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Love- Will destiny bring them closer
Chapter 2
Shlok and Arnav came out of Mumbai Airport after the security check. Shlok looked at the city in front of him with a nostalgic feeling. He is stepping into this city after 20 years. Yes after 20 years. Before 20 years he had left this country forever after loosing his most prized possession. This city had given him a lot of things but more than that it had snatched a lot of things from him. He sighed. He didn't want to think about the past.
He looked sideways. Arnav was looking at the city with an unreadable expression. For Arnav, this city was new. He was stepping into this country for the first time. When his parents left this country, he was a small kid. He didn't had much memory of this country. All he knew about this country was the stories he had heard from his family. He for the first time was coming here after his parents left this country.
Taking a deep breath, both the men sat in the car which had come to pick them from Airport. They went to the hotel which was booked for them. Next two three days passed in finalizing the deal in which both their companies are investing. It was their first collaboration in this country.
For Arnav, it was the first time he was doing a project in India. Even though he had a successful fashion house with branches in many countries, it was the first time he was setting up a fashion house in India. He had never worked in the Indian market earlier. He is going to start a new branch here and this was their launch project which he was doing with his father's company.
It was rare he does a collaboration project with his father's company (Shlok and Arnav's father is business partners). He doesn't like to mix personal life with professional life, so he usually doesn't work with his father's company to avoid problems. He believe in himself and want to achieve everything in his life with his own hard work.
It was first time Shlok was coming to this country even for business purpose. Even though their company AR industries has branch in India, he had never come here in last 20 years. Usually Arnav's father Arjun or Arjun's younger brother Manohar would come for business purposes. But this time he had come to finish some unfinished work.
After three days of continuous meetings and discussions both finalized the project. After finishing their work, they checked out of the hotel to go to their new destinations. Arnav was moving in to his family's house in the city where maintenance work was going on in the past few days. And Shlok was going to...
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Aastha looked at herself in the mirror. Three days had passed since Shreya got job. A lot of things happened in these three days. Her life had taken a completely new turn in these three days.
Flashback
Next day after Shreya got job, Agnihotris were invited for a business party. The whole family went for the party. The party was hosted by an old acquaintance of Agnihotris. There everybody knew them very well. Aastha also went with them due to Shreya and Kavya's insistence. The part was on full swing.
Aastha was talking with the women there. Sojal was also with her. Both of them were mingling with everyone with ease. While Aastha was speaking with Mrs. Dutta about her NGO, Mrs Halka came there. Mrs Halka was a woman with big mouth. She always liked to demean people with her words.
Mrs Halka: Hey Aastha, how are you? I am sorry, I didn't see you?
Aastha: Hello Mrs Halka. I am fine. You tell me how are you.
Mrs Halka: Oh I am very much fine. So did Shlok come back or not. Are you still waiting for him.
Aastha felt tears burning at the back of her eyes. She closed her eyes in pain. She never expected Mrs Halka to ask her about Shlok so openly. Seeing Aastha's state, Sojal immediately came to her side and wrapped a hand around her.
Mrs Halka: Look Aastha. I am saying for your own goodness. Forget him and move on in life. Who knows he must have remarried and would have been happily living with his wife and children.
Aastha's eyes shot open. She looked at Mrs Halka with blood red eyes. How could she say like this. Her Shlok would never do that. Her heart cried. But at one corner of her heart she knew that may be Mrs Halka's words are true. Her Shlok would never do that but the man who left India was hurt beyond limit. She had hurt him beyond limit. She didn't know if he would ever forgive her for the pain she caused him.
What if he had forgot her. What if he had actually moved on in life. What if he had actually remarried and had children. No. No. No. She doesn't want to think like that. Her Shlok would never do that. He would never forget her. He would come back. He would come back one day. She will wait. She will wait for his return.
While Aastha was lost in her own world.
Sojal: Mrs Halka. Thank you so much for your concern. You don't have to worry about her. We are there for her.
Mrs Halka: I was just saying for her own good only. Look Aastha, you don't hear their words. They all are selfish. They are only thinking about themselves. You are like this for past 20 years. Did they do something for you. No na. See. That's what I am telling. You don't hear their words. Just move on in life.
Sojal: Mrs Halka. You are crossing your limits. What the hell are telling her. How can you say all these to her. If you can't do any good for her, then at least don't put salt on her wounds.
Mrs Halka: Oh please Sojal. I am only saying truth. It was you people who was giving her false hope for the past 20 years.
Hearing the commotion the whole Agnihotri family came there. Somehow taking control of the situation, they left from there. Aastha was numb throughout this. She didn't want to believe what Mrs Halka said but somewhere in her heart she felt her hope diminishing.
