The very next day it was the beginning of study holidays for Astha. Twenty days later her final exams were scheduled. She had only three papers to get through. The rest was her thesis on rural women, which she had already submitted to the department head. She as usual came down and had her cup of tea with Radha.
Astha was dressed casually in jeans and t shirt after her shower. She left her long hair tied in a pony tail. Only the front bangs covered her forehead. She looked young and carefree in her attire. Astha asked Radha to make traditional Maharashtrain breakfast since she wanted to surprise Shlok.
Shlok came down early after his morning jog and shower. He raised his eyebrows at the breakfast set on the table. Radha left just as she had the previous day. Shlok came to Astha's side. He looked into her huge and innocent eyes and felt a pang somewhere deep down in his heart. For the first time Shlok wanted to question whether it was alright to treat Astha as just his f**k buddy.
Almost immediately his rational mind leaped. She has got in to this deal with both her eyes open buddy. Save the pity for a worthy case. He mentally shrugged and kissed her right on her lips. "Good morning. And what's this? Something different? Something special?" He eyed the breakfast.
"I..Suresh told me yesterday that you like this. I asked Radha to make this." She sounded hesitant and bit her lip with worry.
Shlok's attention was diverted by those pink lips. He wanted to taste them once again. But before that he replied to her. "So you are asking about me to my staff? That too behind my back! Hmm...now that's something I would advice you to not do. Whatever you want to know about me, you ask me. Got it?"
She nodded frantically and her eyes were laced with worry that she might have offended him. And that had definitely not been her intention. She again bit her lip, worry etched all over her face.
"And stop biting that lip right now if you don't want me to eat you for breakfast." His voice was dominant yet husky. Astha immediately released her lower lip and sat down for having her breakfast. She blushed and couldn't look into his eyes for anything.
Shlok also sat down and leafed through the morning paper as he had the meal. They finished in no time. Astha too got up as he went. "Isn't your college having some study leave or something?"
"How the hell do you know every detail in my life Shlok Agnihotri?" Astha was really exasperated. She just blurted out her frustration right on his face.
"I know everything. I want to know what you do, where you go, whom you meet, every damn thing. I will not rest until I know everything." Astha looked horrified at his words.
"What? Do you mean to say you are following me?"
"Don't be so dramatic Astha Kirloskar. I have some of my men discreetly follow you for your safety. Nothing more than that."
"But I am just an ordinary person. I don't need all this bloody surveillance." If she was exasperated before, she was positively angry now. Astha didn't want her privacy to be invaded like this. She felt really exposed.
"Watch that tone. And the moment you're connected to me, you are under risk. Like it or not you will definitely need protection. I don't want to listen to your arguments. My men will be there to aid you at all times, whether you like it or not. And this discussion is over right here right now."
"Fine. I am going to office. And no, you cannot say anything about that. I damn well will work if I want to, whenever I want to." She ran up the stairs and came back with her bag. Shlok was waiting for her by the door. They went together in his car. He dropped her at her work place. She kept mute and her face reflected her anger. Yet he pretended not to notice. He put on some music in the car and whistled along with the tune.
They reached Astha's office; but before she could get down, Shlok handed her a blackberry. "This is yours Astha. Always keep it with you. I will contact you through this." Shlok's voice was even and calm.
"For what? I do have a perfectly working mobile phone. Now why do I need to use this thing? So that you can completely stalk me?" She spat the words, almost spinning him into anger.
"Astha, just do as I say. And don't ever question my motives." He said the words through clenched teeth, his anger clearly evident. He immediately let her go since his control was slipping away fast. Before Shlok could do or say something he would regret, Astha went inside the magazine office.
She concentrated on her work and planned to complete some pending stuff in a few hours. Her new blackberry beeped an hour after she started working. She saw the screen to see Shlok's email.
Still angry at me? Don't waste all the passion baby. Put it to good use with me ;)
She immediately replied back through her blackberry.
Any emotion is wasted on you Mr Agnihotri. And the way I feel at the moment, you may not live long if I put my passion to good use, to murder you.
Tsk tsk. C'mon Ms Kirloskar. You know better than that. Don't forget I can turn your anger into want in a second. And I love to do just that. Your angry face and angry body turns me on. I would almost give anything to f**k an angry you. But you know that already don't you?
Shit! She thought to herself. His explicit message sent Astha's senses roaring. Astha's anger was already coming down to be replaced by excitement. Her body was betraying her in the worst possible way. She chose not to reply and continued with her work. It became difficult for her to concentrate. Every now and then Astha checked her BB for new messages but Shlok did not reply.
Another hour passed by and she heard the blackberry beep again. Against her better judgement, she checked the message eagerly. What happened? Cat got your tongue?
Not at all Mr Agnihotri. It was work and not the cat.
After a long time Shlok Agnihotri took a few minutes to himself during work. He smiled a rare, genuine smile in his office, much to the astonishment of his secretary, who had seen her boss only bark out orders.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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