Part 1
A
private jet slowly taxied down the runway and rolled to a stop. Kripa opened
her eyes and glanced out the window into the darkness. She saw a man standing
alongside a limo and knew it was the new chauffeur. If you only knew what
kind of man your new boss is, she thought.
"Kripa!"
Kripa
turned away from the window and looked up into her husband, Prithvi's piercing
gray eyes. "Y-yes."
"Get
up," he said coolly. "I don't have time for you to sit there and daydream."
Her
hands trembling Kripa fumbled with the latch on her seatbelt. She released it
and got to her feet. "All right, baby girl," she whispered, removing the baby
from the infant seat. "It won't be long now and we'll be in our new home." She
picked up her purse and the diaper bag, sticking her arm through the straps.
Cradling the baby, she followed Prithvi down the aisle.
"I
hope you found the flight pleasant," the pilot said as Prithvi and Kripa
reached the door.
"We
did," Prithvi said, extending his hand. "Thank you."
"It
was a pleasure," the pilot said, shaking Prithvi's hand firmly. He nodded his
head at Kripa. "Mrs. Bose."
Kripa
glanced at Prithvi out of the corner of her eye and saw he was checking his
watch. She knew he was in a hurry and would be furious if she chatted with the
pilot. Not wanting to appear rude she gave the pilot a brief smile and nodded
in return.
"Come
along, Kripa," Prithvi said.
Kripa
slowly descended the stairs behind him. They made their way across the tarmac
toward the waiting limo.
"Welcome
to Savannah, Mr. and Mrs. Bose," the chauffeur said as he opened the car door.
"Thank
you-" Prithvi paused.
"Tom,
sir," he said.
"Thank
you, Tom," Prithvi said, getting into the car.
"You're
welcome, sir." Tom gazed at Kripa. "I was told you had a little one, ma'am, so
I made sure to bring a car seat."
"That
was kind of you," Kripa said softly. "Thank you."
"What's
her name?" Tom asked, looking down at the baby.
"Gabrielle,"
Kripa said, "but I call her Gaby."
"It's
a beautiful name," Tom said. "I'm sorry. You've probably had a long day and you
want to get home. I won't keep you standing here any longer. Please get in."
Kripa
got into the car and then strapped the baby into her car seat. She had just
finished and was settling back against the seat when Prithvi's cell phone rang.
Prithvi
took the phone out of the pocket of his suit coat and flipped it open. "Hello?"
Used
to Prithvi ignoring her Kripa turned her attention toward the passing scenery
and let her mind wander. Her thoughts drifted toward her best friend, Angad and
she smiled softly as an image of him popped into her head. Six years had come
and gone since she last saw him. When they talked the night before they had
spoke of their eagerness to see each other.
Prithvi
ended the call sooner than Kripa thought he would and slipped his phone back
into his pocket. "That was father. He was just checking to see if our flight
had landed. He sends his love."
I
just bet he does, Kripa
said to herself. He's as cold hearted as you are. "How is he?"
"He's
well."
"I'm
glad," Kripa said, lying through her teeth. Truth was she wouldn't shed a tear
if the old man dropped dead of a heart attack. It would mean one less bas***d
in the world.
Ten
minutes later they pulled up in front of a wrought iron gate. It opened
suddenly and Tom drove through. At the end of a tree lined gravel road stood
the mansion. Kripa's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open.
"Impressive,
isn't it?" Prithvi said with pride. "It has six bedrooms, five and a half
bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a library and a movie theater."
"I-it's
t-too much," Kripa croaked. "We don't-"
"No
it's not," Prithvi snarled. "I've worked hard for this." He grabbed her by the
arms and squeezed painfully. Kripa gasped. "I want you to shut your fat mouth.
You ruin this for me and there will be hell to pay. Am I making myself clear?"
"Y-y-yes,"
Kripa said with tears in her eyes.
Prithvi
released her. "Good. Now get out of the car."
Kripa
quickly gathered her things and took the baby out of the car seat. Whimpering,
Gaby opened her big blue eyes. "Shhh, it's okay, sweetheart. Mommy has you."
They
stepped out of the car and headed up the front steps. As they reached the top
step the door opened and an elderly man stood there.
"Good
evening, sir," he said, moving aside to let them enter.
"Good
evening, William," Prithvi said.
William
shut the door behind him. "Your rooms are ready, sir. The staff is standing by
waiting to be of assistance should you require anything. Shall I show you to
your room?"
"No,"
Prithvi said. "I'll find it."
William
bowed. "Very well, sir."
Kripa
glanced around the large foyer and a feeling of uneasiness came over her.
Shrugging it off, she crossed the room and hurried up the staircase. She
located the nursery with very little difficulty and was satisfied that
everything was in place. There was a dresser full of baby clothes near the
door, a rocker recliner in one corner, a crib in the other and a changing table
by the window. The furniture was all white and the walls were a soft yellow.
