TASTE OF FREEDOM- A ASTHA-SHLOK FF(ch 17 Part 2 updated ON Page 47) - Page 33

Awesime story!
Love it!
Especially, the kite festival!
Being a gujrati, reminds me of the fun I had!

Varad & sojal reunion was amazing
Their confession in lift was so genuine!
Awaiting ashlok reunion!

Originally posted by: LazyLad

Awh! so good!

thank u dear...keep reading n commenting

Originally posted by: xayeshax

Woww I just loved Varad's confession to Sojal, it was soo heart-touching😳❤️ Great updatee👏👏 update soon😛

thank u so much dear...will update soon ...keep reading n commenting😊

Originally posted by: ..Neha..

Awesime story!
Love it!
Especially, the kite festival!
Being a gujrati, reminds me of the fun I had!

oh dear u r guju?me too...I m from ahmedabad...newyas thanks for reading n commenting

Originally posted by: .SajnaVe.

Supeeer updateee

thank u dear...keep reading

awesome update
loved it
so its a plan of anjali and varad
continue soon
thanks for the pm

Originally posted by: niki795

awesome update
loved it
so its a plan of anjali and varad
continue soon
thanks for the pm

thank u so much dear...keep reading😊

Chapter: 17 Part 2

Ever since Astha had gotten the news that Shlok was going to be in Budruk village, she began to plan the most important question she was going to ask in her life.

Astha and Shlok had been talking about Shlok flying to the same day that now Astha was flying to Pune and both were a little disappointed that they were going different directions because it had been months since they had seen each other and even though their relationship was as strong as ever, they still missed and longed for each other's presences.

The day before Astha was going to fly to Pune, she had been having a lot of issues getting a flight out of Ahmedabad due to the weather and Shlok was stressing out because what if he missed his chance, his one opportunity to make himself the happiest man alive by not meeting his wife on their first marriage anniversary.

Anjali felt great relief when she saw Astha tweet how she had gotten a flight and was boarding the airplane to begin the short interstate domestic flight. When Astha's plane touched down and she was given permission to use her phone, the flight unfortunately did not offer wifi, she sent a message to her husband , "Hey babe I just landed home safely , I can't wait to see you!" along with a kissy-face emoji and Troye began freaking out. What if nothing went the way she planned it to. What if Shlok said no. What if she messed up or chickened out. So many thoughts filled Astha's head so she did the only thing she could think to do at the moment, call Anjali.

"Aai, I'm nervous what if I mess up what if he says no what if I make a fool out of myself"

Anjali sighed on the other end of the line, "Astha Shlok Agnihotri. You will not mess this up. You care so much for Shlok and I know how much you want to do this. If he says no he is seriously the biggest idiot of all time and I swear to you I'll never eat potato again if he says no"

Astha took a deep breath of relief and said a grateful goodbye before pacing the airport luggage area.

The next moment, Troye awake to an array of messages from her husband:

-Hey babe today's the day! I've missed you so much I really can't wait to see you later, I love you!

-I guess you haven't woken up yet but that's okay, my flight is leaving now and I should be there at Ahmedabad in an hour and a half! I can't wait to see you!

Astha unlocked her phone to check the time of the latest message and realized it was only a few minutes ago so she sent a reply,

-Don't get on that plane. I am here at Pune Airport, I can't wait to see you either. I love you too <3

Astha decided it was time for her to get up and get properly dressed and freshen up in Airport Freshroom so she could meet her husband at the airport and surprise him or not so much of surprise now. Astha got dressed in a warm coloured dress but very attractive outfit, knowing that Shlok would just love it on her.

As Shlok sat by the luggage carousel waiting for Astha, he nervously picked at his fingernails. Shlok had never been this nervous before in his life and he couldn't believe what he was about to . Astha saw Shlok first and staying true to his word, had had his laptop bag and a small briefcase as ready to board the plane any moment now. Once Shlok spotted Astha, he called to her causing Astha to look up quickly and give a small smile to him, thanking him for what he was and whatever he was doing making it easy for her to love him.

