Originally posted by: ..optimist..
EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - PART 39
Aastha went out to search for Shlok. She was surprised when Mansi told her that Shlok left a few seconds ago. "He left?!! So early? But why?" thought Aastha. She was confused.
Just then Shikha came there with all her belongings. Her face was dull, her eyes red and swollen. She submitted her resignation letter to Mansi at the reception and walked out. Aastha went behind her and called out to her in the parking area. Shikha turned to face Aastha.
"I am sorry Aastha... I know I have troubled you a lot. I was being selfish, I was actually jealous of you. I am sorry!" said Shikha.
"Please don't leave Ma'am... Shlok Sir is a good person! I will talk to him. We will talk this out... I am sure he would want you to stay here and work with the company... He believes in you and your work Ma'am..." said Aastha trying to convince Shikha to stay back.
"Not any more Aastha... Now he would never want me to stay here... Because I told him that I love him!!" said Shikha and Aastha stared in surprise. "And my 'love' leaves no chance for me to stay!!" Aastha stood there stunned. Shikha continued, "Aastha, you are a very sweet person! Forgive me if you can... And one more thing, never fall in love with Mr. Shlok Agnihotri... And if you do by mistake, never let him know!! Or else you too will be out of this company soon...!! All the best!!" saying so Shikha left, leaving Aastha lost in her thoughts standing at her place.
*****
Shlok was driving aimlessly. Shikha's words were reverberating through his mind... I love you Shlok!! I love you so much!! But you don't love me!! Instead, you love her!! Shlok weaved his fingers through his hair as he was driving faster by the moment. I waited for that love for two years and she got it in a few months!! Shikha's words were making him more and more restless. And how could he forget Rahul's words! We all know that you love Aastha...Shlok, think over it again... Ask yourself, can you live without her? Are you happy without Aastha?
Shlok couldn't tolerate those thoughts any more. He pressed the brake and the car came to a screeching stop. Shlok was breathing heavily. He wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead and tried to calm himself down. He turned off the car engine and opened the windows to breathe in fresh air. He closed his eyes feeling the cool breeze over his face in the cloudy weather. The tiny rain drops falling on his face made him open his eyes to come back into reality.
"Love..." he said, "Huh!! Such a meaningless word it is!! Love only gives pain and misery, nothing else... nothing at all! How can people be so blind? They say it rightly... 'Blind Love' ha! People become so blind in a fake feeling called 'LOVE' that they cannot even see their destruction coming!! But I am not blind and neither foolish to do any such stupidity. I have seen what love does to a person. Karan would have been all good had Swati not come into his life...! Love ruined his life!" Shlok's eyes watered.
"I LOVE Aastha?!!" he laughed, "I mean, come on!! People say anything, that comes to their mind, without thinking. And Rahul too?!! I thought atleast Rahul understands me, but alas... Everyone, EVERYONE in the office is crazy to think about anything like this... And why would I not be able to live without Aastha? I have lived for 27 years now... and will live further too...!! I just don't understand how does Aastha make a difference!! And how does Aastha have anything to do with MY happiness?!!... Or does she?" He thought for a while. "No...!! I was happy because it was related to Aai and me. Aastha doesn't matter... does she?" Shlok was confused. "I agree... I know my life has changed since Aastha came... but... but how does that mean that I LOVE her?! That's rubbish!!" said Shlok irritated by the thought itself. "I can't take this any more!! I just can't! People need to understand that I will never LOVE anyone!! I dont want to suffer like Karan is suffering. And there is only one way to get out of this... I must stay away from Aastha!! I have to!!"
Shlok's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. It was Rahul. Shlok recieved the call.
"Shlok?!! Where are you yaar?!! You left so suddenly!! Arey you alright?" asked a worried Rahul.
"Haan yaar, I am fine!" replied Shlok and Rahul felt relieved.
"I had called you to remind about the meeting we have at 4. Hope you come in time!!" said Rahul.
"Sorry Rahul, I won't be able to attend the meeting... Please try and..."
