Chapter 29
Shlok opened his eyes and saw his Family standing at the seaside. He smiled to himself and moved forward but somehow he couldn't move an inch. He tried harder and fell on his knees.
"Shlok come back to us please.." Shlok heard Aasthas Voice, sensed her tears.
"I am trying so hard to get to you Baby...don't go!" He screamed and looked for another way to get back to his family.
"You won't succeed." A male voice said. It was his voice , the one he hated the most.
Shlok turned to the direction the voice came from and looked into the eyes of the person he hated the most.
"Hello son." Niranjan smiled at him.
Aastha did not know how many minutes or hours had passed, all she knew was that her husband was in a critical condition. Somehow they were not granted a happy life, god tested their patience whenever possible.
"Aastha you should get some rest." Varad looked at his sister in law and offered her some water.
She shook her head. "No not until I know he is safe. I am fine dada." Aastha looked paler than usual and kept constantly caressing Neelas hair. Neela snuggled closer to her Mother and sighed in her sleep.
"Aastha..." Varad tried again but she raised her hand to stop him from talking further.
With a sigh Varad sat down beside Sojal and his mother and watched Aastha from a far.
Please god , please let him survive...He is all I have and all I need please Aastha thought.
Aastha looked down on Neela sleeping on her lap and tried to stay strong. Her daughter needed her, she had to stay strong. For her daughter and her unborn child.
A few hours later the doctor who treated Shlok came out of the OR and looked at the Family.
Everyone stood up and waited for his report.
"Please doctor how is my husband? He is fine right?" Aastha asked right away and she saw the doctor sigh sadly.
"Well he is a live but in a very ciritical condition the next 24 Hours will determin wheter he will survive or die. I am sorry there is nothing more we can do than wait. We were able to remove the bullet but he lost a lot of blood. Now it depends on him . He needs to wake up on his own." The doctor smiled apologetically and left.
Anjali fell on her knees and cried bitterly into her hands. Sojal tried to console her but did not know what to say too. Varad looked at Aastha and knew she would faint any second.
"He will wake up!" Aastha whispered " I know him. He would never abandon me or our children..."
"Children?" Varad asked and saw Aastha fall unconscious instantly.
He catched her in the right moment and asked for a nurse to check on her. Varad looked at his sister and law and tried to fathom what was wrong with her.
"How is she?" He asked the nurse that checked on her. The nurse smiled.
"She is just tired. Being pregnant must have taken a toll on her."
"Wait What?! She is pregnant?" Varad smiled and the nurse nodded. He hugged her and told his mother and Sojal the good news.
Anjali and Sojal hugged each other and kissed Neela who was still sleeping but this time on Kavyas lap.
"Shlok will come back." Anjali said , " He will come back for his family."
"I know Aayi. You should stay here I will try my best to find out who shot Shlok. Take care and call me if anythings changes" Varad kissed Sojal on the cheek and left to investigate the matter.
He would make the culprit suffer.
"You are dead!" Shlok said shocked. How could his father be standing in front of him? He died, he had seen his body.
"Well maybe I am an imagination or maybe not. But look around Shlok... looks like you are dead soon too. I can feel it." Niranjan said and approached his son.
Shlok turned away and looked around once more. The place he was in was unfamiliar, he felt nothing and he couldn't see Aastha and Neela anymore.
Was is father right? Was he dying?
"You are lying! I am not dead...I won't leave my family!"
Niranjan laughed. " Son you are too weak to fight. You should focus on saying goodbye, savor the last moments you spent with your family because you won't see them again."
"I will fight, I am not weak. That is why you died. You were alone but I am not I have my family and they lead me back home. I just need to wait..." Shlok tried to stay positive.
Niranjan sighed and looked away. Shlok studied his features. He still looked the same.
"You were married before?"
"I was indeed." Niranjan still didn't look at Shlok, " Why?"
"I found her. The woman that was your first wife. She has a son, your son."
Niranjan closed his eyes.
"Shlok this is not my closure, it is yours. I knew about Indrajeet I knew about everything but I chose to keep them away from us. I made a decision 35 years ago and the only thing I regret is letting you marry Aastha."
"That son of yours he is just like you. I bet he shot me to take revenge."
Niranjan finally looked at Shlok. "Maybe...but you will never find it out. You are dead."
Shlok shook his head. He wasn't dead. How could he die and leave his family alone.
Suddenly he saw a light appear and saw Aastha approaching him.
"Baby...Come home, Come home to me." She said with her soft voice and smiled.
Shlok smiled back at her and stepped forward. His father tried to hold him back but Shlok pushed him away.
" You will never ever get in the way again. Iam not you. I won't let my family suffer."
Niranjan looked at his sons fading figure and smiled. Smiled for the first and last time.
Shlok reached Aastha and took her hand. She kissed him gently.
"I love you."
"Welcome home." She whispered and Shlok closed his eyes.
Aastha slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She was lying on a hospital bed and tried to get up. Anjali helped her and offered her something to drink.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Aastha nodded and drank the water gratefully. Neela sat down beside her mother and hugged her.
" Mommy don't leave me..." She looked at her mother with tears in her eyes. She was young but she understood that her father was in danger. Seeing her mother unconciouss as well didn't help at all.
"Don't worry honey I am here. I was just tired because of your brother or sister in my womb." Aastha said and kissed her daughters cheek.
"I am going to have a brother and sister?" Neela joyful jumped around the room until Sojal rushed inside the ward.
"Aastha come with me. The doctor is looking for you."
Aastha looked at Anjali and started running towards Shloks room.
The doctor just finished checking his condition.
"Mrs. Agnihotri? Are you alright now?"
Aastha nodded and stepped closer to his bed. Shlok was still sleeping.
"Nothing changed?"A tear fell on his hand and she kissed Shloks cheek.
"Come home, Come home to me." She said and leaned her forehead against his.
And just like that with a deep breath Shlok Niranjan Agnihotri opened his eyes and came back.
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I know a very short chapter but the next one will be longer I promised.
Enjoy one of the last chapters of this fanfic!
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