Part 13:

The taxi driver took out Kripa's luggage from the back of his taxi and placed it in the front of the office building as Kripa paid him off. Preparing herself for encounter with Angad, she waited patiently for him to arrive so that they could leave for there official trip in his car. As much as she loathed the idea of going on a trip with him, especially after what happened a day before, she knew she couldn't back off from it in any case. She saw his car approaching towards the office and picked up her luggage. He halted it exactly in front of her and got out.

Angad's red swollen eyes and worn out state caught Kripa's eyes instantly. She had never seen him like this before and it brutally ached her heart seeing him like this. He was looking terribly tired and weak. She was dying to reach for him and hold him…support him but controlled herself. Without sparing her a single glance, he walked towards her and took her bag, stuffing it along with his luggage; he walked to his side and took driver's seat once again waiting for Kripa to sit as well. Kripa took her seat and looked towards Angad. Without a word, he started driving, trying hard to concentrate on road. The sleepless night he has spent the previous day, as Kripa's words kept haunting him, made it difficult for him to keep his eyes open and focus on the road. Of course he wasn't going to tell his problem to Kripa…he was too stubborn to do that.

In order to do something, Kripa raised her hand to tune the stereo of the car, when her arm accidentally brushed against Angad's. Shocked and worried out of her wits, Kripa stared at Angad in concern and anger. "Damn Angad your body is burning hot with fever." She retorted.

"I am ok" is all he said.

"OK…you are not ok…you are so ill Angad. Did you take any medicines? Why the heck can't you look after yourself?" she said, concern and worry dripping from her voice.

"I am alright. Thanks for your concern." He said flatly, hurting Kripa.

Kripa turned her gaze to look out of the car, pledging to not to say anything to him about it anymore, though it would be a little difficult for her. Angad stopped the car in a garage for car servicing, to avoid any kind of problems in the trip ahead, since the road between two cities was a deserted one. Kripa saw Angad tilting his seat a little backwards as he leaned on it to rest, his eyes closed. Darn, he looked worn out indeed. How much she wanted to caress his face with her fingers, to relax and console him…to ensure that she was there for him. She pulled a little box from her bag, kept on the back seat. Breaking the pledge she took few moments ago, she opened the box and patted Angad's shoulder, as gently as ever. He tried to open his eyes; he had a burning sensation in opening them he realized. Sensing his trouble Kripa said, "Don't do it. Keep your eyes closed. Open your mouth." And she placed a paratha near his mouth. Sensing what she was trying to do, Angad shoved away her hand, "I am not hungry." It only made Kripa angrier.

"Mr. Khanna, can't you be a little professional. We are going for an official work which requires you to be a little healthy. I have no intentions of looking after you instead of doing my professional duty. You need to eat something…so stop all this and eat."

Angad opened the mouth reluctantly as Kripa pushed the paratha in…too in actually. Angad accidentally bit Kripa's finger which made her shriek a little "Ouch."

Kripa pulled her hand back and examined her finger, "Your tooth is so sharp Angad, it leaves the same mark as it used to." She said absent mindedly. Then realizing what she said, she turned her face the other way to hide her embarrassment, however she could feel Angad smirking on her. When servicing was done Angad paid them off and with a lot of trouble, readied himself to drive again. Kripa caught hold of his hand on steering and said, "You need to rest Angad. Let me drive."

Angad laughed weakly and said, "I want to reach hotel in one piece Kripa. Its already late and your driving at night…we better not talk about it."

He remembers, Kripa thought. She was always scared of driving at night…it made her kind of uneasy. So she always avoided it, until and unless it wasn't an emergency. But it was an emergency, right. Gathering herself up, she said again, "no…no…I will manage. Please let me drive. Besides, its not safe for you to drive in this state."     

 To her surprise, Angad didn't protest this time and gave in. Kripa started driving, while Angad rested on the seat. After driving for half an hour, Kripa realized she didn't know the way. Too scared to ask Angad, she stopped the car at the corner of the road. Realizing that car has stopped Angad opened his eyes and gave her a questioning look. On knowing her problem, Angad hit his head with his palm and ordered her to follow his directions.

Rest of the way, Angad kept giving her directions which she followed: however it got Angad more tired.

On reaching the hotel, Kripa helped Angad out and together they walked inside the grand seven star place. Angad sat down on the sofa at the corridor, while Kripa went to the receptionist to get the keys of there respective rooms.

The receptionist handed her the keys of rooms, "Room no. 103 on fifth floor booked on your name Mrs. Khanna and room no. 49 on second floor booked on the name of Mr. Angad khanna. Hotel attendant will bring your luggage madam. Thank you."

Kripa looked at Angad, he needed her. She looked at the receptionist and asked, "Actually Mr. khanna is not feeling well…can I have the room on same floor as well."

"Sorry madam…but all rooms on that floor are full." She said apologetically.

"Please…you can certainly do something." Kripa pleaded again.

"I am really sorry madam." The receptionist replied.

Taking a deep breath, Kripa asked again, "can you arrange for a separate bed in Mr. Khanna's room."

Before the receptionist could reply, Angad came from behind, "I am not that ill. You don't need to do all this…got it."

"Angad I am not doing all this for you…its for me…ok." Kripa said.

Angad saw her for few moments and turned to receptionist, "Book my room on the name of me and my WIFE, Mr. and Mrs. Khanna, but remember to arrange for two separate beds, that too at the two extremes of the room."

Saying this he walked away taking the keys with him, without waiting for Kripa. The receptionist gave Kripa an understanding sympathetic smile. She indeed had a difficult husband.

 

 

there are like 6-7 prts left for this ff...i hope silent readers would comment too...if they want that is lol

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