Ashlok FF- 'Out of the Darkness'Chapter 16 Updated pg 64 - Page 27

A certain type of wind has swept me up
But till it's found each bone
I, I'm overcome
There is an icy breath that escapes my lips
And I am lost again
A certain type of darkness has stolen me
Under a quiet mask of uncertainty
I wait for light like water from the sky
And I am lost again

In this sea of lovers without ships
And lovers without signs, you're the only way out of
This sea of lovers losing time
And lovers losing hope
Will you let me follow you
Wherever you go, bring me home

A certain type of silence has filled my voice
A scream beneath the water can make no noise
All my prayers go quiet, are never heard
And I am lost again

Christina Perri - Sea of Lovers'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWTQCqEP9UM

Chapter 11

The next two days were filled with an air of tension and discomfort. Shlok and Astha never met, not even at the office. His schedule seemed to be packed with site visits and hers seemed to be covered in paperwork, either way, both were kept away from each other by the one thing which they stood on common ground. She continued to take care of his needs, both at home and at the office, to which he acceded, but their presence never crossed paths, fate had a funny way of working sometimes. At the end of each day, she would call him, or he would return the call once he missed it;

"Are you home?"

"Just got in"

"Have you eaten?"

"Just did"... "Have you?"

"I was waiting to call you."

"Ok then, now go eat...Goodnight"

"Goodnight"

Both days, the conversation remained the same, neither ventured into the topic looming over their heads, she wanted to but would refrain once she heard the weariness in his voice, he wanted to but was too drained to discuss it over the phone, and so both refrained. To an outsider their conversation would seem a monotonous straight laced detached dialogue, but to Astha it brought her immense joy, her husband allowed her to act like a wife, and to Shlok, it was a great concession because he allowed her to do so, he knew however that he had very much cherished it.

It bothered her that she had not seen him since that night, but what bothered her even more was the thought that her absence had no effect on him. She would have to return by the next day, she couldn't stay away that long and she didn't want to spend her last week away from him; but she had atleast hoped however, that a glimpse of her absence in his life would have awaken something in him, perhaps she had been too hopeful. She was disappointed.

The past two days seemed to go on forever for him, site visits and meetings were endless, these were not however, the source of his worn out and tired state. His mind had been preoccupied the entire time. All he could think about was the possibility of Astha being married to someone else. It had mattered not who but it certainly didn't help that a man like Abhi was the first potential option. It was a possibility that left him restless, could he live with that, would she go ahead with it, would he really give her a divorce even if she asked for it? Did she still want it? So many questions, no answers, all bombarding him and creating an abyss of emotional chaos within his already burdened mind...and heart, yes his heart, for whenever he would think of the prospect of her leaving and that too with someone else, the rage seemed to take birth from somewhere in the region of his heart, the thought pained him, it left him feeling a sense of deep distressed remorse. Was this a residual effect of his past experiences or was it something else? He had married her with the intention of making her his to torment till the end of their days, he knew that from the very beginning that he had no intention of letting her go, his reasoning then and now however, seemed to be worlds apart. What had happened to him, more accurately, what was this effect she had on him?

He didn't have the answers and it left him restless, angry, and confused. He hated that control seemed to evade him. Why the hell wouldn't she come home already? Her daily annoyances now seemed a welcomed delight. He missed her and he knew it. For him, the past two days had been absolute torment.

Shlok also noted that Abhi's demeanour had changed, he had papers sent over but never showed up himself, nor did he try to make contact, except for this evening and even that was limited to one sentence which seemed more like a command, the text read "Shlok, meet me for breakfast tomorrow I'll email you details of time and place." This further enraged Shlok, 1. He hated being told what to do and 2. If anyone were to be pissed, it was him; after all Abhi was trying to get engaged to his wife. His head throbbed at the thought, would the bloody headache just go away already? He remembered the way she took care of it the last time...looking over at the empty floor where she slept, he missed her.

Shlok met with Abhi at a local breakfast joint, he convinced himself to remain calm no matter what as making sure the merger happened was of utmost importance for his baba. They shook hands and engaged in a half way embrace like they normally did, Abhi motioned him to sit so they could start. They spoke about business and Shlok made it clear that business was business and that nothing should be affected by what had transpired. Abhi agreed.

"Enough of that" Abhi spoke as he sipped his coffee leaning back into a relaxed position. "We're old friends right? " the question seemed to be rhetorical.

"You know we are" Shlok responded apprehensive of where he was headed.

"So I can talk to you like an old friend?" He was clearly going to do it anyway regardless of what Shlok had responded, Shlok sat anticipating what was to follow, "Out with it Abhi." "Then let me as ask you Shlok? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Shlok moved his gaze away from the phone he had been typing on and stared Abhi straight in the eye.

"How could you get married under those circumstances Shlok?"

It became clear to Shlok at that point that Khalindi had filled him in on all the events that had taken place during his marriage to Astha and the circumstances the had surrounded it. Shlok became instantly tensed and annoyed. He tried his best to control his escalating temper, clenching his fists at his side. "Abhi, I don't want to discuss this, what's done is done and what is between my wife and I should remain there." He had hoped his tone would be clear but to no avail.

"I assure you Shlok, that had I known my likely bride were your wife, I would have forgotten the whole thing. But as your friend I have to tell you, wake up Shlok, wake up before it's too late."

