Hi,guys, due to Shlok manhandling Astha and her talking it like a doormat, I started writing this immediately. As always, thanks for your kind comments.
Chapter 2 : Deal with the devil
Kavya was sitting quietly in her room, playing with her toys. She arranged the toy utensils meticulously and picked up her doll.
"Sorry dolly, but you can't play sports. Dadiji (Grandmother)said no." Kavya said to the doll ,pretending to wipe away the imaginary tears from the plastic face.
"Kayya beta, Why are you still playing? Chalo, get ready quickly, jaldi jaldi tayaar ho jao, we have to attend your social gathering" Sojal, her Aai picked the doll from Kavya's lap and set it on the bed .
"Social function ? But Dadi Said No! " Kavya asked, totally surprised.
"Haan, par Mama asked Dadaji. And he said he's very proud of you ,my little princess" Papa (Varad) informed his daughter. Kavya giggled happily, hugging her mother. Sojal was a little shocked at first but she quickly recovered and returned the affectionate gesture.
" Thank you mama! You are so nice" Kavya declared, letting go of her mother.
Varad watched the exchange, satisfied finally with the change in his wife's behaviour. She had started giving Kavya the support and attention little girl needed to flourish in this house of dark secrets.
"Acha Baba, I know I am the nicest person. Abhi tum bolo, what will my princess wear to her special award ceremony? " Sojal opened Kavya's cupboard and the mother daughter duo choose a perfect pink dress for Kavya to wear. The little girl announced that she would change herself and went to the bathroom.
"Aap abhi tak yaahi ho? ( You are still here?) Please go and get ready or we will be late. I'll get Kavya ready." Sojal told her husband, whose eyes had not moved from her. Sojal felt oddly happy at this little thing. Maybe this would solve all the problems in her life.
"Woh...I just wanted to thank you for doing this . You've made Kavya and...me so happy. So just...Thank you." Varad stuttered, smiling slightly.
Sojal blushed. "Then you'll have to make it a habit to thank me often because I plan to always keep Kavya happy"
" Mama, Papa! " Kavya came out wearing the pink dress, looking every bit the princess her parents called her. Kavya twirled around in a circle, letting her parent know that she loved wearing the dress.
" Mama, can I show this pretty pink dress to Chachi please? " Kavya made a puppy face .
Sojal hesitated a bit. Again Astha.
But she had finally realised that the other Bahu of the house adored Kavya. Maybe next time Astha could help her and Kavya to convince Aai too.
" Ofcourse, go on and show Astha Chachi your pretty dress. She should also see what a beautiful dress my princess is wearing. Mama and Papa will get ready and we can leave, ok?" Sojal smiled. Maybe her mom had been right. If you can't defeat Astha, get her on your side. And anyway Astha was going to leave in a month.
Kavya ran off happily.
" I'm happy that you are trying to be nicer to Astha . Poor girl." Varad shook his head.
Sojal looked at him, puzzled. "But Shlok bhauji and Astha are always glued at the hip.They are probably just having a misunderstanding. It's going to be fine in the end" She tried to smile. Atleast in a month it would be fine.
"Sojal, it's complicated. Maybe I'll tell you about this some other time. Right now we should get ready. " Varad sighed.
Surprisingly, Sojal did not nag. She just muttered a quick fine and left the room to change, leaving a pleasantly shocked Varad behind.
Astha had rushed to the bedroom she was forced to share with Shlok. The heated argument after breakfast replayed in her head. Goosebumps on her skin and electricity in the air. She knew that this wasn't over. He'd be back, smirking and telling her he hated her. ' Let him. The more I see the hate in his eyes, the quicker I will get over him. At when that happens, no one will be happier than me. Well maybe Aai will be the happiest... but then I can finally put this all behind me and have a new beginning. Maybe I can shift somewhere else. Shlok will make sure I don't get a good job. Even if I do find one, this Akduhotri will probably buy the company I work for. Just like last time. Why does he do this ? Why does hurting, humiliating and treating me so cruelty make him so happy ? It's best if I leave.
A pair of muscular arms went around Astha's tiny frame. She froze in horror as she saw the mirror. The reflection showed Shlok holding her tightly. Astha panicked, breathing harshly and unevenly.
He laughed at her scared face. "Still affected by me? You will always be. You will never leave this house. I'll lock you up. " he whispered in her ear. His hot breath sent the traitor shivers down her back again. " I'll chain you to me if I have to. You are never leaving this house. Accept it. You will remain in this house forever. " He nipped softly at her ear, making her feel uneasy. Sure, if the circumstances were different and if he had never been so cruel, Astha would have found his husky, tailored to seduce words delightful. She forced herself to remember that this was the man who had crushed all her dreams and hopes.
