Chapter 18
The past week was like a heaven for her, she kept bubbling with joy and happiness. He showed her something she never thought she would ever experience, he gave her the greatest pleasure. Their days would start and their nights would end in each others arms.
"Have you decided?" Shlok asked suddenly as he tenderly caressed his fingers against her shoulder.
She looked up, giving him a baffled look and asked "Decided what?"
"If you'll continue sailing with us or look for another ship in Jamaica and sail to England? We are reaching port in one or two days."
"We are?"
He nodded.
"Thank God! I can send telegram now!"
"Telegram? To whom?"
She looked at him and gave a sheepish smile.
"I've been trying to tell you something, you know just like you, I have lied too, about myself but I had no choice---"
"I know you lied, I didn't expect you to be truthful, I knew you didn't know me."
"Aren't you angry that I didn't tell you the truth when you told me everything?"
"Honey, I knew it will take you time to reveal everything, I was giving you time, now see you are being honest. I wanted you to be honest on your own not on my insistance. I want to gain your trust not impose it on you."
She cupped his cheek and gave him a tender peck on his cheek.
"You are very nice man, Shlok. I'm glad I've met you."
"Same goes for you, little one." He said and kissed her palm.
"You don't want to know where I come from? or who I am?"
He grinned and replied "It doesn't matter as long as you are close beside me. Nothing matters."
***
She excitedly looked at the port in Kingston, Jamaica, getting bigger and bigger. Within few minutes, they are going to land ashore, she will be able to send telegram to Sid, acknowledging him of her safety, he might be devastated, the sooner he get the telegram, the better for him. She decided to resume her journey with Shlok instead of waiting for Sid to come in Jamaica and bring her to England. It will take less time for her impending confrontation with her father and return home plus she will get to spend more time with Shlok.
She was standing against the railing, enjoying the soft breeze of Caribbean waters when Shlok approached her.
"We'll first go for your telegram."
"Thank you, Shlok. My brother must be so worried, moreover my grandpa, the sooner they get the telegram, the better."
"You don't talk about your parents."
She gave him a solemn smile and replied "My mother died three months ago due to illness and my father, what can I say, I never saw him, my mother left him for his unfaithfulness, he never knew I existed. This is the reason I'm going to England to meet him, to keep the promise I gave to my mother."
"I'm sorry, honey." He said and squeezed her hand, giving comfort to her while she gave a slow smile.
"You're staying in his house?"
"No! I would die before I stay with him!" She replied with anger and bitterness in her voice.
"You really hate him."
"For what he did with my mother, I do hate him."
"I understand. Well, I'm excited and pleased to introduce you to my family, they will love you, especially my sister in law Sojal and my nephews."
"Not your brother?" She asked teasingly.
He chuckled and replied "Of course, he will too but he's not carefree like me and Jyoti, he's a no nonsense one, he's elder nah, that's why."
"Just kidding. I'm excited too to meet your family."
"Captain." They heard Abhay from behind.
"Duty call again, once the ship is docked, we will go, wait for me, see you." He said and went away.
Abhay approached her once the captain was out of sight, he feared to be seen with her with captain around.
"I heard you're sailing with us till England, what made you change your mind?" He asked.
"I don't have money to sail ahead, Shlok is kind enough, so I decided to sail in this ship."
"Shlok not Captain?" He asked.
She blushed and replied "We are friends, so he don't mind me calling him Shlok."
"Just friends or more than that?" He asked in a weak voice.
Astha pursed her lips, not liking the way this conversation is going, she completely remember their conversation in crows nest, he wanted her then but Shlok made it plain clear that she was his and he agreed but deep down perhaps he still wanted her so she replied hesitantly "You can say we're more than friends."
"But he's a rake, you know!" He remarked.
She sighed and replied "I know but I can't help it, I love him. He said he want me."
"You love him! He want you but he may not love you."
"He does love me but hasn't realized it yet or hadn't put into words besides I can feel his love without saying it in words."
"If that is so, I'm happy for you. As a friend, I thought it's better to give advice." He said and went away without giving her any chance to speak.
***
After they finished the work of telegram, he booked themselves a room in a nearby inn, most of the afternoon they spent their time shopping. He bought her new gowns and expensive trinkets, she denied first but to his insistence she agreed. Later at night, he asked her to wear the gowns as he wished to see her in gown rather than breeches. No sooner than she tried her first gown, he tore it apart, completely aroused by her luscious body in lilac colored gown, brightening her skin even more. His lovemaking was insatiable, addictive that she herself wasn't able to deny him and had a pleasant sleep afterwards.
She remembered him saying something about some important work this morning, he won't be able to return till evening, so she slept herself till mid-morning, feeling bored she start sewing the torn gown. She thought of surprising him by dressing up, she chose emerald green gown to wear and emerald pendant to go by with it, unskilled with hair dos, she braided her raven black hair loosely and rested it on her breast.
She was admiring herself when she heard a knock on the door, she smiled thinking his arrival. But when she opened the door, she found Abhay speechless and gazing at her.
"You're so beautiful." He complimented.
She blushed and said thanks and asked for his sudden arrival.
"Ah! Captain called you, he says it's urgent."
"Why? What happen?"
"Ain't got a clue, but he asked me to bring you. Eh, change into breeches too, the crew is likely to be there."
Astha pursed her lips in annoyance, she went into so much trouble on dressing up and he wasn't even able to look at her!
"Ok. I'll just change."
He nodded. She came out in her disguise and followed Abhay.
***
She was confused why would Shlok call her, that too in a tavern, but he says it's urgent, so he might didn't consider the location. She walked behind Abhay, keeping her head low, she was nervous and afraid. She scanned the area, not many people were around, that's to be expected since it's still afternoon, the tavern would be crowded in evening. She searched for Shlok and immediately recognized him, sitting on one of the chairs, afar from her, he was talking to a man, quite seriously, perhaps his acquaintance, a barkeep girl sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck! She stopped right away.
It can't be, it's a dream, her Shlok will never do this to her. He will never hurt her. She couldn't believe her eyes, she might be mistaken but she isn't, it is him, it is her Shlok, the one whom she gave her heart to keep and love, but what is he doing, he is crushing it, breaking it into thousand pieces as she looked at him, his arms wrapped tightly on another girl, his lips kissing her lips passionately, oblivious to their surroundings, oblivious to her.
Edited by avina_radev48 - 11 years ago
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