"This meeting is very important for the company Shlok... and you yourself had said that!! So please!! No excuses, okay!!" said Rahul.
Shlok sighed. He knew Rahul was right. He checked his watch... It was almost 3. "Okay, I will be there by 3:45..." said Shlok.
The call ended and Shlok took a U-turn to drive back to the office.
*****
Aastha and her team were working on their project. Aastha sat idle remembering Shikha's words... never fall in love with Mr. Shlok Agnihotri... And if you do by mistake, never let him know!! Or else you too will be out of this company soon...!! Now Aastha wasn't sure whether she should disclose her feelings to Shlok. "I want to stay here... and work here! No!! I won't tell anything to Shlok Sir!! I won't say anything till he tells me what he feels for me! I will wait till he says it first!! But will he say it ever?! Does he feel the same for me what I feel for him? What if he doesn't?" This thought scared Aastha. She shivered at the thought of losing Shlok.
"Aastha? What happened darling? Any problem?" asked Avi looking at the lost Aastha. She just smiled nodding in a "no" and they resumed their work.
Meanwhile, Shlok came back to office for the meeting. The meeting was in the conference room that was next to the hall where Aastha and the others were working. As Shlok walked past the room, Aastha had a feeling of Shlok being there. She looked at the door at once, but by the time she turned, Shlok was gone. Aastha just wanted to get rid of this feeling. What was happening to her? Why was she feeling scared? Was she scared of losing Shlok? Was she scared that Shlok would never love her?
*****
It was time to leave. Avi, Dolly, Pranav and all others were packing their stuff to leave for home. Aastha was busy preparing the day's report. The others asked her to leave too, but she said that she would leave after the report was complete. The others left.
Aastha was almost done except for some details about the design. She searched for the corresponding file on the table but it wasn't there. She opened one of the cupboards and saw the file on the top-most shelf. She tried to get hold of the file but couldn't. She couldn't completely raise her hands as they were paining after the accident. Her limbs were aching too. She tried her best but her hand couldn't reach the file. Suddenly, she felt someone standing right behind her. She saw a hand reaching out for the file she wanted. She knew it was Shlok by the aroma of his perfume that filled her nose. She turned and Shlok handed her the file. They both looked into each other's eyes.
"You could have asked someone to get the file for you!" said Shlok. "And if you have so much pain, you must take rest at home!" said he and turned to leave.
"Sir!" called Aastha and Shlok stopped. Aastha walked to him. "Sir, Shikha Ma'am was..."
"Aastha!" interrupted Shlok, "I don't want to talk anything about it! Get it?!!" he said sternly.
Aastha just stared at him not understanding the reason. "Is he angry just because Shikha Ma'am confessed her love towards him?" wondered Aastha.
"And you should leave now..." said Shlok, "before it is too late!" Aastha nodded.
As Shlok was about to leave, Aastha's phone began ringing. Shlok waited there to listen... why, he didn't bother to know!
"Haan Aakash!" said Aastha and Shlok clenched his fists in anger. "Aakash, actually I have some more work that I have to finish. So it will take some time... No no!! You don't wait for me! I will go home by myself!!... Yeah, don't worry, I will be fine... Bye!!"
"Why did you lie to Aakash that you have work when I am telling you to go home!!!" asked Shlok in anger mixed with confusion.
"Sir, I have to take my bike while going home... And I haven't told about the accident to anyone except you. I don't want Aakash or anyone else to know about it now... So I can't go with him!" replied Aastha.
Shlok's anger vanished after knowing the reason. Did he mean more than anyone else to Aastha? Whatever, he just didn't want to get more involved in Aastha. He just nodded, and left.
Aastha was expecting Shlok to go with her, but she was surprised that Shlok left without even offering to help. Why was he behaving so strangely? Aastha just couldn't believe that Shlok, who cared for her so much, went away without even asking how she was.
*****
Hope you enjoyed the update 😃Waiting for your commens 😊
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