#4 Aashlok FF- EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - Ch 60 (Epilogue) Pg 134 (26/08/14) - Page 24

Originally posted by: Aishaa3

U wl update nw?

Originally posted by: ..optimist..

A longer one...

EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - Part 46

Aastha, Aakash and Shruti were sitting around a table. Aakash and Shruti looked at Aastha who was staring into empty air. Shruti nudged Aakash and told him to do something. Aakash looked again at Aastha.

"Aastha" he said very seriously, "we know that there's is something terribly wrong between Shlok Sir and you..." Aastha looked at him and then at Shruti in surprise. "Look Aastha, I have already said this several times and will again say it that a guy like Shlok Sir is not for you. We know that you are inclined towards him for I don't know what reasons, but see what you got in return. I am warning you again Aastha, don't be an idiot and come out of your dreams! Such empty dreams will take you nowhere, they will only give you pain. Are you understanding what I am saying?"

Staring into the air Aastha said, "I had never thought he would be such a..." words stuck in her throat as her eyes watered.

Aakash and Shruti exchanged glances and sighed. Aakash looked at Aastha's hand placed on the table. He placed his hand over hers and said, "Don't worry Aastha, I am here now! Now that you are with me, you have nothing to worry... I will always keep you happy!" Shruti cleared her throat on purpose. Aakash saw Shruti staring back at him furiously. "What?!" he said and then realised why she was staring at him like that. "Okay, fine!! We will take care of Aastha... Happy now?!!" Shruti just looked at him narrowing her eyes. "I or We, it doesn't make any difference. Are you and I different?" he asked with a wink. Shruti and Aastha knew Aakash very well.

"Very funny!!!" said Shruti sarcastically. Finally Aastha smiled.

Shlok and Aditi entered in and the first thing Shlok saw was Aakash holding Aastha's hand. Shlok paused at his place looking at them, before Aditi pulled him with her to the counter to order for drinks. Aditi was very happy and excited that Shlok was with her tonight. She was talking continuously but Shlok was more interested in knowing what conversation Aastha and Aakash might be having as he could not hear anything. He was desperate to know what was it that made Aastha smile. He couldn't keep his eyes off Aakash's hand that was holding Aastha's.

Aakash and Shruti were glad to see Aastha smile after a long time.

"Keep smiling like this Aastha! It's your birthday yaar...! And we will be happy when you are happy, okay?!" said Shruti expecting a reply from Aastha but she didn't.

"Okay?!!" repeated Aakash pressing Aastha's hand. Here, Shlok missed a couple of beats on seeing that. Aastha nodded with a smile, thanking Aakash and Shruti in her thoughts.

Aakash excused himself and left to get juice for the girls and himself. Shlok was at peace to see Aakash go away. He looked at Aastha. He felt sorry for what he had done. It was her birthday and it still wasn't late. He thought he should go and apologize to her and wish her atleast now. He got up to go talk to Aastha when Aditi held his hand and said, "Arey!! Where are you going? Are you even listening to what I am saying all this time? And what are you looking at?"

Shlok realised that he was not alone and Aditi was there too. "Aditi, why don't you order the drinks for us? I will come in back in a moment..." said Shlok pulling his hand out of Aditi's.

"But Shlok..." Aditi tried to stop him but he said, "I will be right back!" and left.

Aditi didn't bother much. She was already more than happy that Shlok agreed to go out with her.

Aastha and Shruti were sitting around the table while Aakash had gone to get juice for them. Shruti was enjoying the music. Aastha couldn't think of anything but Shlok. Just then, someone held out a glass of juice for her. "Happy Birthday Aastha!" she heard a voice and she was surprised and stunned to realise it was Shlok! Aastha couldn't believe her eyes. Shlok held out his hand to her... "Dance?" he asked and Aastha was shocked at her place. She looked at Shruti who smiled back and nodded at Aastha to go ahead. Aastha was still wasn't sure. "Shlok Sir asking me for a dance? What is happening? How can Shlok Sir change so much within a few hours?!" she thought. She was just staring back at him. Shlok placed her juice on the table and again asked her for dance. Aastha placed her hand in his as they walked to the dance floor.

