Part 27 –

 

Angad and kripa came from a long walk when they saw gayatri's car in front of khanna palace.

Kripa – it's mamma (unnecessarily holding angad's hand tightly)

Angad – I'm sure she's only come to see if you're alright. Take it easy kripa, your mom must be under a lot of stress.

Kripa – why have you come, mamma?

Gayatri – I had to come.

Angad – please sit down aunty. How are things at home?

Gayatri – not good, angad.

Angad – let's all take a seat (he put his hand gently on kripa's shoulder, exerting the slightest pressure) would you two like to talk while I make coffee?

Gayatri – I'd be grateful for that.

Angad – no problems and he leaves from there.

Gayatri – what a very considerate young man! I'm leaving surya.

Kripa – isn't it about time? You don't love him, mamma, you've never loved him, have you?

Gayatri – look give him some credit. When I knew I was pregnant with you I was absolutely desperate –

Kripa – you couldn't tell granny?

Gayatri – I didn't think I could. Your grandmother had – still has – very definite ideas about how a well bred young lady should conduct herself. She would have been shocked and bitterly disappointed in me. The scandal would have been enormous. It wouldn't have been so bad if I'd been able to marry the father of my child but I couldn't.

Kripa – then why have an affair with him?

Gayatri – you're in love with angad, aren't you? You're in love at last?

Kripa – (color flooded kripa's cheeks) oh please……………….. angad's not married .

Gayatri – I was mad about him. I truly believe he loved me. Neither of us planned it, it wasn't supposed to happen, yet all it took who he was, of course –

Kripa – which is a damn sight more than I do.

Gayatri – he noticed me from across the room.

Kripa – he would, any man would.

Gayarti – I'd noticed him back, tha's how it started.

Kripa – easy as that, eh?? (a bit sympathetic) why have you come, mamma? Your husband hasn't threatened you in any way?

Gayatri – he is beside himself.

Kripa – I'm quite sure he's blaming me for all this?

Gayatri – I want you to come with me to delhi.

Kripa – delhi? For what? To friends? To hotel?

Gayatri – for one thing you couldn't stay here with angad.

Kripa – why not? I'm going to marry him.

Gayatri – and he'll be a wonderful husband, I know.

Kripa – what's in delhi?

Gayatri – your father.

 

Suryaban – you're back! I knew you'd come back. You've got nowhere else to go.

Gayatri – I'm only here to do a little packing, surya. I'm taking krips with me to delhi.

Surya – (he blocked her way as she walked to the stairs) just how long do you think you can stay with friends?

Gayatri – I've lost touch with them, haven't I, through you? Let me past, surya.

Surya – not until we have this out. I'm extreamely unhappy with your behaviour, gayatri. You owe me. As for krips, she's just going from bad to wrost. I suppose she was with khanna?

Gayatri – why don't you ask them? They're waiting for me outside.

Surya – they're what? How dare they! Looking out.

Gayatri – they don't trust you to behave yourself, surya!

Surya – have I ever laid a finer on you?

Gayatri – if you had, I'd have found the guts to move on.

Surya – I knew garewal's child would split us one day . You surely can't be going to him? You have no space in his life.

Gayatri – I know that, surya. But krips does. There have been a lot of changes in society since I was a girl. People are more accepting. Krips wants to meet her father. I'm going to arrange it. Neither of us intend to embarrass him though I know he'll be deeply disturbed.

Surya – and what about his sons? What are they going to think?

Gayatri – there are secret places in everyone's life. Besides they're married men now, or one is.

Surya – been checking up on them, have you?

Gayatri – they're a prominent family surya. The media is like to report on prominent families.

Surya – they'll relish this scandal then, won't they? The return of the ex – lover along with their lovechild. And what about your oh so proper mother? What the hell is she going to think?

Gayatri – she's a long way from here, surya. I can't worry about her anymore, or about you. I'm not the same what I once was .

Surya – my god! I love you, gayatri, doesn't that mean anything to you anymore?

Gayatri – it would meant a lot you had loved my daughter, too!

