opened and Prithvi and Josh came out looking around………At the same time, Kripa who had still heard Avantika's voice on the phone, calling for her…….

Josh stilled suddenly looking at Angad, who smiled at him……..

J: Hey man……What a surprise……? Tum yahan……..

P: You know eachother………?

J: Oh yeah, not very closely, but we share some sports interest and met few times……Suddenly, he looked around and Angad raised his eyebrows at him…….Vo……..But before he could speak Mishti spoke out……….

M: Hey bhai……..Kisi ko dhund rahe ho kya? She asked looking at them, as they looked here and there………

P: Did you see any girl around here……..

Mishti burst out laughing and Prithvi frowned at her……..

M: Sorry………Any way, what girl……?

P: Kripa……oh there she is……..Prithvi said looking at Kripa's head and Josh looked at Angad…….Angad stilled looking at him and then at Kripa……..

Kripa switched off the phone, without replying to Avantika………

Kanan too came out looking worried……..

Kanan: Dekha na bhai, mein ne kaha tha, ki she won't enjoy it……..Aur tum ho ki keh rahe the, ki we should take her……….Pata nahi kahan chali gayi……she said worriedly……Nishant kept a hand on Kanan…….

N: Don't worry Kanan, yahin hai woh……dekho ………Kanan sighed as she saw Kripa turning around and closed her eyes……….

Kanan: Thank God…….. I know Nishant, but she is new to this city, infact this country, she hardly leaves the campus………And she came as I forced her to……..I should have been with her, instead of……….

Kripa couldn't take it anymore……She did not want them all to be worried and blame themselves for bringing her and slowly bent down, taking her bag, wiping her tears and composing her self in the process……..

She slowly turned around and all of them looked at her sighing in relief…….She looked at them with a slow smile……….

K: common Kanan, itni bhi chinta karne ki jaroorat nahi hai meri………I can take care of myself………Mujhe itni loud music ki adat nahi hai, isliye bahar chali ayi…….She said softly swallowing hard, still not looking at Angad, who was starring at her shocked, thinking why she had kept quite for so long, even after she heard them talk……She must have known for sure that it was him from his voice, wouldn't she? He thought frowning a little.………Suddenly her phone started ringing and she looked at Avantika's number……..Excuse me……..She said looking at them and turned a little and took the phone……..Ji ma, sorry…….

Av: Kripa beta, abhi tumne phone kiya tha na, to baat kyun nahi kiya……..Saab thik to hai na……?

K: Ji ma, saab thik hai……..Aap chinta mat kijiye……..mein thodi der baad baat karun………

Av: Thik hai beta…….

K: Mein rakhti hun ma……..Namaste……….She said slowly and kept the phone…….

J: You want to go home Kripa? Josh asked looking at Kripa's pale face, knowing something was wrong……..He looked at Angad, who was staring at her too………Kripa looked at him…….

Then she just couldn't avoid and looked at Angad, who was still staring at her and then at Josh and nodded………

K: Agar tumhe koi problem nahi ho to…….She whispered…….

N: Josh, you stay, I and Kanan were as and then leaving to spend sometime alone………We will drop her……..

J: Are you sure Nishant……..Or I can take her…….

N: No we will drop her on our way……..Aur waise bhi jab tak Kripa room par thik thak nahi pahunchti, Kanan ko chain nahi milega……You know what, she took it upon herself to be Kripa's guardian angel………He said winking at Kripa, who became red at his comment.…..So……..Kanan hit him, as she heard him chuckle and rolled her eyes……..

Ka: Chalo Kripa, let's leave……….Josh looked at Angad, who looked back at him and nodded, telling him that it was ok and let Kripa go………Angad nodded and looked at Kripa once again………

J: OK……But be good guys……..No hanky panky…….!!

Kanan: Bhai stop bossing ok……….

M: Kanan, bhai aise hi hote hain…….You just ignore them…….!! She said grinning…….

P: Oh yeah……? Agli ticket se India bhej dunga, to pata chalega……….!! Prithvi said rolling his eyes…….

Mishti made faces and held on to Angad's arm grinning……..

