Posted:
Part 39
Here goes a new thread. My readers, Yasna, meerab, Niki, Ray, Aisha...all of you ensured I went into the next thread LOL! So do enjoy this and as usual banner credits to my darling meerab!
My pm list is getting too big. So I will pm the regular readers who drop in a comment. Now that the FF remains in the main forum, silent readers may have to dig it out. Sorry about that!
Shlok called his mother the next morning and informed their decision. She wanted to meet them that evening. Anjali Agnihotri was ecstastic about her son's decision. She wanted to arrange for the engagement and the wedding immediately. And she promptly conveyed her expectations to her exasperated son.
"Ayi..ayi..slow down will you? I will bring Astha today evening. We will discuss everything there. And no, both of us don't want to have a lavish wedding." He managed to calm her chatter and put the phone down.
Shlok went to Astha and informed her of the evening's meeting with his family. She took the information in, mentally sorting out her clothes to choose something appropriate. Both of them went for work and came back early together. Astha hurriedly went up. She barely had an hour to shower and get ready.
Astha chose a maroon chiffon sari with antique copper work. It was an expensive sari that she had worn only a few times. The sari was a gift from her friends on her twenty first birthday. Now she took it out and wrapped it artfully around her petite self. Astha brushed her hair and pinned it to her sides, leaving her soft silky hair open till her waist.
She was just putting on her bangles when Shlok came in, looking dashing in a simple cream colored kurta and pyjama. Astha's eyes widened slightly at his Indian attire. He looked equally good if not better in his new avtar. Shlok came behind her, catching her doe eyes through the mirror. He took out a velvet jewellery case.
"What is this?" Astha was intriguied. Shlok opened it carefully and took out an antique gold set with ruby. Astha stared at the necklace and earrings in awe. It was a perfect match to the sari she had inadvertently worn. Shlok took out the necklace and put it on, sweeping her silky tresses away from her shoulder.
Her perfume and her body wash lured him to her. He fastened the necklace and kissed her shoulder softly. Astha lightly jerked before taking the earrings herself. She also applied red gloss and jet black kohl around her eyes. A small red bindi completed her look for the evening.
Shlok turned her around and looked into her eyes deeply. "You look so beautiful, you take my breath away." Shlok spoke softly, almost in reverence to her. Astha blushed at his compliment and lowered her eyes in modesty.
"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself." She replied in a serene voice. They went together to the garage and Shlok as usual took out his silver BMW. Within half an hour they reached Shlok Agnihotri's childhood home. Shlok got down and held the passenger door for her. He slightly tensed before releasing a sigh. Holding out his hand, he took hers in his hand and went in.
Anjali was anxiously waiting for her younger son and her soon to be daughter in law. When she saw them come to the door, Anjali rushed forward. "Wait." She stopped them on the doorway. Anjali took arti for the couple before asking them to proceed inside. Astha took Anjali's blessings and went in.
Shlok was amused at all this formality. The last time they came in none bothered and now suddenly all this royal treatment. He would never understand these rituals and customs. Shlok and Astha were surprised to see a few of their family friends seated in the huge living room. Anjali came behind them, urging them to go to the living room.
Varad came forward and hugged Shlok. He smiled at Astha. "Welcome to the family Astha." Astha smiled back and replied with a shy thank you. She instantly liked Shlok's brother and felt he was much more easier to get on with. Niranjan Agnihotri came down last. Shlok naturally stiffened by her side. But Astha didn't want to bear any ill feelings on a happy occassion.
She stepped forward and took his blessings as well. Niranjan gave her his blessings with a faint smile. He then congratulated Shlok. But Shlok was in no mood to reciprocate love to his father. Shlok nodded slightly and kept silent.
Astha became shy and reserved seeing so many new faces all at once. She remained in the side lines, content to be silent. Anjali came next to her and held her hand. "I am so happy you're marrying my son. I never thought I'd see this day. He still thinks I am weak and I shouldn't stay here. But he will never understand my reasons." Anjali's eyes turned slightly moist.
Astha felt a little uncomfortable at this scene unfolding before her eyes. She didn't know what to reply to Mrs Agnihotri. "It pained everytime when I saw him with different woman. I always wanted him to settle down with someone like you. I am very happy. He is a good man. Keep him happy."