Reaching home, everyone was disturbed with the issue. Aastha was sitting silent.
Shreya: How dare that Mrs Halka tell all those to Mom. How dare she do that to her.
Shreya (Coming to Aastha): Mom, look at me. You don't hear her words. She is just saying all that is coming in her mind.
Aastha without saying anything went to her room. The whole night she didn't sleep. Mrs Halka's words were ringing in her ears.
Next day morning
The whole Agnihotri family was having breakfast silently. Nobody was in the mood to talk anything. At that time, Kalindi ( Aastha's mother) came there. Sojal invited her for breakfast which she obliged. Aastha ignored her mother. She was not in speaking terms with her mother.
After breakfast, everyone settled in the living room.
Kalindi: I heard about yesterday's incidents at the party.
Niranjan: You know Kalindi ji. These type of incidents happen sometimes. It was not a big issue. We sorted it.
Kalindi: No Niranjan ji. It is a big issue. Whatever Mrs Halka told yesterday at the party was true. May be the way in which she said must be wrong but whatever she said was right. It had been 20 years since Shlok left. We don't know where he is. What he is doing. If he is alive or n...
Aastha (cutting her shouted): Aayi. Don't say that.
Kalindi: Look I am not saying that something had happened to Shlok. But we can't ignore the fact that he left 20 years back and 20 years is a very long time. A lot of things have happened in this things. What if in this 20 years Shlok also would have moved ahead in life. May be married somebody and moved on. And here you are waiting for him.
Niranjan: What are you trying to say, Kalindi ji.
Kalindi: I am just trying to say that it has been 20 years since Shlok left. May be we should also forget everything and move ahead. Aastha is waiting for him since 20 years but now it has been so long. I want her to move ahead and have a life of her own.
Aastha: What are you saying Aayi. How could you say like this. No this can't happen. Shlok is my husband. I can't forget him. I will wait for him till my last breath.
Kalindi: Stop it Aastha. Stop behaving like a mad. You have been waiting for him for him from last 20 years na. What happened. Did he come. If he wanted to come, then he would have come by now. But he didn't. It means he doesn't want to come back. Now you also forget everything and move on in life.
Aastha: No... No No No.
Kalindi: Why?
Aastha: I can't forget Shlok. No never.
Kalindi: Stop it Aastha. You have been waiting for him from 20 years. Now that's enough. Just forget him and move on. Look Indrajit. He loves you so much. He has been waiting for you for the past 20 years. So just forget Shlok and marry Indrajit.
Aastha: So that's matter. Indrajit. You actually think I will marry Indrajit, Aayi. Then it will happen only in your dreams. I will never do that. I will never marry Indrajit.
Kalindi: Try to understand Aastha. You have been waiting for Shlok for 20 years but what happened. He didn't come back na. Indrajit have been waiting for you for 20 years. Why cant you just forget everything and marry him.
Aastha: It will never happen, Aayi. I will never marry this man.
Shreya: Why Mom. Why can't you marry Papa. He loves you so much. Please marry him Mom. I will also get my Papa. We will live as a happy family. Please Mom.
Aastha: Stop it Shreya. You don't know anything. You don't know how cunning this man is. He is staying here for all these years to get me. But that will never happen. And stop calling him Papa. He is not your Papa.
Kalindi: Enough Aastha. I don't want to hear anything. Why don't you understand. OK. Then listen to me very carefully. If you don't marry Indrajit then you will see me dead. I will kill myself.
Everyone's eyes widened hearing her.
Aastha: What are you saying Aayi. (Turning to Niranjan) Baba, make her understand na. I can't marry this man.
Niranjan: No Aastha. May be Kalindi ji is right. You have to move on in life. You have to forget Shlok and marry Indrajit.
Aastha (shocked): Baba.
Niranjan: I am sorry, Beta. May be this is the best for your future.
Aastha (crying): No. No. I won't do that.
Aastha ran away from there crying. After lot of persuasion and blackmailing from Kalindi's side, Aastha agreed for marriage.
Everyone had different feelings for this decision. Agnihotris were helpless. Niranjan, Varad and Sojal felt bad but they couldn't do anything. They have always seen Aastha as Shlok's wife. They couldn't see her with anyone else but thinking about her future they took this decision putting stone in her heart.
Kavya felt bad too. Aastha was her chachi. She had always seen her as her favorite Shlok Chachu's wife. He couldn't see her otherwise. Shantanu and Mishti didn't know how to react. They had always seen Aastha in their mother's place and called her so Aastha ma. But they never wished her to be their Papa's wife. For them she was always their Ballu Bhayya's (Shlok) wife.
