"I am Rehaan's father, Karan..." Niranjan's brows twitched as he shook hands with Karan and asked him to come inside. He did not seem like a grey shaded man at all... Then what could have been the reason of Karan and Aastha's split?
As Karan entered inside, he saw Rehaan in a well-built man's arms and Aastha standing next to him with a rare smile. So, Aastha has even started smiling now...
"Papa..." Rehaan freed himself from Shlok and ran to is father. The kid's adoration and attachment to his father would be crystal clear even to a blind man's eyes. Aastha too walked along and gave Karan a side hug.
"Hi Champ, hi pumpkin, how are you guys doing?" Pumpkin? Aastha thought, some things never change...
"I'm doing purrfect Paws, how are you?" Aastha asked him teasingly.
Sojal gave a worried look to Varad. She had thought that she'd be able to bring her Devar and Aastha together very facile, now who is this kebab mein haddi?
Karan introduced himself to rest of the Agnihotris. A man with tall stature and serene smile, he was also charismatic. Shlok immediately abandoned the idea of Karan being a monster, if he was, then Aastha wouldn't be smiling when he is around. Karan took his leave with Rehaan as their flight was on due. Aastha couldn't help but shed a few tears on the departure of her son. If that was so, then why did Shlok feel that something was bothering her? The whole Agnihotri household turned melancholy after the two left. Kavya went inside with a sad face. Aastha pretended to robust and left.
Aastha remembered Karan's words the other day,
"Aastha, both of us want our son to be happy. I think you are being selfish in this regard..." Then, why would she, being a mother, not think of her son's well being? Nevertheless, what if Karan was actually right? What if she was being egotistical in true sense? What if she was putting her happiness before her son's? She shrugged off her thoughts, no Aastha, you are doing the right thing...
"Papa, when will Rehaan bhaiyya come back? He just left, but I am already feeling lonely..." Varad's heart winced seeing his daughter's dejected face. Aastha stood outside watching the little girl probe questions at her father, which maybe left unanswered.
"Hey!..." Shlok shook Aastha out of her trance. He signaled her to come with him. Aastha quite knew that her somber was visible in her face, she did not want Shlok asking Aastha any questions related to her past. Her past did not haunt her, but it pained her. She stopped believing in relationships, love and anything that had affinity with it. She let out a sigh and walked back to Shlok.
"We have to complete this presentation, and also prepare a draft Aastha. Suresh just informed me that it should be ready in two days..." They went on and on about the deal until Aastha yawned.
"Sleepy, are we?" Shlok closed his laptop to inhale some fresh air. Aastha tuned some music to soothe. After a few songs, the famous Kuch Kuch Hota hai song started playing. Shlok's face immediately lit up as he turned to Aastha,
"Aastha, this was the song I sang to Swati to propose her in college, it is really closed to heart...
Tum paas aaye,Yun muskuraaye,
(You came close and smiled at me)
Tum paas aaye, yun muskuraaye
(You came close and smiled at me)
Tumne na jaane kya, sapne dikhaye
(You have no clues about the dreams you'd showed me)
Ab toh mera dil, jaage na sota hai
(Now, my heart is neither awake nor asleep)
Kya karoon haye, kuch kuch hota hai..
(What shall I do now, something is happening)'
Shlok kneeled down with a chocolate in his hand. Swati was embarrassed.
"Shlok, stand up..." Swati said in a small voice. "No, not until you tall me that you love me" He knew that she loved him, but just to make her confess. A shade of crimson red spread across her face, "Haan.." "I didn't hear you.." "Shlok, I love you..."
Shlok narrated the whole incident to Aastha. Aastha couldn't adore the couple more. They were so in love with each other. Why did fate separate them? However, Shlok did not seem to worry at all. He was happy living and reliving in memories...
Sojal was keenly watching these two. Shlok had shared little details related to Swati, then they definitely are close. Sojal, start you plan now... Ouch, Sojal turned when she felt a sharp pain hit her ear.
"Why are you lurking here Sojal?" Anjali asked her with a stern look. Sojal took that opportunity to share her plan with Anjali.
He was running down a spiral staircase, chasing a shadow. Something about the shadow urged him to follow. Suddenly, he was surrounded by sand, he was perhaps in a desert. A girl wearing a pink suit and a sunny smile called him to her.
"Swati..." He called out to her.
"Shlok, you look the same. Start smiling often Shlok, you don't look good with this frown on your face. Did you think of painting your room yellow and orange? Even Aastha feels that would do... Shlok... let me go" Swati whispered to him. Shlok held her tighter... You can't leave me like this Swati. "Shlok, go to her. She needs you he most." Swati's imagery was slowly fading off with the breeze. Shlok, tried to catch her, alas couldn't.
He started hearing a voice of a woman wailing, the sound tugged his heart. He ran towards the voice. A petite woman wearing black was crying out with random names scribbled on the sand.
"Excuse me..." He called. Aastha...
Nice way to finish, I knw... I'm back ppl... All those who are waiting, the bubble is gonna burst in the next chap(Waseem sir style 😉) Forgive me with this small chapter, next will be big. I purposely made it small
Edited by .Natasha. - 11 years ago
Anupamaa
