Chapter 22
Shlok was pacing the floor back and forth, he was nervous and scared, he was here to talk with Astha, to let her know she misunderstand him, to make things right between them before he start with her family. He wasn't here to face a wrath of her grandfather, she must've told him the truth, he fears if her grandfather will listen to him, talking to her is a different matter because she would understand but talking to her grandfather where he can recieve a complete no and never is shaking him apart. Why is it hard to ask for someone's daughter hand?
"How smart of you to follow me." He heard Virat say, who was sitting on the sofa, a drink in his hand.
Shlok smirked and replied "As if you didn't let me. I don't think you're that stupid to let me follow you, you knew yet you let me."
Virat chuckled and replied "Don't tell her brother that, I hate to see her sad, if talking to you gives her happiness and if you really want her badly, all I need was help you without breaking the promise."
"You really did that great friend of mine?" Sid said as he entered the hall.
Virat choked and looked back at Sid embarrasedly then grinned sheepishly.
"You're her brother?" Shlok asked shockingly.
"As much as you love her, I adore her a lot. Can't see her in pain." Virat said to Sid.
"If the results would be happiness for her, you will be forgiven." Sid replied to Virat.
"Damn you, answer me!" Shlok said frustratingly.
"Yes, I am her brother, cousin actually but we share a bond like real siblings."
"Damn if I knew it was you, I would've guessed sooner where to find her and there was no need for me to kidnap her."
"But you weren't interested in her, why now?"
"Did she told you that?"
"She did."
"She is wrong. I was interested in her and still am. She is the one I wish to marry."
"If you do want to marry her, you are welcome but I'm warning if ever even a single tear fell from her eyes, I'm gonna kill you."
"You don't need to because I wouldn't let it happen."
"Grandpa is waiting in the study, he wishes to talk with you." He said then added with a grin "Get ready for a lecture of scoldings."
Shlok groaned inwardly, why does he have to go through this, where the hell is she?
"Go now or he'll get angry." Sid said.
"I'm going!"
***
"So you are Shlok Agnihotri." He heard her grandpa say.
He was too nervous when he entered the study room, he found her grandfather at his desk, a man in late seventies, proud and handsome, as of now angry person, he reminded him of his brother Varad.
"Yes, Sir." Shlok replied.
"Sid told me you abducted my dear grand daughter then treated her like a mistress, will you explain your actions?"
"Sir, I did abduct her but my intentions were honest and the decision was in spur of the moment, that was the only chance I had to see her again, I was leaving for England I know nothing of her, didn't had a chance at all. If I knew she was Sid's sister, I would've gone to his house and wouldn't have abducted her."
"I don't find any honesty in using her for your pleasure in bed."
"I didn't use her, I never use woman, especially not for pleasure in bed, it is woman who ask me, although I'm rake, I---"
"You're what?!" He asked angrily.
"I---"
"Get out Shlok. I am not gonna repeat the same mistake. I let my daughter marry a rake but I won't let my grand daughter do the same."
"But I'm not anymore, I never even wanted to be. It is only her I want."
"The answer is no. I don't understand how foolish she is to fall for you. Same as her mother she is."
"But---"
He received a stern look, he ignored it and replied furiously "I love her, I will marry her!"
"Try it, lad. I gonna kill you."
"Like I care. Why don't you ask her what she want?"
"I know what her answer would be."
"You're being cruel! Don't you care about her feelings?"
"I do care that's why I made this decision."
"Well, I must say you have a different way of caring. Might I ask what is the basis of this decision? If me being a rake is a problem, I have told you already, I am not anymore. It is her I want and need for the rest of my life."
"I have trusted her father but he left my daughter, he said the exact words you said, do you think I will believe another rake? No and never."
"At least let me talk to her! I promise if she didn't agree I will leave her. Her decision is what matters to me."
He didn't got any answer for about two minutes and those two minutes was like eternity for him and was killing him slowly.
"Fine. I will give you a chance but if ever my grand daughter didn't agree and if after marraige you hurt her, I swear to hell, I'm gonna kill you."
A wave of relief washed over him as joy engulfed his heart, overwhelming his happiness, he wanted to shout with joy.
"Thank you, Sir. I promise you, you will never regret your decision."
"Go on chap. I hope you're true to your words and do remember my warning."
Shlok smiled and replied "Don't you worry, your grand daughter is safe with me."
