It was late already. Aastha was exhausted. A lot had happened since morning... Her engagement preparations and then her running away and travelling to Pune. She was tired. She removed the cover they had put on the sofa and just fell over it. She was asleep in no time. She had no idea about the shadow in the window. Someone was watching her...
*****
Aastha woke up as the bright sunlight made it's way to her eyes. She looked around and wondered where she was. And then she remembered all that had happened the day before. She had not had such a peaceful sleep in years... She was home afterall! She got up and tying her hair into a bun, walked towards her bag. She checked the time on the wall-clock. It was 8:15 a.m.
Aastha was feeling very hungry. She had not eaten anything since last afternoon. Aastha just cleaned the common washroom and basin quickly. She didn't have the patience to clean the whole house right now. She got ready and decided to go out and eat something first. As Aastha opened the door to leave, she saw an envelope lying at the door step. "What's this?" she thought as she picket it up. There was no stamp on the envelope. That meant it was left at the door by someone personally. Aastha looked around to see whether there was anyone around, but there wasn't. The envelope was blank. Aastha looked inside to find a letter. She unfolded it in anticipation. Yes! It was from Shlok!
Aastha
Hope you are fine. Take care of yourself. Don't worry about Avdhoot uncle. He is perfectly fine. I will see you soon.
P.S. Trust me, I am with you
Aastha couldn't understand what was going on. Shlok's letter? Why is he doing this? Why is he not coming to meet me? And who dropped this envelope here? Several thoughts were revolving in Aastha's mind. But somewhere her heart told her to have faith. Aastha remembered that someone was near her window last night but the person was gone before Aastha could know who it was. "Shlok? Was he here?" thought Aastha. "Or was it someone else?"
"Shlok!" shouted Aastha. "If you are here, please come to me!" she said as tears filled her eyes. "Stop doing this to me... Please!"
Neither was there any reply nor was there any movement anywhere. Aastha closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. She calmed herself down. She went in and kept the envelope and letter on the table. Something struck her mind and she ran toward the window from outside. She could see some fresh footprints on the soil. She knelt down and found some burnt cigarette butts. Were they lying there last night too? She couldn't remember. Aastha examined the back side of the bungalow. She found similar cigarette butts near the back gate too. Aastha couldn't make out anything at the moment. She just cleaned the area throwing the pieces in the dustbin.
Aastha left confirming she had locked the door properly. She wondered who the person was as she walked towards the nearby restaurant. And where was Shlok? Aastha knew very well that Shlok didn't smoke. Or maybe he has started smoking now... But if he was here, why would he write letters? He would have surely come and met me. And if it wasn't Shlok, who is giving me these letters? Aastha stopped suddenly as she realised something. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed and ran back towards her home. She quickly unlocked the door and ran towards the table to grab the letter. Observing the letter she said, "I should have noticed it before!" She hurried towards her bag and took out the letter she had "supposedly" received from Shlok in the train. Comparing both the letters, Aastha said in shock, "This is not Shlok's writing! I know his writing very well! Shlok hasn't written these letters!"
Aastha couldn't understand anything. What exactly was happening? She was very sure that Shlok had not written those letters. Then who was doing it? And why? Where was Shlok? But those words, Aastha felt, were of Shlok. His "Trust me, I am with you" were the words said only for Aastha. Those words could not be known to anyone. Those were Shlok's and those were special. Did he make someone else write those letters? But why??
Aastha couldn't wait more. She had to speak to Shlok. She grabbed her phone which was switched-off. "Oh no!" she exclaimed as she realised that she should get a new sim card first. Aastha took out the old sim card from the phone, broke it and threw it away. She had a lot of things to do. Aastha left the place taking the copies of ID proofs and passport size photographs with her for getting a new sim card.
*****
Aastha inserted the new sim card into her phone but she had to wait for another two days before it was activated. She hurried to a nearby telephone booth and tried to call Shlok several times. But the number wasn't reachable. Aastha hung up the receiver in disappointment. She then called Aditi.
"Hello?" said Aditi.
"Hello Aditi, Aastha here!"