Dolls and teddy bears were placed throughout the room. Kripa placed Gaby on the
changing table to check her diaper. At that moment her cell phone rang. She dug
it out of her purse and flipped it open. "Hello?"
"What
are you doing?"
Kripa
smiled as she recognized Angad's voice. "I'm checking Gaby's diaper."
"I'm
looking forward to meeting her," Angad said. "What time do you want me to drop
by? I took tomorrow off, so anytime is fine."
"Anytime
after nine," Kripa said.
"I'll
be over around nine then," Angad said. "I'll let you go so you can take care of
Gaby. Give her a kiss for me."
"I
will," Kripa said. "Good night, Angad."
"Night',
Krips."
Kripa
put her phone in her pocket. "That was mommy's best friend," she told Gaby as
she peeled back the tabs on the diaper. Finding the diaper dry, she fixed the
tabs and then picked up the baby. She carried her to the rocker and sat down.
Once
Gaby was asleep Kripa rubbed her tiny back, then laid her down in the crib and
covered her with a blanket. "Good night my little angel," she whispered,
smoothing the baby's fine brown hair. "I love you." After turning on the night
light she left the nursery.
"How
is the little one?"
Kripa
turned around and found a short elderly woman in a maid's uniform. "She's
fine."
"My
name is Clara."
"It's
nice to meet you, Clara," Kripa said.
"Is
there anything you need?" Clara asked.
Kripa
rubbed her forehead. "No, thank you. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed.
Good night, Clara."
"Good
night, Mrs. Bose."
"Please
call me Kripa."
"All
right."
Kripa
entered the bedroom next to the nursery and closed the door behind her. She
felt along the wall till she came in contact with the light switch. When the
light came on she stared at her room, not hers and Prithvi's, but hers. She and
her husband had not shared a bedroom in nearly a year. Kripa moved toward the
bed and picked up the baby receiver, which had come with the monitor that was
in the nursery, from the bedside table. She checked to make sure it was on and
then set it back down again. She stepped to the dresser and took out a pair of
pajamas. Tired, she went to take a shower.
Emerging
from the bathroom twenty minutes later, Kripa switched off the light and
slipped beneath the covers. She rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes.
Kripa
stood in front of the bathroom mirror the next morning, running a hairbrush
through her shoulder length brown hair. Angad was due to arrive in less than
ten minutes and she was running behind.
"Going
somewhere?"
Startled,
Kripa dropped the hairbrush and spun around, her brown eyes filled with fear.
"N-no. What are you doing home? I thought you had left for the office already."
"I
was half way there when I realized I forgot a file." Prithvi moved closer to
Kripa. "You didn't kiss me goodbye."
Kripa
backed up and bumped into the counter. "I- I'm sorry. I-" She caught her breath
as Prithvi raised his hand. Expecting him to strike her, she was surprised when
he caressed her cheek.
"What
are your plans for today?"
"I
uh- invited Angad over to visit," Kripa said.
Prithvi
drew his hand away. "Next time ask me before you invite your boyfriend into my
home." He lowered his head and crushed her mouth beneath his. There was no
gentleness or love in his kiss. It was hard and possessive, like him.
Kripa
held herself still and hoped it would be over soon. She whimpered when he bit
her lip. The taste of blood turned her stomach.
Prithvi
released her and stepped back, wiping blood from his lips. "Have a nice day,
sweetheart," he said, smirking.
Trembling,
Kripa stood there, clutching the counter behind her, and watched him leave.
When he was out of sight she turned around and reached for a washcloth. She
wiped the blood away and then rinsed her mouth out with water, all the while
trying not to break down.
"Kripa,
are you all right?"
Without
turning around Kripa said, "I'm fine, Clara."
"Dr.
Khanna is waiting for you in the living room."
"Thank
you. I haven't had a chance yet to familiarize myself with this giant place.
Would you please show me where the living room is?"
"Of
course," Clara said.
They
left the bathroom, passed through the bedroom; Kripa pausing long enough to
grab the baby receiver, and made their way along the corridor.
"If
you don't mind me saying your doctor friend is a handsome man," Clara said,
leading the way down the stairs. "I took one look into his beautiful eyes and
almost wished I was thirty years younger and single."
"He
has a girlfriend," Kripa said.
Clara
sighed. "Lucky girl."
Yes
she is,
Kripa silently agreed.
Clara
showed Kripa where the living room was located, which was off the foyer, and
left her. "Let me know if you need anything," she said over her shoulder.
Kripa
took a deep breath to steady her nerves and opened the set of French doors to
the living room. As she walked into the room she spotted Angad. He was standing
with his back to her, looking at a painting above the fireplace. Her heart in
her throat Kripa took several steps toward him. "Hello, doc."
Smiling,
Angad turned at the sound of Kripa's voice and in three short strides he
reached her. As he wrapped her in his arms he felt her stiffen up. "Am I
holding you too tight?"
