AaShlok SS- Destined To Be: Chapter 6 & Note Pg #59 - Page 11

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ayesha buds its awesome and different👏

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It was morning; Shlok went through his usual morning routine and left for work. On his way he passed by the same place he saw Astha for the first time, he heard the same lines repeat in his head, "Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough or rigid, but in the end it is always beautiful!"

He arrived at work, greeted by many colleagues as usual. Astha had arrived before him, he was impressed. Astha was hardworking and enthusiastic; Shlok was pleased to have her there.

They both became great partners; the business had many deals coming in from around the world. The Agnihotri Organisation was now known worldwide all thanks to them.

...

"Astha we have to leave for USA tonight, we have some important clients to meet, and it's crucial for us both to be there!?"

"What! Today itself?"

"Yes, will pick you up at 8 sharp, be ready.

With this they left for USA.

A few days later they had met up with the clients and concluded all important tasks that needed finishing. They had one day left to spend in USA.

Shlok and Astha were in two different rooms in the Hotel, both next door to each other. This wasn't a problem for either of them.

Shlok was having another restless night; he was feeling agitated, so he decided to go down to enjoy some fresh air.

He went out to the pool; he took his shoes off and rolled his trousers up to knee length, and sat down with his legs hanging inside. The pool illuminated the moon's light; he watched the ripples made in the water as the wind blew onto it. He smiled and stared into the well-lit sky, which was scattered with stars.

"I miss you Ayi, I miss you a lot. Why did you have to leave me? See, look my life is miserable without you!" Shlok could feel his eyes watering, but he didn't bother wiping them away. He just let them flow. "I'm sorry Ayi!" Shlok closed his eyes in guilt.

"When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a wonderful treasure to hold in your heart!"

Shlok instantly wiped away his tears and looked back at the person standing there.

Astha came and silently sat down beside Shlok, joining him with her feet in the pool. She looked up at the stars.

"So why did you come here?!" Astha asked; her eyes still fixed on the stars.

"I don't know, when I feel lonely I tend to come out and look at the stars, it gives me peace at mind! Ever since my Ayi died, strangely this is the only thing that gives me solace, if you think of it, they're only stars." He said looking back down at seated Astha.

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy!" Astha whispered also looking down at stunned Shlok.

"How do you always know what is on my mind?" Shlok said looking into Astha's hazel moonlit eyes!"

Astha smiled into his watery eyes. "They say the pain of losing someone is something no one should ever go through alone!"

Shlok instantaneously wrapped his arms around Astha and took her into a hug.

The moment Shlok had embraced Astha; it was as if a wave of relief went through him. He felt calm and peace at heart.

Astha was startled for a bit, and tried to console an upset Shlok.

He then pushed himself away from Astha when he came back to his sense on realising what he was doing.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that! Since my Ayi died, no one has really understood me. It's like I've stepped into a world of darkness, until now..."

"Shlok the light is there too, you know this because you are alive!"

"You won't understand Astha, you will never understand! Have you lost anyone in your life, have you? Death is not the greatest loss in life; the greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live!"

Astha smiled through her tears, "although its difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back help comfort you tomorrow? Shlok I lost my parents when I was a child. I went through this stage. At least you have your Baba, I had nobody!" Astha wiped away a lone tear that fell down her cheek.

Shlok looked up in confusion. "But Mr Kapoor?!"

"He fostered me, when I had nobody. He's like my Dad now. But when my parents died, it was the saddest time of my life. I was ready to end my life. Why would I live, when I had nobody to live for? I was all alone; I was also living in the darkness like you. But when I got fostered as a child, I saw there was much more to life, instead of looking at the bad side of things I looked at the greater sides. I am what I am because of my Foster Dad. I am Astha Kapoor previously Kirloskar. But why look back at the bad times?!"

Shlok smiled at an optimistic Astha, she really was different he thought whilst staring into her eyes.

Astha tilted her head on Shlok's shoulder and he wrapped one arm around her bare shoulder, like this they both stared into the moonlight!

You know there's a saying Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough or rigid'...

But in the end it is always beautiful' Shlok completed her sentence.

