Aastha returned home after some time. She glanced around to see whether there was someone present. She went round the bungalow, just to confirm, and then unlocked the door. She couldn't stop thinking about the letters. If not Shlok, then who? And why? The thought of someone keeping an eye on her was troubling her. "I will find out who it is!" she said to herself, "He gave me a letter yesterday in the train... And I got another today... I am sure he will come again, maybe tonight... I will be ready this time!"
*****
Aastha thought of cleaning the house. But it was a huge place to clean everything by herself. She thought of calling a maid, who worked in the neighbouring houses, for help. That way, it would be easier and faster. Aastha went to the neighbouring bungalow to ask for the maid.
Aastha rang the doorbell. An old lady opened the door. "Yes?" she asked seeing Aastha.
"Aunty, I am Aastha... I stay there..." she said pointing to her home.
The lady looked at Aastha suspisciously. "You stay in that bungalow?" she asked. "But I have never seen you here before..."
"Actually, we shifted to Mumbai 15 years ago. Since then I haven't been here... I returned to Pune yesterday..." replied Aastha.
"15 years?!" asked the lady confused. "Well, I have been here since past 12 years... I always thought that the owner of that bungalow came here frequently... Like every 3-4 months or so... I see light there for a day or two every 3-4 months..." the old lady said mysteriously.
Aastha stared at the lady thinking, "What is she saying? We haven't been here for 15 years! Is she crazy?"
Just then another younger woman, about 50, came from inside, "Who is it Maaji?" she asked the old lady. The old lady glanced at Aastha and just turned to go inside. The younger lady then came to Aastha and asked, "Yes?"
"Hello aunty, I am Aastha... I stay in your neighbouring bungalow... Have come back after 15 years..." replied Aastha.
"Oh okay... I am Nalini... Please come inside..." said Nalini with a smile.
Looking at the old lady walking slowly into another room, Aastha replied, "No, I am fine, thank you!"
"Oh, don't worry about her... She is my mother-in-law... She keeps saying things, just ignore her..." replied Nalini.
The old lady heard this. "I only say what I see!!" she replied from inside.
Nalini looked at Aastha and said in a low voice, "She is 89. Don't take her too seriously... You know how old people are, right?"
Aastha just smiled. And then she came to the point. "Actually, I came here to ask for a maid... I want to get my house cleaned... So, I just thought of asking you" said Aastha.
"Oh... Yes, I will tell my maid, Rani, to come to your place once she gets done with her work here... She will be here by 12-12:30. So, she will come to you by around 1:30" replied Nalini.
"Great!" said Aastha, "Thank you so much Aunty!"
"Ah, no problem dear..." replied Nalini, "Why don't you come in and have some tea or coffee?"
"No, thank you aunty... I have a lot to clean at home... And I just had breakfast" replied Aastha.
Aastha turned to leave when she remembered something. She turned to Nalini again and asked, "Aunty, may I get your contact number, please?"
"Sure beta..." said Nalini. Aastha saved the number in her phone. "Do tell me if you need anything..." said Nalini with a smile.
Aastha left for her home. "Nalini aunty is so sweet..." thought Aastha. But then remembered Nalini's mother-in-law. "That old lady seemed weird!" thought Aastha as she walked to her home.
*****
The police had arrived at Aastha's home in Mumbai. Ajinkya was busy talking to the inspector as Aditi, Karan and the others watched on.
"Did you get to speak to Aastha?" Karan asked Aditi secretly.
"Yes, she had called..." she replied, "She is fine, nothing to worry"
Both stood silently as Ajinkya walked past them with the inspector.
The interrogation was going on. The police were taking statements of the people near and around the house. The inspector asked Ajinkya for Aastha's mobile number so that they could track her. Ajinkya requested them to find out about Aastha soon. He was acting in front of them to be very worried for Aastha. With fake tears, he said, "Where will my dear Aastha be? Hope she is fine... God bless my child...!"
The inspector patted on his shoulder saying, "Don't worry Ajinkya ji, we are trying our best... We will find Aastha soon"
*****
Shlok was constantly trying to call Aastha but wasn't able to reach her. He became restless. Niranjan and Anjali exchanged glances looking at Shlok's condition. Niranjan came closer to Shlok and said, "Shlok, why are you so desperate to meet Aastha... Relax..."
"How can I relax, Baba! Her phone is not reachable. I am worried for her. Where is she? Is she alright?" said Shlok, trying to call Aastha again.
"Shlok, listen to me! You can do nothing sitting here in the ambulance... There is no use thinking about all this right now. Don't trouble yourself. Just relax... We will see afterwards what to do..." said Niranjan in a serious tone.
"I agree with your Baba, Shlok..." said Anjali, "Taking so much tension is not good for you at the moment..."
"But Aai..." Shlok was about to defend himself when Niranjan cut in.
"I don't want to listen to anything! Just lie back on the bed silently and take rest" said Niranjan firmly.
Shlok remembered Aditi. She will know something! He knew Aastha and Aditi's numbers by heart, along with his family members'. He called Aditi at once.
"Hello, who's this?" said Aditi, receiving the call. As Shlok was calling from Niranjan's phone, Aditi couldn't recognise the number.
"Aditi... Shlok here" he said.
"Oh" Aditi's voice suddenly lowered. "Hold on for a second!" she said. Aditi had to make sure she was away from Ajinkya. Shlok had to wait for a while before Aditi returned on the call.
"Where is Aastha?" asked Shlok.
Aditi was surprised at the question. "What?" she exclaimed, "Is she not with you???"
"No Aditi, I couldn't go with her... I will tell everything to you later... Is she fine?" asked Shlok.
"Aastha is in Pune... She had called me today morning... She is fine" replied Aditi.
Aditi told Shlok about Aastha buying a new sim card and about the police looking for Aastha. Now Shlok understood why he wasn't able to call Aastha. Shlok was angered knowing about Ajinkya's drama. He assured Aditi that he would be with Aastha soon. And he also told Aditi to take care.
Shlok tried to get up in anger and his head hit the edge of the window of the ambulance. He cried in pain as his wound began bleeding. The nurse was quick to treat the wound but the blood loss was enough for Shlok to slip into unconsciousness.
*****
Edited by ..optimist.. - 9 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
