ASHLOK FF - AT FIRST SIGHT Last Chapter - Page 22

Thanks aishaa! Thank you for your input. I know what your saying. But I felt the title WITNESS had more to do with astha than both of them as couple. But the new title is com mow to both of them.

Thank you once again for your feed back.

Thank you Ray!

Ok. I felt that. It was more about astha than ASHLOK. Glad you like the new title. Thank you.

Thank you meerab.

It's been five years since that and Shlok has never been or shown any interest in a girl. Anjali and Niranjan has never spoken to him on that matter ever since. Shlok seemed happy and content with the way things are and they didn't in a way didn't want to fix what didn't seem to be broken.

But fact remained, Anjali hoped and prayed every single day for her son to find a girl deserving of her sons' pure love. Someone who'll be able to take away all the broken dreams and the unpleasantness from his life and love him unconditionally.

Isn't that what every parent want for their children. To be happy and have all their dreams and aspirations fulfilled. She hoped their son knows just how sorry they are about everything that happened to him.

"Ma" "Ma"... She was brought back to the present moment.

"What're you thinking Ma?" asked Shlok. Thinking she's still worried about his safety he said to her "Ma, don't worry I'm perfectly alright and in few days time I'll be back in Mumbai. Nothing's gonna happen to me. You can't get rid of me so soon."

Anjali, just gently patted Shlok's cheek, mocking to slap him for what he said. And smiled at him. Her eyes were sparkling with tears. Shlok saw it and put his hands to ears seeking forgiveness. She laughed and tears just jumped from her eyes. Shlok wiped his mothers tears and said, "Pushpa, mujh se ye aansoo nahin dekhe jaate, I hate tears" Anjlais middle name happens to be Pushpa.

They both burst into a laugh. Anjali was laying down on the small bed close to shlok's. Lights were dimmed Anjali said "goodnight beta" and "what do you think of Dr. Astha Kalindi" asked Shlok. Anjali opened her eyes in a flash. "I think she's a nice girl. She saved your life and for that I'll be grateful to her." Anjali replied with a happiness filled smile. " what to you think of her as a person" asked Shlok.

"Beta, I've just met her once and that too I was not in any mental state to gauge her personality. I just spoke to her for few minutes. But I like her. My first impression of her is a pleasent one. But tell me do you like her? "

Shlok was lost in his thoughts, lost in her eyes... Her smile... She had the most beautiful black eyes he's ever seen. But why does he feel that they are sad. Shining not because of happiness but with tears waiting to shed. He wanted to know what made her eyes look so sad. Yet he could feel warmth in them as well. How he wished to kiss away the sadness from those angel eyes. Could he be wrong! May be she's just extremely tired. Sleep deprived. He wanted her to be anything but sad.

"Shlok" his mother was calling him. "What are you thinking?"

"Her eyes" it was an involuntary revelation. He couldn't take back what was said. Anjali got the answer to her question. Now she knows who's put the spark in her sons eyes. She was cautiously happy for her son. But She feared the unknown. She didn't know anything about her.

She asked him again do you like her. And this time he said a very affirmative "Yes!" "I don't know why or how, but I really like her Ma"

That was the simple honest truth. He felt good after sharing his feelings with his mother.

But that didn't help him to sleep any better. She had totally taken over his sleep. He kept on thinking of her. Hoping she'd visit him in his dreams.

Astha, was reading her girls their bedtime story. They had cuddled up to her like little kittens. Before the third page both were sleeping peacefully with a very content smile on their innocent faces. Astha, looked at them and a tear escaped her eye. They were her life. What would she have done if they weren't in it. She'd be all alone. No one to call her own. No family. These two little souls gave her an identity. She was their mother.

She, slowly got out of the bed and kissed them on their foreheads.

She climbed on to her bed, and was extremely tired after a long day. But sleep was evading her tonight as well. She closed her eyes, but all she could see was his face with a mischievous grin. She remembered the things he said, how his eyes were looking at her, the shine in those eyes.

She has never allowed her self to think of a man this way. She's never had the courage to do so. What's changed now. She's still the same person, her past is still the same. When did she become so daring? I'm seeing a mirage. I've been lost in this desert for so long my mind has started to play games with me. I'm seeing things that's not there. Or is it? She was confused and yet she liked that feeling. It was something totally alien to her. Do I have any right to feel this way? I have to stop this madness. I was perfectly happy with my life and why should I want to change anything not now not ever. She was determined to keep her feelings in check.

She was rushing to the hospital. She was late. For the first time in her life, she had overslept. As she entered the main entrance, something tugged at her heart. He's waiting for me. What? She almost stopped in the middle of the huge waiting area. Get grip of yourself Astha! Nobody's waiting for you. All are waiting for their doctor. Not you.

But there was a spring in her step. Spark in her eyes. Blush on her cheeks. Tune in her lips. Smile on her face. Hope in her heart. All unaware to her. Even if She did, Astha didn't want to acknowledge any of it.

Thank you😊