Epilogue
"I'm so glad you're safe." Samrat said as he took Astha in his arms.
"Me too." She whispered as she hugged him tightly.
"Are you hurt?" He asked as he cupped her cheek.
"No, grandpa." She replied with the smile then her smile faded when she saw her father turning to leave the room.
"Father." She called then asked in a hoarse tone "Are you gonna leave me again?"
Avdhoot stopped in his tracks as soon as he heard her call him father, tears spilled from his eyes, how many times he wished to hear that word from her mouth.
He turned back and looked at his daughter, she ran towards him and hugged him tightly as she cried in his arms.
"I'm sorry, baby." He apologized softly.
She looked up at him and replied "No, father. I must apologize for treating you badly. I am so sorry, father."
"I didn't mind, my baby. I know it wasn't you who was talking, it was the love for your mother which was talking." He replied as he wiped her tears.
"You should've told me." Samrat said.
Avdhoot looked up at him and replied "I can't let the love of my life die just for me, besides she knew everything, she just never told anyone."
Both Samrat and Astha looked at him in disbelief, she knew everything yet she kept it secret!
"It is true, I couldn't let her live in misery of betrayel, it will be worse than death so I told her everything with a promise that she would never tell anyone about this."
"I thought...whenever she cry---"
"She was crying for you, dear. She cry because you never got the love of a father, you never got the chance to live in your family, you never got the chance to be known by the world. It is the very reason she sent you here so you will be known as my child too."
"---whatever love we share, it was pleasurable, more than pleasure."
"---this will be my last wish, it is his right to know, let him feel the happiness of having a child of his own."
"How do you know this? You knew about me?"
"Yes, I did knew about you, she told me she was carrying you when I asked her to leave. I panicked more, I couldn't cause both of you harm. But I didn't knew she was going to send you here, I was shocked to see you here. I received her letter yesterday. She knew she was dying so she thought since she will be no more, there will be no more threat, you can come here and stay with me."
"Then why didn't you tell me the truth after you knew about her death?"
"Because I knew Prabhakar will do the same thing to you if he learned about you which he did, for your protection I let you go. And I knew you hated me, there was no point if you didn't believe me."
"What if I tell you I want to be with you?"
"Then I will be the happiest person in this world." Avdhoot said with gentle smile and happy tears.
"I'm so glad I came here or I would've missed everything." Samrat said.
"Yeah, grandpa. You would've missed all. Welcome to family, Uncle Avdhoot." Sid said.
"Let's go home. I can't stay here any longer." Samrat said.
"Where's Virat?" Sid asked.
"Treating an injured man as if I'm a doctor" Virat said as he entered the hall.
"How's Vikram?" Astha asked concernedly.
"He's fine. I've called for doctor, he would be here soon."
"Oh. Thank you."
"So let's go home, shall we?"
"Yes, let's go."
***
In the dining hall.
"Sir Avdhoot, I shouldn't be asking this since you just got back your daughter but I can't hold any longer, can..I ask you---" Shlok started but got interrupted.
"Don't you think you should be asking that from me,lad?" Samrat asked amusedly.
All of them grinned while Shlok blushed red, ask him for her hand? He will just say no in my face!
"Sir Avdhoot is her father." Shlok said.
"And whose name are you carrying, Astha?" Samrat asked to his granddaughter.
"Yours, grandpa." She replied with the grin.
"Which gives me the right, isn't it?"
Shlok pursed his lips for a moment then spoke "Very well Sir, I want your granddaughter as my wife, please give your permission."
He got his dreaded reply after several moments.
"You'll do good, son." Samrat said laughingly as he patted his back then added more "I told you before her happiness is what I want."
Shlok grinned and replied "You will never find her sad."
***
Astha stretched herself and laid on her bed, her new bed in her new house, her father's house. When her father invited them for dinner then he asked Sid and her to stay with him for few days. The rest went home, leaving both of them, he told her many stories of himself and her mother, how she used to be with her father, they shed tears and exchanged laugh. Now that she think, she missed a lot, she wished she was here with her family, with her father. She couldn't explain how overwhelmed she is, her heart is bubbling with endless joy, today she got two important things in her life, her father and the love of her life. She let out a peaceful sigh then closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
She was having a beautiful dream, she felt Shlok kissing her lips softly, oh! how she missed him and his touch. Even in her dream, she could remember the heady taste of him, his bold passionate tongue thruting in her mouth. He pulled her nightgown off and brushed his warm hands on her breasts, he kneaded them gently then licked them in outmost pleasure. She wrapped her arms around his neck and heard him whisper in her ear "Wake up, love. I can't make love with you half sleep."
Her eyes flung open, she was staring at grinning Shlok in a soft glow of the lantern she left lit and realizing that it isn't actually a dream of hers.
"What---" Before she could complete her words, he locked his lips with her.
"I'll explain later but for now let's finish this." He said in between the kisses.
How did he get in? She thought. Then all thoughts flew away when he entered deep inside her, the rhythm of his thrust brought immense pleasure as she cried out in delight.
Shlok slumped down on her bed as he panted for breathe while she did the same.
"How did you get in?" She asked.
