From the ashes the pheonix rises.A tortured soul.FF UPDATED!CH 9 Pg18 - Page 7

Chapter 6

Astha closed her eyes, her heart racing she thought back to that night, it was their first wedding anniversary, and she had been through hell and back with Shlok. A whole year had passed by with a lot of misery and pain finally it was all behind them or so she thought, the serenity of the house was almost non-existent it seemed to find new ways to instigate fights between each other it was like the house itself enjoyed causing heartache and pain. After many months of patience love forgiveness and understanding bough's of insanity with all the different characters that made up the Agnihotri family Astha had won over each and every one of them with the values that were taught to her by her Aayi.

There had been many times her willpower and faith was shaken but she had never given up with Chacha ji's , Jyoti Tai and Varad Bhai's silent support everything had fallen in place and there was peace at last and through that haze Shlok and Astha found each other once again.

Astha gingerly took out her mangalsutra holding it in the palm of her hand remembering the first time she met Shlok. Astha was participating at a speech competition for her college it was her turn at the podium when she heard a bunch of guys heckling at the competitors making snide remarks and she heard him clearly "why do girls even bother trying out for the competition when they clearly can't articulate and here goes another one wasting our time!!! His buddies laughed at his comment, their eyes collided he looked her up and down and held her gaze, as furious as she was and loathing the way he looked at her but not one to give in she looked him up and down with the same contempt, he was the tallest in the group he was different wearing a suit he didn't look like he belonged there piercing eyes jet black hair and an air of arrogance she couldn't hold herself back Astha in a fit of anger marched right up to him "If we girls are wasting your time what are you still doing here don't you have something better to do? Or your way of degrading people makes up for your own insecurities!!!!! She practically snarled. He straightened up at the comment fists clenched Astha wanted to cower away defiantly she stood her ground, "What the hell!!! Who are you to speak to me this way!!!!" he shouted. "Tum apne aap ko samajhe teh kya ho?!!Astha replied. (Who do you think you are?) There was a crowd gathering around them the teachers sensing some tension came by separating them "Chalo Shlok his buddies taking him away while Gauri and Rima led Astha away they looked back at each other with hate filled eyes.

How can anyone say stuff like this? Astha asked incredulously. "Astha aisa chalta hain narrow minded people ab bhi is dunya mein hain!" said Gauri. (It happens even today there are narrow minded people in this world) calm yourself and go give us a rocking speech!

Astha decided she was going to change her speech topic right there and then, to women and gender equality, "Are you mad Astha? " Gauri asked. "I have to Gauri did you hear what that guy said, no way! Am I going to let that go and what better way to bring it to the attention of our generation than this speech competition! Astha replied. "Chalo let the suicide mission begin" Gauri replied jokingly knowing that once Astha made up her mind there was no way to make her change it!

"Our next participant Astha Kiloskar! And the title of her speech is Worldly...I'm sorry the topic is has been changed to Women's right and Gender equality!" Said the MC.

Astha spoke about the inequality and gender discrimination women face day to day in domestic/professional life, after being questioned by the judges about her speech and certain points that would help in improve the lives of women after thanking her , they resumed with the rest of the participants.

As the program drew to an end the judges announced their winners, 3^rd place Shruti Naik 2^nd place Bhavna Modi 1^st place Astha Kiloskar, clapping wildly Astha Astha Gauri screamed with happiness!

As Astha she went on the stage to collect her trophy, we would like our special guest of honor to hand out the trophies to the winners Mr.Agnoihotri please come on to the stage the MC announced. Astha turned to accept her award her eyes collided with those piercing black ones. As he shook her hand she felt a zing he stared at their hands he quickly looked up and their gaze held it seemed a minute to long for Astha she quickly snatched her hand back. His eyes that had softened quickly filled with anger if looks could kill...

As Astha exited the stage he was there standing, she couldn't help but remark "Incase you didn't notice all the winners up on that stage were women and I guess the guys were the only ones wasting their time!" Astha smirked with satisfaction. "You think by winning a competition you're right!!! I'll show you"as he started to walk towards her angrily. He was cut off by the judges and teachers as they came to thank him for taking the place of his dad. Astha left with her friends thinking that was the last she'll see of Mr.Agnihotri.

Shlok thought how dare she!!! That little minx insulted him not once but twice!! He didn't even want to be there but his Baba had a meeting which he couldn't cancel so he asked Shlok to go instead of him, he could never refuse Baba so there he was at his old college waiting for this boring event to finish with all these speeches and girls who thought they knew everything why couldn't they just stay home he thought irritably, he made an offhand comment to his buddies when this petite beauty came snarling down at him challenging him!! He still remembered the fire in her eyes and her hair long cascading down her back. What the hell why am I thinking of her I have no place for women in my life right now!! After Swati he had sworn off women completely he still remembered the shock when he shook her hand she looked just as surprised as he did. Enough!! Get back to work focus Shlok focus he mentally chided himself. I'll never see her again anyways he thought.. but a few weeks later..