There was no reply for a while. Aastha could feel Aditi walking rapidly somewhere. "Aastha how are you?" Aditi spoke in a very low voice, almost a whisper.
"I am fine... But why are you speaking like this? What's happening?" said Aastha.
"A lot's going on here... Ajinkya Kaka has lodged a missing report for you in the police station... Is this your new number, Aastha?"
"No... I am calling from a booth right now. My new number will activate day after" replied Aastha, worried about the missing report.
"I can't speak more Aastha... It is very risky right now... You take care and do let me know your number. And yes, don't call me... I will call you when no one's around... And now that Shlok's with you, there's nothing to worry!"
Aastha wanted to speak more, she wanted to tell Aditi that something was wrong and that Shlok's wasn't with her, atleast not physically. But Aditi cut the line in hurry. Aastha could hear Ajinkya's voice in the background. She could feel his anger and restlessness. She just hoped that Aditi didn't get into any trouble because of her.
****
Aastha went to have tea and breakfast in a restaurant. She was lost into her own thoughts. She didn't know where Shlok was, and there the police were searching for her. While eating, Aastha glanced at the newspaper that a man on the next table was reading. Aastha couldn't believe what she saw. She was shocked. She just grabbed the newspaper from the person's hands, "Sorry uncle, just one minute... It's urgent... Please"
As Aastha read through the news, she felt weak in her knees. Her breath uneven, her hands trembling, her eyes wet, her heart pounding. She read through the new again... "Shlok Agnihotri, the younger son of Mr. Niranjan Agnihotri (owner of Agnihotri and Sons) met with a major accident yesterday in Mumbai at around 6:30 pm. He was immediately taken to Lilavati Hospital but his condition was critical as per the sources. His family was..." Aastha couldn't read more. She dropped down the paper and left the place at once. She didn't know where she was going. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She kept walking aimlessly. Finally she stopped at a lonely place. She just sat down on a rock. "Why are you doing this to me!" she asked looking up at the sky. "Why do you always keep me alone!!! Why!" She sat silently for a while. She then wiped her tears. "Please don't do anything to Shlok... Please!" she prayed.
Now Aastha began thinking... Shlok met with an accident yesterday just before I boarded the train. Then who gave me the envelope? And today's letter? Who is doing this? And for what? Shlok sending letters is just impossible! Oh god! What's all this? Aastha realised one more thing. Aditi was totally unaware of Shlok's accident. She was busy in handling Ajinkya there. And now that she had told Aastha not to call her, Aastha was in a fix.
Aastha was worried for Shlok. But neither could she go back to Mumbai to see him, nor could she tell Aditi to do so. She could do nothing but wait... and hope!
*****
He opened his eyes with great difficulty. The sudden brightness in front of his eyes was troubling him. But he still managed to look around. His head was heavy. He could hear beeping sounds from the machines kept near the bed he was lying on. The saline water was slowly dripping into his body. Where was he? Then he recalled the accident he had met with last evening. "Aastha!" he exclaimed weakly as he tried to get up. Two persons hurried towards him and forced him to lie on the bed.
Niranjan looked at his son. Though tears in his eyes, his lips curved into a smile seeing Shlok conscious. Niranjan sat beside Shlok holding his had. "How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"Baba" said Shlok, "I must go! Aastha must be waiting for me... I had promised to go with her, but I..."
"That's not important right now, Shlok... What is important is you and your health!" said Niranjan, not very happy about what Shlok was saying.
Shlok turned to his mother, Anjali, and said, "Aai... Please, tell Baba that I must go! Aastha needs me, Aai!"
Niranjan was not ready to listen to Shlok. But Shlok was adamant. Finally, after discussing with the doctors, it was decided that Shlok would be shifted to Pune and all the medical treatment will be given to him at home.
Shlok's phone was crushed during the accident. While travelling to Pune in the ambulance, Shlok tried to call Aastha from Niranjan's phone but he couldn't connect to her. He just whispered, "Don't worry Aastha, I will be there soon... Trust me, I am with you!"
*****
Edited by ..optimist.. - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
Fan Fictions
