Ashlok FF - You've Won My Heart! (Chapter 10 updated on page 138) - Page 25

Originally posted by: rbb1

I wonder when Sam will post the next update

Originally posted by: -LECHU-

my pleasure...dear 🤗🤗it was worth reading👏

omg sam...dont do it😈..am just like you all...

a starter and a learner😳

Yes what yoy said is true,i have many examples in our family

esp...this practise is high among muslims...

yes girls are always the sufferers

while men are least affected😕

aww...🤗You are awsome Sam😎

Originally posted by: lachii

ur welcome dear and i do like this realistic touch in the stories, looking forward to aastha's pov

Originally posted by: AshesToDust

oh poor boy got himself into trouble... but it wont be trouble for long. cuz astha will win him. at least that is what i infer out of the title of the ss😆

Originally posted by: mehare

👏👏 nice story & loved it update soon

Here is the update I promised. Btw sorry for the delay. Was super busy 😳

Chapter 4

They were walking leisurely alongside the busy road, engrossed in their conversation, or rather one was, while the other was lost in her thoughts, looking sideways with blank expressions. Astha was remembering her phone conversation with Shlok once again for the umpteenth time. That's all she has been thinking about for the last 24 hours...she just couldn't help it. Her mind was refusing stubbornly to register any other thought...such a huge shock Shlok's revelation was for her. Even now she was remembering her past and reminiscing about her gone years.

Astha had always felt a strange attraction towards Shlok...since as far back as she could remember. As it was, they were quite close in their childhood. But she was always a little more closer to him. For him they were perhaps common friends but for her, he was her best friend, in fact her only friend. In childhood, she always found herself looking for excuses to be near him...to spend time with him. Even a simple, casual compliment from him on her dress, hair or look would raise her spirits and make her extremely happy. In spite of being younger than him, she liked to care for him. If he wanted something then she tried her best to make it happen even if it meant getting in trouble with her own parents. She remembered one such incident, when shlok wanted to buy a new video game but his parents refused to give him the money for it. When Astha got to know about it, she gave her entire pocket money to him which she was saving for a new bike (her old one was too small for her). When her parents asked her, she lied to them saying she lost the money on the way to school just to keep him from getting in trouble along with her.

When she turned 16, her parents informed her about her engagement with Shlok. That news made her feel the luckiest girl in the world. Who could think that the guy she had long been smitten with will eventually be her life partner...the one she will spend her entire life with. That day her joy and happiness knew no bounds. Even her parents and her brother, Sid, noticed this visible change in her. But it was no surprise to them. By now everyone was aware of her affection for Shlok, except the person himself who was object of her affections. She could never guess whether he deliberately acted ignorant or he was genuinely unaware.

After finding out about her engagement with her best friend, her feelings for him grew even stronger over the years. Her mere crush developed into love, a deep love that was impossible to deny. She didn't realise when he sneaked into her heart and possessed it as if his own. Her days would start by remembering him and her nights would end with his thoughts. All her hopes, dreams and wishes were now associated with him. She saw him as her companion when she thought about her future.

However, as they grew older they began to drift apart, esp. Shlok, and this distance increased even more when he went away to study in Mumbai. She missed him often but her faith on her love for him and her belief that he belonged to her, comforted her. After all both to them were bound to each other by their engagement.

But everything changed when she received that accursed phone call that fateful day. His confession about being in love with someone else and refusal for marriage did not just leave her heartbroken but also hurt her self-respect. She was ruthlessly rejected by the one man whom she loved so intensely and selflessly. How shamelessly he was telling her that he preferred some other woman over her. On top of that, the realisation that he didn't care about her at all left her deeply hurt, or else he wouldn't have refused for the marriage at the eleventh hour. She wasn't one of those to take advantage of a situation. She never wanted to bring in Jyoti and her engagement with Sid in their argument but his revelation turned her possessive love into hate and gave birth to jealousy due to which, caught up in the moment, she ended up saying all that which she regretted later.

After her phone call, she locked herself inside her room. Her mum came a few times to call her out but she refused by making the excuse of feeling sick. However it wasn't just a mere excuse. She was genuinely not feeling well after continuously crying for several hours...her head was aching, her eyes were red and swollen. By next morning, she started feeling feverish. Her mom was extremely worried now but Astha was not willing to say anything...why should she do his bidding, she thought bitterly. Having left with no other choice, her mum decided to call Gauri and asked her to come and take Astha out for some well-needed change, thinking, perhaps that would lift her mood up and make her feel better.

