Thread 3 - EK ANOKHI KAHAANI... Updated!! (Part 41 Pg 137) NOTE pg 141 - Page 86

EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - PART 40

Aastha, with her satchel, came out of the main gate. She had to first go to the place she had left her bike the day before. She had thought she would go with Shlok. But Shlok didn't bother to ask her.

"Why didn't he ask me whether I needed any help? Is he upset with me? But why would he be? I haven't done anything wrong... Or have I?!" wondered Aastha. But then she brushed away her thoughts thinking, "May be that's how he is... May be I am expecting too much from him...!"

Aastha went ahead to hire an auto-rikshaw. But she couldn't find one. She waited for about twenty minutes. It was dark with clouds covering the sky. And sudden showers began to pour down. Aastha quickly ran and took shelter under the watchman's cabin. Her legs were paining. She was limping slightly. She was not aware of the pair of eyes that were set on her.

Shlok was observing Aastha from a distance. Somewhere inside him he felt that he should have taken her to the place where she had left her bike.

Just then he saw Aastha calling out for an auto. The auto stopped in front of the gate. It was raining heavily, with lightening and thunder. Aastha was completely wet by the time she reached the auto. She began telling the auto driver where she wanted to go. Shlok couldn't hear anything but he could see. And though Aastha didn't notice it, Shlok didn't miss to notice the wicked smile of the auto driver as Aastha got into the auto. Shlok immediately understood that the character of the auto driver wasn't good and Aastha was not at all safe. Without bothering the rain, Shlok ran to the auto and stood in front of it. It took only a few seconds for Shlok to get drenched in the heavy rain. The driver stooped the auto. Aastha was very surprised on seeing a drenched Shlok. What was he doing and why? Before she could understand anything, Shlok held her by her hand and pulled her out of the auto.

Aastha stared at Shlok as he looked at the auto-driver and said, "Bhaiyya, auto nahi chahiye... You can go, madam doesn't need an auto!"

Shlok and Aastha were silent. Shlok didn't look at Aastha even once. Aastha was frequently glancing at Shlok. The heavy rain came down thrashing on the car as if it would break the glass any moment.

"Stop the car!!" said Aastha suddenly, "Please stop the car Sir!!"

Shlok immediately pressed the brake and stopped the car instantly. "What happened Aastha?! Are you alright?" he asked worried.

But before he completed, Aastha had opened the door and was out in rain, her hands outstretched. She looked up and closed her eyes enjoying the rain drops falling on her face. Shlok just stared at her amazed. She was so beautiful, so innocent, so pure... Shlok couldn't take his eyes off her. But he suddenly looked away thinking, "What are you doing Shlok? This is not right!! Control yourself... don't get carried away!!..."

Shlok's thoughts were interrupted by Aastha when she came to his side and knocking on the window glass gestured at him to come out and join her. He refused at once. But Aastha opened the door and pulled him out holding his hand, against his wish. He was very angry.

"Aastha!! Why are you forcing me?" he yelled, "I hate rains!! Do you understand!!!"

Aastha left his hand at once. "Sorry Sir!!" said she scared of his anger.

Shlok turned his back towards Aastha. Resting his hands on the roof of the car, he said sadly, "I just hate rains because they remind me of my Aai"

His voice was wet and so were his eyes. He remembered all those moments he had spent with his Aai, Veena, during the rains twenty years ago. Jumping in the puddles, splashing water on each other, the paper-boats, the hot onion pakodas his Aai used to make, his Aai's scoldings for not wearing raincoat on purpose... all those memories flushed into his mind again after years. The memories which he did not want to recall because they made him weak, they made him feel lonely.

"Remembering your Aai is no wrong, Sir!" said Aastha softly, "I am sure, wherever she is, she must be feeling happy that you still remember her, that you still love her! She is not your weakness, Sir, she is your strength!!"

Shlok turned to look at Aastha as she spoke, "Spread your hands and free your mind... Close your eyes... feel the rain..."

Shlok blindly followed what she said. He stood there with his hands outstretched and eyes closed... his ears listening to Aastha's words, "See...!! She is smiling at you!! She is with you... right here" said Aastha as she placed her hand on his heart. "She will be happy only when your heart is happy... only when YOU are happy... She will be at peace when YOU are at peace... She lives within you Sir, and will always be with you!"

Aastha's words made Shlok feel better. He was enjoying the rain. He had never thought that the rain, which he hated all these years, would give him so much pleasure. It was not the rain actually, it was Aastha!! He had never thought anyone would ever understand him so well.

Aastha took Shlok to a road-side tea stall and insisted him to have tea with her. He was reluctant initially but Aastha did not listen. She made him drink the tea her way - holding the glass with both palms, taking in the aroma and the hot vapours through deep breaths with closed eyes and then taking small sips thoroughly enjoying every bit of it...!! Shlok had never thought before that drinking tea could be so enjoyable. The hot tea warmed them up in the chilling cold.

Shlok took out a thousand rupee note to pay for two glasses of tea and the vendor stared blankly at him while Aastha burst out laughing.

Finally Aastha paid for the tea and turned to see Shlok looking at her. Both were lost into each other's eyes. They slowly moved closer without breaking the eyelock. They were only a few inches away from each other. The tea vendor was enjoying the scene, feeling happy for this lovely couple. The crackling thunder made Shlok realise what was happening.

"Wait!! What am I doing?!! What is happening to me?!!" he thought as anger took over his face.

"Just stay away from me!!!" he shouted as he pushed Aastha back forcefully. He threw an angry glance at her and walked away to the car.

*****

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Originally posted by: Aishaa3

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Originally posted by: ..optimist..

OMG!! Page 117 😲

Thanks Aishaa 😆