 

Angad and kripa sat waiting for gayatri to reappear.

Angad – I think I should go in. (it was he who had insisted to accompanying them back, concerned surya might react badly when faced with losing the woman he loved )

Kripa – it's all right, mum's coming out into the verandah. She's ready for you to collect the luggage.

Angad – I'll drive up to the steps. He might come out, kripa, be prepared, for anything.

Surya – ah, it's you, just as I thought, I want you off my land angad khanna. (he ordered)

Angad – I certainly don't want to be here, sir. But aunty needs a helping hand.

Surya – not from the likes of you.

Angad – I wouldn't think of using that. You'll definitely come off second best. I understand you're upset, mr. sharma, but don't push it. I'll just collect what luggage aunty needs then we'll be on our way.

Surya – where, may I ask?

Angad – there's plenty of room at my house .

Surya – that crumbling heap!

Angad – you won't know it in six months. Khanna palace will in time be restored to its former glory, take it from me.

Surya – you! What that wicked old b****** leave you, did he leaft any money????

Angad – actually he did. He was far from broke as you seem to think. What he was……. have you heard of them?

Surya – you're not serious?

Angad – yes, I'm, excuse me, sir. I'll just collect those bags.

Surya – I'll never forgive you, krips, for what you've done .

Kripa – I haven't done anything . It's more what was done to me. I have to live with the fact my own mother lied to me all these years, I suppose she had to, to stay under your roof. Your precious reputation is very important to you, isn't it? But she had to pay dearly. I was to be passed off as your child, but right from the beginning you never treated me as family, much less an adopted daughter. You mightn't be able to see my scars. They're not visible to the naked eye, but they're there, things might have been very different had you been a man of heart.

Surya – I know I fed you, clothed you, housed you and educated you. Don't let's forget all that, my girl. You never wanted for anything.

Kripa – may be so and for that I thank you, but I went wanting for a bit of affection. I know you couldn't make it to love. You couldn't love another man's child.

Surya – how many men do you think could?

Kripa – that's absolutely unforgivable. I demand an apology you are noit leaving me even now.

Surya – why, you arrogant little girl! To think you can demand anything of me.

Kripa – it's normal enough in parent – child interactions but then I'm not your child, am I? my poor mother is still in love with that man even today.

Surya – what a mess!

Kripa – a mess that has to be straightened out. I doubt if I'll be seeing you again mr. sharma. So I'll say my goodbyes. I feel sorry for you in a way. But I shoudn't, I can only remember my life as your daughter as being loveless.

Surya – if you must do this, do it gayatri. No good will come to it, I warn you.

Gayatri – well it wouldn't be you if you wished us luck.

Surya – I don't want you upset and embarrassed. I repeat, I love you. I've stood by you no matter what. I'm not perfect. I didn't have it in me to take to another man's child. I'm not proud of it but it's understandable. The thing is I've always stood by you. Take all the time you want, but come back to me. Please! We have a good marriage.

Gayatri – and you think we'll have a better one without krips?

Surya – I'm sure of it.

Kripa – please, mamma let it be.

Surya – I suppose you think this puts you in the picture, angad khanna? Prithvi's out of the way, so you move in?

Angad – I don't see that that's any of your business mr. sharma. I'll say good day to you.

Surya – and good riddance! Make sure you never come on to my land again.

Angad – you should take it easy for a while, sir. You could have a stroke, heart attack, anything.

Gayatri – mind what he's saying, surya. The blood has mounted into your face.

Surya – so why should I care? You're leaving me, aren't you?

Gayatri – there's nothing left for us, surya. I should have done this a long time ago but I didn't have the courage to start again. Our marriage never had a firm foundation. I take a lot of blame. I'll see a lawyer in delhi

Surya – to start divorce proceedings?  

Gayatri – of course.

Surya – then don't think for one moment you'll get your hooks into my money. You're the guilty party. I'll make sure everyone knows that. Amrk my words, gayatri, you start this and I'll fight you inch of the way.

Gayatri – goodbye, surya.

 

promo - kripa finally meets her biological father