"Astha...Astha!!" she heard Gauri's voice which brought her out of her reverie. She saw her snapping her fingers in front of her face with a puzzled expression.

"Huh?" Astha looked at her questioningly, feeling confused for a moment as if woken from a daze, trying to remember where she was and what she was doing with Gauri.

"Astha, where are you lost? I have been speaking for last half an hour and you have not said a word in response. Are you even listening to me?" she questioned, feeling sad for being ignored.

"Ye..yes of course Gauri. I am listening to you. I am just feeling a little tired, that's why I am not talking much" Astha realised she has hurt Gauri and felt guilty for it.

"Astha, at least tell me what's wrong? I can tell just by looking at you that you are depressed about something. Don't try to hide it from me. You know you can tell me anything, right?" she tried to probe her.

Gauri was her best friend, the person she was closest to after Shlok. She shared her every problem, every secret with her. She was even aware of Shlok and Astha's childhood engagement. However, this was something that she didn't have the heart to share with anyone. It was just too personal. Besides, what would she say? That she is unworthy of The Great Mr. Shlok Agnihotri? That she is being forced into someone's life? An unwanted wife? She felt a strong sense of humiliation at these thoughts, that was slowly eating her up from inside.

Astha brushed away these painful thoughts and tried to compose herself to look normal. "It's nothing Gauri. You are just thinking too much. Didn't I tell you, I am still not feeling too well? That's all it is. I will be as good as new as soon as I will get some rest." Astha smiled to reassure Gauri, who still looked unconvinced. Seeing this, Astha looked around for something to divert Gauri's attention from herself. She spotted a paani puri stall at the other side of the road. Perfect!

"Oh come on Gauri, let's not spoil our date!" she said jokingly while giving a wink. This made Gauri laugh. "Ok let me make up to you. Look there is a paani puri stall." Astha said pointing with her finger. "You love paani puri, don't you? Let's go, have some." Astha knew that is sure to cheer up Gauri and she was right. As soon as she heard of paani puri, a wide smile spread on her face. Astha sighed in relief and thanked God for saving her from Gauri's further questions.

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Shlok was driving aimlessly on the roads since half an hour. His mind was still reeling with shock, refusing to take in his father's harsh words. How can he choose between his family and his love? Both were dear to him. However, if he must choose, then undoubtedly it will be his family. Yes, he didn't want to lose Swati but his family was everything for him. He loved them immensely, too much to leave all relations over one girl. He bumped his fist on the steering wheel, feeling very helpless.

His baba's words were repeatedly reverberating in his mind. Baba was right. If he refuse then no one will benefit from it except him. He'll never be able to tolerate it if baba's image and prestige is harmed because of him. As far as Astha was concerned, he had to admit he cared about her too. After all, they were really good friends at some point in their life. In fact he still considered her his friend. He hadn't given a thought before but now that baba pointed out, he realised that he would hate for being the reason to tarnish her image in society. As for Jyoti, he was well aware of her feelings for Sid, even though she never openly admitted them. The way her face radiated her happiness, her eyes shone the moment it laid eyes on Sid, clearly reflected her feelings for him. He didn't need a verbal reassurance from her to know what she felt for her fianc. So for her sake, he couldn't think of taking any step that would ruin her sister's chances to acquire love.

He moved his fingers in his hair feeling restless. He was busy pondering over his baba's words when all of a sudden, he spotted a face, so familiar. He recognised her in an instant and came to sudden halt, his anger rising once again.

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Astha and Gauri were busy eating paani puri on the side of the road, standing near a stall, while conversing with each other. Even though Astha didn't feel like eating much, she was accompanying Gauri just so she doesn't feel upset again due to her lack of attention and response.

"Bhaiya, make me one more plate please" Gauri asked the vendour. "Astha, would you like to have one too?"

"No I am good." she picked up the last piece from her plate and was about to put it in her mouth when out of nowhere someone came and roughly pulled her arm, causing her to drop her last piece of paani puri as well as her plate from her grip. She gasped surprised at this sudden attack and looked at the person nervously, only to find the man who had occupied her thoughts for the last 24 hours.

