Ashlok SS: Love Only Once EPILOGUE pg. 108 4/5 - Page 15

Originally posted by: ruhakhan

oh dat was awesome

astha as cabin boy dat would be really interesting

do update soon

Chapter 8

"What's your name, young lad?" Shlok asked as he walked across the table and took the seat. He motioned her to do the same which she did and sat opposite him.

"I won't give any personal information, if you don't mind." she replied.

"But I do mind" he said.

"Then it's your problem, not mine!"

Shlok pursed his lips in anger, so she's going to make this hard for him! What a nerve! No woman! As in not a single one dared to talk like this with me! Foolish girl! And here I thought I will have fun in this trip!

"Little twit, you better start showing some respect or in no time you will get beating from me, and not a single man in this ship will stop me since I'm the captain here." He replied calmly yet threateningly.

Astha held her breath as she looked in his dark brown eyes filled with anger, will he really beat her? Of course no one will stop him, he's the captain! Is he that cruel to beat a woman? A young child since he doesn't know she's a woman, will he? Of course he can, the way he manhandled her in the tavern, how outrageous was that! And Astha watch your bloody mouth!

"Now the name?" He asked still in menacing tone.

"I don't remember having a name, I'm an orphan, people call me kid or lad or whatever they like, so I can't give you any name." She replied, trying her best not to sound nervous with her half truth and half lie statement. Which is true, she is orphan since her mother had died and her father is dead for her.

There was abrupt change of his emotions from anger to sympathy, no wonder she is always ready to fight, she may had been through lots of hardship being alone, perhaps this the reason of her disguise, since she have no one to protect her, she had to hide her gender to avoid rape, his jaw relaxed at that moment and then he spoke

"I'm sorry. I know the feeling since I've lived most of my life as an orphan well not exactly not having anyone to take care of me. My parents died when I was just five, leaving us three alone, so my elder brother Varad took care of us, he is like a father to us, me and my younger sister and then Varad married Sojal when he came of age she was like a mother to us but still having parents of own is different, there is always something missing. What about you? You have no one to take care of you?"

Astha groaned inwardly, guilt entered in her heart, she doesn't want to lie but she couldn't even tell the truth, it will ruin her and her family name. She pitied him, she live a life of not having a father, but her grandfather replaced that position but still she felt something was missing, but she got all the love of her mother, he may have felt the same, having his parents died at such young age.

"I..don't like to talk about my past, it gives me pain." She replied solemnly, avoiding his gaze.

To her relief he didn't press her hard and change the subject.

"Well, I think I will call you also lad or kid, would that be ok with you?"

As if he will change his mind, if she declined.

"That would be fine, Captain."

"By the way, my name is Shlok Agnihotri and about your duties you will serve only me, bring my meals, fill the tub during my bath, though I don't think you can carry the buckets with that muscles of yours---"

"I'm stronger than you think!" she replied defensively.

He laughed and asked "You think so, care to put it into a test?"

How insulting is this guy? What can you expect from this bloody giant! he's going to bring pride in this matter and a young boy her age have a great deal of pride but not a woman she'd be crying tears, and disguised Astha wouldn't do that. He's worse scoundrel than she first thought, if he keep on provoking her, in no time she will slap his arrogant face, after she get off this ship, she is sure she'll do it.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" he asked when she didn't gave any reply.

"No! I just.. About duties?"

He grinned, and continued "keep the cabin clean, especially my cabinet. And I've noticed you have only one set of clothes---"

"You think I would have a chance to grab my other clothes with the blade pressed in my back?" She asked sarcastically.

He gave a sheepish smile and replied "I apologize for my crew. You wouldn't have been here if my cabin boy didn't run off, thanks to my crew for frightening him. I asked them to bring any young lad before the ship sails or they wouldn't step in my ship. The ship was about to sail, they panicked and brought you forcefully. You wouldn't regret being here, I'm very easy to go along with as long as you agree with me. As for your clothes you can have my clothes, I know it will be very loose but we don't have any choice, now do we?"

"No we don't." she replied grudgingly then added "Where will I sleep?"

"In here of course!"

She choked back a gasp, and coughed for all ten good seconds, the helpful captain patted her back with his solid brick hands, she figured she may have broken bones, thanks to his bricklike hands.

Astha looked up at him shockingly and asked "In here? I mean in that bed? With you?"

Shlok almost laughed aloud, how happy he would be, he want her in his bed, a beautiful woman like her snuggled against him is a pretty picture, but he wouldn't want it now, in future after he got to know her well, if she slept with him he wouldn't be able to control himself and his desire for her.

"No, I'm too selfish to share my bed. There's a hammock in the fo'c'sle, you may use that."

That was a relief, she can't be sleeping with a man beside her, especially a handsome one like him. She pictured herself watching him as he slept on his bed, he would be sleeping, his hair tousled, his features softened, he would be less intimidating..and innocent? He innocent? Astha what are you thinking? Stop it!

"There's no cabin left empty?" she asked hopefully.

"You want to share the lower deck cabins with my crew member, then go for it, can't guarantee for your safety then, the way they treated my previous cabin boy---"

"Fine, what is this fo'c'sle means?"

"Never sailed a ship?"

"Would I be asking if I've sailed?" She asked mockingly.

He gave a amused smile then replied "You're from America then, by the way why are you sailing to England?"

"I'm from America." She replied and chose to ignore his question.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Why are you sailing to England?"

"Why are you curious?, its none of your business anyway!"

"Don't get lippy with me, brat, or I'll box your ears, that's if I find them under that bloody cap."

"Oh, they're there, just not a good sight if looked at, Why do you think it's hidden?"

"I merely thought it is a premature baldness you are hiding, you disappoint me, little brat."

She smiled despite herself. His droll wit was quite amusing, who would've thought she will find him amusing, surprisingly she had the nerve to banter with him even after he threaten her a beating, but more surprisingly she didn't took offense on him calling her a brat. She can't blame him, she is called a brat many times, thanks to the pampering of her grandfather, more than him, Sid.

At that thought, her smile faded, they would be worried for her, if they didn't find her, if only she had the chance to escape, if only she had argued more with her grandfather, she should've waited and convinced him more instead of leaving alone. Once she reached Jamaica, she will telegram them, then they will receive her, she will have to wait for several weeks before she reach Jamaica.

Shlok barely breathed, he was tongue tied, he was still trying to recover from that staggering effect of the smile she'd just given him, the one which can woo any man, but then her smile faded for the reason she knows and he frowned.

"What happened, little one?" he asked gently yet curiously.

"Nothing. Is that all of my duties?" She asked.

"Yes, I'll ask someone to fetch your hammock, you may start your duties by fetching us a meal, I know you're hungry with the ruckus you have caused earlier. Go on chap!"

She gritted her teeth and stormed out of the cabin, the less she see of that arrogant, the better for her.

Great update
Shloks thoughts 😳 😆
Love it
Thanks for pm
Update soon

Nice update so Shlok doesn't want to tell her he knows about her disguise let's see when the truth is revealed should be interesting

Nice update...
Even after what shlok did in tavern she believes he don't kno about her disguise...
Loved the convo between the two...looking forward to more firework ...update soon
Thanks for the pm

First thank you so much for pm..and great update can't wait for next update. ..

Lovely update and Thanks for the PM.

love your update waiting for shlok to touch her without astha being aware sholk knows her real face

so sweeet honey

still you did pm me but was a nice update