Shlok eagerly went to the hall, all he need to do is make things right between them, after that their life will be filled with joy and happiness.
"Where is she?" Shlok asked.
"So grandpa did agree to you." Sid said.
Shlok grinned and replied "He isn't yet, the decision depend on her, if she agree he agrees. All I want is talk with her."
"We are giving you a chance, Shlok. Don't ever make us regret."
"I will not." Shlok replied assuringly.
"I saw her in the garden, she's quite angry so beware. Go straight then right." Sid replied with a grin.
"Thanks for the warning." Shlok said and ran away.
***
Shlok marched back to the hall and said "She isn't there."
Sid sat up and replied "But I saw her going there, I'll check her room."
Within minutes Sid came down and shouted "She isn't there!"
"Who isn't there?" Her grandfather said as he entered the hall.
"Astha! Where is she?"
"She might be in her room or another room."
"I checked every room, she isn't there in any room."
"She ran away! She---" Shlok shouted furiously.
"She didn't! She isn't a coward!" Sid replied angrily.
"Then where---"
They heard a loud scream and her shouting voice before they lost it.
"Sid! Gran---Shlok!"
All of them ran towards the direction of where the voice came from, it was from the garden, when they reached the area, there was not a single soul to be seen. Shlok and Sid climbed the wall and found nothing, no carraige to be seen.
"What the hell is happening? Why would anyone kidnap her?" Shlok asked worriedly.
"There is only one person I can think of, Avdhoot Kirloskar. If that bas***d is thinking of something, I'm gonna kill him." Her grandfather gritted out.
"Sir Avdhoot wouldn't do such thing, I know him. He is a very nice man." Shlok said in his defense.
"For you maybe but that goddamn bas***d happen to be my son in law!"
"You mean he's her father!"
"Yes. But why would he do that? when he could've just come home and talked with us."
"Maybe he thinks she wouldn't agree to claim his name, when Astha went to meet him, she was too angry, they didn't had any nice conversation."
"I still think Sir Avdhoot wouldn't do such thing but if you are sure why don't we go to his house and ask him?"
Her grandfather fumed, "Looking at him just boils my blood, I promised to never step in his house. I had to now again because of my Astha! Let's go!"
***
"I am not here for anything except my grand daughter, tell me where is she?"
Avdhoot gave them a baffled look, when he heard his father in law came to meet him, he was stunned, he can't believe that good old man will ever see his face after what he had done to his daughter. Along with him was Shlok, what is he doing here?.
"What do you mean?" Avdhoot asked.
"Don't play innocent! I know you kidnapped Astha!"
Color drained from his face, disbelief and shock replaced the baffled look on his face
"What?! She's been kidnapped?" He asked shockingly.
"I said don't---"
"NO!" Avdhoot shouted in horror.
"Not her too! He took her too!" He added as he fell on the sofa like a lifeless body.
He covered his face with his hands as tears welled from his eyes and sobbed for his misfortunate life.
"Wasn't it enough for him?...why can't he stop?!" Avdhoot gritted out.
"Wasn't my wife enough for him? How long is he gonna punish me?" He mumbled.
"Who are you talking about?"
Avdhoot looked up at his father in law and replied angrily "Your trusted friend Prabhakar Joshi!"
"You're lying! Don't put your blame on my friend! He---"
"He is the one who kidnapped my daughter!"
"Don't call her your daughter, she is nothing to you!"
"She is everything to me!"
"Can we save this fight for later? We have to find Astha." Shlok said impatiently.
"Don't tell me what to do." Her grandfather said to Shlok.
"And you if I learned that you're lying about my friend, you will forget you live in this world."
"It is the truth. I will not let him ruin my daughter's life. If he think he can keep me at his mercy again then I'm gonna make him realize who I am and what I can do. I've had enough of this." Avdhoot said as stood up but then he glanced at Shlok and asked.
"What are you doing here, Shlok? And how do you know Astha?"
"It's a long story and we don't have much time, so you don't get shocked I'm your future son in law, Sir Avdhoot."
"What? How? Wh---"
"As if, she hadn't said yes yet! Both of you just go to hell, I wonder what both of my girls see in you, bloody rakes!" Her grandfather grumbled and walked ahead.
Both Shlok and Avdhoot blushed in embarrassment as they followed him out where Sid and Virat was waiting for them in the carriage.