Astha looked up from Shlok's shoulder. "You've heard of it before?!"

"Ermm, well yeh, I've heard it around." She smiled in response

She lay her head back down on Shlok's shoulder to rest, as they both continued to stare at the sky.

"Shlok can you see that star over there, and that one over there. That's my Mum and that's my Dad!" Astha said whilst pointing at two stars in the night sky.

"Can you see the one next to my Mum? That's your mum!" Astha said looking into Shlok's eyes.

Shlok smiled at Astha and looked back at the stars.

"Don't worry if you're enduring the darkest moment of your life because just like the stars, the darker it gets the brighter you'll shine." Astha whispered as she closed her eyes in Shlok's arms.

"Astha, you have only been in my life for a short period. Without you I don't know where my life would be heading!" He whispered quietly.

"Hmmm, Shlok did you say something..."

Shlok came back to reality, and murmured a quiet no!'

"Certain darkness is needed to see the stars!" Shlok muttered as he looked down at a sleeping Astha.

As he was observing her beauty he noticed droplets of water dripping down on her face, as he looked up at the sky, the rain got heavier.

Astha suddenly jumped up from Shlok's lap and started laughing.

"Rain, I love rain!!" She ran forward and held out her arms and smiled as rain drops fell on her creamy skin.

As the rain fell hitting the patios and nearby windows, it made rhythmic sounds.

Astha closed her eyes and smiled. "Shlok, Shlok can you hear that, listen to the rhythm of the falling rain, it is beautiful!"

Shlok was continuously staring at her; he recollected when he first saw her, when she was playing in the rain. He smiled at a thrilled Astha.

"ASTHA! Let's go inside, I hate rain and especially getting wet in it!"

"Don't be angry with the rain it simply does not know how to fall upwards!"

Shlok was getting irritated now, he muttered under his breath. "If she stays outside like this, she will catch a cold!"

Shlok hurried alongside Astha, but as soon as he came face to face with her, he had lost all senses, and stood there motionless. He watched the beads of raindrop trickle from her hair to her face and down her clothes. Astha had stopped swaying with the rain; she had stopped to look at a speechless Shlok.

"Shlok there are only two ways you can get through the pain one is to just stand in the rain and suffer and the other way is to learn how to dance in the rain of this pain," as she said that a rain drop dripped down her nose and onto her mouth. Shlok observed the whole thing.

She then pulled Shlok's arm to join her in enjoying the rain.

Astha started collecting water in her small hands and then splashed it on a staring Shlok. Shlok then ran after her to get her back.

They both stopped breathless and wet! "I think we should go inside and get some sleep!" Shlok said in between his breaths.

Astha nodded in approval. They both then returned to their rooms and left USA the following day.

...

As soon as they returned they had gotten back to usual, everything and everyone was normal besides Shlok, it's as if Shlok's life had taken a different route on their returning.

One day when Shlok returned home, his Baba called him into his study.

"Baba you called me?!"

"Ah yes beta, sit down I wanted to talk to you about something important!"

"I wanted to talk to you about your marriage! You very well know, it was your Ayi's life long wish for you to settle down and get married..."

Shlok remained silent.

"Beta, I know you don't like talking about the topic, but you can't stay single all your life, and don't you want to fulfil your late Mum's wish!"

Shlok immediately got up and he started walking away, but something in him made him stop midway. "Baba, I'll think about it!" With that Shlok walked away.

Niranjan was surprized at Shlok's response. "He really has changed!"

Shlok left the house near evening time and decided to go someplace that would give him peacetime, after all that's the only way he was able to think straight! So somewhere quiet it was.

Shlok arrived at a bridge, he decided to sit down and watch the waves of the river. He was enjoying the light breeze hitting his face, he smiled at the scenery.

"Ayi, I will surely fulfil your wish, I will get married. But...if only you were here,iIf only you could say goodbye one last time, if only you had hugged me one last time. If only..." Shlok trailed off.

Shlok started feeling lighter, and was relishing the moment.

"How did I know I was going to find you here?! Astha giggled.

Shlok didn't even need to turn around to see who it was; the quiet but familiar giggles gave it away.

