Part 11 –

 

Surrounded by 'family' kripa was feeling hemmed in. she was tormented by her complex emotions. Had she really agreed to give prithvi a second chance? She didn't really think so, yet why was she seated at this table as if nothing has happened ? Her mother had gave her a quick, surprised glance after she sees the ring on her finger . She thought two lovers had had a fight and made up.

Kripa wondered – why I am doing this? It was because this made her close to her father? .The distance between them had finished to an extent. Is this was the reason her mom send her away to boarding school. She hardly had a memory with her father. It appeared to her after she got engaged to prithvi bose her existence has much significance on her father. She was disturbed.

 

Across the green parkland she glimpsed angad khanna seated at a table with the very attractive mishra sisters, simone and harshani. They were really sweet girls. The whole family was nice. As she saw expected, given angad khanna was such a stunning man, both the sisters were flushed with excitement as shruti aggarawal sitting opposite to him. Shruti leaned across the table to say something to him, which made them all laugh. Kripa almost laughed herself . No need to help him out with his BUSH BACHELOR advertisement. He actually had three eligible young women hanging on his every word.

 

Kripa after lunch went and sit on a bench aloof. When she heard some ladies talking.

Lady 1 – is it true angad is looking for a wife? Or is it a joke?

Lady 2 – well no one has asked him but I can tell girls want him for themselves.

Lady 1 – yeh but he can pick only one.

Hearing this kripa felt a prick of something very much like misery .

Lady 2 – then its simone.

Kripa was lost in her own world when she heard a voice.

 

Voice – hi kripa!

Kripa – hello there, angad.

Angad – how are you today?

Kripa – very unsettled

Angad – I couldn't help noticing prithvi is forgiven.

Kripa – everyone is just so happy we're engaged.

Angad – everyone but you?

Kripa – I used to be happy. Or I thought I was. Maybe I was just basking in everyone's approval.

Angad – what does that mean exactly?

Kripa – god you know all about approval and the lack of it, angad. I can't talk about it. It's disloyal to my family.

Angad – what about prithvi? Hell kripa you're not a schoolgirl. You're a woman. What are you afraid of? You weren't afraid last night. You were astonishingly gutsy. What's happened to change that?

Kripa – I was very angry with prithvi last night. I'm still not happy about him, but he came to me this morning and…………….

Angad – swore he'd never use force on you again? You believed him?

 

Kripa had the strong impression angad was disgusted.

Kripa – may I ask why it's any of your business, angad?

Angad – you may ask but I might be less inclined to answer. Think of it as I'm catching up with a friendship that never had a chance to get started. I was pretty lonely kid, living on the fringe of things. My father dishonoured by his own people. My mother spoken about as if she were nothing more than a wayward little tramp. In reality she had more class than any them. But it broke her as time went on. It might seem like a small thing but I saw the way little princess sharma always gave me a wave as a bright spot in my blighted childhood.

Kripa – I can't remember. (staring at him out of sorrowful doe eyes)

Angad – sounds like you've been trying?

Kripa – I know  I will remember. It's going to happen all at once.

Angad – when can you come to khanna palace?

Kripa – it's not a good idea.

Angad – kripa, you promised me.

Kripa – prithvi hates you.

Angad – (his handsome face bore an expression of indifference) that's okay. I can live with it. I don't exactly admire him. He's a bully – man and boy. What days do you come into town for josh kapoor?

Kripa – make it next Friday. I'll meet you at the office at 10:00 a.m. would that suit?

Angad – no, but I'll be there. (he gave her a smile that made a lick of fire run right down to her toes).

Kripa – then another day?

Angad – Friday's fine. The sooner the better. Are you going to tell your folks?

Kripa – (laughed as if it were an insane thing to ask) oh, angad, they won't even notice I've gone. Well my father won't.

Angad – (he wanted to touch her check but he knew he shouldn't) what's the problem with your father? There appears to be one.

Kripa – maybe I'll tell you sometime. Oh god (she muttered, under her breath) here he comes now with prithvi.

Angad – (rose immediately to his impressive height) don't panic, I'll go. You will turn up?

Kripa – yes, 10:00 a.m. at the office.

Angad – what I'd really like to do is stay and meet your father. Ask him why he turned against the man who was once his friend?

Kripa – now not the time for it, angad!

Angad – don't walk into the trap (he warned).