Posted:
Chapter 21
Shlok stared at the small box in his hand, playing with it, opening and closing it as sadness reflected from his face. He looked up at the door of his cabin when he heard a knock, interrupting his solemn thoughts. He slipped the box in his pocket and gave his permission to enter with the bated breath. He followed Anshul through his eyes as he took his seat on the padded chair across him and didn't utter a word for many moments which infuriated Shlok."I'm waiting dammit! At least say something!" Shlok said frustratingly.
Anshul gave a wide grin and replied "Damn if I knew you are too desperate."
"You found her?" He asked with anticipation in his voice, completely ignoring his taunt.
"He is Virat Sharma, captain of the ship but not related to her, just a friend he says."
"Astha did say the captain was her friend. He told you where she is?"
"That's where the problem arises, he wouldn't tell that. He is sworn to secrecy, beat him burn him, nothing will make him reveal."
"By her, I bet?" Shlok asked grudgingly.
"Not exactly but her brother."
"Brother? Her brother is in America, she sent telegram to him when we were in Jamaica."
"She may have a brother here, you never know."
"If I had just listened to her story at least I would've known where to look for her, but fool me, I thought it wouldn't matter!" Shlok cursed himself.
"Abhay said there was another man, the one who beated me, what about him?"
"Maybe that is her brother, I wish to meet that brave man." He said with a grin.
Shlok gave a dark scowl, "It isn't funny."
Anshul sighed and replied "I hate to see you like this, it's been a month, you sure you want her?"
"Absolutely, I want no one else except her!"
"So is it your final decision to marry her?"
"I had took that decision even when we were in Jamaica, even when she hadn't left me. It would've gone splendid if that bas***d Abhay didn't butt in!" Shlok replied angrily.
"He does feel guilty that's why he told you everything even though he knew you will beat the hell out of him, which you did the moment he finished."
"I'm glad he is guilty of his actions, if I had heard from some other person perhaps I would've killed him and Swati, but I can understand Swati, she did it for money."
"And Abhay did it for love." Anshul commented.
"Mind I ask why are you feeling so noble on him?"
Anshul chuckled and said "Am I? Noble?"
Shlok gave a slow smile despite his anger and misery, no wonder he is his best friend, he could feel his sadness without him voicing out and make him feel good even if he drowns in misery.
"Where's that Virat?"
"I told you beat him or burn him, he won't say anything."
"Why not try talk to him?"
"Talk?" He asked with a smile then added "Let's see how you talk."
***
"This will be the first and last time I will ask where is she?" Shlok asked darkly.
Virat shuddered at his stare, his heart dancing wildly against his chest, he glanced towards his large, powerful hands curled in a tight fist which can break bones in a split second, he have no heart to feel the taste of them but he is bound by his promise with Sid.
"I told your friend, I'm sworn with secrecy and it's not my habit to betray friends."
"And it's not my habit to hear a no, you must remember that."
"Do whatever you want."
Shlok gritted his teeth to control his anger, he can't beat him to get information, it will be unfair in his part when he have noble intentions, he would've done the same.
"I thought her brother was in America, does she have a brother here?"
"No. Her brother was planning to come with her without her knowledge, he can't let her sail without protection. Unfortunately you abducted her and used her for---"
"I never used her!" Shlok shouted.
"You dishonored her without any intention of marrying yet you say you never used her!" Virat shouted in the same tone, forgetting his fear.
"I had every intention to marry her!"
Virat frowned and said "You're lying."
"I'm not. When we were in Jamaica. I was planning to court her for marraige but she had misunderstanding. I would've cleared it that day if your friend didn't beat me." He replied grudgingly.
Virat blushed furiously, was it their fault, he was trying to explain something to her when they caught him off guard, then they took her away without giving him any chance but then again he might be lying to him, only Astha can say if he is telling the truth.
"I can't tell you where she is but I will try talk to her brother."
Shlok felt a huge burden left his shoulder as a new hope enveloped him, rejoicing his heart.
"Thank you." Shlok said with a smile but then hesitantly added "How is she?"
Virat gave him a keen look, perhaps he is telling the truth, he does care about her.
"Why do you want to marry her?" He questioned instead of answering his question.
"I will give the answer to that question only to her." Shlok replied.
Virat laughed and replied "You are one interesting guy. I just hope her brother will listen to me moreover her grandpa accept you. You don't know in what mess you have gotten, that girl is protected strongly."
Shlok smirked and replied "I would go to extreme lengths just to make her mine."
***
"Did he?" Sid asked shockingly.
"He said he was planning to court her." Virat replied.
"Astha told me he never once said he wanted her forever then how was he courting her?"
"You miss the planning part, he haven't started yet."
"Perhaps he's lying, now that he know he will never be able to meet her."
"Or perhaps he realized now that he can't live without her."
"Why does he want to marry her?"
"He say he'll answer that question only to her."
"If he is just honor bound or have intentions other than love, I will never allow the marraige, I won't ruin her life with a rake."
"Why don't we ask her instead, let him talk to her once."
