Part 30

 

 

After taking a short nap, Kripa woke up and looked at her favorite football shaped clock on the wall. It was six in the evening. She quickly got up for she only had an hour to get ready. She had unpacked some of her clothes, but her party dresses were locked up and she was too lazy to look for them. She took out a package from one of her bags and slowly opened it. Someone had gotten a present her for the farewell party at her boutique. Now, as she unpacked it, she wondered what it was.

 

             She stared in awe at the beautiful dress in front of her. It was long, up to knee-length, a beautiful shade mixture of pink and peach. It had a halter type-neck and a slight flowed pattern in glitter. She took a shower and put the dress on. After that, she put on light make-up, some light diamond earrings, and a beautiful diamond necklace. She stared at herself in the mirror, her hair was slightly wet and hanging down in curls.

 

She went through her chest-of-drawers and came up with a hair straightener. She quickly straightened her hair and went down, hoping she wasn't too dressed up because now that she thought about it, she had no idea what the party was for. Downstairs, Ananya was waiting for her while applying some lipstick. She looked at her long white dress with pearls and heave make-up and decided that she didn't look too dressed-up. Ananya saw her approaching and smiled at her.

 

"You look awesome as always!" she told Kripa, who just smiled and shook her head. "I am serious, you always look nice no matter what, even in the simplest clothes, you have so much grace in you, especially now."

 

While she was saying this, Kripa was watching her little sister. She looked so older, so much more mature. When she would get married to Nikhil, she would leave and Kripa would really miss her terribly. She looked around the house, the thought of living there all one gave her the creeps and made her feel incredibly lonely. Maybe she shouldn't close her boutique and go back to London. Ananya brought her out of her thoughts.

"Di! You ready?" she asked. Kripa just nodded in reply and left the house with Ananya.

 

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

 

Meanwhile, in Khanna mansion, the party was on full swing. Most guests had arrived and were enjoying themselves. Angad came down the stairs in a suit and greeted all his friends. He went up to Josh, and some other guys. (Josh was Mishty's ex-boyfriend, but when they were dating, Angad became friends with him).

 

"Hey man" Josh said giving him a high five. "What's up?"

"Oh nothing, just got back today, a bit jet-lagged, what about you?" Angad asked.

"Fine, as usual, looking for some hot girls, haven't spotted any" he said looking around.

Angad shook his head and laughed. "Same old Josh"

"Yea, yea, so did you find any hot girls, I mean Paris, I've heard there are a lot of hot chicks in France" Josh teased.

"Well, you've heard right, maybe you should go there" Angad told him.

"Me, nah, I am gonna stick around here, so how many did you date?"

"Umm, none, actually" Angad replied.

 

 

"You have got to be kidding me!! Angad Khanna didn't date a single girl? What happened? You have got to be kidding me!! Angad Khanna didn't date a single girl? What happened? Your charm didn't work on them?" Josh asked shocked.

"Nah, there charm didn't work on Angad Khanna" Angad winked. They laughed.

"Okay, then, we need to find you a date!" Josh said.

"How about you find yourself one first?" Angad told him.

"Me? I already found one" Josh said.

"Who?" Angad asked.

"Mishty" Josh winked.

Prithvi came up to them then. "Leave my sis alone, man" he told Josh.

"Sorry dude, but Josh never gives up" he told him. "And now, back to finding Angad a girlfriend"

Angad groaned as Josh continued. "Hmm, how about you have to ask the next girl who comes in through the door for a dance."

"Uh, no" Angad replied.

"I dare you"

"No!"

 

"Come on, what happened to the Angad Khanna I knew, the flirt? Hmm, you should get a punishment then, you have to give the next girl who comes in though that door a peck on the cheeks."

"It better not be my girl" Prithvi warned.

"it wont be any girl I am not doing it" Angad replied, looking pointedly at Josh.

"if you don't do it then we are not gonna talk to you ever again!" Josh replied.

"That's absurd" Angad replied.

"Its life bro, and now you have two options, peck on the cheek or ask for a dance, which do you choose?" Josh asked.

Angad looked around. "Um, the dance, peck would be too forward…"

"Kay, great!" Josh replied as they looked at the door. Ananya came in, followed by some other people. "Time starts now, the next girl who comes through the door Angad" Angad nodded in response and held his breath as he saw a shadow by the door. Something inside him felt different, he felt a sudden urge to go forward and he did. He slowly walked towards the door when Kripa walked in. He couldn't see her face but a side-view and immediately he thought, Angel.