The person who was most happy with this marriage was Shreya. She will finally get Indrajit Sarkar as her father. It was her dream. She wanted to be the daughter of millionaire Indrajit Sarkar. Another person who was happy was Kalindi. Finally she succeeded in getting her daughter married to Indrajit who she believed to be the best for her.
Indrajit was happy. Finally he was getting Aastha. He had been waiting for this moment for past 20 years.
Flashback ends
Now Aastha was sitting in front of the mirror after getting ready. Today is her engagement. She is going to get married to the man she hated the most in this world. But she was helpless.
Please Shlok come back. She prayed in her heard. Will God hear her prayers. What had destiny planned for these two.
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London
Three days had passed. Khushi's condition was deteriorating day by day. Aman and Muskaan could do nothing except to see everything silently. They tried talking to her in these three days. Even tried to involve her in their talks but she was numb all throughout.
All she did was get up at morning, freshen up, have breakfast, go to office and work. All she talked about was related to work that too minimal. After coming back also she would just do her work, finish dinner and go to bed. No other work. They were getting worried for her.
Neha had come to Khushi's cabin to call her for lunch when she saw Khushi lying unconscious on the ground. She tried to wake her up but Khushi didn't respond. Scared Neha immediately went to call Aman and their friends. With their help, they took Khushi to the car. Neha and A man quickly drove to the nearby hospital.
On the way, Neha called Shyam and Payal and informed them about Khushi's condition. Reaching hospital, doctors immediately admitted her. After sometime Shyam and Payal also reached the hospital. All four were hell worried for their sister like soul.
They were just praying for the doctor to come out and say that Khushi is alright. Finally after some minutes, their prayers were answered. The doctor came out of Khushi's room. Seeing her they started bombarding her with questions.
Muskaan: Doctor, how is she?
Shyam: Is she alright?
Payal: There is nothing to worry right.
Aman (finally loosing his patience shouted): Say something doctor.
Doctor: Relax. There is nothing to worry. She is alright.
Shyam: If she is alright then why did she faint.
Doctor: That was because she is pregnant.
The four of them looked at each other in shock.
Payal: Pregnant. Are you sure, doctor.
Doctor: Yes. Absolutely. By the way where is her husband. I want to talk to him.
Muskaan: Voh... Voh... Her husband...
Aman: He is out of station. You tell us we will take care of her.
Muskaan looked at him in worry while Aman closed his eyes assuring her.
Doctor: OK then. Look she is very weak. Her condition is not so good to carry a baby. Moreover she is only 20. She is very young. You have to take good care of her. Otherwise she could loose her child. Also I felt that she is mentally under stress due to some issues. Whatever it is, please sort it out. It is not good for her to be under stress in this condition. It can affect her and the child.
Shyam: Don't worry. We will take care.
Payal: Can we see her doctor.
Doctor: Yes you can see her. She will get to conscious in few minutes. Then you can see her.
Muskaan: Thank you doctor.
Doctor went away. The four went inside the room. Their hearts clenched looking at the figure lying on the bed. They didn't know how much more pain that innocent soul had to endure. They prayed to the god to have mercy on her. After sometime Khushi came to consciousness.
Khushi (looking at her surroundings): Where am I?
Muskaan: You are at the hospital, Anu.
Khushi: Hospital. Why? What happened to me?
Muskaan: You fell unconscious in your cabin. So we brought you here.
Khushi: Oh. OK then let's go back to office. A lot of work is pending there.
Others looked at each other.
Khushi (frowning): Now why are you looking at each other's face.
Payal: Choti, don't you want to know why you fell unconscious.
Khushi: I am sure some low bp problem would have come. Leave it. Let's go.
Payal: No choti, there is nothing like that.
Khushi (serious): Then...
Muskaan (taking a deep breath): Anu, you are pregnant. You are going to be a mother.
Khushi looked at Muskaan's face for few minutes without any expression. After sometime, her hand slowly crept upon her lower abdomen. Feeling the life growing inside her, Khushi closed her eyes. A lone tear rolled down from the corner of her eyes. The other four immediately hugged her.
So that's the second chapter. Many have asked for a character sketch but I am sorry to disappoint you. There won't be any character sketch for this story. This story is a suspense thriller. Who is who. It will come in the story. You have to wait to know about each character. How Ashlok is related to Arshi is the major twist in the story. So please wait for the story to reveal. This story will have two parts- one Ashlok part and one Arshi part. Please read both parts because it is crucial for the story.
Please comment and also tell me if I should continue this story. I am very disappointed with the low comments till now.
PS : Today is my birthday 15.10
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