"Only if she would allow, her happiness matters the most in here."
"Where is she?"
"She's with grandpa in the study, getting a huge lecture of scoldings."
"Your grandpa is here!"
"Yeah, he arrived this afternoon. He didn't wait for us to return but instead came after us the day we sailed."
"I thought he was gone for three days."
"He didn't, he returned back, feeling bad for Astha, you do know how much he love her, he would do anything for her. So he returned home so he could take Astha to meet Uncle Avdhoot, only to find my message. He didn't wait for a minute just came after us in the passenger ship."
Virat laughed and replied "Poor her, what about you?"
Sid smiled and replied "I just got finished."
***
"You young lady is as stubborn and free spirited as your mother!" She heard her grandpa say in anger. She looked up from her bowed head and saw him in his seat looking stern and angry.
"I'm sorry." She replied in a soft voice.
"Sorry ain't good enough, I'm very disappointed. You shouldn't have done that."
"I know." She replied.
"What was that?" He asked as he stopped in his tracks.
"What?" She asked confusedly.
"You aren't gonna defend yourself?"
"I am wrong in here, why would I defend my self?"
He frowned and replied "It's not like you. What's the matter? Did that bas***d father of yours said something yesterday?"
How can her family know her feelings even if she never tell them, maybe that what's makes a family, they understand you and know you more than yourself.
"No. He didn't say anything, I didn't even gave him a chance I left before he could say anything."
"How was he? Was he happy when he saw you?" He asked hesitantly.
"He was rather shocked, I didn't stay longer to see more of his reactions, I was too angry."
He sat down on his chair with a sigh and said "If he wasn't unfaithful to my daughter, I wouldn't have hated him. I can't believe even now what he did to my daughter, he was such kind and nice person."
She looked up at her grandfather and was shocked, it is the first time she heard him praising her father instead of cursing him.
"What do you mean? Why out of sudden you're praising him?"
He smiled and replied "He was a man to be praised or I wouldn't have given my daughter's hand to him, she was a prime catch after all just like him. He courted your mother with honest intentions, although your mother gave him hard time because she didn't believe in his love, she thought he wanted her because of her beauty just like other lads, would overlook her flaws but he surprised her, he never wanted her for her beauty but for her spirit and foolish bravery he used to say, he had to fight tooth and nail just make your mother his wife. Then after a year of their marraige, I don't know what happened to him, he start having mistress and your mother left him, her pride and spirit wouldn't allow her to stay with him."
"Still in the end, he did betray her." Astha replied.
"That is the sad reality I wish to change but couldn't. Anyway, let's just forget about this now, you have done what you came here for. It is your first time in England, let us have a little vacation, it's been long since I came in England, I would meet my old buddies too."
"Does this mean I am forgiven?"
"You aren't." He told her with a stern look but then softened his gaze "I can never stay angry at you."
Astha smiled at her grandfather but inwardly questioned herself will she be forgiven when she'll tell him about Shlok, her lost virginity and her lost heart?
She shouldn't keep him in dark, even if it will cost her losing his trust on her. He value her a lot, love her a lot, he wish for her happiness, why should she hide something?
"Grandpa, I..wanted to tell..you something."
"Is it something bothering you, honey?"
She nodded and bit her quivering lip to control her tears.
"What's the matter?" He asked as he took the seat beside her.
"I..am..I am not maiden..anymore."
She felt his hand go still, then his dark shout pierced her ear.
"Who is that son of a bitch?!"
"Tell me he promised you marraige, did he? Because he will have to marry you. I won't let him d---"
"But he doesn't love me!"
"He don't need to, not many marraiges have love."
"But I want to marry the person I love."
"You do love him or you wouldn't have let him warm your bed."
"Grandpa!"
He blushed and replied "Sorry, lass. But the decision is final, he will have to marry you, I won't let him dishonor you in the society."
"But---"
She recieved a look from him that meant nothing can change his decision.
"Now who is that scoundrel?"
"I won't tell you." She replied stubbornly.
"If you didn't I have Sid to ask and I'm sure he will give me answer."
"It's unfair!"
"It isn't, my dear sister. And grandpa his name is Shlok Agnihotri." Sid said as he entered the study room.
"Sid!"
"And where were you when this was happening?" He asked from Sid.
Sid blushed and gave a sheepish look and replied "Things didn't turn exactly as I planned."
"Here I thought she was safe with you."
"She was!"
"I can see that!" He replied mockingly.
"Grandpa!"
"Shlok Agnihotri, you say? You do know where he lives?"
"You can't be serious, Grandpa!" Astha said.
"You don't need to go to his house because h---." Sid replied.
"Sid!" Astha said again.
"he is here already." Sid completed.
"Sid! What?" Astha asked shockingly.
"Then bring him in." Her grandpa replied.
"No!" Astha screamed.
"You will talk to him alone?" Sid asked.
"I do." He replied and stood up.
"Ah! Do whatever you want! I won't marry him until he love me!" She shouted angrily and marched out of the room.
