#2 Ashlok FF - You've Won My Heart! (Chapter 19 on 96) - Page 5

While climbing down the stairs, clad in casual long sleeve dress shirt of deep crimson, he was looking every bit as handsome as anyone could. The minute he entered the dining room area, he sensed a mild disharmony between his better half and his beloved old matriarch. Apparently the daughter-in-law/mother-in-law duo was arguing over the travelling arrangements of Astha.

"Aayi, trust me I will manage. What's the point of bothering someone else when I am perfectly capable of driving there by myself?" Astha said meekly, making one last attempt at persuading her aayi jaisi sasubai.

"It wouldn't trouble anyone, least of all to Shlok. You are his wife and it is his responsibility to drive you wherever you need to go. And I am not saying this because I think you can't manage by yourself. It is your first interview and as your husband I want him to be there by your side."

Astha was about to protest when Anjali gave her a stern glare. Astha instantly got the hint and bowed her head in submission. "That's enough Astha beta. No more arguments. It's my final word. Understood?" Anjali said in a firm yet gentle tone. She simply nodded in response.

Meanwhile, Shlok standing by the doorstep was listening to their conversation. He was confounded to see Astha argue with aayi. Her resentment and resistance surprised him. She was never one to argue over such petty issues let alone stubbornly oppose an elder's decision. He knew how much she respected his mother. Did she resent him and his presence so much or was it merely the matter of taking favours from him?

Noticing Anjali's eyes on him, he walked into the room towards them.

"Shlok, drop Astha to her interview."

Astha, all the while, was feeling helpless thinking that once again he will start protesting but he surprised her yet again when he readily agreed. "Sure aayi, why not?", he smiled and then looking at Astha, he moved aside as if giving way to her and pointed towards the door. "Shall we?"

Bewildered by his response and gesture, she took Anjali's blessings and made her way outside, closely followed by Shlok.

"You didn't have to do me a favour. You could have refused", Astha said while facing away from him, looking out of the window.

Oh so it was all about taking 'favours', Shlok thought. "Yes, I could have but I didn't want to. It's the least I can do for you". Now Astha was staggered.

"By the way, how long is the interview for?"

"I think one hour at the most."

"Ok. I will wait for you outside."

Astha did a double-take. "What? You will keep waiting outside..for me? For an hour?"

"Yes, isn't that what I have just said". Shlok said sounding slightly annoyed. Why was it so hard to believe that he could do something nice..for her?

"It's ok. You don't have to do such a huge favour for me."

By now, they had reached their destination. Before, she could extend her hand to open her side of the door, he gripped her arm roughly and jerked her towards himself, his face revealing his suppressed frustration. "Why do you take everything I do for you as a favour? Doesn't our relationship give us any rights on each other?"

"What relationship? The one that you refused to accept?"

"The relationship that we once had...the one that we lost somewhere in the process of creating this new relationship." She looked at him incredulously. Was it possible that he still remembered their old friendship?

"I am not doing you any favour Astha. I am doing this for the sake of our old friendship", he confirmed, as if he knew what she was thinking.

Taken aback, she stared at him open-mouthed. She closely scrutinised him, trying to gauge his thoughts but his eyes failed to reveal anything about what was going on inside his head or what brought this sudden change.

Then remembering her interview, she began struggling against his grip. "I am getting late for my interview," she mumbled. She made her escape as soon as he let go of her arm. She started walking towards the building with small careful steps, her mind still stuck behind with Shlok.

She was ascending the stairs when someone called her name, pulling her out of her thoughts. She turned around to see a long-forgotten familiar face.

"Astha! What a pleasant surprise." The man was clearly stunned to see her here.

"Oh, hi Aditya! I was hoping to see you here" she said giving him a warm smile and extended her hand in greeting.

"I see. No wonder you are not surprised to see me. So how come you are here?" he asked, glancing towards the file she was holding to her chest.

"Actually I have applied for a job here. Today is my interview."

"Oh that's fantastic. Which post?"

"Project Assistant"

While the two were busy talking standing on the steps of the entrance, Shlok was eyeing Aditya warily from across the parking lot. He got out of the car and walked over to them. Astha saw Shlok approaching and proceeded to introduce him.

"Oh so you are the famous Shlok Agnihotri we have heard so much about?" Aditya said looking at him with interest.

With an anxious feeling, Astha realised where this conversation was heading. Before any one of them could say anymore, she hastily said, "It's almost time for my interview. I better rush."

"Oh yes, sure. You carry on. In fact I should go as well. I need to prepare for an important meeting."

