#1 Ashlok FF: His Secret Desire Thread 2 link on Pg 151 - Page 18

"Aastha..." She knocked gently on her bedroom door. Aastha looked up from where she was sitting on the bed, with her head in her hands and was shocked to see Ananya at the door. However, she did not let the expression show up on her face. "What do you want Ananya?" Aastha said as she threw her head back in her hands and curled up on the bed. Ananya walked up to the bed and sat next to where Aastha lay. "Can I really get what I want Aastha?" Aastha could not fathom as to where the conversation was headed to. "I don't have time for puzzles, Ananya. Please just tell me why you're here" Ananya heaved a sigh. "I want our friendship back Aastha. I want us to be the same way as we were. I need you to forgive me for what I have done" Aastha looked up at Ananya again. She stared at her face with a blank expression, "Okay Ananya, I forgive you" she said as a simple statement. Ananya looked surprised. "Are you serious?" she asked Aastha, unable to contain her shock, surprise and joy. "Yes Ananya" Aastha replied in the same dry tone, and continued, "Forgiveness, yes... Reconciliation, no. I can forgive you but we cannot go back to being the same again Ananya. This is all I can do. Please do not expect more from me. I have no bitterness towards you. But I do not want to be friends with you either"

Tears threatened to spill from Ananya's eyes. "Aastha, you need to understand. It all happened in the moment. I know, I tried flirting with him. I did not realise that some harmless fun would cost me my years of friendship with you." Aastha looked on as she cried hysterically. The repentance was true. But at that very moment, she remembered the incident in the barn. "Aastha please!" Ananya held Aastha's hands. "Had I known that you had a crush on him, I would never ever... I swear." Aastha was somehow offended at her statement "Wait a minute. Do not try to put this on me to cover up your mistake. How could you even think? Do you even know what I went through? I might be able to forgive you for the barn incident. But do you know, because of your harmless fun, how much of embarrassment I had to go through at the office? What hell I have been put through by Mr. Agnihotri? Do have any freaking idea Miss Ananya?" Ananya looked at KAastha in shock. She had no idea about what happened at the Agnihotri Office. "What happened Aastha? I'm so sorry, I did not know. Please tell me what happened?" Aastha by now was fuming. And not willing to continue, she withdrew her hands from Ananya's hold. "Ananya, I do not want to talk anymore, please leave. And close the door on your way out" And Aastha lied down and covered her head with the blanket. Ananya had no choice, but to leave. She would have to talk to Aastha some other time, but for now it would be best if she left from there. And that was exactly what she did.

The man in a grey suit welcomed Shlok Agnihotri at the airport with a bouquet of flowers. "Welcome to Greece, Mr. Agnihotri" The man extended his hands and Shlok shook a firm handshake, nodding his head with a smile. "Thank you Mr. Paulos. It's a pleasure to be here" Both of them got into the Bugatti, and sped away to Antonio Paulos' mansion, as they continued to have a general conversation in the vehicle. It had already been decided that Shlok would stay at Mr. Paulos' residence, instead of some luxury suite at the hotel. The drive lasted for almost an hour since the mansion was located on the outskirts of the town, the reason for the distant location being the quiet and peaceful life. The two of them reached the place and were welcomed by Heleena - Antonio's little sister. The moment Shlok got off the vehicle, she eyed him like he was a juicy steak. Shlok noticed the look and made a mental note to stay away from Heleena. She seemed slightly dangerous than all the women Shlok dated. The servants showed Shlok his room and Antonio told him that he could freshen up and rest after having some snacks, which would be sent over to his room. Shlok went up to his room and locked the door after his bags were brought to him. He took out his phone and dialled Varadh's number.

Varadh: Hmmm (in a groggy voice)

Shlok: Hello Varadh. I reached Greece and I'm in Antonio Paulos House right now.

Varadh: Hhmm. Okay, goodnight.

Shlok: Goodnight? Varadh! Are you asleep?

Varadh: Yes Shlok. It's three in the morning here. What do you want me to do? Dance on the streets?

Shlok chuckled as Varadh got more irritated. His habit since childhood had never changed. Varadh was the person to sit all night and work when necessity rose. But once he would fall asleep, he would sleep like a log, and nothing could wake him up with a start. However, Shlok resumed his talk.

Shlok: Oh so sorry. Did I disturb the little baby boy?

Varadh: Shlok, you've reached Greece, that's good. But don't forget you've to come back and stay under the same roof with me. So spare me the trouble of killing you for disturbing me at this hour. Just cut the call and let me sleep damn it!

Shlok: Oh alright, don't whine over it, you cry baby! Sleep now. I'll talk to you at night. Bye.

Varadh: Hmmm

Shlok: Varadh I said Bye... Are you there?

