Aastha entered Niranjan's room, her heart filled with fear. Niranjan stood at the window staring outside, his back facing Aastha. Aastha was restlessly waiting to know the reason she was called by Niranjan. Niranjan took a deep breath and exhaled making Aastha more impatient. He turned to face Aastha, his seriousness making Aastha gulp. "We need to talk..." he said, his determined gaze piercing through Aastha's eyes making her miss a beat.
*****
Ajinkya was very excited to know that Aastha had gone to Mumbai. "See how clever I am..." he said to his men, "How intelligently I found out that Aastha is in Mumbai!" His men exchanged glances wondering what was so great that their boss did to find out about Aastha. Ajinkya's face glowed as praised himself. "Now no one can save you from me, Aastha!!" he said. The room filled with his monstrous laughter that suddenly stopped. He rubbed his hands greedily as his eyes gleamed with evilness. He gazed at Aastha's photograph on the wall and threw his pen-knife at it piercing through Aastha's neck in the frame. "You have no idea how evil I am!" he said clenching his jaws in the heat of revenge, his eyes burning in anger and hatred.
*****
Aastha had no idea what this was all about. Aastha looked at Niranjan trying to guess what he was about to say. Niranjan shifted his gaze from Aastha to the floor, feeling bad for her. He didn't understand how the tell Aastha the truth she was probably never told by Shlok. He knew very well that this would hurt Aastha, but it is always better to clear the misunderstandings before it's too late. He looked at a nervous Aastha, her eyes, full of questions, fixed on him. Her innocent face made him feel guilty for he was about to break her heart, but he had no choice. He had to do this however difficult it seemed. He shut his eyes and breathed in to gather courage. He opened his eyes to see Aastha looking at him with mixed feelings. He walked to her and held her gently by her shoulders. "Sit down, beta" he said calmly directing her to have a seat on the bed. Aastha obeyed silently.
Niranjan placed a chair in front of Aastha and sat on it facing Aastha. He began by saying, "Aastha, please don't get me wrong, but there's something you need to know..."
Aastha's heart was pounding in her chest. What does he want to tell me? And why this seriousness?
"I know this is something you might feel very bad about, something that might hurt you..." he paused trying to gather words to speak further, "Believe me, I am no enemy of yours. Please don't misunderstand me, but you need to know the truth..."
Aastha was feeling uneasy now. Truth? What truth? Her chest was heaving with her uneven breath. What is uncle talking about? She looked at Niranjan with a questioning gaze. "Uh... I.. I don't understand..." she said.
"The truth about Shlok and Swati..."
*****
Ajinkya made two of his men stay back at Pune to keep an eye on Aastha's home, while he, along with two other men, was on the way to Mumbai to search for and get hold of Aastha. He called Inspector Deshmukh to inform him that Aastha was in Mumbai. The inspector had already found out the details about about Shlok Agnihotri, his address and background. But Ajinkya told him to hold on as he was pretty sure Aastha had returned to Mumbai. He told the inspector that he would meet the inspector once he reached Mumbai.
*****
Shlok felt a gentle touch on his forehead. He opened his eyes to see Aastha sitting beside him. She looked beautiful as always. He closed his eyes to the soothing touch as her slender fingers entwined through his hair. "This feels so good..." he whispered, his eyes still closed. "I wish I get to experience this for the rest of my life..." He felt a soft kiss on his forehead. His lips curved into a smile. "It feels so good when you are with me..." he whispered, "I just don't want you to go away... Just be with be... Every moment..." he paused feeling Aastha's presence as her faint fragrance filled his lungs. "I can't explain what your presence gives me... No words can say it... It can only be felt" Shlok felt his forehead being caressed. "Promise me you will be with me..." he said, his eyes still shut taking in the feel of her touch. "I forget all my pain when you are around... Promise me you will never leave me..." He was waiting for Aastha's reply. But she was silent. Shlok felt her withdraw her hand from his forehead. Why isn't Aastha saying anything? He opened his eyes to see no one in front. "Aastha?" he said lifting his head off the pillow, his eyes searching for her through the room. Shlok's eyes fell on the nurse who was giggling looking at him. Shlok let his head fall back to the pillow as he shut his eyes tight in embarrassment. "Damn! That was just a dream!" he thought, wondering what the nurse might be thinking of him. "You will kill me one day, Aastha!" he thought and he was again lost in his fantasy, wishing it all came true one day.
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