[SIZE=7]PART 25:
Kripa recovered from her accident and childbirth over the next few weeks. She could still not walk without support. The doctors reassured her that with appropriate physical therapy, she would be on her feet in no time.
Once she was discharged from the hospital, they all decided to go back to Mumbai.
Angad pushed Kripa in a wheelchair as a little 6 week old Diya sat on Kripa's lap.
They were all received at the airport by the Khanna's and Suryabhan. Mishti was too ashamed to face Kripa and Angad. Angad had already told her clearly that he did not want to see her again.
"Mausaji, didi nahin aayi?" Kripa enquired
"Wo…kaam parr hai" Suryabhan lied
"OH…" Kripa was sad as she thought Mishti was still upset with her.
Dilip greeted Angad and Kripa, "welcome back my kids….Angad, my boy I am very proud of you, my Prithiraj Chauhan……tum hi sachche mard ho!" Kripa looked at Angad as the reference to "prithviraj" seemed like a father-son secret.
Naina said, "chalo beti ghar chalo…."
Suryabhan intervened, "Nahin aise nahin!"
Everyone looked at him in surprise. Gayatri looked a little flustered, "itna sab hone ke baad bhi aap…."
Suryabhan smiled, "aap sab log chauk gaye na? Main jaanta hoon, Kripa ab aap logon ki hi bahu hai,uska ka main kanyadaan theek se karna chahta hoon…..jaanta hoon Angad ney pati ke sab responsibilities uthaayi hain, parr main bhi apni responsibility nibhaana chahta hoon. Aap log sab mere saath chaliye"
They all followed Suryabhan's car to an unknown destination. They came to a large temple, which was decorated like a wedding was going to happen there.
Suryabhan helped Kripa and Diya out of the car and pushed her wheelchair to the altar. A priest was also present. Angad and Kripa finally had a formal wedding in front of all the family members. They exchanged garlands and had saat pheras. Suryabhan and Gayatri performed the kanyadaan. Angad pushed Kripa in her wheelchair around the sacred fire during the pheras. They received their blessings from all the elders as Kripa tearfully said her goodbye to her aunt and uncle.
"Mausaji, mujhey maaf karr deejiye yadi maine aapka kabhi dil dukhaya ho tho.." Kripa sobbed as she hugged her uncle
"Nahin beti….galti meri thi….main kabhi tumhey theek se samajh hi nahin paaya….khush raho…sada suhaagan raho…" Suryabhan blessed Kripa.
Gayatri sobbed as she hugged Kripa, "beti ghar aatey rehna….Diya ko apni naani ke paas zaroor laana…" Kripa nodded as Angad helped her back into the car.
Gayatri went home with Suryabhan. Kripa rode back with her new family.
[SIZE=7]KHANNA RESIDENCE:
Naina welcomed Kripa and Diya at the door. She had a pooja thali with sindoor and tilak, "welcome home beti…." Naina kissed Kripa's forehead and placed her foot in the auspicious colored water.
"Bas…apna pair yahan zameen parr rakh do.." Naina helped Kripa from the wheelchair.
Kanan took Diya with her, "Ab devarjee…..nayi bahu ko apney kamrey mein le jaaiye" she pointed at Angad's bedroom which was upstairs.
Angad got the point; he lifted Kripa from the wheelchair and carried her upstairs in his arms. Everyone clapped as they saw them Angad carry his bride.
Naina said, "bahu aur Diya ke aaney ki khushi mein hum ek bahut badi party rakhna chahtey hain…"
Kanan and Nishant agreed, "bilkul theek kaha aapney mom, parr thode din mein karengey jab Kripa bilkul theek ho jaayegi…"
Angad carried Kripa to her new bedroom and gently placed her on her bed, "welcome to your room, Kripa. Iss bedroom mein meri bahut si bachpan ki yaadein hai, ab main chahta hoon isskey harr kauney mein tumhari khushboo chaa jaaye…." He kissed her forehead and said, "aaj jaanti ho hamari official suhaag raat hai….." he winked at her.
Angad kissed her lips passionately and said, "Ab tumharey jaagney ki raatein aa gayi hain…..ab kabhi soney ka naam mat lena, samjhi?" Kripa blushed and hugged him, "ab neend hi kaise aayegi, wo tho hamesha ke liye chali gayi hai…" she whispered in his ear and kissed it. Angad grabbed her tightly, "lagta hai shikaar aaj se hi shuroo karna padhega!" As they played around with each other, there was a loud knock on their door, 'Angad…Kripa! Diya bahut zor se ro rahi hai!" it was Kanan.
"Well….lagta hai hamari neend udhaaney wali aa gayi hai…" Angad smiled and got up from the bed and walked towards the door. He took Diya from Kanan's arms and gave her to Kripa, "Diya beta iss tarah tho tum ek lauti santaan hi reh jaaogi…mama papa ko apney bhaiya ke liye tayyari bhi karne do…."
Kripa gave him a sharp look, "Bhaiya? Itni jaldi!"
A FEW WEEKS LATER:
Kripa's physical therapy sessions had helped her get rid of the wheel chair. She was able to walk on her own now. Diya was a cute 3 month old baby. Angad had joined his dad's business, as he did not want a job, which involved a lot of traveling.
