Chapter 3
"Why are you saying this, Astha? What happened to you? Where's Sid and Uncle? And what the hell are you doing? Selling girls? How pathetic! You---"
"You question a lot, whatever happened to me is none of your concern. Rest easy and don't be a trouble." She said calmly.
"Are you serious? We are still friends! Aren't we?At least for me, you are! I can't believe you tried to hurt me just to shut me up."
"There's no we, I am a stranger to you. We don't share any bond, you don't know who I am."
Shlok gave her an astonish look, he can't believe she had changed this much, her pure Astha had changed into this! He never expected this even in his dreams. She is not the same Astha, her innocence, her shyness is not reflected in her face, her gold eyes which were soft that time are frigid now, the eyes of hawk as he guessed before, eyes of cold murderer.
"You're right. I don't know who you are. My Astha, the girl I loved more than myself, the girl whom I wished to spend my entire life, the girl whom I was gonna marry is definitely not you. She was pure soul and I know you killed her, you coldblooded witch."
Astha gasped and snarled "I don't think you're in the state to swear me."
Shlok raised his brow and asked "Can't accept your bitter truth? You killed my Astha, you held me as a hostage, you are out to destroy my father. You think I should applaud you and praise you?"
She gave a tight smile and replied " You're right, Mr. Shlok. Now be a good boy and shut up."
"I told you I don't take orders, requests are different matters. It was good if you hadn't take off your cap, atleast I would've just kept thinking that you are a man. How's that possible, your voice sounded like a man, now it's feminine?"
She chuckled, "Wonders of technology. It's not just a cap, there's weapons fixed in it as well as machine which can change my voice into man's voice. Deliberate on my part to fool your old dog---"
"Astha! Don't dare insult my father!" Shlok shouted furiously.
"I can say what ever I want to say about that bas***d."
"What did he do to you? He gave your father job, he gave you house to live, he even helped you when you needed help. Are you forgetting all this?"
"I didn't forget anything nor will I able to as long as I breath. But I will tell you one thing, I won't tell you what happened between me and that bas***d."
"Why? Why won't you tell me? Don't you trust me?" He asked melanchonly.
She stiffened and replied coldly "I'm wasting my time here talking with you, I guess I should leave." Astha said and turned to leave, she was about to open the door when she heard him say "I can't believe you changed so much."
"Believe and accept. Astha you knew would've died than hurt anyone, Astha in front of you will kill before anyone hurt her." She said from her shoulder and left him.
***
As soon as she closed the door, Astha leaned against it and closed her eyes as tears sprawled from them which she had been holding back. She can't do it, as much as she try, she can't hurt him, but what choice does she have. She is overwhelmed with happiness and joy after hearing his voice from many years, it had been thirteen years since she last saw him. Her memory of him is still fresh in her mind, their times together, their bond of friendship, thier shared kiss, everything is engraved in her mind like a permanent recording. He had grown into handsome man, she had known that even then, but he is still pure from heart. That is the reason, she can't be with him, she can't be his friend, she is impure, not worthy for his love, she should make him hate her, so he will forget about her.
"He will still love you." She heard Ankush say. She opened her eyes and located him through her eyes. He was leaning against the post, relaxed, his arms crossed on his chest, an amused grin playing on his lips.
"Eavesdropping is bad manners, Ankush." She replied and wiped her tears.
He chuckled and replied "Eavesdropping? I don't need to do that when he was shouting."
She gave a slow smile, "You're right."
"You don't think he will hate you."
She glared at him and said "You can't be sure."
"Are you saying it to me or yourself?"
She fell silent then spoke "Both. He don't deserve me. I am not worthy of his love or him."
"I don't think that's for you to decide."
"Can you tell me why you're being a pain in the ass?" She growled.
He grinned and asked "Am I?"
She snorted and walked away from him, he caught up with her.
"Is everything prepared?" She asked.
"You doubt my ability?"
"Then let's begin the plan!"
