Part 14 –

 

1 week later –

 

Kripa was working in her office when her mother rushed into the office, looking violently upset. Gripped by panic, kripa sprang to her feet.

Kripa – what is it, mamma? For a moment she only had bad thoughts .

Gayatri – it's prithvi

Kripa – what happened? Has he been hurt?

She has not seen him since the last time they met at lunch. She wanted to say prithvi, I want out of our engagement!! But the way prithvi had acted made her feel breaking their engagement would be too terrible for him to bear at that time. Had she been blinded to the true depth of his love for her? Had she not seen how much he cared? Had she blamed him too severely for that terrible night? She couldn't forget the sight of his hand upraised to her. His excuse was that he was drunk. The need for decisive action. It was causing her many a sleepless night. She had the awful feeling once she broke her engagement the recent harmony between herself and her father would break down overnight into icy rejection. Once the thought would have terrified her. But she was a woman now. She was well – educated.

 

Kripa – mamma, sit down. Here have some water. Prithvi's been injured, hasn't he?

Gayatri – (bitterly) they've both been injured .

Kripa – both???

Gayatri – prithvi and that sly, underhanded b****, mishti khanna.

Kripa – mamma, what are you talking about? What happened? Where? Why were they together?

Gayatri – (looking at kripa with pitying eye) because he's been seeing her on the side, that's why!

Kripa couldn't seem to take it in, though she was staring at her mother, hard.

Kripa – prithvi has been seeing mishti?

Kripa found it impossible to believe as the way prithvi used to labeled mishti a b****. Few days back he was literally been on his knees telling her how much he loved her, his voice filled with a I – can't live – without you fervor.

Kripa – how do you know? Who told you?

Gayatri – the way they found them told the story.

Kripa – what on earth do you mean? Who found them? Where were they? Spit out it mamma, for god's sake! I bet it's all over the district already.

Gayatri – they careened right off the road and plunged into the crossing. It was nishant who found them. They have already been airlifted to hospital.

Kripa – my god! How bad were their injuries?

Gayatri – no one knows yet. Prithvi was in worse condition than mishti, I believe.

Kripa – we must ring the hospital to find out.

Gayatri – krips, did you heard what I said? Did you take it in? they were together? Prithvi betrayed you. We all know at one time they were together, but everyone thought it was over. What fools we've all been. Obviously their affair has never left off.

Kripa – I can't understand this. I've been agonizing over finding the best moment to tell prithvi our engagement is off. I felt desperate to let him down lightly. Now I learn he's been seeing mishti behind my back all the while. It doesn't make a bit of sense!

Gayatri – doesn't it? She was giving him what you woudn't. it was just ***.

Kripa – just ***!!!!!!!!! You seem to know a hell of a lot about *** mamma.

Gayatri – I'm a married woman. Oh krips, what a terrible mess!

Kripa – I'll have to find out what condition they're both in. I can't stand here wondering. Does dad know?

Gayatri – he's the one who told me. He's shocked out of his mind.

Kripa – he never thought to come to me. After all, I am supposed to be prithvi's fiance. But dad came to you as always.

Gayatri – he's dreadfully upset. Naturally he would come to me, krips, and allow me to break the news to you. He was being thoughtful. He's only just got the news directly from nishant. Your father thought the world of prithvi.

Kripa – you didn't, mamma. You wouldn't have been too upset if I broke off the engagement.

Gayatri – I'm your mother. I wanted to see you marry well. Prithvi bose is a great catch. Was a great catch.

Kripa – I pray to god he still will be. But not for me. Why didn't I recognize what was behind all those snide remarks mishti used to make? The outright malice in her eyes? I put it down to jealousy. Understandable, when she must have been in love with prithvi at one time. Now it appears she's never given up on him. Maybe they were going to continue their affair right into our marriage? I'm a complete fool and I've only just found out. Surely someone realized what was going on?

Gayatri – they erected a pretty good smoke screen, the two of them. I daresay some of his mates would have known what was going on. They'd think prithvi was entitled to a bit of fun on the side.

Kripa – fun? Fun, for god's sake, fun! Well it's not fun now.