Aastha entered Shlok's room with fresh flowers to replace the old ones in the vase beside his bed. Shlok woke up to the sound and saw Aastha. "Good morning!" she wished him with the sweetest smile he had ever seen. Those beautiful doe shaped eyes never failed to absorb Shlok into themselves. Those soft pink cheeks flushed red feeling Shlok's constant gaze. The cute little nose stood out proudly and then those rosy petals that made Shlok burn in desire every time he saw them. "Don't look at her lips, don't look at her lips" was what he was chanting constantly in his mind. Aastha's fragrance filled Shlok's lungs as he saw her wet hair falling over her shoulders. "Beautiful!" The word escaped Shlok's lips unknowingly. Aastha blushed. Not ready for another intimate moment, Aastha turned to leave but Shlok caught her hand. Aastha struggled to free her hand without looking at Shlok. "Leave me, Shlok... What are you doing?" she said looking at the nurse who pretended to be asleep. Shlok was slowly pulling Aastha towards himself. Aastha didn't dare to face him after their last encounter, she felt shy. Suddenly a fear crept over her. She felt as if something was wrong. "Leave me, Shlok" she said in a serious tone. But Shlok kept pulling her closer. "Shlok please!!!" she said strongly. Shlok was stunned and he left her hand immediately. Shlok stared at her back as she walked away without a word. What's wrong with her?
*****
Everyone, except Shlok and the nurse, was sitting around the table having tea. Kavya was off to school. Sojal and Varad giggled recalling Kavya's description of Shlok and Aastha's kiss.
Sojal nudged Aastha, who was sitting beside her, and teased her saying, "So Aastha, when are Shlok and you going to teach us the game?"
Aastha just looked at her with a dropped jaw. She saw Varad laughing and realized that Kavya must have told them. She looked around as the others stared at her in confusion.
"What game?" asked Avdhoot curiously.
Aastha was embarrassed. She just stared down at her plate, blushing.
Anjali watched her and asked, "What is this about?" But Aastha didn't say anything. She was trying her best not to blush any more. "Sojal?" asked Anjali, expecting Sojal to explain.
Sojal realized that Aastha was very embarrassed. Varad indicated Sojal not to say anything more. "Nothing Aai... Just teasing her.." she replied.
Anjali and Avdhoot ignored it, but Niranjan noticed everything keenly. He understood that something must have happened. "I shouldn't wait any longer..." he said to himself, "It's high time that I take action!"
Everyone was having breakfast. While chatting, Niranjan mentioned having received a call from an unknown number asking for Shlok. Varad was surprised to know this as he too had received such a call. Aastha sensed something fishy. She watched keenly as Varad checked Niranjan's phone to see which number he had received the call from.
"What?! It's the same number!" exclaimed Varad. "Is this just a conincidence?" he said checking the numbers again. "I don't think so..." he said looking at Niranjan.
Aastha was supecious now. "Dada, may I see the number?" she requested.
"Ofcourse..." replied Varad handing his phone to Aastha.
Aastha recognised the number immediately. "This is Aditi's number!" she exclaimed. She missed a beat wondering what was happening there. "What did she say over the phone?" asked Aastha impatiently looking at Niranjan and Varad.
"She?" asked Niranjan confused. "There was no girl... There was a guy asking for Shlok..." he replied.
"Yes, it wasn't Aditi... It was someone else... Some guy, as Baba said..." said Varad.
"Some guy?" Aastha wondered whether it was Karan. "What did he say? What exactly? Did he mention his name? Was it Karan?" she asked.
"No, he didn't mention his name..." replied Niranjan. Recalling the call, he told, "He asked whether it was Shlok speaking. I said no, I am Niranjan, Shlok's father. He asked whether he could speak to Shlok. I told him that Shlok wasn't well and was sleeping. I asked him who he was. He didn't say anything. Instead he asked where Shlok was, I mean, whether he was in Pune. I said yes. Then he asked whether I knew anything about Aastha..."
"This is exactly what he said to me as well!" exclaimed Varad. "I asked him who he was and did he know Shlok... I didn't get a satisfactory response and so I disconnected the call"
Aastha was afraid now. "What did you tell him, uncle?" she asked, worried.
Niranjan sensed Aastha's worry. "Aastha, I know all the troubles your Kaka caused you. I didn't say anything about you, don't worry. I just told him that Aastha is one of Shlok's friends, that's all I know about her..."
Aastha felt relieved. Aastha's eyes became wet as she thought that Niranjan was not bad. "Thank you so much, uncle..." she said.
"No problem beta, we will do whatever we can to help you... Afterall, you are Shlok's friend and now Avdhoot is like my younger brother. Your safety is our responsibility..." assured Niranjan.
Anjali smiled in agreement. Sojal and Varad nodded. Avdhoot thanked Niranjan. Aastha felt blessed to have met such lovely people. She had got a family here at the Agnihotri Mansion.