***
Shlok glanced up at her as she entered the room after few hours, she didn't even spare him a glance. She switched on the tv and glued her eyes on it, some news was showing, he only caught the ends of it.
"The dead body was found burned with the car."
Shlok's eyes widened, his jaw dropped as he read the headlines on the screen.
"The son of Niranjan Agnihotri, Shlok Agnihotri died in a tragedy!"
He listened to the reporter intently, her every word.
"Mr. Shlok Agnihotri's body was found in his car, burned along with the car. He was driving when suddenly he was hit and run with the another car. His car fell in the cliff and blasted from the impact. The body was burned severely, barely recognizable, but the reports confirmed, it is body of Mr. Shlok Agnihotri . Mr. Niranjan Agnihotri is still in the state of shock and despair, so we couldn't get in touch with him. The police force is investigating on the matter, for further news, keep watching.."
"How is that possible?!" Shlok shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I'm alive, dammit! What the hell is going on?!"
He didn't receive any answer nor had he expected, she remained silent.
He had never been furious like he is now, he doesn't understand anything. He wanted to ask so much from her, yet he refuse to talk to her. He wasn't going to talk with her but with this news, he can't remain silent. All he wanted to do now is wring her pretty neck.
He recalled their conversation with his father, they told his father, they will kill him yet they assured him that they wouldn't hurt him unless he give trouble. They were true to their words, they didn't kill him but made his father believe that they really killed him. How come they found his dead body when he is here, flesh and blood? The news reported the body was barely recognizable but the reports confirmed it is his body? How is that possible?
He is so confused and miserable, he couldn't understand anything, he doesn't know what he will do.
His father must have been feeling miserable, he must have been shattered, just thinking about him wring his heart.
He glared at Astha as he threated menacingly "You will pay for this, Astha."
She turned at him and smirked before she spoke "No, I wouldn't. This time your father will pay."
"How stone hearted you have become, why did you declare me dead, where the hell did you get my body, why lie when you could've just killed me?"
"Killing you is not part of our plan. Why kill you when you have nothing against us?"
"What do you have against my father?"
"That I wouldn't answer. As for your question on how come your body was confirmed, when you are alive. That is what you call power of money, money can get you anything, all we had to do was give money to the doctor, for them to declare it's your body. Simple, isn't it?"
He made a disgusting face and looked away from her, without another word, he sat on the bed.
A knock on the door interrupted the silence in the room between them. A man came in after her permission with a big tray on his hands.
"Dinner is ready, darlin'!" He said cheerfully.
She smiled at him while Shlok glared at him, darlin'!, who the hell he is? Why should he care? He doesn't care about her.
"Thank you, Arjun."
He grinned and replied flirtingly "Anything for my love!"
She just smiled at him as she took her plate, he walked towards Shlok and pushed the plate in the cell.
"Here's your food."
"I don't want filthy food!" Shlok said.
Arjun replied "Hey, don't dare insult food and lady in front of me, I won't tolerate it."
"I don't care." Shlok snarled.
"Arjun, leave him." Astha said as she took morsel in her mouth.
"You are saved by my love."
"Enjoy your dinner, I made it especially for you."
"Thank you." Astha replied smilingly.
He grinned and went out from the room, leaving them alone.
She glanced at Shlok, he was still lying on the mattress, his food untouched.
"Why are you taking out your anger on food?"
He looked at her and asked "Why do you care?"
"I can't watch food being wasted, there are many people sleeping without food in their belly."
"I never asked for food. Return it, I haven't even touched it."
"Sleeping while starving is not a good experience."
"Is that based on your experience?" He asked sarcastically.
"Of course. Besides, if you won't have strength, how will you make me pay?" She said and stood up and went to the kitchen.
What had happened to her, how horrible would've been her life that she turned stone hearted.
He sighed and sat up, then start eating his food, Damn, the food is heavenly delicious, that Arjun is really a great chef. She looked back at him and smiled inwardly.
Anupamaa