As Shlok and Astha approached each other, Shlok felt some behind him so he could film what was about to happen. Shlok squealed happily like a girl as he saw his wife and then stopped in his tracks as he saw Astha kneel down on one knee, " shlok Agnihotri. Just hearing and saying your name gives me chills. I think it's crazy that you chose me over all the others, who am I but a crazy professional party planner? The time that we've been together has been the happiest time of my life and I really hope that this happiness can continue. So, will you marry me?"

Hundereds of people clapped and cheered in that luggage collection area who where waiting for their luggage to arrive, when they saw a girl on her knees proposing to a guy in the utmost romantic way possible ever. They all yelled "Say yes. This girl is amazing" while someone else yelled "Say yes you idiot or else I will marry this girl"and they could hear some men complaining to their wives "How come you never proposed to me like this. Every time I have to initiate saying I love you to you."to which their wives would reply "Look at that guy. He is so handsome and good looking. If he were to be in my life I would also propose him like that girl to make him mine forever." The entire lounge started chanting "Come on Shlok Agnihotri say YES" eagerly waiting by drawing their breaths and waiting for him to reply. Shlok could not believe what was happening to him. He could never imagine for his wife to go to such extreme lengths to be with him. It flattered him and also made him feel like the luckiest guy on this world to be born. He extended his hand to Astha making the entire crowd suddenly so quiet that you so hear a pin drop . "Yes. I would love to marry you and be the luckiest bas***d to spend my life with you as I love you so much that it aches me to be away from you even for one day, one hour or one minute. There is just one technicality that I have to fulfil first. That is to divorce my wife first on our first marriage anniversary" said Shlok making the crowd gasp some with disgust and some with shock to which Astha said loudly "Don't worry he is not some cheating lousy spouse and I am not some moral less home breaker. But we are married to each other. I am his wife so you guys chill." This made the entire crowd sigh with relief and some in wonderment as to why a wife already married to her husband propose to him again. They didn't knew their entire story but neither did they cared as long as the world was a happy place with such lovely couples falling in love every second of the day making it more and more beautiful. "So first of all...Mrs. Astha Shlok Agnihotri Happy Anniversary to you. Second of all will you please divorce me and last thing Will you marry me again?"asked Shlok retrieving a Red velvet box in the shape of heart embossed with Tiffany' on it making Astha and the entire crowd gasp seeing a big 5 Karat diamond solitare rock in shape of heart nestled in surrounded by small diamonds laying on a platinum band with small diamonds studded on it. "Okay just to get that ring on my finger I will say yes. Good thinking Mr Agnihotri to blind me with diamond first and ask me all questions later." Said Astha as Shlok slid that ring on her ring finger almost covering half of it making the Women in crowd go crazy as they all came near Astha to look and touch the ring some in awe, some in delight and most of them in envy and making the Men angry at Shlok for getting them in trouble and target for their wives demand. Shlok pulled Astha away in a corner and started kissing her softly on lips and making them invisible to the rest of the world.