The light romantic music was mesmerizing and both were lost into each-other's eyes. Shlok now realised that Aastha wouldn't take a step further. So he held her hand and placed it on his shoulder. Aastha tried to pull it back in hesitation but Shlok held it in place. Shlok held Aastha's other hand in his, and his other hand gently on Aastha's waist. Aastha's body shivered at his touch, but slowly she got used to it and enjoyed his hold on her. They both moved gracefully on the melodious music going on in the background. Aastha's heart was beating fast. For the first time she was so close to Shlok for such a long time. "This is the best birthday of my life!!" she thought. Shruti sat there enjoying seeing them dance. Aastha was looking at Shlok when her eyes suddenly watered for unknown reasons.

"Arey you alright Aastha?!" he asked.

Aastha smiled, "Yes, I am fine... Just that... you are so nice!" she said.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine now, just like it was before!" he replied.

Aastha nodded. She didn't want to cry in front of him. She closed her eyes to calm down and control her tears. She took a couple of deep breaths and then opened her eyes. And what she saw in front was devastating. She was dancing with Aakash?! What?!! All this time she was assuming everything wrong?!! No! No way! She looked around for Shlok but he was nowhwere. This was unbelievable! Just a moment ago Shlok was there, right there with her... But then the truth dawned on her. She was imagining Aakash to be Shlok...! No! She couldn't take that any more! She was breathing heavily. She was stepping back slowly and then suddenly ran out of the club, leaving Aakash and Shruti totally confused.

Here, Aditi after waiting for a long time for Shlok to return, started looking for him as he had not come back yet. When she couldn't find him and when he didn't even pick up her call, she asked one of the waiters. The waiter told him that the guy who had come with her was standing there looking at some place. And then suddenly he had banged his fist on the pillar in frustration and had left the place. Aditi looked aroud to know whom Shlok must have been looking at but she found no one she knew. "What must have made Shlok leave so suddenly?" she wondered as she too left.

*****

Since that day, Aastha was very afraid of Shlok. She felt insecure whenever he was around and she always remained alert. Even when Shlok walked past her, she moved away from him. Shlok never wished to scare her and he felt guilty that Aastha feared him.

One evening when Aastha was working alone in her cabin, Shlok opened the door and entered in suddenly. Aastha was very scared and her eyes almost popped out. She moved back step by step staring at Shlok.

"Aastha, don't worry... You need not be scared Aastha... Please..." Shlok tried to assure her that she was safe. But Aastha kept moving back and finally her back was against the wall. There was no way out and Shlok was standing in the door. Aastha was scared to the core. Her heart was beating fast and she was almost trembling. Shlok tried to be as polite and gentle as possible, "Look! I am standing here! I am not taking a single step ahead, okay?! Aastha, calm down, you are absolutely safe... I am not gonna hurt you and I will never do! Believe me... Relax..." Aastha calmed down a bit and began breathing normally, but she was clutching her kurta tightly in her fingers out of scare. "Aastha, I have come here to inform you that tomorrow you are coming with me to Mahabaleshwar... Mr. Khanna will be meeting us there to talk about the institute that we will be opening there soon" said Shlok. Before Aastha could say anything, Shlok continued, "We will leave for Mahabaleshwar in the late afternoon tomorrow... Don't forget!!" Shlok left.

Aastha wanted to deny, she wanted to protest... But she had no choice but to go with him. She was the one handling the project with Shlok, and she knew that her going with Shlok was beneficial for the company. This was a very bad situation she was stuck in. She was not at all comfortable even with the thought of going with Shlok. She was nervously lost in thought when Shlok came back to say, "And don't worry, Rahul and you best friends Aakash and Shruti will already be there for I have arranged a meeting with Guptaji too tomorrow, so that we don't have to go again. I hope now you won't have any problem!" He left after saying that leaving Aastha relieved. But somewhere deep inside, she knew Shlok had arranged the other meeting only so that she would feel safe with her friends. Why did he care fr her so much? If he hated her, why did he think of her comfort? Should she believe in him? Was he really safe with him? How was he so gentle and so understanding now? Aastha was in search of answers to all these questions and many more...

*****

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Originally posted by: raji_ashloksfan

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