M: No way, I am enjoying far too much here, to go back to India just yet………Kyun Angad……..She said kissing his cheeks and keeping her head on Angad's shoulder……Angad winced a little, but managed a small smile and looked at Kripa...…Kripa right? Mishti asked looking at Kripa and Kripa looked up at Angad for couple of seconds and then looked at Mishti and slowly nodded, trying to behave as normally as possible……

K: Hi Angad……Kripa said slowly, not wanting to let everyone know that she did not know him……..

M: You know her? Mishti asked surprised looking at Angad and he nodded starring at Kripa, who looked away………Mishti waited for him to tell more, but when he did not, she looked at Kripa….Kripa could see that everyone was waiting for the answer, so for the first time took initiative and said what they had decided to tell to everyone……And that was half truth……..

K: Woh, Angad ke papa aur mere papa collegues the……She said, not telling anything more……

M: Oh ok……..

N: Chale Kripa…...Nishant asked, eagerly, wanting to spend some time alone with Kanan……Kripa nodded and slowly walked with them, smiling a little at Mishti and then saying bye to Josh and Prithvi………

P: Thanks for coming Kripa…….Monday class mein milte hain……He said smiling and Kripa nodded…….

Angad on the other side, just stood there watching Kripa, while she went with Nishant and Kanan……

M: Hey, kya hua……? Mishti asked him, when he just starred at the empty space…….

A: ummm……kuch nahi Mishti…..kuch kaam yaad aa gaya…….I need to leave too……He said a little uncertainly, feeling a little guilty as well as concerned….

M: Common Angad, this is not fair…….Party to abhi shuru hui hai, aur tum jane ki baat kar rahe ho…..

P: Mishti is right Angad…….common man…..Small world right……..So, are your families close……Prithvi asked a little curious to know about Angad and Kripa…….The way they both stared at eachother, made him think as if there was more to it……Angad just smiled and walked in looking at Josh, who sighed shrugging………

A: Kripa came to stay with us when she was 12, when her parents died in accident……..He supplied……Mishti and Prithvi stopped and frowned…….What?

M: It did not look like you even knew her, when she was here and you are saying she stayed with you from what 7 years or so…….? And suddenly she stopped remembering her……….Though she knew that some one stayed with Angad's family, she did not remember the name, but now she remembered their talks and looked at Angad a little surprised that he hardly talked to the girl, though he was quite fond of her, and always said that she was like Aliyah to them and a part of their family………But seeing them now, did not seem that she was very close to them anymore……….. she was the one you were telling about, when we were in college, right…….? Jiske mom dad accident mein chal base? She asked frowning and Angad nodded……It did not seem like you even know eachother……..Did you have any fight or something, because I remember how fondly you talked about her and said that she was a family and you cared about her as much as you care for your own sister………..But today, you did not even talk to her properly……..! She said frowning…….

Angad was caught in a lie, and slowly he shrugged………I was busy in my music and college after a while and then I shifted here…….So, we did not talk much……..But the main reason is we had some disagreement, so she is a little angry on me…….He said biting his tongue for the lie……..But then thinking may be he is right………She might be angry on him, wouldn't she, when she saw him dancing with Mishti………But she should know that he danced with girls everyday, in his college………Though for practice and in the classes, but still……….Only difference was he was dancing with a friend here………! He sighed, knowing he should clarify with her soon……..! The way she was looking at him, indicated him that she was hurt……..!

Mishti shrugged and even Prithvi let it go………Few of Prithvi's friends came to them pulling them on the dance floor………..Suddenly Josh and Angad were all alone………

A: Common Josh, yahan anewale the Kripa ke sath to batana to tha mujhe…….He asked frowning a little…….

J: Hey, I did not know you were coming here………Mujhe kya pata ki tum Prithvi ke behen ke dost nikloge………! I have never seen you with Prithvi ever……..He was in my college for heavens sake and neither did he ever came to participate in any sports with us, that I will get a dream that you know eachother……..He said rolling his eyes……..And for your information, both I and Kanan were not sure ki woh ayegi ki nahi……..Aur tum hi chahte the ki woh bahar saab ke sath ghul mil jaye……! Josh said shaking his head……..Angad sighed closing his eyes……..Aab jao aur dekho, usse dekhkar aise hi lag raha tha, jaise woh naraj ho tumse…….And I am sure she must be………! He said shaking his head……….