 

Kripa slowly turned her head to look for Ananya feeling weird because she didn't know what she would do if someone recognizes her and starts asking her questions. She spotted Ananya and Nikhil dancing and smiled. She turned her head to the other side and froze. She was face to face with the one and only. Angad Khanna. Looking handsome and breath-taking as always she thought. But he also looked so mature and different. Angad was extremely shocked and froze in his tracks. She looked like she was glowing under the moonlight coming through the open door and he was as always, mesmerized by her beauty.

 

It felt like a dream, seeing her close to him. He moved one hand forward and Kripa just stared into his eyes. He moved his hand and felt her face and she just closed her eyes. "Kripa" he said softly. She opened her eyes.

 

He wasn't dreaming. It was true. Kripa really was standing in front of him. He got back into his senses and turned to look at Josh and Prithvi who hadn't seen Kripa yet. Dance, Josh mouthed. Angad looked back at Kripa. "May I have this dance with you?" She numbly nodded as their fingers entwined and he led her to the dance floor. He put her hand on her waist and she put hers on his shoulders. A flashback came to her of Prom night when they were dancing like this, speaking through their eyes.

 

No words were spoken because it would just ruin the moment. Kripa was avoiding his eyes, and Angad's gaze would not leave her face.  She finally gave in and looked back at him, drowning into his eyes that had so many questions, eyes filled with emotion. But what she didn't see was the love in his eyes. Maybe she didn't want to see him. She had always thought that he deserved better, while he had always thought that she was the one, the perfect one, and he didn't deserve her.

 

The song ended and someone started speaking through a microphone. Kripa let go of Angad who still had his hands around her waist. The lights dimmed and Kripa looked at a familiar face in the room. Aaliya Khanna. She looked the same, dressed up for the occasion in a maroon dress. She held a mike in her hands. "Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, hope you are enjoying the party" Everyone cheered.  

 

"Great! Ok, so, as you know, this party was held because dadi just got back from the hospital and also because Angad just got back from the college. And I wanted to tell him that I missed him a lot, I love him a lot, and that he is the best brother in the whole world." Everyone smiled and applauded. "And I want him to do me a favor," She paused smiling at Angad who smiled back. Everyone turned to look at him and Kripa took the chance to get out of his grip and quickly moved away so people wouldn't see her. She didn't want to create a scene especially with Angad having his arms around her waist, people would get ideas.

 

She listened as Aaliya continued, "I want him to sing a song for us!" Everyone cheered in agreement and looked at Angad who looked taken aback and hesitant. But he gazed around the room and his eyes found Kripa, who was standing alone watching him a blank expression on her face. Her mouth slowly curved up into a smile, and Angad turned his attention to Aaliya, who held a mike for him. He took it form her and music began to play as he sing, looking at Kripa the whole time.

 

(Tere Bin By: Atif Aslam)

 

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin

 

Leykar Yaadein Teri,

Raatein Meri Qateen x2

 

Mujhse Baatein Teri,

Karti Hai Chandni

 

Tanha Hain Tujh Bin

Raatein Meri

Din Mere Dinkay Jaise Nahin

 

Tanha Badan Tanha Hai Roo

Na Meri Aankhen Rahen

Aaja Mere Ab Rubaroo

Jeena Nahin Bin Tere

 

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin x2

 

Kabse Aankhen Meri

Raha Mein Tere Biche

 

Kabse Aankhen Meri

Raha Mein Tere Biche

 

Bhulay Sai Hi Kabhi

Tu Miljaye Kahin

Bhulaien Na, Mujhse

Baatein Teri

 

Bheegi Hai Har Pal

Aankhen Meri

 

Kyun Saas Loon,

Kyun Mein Jiyoon,

Jeena Bura Sa Lagey

 

Kyun Hogaya Tu Bewafa

Mujhe Bataday Wajey..

 

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin

 

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin

Tere Binnn Main Yoon Kaise Jiya

Kaise Jiya Tere Bin…

 

Everyone applauded as he ended the song. But the whole time, he kept his gaze on Kripa whose eyes were now full of tears. She moved away and went outside before she could burst out crying. Aaliya and Ananya watched Angad who watched Kripa leave and followed. They had both seen the pain in Angad's voice as he sang the song, straight from his heart.