This
is Angad holding you, the little voice in her head said. He would never
hurt you the way Prithvi does. You're safe with him. Kripa willed herself
to relax. "No, why do you ask?"
"Because
you stiffened up," Angad said. "Are you all right?"
"I'm
fine," Kripa said. "I missed you."
"I
missed you too, Krips." Angad rested his chin on the top of her head. "Oh how
I've missed you."
Slowly,
Kripa encircled Angad's waist with her arms and laid her head against his
chest. Beneath her ear she heard the steady beating of his heart. She closed
her eyes and inhaled his scent. "You still wear the same cologne."
"And
you're still skin and bones," Angad said.
"You
sure know how to make a girl feel good about herself," Kripa said dryly.
Angad
drew back and gazed down at Kripa. "You're beautiful, Kr- What happened to your
lip?"
"I
bit it," Kripa lied. "It was an accident. You were saying I was beautiful.
Please continue."
"Right,"
Angad muttered, his eyes lit with laughter. "You've always been beautiful to
me."
"And
you've always been full of crap."
Angad
grinned showing a set of perfect teeth. "God, I've missed you."
Kripa
led Angad over to the sofa. "Not as much as I missed you," she said as they sat
down. "Talking to you on the phone every week isn't the same as talking to you
face to face."
"I
know," Angad said. "That creepy man who let me in, is that William?"
"Yes."
Kripa set the receiver on the glass coffee table. "When Prithvi announced we
were moving here I wanted to let William go along with the rest of the staff,
but he wouldn't hear of it. William has been with the Bose family for years.
Prithvi had to bring him with us. William flew here a week ago to make sure the
staff had everything unpacked and put away before we got here. If there's one
thing Prithvi hates it's chaos. Anyway, how is masi ma and uncle?"
"They're
well," Angad said. "They're keeping busy with their flower shop. Mom is looking
forward to seeing you."
Kripa,
who lost her mother at an early age, had looked to Naina Khanna during those
times when she needed a mother the most. "I'm looking forward to seeing her
too." She reached out tentatively and touched Angad's dark brown hair. She had
forgotten how silky it was. There were so many things she had forgotten about
him. Like how green his eyes were, how broad his shoulders were, how gentle and
kind he was.
"You're
staring," Angad said.
"I'm
sorry," Kripa said, dropping her hand. "It's just so good to see you."
Angad
cleared his throat. "Krips, I've often wondered why you never invited me to New
York to visit you, and I've wondered why you never came here to visit."
A
lump formed in Kripa's throat and she swallowed hard. "I β I wanted you to come
to New York so many times and I wanted to come back and see you and my family,
but-" She got to her feet and wandered over to the window. Glancing out, she
tried to control the tears that threatened to fall. How did she tell her best
friend that she had kept him at arms length because of her controlling, abusive
husband?
"Krips?"
Angad joined her at the window. "What's wrong?"
Kripa
was saved from answering by the sound of Gaby's cries heard through the
receiver. "Would you like to come upstairs and meet her?"
"Yes."
Kripa
looped her arm through Angad's and walked him upstairs to the nursery, where
she found Gaby flailing her arms in the air and wailing.
"She's
a loud little thing," Angad said.
Kripa
leaned over the crib and scooped Gaby up into her arms. "What has you upset,
little one?" She placed the baby on the changing table and opened her diaper.
She was wet.
"Mind
if I change her?" Angad asked.
"Not
at all."
Angad
removed Gaby's diaper and then wiped her bottom with a baby wipe. He threw the
baby wipe away in the wastebasket that sat next to the changing table and
reached for the baby powder. After applying some to Gaby he slipped a fresh
diaper on her and secured it with the tabs. He gently picked her up and held
her in his arms. "You look like your mommy."
"She
has Prithvi's eyes," Kripa said.
"Yes,
but everything else reminds me of you," Angad said. "She's a beautiful baby."
"Thank
you," Kripa said. "I think so too."
Angad
carried Gaby to the rocker and sat down. He bowed his head and kissed her tiny
forehead. "You're going to break a lot of hearts someday, baby girl. Your mommy
was a heartbreaker before she met your daddy."
"I
was not," Kripa said, settling on the window seat across from the rocker.
Angad
raised an eyebrow at her. "Did you forget Bobby Feldman? The poor guy was head
over heels in love with you. You dumped him after only going out for two
weeks."
"He
couldn't have been that in love with me," Kripa said. "He cheated on me with
Sabrina Rogers. That's why I dumped him."
"Why
didn't you tell me about it?" Angad said. "I was your best friend."
"Because
I knew you would've beat the hell out of him," Kripa said.
"You
got that right," Angad said. "It's not too late to do it. I know where he
lives."
"Leave
him alone," Kripa said.
"Were
there any more guys that mistreated you?" Angad asked.
"No,"
Kripa told him.
"Good,"
Angad said. "Because I'd hate to have to track down a bunch of guys and beat
the hell out of them."
****
My 100th post!π₯³π€
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