Chapter-33,page-39:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/102455046
CHAPTER-34.
The world was forgotten by her as she stared into his mysterious yet mesmerizing deep dark eyes..
Astha suddenly realized the position they were in and tried to move away,but he pulled her back in his arms,not letting her go,making her heart skip a beat at his act.
"You never stop surprising me,or mesmerizing me..Do you know that..?"He asked in a strange husky tender voice,that poured like delicious liquid chocolate down her nerves,bathing her senses in the pleasure of it all.
She inhaled a shattered breath,and let the warm feelings flow..Now she was sure she was dreaming it all..
The Shlok Agnihotri could never be here in her engagement,and he could never saying these lovely things to her,in this oh so romantic way,and he could never take her in his embrace like this..
Something from her memories nudged at her dazed mind trying to remind her Shlok had already done more than that..
But Astha was too busy in getting lost in his eyes and words..Her brain fooling her into thinking he was just a figment of her wild imagination..And one last time she wanted to live the moment,even if it was in her dreams..Even if she hated him in reality,she wanted to imagine just for once,that she actually lo-..No..She liked him a little,just like her heart desired to do so..
"Why do you think I would be here..?If not to claim you..To get engaged to-.."
"ASTHA!"He let go of her as the voice of Kalindi came nearer,and much to Astha's disappointment, he moved away instantly leaving her cold and empty without the warmth of his embrace.
She waited for him to vanish into thin air as her mother's footsteps approached closer.She turned back nervously and then back again at Shlok,waiting for him to vanish..
A frown appeared on her brows as he did not vanish like he expected..She was about to urge him to vanish before her mother appeared,though she had no idea why she felt her mother might see him,as he was after all only a figment of only her imagination.
Astha however got the shock of her life when her mother approached her,and instead of talking to her,started talking to Shlok who was after all a figment of her imagination..She frowned in confusion..Was her mother also a coming in her dream..?
Was this engagement real,or was she dreaming this too?!
"Shlok beta,come inside and bring Astha along with you..The engagement's auspicious time is getting over.."Her mother smiled at her imaginary Shlok who nodded back,and before she knew what was happening Astha was being gently pulled by Shlok back into the house..
The engagement rituals all took place as per the religion and custom,and finally Astha numbly exchanged rings with Shlok Agnihotri,all the while in a daze..
Finally the ceremony was over,and almost the last of the guests were leaving..the only one left were the Agnihotris and a few close relatives..
She could not differentiate it if it was dream or reality anymore..
All she could feel was a strange numbness,but it was Shlok's warm touch on her hand,and his concerned look that seemed to melt some of her numbness from shock..
She stared into his dark eyes,and then at the diamond ring glinting on her finger,and then back at his face,and suddenly the reality crushed in..
With a long intake of held up breath,she let the reality sink in and remove her numbness..
He eyes suddenly started prickling and she quickly set her hand free from his,and ran up the stairs to find some solitude..
She could not believe she was really to be Mrs. Shlok Agnihotri..
A sob of frustration escaped her lips,as she stood at her balcony..She had just gotten engaged to the man she hated..She loathed..And the irony of it was her mother herself had chosen him for her..
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she fought with her confused emotions..At one side she could not call this wedding off and hurt her dear mother,on the other side she could not deny she hated Shlok,though she did not know why..And the other reality was she was fatally attracted to him,and her body and blood sang out everytime he touched her..So what was she to do..?!
Inhaling a shaky breath she wiped off her tears,and suddenly found her answer..A soft smile touched her lips,as she realized who could calm her down now and solve her problem for her..
"Shlok beta..?Can you please come with me for a second,I would like to show you something.."Kamindi asked Shlok,and as Shlok silently nodded in agreement,she quietly took him up the stairs to a room upstairs..
A confused Shlok followed in his wake,not sure what he was going to be shown..
She stopped at the entrance to a door,and indicated him to peep in..
Frowning in confusion,he turned to peep in,as a soft familiar voice reached his ear..
The sight that greeted him shocked him at first,and then a tender warmth exploded in his heart for the lonely girl woman asking questions herself and replying herself too..She was carrying out an imaginary conversation with a man lying on the bed,staring blankly at the ceiling..
"You are listening aren't you baba..?Yes so it happened that.."
Shlok looked away as tears pricked at his ears,and his squeezed out in pain,at the sight of her talking to her unresponsive parlysed father..
He quickly tried to compose himself,and noticed his future mother-in-law was doing the same and wiping off tears off her eyes..
They shared an understanding stare,and Kalindi quietly left leaving him alone to stand by the door and watch her carrying out an imaginary conversation..That was when Shlok suddenly realized he really wanted to marry Astha..
Not because his father wanted it..Not because the situation had forced him to..But because he wanted to..Because he wanted to love,protect and cherish her for life..
Chapter-35,page-57:/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon-ek-baar-phir/3891317/thread-2-ashlok-ff-desire-calls-chapt-49-page-111-updated