"I am sure something is wrong..." said Aastha, "The person who called you can't be Karan from what you told... Was it Ajinkya Kaka? Maybe he got to know that I am with Shlok... And he wanted to know where exactly I am..." Aastha gasped suddenly realizing something... "Oh no! That means Aditi and Karan are in danger!" She was worried for her friends. "We need to tell this to Shlok..." she said. Everyone agreed.
*****
Karan and Aditi became alert as they heard footsteps approaching the cell they were locked in. They exchanged glances. Holding each other's hands, they prepared themselves for whatever was going to happen. Their eyes flickered at a loud noise of some metal clanging into other. May be the door of their cell was being opened, they thought. They waited for some one to enter, but instead they were startled as something came sliding towards them from under the door. "Eat it!" they heard an ordering voice from outside as they stared at the two dirty plates with food. They sat back silently not feeling hungry at all. Even if they were hungry, they would never have eaten the food they were served.
"What must be going on?" asked Aditi staring at the door in front.
"Don't know..." replied Karan. "They have found the numbers from which Shlok contacted you. They can easily find Shlok now..."
"Will Shlok and Aastha be in trouble now?" asked Aditi, worried.
"Don't know... But there is a stong chance they might be" said Karan, analyzing the circumstances.
"It's all my fault!" said Aditi as her eyes welled up. "I should have been careful while telling you about Shlok... It's all my fault!!" She began crying as she cursed herself.
"No Aditi... It just happened. Don't blame yourself..." said Karan putting his arm around her and pulling her closer as they sat side by side hoping Aastha and Shlok were safe.
*****
Everyone was in Shlok's room discussing the situation at hand.
"Don't know what happened to Aditi and Karan... Aditi's phone was with Ajinkya Kaka... Something is surely wrong!" said a worried Aastha.
"Aastha, don't conclude in a hurry..." said Shlok thoughtfully. "We are not sure whether the person who called Baba and Dada from Aditi's phone was Ajinkya Kaka. It might be someone else as well"
"The police!" exclaimed Aastha, more worried. "Ajinkya Kaka was taking help of the police as well..."
"Now that they know the phone numbers, they can easily come here..." said Varad. "That will be a problem..."
"Don't worry Varad" said Niranjan, "Let Aastha and Avdhoot stay at our farmhouse in Lonavala till then. They will be safe there..."
Shlok agreed. But something else was going on in his mind. "Aastha, tell me Ajinkya kaka's number..." he said.
"My phone, I left it there. His number was saved to the phone. I don't remember it by heart..." replied Aastha. "But why?"
"I wanted to call him..." said Shlok.
"What?!" exclaimed Aastha.
Shlok explained his plan to everyone. It wasn't a bad idea to misguide Ajinkya.
"But Shlok, calling Ajinkya kaka is not wise..." said Aastha, "How did you get his number is what they will think... and then they will know that I am with you 'cause only I can give you his number..."
"Hmm, you are right..." said Shlok thoughtfully. "Aastha, do you know your new number? Your phone will surely be with Ajinkya Kaka right now!" he said in excitement.
"Yes, I have got the packet of the new sim card in my bag!" replied Aastha and hurried to get it.
*****
Shlok took a spare handset inserted an extra sim card he had with him. He dialled Aastha's new number. Ajinkya was surprised at the incoming call on Aastha's phone. He saw an unknown number flashing on the screen. He was very excited as he knew this might be a chance to know about Aastha. He accepted the call in anticipation, but didn't speak anything.
Shlok indicated the others that Ajinkya had picked up the call. Everyone was quietly watching as Shlok spoke. "Aastha? Are you alright?" he said over the phone in a worried voice. Ajikya became alert on listening Aastha's name. He remained quiet as expected by Shlok. "Say something, Aastha... I am Shlok speaking" he said on purpose. Ajinkya's eyes widened. Shlok continued, "Have you reached Mumbai safely? I was expecting a call or message from you..."
Ajinkya was shocked to hear this. "Aastha went to Mumbai?" he thought.
"Say something Aastha!" said Shlok, "Is there any problem? You reached Mumbai yesterday, right?"
Ajinkya disconnected the call. "So Aastha has gone to Mumbai!!" said Ajinkya to himself. He smirked. "I am coming to get you, Aastha!" he said feeling excited that he got to know about Aastha.
Here, Shlok and the others were happy that their plan had worked atleast for the time being.
*****
Everyone was leaving Shlok's room to let him rest. As Aastha was exiting, Shlok stopped her saying, "Aastha, will you please stay back for some time?"
Aastha blushed and went in. Niranjan noticed this. Aastha was about to sit down on the chair beside Shlok when Niranjan said, "Aastha, will you come with me for a moment? I want to talk to you..."
Aastha nodded and went with Niranjan leaving Shlok desperate to spend some more time with her.
Aastha felt a strange fear as she followed Niranjan to his room. It was the same fear that told her that something bad was going to happen...
*****
Anupamaa
Fan Fictions
