Shlok noticed that Aastha was avoiding him. He couldn't understand the reason. She came to his room to replace the old flowers in the vase with the new ones. Shlok was expecting her to sit beside him as she usually did. But she just turned to leave without even looking at him. Shlok felt bad. As Aastha reached the door, Shlok called out to her.
"Aastha?" he said in a questioning tone, as if to ask why she was doing this.
Aastha turned. "Arey Shlok, you woke up?" she said pretending that she hadn't noticed it earlier. "Good Morning!" she wished standing at her place.
Shlok wanted her to come back and spend some time with him. But instead, Aastha left saying she had to go help Anjali in preparing breakfast. Shlok could see something was wrong but he decided to ignore it.
Aastha always had breakfast with Shlok in his room. But today she told Sita to take breakfast to Shlok. Shlok was surprised. "Why didn't Aastha come today?" he wondered. The nurse too noticed that Aastha was avoiding Shlok for some reason.
Shlok didn't feel like eating. But he had to as he had to take medicines. It was Aastha who saw to it everyday that Shlok took his medicines properly. But today, she wasn't here. The nurse handed over the medicines and a glass of water to Shlok. She could clearly see how much Shlok was missing Aastha. Even she was surprised to see the sudden change in Aastha's behaviour.
Shlok took the medicines silently and gulped down the water. He saw Aastha walking past his room. "Aastha!" he called out to her. Shlok waited for a while but she didn't return. Shlok became upset. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes remembering her. He opened his eyes to the sound of light footsteps, and there she was standing at the door. She just couldn't leave ignoring his call. She had to come.
Shlok's eyes gleamed seeing Aastha. The nurse too was happy. Shlok was waiting for Aastha to say something. She just came in and picked up Shlok's plate and glass. Shlok was about to hold her hand but she moved away. Without looking at Shlok, she said "Take rest" and turned to leave.
Shlok wanted her to stay. Why is she avoiding me? His mind was racing through ideas to stop her from leaving. He somehow got hold of the words to say... "Won't you ask whether I had my breakfast? You left me alone today" he said.
Aastha stopped at her place listening to this. You left me alone today... These words pinched her heart. She clinched the plate in her hands tighter as she shut her eyes for a moment. Without facing Shlok, she said, "I can see that you have eaten..." she said pretending to be normal. "You need to take rest now" she said and began walking.
Shlok could not believe that she was walking away without a proper conversation. She didn't even look at me. What's wrong with her? "Won't you ask me whether I took my medicines?" he asked, his eyes pleading her to stay back.
Shlok's question touched Aastha's heart. Tears filled her eyes. She still had her back towards Shlok. To hide her sadness, she gave out a little laugh and said, "When Neeta ji is there to take care of you, there's no reason to worry, right Neeta ji?" she said referring to the nurse. Neeta remained silent knowing not what to say. Shlok was stunned at Aastha's reply. Before he could say anything more, Aastha hurried out of the room.
Shlok just stared at the door feeling dejected. Why is she suddenly treating me like this? Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt her unknowingly? No, I don't think so. Then why happened so suddenly that she is avoiding me? Is it because of the kiss? Yes, the kiss! Only that can be the reason! I shouldn't have taken that step so early. But I couldn't hold myself back, she was right there, how could I not kiss her! May be she is nervous because of the kiss. So what if she didn't stop me, I should have known. Damn! I need to talk to her... Apologize to her may be...
Shlok got up to go and talk to Aastha but he lost his balance and fell back to the bed. The nurse, Neeta, quickly supported him and forced him to lay back saying, "You need rest right now!"
"But I need to..."
"You can talk to her later" said Neeta interrupting him.
Shlok was surprised to see that Neeta knew what he was about to say. She nodded at Shlok with a smile to assure him that she was right. Shlok lay on the bed silently, still not able to believe Aastha's changed behaviour.
Coming out from Shlok's room Aastha stood next to the door pressing her back against the wall. Shlok's plate and glass still in her hands, she just closed her eyes tight to let the tears that filled them flow. Why is all this happening? Oh God! Help me! Please help me get over all this... Please make me strong. Give me strength to face my fate! Aastha took in a deep breath. She wiped off her tears and walked to the kitchen to keep the plate and glass.
*****
Ajinkya and Inspector Deshmukh were discussing about Aastha's case.
"So you think Aastha is in Mumbai?" asked the inspector.
"Think?" said Ajinkya, "I KNOW it!!" he said it with utter confidence. "Shlok himself said it not knowing that I was on the line, and not Aastha"
Ajinkya and inspector Deshmukh had no idea that they were secretly being overheard by Karan and Aditi.
"She is in Mumbai?" said Aditi, shocked.
Karan immediately placed his palm on her mouth. "Shhh..." he told her to be quiet. They heard Ajinkya receiving call from the two men in Pune whom he had told to keep an eye on Aastha's home. They heard him speak over the phone...
"Yes, tell me... Any special news?" he asked and waited for the reply. He was surprised hearing the reply. "What?! 2-3 men entered the bungalow? That too through the windows?" he looked at Inspector Deshmukh to make sure he was listening. "Who were they?" he asked over the phone, "Are you sure Aastha or Avdhoot wasn't among them?" he waited for his man to speak. "What?!" he was shocked. "They were searching for something? But what? Did you see them taking anything when they left?... What do you mean 'don't know'? Keep an eye and keep informing me!" he scolded and disconnected the call.
Inspector Deshmukh was staring at Ajinkya with a questioning gaze. Ajinkya told him that some men had got into the house and were searching for something. Ajinkya's men had no idea what the intruders were searching for and whether or not they got it.
"They can't be Aastha's or Avdhoot's men... They got in through the windows to steal something. Who were these men?" said Ajinkya thoughtfully.
Karan and Aditi were shocked to hear this. They wanted to hear more, but just then they heard someone coming towards the place they were hiding. They had to move out.
As they were returning to Aditi's home, Aditi was about to call Shlok but Karan stopped her.
"No! Don't!" he said holding her hand to stop her from dialing the number. Aditi was confused. Karan looked around and said, "Aditi, they released us from the police custody... but I am sure they did this on purpose. I am sure we are under their surveillance. And our mobile phones are being tracked. We need to be very careful"
Aditi agreed and kept her phone back into her pocket. "But what now? Is Aastha really in Mumbai? And who were those men?"
"Even I can't guess, Aditi... There's something more behind all that's happening... Something that we don't know..."
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Edited by ..optimist.. - 9 years ago
CID
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
