Chapter 16

Chapter 16:

"Wow this place is so beautiful!" Angad spoke to himself and Aditya as they glanced about, taking in the spectacular desert and yet homely view; the beautiful historic houses lining against one another, the warm breeze hitting their soft faces, made the place seem even better. "Angad look over there, you see that!" Aditya pointed towards the camels walking through the desert, and a happy family coming towards them. "I like the outfits, beautiful colors!" Angad gasped as he checked out the hand made clothes from afar. Five minutes later Angad found himself staring into the eyes of an elderly man, perhaps eighty year old man; who gawked at him completely bewildered. "Angad? Tum zinda ho?" Angad looked behind him, perhaps this man was dreaming, it is highly possible, "sorry?" Angad frowned what was up? "Angad, you are Angad! How can you be alive, you died before my eyes 23 years ago?" he spoke, his eyes wide, and then suddenly he slipped, "ghost, you are ghost!" his voice suddenly panicky and frightened.

"What are you saying, I am Angad Khanna, this is my elder brother Aditya Khanna, I was born and raised in Mumbai, my fathers name is Dilip Khanna, I am a singer and I'm part owner of the Khanna Industries; this is the first time in my life I have been to Rajasthan and your saying I died in front of you….!" Angad froze; his eyes shot towards Aditya, "bhai this is it!" Angad said before turning towards the elderly man. Slowly one by one his family appeared behind him, their faces became clear, his images became heavier, he knew these people but how? "Amit uncle?" the words slipped from his mind, as the memories rushed back and forth. Amit spoke, "how are you alive? You died from pain, as you watched her cremation, I saw you breath your last, as you slipped away two days later we cremated you as well in that graveyard next to Kripa's!"

Angad stopped, "can I go to your home please?" Amit nodded, walking slowly towards his home, where he cried every night never forgetting his favorite daughter, who died in front of his eyes, he couldn't forget that, never and the murderer was still out there running wild and free!

Back at Amit's home [Kripa's father before she died] Angad watched in amazement, as he took in sharp memories hitting him like lightening, he remembered seeing Kripa cry in front of him looking desperate and in despair, wearing white clothes crying about the loss of innocence she had just dealt with, blood boiled through his veins, he couldn't see Kripa like that, he had once he couldn't twice. Slowly and slowly every memory, when Kripa forcefully fed him parathas, she hitting him, him riding in his old car, driving to work, dreaming about Kripa, his mother and Kiran, everyone came rushing back….he was Angad Kapoor aka Angad Khanna, reincarnated. His life mystery finally had been solved; not only his but Kripa's, and now it was time for Prithivi to pay.

"Angad, do you know what happened to Kripa?" Amit Uncle asked Aditya and Angad. Angad nodded negatively, "all I remember is going to your home in Mumbai and finding Kripa lifeless and pale on the floor being carried off for her cremation, a few days earlier I had gone to Rajasthan and I almost killed Prithivi!" Angad snarled at the last bit, Amit uncle shook his head negatively. "After you came back from Rajasthan, I stayed back with Kripa, she no longer ate, slept or talked, she was done for until the night before we left, I came home and found her dead, someone had brutally murdered her, shot in the stomach with a gun!" Amit uncle froze he couldn't go back down the awful memory lane.

Angad sat staring straight ahead, completely absorbing every word that Kripa's previous family said. It was hard to digest but he knew who had done this, if only Kripa could confirm that.

"Bhaiyya, can you take me to go meet Armaan and Riddhima please?" Kripa asked with her innocent eyes as Karan almost refused. "Fine!" he sighed and ruffled her hair, "my cute little monster, as you wish, let's go!" Karan said breaking into a smile seeing Kripa pout slightly. "hmm Bhai, how is work lately?" Kripa asked casually while she looked out the windows into the beautiful scenery before her. "work is fine honey, just busy, signing this and that deal!" Kripa nodded and switched the radio on, skipping stations towards her favorite station. "Kripa what are you hiding?" Karan asked his eyes narrowing, he always new when Kripa was hiding something and from the looks of it she was just going to bite her lips. "umm, well bhai my car has been fine for a while, and we are going to go meet Armaan and Riddhima except you are having lunch with us! All you do is work work work and more stupid work! So I thought I might as well snatch you from work for two hours! And I give you the rest of the day off!" Kripa chuckled, as Karan sighed.

"you little cute monster! Now I am a hundred percent sure that's your new nickname!" Karan chuckled as Kripa crossed her arms like a five year old. He always loved bugging her, and it had been a while since he'd done that, ever since Kripa had found out from their mom, that Kripa had been perhaps reborn, she had been lost in her thoughts. "Okies we are here!" Karan said pulling into a parking spot.

