Entry#1Shlok Agnihotri was staring at the invitation in his hands. He was in a bind and knew he had to attend the Valentine's day party even though he did not care much for the mushy sentiments. His phone blinked and when he saw the display, took the call. A minute later, he was in a sweat and wondering to what he had agreed to, as he had to bring his wife.
Wife, the word brought a grim smile to his face and recollected a face that he had buried deep in the recess of his mind. He saw her face and all that transpired, 8 months ago to be precise. He had lost his parents in an aircrash when he was 25 and for the last 3 years had been handling the business empire built by his father. There had been some labour disputes and he was badly in need of some cash inflow when the news came, bearing fruits and then some. A distant uncle on his mother's side Vinayak Lokhande had left him all his wealth with the condition that he marry his only daughter Aastha and stay married to her for a year before gaining full control of the funds and property. Shlok was flabbergasted to say the least but then matters had become so bad that he had capitulated and married Aastha as the will stated. He laid eyes on his bride to be for the first time at the temple where a simple ceremony had been arranged. She was gawky, painfully shy and had refused to look at him with her large hazel eyes. She had grown up motherless and was unaware of her beauty. She had dressed in atrocious colours and whispered when asked a question. Shlok has his caretakers the Kirloskars who were with the family for as long as he could remember. It was the just the four of them and the priest who conducted the wedding rites. Once the deed was done, the lawyers came, both of signed some papers and Shlok took Aastha to his farmhouse nestled in the hills, a few hours away. He took the Kirloskars with him too. On reaching, he dumped his wife of a few hours unceremoniously at the house, told her she could do what she wanted, that he would send a cheque for her expenses and to call his secretary if she needed anything from him. He took the Kirloskars aside and asked them to take good care of his wife and was off before the streaks of dawn.
A loud honk outside the jolted him out of his reverie. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, he picked up his phone and dialled a number. He gave some instructions to the person at the other end and signed off by saying that he wanted her to be there at the hotel by 3 pm sharp.
Shlok tried to sleep but it proved to be elusive. His mind kept going back to the accursed invitation and the call he was forced to make. The party was being hosted by one of the most influential businessman and the elderly Mr.Patil wanted to meet Shlok's wife. Shlok had neither seen nor talked to her after that fateful day. He had arranged with the Kirloskars to come to town early and he had set up appointments with the salon and boutique for his wife. Just before they arrived, Mr. Patil wanted to discuss a proposal and Shlok sent his secretary to receive Aastha with a set of instructions. The meeting went on much longer than anticipated.
He rushed to his suite to change into a tuxedo. There was a single red rose laid atop his tux and he fixed that in the buttonhole. He made his way to the lobby pulling out his mobile when a sight struck him near the bank of lifts. There was a vision dressed in a sheer red sari that revealed and hid her curves, skin milky and pale, as alabaster and hair that flowed down her back like a river, in dark waves that rippled with the slight movements. Her face was hidden from him and he could only see the neck that was adorned by a simple gold chain. There was a tug on his arm, someone calling out his name and when he turned he saw Avdhoot. He smiled in relief and ignored the vision in red, asked him if Aastha was there and if she was ready. Avdhoot nodded and pointed at someone and called out to them.
There was a roar in his ears and his heart thumped, raced and the blood drained from his face when the vision in red stood before him. She seemed familiar at the same time, he could not believe his eyes, at the transformation. It was his wife Aastha who was looking drop dead gorgeous from her hair to the tips of her red painted toes. She was a stunner and he was speechless, for the first time in his life.
There was a hand on his shoulder and it was their host, who was introducing himself to Aastha. Shlok controlled his anxiety with an expertise born of practise and prayed for a miracle, that she would not rub Mr. Patil the wrong way. To his amazement, she spoke softly and very charmingly too, who escorted her to the ballroom on his arm. She walked gracefully and spoke in a low tone and listened attentively while Shlok was poleaxed. He walked behind them and added a comment or two when he remembered to speak.
Aastha had a smile playing on her lips when at last Mr.Patil relinquished her to Shlok, her husband who found himself tongue tied. In the months since their marriage, she had under the tutelage of the Kirloskars blossomed into a ravishing beauty with all the required social skills and also learnt a lot about her husband from them.
The music began to play and all the couples were asked to come to the dance floor. Aastha looked at Shlok and said Shall we'. Shlok could not take his eyes off her for even a second and grasped her waist tightly as he swung her round the dance floor. The rest of the night passed in a daze for him and he was aware of the looks being cast his wife's way. His black looks and thunderous expression kept the men away. He could not wait to get away from the party, to his suite and meet his wife properly.
Shlok made his excuses to their host at the earliest and dragging her by the arm, made his way to their suite. He shut the door and advanced on Aastha who was standing in the middle of the room, looking at him with her large almond shaped eyes and a hint of worry in her them. When he stood before her and held her arms, she put her finger on his lips and said softly ' Don't say a word'. He pulled her closer to him and crushed her to him. The air was humming between them, the attraction stark and obvious leaving them spellbound in it. They drew closer and closer until their lips met, their breaths mingled and the hearts raced. Shlok could not resist the call of the siren and crushed her ruby red lips under his. How long they stood like this, they did not know. When he came up for air, he saw that Aastha's pale milky skin was flushed and had a rosy hue, her eyes were closed and she was breathing heavily. He swung her in his arms and then proceeded to lay her on the bed, that was now strewn with rose petals, the fragrance of vanilla scented candles filling the air. He spied the box of chocolates by the bedside that was held by a big teddy bear with the words ILU emblazoned on it and he quickly snagged one and placed it on her navel and proceeded to lick it slowly and thoroughly. Aastha was writhing now, hot, ablaze, awash in strange sensations and things were getting out of control. Before she could form a coherent sentence, Shlok was kissing her senseless and then her surroundings faded ...merged...blended into the light, darkness, where only passion ruled.
As dawn broke, the sun's rays peeked through the white filmy curtains and kissed the two entwined figures still asleep on the bed. One could not know where one ended and the other began. A new chapter in the life of Aastha Shlok Agnihotri. Shlok was in for a journey of a lifetime, one that he was happy to make, with thunderstorms that soon became the soothing raindrops. A life full of love and spice.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
