Ashlok FF: Raabta... Do you believe in love? Chap 5 Pg78 - Page 52

27^th September 2003,

Today is my first day of college. I am sitting in the University of California, LA as my professor is calling out students' names. Asstha Kiloskar, calls that lady prof. Asstha? Gods! My name is Aastha, not Asstha... Uff! American accent... Our class is like the kind of meeting they have in the UN. There was this girl Kurshid Abdullah from Lahore, and some Yun chi chao... I can't pronounce his name! But that guy is from China and Richa D'souza from Philippines. List of Asians ends there. Seems like Kurshid is the only person I can communicate properly with. We are the only Asians there at that class. The professor calls out another name, something close to homeland, Karan Chattopadyay' Hmm, a Bengali. But I don't see anyone here.

"Excuse me ma'am. I'm sorry I'm late." We hear a voice from outside. That must be Karan, I think as I turn to that direction. Man! He is a Macho man! Hot hunk... Kurshid and I gasp out. Not like he was the hottest, but the other hot guys are out of our league! He seems like the only one who is our type, should I make it we are his type. Whatever... He walks like a lion inside its cave. How could he be so cool? But ya, hot guys are meant to be cool. I freak out as he comes and sits next to me. Hey bappa!, please saath dena...

Aastha closed her diary with a small smile caressing her lips. She remembered that day perfectly well. She ha felt some tingling sensation in her stomach that day. Moreover, Karan's sweet smile did not help at all! Good old memories! If Aastha, Karan and Rehaan were like every other family, then sure she would have shared it with Rehaan. Rehaan was 7 years old; she did not realize how time had passed at all. She turned to Rehaan's side. He was peacefully sleeping. His eyes were batting a little, and he was smiling. Perhaps, he was dreaming something really good. She closed her eyes and let sleep take over her.

Shlok and Aastha were arguing about something. The whole Agnihotri family were secretly elated, for Shlok was opening up to some one after four long years. Sojal, who was a little fairytale in nature, was able to see an invisible heart around them. How more rhetorical can this woman get?

"Varad, wouldn't it be amazing if Aastha and Shlok become a couple? With Rehaan with them, they'd make a cute family... Haye!" Sojal said with a dreamy expression as she gave Varad his morning tea. Varad laughed at his wife's antics. She watches many soap operas... he thought shaking his head.

"Sojal baby, don't close your eyes and fly in air. They are just friends now. Moreover Sojal, I don't think Shlok will get over Swati so fast, and Aastha too has a past. We still don't know about what happened to Aastha's husband. So don't rush things, okay?"

"Of course Varad, I can see that. But both need to move one. And yes, not they are just friends, tomorrow they will become best friends. Then love will find it's way between. And when it does, remember me." Sojal raised her chin and walked out. This woman is crazy, Varad thought, yet again. It would be really nice if her presumption turns out to be true.

"Yellow and orange Shlok. Shades of sunset. It's just perfect... You have a bad taste of colors" Aastha was trying to convince him to choose these shades ever since he had mentioned about re-painting his room.

"Aastha, but, what's wrong with brown and ivory? Or black and white..."

"No Shlok, think of something bright..." Aastha sipped her hot steaming cappuccino. Why was Shlok so stubborn? Thank god! He is not an interior designer; he would have faced a heart breaking failure if he were one!

"Tell you what, let's decide later..."

Since when Shlok started asking others opinions? Hmm, maybe Sojal was right. Varad sighed as he left for office.

It was lunch break at office and Shlok had come over to Aastha's cabin to have lunch with her. It was Rehaan's orders, so he readily obliged. Aastha was grouchy about the whole thing. Every other sentence, she added that Rehaan was being injudicious. He he, they were one heck mother-son duo. Aastha's phone rang and the caller ID read Agnihotri Nivas.

"Hello... Haan Rehaan, shopping? But why beta? Oh, okay, we'll go today evening. Okay bye"

Colors drained out of Aastha's face. Shlok saw the chirpy Aastha walk out of Aastha's shell, and some one who was totally lifeless come inside her. What was the reason for it? Shlok remembered the time when he had seen Aastha talking to someone over phone. But this was not the right time to ask.

"Aastha, mind me accompanying you guys for shopping? I need to get a few shirts for my self too"

"Sure Shlok..." Aastha replied in a tedious tone. Rehaan's time to leave her has arrived.

Aastha, Shlok and Rehaan sat down for dinner after a tiresome day out shopping. Aastha felt it would be right to tell the Agnihotris about Rehaan's depart to Kolkata because they had showered a lot of love to her son in the past few days.

"Uh... Uncle, Aunty, actually... Rehaan's father is coming to pick him up day after tomorrow to his place. Rehaan visits them every summer..."

Shlok was able to sense reluctance in her voice; she definitely did not like the idea of sending her son there, but why?

"Okay beta. If you need any help in packing vaghera, then don't hesitate to ask one of us..." Niranjan too was able to feel some insecurity in her voice, in fact everybody seated there was able to feel it, but they were not able to do anything. The adults waited for Rehaan and Kavya to finish their dinner. Seeta took the kids to the playroom as per Anjali's orders.

"Aastha beta, is there anything that's nagging you?" Anjali asked her softly. Aastha looked at Anjali with moistened eyes. Why did she not have a mother like that? Why was her mother so insensitive towards her? What did she do that her fate decided not to let happiness and love inside her life? Aastha just hugged Anjali and whispered a why me.

The next morning, Aastha walked to Shlok's room as she had a doubt in some clause of their project deal paper. She realized that it was the first time she was going inside Shlok's room. A life size picture of a couple hung there in the light green wall. It was that of Shlok and his wife. Such an adorable couple, Aastha thought as she stood staring at the picture. They were made for each other.

"That's Swati..." She heard a husky make voice behind her.

"She is... I mean, she was my wife. She died in an accident." Shlok said with teary eyes. Aastha gently touched his shoulder. Sojal had told her about Swati's death and how it had affected him. She knew how it was to loose some one, maybe not by death, but something worse.

"Are you alright? Do you want some water Shlok" Aastha asked him gently. He shook his head and asked her if she wanted anything. She answered him that it can wait and left. After seeing Shlok, she decided that fate was merciless and the most cruel thing in the world. It knew nothing but to make people suffer. The rest of her day went in Rehaan's packing.

"Rehaan, don't trouble your pitamahi (grand mother), Aalya Mumma, Shriti and Sahir okay? And..."

"Mumma, calm down... I won't trouble anyone there. You've been telling the same thing all over again..." Rehaan pouted cutely.

"OK, sorry Rehaan Baba, I will not utter one more word. Khush?" Aastha shook her head with a smile.

"Rehaan, buddy, I'm going to miss you a lot" Shlok took Rehaan and swayed him in the air. Kavya wanted Shlok to do Zoowie' with her also. The doorbell rang and not wanting to disturb his family, Niranjan attended the door. There stood a man with a warm smile on his face.

"Hello Sir, I'm Rehaan's father. Karan..."

*bites nails* How was this???

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