"Let's go dada-bhai!" Kripa squealed with excitement, grabbed his hand and ran inside to find Armaan and Riddhima lost in one another's gaze. Kripa turned around confused, "I think there is something in her eye? Maybe we should go help!" Kripa chuckled wickedly. This was the best part of being at the beach with her Karan, Armaan and Riddhima. She could be the young child she always desired to be. "Kripaaa! Do not do that!" Karan said sternly, "they are merely lost in one another's gaze!" Karan said remembering the good old days with his wife. Kripa chuckled, "hmm bhai don't worry you have all day and night with bhabhi, now lets go help this love couple get together, I'm tired of them denying they don't have any feelings for one another, when clearly we both know how Riddhima feels when I hug Armaan, do you know?" Kripa asked smirking, "ill show ya bhai, watch this!" Kripa smiled and rushed towards Armaan, distracting him from Riddhima's lovingly gaze and pulled him into a bear hug.

Riddhima fumed with anger, she hated it when Kripa did that even when Kripa knew how she felt about Armaan, a sweet doctor, yeah he is flirty but he had been like that since forever. Kripa let go of him and placed a kiss on his cheek and turned her attention towards Riddhima winking at her while she glared back fuming. "Kripa be nice!" Karan said sternly, noticing Riddhima's anger; although he hated it he was loving the fun. "oh btw bhai, turn to the right!" Kripa said, Karan frowned, "okie sweetie as you say!" he turned and found himself across from his entire family relaxing on the beach. "so this was already planned!" Karan asked breaking off into smiles. "I love you!" he screamed with excitement pulling Kripa into a hug, "just what I need a break from work!" Kripa flashed him a smile and rushed towards the water, spraying Armaan and Riddhima with water back and forth.

"Ahhh!" Riddhima screamed slipping into the water. Armaan turned around and burst out into fits of laughter, "gosh Riddz, I would have one a million dollars if only I had my camera! The look on your face, you know you should try out for the clown role next time!" Armaan chuckled but stopped as soon as Riddhima stomped her way back. Laughing at her expressions, he grabbed her by the waist and turned her around. Bam! Both clashed into one another and froze, everything else froze still once again as they gazed into each others eyes before falling into the water. "beautiful!" Armaan whispered into a blushing Riddhima's ears.

"Armaan!" Kripa screamed distracting their eye lock, Armaan and Riddhima groaned simultaneously, they hated it when Kripa did that purposely. Both looked at one another and burst out laughing, with Riddhima rolling off of him. He watched with love, she was looking gorgeous with her wet hair clinging to her face, her clothes completely drenched clinging to her curves. She looked damn sexci and yet innocent at the same time; only she could pull that off!

Two weeks later, everything had been going perfect back in Mumbai, except for Armaan he had fallen madly in love with Riddhima, her smile, her eyes, her blushing whenever she gazed at him and everything she did took his breath away. And now here he was nervously walking back and forth in the locker room trying to find a way to ask Riddhima the big question. They both had known one another for about eight months now, but had become best of friends so fast and now here he was in love with her! Finally when time finished, Armaan turned around to find Riddhima grabbing something from her locker, "Riddhima?" he asked shakily. Riddhima turned around smiling, "yes armaan, what happened?" she asked taking in his condition. "are you sick? Is everything okay?" she asked confused.

Armaan nodded negatively, sweat rushed down his forehead, and he was anxious he didn't know how to pop the question. "umm Riddhima I….will…me….can….you….ughhhhhhhh!" he stopped, the words just would not come out. Riddhima frowned, "armaan whatever it is just say it openly!" Armaan sighed, took a deep breath and started over. "Riddhima, we have known one another for eight months, and in these eight months I found myself used to your appearance and existence in my life, we became best friends and slowly I realized I was falling for you…your every smile brightens my life, your eyes are so beautiful I would gaze into them everyday and I would feel complete, I love it when you blush when I flirt with you or when we clash into one another, and now so many days later I realized I have fallen in love with you, I love you….will you…..umm…marry me? I promise to always keep you happy, you'll always be more than my wife, my better half, my life and my world….so will you marry me?" Armaan finally asked shakiness starting to get back into his voice.

Riddhima broke off into a smile, the tears rushed down her eyes, "now you ask, yes I'll marry you and I love you too!" Armaan glanced up at her, she was crying. "I love you Riddhima!" he said before pulling her into a hug. "I love you so much!"

"Mom, Dad I am going to go and pick Angad and Aditya from the airport!" Kripa squealed with excitement, after a total of three weeks she would finally meet Angad, boy had she missed him loads, and she couldn't wait to see the expression on his face when he found out about Armaan and Riddhima, perhaps something like that would soon happen with them. She sighed and drove off towards the airport. "Angad!!" Kripa squealed with delight and rushed towards him, pulling him into a hug. Angad smiled and hugged her tighter than usual, he had missed her more than before and now that he knew who they both were he could feel the love growing every day. "I love you and I missed you!" Angad whispered in her ear before kissing her forehead. "cough cough!" Aditya chuckled as Kripa and Angad parted, "carry on! I'll look away!" he chuckled as Angad smacked his arm playfully.