Prolouge

Three years later

A nine years old Kavya decended down the stairs with her now two and a half years old brother named Kavit in her arms straight to the dining room where every day the entire family met for their customary family dinner. Anjali came out of kitchen carrying a casserole of chapattis and called out Rani to bring out rest of the bowls. Varad and Shlok came out of the study still deep in discussion over the stocks of Agnihotri Trust and about the lauch of Varad's new project which was a new private news channel across the country cable network. "I am telling you Shlok the story we will be covering for your Sanskriti Vidhya Mandir and Anjali Vidhyapeeth will give your initiative a boost with investors and other trustees." Said Varad to Shlok in a matter of fact tone to which Shlok said sitting down in his chair "I will think about it Dada as you know I don't like publicity but you are right. Marketing now a day is very important. I will give your office a call." "Boys how many times do I have to tell you the most important rule for sitting on this table is No business talk'. Get it?" said Anjali in a fake authorative voice making two grown men grin and say in a mocking tone "Yes Aai. We are sorry". "Where are the ladies this evening?"Asked Shlok referring to Astha and Sojal to which Varad jokingly said "Those two high powered business women must be in their studio preparing for the ultimate takedown of yet another poor unsuspecting bachelor getting caught in the net of marriage. I am telling you Shlok these two are becoming more and more popular in the wedding business. Yesterday my Entertainment Reporter asked me if he can cover Dream Weddings' in our weekly as it was the new and hip firm in the market but I knew he asked because of Sojal. I had to shoot him down..." "Yes I would also like to know what you were about to say Varad. Please continue." Said Sojal in a quiet tone making Varad look at her guiltily and stutter "Baby I was only telling Shlok that I insisted my reporter to cover Dream Weddings' but he was so reluctant that I had to force him." That made Sojal scoffs and say "Don't bother with that Varad. I know you told him not to cover our firm and that's okay because Astha and I do not need our husband's help to succeed. Right Astha? And anyways we are planning our friend Ramona's wedding with your so called scape goat bachelor Dev. Afterall they both met at our place so it is justified for us to plan their wedding" to which Astha replied proudly "Yes. We do not need our husband's help. We will succeed on merits and talent." "What is this? You ladies plan weddings or feminist movements?"said Shlok siding with his brother to which Astha said "You are after all a man. You will be with your brother on this one..." "Enough you all. I don't want to hear another voice for the rest of the dinner. Now eat in piece." said Anjali in a loud voice making them all quiet. After few minutes of eating in silence the Agnihotris started chattering about music to movies, from politics to sports on almost everything. It was the picture perfect of domestic bliss. "So Aai how the womens' shelter coming? Are you having some problems?" asked Shlok in a concerned tone to which Anjali ruffled his hair and said "Shlok dear. Stop fussing. I know you worry about me handling the construction and about my being the patron of the charity and NGO but trust me I am happy in doing it. Only yesterday a abused and battered women around my age with two grown children came to my NGO office after leaving her abusive husband of years for help. I took her to the hospital and then called the police for lodging the compliant. His husband got arrested the same day and was put behind the bars. You don't know how happy and satisfied it makes me to help these women like me who plucked the courage a little late in life or some young girl who takes this courage early on and comes to me the first time their husband or father hit them. Anyways lets talk about something else. So Astha how are you feeling? Do not work yourself too hard. Sojal make sure Astha gets plenty of food and rest." "Yes Aai. I am fine and feel good for a 7 months pregnant women carrying twins. And don't worry I sleep and eat food properly. As it is Sojal veni fuss over me too much. She doesn't even let me go to the site anymore. She just lets me doodle my deisgns to make me feel useful." Said Astha to which Sojal said "You are the most important person to me Partner. And anyways we should be worrying about your baby shower which I am throwing for you this weekend. So have you and Shlok decided on any baby names for the twins?" Shlok said "Glad that you asked Veni. You see we are fighting about that. I feel that we are having girls and Astha feels we are having boys by the amount of kicks she feels. So we have three combinations prepared:

1) Riddhi and Siddhi for my girls

2) Luv and Kush for Astha's boys

3) Randhirand Riddhima for a boy and girl.

So, now lets'see in two months." This made the whole family laugh out loud.

The End

Author's Note:

I am so sad that this story is ending. I titled this fiction "Taste of Freedom "as I felt each and every one of the character tasted freedom in their own way. Like:

Anjali

- She had a taste of freedom once she gathered some courage to take a stand and stood up against Niranjan

Astha-

She had a taste of freedom when she left Shlok and paved her own way in this world and had the guts to reach out for her love.

Sojal-

She had a taste of freedom when she left her cocoon of the homely dutiful daughter-in-law of the household and be bold enough to get her man and mark her own destiny late in this world

Varad-

He had a taste of freedom when he planned to take down his own father and having the courage to open his heart to love once more to his beloved.

Shlok-

He had a taste of freedom when he gave up darkness and step into light and trusting his instincts to love a girl as to sacrifice his revenge and strive out for redemption.

And lastly an excerpt of the Physiatrist treating patients at the Yarvada Central Jail

Name of Patient: Niranjan Agnihotri

Gender: Male

Age: 60

Notes:

1) Was 10 years old.

2) Father abused him and his mother

3) Once father tied him upside down from a tree for a day in the neighbour's farm.

4) He killed his father when he was 12 by hitting him with his alcohol bottle.

5) He tried to purchase the neighbour's but was not willing to sell it.

6) Married his first wife -the neighbour's daughter to get the land in dowry.

I hope you liked it and enjoyed reading it. I love to hear what you guys think so write to me. Comment and press like heartly...

Perfect endng wid a happy family n the proposal wow ws so hatke n romantc