"Abhi" he gritted his teeth and spoke slowly, using every ounce of calm and restraint he had within him, Abhi speaking about Astha as if he knew her was driving Shlok to the end of his patience. "You are crossing your limits now."

"I know that I am but somebody needs to. I thought you had moved on Shlok? Let go of your past before it's too late, because I assure you, if you don't start appreciating your wife, somebody else will. Had she not been your wife, I wouldn't think twice about getting engaged to her."

Shlok felt as if all the blood in his body ran cold at Abhi's words, as if some invisible battle line had been drawn in the sand, the reality of potentially losing her, was just that, a reality and one that he had never given much thought to.

"Are you threatening me while telling me that you're interested in my wife Abhinav, because I assure you, friend or not, you are threading a dangerous path." Shlok spoke in a low voice, his tone hostile.

Abhi gave a smug smile to Shlok as he took out his wallet, "I am your friend Shlok, take it as a warning from a concerned old friend if you may." He took one last sip of his coffee, "She is still your wife, whether she remains that way, is completely up to you, even if you don't realize it." With that, Abhi dropped the notes on the table to pay for breakfast as he got up to leave. "See you at the meeting tomorrow." He straightened his jacket and walked off.

Shlok drove back with fury in his step. Nobody spoke to him like that, much less about his wife. The words kept playing his head, his chest felt uneasy and heavy. How dare Abhi? He wasn't sure what made him livider, that Abhi said what he did and spoke to him like that or that everything he said held truth to it. He picked up his phone and dialed in rapidity "Where are you? Get ready I'm coming to get you...no arguments dammit."

He raced up the stairs and barged into her room without knocking, a clearly anxious and startled Astha stood at her dresser gaping at him, her sari was halfway wrapped and her blouse was undone.

"Shlok!!" she exclaimed trying to hide herself with hands that could hide nothing. Shlok stood awestruck at the sight that awaited him, his wife, hardly dressed, looking more tempting than he had ever seen. He looked away trying to hide the desire that had risen in his eyes. "Why aren't you dressed yet, I called you..."

"5 minutes ago, you called me 5 minutes ago you maniac." His words were cut off by an annoyed Astha, forgetting her state as worry consumed her at the thought of the speed at which he drove. "What happened? Why the rush to go now? I was coming home this afternoon anyway?"

"I am the maniac?" Shlok walked up to her, reaching her in two long strides "I am not the one standing here arguing scarcely dressed" he hovered over her as he took the end of her unwrapped sari in his hands. Astha took a step back, shaken by his sudden change in behavior, his proximity making her conscious of her state, her skin barely covered and burning with heat from his glare. "Tell me Mrs. Agnihotri" he whispered close to her ear as his hand travelled around her waist, tracing her skin all the way to her back, gripping his fingers and grabbing her into a tight hold. "Don't you want me to take you home?" Astha felt her muscles clench at his touch, her breath caught in her throat, her hands reaching out grabbing the dresser on either side of her, supporting the weight of both their bodies as he leaned into her.

"Shlok..." her voice failed to convey her silent plea. "Asthaaa" he taunted her, her name sounded heavenly within the confines of his voice "I am just helping you" his hands worked in harmony with his enticing voice, tracing the border of her sari as he lay it against her shuddering body, her heaving chest, her sweltering neck, and finally across her back, his fingers burning hot streams into her skin along their journey. Shlok was wreaking havoc within her, her senses attuned only to his actions. He tucked her pallu into her waist before letting his hand rest against the exposed skin on her back. In one swift move he spun her around, Astha didn't know what had overcome her, she had no will to stop him, she gave into his every move, her body reacted to him as if it weren't hers but his to will, she was lost in him. Shlok drew her hair to one side and did the clasp of her blouse, slowly, his fingers savouring every exchange, his eyes fused with hers in the mirror. Astha looked away, she couldn't look at him, her face gave away her desirous turmoil. Shlok did her dori and brought his hands around her waist, encircling her, leisurely, sensually, outlining the edges of his skirt. Astha's body quivered against his; the vibration only urged him to continue. He would have stopped had she hesitated but he took immense pleasure in the fact that she seemed to enjoy it as much as he did...he enjoyed it. Astha held onto his hand against her bare skin, her body leaning forward in compliance only causing him to lean further onto her. "Shlok..." her words were broken and barely audible, "What...what are you doing? Somebody could walk in"

"I dont care, I am with my wife." He enjoyed seeing her state.

"Shlok stop"

"Do you really want me to Astha?"

She glared at him in the mirror, she wanted to say yes but her eyes told a different story. He gave her a victorious smile.

"All done. Shall we go?" His hot breathe blistered the skin on her neckline, his lips barely grazing the skin as his hands retreated taking one last tour of her delectable curves. Her body trembled at the movement. Shlok walked away, grabbing her bag he stood by the door waiting for her, "What are you waiting on Mrs. Agnihotri...lets go." Giving her a wicked smile he walked out of the room.

Astha couldn't compose herself, what the hell had overcome him, how could he do this and leave her in this state. She cursed herself for always reacting to him this way, if this were to continue how would she survive the coming week...their last week together, oh how she wished it would continue, she blushed at her thoughts. Astha straightened herself, tracing her sari where his fingers had lingered, a remembering smile covering her face, her face reddened, this man, he would be her undoing and she would have it no other way. Whatever had motivated him, she secretly willed it to last.