FF: War Path (Aslok fight it out)

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latha_555

@latha_555

Voyager

Posted: 11 years ago

#51

Love it, it would be great to know shlocks thoughts after he cut the phone

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ArVi-licious

@ArVi-licious

Voyager

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

#52

'Its second from ur right!' 😆 nervous Astha..
Shlok having guilt trip, wonder how long he'l last coz Astha seems to see right thro him..
Ooh and lucky Astha, nice big rock! 😃

Edited by ArVi-licious - 11 years ago

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Marybarton

@Marybarton

Rocker

+ 8

Posted: 11 years ago

#53

Originally posted by: Sofna
I loved the engagement part. Although Shlok's motives are incorrect now, the moment one is about to place the ring on the finger is a very nerve wracking moment...and u have conveyed that fear, tension, perfectly.

Yr story is like the serial..every update a suspense novel in itself😆...It feels like teh calm before the storm?

More like the calm before a hurricane. I am so happy you guys are liking it! Glad to hear it was realistic because I was only guessing what it feels like hahaha

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mariyam rifna

@Asherkibiwi

Sparkler

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

#54

Beautiful update, loved their phone convo at 4 am,lol. And love d way u use pics too. Gr8. Pls continue :-)

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niki795

@niki795

Inactive

Posted: 11 years ago

#55

awesome update
loved it
loved the engagement part
astha don't know the ring finger
the last part is good
continue soon

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shalini_s

@shalini_s

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

#56

nice one.. already engaged.. waiting to c what happens next..

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Marybarton

@Marybarton

Rocker

+ 8

Posted: 11 years ago

#57

Thank you all for the love and appreciation you have given this FF. Please also let me know if you don't like the style, etc. A long one for you this time. To say thank you 😃

Silent readers, please comment, you have already spent the time reading the part. What's one more minute?

Chapter 2

Shlok felt that gnawing feeling inside him after he put down the phone. That feeling was getting too familiar these days. She actually read his mind! Then, why couldn't she see his deceit? Shlok decided right then that he would play no more mind games with her from now until the wedding day and hope that she would see through him for her own sake.

Next day, the mehendi-sangeet and haldi ceremonies were to take place. Astha had her mehendi and sangeet in the morning at her own place so that the bigger occasion could be held at night at the Agnihotri mansion. Niranjanji had insisted that most of the big functions happened there.

Pictures thanks to IF.

Meanwhile at the mansion, Varad and his wife's plan to put mehendi on Shlok backfired bigtime. He had apparently had a bad night's sleep and was in a fierce mood.

Shlok: The bride puts on mehendi, why should I have to?

Angeli said grimly from the sidelines: Because it is considered good luck.

Shlok pretended not to hear her: I am going to the office. Stop bothering me, all of you! Find something else to do.

Gauri ran up to Astha and dragged her into the impromptu dance Ajju has staged in the middle of the room.

PLAY THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8k2mBXnCw

"Mehendi hai rachne wali" was playing and just about everyone of her friends and relatives were dancing. But Astha could not enjoy herself. Shlok's cold behavior from last night still grated on her. What did he mean by such rude behavior?

Astha had gone online and read "10 Signs He Doesn't Like You" and one in the list said that the guy would avoid her. Like he did last night, she thought. But, at the same time, the site had warned that shy guys who DO like you also avoided you, so one had to be careful not to misunderstand. Nah! It must have been that , Astha had concluded. After all, he did try to get close. For gods' sake he even mocked a set of pheres with her! It that wasn't a message, what was?

Astha tapped her forehead for over worrying and joined in the dance. Baba dragged in Ayi to the dance floor. No, Astha had faith, everything would turn out okay. These were just wedding jitters.

Her phone buzzed. It was he!

Astha ran into a corner and took the call.

Shlok's heart warmed at her cheery "hello!" - the first light in of his horrid morning. He toned down the irritation he was feeling and replied...

Shlok: Astha...did you send me this mehendi with Suresh?

Astha: Of course, who else could it be?

Shlok: ...Why exactly?

Astha laughed: Hmm...let me see...could it be because it is our mehendi?

Shlok: Stop playing Astha. How did you know to send it to the office?

Astha: Oh, that! I figured you would be embarrassed to do it in front of your family and being the workaholic you are, you would find an excuse to go and sulk at the office. That's it!

Incensed, Shlok gritted out through the phone: I am not putting it on, so wipe that smirk off your face.

Astha finally had it: Listen Mr. Shlok Agnihotri, yeh shagun hota hai. And people put it on for good luck! You don't want to do it, that's fine; but this is MY wedding too! So, you better have some on when I see you tonight or else!

She cut the call.

Shlok Sir stared dumbfounded at the phone as Suresh watched. Suddenly, he turned around and put the tube of mehendi back in his hands.

Suresh: Should I return it to Astha Maam, Sir?

Shlok, exasperated: No. You apply it on my hand, obviously!

It was Suresh's turn to be dumbfounded: M-Me, s-sir?

Shlok: Yes, you. Do you see anyone else here on an off-day? It has to be you.

Suresh: But sir, I have never done this before in my life!!!

Shlok grimly: That makes two of us.

That evening...