"Kripa…yeh guest list hai….mom hamare liye ek party karma chahti hain…" Angad came and sat near Kripa as she was changing Diya's diaper.
Kripa looked at the list and said, "Angad…please ek baat bolun, jab se main wapas aayi hoon, didi se nahin mil paayi, kya didi ko bhi bula saktey hain?"
Angad frowned at the thought of Mishti attending the party, "Kyon….abhi bhi unka intezaar hai tumhey?"
"Nahin…mausi mujhsey keh rahi thi ki didi bahut badal gayi hain….ab wo pehley jaisi nahin hain…"
"Tabhi tumsey milney ek baar bhi nahin aayi?" Angad got up angrily
"Angad ho sakta hai wo sharminda ho….may be we should give her a benefit of doubt"
Angad had not told her details about the accident yet but he could not resist today, "Benefit of doubt?…..DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU HAD THE ACCIDENT?"
Kripa got scared as Angad raised his voice, "tum logon ney aaj tak bataya nahin mujhey…..aakhir aisa kya hua tha?"
"Well, let me tell you then….. tumhara accident ek accident nahin tha…………" Angad still looked upset.
He told her the details of the gun shot wound and how Mishti had run away with a disc, leaving Kripa at the hands of the gunman.
Kripa was shocked. She sat down and thought for a while, "Angad….main phir bhi un sey milna chahti hoon…."
"Are you crazy? You should be happy, I have not killed her yet…I almost lost you because of her…." Angad held Kripa's waist and looked into her eyes.
"Angad…please ek baar mere saath chalo…..please just for my sake…" Kripa pleaded
Angad was upset with Kripa, but consented as he did not want Mishti to become a cause of rift between them; Kripa was too precious for him and he could nor bear the thought of upsetting her for such a matter.
SHARMA RESIDENCE:
Angad, Kripa and Diya arrived at the Sharma residence. Gayatri was ecstatic to see them. Kripa hugged her mausi and saw her mausaji approaching them also. She hugged him as Angad shook hands with him. Angad and Kripa gave the invitation card to them, "Aap sab ko zaroor aana hai…" Kripa said
"Aisa kaisa ho sakta hai…hum naa aaye…. Aakhir hum beti waale hain…" Suryabhan smiled
"Mausi didi kahan hai?" Angad stiffened when he heard Kripa ask for Mishti
Mishti was getting ready to go for work, 'Maa….meri school ki diary kahan hai?" they heard her from the kitchen
"School?" Kripa asked
"Haan beta….ab Mishti ek school mein padhaati hai…..wo ab corporate world mein nahin rehna chahti…." Gayatri said
Kripa and Angad looked at each other
Mishti appeared in the living room and paused when she saw Kripa and Angad. She turned around to go back but Kripa approached her with Diya, "didi…Diya apni mausi sey milney aayi hai…"
Mishti could not hold her tears and turned around. She looked at Kripa and lowered her eyes.
"Didi…..main chahti hoon Diya ko bhi apni mausi sey utna hi pyaar miley jitna mujhey apni mausi sey mila hai…"
Mishti looked up and saw little Diya smiling at her. She extended her arms and picked Diya.
Kripa smiled through her tears and said, "pata hai didi, is ki aankhein bilkul apni mausi parr gayi hain…."
Mishti smiled and said, 'aankhein jaisi bhi ho, parr Diya ka dil bilkul apni maa jaisa hona chahiye aur pyaar apney papa jaisa karna chahiye……"
Angad smiled back and nodded his head at the compliment.
Kripa gave Mishti an invitation card also, "Aapko zaroor aana hai…."
Mishti smiled, 'aisa kaise ho sakta hai ki meri choti bahen ki khushi mein shaamil na hoon….. Kripa, main maafi ke laayak tho nahin hoon….parr…"
Kripa placed her hand on Mishti's mouth, "didi, yadi subah ka bhoola shaam ko ghar aa jaye, tho usse bhoola nahin kehtey….."
Angad and Kripa took leave, as they had to distribute more invitation cards. On the way back, Angad looked at Kripa and said, 'Mishti ki ek baat sey main pehli baar agree karta hoon…..dil ho tho maa jaisa…..Kripa you have the most tender heart….itna sab hone ke baad bhi tumney Mishti ko maaf karr diya….shayad main kabhi nahin karta…"
"Angad….didi has realized her mistake….and I have you and Diya, more than I could have asked for……why carry grudges forward……life is too short for holding grudges…" Angad hugged Kripa and kissed her forehead, "OK….lage raho munna bhai…."
"Kya matlab?" she asked
"Kuch nahin…tum jab coma mein thi ek movie aayi thi, bas uska naam le raha tha…" Angad said as he placed Diya in the car seat.
"Chalo kissi din dekhney chaltey hain" Kripa said excitedly
"No way Kripa…..tum tho Munna bhai ki guru ho…..tum kya karogi dekhkar?" he rolled his eyes at the thought of Kripa getting more Gandhian ideas.
"Main samjhi nahin…."
"Naa samjho tho hi achcha hai…."
He just smiled and started driving back.
…..to be continued….