Part 20 –

 

They sat in a quiet corner of a little restaurant at the top of the range, a twinkling world of colored lights spread out across the city beneath them.

Angad – no appetite? (he asked, having watching her toy with the delicious food)

Kripa – I should have stuck with the entre. The food's great, but life's getting too much for me.

Angad – prithvi's going to make a full recovery. That must take a lot of the burden off you (he hoped to god it did, maybe then she could tell prithvi to let go)

Kripa – it does.

Angad – is there something you're not telling me?

Kripa – yes.

Angad – thought so. Obviously it's very much upset you?

Kripa – thank you. This is in complete confidence, because I trust you.

Angad – (a warning bell began ringing inside his head) just so long as you're not about to tell me you're going to marry prithvi? His eyes sizzled over her.

Kripa – I'm not going to marry prithvi. Chances are when he's fit enough – or even before then – he'll be marrying mishti.

Angad – (shocked) now that's the very last thing I expected to hear.

Kripa – she's pregnant. I had to tell someone. I couldn't keep it to myself. Mishti is pregnant with my ex – fiance's  child.

Angad – god!!

Kripa – the fact is she is carrying prithvi's child.

Angad – then he must marry her.

Kripa – he told her to have an abortion.

Angad – doesn't that say everything you need to know about prithvi bose? His own child and he's ready to destroy it? Mishti can't listen to him. Time have changed so much. She'll get through and she'll adore her baby.

Kripa – I hope so. There aren't too many families like your's.

Angad – they are not my family. Nor will they ever be in my mind. I gather mishti doesn't get along too well with her parents. It doesn't make a sense to me, these rich people. Then again mishti is getting looked after so well financially she'd never leave home.

Kripa – I would say that's because of prithvi. Mishti wasn't far off thirty and on her own admission she hadn't really looked beyond her first lover.

Angad – the b******!! Sorry !!

Kripa – no need, you're spot on. Prithvi has always been in the picture.

Angad – poor mishti! Though she doesn't seem to have much going for her in the way of morals. But she was nice for the time I was with her. Quiet and introspective. Now I know why. In a way it's the same for her as you. Prithvi caught both of you into a trap.

Kripa – I'm thinking mishti turned the tables on him.

Angad – you said it's over?

Kripa – it's over.

Angad – but you haven't told him?

Kripa – when he's at home prithvi and I will be having a serious talk.

Angad – I'm really happy to hear that (not looking happy at all) he surely doesn't think mishti is going to do as he says?

Kripa – he'd have to be forced to marry her. I don't think his parents would force him to do anything. Especially after his accident which apparently mishti caused.

Angad – I'm sure she didn't plan it. I guess he went ballistic when she told him.

Kripa – I would say his reaction would be fairly strong.

Angad – anyway, that's their problem. Mishti's child is the bose's grandchild. Surely that means everything to them? Their grandchild? The khanna's aren't nobodies. Mishti's parents would adjust overnight. So would the town if prithvi and mishti were to marry.

Kripa – nothing would surprise me, but I have the aweful feeling some of the sacandal will stick to me.

Angad – you're the innocent party.

Kripa – that won't stop it. It never does. I don't feel like I'm walking on solid ground any more.

Angad – I can understand that. You're in shock. You have to give yourself a little time, kripa.

Kripa – you have to give me a little time (she looked into his eyes, sealing the rest of the world off)

Angad – I'd give you all the time in the world if only we had it. I know what's in my head already (in his mind – what's in my head and my heart), it was true enough, but she still wasn't absolutely free of prithvi. I know it came out all wrong the last time. I starled you. I see now I could hardly fail to do so, but I'm here for you, kripa, once prithvi is out of the way. I seem to have been alone for so long much of my life. It wasn't only my father who left me. Mt mother left me as well after he was killed. Neither of them returned.

Kripa – what if you found you couldn't love me? After marriage, for all your best intensions it just didn't happen? It was a legitimate fear.

All angad wanted to do was rain kisses on her whole body. He felt her fingures were doubly pretty because she wasn't wearing prithvi's ring. When had she taken that off?

Angad – I refuse to believe it couldn'tt happen. Didn't a fire burn inside you when I kissed you?