Shlok was furious. It was evident from his expressions and his eyes, which were radiating enough heat to burn her alive. Much to her dismay, she started to feel emotional, her eyes tearing up seeing him so close to her after more than a year. She was afraid her eyes will betray the emotional turmoil raging inside her. But how could she forget the pain he gave her? A few seconds passed between them where she tried to keep a control on herself and most importantly her wild emotions, while making sure she appeared strong to him. Meanwhile she noticed his angry expressions faltered seeing her eyes, replaced by slight confusion. Did he notice my pain through my eyes or did he suspect that I have been crying all night? She though feeling irritated with herself for being so weak.

"Shlok! What are you doing? Stop misbehaving and leave my arm" she said sternly looking around consciously. Gauri and the vendour were looking at them. But instead of answering her continued to glare at her.

"Shlok, I said leave my arm." She said in an angry tone, pronouncing each word clearly, putting emphasis on each word.

"What if I refuse? What will you do then?" he said mockingly in the similar tone she responded to when he asked her to refuse the proposal. She understood that he was recalling her words.

Instead of answering him, she used her both hands to shove him away, utilising her entire strength in the process but successfully managing to get her arm out of his grip. Shlok, who was not prepared for her sudden move, stumbled. He looked at her with incredulity even though his anger increased ten folds at her bold move. He didn't know whether he felt more surprised at her daring attitude or at the fact that such a small body can generate so much strength.

Astha was still giving him a forbidding look. "It is not your house where you can behave and act as you want. You are standing on the road so it would be better for you if you behave with me and keep your hands to yourself."

"You..." he snarled at her, his anger taking over again at her challenging words. He strode towards her, expecting her to retreat but again to his surprise she stood still, refusing to back off, even when he came near enough to tower over her.

Astha was feeling just as furious as him. She understood he was trying to dominate her but she refused to give him the satisfaction. Even though her heart was pounding badly, her face was expressionless.

"So Miss Astha Kirlosker, are you so desperate to marry me that despite knowing that I love someone else you refuse to decline the marriage?" he said with a mocking smile, even though his eyes were reflecting his fury clearly.

Astha felt as if someone tipped a hot boiling water on her which scalded her every part of her body. She was absolutely mad at him now for even daring to think that. She looked at him directly in the eyes and replied venomously, "Desperate!? Oh please. Now that I know you love someone else, I wouldn't want to marry you even if you are the last person on Earth. I feel myself unluckiest girl to be stuck in this unfortunate spot. Anyone with ounce of self-respect will hate to be in my place...being forced upon someone as their wife. I assure you Mr. Shlok Agnihotri I am not happy with our marriage proceedings either. In fact I may have been feeling more helpless than you lately."

"Then why don't you refuse for the marriage?" He said quickly, catching a chance he saw available.

"As I said before I do not want to hurt my parents by going against their wish. Our marriage is our parents' wish, not ours. So with our refusal they will be the ones hurting. I am willing to give this sacrifice just for them because I want to see them happy. But it looks like you care the least about your parents or you wouldn't have refused for this marriage, knowing well how badly they will be hurt." this time, it was her turn to mock him thus causing him to seethe in anger.

"Shut up!" he shouted.

Both glared at one another for few seconds, none of them willing to break the eye contact.

Then Astha took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and said in a firm tone of voice, "I will say this once again. This marriage is your problem, not mine. Don't try to lessen your burden by putting some on my shoulder. You created the mess you deal with it." she turned to go away but then she stopped as if remembered something she forgot to say and said with stony expression. "I can't refuse but since you can, PLEASE I beg you to refuse for the marriage." she joined both of her hands and held them up pleadingly.

Shlok could detect helplessness in her voice and...what else was it? Was it pain? He wondered. He also thought he saw her eyes brimming with tears before she turned away but he wasn't sure. Did he really hurt her so much? He felt a pang of guilt.

Astha quickly turned away as soon as she finished, afraid that he would notice her painful emotions reflecting through her eyes, which were quickly brimming with tears. She was quickly losing her control on herself now. She needed to get out of here. She held Gauri's hand...who was watching their exchange with bewilderment, her mouth slightly opened...and wordlessly took her away, walking quickly as if desperate to put as much distance between her and Shlok as possible.

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Hope u all like it! Criticism is welcome 😊