 

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

Outside, Kripa cried silent as she stood in the garden and stared at the moon. She had always wondered if Angad had been staring at the moon at the same time she was, they use to do that together at nights. Someone came from behind her and wiped her tears gently. His touch still sent shivers down her spine. She didn't have to turn to know it was Angad.

"Why did you leave?" he asked. She knew he didn't mean why she left five years ago. It wasn't like Angad to get to the point at a time like this. He was asking why she left the party. She still didn't turn around and he knew by now that she knew it was him.

 

"I don't know" she replied softly. "I just wanted to be alone, I guess"

He wanted to stay with her. "Do you want me to leave" he asked, a hand on her shoulder.

 

"No" she replied immediately. "Stay" she said, a bit softer this time. He obeyed and stood next to her, his hands by his side now. She wanted to just turn and hug him, something she terribly had been wanting to do for the past five years. She'd been dieing to be in his arms, where she would feel all the comfort in the world. They both stood together, two friends, two silent lovers, without a word to say to each other.

 

They were so aloof, and she hated it. She decided she would tell him everything, when the time was right. He was the only one who would understand, who would support her instead of pitying her.

 

He hated the distance between them. He just wanted to take her into his arms and tell her everything would be all right. Wanted to ask her why she left, if she missed him. But he knew it wasn't the right time, and when it would me, he would ask her all the questions she left behind five years ago. He would tell her his feelings, because now he had build up the courage. He knew he would see her again, one day, and he had prepared himself for his confession.

 

He had fame, he had the money, he had an education, all girls drooled over him, his parents supported him in every decision he took, his siblings loved him to death, his friends would give up their life for him, he had the best grandmother always there for him in happy times, in sad times. But now, he stood awkwardly, feeling complete, yet incomplete at the same time. Because there was one thing he didn't have. He didn't have his heart. He didn't have his life. the one thing he couldn't live without was standing next to him, and he couldn't hold onto her.

 

She wanted to hold his hand as she watched him stare at the moon, spaced out, lost in his thoughts. She wanted to brush her lips with his. She had questions for him, and she could see questions in his eyes. But she couldn't even hold his hand. It would be going too forward, she thought. He was still her friend, her best friend, and nothing more. Nothing more.  He might have moved on. If he touched her, it was only a friendly gesture. A friendly gesture. Nothing more. The silence was so loud it was killing both of them.

 

"Silence is so loud" she said loudly.

He smiled and looked at her. "Your most famous line"

"But it is, isn't it?" she asked. She felt like the Kripa Sharma from five years ago, bubbly, energetic, cheerful, childish and he notice this.

"Yea it is, silence is deafening" he told her.

"Deafening" she repeated. "Exactly"

There was a short pause. Neither could tolerate silence anymore. Kripa spoke up. "I missed you" she told him.

He looked at her and smiled in response, not saying anything, teasing her.

"Did you miss me?" she asked.

"Like he**" he replied. Her face remained blank. "and not at the same time, because you were always there, you rmemories, you were always there, in my heart"

She looked at him.  He bend down on his knees. "Kripa, on the day Aryan was in an accident, I was telling you something." She nodded as he continued. "But I never finished it."

"Yes you did" she told him.

"No, I didn't, I lied"

 

Her heartbeat quickened as he repeated the speech he had given at the beach, five years ago. "I have been wanting to tell you this, for...some time now" She smiled. ""You were the first girl that became my friend. My best friend. You were the first girl that I felt like I could not hurt, I felt protective of you. I miss you when you are not with me, when I touch you I feel this weird sensation, when I am with you I feel like I am the luckiest person on earth. Recently, I have realized what this feeling is. Kripa Sharma, I am truly, madly, deeply, in love with you."

 

Her eyes widened in surprise. Is this what she was expecting? She wasn't sure if it was. But it was perfect. They heard applause and surprised, both turned to see everyone from the party standing outside. The Khannas' were beaming as Angad looked at Kripa and repeated. "I love you"

"I love you two" she replied joyously through tears. He wiped them and with his hand, moved her chin up. He turned to everyone watching as if it were a TV show. "Close you eyes!" he screamed, and to his surprise, they all obeyed and went in as he gave her a passionate kiss and she kissed him back. It was full of the passion they had been holding back for years. She raked her hands through his hair and he held onto her waist kissing her with more passion than ever. This was Angad and Kripa's second kiss.