"I know and I will." Astha's voice was soft yet with lot of conviction. She stroked the older woman's hand slightly before moving on towards her fiance. Shlok introduced her to their family friends and then Astha saw her. Mrs Sonia Kulkarni. She was dressed in a white see through sari with a silver halter neck blouse.
Astha's heart knifed with pain while Shlok slightly tensed, his eyes narrowing. Shlok nodded slightly at Mrs Kulkarni as Anjali Agnihotri joined them. "Astha, she is Mrs Sonia, a good friend of ours." Anjali smiled at Sonia and asked her to come inside. Anjali proceeded to attend to another guest as the sexy, older woman came in with a slight smirk.
"So you are finally settling down is it?" Her eyes, voice, and body was completely attuned only to Shlok.
"So it seems." He was non commital, not wanting to create a scene. Astha took the cue and kept quite. She did not want to spoil her day because of that selfish lady. Astha's hand bit into Shlok's arm in tension. Shlok looked into Astha's face briefly before whisking her away from Sonia. He was furious at Sonia for attending the engagement dinner. He would have preferred not to upset Astha.
Varad called him at that instant to meet a business acquaintance and Shlok naturally gravitated towards the menfolk. Astha felt thirsty and she wanted some cool water. Astha knew where the kitchen was from her last visit. She quietly went in and opened the fridge to take a bottle.
Astha was searching for a glass when she heard the distasteful voice speak to her. "So you finally managed to trap him is it? A good catch I must say." Sonia's voice was cold and scornful.
Astha visibly flinched at her tone. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh you don't do you? The naive little girl. I wonder how long you will keep him entertained. Make no mistake, you're a novelty that's all. Soon he will get back to his ways and you will be left on the streets." She finished with a nasty smile.
Astha was filled with rage. She just did what came naturally without even thinking. Astha took out a bottle of orange juice and poured it on the ugly witche's head. Sonia gasped as the juice dripped from her head to her torso, completely soaking and spoiling her white sari.
"What the hell is happening here?" Shlok harshly interrupted their bitchy conversation.
"I was just telling Astha..." Immediately Sonia softened her voice and manner when she spoke to Shlok.
"Shut up. I heard every word you said. Don't put on a bloody innocent act with me. And if you hurt Astha one more time in any way, I will not be responsible for my action." Sonia paled at that outright threat. She wanted to immediately rectify the situation.
"I..I was just talking to her. I didn't mean to hurt her Shlok." Sonia was pleading in that fake voice at him. Astha was still seething at that woman's nerve. How dare she behave with Shlok like this?
"Just keep to your business from now on. And what we had finished long ago. Accept that and get out. Astha is going to be my wife. Speak one word out of line at her, and you will have to face me." His eyes turned bleak as he continued.
"For the first time I feel worthy of someone's love. I have never been this happy in my entire life. You never hugged me, you never said you loved me." Shlok's voice almost broke as Anjali stepped forward with a furious face.
"You bloody wh**e. How dare you do this with my son. Get you dirty paws off my baby." Anjali came forward and slapped Sonia hard across her face. "Don't even come into my house again and if you even attempt to see my son again, you will have to deal with me first." Anjali practically dragged her out through the back door. she shut the door at Sonia's face with a thud.
When Anjali came back, she saw a very shocked Astha and Shlok. Anjali directly looked at Shlok as she spoke in anger "How long has this been going on? I put up with your every misbehaviour but with Sonia? You better start explaining yourself Shlok. I am still your mother and you better remember that." Shlok looked flustered and Astha didn't feel like staying with the two of them in the private moment.
She quietly went out and went into the living room where guests were still speaking and having drinks. Astha didn't feel like taking part in the festivity at that moment. She went up to Shlok's old room and sat down on the mattress. After about fifteen minutes Shlok came in, looking sheepish and red faced.
"What happened?" Astha immediately got up.
"Well, ayi was pretty mad at me. She got out the whole story at me. Slapped me too for doing what I did. And I think I deserved it. But she is really heart broken Astha. She has taken it way too personally, as if it was her own mistake." He grimaced as he finished.
"Think about it Shlok. If you had a child who did this won't you feel responsible for what he or she did? Won't you question your upbringing?" Astha just hit the right spot. Shlok looked visibly disturbed. He paled before his face flushed.
"Am sorry. I didn't think about it that way."
Cricket
Anupamaa
