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Thread 1
Part 29
Readers, this is the first time I have started a second thread for my fiction. I am so overwhelmed by all your support and your encouragement. Thank you so so much for all your lovely comments, your likes, your fun loving replies.
I enjoyed each and every comment. I may or may not have replied to everyone but I am deeply thankful for all of you who take time to read my ramblings and drop in a comment. My love and hugs to every reader. 🤗
It is too late and I am not PMing for this part alone. Yawwn. Am sorry 😊
Shlok and Astha were on the huge bed. It was past midnight but the new lovers were busy in their own world. Shlok woke Astha up with light carress through his finertips. When she was beginning to get awake, he quickly rolled on top of her. Shlok was on Astha, who was spread eagled beneath him, clad in a satin nightdress that Shlok was trying to get rid of.
His hands interwined with hers and he kissed her deeply. She moaned into his mouth. Astha was impatient but Shlok was having fun teasing her. He didn't let go of her hand and he had trapped her beneath him. Astha tried to take her hands out but he was too big and too strong for her. Her tiny, petite form stood no chance against his muscular frame.
He kissed her ears and down her cheekbone to her chin. Shlok went down her neck to suck at the base of her throat. Astha arched her neck and bit her lip from crying out. Shlok's lips caught the noodle strap of her barely there night dress and pulled it down. Cool air hit her body and she shivered, partly in cold and partly in the desire he was arousing in her.
His lips went to her bare chest, tasting every inch of her porcelain skin. Astha's fingers tightened in his hold. She couldn't stand his sweet torture anymore. Astha pleaded in a voice that even she didn't recognize herself. After a few minutes, only incoherent sound came out of her lips. Her thought process had stopped long back.
Shlok too was breathing heavily. He tore his mouth away from her perfect body and was about to get undressed when they heard the sound of a furniture crashing. Shlok looked at her. She hurriedly got dressed and put on her wrap. Astha was still blushing and her lips were slightly swollen.
"Let's go out and see what's happening."
They hurried out and as they reached near the parent's room, they heard Anjali crying softly. The time was 1 30am and the rest of the household was quiet. Usually Shlok and Astha would have also been asleep but Shlok had woken up Astha the second time.
Shlok was about to knock when Astha stopped him. She nodded no and went to the other side to check the window. AS expected it was partially open. She shushed Shlok and quietly asked him to look.
Shlok was hesitant to barge in the privacy of his parents but Astha urged him. She whispered "Shlok, Ayi is crying. Just see what's happening."
He saw from the window and his whole body stiffened in complete shock. His Baba was having a belt in his hand and already he could see the usually arrogant Anjali Agnihotri crouched in fear. She was huddled in one corner of the room. Tears were running down her face which was completely swathed in fear.
Shlok felt extreme pity for the woman whom he had not considered as his Ayi. He felt like calling her his Ayi for the first time after many years. He saw a few bruises on her arms and back. His Baba was speaking in that deceptively soft voice. Shlok was chilled hearing his tone and seeing his real father's body language.
"Anjali, I thought you had better sense to run this household. You cannot even seem to control that chit of a girl you call as bahu. How will you run this Agnihotri Mansion?"
"Sahib..Mujse galti ho gayi. Dubara aisa nahin hoga." She whispered in fear. Even her voice refused to work in the frightened state that she was.
"What is all this nonsense about her studying further and working? Don't you know Agnihotri women never work?" His belt almost hit her but she inched away at the last moment, minimizing the impact.
Shlok turned away. He could not see the horrifying sight anymore. His own eyes were wet with guilt for his mother and anger at that man whom he had called father. AStha stood next to him. Though she had been expecting all this, she never thought her father in law could go to this extent.
At that instant when his father had uttered those words, Shlok realized who controlled whom and who was exactly responsible for the death of his bhabhi and that foetus. He didn't know how long this had been going on in this house. Had it not been for Astha he would have never known.
Astha saw Shlok's defeated posture and gently led him back to their room. She went and got him a glass of water. Shlok gulped the liquid at one go. He stood up and hugged her tight. "Am sorry Astha. I didn't believe you when you told me. I trusted that man blindly. Sorry." He swallowed against the tears.
Astha rubbed his back comfortingly. She soothed him with her words as well. "Shlok, it's ok. Am sorry you had to see all this. We have to do something about this. Ayi shouldn't go through this."
"Bhai..."
"Bhai knows about it. I mean he knew I had my doubts and he was also waiting for proof like me."
"I will kill that man." Shlok started in his usual anger.
Astha immediately calmed him. "No Shlok, not now. Tomorrow morning we will go tell Varad bhai too. And then let us confront Baba. That will be the right thing to do."
Shlok turned away from her and sat down on the couch with his head on his hand. His prefect image of his Baba had shattered in a second. The reality was very difficult for him to digest. His belief in relationships were shaken to the very core. The only sane thing in his life at the moment was Astha. She was his only life line.
Astha went and sat next to Shlok on the couch. She placed her arms around and comforted him as best as she could. Astha knew this day would come but she hadn't expected it to be this soon.
Tomorrow a new day was going to dawn in this house. Things will turn around. She will make sure they will turn around.
Jhanak
Tum Se Tum Tak
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