"Ok Shlok, it was a pleasure finally meeting Astha's husband. You are one lucky guy I must say. I hope we will meet again soon" Aditya smiled while shaking hands with Shlok and walked towards the main entrance with Astha who had begun to feel uneasy. Just before entering inside the office, she turned around and threw a last glance towards Shlok, whose eyes were following her with a puzzled look, not quite comprehending what Aditya meant. Their eyes met for a brief second before she stepped inside.

"Well best of luck for the interview. I hope this won't be your first and last visit at this workplace. But then again, they would be out of their mind to not offer an Agnihotri a job."

"That's why precisely I have used my maiden name in all my documents. I don't want my being a Agnihotri to influence their decision. I want to secure this job on my own merit."

Aditya looked impressed. Just then elevator doors cluttered open and she stepped inside after bidding adieu to him.

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Astha was in the process of whisking the mousse-like substance with eggs, sugar and soft cheese. Kavya, in sheer delight, was skipping and frolicking around her in the kitchen. Astha laughed sensing her frivolous joy. There was a strange buzz inside the Agnihotri Mansion today. The atmosphere was more pleasant and cheerful than usual. The air was filled with joy and laughter, giving an ebullient feel to the entire home. NA and Anjali along with Varad and Sojal had gone to attend a party. Shlok and Astha chose to stay behind with Jyoti and Kavya. Siddharth too had conveniently turned up shortly after the four left home. Astha suspected that Jyoti had called and invited him.

"Chachi, the water in the kettle has boiled. Shall I put the water in the bowl?" Kavya asked, enthusiastic to assist her, just as Astha turned off the whisker.

"No let me. Why don't you instead put two spoons of that chocolate powder in the bowl?" Astha instructed, pointing towards the cocoa powder. She herself measured the required amounts of hot water in a measuring cup and poured it in the bowl. Just then Astha heard the roar of laughter coming from the tv lounge, not far from the kitchen. The very next second Kavya giggled, her infectious laugh making her chuckle too.

"Ok...now watch me. This is what we will do. We will dip these sponge fingers in this chocolate syrup using this tong and place them inside the dish. Got it?" Kavya nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement, while taking hold of a tong placed on the shelf beside her.

Astha was making a special dessert for Kavya. It was Global Food Day at her school tomorrow and everyone was asked to bring one international dish from home. Since Astha knew about quite a few foreign dishes and desserts, she decided to prepare an Italian dessert for Kavya, popularly known as Tiramisu. It was a very simple dessert which required no cooking or baking. Kavya, feeling thrilled about this dish being made especially for her, insisted on helping her.

Jyoti pranced into the kitchen, took an apple out from the fridge and came to sit on the shelf beside them.

"So what were you guys laughing so much about?" Astha asked Jyoti curiously.

"Nothing special vahini. Sid was just being his usual funny self...telling us stories about his class fellow and his girlfriend. You know vahini, I actually find it hard to believe that Sid excels in his studies."

"Why's that?" Astha asked with a surprised tone, while soaking the sponge fingers into chocolate syrup. Kavya too was imitating her actions, completely absorbed in her task.

"Because whenever he visits us he has never-ending stories of his college friends. He's always so informed about what's happening in the lives of his friends that it seems as if he goes to university just to gather stories about them. I wonder if he even attend his classes." she mumbled the last sentence as if talking more to herself.

Astha chuckled seeing her 'predicament'. "Don't worry, after marriage you will be the only one he will talk about and tell never-ending stories of".

This made Jyoti blush in response. "Vahini!" she whined, a shy smile spread across her face. "You know I didn't mean that". Astha chortled.

Just then Sid too entered the kitchen. "Why is our princess blushing? Were you talking about me?" Sid said in a mischievous tone, winking at Jyoti, hence, increasing the colour in her cheeks.

Kavya who was sometimes called princess, instantly piped up. "I am not blushing."

Astha, Sid and Jyoti burst out laughing. This left poor Kavya baffled, who had no idea what in her statement made others laugh so hard. Sid noticing her confused expression pinched her cheeks in affection and picked her up.

"I see you are not, but I was talking about our other princess. Princess Jyoti." Amazed at this new revelation, Kavya turned to look at Jyoti and giggled.

"By the way Sid I was wondering how you came to know that baba and aayi were going out this evening or was it a mere coincidence?" Astha saw Sid glancing towards Jyoti. Both looked sheepish as if caught in the act. So my suspicions were right, Astha thought while suppressing her grin.

"Coincidence Asthu, simply coincidence. After all miracles, though rarely, but do happen in real life". He said with a shrug while picking one soaked sponge finger from the dish and putting it in his mouth.

"Yeah right!" Astha said sarcastically under her breath and grinned. Taking out the bowl containing mousse-like substance she whipped earlier from the fridge, she heard the inaudible whispering of two 'love-birds'.

"Come on Jo, we will be back by the time they will return". She heard Sid say when she came to stand beside them.