Astha joined him in watching the scenery.

"How did you know I would be here?!" Shlok asked whilst he observed Astha fighting with the wind to keep her hair straight.

Shlok brought his hand forward and tucked in an element of hair that was disturbing her face behind her ear.

She looked into his eyes and smiled, whilst he had his eyes fixed on her. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, until Astha broke off to speak.

"I don't know I just guessed you would be here, besides it's always more fun sitting here watching the scenery with someone rather than on your own!" Astha smiled.

They both spent hours sitting watching the passing swans, ducks and boats, and passed funny remarks. Shlok hadn't had this much fun since ages, well since his Ayi had left the world. They discussed about life, what the meaning of life is! Shlok saw life from a different perspective; maybe this couldn't have been possible without Astha's help.

Soon it started to become dark, Shlok decided to drop Astha off to her home.

He returned home with a brand new motive in life.

Shlok was no longer Shlok. He was a different type of Shlok; it was as if he was living a different life, looking at life from a different pair of eyes. A pair of eyes given by Astha, a fresh new start because of Astha.

Shlok would yearn to see Astha daily, his days were never complete without her; he needed her. Life was soon getting worth living, Shlok had overcome his dark past and he no longer missed his Ayi, as she had never left him. She was still in the stars watching over him, that is what she said.

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First of all I am sorry for late unres. As I told you I had read the chapter earlier but was feeling too lazy to comment 😆 And coz I wanted to leave you a satisfactorily long comment, I thought I will wait for a while 😳

Ok well abt the update...well what can I say? I'm impressed. The way you are portraying Ashlok's bonding and gradual development in their relationship is pretty amazing. This chapter had a certain depth to it. Ashlok's conversation was so deep and meaningful. Your dialogues have poetic touch to it. You described the pain and loss of losing someone dear so beautifully through Shlok. I wonder how do u pull it off. It's as if you can feel exactly what ur characters are feeling or you have gone through the same experience. You sure have a talent when it comes to writing 😉

I liked the pillar-of-support role Astha played in Shlok's life. She is like a breath of fresh for him. She inspired him to overcome his grief and move on. She taught him ways to live again and to view life from different perspective, a more positive one. How cute is that? 😳

Loving their friendship and bond and the fact how well they understand each other particularly Astha. I am sure pretty soon they will fall for each other. Shlok is already there.. 😉😆

Sad to know Astha's parents died at a very young age. That solves the mystery behind the surname though lol. Now we know she's not actually Kapoor.

However I'm curious abt Anjali's death. Is there a mystery behind it? Is Shlok involved in any way? At one point, I remember you associating Shlok grief for losing his mum with his 'guilt'. Why would he feel guilty?

Loved the rain scene...aah so romantic..

Shlok considering getting married. Wonder if he will now confess his love and propose to Astha.

All in all a beautiful and inspiring update...eager to read more 😃

Love u loads xx

P.s. With each chapter I'm getting more and more suspicious that this is not the first time you are trying ur hands on writing a fiction. And I know I know as always you will say it's ur first time bla bla but I'm not falling for that so easily.. 😳😛

late unres

It's like a dream come true... 😳 Ayeshu i am surprised at the way you tilt the scenes that is so mature you know it took me ages to learn how to do that and i still find it hard and here you do it like a pro. I love the setting of the story, the pace and especialy especially the rain.

Reading about rain can make me like anything.😳 Your astha is so mature its like she has something intelligent to say about everything in life. I liked how they discussed life and its meaning which is what most of us ignore when we are subconsciously knotting a new relationship in our lives. For me knowing other person's perspective on life is much more important than the vague and uncertain future plans people spend tons of time making.

And then of course there are people in your life who come unexpected and then without us knowing changes occur in us around us and within us. People we make a consistent part of our life without us knowing without them knowing but that is so natural, be it with friends be it with such special relations. I loved how you brought this aspect in your story. Really made me feel connected and this connection is the best thing a writer can gift to its readers.

As promised i read your update and i loved it! thank God i did not read it in any haste this was to be enjoyed thoroughly. One more to go!😃

you are nailed it

i am eager to read further