The arms around her tightened. She felt caged and claustrophobic. This proximity was dangerous. Injurious to her emotional well being. It had to stop.
"Let go of me. " She snapped , digging her nails into his arms. But Shlok just smirked.
" Come on, isn't this what the Astha who loves me wants? A nice hug and a promise to keep you with me forever? I am just giving you what you want. " his taunt made her furious. How dare he?
" Loved. Past tense Shlok. I loved you. Thanks to your recent treatment of so much affection towards me " sarcasm started dripping from her words "I'm on my way to getting cured of the disease."
What was wrong with this girl today? She was back answering and insulting him. And she thought love was a disease? Finally. Now she'd stop trying to get closer to him.
" Glad you understand from my point of view. Love is nothing but a sickness. I knew you would understand it one day. Thank god that you finally used your brain " Shlok let go of Astha. She immediately took two steps away from him and replied. " I'm glad I started to use my brain too. By the way, you misunderstood me. I didn't mean that love is a disease. I meant that loving you is a disease Mr. Agnihotri. But don't worry. I'm over it. "
How dare she say this?
He made a move to grab her again but she took another step back. " You don't get to touch me. You have lost that right long ago. Don't put your hands on me ever again. I am nothing to you." Her agitated words had an odd edge to it.
" Astha." He stared to say... but her next words shut his mouth up .
" No, Mr Agnihotri. Call me Miss Kirloskar. We are strangers. Strangers don't address each other so informally."
Anger flashed in his eyes. Strangers?
He was her husband for God's sake!
He pointed that out immediately.
" I think you mean Mrs Astha Agnihotri. My lawfully wedded wife."
"No. I meant Miss Astha Kirloskar. We will get divorced in a month anyway. So better get used to calling me Miss Kirloskar. Besides, this marriage was nothing but a humiliating sham. I am not your wife. " Astha forced a cheerful look.
" You will not talk to me this way. " Shlok warned her .
"You don't own me. I can say whatever I want." Astha retorted.
" I..." Shlok began, but before he could complete his words, a little distraction came their way. A little, pink clad distraction.
"Chachu! Chachi! " a cute angelic voice made Astha smile. Kavya, her angel had come to save her again.
"How do I look in this pretty pink dress? " Kavya asked, smiling sweetly.
" Just like a little fairy. Beautiful. " Astha hugged the little girl.
" Thank you Chachi. Mama and I choose it. " Kavya giggled.
" You look like an angel Kavya. " Shlok agreed, making the child smile wider.
" No, I am a princess. Chachi is the pretty angel." Kavya replied innocently.
Shlok Agnihotri smiled at his only niece.
" Ofcourse your Chachi is my Angel. " he gave Astha a wink. She glared at him.
" Kavya beta, Chalo. Time to leave. " Varad knocked on Shlok's door.
"Yes Papa" with one last smile at her Chachi and Chachu, the little girl ran out , leaving the odd couple alone in a silence of their own making .
" Chalo, time to go madam. Get ready" Shlok ordered.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Astha shook her head.
"Hello, we need to go to the office. 50% partner ho. I'm no longer going to do all the work by my self. Office jana hai. I was not asking you in a romantic date." Shlok growled.
" Theek hai. I'm going to office. But I will take an Auto. And by the way you couldn't be romantic even if you tried." Astha taunted him. It was wrong to do this but she was tired of listening to his taunts. It was payback time.
" Acha? I couldn't be romantic even if I tried? You don't know just how romantic I can be." Shlok took her taunt as a challenge, and he was determined to prove her wrong.
"I really hope you are joking. It's a pj by the way." Astha laughed childishly.
" Laugh. I'll prove it. You and me. Dinner tonight. I'll show you just how romantic I can be. Lagi shart? (Bet? ) " Shlok held out his hand.
Astha looked at his hand . She got an idea and she grabbed his offer.
" Deal. But if and when I win, I will take the bed and you will sleep on the floor."
Shlok squeezed her hand. "Alright but when I win this little game and I will, you will sleep in the bed. With me."
His husky voice sent the damn shivers down her again. This was dangerous.
"Scared?" Shlok taunted.
"No. I'm not scared of you anymore. If anyone should be scared, it should be you. The floor is not going to be comfortable for you " Astha smirked.
'We will see. Mrs Astha ShlokAgnihotri. We will see who is comfortable and who is not.' Shlok thought.
He was completely determined to win.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