"No Sid, if aayi and baba found out then I will be in trouble", Jyoti was hesitant at the offer.

"Now what is this about?" Astha asked the two while pouring the creamy substance on top of the soaked fingers.

"Actually I want to take Jyoti out for an ice cream but she is afraid that uncle and aunty will find out." Sid said, passing a mock glare to his fianc for being a coward.

"What? You are going out for an ice cream? Can I come too?" Kavya piped up yet again, excited at the chance.

"Well there you go. Your problem is solved. If you take Kavya with you then even aayi and baba wouldn't mind." Astha suggested.

"Yes that would be best". Overjoyed, Jyoti hopped down from the shelf, still holding half-eaten apple in her hand.

Seeing Jyoti finally giving in, Sid held her hand, "Ok it's settled then", and dragged her out of the kitchen, barely giving her enough time to place the apple on the shelf. Astha smiled at her brother's eagerness. Kavya hurriedly washed her hands and went out after them.

Astha began giving another layer of sponge fingers on top of the creamy mousse she layered seconds ago. The direction of her thoughts moved towards Sid and Jyoti. She was thinking just how endearing their relationship was, how cutely both behaved with each other, how their love stemmed from their childhood engagement and just how lucky they both were to love someone who reciprocated their feelings. Still lost in her thoughts, she smiled remembering Jyoti's comments about Sid. Suddenly she sensed a strange prickling sensation on her back as if a set of eyes were observing her very closely. She turned around and was taken aback. In surprise she instinctively took a step back bumping into the shelf. There he was, standing leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest, staring at her. She had completely forgotten about his presence in the house. It was the first time since their marriage that she had been left alone in the house with him. This thought didn't help her. Instead it made her strangely nervous, similar to how she used to feel while being around him before he refused for the marriage. It was also owing to the fact that since last two days he has been behaving strangely. He hasn't been his usual dominant, immature self. Astonishingly, they haven't had an argument since last two days. And most of all, his behaviour has been oddly friendly with her.

He advanced towards her taking small evenly steps, still looking at her intently as if she was the only thing worth looking at in the whole room. He came close to her and stood towering over her. His proximity was making her feel all the more nervous and tense. The next moment Shlok startled her when he raised his hand and touched the corner of her mouth with his index finger.

When he heard her gasp, he lips turned up at the corners in a little smile and showed her his finger with which he had touched her. It was smudged with the cream. Realising that the cream had been smudged at the corner of her lips all this while, she brushed her hand over her mouth. The next moment another gasp left her lips and her eyes widened in incredulity, as she saw Shlok putting the creamy index finger in his mouth. The act was so innocent yet intimate that she couldn't help feeling shy. Sensing the blush mount in her cheeks, she looked down quickly.

Shlok didn't know what made him act this way. It was like he was in a trance, all his actions were guided by his impulse. However, he would be lying if he said that he didn't like it, in fact a part of him did...a part of him he was yet to realise.

His trance broke only when she gently pushed him away, increasing the distance between them. She thought she wouldn't be able to bear his proximity anymore. For few seconds both felt awkward, unable to understand whatever passed between them. But then Shlok, shaking his feeling away, moved to stand beside Astha, this time keeping some decent distance between them. "So what are you making?"

"Italian desert...Tiramisu". Astha replied after a few seconds, trying to overcome her nervousness. Making an effort to act normal, she proceeded to continue with her task before he distracted her. While watching her, Shlok offered, "it looks simple enough. Let me help you".

"No it's ok. I will manage".

"I am not asking you, I am offering you and you can't deny an offer."

Before she could say anything else, Shlok had extended his hand towards the sponge fingers and started to dip them one by one into the chocolate syrup. The last layer of sponge was about to be done. Astha was feeling too distracted with his presence to be able to concentrate on her task much. After the layer was done, Astha poured another layer of creamy mousse and for finishing touch dusted the top of the desert with chocolate flakes.

"Wow, that looks delectable." Shlok said, while carrying the dessert dish towards the fridge. Meanwhile Astha began to clean the shelves and rest of the kitchen. Shlok silently lend her a hand. This time Astha didn't stop him because she knew there was no point. Besides, she was starting to like this profound silence between them which hung heavily in the emotionally charged air of the room.

Somewhere deep down both knew that now they have begun to walk on the road to friendship...the road which was destroyed earlier, was rebuilding again.

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Ok a few things. I know there isn't much that happened in this update but the next chapter will be better. I just wanted to bring in Sid/Jyoti at this point because from the next chapter onwards, the story will strictly focus on Ashlok, and the things will really start to move on in terms of the story.

Sorry for the delay in update esp. those who were waiting 😳 Thanks for your patience guys 😊

Will look forward to your precious feedback and comments 😃