Astha clasped her hand together and prayed as they headed over to the Agnihotri mansion. Please, please let him put on some mehendi or else everyone will be so disappointed. Ajju especially would want to know if his was as red as hers.

Astha was so pleased with her mehendi. It was the best shagun! A pure crimson red. Shlok loved her very much, this confirmed it.

As Astha walked in with her haldi attire and flower jewelry on, she felt his warm gaze on her. He was definitely watching her from somewhere upstairs. She couldn't look around and alert all the guests greeting her. That would be rather blatant.

Finally, when she was loosing her patience, he strolled in with an ivory Kurta-paijama on. Astha looked at his hands, trying to get a glimpse of any henna. That incorrigible, stubborn man, he closed his hands into fists because he knew. He knew she wanted to see his mehendi and he wouldn't give her the satisfaction!

As Shlok came and sat down, he noticed her narrowing eyes very well. She was fuming. But no, he was not in any mood to show Suresh's masterpieces to her. He did not want to acknowledge it at all. That means she would win.

Luck was not at his side. Astha's Ajju came with some red string to put on his wrist.

Shlok grumbled: Why meee...?

Astha interrupted, annoyed: Why is everything about you, she's putting it on me too, isn't she?

Shlok noticed that Ajju did indeed have two strings in her hand.

Ajju affectionately: Extend your hand, baccha.

Shlok extended his hand. He noticed Astha smirk through his peripheral vision and snapped his head about to glare.

Astha whispered: Get out of this one, if you can.

To her dismay, he made a face at her and turned his hand upside down so there was no chance of her seeing any color through his already closed fingers.

Ajju tied a knot on both their hands and blessed them before leaving. Shlok looked around triumphantly, but Astha was not paying attention. She was looking at her lap, morosely picking apart a flower.

Shlok tapped her arm when everyone was busy setting up the haldi items. She looked up vulnerably. His heart plummeted. That stupid blot of color meant so much to her?

Shlok opened his palm to her alone. Astha lit up as she saw the crooked red lines on his hand. She looked at his face silently, unable to say anything.

Shlok softly: Suresh's artistic skills leave much to be desired, I am afraid.

Astha tearily looked at Suresh and gave him her sunniest smile. Much to Shlok's surprise, Suresh blushed and returned the favor. Astha then looked back at him with so much love that it hit him hard. He looked away.

I am a monster. She was right the first time.

Shlok spoke fast: He tried some abstract attempt at a sun on the other hand too. But one is enough for you, I hope? Otherwise we will be drawing too much attention.

Astha choked back tears and said happily: One's enough.

The haldi proceeded. Shlok watched as Astha enthusiastically turned her cheek to people for the mango-leaf haldi applications. She was smiling brightly, turning each cheek, as needed.

The sound of his slap on that peachy cheek thundered in his ears without warning.

How could he hurt such an innocent flower!? What had she done to warrant such a hateful reaction? What's worse was that he even played with her heart!

Everyone else receded into the peripheries.

When Niranjan approached to be the first to put haldi on his son, he saw the tortured look on Shlok's face. The boy's head was inclined down, but he was frantically looking this way and that. There was a storm brewing that need to be cooled before he threw a fit and ruined everything, thought Niranjan.

His father moved up and applied some haldi on him.

Niranjan joked: Aaj bhi shave nahi kiya (you didn't even shave today)?

Shlok grabbed his hand and pulled him closer: Baba, I have done something terrible. Actually, two...(he half whispered to himself, staring down) two terrible things. Unforgivable things.

Niranjan tapped his cheek and smiled: Later. Now, just enjoy your haldi. We will talk.

Shlok swallowed hard. He was about to stop Babba when Mrs. Agnihotri came up. He turned away. He saw Astha again, giggling with her friends as her mother looked on forbiddingly.

Ayi: Astha, shhh...!

Shlok was glad, at least she was not nervous like last night.

Ayi put a little haldi on his feet and his cheeks as he kept ignoring her.

Niranjan: Shlok. Ashirwad lo bete (take blessings).

Shlok begrudingly touched both their feet.

Astha scooted close to him when they left.

Astha pleaded: She's your mother, at least be nice to her today, na?

Shlok growled under his breath: It is none of your business. Keep out.

Astha startled. That sinking feeling made him ill again. She looked like he had struck her again. Great, now he has gone and ruined her day. Well, he reasoned. It this helps her see the truth.

As the day drew closer to the wedding Shlok was feeling worse and worse. At one point he would reason that he should keep her in the dark and let her go on with her delusions...at another, he wished he could put an end to them all by breaking her heart. Breaking the wedding was ruled out because too much embarrassment for his father. But if she broke it off, she could be free, free of him and her impending life-long sentence. Why didn't she see this if she was so perceptive?

A small voice in his head corrected him.

She's in love for the first time, Shlok. She sees what she wants to see. Have you forgotten how it feels?

But, this is not real, thought he. For her sake, he hoped she would see this between now and tomorrow. Time was running out. Now he really regretted doing the mehendi for her. That would confuse her more.

Damn it! Why did I have to go soft on her now of all times!? What was I thinking!?

Comment and like! Dying to hear what you thought of this long piece. Not too boring, I hope?

Chapter 3: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/93581450

Edited by Marybarton - 11 years ago