AaShlok SS- Destined To Be: Chapter 6 & Note Pg #59 - Page 16

One day at the dinner table Niranjan was enquiring about the business and if their were any problems, to which Shlok responded no. He then reminded Shlok of his friends son they had once met in a party, and how he was going to get married, to Shlok this was the usual everyday thing. Somebody would get married and then the next day have a divorce.

Niranjan then hinted at Shlok about him and getting married, Shlok stopped his spoon of rice from reaching his mouth while his mouth was still left open. He soon resumed his eating and nodded to his Baba.

Marriage,' he thought. Suddenly he recalled Astha, and smiled to himself.

"Baba, I will think about it. I still need to find myself a life partner, and then I will think about settling down. I don't want to make any hasty decisions.

Niranjan smiled to his son, and was pleased to hear his answer.

"Acha beta, whatever you wish. I don't mind."

That night Shlok had dreamed of Astha, in the morning he smiled to himself remembering the dream.

He was excited to go to work today, to see Astha. It was an ordinary day for everyone but Shlok, he was ecstatic.

Shlok arrived at the office and settled down in his cabin, he then saw Astha through the window next door, working away on the computer with her specs half way down her nose. Shlok smiled as he gazed at a hardworking Astha. He hadn't known for how long he was staring at Astha that he had failed to hear the knock on his cabin door.

Somebody was repetitively knocking for some attention; he broke out his daze and attended to person at the door.

Shlok was peckish and decided to go and grab some lunch. On his way pass Astha's cabin he saw Astha reaching out to a book from a shelf that her petite height was failing to reach, he watched her climb onto a ladder, but the ladder was not working. He then noticed her going on her tiptoes, his eyes widened as he saw her foot escape the ladder.

Astha screeched as she felt herself secure in someone's arms, she had her eyes closed tight in fear of falling on the floor because of the clumsy person she was. Shlok observed the fear on Astha's face. She opened her eyes and met a familiar pair. Shlok stood with Astha in his arms, as they both looked into each other's eyes. Shlok noticed the fear from Astha's eyes disappear; he saw something in her eyes, which he couldn't read.

Shlok came back to reality when he noticed a struggling Astha, and in response he placed her down carefully.

"Are you okay, you were about to fall!"

"I'm fine, thank you." Astha smiled at Shlok

You should be more careful, if you can't reach for things ask someone to help. On top of that your height doesn't help, you know you're small!" Shlok tried to hold in his laughter.

"Haw! Shlok you're laughing at my height!" Astha crossed her arms against her chest in anger.

"But what can I do, my neck hurts from always looking down at you." Shlok smirked as he rubbed his nape in pain.

"Shlok I'm gonna kill you, I'm not short my height is just cute okay?!"

Shlok couldn't help but laugh. "Ok, ok whatever you say! I'm going to eat; do you want to join me?" Shlok questioned.

"Yes sure, I'm soo hungry I could eat a horse!"

Shlok laughed. "You are crazy."

"That I am." Astha giggled.

Days had passed with their constant nok-jhoks, in all this Shlok hadn't realised he was starting to fall in love with Astha.

He didn't know when he stepped out of the life of darkness and into the life of light. With every passing day their relationship grew and out of both of them Shlok was the happiest one.

Shlok slowly started to accept the attraction that he had towards Astha, but what was this attraction? Was it love?

Whatever it was, Shlok was overwhelmed with the happiness filled in his life, which was all thanks to Astha.

...

"WHAT?! Another party, but Baba we only just had one recently!" Shlok exclaimed.

"No buts Shlok, the last party was held for Mr Kapoor. This one is for the new client you and Astha went to meet in USA. So tonight I want you to pick Astha up and arrive on time. This time I want no excuses.

Shlok let Astha know he was going to pick her up in the evening for the party at their house.

"Today! I will tell her today, I will tell her that I love her! I know she feels the same, I have seen it in her eyes!" Shlok talked to himself whilst preparing for the party.

It was evening and as usual he got ready in a one piece suit and left for Astha's house. On his way he remembered the last time his Baba had thrown a party and it was the first time he met Astha, he smiled on recalling the thought.

He arrived at Astha's house and rang the doorbell. Mr Kapoor attended to the door, Shlok greeted him.

"Ahh Shlok, how have you been doing? Hope the business is doing well and most importantly I hope my daughter Astha has been of a lot of help?!"

Shlok and Mr Kapoor had a quick catch-up, until they were interrupted by Mr Kapoor's phone.

"Shlok I need to leave right away, hope you are okay in taking Astha with you?!"

"Sure uncle, I will let Astha know you had to leave!"

Shlok was walking around the living room, studying little things lying around, when he came across a picture of Astha. He smiled at the image.

Shlok heard silent bells, bells of anklets. He looked up to see where the sound was coming from.

Shlok was mesmerized by her gorgeousness, clothed in a stunning yet simple sari, Astha walked down the flight of stairs. Shlok's mouth dropped open, he hadn't seem someone soo beautiful in his life. Could anyone look so angelic? He thought to himself.

Their eyes had locked as Shlok continued to stare at the petite Astha. He felt a sudden but strange attraction that he had never felt towards anybody else, what was this? Was it love at first sight?

He observed her every move as she took small steps down the staircase; he watched how the expressions on her face had changed from then and now. He was completely lost for words, as he observed her from top to bottom.

As Astha arrived on the last stair Shlok had witnessed Astha's facial expressions change as her eyes grew wider, her foot had gotten stuck in the bottom of her sari, which caused her to tumble down.

Instead of feeling herself hitting a strong marble floor, she felt herself secure in a strong pair of arms. She shivered as she felt a cold hand touch the side of her creamy waist. She opened her eyes to see none other than Shlok.

They both stared into each other's eyes; Shlok was looking into her eyes in question. He wanted to see the same love in Astha's eyes for him. He wondered whether she felt the same.

Astha realised the awkwardness and quickly pulled herself up from Shlok's arms.

"I guess I should thank you once again, for saving me from falling!" Astha laughed at the end of her sentence.

Shlok just gazed at her, unknowingly making her feel awkward.

"Ermm... Shlok!" Astha waved her hand in Shlok's face to grab his attention.

"You look...you look beautiful!" Shlok spoke out unknowingly; he quickly looked down to avoid any eye-contact with Astha.

Astha turned a crimson colour which went unnoticed by Shlok.

"Th...thanks Shlok. You're looking very handsome in that suit too."

Shlok looked back and chuckled.

"Oh my god, where's Baba!" Astha shrieked as her eyes scanned the living room.

"Chill out Astha, he had to leave for some work. So he told me to take you to the party safely!"

"Oh ok, good! Shall we leave?"