A: Yeah……..yeah……Thanks for your advice……….He said rolling his eyes and Josh hit his shoulders chuckling a little at his irritation…….. Angad was about to leave, but Mishti was back and tried to keep him for next half hour or so, but later Angad left saying he really needed to leave……….He ran to his car and took his phone and dialed Kripa's number worriedly………

Other side, Kripa reached her room and closed the door behind her and leaned on the door, closing her eyes tightly as a tear escaped her eye………She did not know, why she felt so bad………It wasn't even as if Mishti and Angad were intimate or something……but she felt as if they knew eachother very well and suited more together than she or Angad might ever will……..

But, he was her husband and how can she not feel bad that he was with someone else……..!! She knew their relationship was formed due to Angad's parents wish and that made her doubtful about if Angad regreted the decision or felt as if he was tied to her………

She slowly walked in and changed her clothes and washed her makeup and brushed her hairs and got ready for bed with heavy heart…….She did not know what the future held for them, but she was feeling more and more insecure now than before………She looked at the phone and dialed Avantika's number and waited for her to pick up……

K: Ma, mein Kripa……she said slowly when she picked up the phone…….

Av: Kripa beta, kaisi hai tu? Avantika asked with a smile………

K: Mein thik hun ma…….aap kaise ho……. tabiyat thik hai aapki? Dawai thik se le rahe ho na……Bhaiya ne kaha ki aapka BP badh gaya hai…..

Av: Mein bilkul thik hun beta……meri chinta mat kar……Mujhe to teri chinta ho rahi thi……wahan adjust ho gayi na……kuch pareshani nahi hai na……

K: Haan ma, saab thik hai yahan……aap chinta mat kijiye……she said sniffing…..

Av: Kya baat hai Kripa……tu ro rahi hai…..

K: Nahi ma, aisi koi baat nahi, bas sardi ho gayi hai…..she said wiping her tears and quickly composing her self…….

Av: Tu mujh se jhoot nahi bol sakti…..bol kya baat hai…..She said concerningly…..

K: sach kuch nahi ma……bas aapki yaad aa rahi thi……

Av: Pagal ladki…….aab Angad hai na tere sath……kahan hai woh, jara phone de…….

K: Ma…..woh abhi kahin kaam se gaye hain…….

Av: Tujhe akela chod kar? Raat ke iss waqt? She asked frowning……baad mein phone karne ke liye kehna……achi khabar lungi uski……She said angrily….

K: Nahi ma……. woh bhi to college mein busy rehta hai……Mein thik hun……bas aap saab ki bahot yaad ati hai…….Papa, Kartik bhaiya, bhabhi aur Aliyah saab kaise hain……?

Av: Saab thik hai beta……teri yaad karte rehte hain……She said ……Kripa smiled through tears…..

K: Acha ma…..mein rakhti hun……badmein baat karungi aab…..bahot raat ho gayi hai……

Av: Thik hai beta……Apna khayal rakhna……..

K: Haan ma…..bye…..

Av: Bye beta…..she said sighing and kept the phone sadly……They all missed Kripa too…….It was as if Avantika felt lonely without her, even though everyone was there……Aliyah was busy in her college and Job, while Priya with Kartik in the business…….Kripa was the one, who was constantly with her since last few years and now she had left a void no one could fulfill……..

Kripa on the other side kept the phone and closed her eyes as tears came down her eyes……….Her phone started ringing and she looked at her phone and Angad's name was displayed………Kripa looked away, not wanting to talk to him for now……….She knew she needed to, but she couldn't for now, as she herself was confused……..

Her cell rang again and again for 15 continuous minutes and at last Kripa just switched off the phone and turned other side and closed her eyes……..Blocking everything from her mind………She did not want to think about anything for now…….But suddenly the knock on the door bought her back………She knew Kanan forgot her key most of the time and so got up wiping her tears and composing her self and went to open the door…….She was shocked to see Angad instead, looking at her worriedly…….

wow !