"Kripa I would like for you to meet these people!" Angad said turning around, and there behind him stood Kripa's parents and her brother. The singh family. Kripa smiled politely at them, and walked towards them taking their blessings, "Namastey uncle, aunty, dadu dadi!" Kripa smiled at them. They froze and stared at her in amazement. Behind her Angad and Aditya coughed slightly. Kripa frowned and turned around, "Kripa let's go to your house please?" Kripa nodded and walked out of the airport, smiling she had brought the big suv!

"I am sorry, I don't recognize any of you!" Kripa spoke trembling, she was concerned and upset as a Punjabi family from Rajasthan had come along with Angad just to meet her. One glance at her and they had began weeping pulling her into hugs and now they were shocked. "you don't remember your own father Kripa?" Amit Uncle spoke weakly, close to breaking down. Kripa nodded, "I'm so sorry uncle, I don't remember you! I've never met you before!" Kripa spoke slowly. Gayatri and Suryaban glanced at one another startled when he spoke yet again, "what about your last name Kaur, do you remember Angad, you two were best friends and worked together, you made him many parathas to get him hatta katta! Or how about when you used to get upset and would come running to me? Don't you remember anything at all?" Angad sighed as Kripa once again nodded weakly.

"Amit uncle, it'll be fine I'll help Kripa remember our past life not only for you but for me and to find out who had killed her!" Angad spoke furiously, Kripa stared at him bewildered, she was killed?

Two months have gone by since the first encounter between Kripa and her previous family, and in these two months she sees them every day growing attached to their lively smiles whenever she walks through the doors. Not only does she spend time with them but calls them her parents, after all, she couldn't see them in pain. Karan on the other hand, too is very happy to know that Angad has come to know everything about their personal life, he knows for sure Angad and Kripa are meant to be…and wishes they may get married soon. Gayatri and Suryaban understand everything that is going on with their daughter and are there every step of the way.

Armaan and Riddhima have also been living a better life, after Angad came home they had broken the news to not only their family but Angad as well and immediately both were bound into a relationship they never wanted to break. Their engagement took place in the Sharma house, where Kripa had taken care of every single detail not forgetting to do anything for her best friend's engagement. Armaan and Riddhima both had smiled big as they had slipped the rings on one another's fingers. While Angad had merely nudged and winked at Kripa a few times making her blush.

Like every other day, Kripa rushed down the stairs, wishing everyone a good morning with kisses, something she never missed to do; and gasped as Gayatri and Suryaban screamed, "surprise!" she froze, "Mummy ji, daddy ji?" she questioned. Gayatri and Suryaban chuckled, "yes Kripa they will be living from now on in our house, after all they are your parents from before!" Kripa burst into smiles and hugged them once again, not bothering to eat.

"KRIPAAAAAAAAAA!" Angad screamed walking in. "Hey sweetheart, how are you?" he asked pulling her into a hug and noticed her entire family there; he knew they were used to it. "Hi Mummy ji, daddy ji, Mom and Dad! Karan bhaiyya, bhabhi and kids! Phew I got that out in a blow!" he chuckled to himself. "before I forget there is a party at my house, and I would like for all of you to attend please will you come?" Angad asked with innocent puppy dog eyes. "of course beta!" gayatri said pulling him into a hug.

The entire Sharma and Singh-Kaur family walked through the elegant doors of the Khanna House, everything was so beautiful here. Kripa smiled and glanced about the room, hoping to catch an eye of her prince, Angad, he had been there to comfort her when she needed him and she would always do the same for him. "Welcome beautiful!" Angad managed to speak, walking towards her, dressed in a black tux with a red shirt looking like a handsome rather sexci man. Kripa smiled as he checked her from head to toe dressed in a beautiful black and red sari. "gorgeous!" he managed to mumble, taking in her beautiful appearance, she looked ravishing.

Kripa chuckled and linked her arm with his, while he introduced her to everyone as his girlfriend, and co-singer. The party was on in full beats, everyone was enjoying until the lights dimmed slightly and the guest was brought to the stage. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming here today; not only is today just a get together but a very important business man has joined our company, Mr. Prithivi Bose!" Dilip smiled. Angad and Kripa both turned at the same time, Kripa froze, the soft drink slipping from her hand making a loud noise however nothing compared to the thunderstorm her life had just turned into. Slowly a fifty year old man walked to the stage dressed in a white tux, glasses with no frame and his hair cropped short. "Prithivi, Angad Prithivi…" Kripa managed to speak before collapsing in his arms…..

To be continued….confrontation in the next part, and then epilogue….