Aastha opened her eyes to the noise of hawkers and people entering the train at some station on the way. A lady with her little son came to occupy the seat opposite to Aastha's. For a while, Aastha forgot everything going on in her life and was lost in observing the kid. Aastha was amused at his enthusiasm, his innocence, his carefree behaviour... Looking at him she wished she never had grown up... The little boy was busy observing everything curiously. He enjoyed the view through the window. But after some time, he was bored. He began irritating his mother. The lady then gave him his little sack. The boy was happy and Aastha curiously watched as he opened the bag and took out his drawing book and colours. He had drawn a huge birthday cake and was now colouring it. Seeing it Aastha remembered her birthday in class 6 and the very special gift given to her by Shlok...
*Flashback*
Aastha was very excited on her birthday. Luckily it was a weekday and she worn her new birthday frock to school. Aastha was carrying a huge packet of chocolates to give them to her classmates after they sang the "Happy Birthday to You..." song for her in the class.
Aastha got down from the school van near the gate and saw Shlok and Aditi waiting for her. She was happy to see them. They both wished her 'Happy Birthday'. And then, came a very special moment for Aastha... A moment which she will never forget! Shlok took out something from his bag, and handing it to Aastha, said "I made this for you..."
Aastha looked at the greeting card in her hand. A huge smile spread across her face. Shlok had drawn a huge birthday cake and there was this little girl standing there beside the cake, wearing that conical birthday cap and a big smile! Below the girl's figure was written "Aastha" and on the cake was written 'Happy Birthday' in the "not so good" handwriting. And there in the right bottom corner was written 'from Shlok'.
Aastha looked at Shlok gladly and said, "Thank you!!!" Shlok was happy that Aastha liked it. But Aditi was not! Aditi was angry on Shlok that he didn't give her anything on her birthday but he gave Aastha the card. Aditi was upset and went to the classroom angrily. Shlok was sad seeing that. Aastha smiled all the way, as Shlok and she walked together to the classroom.
Aastha's birthday was celebrated in the class and now it was time to distribute the chocolates to everyone. Aastha first gave two chocolates to the teacher and then she began giving one chocolate each to her classmates. When she reached Aditi's desk, she could see that Aditi was still upset. Aastha gave one extra chocolate to Aditi. Aditi was happy then and she smiled. Aastha moved on. When she came to Shlok, her smile widened. She gave one chocolate to him just like everyone. And to Shlok's surprise, she secrectly put a handful of chocolates in Shlok's bag. Looking at it Shlok whispered, "Aastha, what is..." But Aastha just shushed him and moved forward as if nothing had happened. Shlok was super happy! But Aditi not talking to him was troubling him. She was his best friend afterall...
It was break time. Aditi was sitting alone at her desk. Shlok and Aastha were waiting for Aditi but she didn't pay heed to them. Shlok walked to Aditi. He took out the chocolate, given to him by Aastha, from his pocket and giving it to Aditi said, "Sorry Aditi... I will make a card for you too on your next birthday!"
Aditi was so happy that Shlok was giving his chocolate to her. She took the chocolate and smiled forgiving him. Little did she know that there were handful more chocolates in his bag!
_____
Aastha smiled looking at the boy colouring the cake in his book. Even now she felt so good thinking that Shlok had made the card specially for her and not for Aditi. Aastha had still kept that card in her cupboard. It was the first ever gift from Shlok for her. It was special. "Those days were so nice..." she thought, "Shlok always favoured me, he always was by my side and not even Aditi's... Life seemed so nice... And now, everything has changed... Every single thing!" Aastha's smile vanished as she looked out of the window with a tear in her eye.
*****
Everyone was searching for Aastha. They searched her in and around the house, but couldn't find her. Ajinkya was constantly trying to contact Aastha but in vain. And now Aastha's phone was switched off. Ajinkya became rstless now. "Aditi, do you have any slightest idea where Aastha might have gone?" he asked Aditi.
Showing herself to be as worried as the others, Aditi said, "No kaka, I don't know... I went to her room to call her but didn't find her anywhere. That's why I came to tell you immediately..."
Aditi pretended to call Aastha and then showed herself disappointed that Aastha's phone was switched off. Aditi was acting so well that no one could know she actually encouraged Aastha to run away.
Ajinkya was apologising to the groom and his family for Aastha's mistake. "Please forgive her... She is too young to understand what's right for her... I will get her back... Please don't misunderstand and cancel the engagement..." he was requesting them.
"No no Ajinkya ji, the engagement will happen when Aastha is back... Don't worry, we are with you" they replied.
Aditi was angered seeing all this. "Why don't they just cancel it!! Aastha, please don't come back! Not even by mistake!" she thought worried about what will happen.
Ajinkya asked the watchman whether he had seen Aastha go out of the gate, but the watchman denied to have seen her. Ajinkya and others asked hawkers and shopkeepers nearby about Aastha. A cobbler on the back side of their house claimed to have seen Aastha. "Yes yes... I saw a girl jumping off the wall..." he said pointing towards the compound wall of their house.
"What was she wearing?" asked Ajinkya impatiently. "Describe her... tell me whatever you saw!"
"She was wearing a pink dress... sort of wedding dress" replied the cobbler trying to recall. "And yes! She was carrying a bag... Black coloured... medium sized bag..." he said showing the approximate size with his hands. "She ran that way..." he said pointing, "and hired an auto... I don't know where she went after that... That's all I saw..."
Ajinkya was boiling in anger. "I will not forgive you for this, Aastha!!!" he said. Aditi was worried now.
*****
He was being moved somewhere. He could feel it. But he didn't know what was happening. He was half conscious. He tried to open his eyes. But he felt so weak that even the eye lids were too heavy for him. With much effort he partly opened his eyes, to see many faces in front of him. He could see the blurred figures around him. Many eyes were staring at him. Among those were a pair of eyes behind the spectacles whom he recognised very well and his heartbeats raised. He wanted to ask something, something very important... But just as he tried to speak, his world went dark again.
*****
Edited by ..optimist.. - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
Fan Fictions
