Astha went down to start her work. Her color was still high and her heart was thudding painfully in her chest. She managed to get through the day without breaking anything out of her clumsiness. From that day she was aware of Shlok in a different way. She glanced at him when he wasn't looking. She was aware of every movement of his. His very presence around her brought in a charged awareness.
The other things did not change. Her mother in law was still a hitler and Shlok barely spoke to her. But she noticed he did not get angry with her as often as he used to. Was he softening towards her? Lost in her thoughts, she took the tea she had made for Anjali without adding sugar. Anjali was seated in the drawing room. She was writing the grocery items for the month. Astha gave the tea and turned to leave.
"Astha!!" At the furious tone of her mother in law, Astha turned back again. "What is this? There is no sugar in this tea. How dare you bring something like this for me?" She threw the contents of the cup in Astha's direction. Before the hot liquid could touch Astha's face and arms, a strong pair of arms pulled Astha aside.
"Mrs Agnihotri. I have tolerated your disgusting behavior for long. But this time I won't keep quiet. How dare you do this to my wife?"
"Shlok! Don't forget you're speaking to your mother. And she is my daughter in law. That gives me every right to do as I please."
"Not anymore. I have continued to live in this house even after all that happened only for Baba. One more word or deed against my wife, I will no longer be your son." His voice was menacing and cold. Astha was scared to see Shlok look so furious. For a split second she did not know what happened. Thank God he pulled her while he did.
Shlok held Astha's hands and almost dragged her with him upstairs.
Anjali looked in shock at the retreating back of her son. Her carefully held control crashed when she heard Niranjan's voice. "Is this the way you handle your family Anjali? Once, due to your carelessness I would have almost lost my sons. Now again you tread the same path. Be careful Anjali. If this continues, you may have to face a tough time." Niranjan's soft voice held a chilling menace. His coal black eyes were empty pools of hatred.
Anjali almost took several steps backwards against the hatred and violence she saw in her husband's eyes. She whispered tearfully 'I will take care of this Sahib. I will not let any damage happen to my family. I give my word." Her world was crumbling in front of her eyes and the carefully laid rules were being broken. She had to act fast if she wanted to keep her family together.
Shlok shook Astha furiously. "This is why I forbade you to enter this house. Do you want to be a slave to everyone here? As a woman you're not going to be respected here. Get it? Better leave while you can. I cannot baby sit you 24*7."
"But Shlok we are married." Astha was shocked when she heard him say he wanted her to leave.
He caught Astha's chin roughly "What kind of a marriage is this? And why do you want to stay in this crap of a marriage? Don't you get it? I want out of this. I can't be responsible for you always. What if something happens to you?" Shlok was almost shouting in anger and frustration. She also saw fear lurk behind the anger.
"Shlok..." Astha was almost pleading.
"No. Just leave." His voice was final with determination.
Tears welled up in Astha's eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Seeing her tears, Shlok's anger came down. His grip on her arms loosened. "Please Asthaa. Don't cry." His voice turned husky.
Astha just hugged him for comfort and sobbed uncontrollably. "Why Shlok? Why can't we all be a normal family? Why does she hate me? I miss my mother, her warmth, her love." She cried harder for her failed marriage, for the relationship that never happened, for the life that she was cheated of, for everything.
Shlok's arms went around her of their own accord. He simply held her in his strong hold till her sobs subsided into hiccups. Astha then looked up from Shlok's chest into his eyes. His eyes held guilt and helplessness.
Shlok was mesmerized to see one last teardrop fall from her eyes. Without thinking, he swiftly bent to kiss the tear drop on her cheek while Astha closed her eyes. Shlok lifted her chin up and started lowering his lips to hers. He lips almost touched hers when Astha's phone rang. Both of them jolted apart as if they were electrocuted. Astha brushed her tears away quickly and picked up the call.
Shlok turned away with a mixture of confusion, burning desire, and anger. How could he do this? He had to send her away before things got out of hand. God! He almost kissed her. What was he thinking? One more second and it would have been too late. She would have got the wrong message. Thank God the phone call happened. But a tiny part of him would have given anything to taste those soft, luscious, enticing lips.
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