Kripa was amost ready to te him his kiss had awakened her to full life only she held back.

Kripa – angad, this is the wrong time for a courtship. I think it's time to take me back to the hotel. (she was little bit scared of so much emotion, when she was with angad she wasn't the proper krips, she was some one else)

Angad – do you intend seeing prithvi again in the morning before we return? (somehow sensing what was actually in her mind. He too was overwhelmed by the powerfulattraction that had overtaken them. He had wished for the right woman, it had happened)

Kripa – I don't want to, but I will. Hospitals aren't the best places to deliver bad news, and it will be bad news for prithvi and his parents. Prithvi has lived his life thinking he can have any girl he wants. For whatever reasons he's hell – bent on marrying me. Perhaps it was because I wasn't giving him what he wanted? I had to be absolutely his and marriage was the only way? Who knows? He was only using mishti when she lat in bed with him. I feel sorry for her. Nevertheless at this point he's too sick to tell him what I think of him, that will have to wait.

Angad – so we're going around in circles.

Kripa – it's a bit like that.

 

Kripa was looking outside the restaurant while angad settled the bill. He joined her after a moment and took her arm. They were barely out the door when they were confronted by a well dressed middle – aged couple about to enter the restaurant. It was the boses, even though kripa had been given to understand that mr. bose was returning home, leaving his wife staying with a friend who lived there. Kripa felt so guilty she might have been caught in the execution of serious crime. The bose too looked startled.

Mr. bose – what on earth are you doing here, krips? And that too with him? (giving furious glances to angad who was standing on kripa's side)

Kripa – good evening uncle, aunty. You remember angad, don't you? Angad khanna?

Damini – yes (looking pale with dismay and couldn't smile) what are you doing here together krips? I don't understand. Prithvi's still lying in hospital and you've had dinner with this young man?  I really can't believe it. Not you, krips. You always conduct yourself so well.

Kripa – I hope I'm still doing that aunty. Angad is my friend, nothing more (that wasn't true but they didn't have to know yipeeee ) many things have changed since before and after prithvi's accident. I'm so glad he's going to make a full recovery but prithvi knows in his heart our engagement is over. It just wasn't the right time to make that perfectly plain to him at the hospital. I'll delay our talk until he's well enough.

The bose stood staring at her.

Damini – you're not serious? You can't be, krips. You're over reacting surely? My son adores you.

Kripa – that's not true aunty. I don't want to distress you. I know how upset you and uncle have been, but prithvi really is involved with mishti. I'll allow him to tell you about it himself.

Mr. bose – (violently and with ugly expression) involved with mishti khanna, rubbish! There are always women like mishti khanna in life. What I want to know is, what's been going on between you two?

Angad – have a care, mr. bose

Mr. bose – what was that? Speak up?

Angad – you heard me perfectly well the first time. We're in public remember? I suggest you back down. And you might apologise to kripa. She's the injured party here.

Mr. bose – kripa? She's not kripa, she is krips. Don't get smart with me, son! I saw off your father. I'll do the same for you.

Angad – I would bank on that. As I understand it you didn't see off my father, as you call it. Your men saw him off at gunpoint. You didn't appear at all. I'm nit  like my father anyway. My father was a gentleman, I'm not.

Mr. bose – (a rush of contemptuous laughter broke) why you arrogant young b******! Like father like son

Both women were utterly dismayed

Kripa – please, please stop it!

Mr.bose – you'll be sorry for that! How dare you lay a hand on me? Do you even have a clue how powerful I am? (he raised his hands on angad and angad stopped him)

Angad – you're not above the law, mr. bose. What you attempted was assault. I'll lay charges if you ever attempt anything like that again. Believe me, I only stopped you because of the ladies and the fact I knew you'd come off badly.

Tears were spilling out of damini's face. Damini to her hushband.

Damini – please! You're making a spectacle of us.

Mr. bose – these two are making the show.

Kripa – I'm sorry aunty. She took angad's arm to move him away. She could feel the tension right through his body. There were old issues that had to be settled here, though she knew it wouldn't be angad who would make the first move, he'd simply finish it.