Shlok looked at her and grinned then replied "Sid helped me get in."
"So you sneaked in my house just to make love with me?" She asked teasingly.
Shlok smiled and brushed his finger on her cheek, he replied "Making love to you was not what I was here for, you were looking so beautiful while sleeping I couldn't get hold of my desire. Besides, it's been a month since I've touched you and you know what you make me feel."
She shifted her hand on his bare chest then rested her chin on it and asked in a soft murmur "What do I make you feel?"
He rolled and brought her undeneath him, he kissed her lips tenderly and replied "You make me feel alive."
She pulled his head closer to her and gave a peck on his lips then spoke "You make me feel contented, Shlok. I love you."
"I love you too, little one don't ever doubt my love." Shlok said lovingly.
"I wouldn't. When did you realize you love me? when I left you?"
"No, honey during our voyage."
She turned stiff and said "But---"
"I haven't explained my actions to you on why I kissed Swati which is the reason I came here."
She didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue.
"When I left you in the morning. I did told you I am going for something important. I went to meet my friend who can get us married---"
"You were planning to marry me?!" She asked shockingly.
"Yes. I was thinking about it during our voyage and as soon as we docked I planned to meet him, I went to meet my friend---"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to surprise you."
"Jesus! I wasted my whole journey crying over the fact that you don't love me! and I gave you pain too! Oh!I'm so stupid! I'm sorry, Shlok." She said as tears sprawled from her eyes.
"Hush, honey. It is not your fault, you were made to think like that. I can't expect you to do the opposite."
"But---"
"Stop. Let me finish this then you can cry, you're distracting me." Shlok said.
She hit him lightly on his chest while he chuckled softly.
"I was leaving when this girl named Swati bumped into me, she was afraid of someone, I asked her what was her problem if I might help her. She told me that she worked in the tavern but she no longer wish to work there because she is in love with a man but she can't get out. The only possible way is to buy her out and the man she loves has no money to buy her plus the manager knows him."
"So you were buying her."
"Exactly. She told me her owner wouldn't sell her unless he pretend to be in love with her which was what I was doing until someone threw a bottle on me, did you really aimed it on me?"
She blushed and replied "That was my intention."
"Remind me to never make you angry." He said with a teasing smile.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"I told you, you don't need to be, it is not your fault and you haven't heard it all."
"All?"
"Yes. That girl Swati was lying."
"She was lying! But why?"
"Because Abhay told her so."
"Abhay?"
"Do you remember why he asked you to come in tavern?"
"He said you called me, it was something important."
"I'll ask you, will I ever call you in that dangerous place?"
She did got suspicious for that but she thought if it was really important he wouldn't consider the location, why didn't she realize it that time, stupid girl!
"I don't think so." She replied quietly.
"Then why did you follow him? You know how angry I was when I saw you there, moreover you created a scene without taking into account what would have happened if your identity was revealed."
"I was too angry to notice anything!" She said defensively.
"You need to be careful next time, no matter what don't ever put yourself in danger, you are very important to me." He said as he cupped her cheek.
"If I was smart enough to notice, I thought Abhay was my friend."
"He loved you that's why he did it but he will no longer bother you. I have taken care of him."
"What did you do to him?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"I didn't kill him if that's what you're thinking." He said with a grin.
"I just made sure he no longer wish to stay alive."
"Shlok!"
They heard a knock on the door, Astha sat up instantly, so did Shlok. The door opened slightly and a voice came, the voice they instantly recognized.
"I don't wanna intrude but you can't linger longer, I'm too sleepy to keep my dear cousin happy, so Shlok come out within ten minutes or I'll get in and take you out." Sid said from the door.
"I'm coming." Shlok said grudgingly.
"Have to go love but I'll come tomorrow to take you to meet my family. I'll send the invitation for whole family." He said before he gave her another breathtaking passionate kiss and left.
***
"Don't you think we should be in the hall instead of in the garden since the party is in our honor?" Astha asked teasingly as he brought her in the garden.
"I have introduced you to whole London if more will come then let them wait, all they'll do is congratulate us for our wedding and our coming baby." He replied as he sat on the bench and brought her on his lap.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and asked "So what does my captain planned for me in here?"
"Nothing actually but what does my little cabin boy want me to do?" He asked tenderly.
"Just hold me." She replied as she snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his chest.
After long silence, she spoke "My mother was right."
"About what?" Shlok asked.
She looked up, "you do know I hated rakes because of my father and I vowed to never marry one."
"Yes. And thanks to heaven you broke your vow."
"When my mother asked me to meet my father, she told me one thing that I never believed, that when you catch the heart of a rake instead of his eye, he will settle down with you and remain faithful. Then you came, a notorious rake---"
"Ex-rake, dear."
"But you were when I met you which is why I never wanted to be with you until I fell in love with you."
"And you my dear caught the heart of most handsome and notorious rake of London. Are you happy with your choice?"
"Aye, captain."
"Not bloody giant?" Shlok asked teasingly.
"Of course you will always be my bloody handsome giant." She said as she kissed his lips.
Truly, a rake love only once and make a better husband, she said in her mind.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
Dr Aarambhi