Varadh: (Snores)

Shlok smiled as he cut the call. His big brother was 35, but acted as though he was still 5. Keeping his phone on the side table for charging, Shlok opened his bag, pulled out his fresh set of clothes and went to freshen up. He turned on the shower and relished the feeling of warm water against his tired jet-lagged body, with his eyes closed. All of a sudden, out of the blue, Aastha's face came into his mind. "Safe journey Shlok..." her voice echoed in his ears. He opened his eyes. Why did she have to come into his head at this time? The inner devil woke up and greeted him, opening his mouth to answer his naive question. "You know what?" He told the little devil, "Don't even bother answering it" And the devil somersaulted in ecstasy. Someone was finally feeling affectionate towards the petite woman eh? Shlok came out of the shower once he was done with his bath, and changed into his fresh clothes and dumped himself on the bed. He fell asleep in less than a minute, the servant knocked twice on his door, asking him about breakfast. When there was no response, he took it that Mr Shlok Agnihotri would have dosed off, and that he would lay breakfast for him later.

Aastha tossed and turned, but could not fall asleep. Ananya's words kept haunting her again and again. Had I known that you had a crush on him... Had I known that you had a crush on him... Had I known that you had a crush on him... "No, I do not have a crush on him" she told herself loud. "and the guts of Ananya. She's just trying to cover up for her mistake by turning tables around and confusing me." But there was yet another thought disturbing her. Why was she so affected if Ananya tried to have some fun with Shlok? Why did she feel so bitter and angry towards Ananya? She had no right to be mad at them. Both were adults and were free to make their choices. Then why did she resent her? Did she just feel protective about Ananya? Or was it more than that? Did Ananya's words make sense? Was Abhay right all along? Was she falling for the devil - Shlok Agnihotri? She sat up as realization dawned on her."I'm in deep crap!" she told herself. "I have had an attraction towards that man ever since I saw him at my birthday party. Crap on a cracker! I need to get a hold of myself, or else I'm headed straight to fall flat on my face. Get a grip, Aastha!" she reached out for her phone. Her mind directed her fingers to go to Shlok's contact. And as though under some hypnotic spell, she pressed the "Message" icon, typed a message and sent it. In a few seconds, she received a delivery report. "Oh gosh, I actually texted him" she told herself and slapped her forehead. Then, as though comforting herself, she said "So what? It's just a casual text. Sleep Aastha. Don't think much. Just sleep quietly" she breathed in and breathed out, feeling the air, enter and leave her lungs.

Five hours later, Shlok opened his eyes. He sat up o the bed with his legs folded and his head against the headrest, and looked at the wall clock which showed him 5.30 AM. "That means, it must be 8.00 A.M in India" he thought to himself. He checked his phone and saw that there was a message for him. He opened it and the sender name read - Aastha. Shlok shut his eyes and smacked the phone at his forehead. Oh great! All this time she used to pop up in my head. Now I've started seeing her name too! He looked at the phone again and opened his eyes wide, re-reading the name - Aastha. "She actually texted?" he mouthed unbelievably, reading the message.

"Great time?" he said as he re-read the message. "What does she mean by great time? As though I'm here for a picnic!" he mumbled with a slight frown. He looks at his phone again, his eyes softened a bit while his lips curve into a brief smile. He recollects her expression when he cornered her. "As frightened as a rabbit" he grins to himself. He touches the reply option on the phone, but then cancels it. He goes to her contact and calls her up instead.

Aastha had just stepped out of the shower and she heard her phone ring, flashing Shlok's name. Her heartbeat increased so fast that it threatened to stop any moment. With nervous hands, she picked up and answered the call. "Hello Aastha." He said when she picked up. She had almost forgotten how sexy that deep voice of his was. The world round her came to a halt as shivers ran down her spine. She breathed in all the air that she could. "Hello Shlok Sir" she says, stressing on the word SIR. "What did I tell you? Sir is only at the office. Not outside" she stood blank. "Anyway, I reached Greece five hours back and just woke up to see your message. So I thought I'd just give you a call." She muttered a "Hmmm" in response. "I hope the auction work is going on well. Also, I plan on inviting Mr. Antonio Paulos to the event. So I thought I'd give you a heads up if he accepts my invitation to our firm." "Okay" She whispered back to him. "Okay" he told her. "Okay" she said again, to which he replied "okay". She broke into a smile and said "Okay" He smiled and told her, "I don't know why, but this Okay-Okay thingy? It's kinda turning me on" Dead silence on the other end. "Are you there?" he asked her after a moment, and she had to clear her throat to indicate the same. He sighed and said, "Yeah, so, umm... bye" She could hardly breathe but managed to mumble a bye. "Okay" he said and she subconsciously replied with an "Okay" "I see you plan on turning me on, eh, Miss Aastha Kirloskar?" There was silence for about two seconds, after which Aastha mumbled a bye, and then the phone went dead. Shlok grinned to himself. Aastha Kirloskar was one heck of an interesting woman.

Aastha closed her eyes to savour the effect that the moment had on her. she had to admit she loved the way her entire body reacted with the sound of his voice. It was like some electrical current that only he could ignite. The way her name sounded when he said it was more melodious than the choirs of heaven. Only a few moments later when her system calmed down did she remember that she was to stay away from him. Why did she behave like soft clay when she thought about him? How did she forget the embarrassment she caused him in the office? He did not even seem apologetic about it. She had to stay away from the arrogant man. But there was only one problem that could not keep her away from Shlok Agnihotri - that she was beginning to fall head over heels for him.